isleofavalon | september catch-all

Entry tags:

september catch-all

🧙 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.]

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( working undercover is a good way to get in, but Kate opts for the one that doesn't involve trying to act like she gives a single fuck about customer service:

she turns up as a customer. though, one that dresses in a way that would not be out of place for a staff member.

(what? she looks good and she knows it.)

tucking a loose piece of hair behind her ear, she settles herself into a table, left alone for only a few seconds before—

ah. well... give her a moment, Jade. she's just enjoying the view. )

Aye. ( she won't say anything about familiar faces, because it doesn't take a genius to guess that they're here for the same purpose. ) What d'ya recommend?

[It is not entirely impossible that Aerith might have found herself in just such an establishment. Curiosity is, after all, a powerful force and has certainly pulled her in various directions that she really has no business being in. This time, it's not entirely her doing. But she also doesn't blame Tifa either.

If something is going on and there's something they can do to put a stop to it or otherwise address it, isn't that their responsibility? The lack of action can, at times, be just as awful as taking the wrong action. In fact, sometimes even doing the wrong thing is better than doing nothing at all. The moment Tifa shares what limited information she's got takes barely any thought from Aerith before she decides that she must come along.

And assist.

The actual environment of where they mean to infiltrate is... a little much. It's like the Honeybee all over again, except... Well. There are some obvious differences. Aerith has the good sense not to seem too terribly evident in her reaction, however. She does, however, edge in closer to Tifa, curling an arm around hers before she leans into her ear, using a quiet and unsuspecting voice that's easily drowned out by the noise embracing them.]

Oh, you know... maybe we should've dressed more appropriately. Think we can find any spare costumes?

[Maybe it's time to get their risqué dressing on. If she can convince Tifa into that. But there's always more than one way to get a job done.]

[He's not entirely dressed up himself, but he did at least bother to try and hide the fact he might be armed. He couldn't, and shouldn't, take his chances while on this one. Joints like a strip club can hide all sorts of other shady activities just like a tavern or bar. He'll even keep his tail around his waist to keep it from getting tangled in the mess of bodies walking around.]

[When he's approached by the waitress in a bunny outfit (which looked very nice), he gives a smile and nods.]

Oh yeah! I heard there was some hot new additions to the staff~ Maybe you're one of them?

[And though he's smirking, his eyes read something different. She didn't look out of place, but did she need help?]

"Hey, new girl!" One of the managers waves Jade over. "There's another of you new hires needs some supervising and all the other girls are busy. Keep an eye on her, yeah? Make sure she doesn't spill anymore drinks on people, it's costin' us money, or it's both your asses. Get a move on."

The other "new hire" stands a few feet away by the bar, looking more than a little annoyed. Silver hair cascades down the back of her emerald bunnygirl suit, and her bunny-ear headband is a little skewed.

Chris sees Jade approaching and mentally curses herself. Fantastic, a minder. This undercover job is going terribly so far. At this rate, she's never going to get close to finding the captives. She'll have to shake this other woman before she can get anywhere.

"Ah...apologies. I hope I'm not in too much trouble. It's my first night and...nerves, I suppose." That and the bunnygirl costume involved a lot more skin and cleavage than she usually made a habit of showing. Borus would probably faint dead away if he could see his captain's exposed shoulders like this. To say nothing of the...fishnets.

"Um, listen, I know we're quite...hopping tonight, but maybe five minutes in the back would help calm me down a little. That last man was...a little angry with me for ruining his suit. Do you think the managers would mind if I snuck away?"

[Really, Kate blends right in either way— there isn't a lot of difference between some of the staff and a good handful of the customers when it comes to clothing, and Kate certainly looks comfortable with herself the way things are, as well as the situation. Jade, of course, recognizes her immediately— it would be hard not to— but maintains character even as her smile takes on a knowing sort of hitch.

She's willing to bet they're here for the same thing. She inclines her head, leaning forward to rest a hand against the table once she's set her tray down and set a glass of water in front of the 'customer' in question.]

Personally? I find the 'fancy' drinks boring. I prefer something strong and direct.

[Straight liquor, Kate.]

There are some special reserves in the back that could stand to be brought out, though.

