seventh shot ⊗ open april log

[flamekthunder]

Who: Eustace and anyone
Which: Open April Log
Where: Various
What: Cat bees; mandragoras; flower pruning; crystal fishing; observatory
Warnings: None just shenanigans


⊗ a: quest 401: cat bees

[Some might think the cat bees are cute and mostly harmless. And for the most part they are—

Unless one is a dog that grows flowers on their coats.

Anyone around the neighborhood will hear a lot of barking and some yelps as there is a back and forth between the Flower dogs and the cat bees chasing each other. The more timid pups yelp and run away, seeking any kind of cover to fend off the bees. The more rambunctious ones are barking and trying to chase them away, leaping at them and not caring when a few of the cat bees hiss and try to go after them. Whether the cat bees are interested in their flowers at this point or not is up in the air. In any case, this is the scene Eustace and anyone else around will find throughout the month while the cat bees are around.]

Damn pests... There are other flowers you can go to, scram!

[Eustace in particular has his hackles raised, especially when Valerian whimpers and he has to pick up the scaredypup and shield him. Electricity is starting to fill the air, and although he's trying not to be too aggressive, if any of those bees actually sting or smother a pup, he is ready to singe more than a few.

Should anyone be around they are more than welcome to try and help chase off the bees. Perhaps using one of the many large flowers nearby will help? Or use a mandragora to scare them off—please no]

⊗ b: quest 403: singing plants

[Eustace isn't actually in the are to pluck the plants. He's a bit wary of what a singing plant could do...and he's proven right when he happens to be in the area and someone pulls one of the plants out, revealing itself to be a screeching mandragora. They shriek in surprise and run, leaving it exposed to the ground. With his hearing as sensitive as it is, it's even worse for him, his ears actually flattening momentarily as he reaches up to cover them.

Taking matters into his own hands, he grits his teeth and pulls out his gun, lightning already crackling and gathering around him.]

Stand back, I'm destroying that plant and this entire field once and for all...!

[DON'T LET HIM DESTROY THE FIELD—]

⊗ c: quest 407: seasons of love

[The other plant problem Eustace ends up having constantly throughout the month is the large amount of flowers that keeps appearing on and around his tree. And by large amount, it's like having huge roses and lilies just springing up all over the tree to the point it's hard to tell there's even a tree there.]

...

[Staring up at it, he runs an aggravated hand through this hair and sighs before muttering under his breath.]

What if I just burn it...

[Of course not he wouldn't want to actually destroy it all. ...But given the sheer amount, this is going to be. Annoying. So if anyone happens to pass by the edge of the neighborhood or wondering where there are hundreds of flower petals falling into their trees and yards, they'll find Eustace slowly but diligently trying to cut down the flowers, a large pile the size of himself already formed.]

⊗ d: quest 408: crystal fishing

[For a change of pace, Eustace takes a few early mornings and late afternoons to try the crystal fishing out on the lake. It's a good opportunity for him to just have some downtime from...everything else. Plus it had been a while since he last fished.

He knows the crystals are supposed to be filled with positive emotions...and after certain nights he's able to stockpile quite a bit. But there are a few that are filled calmer emotions as well.

He'll be utilizing both the shore and a small row boat, and while he'll keep to himself, he'll note anyone else who might be around, even offer a few crystals if needed.]

⊗ e: observatory

[This whole dreamshift changing the city of Reverein to a different city called Verens is...an interesting phenomenon to say the least. Is this something the could occur again? What conditions are needed for it? A lot of questions that he'll doubt he'll get answers, but at least it seems harmless...

For now.

While most things are similar, Eustace doesn't miss taking the opportunity to explore and investigate the changes. One particular place he's interested in is the Observatory. Hearing that the people there are studying dreams and that it's a large telescope piques his curiosity and a few afternoons and evenings he'll make his way there to see if there's anything to be found. Of course, since this is a dreamshift who knows if there's anything that could actually be seen.]

The telescope... Does it look outside the world or into dreams...

[Staring up at him, he mutters to himself before walking towards it, prepared to take any notes he can.

note: this prompt can be used for general exploration of the town's current state as well!]

⊗ f: wildcard

[Open to other prompts! Feel free to hit me up on discord, PM, or laenavesse for questions or further discussion!]

Comments

C

[refire]

That might not be such a good idea. If you're serious about burning things I may be able to help out.

[Alphen can only really offer fire and more fire. It's specially. His title the Blazing Sword of Calaglia isn't there just for show. His aptitude with elements extends beyond fire but that's the one he's mostly known for.]

What are you trying to do?

