isleofavalon | — 01 / open / past us is distant

Entry tags:

— 01 / open / past us is distant

🧙 WHO: Kate & Anyone who wants to run into her
⚔️️ WHAT: In which our sullen heroine cleans up the city (After The Storm quest), fights with some bridge trolls (...Bridge... Trolls quest) and remains unsettled by her familiar.
🕒 WHEN: Throughout the month.
🗺️ WHERE: All over the place, really.
⚠️ WARNINGS: IDK I'll add to this as necessary.

— do you wanna get some more.

( the city isn't in ruins, but close enough. the storm battered everything it could, snapping branches from trees and sending anything not completely fixed in place several (hundred) feet away from where it started.

but this sort of damage can be fixed. buildings can be repaired, trees... well, she can't just sellotape the branches back on, she doesn't think, but those which are still standing should be fine. it's the ones which aren't standing that are the problem. such as the one Kate finds herself staring at, having already hefted the shattered branches and debris surrounding it into a canvas bag at her side. she exhales a breath and reaches a hand to her hair, just to find it remains neatly in the same tight pink braid it's been in all day.

this isn't happening by herself. so where...

ah! )

Oi!

( you, rando. ) You seen a saw?

— we just lost sight.

( there are people who'd disagree, whose eyes would widen in pity and shock to hear it said, but sometimes there are things which can only be solved with violence. and it seemingly doesn't matter what world you find yourself in, because these things do not seem open to negotiation.

violence for violence is the rule of the beasts, but beasts these things seem to be. and so, Kate ends up ensconced behind a (standing) tree, crouched and staring at the group of trolls as they lounge in the surroundings of several pilfered products.

(none of which are hers, thank you very much. she's not a total idiot... mostly.) )

Think you can get round the back?

( well, howdy, partner. we're trying a pincer formation here. any objections? )

— do you wanna go somewhere.

( she just. stares.

stares and stares, following Kate around the city with an unblinking gaze and a dress as white as moonlight. not that Kate even remembers calling for this ridiculous woman — familiar. whatever. somehow she ended up with the eeriest fucker in the lake instead of literally anyone, anything else.

(okay, so maybe she wouldn't exactly want a waste monster, but they wouldn't just stare at her all the damn time.)

in the middle of the city it all breaks down, and those who pass by will certainly hear the irritated tones of half an argument as the familiar answers each question in a monotone as unperturbed as her stare is unblinking. )

D'you have to follow me?

You... called me.

The hell I did. What're you supposed to be anyway?

I'm the washer woman.

... What.

( no one would blame you if you just moved on, but maybe you're a particularly kind soul who wants to stop someone fighting with their own familiar? or maybe you just want to poke the bear a little more?

i'm not your boss. )

— we only try to avoid it.

( wildcard option! write your own starter, or contact me at isanghae / isanghae#8071 and we can hash something out. )

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[ Tsukuyo hadn't exactly been looking for a partner for this quest - when does she ever want help, honestly But at the same time, the other woman seems capable and no nonsense and that's something she can definitely get behind. ]

Course. They don't exactly seem observant creatures.

[ That, and well, Tsukuyo is a trained ninja. Stealth is supposed to be her bread and butter.

Also she can see one of them currently has a finger very attractively jammed up one of its nostrils right now, so yeah, she's feeling pretty good about her chances of sneaking by without catching their attention... ]

( working with strangers is a necessary evil for getting these things done more quickly. she'd rather Ainsworth were here, but there's no point in dwelling on impossibilities when there's work to be done. Kate follows the woman's gaze to where the troll sits, picking his nose? — honestly, he could just be sitting with his finger up his nose for no other reason for all she knows — and sighs.

from travelling the country trying to stop unknown waste monsters to... this. it's a job, true, but damn this looks like a downgrade. )

Reet. ( this woman shouldn't have trouble with that. she's pretty sure an elephant wouldn't have trouble with that, looking at this rabble. ) We'll go as soon as you're in position.

( why draw this out any longer than it has to be? )

[ By contrast, dealing with any kind of actual monster is a new one for Tsukuyo. But to be honest, the behaviour of these giant oafs doesn't seem all that different from some of the guys she's used to policing back home - nose picking and bellies included. ]

Right. I'll be quick.