[Not talking about liquor that time, if it wasn't obvious.]

[Though she doesn't recognize him, he does seem a bit out of place to her— partly from how young he appears compared to some of the other patrons, but that look in his eyes confirms it. The smile is a pretense; he's not here to do the sort of business that the club's monster madame specializes in.

Her own smile hitches wider, but noticeably doesn't reach her eyes— she gives him just the barest shake of her head, almost indiscernible if someone weren't looking for it, hoping it serves as answer enough for his unasked question.]

The staff certainly is growing. The boss knows what she likes, and she's brought in plenty that are to her tastes.

[Jade hasn't found them yet, but from asking around, it sounds like the number of new additions is larger than she first thought.]

Aren't you a little young for a place like this?

Initially, Jade has to swallow down her initial reaction to being shouted at in a bid for attention— it only takes a brief moment to remind herself that yes, she's here under the pretense of being new, and so she'll have to play the part if she wants to stay long enough to get the real job done. She forces a smile when she turns to face the manager, giving a nod as she's waved over.

"I'll take care of things here. You go on," she says with enough confidence that the manager in question apparently feels comfortable doing so, giving a nod of affirmation before he turns and leaves the room to tend to things elsewhere. Once he's gone, Jade's smile fades into a more neutral expression, and she purses her lips slightly at the other young woman's request, thoughtful.

"Not an excellent way to get in their good graces on their first night, but if I went with you, we could manage a few minutes. Given that he just asked me to help, I don't think it would be good for either of us if you were caught wandering somewhere on your own. We can take a short breather and then regroup?"

Sorry, Chris, you're not getting into that back room without her, it seems.

[With that subtle head shake, he raises an eyebrow briefly, but her answer is all he needs to hear. Ah, she was here undercover herself. Well, if one of them had to be - and he might be able to do it too, but his more youthful appearance probably wouldn't gel with some patrons.]

Really? I'm not seeing any that my friend described.

[And he hasn't had the chance to look around. It's obvious those new 'arrivals' hadn't been put out on the floor yet, but it's... concerning that they might be being held elsewhere, maybe even 'prepped' for the job.]

Haha, do I? They thought the same at the door, but were surprised when I could enter. You wouldn't be the first waitress making sure.

[Actually, he's been feeling maybe too many eyes his way.]

Hopefully I don't distract too much.

[She might as well use this to her advantage.]

[Being a bartender has prepared her for a lot of things, and Tifa figured that what skills she's picked up might be just the thing she needs when walking into an establishment along the same vein, but... Nothing could have prepared her for this. The thumping of the music drowns out her own thoughts as well as Aerith talking in her ear, and it reminds her more of the Honeybee Inn, a place she only knows through rumours without being able to see it herself, but it carries the same sort of stink that lingered in the walls of Corneo's mansion. It could just be that she knows that there's something fishy going on, but there's plenty about this place that has her stomach turning with awkward discomfort.

So when Aerith pulls herself closer to Tifa, she mirrors her movements and does the same, clutching onto her arm at the door.]

Uhh...

[A shirtless man with a tray wanders by, and he flexes his muscles for them before continuing on to a table, and Tifa can feel the heat shoot up into her cheeks. Maybe she didn't think this through as well as she should have, and the realization lunges further to the forefront of her mind when she spots the costumes she assumes Aerith is talking about. They didn't exactly dress appropriately, it's true, and they stick out like sore thumbs. Especially when she sees what some of the women are wearing.]

Maybe...? You think it might make it easier?

[And among them... is that... a bunny suit!?]

[ Musse sizes up the situation as she begins to call forth a blue aura of magic around her ]

Would I be correct in assuming you are pretty quick? Water and ice is something of a specialty of mine, I think I can give you a protective barrier that should deal with the fire if you're able to take care of the shearing part.

[Marianne, too, is reminded of happier childhood days as she and Jade forage together. When her parents still lived, her father would take her out to the woods near their home to forage mushrooms and enjoy the cool autumn air together every year. In those moments, it was easier to feel free and breathe easily without fear of other people. It felt less like her and her father against the world, and more like simply being father and daughter.

