eighth shot ⊗ open november log

[flamekthunder]

🧙 WHO: Eustace and anyone
⚔️️ WHAT: various things
🕒 WHEN: throughout November
🗺️ WHERE: various
⚠️ WARNINGS: none except any potential violence against lettuce

⊗ a: task - flappy veg

[Guarding flying lettuce....is certainly something Eustace never would have found himself doing, yet here he was in one of the known locations where some have landed from their migration. Whether they're technically animals or not, Eustace couldn't understand them through animal magic regardless, but he's able to at least communicate that he's there to help and not harm. They seem a bit jittery with all the poaching around.

a. updrafts. The place they landed in is mostly a clearing, but there are a few "obstacles" scattered around in the form of tall rocks and small trees. While most of the Butterfly Lettuce remain on the ground vibing, some also choose to perch on the trees to prune their leaves. However, due to their physique and unreliable drafts at this time, they end up either flopping about or plummeting to the ground. Fortunately none are too bruised, but it's hard to just sit still when nothing much is happening.]

...Hold on, let me help.

[Either by picking them or using wind magic to create some wind to help the lettuce, Eustace can give them a boost up. It's still not perfect, but it works.

Some of the younger lettuce realize they have an on demand draft maker, and Eustace can also be found creating wind streams to help the smaller Butterfly Lettuce "flap" over a mini obstacle course as they play a game while also practicing their skills. It's good practice for him as well. For anyone who might there also guarding him, they can either assist or just watch out for any stray Butterfly Lettuce that flap in the wrong direction—or help catch any that might fall from their perches.

b. poachers. Of course not everything is peaceful. Eventually poachers will arrive. If Eustace is able to sense something amiss soon enough he could send out a warning shot before they enter into the area. If not, he's fully prepared to fight and bring on the thunder, er lightning. Help keep the lettuce out of the way or assisting Eustace in fighting the poachers!]

⊗ b: cure on cloud nine

[Having managed to avoid the basilisks and already wearing gloves, Eustace is prepared to help in retrieving the mysterious Nimbus flower deep within the Forest of the Felled. Having a lot of experience in infiltrating and dealing with traps, including those out in the wild, also helps. So while traversing through a particular are, his suddenly looks up and holds his arm to stop whoever he's with.]

Careful. The branches here have been cut and the ground looks it had once been cleared away. Better to go around.

[Although there are leaves and growth all over the ground, if one looks carefully there's a small patch that looks thinner compared to the rest, indicating that at some point it had been disturbed and recovered. Most likely a pit trap, but no need to try and find out.]

⊗ c: floor is lava

[Although he had (for some reason he still can't comprehend) been granted the both the knight and noble titles, he still hasn't accepted the new grant since it seems too much of a hassle and not really his thing. But he does go out to check on the new townships being built out of curiosity...and also because of the little prank that had occurred. This had to be the most ridiculous thing he's seen yet, though he feels he thinks that every month... After hearing about it and seeing it with his own eyes, Eustace just sighs as he first notes the affected buildings.]

...Rather than play this farce, wouldn't it be easier if I just transformed into a bird and fly directly to the circles to destroy them? Or shoot them down from a higher enough point.

[His hand is already on his holster. He just has to get up to a building and aim, and he has elemental magic on his side it should be easy right??? But will he be allowed is a different matter—

If anyone manages to convince him to do it properly, they better be prepared to join in and expect a riveting platform game where nothing is stable and teamwork is key!]

⊗ d: wildcard

[Although I only picked the cure part of the basilisk questline, I'm open to the other parts! If interested in anything else not included here, just hit me up on laenavesse or discord and we can work something out!]

Comments

♨♨♨

[starshower]

[It was a phone call she had been amazed to receive but expected. It was bound to happen at some point, whether it was a text, over the phone, or he would open the door as she was leaving another container of food on his and Gran's doorstep before dashing off, but she couldn't avoid him forever. It had all started when they arrived back from the caves. She was coming by less and less, her Clover updates became infrequent, if existent at all, and any time the idea of them seeing one another would somehow makes its way into a conversation, she would artfully dodge the topic by steering it elsewhere or coming up with some form of an excuse, albeit very poor ones.

