isleofavalon | Mossatee Madness

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Mossatee Madness

🧙 WHO: Marianne and YOU
⚔️️ WHAT: Marianne can't help but fall in love with the sweet new sea mammals whose babies keep rolling onshore. It's enough to push her past one of her biggest fears about her magic. Come chat with her and the mossatee, or help her with a dilemma after she changes back from being one...
🕒 WHEN: early July
🗺️ WHERE: along the beaches near the old docks
⚠️ WARNINGS: non-sexual nudity in one prompt

I. Animal Friend

[Marianne is very interested in the new aquatic mounts that have arrived from the Kingdom of Elphame. Not because of where they can take her, but because of what they are. She loves all animals, but beasts of burden hold an especially fond place in her heart. The small warhorse from home that often follows her around is proof positive of that.

The mossatee are especially endearing, being gentle giants that are a touch clumsy and currently tending to their young. The babies that end up on shore aren't so large yet that Marianne can't help them back into the water. The first few that she helps are collected by their parents with little more than a 'thank you' along with the Inspirioss spell, but over time (and several days) the mossatee start to linger and chat with her.

As such, Marianne is currently sitting at a dock, shoes and socks carefully laid next to her as she soaks her feet into the water. A few bundles of purple flowers have sprouted from her head, but she hardly seems to notice or mind them. After so many days of rescues, she's come to expect the side effects of Inspirioss (which the mossatee insist on casting even after Marianne tells them that it's not necessary, as she's happy to help for their company and friendship in return).

She kicks her feet gently as she laughs, chatting more easily and comfortably than she does with most people. ]

Is that so? I feel sorry for the poor rider. I'm sure he was trying his best.

[The mossatee responds with a squealing noise, prompting more laughter from Marianne.]

Well in that case, maybe he deserved it a little.

[Feel free to come see what this is all about?]

II. Becoming the Mossatee

[Pippin, her robin familiar, is the one who starts the idea of Marianne joining the mossatee using her Animal magic. Knowing that it's a non-starter for discussion on Marianne's end, he instead mentions it "casually" to the mossatee themselves and steps back to let them wear her down.

The creatures are friendly in their persistence, the little ones eager to play and show her their favorite spots while the elder ones are happy for another pair of eyes on the babies, however temporary. Marianne deflects at first, but ultimately she doesn't have the heart to turn them down. After much consideration and prayer (and a little bit of crying), she prepares for her first animal transformation. She keeps in mind what Kainé told her not long after she arrived: if she believes in herself, she should remain herself no matter what form she takes.

It turns out to be the truth. It takes a couple of attempts to do properly, and ultimately Marianne as a mossatee is still a bit too small and an unnatural shade of blue, but she gets it down well enough to go swimming with them. Far from the mindless beast she feared she would be, she's every bit herself the whole time. It's strange, to be so acutely self-conscious as she rolls around and dives and splashes, but in a relieving sort of way rather than the usual mortification that comes with the feeling. She makes a note to share the news with Claude. He'll be glad to learn her fears were unfounded and the burden lifted.

Marianne ends up spending the night with them, too tired to change back after a day of swimming and playing and being shown around and taught some of their secrets. Thankfully, natural instincts allow her to settle into the how of it so that she doesn't accidentally drown herself while sleeping. As unexpectedly nice as her experience with the mossatee has been, that would be an awful way to go.

The following day, Marianne bids her new friends farewell for now and--again, after a few tries-- manages to transform back to her human self...]

III. Exposed

[...at which point she realizes that she has no idea where her clothes have gone to.

With a shriek, she runs to take cover behind a large rock among some foliage. As people approach, she swallows back every instinct she has to keep hidden and calls out.]

E-excuse me? You wouldn't happen to have a coat or a blanket you can spare, do you?

[Please help her. :c ]

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The shriek brings Edelgard running, fearing that someone might be in danger. When she arrives however, she finds only rocks and brush, no sign of anyone in danger. But then a familiar voice calls out. "Marianne?" Edelgard calls back. "Where are you? Are you hurt?" Wait, there was a question, wasn't there? "Ah, I have my cape with me. Why? What's going on?"

[ He really thought he heard someone scream over here, but looking around he can’t seem to find anyone who’s in danger. Perhaps there’s something in the lake that’s teasing him, some weird fish that’s been magicked to mimic a human shriek.

Hey, it’d fit with what he knows of this place so far.

