eighth shot ⊗ open may log

[flamekthunder]

Who: Eustace and anyone
Which: Open May Log
Where: Various
What: Bookkeeping; flower blossom owls; giant flower jungle; rat infestation
Warnings: None just shenanigans


⊗ a: quest 501: bookeeping

[While checking out the new Tree of Stories both for the eggs and just the tree in general, Eustace will be browsing through the shelves to see what kinds of books there and if anything from his world might have popped up... Never hurts to check.

But on occasion he'll hear the strange rustling of papers and see a book moving around. Sometimes crawling over the floors, but mostly flying around. For the most part he stays out of the way if he sees others trying to get a handle on them, but he also some assistance if one is near.

Such as zapping a book that's being too rambunctious.]

Noisy...

[It's basically a library, so keep it down. But don't worry, no harm is done to the book. His dreamotion control has developed so that his lightning is more like an electric stun, thus the book will have basically been electrocuted so that it falls to the floor and twitches a little.

And if there are several getting rowdy, he creates ice walls around a small area to trap them in.]

Go and grab them—or I'll freeze them, too.

⊗ b: quest 503: flower blossom owls

[Although the trees had taken some damage, it didn't take long for them to flourish again. And hearing about the owls...as long as it's like one or two it should be fine to use their trees right? And didn't the Corgi Tree have an owl in it...where'd it go, anyway?

Well, whatever. He can at least try and lure the owls away first, and what better way to find fresh flowers than using the Flower dogs who can also try to help herd the birds. So while working around the neighborhood gardens, if he sees anyone nearby also trying to help he'll call out to them.]

If you need some flowers, just ask the dogs nicely and they'll shed a few for you to use. But it's better to bring these owls out of the neighborhood...

[Unless residents actually want them??]

⊗ c: quest 504: giant flower jungle

[Okay, now he can destroy plants, right—

Armed with his rifle gun, Flamek, Eustace ventures into the jungle with a wary eye, and it isn't long before gunshots and bolts of lightning can be heard and seen as he fights again some assortment of mushroom monsters along with the other large carnivorous plants. Lightning is particularly effective in stunning and burning the monsters so that he can finish them off while also maintaining good range—and for good reason.]

Don't get too close, it can release toxic spores.

[The mushrooms in particular are more agile than they look, especially the ones that like to latch onto living hosts to try and control them. It's even worse if they're working in tandem with any plants that have vines to try and trap anyone caught unawares, so watch out!]

⊗ d: quest 506: eraser rat infestation (learning bass guitar)

Damn pests...

[It's always one thing or another, and these rats are too quick for him to try and shoot without resorting to do an area attack. But after learning they need music to be lured out, he's become a bit uncertain. Should he just let others handle it? But a group of musicians who have tasked themselves in helping with the rat problem suddenly shove a bass guitar in his hands.

"Just try and pluck some strings!" they encourage cheerfully before getting to work.]

...

[But he's...never played before??? Does he even look like someone who would— He's seen it done, sure, but not closely and all he knows is he pushes down on the strings like this and then strum his fingers over the strings like—

He cringes from the off key notes. One can actually see broken notes appearing above the bass.]

...This is ridiculous, I don't have time for this.

[He has nothing against music, he enjoys the classics and some rock pieces, but he really doesn't have time to try and learn playing an instrument just to get rid of some Erasers that could cause trouble later on. Like damaging his home with Tifa since apparently the rats have been sighted around the neighborhood.

...

......

..............

An hour later, Eustace can be found sitting against a tree with the bass guitar still in his hands and a beginner's instruction book on the floor as he frowns.]

...So the scale in this key is like this...

[He is by no means an expert, but he is a quick learner and he is currently fiddling by strumming out scales and a few basic notes and chords, occasionally clicking his tongue if he does it wrong only to work on it more. He just needs something basic to lure those damn rats out with!!!

Although strangely, as he's playing broken music notes will sometimes appear when he goes off key. They have a bit of a static electric charge to them, so hopefully no one gets shocked. When he gets a nice melody or string of notes, soft music notes with a calm wind appear instead.

