bartenderizing | Open Post 2018

[ Lately there really have been a rise in troubles and dangers in the port towns, and not just from pirates. They were the least of everyone's worries compared to the problems that stayed on land. Thieves were a growing problem and even someone that had been thrown, and forced, into being something of a protector in this town couldn't keep up on it. No matter how vigilant one was.

Alpha, beta and definitely not an omega. With all the suppressants and dampeners, to keep him as close to the majority of the population that were betas, Shizuo did his best.

There were calls about another attack that had the man running through the town. Only to see that any thieves that were around had been chased off. Instead there was just a man with labored breathing, leaning onto- no, that wasn't a staff. Shizuo thought it was though, for just a moment. Showing up from behind, he hadn't seen the swell of a child just yet either. He just had to act as the 'guardian' or whatever term was going around lately. ]

Hey, you alright? There's, uh, a place I can bring you that's a couple blocks down...

I'm fine.

[He groaned slowly to stand up and turned to face the guy talking to him. Who could definitely see the bump now. Hak looked at him for a moment and shook his head.]

Just need to buy some food.

[He probably could use a rest, but he didn't really want to stop moving now. It was early enough in the day that it wouldn't hurt to keep moving.]

[ Oh, yeah. Yup. That'd explain why someone who was armed was also getting attacked by thieves. ]

No offense, but you don't look like you're really in any condition to be going much further without some rest.

[ He's seen how pregnancy can take its toll on omegas before. He's seen it exactly one time, before the omega was encouraged to relocate out of this town, who liked their 'simple' setup. ]

Look, I'll get you there and some food.

...Fine. But only for the night.

[He can't argue with hospitality. Okay, he could, but he'd be an asshole for it. Looking at Shizuo, he moved over towards him.]

I can't stay longer than that.

Trust me, you wouldn't want to be here longer than that.

[ The town would have some sympathy, but ultimately the pregnant omega would end up being treated like all the others. Shizuo was only here because he was born here, and they found a way to use him and make him a productive member of society that wasn't some distraction.

Where he brings Hak isn't even a part of the inn proper- but the attachment on the side of it. Inside is rather inn-like with the kind of furniture and lack of a lived in feel. Unless you count the row of tonics and other medicines that are on the kitchen counter. One of which could be recognized as a kind of suppressant. ]

Feel free to relax anywhere.

That doesn't sound safe.

[He hasn't stopped in a town long since he found out. And he certainly wasn't going to slow down now. He didn't smell like an alpha. Just a pregnant omega.

Moving to sit down down on a pillow, crossing his legs, he looked closely at him.]

...So what's with this town?

[ And with this town, it didn't matter about the smell. That appearance screamed it loud enough. He'll get some water out of a jug, handing over a cup before getting one himself. ]

A lot of the port towns have been getting an increase in this kind of... activity. Blame it on taxes, the season, or whatever.

[ There's plenty that was odd about this town specifically, however. ]

This town might be a little odd for you... There aren't really any alphas or omegas here.

[ Save for the one that's currently getting their cocktail of dampeners and suppressants together. Who may as well be a beta for as long as all of that was in his system. ]

...No alphas or omegas?

[He sounded concerned about that.]

So everyone's a beta? Or they're all hiding it?

[He took the water and took a sip before putting it down.]

I can defend myself fine against the thieves at least.

Just me. I'm the only one 'hiding' what I am.

[ Which is what that huge line of medicine is about, and why he's in an attachment instead of an actual home. ]

They decided that I'd be their appointed 'guardian.' Which means I'm supposed to keep the town safe, not that I've done a good job of that.

[ When he's just one person, it seemed more like he was a scapegoat for when things go bad. ]

Why is a pregnant omega traveling on his own, anyway?

So an alpha. Makes sense. So what, are they all superstitious about alphas and omegas?

[He's curious as fuck. This is nothing like the wind tribe.]

...Shame.

[He's not going to be saying anything else on that matter. He just met the man and he's trying not to be too obvious with who he was.]

[ The water tribe had their own unique set of problems. Somehow the pirates weren't even at the top of that list. ]

I wouldn't call it superstitious. Most people are just born betas here. So when someone isn't... Well, they're working hard to make sure I have all these things to stay.