[ And she is, using trees and long grass as cover with ease - even if it's not her usual rooftop type terrain- she makes her way around and behind and- Honestly, these trolls do not have a single appealing angle. That much is apparent. ]

( it's a sad state of affairs sometimes, truly. Ainsworth was never too bad, and nor is her brother, but most other people beyond that? oh boy, the stories she could tell of the rest of her former unit.

there's no need to verbally confirm that statement, a quick nod of the head works just as well in this scenario, and Kate watches the woman dart through to the other side. well. attempts to. she really only catches flashes of a shadow darting from one piece of cover to the next.

the trolls don't even seem to care. maybe employing any sort of strategy was a bridge too far. or perhaps they're simply that confident in their ability to defend this place. she supposes that answer will only come once they jump these guys, and her fingers tighten around the knife she found at one of the weapons shops in the city. it's new and unfamiliar, and she's pretty sure it's not exactly the best thing, but it should work until she can find something better.

she always preferred guns anyway.

her eyes drift from the lounging, snorting trolls to the spot she expects this stranger to arrive at, and her muscles coil tense, ready to spring. )

A sneak attack? Really?

[Nero scoffs. Working on a quest with Kate of all people is already stretching his patience, but he also isn't the type to sneak around, period. He's never really needed to, and it's not something that's about to change, even if he isn't as strong here as he usually would be.

He cranes his head from behind a tree, frowning at the trolls.]

It's not my style. How about I draw their attention, and you get the jump on them?

( of all the people in this damned place who could have been around when she took this quest... it had to be this ass. irritation rises in Kate's chest and she exhales.

the worst thing is, that isn't a bad idea. she could argue the point simply to argue the point with him, but it really isn't the worst idea she's heard here. )

If you think you can handle that.

( there's no need to be nice about the fact he's managed to come up with a decent strategy, at least. )

I've fought bigger and uglier.

[Much bigger and uglier. So, since she seems to be in agreement about the plan, he steps out from behind the tree and pointedly away from where Kate is hiding, drawing their attention off to the right to afford her a clear blind spot. Once he's close enough that she wouldn't be at risk of getting spotted once she starts moving, he finally shouts over at the trolls:]

Hey, I'm looking for a pair of pants! You didn't steal them from some poor guy, did you?

[The trolls, preoccupied with their loot, grunt and look over at Nero in confusion. Nero grins and just carries on, unperturbed, even as they reach for their giant clubs.]

Big fellas like you, I don't think such a scrawny guy's clothes would fit. Nice try, though.

( well... it's got their attention. she swallows the instinct to grimace, or facepalm, at the way he calls loudly enough that anything in the surrounding area has probably turned its head towards Nero as well, and turns her knife over in her hand.

this would be easier with a gun, or at least Ainsworth at her back. the order in which she attacks would be less important. going for the one closest to where she crouches would be easy, but hitting the biggest and ugliest before it has a chance to avenge its fallen comrades has its advantages too.

sigh, no time like the present, and before Nero's rambling draws them too far from her, Kate summons her magic and pushes herself forward, grabbing the closest by its shoulder and dragging the blade across its throat.

ugh these things smell as bad as they look. )

[Nero does at least shut his mouth once Kate attacks -- no point baiting them any longer when they're confused and under attack.

While she cuts the first by the throat, a second swings its club toward her. He pulls out his revolver, Blue Rose, and sends two bullets punching through the troll's bicep, sending it reeling and howling in pain.]

( the term all hell breaks loose isn't quite right here. it's not nearly chaotic or dangerous enough to earn that title, but things quickly turn into a messy flurry of trolls moving to attack whatever doesn't look like them. they're strong, and faster than Kate expects, but she avoids the club just as Nero catches it with two well-placed bullets. )

So y'are a good shot...

( look, there's enough time for her to be an asshole, and she can manage to make a compliment sound surprised even while using the reprieve Nero's granted her to grab the troll's injured arm and twist it painfully, using it as a shield between herself and another oncoming club attack. )

Gee, thanks. [No need to sound so surprised, Kate. With her using one of them as a shield, though, he can't risk aiming that high again without accidentally hitting her, so as another troll charges toward her he puts a couple of bullets in its thigh.

