second shot ⊗ open may log

[flamekthunder]

🧙 WHO: Eustace and anyone
⚔️️ WHAT: various quests and things like random snowballs thrown around in the training grounds
🕒 WHEN: throughout May
🗺️ WHERE: various
⚠️ WARNINGS: none except for any potential violence that might happen in the combat oriented prompts

⊗ a: snowball mayhem

[After a month of getting the basics down, it's time to try and take it to the next step...which really isn't all that big, but progress is progress. Although his specialty seems to be in lightning magic, he feels out which element he might be able to use more easily next—and turns out it's ice. Given his familiar is a snow wolf and his own snowy origins, that might not be too surprising. And this same wolf is going to cause him problems.

While trying to focus on the output of energy for creating basic ice patches and shards of ice the size of small daggers, he feels something wet and cold hit the back of his head. Turning around he sees his familiar with a wolfish grin, a snowball floating in the air as her tail wags slyly from the side to side.]

I'm in the middle of training, this is no time to—

[He ducks his head to the side to avoid the oncoming snowball (so hopefully someone else didn't get hit—). He tries to go back to his exercises, but when he feels another snowball pelt him, a brow twitches and he gives his wolf a look before it occurs to him that maybe this "play" might not be the worst idea as a form of training. Slowly he extends his hand and concentrates. It's small, half the size of his palm, but a ball of snow forms. Seeing it his familiar's eyes brighten and more appear around her.]

Fine, have it your way.

[And so there is a strange sight of the Erune chucking small to medium size snowballs at a wolf who returns fire—and cheats by firing multiple. So if anyone is around the Training Grounds, they may or may not get suddenly hit by stray snowballs totally his wolf's fault—.]

⊗ b: task - no buccaing out

[Being underwater...is not something he's really used to, but with his animal magic he might be able to do something. Anyway, time to strategize as they gear up for the dive! Or are already swimming down there.]

I did some research and these nudibranchs do have their own natural predators. I'm not confident I could transform into one of them and be able to fight them, but I could try communicating with any nearby to help. [They'd probably like a free meal.] Unfortunately my strength is in lightning magic and I'm only beginning to work on ice, so those might not be as useful.

You?

[Of course he could try transforming into a crab or turtle, but he'll be open to other ideas and using whatever strengths they have.]

⊗ c: task - holo, goodbye (a dunked wolf)

[Seems like a straightforward quest and for a good cause, and when he arrives at the river he can't help but watch the rocks and festive faeries in some appreciative wonder. It might not be all that quiet being a festive time and all, but it is a reflection of a type of peace he can appreciate. So despite the "noise," he's rather relaxed and just takes his time to somewhat enjoy the atmosphere.

But right. Job to do. He'll be crouching down by the banks, deliberating on which rock to take and whether he should try wading further out to inspect the others (he has a feeling this old woman is going to get quite a lot of these...). Just as he's reaching down to take pluck a potential candidate out, he hears some mischievous giggling. He can already guess some of the more playful (and probably drunk) faeries and pixies are plotting something, but he pays little mind.

Until one flies up to brush against his ears. He's momentarily distracted and glances up at the one who had bothered him, but realizes a bit too late it was a diversion. There's a strong gust of a wind, a loosening of soil, and...]

—!

[KERSPLASH! That is one Society agent being sent straight into the water. He's at least able to catch himself, but there's a small wave of water that splashes him as well. And although he can't see or hear it, he can sense his familiar rolling around laughing at his demise. He'll just sigh and stand, shaking off the water.

And if someone happens to be around to witness and staring at him, he'll just stare back and ask in a flat voice:]

Want me to pick a rock for you?

[HE'S ALREADY IN HERE, MIGHT AS WELL.

Otherwise, when not soaked, he may be found sitting under a tree observing the faerie festivities, his hand idly brushing through his familiar's fur as she rests her head on his lap.]

