songerein | fifth shot ⊗ open february log

Entry tags:

fifth shot ⊗ open february log

Who: Anyone!
Which: Open February Log
Where: Various; Around Reverein; Corgi Tree
What: Building a dog training course; witch's brew herb gathering; spider thread traps
Warnings: None

⊗ a: dog park planning

[1. Seeking Assistance. Early in the month, Eustace will send out a quick journal message seeking assistance in building a training course for the dogs. He's also realizing he's been mostly posting about them... Well whatever.]

I'm currently looking into creating a designated area for the dogs to play and train in—something similar to a dog park. One will be in town while the other will be by the Corgi Tree. I've already scoped out a suitable location and while I should manage, if anyone is familiar in basic construction, I would appreciate the assistance. I'm also looking to acquire suitable materials, such as barrels, ramps, poles. Information of where I could procure some will be more than enough.

— Eustace

[2. Dog Park in the Making. Although he's doing this in both places, in town he can be found in one of the empty clearings around the Plaza, not too far from the Residential area. It's out of the way and quiet...or it usually is, but right now there are several dogs—both Flowers and Corgis—running around as he tries to plot something out.]

...Hm... A ramp could go here... And a tunnel over there...? —Hey, Del, stop dragging that wood!

[As he's trying to sketch something out in his journal, he has to tersely shout at the Flower pup who has decided to snatch one of the temporary poles Eustace had gotten and is dragging it around. The others are quick to make a game of it and start chasing the mischievous pup over some of the makeshifts ramps and barrel tunnels that Eustace had temporarily placed as he tries to get a feel of how it should look.]

Tsk... At least it seems to be working... ...—!?

[And before he can stop them, they rush out of the clearing boundary and run right towards whoever is passing by at that moment. Hope that person doesn't mind getting barreled into.

For anyone who may volunteer to help they can already be there or this could be their greeting.]

⊗ b: quest 202: witch's brew apothecary

[Ever since he heard about this from Tenn, Eustace has been wondering how the development was going and will stop by the apothecary to first meet with Tenn. Afterwards, upon receiving the rest of herbs he'll head out into the forest. Fortunately most of the names he recognized, but he has a bit of a cheat.]

Bri, Aerona, time to put your skills to the test.

[The two female corgis respond differently, with Briallen giving an indignant huff as she slowly paws the snow and Aerona more excited, the nub of her tail wagging nonstop. With the two dogs he'll head into the forest, both of them working hard to sniff out and if necessary dig out the listed ingredients.

Should they encounter someone, it'll be Aerona who will excitedly run up to them with a cheerful bark and hop in front. Should he already be partnered with someone, he'll just tell them to hang back.]

Let them do their work. It's been a while for them, but they should be able to get the job done.

[Despite this being the first real test, he seems very confident in them.

Bonus: If want a little spice, running into any of the native Wildland creatures while trying to gather the herbs can be done! Or they accidentally fall into some hole or cave, lot of shenanigan opportunities. Can also have the spider thread traps appear here as well.]

⊗ c: quest 206: spider thread traps

[1. Dispersing the traps. After learning about the leftover traps, Eustace is quick to venture out to try and find and clear them out. He had considered bringing one of the dogs, but he doesn't want them to get entangled so they're left behind.

Upon finding a trap, he'll try to either disengage it or cut through the threads, a bit impressed at their durability. He'll then cut through other parts ensuring the simple rigging is completely dismantled.]

...That should do it.

[He'll then proceed to gather and coil the threads along with anything else and shove them in a large satchel he wears on his back. He fully plans to try and find as many as he can so he'll be out there for a while.

2. Helping the Snared. Of course, it's not always easy. Sometimes he'll run into a trap that's managed to trap a small creature like a rabbit, sometimes a fox. It means his usual method won't work so he has to think of another way...

...Which is difficult. His knife is sharp enough to cut the thread, but it's tough so it's not a quick process. And the knife...well needless to say it would make any small creature nervous, and as a result it will start squirming, causing the trap to tighten.]

Whoa, easy—

[Really, really wishing he knew how to talk to animals right now— Just another thing on his list.

If he runs into someone else he might have gotten caught, he'll help them out. He also won't be opposed to working with anyone he might come across.]

⊗ d: wildcard

Not mentioned in the prompts but can be done are Road Repair, Rock Candy Crystals, and Cupid's Arrow. He can either be around to help deal with problematic arrows, be a target, or be a target of someone's affections. Feel free to hit me up on discord, PM, or

laenavesse for questions or further discussion!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I have never cared much what others thought of me. I do not think that would change even in the presence of people from your world.

