February open log

[emet_sulk]

🧙 WHO: Emet-Selch and anyone
⚔️️ WHAT: Coming out of a sleep (canon update) and throwing himself into quests to distract himself from new memories
🕒 WHEN: Throughout February
🗺️ WHERE: See prompts
⚠️ WARNINGS:
- Possible sexual content in the arrow threads.
- Potential spoilers for Endwalker, let me know if you are fine with them or not.


1. G(lacial)-Warriors 🗡️ (Knight quest)

A quest is just what he needs to take his mind off the plethora of revelations to come from his day of forced slumber - and what better way than to go out and hit something until it falls to pieces? He takes his gunblade, his horse, and the provisions provided by Camelot to all knights embarking on this particular journey. In typical fashion, he does not bother to ask around and see if anyone would like to join him. No, he wants the time to himself to sort out his thoughts.

Yet nothing is ever that easy, is it? He's ambushed by one of the I.C.E. constructs as he nears the spot. His horse rears up in alarm, throwing him from the saddle before bolting into the trees. Emet-Selch lands with a painful thud into a bank of snow. Fortunately, the gunblade strapped to his back seems in order. Unfortunately, the ICE is advancing on him and he's having trouble getting out of the snow.

Help?

(ooc: Existing CR are free to assume they accompanied him from the start if they want.)

2. Serve, Save, Slave, Slay...Some Sushi 🗡️

The sushi monster is no easier to slay than the I.C.E. as Emet-Selch discovers much to his chagrin. What does a man have to do to get some relatively simple knight quests??

The...creature(?) fires a round of pellets at him which has him diving into a rolls to avoid. He comes up into a crouch just in time to parry one of the sharp green swords it wields, quickly getting his feet beneath him before the second can slice him in half. He's been at it for a few minutes by now, focus utterly consumed by the opponent before him. He's growing tired though and the thing still doesn't look like it plans to give up.

"Ridiculous thing," he seethes. "And me, reduced to using these inferior magicks... I should have asked Irhya for a greatsword instead of a gunblade."

He fires off a round and its ricochet echoes throughout the forest. Even if the sound doesn't draw attention, the eerie blue after-image of the shot is worth attention.

(ooc: Existing CR are free to assume they accompanied him from the start if they want.)

3. I See You, Opening! 🛡️

Well of course, Emet-Selch doesn't want anything to do with these tricksy arrows and their dubious effects. But other people may have no such qualms. Perhaps you want to see this sour-looking man pour his heart out to one of his associates. Or perhaps you want to make him suffer by tasting nothing but chocolate for two weeks. Anything goes. Really. Anything.

If shooting: Please nominate which arrow you're shooting him with. I'm happy to write custom starters if you want.

If encountering him after he's been shot: Please nominate which effect you want for him. Again, I can write a custom starter if that's preferred.

4. Wildcard

If you have some ideas, feel free to send me a PM or leave a comment on the CR meme.

Comments

[emet_sulk]

He grits his teeth. "'Tis not...that manner of fever."

The shame of this is going to burn him up if the 'fever' doesn't first. When he finds whoever shot him with that arrow...

[tantailizing]

"How ca-- oooh. OH! ... Oooooh..."

Zidane stares, arms crossing as he blinks and then considers. On one hand, he could probably make a joke about this - okay, he really, really wants to because, haha, grandpa's horny in public. Buuut on the other hand, he really should get him some help.

... He can multitask.

"Got any numbers that can deal with that? The Madame at the strip club might know someone."

[emet_sulk]

His hand inadvertently strays near his breast pocket (his phone?) before he forces it down. He rather detests how quickly the boy seems to leap to the correct conclusion. Then again, it's not like he would appreciate having to spell out the problem.

"I merely need a cold shower!" he snaps. "'Tis not something to trouble any of my acquaintances with. I'm not some...some lagomorph humping everything in sight!"

[tantailizing]

Might be exactly the issue that he's still a fairly hormonal boy that he catches on real fast. Also, he caught that movement - breast pocket? He can do that, hehe.

