{ something steamy }

[dreamposts]

SOMETHING STEAMY

This log is open to everyone and doubles as a "Character Intro" for new characters who were just accepted this round. As a reminder, new characters are welcome to carry over their TDM threads backdated to the last week of October (25-31) so that they're not really "new" if players wish to do so! Starting fresh is also acceptable.

I. REVEREIN HOTPOT

With the temperatures cooling down, some locals have decided to throw a huge hotpot party along the riverbank for no real reason other than to try and cook up some good food and meet new faces. While participating restaurants and farmers are happy to provide some surplus ingredients, others are welcome to bring their own. There are plenty of grills and pots to go around, but with so many people and…unique ingredients coming in, there's bound to be a little chaos. (Thanks to Mich for the idea!)

A. Hunt for the "Legendary" Ingredient. To spice things up, a challenge has been posted before the day of the party for those who want to add some unique flavor to the meal.

1. Golden Truffles. There are special truffles found deep in the swamps hidden within the Wildlands that are said to taste so divine that just a small bite would make one feel as if they are floating to heaven. No it's not poisonous!! While not exactly rare in number, they are notoriously hard to find and require special pigs to sniff and dig them out. Some truffle hunters have agreed to let anyone daring to look for the truffles to borrow said pigs for the hunt. However, they can be ornery and will only cooperate if you sing a happy song to them. The swamps themselves can be filled with some mild dangers, but the pigs should guide you. Probably.
   
   
2. Mandragora Leaves. There is a marked field where the mandragora have taken residence. They will give up their leaves if asked nicely, but if too rough or without showing respect, they will scream and attack instead. Even then you have to take care in clipping the leaves.
   
   
3. Rainbow Speckled Eggs. Some wild hens that live out in the Wildlands lay rainbow speckled eggs at this time of year and they are huge! Can't miss them. They are duds and won't hatch, so they are perfect for eating. The hens themselves won't mind them taken, but the roosters that guard them are a different story. Get past them and collect the egg!

B. Food Thieves. Attracted by the delicious smell and it being time to start gathering for the winter, a few critters and even some small fae try to sneak in and snatch a few pieces for themselves. Squirrels and chipmunks in particular like to swipe any chestnuts some people are trying to roast, and the birds are diving in for any free morsel. There are a few ways to handle this, from chasing them off to trying to create a designated "food try" for the animals to take to avoid them bothering everyone else.

C. Communal Pot Surprise. While there are smaller, individual pots available for more private use, there is a larger pot that suspiciously looks like a cauldron set near the center where anyone can dump in whatever ingredient they desire—even inedible items—and produce questionable yet somehow edible results. Here are some various effects that occur:

• Anything green: Chances of turning into a frog—25%. The remaining chance is just having one's hair turn green.
  
• Sour fruit: Everything will taste like lemons for ten minutes. No amount of sugar will help until it wears off.
  
• Candy: Everything will taste super sweet for ten minutes and 50% chance of getting a sugar rush.
  
• Alcohol: TIME TO SING A RAUNCHY SONG WITH GREAT FERVOR but think of the children or don't.
  
• Inedible Objects: Why would anyone throw a shoe or sock in there—the soup will turn black and empty itself so now everyone has to start over.

This is not an exhaustive list or this prompt would go on forever—so feel free to come up with other effects with whatever item your character tosses in!

D. General Mingling. There are plenty of tables and places to sit, so grab some ingredients, find a spot, and start cooking! Just remember to share and greet everyone around! Be mindful of the pots and grills as well as they can be sensitive to emotions. Get too animated and the water or fire might shoot up in temperature. But dreamotion could also help enrich flavors, so everyone is encouraged to play around. There will also be a few spicy and garnish noodle dragons flying around to help season things. Just make sure they don't get too overzealous.

II. DRAGON ISLAND

The Hot Air Balloon Station set just outside some open fields beyond town are bustling with activity as the Dragon Island (name pending) has finally opened its borders and allow outside visitors to come in and visit the island. Its main attraction of course is the hot springs resort, "Draken Springs," where everyone has received a one time free voucher to test its amenities. There are other places guests can visit near the hot springs, and by helping the nearby towns and villages, favorability will increase as well as earn extra vouchers for the hot springs. For more details on the island in general, refer to the Mod Notes.

A. Dragon Riders. There's already a task written up on the Dream Board from farmers requesting help for harvest, but there is another request to help deal with some aggressive animals that have scared off some livestock and then corral the ones that have gotten loose. The beasts are a tough, armored, armadillo-like bear whose hide is resistant to dragon flame and can be tough to fight. Dreamotion works better to strengthen physical and magical attacks. The young adolescents are giving non-dragons the privilege of riding on their backs to fly around to help first find and deal with the bears, and then herd the livestock back to their respective farms and ranches.