Although the nature of the phone call this time was what surprised her the most. Eustace informed her that two very persistent friends who shall not be named—but one starts with "G" and ends with "ran", while the other with "Z" and ends with "idane"—had booked them a couple's retreat at the famous Red Springs resort. Which shouldn't be so strange, considering she lived there for quite some time before giving up her room to refugees and moving to Aerith's, but the fact that this was named a "couple's retreat" is what makes her wary of it at first.

He must have sensed that doubt because it was immediately followed by him teasing her about it—asking if she was going to run away again, and her face had grown so hot that he could probably feel it through the phone. Whatever he was intending on using it for, it worked; Tifa agreed to meet him there on the weekend, just as planned. She wasn't going to stand him up either way, and...

Well, she'd be remiss to say that she hadn't been thinking about how they left things between them. In fact, that's all that has been on her mind since she returned from the cave. She hadn't spoken or seen a single soul, rushing to her room to bury her face in her pillow until she fell asleep with Clover next to her, and any time anyone would question what was wrong with her in the days to follow, noting how dazed she'd been, she would brush them off with a laugh. In truth, she never stopped thinking about it. About him, and each day that stretched by, Tifa found herself missing him more and more.

Maybe this would be a good opportunity to clear the air between them. Talk about what happened. What it means, or if it means anything at all. Or maybe being there with him will fix the awkward tension that will inevitably hang over their heads, and they could simply go on with their lives as they were before.

Wishful thinking.

The day hasn't turned out to be bad, and so far, they seem to have fallen back into a natural rhythm with each other. There is a notable difference in the way Tifa walks a little closer, or how her hands find themselves gravitating towards him, touching his arm or grabbing his hand to pull him along to their next attraction, which is exactly what is happening now as she is drawn to a booth.

Air puffs from her lips in a gasp, and she takes hold of his wrist and gives it a gentle tug, and when she stops in front of the booth, she readjusts the scarf around her neck, bringing it lower to really capture the sights and smells of the crepe shop in front of them.]

I've never had one before, but I've always wanted to try...

👀

[flamekthunder]

[At first Eustace hadn't thought anything of Tifa's absence—well, all right he did wonder about her every now and then and that first night back after their little "cave tryst" there had been a strange sense of emptiness. But he had his usual routines and work that kept him occupied, and despite the newfound feelings he wasn't one to be pining or clingy.

However, when he recognized the pattern of Tifa leaving food and then running away, it would be a lie to see he didn't feel a little annoyed. On the one hand, he understood. It was a lot and she was probably being shy again and needed some space. However, it only reminded him of what happened before so he was quicker to probe into it. Which she of course denied anything, but he believed that like he believed the world would be fixed tomorrow. But he didn't push as hard...until the time of their scheduled date. Unfortunately the weather made it poor to do so, so it needed to be rescheduled. But even then he could sense the evasion and it was then that his patience started to run a little thin. Just a little.

However, his mood was souring and it was obvious. So obvious that two little nosy brats decided to lend some "help" while he was trying to figure out how to approach Tifa in a way that she wouldn't be able to run but without scaring her either. So with this little "couple's retreat" he had the excuse needed and if she refused he'd just show up in front of Aerith's house door—hell go directly to her window necessary. Fortunately she accepts and while he's not pleased it took this much to "catch" her, it does make him feel a little more lighthearted.

And he wasn't going to hold it over her, especially not once they were together and warmed up again. Well, he might a little, but not begrudgingly.

So now in town and wearing a looser sweater with only his cape as extra protection from the elements (and the traditional exposed shoulders and some of his back), Eustace lets Tifa lead him around, not minding her pulling him to and fro. It's a bit cute in a way, and it's certainly better than how she was running away from before.

At the booth, he follows her gaze and looks at the crepe curiously, the sweet scent inviting.]