And once he's gotten at least some kind of simple melody he can play over on a loop, he'll try and see how effective it is on the rats. Maybe those more musically inclined can give him advice or suggestions.]

⊗ e: wildcard

[Open to other prompts! Some other things he'd be interested in but I didn't write up prompts for are helping with Quest 507: Bank Robberies and going to the Observatory to see what changes were made compared to when it was around fro the dreamshift last month. Feel free to hit me up on discord, PM, or laenavesse for questions or further discussion!]

Comments

for g'raha

[flamekthunder]

[continued from here

Hmmmmmm.]

Is there any way to keep it still such as distracting it?

[crystalized_hope]

Theoretically, it should be possible. You'd just have to consider what would be more likely to succeed. How easily distracted is the goose? I'm sure there are options available, as well as a solution.

[What good is a vast knowledge of Allagan history and technology when it comes to a festival game that's rigged?]

[flamekthunder]

[He just ponders about it for a few moments before shrugging.]

I don't particularly care either way, but if you want to try I can assist for an attempt or two.

[He's a little curious, but not so much that he would waste more time than necessary.]

[crystalized_hope]

Hmm... Well, if you're up for the challenge. It is the one game that has eluded me thus far. Before all else, we'll have to find our way out of this maze.

[flamekthunder]

That won't be too much of a problem. I recognize this area, so unless the flowers block every path we should be able to make it out.

[crystalized_hope]

That's good to hear. At least one of us knows where to go.

[Sometime later with Eustace's help, they managed to make it out without much hassle. With their new freedom, they made their way over to the tricky goose game. G'raha examined the goose moving quite a bit for one frustrated player. Another person later, they seemed much calmer than the first. He took note of the difference in how the goose reacted. Mayhap it thought it didn't think of this second person as a threat?]

Huh, curious.

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace is also noticing the distinction, and a third person who is once again more lively and grows more irritated with their misses proves their suspicions.]

It seems to react the player's mood.

[Maybe they don't need the distraction after all...?]

[crystalized_hope]

That would fit with how everything else works around here.

[The third person is really going at it, too. The harder they try, the more the goose moved.]

Logic would then suggest that a cool head is likely the solution.

[flamekthunder]

Then this will be easier than expected. We won't need a distraction if that's the case.

[crystalized_hope]

Ah, it looks like they've given up. Shall we give it a try?

[That figures that they'd overthink such a simple solution.]

[flamekthunder]

Sure. Do you want to try first?

[crystalized_hope]

[Shrugging in response, he wasn't particularly picky about who went first. Though there was little sense in continuously inquiring over who should go first, so he approached the attendent to receive the rings as the goose seemed to be measuring him up.

He didn't throw immediately. Instead, he opted to clear his mind in his attempts to lessen the emotions that the goose seemed to thrive on.

The first shot was close, but missed ever so slightly. Hm. Maybe he was still letting something invade his thought yet? After a calm exhale, he threw the next ring. The goose looked like it wanted to move at last second, but he'd barely managed to catch onto the goose before it moved.]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace will watch from the side, arms crossed as if studying. Would his own steady, calm emotions help sway the goose to remain still? There's not much else he can do other than watch, so can't hurt to try. He knows won't adversely affect the goose unless it somehow has an aversion to someone with wolf like ears and somewhat cold, serious demeanor.

Or maybe some other bystander might try to sabotage G'raha!?]

[crystalized_hope]

[Of the two, the goose definitely seemed more unsettled by Eustace than it did G'raha. Maybe the wolf like ears were just more intimidating than a cat?

Either way, it seemed like they were right about the trick behind winning this game. There were a few people who cheered that someone managed to get something, but not everyone was happy about that.

A man shoved his way through the people standing there, tearing through with no warning or apologies for pushing people aside.]

That's bullshit. You rigged this game, didn't you?! I've tried over 20 times and the goose has never kept still for me.

[Oh boy... Just what he didn't want to deal with. Something told him that reasoning with the man was off the table.]

