[Open] My head down low

[tantailizing]

🧙 Who: Zidane Tribal and You!
⚔️️ Which: Open
🕒 Where: Around Reverein
🗺️ What: Love is in the air and work is on the ground! A February catch-all!
⚠️ Warnings: Bleeding Heart infected. Emotions may become radical which, in turn, actually affects his powers.

I. Road Repair

[Unfamiliar with this route himself, Zidane took one look at the cobblestone to incline and had to agree with whoever posted the Quest: yeah, it needed to be fixed. Simple enough for someone just on foot or a mount to traverse, but this would be hell on anyone trying to drag a cart, or they didn't have sure footing.]

[It long days' work, but he would be found there working to help demolish, terraform, and rebuild the road. There's no monetary reward, he knows, but there's the assurance in knowing that no one would be at risk using it once done.]

Huh, I wonder if we could theme the road to the installation somehow...

[He's just thinking out loud, don't mind it too much.]

II. Spider Thread Traps

[Well, didn't someone get overzealous setting these traps. It's almost like they learned how and just wanted to keep doing it. That's almost a waste of pretty good spider thread, and that's not even mentioning how things kept getting trapped that probably wasn't intended to.]

[Like a spice noodle that already didn't like being out in this weather.]

I'll have you out. Take it easy, bud...

[Though he's occupied, he wouldn't deny help.]

III. High Tide for Crime

[Reverein wasn't Treno and he rather liked it that way. The uptick in crime does not go unnoticed by the ex-thief either. This place was not a rich one, or divisible by class. Everyone was making due with what they had, abilities and otherwise; which meant, it was only fair to help people out with his own abilities, dusty though some of them may be.]

[Besides, would someone really raise a fuss over thief-on-thief crimes? He's only stealing to return what's taken to their rightful owners. Maybe catch him in the act of returning said stolen goods, or even suspect he took them in the first place. He does seem rather pleased with whatever he's up to.]

IV. Bleeding Heart (feat. Dreamscape)

[Valentine's Day... first time he's hearing about it, but it looked like everyone in Reverein was gearing up to celebrate it. And why not? It's a day to share love and there's plenty of people around to share it with, platonic and romantic. In fact, Zidane's a little into the mood of making sure some couples were taking time to get ready and enjoy themselves.]

[It was just watching from a distance, really because getting too close, it was making his chest hurt. People look so happy, and he's happy for them! Really! But he placed his hand over his chest, trying to smother the red light glowing beneath. It felt like it wanted to burst out and latch onto someone else - maybe he wanted to reach out to them himself? - but he couldn't let it do that. Just smile and wave, smile and wave...]

Hey, I think there's a deal on chocolate if you need it.

[His dreamcrystal shifted.]


[Darkness...

There, but a single chair - a throne of stone adorned with a crown of spikes.

It is quiet, empty, and Zidane just sits, unmoving.

Alone...


... alone...


All... alone.


And the red bleeds too bright...]

V. Wildcard

[OOC: Wanna do something unlisted from the prompts? Hit me up at demidemonLove or PM so we can plot! Also, these prompts can have Zidane already infected with the Bleeding Heart, just note in the subject if you want that!]

Comments

IV

[songbird_slayer]

[She couldn't see anything. What was this? She'd had her fair share of dreamless sleeps, but what in every shard was all of this that she could see nothing but herself floating through a void?

But it was palpable, suffocating, this loneliness. She tasted peaches on her tongue, if only but for a moment. Madhuri shook her head and clapped her hands to her temples. Focus... maybe she needed to focus- There. A throne, so many needles, and a singular figure.]

Zidane...?

[She kicked and fought to right herself. That red light was familiar. Terribly familiar. Who would fit in this situation? There was no primal of the heart really, nothing that would aptly suit the situation. She should change, right?]

Zidane! Zidane!

[But first she needed to see if he was... alive? No, active. This was all a dream.]

[tantailizing]

...

[No response. Zidane remained sitting prone despite the pulsing red much like a muted heartbeat. Thump, thump, thump, but all sounds drowned in nothing.]

