songerein | { lindwormeo and juliet }

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{ lindwormeo and juliet }

LINDWORMEO & JULIET

It is the third dreamshift, and when everyone rouses and becomes aware of their situation, they find themselves dressed in Verona, a gothic city where night reigns everlasting and violence lurks around every corner. Not because of crime, but because of the two main families, the Montagues and the Capulets, everlasting feud. Fights break out almost every other minute and peace is hard sought after. However, peace is perhaps on the table, for the Capulets are hosting a grand masquerade in a gesture of truce. But it's difficult when one of Montague's sons is cursed as a Lindworm, one of the key reasons why there is a feud to begin with.

"But that's not really all that important," a voice echoes around them. It's a voice different from the tapirs that they've grown accustomed to, and after another moment it chimes in again. "Up here my fair little dreamwalkers."

And lo, high above in the permanent night sky is a moon so full and bright that it almost feels as if it could swallow them whole. After learning about the Story Eater's actions against Songerein's moon, the appearance of a face would certainly alarm many. But then the face seems to recede before it changes into a full person holding a quill and manuscript.

"Greetings! I am William Shakespeare and you are now within my own dream, a dreamscape I believe you call it. My works can be found in many places and in many worlds. Yet that accursed Story Eater has been devouring my masterpieces! I must now pen them all over again, but one of its minions is invading my mind and altering everything and I refuse to become a brainless puppet like Marlowe. I have isolated it within this place of my own design based off of Romeo and Juliet. However it seems after my reading of the Lindworm King, my visions have been affected a bit, but no matter. A playwright must find inspiration where he can!

But it is now up to you to see this play through completion. Doing so will help those outside draw out the fiend through the accumulated dreamotion energy, and if you could give it a few stabs that will help as well. Not all of you need to partake in my play, and I have already chosen my leading actors and actresses. You should find a brief copy of the script on your person, but you may act however you wish. However, I should warn you—this is a tragedy, so deaths are expected. But fear not, you will leave this dreamscape perhaps a bit tired, but unharmed. It's all a dream after all.

Now that should cover it. I look forward to seeing how everyone's tragic romances will play out. It may give me material for my next masterpiece!"

And just as suddenly as he had appeared, Shakespeare disappears from the moon, leaving it to loom brightly over the otherwise dark city.

I. GENERAL PROMPTS

Reminder that those cast as Romeo and Juliet can participate in most of these prompts, but the timing would be set early on before they move onto their designated scenes.

A. Family Feud. Everyone in Verona is randomly split in allegiance between the Montagues and the Capulets, and whenever they meet there is some kind of tension. It could be violent, hostile, passive, petty, or even attraction. Surely Romeo and Juliet aren't the only ones who can love across the aisle. If not pit against each other to fight or exchange snide comments, opposing parties can also work together to deal with Erasers posing as creepy looking family members/soldiers/knights/etc.

» BONUS: TO ARMS. A city-wide family feud makes for good business if you’re in the weapons-and-armor trade. Gather materials to help smithies in creating armor and weapons.

B. Masquerade. Almost as if it's the opening act, everyone, both Montagues and Capulets are to attend a masquerade held within the Capulet's ballroom. It's a momentary "truce," and though tension between the families is still rampant, everyone is welcome to wear the finest clothing they can imagine and to partake in the festivities. The masquerade itself is in the ballroom, but there are also gardens and large terraces that guests can go to if they want some fresh air.

» BONUS: PREPARATIONS. Any good party requires a lot of preparation, and all of Verona is abuzz with activity leading up to the big night. Tailors need help getting fabric, jewels, and other baubles to create the finest dresses. Caterers need quality ingredients for the food that will be prepared and served. Someone needs to step up and be the band for the night. There are plenty of ways in which Dreamwalkers can help make the masquerade a success!

C. EXTRA SCENES. There are a few specific "scenes" featuring key characters from the original play. Whether taken voluntarily or "beckoned" by Shakespeare, those who participate will have a little "essence" of the original character. No full personality change, but they might feel certain impulses or find it easier to slip into the role. Note: anyone can fill in the roles of "Romeo" and "Juliet" for the Paris scenes; it is not exclusive to those who signed up for Romeo and Juliet.