I've had one once or twice, but it was a while ago.

[He glances at her.]

Which one do you want?

[starshower]

[Tifa hums, her hands coming up to seek the warmth near her lips, eyes flicking across the menu and then the crepe display. There are too many to choose from, and some flavours she's never heard of or imagined existing before, and then there are the "classics", according to the stand that range from sweet to savoury and everything in between. But the bright colours of the strawberries and cream is what grabs her attention the most.

She doesn't give her answer yet, but instead, her eyes look up at him, shimmering with anticipation.]

They're kind of big, aren't they?

[They're really big, actually. Too big for her to finish on her own. At first, she worries that it might spoil dinner, but... where's the fun in that? She's trying her hardest to keep the mood as light-hearted and enjoyable as possible, because she fears the moment it falters, they'll stumble right back into that awkwardness she's working so hard to avoid.

So, she shouldn't even stop to think about what might or might not happen. Best to just go where the winds take her, and they've led her here. Besides, it's closing in on dinnertime, they aren't anywhere near the resort, and she isn't even feeling like eating in a fancy restaurant anyway. She doesn't have the right clothes for that.]

What do you think of strawberries and cream?

[Is she implying that they share it? Yes.]

[flamekthunder]

[...Aha. He catches that implication and he glances at her for a moment.]

Sounds good. Let's add a little chocolate glaze to go with it.

[He's not a huge sweets person, but he's had enough dessert experience to know that combo is usually well favored. He's also going to go ahead and step up to the register to get their order.




They should not be surprised that it will be a giant heart shape, perfect for splitting it in half right down the middle. Eustace is also going to get them some small cups of hot chocolate that will also have little hearts marshmallows in them.

...

If this had been just the other week this really would be weird and awkward. As it is, it's just kind of...over the top...]

C. Floor is Lava

[tantailizing]

[It might be strange, but Zidane's hovering nearby with his magic. Eustace probably was expecting him to play along, bounding across the furniture and roofs, climbing across rope and structures waiting to be built upon; it would be fun, but not right now. He's actually a little annoyed by the interruption, but puts on a smile anyway.]

... Eh, since we can both fly, we can race that way instead.

[Okay, so he's still playing, but he's not playing by the normal rules of the game - and it doesn't seem like anything was stopping them either.]

[flamekthunder]

Race... Is that really necessary?

[Though he supposes that is one to get through them faster.]

[tantailizing]

Hmm... guess not when it's obvious who'd win.

[He leans back in the air, grinning at Eustace.]

--> dragon quest

[luciing]

[ Questboard here.

The Lotus Pod Mountain, rich in labradorite and hallowed with passages to mine it, is now the primary mountain where the quest claims the dragon currently resides. Three set off in an attempt to find, and perhaps confront, the beast on the west side of the mountain that faces the Dusklight Forest.


Somnus rests his hand upon a cool stone surface of the cavernway. Drill and pick marks line the walls, indicating the direction in which the miners had carved their paths deeper. He lifts his palm from the wall, rubbing dust between two of his fingers. Faintly iridescent residue glimmers upon his thumb and index, a trademark of the rich labradorite mineral. The mountain's heart may still contain precious materials, it seems.

Somnus turns his head towards dark path before them, speaking to the two others with him. With his other hand, he lifts the torch before him, causing shadows to scatter. ] Onward.

[tantailizing]

[Ergh, there was something unsettling about looking at Lotus Pod Mountain, but less about the holes once they revealed themselves and more how it reminded him of something that was previously a part of home. Shaking his head to rid the thought, Zidane steps forward to the cavern wall himself and inspects it closely. If there's something precious still inside then yeah, the dragon had to be somewhere nesting inside, building up a new hoard until the next incident drove it out and into a rage.]

[He takes several steps in further than the other two, looking back at them with a grin.]

All ready here, let's go!