"Never said you were, and would it really be troubling to your acquaintances? It's not like I'd just ask anyone on the network."

Zidane feels like he's offering reasonable and funner solutions. Also, would a cold shower even help?

[emet_sulk]

The annoying part is that Zidane is absolutely right that one of his acquaintances (perhaps several) would offer to help with his problem if he asked. But can he bend his pride enough to do so? Not really.

He grows more agitated, shifting his weight from foot to foot. "If I want to take them to bed it will be on my terms," he growls.

[tantailizing]

"Fine, fine..."

Do things the boring way... maybe. Though it sounds like Zidane might be giving in, but honestly...

"Look, I'll help you into the river, and if that doesn't work out, we find another solution."

[emet_sulk]

"Oh no, no, no. I am not walking into a freezing cold river!" he snaps. "And don't you dare try to push me."

Honestly? That just makes his thoughts jump to the time when Hythlodaeus had coyly pointed out that they could have taken a shower together when he had shoved them into an icy lake.

[tantailizing]

"Hey, you're the one that said you wanted to take a cold shower. Besides, you really wanna try walking all the way back as you are now?"

Guy's embarrassed enough under all the grump that he's not even calling his 'acquaintances' for help. Zidane's just offering the closest and (apparently) fastest solution.

[emet_sulk]

Zidane, unfortunately, raises a very valid point. He would have to walk all the way back home to take his shower. As if it isn't bad enough having people stare because of his prior infamy, having them think him a sexual degenerate would be even worse.

"...Fine. Fine! But you are not going to push me in!" He stomps over to the riverbank, loosening his tie as he goes. Despite his assertion, he halts on the bank, staring at the cold water with a grimace.

[tantailizing]

"Alright, alright. No pushing... I'll just watch your stuff over here and get Moguo to bring back a towel or something."

That way if it didn't work, at least he could dry off and not worry about that much. A cold dip, a quick dry, and then... well, if he got that phone, maybe someone would be here to help him back wherever he resided.

[emet_sulk]

He shoots the boy one last, narrow look. He wouldn't put it past them to push him in regardless...but he decides to head off any such ideas by undressing behind a thick bush. He strips down to his undergarments and leaves everything folded neatly. His phone, alchemy pouch, and other small items are sandwiched between the layers.

Should Zidane manage to steal his phone whilst the older man has his back turned, he will find very few close contacts listed: Felih, Hythlodaeus, Irhya, The Matriarch.

As expected, the water is freezing. "By Zodiark, that chills," he grouses.

[tantailizing]

When he goes behind the bushes, Zidane gets the idea that Emet wants a little privacy and bothers to turn away. While he does, he pipes a brief whistle and there's soon an all too familiar 'kupo!' before the sentient ball of fluff with a red pom appears.

"Gonna need a towel, bud." There's a look. "Hey, not for me this time! And I'll get you a bag of assorted nuts later, deal?"

There's still a look, but the moogle does disappear. And it seems while they were talking, Emet finished undressing and began to move towards the water. So, Zidane will move over to his clothes and sit down next to them on the bank. His hands are very visible, but his tail's a snake. And while he makes to rummage in his pocket for his own phone, his tail draws away from the practically undisturbed pile of clothes to slip this new phone into his hand, Zidane making like he pulled his own phone out.

Huuu, top contacts huh? Well, he would be sending something out to all four just to see who would arrive first. Just the location to come find them before making to 'pocket' his phone again with a hum, his tail slipping it back into Emet's clothes.

I am so sorry...

[menphina]

[ Well, after she gets the message from Emet-Selch, she seems concerned enough to actually head on out. Not that she's too worried, he can usually handle himself, but she's a bit concerned he's getting into trouble.

Good thing she was already out gathering, so she's on the way already. She's looking around, wondering what's happening, but she's alert... ]

Hades? Answer me!

No apologizing, this is glorious.

[tantailizing]

Ah, it's the first person to arrive. Zidane raises a hand when they approach, tilting his head a bit. If they look out to the water, there was Emet in his smallclothes...

"Hades?"

... He didn't know that guy was here. Maybe he could explain before Emet notices and gets mad (embarrassed) about it.