[Or so she says. It is possible that Beatrix cares more than she lets on and simply doesn't want to admit to that. It lessens just how intimidating she is, after all.

Her attention turns onto Iris and then the other dogs that are coming to join them. Maybe a sign that she's overstayed her welcome? Maybe because Iris is getting attention and they all want attention. Either way, she seems to get what Eustace is getting at.]

Animals are not the same as people. They do not judge in the same way. Although some would say their intuition of character is... better than anything you or I may establish.

[He's just going to watch as the dogs clearly want more attention from the new lady. She's a guest! And Iris in particular doesn't want Beatrix to leave yet.]

Then you should know Iris's intuition is never wrong. She is the most sensitive towards people and a good judge in character.

Though I have to ask—why would you not want someone to think of you as such?

["Likeable" that is.]

[Beatrix issues a sigh, evidently at the mercy of the dogs. If one gets a pet, then soon enough, she goes from one to the other and right on down the proverbial line.]

Grand. This dog is going to sniff out all of my secrets. [Which is probably more true than she really wants it to be. Eustace's question is rewarded with a pause before she offers him a passing glance. What a prying question.]

I am not suited for such... exchanges with others. [She explains.] Suppose someone should think to rely on me or mistakenly believe I would provide adequate companionship. You endure my presence because there are parallels betwixt us, Eustace. 'Tis a luxury many others would not share.

[...Ah. An interesting take, but after some thought he begins to understand it. He had once been that way, after all.

...But her tone and phrase...it makes him wonder. In the past he just wanted to be left alone, full stop. Now he still prefers his solitude, but he doesn't mind if people seek him out even if he feels similar: he wouldn't be the best choice. But somehow she sounds...]

I could understand if you just preferred to be alone for your own preferences... But you make it sound as if rather than trying to avoid people for your own sake, you're just not sure if you would make things awkward for them.

[He crouches down to pet the ones who gathered by him before finally opting to just sit. Beatrix should totally try this it's much easier to pet them all—]

Seems rather considerate if so.

[She scoffs.

Her, considerate? She supposes she can be. That she often is underneath all of the hard exterior. There's no doubting that Beatrix would do most anything for her people. For her sovereign. She's proven that time and again.

Beatrix settles on his words and eventually decides to follow suit. And sits. Resting a hand atop a dog, she draws in a breath, still wondering how to address him. How does she really feel when it comes to people? That's complicated.]

I do not spend much time with people in Alexandria. My obligations prevent me from doing this. Even if they did not, it is important that I keep my reputation in consideration. How I reflect on my queen, on my people, these are crucial details. That was all I meant. I am uncomfortable being around others when I must act as something other than the general of Alexandria's military.

[Really she could get up and leave and he wouldn't stop her. But having her join him is welcomed and two more dogs plop down next to her as some run off to play while the rest hang around.]

Mm... I see.

[A small nod of understanding as he idly scratches the ears of the corgi next to him.]

How long have you been a general?

[She offers a hand over to one of the dogs at her side, giving them a chance to sniff her and determine friend from foe, though she suspects Iris' stamp of approval will likely lead to only more of the same.]

Hm... Ten years?

[Has it been about that time? Ten years before she'd lost against Adelbert. He was given his... captainship, if she wanted to call it that. And she... Well. Being general was like a consolation prize, she supposes.

And before that—]

I served as a knight before then.

[As ever, it occurs to her that much of her life has been spent in servitude.]

[Yep, they do indeed determine her as a friend and lick her fingers. Will they ever get any treats??

But ten years... That's quite a long time to be in such a high position, or so he thinks, anyway. Who knows if the ranking is different in her world. It's still not something to ignore or take lightly.]

And how long were you a knight?

[Oh.

Beatrix's expression turns. It's a strange thing to be licked. Hopefully it's not something she'll have to get accustomed to. And given that she has absolutely no food for animals, she suspects they'll tire of her soon enough.]

It has been a while.

[She answers. Beatrix understands that from a young age she was considered a prodigy with the sword. And she understands also that instead of a childhood, or what Alexandrians might have considered 'normal,' much of her time has been spent... well. With swords. And books.]

I entered the knighthood when I was a child, I suppose. Lineage expectations, perhaps. Or what I perceived to be such things. I have been in service long enough that I do not remember a life before it.

[Which should say enough.]

So you come from a family of knights... I can only imagine the pressure.

[He can also relate to living a life in service and only able to keep his previous life in his memories... How different it was.

But they are going to get a brief break from "memory lane" as he sees the dogs sniffing around Beatrix and booping her. It is absolutely something she'll have to get used to— But they do back away in some disappointment when she doesn't have anything...

