middleofsomewhere | Swirling Consequences Start

Swirling Consequences Start

On day Seven of the Month of Quicksand as passengers are beginning their day there is an announcement over the ICP system. “Attention voidtreckers and passengers of the Voidtrecker Express. Please give your attention to the following message from the void ministry.”

A blurring of the screen and it fades into a video of an elderly woman, skin a swirl of purple and blue sat behind a dark wooden desk hands folded neatly in front of her.

“Greetings crew of the Voidtrecker Express. I am commander Orlaith of the void ministry. As you will be very aware, you were recently involved in a dangerous and somewhat foolish experiment of the tethering system which we assume was initiated by your voidcraft. We received your call for emergency assistance, and were able to stabilise your craft enough to allow it to focus on ensuring crew safety. We are under the understanding that it was a crew member who used the emergency signal given by the Inspection Arm of the ministry, and that member should be commended. So too should you all, for we have reports that the crew of the Voidtrecker Express took part in a risky and difficult anchoring task to ensure the safety of all. As ever, the crew of the Voidtrecker Express exceed expectations for a crew with no formal training.

However, in less positive news, the actions of your Voidcraft have had a ripple effect throughout the void. Worlds that are non void active have reports of seeing void activity in their skies, with residents reporting dreams and uneasy feelings. In void active worlds there are more serious incidents. We have voidcrews in thousands of systems working towards stabilising the void access points.

We understand that after such an ordeal, your crew may be exhausted however we do need your help. System #5739 is a hub world that is extremely void active. It is used to weathering void storms and the barrier between the world and the void is thin. However, it is currently experiencing an unprecedented amount of void activity and world bleeding effects. We need a team to go in and help the citizens there, clearing out any issues and helping stabilise things from within.

The people there know about the void, and are used to void travellers. However, try not to stir up any extra trouble.” The last sounds almost exhausted. Their reputation may precede them.

The video ends.

I assume no one has any objections as voidtreckers have chosen to work with the Void Ministry. Please see your mission briefs. This is not a catastrophe mission."

They have a couple of hours before landing, a few hours to study their briefs and prepare for what is to come. Teams might chat, people might give out equipment gathered over the months, some of the passengers who have been on the train since the very early days of the month of Apple may have advice to give.

Either way a couple of hours later there is another announcement. “Shortly arriving at System #5739. Exiting the void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one...”

SWIRLING CONSEQUENCES: START

WEARY WANDERER ~ FOREST ~ SCRUBLANDS ~ FARMLANDS ~ COMMS

QUICKSAND 7-10 ~ TEAM OBJECTIVES ~ LOCATION INFORMATION ~ OTHER DETAILS
ASK QUESTIONS ~ SHENANIGANS ~ TEAM PLOTTING ~ MISSION TASKS/REWARDS

ARRIVAL

The train shakes as the view of the void leaves its windows, giving way to a cloudy and wet sky in its descent. There's a small bump, and they land on a set of tracks that lead them uphill. Grassy mounds can be spotted on either side, occupied by sheep, goats, and the occasional six legged antelope grazing. In the farther distance are secluded farm houses, or small clusters of buildings.

Things don’t seem so bad, until the clouds spark with colour that sends animals running, far skittish for anything they're used to.

The sparse hills give way to more trees as the train weaves through them, until finally comes to a stop at a small station, no more than a raised platform in the woods. With a sigh, the train doors open, and passengers can walk out into the clearing. Once everyone who wishes to leave disembarks, the train sets off once again, flying up into the air and out of sight.

"Oh good. You’re here!"

Looking over, voidtreckers will spot a young girl at the edge of the clearing.

"Ma said we should expect some void heroes any day now. She’s put some stew on."

And she’s off. For any who wish to follow her, she leads them to an inn, The Weary Wanderer written on a sign. It’s a large inn, larger than might be expected in such a remote place, and the innkeeper Albany quickly organises rooms and food for any who wish it.

