Hijikata Toshirou (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mayoninofukucho) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
isleofavalon2021-03-07 11:30 pm
mayoninofukucho) wrote in isleofavalon2021-03-07 11:30 pm
Entry tags:
March Adventures
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 outand 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' (forfirstsaderesponder)
[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 (forsulit)
[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 andkabedons 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 (forintrapid)
[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 (forboutdatlife)
[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 theiroffscreen 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.]
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
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
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
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.]
no subject
[Arashi barely affirms that Hijikata is in agreement too before soaring up into the air with a strong beat of his wings, literally leaving the others in the dust. Hijikata coughs, then sighs deeply and, once the dust has settled, lights himself a cigarette (with his lighter, just to be on the safe side).]
Well, now you met Arashi.
[He takes off the small, lightweight backpack he had strapped to him the whole time and fishes out two travel-sized water bottles and some energy bars.]
Here. Let's take a 15 minutes break and then power through the rest of the way. That dullahan shouldn't be coming after us with Arashi keeping the head.
[Once they have eaten and drunk Hijikata intends to march on at a brisk pace, but that doesn't mean Karma can't still discuss the matter with him if he wants to. (
Meaning there can be a jump cut to them arriving at Celliwig at any suitable point!)]