PARIS V. JULIET. Paris meets and dances with Juliet, taking a fancy with her. With his arrogance believing he can win over the Capulet princess, throughout the night he attempts to woo Juliet, either in the ballroom or the gardens just outside. Juliet must not be swayed! (Or maybe a little swayed, but try not go totally off-book here). Juliet can shut down Paris however they want. (This scene happens during or immediately after the "Masquerade", but before the Balcony scene.)
PARIS V. ROMEO. Paris bullies his younger brother about the Lindworm curse on a near-constant basis. And to add insult to injury, after meeting Juliet he’s decided that he wants Juliet for himself. Obviously, Romeo is not about to let his stupid mean brother steal the love of his life! They’re going to have to fight this one out, either with words or via fisticuffs. (This scene happens during or immediately after the "Masquerade" but before the "Balcony" scene.)
BENVOLIO'S ATTEMPTS. Benvolio is trying to find a cure for Romeo's curse, and after some research in the library he finds something! Good cousin that he is, he puts the theory to the test immediately. Unfortunately, his attempt backfires and he gets turned into a lindworm (fully or partially) instead. The poor guy is now out of sorts, and he needs protection so that someone doesn't mistake him for some monster and kill him. At least the transformation is only temporary.
TYBALT V. MERCUTIO. The infamous duel. Considering how much their families hate each other, the inciting incident can be just about anything. The original story has Tybalt goading Mercutio into a duel by calling Romeo a villain, Tybalt killing Mercutio, and Romeo killing Tybalt. But no one’s enforcing the particulars very closely here, so players are free to proceed with the fight any way they please. (If this fight does end in one or more deaths, please refer to the event details on how death works within the dreamscape.)

D. Love is a Battlefield. As if there wasn’t enough drama to deal with, a large, winged noctaere can be found throughout the dreamscape firing arrows at the residents, turning them into Erasers. It can summon smaller winged noctaere to fight for it, and if a dreamwalker gets hit by the arrows, they will slowly turn into a lindworm that is full of hate. It's difficult to combat the boss itself, but it can be weakened by defeating its minions and those hit by its arrows. Love of any form will be a powerful counter that will hit the boss as well.

» BONUS: ROSE COLLECTION. In the forests are white and red roses that are hidden under logs and stones. They will sparkle a bit to make them look different than other flowers. They must be collected before the Erasers can get to them. A white rose fed to a lindworm will return them back to normal. Eating a red rose will allow characters to turn into a pink, heart covered lindworm for ten minutes to fly up and try to combat against the winged noctaere or the Erasers.

II. ROMEO AND JULIET'S OBJECTIVES

The following objectives are locked to those who signed up for Romeo and Juliet. Please refer to the notes for all the stipulations and effects characters will experience as the tragic couple. Final reminder that the characters will be aware of the tragic ending as well as reassurance that they will awaken unharmed at the end of their final scene.

Click for objectives.

A. Love at First Sight. Time to get your party-crashing pants on, Romeo, because there is a masquerade that you are not invited to but are attending anyway. Who doesn’t love a good party? If you wear a mask, no one will know it’s you! Here Romeo and Juliet have the opportunity to meet and flirt and make goo-goo eyes at each other. And if they really want to get into the spirit of things, they can go into a laborious metaphor about how holding hands is super hot but kissing is way hotter. (Yes, really.) At this point Romeo's curse is only a partial transformation, something along the lines of scales down one side of his body.

B. Balcony Scene. The time for light flirting is over–this is where Romeo and Juliet get to declare their undying love for each other. Romeo really needs to work it as his brother, Paris, has also made moves on Juliet. There’s some strangeness in the dreamscape at this point that seems to have mistaken Shakespeare for musical theater, so the loving couple must sing their love for one another. With that spirit in mind, the moment should be suitably big and dramatic! Immediately after this scene is when Romeo and Juliet get married, so there’s no reason not to put it all out there. Shakespeare will lend a "helping hand" in giving them knowledge of the lyrics to sing, though they are free to create their own song and freestyle it. (Players can use existing songs or make it up as they go.)

