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

You think so?

[She heard him as she follows behind, and she jogs a little to catch up.]

What for?

[They've already got one set of stairs to get up and down, do they really need a second?]

Having another way down isn't a bad idea from a safety standpoint. As it is, we only have the one entrance unless you count jumping off the terrace as an exit.

[Which. For them is actually probably not that big of a deal, certainly not for him despite the height.]

If not stairs, perhaps some kind of lift system, which would also make it easier to move things in and out.

[Since the front spirals around the tree a bit before sloping up to the entrance. It's scenic, but does take a little time and walking to get up to the front door.]

[As she listens to him ramble on about home improvements, Tifa slips through the front door with an all-too-amused look in her eyes. Here they are, not even a month in since they've hung that plaque and already, he's trying to think of ways to make things easier for them. It's unexpected, but sweet, and as soon as he finishes, she rises on her tiptoes to seek a kiss on his cheek.]

Whatever you want, dear.

[It's teased through a giggle and flushed cheeks before she scurries to the kitchen to quickly put the groceries away. There isn't much—just some bread and snacks.]

All this for a piano?

[She knows that isn't the case, but what else could he have in mind!?]

[The kiss to the cheek he received naturally, but hearing her refer to him as dear stuns him for a moment. It sends a very strange flutter through his stomach all the way up to his chest and ears, and upon feeling the heat rush up to his face, he immediately turns away, hand half covering it so as not to reveal it. He shouldn't feel so flustered, especially since he did it once to her before, but still...]

Well...no...

[WHAT WAS HE THINKING ABOUT AGAIN]

[She affords herself a brief glance his way over her shoulder, catching him as his hand shoots up to cover his face, and it takes all she has not to giggle out loud about it so as not to wound his masculine pride... or something. She shouldn't tease—even she can feel that heat creeping up into her cheeks and lighting them up with colour as she stuffs the bread away.]

Well, let's get these rats out of here first and then we can think about putting stairs in the back. I have a ton of ideas, too.

...Right, the rats.

[AWKWARD CLEARING OF HIS THROAT. To think he'd be so distracted from his mission...!! This woman is trouble—]

I'll head out and see if I can spot them. If not we can just start playing while out on the terrace and the sound should carry through the branches.

[ALREADY WALKING TO THE DOORS SO HE CAN COOL HIS HEAD.]

[HE CHOSE THIS LIFE WHEN HE ASKED HER TO ~~MARRY~~ MOVE IN WITH HIM.

Tifa waits for no further instruction, having already put the food away and she very quietly darts after him. If he thought he was going to escape from her that easy, then he was wrong... but she'll wait at the door of the terrace, leaning against it while she watches and admires him from behind. Whether he notices her or not, she'll give him a few beats before she finally speaks up.

...

..... ]

Find anything?

[She doubts it. Those rats have been really good at hiding up until now.]

[He had been trying to see or hear any telltale sign, but he just sighs.]

I think I hear an odd rustling near the top, but looks like they're hiding. We'll just have to start playing the music.

[Tifa slides out to join him on the terrace, the breeze up here so welcoming that she pauses to take in the feeling of it on her skin. It's a wonder that there are rats living in the tree at all with how peaceful it all feels... but that peace will be slightly disturbed once they lure these rats out.

Her shoulder bumps against his side and she leans against him, her fingers wrapping around the railings surrounding them.]

Well, play me in, maestro.

[She said she would sing! Tifa clears her throat in preparation.]

[He smiles a little at her little bump and leans against her in return as he a positions the bass guitar.

And after a few warmup plucks and strums, he starts playing "BINGO." As he plays, the music notes from before return, appearing as warm blues as he plays it correctly.]

[To anyone else listening, Tifa's voice is probably unfitting to be singing nursery rhymes. Her singing is soft, gentle, and although she tries to bring some energy into the song about the farmer's dog named Bingo, it's much more subdued and shy, even with no one but Eustace around to hear her. She does manage to pick up the volume from too quiet to just loud enough that the rats should be able to hear both her and the matching notes he plays on the guitar...]

B...I...N...G... [Her eyes widen as she watches overhead.] oh...?

[There's a rustling in the leaves up ahead, and she sees a tiny twitchy nose poke out from the leaves.]

[He finds her quiet singing cute and amusing, a soft smile forming as he continues to play, the music notes turning a shade of orange. But at her surprise, he pauses and looks up to see that nose.

Without saying anything, he just glances at her and nods to keep going as he continues, his eyes now trained on the spot. The moment they see more of it, he'll try and see if they can get more to appear before slowly walking back.]

[Tifa trips a little over the threshold of the door as she backs up into it, breaking the song for a moment, and the rats seem a little skittish and startled by the bang of her boot, but maybe if she just keeps singing in that gentle, soothing voice, they'll remain calm? And lo and behold, they do, some of them leaping down from the branches onto the terrace to sniff at Eustace and watch the notes appear as he plays.

They're a nuisance, but... they're kind of cute, too.]

It's working...!

