3rd Feather - November Catchall [Open]

[milkmycattle]

🧙 WHO: Crow and You!
⚔️️ WHAT: Flap Veg Quest and some TDM prompts
🕒 WHEN: Throughout November
🗺️ WHERE: Various locations
⚠️ WARNINGS: None at the moment
[Quest] Flap Veg

[ Crow saw both requests. One to protect the butterfly lettuce and the other to steal it. He considers both, but it doesn't seem wise to be the offensive when he has no idea how outmatched he'd be. It's better to be on the defense, but there are still disadvantages there too. Whatever, how hard can guarding lettuce be?

So Crow guards over the fluttering produce armed with his guitar, in case things do go awry. Though as miraculous as flying lettuce is, it's also quite boring to watch. So Crow may--may not be nodding off in the middle of his shift. This could be a good chance to steal some lettuce!]


A. The Floor is Lava!

This is insane!

[Maybe this is someone's idea of a sick joke, but Crow perceives it as the best obstacle course ever! He stands at the doorframe leading to what looks like a living room. The room looks fully furnished, despite the obvious fact that the floor is full of magma, but the furniture doesn't seem to be scorched. Still, he can feel the heat radiating from it, and it does seem to appear realistic with how it bubbles and swirls around like boiling stew.

Crow peeks around the room, trying to map out how he would get across. There are various things they can use as footings like the coffee table, sofa, and armchairs. There are a few bookcases along the walls that maybe they could knock over or even the curtains they could swing from.

He bounces on his heels, ready to take the first leap inside. Finally, he turns to his comrade, seeing how they felt about this.]

Should we stick together? Or go separate ways and meet on the other side?


B. Hungry No More

I. [Crow enjoyed watching those videos. So much that they encouraged him to help the cause, and also experiment with cloning the food. It's an issue he firmly stands behind because no one should have to wonder where their next meal is. So he starts to play around with a few recipes. Some didn't even work, but Crow keeps trying. He follows some videos to a T, but ultimately he decides to be a little heavy-handed towards the end. Unfortunately, this effort causes the food to multiply at a quite alarming rate. Crow stands there stunned at how fast his food is replicating, before long it flattens him against the wall. The rocker couldn't even move an inch from the sheer weight of the accumulating vegetable, why did he think it was a good idea to clone a pumpkin?! All he could do is yell out for help, hoping someone could hear him.]

Is anyone out there?! I'm being crushed! Crushed to death by pumpkins!!

II. [ Somehow he manages to escape death's cold grasp after the first mishap, but this time will be different. He gives the recipe another go, this time choosing a carrot to experiment on. Yet, Crow actually messes up the recipe again, but not only does it multiply, but the vegetable also starts sprouting arms and legs. Not long there's a small army of carrots menacingly stalking towards him.]

This is why I don't do science experiments!

[He tries to get rid of them, pulling out his guitar, so he can hack the produce into bits. The sharp edge of his guitar splits a few of them in half. Crow watches in horror as the monster carrots regenerate, before replicating into doubles.]

Shit!

[He doesn't even know how to fix this either. All Crow could do is seek help, but from whom? Maybe you're lucky enough to bump into Crow as he tries to outrun some mutated carrots.]

C. Magical Flu

[He's been feeling under the weather for a few days. The normally energetic hedgehog finds himself just wanting to sleep all day. His body feels weak and heavy. He also constantly feels cold. He hopes he's not getting...sick?! He should probably stay inside and reserve his energy, but he figures a walk might cure his lethargy. Big mistake!

He walks around Camelot, but he doesn't feel any better. Instead, his nose feels a bit itchy now. He covers his nose for the inevitable sneeze to follow.]

ACHOO!

[ Unbeknowst to Crow some of his dark magic leaks out and hits a person nearby. The innocent bystander's clothes flip backward, so all the fastenings are at the person's back instead of the front. Someone's going to have trouble getting out of their clothes. He sneezes again a horse gets hit by the stray magic, the stallion's legs start to wiggle about as if made of jelly. The redhead notices weird things are happening around him, but he's not aware that he's the cause. Since Crow's magic consists of jinxes and enchantments, he'll affect people with mild annoyances.]

Huh? What is up with everyone today?

[Someone stop him before he creates an even bigger mess!]