C. Elope. Being the very mature and intelligent lovers that they are, Romeo and Juliet decide to get married after knowing each other for a whole day. Time to get to the chapel, meet with the Friar, and exchange vows. Shakespear will lend a helping hand by providing wedding attire fitting for those who are cast in their role. That's right, every Juliet will have their own special bridal dress, isn't he so considerate? And then it’s time to do whatever it is that newlyweds do, if that's what they are into. Otherwise, Romeo and Juliet will need to return home to prepare for their future.

D. Runaways. Juliet learns that she is being forced to marry Romeo's brother, Paris, which is a problem because she’s already married and also she doesn’t like that other guy anyway. In a major divergence from the source material, Romeo and Juliet decide to make a run for it instead of that whole poisoning-yourself business. It’s just a better idea all around. The goal is to get out of town undetected, which means that this is a stealth mission. Romeo and Juliet must follow a path and avoid getting caught. Whatever it takes to get past the guards and would-be snitches that would turn you in!

E. Find the Cure. Even after making it out so far, fate is against them. At this point Romeo's curse is advancing, so they need to look for the cure. Just outside of town they encounter a very trustworthy set of three witches who provide a list of items for them to retrieve and mix into a potion: rainbow mushroom, feather of a dove, three snails, and lavender. No one said this was going to taste good. However, while it will work temporarily, only Juliet is told that the final ingredient must be the blood of his lover. It's a cryptic message, however they do not specify how the blood is taken. Do they mean just a few drops? Or her life?

F. Tragic Ending. Upon learning of the young couple's running away, the Capulets have declared war with knights out hunting to kill Romeo and bring back Juliet. They are soon found and no matter what they do, death will await them. But how? Players can direct this however they want. Did the soldiers catch them? Did they decide that the whole double-suicide poison thing was a good idea after all? Does one tragically sacrifice themself to save the other? Does Romeo go full Lindworm and eat Juliet? The possibilities are endless. At this point Romeo is capable of turning into a full lindworm if he's taken the cure without Juliet's blood. If he drinks the cure with Juliet's blood, then he will revert to a normal human (teenager) with no extra powers.

[Mod Note: Details on this event can be found here and we request all thread submissions to be made here.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[If it were any other situation, perhaps something a little less heavyhearted, and if she knew him better, Beatrix very well might have suggested a friendly little wager between the two of them. Honestly, she still thinks about it. Perhaps another time, another circumstance, something that doesn't involve her in a dress or amidst a bunch of people that just make her think of home.

Instead of watching him, she focuses on her own. A broad stroke of her sword and she cuts down one that flutters down to the ground. She follows up with another to the next one closest. There's no way she's about to keep count. The number of the enemy doesn't matter, only that they carve a path to their destination. And distantly beyond that?

That they get the hell out of here. Why can't she ever meet people outside of these ridiculous happenings.]

[Diluc would also like to stop meeting people in dreamscapes like this. Maybe next time they can just have tea together or something.

The two continue cutting their way through the rabble, both experienced enough fighters to do so with relatively little issue. During the first wave, Diluc feels something slice along his arm. Aside from a grunt and a pained curse spat under his breath, he hardly acknowledges the hit. He needs to remain focused on the task at hand, and it's not like the wound is especially deep or concerning. Superficial injuries are to be expected from combat.

When the pair are given a bit of relief in the form of a break in the wave of minions headed their direction as opposed to other fighters', he finally stops to take a look at the cut. To his alarm, instead of the expected bleeding wound beneath the torn fabric he finds scales.

Damn it. He was hit by one of the larger noctaere's arrows, not the claws of his immediate opponents.

Beatrix gave him a rose, didn't she? What color was it? They have something to do with handling this sort of transformation, if he remembers correctly. He starts patting around for it, but somewhere along the way he loses the thought. In its place is a blinding, thoughtless rage, which he immediately turns on the nearest target: Beatrix.

He charges her with a roar that's not quite human, his face already taking on the more reptilian characteristics of the lindworm he's turning into.]

[She is far more intent on her own situation at hand that it doesn't occur to her immediately the various things that could go wrong. The ideas are there, certainly, but have largely taken a backseat to the immediate predicament, which is... a plethora of creatures that must be taken down in order for them to get to what Beatrix suspects is their leader.

