september catch-all

[feisticuffs]

🧙 WHO: Jade & anyone!
⚔️️ WHAT: Quests, other open prompts.
🕒 WHEN: Early September.
🗺️ WHERE: Various
⚠️ WARNINGS: Sexual themes/content involved in the Hot Knights quest.


i. hot knights

a. undercover
[There had never been any question as to whether or not Jade would take this job. The description alone brought back countless too-vivid memories, the bright reds and golds of the casino at Octagonia still burned deep into her memory, along with the cries of those who had been captured to become food or playthings for monsters— or, in many cases, monsters themselves. Indeed, there is no question about what needs to be done for these Celliwig knights, and while the predicament she had found herself in upon storming Octagonia on her own should give her pause, it doesn’t. Instead, it only fuels her further, driving her to make use of her experiences in that place to get in and get out undetected.

She opts to go undercover. At last, that costume some power had seen fit to have accompany her to Camelot as some kind of cosmic joke will finally be put to good use.

It’s mildly unsettling how quick the establishment is to take on new talent, but Jade has already decided that this is the best way to gather the information necessary to free the captured knights without causing more ruckus than she absolutely has to. And, should things fall apart and the situation ends up requiring a more direct, violent approach— well, win-win for her. She’ll take that, too.

Of course, being undercover means actually having to do the job, though as a new ‘employee,’ she’s fortunate enough to end up waiting tables. She approaches the table she’d been pointed towards by the bartender with a tray of glasses, collecting herself and letting her lips curl into a sly smile as she does so.]

Hey, there. First timer?

[Regular patron, fellow would-be knight-rescuer, familiar face, or some combination of the above? You decide.]

b. rescue
[Once she has the opportunity to break away from the main floor of the club, Jade spends every free moment she has trying to figure out the layout of the building, mapping out escape routes in her head. None of her breaks are long enough for her to make as much progress as she would like, but once her shift is over in the early morning hours, she quickly sets to finding where the Celliwig knights are being kept. Whether the owner of this place means to use them as talent or keep them as pets, it doesn’t matter— she intends to see each and every one of them set free, and any other unwilling souls who have found themselves trapped here, besides.

Why, of all things, must places like this be constants between worlds?

Once the captives are located, she starts making quick work of the bonds holding one particularly despondent-looking knight— he shies away from her when she first approaches, assuming her to be in league with their captor, but she quickly shakes her head as she frees his wrists.]

Keep it down! I’m getting you out of here!

[Here to help out, or maybe a captive yourself? Whichever the case, better get out quick before drawing too much attention.]

c. wildcard
[Maybe you, too, have chosen to go undercover. Maybe you’re among those friends Jade has informed of her whereabouts— just to be safe— and want to make sure she’s not getting in over her head. Perhaps you’ve found yourself in a compromising position in trying to take this job on for yourself, maybe even caught the eye of this establishment’s monster madame while trying to help the captured knights? Whatever it is that’s brought you to this monster-run strip club, it probably won’t be easy to get out alone and unscathed. Time to join forces!]

ii. shear determination

[Jade hadn’t fully appreciated how tall a single foot wasn’t until she saw these sheep in person. Even aside from their fire-breathing abilities, she can see why even experienced sheep-shearers might have trouble with these— a cautious approach was going to be necessary.

She exhales as she collects herself, folding her arms in front of her as she gamely looks to her partner for this particular quest. No time like the present!]

Well, then. Any thoughts on our plan of attack?

[Caution should definitely be at the forefront of their minds, she thinks. If they do well here, it will be well worth it— the pay being offered is nothing to sneeze at.]

iii. national mushroom month

[Normally, Jade is inclined to take the more active sort of odd jobs that pop up throughout Camelot— typically those that require a rather physical solution in the interest of playing to her strengths, but the simplicity of gathering mushrooms for National Mushroom Month had appealed to her in a way she couldn’t quite explain. As a result, she now finds herself at the edge of the Dusklight Woods with whoever else has seen fit to volunteer for this particular task, gathering and sorting mushrooms depending on what’s fit to eat and what’s better off being sent to the apothecary.

She pauses to give one an experimental sniff after picking, looking thoughtful for a moment.]

This one is safe.

