Summer, 124PW
Marn seemed so different from the point of view of a guard. Or at least that’s how Sisara felt about it. Granted, she had never spent much time in the area surrounding the civil court or the Guard headquarters anyway, since it wasn’t really an area welcoming those who were worse off – at least she had always considered it that way. The area was too pristine, almost too shiny and polished to feel real. Yet, here she was, leaving headquarters and heading towards the court for her round of patrols.
The guard who accompanied her was unknown to her. From what she had heard, he was fairly new to the first watch himself, though he had been a guard for quite a while already. Or so she had heard at least, but that was all she knew. She couldn’t even remember the guy’s name anymore, only that it was something somewhat complicated. Soon enough she would remember it, and if not, well that was what nicknames were for, unless he was inclined to volunteer his name again but he looked a little broody.
It was still odd sometimes to think that she was now a part of exactly those people she had used to try and avoid most. But it also made her feel accomplished in a way, even though the only reason she had joined the guard was Farius. He had decided to follow a dying person’s request and she had followed him. Odd how things worked out in such a manner sometimes.
The court looked clean and forbidding as ever. The open space around it wasn’t exactly empty but less people were milling about than Sisara had thought, then again, it was a good thing too because it meant less risk of them having to hunt down a pickpocket. There was barely enough cover for such an act. Some of the people didn’t look all too happy, probably headed for a hearing or having just exited from one that hadn’t gone quite to their liking.
Sisara was curious about the people but she realised she was spending too much time observing them and gauging reactions and emotions rather than keeping an eye for anything untoward, which was actually what she was supposed to be doing. Wasn’t it? She was still a little unsure about the whole patrol thing. After all, her joining the ranks of the guardsmen – and a few women – was very recent.
Glancing toward her companion, she wondered whether she should say something. But what was she supposed to say? ‘Nice weather today, huh?’ would only earn her a glare, she could feel it, plus she wasn’t much of a fan of conversation fillers either. Maybe he would say something? But she was almost certain he wouldn’t do that. Admitting that she was unsure of her job was most likely not going to help her case either and Sisara was starting to feel uncomfortable in this patrol arrangement. Bad sign, since they had only just set out.
“How long have you been a Guard for?” she finally settled on, hoping it wasn’t the worst question she could’ve asked, bringing along a tragic story of her feeling like an idiot for bringing it up in the first place.
First Time's a Charm (124PW)
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Sinuvarakoon Tasza
- Citizen
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2012 1:03 am
- Name: Tasza
- Race: Human
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
"Be sure to be observing your surroundings at all times," Tasza replied. He wore his helm. He acted professionally. He hadn't looked at Sisara since they had started their patrol. He hadn't bothered with the typical make-nice banter that his peers in the Guard seemed to enjoy.
Tasza was not enjoying himself. Typically, he liked his job. He liked the idea that he stood between the regular, everyday citizen and the chance of that citizen's day, or life, being ruined. However, being called up before the constable of his watch and given a rookie as a partner just an hour before he was scheduled to go on shift? That was not part of the plan. Worse, he was sure the late assignment was due to some sin he had committed in the eyes of his peers. He seemed destined to continually make errors in judgement that were a given to anyone else.
Tasza did not have many friends. He liked it just fine that way. The more people you interacted with, the higher the chance got that one of them would do something unacceptable to or around you. He'd had enough of those experiences. Especially when it came to women.
The court -- the barnyard, if one was listening to any of the petty bureaucrats and cronies-in-training -- was an unusual part of the city. It was kept nearly spotless, free of grifters, merchants and the poor. Much like the University's grounds, it had a sense of potential to it; as if the mood of the elite had stained it white against the dust of the city. More certainly, it was the number of discrete groundsmen hired on to care for the immaculate greenery and pavement that allowed the perfect image to flourish.
It was calm there. Tasza had no feelings for or against the Court, but he always felt superfluous when he was assigned to it. Sane criminals or lowlifes didn't care cause trouble there. It was a good beat to assign to a newbie. He wouldn't argue with that. But why him? He could assume he'd been chosen for his by-the-book nature, but he was not so naive as to think he was appreciated for that nature. Indeed, it had so far secured him more enemies and unkind words than respect. He didn't understand it. He had first become attracted to the prospect of being a guard because it had seemed to lack the moral quandaries that had punctuated his early life. You follow the law. You uphold the law. You protect the citizens.
He knew better now.
"Five years in a month," he answered after a short pause. He relented by asking a question of his own, though not by much. "Have you fully memorized the Tomes, codes and laws?"