Still, Juzo thinks he ought to look around a bit, and is just about to start down the shore when someone calls out to him. He turns, curious, the sun catching on the steel of his head. ]

You okay there?

[ He’s yet to realize she’s naked. ]

Thank the Goddess that this is Edelgard and not some random stranger. It's still plenty embarrassing, especially since they're still getting to know each other in several ways, but the familiarity keeps it from tipping into the sort of mortification that would make her want to crawl into a hole and die.

She peeks out from where she's hiding, her eyes and a mess of still-wet blue hair rising over one of the large boulders nearby.

"I'm not hurt. I just, um. Lost my clothing."

Nothing suspicious about that sentence at all.

[Ah, there is truly nothing like a stroll along the beach to collect seashells and breathe in the lovely sea air! And to listen to the wonderful sounds: the rhythm of the waves, bird calls overhead, a shriek—-wait, what?

With one hand keeping her broad-brimmed sun hat on her head, she runs toward the sound. When she arrives there doesn’t seem to be anyone there, but then she hears a familiar voice.]

Oh, Marianne! I cannot seem to find you! Are you perhaps behind that large rock?

[She starts walking toward the rock to find out.]

It is all right, Marianne, it is only me, Flayn! Are you quite all right?

[WHAT CONTRAPTION IS THIS POOR SOUL'S HEAD MADE OUT OF?!

Despite herself and all politeness, Marianne can't help but stare for a few moments, after which she's rewarded with the glare hitting her eyes. That's deserved, she reasons as she recoils and rubs the sting out of them. The brush she's currently squatting in rustles as a result.]

U-um. Yes. I just. Um.

[This would be difficult to ask even under less bizarre circumstances, but his appearance and the fact that he is a man and this is not even slightly a proper situation for a lady such as she isn't helping her nerves at all. When she finally does get the words out, they're barely audible.]

I need something to cover myself.

[ Were Juzo a bit more observant about that kind of thing, he might call the rustling of the leaves uncomfortable, but for the moment, he remains ignorant of her situation.

It’s not a very long moment, granted. As he takes a few careful steps towards her hiding place, her words, quiet as they are, smack him right in his big metal face. ]

Something to… cover…? Oh!

[ Oh god!!!!! His barrel instantly turns away, and despite the lack of expression on his face, his whole body screams embarrassed. ]

Y-you’re not hurt are you??

I'm fine! Don't come look!

[The last thing she wants to do is corrupt Seteth's baby sister with her nudity. Surely, he'd find out somehow and she would be thrown out of the Church forever.

~~The fear makes sense in her own mind, at least in its current panicked state.~~

Eyes wide, she rises out of her hiding spot just enough to expose her head to the other young woman.]

I tried to use my animal magic and lost my clothes.

[Did he see anything?!?!!?! Why else would he be looking away so suddenly???

Marianne shrinks further into the brush, pulling her knees to her chest to try and cover herself as best she can.]

N-no, I'm not hurt.

[Aside from her dignity. That may never recover at this point.]

Nothing terrible happened to me, I promise. I just... lost my clothing...

[Note to self: pack a bag next time she does this.]

[ No, he hasn’t seen anything, but just knowing that he could has him flustered ].

R-right…

[ He’s not going to ask how because it’s frankly not his business, and the question hardly crosses his mind as it is. He does manage to slip his coat off, and does an awkward sideways shuffle in her direction, his face still very much turned away. ]

Here…

[ So saying, he thrusts an arm out, holding his coat out over her hiding place. His free hand comes up to cover his face - it doesn’t impede his vision in any way, but in case she needs to know he is definitely not looking, she has a visual. ]

"You...what?" Now that's a sentence Edelgard never expected to hear from the Edmund heir. However, the bit of exposed shoulder she can see as Marianne pokes her head over the rock are proof enough even if she wasn't already inclined to believe Marianne's story. It's not like the girl was prone to making things up, after all. Edelgard shakes her head; that doesn't actually matter right now. Her hands come up and quickly unclasp her heavy red cape from around her shoulders. Being mindful of the view, she offers it over the boulder to Marianne.

"Here, quickly. It should give you adequate coverage."

[His care in not looking is noted and appreciated, although his clear discomfort only makes Marianne feel more embarrassed by the situation herself. It's a feedback loop bouncing between them.

Still, she reaches for the offered coat all the same.]

Thank you so, so much! May the Goddess bless you.

