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

[judicialassistant]

[ If only she could highlight in her mind. There would be big, fat (probably pink) marks over the words 'greenhouse,' and 'potentially concerning.' She shakes her head, as if the help the rest of the words trickle and absorb. ]

What did you learn? Do you mean my... our greenhouse? [ 76 likely mentioned it, since she does recall him coming up by name in their last conversation. ]

[flamekthunder]

[A small nod.]

76 told me about it and that I should ask your father about the progress with the flowers.

[He considers going into the other topic, but decides to just start with this first.]

[judicialassistant]

[ Called it.

She could just tell him, of course, but her shoulders lift into a casual shrug. ]

Would you like to see for yourself?

[flamekthunder]

[There's a bit of a questioning look.]

Is that an offer?

[judicialassistant]

[ Naturally, she thinks, but then a thought crosses her mind as her gaze wanders off to the side. She covers her mouth, which might have made her growing smile more obvious. ]

. . . If you carry my books.

[ New Ryunosuke acquired. ]

[flamekthunder]

[There's just an arch of a brow before the faintest sound of a laugh.]

Fine. As long as it's not an absurd amount.

[judicialassistant]

[ Oh, good. Granted, she would have still shown him the greenhouse if he had refused. She planned on carrying everything herself, after all, so there isn't an absurd amount.

But it's good to hear that faint laugh of his. ]

Just this pile. Don't worry, they're all paperback.

[ She indicates the previously mentioned pile with the nightmare books, and the ones about snakes underneath, along with Written in the Stars. ]

[flamekthunder]

[He just glances at the titles.]

Bit of variety you have there. But shouldn't be a problem.

[The nightmare ones were obvious, and he recognizes the romance one from earlier. But snakes? ...Maybe for the greenhouse???]

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato stares at him, then glances over the books again, sensing a question he's not asking. Not that she's really obligated to explain, but at least she can confirm what he's thinking. ]

...We have some in the Wild Harvest garden, and a few may have followed me home to the greenhouse. [ By 'may have' she means 'did.' ]

Kazuma seems to have it covered, but I just wanted to make sure we were caring for them properly.

[flamekthunder]

[There's as light raise of the brows as she answers the question he didn't really intend to ask, so he just nods.

Wait.

Caring for them...?]

Are you keeping some?

[judicialassistant]

Of course. They're quite attached to him, and...

[ Well, it'd probably be weird to call them her friends. At least a couple have become attached to her, too... or at least the environment the greenhouse provides. She'll just... trail off right there. ]

Are you afraid of them?

[flamekthunder]

No, I just thought it unusual. Usually most would try to keep the snakes out unless they're part of pest control.

[...But she said the snakes were attached to him...Kazuma?]

[judicialassistant]

[ Kazuma... but maybe she's said too much already. She gives Eustace a nod, however, because he's not wrong. ]

They do tend to eat the bugs, which keeps them from becoming a problem. Either way, not to worry. They don't mean any harm.

[ Since Eustace going to carry her books, she'll carry what they've managed to piece together of the mirror, and the remaining pieces that haven't found a place yet. She's placing those pieces back in the little bag. ]

[flamekthunder]

[Seeing her gather everything, he stands to pick up the books and wait for her before they begin heading out.]

Given the creatures in this world, I wouldn't be surprised if they produced fruits at the end of their tails or had some special feature to them as well.

[Said half in jest. ...And half serious because a lot of animals here really do produce a lot of plants on their hides...]

[judicialassistant]

[ ...He should see 76's flower wolves.

She honestly wouldn't be surprised either if her snake friends suddenly started growing fruits or flowers, even if they hadn't shown signs of it before. She gives a bit of a laugh as she stands, appreciating his dry humor. ]

Is there anything you may want yourself, before we leave?

[flamekthunder]

[He already did!! Needs to meet them again so he will not oppose—]

Not at the moment. I plan on returning later regardless.

[judicialassistant]

Me, too.

[ Obviously she anticipates spending a lot of her time here... so the books Eustace is carrying is "round one," at best. Once they've gathered their things, she gives a nod toward the general direction of the exit. ]

Come. I'll show you the way.

[flamekthunder]

[He follows after her, all the way down the tree and out of the library. Briefly he pauses, his brows furrowed as he stares up at the branches as if searching for something.]

Have you encountered any of those lizards?

[judicialassistant]

[ She follows his gaze. For a moment, she shudders, thinking of the Tree of Memories, but she shakes her head, turning to Eustace at his question.

She'd nearly forgotten. ]

Oh. No, but I believe Mr Sholmes did warn me to keep an eye out for them. You said you learned something?

[flamekthunder]

[He takes one last scrutinizing look before he slowly starts to step away.]

You know Herlock Sholmes? I was with him when he used that gun with some kind of formula with the Glowing Dawn flowers. Although it didn't work completely as planned, it weakened its resistance and I was able to effectively use my lightning to destroy it.

[judicialassistant]

[ To say she knows him would be an understatement, but she has to pretend she just likes him a normal amount or something. At least living with him for about a year has toned down her fangirling some.

She looks impressed regardless. ]

Ah! He is still working on perfecting it, I suppose. Do you mean to say you were able to destroy it for good?

[flamekthunder]

Yes, though it took a few shots.

[judicialassistant]

That's alright. [ Sometimes it takes her a few attempts to get things done too, when it comes to dreamotion. ] So, the lizards are noctaere...?

[flamekthunder]

I heard they were Erasers, but since dreamotion and the Glowing Dawns were still effective, then I can only assume they either have a lot of nightmare energy or part noctaere as well.

[judicialassistant]

[ . . . Erasers. Vaguely she remembers 76 mentioning them when she asked about the Realm of Stories, but that was quite some months ago. Still, if they're tied to that place, then... ]

But what would the Story Eater want with those eggs? [ Thinking aloud, mostly. She doesn't actually expect Eustace to know. (Unless?) ]