sixth shot ⊗ open september log

[flamekthunder]

🧙 WHO: Eustace and anyone
⚔️️ WHAT: various quests
🕒 WHEN: throughout September
🗺️ WHERE: various
⚠️ WARNINGS: none except for any potential violence that might happen in the combat oriented prompts

⊗ a: task - shear determination

[Shearing sheep...that takes him back and although it's been a while he heads over. Even if he can't, he can at least use his magic to try and help keep them calm. So for shearers, Eustace can assist some of the nervous sheep, quietly speaking to them and stroking their heads to keep them calm. And he'll also give some advice.]

You need to get all the way down to the skin and be quick about it, so don't hesitate. Be firm or it'll just come out jagged and you'll have to do it over. The faster you are the, less time they'll be like this and remain stressed.

And watch its right side—seems like it's more sensitive there. Could be a skin irritation, but we can treat it after it's been sheared.

[He'll call out any other such problematic spots a sheep might have. Sensitive leg, ticklish belly, don't be too rough, don't be too gentle—being able to hear and understand the sheep certainly has its benefits.]

⊗ b: task - cult classic

[If it's not one set of idiots it's another...

Having recovered from his injuries from last month, Eustace will take this as a prime opportunity to "warm up" and get back into it. Although there had been no deaths, it's clear the guy is being too reckless. Except with him sticking to the rooftops in the late evenings and around the places the incidents have occurred, it wouldn't be too unusual for him to be momentarily be mistaken. Especially when he's always wearing his own cloak.]

⊗ c: tdm - the fighting badass

[Zombies and undead... Well he's used to fighting them, but carrying back their remains? Not the most pleasant thing, but a job's a job and it's something he can do. He needs the exercise, anyway.

1. Combat. Although he'll plan on going solo, he won't helping anyone who is also dealing with the zombies. And wouldn't you know, lightning is fairly effective against them. Not wanting to push himself too, he's setting himself on a high point and sniping down the zombies, shooting lightning down immobilize and down them. Should he have someone that's more close combat, he'll be careful with his shots and let them finish it off.

2. Night watch. For the journey back, Eustace will be definitely guarded and alert on the captured remains. If camping out with someone, he'll secure the bags or boxes used to hold them and eye them warily.]

It would be better if there was some kind of sealing magic... Go ahead and sleep, I'll keep watch.

⊗ d: wildcard

[Considered the Take to the Skiesish prompts but he'd need some convincing to drink the vials. Should anyone want to take that up, I'll be game for any of the other prompts (flying, catching stars, giant bats). If interested in anything else not included here, just hit me up on laenavesse or discord and we can work something out!]

Comments

The Fighting Badass - Combat

[tantailizing]

[First time for everything, and for him? Yeah, first time he's out hunting undead creatures to bring back the remains. Usually, you'd want to leave them long behind so they don't try reanimating and becoming an issue, or throw some light magic on it - or healing magic, it counts.]

[The best they can do right now is put them down and dice them up to buy time while they pull themselves back together. Magic Tags would be great right now, but between gun shots and being closed to being scratched a few times, Zidane's having some fun with it.]

[... How many did they need again? Ah well.]

[flamekthunder]

[It's a testament to Eustace's skill that he's able to keep track of Zidane's fast movements and be able to work around it. Granted, he's used to having to deal with such fighters, so he's well practiced. And between the two of them, the group they had found quickly thins out, Eustace sniping an undead that had tried to "sneak up" on Zidane. Really it's a pitiful attempt and Zidane probably saw it coming a mile away, anyway, but there are still a few so one less distraction for him.

However, seeing some of the ones they had taken care of start to twitch, Eustace calls out.]</small. Gather them up! I'm finishing this.

[tantailizing]

[Zidane's not even worried about Eustace hitting him. He trusts the guy enough not to - and that's putting a lot of faith into someone with a long-ranged weapon. There's only a glance back at the zombie going down behind him; yeah, he knew it was there, but again, he wasn't too worried about it.]