It's the roar that catches her off guard and pulls her attention immediately off of her immediate quarry. It's... Diluc. Of all things, that's not on her list of expectations. Maybe that had been somewhere in the back of her mind as well, but she has very little time to really dive into that. Instead, she's met with the propelling of his body toward her.

She must not hurt him. Of all the things that can be done, putting him in harm's way is not an acceptable way to handle this. As such, she makes certain to use her sword only if it's necessary. She uses her arm to weather his blow, because surely whatever he does to her won't be as bad as some of the alternatives. Better him than a noctaere. At that rate, they'd both be sitting ducks.]

Get a hold of yourself!

[And she doubts it'll be that easy. She gave him a rose for a reason. Why not make use of it? Her free hand lifts into her hair where she's got quite a few more stashed away for like situations. She was personally hoping she'd never have to use them, but... Beggars cannot be choosers. In this place, Alexandria's general is a beggar.]

[It isn't that easy. The influence of the arrow's poison--or whatever is causing this change into a lindworm--is tapping into something feral and angry inside of him. Diluc Ragnvindr has no shortage of rage and hatred, as much as he endeavors to pretend otherwise in polite company, and the nightmare energy is fanning those usually-controlled emotions into an inferno.

Even so, there's a glimmer of something resembling recognition in his eyes when she speaks. There's a part of him that's trying to resist. That part is just losing the fight.

He falls back a few paces after she blocks his initial blow, gritting his teeth and huffing angrily as his increasingly-draconic brain assesses the situation. The claymore is cumbersome, and becoming moreso with claws that are starting to emerge from his fingertips, so he lets it drop. As he does so, he notices that she's reaching for something in her hair. He doesn't trust it, and he immediately goes back on the offensive. This time, he reaches out to try and grab for her throat.]

[If he recognises her, it does not last long. She can see just the glimpse of it. A little flash of resistance before the transformation begins to embrace him ever intimately. She could get away with hurting him in this situation, most likely. If she has to. But it is pertinent that she examine all possible scenarios and not simply settle for the one that is most simple.

There are no easy way outs with Beatrix.

As such, he uses the opportunity in which she's distracted to snatch her up. She can find a way out, she's sure, even if he gets his hands on her. Which, he does. Clawed touch closes about her neck and her jaw sets. She is on limited time and this she knows. So she uses her words very sparingly, careful not to loose any excess breath. She'll need every beat of that.]

Just... open... your... mouth!

[She fixes one hand atop the one he's gripped her with in an effort to pry fingers beneath his claws to loosen his hold. Her other hand sacrifices her sword in favour of a flower—the first, and likely only time such a thing will ever happen. The flower has to work. She never would have imagined that she would be relying on something so soft, so delicate.

Beatrix snags one out of her hair, using fingertips to blindly fix a better grip.]

It is for your own good!

[Diluc responds to the command with a growl, baring his teeth but setting his jaw as if he knows what it is that she means to do. Which he doesn't; he's not thinking straight enough to be able to determine things just as strategy or intent. He just knows fury and hatred, and Beatrix is the unlucky target thereof.

As such, he doesn't pay any attention to what her hands are doing, instead focusing on inflicting as much pain as possible. When she doesn't cower to the grasp on her throat, he changes tactics and instead flings her away from him in an attempt to destabilize her. Once he has her off her feet, she'll be an easier target and he can move in for the kill.

His eyes blink after he releases her, although it's less of a blink and more like a sheer membrane moving over his eyes.]

[Alphen once asked her if she had ever considered running from a fight that might potentially have put her life at risk. She had told him that she had never been in a situation where she feared for her life.

Fear is rarely a thing Beatrix has felt. Even in the present, she feels more agitation and annoyance than fear. Having someone not listen to her, in or out of sane state of mind, is downright frustrating. Whether that's Beatrix being foolish or arrogant is debatable. The thing about adrenaline is that most rarely even feel pain. Surely she'll feel the results of this exchange in the days to come.

Humiliating, honestly.

