[Open] In the Summer Time

[tantailizing]

🧙 WHO: Zidane Tribal and You!
⚔️️ WHAT: A summer of fun with quests and zombies...! Wait...
🕒 WHEN: July
🗺️ WHERE: Throughout Camelot and Beyond
⚠️ WARNINGS: Warnings will come as needed. Minor violence with Zombies and Minotaurs

I. Surf New Turf

[Though the Alpacapies and Mossatees would probably be easier mounts to ride with, Zidane had mistaken one for a floating log and didn't realize it was a mount until he was far away, and the Mossatees just recently had their babies. If they needed their attention anywhere, it wasn't on a guy standing on their back and probably annoying the hell outta them despite their passivity.]

[Deinosuchus it was, and they weren't kidding when they said it was fast! He was off the first time it picked up speed, and giving it some food when it came paddling lazily back, burnt out from doing that much. They'd work on it - in fact, they could be seen working on it.]

... and if you signal, I can give ya a boost in speed instead. That way, ya don't tire out as fast. Sound good?

[Of course, he's not an Animal Mage so it's not sure how much the Deinosuchus might understand. At least it's not pissed off?]

II. Clean Up Chaos

Hey, hey, hey...!

[He's not sure what's going on, but he was ambushed. First the sponges, then the animals... Zidane blinks when both were done and it took another second to process his clothes had been cleaned, his hair had been redone, and his tail now had a bow on it.]

... OH MY GODS! I thought that stain would never come out of my sheath!

[Looked like he didn't care he was just mauled by woodland critters and cleaning supplies, he's too busy admiring how clean his dagger's sheath was. Perhaps another irate or hapless victim might like to point it out.]

III. The Farming Dead

[Oh good, zombies were a thing here too. And what a time to have neither holy or healing magic to put them down. Not that either really matter - zombies went down like any monster still, but it seemed like going for the head was the quickest way to make sure they were down.]

[The only real problem was numbers.]

[Then again, being outnumbered was not something Zidane easily cared about. In fact, he whistled for the next hordes attention.]

That's right! This way, fresh meat, come and get it!

IV. Spotted Dicklivery

Alright, I have the route plotted out. We have one problem though...

[He still clearly remembered the Minotaur issue from a month or so back. He was sure the lowerside of Camelot remembered the Minotaur from a month or so back - in fact, they probably remembered the stench fairly well and he's not envious about it. Dealing with the rocks was enough, but the piss - dear gods...]

[No matter, Zidane pointed out the spot.]

That Minojerk lives somewhere around there. I went to see if he was in after he ran off, but he wasn't there at the time - heck, he might've moved out. Still, he'll probably nearby so we'll have to be careful.

V. Lavaft Behind

[Didn't matter to him how dangerous the Geode Slime might become living magma after it was freed - the issue was it needed help so he was gonna help. Y'know, even though he was warned it might be scared and attack. The burns wouldn't be fun to deal with, but the other option wasn't a choice to him.]

How do you wanna approach this?

[He already had his own ideas, but he always listens to any input from his partner - if they had their own suggestions.]

VI. Wildcard

[OOC: Rather do another prompt not present? Then this is the option for you! Hit me up at demidemonLove and let's play!]

Comments

2/2

[flamekthunder]

[...........................But fine.

After another long second of staring at Zidane, he finally looks back at the slimes...who shrink back a bit since he's still giving off that intimidating aura. Seeing it, he sighs and...slowly...moves his ears.

It starts with a slight twitch, a familiar movement for whenever he catches an odd sound. Seeing them still and drawn to the movement as if fascinated, he lets out another long sigh before he...wiggles them a little more, ears straightening, lowering, and flicking around a bit.

And just like with Zidane's tail, they watch as if entranced.]

[tantailizing]

[Eustace, you know damn well by now that fact does nothing but make Zidane snicker. At least he'll just grin and watch - at first, thinking it's not working, but that face from before is being directed at the slimes.]

[Eustace, no.]

[But then, the wiggling begins, and Zidane grins wider as the slimes take interest.]

Hehe, it's working~ Now, how do we get them to follow to their friend?

[flamekthunder]

[He's going to stop moving his ears...which makes the slimes seem to slump as if sad for some reason???]

...Perhaps if we continue our own movements we could lead them there.

[tantailizing]

I don't mind doing that, but are you gonna be okay?

[Because, ehe, Eustace seems annoyed with his ear aerobics.]

[flamekthunder]

[Just a small sound of discontent.]