⊗ d: honey over vinegar

[Eustace is between options for which would be the best (except war, that one is out), and he finds himself going through the various gatherings to hear more on each side's perspective. Really he hadn't intended to be part of this, but a basket got shoved in his hands and he's in the orchard. ...Well, maybe he can use this for a training exercise—specifically his animal transformations. Dogs he has down pat, but what about other animals? So don't mind if you witness a small silvery, gray bird or a floofy cat of similar coloring flying and climbing up trees to gather the sweets.

And if someone is by a wasp filled nest, they'll hear the bird or cat suddenly speak out to them.]

Watch it, there's a wasp's nest. I'll get them for you, just tell me what you want.

[Of course he limits his transformations to when he's actually about to be in the tree so as not to use too much of his energy.]

⊗ e: bullheaded approach

[Can this city not have attacks or something he's only been here for a month and it seems to be in constant peril—

1. A Stone's Throw from Revenge: Dog Rescue. When a boulder crashes into a building nearby, Eustace's first instinct is to check if anyone is hurt or trapped. Although he'd like to deal with the minotaur as well, helping the people is his current priority—and he ends up forming a kind of "dog search" rescue team. So anyone helping might suddenly find a wolfish dog bounding in.]

I hear voices, dig over here!

[Don't question the deep voiced, wolf, move people! A few other dogs Eustace managed to gather will also help in trying to find and dig out anyone in need. Perhaps it's you who needs help?

And for anyone who wants to hunt down the Minotaur, Eustace will be more than willing to oblige as a partner.

2. There's Safety in Numbers. Whether on purpose or on accident, the two are now bound together thanks to the recipe, and depending on who he's stuck with, this could be fine or a disaster. Regardless, it's not very ideal and he just presses his fingertips to his brows as he sighs.]

Since there's nothing to be done, let's coordinate our movements and try not to get in each other's way.

[They are ultimately supposed to be helping the affected victims so...this can be done, right?]

⊗ f: wildcard

[If interested in anything not included here, just hit me up on laenavesse or discord and we can work something out!]

Comments

C

[troubadamsel]

[ Maribelle grimaces, feeling sorry for the poor man.

... Not really sorry enough to risk getting herself wet and stepping in, but still. ]

... Make it quick, then. The last thing we need is you catching your death of a cold!

[flamekthunder]

[It's all right, he'd prefer she stayed on shore. And just beware of those pesky faeries.]

This much is fine, I've been through worse.

[If anything the water is a bit refreshing...although he'd prefer to not be wearing all his clothes and be soaked in it. Anyway, he'll look down into the water before reaching down to pluck one that's of decent size and shimmer before taking another for his own and start wading towards her.]

How's this one?

[Holding it up for her to see. Might as well figure it out in case he needs to try to find another.]

[troubadamsel]

[ She's hesitant to lean in, lest the faeries decide to have her join him in an unwanted bath.]

Ah... I'd say it looks perfectly fine from here!

A

[tantailizing]

[Okay, he's grown a higher appreciation for his magic. It was one thing to practice slowing down rocks, but stopping them in midair and using them as a platform for himself? Nice. And with Moguo, he's practicing minimal use - it was too much effort to hold up multiple rocks, but if he grabbed the last one with his tail or Moguo moved it, he could make a two-stone bridge he could walk across or leap across to each.]

[Ready to release and move the next stone forward, Zidane's jolts upon being struck by something cold... and the rock he's standing on shakes. A second later, it drops, but he has enough reflex to hop off before it crashes down only to jump again when Moguo drops the next rock they were working with.]

What the hell??

[Did... did he get hit by a snowball? Why and how?]

[flamekthunder]

[Don't blame Eustace, it's the wolf's fault—

Hearing a commotion, the erune turns and notices Zidane next to some...rocks? A small frown forms.]

Sor—hey!

[He's about to apologize but his familiar throws another snowball in his direction, one he barely manages to avoid before she throws another one—this time in Zidane's direction.]

[tantailizing]

[He gets hit by the next snowball too and dusts it off.]

Hey! C'mon... I don't have Elemental magic, gimme some ammo!