Tasza was not enjoying himself. Typically, he liked his job. He liked the idea that he stood between the regular, everyday citizen and the chance of that citizen's day, or life, being ruined. However, being called up before the constable of his watch and given a rookie as a partner just an hour before he was scheduled to go on shift? That was not part of the plan. Worse, he was sure the late assignment was due to some sin he had committed in the eyes of his peers. He seemed destined to continually make errors in judgement that were a given to anyone else.
Tasza did not have many friends. He liked it just fine that way. The more people you interacted with, the higher the chance got that one of them would do something unacceptable to or around you. He'd had enough of those experiences. Especially when it came to women.
The court -- the barnyard, if one was listening to any of the petty bureaucrats and cronies-in-training -- was an unusual part of the city. It was kept nearly spotless, free of grifters, merchants and the poor. Much like the University's grounds, it had a sense of potential to it; as if the mood of the elite had stained it white against the dust of the city. More certainly, it was the number of discrete groundsmen hired on to care for the immaculate greenery and pavement that allowed the perfect image to flourish.
It was calm there. Tasza had no feelings for or against the Court, but he always felt superfluous when he was assigned to it. Sane criminals or lowlifes didn't care cause trouble there. It was a good beat to assign to a newbie. He wouldn't argue with that. But why him? He could assume he'd been chosen for his by-the-book nature, but he was not so naive as to think he was appreciated for that nature. Indeed, it had so far secured him more enemies and unkind words than respect. He didn't understand it. He had first become attracted to the prospect of being a guard because it had seemed to lack the moral quandaries that had punctuated his early life. You follow the law. You uphold the law. You protect the citizens.
He knew better now.
"Five years in a month," he answered after a short pause. He relented by asking a question of his own, though not by much. "Have you fully memorized the Tomes, codes and laws?"
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
Tomes? Codes? Laws? Sisara swallowed. Right .He really wasn’t the easy conversation kind of guy. Not that she had expected it either but it was still a bit of a downer to realise that it was true. Well, she did remember some of what she had read and some of it just had seemed logical at the time so she hadn’t paid much attention to it, but now that she was out on patrol with Tasza and that was the first thing he actually asked her, she was scared that he was going to drill her on it. Then again, she shook the thought off again, she didn’t need to answer either. He may be with the guard much longer than she was, but he wasn’t her superior officer – thank the Changers for that.
“It isn’t easy to keep it all in. It’s a lot to study all at once, but I’m working on it and I’m getting there,” Sisara replied. It wasn’t even a lie. She really was working on remembering everything important; obviously not everything. Nobody could possibly remember everything written on those many pages.
She let her eyes skim over the people every now and then, though there wasn’t much to look at. It almost seemed to quiet in this place. No wonder Farius and the gang had never ventured into this part. It was peaceful though and she liked it, which was one reason why she now regretted to have never come here. Her companion didn’t seem so well at ease though but maybe that was also due to something else. Maybe he wore that expression all the time? Or maybe she was just imagining things.
“Five years already, huh? Are you going to celebrate it a little? Seems like a joyous occasion.”
“It isn’t easy to keep it all in. It’s a lot to study all at once, but I’m working on it and I’m getting there,” Sisara replied. It wasn’t even a lie. She really was working on remembering everything important; obviously not everything. Nobody could possibly remember everything written on those many pages.
She let her eyes skim over the people every now and then, though there wasn’t much to look at. It almost seemed to quiet in this place. No wonder Farius and the gang had never ventured into this part. It was peaceful though and she liked it, which was one reason why she now regretted to have never come here. Her companion didn’t seem so well at ease though but maybe that was also due to something else. Maybe he wore that expression all the time? Or maybe she was just imagining things.
“Five years already, huh? Are you going to celebrate it a little? Seems like a joyous occasion.”
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Sinuvarakoon Tasza
- Citizen
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2012 1:03 am
- Name: Tasza
- Race: Human
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
"You will be a credit to the force once you have memorized them. It isn't easy, no, but this is not a job that should come easily. We're tasked with a heavy responsibility, and we must work to ensure we properly meet the challenge." His voice was calm, but even so it would not be difficult for someone to find a hint of condescension in his voice. It was often that way for Tasza -- though he did not mean for his words to be arrogant, they were often heard that way. It baffled him. "I had not planned to celebrate."
