Second Spell [Open Log]

[perfalmost]

Who: Magilou and Magi-you?
Which: Open Log,one dream-related part
Where: Around town
What: A series of Dream Board shenanigans! Plummeting through portals, reasoning with owl-cats and dealing with a Baku!
Warnings: Include any content warnings

A. Flunking with Portals

[There's an unusual sight around town at the moment. It's hard not to notice a pair of black portals in the middle of town: one on the ground and one above it in the air.

Someone keeps on plummeting from the upper portal into the lower one, then coming right back through the upper portal again! All the while letting out a scream. Though the continuous scream starts to wind down as she gets used to the situation - and tries looking around for anyone who can help her out of this perpetual freefall.]

Little help?! [She shouts out at anyone nearby!]

B. Too Hoot To Handle

[Magilou's found herself stuck with an owl-cat. One that just won't let her sleep! She's tried giving it food, but it's just not satisfied. So she tries going out for a walk... only for the creature to keep on following her and making noise.

Someone else might be out at night, or stirred awake by the owl-cat's loud hooting. Or perhaps one will instead by awakened by Magilou knocking on their front door. It doesn't matter if she knows the person or not, she might just be knocking on random doors out of desperation. In any case, once she finds someone, the tired witch will gesture towards the hooting owl-cat with a fatigued groan.]

Make it stoooop....

C. Baku-Gone

[On other nights, when Magilou can sleep, she's been haunted by these strange dreams where the delightful parts fade away in favor of nightmares. After doing some research, she's learned that she might be haunted by a Baku. She'll have to dreamwalk into her own dreams in order to get rid of the monster before it consumes all of her positive and neutral dreams!

So here she is, stepping into her own dream, where she's putting on an elaborate magic show to an exuberant crowd of Normins! She's trying to keep her eyes peeled for any signs of the Baku, but it's hard not to just get caught up in the energy of the dream.]

We have a very special show for you all tonight! Now, let me call up my first volunteer~!

[She will gesture towards one person in the audience who is probably the only non-Normin creature around (unless they've transformed within the dream!). Now, Magilou hasn't told anyone else about this, not wanting to risk anyone seeing parts of her mind she wanted to keep private, but maybe someone else managed to stumble or dreamwalk into this dream anyway. After all, she'll need all the help she can get!]

D. Wildcard

[Feel free to come up with an alternate prompt or hit me up for plotting!]

Comments

Flunking with portals

[burnttoashes]

[Theoretically, Nuadha COULD choose not to be a jerk about this. But, if asked, he would defend his decision by pointing out that reaching out and attempting to physically grab her might not have been successful on the first or even second try, and the method he chose was guaranteed to work.

It's far more reliable to simply exoflect a padded mat (because he's not a complete jerk) and slide it over the bottom portal once she's disappeared through it again in order to block the hole.

Hopefully it won't be too uncomfortable to crash-land on?]

[perfalmost]

[A jerk?? To Magilou?? But whatever could someone as pure as her have ever done or said to deserve such treatment!

And so her latest fall is cut short! As she lands on - mat of some sort? As she hits it, she initially bounces slightly in the air before fully landing on it with a groan. Well, it's better than landing on concrete at least. She'll just lay there in a heap for a moment while trying to regain her bearings.]

...Urgh. ...You got a blanket to go with that? [Maybe she should just take a nice long nap while she's here!]

[burnttoashes]

[She's a nexus, that's what--

But no, look at Nuadha making an effort to be nice! Sort of. It wasn't a piece of plywood, at least?]

No. I know you didn't land hard enough to injure yourself.

[... that kind of nullifies his attempt to be nice, doesn't it. Oh well. It's not like he's a healer, so he couldn't do anything on that front anyway, but he's also not going to walk away just in case she actually does need some help. Call it Baldr rubbing off on him.]

[perfalmost]

[It could have been worse. But it could have been much better too! Magilou would like to request the fluffiest of beds to catch her.]

How can you say that for sure? You don't know the pain of a maiden!

[She groans as she gets herself to roll over a bit towards the edge of the mat.]

I could have suffered untold amounts of emotional damage from that whole ordeal. This could be a real tragedy!

[burnttoashes]

I can remove the mat if it isn't to your liking.

