seventh shot ⊗ open october log

[flamekthunder]

🧙 WHO: Eustace and anyone
⚔️️ WHAT: various quests
🕒 WHEN: throughout October
🗺️ WHERE: various
⚠️ WARNINGS: none except depictions of death for headless horseman task and any potential violence that might happen in the combat oriented prompts

⊗ a: task - pumpkin mayhem

[It's only by chance that Eustace narrowly dodges a pumpkin that just whizzes by his head, frowning as he stares at the flying gourd. At first he thought someone recklessly threw it, but then he sees it actually stop in mid-air and fling itself back towards him. Realizing it's moving on its own, he once again rolls out of the way, unholstering his gun as he does before quickly aiming and firing a bolt of lightning. It's a perfect shot, hitting it squarely in the center to cause it to explode into smaller pieces and fall to the ground below.]

...Was it cursed?

[Somehow he wouldn't be surprised if so, but hearing some shouts as more pumpkins roll and fly about disrupts his thoughts and he heads over to try and help take care of them. He doesn't necessarily want to shoot them given the mess they can make, but he sometimes doesn't have much of a choice. So hopefully no one gets too much pumpkin splatter on them.

BONUS: When not dealing with the pumpkins, if he is managed to get dragged into a patch he may be persuaded to decorate one (though he'll be wary and suspicious if he's learned that the pumpkins might come to life from there). But if he does decorate one, it'll be dog themed.]

⊗ b: task - don't lose your head

[Hearing about the Headless Horseman prompts Eustace to head back, a trip made easier thanks to having received the Celliwig totem earlier. Since it's difficult to track its movements, Eustace takes an area to help cover.

1. Helping...Paw? Although he could just stick to a perch and be ready to snipe, it leaves a bad taste in his mouth when he could also be helping. So when someone else is on guard, he drops down to do what he can, be it just clearing out rubble and debris or transporting the dead. That includes turning into a dog and try to help sniff out or dig out any remains. It's not the most pleasant work and it would be better if there weren't any, but he's fairly immune to the sad, grisly aspect of it.

2. Fighting the Horseman. When the Horseman does arrive, should he be at his perch he'll instantly fire a few shots of lightning down at it in attempts to deal damage as well as stun it, but he can't be too sure if his lightning will have that kind of effect. Regardless, he'll provide cover fire for anyone fighting on the ground.]

⊗ c: tdm - not quite puppy parade

[It's probably not too surprising to find Eustace making a small stop to look at the adoption fair. And as an animal mage, he figures he could help out if needed.

For now, he just looks over the pens with a curious eye when one he spots one of those hamsters toddling about. It doesn't take long for him to catch up to it and pick it up. But then there's another. ...And another one.

...

At some point, Eustace has an armful of hamsters including a few that managed to climb up on top of his head and shoulders.]

...Those wings won't save you if you fall, you know.

[Just a small sigh as he carefully makes his way through the crowd to try and bring them back. Anyone want to help???]

⊗ d: wildcard

[He'll also be hunting the forests to help bring in extra meat and other resources, so could have some run ins there! Considered the Forest of Fachan prompt line but might be better as dedicated with one or two people. Can do the other quests, and it's likely he might end up getting involved in the Suns out, Guns out task in the sense of trying to intervene any unnecessary violence, so that's another option. If interested in anything else not included here, just hit me up on laenavesse or discord and we can work something out!]

Comments

c

[fullgauntlet]

[Izuku isn't in the position to be doing any adopting since he already has his hands full with two familiars to take care in his place. Plus as a busy person, he doesn't feel like he has the time and energy to put into keeping another animal around. But there is nothing wrong with a little window shopping. Right?

He's about to peek into some of the pens himself when he notices the tall man with quite the horde of little scamps crawling all over him.]

Eh?! Eus-san! [Oh... He doesn't need that codename anymore-] Eustace-san? D-Do you need some help?

[Because that looks like a lot...!]

[flamekthunder]

[The one on his head has definitely started to try and make a nest, and it's taking everything he has to not have the ones in his arms try to crawl out. For the most part most of them are content to be carried, but there are wrigglers in there.

So when he hears and sees Izuku before the one on his head suddenly slips forward and clings onto his bangs, covering his vision, he just speaks in a low voice.]

..............Please.

[fullgauntlet]

[Oh. That poor little hanging one. Izuku almost snorts with laughter at the image but for fear of sounding rude he stifles it with his palm.]

Alright- hold still, Eustace-san. I'll save you.

[This isn't the kind of hero work he thought he'd be doing but it's hero work all the same. So he goes up to reach for the little creature and gently scoops it up into his hands.]

They seem to like you, at least?

[flamekthunder]

[He could still hear it!!!]

A little too much...

[Just a short grumble until Izuku scoops up the hamster. Only then is he able to let out a breath of relief.]

