[Open] Send Shivers Down Your Spine

[tantailizing]

🧙 WHO: Zidane Tribal and You!
⚔️️ WHAT: Catch-all for October feat. Fighting, Quests, and Stealing... not in that order
🕒 WHEN: Throughout October until the next Event
🗺️ WHERE: New Camelot, Ruins of Celliwig, Forest of the Fallen
⚠️ WARNINGS: Violence in fighting, and blood might pop up. Other than that, not going into gory details I don't think.

I. Don't Lose Your Way Head

He knew some people came back to the Ruins that were once Celliwig, and he did too. While mainly to check up on them, make sure they had their own food or supplies if they intended on staying, he would then stay around to help recover bodies or build grave markers before heading back to New Camelot.

However, subsequent visits were... tense to put it mildly.

It's not the first time people had been scattered by the sound of hooves pounding against the dirt, the disembodied laughing, and blocking the Headless Horseman's swing as he attempted to behead one of the many visitors to Celliwig. Zidane's daggers hold and he managed to redirect the swing - at which, the horse reared and carried its rider away, but they'll be circling around. He never left after one clash.

Zidane took that moment to look back.

"Go! Hide!"

II. Bunker Down

From fixing fences to building up bunk beds, he's becoming a pretty efficient at building things. It was always just whatever set they needed before and then those small repairs around the hideout, but hey, he didn't mind this. It's a repetitive task maybe, but it's keeping him busy and they were going to be used. Really, he was happy to be able to help out.

"Alright..." He wiped he forehead with a wide grin. "This one's all ready! Let's get to the next one!"

III. A Quest from Locksley (mingled with Suns Out, Guns Out)

It made sense why the landlord had been tight-lipped about whatever occurred at his house now. Originally, Zidane had dealt with the gang that came to his new home saying he had to pay some 'protection fee'. Well, he said that hadn't been in the contract, had a fight break out, and left them in the dumpster where they belonged. After what happened in Celliwig and Lestari, he'd let refugees move into his home, completely forgetting about the gang before.

Imagine his surprise to see those two-bit wannabe thugs bothering the family he was housing - and then hearing how they did that to the whole neighborhood.

He's not exactly sure about this new gang forming, but at least they wanted to help the refugees. And hell, if it meant killing two birds with one stone - IE, dealing with that cheapass aristocrat that set up this gang for a little illegal tinder on the side, fine with him. Donning a new black cloak and mask, Zidane was gonna see this aristocrat and all his friends deciding to withhold aid were gonna pay their own dues.

[OOC: Open also to people who might be deciding to hustle refugees for protection fees because Zidane's not having that. And people who are Robin Hoods or trying to stop said Robin Hood types, let's go!]

IV. Forest of the Fachan

The once Forest of the Felled was pretty much just as they'd left it after the encounter with the Stone Giant: too quiet save for the small fauna and wind. And seeing the Giant sit in slumber again just reminded him how they failed, but he digressed. They weren't here about that; they were here about removing wards that were now rendered pretty much useless.

All was going pretty well until the sun started to go down... and then things began to change. He felt the fur on his tail and hair on his neck rise, and eventually had to stop with his group.

Wait, group? But there'd been so many people moment's ago. How'd they get separated?

But he brought a hand to his dagger and prepared himself, the rotted stench of decay and death reaching his nose faster than whatever had started talking minutes before.

... The hell was that thing approaching them!?

V. Wildcard

[OOC: Interested in an unlisted prompt or we planned something else entirely? Then wildcard is for you! And if you would like to plot something else, come message me at demidemonLove]

Comments

[flamekthunder]

[Sounds like torture.

Also what the hell—]

...That's quite the number. [But, yeah, okay, makes sense with the amount of refugees.

He blows out a small breath as he stares at the wood before them.]

All right, let's continue. Same as before?

[tantailizing]

It is, but there's a lot of people that need them.

[Checking over everything they have, he nods.]

Yup! Ready to do this?

[Because they could take a break, but Zidane felt like they should get through a few more.]

[flamekthunder]

[He'd rather makes much progress as possible before taking a break.]

Let's go.

[And he's grabbing some boards and setting them in place so he can start nailing.]

[tantailizing]

[Away to work Zidane'll go, holding the boards together and nailed in place. He's surprisingly not talking while they get this bottom bunk's frame all set up even if he wants to.]

[He's just waiting for the right time.]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace will not mind the lack of chatter at all and will be dutifully working. Once the main frame is complete, it's time to put on the bottom slats. With the holes already pre-measured and marked, it's all a matter of lining them up to carefully drill them down.]

[tantailizing]

[Ack, drills, they're always so loud. But while Eustace handles that, Zidane's going to make sure the posts to hold the bunk bed were prepped and ready themselves... and also smooth out any parts that still needed it.]