“Well, there’s a whole lot more of you than there was.” She takes in the group after Maia explains that they are from the Voidtrecker Express. “Storms are getting worse, we’re getting reports of stampedes, landslides and monsters coming through the colours.” She explains. She has some maps of the area and happily allows her main common room to be turned into a planning station. She’s clearly used to void travellers.

THE WEARY WANDERER

The inn has a large and open floor, the entrance close to where a fire crackles, chairs and a table beside it. To the right are places for eating, and kitchen doors that lead in and out, while to the left is where a counter separates another route to the kitchen, and to the family's own private quarters. By here too are the stairs leading up into the bedrooms, with some also available on the ground floor.

There's enough room for the voidtreckers to squeeze into the front at once, and the tables can be joined to create a more team atmosphere.

The problems are everywhere it seems. Farms need help, dralite chicks need rescuing, and their parents reassured before they go on a murderous revenge spree. Voidtreckers can stay or plan or jump right into things - the forest and scrublands are the closest to reach with both behind the inn, while the farmlands will take half a day to reach. Alabany will mark on the maps where to go for the farmsteads, or ones she knows about, and allow her inn to be used as an intiial base.

For those whose skills lie more in cooking and maintaining camp, she will happily take their help in the kitchens, or suggest They go down to the nearest farmsteads and lend a hand there. It'll take about half a day on foot to reach the nearest few, but many hands are needed. They will have better tools for moving debris and making repairs; she has a few, but not enough for everyone, and she'd rather they be used around the forest if anywhere. She needs those!

Albany will warn about the dralites, and to plug your ears if you're going through the forest. Their screeching can stun and slow people even at a distance, and with everyone worked up, it makes it hard to get through. They happen to like bugs, and a fruit called matts - similar to dates, fruits that grow off certain small trees in the forest.

YELLING HEIGHTS: FOREST

Location of: Dralites, young and old, their nests; monkeys, voidblobs (uncommon), fruit cups and purple stars. Displaced people.

The Yelling Height's forest reach spreads far, wrapping around the lower third of the great Ciyesia mountain and its budding fellow heights, with trees as tall as redwoods making up most of its wood. This gives plenty of space for travellers to move through, but the treetops create thick canopies that shroud the world below, the dots of penetrating light visible in contrast. Against some trees can be found what look like bushes, and there's plenty of them around, along with moss; but looking closer, these have hollow middles, made up of pin needles, twigs, feathers and all sorts. Some have been ruined, some have eggs inside.

High-pitched cries can be heard echoing, but it can be hard to tell how far, or what distance they come from - there's too many, making what should sound distressing, sound like a racket. While there's paths that can be followed, some of the wood has fallen, with ways disturbed by rubble that's tumbled all this way down from the mountain. There are signs to aid - those that haven't been knocked over - to give some sense of direction. Still this wood is hard to navigate, and Voidtreckers will want to be careful about rushing in without a plan. Trouble lurks in all manners...

Dralites can be found scattered around this forest, big and small - Albany will tell them as much. The youngest are easy to locate, unable to fly, and make a lot of noise. Slow-moving and dragging their heavy wings, they need help moving with any speed. They can be found alone, or attracting the attention of the great chinchillas or monkeys (who see them less as prey, and more as something to bully and take out their frustrations on).

Some will accept help from the first person that approaches them, jumping on them and wrapping their wings around their neck or head, clinging on and accepting them as their ride. They will need to be returned to their nests, and will reject any nests that aren’t theirs. It'll be very similar to escorting a toddler, often throwing screeching fits if they don’t think their helper is trying hard enough, which can make it difficult for people to move around.

They are hard creatures to please, even so more the adults who are furious that their nests have been disturbed. As large as a sheep with larger wings and powerful talons they might just swoop down and grab smaller unsuspecting voidtreckers and carry them to their nests as workers to help fix them. Some of these adults may be near their nests, or will be seen swooping around above-head at startling speeds, searching for their young.

There are eggs that have gone missing too. A place they can hatch safely is essentia, since they can easily become pray or be snatched by the monkeys who live in the forest and steal from the inattentive.