[If they're doing this, he's gotta have a chance!]

a

[schmisse]

[ Huh. It seems Weiss always comes across Eustace in the training grounds. Not a bad thing! But this time? She doesn't start fawning over the cute doggy. (Doggies.) This time, she comes to the grounds with a specific purpose. She'd gotten magic bullets for her sword, and she's now able to use her sword alongside her magic to use magic bullets that have an ice element added to it.

Granted, it's nothing like her usual fighting style where she uses ice Dust and all, but she wants to be able to emulate almost the same thing. ]

Heads up!

[ Eustace and his wolf now have a new challenger! Namely one Weiss Schnee, using her sword like a wand as she flicks her wrist to summon a ball of snow at the tip of her rapier. And then when she moves her wrist again, she bats the snowball at the person who'd been so grumpy with her before.

What? He deserves it. ]

[flamekthunder]

[Oh it's the girl who almost tried to take him home—

He briefly recognizes Weiss before he steps back to avoid the snowball and then turns to her with a brow raised. He hadn't expected anyone to join in, though he can't really say he's wholly against it. Could be useful for training.

Because that is totally what this is, it's not like he was actually having fun running around throwing snowballs at his familiar as if he was playing with a dog or anything NO OF COURSE NOT. yes he was]

...Need to work on your aim.

[Them be fighting words.]

[schmisse]

[ Them be fighting words, indeed. And what an insult it is! Weiss grits her teeth, frustration already showing from a simple sentence from where she stands. ]

You got lucky that time!

[ And she's going to do it again. One more snowball the size of watermelon this time. It starts off small, manifesting at the tip of her sword until it just grows in size second by second. And then, with a flick of a wrist, she lobs it Eustace's way!

AND JUST BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO BE A PRICK ABOUT IT, IT'S GOING TO STOP JUST BEFORE IT MAKES CONTACT WITH HIM, only to move back as if it's reeling itself before slamming straight into him again. ]

A

[toremainbehind]

[While Izumo is usually the type to be a little more aware of his surroundings, learning alchemy is truly something that seems to take most of his attention. He's a quick learner, but there are rules to this and the training grounds seemed like--

SPLAT!

He jerks a bit, startled at suddenly being hit by--is that a snowball??--and looking at the one responsible for it.]

[flamekthunder]

[Hope he's looking carefully because another one is heading his way!

Whether he avoids or gets hit, he'll be able to see a white wolf with a few snowballs floating in the air around it chasing after the dog eared erune who is also throwing imperfectly made snowballs at the wolf while dodging the ones thrown at him. Pretty good guess where they came from and how one flew astray.]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo is quicker to dodge the second one this time.

He blinks over at...is that a wolf? With...another dog? Wait, not quite a dog, but--]

I think you guys are getting carried away over there!

C

[silvergarden]

Dear me!

[Rinea was crouched at the edge of the water, trying in vain to practice her budding kinetic magic by using it to pick up stones. (the river's current was making it difficult.) The loud splash of his watery demise makes her jump-- but when she spots Eustace, her eyes are full of sympathy.]

If you do not mind, I would be most grateful. [Embarrassed to be caught staring, she quickly drops her gaze and fusses with her alchemy tome.] I-- I believe I know a spell for drying...

[flamekthunder]

[He pays little mind and just looks at the stones around him.]

It's appreciated, but you don't need to trouble yourself.

[He won't turn it down if she manages, but he doesn't want to bother her with his own problems, either.

Finding one that looks suitable, he plucks it out of the water before grabbing another for himself and wading over towards her. Ugh heavy leather and water do not mix—]

Is this one fine?

[silvergarden]

Yes, of course! Thank you. [It's sweet of him to check about the rock shape of all things, when it really doesn't matter.

Rinea stands up from the water's edge, politely dodging drifting fairies and stepping back.]

If it's not too much trouble... come this way for just a moment. I think it will work better away from the river.