The first watch was running morning shift that month (the fourth having caught the unenviable swing shift), which meant that the yard was peppered with clusters of clerks and couriers. Some were a little more slow moving than others, too caught up with morning gossip (and, in Tasza's opinion, possessed of extremely lenient superiors) to straggle into their offices. It was a lovely morning though, to be fair, but even so he disapproved of such lollygagging. These were the people who essentially ran the city. Their jobs were important. Even despite Tasza's feelings on the matter, however, he did not allow his disdain of their behavior show. It was not his place.
He cast his gaze over the courtyard with its neatly kept lawns (the flowers were, thankfully, not aggravating his sinuses) and manicured pathways. It smelled of jasmine and lilac and some weird blend of high quality Tian Xia ink and paper. A strange smell, one wholly unique to the Civic Court.
The first watch was running morning shift that month (the fourth having caught the unenviable swing shift), which meant that the yard was peppered with clusters of clerks and couriers. Some were a little more slow moving than others, too caught up with morning gossip (and, in Tasza's opinion, possessed of extremely lenient superiors) to straggle into their offices. It was a lovely morning though, to be fair, but even so he disapproved of such lollygagging. These were the people who essentially ran the city. Their jobs were important. Even despite Tasza's feelings on the matter, however, he did not allow his disdain of their behavior show. It was not his place.
He cast his gaze over the courtyard with its neatly kept lawns (the flowers were, thankfully, not aggravating his sinuses) and manicured pathways. It smelled of jasmine and lilac and some weird blend of high quality Tian Xia ink and paper. A strange smell, one wholly unique to the Civic Court.
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
Yes, he did take his job very seriously. Figures that she would be stuck with someone who had an actual stick up his ass for one of her first watches. Maybe they had better resort back to silence rather than talk about rules and regulations. They clearly weren’t on the same page. It wasn’t that she didn’t see the necessity to memorise it all but she didn’t see how knowing every single word to ever have been written would help her be a better guard.
Well, maybe he wasn’t all bad, or all wrong for that matter. So he seemed to like his books. That wasn’t so bad, was it? And he didn’t like celebrating things worth celebrating. That wasn’t so bad either, was it? A little weird maybe but not everyone had to celebrate. Still, the way he was starting to shape out, Sisara couldn’t help but wonder what it was this man did for fun or in his free time.
With a barely audible sigh, the woman turned her attention fully onto the crowd again, ignoring the fact that her partner seemed to be angry at the world. Can’t be helped! She wasn’t planning on having her whole shift ruined, so if it had to be uncomfortable silence – and that it was – all the way, then so be it.
A few of the faces milling about seemed vaguely familiar but Sisara couldn’t quite place them. Most likely she had bumped into them on various errands throughout Marn, but none were actual acquaintances. Just those features you see about…
With a jolt, one of the faces seemed to suddenly jump out at her and she couldn’t hide the fact that the appearance of this man had given her quite a scare. He hadn’t done anything wrong of course but she had … relieved… him of something that had been rather precious to him and she was afraid that he might recognise her. Of course, it was a silly thought. He couldn’t recognise her because he had never seen her. He hadn’t been in his house at the time of the … borrowing. Rolling back her shoulders in a vague attempt to disguise the already dissipating discomfort, Sisara decided to forgo her previous resolution of not speaking.
“So tell me, what was the best experience you have ever had as a member of the guard?”
Well, maybe he wasn’t all bad, or all wrong for that matter. So he seemed to like his books. That wasn’t so bad, was it? And he didn’t like celebrating things worth celebrating. That wasn’t so bad either, was it? A little weird maybe but not everyone had to celebrate. Still, the way he was starting to shape out, Sisara couldn’t help but wonder what it was this man did for fun or in his free time.
With a barely audible sigh, the woman turned her attention fully onto the crowd again, ignoring the fact that her partner seemed to be angry at the world. Can’t be helped! She wasn’t planning on having her whole shift ruined, so if it had to be uncomfortable silence – and that it was – all the way, then so be it.
A few of the faces milling about seemed vaguely familiar but Sisara couldn’t quite place them. Most likely she had bumped into them on various errands throughout Marn, but none were actual acquaintances. Just those features you see about…
With a jolt, one of the faces seemed to suddenly jump out at her and she couldn’t hide the fact that the appearance of this man had given her quite a scare. He hadn’t done anything wrong of course but she had … relieved… him of something that had been rather precious to him and she was afraid that he might recognise her. Of course, it was a silly thought. He couldn’t recognise her because he had never seen her. He hadn’t been in his house at the time of the … borrowing. Rolling back her shoulders in a vague attempt to disguise the already dissipating discomfort, Sisara decided to forgo her previous resolution of not speaking.
