singillatim | a late summer catchall

I wonder why? After no one showed up for a while, I was really hoping maybe no one else would have to deal with all of this.

[ Makoto glances a brighter smile toward the entrance of the hall, as if making sure none of the newcomers are paying any particular attention. But it doesn't survive the turn of his head back to Levi. )

Have we ever gone that long without new people before? Maybe it's slowing down?

[He shakes his head.]

No, that was the first time. All I can think is maybe it had something to do with, um, whatever you want to call happened that month.

Oh. Yeah, maybe.

[ Makoto resists the urge to absently touch at his nose. It hasn't been broken for a while, but he's guessing it's the same month Levi is thinking of. Auroras weren't that new. ]

That kinda violence hasn't happened before like that either, has it?

No. No, that was the first time that's happened. Hopefully the only.

[If what Enola did fixed things it should at least take awhile before the Darkwalker gets the power to do that again. Or it was a midsummer thing and they'll have to find a way to prepare for next year.]

Yeah, hopefully.

[ Without knowing it, Makoto is thinking along the same recurring midsummer thought lines. ]

So, how are the defenses?

[ Of course, if he saw the work happening, Makoto definitely chipped in some labor if Levi let him. Or some rabbit. Or both. He's luckily a quick learner and good with his hands, but Makoto clearly didn't have any experience with constructing barricades back home. ]

[He would have gladly taken the help if offered. Building barricades was mostly just stacking things on top of each other.]

Haven't really been needed so far, thankfully. We made one on the other side of the mine, too, but unless something happens I think I'll leave it at just the ones we have already.

[ Then help he got, with the occasional food too. ]

Well, we can't be too prepared around here. I wonder if there's anything we can even do about the worst threats out there.

It feels like we're sitting ducks around here sometimes, doesn't it?

Yeah. We always have to be on our toes. And then some, because the shit that happens here isn't normal for any of us.

[He sighs and nods.]

It feels like at an second the Darkwalker or Enola or some other power we've never heard of could just lay waste to the town. But all we can do is protect against things we know how to fight.

Yeah... but everything has a weakness though, doesn't it? Even the Darkwalker. And at least something powerful is on our side. Well, sort of.

I mean, otherwise, I bet all of us would already be dead. Don't you think?

I guess...there's some limit to his power, at least. Or him and Enola fighting takes up too much for him to just eat everyone at once. Part of me is still going to be afraid he could just end us at any time, but that's not really productive.

[And Levi was a horrible, horrible pessimist.]

Well, I can't really blame you. He's definitely scary. Almost makes everything else seem more manageable, I think.

But if he could do that at any time, then why hasn't he already?

[ genuine question, from the optimist in this conversation. ]

Who knows how gods' minds work. I tend to think either he's enjoying watching us worry or just paying attention to some other world or something. But you could be right too.

[ A sigh. ]

Who knows is right.

Sometimes, doesn't it feel like there's something else we're supposed to do or figure out though? I mean, I guess working together to survive all of this is the best we can do without more answers.

I bet Enola knows more than she's letting on too.

Maybe? I'm not really sure how, though. I've kind of shifted over to surviving more than figuring things out. But I'm not very smart or good at that kind of thing anyway.

[He nods.]

She's barely told us anything. The Darkwalker is bad and will eat everything and she's helping us is basically it. I don't know if she can't tells us things or if she won't.

[He's liable to think the latter, but there could be rules for gods or whatever that he doesn't get.]

Hey now, don't sell yourself short. You've got some good ideas, and survival takes guts and smarts too. Not everyone is smart in the same way after all.

I mean, look at me. I'm usually pretty good at figuring stuff out, but I don't have a better answer either. I've had to learn a lot about survival around here.

[ A little laugh. ]

I hate to say it, but I don't really trust either of them. Then again, I'd rather meet Enola over the Darkwalker any day.

Uh...thanks.

[He guesses.]

But unless a problem is solved by shooting it I'm not really good at solving problems.

[He's more or less accepted that he's an idiot though.]

I make it a policy to not trust gods. I'd rather not meet either but I have to agree with you. She's at least not trying to eat us or whatever.

You know, that actually solves more problems here than a lot of other places.

[ Makoto's laugh ends a little awkwardly with that response. But hey, he tried. ]

I've never really dealt with any before now. But I guess the one good thing about the Darkwalker is that he seems to be pretty straightforward. He shows up, death follows. Enola seems a little more complicated than that.

Anyway, if you learn anything interesting about them, or anything else around here, then I'd like to hear it. Of course, only if you feel like telling me.

I may not be as good at shooting things as you, but while I'm still breathing I'm going to do my best to figure out what I can.

Edited (tired eyes edits mb mb) 2024-09-07 03:32 (UTC)

[He smiles a bit.]

True. One of the best solutions for wolves and bears.

I've only dealt with one back in my world, but it was more than enough.

[:|]

Yeah, sure. I don't think I know anything now that isn't already known by the rest of us. But if I do I'll let you know.

That's the spirit.

[ Makoto smiles a bit right back. ]

Well, you've got more experience with them than I do.

And thanks, I appreciate it. Maybe there isn't a way out of all of this at the end of the day, but we'll never know if we don't at least try. Besides, doing something is better than wasting away doing nothing, don't you think?

Yeah. We can't just sit here and wait to freeze. And we have enough people that not everyone needs to be working full time on just surviving.

a late summer catchall

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