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]

...Not that I am aware, at least. I am merely guessing.

But father also has some specimens being studied on the second floor of the clinic, so I'll ask if he or Mr Sholmes have come up with anything.

[flamekthunder]

It may be something worth looking into. It would help monitor those who are worried about their nightmare energy levels and be quicker to catch those who may be reaching dangerous levels.

[judicialassistant]

[ .....Ah. Perhaps she should have picked up on this sooner, but it's been a while since that particular entry of his, and her visit to the dog park that followed. ]

You are concerned about your own, I take it.

[flamekthunder]

[He stares at her for a moment, eyes slightly widened before he lets out a small laugh.]

I admit it is something I am concerned about...but I've known others as well that would benefit from it.

[judicialassistant]

...Me, too.

Including Mr 76 himself, and-- [ The briefest moment of hesitation. ] Kazuma, too.

[flamekthunder]

[There's a brief pause as he studies her. He recalls Kazuma informing him of his own nightmare energy experiences, and then Susato's own account of her helping someone...

...

Hmmm....?]

...The one you told me about before. Was it Kazuma?

[judicialassistant]

..... [ She doesn't react that first. It's quiet save for the increased sound of hissing from some bushes nearby, at the sound of his name. Had she even heard him? She had turned to give some of the glowing Dawn flowers her attention, when finally she plucks a couple of them to start.

She offers them to Eustace. ]

Yes.

[flamekthunder]

...I see.

[He takes the flowers, noting their condition and comparing to the ones he had received from 76 before. But he's also noting Susato's countenance, that stretch of silence not going by unnoticed.]

I suppose the one he was talking about was you then.

[Well if both parties have spoken to him, then disclosing this shouldn't be an issue.]

[judicialassistant]

[ If it isn't immediately clear, he is free to keep the flowers; though what he says next keeps her from clarifying. She perks up, rather surprised, losing just a bit of her usual elegance. ]

What? He...

[ He did that? ]

[flamekthunder]

[Oh? ...Is he actually saying too much—]

He informed me of his own experience and I questioned how he was able to break free.

[...He doesn't have to explain further does he—]

[judicialassistant]

[ NO, HE IS ABSOLUTELY NOT SAYING TOO MUCH. ]

I see. [ Thanks for nothing. Be more vague next time-- ] I, um, wasn't entirely sure how much he would remember.

I assumed it would come back to him in bits and pieces eventually, but... [ She wants to say that she was hoping the traumatic experience wouldn't ever come back to him, but with his issues with amnesia before... she can't bring herself to. ]

[flamekthunder]

[HE'S NOT GETTING IN THE MIDDLE OF WHATEVER IS GOING ON HERE]

Mm... He didn't mention names and I didn't pry, but he did mention there were individuals who watched over and helped remind him who he was.

[judicialassistant]

[ Luckily for Eustace, there isn't actually anything to get into the middle of. Susato thinks back on her walk with Tifa when they were looking for Rose. She had reminded her then that Kazuma had people looking out for him, despite trying to do so much by himself, and that included Susato, too. ]

Yes. [ She knows she is not the only one, but-- ] I still consider myself his assistant, after all. Even here. I will always do whatever I can for him. No matter where I am.

[flamekthunder]

[...Ah, that helps solve the mystery of her being an assistant when she first introduced herself.]

So you've always worked with him? That kind of loyalty is admirable.

[judicialassistant]

Ah... I was supposed to.

[ It's a long story which she isn't entire sure Eustace would be interested in. Perhaps it isn't even her story to tell, but she figures she can start vaguely and see how he reacts. ]

We were supposed to travel overseas together. The journey alone would have taken two months by steamship, but... it didn't exactly happen as planned, and truthfully, we grew apart.

I suppose you could say I am... making up for lost time. [ Like father, like daughter? ]

[flamekthunder]

[It may be vague, but it's more than enough for him to get a basic grasp and that's all he really needs. So he just nods.]

Seems like you've managed to do so.

[Hmmmm.]

So does that mean you help him at the Wild Harvest? Or do you help your father with the clinic? Or both?

[judicialassistant]

[ She smiles easily at his affirmation. ]

The Harvest... mainly. Before he woke up from Songerein, Dr Mathis was helping father. They ran the clinic together as a team.

Now... well. I will always help him when he needs it, but it is not exactly my field of expertise.

[flamekthunder]

[A small nod.]

Field of law, was it?

[Recalling what she told him from the very first time they met.]

[judicialassistant]

You remembered.

[ Should she be flattered? She feels a little flattered for some reason. ]

Not much use here for the moment, but regardless... I hope I do not lose my touch. [ Now that there are so many books available, maybe she could create some sort of study regiment for herself... ]

[flamekthunder]

[She should; Eustace has excellent memory but he only remembers such details for individuals if he actually cares about it. Susato had quickly landed in the "person of some interest" category when they first met, so huzzah! She didn't turn into some weird fuzzy blob!!]

Given the growth in population, I wouldn't be surprise if some kind lawsuit or need of representation start to crop up. But given how hardworking you seem to be, I doubt you will.

[judicialassistant]

[ Incredible. Eustace might have actually gotten her to blush, if only subtly. She can feel the slight heat in her cheeks, at any rate, which is usually a sign that the subject needs to be changed, stat. But not before a quick, ] Thank you.

[ She's still an assistant, not a lawyer, but here she is not held back by misogynistic and unjust societal rules. ]

...What about you, Eustace? Have you ever stood in a courtroom...?

Now that I think about it, I do wonder what the justice system might be like in other worlds.

[flamekthunder]

[What can he say, he's just a smooth operator—jk, he'll actually find her embarrassment a little amusing but he won't tease her for it.

But courtroom, huh... Thinking briefly, he shakes his head.]

No, and the justice system... [...........Hm.] It varies between islands and towns. However we also have the Enforcers, a group of law enforcement who handle larger scale offenses and threats that the local systems cannot.

[judicialassistant]

Oh? How aptly named...

[ A comment made in passing, but she does seem to be genuinely interested. What a nerd. ]

It varies on Earth as well. My travels that I wrote about in the spell to free the corgis... It was mainly to learn about justice in the west, in the hopes of bringing that knowledge back home to improve ours.

[flamekthunder]

No wonder one of them seems more justice oriented now.

[Kidding.

Maybe.]

Did it work?

[judicialassistant]

Really?

[ YOU CAN'T JUST SAY THAT she's going to believe you!!! ]

I suppose I will find out. I have high hopes, but the road ahead of us is a long one either way.