[Into the growing basket of edible mushrooms it goes. Something about foraging reminds her of some of the warmer moments in her childhood; there hadn’t been many, to be sure, but she and Rab had spent so much time on the road fending for themselves that there had certainly been many instances in which the only thing they had to eat was whatever they could find for themselves in the wild. A faint smile pulls at one side of her mouth as she approaches the next cluster of mushrooms; when she had been small, she’d always hated chores like these, but Rab had managed to spin things by turning foraging into a sort of game, knowing that speaking to her competitive nature always put the princess in better spirits.

Fond memories are interrupted as she investigates the next bunch, recoiling and wrinkling her nose as the scent marks them as clearly not safe to eat.]

Ah— apothecary, for these. [She makes sure to put it in with the appropriate findings, then looks to whoever is gathering alongside her.] I think it’s been an even split so far. Find anything particularly interesting?

iv. shining karaoke

[Jade’s work at Shining Karaoke typically keeps her in the kitchen, but tonight the establishment’s public bar had been a bit short-handed, and with the security portion of her job being typically light given the nature of the business, she had been quick to offer her help. It was good for her to keep busy, especially lately, and over the last few months she’s found herself quite at ease with the bar’s general ambience.

She smiles and approaches any newly-arrived patrons who may head towards the bar, leaning against it with one arm as she inclines her head to greet them.]

Looking to make use of a room, or just here for a drink?

[Either way, she’s happy to help.]

Comments

I, too, desire bubble tea...

[feisticuffs]

Glad to know I'll be working with professionals.

[There's a note of warmth in her voice as well as her smile, and she gives both women a nod of approval— with three of them on the job, that's more pairs of able hands in addition to more eyes to keep watch. Tifa, she knows, is trustworthy, thus making Aerith so by association. If she had to pick up conspirators on the fly, she's glad it was them who came through the front door.]

I've been trying to get to know the layout of the place during my breaks. It's something of a maze back there, but I've narrowed down their possible locations to a couple of places. There are some storage rooms that are kept locked, but there are also performer dressing rooms that don't belong to anyone at present— yet are being kept under guard on top of being locked.

[She raises both eyebrows.]

Beyond suspicious, I think. Once we have costumes, we could charm our way through— I don't know that naturally would work, no matter how much acting experience we might have among the three of us, but I do have magic that could force the issue. Buy us a little time before security catches on.

[inemeraldfaith]

[Leaning onto her arms, Aerith rests her chin in the palm of her hand as she listens and focuses intently. Truthfully, this is one of the most exciting things she's had a chance to be a part of since her arrival. She only wishes the circumstance could be a little bit different.

Of course, there's also the thought of what might happen if things don't work out. They could be too late. They could much something up pretty badly. This isn't exactly a happy-go-lucky situation. But Aerith is optimistic. They can find a way if they work together and earnestly, she believes this.]

Dressing rooms that aren't being used, but are being guarded for some very suspicious reason. Probably worth checking those out if we can get into them. Not sure how the charm thing will work, though... We might be able to flirt our way past, but that might not work, as you said. Don't suppose we have any magic that might just... knock them out or something? I mean, I guess we could do it without magic, but that sounds messy.

[And loud.]

[starshower]

[Tifa bites down on her lip.]

If it comes down to it, I could figure something out to get past the guards.

[She doesn't like it, but she's willing to put those issues aside if it means finding these knights and getting them out of here. If one of them could charm their way past the guards, then it wouldn't arouse any suspicion that magic or shoving their way through full speed ahead would. And she's had some experience telling men things they want to hear...

And if that doesn't work, then brute force was never off the table. She's just going to need to finish the rest of her drink first, which she does, throwing it down in a single go.]

Let's worry about getting those costumes first. That's the easy part, yeah?

[Before she changes her mind about this whole thing and decides to just punch her way through.]

[feisticuffs]

[Even if it does turn out that they have to punch their way through, Jade is still willing to call that a win— it may not be ideal, but she's angry enough about this situation as a whole that she wouldn't hate having to throw a few punches.

Maybe she will just for the hell of it as they get near the end.

She gives Tifa a nod of agreement, looking between the both of them even as she slides out of the booth and beckons for them to follow.]

I do have magic that might put them to sleep, but I think using it to enhance persuasion might draw less attention. First thing's first, though— costumes.

[Which, in all honesty, is at least a little fun. If the circumstances were different, Jade might actually be enjoying this whole undercover gig.]

Both of you, follow me to the back. If anyone stops us, I'll handle it, but just— act like you're supposed to be there. I bet we won't even get a second look.

[inemeraldfaith]

[Costumes.