The rounds are designed to pierce the armour of even tough demons, so even on a large enemy as a troll it causes it to flinch and slow down, giving Nero enough time to draw his blade and charge forward to hamstring the troll with a few slashes, sending it reeling.]

Maybe it's a good thing those pants didn't fit. You'd have blood all over them! [Even if the trolls are too dumb to understand a word he's saying, he seems to enjoy shit talking them anyway.]

( she's had quite enough of this thing, thank you very much. the troll is pushed into the nearest other one with a grunt and a flare of magic which pulses through her veins like adrenaline.

nice. the energy gives her that extra push to follow up the collision with her own knife, ignoring Nero's shit talking in favour of aiming strikes at the troll, who's pushed the dazed and bleeding hunk of its friend (? she doesn't know what these things consider each other) to the floor to try and swing its club once more.

her blade finds its wrist and slices, the pain distraction enough for her to get in closer and aim a kick at its kneecaps. or what she assumes is its kneecaps, anyway. )

[Trolls aren't the brightest of creatures, and while the troll Kate kicks howls as it's struck in the kneecaps, a third troll takes an... extreme measure to deal with the situation. Lifting up a chest of goods from their amassed loot pile, it hurls it with a grunt at friend and foe alike -- and Nero has to step in and halt it with kinetic magic to stop it crashing into both him and Kate.]

Get out of the way!

[Nero shouts to her as he backs off, before letting the chest go and watching it smash into the troll she'd been fighting.]

( oh for the love of—

not knowing when to quit proves a lot more annoying when it's being used against you, that's for sure. but she doesn't need to be told twice, rolling away from the danger zone and to the edges of the battle. a moment to breathe and get her bearings—

or to see a troll winding up to aim its club at Nero. )

Give it up, already.

( she pushes herself forward and slams her shoulder into the troll's side. it isn't enough to knock the guy off balance, but it stops it making a hit on Nero, so that's good enough for Kate. )

Huh?

[What? Huh? Why is someone talking to him? Wait, he should probably answer -

He looks at Kate, the shadowy cat on his shoulder fixing three of its eyes on her, and it's the only thing stopping him from shrugging helplessly.]

Um, no, I can't say I've seen anything like that just... Laying around.

( why are all the animals??? familiars??? here so weird?

...y'know what, that's a question that'll never be answered so instead Kate concentrates on the one that is being answered. though it's not the answer she hoped to hear. )

...Great.

( next plan it is then. )

What kind of magic you got?

( it's strange to have to ask that question. strange to not simply know what she needs to know and be able to move on with what needs doing.

she hates it, more than she thought she would. )

[Ummmm have you just considered it's you who's weird, Kate!!

Ace is a perfectly normal void creature and its existence isn't concerning at all.

And, unfortunately, Kaede is completely useless all the time.]

...Cognitive.

[Slowly, the pieces are being put together, and he lets out a slow breath.]

You're doing that... Cleaning up the city thing?

( she is definitely one of the least weird people here... in her opinion.

cognitive magic... Kate frowns. that's probably not going to help here. and as for her own kinetic magic? well, that's still got a ways to go before she can painlessly heft fallen trees around. )

Aye. ( she gestures to the tree trunk with a jerk of her head. ) Need to move that. ( ergo, the saw, or the magic. though, if Kaede happens to have access to lifting machinery...

yeah, probably not happening here. this place is beyond weird, with its smartphone technology and ancient aesthetics. )

[So she's super weird.

Kaede looks at the tree, lips pressed together. He... Doesn't even know where he would start with trying to move that. Physical prowess was never exactly something he was concerned with. If this was his home, it'd be easy, but as it is now...

He can't hypnotize a tree and make it move.]

...Have you really had no luck finding saws?

( some might say that. clearly they're wrong.

this lack of typical powers is a problem Kate didn't anticipate having here, but it exists nonetheless. her perceptions of everything have shifted, the quiet once again reigning in her world. )

Not yet. ( not that she's done much looking, but who's going to admit that? ) Let's find one.

( two people can look faster than one, right? )

[Thinking emoji...]

...Alright.

[He has... Absolutely no idea where would be a good place to look for a saw. Is that... Something people normally carry around with them? He gets the feeling it isn't, though.]

...Where should we look?

[Sorry, Kate,]

( let's think... there's not exactly a B&Q or Homebase around here. so, maybe... )

There a blacksmith near here?