“So tell me, what was the best experience you have ever had as a member of the guard?”
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Sinuvarakoon Tasza
- Citizen
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2012 1:03 am
- Name: Tasza
- Race: Human
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
"It's all memorable, in its way." Tasza couldn't place her tone, which concerned him. He decided to wait. "For what purpose did you join the guard?"
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
Well if it was all memorable, then she was going to have to start writing her memoirs soon. Sisara didn't quite believe that it was supposedly all memorable, even if in its own way - whatever that meant - because if this was worth remembering...
“Various reasons, really,” Sisara replied, but she wasn’t quite sure how to elaborate. Should she even? If she did, what would she say? She was still a little confused on why she joined, other than following Farius and somehow she was pretty certain that Tasza would not approve of such a response.
Instead of giving a proper answer, she simply countered: “Why did you join the guard?”
“Various reasons, really,” Sisara replied, but she wasn’t quite sure how to elaborate. Should she even? If she did, what would she say? She was still a little confused on why she joined, other than following Farius and somehow she was pretty certain that Tasza would not approve of such a response.
Instead of giving a proper answer, she simply countered: “Why did you join the guard?”
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Sinuvarakoon Tasza
- Citizen
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2012 1:03 am
- Name: Tasza
- Race: Human
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
Tasza stopped short of colliding with a courier in a hurry. They were always darting about the Court like hummingbirds. It was reckless, but they somehow always seemed to avoid running into others. Tasza put it down more towards the awareness of the clerks (and the regularity of courier haste) than any special skill on the part of the couriers.
This one muttered an apology as he ran buy with his errand. Tasza suspected he'd only earned one because he was in uniform.
"I had something to prove to my father," Tasza said after a pause, watching the courier as he dashed away. He glanced at Sisara while he was looking in that direction, and held back a sigh as he resumed scanning the yard.
This one muttered an apology as he ran buy with his errand. Tasza suspected he'd only earned one because he was in uniform.
"I had something to prove to my father," Tasza said after a pause, watching the courier as he dashed away. He glanced at Sisara while he was looking in that direction, and held back a sigh as he resumed scanning the yard.
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
Sisara almost grinned as Tasza’s mishap but she didn’t, not wanting to push his buttons – just yet. She highly doubted that he would find it funny if she laughed and so far, despite the awkwardness between them, there was no animosity. At least not on her side. He was a little weird though. But she was not one to condemn anyone because they were different from others; on the contrary rather. Being different was to be applauded. Well, as long as the difference didn’t mean she was going to get into trouble.
The honest answer was not quite what she had expected however and Sisara almost stopped in her tracks as she looked at him. “Needing to proof something. Don’t we all,” she muttered before adding in a slightly louder tone: “Did you succeed?”
The honest answer was not quite what she had expected however and Sisara almost stopped in her tracks as she looked at him. “Needing to proof something. Don’t we all,” she muttered before adding in a slightly louder tone: “Did you succeed?”
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Sinuvarakoon Tasza
- Citizen
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2012 1:03 am
- Name: Tasza
- Race: Human
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
"I did not, but that did not come as a surprise to me. Do you hope to prove something?"
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
Sisara snorted. “I have a lot to proof. The fact alone that I am a woman in the guard, should be enough to give you a hint. But yes, I do have other things to proof, but mostly to myself since there is only one other person in my life who even remotely matters.”
Pausing to take a deep breath to calm her suddenly raw nerves, Sisara let her gaze sweep over the quieter places around the court to distract her mind. She had not expected him of all people to score such a hit on her emotional wounds, at least not so very soon. It seemed as though she would have to be more careful after all, at least around him.
In order to divert the conversation away from herself again, she continued with her line of questioning. “A shame you didn’t manage. How come it wasn’t a surprise though?”
Pausing to take a deep breath to calm her suddenly raw nerves, Sisara let her gaze sweep over the quieter places around the court to distract her mind. She had not expected him of all people to score such a hit on her emotional wounds, at least not so very soon. It seemed as though she would have to be more careful after all, at least around him.
In order to divert the conversation away from herself again, she continued with her line of questioning. “A shame you didn’t manage. How come it wasn’t a surprise though?”
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Sinuvarakoon Tasza
- Citizen
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2012 1:03 am
- Name: Tasza
- Race: Human
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
That was it, wasn't it? She was a woman in the Guard, an anomaly where there should not be one. If it were up to him, he would never have allowed her access in the first place, and she would have had to find some other avenue to find her self worth. It was not that he was without sympathy, but rather that some things simply should not be done -- the casual mixing of genders in a work environment being one of them.