....Until Eustace saves the day. Their day, anyway. Beatrix's maybe not so much.]

Hold out your hand for a moment.

[Pressure. Yes. She could agree with that, though Beatrix doesn't outright say so. If there is a shift in her expression, then it is a greatly subtle one. To her, the idea of pressure sounds only like... an anticipated lifestyle.

She shifts with every nudge from the dogs and finally lifts her hands. She's not armed. Not with Save the Queen in hand or with treats. Sorry, furry friends.

—Until Eustace sees fit to otherwise change that. At his... input, she simply stares at him. It is no great secret that she's strange about inviting that kind of thing. Afraid? No. Perhaps not. Maybe a little unnerving. It's difficult for her to say. There's a transparent wariness when she offers over a hand, palm up.]

What do you mean to do?

[There's just a slight amused look as he reaches into his pocket. Immediately the dogs are on alert. They know, they've always known they could always smell it but they knew better than to try and force it from him. With tails wagging furiously, they watch as Eustace brings his hand over to Beatrix's—]

This.

[—and opens it just over her palm, the treats dropping into it.]

You may want to give them out quickly before they try to take it themselves.

[Though as amusing as it would be see like six dogs tackle Beatrix, Eustace will help diffuse the situation by distracting most of them to his side with his own share of treats, leaving only two or three with Beatrix.

THEY'RE SITTING!!! AND BUTT WIGGLING!! AND TAILS WAGGING FURIOUSLY!!!!!]

[...Dog treats?

Beatrix's eyebrows knit together as she looks at what he drops into her palm. It's a little strange on her part, but curiosity is curiosity. Dipping her head, she takes a sniff. She's pretty sure she's had food that's tasted worse, honestly.

Her attention lingers on Eustace for a few moments more and she nods.]

This is only going to make them like me more.

[And they may start to think she always has treats on her. When she doesn't. Will she have to worry about disappointing dogs in the future? She counts the number of dogs that are left with her and then the number of treats. Even number for each one. No one must feel left out or that one is prioritised over another. Not so unlike soldiers, honestly.]

Wait your turns— [She says to the others whilst she's giving treats to the first.] —everyone will get some. Remember to say thank you to your... father. [Not that they can talk. Never mind that it's incredibly weird for her to use words like 'father.']

Think it's too late for that.

[They already like her!! A lot!! Because she is clearly a frand of their ~~father~~ guardian!!! AND SHE HAS TREATS clearly frand. At least they won't shove and be patient. Barely.

And as Eustace watches, he has to hold a hand over his mouth to stifle a laugh. Say thank to...their father?? Him??? His shoulders may be shaking a little as he hands out the last of his treats and affectionately rubs a corgi's belly.]

An unfortunate truth.

[Or not so unfortunate, as the situation could be. She's easily distracted by the dogs standing very well-behaved at attention in eager anticipation of their own treats, and it saves Eustace from what would ordinarily be a well-deserved glare.]

There we are.

[She manages to say as she is sapped of her puppo treats.]

Everyone got something special. Equal treatment. If you have any complaints, you can take them up with Eustace.

[Who... is very easily caught up in the corgi. She eyes him warily.] I suspect you did all of that quite intentionally.

[The dogs wag their tails (or butts) in joy as they happily munch on their treats, running off to play once they've had their fill so that they're only left with one dog each—Iris with Beatrix and the corgi (Aerona) with Eustace. And since he is "very easy easily caught up" with her, he just feigns ignorance.]

No idea.

[Beatrix watches him for some moments and her attention turns onto Iris. Better to just let it go. Whatever his intentions, he doesn't seem inclined to share them. Besides... Iris is still sticking around.]

I do not have anymore treats. [She reassures the puppy thoughtfully, though she does reach over to offer her an affectionate pet.]

Eustace. [Beatrix begins thoughtfully.] Did you interact much with animals where you came from? You seem at ease with the dogs here. [She'd say something about his own traits, but considering the nature of Gaia and its type of people, to her, he seems normal.]

[She is learning the grand lesson of companionship, specifically with the wonderful animals that are dogs. Also the grand lesson of relaxing. ...Not that he actually has such grand schemes, not in the beginning, anyway. It really is quite as simple as just having the dogs bother her and seeing how she takes to them. All that other stuff is just a happy bonus.]

It might be hard to believe now, but no, I didn't. When I was a child my family had a small farm and I secretly helped raise a wolf cub, but for much of my adult life dogs were afraid of me. I was always fond of them, but given my...demeanor at the time they were understandably wary. It's only recently I've been able to interact with them without them being afraid of me.

