[Open] July Catch-All

[feralhumanity]

🧙 WHO: Nanaki (Red XIII) and YOU!
⚔️️ WHAT: Open log! Quests, prompts, and all manner of things.
🕒 WHEN: Throughout July
🗺️ WHERE: All around Camelot and associated areas
⚠️ WARNINGS: None atm, will update as things go on!

Summer Fever
[Hearing about the latest summer fever that’s been going around is a little alarming, but fortunately it’s not deadly. But seeing as how many medical centres seem to need assistance from volunteers, Nanaki does eventually make his way over to see if he can help. While he is not a healer he does make use where he can, shepherding supplies to and fro and helping with deliveries. But there is one task that he ends up getting pulled into that seems perfect for someone like him.]

[There’s a section of one particular care center that is dedicated to children that have caught the summer fever. And what better care to provide a sick child than a big, furry animal to offer them comfort? He may not look like a cuddly puppy or a fluffy cat, but even despite the battle scars and intimidating aura, his presence seems to bring the children nothing short of absolute wonder and delight. Nanaki doesn’t do much, mostly just allows the kids to pet him, their tiny hands stroking at his fur, or agree to play games of catch with them. A few of the younger ones tug at his ears and mane, but he does his best to remain patient with him. A couple of the older, braver ones even ask to ride him, and he obliges, walking around the room carefully as pairs of giggling children squeal in delight on his back.]

[When playtime is over, he will lay down on the ground, or at the foot of one of the childrens’s beds if they ask him to. While they sleep he keeps watch, and perks up when someone enters the room.]

Try not to wake them. They just fell asleep.

Lavaft Behind
[All in all, the Geode Slime doesn’t look to be too dangerous when they finally approach the trapped monster; really, without the description they were given, it could easily be mistaken for another rock stuck in the magma pit. But he knows that the poor creature needs to be helped, and unfortunately knows there’s a very good chance they will be attacked once they freed it. Monsters and their defences…]

[His ears flick as he looks over the Geode Slime once more, before turning to his hunting companion.]

We should use what time we have to prepare for its attack. Unless you’re ready to attack it now.

The Farming Dead
[There is truly never a dull moment in Camelot, is there? But with the farms at risk of destruction at the hands of zombies, well, he can’t exactly let that remain untended to, can he?]

[Fighting undead monsters is not something unfamiliar to Nanaki, and his keen sense of sight makes him a good fit for anyone who’s fighting them, especially during the night. When the hordes come, he snarls, slashing at them with his claws or using elemental magic to blast them away. Those who he notices struggling he will rush over to and help thin the numbers, either by tackling the zombie bodily to the ground or freezing them in place with magic.]

Keep a sharp eye! We will fend them off together!

Clean Up Chaos
[Really, all Nanaki had been trying to do was order some food at one of the local restaurants. They even were familiar with him now, so ordering food wasn’t a big hassle anymore. But just as he’s approaching the restaurant, he lets out a rather undignified yelp as one of the magic brooms sweeps by and tries to “sweep” him up, bristles swatting at his legs and tail. He growls at the brooms, but then has to duck as a floating brush and dustpan also tries to swat at him, seemingly mistaking him for a piece of dust that needed to be cleaned. He snarls at the floating cleaning supplies, backing up as they seem to close in on him menacingly.]

Get back, unless you want to be torn to pieces!

[A little help?]

Wildcard
[Got an idea you’d like to try out? Feel free to make your own top-level, or plot something out with me at pocketnoivern!]

Comments

summer fever

[flamekthunder]

[Coming in during their play session will be a large silver husky pulling a wagon bearing various gifts and toys. The husky...doesn't seem as enthused as one would have expected from the breed, but he walks in and looks at Red XIII curiously. A...wolf? Or a lion? He's not sure.

But upon his entrance and seeing how floofy he is, some of the children run up to him in delight. Again, his behavior is odd for a "normal" dog as he isn't startled in the slightest and instead just stands there patiently...though there might have been the slightest of tail wags as they pet his ears. For now he continues to act like a real dog, not saying anything as he lightly nudges their faces. It's mostly he doesn't want to freak them out, but who knows, maybe they would get a kick out of a "talking dog."

Anyway, he'll bump them a bit before continuing to pull the wagon further in so they have a chance to take what they want from the wagon.]

[feralhumanity]

[Is Nanaki a wolf? Is he a lion? He is that which Eustace sees before him, nothing more. Simple, right?]

[But when the 'husky' comes in, what Nanaki notices about it isn't so much the behaviours; though it is odd, it's not the first thing that strikes him as out of place. It's the husky's scent. It smells... strange. A bit like magic, the kind that wouldn't normally cling to a regular animal. It has Nanaki regarding Eustace as curiously as Eustace regards him.]

[But the children seem elated to play, and the husky did bring some toys, so Nanaki just keeps an eye on them while the kids rejoice. While they pet the husky and dig through the toys, Nanaki will turn to the husky.]

I guess I am not the only four-legged one on duty today.

