isleofavalon | [Open] July Catch-All

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[Open] July Catch-All

🧙 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!]

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[Whatever Nanaki was expecting to hear, it wasn't this. His eye widens in surprise, before his ears flatten and he looks away.]

You... disappeared? I did not know...

[Had things really been so hectic that he failed to notice? He had spoken to her so recently, too... Nanaki feels incredibly guilty over that. He hangs his head for a moment, but when Tifa speaks, he shakes his head.]

I am truly sorry for not realizing. And for not realizing your memory would not remain intact.

[Looking up at her, his tail flicks.]

No, it is fine. It is the least I can do for you, and to make up for my oversight.

[The way his ears flatten makes her heart break, and she hoped that he didn't blame himself for it.

Tifa kneels in front of him, head gently tilting to one side, and she offers him her best, most genuine and reassuring smile.]

You had no idea. Aerith didn't, either. You don't have to apologize.

[If anyone should be blamed, it should be whoever in this world thought to bring her back without her memories. Or perhaps it was no one's.

Her hand reaches out to pat against Red's side, and she stands.]

How about you tell me all about it over a few slices of meatloaf, yeah?

[Nanaki let out a little hum, grumbling softly. He may not have to apologize, but he still feels bad... but he does look up at Tifa and nods to her.]

I think that is a good idea. I'll tell you as much as you would like to hear, and answer any questions you may have.

[She hasn't known him for very long or know much about him, but there's something very grounding in Red's calmness. It helps to dull some of her own anxieties that have surfaced since knowing that they all share a different set of memories, some remembering things that others don't, and she hopes that whatever she can find in herself to ask, he might be able to answer.

Tifa leads him to the kitchens where the ladies behind the counter all greet her, and fawn over the cute red dog that they've heard rumours of. "So it's true!" and "he's so cute and different!" and "Tifa, you know him?" to which she responds with a proud nod. The smell of meatloaf and potatoes is enticing, and she wastes no time in loading up two platefuls for both of them filled to their brims with more food than she figures he has the stomach for, as well as picking out the two biggest pieces of brownie she can spot before finding them a small table.]

Eat up and enjoy!

[She slumps into her own chair and starts with a nibble of her brownie, but she won't dive into her questions right away. She wants to make sure she gives him time to enjoy his much-deserved meal, all the while smiling to herself.

Eventually though, she does want to know...]

So... [she begins slowly, not quite sure where to start.] Last I saw you, we were saying goodbye to Midgar. Heading off to Kalm next, I think.

[Tifa leaves the rest open, in case he wants to fill in any blanks.]

[It's been an odd sensation, remembering things that others don't, despite knowing that they had stood side by side for many of them. But it's something that Nanaki has had to learn to adapt to during his time here, and Nanaki has adapted to far worse conditions. He can do his best to guide his friends if they need his assistance.]

[Nanaki's ears flick at all the praise over the "cute red dog", and he looks up as a few of the workers approach him. He allows them a pat or two, before heading over to the table with Tifa. He eyes the plate with interest, sniffing in the aroma.]

It smells delicious.

[And it tastes delicious as well! He eats a few bites of meatloaf himself, before he looks up at her nodding once. He takes a moment to swallow his mouthful of meatloaf before speaking.]

Yes, I remember that much. So, you don't remember much after that, do you? [He can work with this. It's much the same case as it was with Aerith.]

From my memory of things, we have known each other for two years. We faced many hardships together and overcame many difficult battles. But we met many people along the way, and gained many valuable allies. And... lost many things along the way, as well.

[He's. Not sure whether he should go into... certain specifics about their travels together.]

[There's a lump that lodges itself in Tifa's throat. Something painful that pulls all the way into her chest, and she can hardly get past her bite of brownie, needing to force it down with a drink of water. She figured that loss would be something they might have to suffer through again with the battles lying ahead, but it still comes as a shock to her hearing that her worries are true.