[She whispers it beneath her breath to him as she leads them further in, one or two of them scurrying over to her feet, too, and the tree gives its leaves a rustle, as if breathing with relief that it's finally free of them. They're such a good team. :D ]

[Eustace is keeping a careful eye as he plays. So far the rats hadn't seemed threatening to them, only altering things around them in negative ways but nothing too severe, but one could never be too careful to what are apparently Erasers. He had to wonder why minions from the Story Eater are scurrying about...but that's a question he can deal with later. First was getting rid of them.

So he continues to play, eventually turning around while glancing back to see if anymore rats will pop out of the branches. The good news after the first initial few, about ten more appeared and none after that. Judging from the way the branches are lowering behind them as if to prevent the rats from turning around, he takes it as a sign that they have them all. So with a nod to Tifa, they continue their musical way out the front door and down the stairs, the rats scurrying close behind.

Eventually they make it to the ground and Eustace will guide them down the path leading out of town.]

[The closer they get to the path, the quieter Tifa's singing will be, until she's hardly singing at all. Some of the rats fall behind when she gives her voice a rest, but they scurry back into the formation when she starts it up again. It isn't until they're at the edges of town that she stops.]

Now what...? Do we just send them off into the field?

[The rats have, fortunately, been rather calm and haven't been too much of a nuisance for them thanks to their own vast sea of positive dreamotion energy, but she hardly knows the first thing about neutralizing rats that doesn't involve outright killing them.

Unless....?]

[They're Erasers they will be eliminated.]

While Eustace continues to play the bass guitar to keep them in the area, he looks over at Tifa.]

In my bag is a potion that should help in... [A glance at the rats, uncertain how much they can understand.] ...Dealing with them. I can—[HOW TO SAY WITHOUT ALERTING THE RATS—]—use my dreamotion to keep them in one area and weaken them first.

[Ah...

Tifa makes a small noise in the back of her throat before she's reaching for his bag and digging through it for the potion, but she doesn't pull it out just yet, and instead starts to sing again to draw all the rats closer. They gather around the two of them and slowly, Tifa removes the potion from his bag and pops the lid from it.

She says nothing, only humming along with the song, but her eyes do the speaking for her as she grabs Eustace's attention. What is she supposed to do with it? Sprinkle it on them?]

[Eustace mouths to her, "Wait," and once the rats are all together...

He concentrates his dreamotion and ice suddenly erupts all around them, immediately freezing their feet and quickly forming to block them all together.]

Pour it all over them.

[The ice that appears startles Tifa so much that she almost drops the potion, and the squeals of the rats that follow as they try to break free has her hesitating for a beat. It's always hard for her to separate what creatures are good and which aren't when they struggle like this, which is why she tends to stay far from anything to do with nightmare energy...

But she's quick to regain her composure before she's sprinkling the potion over them, and she closes her eyes, afraid to see what will happen to them when the drops land.]

[...It's probably for the best because it's not...pretty.

Seeing how she reacts, Eustace moves over to her and turns her around, his arm around her as he sees how they practically melt before dispersing into ink and paper ash. Only after there is silence does he tell her—]

...It's over.

[It's definitely a good thing she closed her eyes, and she buries her face into his chest when she hears their squeals, and then... ringing silence, the rustling of the grass in the wind unbearably loud against it. She can hardly stand it, and so she starts humming the tune of the song for a moment until her head clears of the sounds they'd made.

Lifting her face, Tifa doesn't dare look around them, so she focuses on his face instead.]

I hate that...

[She doesn't like the erasers, or the noctaere...

But what's done is done, and their tree can be happy again without the rats trying to eat up all its energy. Not that they ever could win against it, but she can't imagine it would be very healthy for it.

So, with a crooked smile, she tips her head.]

You should play for me on the way back.

[He gently strokes the back of her head and hair, fingers gently running through the dark strands.]

...Sorry. If I had known it would be like this I wouldn't have suggested you come.

[Though he's certain she would have insisted regardless. Still, he doesn't like seeing her uncomfortable.]

But sure.

[Playing for her is nothing for him at this point. Plus he feels a lot more comfortable playing the bass now.]

[She shakes her head.]

No, it's fine. We needed to take care of it. It's our tree, after all.

[Those last words fall from her lips with a happy sigh, and she allows herself a respite to bask in the feel of his fingers combing through her hair.

And it's true, she would have insisted that she come anyway. She wasn't ever planning on letting him take care of the rats alone—she just never knew where to begin with them. Now that they're living together, he'll have to accept that everything they do now, they do as a team.]

Remind me later to teach you another song. I think you'll like it.

Even so...

[He knows what she's implying and he's not against it. But at the very least he wished he could have been able to warn her so she could have been prepared, but he had no idea what would happen, either. But what's done is done so he just sighs.]

How about after we get you that piano? Might be better if I can master the basics first.

[A small wry smile. He thought this would be a one and done deal with the instrument but looks like he's going to have to keep at it... Well, nothing wrong with a new hobby.]

So what do you want me to play now? You only have two options unless you want me to just play whatever.

Deal.

[Her head falls against his arm as the two of them start to walk side by side back down the path to town, and she gives a thoughtful hum.]

Why not practice the other song you were learning?

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