fifth shot ⊗ open august log

[flamekthunder]

🧙 WHO: Eustace and anyone
⚔️️ WHAT: all three animal mage related quests
🕒 WHEN: throughout August
🗺️ WHERE: various
⚠️ WARNINGS: none except for animal deaths for the hunt task and any potential violence that might happen in the combat oriented prompts

⊗ a: task - don't treep, man

[Near the beginning of the month, Eustace helps with the farmers, taking it as more opportunities to work on his communication with other animals. But he'll also help out with some of the physical labor aspects as well.

1. Herding. Taking the form of a black sheep dog, Eustace will run out to help corral those wayward animals, even help by communicating with any other dogs that might be around to direct them. Of course, sometimes trying to get clues to where the other members of the herd can be difficult, and there are times a dog can be seen lowly growling at a cow or sheep as he tries to make sense of what they're saying. He'll even pair up with anyone else who is out there, animal mage or not, and will be useful to get in close to the animals to drive them back. Of course he has limits to his magic, so there when not using magic, he'll ride out on a horse instead. It never really occurred to him to use his magic on it, but he does find communicating with it a lot easier.

2. Helping hand. When not out running around trying to get the animals back, Eustace will be helping repairing buildings. Mending fences, bringing in wood, sorting the feed—he'll be displaying a surprising amount of knowledge and ease working in a place like this.

Also do not mind the gratuitous fanservice as without his cloak on, the Erune fashion preference of wearing backless, sideless tops will be on full display.]

⊗ b: task - invasive species

[Knowing full well the necessity of controlling animal populations, Eustace heads out to site to help deal with it. It would be nice if they could convince the animals to move, but that could cos other problems in other ecosystems, so culling may just be the best answer here. However he's bringing a cart with him as he's not going to let this go to waste.

1. On the Hunt. Although he prefers working by himself, if there is anyone who is not as experienced he'll offer some advice or walk with them to help with the hunt. Otherwise, anyone wandering might be surprised if an animal suddenly falls and Eustace drops down from his perch in the trees, the gunshot that took out the creature silent.

2. Loading the Cart. After each kill, Eustace will carry it back to the cart he brought with him, arranging them in a certain way. And towards the end he'll even make an offer.]

All of these can be taken back and used as food or materials for goods. If you want any for your own use or to sell, go ahead. I can also prepare it if you can't.

[3. Carcinuses. Since the Carcinuses are only out because of the excess food, Eustace is less inclined to try and actually kill them. He will if there's no other choice, so he's ready to shoot down the lightning, but he'll try to help drive them back. The methods employed are to either bait them back in the water by chucking his own kills into the lake or...try and actually communicate.

This is a little tougher, but he'll try. So some might see a...very small, strange looking silvery gray crab staring up at a giant Carcinus who is just staring right back at the puny thing with some curiosity.

...Yeah he has no idea if this will work, but an attempt is being made. Or he could be mistaken as a little crab being intimidated by a big giant scorpion tailed crab when it's really probably the opposite. The claws are up, could there be a show down!?? (No, no there isn't.)]

⊗ c: task - animal mage hunt

[Eustace is not only an animal magic user, but because of his ears he can be easily mistaken as a "victim" of this ritual. So he's getting a double whammy on this one. The two options are:

1. Getting an Earful. Eustace was already used to people staring at his ears or even outright asking about it, but the past few days have been aggravating. Too many people have come up to him and either expressed pity or asked personal, invasive questions that were borderline disturbing and some outright propositioning. Some even had the audacity to try and touch them or worse—look to see if he had a tail hidden. For the most part they have more harmless so he just ignored and walked away (or smack a hand that came too close), but there's a point where the limits of his own patience is reached and he'll snap. Some might see someone fleeing from him in fear...or perhaps you might be daring enough to inquire while he's in this foul mood?

2. Targeted. There will be a few key incidents, but over the next few days Eustace will first notice he's being followed before he finds himself having to defend against sudden attacks. He'll also be on the hunt for the assailants as they are clearly a threat. For the most part he can handle it, but there are still times he could slip. Anyone who sees Eustace fighting off his assailant is free to intervene and help, perhaps even stopping one before he even realizes one is tailing him. Alternatively, anyone who wants to target and fight him is free to do so as well! Just PM so can figure out how it turns out.]

⊗ d: wildcard

[Thanks to the Animal Mage Hunt, he's going to end up suffering a severe injury later on that will limit his activity for the second half of the month, so most of the activity would be better set earlier. But if anyone wants to do a thread to check on him while he's recuperating, that's doable! If interested in anything else not included here, just hit me up on laenavesse or discord and we can work something out!]

Comments

[flamekthunder]

[He just side eyes his familiar who is just lying languidly on the floor behind him before looking back at Zidane.]

I already had to move once because of someone doing that, I'd rather not have another.

[DEAD FLAT LOOK before he finally steps aside to let Zidane in.]

[tantailizing]

... What the hell do you mean it happened before?

