[closed] And it's strange to him

[restingstitchface]

Who: Crane and Diana
When: May
Where: One small town
What: Assisting those affected by the flood
Warnings: None currently

[Floods. Disasters. Scientists flood the local community and lend support: not out of charity but opportunity.

Crane watches them swarm the relief efforts while taking lunch: a flatbread and a glass of water flavoured with slices of lemon and lime. His own efforts have involved people, his words designed to engineer minds instead of erecting dams and sandbags. Is it a stressful time for the locals? Certainly. For others? Depends. One woman has heeded the call and taken to physical labour like a duck to water. He watches her work for a minute before announcing himself.]

What a small world.

Comments

[monomachy]

[For Diana, labor like this is simply another part of life. She has heightened strength and speed by the grace of her mother and father, and would not squander it. The distance and weight are nearly nothing to her, and she takes the time to enjoy the small-town scenery as they walk.

At his comment, she turns slightly to flash a smile.]

I would, but I pray to the gods that such an occupation never becomes necessary. I would prefer if disasters didn't befall these communities in the first place.

[restingstitchface]

[What a quaint village. What a quiet village. Its streets full of people whose homes are buried in galleons of water. There is nothing but water around, mud and dirt where people had once lingered. Now those people are repairing their homes. Surely this is the loudest they've been?

Crane wrinkles his nose and adjusts his sandbag, resting it on his knee. It takes him a while to carry on but he does, motivated not by the urge to help but by things he could accomplish here.]

Well, I would hardly disagree. But people invite disaster when building homes upon a flood plain. There is something to admire about how mankind can adapt to live in adverse environments, really.

[monomachy]

[She hums in agreement, but doesn't immediately respond, instead taking the time to nod and quickly greet those they pass. Everyone is hard at work, and yes, it does seem like this is probably the most activity this town has seen in a few decades. When she finally does respond, she sounds thoughtful.]

I have found that men are wonderfully resilient, even when they bring the hardship upon themselves. Perhaps this is very fertile ground, and the only place to farm within miles. They must have known the risks of living here, and chose to anyway. I find that brave.

[restingstitchface]

[Crane offers a smile and straightens his back, stopping for breath as people walk past, balancing his load against his knee. He considers what she admires - bravery and resilience - and amuses himself with the idea people are neither.]

At this point, I would agree. Their success speaks for itself.

[He doesn't look around at the flood and laugh.]

[monomachy]

[They come to the area that needs reinforcement, and Diana easily sets her burden on the ground. Perhaps if she had come into her power sooner, if she had learned what it truly meant to be a god, she could have done more for people like this, helped them better their situation faster; but that is not a path she lets her thoughts wander down. She is who she is now, and that is all she can work with. Tomorrow, she, too, will be better.]

So it does. Now, come. There are more supplies to transport, and the day is still young.

[restingstitchface]

[Eyes narrow at Diana from behind her back. Her comment - more a command in his opinion - needles and writhes inside his ego. Had she suggested his help was welcome, that his presence was felt, she would not be so goddamn annoying. One free and eager hand wipes sweat off his brow. Two flatten his hair back into order after an angry moment.

He expresses nothing of his displeasure and follows her along, back towards his burdens, back towards their work. Would it be wrong to ditch her with the excuse of returning to his work? Would it even be relevent? He doesn't care and after another hour's work he politely excuses himself - he needs to return to helping minds - and leaves.]