[... which would mean she would fall right back into the portal, but details. He may have made this comment for exactly that reason.]

You didn't seem to be in any sort of danger while you were falling, as awkward as it may have been. Although I presume it taught you a few things about trying to open transfer gates.

[Since that's what he assumes she was attempting to do there.]

[perfalmost]

You know, I think I'm fine with it! [She says with a meek grin, looking down at the portal.] Just - aim for more fluff the next time you see a gal falling, yeah?

[His terminology is curious! She hasn't heard that one before.]

Hey now, I didn't open anything. It opened itself! And... transferred me!

[burnttoashes]

It opened on its own?

[... now that's curious. Considering the amount of energy that's generally required to open a transfer gate or a transfer circle...]

You had no involvement in it whatsoever?

[Not that he doesn't believe it's possible, it's just decidedly odd. Then again, that could explain why the portal setup was... well, what it was, rather than something that was actually functional.]

too hoot to handle.

[ascensum]

[ A knock is easy enough to ignore. Two, and hell, even three. As it is, the concept of sleep is a little different for beings like Sandalphon, not something he particularly needs but a sort of rest he has grown used to in recent times. Perhaps facilitated by the world ruled so much by sleep and dreams, too. He lay there with his eyes closed and would drift, even fully lose himself to sleep just as any normal person might.

Which just means he wasn't particularly keen to open the door at such an hour and in the midst of that, at least not in a situation where it's not someone like Lyria wanting his help or another voice he recognizes on the other side in urgency.

The more incessant Magilou's knocking turns, he'll go from silently ignoring her to almost bursting the door open, hissing out. ]

Do you mind? [ Who, why, what and for what reason?? Hoot. ] What. Is that... an owl-cat?

[perfalmost]

[She was almost ready to give up and move on to try bothering another door when it swings open with enough force to startle her. Well that helps her feel more awake! But she is, for the most part, very visibly being kept from sleep by the creature perched on her.]

Well, it... looks like an owl, and also a cat, so... you might be onto something there!

[She says with a shrug of her shoulder, sounding tired when trying to sound more chipper.]

You want to help it quiet down, right? Don't let this little guy disturb a good night's sleep! [As if she isn't the one bringing the creature into this stranger's life-]

[ascensum]

[ His own thoughts are somewhere along the same lines - why and how did this suddenly become his problem? Of all the ridiculous... ]

The culprit to blame for disturbing tonight's rest is debatable.

[ Though even if he were to set all that aside (which lbr he already gave in just by nature of even opening the door and not immediately closing it again,) the more he looks at the creature the more it seems to be rather... Uh. Is it chewing on this woman's hat? ]

It looks taken with you as it is. What exactly would you propose I do?

[perfalmost]

[Man, she hates it when people imply she should be held responsible for anything ever! Why can't she just do things?

Magilou gives a weak smile.]

Help to calm our little friend down of course! Do you... know anything about doing this kind of thing with animals? Maybe it's just hungry. Got any dead mice lying around?

[ascensum]

What? [ ? ? ? ???? ] No. Who would keep something of that sort?

[ Though even if he wanted to, he isn't the most experienced animals guy around. Frowning but at once trying to discern more about the situation, he looks over the owl-cat again... well. Hungry seems like a fair guess, but Sandalphon's mostly bare pantry is another problem if that's the case. ]

Best I have here is perhaps some bread. [ Sigh. ] Come in if you must.

[perfalmost]

I don't know, maybe you're a cat person?

[She offers with a shrug. But she smiles as she's invited into the house.]

Don't mind if I do! [With that, she skips right in with a little pep in her step. Despite her exhaustion!] As long as it quiets our little friend here, it's fine by me! Now let's see that bread!

a

[concierto]

[It's so unfortunate that it's Venti of all people who sees the poor lady perpetually falling over and over and over...

He simply stands there with a mildly amused look on his face and a finger on his lip. And every time that she falls Venti's head nods to watch her go.]

Oh... How did you end up like that? How curious!

[Can he watch just a bit more?? It's kind of hilarious!!]

[perfalmost]

[Over and over, it just won't stop! Even as she's adjusting to this being the way things are for now, she really wishes she could be in Venti's place right now. Why can't she be in the position to mock, instead of the one falling?! She clearly did nothing to deserve this!