[Eustace!? Also, he'll step inside and actually set his bag down on the first clear table he can.]

[flamekthunder]

...

Forget it.

[DEFINITELY A SLIP OF THE TONGUE.]

[tantailizing]

Oh no, you brought it up now. This isn't related to your injuries, right?

[Because sometimes, they can Eustace.]

[flamekthunder]

Not in this case.

[He's not helping.]

[tantailizing]

Okaay... so what happened before? Also, do you wanna plate or just the to-go container?

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace just looks at him before he makes his way over to the table and pulls out a chair to sit down.]

Container.

[...Maybe or may not be trying to reduce work load. Yeah sure Gran would clean it but he doesn't want to trouble his captain more than he already has.

Also still not answering.]

[tantailizing]

Alright. They put reusable utensils in the bag, but if you want your own, I don't know which drawer you have them in.

[Better say while he's getting the food out.]

... Was it a girl?

[flamekthunder]

I can use the ones provided.

[Again, less work. ...Though the food Zidane brought better be easy to eat with one hand.......

And again, remaining silent.]

[tantailizing]

Sounds good.

[Eustace probably doesn't want Zidane digging through his kitchen anyway.]

[Walking over with container and spork balanced on top, he sets it down on the table.]

That bad, huh? And you're sure they don't know where you moved now?

[flamekthunder]

[Just....giving Zidane a look.]

You're not going to drop this until I tell you, are you.

[Statement, not a question.]

[tantailizing]

I think you know the answer by now.

[Which is just a way to say yes.]

[flamekthunder]

[He just makes a sound of discontent before he pulls the food towards him. He's fortunate his dominant hand is more or less fully functional, so he's able to manage decent enough.

But there's just going to be a long stretch of silence broken only by the rustling sound of Eustace opening the container and poking at the food before he finally opens his mouth.]

Some woman sent me a love letter a few months ago. I incinerated it and never responded and thought that was the end of it. But apparently she's been watching me, though I don't know for how long.

[And he looks absolutely not happy about it all. Just thinking about it is enough to make him lose his appetite.]

[tantailizing]

[Don't worry about the food. Not shaped too cute that Eustace can't eat it.]

[Meanwhile, Zidane's eyes grow.]

Yeesh, sorry to hear that. Hmm... not sure what tactic might get her to back off...

[Because, he's sorry to think this, but she sounds determined.]

... What about a temporary date? Maybe if you didn't seem single anymore.

[flamekthunder]

[Just a hard look.]

She'll just target the other person instead.

[There's a troubled expression as he idly stabs the food. It's not just conjecture as he recalls what happened with Tifa... And no not a date. He only thought about it because of the stalker it has no correlation whatsoever to Zidane's stupid idea—]

It only got this far because of my own negligence. I'll deal with it myself.

[tantailizing]

...? We've hung out a lot...

[He's confused. He knows he would've realized if they'd been followed. Was he with another friend? It doesn't matter, but he still wants to know.]

Eustace, did you go on a date?

[But also...]

You shouldn't have to. Besides, a situation like this can get really bad like 'you could disappear' bad.

[flamekthunder]

[Another look.]

No.

[He just went out with a... ....friend... who happened to be female and it was a movie. Just a movie!!!!!!

He's going to look a bit more defensive than one would expect though, that one word holding a lot in that denial.]

And I'm just going to bring in the authorities and file charges.

[tantailizing]

Okay, so a not-date date.

[Totally fine, but still totally messing with him too.]

Good because Eria's already worried about you.

[flamekthunder]

It was just a movie... [Just a low mutter as he stabs into the food before eating and going silent.

Eria is lying at his feet and huffs. Damn right she's worried this stupid loner. She works so hard to get him to make friends and he still goes off on his own!! Huff huff.]

[tantailizing]

A movie? Huh, I still haven't seen one, but I read online it's a good date choice.

[Since he doubts Eustace won't tell him who with, he looks at Eria.]

Hey, any clues to Eustace's not-date date?

[flamekthunder]

[BY THE PRIMALS

He just twitches as he can't believe this and just continues to remain in stony silence. Could he tell Zidane? Of course it's not like he has anything to hide. But this is his private life being pried into and he's of course going to be cagey about it.

Eria of course doesn't care about that and wags her tail slowly with a mischievous glint in her eye. Oh yes, she knows.]

[tantailizing]

Oh ho~ How about a guessing game? One bark or paw tap for yes, two for no?

[Better decide Eustace because this can only go so well.]

[flamekthunder]

[...Who would Zidane even guess?

He's just going to ignore all this and eat.

Eria will move up from her spot and saunter around to Zidane so that she can face him properly. Let's do this.]

[tantailizing]

[True, he knows people, but he can totally do this.]

[Zidane faces Eria. Let the game begin.]

Okay, let's start easy. Was it a girl?

[Even if he gets it wrong, then he knows otherwise.]

[flamekthunder]

[A paw tap.]