March Adventures

[mayoninofukucho]

WHO: Hijikata and ✨YOU✨
WHAT: Banishing Frost Fairies, Escorting Dragonlets Home, Considering a Smoothie, Barrel-Rolling, Questing
WHEN: Throughout March
WHERE: City of Camelot, Foot of the Ash Mountains (via Dusklight Woods / Lands of Rot Passage), Route to Celliwig, Red Springs
WARNINGS: Probably Violence for the Quest Threads!



Problems Spring Up

A ⦿ The Lesser Banishing of the Frost Fairies

[Last month Hijikata first got to see a frost fairy by happenstance when he looked through the glass of the hotel cafeteria's window, and upon learning that it's a local custom to leave them ice cream by the open window overnight he did just that... and found a disco ball as a return present in the morning. After asking around he gleaned that it's a spell item that can start a disco, and while that's about the last thing he generally wants he still appreciates the gesture from the little magical beings.

When he hears that everyone is asked to help banish them for spring to come he's happy to comply and buys a ready-made pot of icy-looking leafy plants with a single nightshade in the centre (look, he has neither the time nor a good sense for flower arrangements, don't judge him for not assembling it himself). So far, so good... until he leaves the plant pot in his room with the window open in the evening while he's out for dinner (he stopped stocking up on breakfast food for the whole day since his questing ventures finally gave him some financial stability), and, upon returning, finds about a dozen rabbits in his room. They're all white and seem to emit a soft glow, and their eyes look blind... but on closer inspection their irises look like little mirror images of the moon. How the hell they got in when Hijikata's room is on the third floor is a mystery.]

What the...

[Clearly there's only one explanation: his prank-happy subordinate Okita who arrived last month put them here. Somehow. He turns back around in the open doorway and yells down the corridor.]

SOUGOOOOO!!

[He doesn't even know which floor Okita's room is on, but the sadist prince is bound to be nearby to witness the fallout of his little stunt... only that this isn't actually his doing at all. If anyone passes by or investigates the reason for the shouting perhaps the kind soul can help him get the cute but uninvited animals out and may or may not be roped into the fairy banishment ritual.]

B ⦿ The Language of Flowers

[Dragons. Of course Avalon has those, given that it even has zombies. Hijikata remembers all too well what happened on Prismatica when the dragons came down from the mountains during their breeding season... suffice to say that their mating songs had an effect on the off-worlder population. Avalon may be a slightly more normal world (for a given measure of "normal") but he's not getting involved with this new problem, forget about it! At least that's his attitude until it becomes clear that people are going to embark on that goddamn dangerous escort mission (and that's after somehow wrangling the flowers from the dragonlets). Hijikata feels torn for a short while, but ultimately his sense of duty wins out, and he heads to the flower fields.

By now countless people have linked the local guide to the language of flowers on AOL, so after consulting the website Hijikata opts to liberate a bluebells planting. These flowers should help him express his constancy and reliability to the dragons. He finds three dragonlets guarding the blue flowers, so he impresses them with some dynamic fire magic effects. Clearly it earns him some dragon credibility, because while they stay put they at least let him harvest what he needs. He thinks about where he could find some young oakwood twigs to weave the garland out of (honestly, he'll probably need to ask for help with that) so the end result will also communicate his strength, when one of the young dragons flutters up on top of his head, prompting him to stop the flower harvest and try to pry its claws out of his hair.]

Hey! Give me a break here! Why the hell can't your parents just come pick you up?

[He may be able to handle it on his own in the end, but any help is appreciated... and maybe somebody is actually in need of a swordhardy companion for the trek? Even if he can just help by lending some of "his" flowers for someone else's garland, he'll gladly do his part.]

C ⦿ Spiritual Cleansing

[Once the Camelotians have access to the flower fields again the city is quickly transformed into a sea of colours to welcome the spring equinox. There are green archways full of blossoms framing the entrances of houses and businesses, every windowsill has a colourful planted pot sitting on it, cornucopias are gushing forth beautiful bouquets in restaurants and even in the hotel lobby... it's a feast for the eyes, complemented by the increasingly longer and milder days.