[flamekthunder]

[Just a small sigh as he looks over at Alphen.]

I'm not really that serious...but all these flowers are really getting out of hand.

[Of course he knows WHY they exist, which is another reason why he would never burn them. But he would never say the truth and will just blame the flower fairies—surely some of them had a hand in this???]

[refire]

Yeah, I get what you mean. There should be another way to handle it though. We can save the burning ideas for another time.

[ Alphen will be around for any situations that call for fire. For the time being he simply ponders on the their next course of action.]

Right now maybe we should check things out and investigate more closely. We could learn something.

[flamekthunder]

[Investigate..... Can't be that obvious that 80-90% of these are probably made from love right—]

I'm not sure what we'll find, but if there's something else affecting these then it'll be worth a look.

[refire]

...

[ Sorry Eustace Alphen is too busy staring at your outfit but more particularly the ears. ]

What have you learned so far? I'm only slowly starting to grasp the situation but it can't be anything good that's for sure.

E

[sciencesquid]

[During one of the evenings Eustace visits the Observatory, he may notice a figure lurking just outside the building, in the shadows where the light of streetlamps can't quite reach. Even so, what's visible of his silhouette is so unique, what with the four tentacles protruding from his back, his identity should still be clear.

Otto's staring up at the observatory, wondering what the best method would be to get a better look at the telescope. Sure, he could just go in like a normal person and ask to see it, but that would mean mingling with... normal people. He could climb his way up the side of the building, but that would risk causing damage to the structure and this too will get other people going after him. Ugh, why do other people exist in this place at all?]

[flamekthunder]

[When Eustace approaches the Observatory and notices a familiar figure standing outside it, his pace slows, hand almost drifting to his gun before he stops and instead just narrows his eyes. To Otto's credit, nothing has happened since the last time but that doesn't mean Eustace is putting his guard down.]

What are you doing here?

[sciencesquid]

[All four of the tentacles turn to face Eustace, and while two of them open their maws, the other two remain closed for now. As for Otto, he turns his head at a much slower pace. Great, it's the guy with all the mutts, once again attempting to stick his nose in Otto's business. At least the dogs aren't anywhere in sight.]

I'm standing here. Has that suddenly become a crime as well?

[flamekthunder]

No.

But given your history, as short as it is, you'll have to forgive me for not being so trusting that you're not scheming something.

[There's definitely sarcasm there, and he remains undisturbed by the tentacles that seem to be displaying their displeasure at his presence.]

[sciencesquid]

Oh, please. Only lowlifes scheme. [And despite everything, Otto still likes to think himself above the common criminal. He doesn't do what he does for money, nor petty little pleasures.]

And my history extends far beyond what little you've glimpsed here, so you would do well to watch your mouth.

B

[pactmarshal]

[ Rumor of singing plants - one that has persisted throughout the weeks, separate from all the ones that had popped up during the festival - has drawn Trahearne to the forests to investigate for himself. Imagine his shock and delight to find that these singing plants were little people--perhaps nowhere near as intelligent as a sylvari, but still people with whom he felt a strange kinship nonetheless.

He isn't alone, though. Someone else seems to be here to pick the mandragoras' leaves (which rubs him quite the wrong way - they could at least ask first), which sets off a cascading cacophony of screams, even from the one Trahearne had been holding in his hand. As he moves to set it down on the ground, he hears another voice threatening destruction.

...Was that Eustace?

He lifts his head to glance over the shrubbery, finding mandragoras fleeing every which way as the erune brandishes his gun.

Oh no. Hopefully he doesn't make good on that threat, not when Trahearne has found a tiny spark of unusual joy out here in this dream realm. ]

Stop!

[ His voice is loud and forceful, a tone he hasn't used in quite some time. Boldly he steps from the brush and comes to stand before Eustace, gun and all. ]

You will do no such thing!

[flamekthunder]

[Perhaps later Eustace will admit he had taken things a little far, but with that screeching practically maiming his hearing, he might still feel a bit validated. And right now he is still ready to pull the trigger, the electricity buzzing and crackling louder when Trahearne steps out.]

Back off, Trahearne.

[pactmarshal]

No.

[ Trahearne doesn't move, staring defiantly into Eustace's eyes, the growing buzzing and crackling only serving as fuel to his anger. ]

What good would killing all these creatures serve? [ It's not a question for Eustace to answer; Trahearne doesn't wait before continuing. ] None, and you know that.

[flamekthunder]

I fail to see what good they serve living.

[Though as much as he loathes to admit it, he knows Trahearne is right.

...

...