When his original plan doesn't work, he effortlessly propels her away, which results in her struggling to maintain balance atop heeled boots. Instead of fighting it, she coerces herself into a roll across the ground in an effort to snatch up her sword. If she can't get him to eat the rose, she isn't sure what the next best scenario is.

Killing him is not an option. She must find some other way to incapacitate him. Magic? Beatrix hasn't spent a lot of time practising with the spells she is most accustomed to, but she does have some tricks up her sleeve. Blind. If she can blind him, even for some moments, surely she can use that to her advantage. She has options. The radiance of her sword when she calls upon the light. The actual world's equivalent to white magic's Blind.

Beatrix chooses to focus on the latter.

Please work.

All of her concentration goes into it. This world is all about belief. In some ways, it's about faith. It's a relatively simple spell. All it does it cloak the sense of sight. It would provide her time to recover appropriately and perhaps even to get the upper hand against him.

She needs that. She's at a grave disadvantage.]

[It works.

Diluc freezes when he is suddenly unable to see. His other senses are still human to depend on in place of his eyesight, so he finds himself completely broadsided and uncertain as to what to do next. Beatrix is still nearby, he's all but certain. The haze of hatred compels him to keep searching for her, but in the same vein it keeps him from approaching the task with any sort of higher-level problem solving. He's all but feral in this state, and that works to her advantage here.

When he finally does act, he does so violently. It proves to be his own undoing--he flings himself in the general direction Beatrix was in before he lost his sight, but he misses the mark by a couple yards to her left. The momentum of the strike and the failure to hit his target cause him to tumble forward, hitting the ground and skidding a few feet after landing.]

[It's just what she needs for the situation. She's able to get herself out of what could be a grave disadvantage. It's offers her the opportunity to turn things around. To help instead of hurt, which is such a strange concept in hindsight. It seems so unlike her. But there's also strategy involved.

She loves strategy.

He charges blindly, logic dictating him to where he goes. She has the good sense to not still be there and waits until he tumbles over. His momentum slides him against the ground and in haste she dashes after him, practically diving down to where he's fallen.

Beatrix finds his back, attempting to set her knee to its centre. Beatrix, though muscled, is not a bulky woman. Perhaps too slender for a woman in her position, though she possesses a great deal of discipline and strength. Dipping her head down, she holds her sword at the ready. It's not quite pressed up against him, but it could be if she so wills it.]

If you make any sudden movements, they will be your last ones.

[They won't. Not really. Not in this circumstance. If he has any sense in him, a wiser person wouldn't put themselves at risk. Even animals facing death will eventually break. In this case, Diluc is little more than a beast. At least until she can subdue him.]

[The combination of the pressure on his back and the sharp tone of her voice is enough to make Diluc freeze. He's half out of his mind, sure, but not so far gone that all of his self-preservation instinct is out the window. If anything, instinct is all he's running on at the moment.

Later, he'll realize that her threat is empty and that he isn't even at swordpoint. But for the moment, it feels real. And that's enough.

He responds with an angry growl, and somewhere through the feral haze he finds the capacity for words.]

Get. Off.

[There's much more going through his mind, of course. He wants to regain the upper hand, to pin her down and tear her throat out, to move on to the next target and make them feel the same pain and rage that he feels. But that requires much more concentration to express, and he can't be bothered to make that kind of effort for something so meaningless as words.]

[There is a substantial amount of relief that rests on her shoulders at the notion she need not use her sword to keep him in place. But she is able to pull words from him and that is better than nothing. The sliver that is, in fact, Diluc, remains, buried beneath something animalistic.

She keeps him right where he is, pinned beneath her knee and she draws up her free hand back into her hair, fishing for a white rose with an undeniable sheen to it down to him.]

Eat this and I will. Otherwise, I will force feed it to you and I will enjoy that far more than you will.

[Diluc glowers at the flower she holds down for him as if it, not Beatrix and the cursed arrow that struck him before, is responsible for all of the trouble he's found himself in at the moment. Seeing as he's given no choice in the matter, he snaps at her hand and takes the flower from it, wolfing it down.

Slowly, the haze of hatred clears from his mind and the partial transformation of his body begins to undo itself. After several tense minutes, he groans softly. It's a profoundly human sound, chagrined and exhausted and embarrassed.]