Feel free to take any of the others. They need to be returned to their enclosure.

[Please.]

B2

[doctorintern]

[ The crackle of lighting gets Gizmoduck's attention, who had been sticking closer to the volunteers on the ground. Seeing the Horseman approaching, he ushers the volunteers to get away and hide before facing the Horseman, using his shields to block the swinging sword. ]

[flamekthunder]

[Having worked with Gizmoduck a few times now, he can more easily adjust and ready his shots, letting Gizmoduck keep its attention. Though he'll have to be careful with his lightning...last thing he wants to do is accidentally short circuit the suit.

So he switches his magic to fire, and when he has an opening he shoots a few rounds of "fire bullets," blasts of fire that intend to sear the Horseman's back.]

[doctorintern]

[ A few of the bullets hit their intended target, but the Horseman dodges the rest, and Gizmoduck blocks them with his shields. Then he charges up electricity of his own, and when the Horseman brings the sword down he catches it in his hand, sending the current shooting through. ]

B-1 - But also potential warnings I guess? Will update?

[apshot]

[ Sifting through rubble and cleaning up in the aftermath of an event... It's also something that they have been trained to try to manage as heroes in training. So while it isn't Bakugou's favorite thing to do, he isn't going to just turn his back on all of this. He is going to actually show up and move debris out of the way.

Not all parts of this are glamorous and he feels partially responsible - for failing to really stop it. While Bakugou won't end up allowing that sort of guilt to eat him alive - ]

Got something over here.

[ Maybe puppy!Eustance can, you know, help dig. ]

there will definitely be depictions/references of dead remains yep

[flamekthunder]

[Hearing Bakugou, Eustace lopes over to where he is. Immediately he catches the scent of death, and with a hardened expression he looks to see where he can best dig.]

On it.

[Finding a spot, he quickly digs in his paws and start scooping out the earth.]

[apshot]

[ At this point, there's really no guarantee that they'll find anyone buried alive. There's a small chance, but really? Bakugou can wish it, but also be realistic.

He's standing off to the side to allow the other to work. Then Bakugou starts to use his elemental magic to move the earth out of the way so it doesn't sink back in. Light magic is used to stabilize the debris that starts to loosen. ]

Getting close?

a: doggo pumpkins because this is going to happen. obligatory!!

[angelolatry]

Ah! You're doing......a dog?! That's so cute.....!

[....it is doggo. Of course Colette Approves. When she leans in and sees what he is carving in decorating the pumpkin. She's still new to this in not having celebrated this Halloween back home, but that hasn't stopped her being curious about it. And it is hard if not impossible to miss that everyone seems particularly excited with decorations like the pumpkins.]

We didn't have all this back home. I'm....not sure if I should try it myself. I'd probably slip somehow and hurt myself or something.

[The Colette shaped holes in buildings and such attest to her clumsiness. At least her frequent bruises from such tripping are usually covered with her clothes but still.]

[flamekthunder]

[Normally Eustace would be a little reticent about someone watching him, but it's Colette. Of course he's going to let her. So there's just a small smile as she watches before he hears something surprising.]

You didn't have Halloween or anything similar?

[...Huh, well maybe it's not so strange. Different worlds, different customs.]

...I can show you how. Even if you can't carve, you can always draw on them instead.

[angelolatry]

No. I guess Sylvarant has other celebrations. But ah, drawing might be a safer option for me at least....?

[She has seen a few pumpkins around. And seems the one she saw around the most were the ones she starts with in figuring getting a marker to draw with and attempting a more traditional face on the pumpkin.]

Hm, like this?

c

[feisticuffs]

[The fact that all of these animals are in need of good homes would be reason enough for Jade to pay the adoption fair a visit, but if she's being entirely honest, she's been feeling rather lonely for some time now— it's temporarily eased by her staying with Marianne while the city crowds with refugees, but already she's thinking about how difficult it would be to move back into the house she had shared with Eleven all on her own. Relocation would probably be a better idea in the long run; somewhere smaller and without any feelings attached to it once the city can sustain people spreading out a bit more, but the idea of a furry companion is tempting— all the better that these animals are looking for loving homes, themselves.

She expects to find a wide variety of pets in various pens at the fair, all eager to meet and mingle with new people as they're able. Her expectations about what the event actually has to offer are rather standard and easily met, but what she doesn't expect to see is Eustace struggling with an armful of winged hamsters.

Huh.

She clears her throat to get his attention as she weaves through the crowd to get closer to him, catching him just as a hamster plants itself between his ears.]

Having a bit of trouble there, Eustace?

[Need a hand?]

[flamekthunder]

[They're not just in his arms anymore. The ones that were on his shoulders had slipped backwards and is now clinging desperately and Eustace is just. Standing there like a stiff cat wondering how to handle this. So although not ideal, there is relief in seeing Jade.]

...A bit.