Hijikata isn't interested in meditation or yoga, and he gives an all the wider a berth to the assemblies after hearing that invisible barriers will pop up and keep people from leaving. Hell no!! He has work to do! Said work (mainly solving random problems that involve a degree of effort, risk or danger for the local population) leaves him hungry and thirsty at noontime, and on his way to the nearest cheap restaurant he eyes the various smoothie stands he passes by. Eventually he actually stops to inspect one of the menus.]

Huh... it's almost like a summer festival back home with all these flavours.

[He's clearly overwhelmed by the choice. Perhaps a well-meaning (or trollish) passerby has a recommendation for him?]


No Work All Play

Keep it Rollin' Rollin' (for firstsaderesponder)

[Hijikata didn't want to partipate in the games. He already got roped into the snow games at the start of the year right after his arrival, and this time he won't let it happen to him! Alas, Okita has different plans. A quick round of blackmail later Hijikata is climbing into a barrel, looking like he's about to be executed (which, let's face it, may as well be the case). Okita looks as self-satisfied as the cat that got the cream as his superior peeks out of the barrel.]

Sougo, do it carefully! You hear me?!


Quests

Run Snagglefoot Run (for sulit)

[How the hell did that jewelry shop hire a known thief named Snagglefoot Miffen?! Well, perhaps he used a false name along with a fake moustache. It wouldn't be the first time Hijikata saw someone get away with that. Catching thieves is police work, and even though the Shinsengumi is still not a thing here in Camelot Hijikata can't be stopped. Given that the man is by all accounts headed to the Red Springs he purchases a spring totem to beat him there. Once in the resort town he casually looks around for Snagglefoot, going by the description and digital photos he was given by the jewelry shop owners, but no sight of him so far.

In the evening Hijikata loiters near the hotel entrance when the faintest sound makes him perk up. As he looks around he spots a figure under some trees on the far side of the lawn. He narrows his eyes. Who the hell is that? As he makes his way over the person slinks back into the darkening shadows. Hijikata makes an effort to move more quietly. Now it's a game of hunter and prey... he makes a sharp turn around a tree and kabedons pins the suspect by cutting off their escape path with his arm against the trunk.]

Sneaking around in the dark, hm? That's not a good look.

Don't Lose Your Head (for intrapid)

[As soon as Hijikata learns of the new dark web he sets out to seek access, and eventually he figures it out. Damn, these are some shady quests alright!! The errand of delivering a mystery box to Celliwig, which still prevents entry to humans with its glamour, immediately peaks his heavy suspicions... so naturally he accepts the quest.

When he arrives at the (obligatorily sketchy) agreed-upon collection point for the package he finds not only the parcel but also Karma, who evidently came for the same reason, given that he's already holding and inspecting the wrapped box. Hijikata takes this in stride. It's not shocking that the sharp boy would figure out how to access the dark web and get himself involved in questionable business like this, probably for similar reasons as Hijikata, and he's one of the best allies he could have asked for, frankly.]

Looks like we're in this together, huh.

Greg Gonna Get Ganked (for boutdatlife)

[Now this is just a total thug quest. One might think that Hijikata has had enough self-made trouble for the month, but no. If someone sends hired brutes to deliver beatings as a warning that's a matter that requires investigation! So here he is, entering a seedy tavern in an unsavoury area... only to immediately spot a white-haired young man seated in a corner with a drink, standing out yet fitting in, somehow, with that rough-and-tumble aura he gives off.

Hijikata pretty much always has a reason to be hissy towards Samatoki, be it because he only won their offscreen magical duel at the tournament two months ago because Hijikata hit the water of the pool first (seriously, they both fell in!!) and proceeded to be the overall winner of the whole category, or simply that he's 9 cm / 3.5 inch taller than him for no reason (why did their respective license owners not liaise about that?!), so naturally he's immediately bristling. It's a given that they're here for the same reason. Hijikata orders a beer, and while the barkeeper pours it he sends a piercing side glance in Samatoki's direction. He better not screw this up for him!! Then again... if Hijikata is honest with himself it may not be for the worst to have some backup. If the raucously loud group occupying the largest table in the tavern is Greg's clique this may end up being a little more challenging that he anticipated. Once he gets his drink he casually wanders over to Samatoki's table and sits down.]