After he asks his question, she sighs and shrugs, while falling through the portals several more times, before she responds flatly:]

I fell.

[concierto]

[Hmm. Venti thinks he might be able to help her with some handy help from some wind magic but he'll figure that out soon.]

You fell? Tripped and fell into a never-ending portal? Where did it come from?

[perfalmost]

[Great, she has to talk even more like this! Magilou adjusts her posture to be more horizontal, and she props an hand on her cheek with her eyebrow bent, so she can pretend that she's laying on the air.]

That's a real good question. I'd really like to know the answer, but I have a feeling I'm not getting one! It's more like it just appeared beneath me. And the rest is history!

[She falls through the portals several times while relating that.]

[concierto]

[Well that doesn't answer anything! Only proving to make Venti try and hold in a giggle.]

I see! Trapped in a bind, can't elude, seeking help, don't stay subdued!

[He taps his chin with his finger.]

In other words... Would you like a hand?

[perfalmost]

[She's not exactly in the business of asking and answering questions right now! She's a little bit preoccupied right now with the eternal freefall! Aw, and now he's playing around with words too? She wants to join in.]

Yes please, just don't be lewd!

[She flails in the air, attempting to reach out while continuing her fall.]

c!

[flamberge]

[why. why is he here. why are there little tiny creatures all around him. why are they all watching magilou perform.

the answer is obvious enough: this is a dream and one very much not his own. all he can do is just remain here for as long as the dream ends up lasting. so be it. he'll just sit and watch the show in that case. alas, fate has other plans for him since magilou ends up beckoning him up to the stage. kratos remains firmly seated.]

I'll pass.

[and it's not really volunteering if magilou's the one calling people up. just saying.]

[perfalmost]

[He definitely sticks out in a crowd full of Normin! He's definitely not the Baku, which means one of either two things. Either she's dreaming about the guy, or his actual self has ended up in her dream. While she doesn't like the possibility of others learning more than she wants them too, she can't argue that he wouldn't be a good ally to have.]

Come on now, don't be shy!

[Magilou snaps her fingers, and a spotlight shines on him!]

Step right up! Come on crowd, show him the power of peer pressure!

[The Normins all look towards Kratos and cheer for him! Some of them may even be trying to nudge him forward, with their tiny arms.]

[flamberge]

[now the spotlight is literally on him. all these odd creatures (what even are they??) are staring intently at him, too, even pushing at him with their teeny hands in effort to make him go. alright alright. peer pressure wins this time. with a sigh, kratos gets to his feet.]

Very well.

[thus he heads up onto the stage.]

What would you like me to do?

[perfalmost]

Woohoo! Everyone, give it up for Kratos the Magnificent!

[She gestures towards him as he steps up to the stage. And once he's up, she throws some sparkling confetti at him! And she laughs at his question.]

Oh Kratos. Such a joket! You know, it's time for your act. You've been practicing all week for this! Everyone's been waiting to see what you can do!

[She gestures towards a set of props off to the side, including magician props, musical instruments and gag weapons.]

Go ahead, show us your stuff!

[Being in a dream gives her more plausible deniability for making things up and acting irrational! But she's hoping that while the attention's on Kratos, that will free her up to focus more on observing the dream.

...That, and, of course, she really wants to see what Kratos does when put on the spot!]

[flamberge]

[some might already find it comedic with how kratos fails to react whatsoever at the confetti thrown at him. like a statue.

that same look, if one accompanied with an eyebrow raise, is also what results at the mention of his act. practicing all week? dream logic at work, he supposes. if magilou doesn't realize she's dreaming then this sort of logic makes sense. ...then again, if even she did realize it, this still feel very much like her brand of logic. so very well, he'll play along and head on over to the prop collection. what will he pick, ladies and gents???

a magician's hat.

thus he turns toward the audience with that consistently flat expression and reaches inside. what does he end up pulling out?

it's... another, smaller hat.

ta-da.]

[perfalmost]

[He has the Normins in the palm of his hand! They laugh at his stone-faced reaction, and then they cheer wildly at his trick! Magilou joins in with energetic applause.]

Wow, it's the one and only hat trick! Kratos's signature act! Isn't that amazing, Normins and other Normins?!

[The crowd remains excited! But there has been one change. The back two rows of Normins are completely gone, seats and all.]