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

🎸🎵

[starshower]

[Tifa is returning from the Wild Harvest and the markets when she hears it: music, or what could be called an attempt at music playing at the base of the tree when she arrives home. The off-key notes make her wince and grit her teeth as they come—whoever this is, they aren't very good, but maybe they're practicing? Or learning? But it isn't often that anyone is comes around here, so she does arch a curious brow as she rounds the tree to its front, only to find—]

... Eustace?

[Sitting with what appears to be a guitar. Or a bass guitar? It's definitely not an image she ever thought she'd see, and while it does make something stir inside her seeing him sitting there with his brow knitting in concentration like that, she's also gripped with guilt for thinking for even a second that his playing was terrible... Except that it was...? A little bit?

Readjusting the bags of food in her arms, she approaches with a curious cant of her head.]

What are you doing...?

[flamekthunder]

[He's so deep in concentration in trying to get the right rhythm right (and failing) that he fails to notice Tifa approaching. So when he hears his voice, there's a very loud TWANG that creates even more broken notes as he grimaces and looks up.]

Tifa?

[...

....

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

SHE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO SEE HIM DOING THIS—]

[starshower]

[Oh god—

She tries not to let the strain in her face show when he makes that... noise with the strings, but her efforts don't take her very far, and she bites down on her lip.]

Um... hi.

[He looks just as surprised to see her as she does him, and she offers him a gentle, crooked smile as she steps a little closer, tipping her head as she looks over him.]

When did you get a guitar?

[flamekthunder]

[To be fair, that horrid noise was one of him being caught off guard so there was no effort in that one. He also knows he's not doing well at the moment so no judgment on what she thinks of him right now.]

...It was handed to me by some musicians working to deal with the rats. They can be lured out with music.

[...

..................................]

This wasn't my idea, I just thought I could try before letting someone else deal with it.

[He says.

With like three different books and sheet notes in front of him. And a pencil marking notations and other things.]

[starshower]

Oh, those.

[The rats. Her nose wrinkles at them, but it quickly fades into a fond smile because in spite of his lack of skill, it's cute to see him so focused on something, with all of the notes and sheets in front of him.

She wanders up to him now, and lowers herself to sit cross-legged at his side, setting the small paper bag of groceries next to her so that she can look over it all, but not before her hand affectionately caresses his cheek.]

Of course you did.

[Of course he wanted to try dealing with it himself. They've had an issue with them at their tree as well, so knowing that he wanted to take initiative is sweet. Her eyes scan the instrument in his lap.]

Have you ever played an instrument?

[Let alone held one?]

[flamekthunder]

[He still feels a bit awkward caught like this, so he just glances at her at her touch before diverting back to the bass guitar in his hands.]

None. I've seen others play, but I never had the interest, reason, or time to learn.

[And then a sigh as he leans back against the tree.]

I knew it would be difficult, but at this rate I'd have better luck clanging a bell.

[Of course, he's not much of a quitter. He's clearly putting in way more effort than needed. At the same time, he can't waste too much time trying to he's considering cutting his losses and do something else.]

[starshower]

[She can sense that, but it only makes her smile all the wider. He has no reason to be embarrassed now that she's over her initial surprise. She never thought she'd see the day when Eustace, of all people, would pick up an instrument and maybe hope to hide it from her but this place is full of pleasant surprises when it wants to be.]

Clanging a bell might just scare them away.

[Which would work, technically.

Her eyes are fixed on his face again, watching for every little shift in his expression as he leans against the tree, and she joins him.]

Did I ever tell you that I played the piano?

[flamekthunder]

[His eyes are closed briefly as he takes a moment to reset his mind but blink open at her words, head turning to look at her in surprise.]

You did?

[starshower]

Mm-hm.

[She leans forward and shuffles through the papers until she finds the sheet music to pick up and move in front of her to look it over. It's funny, how things like this can come back so naturally even after so many years of not bothering with it.

A warmth settles in the rubies of her eyes as they scan the notes.]

My mom taught me.

[flamekthunder]

How long did you play?

[He watches her curiously. She used past tense...so he can only assume she doesn't currently play it anymore.]

[starshower]

[Her fingers lace together shyly in her lap, and there's a twinge of sadness along the edges of her smile.]

Up until I left for Midgar, after the incident...

[The one that he had witnessed—no, experienced for himself—in that dream. It's not something she's talked about much, even with him, so she moves right along.]

Probably would've kept playing if I could, but I couldn't afford a piano of my own. [She pauses with a breath of laughter.] Thought about putting one in the bar, but no room either.

[... Oh, but this isn't supposed to be a sad conversation, so she turns to him with a new brightness in her eyes.]

I only recently tried again! At the flower festival!

[flamekthunder]

[He notices the shift in her expressions and what she says is enough to clue him in on why. Without saying anything, his hand reaches over to quietly cover hers as if in quiet comfort and understanding.]