Got some cards on you?

[That was smooth, right? They're coming across as random strangers, right?]


[OOC: If you'd like any additional prompts please feel free to hit me up on my plotting post! Also here are Hijikata's permissions.]

Comments

Don't Lose Your Head

[intrapid]

Hm? Oh, yeah.

[ It's a slightly distracted greeting, compounded with the way Karma's eyes were unfocused despite his head bowed down over the box, palms flat on either side of it. When he blinks again, the gold in his eyes is back to normal, not shining as bright as a moment before, and he places that grin back on his face before underhand tossing the box to Hijikata. ]

If we got a copper on our tail, you'd better be the one holding onto this.

[mayoninofukucho]

I am the copper.

[He snorts, but holds on to the package - why not. Karma seemed unfocused right now, but not to the point where Hijikata would inquire about it (and he doesn't even know yet what type of magic he wields, nor does he think to ask at this point... though he soon may).]

Well, let's get going. It's a long way to Celliwig, so if you want we can try to hitch-hike or take the express route and buy a token.

[If there is one that'll take them at least half of the way they'd make good time, and time is apparently of essence for the mystery quest-giver for whatever reason. Maybe the wares are very sensitive or perishable. Hijikata absolutely plans to find out, but not while they're still in Camelot City.]

[intrapid]

[ Which is why he should be the one holding onto this thing! If they get caught, he can just say he's playing double agent. And from what Karma's been able to glean of what's inside without opening it— weight, the slight shifting inside the box (because who doesn't immediately shake a sealed box when they get their hands on one?), the recent past that his magic burns into his mind... yeah. Not a thing he wants to be caught holding.

Regardless of how they decide to get there, Karma starts off at a brisk walk- they can talk on the move, but need to be careful with how they conduct themselves, because nothing screams smuggling like two guys sprinting down the street with one of them holding a box under one arm. ]

I'd rather not involve anybody more than we have to. How do totems work?

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata really is carrying the package casually under one arm, but otherwise walking at a normal (if likewise brisk) pace as he starts leading the way to the stores of the Elphame traders. He nods; working with only Karma suits him fine.]

Totems are like little offerings you burn. Well, not really offerings - they create gateways. If you walk through the smoke you end up by a statue that's attuned to the totem type you burned. There's a handful of statues I know of around here, and each requires a totem with different components.

[As they arrive in the area Karma will notice more unusual wares offered at the storefronts and in the windows... more esoteric, mainly.]

The only people selling the recipes are the traders in this part of town coming from Elphame up north. It's a pretty mysterious area, with huge forests separating it from us down here. Celliwig is the only fae town south of those woods, as far as I know.

[He enters a store and inquires about their options, but the furthest north a totem can take them is the farmlands just outside the city. Hijikata thanks the trader and shakes his head at Karma as they exit.]

That's not worth it. I guess we could rent a little cart, but I don't really have any experience handling horses. If you're willing to walk it'll likely take us as long as it took to get to the Forest of the Fisherking last month, so we'll have to stay at an inn overnight.

[intrapid]

[ He keeps quiet as he listening, running the options through his head but in the end, he's inclined to agree with Hijikata that the totem isn't their best option, especially if it would only take them partway and that the other side is in a known, fixed location— even a newbie copper would know to watch it, and they would surely be questioned as to why they're headed out of the city towards a place barring all visitors anyways. ]

Hm... I've never had to deal with horses either, and I don't have the magic or a familiar that'll make it any easier.

[ He pulls out an old map and unfolds it to study— in terms of travel time, it might be easiest to head to catch a ride to The Red Spring with any carriage that's on the way back to the outpost, and head north from there. But he angles the map towards Hijikata and traces a finger directly north of Camelot, past the fields and up against the edge of Dusklight Woods. ]

Horses will have a hard time following us through the woods, and we'll be able to spot anybody miles away in the field. If we take this route, we could afford the extra time going on foot.

[ No luxury of an inn, though. It's a camping trip. ]

Continued from above!