[Little does she know that she's playing right into it all, never realising that even this little instance here is changing her. Slowly. Gradually. If only because she isn't completely shutting herself off.

When he speaks, she listens. Intently. Settling on his words, she seems to understand. At least marginally. She never spent time with animals in Alexandria. She would hardly know if they ever feared her. But then, animals are not the same as soldiers. The ones here, as she's thought before, seem to see right through her heavy mantle of obligation and expectations.

Leaving a hand atop Iris, carefully stroking her very soft fur, Beatrix nods slowly.]

I see. I would not have considered you to cause them apprehension. I suppose that is because you had bypassed that before you and I met. Whatever the past held, it would seem it does not hold the same as the present.

[Settling onto her free hand, she eyes Eustace closely.] I also would not have taken you for a farm boy. I had thought you were a soldier, actually.

You're not wrong. For most of my life I've been working for what some might consider a military organization. I work in the field for a special unit, so while calling me a "soldier" isn't wholly correct, I did used to be one when training.

[His answer is automatic, as if just recounting his own profile. He has some pride in what he does, but he otherwise doesn't feel much of anything towards his work. It's something that fit him and what needed to be done, really.]

Once then, and not for some time, it would seem. If... I am gathering that appropriately. I suppose I consider most militants as soldiers in one form or another.

[After a pause, she continues, relaxing just enough to not be quite so rigid.]

That is likely due to my own position. Given your history and what you may be accustomed to from where you come, do you not find yourself restless here?

Field operative, contractor, soldier—I suppose the only difference is rank and assignments.

But...no, I do not.

[With his hand lightly resting on the back of a now dozing corgi, his gaze drifts out over to the dogs playing not far from them. But that gaze goes on farther beyond the area and out into the very town.]

...Above all else, I desire peace and quiet. I only fight to protect and preserve that, and before coming here I had just completed an intense operation against a foe that threatened the lives of everyone. Things had calmed and we were allowed a break when I "woke up" here.

Thus...although it has its moments and seems to have its own threats, it's still overall very peaceful. And it's given me opportunities I didn't have in my world.

[In many...many ways that can give him conflicting thoughts and emotions at times, and briefly his eyes narrow in contemplation, as if he's thinking of something in particular before it disappears and he looks back at her.]

I take it you still feel that restlessness.

[Peace and quiet.

Beatrix sits on those idea with thought. What does she want? Would she want a world like that? Yes, she supposes so. Better than fighting. Better than war. The only downside to peace and quiet is that it gives her time. When there isn't a fight happening, what use is a general? What use is a military? What does she do if she isn't putting herself to work?

The idea of being restless is awful. The idea of being unneeded is terrible. The idea of feeling...

This is all very complicated. A myriad thoughts that Beatrix doesn't want to think about anymore than necessary.]

I am unaccustomed to the concept of 'free time.' [She admits relatively with ease.] Being here, I have much of it. It is different when I do not have a queen or a princess to serve.

Mm... I can imagine it would be difficult as it's a different kind of life. But perhaps you can also think of it as an opportunity to try and find more of yourself here.

It's a dream world. "Live your dreams," as they say. [A small shrug.] Or perhaps in your case, find your dream.

And if a more relaxing lifestyle is not your thing... [He looks at her for a moment.] Then do what you're used to.

[More of herself. Isn't what she is in this moment, in this breath, enough? Is there such a thing? Has she ever been enough? These are equally heavy thoughts. The kinds that she drowns in when she is left to her own devices. The kinds that inevitably come up when Zidane attempts to remind her that she is, in fact, more than just 'general.'

She hears so much of Zidane's logic in Eustace. Not just Zidane either. Dohalim's a little in there as well. And... Dohalim. For just the moment, her expression tightens. A subtle pulling of her mouth. Perhaps no more or less serious than normal, but a tiny darker. Merely a tint before she clears her throat in an attempt to seem less awkward. This, in her opinion, only makes her more so, however.]

I feel it would be in error to live a life that is not truly mine. If I were to somehow grow accustomed to this freedom, I do not think that is wise. True, that I do not know how long I shall be here, what kind of woman I shall be when I leave, or what—if anything—I will take with myself when that happens.

[Her gaze moves from him and onto Iris with some consideration.]

I am dedicated to my charge and to my purpose. I do not think there needs to be anything more about me. That ought to be enough to speak of my character and of my capabilities as an individual.

fifth shot ⊗ open february log

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I'm letting this wrap there because it was so good and so smooth on his part.