[The voice in Madhuri's head must sound loud as it asks.]

Who?

[songbird_slayer]

[There's a brief cringe with the voice in her head. Familiar, and terrible. She could do without something being directly into her brain-]

You know who! I'm here to talk to my sneaky friend who is good with the stabbers. This isn't what he likes to dream about.

Now shoo, it's impolite to scream at a lady's brain!

[tantailizing]

Sounds like a person. What does he like to dream about? Do you know? Has he dreamed lately?

[The voice that speaks is undoubtedly familiar, but it's flat and dulled, matching the dream so well.]

Impolite? But this is what we do. And while I can, I should do more.

II

[mychosenpath]

[Ryunosuke had seen a few of these traps-- he could tell they were fairly new. Which made it that much more surprising how many there were.

Trying to undo the traps on his own proved to be pretty difficult. He almost got his hand trapped in one of them. So when he sees Zidane having a bit more success--]

Need an extra set of hands?

[tantailizing]

[The problem with getting animals actively out of traps is that they don't really understand any chill. If the spice noodle would just stay still for a minute longer...]

[Looking up, his tail sways behind him and he grins.]

Yeah, if you don't mind. Think you can calm this guy down?

[mychosenpath]

[Finding yourself in chains by accident is a situation he can relate to-- so he thinks he has a good chance of being successful here.]

Yeah, no problem.

[Kneeling down next to Zidane, he holds his hand out to the spice noodle-- letting it evaluate him.]

...it's okay. We're going to help get you out of here.

I

[darkcharge]

[ For all of the quests that Vanitas will be willing to actually do, there are a fair amount that he just doesn't care about. This one, with no reward in it whatsoever, has no appeal to him. Therefore, he won't be helping.

He will be, however, watching Zidane work. Just because. ]

Why would a road even need a theme?

[ So Vanitas doesn't understand the point of the muttering. He gets entertainment from people toiling away, okay? ]

[tantailizing]

[Of course he'd be watching, but it's not like Zidane's admonishing him either for just observing.]

'cause it would be fun! Just imagine the road looking like it was woven by the yarn! Put in some different colors, or give it a pattern... something like that!

[darkcharge]

Why... There's no point in that. People are just going to walk over it or ride over it. The colors would fade over time as would the pattern or design.

[ So yeah he doesn't see the purpose in that? ]

IV - Here for your bleeding heart.

[roseofmay]

Did you just—

[Beatrix had no thoughts on this... 'Valentine's Day' rubbish that was going on. At least none that were going to be the sorts to share and much of that came from deeply-rooted issues that she was still in the midst of pulling herself through. As a general, there never really had been enough time to get to know anyone.

...And it wasn't as if Beatrix had ever wanted to get to know anyone.

Had it not been for the shift brought about by Zidane's state, she might have found herself stuck in her thoughts, which seems to be a common thing when she's in his company. Instead, she finds only a red light. One that looks a bit similar in colour to something he'd once shown her when she originally arrived. Something about Gaia and... Terra. That was what he'd said before, wasn't it? She'd thought him absolutely mad back then.

But it's only a colour. It doesn't mean anything... right?

He sits on a throne as if he's merely stone, though he's distinctly of the flesh. What can it mean? Beatrix knows that Zidane has seen a great deal more than she has. She understands he has knowledge of a future that she has not yet lived through. Is this, then, something that is a part of that future?

She considers approaching, but decides to be careful and cautious about it. Her steps are measured and small. On edge. Wary.]

Zidane. [She addresses him to begin with, and she follows up rather quickly.] Can you hear me?

Oh noo

[tantailizing]

There's still celebrating self-love...

[Something which he feels like he's struggling with which... shouldn't be? But smile - he can't let the General know that. He's trying to help her help herself - figure out passions and things she might like or dislike that weren't based around her service. She could be loyal and serve Alexandria, but even she had admitted before that she's still human...]

[... but it hurts.]

[He thinks he needs to sit down.]