B. Dragon Nursery. One of the neighboring villages is taking care of many of the new hatchlings that were recovered from the previous "raid" on Reverein. Despite a month passing, some dragons are still trying to figure out who the parents are, and there is a strong suspicion that some of the eggs were never originally from the island at all, leaving many orphaned. The dragons have a very strong communal instinct when it comes to raising their young, so some have been adopted but others are still waiting to be taken as arrangements are still being made. Thus in the meantime, help is requested to do one simple task: play and help feed the young hatchlings. They are basically toddlers so it might be quite the challenge for those unprepared, especially as their own magic is still wild and out of control. Calm dreamotion will help as well as using opposing elements to help balance the magic.

C. Hot Springs: Testing the Waters. Everyone has a chance to grab a towel and test both the indoor and outdoor public springs. For more private rooms, they will need to pay up as the voucher only covers the public springs. But they will still be provided with complimentary drinks, snacks, towels, and use of the showers to clean up before and after using the springs. As for whether it's mixed, separated, covered, or bare it all…well hopefully visitors are able to decipher the signs. There are also the saunas, just be mindful of how hot it can get.

D. Hot Springs: Special Snacks. There are some unique foods that the town and resort offers for anyone to try that can be only found on the island.

1. Dragon's breath peppers are hot, but these won't kill anyone (the dragons are too considerate for that). This particular species is safe to consume but as the name implies, will give one fiery breath for a while. Anyone who had the kebabs from the festival might recall a similar effect.
   
2. A spiked fruit that suspiciously looks like durian has a notable stench that will carry for quite a ways, but anyone daring enough to get past it will find the fruit sweet and seeds edible once boiled and the skin peeled away. It even has a bit of a rejuvenating effect.
   
3. Dragon fruits are a nice palette cleanser especially with yogurt or ice cream. Anyone who eats it will be able to relax more easily.

E. Hot Springs: Recreation Room. There is a sizeable recreational room where any guest is free to relax and lounge in. They offer a small snack bar, some board and card games, yoga mats, billiards table, and a ping pong table. The ping pong table in particular is set a little ways from the rest as the competition can get a little heated—literally. They even had to erect magical barriers to prevent wildly charged balls from hitting others outside of the containment area.

F. Hot Springs: Peeping Toms. Even the hot springs on Dragon Island are vulnerable to unsavory characters. Although rare, there are some unwelcome guests who try to peep into the springs, and while there are security personnel and magic devices that try to catch them, some still manage to sneak in. Especially the monkeys. Descending from the higher peaks, most wild monkeys use the other pools outside of the resort for their own use, but some are attracted to the food and other amenities and make their way into the resort pools instead. Some of them are respectful and can make for great bathing company. But others are clearly not and need to be kicked out without remorse. So whether it's an uninvited or unruly guest, or a wild monkey, if caught in the act either report or feel free to handle it. Remember, even if thrown off the mountain, they will not fall to their doom, and in this case will be caught by the magic security devices.

Comments

Ira | Kingdom Hearts | OTA

[iracorn]

[A - Hot Pot Time]

i - Eggs for the Taking

[It's a bit of a bizarre scene playing out.

It wasn't that difficult to find the eggs, nor even to get one. They're a little hard to hold, but doable with both hands. Unfortunately, he's not in possession of a third arm to deal with the irate rooster staring him down. There's a bit of a standoff playing out until the rooster lunges and Ira can only counter with a shield of Aeroga.

But he might need a little help moving.]

Would you get away!

ii - Communal Soup

[A little windblown, a little scratched up but otherwise alright, Ira has retired from ingredient collection. He's found a quiet table with a hot pot on it. It's not very lively though, the fire little more than embers, echoing Ira's exhaustion after his excursion. Perhaps you'd like to him him get things going again?]

[B - It's the Great Pumpkin? Ira!]

[There is something about the harvest time that Ira has really come to enjoy. While he's never really been much of a farmer, he had different responsibilities as a Keyblade Master, he recognizes the importance and feels he should help out where he can. Especially since they are repairing a relationship with these dragons. And while he might not have been able to help broker peace, perhaps this can help with a contract that went unfulfilled.

At least, he hopes for such lofty things.

Though his confidence wanes as he stares at the...the thing he is meant to be harvesting. He's not entirely sure what it is, having never seen a vegetable? like this before. It's big, for one thing, and sunk into the ground, like the top of a carrot, but bigger than any carrot Ira has ever seen. He gives it a tentative push and the vegetable? stays put.]

Where do I even start with this?

[C - Hot Spring Episode]

[A hard day's work deserves some rest at the end of the day. Ira has been looking forward to this, it having been a long time since he's been to any kind of hot spring. It had taken a little time to find the pools, trying to decipher the dragon's script on their signs, but eventually he finds one. And hopes it's the right one.

But for the moment, it just seems to be him, so he'll sink into the pool with a sigh.

It might be hard to recognize him at first, as he is not wearing his mask right now, but the long blue hair might be a giveaway.]