[flamekthunder]

[...Hm? It speaks like normal?

...Should he bother hiding his identity still or keep up the act? Really he wouldn't care of it was just him and the lionwolfthing, but the kids... For now he just looks over at Nanaki and nods.]

[feralhumanity]

[He's not much of a talker, is he? That's fine, Nanaki isn't one to judge. He shakes out his mane a bit and watches the children.]

They are a lively bunch... perhaps it will be easier to talk when they are sleeping or eating.

[flamekthunder]

[At that he nods again before his attention is pulled away by some kids who want to pet him. He just sits and remains still, allowing them to do as they please and only firmly nudging or pushing their hands or face away with his paw if they get too rowdy.

But the kids do eventually get their attention taken by the things he had brought, and once they start going off to play, Eustace makes his way over to Nanaki to sit next to him. Only then does he quietly speak to him.]

You're not an animal magic user are you.

[Nanaki felt more similar to the various bird folk he's met in that he's not quite like a normal animal and something more.]

[feralhumanity]

[Children can be predictable in a way, and eventually they are distracted with the new toys that had arrived. That's not a bad thing for Nanaki; it gives him and his "co-worker" a much-needed break.]

[His ear flicks as he looks over at the husky, and he swishes his tail in a way that has it ending up near his paws.]

No, I am not. This is my true form, through and through. But based on your question, I take it yours is something new to you, isn't it?

[flamekthunder]

I've grown used to this ability, but you're correct.

[feralhumanity]

I see. Well, you've chosen a good form, I would say. The children seem to approve.

[He saw the way they had pet the big fluffy dog!]

I will say to mind your tail, though. A few of the kids are a little grabby.

[flamekthunder]

...So I've learned. [A slight grimace as he recalls previous incidents.

Yep too late for that advice.]

Ears as well.

[feralhumanity]

Oh yes. And mane. [He reaches up with a paw to run it through his own mane, kind of like a cat pawing at its face.]

But, it's hard to stay mad at them. They are kids, after all.

[flamekthunder]

Indeed. [Hum.]

How did they take with you talking to them? Though I suppose with the fae around perhaps it's not so unusual.

[feralhumanity]

Well, they find it very amusing, at least. Surprisingly, the children are more accepting of my ability to talk than some of the adults.

[Maybe because adults had moved away from the "talking animal" trope more than kids did? Either way, the kids had seen him as a wonder more than as an oddity.]

I'm sure if they discover you can speak, they will be more than delighted.

[flamekthunder]

Perhaps... However my voice is the same as my original form. I'm not sure how they would feel if they realize I'm not a real dog.

[feralhumanity]

Well, you could always sell yourself as a magical, shapeshifting dog.

[He says it with a little bit of a chuckle to his words.]

[flamekthunder]

...I think I'd rather just play pretend and not have to deal with all the questions.

[He likes kids, he really does, but there are limits.]

[feralhumanity]

That is one way to handle it.

[His words hide a faint chuckle in them. His tail flicks as he looks back out at the children.]

But even if they can be a handful, I believe our presence here has definitely helped them. Even if it's just to take their mind off of how sick they are.

[flamekthunder]

[His gaze also turns to the children and his expression softens a bit.]

Agreed. I had never heard of this kind of therapy before, but it's proven its effectiveness. Hopefully they won't be here for much longer.

[feralhumanity]

Hopefully. But children have a resilience that adults do not. They are able to hold onto hope much easier.

[He briefly remembers the children back in Midgar, when the Geostigma plague had been so prevalent. How many had been sick, but who had also pulled through. Maybe that's why children seemed so resilient, at least to his eyes.]

[flamekthunder]

...Hm. You might be right.

[And then he perks to attention when the children start looking at them with...strange, suspicious looks and giggling as they whisper to each other.]

...They're plotting something.

[Because children are also known to be mischievous.]

[feralhumanity]

[Nanaki's own ear flicks as he looks over at the children, sees them giggling, and... oh. Yes.]

...Best be on your guard, then.

[They are definitely plotting something... but plotting what?]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace remains on the alert and watches as two girls scamper off to their rooms and come back with...

...]

...They're going to dress us up.

[That's right. Clothes.]

[feralhumanity]

Dress us up?

[Nanaki blinks in surprise, and then looks at the little clothes that the girls had brought. Oh no...]

Well... They are children...

[But also he doesn't want to play dress up.]

[flamekthunder]

[On the plus side, it's a mix of clothing. But there are definitely ribbons and dresses in there.]

...Just bear with it for now...

[feralhumanity]

[SIGH.]

That's all we can do, really...

[Children were children, after all. So he can bear with a couple rounds of dress-up.]

[...though, no one better be around to take photos of them in dresses.]

[flamekthunder]

[And here they come, giggling with so much glee that makes that discomforting feeling more prickly. Eustace will be the first to have ribbons tied around his tail and a bonnet on his head. Nanaki will have similar treatment, but the girls want to braid his mane!!! And put even more beads and accessories on him!!

And pictures will be taken. Because of course.]