To what extent... she's not sure she's ready to hear that just yet and the stark shift in her expression makes that all too clear.]

Two years, huh...

[She focuses on this detail instead, to keep the conversation from steering too far into unknown territory. Knowing too much about the future, she fears, might threaten her judgement.]

You said something about a bar...? So we really did rebuild it...

Yes, two years.

[He knows it's not easy to hear, and he doesn't push the matter, especially when he sees Tifa take a moment. He's not going to dump everything on her at once; only in bits and pieces she can manage at a time.]

[So when she talks of the bar, he will happily discuss it instead.]

Yes, you did. On the outskirts of Midgar, a new town by the name of Edge was built. You rebuilt your bar in that town, and I was able to come visit it.

[It's easier to talk about something familiar like a bar. Something she figured might happen later down the line, and she had even talked about it after Seventh Heaven had been destroyed... Knowing that it does? She isn't quite sure what to feel. On one hand, she's happy that they could, but on the other, there's a lot more to unpack from that sentence alone.

Edge? Outside of Midgar? Why there, of all places? And why does it exist in the first place? It would make more sense to just build it inside Midgar's walls, wouldn't it?

Although, if they do manage to take down Shinra, maybe it isn't so farfetched.]

Can't believe we managed. She breathes out at last. Still feels like a dream right now, but...

[She smiles across the table at Red.]

It's nice to know that you did get around to trying it. My cooking, I mean.

[Tifa wonders if they had small gatherings at this new bar, and if she will get the opportunity to host everyone, just like she's been wanting to since they all met.

... She falls silent for a moment longer before she musters up the courage to continue.]

I gotta ask though... What's Edge?

Indeed, we have managed. Despite everything, we have overcome much.

[It's a loaded sentence, sure, but he hopes that Tifa doesn't think of it too badly. They had many battles, lost many things, lost close friends... but they have persevered. They survived, and they thrived afterwards. Despite everything that had happened on their journeys, they still found happiness.]

Edge is a town that was built to the east of Midgar, built by those who had lost their homes after its fall. It's fine, as far as cities are concerned, although a bit too crowded for my liking.

[Then again, Nanaki was never one who really liked crowded cities. He tolerated them, sure, but he preferred the openness of the wilderness or the peacefulness of Cosmo Canyon.]

You rebuilt your bar there, once everything calmed down. I came to visit a couple of times where I could. Usually it would be you and the two small ones there, or occasionally Cloud when he was not off making deliveries. It is a nice place, I will admit.

[Even if he's not a fan of cities, Tifa's bar was an exception. Probably because of the company, but he didn't mind visiting it.]

[Despite the loaded sentence, there's an air of warmth that seems to permeate from Tifa, more than usual. It's... kind of a relief, hearing that after everything they've already been through, and what she assumes they will have to go through, eventually, they could find peace. Even if it is in the form of a bar, but knowing that Cloud would be there with her...? And the others? That was enough for her.

Though, something strikes her as odd.]

Two little ones? [Her head tilts, and she breaks off a piece of her brownie, but doesn't eat it yet.] You mean Marlene, and...?

[She's the only little one Tifa knows about, which brings her to her conclusion.]

Someone I haven't met yet, yeah?

[Nanaki dips his head once in a confirming nod.]

Yes. Marlene is the girl, and the boy you haven't met yet is named Denzel. He was an orphan, I believe. From what I know, Cloud found him. You can ask him more about him if you are curious.

[He didn't know the specific circumstances of how Cloud had found the boy, but Cloud was from around the same time as he was, so he would be able to explain things better than Nanaki could.]

There are others that you have not met as well, others who helped us along our journey.

[She pokes at her food with her fork, rude as it is to play with it at the table, in a sore attempt to hide the way her brows draw together, or how her lips turn downward ever so slightly. The mention of Cloud again has her stomach turning with unease, anger even, and she tries to focus instead on the sound of Nanaki's voice to push it away.]