[D - Wildcard]

[ooc: open to other shenanigans or plotting at urbaninja]

d wildcard

[concierto]

[The weather is slowly getting colder and colder as the days go by. And while Venti is usually content with sleeping under the stars with the protection of the trees and leaves around him it's in the colder months that Venti can sometimes suffer. Just like the rainy season a few months back when Venti had to find proper shelter more often than not! And when Venti has to do that he usually picks a friend's home and... breaks in through the window like a stray bird. why doesn't he just use the door like a normal person?

It's not that Venti would get sick very easily while sleeping outside. He's not a human, after all. It's just not very comfortable to sleep out in the snow...

So, Venti appears one night unlatching the window to Ira's come and slipping inside as quietly as can be... In search of a warm bed or couch or a pile of random blankets. He'll take anything.]

Madhuri | OPEN

[songbird_slayer]

[I. Legendary Gleaner!]

When you're tasked with hunting for ingredients of any kind, you needed to be dressed appropriately. This allowed for ease of movement through the swamps, following a very determined pig who was moving at a clip.

Music soothed the savage beast, it seemed. What better tune than something she recalled hearing during one Hatchingtide? Mind the infectious earworm that played in the vicinity of the two as they paused to get digging and add more lovely fungus into an overlarge backpack... one that had her wobbling on her feet more and more the fuller it became, threatening to fall over by hour three.

She forgets she's rather small sometimes.


[II. Testing the Waters]

After hunting mushrooms, feeding baby dragons and whalloping monsters a girl wanted a break. So it was with a sigh that she slid her feet into the water with nothing but those patches of black scales she was born in. Perhaps someone might mistake her for one of the natives.

But the beauty of dreamotion, while she poured herself another warmed wake, allowed her to coax a few tendrils of steam in covering particular sections of her form. But dreamotion sometimes required focus, and alcohol could work its own anti-magic on a woman's focus.

As she swirled the contents of her fresh cup, she heard footsteps. Huh. This wasn't a private one, huh? That's fine. She could work with that.

"You have impeccable timing, new drinking buddy."


[III. The Hottest of Pots]

She certainly wasn't going to hunt for ingredients and not eventually get to TASTE the product of her hard work! The xaela didn't quite care where there was an empty seat, so she was either choosing to sit next to a friend or an absolute stranger.

Dealer's choice.

"Oh, I haven't had anything like this in years! Get it extra hot and let's get started! ...Have you done this before?"

Legendary Gleaner!

[lonelysmiles]

Fortunately for the very smol, there is also the very tall.

"Careful, my dear." Alastor reached out to steady her as he approached from behind, his own pig having decided to start munching on random foliage close by. On his arm was a rather large basket. "At this rate, you'll crush everything you've worked so hard to collect."

Beatrix | Final Fantasy IX | OTA

[roseofmay]

🥀 𝐻𝑜𝓉𝓅𝑜𝓉 𝑀𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓁𝑒

[She has admitted this to more than one person, but Beatrix has absolutely no idea how to cook much of anything. As such, having the opportunity to simply throw things together and see what comes out doesn't seem like the most horrible way to spend her time. On the contrary, it's a learning experience that she doesn't outright dislike. At least not yet.

There are plenty of different things to choose from and she's taken some very meagre portions, mostly because she isn't really interested in impacting anyone around her too deeply. She may be doing this in public, but she isn't interested in so outwardly advertising her lack of cooking expertise. As she's setting down a long strip of meat on one of the grills, there's the sound of approaching footsteps. Perhaps the shuffling before deciding to sit down.]

Seat is taken.

[It's not, obviously, but that doesn't stop Beatrix from saying as much. It's colder than she means for it to come out, however, and as it is so many other times by her disposition, that somewhat icy veneer prevents her grill from getting any heat.

She scowls as she checks to see if it's even on.]

Ridiculous. How does this work, anyway.

🥀 𝒟𝓇𝒶𝑔𝑜𝓃𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈

[It has never sat quite well with Beatrix, what happened with the dragons. Not so much the forming diplomatic relations with them, but when she starts considering the dragon she fought and killed alongside Trahearne, the one she and Zelda had to otherwise trick, the one she and Ira lost their battle against (through no fault of the latter), and the one Dante stopped her from having a Trahearne repeat with, none of it really rests easy with her.

Some of the orphans in the nursery were probably caused by those who, like her, hadn't realised there were greater things at work. When she's watching them from afar, listening to the explanation given over the ones still awaiting adoption, she considers that surely, part of this is a consequence of actions she'd taken. Or actions she'd failed to take at the time. She's never thought that guilt would be such a powerful thing, really. How little she knows about herself, it seems.

And that's precisely how she winds up one body of several occupying a toddler dragon and buying it time before it should go to its hopefully forever home. She manages to keep it from running around over much, though can't seem to keep it from testing out its wings excitedly. It does eventually plot itself into Beatrix's lap, very content to be tangling talons in the curls of her hair that she's currently trying to carefully wriggle free with a tilt of her head.]