D. Paralysis, paralysis, paralysis again

[ Crow seems like a pretty confident person, but he actually has some insecurities as well. A wandering sleep demon picks up on it as the redhead sleeps, entering his body and creating a nightmare of his own inner demons. On the outside, Crow is tossing and turning, muttering to himself and clutching his blanket tightly around him.

Though within his dream, he sees his father. At least, a dark silhouette of the grumpy hedgehog. The shadowy figure starts to belittle him, just like he always did.]

So, you came crawling back? That precious dream of yours ended up being a failure, didn't it?

[ Crow could feel those words affecting him, making him feel small.] N-no, it didn't! ShinganCrimsonZ has played at many venues and we have a fanbase---!

But you haven't made it to the top of Midi City's music charts, yet?

N-no, but it's only a matter of time! Just a little bit more and I'll prove to you that I have what it takes!

You don't have what it takes. You're difficult to work with! You're self-centered! Bad attitude, too! You don't have the ambition to see it through! When are you going to learn to accept your place? You've come from generations of dairy farmers, that's all you'll ever be.

[Crow can feel each of those words anchoring him down. Normally, he would fight back. Argue that those words aren't true at all, but his voice gets lost in his throat. He can't deny it, maybe he's right?]

Comments

[dottedline]

What--Crow.

[Why is he not surprised? Now the carrots are going to come after him!]

You mean magic? Like what you have?

[milkmycattle]

Magic? No, not that! You can do potions, right? Maybe you got something that can turn them back?

[Crap! Their gaining on them, he pulls Azul along to get more distance between them and the mutant carrots. Now you're involved, so you have to help!]

I should've known this was going to end up like this!

[dottedline]

[Dammit. Azul is not in good enough shape to run like this, but guess he's running!]

If I had time to prepare one, maybe! I don't keep that sort of thing on me--ow!

[The one with the fork manages to get a stab in at Azul's ankle. He reflexively kicks it away, sending it tumbling into its brethren and scattering several.]

And this isn't a curse, so I can't simply countercurse it either!

[milkmycattle]

[He looks behind him as Azul kicks Stabbie into the carrot tribe and it slows them down a bit. Though it will only be a matter of time before they sort themselves and continue the chase.]

Yeah, I tried that already!

[Crow also has dark magic and that's one of the things he tried to do before running for his life. At this point, it only seems like he needs to destroy them, but how?!]

Well, what do you need? How much time will it take? I don't even care if you just made acid, and I pour it over the bastards!

[dottedline]

...if we can lead them to my restaurant, I should have something. If nothing else, there's several very large pots.

[Carrot stew, anyone?

Azul yelps as another carrot tries to get him.]

Hurry!

[milkmycattle]

[ Would it be safe to consume them? Whatever, Crow has eaten worse things. They aren't in the position to waste food anyhow.

These orange bastards are pretty quick, when Crow feels them on their heels again, he gives them a swipe with his tail, whipping them back.]

I'm running as fast as I can! I'm a hedgehog, not a cheetah, damn it!

[ It hits Crow that he never had a chance to go to Azul's restaurant until now. Where the hell has he been?]

How far is it? Is it in the center of town?

[dottedline]

And I'm not even meant to run like this, so run faster!

[It's been a wild few months.

Azul rattles off the address.]

Slightly more upscale than the center of town! Just run, I'll guide you!

[milkmycattle]

Slightly more upscale? Is it in the damn castle? Some cottage on the outskirts of town?

[ It's amazing that Crow can still joke around ever while being chased by animated produce. Though, he keeps running and allows Azul to lead the way. Luckily, the carrots focuses only on the pair since they ignore the townspeople as they race through Camelot.]

Maybe it's personal? They must have some kind of vendetta against me! Kill the creator or some shit like that?

[Although, it seems Azul is just guilty by association.]

[dottedline]

Tired of being eaten, now they want to eat?

[Azul no.]

[milkmycattle]

[Not cool!]

Guess they want seafood, too! The best of both worlds! The surf and turf combo!

[dottedline]

Wouldn't be the first time someone said I looked delicious.

[Azul what the fuck.

He doesn't explain as he directs Crow to Golden Silence or as he pulls out his phone to text whoever's on duty right now to prepare all the pots and the most acidic things they have in the kitchen.]

Almost there.