As well as helping the dralites, there are herbs that can be collected here. Purple Stars are leaves that grow at the top of tall trees. These can be found deeper into the forest, and are different from the other trees by their branches only growing at the very top, their bark stripy. They will need to be climbed, or flown up to - not getting startled by adult dralites is essential, or becoming target practice to the monkeys. They have rocks.

Deep in the most dampest sections of the fores, Fruit Cups grow in a tangle around spider plants, that will ensnare the unwary into it’s sticky grip. For every few flowers, there's a wide trapping of the spider plants, vines impossible not to get stuck to. But as difficult as they are to collect, they are useful, and the potions they make will be handy to the communities that require help. Some voidblobs have gotten trapped here too, and they'll become active once people get close.

YELLING HEIGHTS: SCRUBLANDS

Location Of: Farm animals, some voidblobs, great chinchillas, farmers in need; ruined paths, craggle leaf. Some dralites, mostly adult. Displaced people.

The trees eventually give way to a mix of rock and dirt, stone jagging up from the ground underfoot that travellers will need to watch out for. Vegetation is littered around, patches of shrubs as often easy to catch the eye as grazed grass poking out around mossy-coated stone. There are paths, or were, but only the remains of them can be found, the area reshaped by landslides.

Animals can be found isolated or in some groups, spooked by any newcomers around, and the odd shepherd trying their best to get their herds under control. But there's further trouble than blocked paths to deal with - because these jobs can never be simple.

The farmers' plans are to bring the grazing animals back down to the lower ground and to their farms, but they'll need help clearing up paths and guiding them off the mountain and back to their farmsteads. Not only will it mean moving debris and locating animals, it will also mean protecting them from the predators in the area - and other trouble.

The horned goats, often a worry on these slopes, have grown even more aggressive. They ram into herds and farmers alike, even attempting to send them rolling. They need driven off, away from the herds. The chinchillas are also more aggressive, running rampage through the hills and attempting to down the livestock and to take them back to their nests.

There will also be sightings of the voidblobs for the more unfortunate, dubbed such by the locals. Gelatinous and luminescent, they are a mess of what were likely multiple creatures that have been fused together, patches of fur and teeth and claws held together with thick veins of colour. They attack indiscriminately and without reason, and are difficult to take down, never responding to blows of any type. You only know when they're taken out by when they stop moving - otherwise, they will continue.

During the first night there is a disturbance on Ciyesia. Trees are felled, the mountain seems to rumble and more animals flee, spilling panicked down the mountain to the farm lands below. For whatever aid is giving to the area on the first day, this event causes more damage to the surrounding areas.

LOWER LANDS: FARMLANDS

Location of: Voidblobs (common), great chinchillas, a few horned goats; ruined pathways, farms in need; people to craft balms and potions, access to tools.

While not as high as the Ciyesia mountain, nor as shrouding as the blanketing forest, the rolling countryside shows its sloping and uneven distance, varying fields split by tones and sandy paths - or what should be sandy paths. But the damage to the earth is noticeable, chunks of the various mounds ruined, broken at parts. You can see trouble, ensuing or approaching, just by looking around long enough.

And the biggest trouble will be reaching it.

Buildings squeeze against fields and fencing, separated far from anyone that could be called a neighbour. But there's a few of what can be called villages, where trades are conducted and visitors are sure to stop. There's usually a singular inn, but people looking to call on the help of a void traveller to help with this mess. They can promise hot meals and some goods in exchange, but first needs to come the help.

Though moving the herds closer to the farms is a sensible idea that doesn’t mean the farmlands themselves are safe. Landslides have cut communities off, some of the chinchillas and horned goats have made their way down the mountain and angry dralites stalk the plains looking for their young.

The shaking of the earth and the landslides have caused damage and debris. Trees have been felled bolders moved, barns and houses have been damaged. There’s a big clean up operation required. Farmers have wheelbarrows and shovels and Albany has some more that can be borrowed. It will require a team effort to clear the roads and make sure essential supplies get where they are needed.