You are just a handful, aren't you.

[She wants to sound annoyed, but maybe it's because it's a dragon and not a person, but Beatrix looks like she's actually enjoying herself.]

I will have you know that I can be just as much of one.

🥀 𝐻𝑜𝓉 𝒮𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈, 𝐻𝑜𝓉 𝒮𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈

[Lifting her arms above her head, Beatrix looses a sigh before she sinks down into water that for some, may be too warm and unwelcoming. For her, it's freedom from monotony and other things that she otherwise would be keen to bury herself in. Patrols and work. Books and obligation.]

Could have used this so much sooner.

[She mutters as she sinks down a touch more. She may not have her eyepatch for this particular excursion, but with the way a curl of brown hair frames her face, she doesn't find that she particularly needs it. The public concept of things isn't really her greatest interest. It'd be nicer if she could have a chamber all to herself and make, no mistake, she'll get one later once she's earned it, but for now, she tries to pick a quiet little area where she's less likely to be disturbed.

So don't mind her if it looks like she's going to take a little nap. Or maybe do. That's probably not the wisest course of action on her part.]

🥀 𝒲𝒾𝓁𝒹𝒸𝒶𝓇𝒹

[As it states on the tin. Mix prompts, use something new. If you want to make additional plans, feel free to DM me, catch me on Discord, or ofthesky.]

[twilightskey]

[Hot pot is a new experience for Roxas as well, one that he's never experienced firsthand. But he's eager to try new things, especially when it comes to food. He's actually looking about for a spot to take a seat himself, and he glances around before noticing a somewhat familiar face. He's about to sit down when she abruptly cuts him off before he can even ask.]

Oh, uh... okay.

[He pauses, frowning. Maybe she's saving a spot for someone? But fortunately, there's another seat nearby, so he moves over to it.]

It okay if I sit here?

Alastor | Hazbin Hotel | OTA

[lonelysmiles]

[Legendary Ingredient Gathering: Golden Truffles]

Pigs truly were versatile creatures when it came to food: able to hunt for truffles and then be roasted alongside the very same truffles they helped find.

The circle of life truly was cruel.

However, Alastor was starting to debate roasting his. Keeping it on task when all it wanted to do was eat every other edible plant in the vacinity was wearing his patience thin.

"You'd make a lovely batch of Andouille sausages," Alastor sneered at the animal as he forced its head away from a patch of cattails.

[Food Thieves]

For the most part, the little creatures had decided to leave Alastor alone. They typically chose to abandon whatever area he'd wandered into, trying to snag food from anywhere he'd left.

Anyone else would find out why when a bold bird swooped towards them...only to end up literally snapped up in Alastor's jaws.

[Communal Pot Surprise]

Alastor hummed as he tossed in a few of the golden truffles he'd collected from the bayou. (The rest he was going to take home to experiment with!) He tilted his head curiously as the stew turned to a liquid gold color.

"Curiouser and curiouser..."

He took a bowl and took a few bites. Not bad all things considered...though who tossed in the candied lemons? That person belonged in a gulag.

A sparkle out of the corner of his eye made him start to study himself, several golden sparkles drifting in and out of view.

[Dragon Nursery]

If anyone asked, he was blaming taking care of the winged kirin twins.

Alastor leaped over a group of the little dragon toddlers. He paused to let them catch up before breaking into a jog for them to pursue. A sort of reverse tag with multiple people trying to tag one person instead of the other way around.

[Hot Springs: Testing the Waters]

It'd taken several rounds of "tag" to wear out the little ones. Of course, once that was done, Alastor was a bit sweaty. He could use a bath.

This was not what he had in mind.

He clutched at the robe he'd been given, smile wide and toothy, ears flattened against his skull, and eyes turned to radio dials. "Absolutely not."

[Wildcard]
Got an idea? Throw it Alastor's way!

You know which one hoe

[itsytitsyspider]

Did someone say hot springs? Oh hell yeah, Angel was so in. After the shitty past month he's had he needed a little R&R. Not to mention a little naked hot eye candy couldn't hurt either. Zero shame when it came to being o-natural around others, Angel had no issues with leaving his clothes in the changing room to dawn the cozy robe they offered him.

But oh? What's this? As he was about to leave the dressing room he spotted a familiar head of hair. Alastor~ And he was in a robe as well. Angel's face twisted with a delightfully wicked grin. How could he pass up the opportunity to see the Radio Demon in his natural state?

Strolling up, Angel leans on the deer's shoulder to whisper in his ear from behind. "Hiya Al~"

Lady || Devil May Cry || OTA

[notladyluck]

Hot Pot! Lets get cooking - OTA

[Lady wasn't the most social of people, but she figured that she might as well enjoy some new food and enjoy the place she had woken up in. She might not be the most social of people, but she wasn't being outwardly prickly. She had grabbed some meat and a few other things and found a nice place to sit and start cooking.