[milkmycattle]

[ Yeah! What the fuck, man?! So you want to be eaten or...? Whatever! It doesn't matter!

Almost there?! By now Crow is huffing and puffing! His lungs are burning, legs about to give in. He peeks behind him and the horde of carrots are still hot on their tails.]

C'mon! Give up already!

[dottedline]

[Look, when one of your best friends is a deranged eel, you get used to him saying some wild shit.

Azul is only upright by the virtue of Crow at this point.]

How...do things with such tiny legs go so fast?!

[They reach the door and slide in just in time to shut the door in the carrot army's face. Azul takes this moment to collapse on the ground.]

[milkmycattle]

Everything seems to move fast here!

[ Doesn't matter if it's zombies or carrots, everything that chases you is freakishly fast here! It must be the magic!

Once they get to the restaurant, Crow presses his back to the door as if trying to make sure they don't burst through. He catches his breath as he looks at Azul pathetically lying on the ground.]

Dude, don't tell me you're still this out of shape?

[All of a sudden a loud bang comes from the other side that makes Crow jump. He moves away from the door as the carrots continue to bang on it. Suddenly, a fork pierces through!]

Shit! They're going to get in!

[dottedline]

[Before Azul can complain that yes, he's out of shape because he has other things to do than exercise, the employee he'd texted comes out with all the pots, bowls, and other things they could find on a few rolling carts. Azul moves out of the way (and drags Crow with him) to let the employee and a few others handle the carrots.]

What did you even do, Crow?

[milkmycattle]

Me? I'm a rock singer, I thought I told you that!

[And he says that like it should satisfy Azul's question.

Though, he does keep himself in shape because public image is very important for musicians. There's also his background of living and working on his parent's farm, so a healthy physique is literally beaten into him.]

Anyway, what are you gonna cook up?

[dottedline]

I meant what did you do to the carrots. I don't think that stupid potion is meant to do that.

[Honestly.]

A lot of carrot stew, but I can always use carrots as sides or garnishes as well.

[milkmycattle]

Huh? Oh yeah! I just followed those viral videos, but then I kind of got tired towards the end. I might have forgotten an ingredient or something.

[ Don't ask him which one, because he doesn't remember.]

Have you been following them?

[dottedline]

Not at all. I only know about it because someone suggested it for the restaurant, but. Well.

[He glances to the door, where they can hear the restaurant employees going to war with the carrots.]

[milkmycattle]

[Yeah, probably a good idea that he didn't follow the trend. He hears the commotion not too far from them and it doesn't sound promising. Crow starts to feel a bit antsy.]

So should we come up with a plan to trap them in the pots?

[dottedline]

They do have lids that can be easily secured and the pot itself can be brought anywhere, after all.

[Okay, he thinks he can breathe now. Azul slowly gets to his feet.]

But no. Can I trust you not to touch anything I tell you not to, or am I going to have to make this antidote on my own?

[milkmycattle]

Oh yeah? I didn't know how pots worked, thanks for informing me!

[At the question though, he pauses to think about it. He'll have to calm his impulse to touch anything interesting.]

Um...well since I fucked up, I'll do whatever you say!

[He can actually behave during a crisis.]

[dottedline]

[Okay, that first bit was sarcasm, so Azul will ignore it. The rest of it, though, it exactly what he wanted to hear. He gestures for Crow to follow him and leads the way to the kitchen, where Azul has a station for alchemy set up.]

First, water and...probably salt. Salt, the coarse ground type.

[And while Crow gets that, Azul goes to get a few of the more...volatile ingredients he has.]

[milkmycattle]

Gotcha!

[Like an obedient puppy, he goes off to get those ingredients for Azul. He doesn't know exactly where he can find the salt, but he looks through some of the cupboards in the kitchen. He finally finds some coarse salt in the pantry. He then goes and retrieves the water from the tap. Or was distilled better?

He suddenly hears a loud bang from the other room, making him move a bit faster! Whatever, it doesn't matter!]

Here's the water and salt! What's next?

[dottedline]

[Oh God. Azul grabs the last of the vials and moves to start trying to light the fire under his cauldron.

Emphasis on "try". Someone is very, very bad at working with matches and refuses to use a lighter.]

Put it in the cauldron, and then be ready to hand me what I ask for when I ask for it or to go help the others.