[In his mind, in his dream, hearing her voice... recognizing it, but not answering. Not immediately, or vocally so anyway.]

... Who?

[roseofmay]

[Self-love. Beatrix... doesn't hold a single iota of that. Why should she? She doesn't deserve that. She knows it. It's not like anyone else would have to tell her so. It's writ all over most actions she's taken.

His words will stick with her more than she'd like for them to. She'll be cursing them for days and nights.

She remains where she is, hand settled loosely on the handle of Save the Queen. Not because she intends to use it. For once, it's not her immediate go-to. It's simply stability.]

Beatrix.

[She answers him simply.]

The red rose of thorns in your side.

iii

[silentends]

[ Nier is just out for a stroll. It's good to see the open air and walk around Reverein. Zidane is a familiar face and he recalls speaking together last time they encountered each other. ]

Did something good happen? You look happy.

[ Maybe happy isn't the right word to describe it because Zidane looks downright pleased. ]

[tantailizing]

Oh, nothing much today. Just helping some folks out.

[Nier didn't strike him as the kind of guy that might get angry at his actions, but all would be revealed in time.]

[silentends]

It's good to help people, yeah. You're really thoughtful for doing that!

[ Nier nods and folds his arms together. Zidane seems like a really nice person. ]

So what did you help with? Was it something difficult? It must have been a lot because you seem proud of yourself.

II

[twilightskey]

[Man, all these spider-thread traps really were causing a mess, weren't they? And seeing the little spice noodles getting all trapped up makes Roxas's own heart ache at the sight. So he's doing what he can as well, to get those little noodle dragons free.]

[Seeing a familiar face, Roxas will walk over to see Zidane's own progress on the traps.]

Need a hand getting him free?

[tantailizing]

[Well, well, if it isn't a familiar face. Zidane smiles and nods.]

Yeah. If you don't mind calming him down.

[He doesn't wanna hurt the little guy if possible.]

[twilightskey]

Sure.

[He can give that a try. So while Zidane works on the trap, Roxas steps forward, offering his hand to the little spice noodle.]

Hey, it's okay. We're here to get you out of here, okay? So just hang on for a little bit...

[Hopefully the noodle is content to sniff his hand, maybe even let him pet it... he's just hoping it won't bite him.]

iii

[flamekthunder]

[Guess who's getting caught in the act...

And guess who is going to sound rather disappointed.]

You better have a good explanation.

[tantailizing]

[Awwwe, busted...!]

[Only, he's still smiling.]

Hey Eustace! Yup, this doesn't belong to that guy. Now c'mon... you might've noticed, but we have a few more seconds before they do.

[flamekthunder]

[STARING HARD............................

But fine. He knows Zidane well enough to place enough trust on this, but he won't feel assured until the end.]

Lead the way.

iii

[mwehehe]

[...

Okay, so, did Sun Wukong over here just take something off that cart?! She's pretty sure he did, but...

...

Time to follow him to see if he really is swiping things like he shouldn't be!! If he is, she'll... well, she can't really talk, she's a Phantom Thief, but you know!!!]

[tantailizing]

[Maybe he did, maybe he didn't, but he'll walk along like he didn't.]

[Though, she might want to avoid walking past the cart itself since it takes a moment for the owner of the cart to realize the item's gone and begin frantically searching. It even includes suspiciously eyeing anyone that comes too close.]

[Meanwhile, 'Sun' keeps on moving on~ Causing a commotion is for a bigger target.]

[mwehehe]

[She's definitely getting the brunt of the owner yelling at her, even if she's a few steps away and was nowhere near the thing when Zidane snatched... whatever he grabbed.]

H-hey! Why are you even yelling at me!

[Uuuuugh. She's going to jog her way past, Dreambucks in hand, while she's being told "you probably took your coffee too!"

Zidane will hear a very angry "They don't even take payment for it!!" in response because boy that's gonna bug her if she doesn't say something to it.

Now where did Wukong go, because if she's going to get in trouble for things she's not taking, she has to know if he took stuff!!!]