This was a lot better than the junk that she usually ate when she went on a job. Then again, she was treating this as a bit of a vacation for now. And it was a lot better than the pizzas that Dante constantly got back home. Hearing a voice, she looked up.]

Sure. I don't mind if you join me.


Hot Springs Episode

Rec Room - Closed to Dante

[Lady was a real pool shark. Dante never had been able to beat her. She held a cue in her hand as she looked over at him.]

Are you sure that you want to do this?

[She was giving him a chance to back out, even though she knew that he wasn't going to do it. He never did back down when they challenged each other to some sort of game.]


Testing the Waters - OTA

[Lady had never been to a hot springs before, so she really had no clue what to expect. Still, the water felt amazing. She cloed her dual-colored eyes and began to relax. Hearing footsteps, her eyes snapped open and she tensed, reaching for a weapon that she didn't have. She forced herself to relax as she glanced up at whoever was joining her.]

Hi.

[She slowly began to relax again. This place wasn't like back home. She could actually relax and not worry about demons trying to kill her. She was a well known demon hunter after all.]

Hot Pot

[whatsamada]

[It had been sometime since Ken had eaten with someone else. For the most part, he was used to ordering take out and eating in his dorm room. Now that there were other people, he didn't have to be alone.

That said, it did take him a while to muster up the courage to ask someone to eat with him. The moment Lady spoke up, there was a pause or two before he spoke up.]

...Then thank you, I really appreciate it. It just seems awkward eating hot pot by myself.

Stolas ☆ Helluva Boss ☆ ota

[noctuagoetia]

1. Hotpot Social~

1-A ★ Sing Me a Song
Now the Goetic Prince isn't what you would consider as the 'outdoorsy' type. One might place him squarely under the pampered princess category. However, what was this about singing songs to hogs to hunt down legendary ingredients? He must admit he was curious. Taste aside, was there the possibility these rare pralines also possessed magical properties? There was only one way to find out.

And besides, the past few months he was tired of singing the same old somber tunes. There was new light in his life with the arrival of his precious little owlette and his heart was full to bursting with joy. The jury was still out about the dumpster fire of love life he had. Regardless, he needed an outlet for this abundance of happiness.

But, now, there he was, with two large white boars snorting up at him as he just stood there awkwardly. Well... this sounded like a good idea at the start. He looked... rather out of place.

"... What shall I sing for you? I-I take requests."

1-B ★ S.U.G.A.R.
After his little hunt in the swamplands, the owl was feeling a bit peckish. Strolling down the river bank, there was a cornucopia of different small boiling pots and crackling grills. However, it felt more like a private affair that he did not want to intrude upon. Further down the way towards the center of the potluck was a rather large crock. Its sweet smell lured the over grown owl closer to inspect its contents. It's mystery ingredients bubbled in an ambiguous hodgepodge. Though it didn't seem poisonous. Others were partaking in it so it appeared to be safe to eat. What's the worse that could happen?

Getting himself a bowl of the questionable stew, Stolas wandered off to find a nice place to sit by the bank. It smelt sweet, a little too sweet, but he still took a bite. Oh Merciless Dark One, the owl's eyes shot open wide as he could feel his heart beat quicken. The poor fool who bumped into the Goetia next was about to get their ear chatted off as sugar flooded his system.

2. Dragon Island~

2-A ★ Baby Sitting
When he caught word that the dragons were allowing visitors to their floating oasis, Stolas hopped in the first hot air balloon skyward. He had many questions, though doubtful any could, or would, answer. Bringing along his satchel with his research notes, as well as light reading material for later, the Goetic Prince marched for the dragon villages. But first, he had to make a quick stop along the way. The dragon nursery.

How could he forget his very eventful first month here? And he had to see if the little wyrmling he had cared for was amongst the orphans. Poking a head inside, the nursey was all abuzz with busy caretakers, chasing over the little ones. Stepping further into the threshold there came an excited trill from his left. Turning his head just in time, Stolas saw a small slate gray hatchling come trundling up to him.

"My little Starfire~" Stolas knelt down to allow the wyrmling to crawl into his lap. Lovingly he stroked at the dragon's dark scales. They had reminded him of his daughter, hence the name sake. "My, you have grown since the last time I saw you."

2-B ★ Spa day~
With his business finish, it was time to have a little relaxation! While he was visiting the dragons, why not partake in what other splendors this island had? A nice spa day at the hot springs sounded exactly what the prince needed. Stolas was completely in love with the clever design of the resort, utilizing its natural resources to create a unique atmosphere. The breathtaking views from outside was down right romantic. It was a perfect spot for a date he thought and the owl found himself secretly yearning to share the sights with a certain hot blooded imp. But he wasn't here nor would he even agree to join him if invited anyways and Stolas was here to enjoy himself.

