ya gotta wanna be a battering ram

[headandhand]

WHO: The entire dang city.
WHAT: Dualis Days, a week-long summer celebration.
WHERE: Central Square Park and the rest of the city.
WHEN: June 17-23.
WARNINGS: Terrorist violence, likely some blood and injuries. Please warn in individual threads!

June 17; Central Square Park.

Every year for as far back as anyone can remember, the start of summer is heralded by the week-long festival known as Dualis Days. This celebration officially kicks off at midday in the middle of Central Square Park with a commencement speech by the current mayor. This year marks Marcelina Dubanowski's third term as mayor of Dualis; she is an average-sized, middle-aged human-presenting woman with blonde hair styled in a short bob and a plastic, toothy smile that never seems to turn entirely off.

"Welcome, one and all!" she begins, with the practiced cadence of someone who is quite comfortable with public speaking. She invites all citizens, new and old, to spend the next week indulging in festivities in all districts of the city and getting to know their neighbors a little better. This is a joyous time of celebration, and the crowd responds with enthusiastic applause as the mayor finishes her speech and introduces this year's parade marshall, Peshtigo Tengfei.

Tengfei blows a whistle six times to signal the start of the parade - and this is where the celebration goes sideways.

A loud explosion tears through the air, and it's followed by panicked screams and the sharp screech of microphone feedback. A bomb has gone off at the platform where the mayor was standing, collapsing the wood and tearing it to splinters and dust. Chaos erupts in the gathered crowd, and as the people shift in all directions to get clear of any possible additional bombs, a loud siren cuts through the cacophony, calling attention to the sudden crackle of video feed present on all television screens throughout the city, including those set up in the park to broadcast the mayor's speech for those standing far from the stage. The picture is plain, a black background and bold white block letters filling the screen:

WAKE UP
WAKE UP
DON'T BELIEVE THE LIES

The final image is an anatomical graphic of a human heart, displayed for about three seconds, and then the feed goes black again.

Confused murmurs sweep through the crowd as citizens resume tending to the injured and evacuating the area until official first responders arrive.

June 17-23; aftermath around the city.

Dualis Days continues as scheduled, though Mayor Dubanowski is unable to enjoy the festival, as she is spending the week in the hospital recovering from her injuries. A team of Iterations guard her door - no visitors allowed - but the news media frequently report updates on her condition. Nothing to worry about, folks! Return to your celebrations, and don't mind the increased visible presence of the Hand as Iterations are stationed every few blocks throughout the city. It's only for your protection, after all.

Comments

[ichoosefight]

She hisses at the full extent of the damage, but considers the location in comparison to the rest of his abdomen. Satisfied he's not going to try to run off, she gets down on her knees for a closer view as she tugs gently at the cloth around the edges of the injury. She definitely can't pull out the stake, but maybe she can clean up the edges.

"That's adrenaline, it dulls pain. How's your stomach, are you nauseous at all?"

[silentnarration]

He remains stoic while she examines him but does flinch a little at the tugging. It doesn't quite hurt but the sensation is unpleasant. He keeps still after that. Like he's used to being treated for bad injuries similar to this.

He has to take a moment to consider her question and get a feel for his own condition for himself. He shakes his head.

"No. Just a pressure in my side." Maybe it missed everything vital. That's the hope anyway.

[ichoosefight]

She manages to pull the fabric away without, as far as she can tell, making the injury any worse. Once she has all of it out of the way she goes about cleaning and bandaging the little bits as best she can.

"Good. If that changes, or if you start to feel lightheaded, headachey or feverish get help right away. Internal bleeding or septic shock will kill you fast. And be careful with the heavy lifting. I can't take this thing out without a surgeon on hand, but if it moves around too much you can cause those things I told you about, and die, really fast." She's hoping repetition will get through that heroic impulse of his and stick.

[silentnarration]

He's a good patient at least. It's the advice that has him looking sour again.

"I get it already." Stop nagging. "I'll get it looked at later." He doesn't want to die. Some kind of clinic would be a good compromise. If he makes it all the way to the dorms and comes across one, he'll go.

There's a longer pause before he reluctantly adds, "thanks."

[ichoosefight]

"Any time," she answers with seemingly endless patience. She knows where he's coming from, and certainly doesn't hold any grumpiness against him. After all, she had to pick chunks of metal out of her own arm not too long ago.

With the last bit of tape keeping the odd circle of gauze in place she smooths his shirt gently back down.

"That should keep you for now." She drags herself back to her feet and sighs.

"You're free to go."

[silentnarration]

Squall carefully shrugs his jacket back on and rests his hand over the semi-patched-up injury. It's better than the nothing he was going to do.

He slowly rises to his feet, ready to go but stopping to regard her. She really is bossy and it's aggravating but it reminds him of his friends in a way, so he can't help but ask.

"Are you going to be okay?"

[ichoosefight]

She smiles sweetly, glad her instinct was right. He seems like a genuinely good dude.

"Yeah, I'm good. All this is pretty superficial." She waves to indicate her cut up arm and side.

"Nice of you to ask, though."

[silentnarration]

Mrg. Don't go saying things like that out loud. Has she no shame!!

Squall looks kind of flustered. A deeper frown and a twitch followed by him crossing his arms and looking off to the side.

"Whatever. Get it looked at when you're done playing medic." He sounds dismissive but it's probably too late for his image.

[ichoosefight]

She has less than no shame, and normally takes a certain measure of glee from eliciting shame from others. She gives him a lazy salute.

"Sir yes sir.