Got it! [Speed on, then! Sure, he's already moving faster than a bunch of shambling corpses, but having some trying to follow him while he's rounding them into a tight circle, kicking a few stragglers in? It's almost an amusing sight. And once they're together enough, Zidane's out of sight.]

shear determination

[troubadamsel]

[ Maribelle had thought some of this stuff about the sheep was exaggeration... but she's not about to admit that to anybody, especially not Eustace! So she's keeping on a calm face, pretending everything is fine and she is not terrified of being set on fire. ]

How in the world do you know all this information? I didn't take you for a farmer...

[flamekthunder]

[He just glances at her as he keeps a hold on the sheep.]

...It's been a while, but my family raised livestock.

[troubadamsel]

Is that so? I never would have guessed.

[ Mostly because the idea of Animal Men raising animals seems a little silly. But, again, keeps that to herself. ]

you know 🥂 cw: stalking

[starshower]

['Meet me at The Sweet escape at 7:00 tomorrow night. Dress nice or else they won't let you in. I'm serious! Reservation's under my name.'

That was the message Eustace got the night before they were to set the plan in motion. She promised she would help him draw out the woman who's been eyeing—sorry, stalking—him for several months, and now it was time to execute said plan. How? Well, how else to draw out the crazies than to send him on a date with another woman? The movie seemed to work in bringing her out of the woodwork, but this...? This might be a little overkill, if she's being honest, but Tifa was never one for sparing details.

The Sweet Escape restaurant was known as one of the most high-class establishments in the city. Reservation only, and their dress code certainly lived up to its name. Tifa wasn't kidding around when she told Eustace to dress nice, and that was a complete understatement that becomes all too obvious when she walks through the front door.

She worried about being overdressed in her black dress, but if anything, she might have been underdressed for the place... and she's already running a bit too late to care much—about fifteen minutes—because she'd been too busy fussing with her hair before deciding to pull it up into a bun, so when she arrives, all she can think of is putting as much distance between her and the woman as possible. Peering over the tables of men and women in their tuxedoes and gowns, she spots Eustace at one near the window.

Crap... The worst possible place for them to sit.

For a moment, as her eyes land on him, she wonders again if this is overkill. Besides the snag of the window seat, hopefully the plan will work as intended, but... For whatever reason, it's hard to notice anything else besides how different he looks in that suit compared to what she's used to. He looks... good. Or maybe it's just the way the warm glow from the dim lights and candles falls on his face... Yeah. That ought to be it.

Because this is definitely anything but a date.]

[flamekthunder]

[When he got the message and after looking up the restaurant, Eustace could only scowl a bit. Really, Tifa, he has to get an actual suit at such short notice?? Well he's worked with worse...and having two titles under his belt helps so he manages to get a white suit picked out and fitted to his size. Still, when he actually arrives at the restaurant and is ushered to the table, he can't help but wonder how she managed to get a reservation. Or...why she chose this particular venue. What was the angle? Make the woman jealous because of...fine dining? This would be the nuance that would just fly over his head as he leans against his chair and props his chin against his hand as he gazes out the window.

From a glance it might look like he's just staring off in no place in particular, but in reality he's searching. Searching for the one he knows is out there. If she managed to tail him to see a damn movie, he wouldn't be surprised if she caught him looking for the suit and tail him from there. It's...disturbing to say the least, but if it...

...

There you are.

It had been a subtle shift, but he caught the glance of a woman who had been sitting on a bench directly across from where he was sitting. He's not sure when she arrived as it had been empty before, but there was no mistake in that dangerous, passionate gleam he caught in the seconds their eyes met. Unconsciously his eyes narrow, expression frosting over before he looks away. He had given her enough attention...or maybe too much. But it had been hard to not express his disgust over the matter. Little did he know that the woman would interpret it completely differently...but that's for later.

For now he had been about to check his watch and message Tifa to make sure she was okay when he sees her faltering a few tables away. His eyes meet hers and... ...? She's staring at him and seems distracted. Is this too much for her? ...He didn't overdress did he— Or maybe she's nervous about the plan? Going out to a fancy dinner like this is a bit... Well he can roll with it, but it's hard to deny it is a bit awkward. Although she did seem to put in a lot of effort in her own attire... ...

Well. This is supposed to be a "date," fake or not, so he supposes he should act the part, especially when he knows they're being watched. When she starts moving again he'll slowly get out of his seat to greet her, and when she arrives... It's a snap decision, one that was strangely formed the moment he got a closer look at her face.]