You can get off of me. I'm no longer a threat to you.

[Her hand withdraws only as he snatches up the flower she offers him. Although it's less an offer and more an inevitability. And she waits. Only when he finds his words again does she begrudgingly remove herself from his back, considerably more careful in that than she was when she practically tackled him down.

Even as she's righting herself, putting herself back together, Beatrix fixes her sword on him, wary and sceptical. She, wisely, puts paces between them, gaze locked on him intensely.]

Debatable. [She begins, motioning with her free hand.] Rise slowly and let me get a better look at you.

[Diluc's sigh is deep and exasperated, but ultimately he cannot blame Beatrix for her abundance of caution. Just minutes ago, he was trying to rip her throat out like some kind of common beast. He's lucky she is giving him even this much benefit of the doubt.

As instructed, he gets off the ground with slow and deliberate movements. Once back on his feet, he raises his hands in a show of surrender and turns to face her. He's dirty, and the impact point of the arrow's graze is still bloody, but otherwise there's no sign of the lindworm transformation left in him. The man standing before her is fully human, and - despite his best efforts to hide it - more than little mortified.]

I should have been more careful. I'm sorry.

[As he rises, she strafes across the ground thoughtfully, gaze intent upon him. She leaves her sword on him as she assesses him from a safe distance. He looks... normal. Considerably more normal, anyway. More like the Diluc who came to join her at the beginning of all of this. Although still wary, Beatrix decides what she sees is... enough.

Her sword lowers and she shakes her head. Apologies. She can't decide if she dislikes saying them more or hearing them more. Maybe a combination of the two.]

These things happen. We were prepared in the event that we needed to be. In my opinion, that is all that matters.

[She draws up her free hand and traces touch along her neck. Will it bruise? Perhaps. It's not as though he was gentle with her. No matter. What's done is done. An opportunity to put her white magic to the test, she supposes. Or whatever this world will make it out to be.]

Status?

[She asks as she settles her attention back onto him.]

[Diluc feels a pang of guilt as Beatrix feels where he tried to strangle the life out of her. But there's no need for further apologies. She's made herself clear that it's not needed, and to press the issue would just waste both of their time. His need to get over himself is not her problem.]

Been better. Been worse. I can still fight.

[It's the most accurate assessment he can provide. The wound on his shoulder smarts, but it's not so painful that it'll impede his abilities at all. He can bandage it when the threat has cleared.]

Fortunate, then. I have little interest in picking up where your inadequacies may show.

[It sounds perhaps ruder than she means for it to, but she also suspects that he may understand a bit where she's coming from. A general, no matter how they may wish to, cannot halt all things for one person. Oft in such heated moments, it is the weight of many lives versus a single one. An answer there, to a question asked or unspoken, is an obvious one.

If Diluc holds her back, her only option is to leave him behind. It may not be much for camaraderie, but it is just a soldier's input.]

We have a job to finish here. Let us see it done and I will tend to your wounds when we are done.

[Because she can do that.]

[Her statement isn't rude; it's practical. Diluc's an experienced enough combatant to understand that the mission comes before the soldier. If he weren't able to keep up the fight, dragging him onward would only needlessly weigh her down.

Honestly, that understanding is part of why he prefers to go it alone. When he was younger and more idealistic, this sort of reality bothered him. But he's no longer a child, and can't afford to be soft-hearted on the battlefield. If there's no one else there, there's no need to worry about it either way.

The offer to heal him once this is over, however, surprises him. He's grateful.]

Understood.

[Slowly and deliberately, he goes to where he's left his claymore and lifts it.]

We've lost enough time. Let's go.

[He gets it. She can tell just by looking at him that he does. As such, she only watches him for a few moments more and then she nods, taking the time to fit her hold about her sword. As her grasp tightens, she feels her resolve strengthen.]

I could not have said it better myself.

[She'll be taking point this time. Not because he's incapable, but because she expects him to know his own limits. She's not going to reprimand him on it. Besides, he isn't one of her soldiers. He's just a man. And she is just a woman in this world. But at least she still has a couple more of those roses if they need it.

Hopefully they won't.