[mayoninofukucho]

[The horse is just recharging and recuperating in its own demonicn way, not that either of them would know that. Hijikata is honestly pretty emboldened by their achievements so far. Sure, they're still in the middle of the battle, but they managed to force a horrible zombie or whatever this is to dismount, and they nerfed his weapon! Of course Hijikata is still at a disadvantage in terms of range, but Karma may just have solved that problem.]

Pull!

[Have the naga pull the ghoul's legs out under him, he means. He'll charge right in and, if possible, finish the job. The horseman brings the shortened whip down on him again, but Hijikata stays on course. If he has to cut it down to a stub first he'll do it.]

[intrapid]

[ The naga does just that, jerking its tail backwards to knock the rider right off its feet and keeping him pinned to the ground. Karma is almost hopeful, taking a step away from the riverbank in the anxious way of somebody who is all of pathetically useless outside of being eyes— he sees the whip come down, and he pulls a gun out of his own pockets and fires: there are no real bullets in this gun, only cheap plastic airsoft pellets, but with the speed and accuracy of which they're fired, even cheap plastic is good enough to knock the rider's hand out of the way, the shots finding the knuckles and loosening his grip on the whip entirely.

A chance to go for the kill.

If, you know. Hijikata knows how to kill a guy who should by all means already be dead, being headless and all. ]

[mayoninofukucho]

[This poor dullahan never knew what hit him. He may be a powerful demonic faerie, but usually he fares quite well with just his spine whip (which may largely have to do with the fact that people generally completely lose it with fear when they see him and are easy pickings). Hence he doesn't rely on magical attacks and keeps it purely physical, and this time he just had the bad luck to run into two mortals with ridiculous amounts of aggressive energy. (To be completely honest, though, Hijikata's main motivator to stand his grounds instead of running for the hills wasn't so much worry for Karma as the knowledge that the boy wouldn't let him live his cowardice down until they'd unfreeze the multiverse.)

As the horseman falls Hijikata launches himself at him, leaping into the air, sword raised above his head with both hands while Karma's rubber bullet takes care of the whip for him, and, in landing, rams the blade through the enemy's chest with enough force to pin him to the ground. This was absolutely beautiful teamwork, and he can feel the adrenaline rush.

So far, so good... only this isn't really that much of a setback for the dullahan, all things considered. It's more of an annoying hold-up. He wanted to take these head thieves out to prevent further interference from them, and then go after his head, but with them being more sturdy than expected he opts to slowly fade into mist along with his horse (the whip will be left behind; it is not bound to him anymore, and he'll have to make a new one). Horse and rider will reappear elsewhere, though it does take some time to travel through whichever nethers creatures like them must navigate, so it's not like they'll pop up in Arashi's vicinity instantly, which means Karma and Hijikata get a breather.]

[intrapid]

Coward.

[ Karma scoffs under his breath when the Dullahan escapes, which means yeah, he definitely wouldn't have taken it well if Hijikata had suggested they run. But it's a relief to be done with that, no danger at the moment and so he takes the opportunity to pick up that handful of bbs he'd shot, limited ammo as he has, and shakes the whip segment free from his hand. Super gross. He tries not to think about there being nerve and sinew holding the bones together. ]

Better call your familiar back here to make sure that thing isn't targeting him alone. This isn't over until it's over, and we still have a delivery to make.

Run Snagglefoot Run

[sulit]

[Sneaking around in the dark is basically how you get things done. At least, if you're living a little to the left of the law. She knows that well enough--for no particular reason. But if you wanna catch a thief, you're not going to do it in broad daylight.]

[Unfortunately, sneaking around in the dark also makes her look incredibly suspicious herself, and Klaudia doesn't have nearly as good a sense of her surroundings as she should...]

[So she startles sharply when an arm suddenly slams against the tree, a figure looming over her. Instinct kicks in, and she reaches into her pocket for a metal rod she bought and etched an alchemy sigil into. Magic flares, and the tip of the rod elongates and sharpens to a point, even as she's jabbing it at her attacker's torso. Hopefully he has the sense to dodge because she doesn't pull her punches.]

[It's only after the fact that she realizes--she recognizes that voice. Not a good look, indeed.]

Neither is stalking! [She hisses out the words in a hushed voice--panic straining her tone, but anger quickly taking over instead.]

Why are you following me?