...Tifa. [His voice is low yet a little soft as he reaches out to her, fingertips ghosting over her cheek as he leans in as if going in for a kiss. Except his face tilts away and his mouth is closer to her ear instead, his voice lowering into a quiet murmur.]

She's watching.

[Yeah not the most romantic line ever and probably more chilling than anything, but he's using this an opportunity to keep up the act while warning Tifa at the same time.]

[starshower]

[She'd been about to lean in too when he gets to it first, and his low voice leaving those words behind in her ear sends a chill creeping up the back of her neck. Tifa knew they would risk putting themselves out here like this, but the fact that she already knew where they would be is both terrifying, but also not so surprising given what little she knows about her.]

Already?

[Her hand moves up against his chest, knowing full well now that she has to play it up a little, and play up as she might, Tifa can still feel the colour rising in her cheeks as she pulls her face away from him, forcing gentle laughter as if he'd just pressed a kiss to them instead. It's an excuse for her to search through the window at the streets for her, and she doesn't have to look very hard. There she is, seated on a bench directly across from their table with that bouquet, her eyes wide as she stares back, and Tifa lets the corners of her lips pull upward in a smirk before she finds her seat.

She's going to try her best not to glance sideways out the window, to pretend that she doesn't notice her sitting there, still eyeing them, so she focuses on Eustace instead.

... ]

I uh, like the suit...!

c: night watch

[feisticuffs]

[It seems that no matter what world you're in, undead are notoriously troublesome. Jade remembers full well how capable Eustace is from their skirmish with the nudibranchs some months back, but even so, she's not about to let him stay up and keep an eye out all on his lonesome. There are others who seem content to take their rest, but Jade is not among them.]

What, and risk letting you have all the fun if something happens?

[She gives him a lopsided little smile as she braces her hands against her hips and looks down at the sacks and crates being used to haul their share of the remains.]

I do agree that magic would be ideal. I wonder...

!!

[flamekthunder]

[He just gives her a slight look at that, but he just continues to check on the various containers holding all these undead parts before he glances at her again.]

What are you thinking?

Shear Determination

[pricklybloom]

[ Honestly, Amy had no idea what she was doing even when she decided to take this task. So she actually does appreciate the notes that he provides. ]

Okay. Let's see...

[ Maybe start on the right to get that over with? ]

[flamekthunder]

[He's waiting patiently, but seeing her hesitate he waits only a moment longer before offering another suggestion.]

Start at its stomach, from the base of its neck down. Don't hesitate to press down, the shears won't cut the skin.

d: visiting the calamity

[sighsheavily]

Welcome.

[the tinkling of the little bell over her office door is what prompts it, not any sight of the person entering themselves. Cecelia's got her head down, poring over a book that's soon to come due to the library on the other side of the city, while she writes shorthand into a journal next to it.]

Kindly sign in, if you please; I'll be with you in a moment.

[as if she needed to say so: there's a ledger close to the entrance with an open book and a sign that says exactly that!

there is a small table-and-chair arrangement by the windows just a few steps from it, as well, where cups and a kettle are left idle, still warm. it smells much the same as the brew she'd cooked up out in the field where they had first met.

beyond that...a rather spartanly decorated office. she doesn't like to be too idle for such things as aesthetic, though her desk sure as hell is oaken and fancy enough!]

[flamekthunder]

[Right at the appointed time, Eustace arrives at the designated meeting place and only looks at her as she leaves her instructions. Given that she seems to be in the middle of working and that she's the one in charge of this little "trip," Eustace isn't going to complain. He's not in any real rush, anyway, so he just steps up to the book in silence and jots his name down. Once finished, he slowly steps further inward, glancing at the office with some idle curiosity. Of what he's seen, it fits her quite well, and really he can relate. He's not much of a decorator for his own lodgings and office back in his world.

Rather than take the chair, he leans against the wall, arms crossed over his chest with eyes closed as he just waits with that same calm, patient silence as he entered.]