[She scrambles to pull it on before she stands, facing away from him at first while she makes an effort to pull it shut so that there's no additional wardrobe malfunctions. It's comically large on her small frame, the hem dragging along the sand as she moves, but it will do.

Once she's sure she's modest, she turns toward him.]

I-it's okay to look now.

[ The light tug on the fabric is his cue to let go, and he takes the time to fully turn his back and search for some iota of composure. This is not how he planned on meeting, well, anyone today.

The shuffling of cloth behind him is hard to ignore, and it's a good thing he lacks ears in the same way he lacks eyes, or they would have gone bright red by now.

Almost shyly, he turns to peer over one broad shoulder at her prompting. She's covered now, thank god, but his coat may as well be a part of the lake for how much she's swimming in it. ]

Do you... need me to go pick up some real clothes for you?

Marianne winces a bit at the question. It's likely a result of surprise and not admonition, but she still can't help but worry about what Edelgard might think of the situation. How she got to this point isn't anything untoward, but it's a reasonable conclusion for someone to make. Honestly, no matter what the cause it's a pretty shameful state of affairs.

"Thank you." Marianne takes the cape and wraps it around herself before standing. It's still less coverage than she'd prefer, but at least she's covered. At the very least, it's enough for her to blend in with the other morning beachgoers--someone could easily mistake her for a person with a minimal swimsuit under a towel.

She tries, and fails, to make eye contact with her savior once she's on her feet.

"I'm sorry to trouble you with my carelessness, Edelgard."

"Don't be. I'm just relieved you're all right." Edelgard replies. "I apologize for my outburst. I was caught off-guard." The cape certainly helps, but she can tell Marianne is still uncomfortable being as exposed as she. is. Edelgard can't blame her. There's a reason she always dresses with nothing below the neck exposed, after all. She takes up a position in front of Marianne to do what she can to keep prying eyes off her. It...isn't much, unfortunately, but she's going to do all she can to help.

"We'll need to get you some replacement clothes. Do you..." She hesitates, trying to find the right words that won't cause further embarrassment or distress to Marianne. "...Do you have any idea where your original clothes might have gone?" She asks. "I can go look for them if you think they might be nearby."

And if someone perhaps stole them, Edelgard will happy go have words with them about their funny little "joke".

[Thank you for being such a gentleman, man with a strange contraption for a head.]

Oh, no, you don't have to worry about that. I have clothing back at the hotel I can change into.

[She tries to roll up a sleeve and ultimately gives up, the overflow of fabric proving to be far more than she's able to wrangle. The sleeves can just hang there nearly a foot past her hands. That's fine.]

I have animal magic, and I forgot to plan for what to do when I turn back to a human, that's all. I'm sorry to trouble you with my lack of foresight.

[After a pause, she realizes that she hasn't introduced herself yet. Certain other priorities had pushed the idea out of her mind.]

O-oh, and. My name's Marianne. It's... nice to meet you?

"Y-you don't have to be sorry." At least Edelgard doesn't seem to be upset or disappointed in her in any way. That's enough--the additional apology only makes Marianne feel awkward about its necessity. Although pretty much anything that's said makes her feel awkward, given how exposed she is both physically and mentally right now.

Marianne turns to look down the shoreline when Edelgard asks where her clothing might be, doing her best to remember what part of the beach she set off from yesterday. Ultimately, she comes up blank. "I'm sorry, but I don't. And even if I did, they've probably washed away with the tide. It's been quite some time since I left them."

The expression she wears when she looks back at Edelgard is sheepish. "The mossatee wanted to show me some things in the water, and they convinced me to use my animal magic to join them. I didn't really think about planning for when I came back to shore." In fairness to her, there was a lot on her mind when she finally made the decision to join them, driven by both excitement and fear.

When you hear a scream, you head towards it and see what's up. That's just- the right thing to do when someone is in trouble. Izzy, of course, does it by walking up the side of the rocks. Letting her magic flow to the tips of her fingers and soles of her feet to take her up the rocks like she were on flat ground.

"Hey are you oka-" Wow that's a lot of naked. Izzy will just let herself down on the other side of the rocks, giving the lady her privacy. "You get drunk and lose your clothes or something?"

Adults do dumb things like that right?

"Then I'll accompany you back to the hotel." Edelgard replies promptly. Just in case someone decides to hassle Marianne or be disrespectful; they'll think twice if she's not alone, and Edelgard is good at projecting the aura of someone you don't want to mess with. "Shall we?"