[Rinea stops and faces him again under a nearby tree, a safe distance from the body of water. Since her familiar is elsewhere and can't cast it for her, she pulls out her pen to draw the alchemical symbols in the margins of her tome. As long as she can limit the casting area to NOT include the entire river.... hastening the water cycle to air-dry Eustace is a very basic alchemy transformation!]

b

[divinereaper]

I can do ice magic, if it comes to it. I've been practicing. But I'm also good at water and earth magic.

[ Naoto looked over at Eustace with a small smile. He wonders if it was alright to feel some kind of pride at being able to do magic that wasn't blood-based. ]

But all we gotta do is get rid of them right? Should be easy enough.

[flamekthunder]

Don't underestimate your enemy, especially with what they're capable of. It would be best if we kept our distance.

E1

[doctorintern]

[ As soon as the rocks started coming down, Fenton had suited up and was helping out, catching or deflecting whatever rocks he could or getting people to safety. He is also searching for people, lifting boulders out of the way and digging out people who might be trapped.

As he's checking another damaged building for people, he looks up when the wolf runs up and speaks. And while the fact that it talks isn't surprising, the voice is very familiar.

But he can worry about that later. Right now, people needed rescuing! ]

Right! Lead the way!

[flamekthunder]

[—Ah, it's...well it's Fenton's suit, but right now they need to focus on the people. So he just looks at visor for a moment before he turns and darts off in a direction toward some rubble where it looks a wall had been knocked in and the ceiling fell in.]

Here, but be careful. The building's structural integrity has been compromised and could collapse further.

A

[konpeito_aji]

[WHAP WHAP WHAP WHAP!!!]

[Nobunaga is completely stunned and at a loss for words to be hit with snowballs. In May. And he has nothing to throw back!!!]

[Rocks are just too much. Flower petals don't throw, and he can't go around flinging money -- though the lunatic genuinely debated it for a second!]

[He debates a crossbow bolt, but that's... No.]

Haguro! [His falcon, not his familiar.] We're under attack! [But not lethal attack.]

[Okay, but seriously? What can he throw back?!]

[Anyway, give him a moment to go find some sports balls.]

[flamekthunder]

[While he's trying to find something to throw back, both Eustace and Eria have noticed his presence. Normally Eustace would apologize to anyone caught in their game practice session, but since it's Nobunaga........ The snowball in his hand unconsciously grows in size and Eria already knows what she wants to do.

So whenever Nobunaga comes back, he's going to be greeted by a few snowballs. And yes. One of them will have been from Eustace.]

b!

[feisticuffs]

[They haven't quite taken the plunge yet, but it won't be long before they do. Jade uncorks the little bottle of potion they'd been given to assist with breathing underwater— this task would undoubtedly be impossible without it.]

Being able to communicate with natural predators would certainly come in handy.

[She lets out a thoughtful hmm as she turns her attention towards the water's surface. She'll have to take care with how she attacks, given that these things are said to eat flesh, but she'd been considering just barreling in and using brute strength.

It usually works for her.]

I thought killing them should be rather straightforward, really. Stick things with the pointy end of the lance— it works quite well.

[flamekthunder]

Normally that would be a valid strategy, but unless you're used to using weapons underwater it'll be more difficult.

[So he looks at her with scrutinizing gaze.]

Are you?

d

[everydayeveryway]

Fairy trees... [Adelle's murmuring to herself.] The things people come up with.

[She's not so sure about wooing over Celliwig slowly, with the traders. It's a nice idea, but it's so slow. But she doesn't mind listening to them, and seeing trees with treats in them -- well, that's worth seeing.

Her arm jerks to a stop, though. Adelle blinks -- turns her head to the silvery bird hovering by her -- and stares uncomprehending for a second.]

Wh-what? A talking bird?

[flamekthunder]

It's me.

[Wow, so clarifying. Can't you recognize those pale, silvery blue eyes and that strangely deep voice from the bird? Maybe not, his voice is actually a little higher as a bird for some reason, but it might sound familiar regardless. That said, having recognized Adelle, he just circles over her head before...

Landing right on top of it.

Yep.

Eustace just decided to make a roost out of her head to mess with her a little.]