But can they please shut up then!? Another chorus of high piercing shrieks fill the air, forcing Eustace to grimace and falter as once again his ears flatten in visible pain.]

[pactmarshal]

[ He narrows his eyes. ]

Living things are alive, and that's good enough. They don't need to--

[ But Trahearne is so suddenly interrupted by the screams, he almost jumps in place. His gaze quickly flits towards the source, and then back towards Eustace. When he sees his ears flattened against his head like a pained animal, Trahearne's narrowed gaze takes on a different hue. ]

...Maybe we should go somewhere else.

[ And by we he means you, but he's not going to say that out loud. ]

Cat bees

[maskedwonder]

[Even though Six is minding his own business, he does see how Eustace struggles with the cat shaped bees harrassing his flowery dogs. The sight is odd, but then again, this entire place is odd.

Slowly he gets on his feet and steps out of the shadows, very aware with how the air is filling with electricity. Is it dreamotion? Probably. And the other Erune has a better grip on it than he himself has.]

Maybe you can cut the flowers off the dogs.

[See? He's helping.]

[flamekthunder]

[Six, please.]

Cutting the flowers would be like shaving them.

[Just a harsh snap at the Eternal as he swerves his body around to protect the poor pup in his arms as another bee zooms past.]

Tsk, they're targeting them on purpose...!

[maskedwonder]

[Behind his mask Six blinks a couple of times.]

Shaving a...dog doesn't seem excessive. [He is aware of the harshness in the other's face, yet he doesn't flinch or act on it.]

Or...plucking them...in this case. [And then he sees it...the bees are cats and somewhere in the back of his head he is aware of the sheer irony of this. Cats chasing dogs, the dog having flowers, cats being bees.]

They have flowers, bees like flowers. Or well, these bee-like cats.

[flamekthunder]

[On a normal day, Eustace would have happily explained to Six how the flowers worked for the dogs, but right now his patience is beyond gone so he just ends up snapping instead.]

We're not getting rid of their flowers!

[End of story.

And with the increased amount of electricity, Eustace seems ready to turn into a bug zapper and strike them all.]

[maskedwonder]

[There are a couple of things he could do here. Leave Eustace to his own devices and just go about his own business. Ask him how he ended up in a situation as strange as this one and realizing afterwards that that has been a silly question. Everything is strange here. Try to help out before that enormous amount of electricity would unleash itself onto this world.]

If I were you I would stop getting so worked up over this. [Six crosses his arms and looks up, nodding at the electric sky.] Perhaps you can try taking the dogs and walk away. [Six knows this, when he is in a tired, frustrated state he has a hard time controlling any of the things that manifest around him.

And yes, he hates it.]

D

[removal]

[ Phantom and Eustace have become acquainted after their first encounter, and they end up regularly meeting both for research and more mundane purposes. This time they're out on the lake fishing - Eustace has brought properly filled crystals, while Phantom's stock is... a lot worse, unfortunately.

Most of them are dark, but this appears to be his best effort, so they've set off regardless. Phantom tries to thread his reel with the stones, but this is his first time really fishing, so he ends up waiting for Eustace to set up his own rod so he can watch and copy. ]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace had already figured out that he would need to basically teach Phantom, so after getting everything situated, he looks over at him.]

Here, it's not too difficult. I've already created a rigging to put around the crystal to make it easier to hook.

[Since one can't really pierce a crystal...

In the tackle box Eustace had prepared to hold the crystal bait and everything else, he picks up some pre-shaped spiral twine.]

Slip the crystal through this first. You can adjust to either tighten or loosen the twine to fit around the crystal. It's reinforced so it won't snap easily.

[And he'll demonstrate.]

[removal]

[ Like a cage for a songbird... ahem. Phantom mentally stops himself from going down that thread of thought, taking a piece of twine from Eustace and affixing a crystal to the centre. He tries to take one of the less depressing ones, but the crystal is still smoky grey at best. ]

Do we fish like the usual methods?

[ He thinks about how he did play the scripted role of a fisherman once, though it's clearly different from the real thing. ]

[flamekthunder]

More or less. Once you cast the line, you just need to let it sit and the fish will eventually notice the bait. I didn't notice much difference when moving it around and letting it be still.

[...Though he is eying Phantom's crystals a bit... Maybe it'll be okay...???]

[removal]

[ He doesn't reply verbally, turning to cast his line into the water as instructed. There's nothing wrong with his technique or his posture, it's just that...

.... no fish are coming. On the contrary, there seem to be significantly more fish interested in Eustace's adjacent lure.... ]