isleofavalon | seventh shot ⊗ open october log

🧙 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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She sees that look, Eria... and it isn't helping the situation any. Tifa falters a little at the bump of her nose, an arm hugging around herself in a self-conscious move, and she wanders away to her familiar, giving her a small, approving shake of her fin before she does flips in the air, thrilled to be with her again.

Tifa shrugs.]

I didn't call her.

[So, where did they come from, and how did they know to look for them? Was it because neither of them returned home at the end of the night like they were expected to? Or did they sense that something was off, and knew where to, and led the horse here to help? It does feel like cheating a little, but she'll take it if it means getting back to Camelot faster and sooner.

Tifa then moves to the horse, her familiar following close behind.

They're... going to have to get on its back... together, aren't they...? The thought crosses her mind, as well as flickers across her expression.]

Well...?

[Shall they?]

[Eustace sees that flicker and there's a small tug at the corner of his lips before he mounts the horse. Once settled in, he holds out his hand to pull Tifa up in front of him.]

You can't be shy about this now.

I'm...

[Not, she wants to argue, but that would be an outright lie, and she knows he knows it. So, with a sigh, she takes his offered hand and uses it to hoist herself up on the horse, nestling in on its back in front of him. Which shouldn't feel this... awkward... considering they did this the night before without too much trouble, but given everything, can anyone really blame her?

Her hands take the horse's reins tighter than she means to, and the horse shakes its head in an attempt to free it. Sorry, sorry!

She takes a deep breath.]

... Okay. I'm good.

[There's a light, breathy chuckle as she settles in front of him, his arms naturally going around her as he takes the reins.]

I didn't think you could be like this, you always seemed ready to drag me into things.

[And with a little nudge, the horse moves forward, their familiars following alongside.]

[She'll let him take the reins, allowing herself a respite as she settles back against his chest, letting her weight fall onto him with each movement of the horse.]

That depends. This trip was your idea, wasn't it?

[The horse whinnies quietly at her words, its head gently rocking back as if to nudge them playfully, and it knocks Tifa further back into him.]

Guess I just need more practice on horseback.

Are you learning somewhere? I can always help teach you.

[An offer he would have made regardless of their relationship. But it certainly doesn't hurt now, and as she sits against him he also relaxes. Really, since they found them the animals are capable of finding the way back...and truthfully Eustace is in no hurry to return. A nice, leisurely walk in the morning hours with a light fog isn't so bad. Not with present company, at least.]

[The chill of the morning air is brisk, but not too cold that it's uncomfortable. It's refreshing, especially after sleeping in a cave for the night, and it's even more so when she realizes that it's him keeping her warm.

Taking a deep, content breath in, she sighs.]

Not really. Only been on horseback once before this, but I wouldn't mind learning...

Then we can pick a day that works best for our schedules.

Any day.

[Tifa doesn't have a whole lot going on for herself at the moment besides the odd job here and there for some money, which is... odd to think about, but at least it leaves her open for things like this when they come up!

But she knows that isn't helpful, so... she hums to herself thoughtfully before lighting up with an answer.]

How about... one week from today?

[He thinks for a moment before nodding.]

That should work for me. Morning or afternoon?

[He doesn't even realize how this is sounding.]

Morning.

[Her answer comes immediately, like she's already had this all planned out in her head. Well, she does, because...]

We can get some lunch after.

[A date? ....]

Morning then lunch...

[Give him a second.

And another.

And now comes the ding as he looks down at her. ...Is...it...a date?

...]

It's a date then.

[Fuck it, might as well call it what it is.]

[She'd thought about it, but putting it into words out loud like that? There's something so official and final about it that it stuns Tifa into a silence for a moment, the only sound the clicking of the horse's feet and the confused chirp of her familiar.

But she's being silly about this. There's no point in trying to shake it off or pretending that there was nothing between them anymore, is there?

She nods, and leans her head back against his shoulder, closing her eyes.]

Yeah. A date.

[It does strange, both for him to say and for her to confirm it. But...it's not a bad feeling. Assuming their last "date" doesn't count, this would be their first real one.

Of course, what would it actually mean for them he can't say for sure. For Eustace, dating someone wouldn't be a trivial matter—whatever kind of relationship, he's serious about it. However, given their circumstances and how they've "come together" now, it's certainly not...normal. There's still the possibility they might be rushing too much into things, with neither of them having much experience.

And yet, the idea of having a "date" with Tifa, first time or second, doesn't really sound such a bad thing to him. At the very least, it would be a good opportunity for them to really sit down and figure things out between them. See if what they feel isn't just a moment's passion or if something could really be there for them.

Either way, there's a warm, quiet, peaceful feeling that envelops them as they amble way through the forest, the horse smart enough to pick up the atmosphere to take its time and head down a leisurely path home.]

seventh shot ⊗ open october log

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