Chasing off that thought, he hurried off to change into the robe given to him, which was a tad too short for the leggy demon. Standing in the common area, he debated with himself an what to do first. Should he start off with a nice massage and then get a facial? Or have some of the interesting snacks before heading for one of the open air baths? He had plenty of shiny bits and bobs after his encounter with the ravens to pay for any sort of extravagant extras he might want to engage in. It was just the matter of what....

2-C ★ Spa Day Part 2: The thief
After a bit of exploring, the owl eventually found himself in one of the outdoor springs that was designated for the male clientele only. Despite the chill in the air, the Goetia left is robe in the changing room, walking out in a meager towel that was only large enough to conceal his thin waist. Not that nudity was an issue seeing how he had feathers and his other features were also... owl like. Still, he wasted no time to get into the soothing warmth of the water, removing the towel before he fully submerged himself. Folding it neatly into a rectangle, he placed it safely on his head to keep it dry as he sunk deeper into the spring. Now this hits the fucking spot. For a moment he lays back along the rim to soak in the water's warmth as he watched steam lazily dance across its glassy surface. It was so calm...

Sitting back up he wades out into the spring further to reach the far end to admire the absolutely stunning view of the world below. Looking down at the glittering lights of the villages, it really made him feel small. And a bit lonely. Stolas lets out a deep sigh, wishing Blitzø was there with him. N-not the whole naked thing, which was a nice bonus but just the two of them, sitting silently together as they enjoyed the sights of the setting sun over the still eve. The demon groaned miserably as he gently banged his forehead against the stone ledge to dislodge the fantasy. Stop. Thinking. About. Him. You. Foolish. Birdbrain.

Ekekekeke.

The sudden sound caused the Goetia to sit up, turning his head inhumanly around to see what had made it. Back where Stolas had originally slipped into the spring sat a monkey. It resembled a earthly macaque with its short blonde fur and red face. Must have snuck in while Stolas was spacing out... At first its appearance didn't bother the owl. That was until he saw what it clutched in its hands. His satchel. The scent of the snacks he had sorted within it was the probable cause for the primate's interest in it, but it had all of the owl's important belongings. His notes, his money, his new grimoire. If the blasted creature ran off with it...

Raising his hands, Stolas slowly inched his way back over. "Nice monkey. Please unhand my-"

The moment the owl's talons started to glow blue with magic as he attempted to create a portal, the clever monkey took off, bag in hand. All subtlety was off and Stolas bolted straight up out of the water.

"No! Wait! That's mine you filthy-AaaAH!" Slipping on the bottom of the spring as he desperately tried to make chase, the owl splashed face first into the water. So much for trying to keep his towel dry.

3. Wild Card

(Don’t see something you like? Toss something up new or hit me up on plurk: goddessofsugar, or you can DM on discord at AkaUsa#4076. I’m open to everything. All the dragon island prompts look so much fun.)

Sing Me a Song

[lonelysmiles]

"It depends upon the pig's taste, I found. Fortunately for this one I figured that out before I decided to see how it tasted," a familiar voice that sounded like it was coming from an old timey speaker said dryly.

Alastor walked out from behind a set of trees, sliding a few more normal truffles into a rather large basket on his arm. His porcine companion grunted as the fat creature shoved its nose into the closest patch of clover. He glanced down in bemusement at it.

"We had to come to a compromise over its awful taste in music: Billy Joel."

The pig flicked its tail, almost like it was giving Alastor the middle finger.

Della Duck | Ducktales 2017

[sos_pilot]

Golden Truffles

[ Huh, normally for song prompts Della's Lullaby is a sure thing... but the story around it is rather depressing, so she's not entirely sure that will count for a Happy Song. So she decides to switch gears and sing a classic from her childhood. It sure always makes her happy! ]

Got myself a notion,
And one I know that you'll understand,
To set the world in motion by reaching out for each other's hand!
Maybe we'll discover,
What we shoulda known all along,
One way or another, together's where we both belong!

[ But Della's probably getting a little too into it, as she also begins dancing the 90's craze all by herself. At least the pigs look happy? ]

Dragon Riders

Yee-haw!

[ Della is having the time of her life riding a dragon! She knows this is supposed to be a little serious, herding the animals back where they belong and booting out the ones that don't, but c'mon! She laughs merrily, steering her companion toward a particularly rough looking nasty looking bear-a-dillo, rather eager to do some combat. ]

I'm comin' for you, Smokey! Only you can prevent your butt getting kicked!

[ Remind her that they need to focus, or join in on some good old fashioned violence? ]

Dragon Nursery

[ As a mom, how could Della possibly resist this opportunity? Sure, they're not ducklings, but as far as she's concerned, kids are kids! She lets them crawl and climb over her, telling them stories of her adventures, and occasionally singing some of them to sleep.