[Said dryly.]

Can you grab the ones on my back before they fall?

[feisticuffs]

[He really is having a day, isn't he?

She inclines her head as she gives him a sympathetic smile, nodding even as she begins to circle around to his back and leaning in to see if she can get a better look at the situation from that angle. That really is quite the number of hamsters.]

Let's see— here you go, come with me, alright?

[She scoops up a winged hamster in each hand, one of which immediately begins to scuttle its way up her arm.]

Now, how did you get yourself into this mess, I wonder?

hunting wildcard 👀

[starshower]

[It didn't take much to convince Tifa to go hunting with him, whether it was him asking or her simply tagging along, and while she's no expert tracker or sniper, this seemed like the right time to learn. With the colder months approaching, it would be harder for butchers to find fresh meat, so there's hardly a better time. It would be a good way to bring in some extra cash flow after all, and sooner or later, she'll finally be able to open up that bar she's been thinking about.

However, the weather today has decidedly not cooperated with them. First, there was rain and thunderstorms, and she can handle that well, even if Eustace's horse could not. Roars of thunder would easily spook it, and they'd had to walk with it on foot for a while. It's the fog and the cold that followed after the storm that would pose a problem for them—it was quick to come in and below the trees, it's so thick that it's grown difficult for them to see even a few feet in front of them. Back on horseback now that the storm is over, Tifa is seated at the front of the saddle, curled up so as not to take up too much space in front of Eustace as they trot along down the path carved between trees.

...

.... ]

We're not lost, are we?

[She wishes she could say she's pretty sure that they've passed this tree several times by now, but she can't be certain when they're all starting to look the same.]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace knew the weather wasn't optimal, but he had not expected it to be so temperamental. Even using his skills the best he could do was get them to cover before the storm hit and then wait it out until it cleared. The only thing he could count on was for the storms to pass quickly.

Now with the fog, he carefully guides the horse down the trail and frowns a bit at her question. Honestly?]

Somewhat.

[They had to go away from their original targeted area and now the fog is hampering things.]

I know where we are generally and can figure out the cardinal directions, but with all this fog... We're better off turning back.

[As if agreeing, the horse snorts and bobs its head.]

[starshower]

[The bobbing of the horse's head knocks Tifa back into him, and she apologizes with a sheepish laugh before leaning awkwardly scooting forward again.

And she would agree with him if it weren't for one concern—if they turned around, would they be going in the right direction? With all the fog, it's hard to tell if they've been going in a straight line this whole time, or if they've made turns and bends along the way. They've gone off the path several times throughout the day, so they'd need to take that into account, too.

She trusts him though, so she simply nods.]

I guess.

[Although she thinks it would wiser to stay put until the fog clears, but... that also comes with its own dangers, which won't take long to make themselves known, even when they're on the move. While it's silent, the horse's hooves pad against the ground as it grinds to a halt, and Tifa looks back over her shoulder at Eustace, a look of worry clear as day.

She doesn't know a lot about horses, but she knows that when they get spooked, that means something isn't quite right.]

A

[tantailizing]

[Look, Zidane is there to help with the pumpkins, but one had the genius idea of jumping on his head, leaving him to break it off and hurry over with pumpkin guts on him.]

Haha, if that one's cursed, what about those ones?

[Cause Eustace, there's more pumpkins heading their way...]

[flamekthunder]

[Tsk.]

Either also cursed or this place is infested with pumpkin monsters...

[Which may sound absurd, but he's actually dealt with them before.]

Whatever it is, we have to stop them. Going to try and freeze them in place.

[tantailizing]

I mean, either one checks out.

[Let's be honest with this place, he wouldn't be surprised if either happened.]

Alright. I'll get them rounded up. Sound good?

D. Wildcard - Fishing! (w/ surprise guest! Somnus!)

[tantailizing]

[With the extra mouths to feed in New Camelot, getting together with folks or going out on hunting trips alone just makes sense to bring in extra food. Though, it was pretty much the only option left to anyone without Green Magic - it was the harvest season. And while most of the time they could go after the usual deer, elk, bear, or small game, the river was a readily available resource to.]

[Which, picking a spot, Zidane sits down with his pouch of supplies and fishing pole leaning against his arm, ready to start digging for some bait.]

What do you think our chances are scoring a few big ones?

[flamekthunder]

Hmm... Medium.

[Eustace doesn't often fish, but he knows how and well enough. Standing at the edge, he tilts his head slightly as he can hear the muffled signs of the fish swimming through the river. One would think having his magic would make this awkward, and it did at first, but he's already used to it.]

There are plenty here at least.

[tantailizing]

[Checking his pole, he takes hold of the hook and goes digging out bait from his bag. Too bad he has no idea what these fish in particular would like, but he thinks he found something they'll at least be curious enough to bite at.]

Haha, I like those odds. Let's get a good haul!