[menphina]

[ She blinks when she sees Zidane- they've only spoken on the network, so this is a surprise. She's looking over at him and waving, not looking at the water just yet. ]

Oh- 'tis you, Zidane! What are you doing out here?

[ Her ear flicks, though. Is there someone in the water? ]

[tantailizing]

Hey, it's been a while!

[A long, long while. He should better fix that... Glancing over at the water when she does notice, he looks back sooner.]

Helping out. There was an accident and we're trying to fix it, but if this doesn't work, figured he'd rather have better company to look after him. Even if he doesn't want to admit it. Also, nothing too bad I promise, but I outta leave it to him to explain all those details... maybe.

Initiating alternate timelines, go!

[seasoflight]

Zidane will soon see a petite and svelte figure striding through the snow and cold, immensely fluffy tail flicking anxiously from side to side. He's looking around, uneasy, ears swiveling about and twitching as he calls.

"Hades? Darling? Are you here?" He asks, looking around the brush and trees hiding the stream away, only to jump and fluff up slightly when he spots Zidane.

"Oh! You're not- er, excuse me. What are you doing with my mate's phone?" His tone is light enough, but there's a slight wariness in his eyes.

Huzzah!

[tantailizing]

Well, what a fluffy fellow that Zidane hadn't met before! Though he's met other folks around with the cat ears and tail; and whoops, looks like his messaging did cause a little more alarm than he meant.

Hades? He's pretty sure that old guy was still napping... somewhere.

"Well, I did use it to try reaching his top contacts and see who might wanna help him home if this didn't help. Man, if I knew you were his mate, that would've been waaay easier."

And he wouldn't have sent off four messages.

[seasoflight]

Felih blinks at him for a moment, before he tiots his head.

"What do you mean, 'if this didn't help?' Has he gotten himself into trouble?" Felih asks, before the tension leaves his body with a sigh. He also can't help but wonder why being a mate would influence the situation, unless...

Well, better to ask. "I'm Felih. And you are?"

[tantailizing]

"He got knocked by one of those arrows people are testing this month. If he thinks cold water's a good solution, you can probably guess which one." Zidane's pretty relaxed himself despite Felih having his wary posture, and remains so once the other guy relaxes.

He grins a bit. "Name's Zidane. Nice to meet you, Felih."

AUs upon AUs

[omnicrafter]

Irhya is intrigued when she gets the message, suspecting right away perhaps this is a trap of some sort. Not by Hades, no, but definitely by someone... though how they got his phone remains to be seen. Regardless, she decides to take the bait, shuffling through the snow to get to the riverbank.

...Huh. Zidane and... Hades? Well, one glance explains everything, at least as much as she needs to know to form an opinion.

A snort. "Is this guy blackmailing you? I can beat him up," she says innocently, clapping her hands together. Because, yeah, embarrassing is right.

You gotta have an AU on that AU upon AU

[tantailizing]

Looking up when their new arrival... well, arrives, Zidane grins and shakes his head. "Nah, nothing like that. You just happened to be part of his top contacts."

Also, he feels like maybe he would be fine one-v-one-ing, but who knows. Emet's a weird old man... unless the offer wasn't made to him. And blackmailing? Him??

... Okay, maybe once or twice... a few times he'd done that, but it wasn't anything too serious.

[omnicrafter]

"So you summoned me to see him bathing in the river in the middle of winter? Sooooounds like blackmail..." Irhya raises a brow, leaning in a little closer to Zidane. "You know that's not going to work, right? And surely you can hazard a guess why it won't work."

plz assume after her convo with Zidane or something

[emet_sulk]

It's inevitable he will eventually hear their voices from the bank. He swivels and curses under his breath, sinking lower into the water.

"What are you doing here, Irhya?!"

[omnicrafter]

"Whatever he's doing here, I suppose, which is probably spectating," Irhya says with a shrug. "Are you just gonna catch your death in there or what?"

When he said he wanted to die, he probably didn't mean like this. She can't help but be both perplexed and amused at the same time. There must've been a good reason for him going in... she just can't think of it.