[mayoninofukucho]

[The attack does make Hijikata draw back and reach for his sword - but then he likewise recognises Klaudia's voice as she hisses at him. That demon not-demon woman from the elevator! He responds in a heated, but also hushed tone.]

Stalking?! I'm stalking?!

[She has no way of knowing, but the designated stalker in the Shinsengumi is actually his commander. The man has no sense of boundaries and keeps harrassing the hostess girl he's in love with. At this rate Klaudia would be super unimpressed with the whole organisation, no doubt.]

Listen, I'm here for that Miffen guy who's on the run, so don't interfere!

[Then again it's unlikely that she's just here for leisure... sure, the Red Springs resort houses some great training grounds that are worth a visit, but people generally don't sneak around in the gardens after a long day of practice. He sounds a little more calm and professional as he continues.]

If you're after him too, you can leave it to me. I'm a policeman.

[sulit]

[Klaudia would be super unimpressed with his organization for the sheer fact that he works there. Everything else is just icing on the cake.]

[She just stares at him incredulously, that alchemized knife still gripped tightly in her hand. He's looking for that thief guy, too? Really? And he's a "policeman". Great. Like she hasn't spent the past six months dodging people like him.]

And what do you know about catching thieves, exactly? Because you're zero for one, right now, and lucky not to have a knife in you. Maybe you should go home before you get yourself hurt.

[mayoninofukucho]

[Wow. Wow!! The nerve!!]

What the hell do you know about me, huh?! I've subdued dozens of terrorists, if not hundreds! Taken out smugglers and murderers and all sorts of scum!

[He aggravatedly pats the hilt of the sword at his belt.]

I've been a swordsman for half my life! A petty little backstreet criminal is nothing for me! What's on your résumé, little Miss Book Thief?! What are your credentials?

[sulit]

[What's on her credentials? Buckle up, buddy. Her credentials are— are— ... Not something she can tell him. Damnit.]

[She pauses halfway to pointing at him, then presses her lips together. Her finger shakes at him again, though she looks like she's scolding him more than anything else. Finally she shoves him away with a huff.]

I'll have you know. I have studied magic for most of my life, so your boast about being a swordsman is worthless to me. So you swing a sword around, big deal. I have shaped reality with my fingertips, so you can sit on your stupid sword, thank you very much.

[She takes that moment to adjust her clothing and lifts her chin at him.] Also I've thrown down with a death god; have you thrown down with a death god? I don't think so. So. Checkmate.

[That's certainly... One way to tell that story. Maybe not the most factual one, but he doesn't need facts.]

The Language of Flowers

[milkmycattle]

[ Personally, Crow doesn't care much about flowers, even if his band did have a song called, 'Falling Roses', it's anything but delicate. Yet, this task piques his interest because he's helping the young dragons get home. At first, he was going to make a crown full of red flowers, but after looking up the meaning for most of them, it's not the message he's going for. Instead, he decides to make a garland with more variety. Crow picks out flowers that have traits of his bandmates: Violets for Aion representing loyalty; Amaryllis for Rom since the frontman displays pride; Black-eyed Susans for Yaiba because it symbolizes truth.

The redhead had to use his wit to get around the dragons to assemble those flowers on his crown. Utilizing his tail to distract the baby dragons, while he stealthily snatches a fistful of blooms. Though, one of his attempts isn't quite successful, since the corner of his jacket is a little charred. Yet, he gains a pair of scaly tagalongs who appreciate his budding wreath of friendship. Though it isn't complete without something representing him. As Crow searches for the perfect red flower, he spots Hijikata having a little trouble with a dragonlet. He chuckles as the officer struggles to pull the creature from his hair.]

You seem to be doing something right! That little guy really likes you!

[Or at least really likes Hijikata's head.]

Need some help?

[mayoninofukucho]

[ShinganCrimsonZ embodies some good values!! But truth to be told, Hijikata would also quickly find nice flowers to represent his comrades' strengths if he tried. Maybe he ought to take some inspiration from Crow's approach. (Also he'll want to hear Falling Roses eventually!) He turns to him, holding the little dragon above his head with both hands while its claw tips are still clinging on to his totally messed up hair.]

You're bringing more of them?

[He finally manages to pull the dragonlet off entirely, sets it down, winces and rubs his head.]