[ He sure does know how to make it sound like the town was doing him a huge favor. Which proves that this isn't superstition, so much as a town that doesn't know how to handle those that aren't betas. Especially when they dampen an alpha's instincts to the point that he's not reacting very mildly to the situation that was going on right now. ]

A shame big enough to put you and that kid, or those kids, at risk by going through these parts?

...So why do you stay? Why not find another place to live?

[Some alphas won't even touch him. Get close to him. He's had to sleep at campsites a few times because of it.]

Yes. I wouldn't be out here if I couldn't handle myself so there's a smaller risk.

I mean, I was born here.

[ Meaning this port town was all he knew. Being on those suppressants and feeling like the entire town was doing him a favor by letting him have those drugs and this job. ]

A risk's a risk. Are you even gonna be able to keep that up the rest of your term? You're still winded from that.

So? You don’t have to stay.

[He certainly didn’t. And he left people who cared about him.]

I don’t have a choice. I have to keep going.

And what, leave them without any protection at all?

[ He never thought about the options. He'd also been given a lot of lessons and habits that are now ingrained upon him, the idea of leaving, or stopping any of his medicines, hasn't even crossed his mind. ]

You got a destination in mind? Cuz at some point you're gonna be forced to stop if you're on your own.

They’re doing you a favor by forcing you to be on suppressants and protect this town. I think they’ll be fine.

[Hak couldn’t live like this. His own suppressants made him at least smell like an alpha. Before this.]

The Earth Tribe. If I can hold on for a few months, I’ll be fine.

It's not like I know anything else.

[ His instincts and nature have been dampened and suppressed for so long, he's not even protecting what should be his territory as well as he could. ]

Yeah, I really don't think you're gonna manage that on your own. No offense meant.

[ After getting some out of its container, he hands Hak some jerky. ]

Here, just to hold you over. I'll have the inn keeper know that I'm gonna need a meal for two. It'll be a start, at least.

I’m not staying here for more than a night. I will get there.

[He takes a bite of it before nodding.]

What makes you think I won’t make it?

Because I know this area, and you were winded after that one encounter.

[ The Water Tribe was going through a kind of suffering that was invisible in towns, until it ambushed you or you stepped outside of them. Or you actually looked at how things were around you. Especially inside. ]

Maybe you'll make it, but it probably won't be all of you.

...Then escort me out.

[He looks at him.]

A pregnant omega only makes things worse. Escort me to the Earth Tribe and solve everyone’s problens.

I-

[ He never really left this area, however. Not for very long, and getting to the Earth Tribe would be the longest he's ever been away. At the same time... ]

What's supposed to be at the Earth Tribe that you're so keen on getting to, anyway?

It’s not here, or home. And it’s definitely the safest.

[He nodded. Gripping his knees and looking at him.]

...I know the general too. The kid will be best off there.

[ He sure sounded sure of that, and with how this stranger ran away due to 'shame' in the first place, maybe it's the only option he feels he has. ]

... I have some people to talk to, but if I can make it work, I'll see about escorting you.

[ The town wasn't going to be happy, however. At least the people who had any say about this kind of thing won't be happy. There were a good portion that'd be glad to be rid of the alpha. Then there's large portion that were still caught up with those particular drugs. ]

For now... Feel free to rest and help yourself to anything around. Anything but the stuff on the counter in those jars, that is. You, uh, really shouldn't touch that stuff.

Thanks.

[Whether or not he got escorted didn’t matter. He was leaving tomorrow no matter what. Drinking the water.]

Just order the food, and I’ll sleep after dinner.

[He wasn’t moving. This town was unsafe. In any other time, he’d fight, but he couldn’t.]

Yeah. When it's ready, it'll be brought over from that door.

[ He'll point to one that went straight into the back of the inn, where the kitchen was. Which is the same door he goes through to start making arrangements.

The food will certainly show up before Shizuo returns. He'll be held up for quite a while, to where he'd be expecting Hak to be asleep by the time he does return. ]

rolling with it I go

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