[flamekthunder]

[Fortunately he makes quick work, so they are all in place and it's time to make the upper bunk.

Eustace could really get used to Zidane being such a SILENT diligent worker...]

[tantailizing]

[Silence is great and all. They'll have this whole thing together in no time...]

... How're things going with Tifa?

[There it is.]

[flamekthunder]

[He just pauses and gives Zidane a weird look after setting the board and doesn't answer as he gets the nails to hammer in.]

What do you mean?

[tantailizing]

What do you mean 'What do I mean'? Have things been good between you guys since the stalker thing settled down?

[Surprise, he's not asking if they've gone on another date. He's already kind of decided to ask Tifa more those questions for a bit.]

It might've been her idea and all, but depending on how things went, you guys are still on friend terms, right?

[flamekthunder]

[It's a good thing Zidane didn't bug him about this earlier or his response would have been slightly different. As it is he just continues working like this isn't that big of a deal.

Because it isn't.]

We're fine.

[Good luck, Zidane.]

[tantailizing]

... Good!

[And make sure the bunk is on straight and steady...]

Did you guys get to do any quests before... y'know, everything?

[flamekthunder]

[While he doesn't necessarily stop, there is a slight shift in his expression before he ensures everything is in place.]

Why does it matter?

[And WHAM goes the hammer.

He liked it better when it was silent.....]

[tantailizing]

Trying to make conversation.

[Duh. Also, Zidane holds from one side while Eustace hammers, just to make sure the bunk doesn't jump off until its secured.]

Also, the quests last month were... interesting. Like, the one with the knights being kidnapped by the strip club. Isn't that one of those things where the Queen could've stepped in and demanded her knights back?

[flamekthunder]

Maybe the fae have weird rules.

[Why is he talking about THAT one of all things—it's fine everything's fine. It's not like he has to actually say anything.]

[tantailizing]

You think they got wasted and signed a contract? They take names and things like that seriously. But you know? It wasn't bad to see there's a place that accepted everyone... shady dealings or not.

[The bunk seemed good and secure enough on this side finally.]

... But it also makes that guy who put the hit out on Animal Mages even more of a jackass. That club is right there! He needs to get over himself. Heck, there was a bovine lady with a whip. Bet that would've got 'im to settle down.

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace had been more focused on the bunk bed and retrieving the next piece, but hearing the word "whip" managed to jolt his attention back to Zidane. It's fortunate he's had twenty years to school his thoughts, emotions, and expressions as any other person would have fumbled.

Still, this line of questioning is far from comfortable and there had been just the briefest of pauses when he reached over for the beams that would connect the two frames. Time to divert.]

You didn't go there did you?

[tantailizing]

No, I went there. I helped some people case the joint.

[He says that like it's nothing going to a strip club.]

Though, it was kinda funny. Maybe there was a show being put on stage, but while I was in the back, it got rowdy in the front. Hey, whatever provides a diversion, you know? Too bad I missed out from the sound of it!

[flamekthunder]

[There's the sound of the wood clattering and Eustace muttering a swear under his breath the moment Zidane mentioned a show. It actually caught him off guard and he lost his grip, causing the beam to hit against his hand, but fortunately nothing too serious.

More to the point, was Zidane there? Primals now he has to wonder if he's just lying and trying to goad him into saying anything or if he really didn't see anything. Or it's possible he's referencing something else entirely.]

Aren't you too young to be in those kinds of places?

[JUST GOING TO IGNORE ANYTHING AND SAY SOMETHING NOT REALLY RELEVANT.]

[tantailizing]

[Zidane jumps because, you know, sometimes when he's talking, Eustace doesn't hurt himself.]

Ouch, you okay?

[Was it something he said?]

No? I'm probably eighteen by now... Also, you're the third person to ask. Are age limits to places and on drinks just normal in other worlds?

[flamekthunder]

I'm fine... But there are such limits in my world though it may vary depending on the kingdom and island. Not that it would stop anyone from sneaking in...

[He just eyes Zidane for a moment before he resumes working.]

But you're eighteen... Thought you were younger.

[tantailizing]

Huh, okay, I can get that. But, I mean, it was a strip club, not a brothel.

[They're not the same place... not always.]

Lemme guess, it's from how I act, right?

[Because Eustace, you're always on him for that. They were almost done with this one - maybe he should get started on the next while Eustace finished up.]

[flamekthunder]

Sometimes the two end up being the same.

And that's part of it. [More like most of it—

Anyway, he'll be back to working on connecting the two frames so Zidane can go ahead and start since the beams slot in in pre-made notches and all he has to do is drill the screws in place.]

[tantailizing]

Yeah, they do.

Haha, called it.

[Yup, Zidane's gonna get started on getting all the screws drilled into place.]

Were you at the club too?

[flamekthunder]

No.

[LIES SO EAASSIIILLLLYYY.]