Rather than asking me if I need help, are you sure you're going to be okay? Or do you have someone who's going with you?

[To be fair, Crow clearly got farther than Hijikata, given that he already has a garland boasting several kinds of flowers. Hijikata hopes he actually looked up what they signify instead of just being all happy-go-lucky about it (sorry Crow, he has learned to always expect people do take the stupidest possible approach).]

[milkmycattle]

[ Well, Crow can be quite the dumbass. He certainly was going to make a terrible mistake by assembling a garland full of red flowers, and have all the dragons fawning over him. Thankfully, last-minute something told him to look it up.

Crow gestures to the two baby dragons following after him. He loops the end of his tail around the wreath, and uses it to wave the laurel about to entertain the pair as he talks to Hijikata.]

Oh yeah, Blaze is the one on the left and Flicker is on the right.

[Yes, the singer even gave them names. He should probably name the one that Hijikata pulls off his head. He laughs as the older man's hair sticks up like a turf of grass.]

Let's name that one Razor!

[Then when the officer asks if he'll be okay, Crow tilts his head to the side in confusion. Why wouldn't he be okay? He's got this covered! The redhead never got a chance to venture out to the Land of Rot, so he doesn't know there are zombies or other undead creatures. Otherwise, he'll be shaking in his boots if he knew the truth.]

No, I was planning to go alone. Why? Is it really that dangerous out there?

[mayoninofukucho]

[He named them... he sure is enthusiastic about befriending these little scaly creatures, whereas for Hijikata this is just another mission. He won't object if Crow wants to name the remaining two as well. His eyes follow his long tail as it swings the wreath around... he still hasn't figured out what kind of animal boy he is. That response, though, gets his thoughts back on track.]

Yes!! It's super dangerous! There's zombies and undead skeletons and god-knows-what else out there! You were seriously just going to walk out there like it's a Sunday promenade?!

[He gets up and holds his bluebell harvest out to Crow.]

If you have any flowers to spare, can you help me make a wreath? I don't have the skillset. I'll try to keep these little guys entertained in the meantime.

[With 5 of them on their hands they can't quite afford to venture into the forest to look for oakwood, he feels. They could easily lose them there.]

[milkmycattle]

[Oh, Crow will name the other two dragon babies once he figures out their personalities. He continues to tease the dragonlets with his tail until he pauses as Hijikata expresses how truly dangerous their mission is. It's hard for the redhead to believe that anything could be that dangerous since his world isn't quite so precarious. He did come from fighting the Queen of Darkness, but they were able to defeat her with the power of music. No one died or had to make a huge sacrifice.

Though he doesn't like the idea of zombies, skeletons, or whatever undead creature might be lurking about. There's a shiver that runs down his spine at the idea, but a bite on his tail from one of the baby dragons, snaps him out of his reverie.]

Hey! No biting! It's sensitive!

[He holds up his tail inspecting the indentations of bite marks. He now has a name for one of Hijikata's other dragons, Jaws. He turns to Hijikata as he offers his flowers to him.]

Sure!

[He's an artist, so he tends to be more on the creative side. He starts to work on the officer's wreath, decorating it with the bluebells, and trying to remember what other flowers would be good with this man's personality.]

What about you? Weren't you going alone, too? Wouldn't it be too much?

Continued from above (to avoid pagestretching)!

[mayoninofukucho]

[Crow's commentary is inflammatory enough to a mayonnaise lover's ears that if it were anyone else in any other situation Hijikata might just start a fight over it, but since they're on a mission and Crow ultimately seems willing to accept his culinary addiction obsession preference he just huffs.]

Tongue of wood, my ass! That'd be everyone else who can't taste the greatness of mayonnaise!

[Crow's bandmates might fit right in with Hijikata's Shinsengumi comrades. Okita pours hot sauce over everything (especially other people's food), their commander Kondou loves bananas, and one of their spies, Yamazaki, is obsessed with red-bean-paste-filled anpan bread. If all of them went for curry together it'd be an interesting event. For now, though, Hijikata is content to simply wolf down his mayo sandwich, followed by another one which receives the same treatment.]