As they walk, the story comes out as to how Marianne ended up in this predicament. Edelgard looks over at her once she's finished. "Is that so? I have to say, Marianne...I'm impressed." She says finally, meeting her sheepishness with a smile. "What was it like? Being something else, under the water?"

Despite this...setback with the loss of her clothes, Marianne is the last person she'd expect to try transforming in so drastic a way, apart from Edelgard herself, at least. And yet, here she is, having spent...a day? Under the water as a mossatee exploring beneath the waves.

[ He tilts his head a little, as if briefly looking her over. She's gonna have a hell of a time getting back to the inn in that getup. ]

Don't worry about it. Just glad to help.

[ That's a rather unforeseen consequence. Hardly surprising that she got caught unawares. ]

Oh. Uh. Juzo. Nice to meet you too? [ What a weird way to meet anyone. ] You, um. You need a hand gettin' back to the inn? My coat's kinda big on you.

Edited 2021-07-06 22:36 (UTC)

The sudden (to her) appearance of a teenager just makes Marianne cry out again, flailing to cover herself and somehow managing to expose herself further to the girl before she slinks around the rock. She's pretty sure she's lost at least a year of her life from that scare. Possibly two.

"N-no, I didn't get drunk." Her voice is high-pitched and scandalized at the question. She's not that kind of girl! "I went swimming with the mossatees and don't remember where I left my clothes."

Which makes it sound like she was skinny-dipping, which is equally immodest, so she quickly adds: "As a mossatee! I have animal magic."

Well, this one is reminding her of Yuzu. High strung, animal magic. Okay- so, there are other things that are very different but that is not the topic at hand.

"I keep forgetting magic is the more reasonable answer to the bullshit here." Izzy dismissed the idea that this woman was 'that type of girl' because she is pretty sure this one would faint at the idea of showing ankle to anyone. "Well, I can't really give you my clothes. You're too tall, and way too busty to wear my things. Plus then I'd be naked and not a chance."

Izzy!

"Wait... If you can turn into an animal, why not just turn into something else until we get to a clothes store," Izzy realizes the flaw in her plan because this has happened to her before. "And then I buy you an outfit there because I doubt you have a wallet hidden on you right now."

"Thank you. I appreciate that." She feels much, much safer in her predicament with Edelgard here to look out for her. It almost makes the unwanted exposure okay.

The smile and compliment catch Marianne off-guard, and she flushes a little as she lowers her gaze. "It's not that impressive." A lie, especially given the stress the idea caused her due to her history, but she can't help herself with the self-deprecating modesty. "The mossatee found out from my familiar that I could, and since I've been helping them they asked and asked until I didn't have it in me to say no anymore. They're such kind creatures, and refusing them so much started to feel cruel."

Clearly, the feelings of the mossatee are more important than her own.

"It was strange, but wonderful. I was myself the whole time, although there were moments where I had to let myself go along with what my body knew to do. I thought that would be terrifying, but... it wasn't." She pauses, thoughtfully. How much Edelgard does or doesn't know about her makes a difference on what that last part truly means.

"...how much do you know about my Crest? If... if your Marianne is like me, she didn't tell everyone after what happened in the woods, when you fought the beast. Only a few."

Oh, that would be very kind of you thank you. And then I can give you your coat back right away.

[There is a non-zero chance that she's going to trip in this coat at least once, so the assistance will be appreciated.

That settled, Marianne takes a long look at Juzo.]

Um, I know this is rude to ask, but... what sort of contraption is that on your head?

[Look, guns don't exist in Fódlan and people with guns for heads definitely don't. She's working with the best info she has.]

"Busty?!" The description, while accurate, just manages to make Marianne blush with further embarrassment. Clearly, she saw more than just a passing glance. Or is her bosom just that obvious?

Although Marianne forces herself to calm down a bit and consider the suggestion offered. "Actually... I'm still new at it, but I think that's a good idea. I can pay you back for the clothes once I can go back to my room." The prospect of being an animal, now that she's done it once, is a lot less daunting than it once was.

[ Ah, yes. He should have seen this coming, because everyone inevitably asks. Juzo heaves a small sigh, fishing his cigarette case out of his pocket. ]

It is my head. It's a gun-- a weapon.

[ That last part comes almost as an afterthought, since many people here have asked him what a gun even is. ]

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Mossatee Madness

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