You'll have to do most of it, but I have no choice but to help since it seemed some preferred my ears over your tail.

[tantailizing]

Hey! If it works, it works! C'mon... for the slime, Eustace.

[For the creature in need, you'll wiggle your ears. Zidane is all for wiggling his tail.]

[flamekthunder]

[...Ugh...

Just a sigh before he starts...moving his ears again. As he said, some of the slimes seem to perk up at seeing it and start...sliming their way over as Eustace starts to walk towards where the trapped slime is.]

[tantailizing]

[It's now a parade of wiggling slimes following people with wiggling limbs back to their less-than wiggling friend still trapped behind a rock. They must walk so, but keep tail and ear wiggles frequent...]

... So should I move the rock when we get there, or do you think they'll notice and try moving it themselves? [They didn't discuss that part.]

[flamekthunder]

...Let's see what they do first.

[He's going to get a headache from all this ear movement, especially since he's consciously moving his ears for such an extended period of time.]

They might not like us approaching a trapped member of their group.

[tantailizing]

[Wiggle your ears more often, Eustace.]

True. Alright, we'll give them space once we get there - maybe hide.

[flamekthunder]

[He doesn't need to??? They move on their own if they want! Which is rarely.

Anyway he just nods as they get near the site. At this point one of the leading slimes notices something is amiss and starts sliming its way past the two see their trapped brethren!!

...

It's now wiggling and contorting in maybe distress or anger, Eustace can't tell.]

...It's agitated, step back.

[Yep, hiding might be a good option right about now.]

[tantailizing]

[But they'd be so expressive...!]

[Once they're near, even Zidane notices the change in behavior. Aha... to him, it doesn't look like they're happy.]

Don't gotta tell me twice.

[He's gonna go find a same place to hide... and peek out behind.]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace is following, but he remains nearby so he can get a feel for what's going on with the slimes and trying to...understand what he little he can make out from the gurgling sounds.

For now the rest of the slimes have gathered and doing some weird...contorting dance where their bodies inflate and contract, parts of them extending and flailing about. They seem to recognize their fellow slime despite it being in its geode form, and the trapped slime can't really do much except wriggle and...cry.

...Yep, that is definitely some crying sounds.

Oh right, he should probably tell Zidane what's going on.]

It seems they've recognized the slime...and everyone is currently upset about the situation. They seem to be at a loss of what to do and it looks like two of them are moving in to try and move the rocks but their bodies aren't capable of such physical movement.

...Some are considering blasting it with lava but others are afraid of harming the geode. They aren't getting anywhere and the situation is getting worse the longer they stay stressed.

[And without another word, as if making the decision for them, Eustace steps out.]

[tantailizing]

[Looking between Eustace and the slimes, it's hard to know what's going on. Though, it does look like the slimes are making an attempt to get their friend free just as he thought they might. Still, they're not making any real progress...]

Out of range? Hrm...

[And yeah, blasting the lava would not really help their friend. And in their current form, he grimaces at the thought off it getting hit. Perking up when Eustace moved, Zidane follows.]

Easy...

[flamekthunder]

[Sensing their movement, the slimes immediately turn and start doing their agitated blobby dance. Immediately Eustace stops and signals for Zidane to do the same.]

...Start moving your tail and...appear as non-threatening as possible.

[And he's...twitching his ears. Ugh. At least they don't have to do full body wiggling motions or Eustace would just leave that to Zidane.]

[tantailizing]

As non-threatening as possible... okay, let's give it a try...

[He slowly begins wiggling his tail while frozen again, watching the slimes closely. He can't be threatening unbalanced, can he?]

[flamekthunder]

[THE SLIMES ARE WATCHING...

THEY ARE WATCHING.......

And slowly but surely they seem to calm down. Maybe they have a memory of a goldfish but they're starting to remember their strange wiggling two-legged friends(?).

Sensing them calming a bit, Eustace nods to Zidane.]

I'm going to slowly approach and try to communicate with them. Just stay some distance behind me.

[tantailizing]

[Phew... that was close. Zidane continues wiggling his tail as he looks over at Eustace.]

Alriight... don't get burned now.

[They've been doing so well so far.]

[flamekthunder]

[Just a small nod before he slowly makes his way forward.]

Easy...we're just trying to help...

[Eustace keeps his voice calm and steady as he approaches. At first the slimes WIGGLE INTENSELY, but then when he flicks his ears, their attention immediately changes. Slowly he's starting to...sort of understand them. Not their words but their general emotions. It seems they can understand him better then he does them, anyway.]

We can move the rocks, but we need you to help keep the little one calm.