Most of the farms and villages have protections in place, but they are overstretched and exhausted. Villagers take turns patrolling, protecting the herds and the people from creatures should they be goats, chinchillas or the new and terrifying void blobs.

Extra people to set up perimeters are very welcome, as are those who can drive the creatures back into the forests. It’s not just the homes themselves that need protecting but also the paths between them, so voidtreckers and others can deliver supplies to the further afield communities.

Making the herbal remedies will mean finding the right people for it, but locating the villages is a good bet. Tinctures and teas are the best method, boiling the plants and breaking them down over hours. Even if you're not experienced, people being around to help monitor the pots and bottle them will be helpful. The craggle leaf are good as they are to feed upset livestock, but also as medicine, for helping against the voidstorm's headache-inducing effects.

FROM THE VOID...

DISPLACED PEOPLE: Once or twice a year, people can be found in the Yelling Heights, wandering around dazed and confused, hailing from a whole other world. Since these storms have begun there have been at least two a day, perhaps more that have yet to be found. They have no memory of arriving, some might not even have memories of who they are, or where they come from.

For now they need found, gathered in once place and care given to them.

VOIDBLOBS: The voidblobs, as they have been dubbed by those who have seen them, are truly monstrous creatures. Perhaps once multiple creatures they have been fused together, a mess of fur and teeth and claws held together with thick veins of colour these creatures have one instinct and that is to kill.

They are rampaging, strong in their urge to destroy. Fighting them is difficult as nothing seems to slow them down until they die, it’s hard to know how hurt they are and injury doesn’t seem to stop their brute strength or will to kill. They rarely will stop and fight either, requiring a team just to keep up with them as they will lash out and fight but keep rampaging on, drawn towards groups of people or creatures. They can be found anywhere.

VOIDTEARS: For now, it's Red Team's task to find these tears and secure a perimeter on them - a difficult enough job that will take the first few days of the mission. They aren’t visible except in the storms, and so finding them requires braving them, where the wind sings with void music, rain pouring with hail, and a strong sense of unease growing until it too unbearable to endure. But the exact point of the tears must be found: a spot where the kaleidoscope of colours shines down onto any under it, only visible in that area.

STORMS: These are scattered around the lands, never moving despite the clouds that do. In the storms, the voidtears pulse with colour. Being near them is uncomfortable, and there is always the risk of a voidblob coming through. Being near the voidtears for too long even outside of voidstorms will lead to headaches, and so it is wise to rotate who is guarding them.

THE FIRST NIGHT: Late into the first night, there will be loud noises, the earth rumbling and a worrisome show of lights as the full moon hangs in the sky above. There may be word from fellow voidtreckers what's going on, but either way, this disturbance will bring out trouble into the night, breaking fencing and some buildings that were on their last legs.

OOC NOTES

OOC Post ~ Questions ~ Shenanigans ~ Tasks Check-In & Mission Rewards
This log lasts for 7-10 Quicksand, with the next log going up on the 21st March (11 Quicksand). Please remember that we will be determining the progress of the mission by task objectives being fulfilled, so PLEASE visit the task objectives toplevel and let us know what your character has been working towards! We accept handwaves (especially if your character is around but you're on hiatus), but actual thread links will count more towards success!

An extra list of prompts for ideas, arranged by team (click):

RED TEAM

You've either wandered into a group of voidblobs or see some approaching. They're annoying on their own, but as a group, they can cause serious damage.

The voidstorms are easy to find by the literal storms they bring, but the tears themselves? They're a pain to, only visible once you're right under them. How will your character persevere in the search? Flying, if you can, might seem the quickest option, but a closer level to the sky seems to make the headaches and disorientation worse.

You've somehow been convinced into fixing up a fence during watching the perimeter. Yes yes, that's important, but the area is clear for now, and what if an animal gets loose? More hands will get this done quick.

BLUE TEAM

What kind of people will you find out there in the wild? Someone desperate for an offer of aid, or someone suspicious, distrusting? Are they even human, or some other race - or sentient object?