"My family disapproved of violence as a career option." Which was an overly simple way of describing the objections to his choices in life, but he was not about to explain the complex social hierarchy of his family to a stranger, even if she was a comrade in arms in the Guard. "Is the person in your life, the one who matters, also a parent?"
It wasn't that he cared. It was a diversion.
"My family disapproved of violence as a career option." Which was an overly simple way of describing the objections to his choices in life, but he was not about to explain the complex social hierarchy of his family to a stranger, even if she was a comrade in arms in the Guard. "Is the person in your life, the one who matters, also a parent?"
It wasn't that he cared. It was a diversion.
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
Somehow Tasza was beginning to confuse her. One moment he seemed almost vulnerable, the next he was dishing out comments like he wanted to slap her rather than talk to her. It was odd. She probably shouldn’t care. And she didn’t. Not really at least.
There were a lot of things she would still have to get used to in the Guard. Being surrounded by men was top of that list.
“But being a Guard doesn’t necessarily mean that you are employing violence all the time. Surely, they had to see that?”
Of course, parents were sometimes blind. She should know, but she didn’t care about it. Why did she even bother asking about his family? Family wasn’t important. Friends, those were the important people in life. Not that she counted many of those. She had fewer friends than other people had parents. Huh.
“No,” she replied, her voice taut, once again. “My parents kicked me out when I was eleven.”
There were a lot of things she would still have to get used to in the Guard. Being surrounded by men was top of that list.
“But being a Guard doesn’t necessarily mean that you are employing violence all the time. Surely, they had to see that?”
Of course, parents were sometimes blind. She should know, but she didn’t care about it. Why did she even bother asking about his family? Family wasn’t important. Friends, those were the important people in life. Not that she counted many of those. She had fewer friends than other people had parents. Huh.
“No,” she replied, her voice taut, once again. “My parents kicked me out when I was eleven.”
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Sinuvarakoon Tasza
- Citizen
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2012 1:03 am
- Name: Tasza
- Race: Human
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
Tasza was good at hiding behind a mask of neutrality. He kept it on while he was working, and then wasn't an exception. Even so, for a moment the corners of his mouth deepened; either he flinched or his brief expression was a grimace. "Ah. I was disowned when I was. . ." he thought back, but could not remember how old he had been. "a teenager. It is my belief that Marn's Guard is an honorable career to pursue. While it is not without its own corruption, I believe that with integrity and hard work it can be a job to be proud of. But before one might partake of that pride, one must first take it seriously. Too many disdain the laws, codes and Tomes, and these are exactly what separate us from the brutes in Oldtown. They are every bit as important as the armor and weapons we use to protect ourselves and the citizens from those who wish the city ill."
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
In a way, he made sense. He made sense in a way that Sisara hadn’t considered before. The true reason for her being in the guard was Farius and that would probably always remain true. Yet hearing it stated in such a manner from a man she barely knew who obviously had quite different values from her, she couldn’t help but wonder if there might not be more to all of this than just doing a bit of patrol, hoping to be done soon to get back to one’s own life outside of work.
Sisara couldn’t help it and looked at Tasza again. There wasn’t much to be seen however as his face didn’t seem to change from what she could only considered to be some sort of scowl. His words rang true though and as much as she disliked admitting it, maybe the rules and codes were more important than she had initially thought.
“You speak true,” she stated, averting her eyes again to dutifully scan the crowd, but without truly seeing them. “I had not considered it quite that way, but what you say sounds right. Honourable work it truly is.” At least from where she was standing at the moment. “I guess I still have a lot of work to do...” That part she was not looking forward to but she also knew it was necessary. If anything, it would help her gain the upper hand against some of those annoying men.
Sisara couldn’t help it and looked at Tasza again. There wasn’t much to be seen however as his face didn’t seem to change from what she could only considered to be some sort of scowl. His words rang true though and as much as she disliked admitting it, maybe the rules and codes were more important than she had initially thought.
“You speak true,” she stated, averting her eyes again to dutifully scan the crowd, but without truly seeing them. “I had not considered it quite that way, but what you say sounds right. Honourable work it truly is.” At least from where she was standing at the moment. “I guess I still have a lot of work to do...” That part she was not looking forward to but she also knew it was necessary. If anything, it would help her gain the upper hand against some of those annoying men.