All she wants is to erase the plethora of nonsense that's stood against them. Which is precisely what she means to do. Beatrix isn't Beatrix unless she's throwing herself into the fray.]

[They're on the same page. They very often are, he's noticed in his dealings with her.

Which makes this next part easier. It makes sense for her to take point, after what's happened, and he falls in. He's no longer a knight, and she's even less his commander, but a battle like this one doesn't have the luxury of splitting hairs over such details. They need to cut down the rabble to get to their leader. That's all there is to it.

It helps that Diluc also has a tendency to throw himself into these kinds of things wholeheartedly. Beatrix re-enters the fray, and he's right behind her.]

[Before she really launches herself back at the hordes of things, she casts a look over her shoulder... Well. Some have called them Erasers. She supposes there's no shortage of names for them. Little noctaere offspring or something? Beatrix can hardly say herself what they are. Annoying. That seems to be the only important identifying characteristic.

She doubts she'll be able to take out the larger one. She doesn't have the ability, she suspects, though she'll step in if she has to. For the time being, she settles on trying to carve a path through their immediate opponents. Using her sword, she repels an arrow off to the side, and then a second one.]

You and I are not going to be able to do away with all of these. Let us take out what we need to and find a place to compose ourselves.

["Annoying" is certainly an excellent descriptor for them. "Tenacious" is another. While Diluc and Beatrix are skilled enough to cut them down, it seems that the tide of Erasers from the winged noctaere is continually refreshing itself. Beatrix is correct--they won't be able to bring them all down.

As for their leader... Diluc is somewhat confident that they could take it if they worked together. But he's admittedly less certain after his brush with lindworm-ness.]

There's an alcove to our left. Let's make our way in that direction.

Heard.

[It's all he needs to say for Beatrix to put spoken word into action. Better that he's in the back, evidently, for she's not sure she would have taken note of such an out, especially were she alone. Sometimes in the heat of battle, one completely loses themselves. Rather, Beatrix certainly seems to.

It's a very gradual process, the one that begins to cut through to the alcove he's indicated. Gradual, but effective. Diluc may have been momentarily setback, but he isn't incapable. She doubts very much a temporary draconic brain is enough to stop him. At least, that's what she'd like to think of him. For how little she seems to think of him, it's evidently a bit more.]

Are you fine back there?

Never better.

[A temporary draconic brain is certainly a major setback, and it would be a lie to say that Diluc's not still a bit thrown off by the experience. But he's not about to let that slow him down until the danger has passed, and that's not going to be for awhile yet. He can sort through everything later, when the fighting settles down.

It's slower-going than he'd like, but having to stop every few paces to cut down an Eraser or block additional nocataere arrows with the blunt edge of his sword is inevitably going to make movement a tedious process. Beatrix is dealing with the situation similarly, which is something that doesn't surprise him in the least. More than even he is, she's a consummate fighter.

They finally make it to the alcove and away from the fray, and Diluc takes one last look behind them before pulling some overgrowth over the opening. Better to remain as out of sight as possible, but he can burn through the brush if they need to get out quickly.]

Fighting these damn things feels like treading water. How are you faring?

[When they manage to reach the alcove, Beatrix has the opportunity to catch her breath. It would be easy to look at her, simply define her as formidable. It's not an inaccurate assessment either, but Beatrix knows better than anyone that she is not invincible, no matter how much she might like to claim that she is. Not... that she's inclined to admit to that aloud. Not now. Probably not ever.

She looks past him, eyes the overgrowth he uses to shield them both and then after a moment's consideration, she sheathes her sword after examining it closely. She'll have to spend some time sharpening it. She doubts its kept its edge after all she's used it on since her arrival. Her attention moves back onto Diluc and she wears just a subtle turn of the mouth, though it disappears quickly enough.]

Still I stand. 'Tis good enough for the circumstance.

[She looks him over rather shamelessly.]

Let me take a look at your injuries.

{ lindwormeo and juliet }

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you're going to have to wrap him in a towel or something

BAD DOG NO BISCUITS

:(

If he's a good boy, he gets walkies.

walkies! ♥

Time to get a leash for Diluc.

hot ;)

of course he'd like that

don't kinkshame him

i want diluc to live his best life

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