The dralites aren't good at in any way but wailing. But their eggs are unique, obsidian in appearance. So if you see a monkey carrying any such thing, or see one being carried by a great chinchilla - that's no lucky lump of goal. That's your way of calming down the ticking time bombs of angry parents.

PURPLE TEAM

Farm work isn't your chore, but the farmers need all their herds before they go anywhere, so you're getting involved whether you want to or not.

Make a good impression on the farmers, and they're likely to help you out. Need to borrow tools? Or can you convince the farmers to let you and your friends borrow some, passing them onto the people who need them?

ORANGE TEAM

Herb collection is hard enough with tall trees and spider plants but watch out for the monkeys who want to steal the prize.

Once herbs are collected they can be made into potions. They aren't too difficult to make and Albany has recipes if asked.

Herbs aren't the only things monkeys want, there's a group converging on a dralite nest, those eggs look very shiny.

ALL TEAMS

Distance is a real concern. Who will go where, where are places and people in need? Scouting is a good idea, and so is organising who will be best, where. ... or, you can just go and do your own thing.

Image Sources: Top header - Tavern - Farmlands - Void coours

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

"Great! Man, I should get a transgate or something to stuff into my arms band," he says as he stetches. Just a quick arms behind the head! "--Then we could skip the walk straight into town!"

As it were, well... there was a farmhouse close by. Hopefully someone was there they could talk to!

"Alright! Should we call him now, see if he's free?" Tidus suggests. "How about you do it? He is teaching me about talismans, but... you're closer!"

Better if Wangji does it!!

Oh? "What's up with her?" Tidus asks, slowing his pace just a little. It sounded like B was worried - or, he so he was figuring.

But what could be happening?

"Nothing! Just hack and slash it!"

Which is what Tidus is going for - what Tidus knows he and Roland can do perfectly. He doesn't delay to dart right in with that objective, pistol swapped swiftly out for his brotherhood, the aqua colouration glowing with the first swipe he takes to inflict a delay into the chaotic substance of a being. The limbs stiffen for a moment, and Tidus takes the opportunity to plunge in the blade into the soft, gooey body of the blob; one, two three--

Claws start to swing and the gelatinous body squirms, and Tidus jumps back as legs facing the wrong way lunge at him like arms. There's some slight speed reduction from the remaining delay infliction, but it doesn't flinch as one of those legs meet with Tidus's blade, pushing instead forward into it than away.

"Yeah, it's a little bit of overkill but... okay, some of them still don't even care." Yeah, these monkeys are a little bolder than what he was expecting.

He doesn't put it away.

"How about I just make a lot of noise if they get near you while you're collecting them. You're way better at trees than I am." As if that wasn't painfully obvious from that spectacle a few minutes ago where he displayed the grace and elegance of a grizzly in a bonsai tree.

He looks around at the kitchen. He doesn’t do a lot of cooking on the train. For some reason his teammates seem to usher him out of the kitchen anytime he offers his assistance. He wants to make sure he does his part!

He smiles at Senku as he enters, “it seems only fair to pay back their hospitality.”

He walks over and looks at the potatos that need peeling. Seems simple enough.

"Yeah, I have no problem with that." Senku agreed with a little hum. "Then again, this is the kind of thing I'd do at home if I was staying somewhere."

There are a lot more potatoes here, but no matter. He was seated with an empty bucket in front of him and a potato in hand.

It's fussing, but it's none that Tidus can really grumble about as Wangji asks after him. "I'm a lil' achy," he admits, rolling his shoulder on the side he landed on, but it's not his upper body that's hurting. "I'll be fine - I didn't break anything. Just, mmgh, you know."

You know. It's a dismissive kind of remark though, one of those things that's difficult to explain when using energy. Similar to a block, or un-exercised muscle, but the muscle is your own energy. But he takes the offered hand so he get back onto his feet. This is what he gets for not practising Auron's techniques... bah.