Is this an excuse for another singing prompt? You bet. ]

Look to the stars my darling baby boys,
Life is strange and vast,
Filled with wonders and joys,
Face each new sun with eyes clear and true,
Unafraid of the unknown,
Because I'll face it all with you.

Testing The Springs

[ Yes, even hyperactive Della knows how to relax, amazingly enough. She's neck-deep in water, sighing happily as she lets out all her tension while not caring if she has company or not.

But she has taken off her metal prosthetic leg and left it out in the open, so you mind wind up tripping over it. Sorry.

For those who take a curious look closer, they'll find out it's made out of rocket-ship parts and chewed up black-licorice, along with odd other bits. It's very well-made, just also very strange. ]

Recreation Room

[ All right, that's enough relaxation for one day! TIME FOR COMPETITION! Della's at the ping-pong table, eager to play and more eager to win. If you look at her, even just an accidental glance, it's too late. ]

You! Me! Game, now! Loser has to peel ten of those durian-looking things!

Wildcard
[ Make your own prompt! Feel free to plot with me at plurk (melcat33) or discord (melcat33#1997) ]

Dragon Riders. Enjoy Alastor's suffering, Della.

[lonelysmiles]

[Good old fashioned violence is right up Alastor's alley.]

[Flying? Flying most certainly isn't.]

[He's clinging tightly to Della from behind, regretting every single one of his life choices over the past one hundred and twenty-ish years which led to this moment.]

Please tell me we'll be landing soon, Miss Della! I'm much more effective on the ground!

Isabela Madrigal | Encanto

[senorita_perfecta]

🌵The Hunt for Mandragora Leaves
(How fitting that a woman with the ability to grow plants gets to join in gathering leaves for a hotpot, but not just any leaves: special mandragora leaves that are going to be used for hotpots. Isabela goes with her capybara to the fields where these mandragora live in, ready to see these elusive creatures.

But as just as she is excited to meet them, she is also pretty nervous when she recalls reading at the Archives about the mandragora being a pretty sensitive species. Trying to get a grip on the shears on her hands, she is hoping that things won’t end in a disaster for her and them as she slowly makes her to a group of mandragora who are chatting among themselves.)

🌵Hotpot Mingle
(After what felt like hours of gathering ingredients and trying not to get in trouble, Isa has decided to take a break from gathering for now as she approaches the hotpot table by the riverside wih her capybara following suit. The fire is shown to be a little weaker than usual due to her being partly exhausted from her gathering run. Maybe you can help her rekindle the fire before the cooking can begin.)

🌵Monkey (Hot Spring) Business
(After a long day of babysitting and calming many dragon hatchlings, it is time for some nice relaxing soak at the hot springs as Isa arrives at a section in the outdoor spring meant for the ladies (or so she thought). Thankfully the dreamotion energy has summoned steam tendrils to cover her more, erm, intimate areas as she steps in and immerses herself into the water. The capybara is not far behind her as they stay next to the spring.

But as she takes her time relaxing, she could hear ruslting from the trees nearby. She is concerned that someone or something is watching her, so she looks up to see a wild monkey hiding among the leaves eating bananas without care. Where did that monkey come from?)

🌵Wildcard
(Make your own prompt! You can find me at mariscorner or on Discord at Mariposa21 #4257. I can match your style in brackets or prose.)

On the Hunt with Isa

[a_sweet_little_peach]

(The goatboy had had an easier time settling here than most, but it still took some time to get a handle on his Dreamotion abilities. Plants that weren't entirely under his conscious control still sprouted at his feet in times of high emotion.

This wasn't one of those times, but he'd gotten direction from one of the locals to where Isabela was, having heard of someone else with a similar talent.

Ralsei was a bit nervous, as he always was when meeting new people, but the goatboy covered it up as he always did: with good cheer and talking way too much.)

Hello! Um, are you Isabela? I've been looking for you, because, um, I wanted your help with my powers. ...But, um, did you want help with this, too?

(He gestures toward the mandragora, offering them a kindly smile.)

percy jackson | ota

[judoflipped]

i; pigs

[you know, he really did think that it'd be a lot easier than all this. pigs are no big deal. he's handled worse.

after the sad rendition of the "itsy bitsy spider", you might see him jogging after the pig and frantic to think of another song. of course, since he's trying to think of something, he can't.

where was Grover when you needed him? he'd know any tune to fix these things up in a snap. help?]

ii; hot springs

a.

[okay. okay. even though it's not like going into an ocean or anything, it's still water. he takes his shirt off and gets in, the water immediately sharpening his senses and taking away whatever soreness he was feeling. he submerges completely, and if anyone sees him go under, they may think that he's been under the water for too damn long. but in reality he's just...enjoying the feeling of the warmth around him like it is.

he bursts up out of the water again, not really caring if he randomly appears next to someone as he shakes his head, making droplets of water fly off his head. he grins -- it's better than extra coffee or an energy drink from a convenience store...

and then he goes under again, for longer than before. don't panic, he's got this.]

b

[Percy's at the ping pong table, flipping a paddle in the air and catching it perfectly every time, no matter which position it ended up landing in. one of the perks of having amazing reflexes...

but he's not thinking about his reflexes. he's thinking about smoking someone at ping pong. especially since he's dried off and still feeling the effects of his swim at the hot springs, so he's extra feisty right now.

the other paddle is in his other hand, and he points it at...YOU.]