My apologies for your unfortunate luck. If it matters, I am more than happy to let you keep the prize. I have little use for it myself.

[flamekthunder]

[The man is not happy about that, in fact he thinks he's being taunted and mocked by those words.

"I'll show you for messing with me!—"

It doesn't take much more for the goose to get agitated, honking and moving around wildly. Eustace also has no more patience for this and steps in.]

You're disturbing everyone—leave.

[crystalized_hope]

[So much for calming the goose down. This was hardly worth the test. At least their theory proved correct.

"You have no right to shoo me away. I'm a paying customer. I don't have to answer to you!"

The attendant seemed uncomfortable as they tried to consider what to do in this situation. Thankful that Eustace was stepping in, they were also concerned that it might escalate things. G'raha cleared his voice lightly.]

My apologies for giving you misconceptions. I had no such intentions to mock you. Mayhap it best that we simply let the matter drop? After all, an agitated goose makes it hard for anyone to win anything.

[flamekthunder]

[The agitator just laughed.

"That's the point!"

Hearing that, Eustace just clicks his tongue.]

Should I knock him out?

[He can always explain to whatever security is here the situation, but right now the guy was ruining the once peaceful atmosphere. He's not so prone to violence, but unless they want a shouting match there's little they can do short of dragging him kicking and screaming. Might as well knock him out at that point—]

[crystalized_hope]

[That was a solution, but one that G'raha was not keen on if matters could be resolved peacefully. Then again, the odds of that were pretty low now. Contemplating what to do next, he considered Eustace's offer.]

If me being here is a problem, I can just leave. After all, if one of us leaves, it shouldn't be a problem anymore.

[Giving an apologetic nod to the attendant, he started off. Eustace was free to do whatever he wanted. Whether it be to knock the guy out, follow, or stay behind. Not the solution he would have preferred, but a solution nonetheless. Too bad the man wasn't content with that. He just had to look for a fight.

"Did I say you could get off that easily?" So this was how it was going to be. Letting out a sigh, it seemed there was no other option.]

[flamekthunder]

[Sure, it might be a "peaceful" way to end things, but he can see it won't be the end of it. And his suspicions are proven right when the man blocks G'raha from leaving.]

I'm ending this.

[And with the man momentarily distracted with G'raha, Eustace just steps up from behind and slams his hand against the back of the man's neck to strike at the weak point that would send the man falling to the floor, face first.

Tsk.]

[crystalized_hope]

[Stepping back to let Eustace do his thing, it was clear there was no peaceful solution to this. Turning to look at the man, he also gave him an apologetic glance.]

My apologies for the trouble. Thank you for your timely assistance.

[He appreciated that Eustace would step in, even if G'raha had hoped for a better outcome.]

[flamekthunder]

[He won't bother with body now on the ground. Some staff he already been alerted and will deal with it themselves.]

No need. There was only one way to deal with those like him. Even if he had allowed you to leave, he would have only caused trouble for everyone else and pick on a different target.

[crystalized_hope]

[The staff could take care of that much, at least. Running a city didn't always have people behaving properly. There were times where action was necessary, even if it wasn't the way he'd preferred. He was hoping this would be an amenable solution. Oh well.]

Well, at least we managed to figure out the solution, albeit at a less than desirable cost. It certainly does keep you on your toes, I suppose.

[flamekthunder]

In some ways.

[He looks at the goose which has been clearly agitated and become more aggressive no thanks to that man's emotions.]

...We should try and calm this goose down.

[Now it really will take a joint effort.]

[crystalized_hope]

Well, we know the trick now. It shouldn't be impossible.

[But may take some time. Making their way back, he -- once again -- apologized to the attendant about the trouble. He had already cleared his mind in order try to calm the goose before approaching it.]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace has also returned to his normal neutral, calm state, his mind steady. Problem is, goose had watched the whole thing and is aware of what Eustace is capable of. So there are loud hisses, its wings spread wide when he approaches.

...]

This might be a problem... I think it's afraid of me.