He should probably feel proud about Wangji's next realisation, but it's embarrassing, considering: "It's not that great. It's, uh... were you here when we got thrown into that fake world? With all the superpowers?"

Yes, feed it, Quatre, feed it. It grabs at the leaves with its mouth, what amount Quatre offers it, and start to munch at it happily, taking its time to eat than to follow until it runs out. Tidus is nervous, watching it- worried about what's to come next. Geez...

"Wish we could just grab it and throw it over the fence," Tidus huffs. The fence they're near, fortunately.

"Well, it doesn't matter if it notices us - the ward doesn't stop anyone from doing that," Tidus explains. He might need to, since he does know that much! "They're just a really aggressive deterrent, like you don't want to come close to anyone behind it once you set it up. It was supposed to protect the Orange people working on those big box thingies from the last mission, see?"

To give Elidibus a better idea. But then he figures, waving a hand. "How about we call up Wangji, see what he says? He made them - then you can hear for yourself how they work! I bet they'd be cool to someone like you. You like this kind of stuff."

It's not said in a tired way at all. Just, hey Elidibus, you're a nerd about magic/energy-thingies!

THEY STARTED IT THOUGH..!!

[His whining is not helping! The monkeys don't appear to be chasing, no, but they have a good arm! To that end, another rock has beaned Katsuya right on the noggin.]

OW!

C'MON!!! [He whines, despite trying to block Madoka from the stones himself.] I was th' one stuck in mud..!!

Gotcha! 'S all good, they'll probably get it!

[He pauses, and then furrows his brows.] ....huh, guess tha's what th' menu stuff on the train shop was all abou' wasn' it...

[......................yes it took him until now.]

It doesn't take Tidus long to realise what's going on, though calling the creature a goat - is it? - catches him for a second. But is it goat? Okay. Sure, goat! Better yet--

"Right!" --Their disk is changing course and sending them towards the closed in field, bringing them over the fencing and finding them ground. Tidus jumps off as soon as there's ground under their feet, and the watery transport keeps long enough for Faux to join him; it'll dissipate into the higgledy once more, once he does get off it.

Tidus whistles with fingers in his mouth, trying to attract the blobs his way, bringing out from nowhere a blade of water. A pair of the voidblobs seem to react, but another doesn't, and the one that's tackled the ~~goat~~ horse to the ground isn't relenting on giving up on the animal. It might be too late for that one.

Bull grunts, eye flicking over it. "Wish I had a weapon," he grumbles, frustrated, saying it out loud mostly because he knows the way it's going to look, picking up a rock and beating at the thing with it. There's something different about just grabbing the thing with his bare hands like he has been, something that looks different, but bare hands aren't going to do it for a killing blow. Maybe knowing this's not the way Bull wanted to do it will help mitigate how it looks a little in the other guy's mind. Hard to know if that's necessary or not, trying to manage how the other guy thinks of him, but it doesn't seem like the guy's enjoying the fight much so at a guess he's probably not the kind of person who'd understand going a little savage.

Not how the Bull wants to come off, especially with how he's been feeling since he got trapped on the damn train, so he goes ahead and he picks up a rock that's got sharp edges and the right heft but he doesn't use it, shaking out his other hand and feeling a little blood running over it but not looking away from the thing and its slow, erratic movement. Bull will take action if it gets too close to the other guy. Better if he doesn't have to.

That was a dilemma. He's looking at the way down, the pain it'll be, but not impossible. But, maybe-

"If we can make a bridge - you okay walking on water? It'll be solid." In case he needs to clarify. "Then you can get closer to see. I'll stay back and give you room."

Something is telling him it'll be better to get Rezo closer than himself, if he's the more experienced one. And hey, he's the guy talking about stabilising the animals. He'd rather leave that to Rezo than his dinky healing magic!

I....

[...Oh. ...Oh. He can't help but feel a bit misty eyed with these compliments, even if it takes longer for them to register than it does the tears to actually form.

...He ultimately has to just smile. It's weak, but weak more because of the emotions involved than anything else. It just...feels nice.]