When during the festival?

[starshower]

[She appreciates the gesture, and there's a small hum of gratitude under her breath when she turns a hand to wrap around his.]

The second day, after we split up for a while. Heard someone else playing the piano, so it inspired me to give it a try.

[Tifa's face starts to colour with pink, and she tries to bring his attention back to the guitar and, more importantly, the sheet music in front of them.]

I haven't played the guitar before, but I could probably help you with these.

[flamekthunder]

[Hmmmmmmmmmmm. There's a light smirk as he leans towards her a little.]

A shame. Would have loved to hear you play.

[But he knows he can't tease her too much because he's in a vulnerable position right now.]

But if you want... I was only going to give it another hour before turning it back in.

[He probably said this two hours ago—]

I understand the basics and have most of the common fingerings down, so I can play basic scales well enough. It's trying to play anything else that is taking more time.

[starshower]

[She would definitely love to play for him someday. The next time Tifa can get her hands on a piano, it would be for him, and the smile she gives him and the gleam in her eyes says as much. Perhaps she'll take him to Phantom's studio someday just so she can, but a piano of their own is the dream...]

Everyone's gotta start somewhere.

[She wonders how thin his patience has worn with trying.

After a moment of looking over the sheets, she motions to the guitar.]

Can I?

[flamekthunder]

Sure.

[He pulls the strap over his head and hands the instrument to her.]

[starshower]

[She sets it comfortably in her lap, although she doesn't quite know how to hold a guitar properly. It's a little different than sitting on a piano bench and finding a place to rest her fingers before beginning a song...

So she looks at him with a playful smile.]

I'm gonna need you to show me.

[Tifa takes his hand and places it over hers on the neck of the bass.

And yes, she absolutely plotted this.]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace blinks and stares at her for a moment before it finally register.

Rabbit his ass, this little minx—]

If you want me to show you, then it's better if you sit here.

[Just going to quietly pat his lap. Two can play at this game.]

[starshower]

[She tries to hide the surprise that crosses her face, and the way her eyes widen ever so slightly at him just one-upping her like that...! But he's right.

Biting down on her lip to stifle her smile, she scoots over with the bass in her arms and settles comfortably on the grass between his legs and leans all the way until her back meets his chest, and it's there that she sighs. He'll probably feel the heat coming off of her as she dips her head away, hiding the redness in her cheeks as she deliberately runs her fingers over the back of her hand before curving them around the strings in an almost suggestive manner.]

Like this?

[Two can certainly play at this game—]

[flamekthunder]

[There's a light arch of the brow along with an amused smile before he leans his face closer towards hers so his lips are by her ear, hands now positioning to lightly clasp hers.]

Little lower.

[starshower]

Hmmm...

[She feigns it being a contemplative hum, but there's something about the way his voice rumbles in her ear that makes her shiver, and how it always tickles goosebumps into the back of her neck. She only regrets this a little bit because she is keen on actually teaching him, but it was hard to resist... and to be honest, it still is.

With a deep exhale, Tifa follows his instructions and slides her fingers down along the neck, her grip squeezing around it little tighter, but she can only keep this charade up for so long before she bursts out into peals of amused, bashful giggles.

She gives the bass a light, testing strum, and she immediately feels her teeth grit together when a hair-raising sound comes from it.]

Oh...! That's not right...

[flamekthunder]

[He chuckles a little as he sees a few of those broken notes appear.]

I did the same thing.

[And then he's glancing at her from the corner of his eye before temptation wins out and he lightly nips at her ear.]

[starshower]

Ah—!

[His teeth on her ear makes her accidentally strumming it again, louder this time with more broken notes to emphasize her surprise. In the end, he always seems to win at whatever this little game is that they play so often, and Tifa swallows, hard, as she tries to compose herself again.

She bumps her head affectionately against his, but there's a light swat to his arm, and she's sure he could probably feel her pulse quickening or hear the blood roaring through her veins right now. Try as she might to pout, she can't fight her smile.]

Don't do that...!

[She started it???]

[flamekthunder]

[Another laugh as he does nothing to change anything.]

Consider it motivation to improve. Everytime you hit a wrong note, that's your punishment.

[Wasn't she supposed to teach him?? Also is that really punishing— He's definitely teasing her because she started this.]

[starshower]

[Now hang on just a second!]

Okay, you win!

[Win what!? There was no game to begin with... But she does give his head a little nudge away from her, knowing full well that it'll do absolutely nothing to deter him. Not that she actually wants him to go away, of course...

So, before they get back to business, she intentionally gives it another terrible strum, and her gaze peeks through to the corners of her eyes at him while her amusement turns into something more mischievous.]

You're a terrible teacher, you know that? You're supposed to be showing me the notes.