[They had a dragon to find.]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace just follows silently after them, taking the rear position as he had the advantage to not only cover from the back but also can better listen and catch any sound of anything that may be approaching. That said—]

If you need me to scout ahead at any point, let me know. Although my time will be limited, I can transform into a smaller creature that can see through the dark and undetected by the dragon.

Flappy Veg

[feralhumanity]

[Eustace has a rather unique ally when it comes to defending the flying lettuce. Being primarily a carnivore, Nanaki has no interest in eating the Butterfly Lettuce, but he understands the need to protect an endangered species from poachers. And knowing there's a big, scary guard catdogwolf protecting them might just make poachers think twice.]

[But for now, he lays on the grass and watches as Eustace makes the younger Butterfly Lettuce fly up on the updrafts. It's kind of cute, really. His tail swishes as he watches the scene before him.]

They seem to be having fun.

[flamekthunder]

So it seems.

[Eustace doesn't break his concentration as he produces a rather large updraft, sending one of the Butterfly Lettuce's high up into the air.]

It's fairly good practice for me as well.

[feralhumanity]

Hmm. Playtime for the creatures, and magic practice for you. A win-win overall.

[It's like watching small birds learn to fly. They definitely seem to be having fun... except when one seems to get stuck upside down mid-air.]

It seems as though they're not as versed in their abilities yet, though.

Flappy Veg - A

[doctorintern]

[ This was definitely not something Fenton imagined he'd be doing either, but he'd ended up taking the task anyway. Mostly to protect the creatures(?) from poachers, but also for a chance to observe them. Even though he specializes in engineering, he can't exactly pass up the opportunity to study something so wondrous and strange.

He's been keeping an eye on a group while they're resting in the clearing, which is when he comes across Eustace and some of the younger lettuce playing in the wind streams. ]

I suppose that's one way of doing it.

[flamekthunder]

[He glances over at Fenton in greeting as he watches the cabbage floating along the wind while trying to exercise their strange wings.]

It keeps them entertained and prevents them from wandering outside.

[doctorintern]

[ He nods, though does take a moment to record it for his notes. ] Nothing wrong with having a little fun, right?

[ One of the butterfly lettuce perched in a branch above watches for a moment, before deciding to join in the fun. But with the other wind blowing by, it loses its balance and falls. Luckily Fenton notices, and stretches his arm to catch the lettuce from hitting the ground. ]

Oops! Better be careful, little guy.

b!

[theleadingman]

[Spending so much of his time back home invading ruins and rummaging through tombs, Balthier is quite familiar with having to spot and either avoid or disarm traps of all sorts, making this particular task a natural fit. He stops short when Eustace puts an arm out, tugging at his own gloves to ensure they're secured in place as he narrows his gaze, following his task partner's own.

A pit trap if he ever saw one, yes.]

They might have done a neater job of covering it up, but I suppose we ought to be glad they didn't.

[He lifts his chin as he inspects the surrounding area, looking to their right. Nothing stands out as being amiss, but it's always safe to assume that where there's one trap, another may well be close by.]

This way is clear for the next few feet. All this for a flower.

[flamekthunder]

At the very least it's a sign that we're heading in the right direction—or will stumble upon whatever else is being hidden in this forest.

[He walks in the direction Balthier indicated, steps slow as he keeps a wary out for what else could be waiting them. After all, not all traps are easy to sense, especially if that one had just been a decoy for a more well laid one...]

[theleadingman]

Fair enough. People usually don't set traps for no good reason.

[Unless it's a very elaborate red herring, but in this particular instance, that's very unlikely to be the case.

He steps carefully as they make their way, shrewd gaze searching for any tells as they go. After a few more steps, he points to a spot ahead of them between the trees with his gun, then gestures upwards.]

There— a hanging snare, likely hidden beneath the brush. Careful you don't get strung up.

Flappy Veggies - A

[yorhaberserker]

[A2 happens along and caught a stray lettuce when it came her direction. Then she sees a familiar face and smiles moving, holding onto the strange veggie creature.]

I think this one was trying to get away. Where do you want me to direct it?

[She waits holding it.]