C - 1

[scriptwriter]

[This job sucked for sure! Since he had his pistol finally adjusted for firing magic. Kotarou was taking his time on the ground to shoot off as the zombies that were beginning to crowd around him. Compared to Eustace's sharp eyes, Kotarou was more inexperienced whenever it came to using firearms. He had training, but not much use of it in combat.

That's why one of the zombie reaches out to bite down on his arm and he lets out a sharp cry. It wasn't the first time that Kotarou had been in fights, but he was still lacking in various levels of experience. He felt that this would've been good practice, but a long ranged weapon on the ground wasn't going to mean anything if his opponent gotten close up.]

Get... the hell off of me!

[He grits his teeth as something unexpected happens to the zombie that bit down on his arm. Red spikes suddenly pop out from the monster's skull and it drops dead. Kotarou couldn't help and freeze up from seeing that. The red spikes shatter apart before more blood drips down and coils around Kotarou's arm like a crimson snake.]

What the-!? This power is...

[Blood magic. It had to be that! He had some experience with using this power, so Kotarou gives the blood shape by transforming it into a set of claws. Getting into his fighting position, he felt far more confident tackling the undead now.]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace had been nearby when he heard the commotion and he arrives just in time to see Kotarou bitten. At first he's alarmed and quickly sets up for the shot, but then he witnesses the strange blood magic in action. Not that he fully comprehends what's going on, and it's clear Kotarou's just as surprised.]

That idiot...

[Still, what the hell is doing down there with only that gun and getting distracted?? So he shouts out roughly at him:]

Get down!

[There's a sudden barrage of lightning bolts that crackle through the air before hitting a few of the zombies shambling towards Kotarou. It's not all of them, but enough to thin out the group and give Kotarou a bit more breathing room to try out his new magic.]

a - shear determination

[mycaringheart]

[Lyon has never sheared a sheep before, but if he's going to be here, he might as well do his best to be helpful. So here he is, shears in hand (they're small enough that he has no trouble handling them, which makes sense, for such things they'd need a tool that was at least somewhat nimble), gently petting the sheep as he considers the best place to start...

But he looks up when this person - who sounds like he knows what he's talking about - mentions the skin irritation.]

O-Oh, is that so? Should I try healing magic first, then? If it would help this one to be more comfortable, I mean.

[He really is nervous about hurting it.]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace gives him a thoughtful look.]

It won't hurt to try. [He then leans closer and points to the area.] It's around here. However it would be best if you spoke to it about what you're doing. It might not understand your words, but it can sense intentions through your tone of voice.

Don't be too nervous, either, or it might become more afraid.

Cult Classic

[tempredmental]

[Someone else was feeling a lot better now that he was healed up. Seeing someone running around in a cloak while he was trying to hunt someone down doing exactly that drew Keith's attention immediately. With Kosmo's help, Keith teleported into the cloaked person's path, ready to stop him.]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace had thought he had caught a trail, but he's surprised and forced to jump when someone suddenly appears in front of him. Immediately his hand goes to his gun, ready to draw when—]

...Keith?

b - cult classic

[ichoosefight]

[ Late night just happens to be Steph's afternoon, so she's on her way to a late dinner when a man in a mask, hat and cape comes running out of an alley and points a fencing sword at her chest. She stops and blinks at him. She's heard about the guy, of course, but she never actually expected to run into him by accident. ]

Are you... doing Zorro?

[ Remaining silent, the mystery man pulls a second sword from under his cape and tosses it at her. She catches it instinctively, but stabs it into the ground. She's always wanted to try that. It really does stay upright! Her opponent lowers his sword and circles her, still in character. ]

Yeah, I don't do swords.

[ He raises his weapon again as if he didn't hear her. ]

[ooc| lemme know if this doesn't work for you! ]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace had been keeping to the rooftops, asking and listening to the birds and other creatures for any signs of this freak. Fortunately he hit a lead and it's not long until he comes upon the scene between a young woman and a masked man—one that fits the description he's heard so far.

At first he moves to intervene, but he catches how the woman caught the sword. That's...definitely not a fluke. Is she someone who could actually handle this guy on her own? It's clear that she doesn't seem to want to fight, however...

...

Getting into position, Eustace takes out his gun and aims, ready to fire to serve as a distraction as needed. For now he'll wait and watch the situation.