Having a friend as dear as Jade has become makes these warm feelings that much more pronounced, even if she doesn't share the competitive spirit. Their light-hearted bet on who owes the other dinner after they finish gathering is not looking good for Marianne right now. Her own baskets are less full.]

I've noticed that as well. I suppose that's for the best, since we'll have both food and medicine from our haul.

Edited (I found a tense fuckup) 2021-09-06 19:13 (UTC)

Deceptively dangerous little creatures, are they not?

[Hendrik reads over the description for the request again, rather amazed that the sheep are in fact that small. If not for the warning, he would have wandered right up, startled the tiny things, and ended up barbecued.]

Considering their size, I imagine they will not take well to overhead shadows. We should approach from their blind spot while they face the sun.

[They should at least be very easy to scoop up.]

If things get out of hand, the others will undoubtedly scatter. We should know where we plan to shear the sheep.

Glad to know that whatever we bring back will be put to good use either way, too.

[She doesn't know that she's ever come across a city that celebrated mushrooms before, but the idea of it isn't at all unlike many of the festivals or smaller celebrations she's come across in her travels over the years. She offers Marianne an easy smile as she tucks the apothecary-bound mushrooms into the appropriate basket, brushing her hands off against one another before bracing them against her hips and scanning the immediate area.]

I think we could probably move on to the next clearing before too long. I have to say, we've been making short work of this place— you forage like an expert, Marianne.

That would be a fair assessment.

[Jade smiles gamely; she knows she doesn't look like much going from build alone, but she knows well how to use her dexterity and agility to her benefit. Her strength may be formidable, but that doesn't always mean much when half the monsters she runs into back home are three times her size.]

That's a clever idea— you're sure it will hold up? Ideally, we'll be able to make them comfortable enough that they won't breathe fire at all, but I'll never say no to a bit of added protection.

I'm not too concerned about the initial strength of the barrier, so long as you don't take too many direct hits. If we can keep them calm that's the best solution of course, but better to be prepared I'd say.

[ Musse raises her hands, focusing as water magic weaves its way around Jade creating an aura of solid blue before going translucent as it locks into place. ]

I'm not exactly made for the front lines, but I'll stay close. You should start to see some cracks if the barrier starts to strain, I'll repair them from a distance if I can but if you see that it's probably best to run back. I can heal you if I have to, but I'm not as adept at that yet.

[Right. It seems largely safe to assume that they're here for the same reason.]

I think they're still a bit— 'tied up' with training. They don't like to put people on the floor the first night.

[She'd managed to force her way into working the crowd immediately with some assertiveness and luck, but she thinks it also helps that the boss is clearly... distracted at the moment.]

If you got in, then you must be legit.

[She looks between him and the front door for a moment, noting that the bouncer does keep looking his way. Clearly, they're at least a little suspicious. Well, if they're watching him, then they're not watching her. She'll take that.]

So, what's your type? Or your friend's type, if that really is the case.

[Just to confirm. If she has an ally in this, all the better.]

[Stealth and delicacy are hardly among his natural talents, are they? This, she thinks, is a task that will certainly take the both of them to solve. Hendrik may not have experienced how well they've come to work as a team back in Erdrea, but she certainly remembers.]

Their blind spot would be...

[She takes a moment to thoughtfully use her hands to sort out the right angle, studying one of the minute sheep from a safe distance. Right.]

Perfect. That should work nicely. I have to ask— have you shorn sheep before?

[So many of her childhood memories of him are as a young knight, but she knows that wasn't always his path.]

I mean, I can get that. A job's a job, and there's a way this one's supposed to be done.

[It's adult entertainment, and definitely employment that people should choose to be.]

Yeaah... and I'd like to continue being just a guest, thanks.

[It's the tail, isn't it? It fits in with the monster theme of the place. No no, stay for the knights - this is a quest, but he's having mad flight signals.]

My friend's type is more cleaned up and pretty I guess you could say. Like, impossibly pretty you know they're not human.

[Like those folks around Celliwig, but he doesn't want to just say that.]