[flamekthunder]

[It's been a while since he's seen A2, so there's a small look of surprise and recognition before he looks at the Butterfly Lettuce in her hands.]

Thanks. Bring it... Over there with the rest of the main group. [He nods to where a large number of the Butterfly Lettuce are either roosting in the trees or hopping along the ground.] There's not too much wind so it won't be able to "fly off" so easily.

[yorhaberserker]

[She takes the creature over to where he directs her and sets it down, smiling softly up at him. It was nice seeing him again. She had thought about him.]

Looks like you're having fun with them. How have you been? It's been a while since we last saw each other. Has everything been treating you well?

[She pats one of the strange butterfly lettuce's gently.]

wintery fun times ✨

[starshower]

[Outside the city isn't that much better than inside, although in some parts, the snowstorms have seceded enough that they aren't too detrimental to travel. The snowfall is still heavy, large flakes fluttering down as far as their eyes could see, but the winds are manageable past the walls of Camelot with the right winter gear. The sun is out at least, which is a blessing, and they've already been through the worst of it, and after being cooped up inside for several days without power, the first thing Tifa does when they're free is find Eustace.

She would check in on him in the mornings with at least a text to make sure that he, Gran, and Eria had made it through another cold night, and would pester him about whether she needed to make a trip to their home to bring food—at least something warm to hold them over—but he would insist that they were fine, and Tifa would have no choice but to concede.

So, the morning after it all finally clears, the two of them leave the city by carriage. He had invited her along to look at one of the many castles offered to him when he received his Noble title—something that Tifa hasn't stopped teasing him about since they climbed into the carriage—and she's now turned this into a full-day trip, complete with soups packed for lunch, hot chocolate, and a small bag of heart-shaped marshmallows for some light-hearted flair.

And when the carriage lurches to a stop, Tifa pulls back the curtains on the carriage windows to wipe the frost and fog from the glass, and her eyes widen with wonder when she catches a glimpse of the castle. She's seen her fair share of impressive infrastructure, because as much as she despises Shinra, they were far ahead of their time when it came to architecture, but there's something so grand and so mystical about an old castle that still stands that a vast cityscape can't hold a candle to.

She's quick to hop out when the driver opens the door for them, her boots crunching in the ankle-deep snow when she lands.]

It's so big...

[flamekthunder]

[While Tifa is having a fun joyride, Eustace is just sitting back against his seat opposite her, head resting against his hand as he looks absolutely bored and disinterested in this whole trip. Ever since he heard about the special "grants" gifted to him due to titles he honestly mostly forgotten about receiving, he had just promptly ignored it. He had no need or care for it. But due to persistent summons to at least look at the potential new territory and wanting to get it over with so he can once again reject it.

So Eustace is a lot slower to descend, his eyes casting the same disinterested look as when he stepped into the carriage. Unlike Tifa, he's seen various castles of similar style so it's not really anything new to him.

And seeing one that could potentially be his does not change his opinion.]

Too big.

[And with that curt remark he walks past her, walking easily through the deep snow.]

[starshower]

[He'd been such a giant stick in the mud since they climbed into the carriage, and Tifa had been willing to put up with it, hoping that being here might change his mood, until now. She knows it's too big, too gaudy for someone like him—she knows him well enough to believe with all her heart that he would want something smaller, more quaint, outside the city where it was quiet and didn't draw a lot of attention.

But where was the fun in looking at a place like that!?

The closest Tifa has ever come to anything like this was Shinra manor, and that was a place she never wanted to visit. It was dark, and filled whispers of ghosts of the past... Not exactly up Tifa's alley.

This, on the other hand—this she could handle, and thought it might be fun to at least take a look around. See a real castle...!

So when he walks past her, his response so curt that it makes her grumble under her breath, Tifa doesn't move. Instead, he'll feel something cold slap against his back, shattering and spraying him with snow. And if he turns around, she'll already be packing another ball in her hands.]

What's gotten into you today?

[They haven't seen and barely spoken to each other in days, why is he being like this!!!]