Aerith doesn't take very long to remove herself from her side of the booth and as she's waiting for Tifa, she takes another moment to examine their surroundings. The gears are still turning and she's still trying to develop a way to get into what has the potential to become a very large mess without them causing an absolute spectacle about it all. Not that she minds a spectacle personally, but at the same time, she'd like that to be a last resort if possible.

It might very well not be possible when she's considering the situation as a whole.

Jade's input, however, gives her hope.]

Are all the costumes like yours or are there some other ones, too? Like maybe a mascot outfit...?

[Because honestly, when she's thinking about it, the idea of her or Tifa dressed up as something like a moogle sounds equally amazing. Once again, when it comes down to not having to hurt anyone (if they don't have to), Aerith might be enjoying this a touch more than she ought to. But that's the cost of adventure for a girl who's only recently gotten to taste what 'adventure' might be like.]

I'm not picky or anything. I'll wear pretty much anything you give me.

[Famous last words.]

[starshower]

[Famous last words...

Tifa only makes an unsure noise at Aerith's declaration before she's following Jade, because what kind of outfits are there, she wonders? She isn't the biggest fan of having to wear a bunny suit, never mind anything else that they might find in the back... No sense in worrying about it though, and it will only draw more attention to them, so she'll walk the walk as if she belongs.

And of course, they won't get very far before they're stopped. A large, burly man—that Tifa can only assume is one of the guards—with horns jutting out both sides of his head stomps up and stops in front of Jade, his small, yellow eyes gazing at the new women. He growls under his breath in a vain attempt to intimidate them.]

"Who're these two? Why aren't you in uniform?"

[feisticuffs]

There are all sorts, although most of them do show quite a bit of skin. It varies— I'm sure we can find something you'd both be comfortable in. I'm not sure if there's anything resembling mascots, but...

[She trails off momentarily, pressing her lips together as she considers. There probably is. That has to be someone's kink, and in a place like this, such things are to be capitalized on.

... she'd rather not think about that any further, if she can help it.

She beckons for both women to follow her, but indeed, they don't get terribly far before they're stopped. Jade offers the man in question her sweetest smile, recognizing him as security, and lightly brings her index finger to rest against her chin as she makes an effort to hold his attention.]

They're both new, like me— I'm taking them to get dressed now and show them around. They need a little fixing up before performing! You know how it goes.

[The monstrous guard's stance seems to relax slightly, and he looks between the three of them, curious.

"Lot of new additions lately."]

[inemeraldfaith]

[It's very unlikely that they would have successfully managed to infiltrate without being at least questioned. Aerith seems entirely unfazed when their little plan hits a minor snafu. Jade is right on top of it, though. Aerith listens along with a very well-practised smile, happy, chipper, and not at all as if they're in the middle of something that's actually quite dangerous.

Just smile through it.

A little sprinkling of her shows through in the way she wiggles her fingers flirtatiously at the monstrous guard before he relaxes.

"Lots of new additions lately."]

I fell in love with the lights and the music. I'm actually kicking myself for not working here sooner. But it's better late than never, right? I can't wait to show you all how much heart I have.

[♥]

But the thing is, I just don't know what kind of outfit will look best on me. What do you think, Mister Tall and Handsome?

[She's laying it on thick. And the monstrous guard? Well, he's not prepared for that kind of response and while he's thinking of an answer, he decides it better to put his attention back onto Jade.

"Uh. She'll help you find something, miss. Ma'am. Lady. But uh. Something probably pink."

Definitely not prepared for how strong Aerith can come off when she wants to.]

[starshower]

[Tifa is silent through the entire exchange, eyes simply bearing a hole into the center of his forehead while he flounders through his response. He doesn't seem like he'd be much of a threat, but his sheer size hasn't escaped her notice. Might take a few extra punches to take him out... And while that thought is going through her head, she hears his low voice coming at her.

"Yeah, you! I'm talkin' to you! I said what about you?"

She snaps out of it, perhaps a little too obviously, and looks to Aerith and Jade before she, too, lays it on thick. So sweet that it makes her sick to her stomach.]

Oh, you know... [Teehee.] I just needed the money.

[She watches his brows arch upwards and his gaze flick down, while Tifa's hands ball into tight fists behind her back. He'd best choose his next words very carefully...

Grunting, he only nods and steps out of the way.

"Alright, but don't take too long. Y'know how the Queen gets about slackers."]