...Thanks. ...Thank you, [he says more clearly, sniffing a bit as he wipes at his eyes.]

...I really want to stay with the train after everything so...I'm glad I'm doing a good job..!

"Oh- Uh, Emporio Alniño," he answers, adjusting his hat again. "It's nice to meet you?"

It's not like that's in question, he's just still a little surprised is all. In fact- "...Oh- I think I recognize your name actually... ...I was wondering about how we were keeping track of everyone not that long ago..."

Nope- Weather has you pretty well, [he assures, the two soon flying onward.]

I'm going to approach quick to start, but slow down the closer to the sound we get...I'll try to cloak us in some clouds too, just to be safe.

[Emporio will just take a moment to blow on those for a bit.] I shouldn't have gotten carried away...even if Weather is stronger than me, anyone's going to cut their knuckles punching ice like that...

[He sighs, shaking his head.] But at least we cleared this spot. I don't really know how to set up a perimeter other than marking this for the others to come by though...

...

[It definitely isn't, ignoring the fact that Emporio is far from someone qualified to really help in a talk like this.

...But then again he can relate at least. He can relate a lot.]

...It... ...It's hard...when you can't choose how things happen. How it starts, or ends, or keeps going... ...But there's a reason to look forward to the chance for that choice! [he shouts more confidently, choking on his words.] I...I hoped for that choice! I fought for it, even...even when it ruined everything..!

But part of doing that means treasuring the life you have, and taking it seriously! We have a choice now- to help without bringing more pain to everyone else, including ourselves!

...so... ...so shouldn't we at least do that?

It's awkward holding onto the horns, more like antlers in how they're spiked out and curve around the upper head. Great for getting an easy grasp, one the creature doesn't appreciate it; thrashing and fighting even before the blade gets plunged into its neck, which leads it into its last throes before keeling over.

But it does manage in that brief struggle to scrape a jagged thorn for a thorn into Tidus's upper arm, a cut off curse let out when the pain hits Tidus. It's not a graze, but not too deep, and Tidus isn't turned in a way to make the stab wound obvious to Aden before the question. He's shuffling on his feet, the pain starting to pulse, and he hovers a hand over the wound, then starts to move away from the animal to give himself distance.

"Yeah-" Ugh, "--yeah, it just got me. I'll clean up."

As soon as he can kneel, sit on the ground and take off his hoodie. The tear bloody where it is, and his skin more so once revealed. He's not entirely alright, he knows, isn't trying to hide it; his answer is more aggravated than anything, annoyed.

Again: Ugh. If only he could hold still an animal like it was nothing.

He settles next to him and chooses his potato and a small peeling knife. He doesn’t have a lot of peeling experience. Most things go into the pot in their entirety. At least that is what he thought.

He starts to slowly peel away the skin, taking care to avoid hurting himself. Not that it would matter. He doesn’t feel pain. But he wouldn’t want to bleed over dinner.

“Are we to do this entire basket of them?”

"I think that's the idea, because there are a lot of us, not to mention whoever else wants to frequent here and if they're offering dinner we may as well help." Senku figured.

"Did you decide what kind of tasks you might want to do?"

Handy trick that. Not that I'm worried about getting caught.

[ Although, depending, he might be worried about getting hurt when the time comes. It's hard to say really. ]

Not really sure what we're flying into, so to speak.

...

...

...

Roland only moves further into the redwood, the light slowly dwindling under the cover of thick canopies and shadows of overarching vines. His hand just holds Inigo close, though the pause between answering him and not even looking at him are probably good enough indicators that he's trying to word this out as nicely as possible.

Eventually, he manages to respond in the most even-tempered tone possible:

"Nope. They can be house pets."

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

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Swirling Consequences Start

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the inn (because XL in a kitchen is never a good ides XD)

XL it's just potato peeling...how can this go wrong

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CW should be considered until noted otherwise at this point

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Can a potato become a weapon…we shall see

Who are you attacking? I mean. You could defeat him with a potato.

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