[Actually working her shift to bide her time has turned out to be Jade's best option— with each chance she gets, she slips away into the back to get a better idea of where the boss' new 'acquisitions' might be kept, and she feels she's getting significantly closer, but waiting tables in between such opportunity has helped to keep her from drawing too much undue attention from the managers, thankfully. In addition, she's kept an eye out for new arrivals— she's far from the only one who's seen this ad, she knows, and assuming some of the legitimate employees are on the alert for interference, it seems a good idea to keep track of any familiar faces she might see, just in case. Potential allies would be nice, especially if things go south.

Even so, she's a bit surprised by the familiar face she does end up spotting, complete with company, and upon doing so, she quickly reroutes her way through the club, hoping to intercept before another host or hostess can get to them and cost her the opportunity to reach out. She'll have to be careful what she says— the crowd is noisy, but they're still in the open and there are ears everywhere, but it won't take much for her to confirm that they're here for the same reason.

She puts on her best hostess smile as she sweeps in from behind to put herself between the two of them and the doorman, ushering them both forward and further into the club, away from prying ears.]

Good evening, ladies— here to work or play?

[She might be laying it on a little thick, but fitting in is a must. Regardless, that smile doesn't reach her eyes as she seeks to meet Tifa's gaze, her own searching. Everything okay?]

Yeah— [Aerith begins offhandedly to Tifa as she's still looking over the whole... venue itself. Yep. Definitely like the Honeybee Inn. Having already been in one over-glamorised club, it's almost hardly any different than another one. Or maybe she's just feeling really confident.] —Definitely think we should get in on the—

[Her attention turns.

"...here to work or play?"

She's seen Jade in passing, she's sure, though this is really the first time she's gotten a good look at her. But she notes the way the gaze flutters right over to Tifa and it doesn't take her very long to figure out that the two of them must know of one another. Good on Tifa for reaching out and making some friends here. Aerith swells with pride and makes a note to affectionately tease her about it later.

Her own gaze turns onto Tifa and she raises her eyebrows with something akin to implied hope.]

Work, I think? Maybe?

[...Is it really work if she's going to be having a good time?]

[She nods in agreement, considering the execution of all this.]

In that case, I think we should be able to manage. I only hope that any quick movements to dodge won't scare them further, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[She'd much rather start doing than stand around and talk about it, and she slams one gloved fist into an open palm.]

I'll keep an eye on the shield's integrity. Hopefully, no healing will be necessary— I can handle a few sheep.

[Famous last words??]

[ Musse nods in acknowledgement. ]

Glad to hear. Let's do this.

[ She'll move forward cautiously behind Jade so she can keep an eye on the situation and douse any fires that might occur. ]

[It certainly is a bunny costume, worn by someone she knows, no less. Not the first thing she expected to see when she walked in, or the first person, but she remembers that this wasn't a private ad catered to the two of them, so running into others who were here for the same reason wasn't out of the question. That is, if she isn't jumping to conclusions...!

But Jade's look when their gazes meet is telling on its own, as is the way she layers the play on thick in her voice.

The question posed at her has Tifa's lips pressing shut, into a thin, uncertain line. The outfits here are... interesting, to say the least, more so now that she's been able to get a better look at some of them. Nothing that she would put on voluntarily for a night out on the town, so... her answer seems like an obvious one.

There's a nervous laugh when she slowly looks to Aerith, and she gives a tilt of her head.]

Let's go with work...?

[Honestly, her initial idea was to just run in guns blazing to get these men out, but with the amount of people milling about, it might not be the best one.]

[Marianne looks down and brushes a bit of dirt off her skirt, a bit pink in the cheeks but smiling from the compliment.]

Thank you. My father used to take me foraging in the woods near our home when I was a little girl. I wouldn't say I'm an expert, but I'm experienced.

[That's about as close as Marianne can get to accepting a compliment gracefully.]

You're very good at foraging, yourself.

[She draws in a sharp breath before offering another nod, turning her back to her partner and steadily heading into the field, one careful step at a time.

She's fought countless monsters. Surely, she can successfully shear a few sheep.

Crouched low, she begins her approach, shears in hand with the blades safely hidden away inside the curl of her fingers.]

Alright, little one... take it real easy, now.

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september catch-all

undercover

C - A Girls' Night Out

Hot Knights - Undercover

Hot Knights-Wild Card!

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ii. shear determination

Mushrooms! 🍄

ii. shear determination

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