( they might not be open, what with all the flood damage, but maybe if the storekeeper is in... )

[a WHATS,]

I think so... I remember seeing one not too far from here, at least.

[Well. He saw a sign that included the word "smith" and there was a picture of a hammer and an anvil on it, so. Maybe?]

( good. this is good, and her eyes brighten at the answer. they might get this sorted yet. )

C'mon then. Lead the way.

( no time to waste! )

O-of course.

[And he will! Luckily, Kaede's memory is actually quite good, and he leads them to a blacksmith with no trouble at all. He hesitates outside, looking over at Kate.]

Well... Here it is.

( well, it looks legit enough. guess they'll just have to knock and open the door a touch. )

Anyone here?

( her question, head poking in through the gap she's pushed open before she gives the door another shove.

goddammit, just what is stuck behind this thing? )

Gimme a hand—

( two shoulders are better than one? )

Right.

[...This is going to go horribly, he can feel it in his bones. But no point in giving up before they're already started...!

He steps up, bracing himself against the door.]

Right, so... Um. On three?

( maybe, if she focuses, her kinetic magic can do something about this, but it's still new, still unfamiliar and unpredictable. she needs to find time to train it somewhat, but that might have to wait until after the city stops looking a tip.

so, countdown —

one.

two. )

...three.

( puSH, kids, push! )

[Push...!!!

The door creaks and swings open, which at least takes Kaede with it. He lets out a rather undignified yelp and stumbles, before just kind of. Flopping onto the floor face first.

Ow.]

...Did it work?

[It's muffled into the floor...]

( well, they're in. sure, Kate stumbled when the door finally gave way, but she's still standing.

as for this kid... )

Yep. ( he's gotta get himself up, as Kate has locked eyes with the proprietor of the shop, a middle aged woman who stares flatly at both of them.

maybe she didn't want that debris moved yet. )

You got a saw?

[Just let him lay here for the rest of his life.

He does push himself up to his feet, and he stares between Kate and the woman. He raises an arm in a half-wave.]

We're trying to do some clear up, so a saw would probably be good, because neither of us can really do anything about it with magic, so if you have a saw and you could give it to us that would be really great!

[There's a twist to his words, influencing the woman to make her more agreeable. Kaede feels a little bit guilty for it, but...

It's for the good of the town, so that's fine, right?]

Oh, well of course! Just wait a moment, would you? ( whether the woman would have said yes or no without Kaede's influence is a question they don't really need to look into, in Kate's opinion. when the woman says yes and produces one from behind a corner of the store.

having the blade in their possession is a relief, and she nods her head towards the woman, already turning to leave.

a nod is sufficient thanks, right? )

Th-thanks, ma'am!

[Time to leave before the old lady cottons on to what's happened-

Once they're out of the shop, Kaede sighs and his shoulder slump.]

...Well. We got the saw.

( no need to look so relieved, kid, it was just a quick chat. )

Aye. Let's get to work.

( one tree will be cut into manageable, transportable, chunks and then they can move onto other parts of this clean up job. )

[Time for the manual labor part of this gig!

Which.

Wow.

Is actually the worst thing in the world???? Kaede is definitely not in good shape. He is trying very hard to make it look like he's not struggling, but he's kind of a terrible actor.]

( oh.

oh dear.

she stops soon enough, staring at him for a long, hard minute. this is only the beginning, and one of the thinner parts of the tree at that.

where does she even start? )

You're not holding it right.

( that's taking way more effort than it needs to. )

[....................]

Ah... How do you hold it?

[He doesn’t know anything.]

( there's a roll of her eyes, but that's all. no tsk, no impatient snapping, because... admittedly, she hadn't known what to do either when she first tried using one. )

Watch.

( she grips the blade slowly and deliberately, placing her left foot forward, her arm tucked against her side. it's all very neat. very proper. efficient. the product of hours of being yelled at in the training grounds. )

[He watches quietly for a moment, before nodding and going tk try again. He’s a quick learner, at least - kind of had to be, to survive as long as he had - and he looks up at Kate after a brief moment.]

...Thank you.

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— 01 / open / past us is distant

bridge trolls

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bridge trolls

in b4 they attract the trolls' attention...

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clean up;

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