songerein | eighth shot ⊗ open may log

Entry tags:

eighth shot ⊗ open may log

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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Eustace. [A small nod in return, understanding her meaning.] You can tell by their flowers, but the others are Dahlia, Valerian, and Edelweiss.

[And as if not to be forgotten, the sound of some of the others nearby makes all the canine ears—including Eustace's—flick and turn towards the sound. In a tree are are the flower blossom owls, the damage done to the flower garden beneath them evident.]

...As you can see, we're out here trying to lure these owls out of the area.

[She... couldn't tell, actually, because she doesn't really know which flower is which, but she'll try to follow the signs from each dog as he says their names. Maybe this can be the first flower lesson Dohalim owes her, as it's kind of embarrassing to admit.

The mention of the owls makes her look up.]

They haven't attacked the dogs, have they?

[She is 1000% prepared to defend any puppers if needed.]

Fortunately they were not like the cat bees last month...

[The air grows considerably colder at the memory.]

So while they like the flowers they don't go after the dogs.

[Did he say cat bees? He said cat bees. Apparently she missed that part of the neighborhood. ...Thank goodness.]

Glad to hear that. Though if they ever change their minds, you know where to come running, don't you?

[Well, he did say the dogs understood... so she'll give them a confident smile.]

These bouquets will make a good lure, but if we want to keep the owls away, would it be possible to transplant some flowers elsewhere, so they might stay gone?

[Lucky.

There's a small quirk of the brow before a slight smile forms, appreciating her desire to help protect the dogs if needed. He really hopes it doesn't come to that.]

I was thinking similarly. They need a better place to live than here where they've been more destructive. I was thinking more on the outskirts where there are less residence, even out to the Wildlands.

[He stares up at the two adult owls who stare right back as if watching them.]

I've been successful with some of the other owls in the are, but for some reason these two seem quite partial to the place for some reason.

Hmm... I wonder what might convince them. I have to admit, I've not had much experience with very stubborn owls.

[Most of the Dahnan owls she's interacted with have been nothing but friendly, and even Hootle will go along with the group unless Law is the one asking.]

Maybe they prefer a certain kind of flower? Or they just don't like the one who's asking.

It's quite possible they don't like me.

[He tries to be friendly with animals, but he knows how he can appear. The dogs may also be scaring them a bit, but they don't seem afraid. Just very...cagey in how they hole themselves up in that tree.]

But I'm open to any suggestion. I've offered them each type from the pups, and they've taken them all...but rather than eat them right away, they take them back to the tree as if hording them.

Hmm... maybe we'll have to disrupt the hoarding, then, if gentle coaxing won't do the trick.

[She'd not be keen on hurting owls if they aren't hurting anyone first, but the rest of the wildlife deserves protecting, and a little nuisance isn't likely to take their lives.]

[...Hm?]

Do you mean we should just leave and take any remaining flowers we can away?

I was thinking more, find the hoard and relocate it. If they have no treasures anymore, they may give chase. And if the new location is better than the effort required to come back here, it'd solve the problem, wouldn't it?

[Aaaah, he nods in understanding.]

That makes sense. Let me put the dogs off to the side so the owls will be less wary about us.

Alright. I'll see if I can find the best way up.

[She gives the dogs one final scratch then approaches the trees, carefully keeping her gaze shifting between her path ahead and the owls who are watching her as well as the canine collective. She has those bouquets still on hand, in case they get feisty, but she's fully prepared to call out her shield if things escalate once she's too close.]

[Not wanting to leave Kisara to deal with the owls alone for long, Eustace will be quick to herd the dogs off a little ways. They don't want to leave him completely and grumble and whine, but he drops them a few treats after telling them to wait just out of sight within some bushes.

By the time he returns, Kisara may have heard some quiet little hoots within the tree. And the two adults are now glaring at Kisara as they guard the entrance of an opening in the trunk, one darting inside as the other has its wings flared up.]

[She's definitely keeping an eye on them as she moves, and when she reaches the trunk of the tree, she sets the little bundle of bouquets on the ground beneath, in full view as available treasures to seize, if they get greedy. They don't do much more than stare at her as she gets close enough, but the moment she stretches out to grasp the lowest branch and start pulling herself up, they begin to make a lot of noise and flap their wings threateningly, obviously more aggressive.]

Oh, you really don't like that, do you.

[They do not!! And they screech as one of them actually tries to swoop in and peck at her.

Which is around the time Eustace arrives.]

They're being abnormally aggressive.... Are you all right? Did they make a nest up there?

[He can now hear the small quiet little hoots from in the tree, and given everything else, that's the only logical explanation for how territorial they are.]

[The swoop is met by a swift rise of her arm to block its angry pecking, beak and claws deflecting harmlessly off her armor. Kisara pushes back against it, trying to force it away, and she'll call out her shield if she needs to.

Once it's forced back enough that the flapping isn't right in her face anymore, she pauses in her climb to listen for a long moment, then exhales a sigh, shifting backwards to rest on a branch instead of continuing forward. Those were much smaller peeps than the angry hooting of the parent in front of her.]

You might be right about that one. That complicates things even more...

[..........Great.]

I don't know if it's possible to relocate their nest...but I also don't think this is the best place for them, either, unless we can provide them alternative food sources.

...Maybe... we can just leave these ones here, and bring them enough food that they won't need to cause damage to the area? A couple of owls and their babies are much more manageable than a whole flock. And we'd just have to wait until they've grown enough to fly.

[A small nod.]

That may be the only course we have. If we create some kind of notice it may also help for public awareness.

That doesn't sound too difficult. More effort than just moving them outright, but a bit of courtesy can go a long way. It might be that they'll be more willing to cooperate if we help them out.

[Overly optimistic about the sentience of these creatures, perhaps, but if they're going with this plan anyway, it doesn't hurt to hope for the best.]

[Never know with these kinds of creatures and it certainly won't hurt.]

Let's first arrange a designated area for them to forage.

[He then does a quick whistle and the pups appear but keep a wary distance away when they hear the hoots. He then commands them go fetch some wood and paint and with a bark they run off. If Kisara needed some proof of sentience, the dogs will provide some.]

They should be back by the time we're done.

Right.

[She slides back down the tree, landing carefully and noting that the birds settle significantly when she's at a more acceptable distance at last. They're no longer swooping down, either. Seems they really were just on the defensive.]

I've never kept animals before, or tried to relocate any. How do you suppose one sets up an appropriate foraging area that would be more appealing than the rest of this place?

...Hm.

[He places a finger under his chin in thought.]

I'm more familiar with dogs, though I did have a little experience with a baby owl.

[.....He's fairly certain what they did back then isn't going to work here.]

For now I would say we designate some of these bushes and trees as a loss as it would be impossible for them to not want to forage in the ones closest to them. But so they don't go much farther, we could create a contained area where they can easily swoop down to grab fruits and flowers and bring it to their nest. I imagine the closer and easier it is for them to get, the more attracted they would be as it would mean they wouldn't need to fly far.

That makes sense to me. If it's contained and not easily accessible from the outside, that might also help to keep the other owls from coming back to this area.

[Since that's... probably a risk too, if this place is already so appealing. It wouldn't do to undo all the work that's already been done.]

[Hmm that's also a fair point and furrows his brows for a moment before the dogs return with the requested goods. Such good and smart doggies yes they are—

Wait.]

I could station the dogs here to help keep other owls away. Of course the current ones would have to learn that they're here to protect them.

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