Denzel...

[She commits the name to memory, as if any of it will matter when she returns to Gaia.

Part of her wonders who this boy is and why it was them who took him in, and where Barret had gone off to that Marlene ended up in her care again. Not that Tifa minds, but something must have happened to force his hand into that decision, because she can't imagine there being a reason for him leaving after it's all said and done, and they've found peace.

Tifa forces that train of thought to come to a screeching halt, not wanting to linger too much on what's coming for them.]

Can't wait to meet them.

[More to their merry little band. That much is comforting, and at least she has something to look forward to?

She pauses to finally take a bite, dipping a piece of meatloaf in some gravy on the side of her plate. Tifa is quiet while she chews, and her gaze remains fixed on a random spot on the table while she tries to reorganize her thoughts.]

How's the food?

[He isn't sure all of the internal turmoil that Tifa is feeling, but he can see that she is struggling to process what he's said. His ears do angle back a little bit, and he tries to offer some more reassurances.]

They are a good group. Even if some can be annoying.

[Despite the chide, he does say it with a touch of fondness. Cid's gruffness, Yuffie's boisterousness, Vincent's air of mystery... Nanaki found himself even missing Cait Sith at times. Absence did in fact make the heart nostalgic at times.]

[Attention back on the food, Nanaki moves in to take a bite himself. He can't really use a fork, but he does use his kinetic magic to help lift the slice of meatloaf up a bit so he isn't just smushing his face into gravy. He chews as politely as he can, and his tail swishes.]

It's quite delicious. Warm and hearty.

[She appreciates it. She appreciates him. His calm collectedness is infectious, and his attempts to reassure and comfort her, even in the smallest ways, does not go unappreciated. It's a lot to take in, and she still hasn't quite found the place for all of these new pieces but knowing that she can trust his word is enough for now.

Her smile brightens at the compliment, relief passing over her entire body, and she relaxes in her seat. If there's one thing that Tifa is sure of, it's that she's a hell of a cook, and that much won't change when she's in another universe.]

Good. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

[His tail swishing even has her giggling through another bite of her food, bigger this time.]

Oh! One more thing, [she starts up, her voice picking up amore tentative tone again.] You'd prefer to be called Nanaki, yeah?

[She only assumes so because Red XIII had been the name given to him by Hojo, and she wouldn't blame him for not wanting to use it.]

Aerith told me. Well, mentioned you by that name. Made the connection myself.

[One hell of a cook indeed. Nanaki's trying to savour the food, but he's already halfway done the piece he's got in his "hold". The gravy also adds to the warmth and heartiness, and honestly? He could probably gorge himself on this. But he won't; he's a cat with manners, after all!]

[He hums a bit, taking a moment to swallow what he's eaten and nod once.]

That is correct. Nanaki is my real name; Red XIII was the designation given to me by Hojo. However, you may call me whatever is most comfortable to you. I will not be offended either way.

[Despite being comfortable with his own name, he didn't want to confuse or force Tifa to make a choice she herself was unfamiliar with. She may have switched over to Nanaki in his own time, but to her he is still "Red XIII". He is willing to adapt to what she is comfortable with.]

To be honest... I think Nanaki suits you.

[So that's what she's going to go with. Of course, she'll likely slip up every now and then, but if he won't be offended, then that at least puts her mind at ease. He deserves to be known by his real name, and not some designation given to him by the crazy scientist, and Tifa wants to honour that.

She pauses to take another bite of potatoes, and waves her fork across the table at him.]

Make sure you save some room for dessert!

Thank you. And I would hope so. It's my name, after all.

[He says it with an upturn of his lips. It's not a full-on smile, though; people seem to be unnerved by his smile. Something about his teeth... But he can joke around as well!]

[His tail swishes, and he nods, taking another bite of meatloaf.]

Believe me, I will.

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[Open] July Catch-All

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I think this is a cute place to wrap 😊

Sounds good to me!