[The slimes wiggle about before they slowly open the way, the ones that were by the trapped slime remaining.

Sensing their wariness but willingness to cooperate, Eustace watches them before nodding to Zidane.]

Keep it slow...and maybe say hello or something so they can get used to you.

[tantailizing]

[Zidane's ready to react with magic if he has to, but he doesn't want to mess up what good they had going. Still, he would protect his friend if it came down to necessary.]

[When the slimes actually seem to get what Eustace is saying, they're one step closer.]

Aha... okay.

[Now he has to take a few slow steps, waving his tail when they start getting worked up, and smiling their way.]

Hello, juuust here to help your friend. Everything okaay...

[flamekthunder]

[Does "persuasion" come with bargaining magic or whatever Zidane has—

The blobs wiggle dangerously as Zidane approaches...but the tail waving helps distract them and they continue to let them pass until they're within a foot of the trapped geode slime.]

All right... Even if we get it out, it's stressed out. Just like we were warned it's likely to attack.

[He looks to the slimes nearby.]

Can you try to keep it calm or help us when that happens?

[The slimes are...a little confused as that seems to be a complicated concept for them. But when the geode slime starts wriggling around the one nearest actually stretches out to touch it as if to calm it down.]

—That. Just keep doing that.

[The slimes look at Eustace like he's an alien, but they get the general idea and just continue touching the geode slime. Only after this does Eustace let out a small breath.]

...We'll see what happens. Let's just move the rocks and be ready to run if it still ends up attacking.

[tantailizing]

[Zidane would not know. For him, it just feels normal.]

[And thank god because the slimes let him pass.]

Can't blame it. We don't know how long it's been stuck here so it'd be frustrated, hungry, and thinking it's gonna die.

[His tail bounces a little. At least the slimes can reach far enough to calm the other down?]

Got it. I can pull you back if needed, too.

[Like if he didn't manage to clear range, Zidane should be able to yank Eustace a little further.]

[flamekthunder]

[They are very stretchy.

Problem is that while there is solid rock, there are also pits of lava and it's just so damn hot.

...Okay first he's going to cast a cooling spell based on ice magic, just a small frost. The slime wiggle as if alert, but seeing as the magic is just focused on Eustace that calm again.

But how is he going to move the rock... Maybe if he can split it open further? He looks at the slime.]

I'm going to move the rocks so move back a lot. It might... Surprise you.

[The slimes look at him but they bob up and down before they slide a little away, leaving the stuck geode to now wriggle in panic as if not wanting them to leave. It's clear he'll have to be quick.

Raising his hand, he aims at the ground just in front of the rocks and with some concentration he makes the ground shift and rise a bit, forcing the rocks trapping the geode slime to move and shift.

Of course none of this goes as smoothly as he hoped. Earth magic is probably his weakest of the elements and he accidentally uses too much force and ends up creating an earth spike that pops the geode out instead. The slimes are alarmed and Eustace at first runs to try and catch it...

...But it ends up turning into a slime while in mid-air, forcing him to stumble as he tries to avoid it instead.

Yeah this isn't going well.]

[tantailizing]

[Yeah, none of this is ideal for them being fleshy humanoids, but they agreed to helping out.]

[Keeping a close eye on how things were going from the ice to the wiggling slime, things were progressing okay so far. But Eustace wanted to move the rock? Had he practiced that elemental magic yet?]

[Maybe a little, but not a lot as he just made a spike that flung the geode instead of the rocks. And it's soaring, going towards the end zone, Eustace is about to complete the pass - oh, but they have a geode turning into a lava slime...!]

[Zidane's hands were up now, tail lashing fast as he first pulls Eustace back with his Kinetic Magic from the slime's trajectory, and then catches the slime next, slowing its descent until it touches down on the ground. He releases so it can wiggle freely if it wants.]

Is everyone okay?

[flamekthunder]

[Well. That was definitely an experience being pulled back the kinetic magic and the tail. It surprises him at first, but then he just goes with it and lands on his feet when he's pulled back. He's staring at the slime, concerned more about it than himself.]

It's my fault, I miscalculated.

[Out of all the options he believed it had been the only way, but— Well, no use thinking about it now. On the one hand they got the slime out.

...But now that slime is u p s e t. The other slimes are also becoming agitated as it's basically "wailing" in slime. Eustace can't tell if the other slimes are about to turn on them or not, but it's definitely not good.]

Get back for now—

[And as if on cue the upset slime starts launching lava slime attacks, spitting out lava everywhere.]