Meanwhile, Zorro Wannabe suddenly jabs forward, as if to threaten her. If Steph takes no action or (from his point of view) seems unable to defend herself, Eustace will fire a shot of lightning to momentarily stun the man before contact can be made. If Steph moves to fight back, however, he'll remain on standby.]

they savin some hot knights 👀

[starshower]

[It's been some time since they had seen each other. After the way their "date" ended—a success in many ways mind you, they were able to draw out Eustace's stalker and have her taken in by authorities with sufficient proof—Tifa has been keeping herself busy. The night itself ended on an awkward note, and even two weeks later, she's still having troubles facing him directly. That isn't to say she can't do it at all, but tonight, as they walk into the strip club, she's all business.

With few words exchanged besides their plan to get these Celliwig knights out, Tifa leads the way in. She's immediately greeted by loud music with a bass so strong that she can feel the floors and walls shaking around them, and the smell of cigarettes, alcohol, and musty perfume, and the combination of it all wrinkles her nose. It reminds her a little of Don Corneo's place, or parts of Wall Market in general—not that she had the opportunity to visit a lot of the back streets, but this is exactly what she imagines a strip club in Wall Market would look like.

Peering back over her shoulder at Eustace, she looks neither comfortable nor uncomfortable... Just very out of her element, even if she does look the part with her dress and high heels that could stab someone's eye out. It puts her even further out of her element, if anything. Sneakers are much more practical. It's too dim that the many, many people that are already here don't even pay them a second thought, which is probably a good thing, but she realizes now that she could have simply worn her usual get-up and probably gotten away with it.

Hindsight is always 20/20.

She'd shout if it weren't for the need for subtlety, so she turns and leans close to Eustace, beckoning for him to bring himself low enough that she can speak into his ear.]

We should grab a drink. Make ourselves fit in while we scope out the place, yeah?

But who will save them-

[flamekthunder]

[Since Eustace is good at keeping himself busy or keeping to himself when he's not, he doesn't initially notice anything different after their little "date." It's not like he really expected anything. But whenever they did meet, he noticed the slight change in her behavior. At first he didn't think much of it since, well, it was a fairly awkward situation (mostly for her given how much he teased her especially towards the end (punishment)). Even if he's able to return to normal fairly easily, it's understandable if it takes her a bit.

But... As time passes and she still seems unable to be comfortable around him, he can't help but actually take more notice of it. Which is a little odd for him because normally he wouldn't really care too much if anyone was uncomfortable around him or not. But whenever he tries to ask she gets evasive and claims everything is fine—without ever really looking at him directly for too long. Again, this is something he would normally drop and just leave it be, but somehow he can't this time. He's not sure why he has such a disquieted feeling about it, but it exists. Maybe there isn't a reason at all.

Eventually he just shoves that feeling out as it's an unnecessary one. It doesn't matter what she does, if she wants to avoid him, whatever. It's not like she's avoiding him completely and hadn't he often remarked how she'd sometimes be disrupting his "peace and quiet"? Isn't distance better? So he'll just carry on as always and no longer be bothered by it.

(He was still low keyed bothered by it.)

When she asks him to help rescue some people, there is a delay before he accepts. Of course, although part of it is because of some weird dissatisfied feeling, but a large part of it is because this "request" sounds highly suspicious and he already knows she can have weird ideas and plans. That feeling doubles when she tells him to dress "nice, but casual." If he had known the full details he would have flatly refused and upon arriving at the club he tried to turn and leave. He only got inside because she had to forcibly drag him, and he still had half a mind to just leave. But after seeing the number and stature of these...people, he couldn't in good conscience. Tifa's proven she can certainly take out someone, but there are limits. An entire club would be one of those.

And now he looks at her, his face now closer to hers as he has to lean down due to her beckoning and just to hear over all this chaotic noise (the refuses to believe this is actually "music"). There's a harshness in his gaze, not bothering to hide his displeasure before sighing as he glances around them.]

...I'm not sure how you expect us to "fit in."

[He is definitely going to stick out regardless because of how cold and clearly not wanting to be here he is.

Also is it really such a good idea to have them drink, they haven't exactly had a good track record so far—]