Let's get going again as soon as we're done eating. We're about two thirds of the way there, so we should take as much advantage of the daylight as we can.

[The Dusklight Woods are close enough that they can clearly see the tall trees that make up the fringe. Hijikata hopes that the forest will be less dark and terrifying in the daylight, but who's to say how much light these ancients trees swallow up?]

[milkmycattle]

[ ShinganCrimsonZ would surely get along well with Hijikata's Shinsengumi! Just a group of guys with weird eating habits and occupational nonsense, no big deal. Crow finishes his own sandwich but fills his stomach up with a second helping of bread and cheese. Once they settle in for the night, he'll probably have another meal, so this will do for now.

The redhead looks to the distance to see the forest. He's not looking forward to going back in there, but he can swallow down his fear if that makes them one step closer to getting the baby dragons home. After consuming his second sandwich, Crow starts to pack up so they can start heading again.]

All right! Let's get going! You guys ready to be reunited with your parents!

[ Crow pumps up the dragonlets. The quintets give an enthusiastic coo, the little dragons seem to perk up from their full bellies. The weirdo Ugolino flutters up to perch on Crow's head.]

Ugo! You're not light, y'know! You'll crush the flowers!

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata chuckles a little. Crow and Ugolino are quite the pair. He wonders if they'll see the dragonlets again after bringing them home. On Prismatica off-worlders who had been there for longer recognised some of the adult dragons who came down from the mountains in spring as the ones they had helped take care of as dragonlets a year prior... then again it seems like Avalon's dragons usually don't leave the mountains, and these dragonlets' excursion was an exception.

Before long they enter the forest, and despite Crow and Hijikata's apprehension everything seems normal. Sunlight filters through the green canopy, and the ground is covered in newly grown grasses and spring flowers. It's unexpectedly idyllic, and it remains that way as they proceed along the foot of the mountain line. While the woods are full of sounds they're all easily placeable - the songs of birds, the buzzing and humming of insects, the light breeze in the leaves. The dragonlets don't seem scared, instead looking around curiously, but they stay closer together than in the open fields.]

...

It's a nice forest, really. I'm surprised.

[Yet he can't help but feel watched. He can almost physically sense the eyes following them as they walk. He slowly turns around himself, scanning their surroundings, and as his gaze passes through the crown of a nearby tree he meets the eyes of two feminine beings that almost melt into their surroundings with their grey-brown skin and green hair. He blinks, and the split-second is enough for them to disappear, as if they were never there.

Hijikata wants to tell Crow, but he isn't sure if he actually didn't just imagine it. Little does he know that it's not only the dryads who are watching them, but all sorts of other beings that inhabit the forest - pixies, wind spirits, and things the names of which nobody in Camelot City may even know. They all peg the myoumon and the human as strangers, but more importantly they recognise the dragonlets. The garlands on the off-worlders' heads may mean nothing to even those who understand the flowers' meanings, but they all know the dragons, the lords of the mountains, and keep respectful distance to their offspring.]

C

[mycrosstobear]

[If there's something Wolfwood can appreciate, no matter where he ends up, it's food or drink that is 1. good and 2. preferably cheap. Street fair (festival?) stands are usually a reliable way to find both. Which is how he's ended up sipping on one large smoothie, while still wandering the stands to see if he should return to any of the competition later.

He looks over the chalkboard menu the other man has been staring at.] The next one over's cheaper, though.

[mayoninofukucho]

Oh, really? Thanks!

[Hijikata is also a bit of a cheapskate, so he appreciates the pointer. While he doesn't have much of a sweet tooth he now really wants one of the drinks because the one Wolfwood has looks so good. The stall owner melodiously chimes in to point out that their smoothies have special toppings, but Hijikata shakes his head.]

I'm sure they're worth it, but I'm a simple man.

[He wanders over to the next stall... the flavour assortment isn't much different, but the price point is indeed a little lower.]

Have you tried different ones before? Any you'd recommend?

[Otherwise he may just ask the vendor to choose for him.]

[mycrosstobear]

[Wolfwood holds up his own cup.] Only this one so far. The...[He squints at the board to remember the precise name] "all-night almond butter." [Coffee, almond butter, and frozen yogurt.]

The coffee's the main taste.