You wanna play a ping pong master?

[he says it in such a cocky little shit way, but he's not actually a master at it. he probably hasn't even played in forever, but details.]

Pigs

[grandduchess_anya]

(Anya happens to be looking for the pigs when she find Percy chasing a couple of them and trying to think of any song to sing to them. Luckily she has her singing and the ability to calm anyone or anything through it.

So she runs up to him, hoping to get his attention and help him out with the pigs and truffles.)

Oh hi there. Do you need some help with the pigs?

Hythlodaeus | Final Fantasy XIV | OTA

[nomoresharks]

[I. Too hot pot to handle!]

[While he's not quite brave enough to go for anything in the communal pot, the excitement in the air around Hythlodaeus is palpable as he peers at the hot pot set in front of him.

Or that could be the stray sparks and licks of flame flickering up from the grill.

He laughs and sheepishly holds his hands up, the fire immediately going out.]

Perhaps it might be better if you start. Seems I'm a little too eager for our dinner here.


[II. Night of the Nutkin]

[In the process of stuffing himself full of hot pot for the evening, Hythlodaeus had taken note of the many squirrels and chipmunks dashing this way and that, doing everything in their power to steal a chestnut or two. And now that he's finished up his dinner, Hythlodaeus thinks he knows just what to do to get the little guys away from others' meals and keep them happy at the same time.

Or, rather, that had been the plan.

Now, faced with a chittering wall of nut-eating fiends in front of him, it's all Hythlodaeus can do to pass out chestnuts as fast as he can in order to appease them. And wouldn't you know it? He's down to the very last nut.

It's with some hint of desperation that he flags down the first person he can see walking past.]

Ah--! Hello there! A little help, if you would!


[III. R&R Paradise]

[Now this is what he'd been waiting for.

Hythlodaeus sighs in pure bliss as he sinks into the hot spring waters up to his neck, eyes fluttering closed as the heat sinks into his bones. Far better than any communal bath he's been in, he thinks, though if one were to ask him if it was due to quality, location, or novelty, he wouldn't be able to answer.

An alcoholic drink made with dragonfruit sits off to the side, close enough to be in reach as desired, far enough away to keep from being at risk of being knocked over. The outdoor baths are his only stipulation, the allure of the crisp fall air combined with the heat of the water too tempting to ignore.

That said, he's more than willing to chat the ear off of whoever happens to enter the baths with him, whether Hythlodaeus is alone or enjoying the relaxation with Emet-Selch (he DID all but drag the man along with him for their first official date, after all). Of course, given the drink he has, there's also the very real possibility he might be starting to drift off to sleep...]

R&R Paradise, baby

[recreator]

[The only stipulation, yes - as well as the sole detail about the outdoor baths that would make this affair less than pleasant! For what reason would anyone wish to freeze the upper half of their body whilst boiling the other? And so it is that Emet-Selch may be found grumbling some fulms away, the steamy water up to his chin and a heated towel balanced over his equally white head of hair.]

[It isn't out of modesty, mind you. Emet-Selch is far too old to fret over such things. No, it's the very fact that the chill air has him shivering, even when only his face is exposed.]

[Yet he did not plant himself here empty-handed. No, he had thought to bring wine - yet retrieving it requires him to rise from the bath, and at the moment that is the very last thing he wishes to do - vacation be damned.]

Do tell me you're not about to doze off in the bath when you're the one who insisted on dragging me out here.

[His tone is slightly disdainful, yet they both know well enough that very little persuasion was required - for who would say "no" to a little rest and relaxation? ...so long as he doesn't sleep another month of it away.]

kaeya | genshin impact | ota

[whatsthehurry]

hotpot;

[ now, if this isn't an interesting turn of events!

kaeya doesn't mind the chilly weather, but it's makes little gatherings like this all the warmer. as a decently well-read individual, kaeya has heard of hotpot before - it's an inazuman tradition - but he's never partaken, himself. he's a little wary to try some of the dishes himself, in the case that someone may or may not have thrown something unappetizing in (spiders albedo), so he grabs himself only a small portion.

.. but he sure has had a lot of wine. kaeya's cheeks are nice and rosy, his star-shaped pupil dilated, his smile lazy as he leans one cheek onto his curled hand, the other swirling a glass of wine, that he's chilled to the optimal temperature. he's certainly not black-out drunk, but he is absolutely enjoying himself and feeling no pain at the moment. with an easy chuckle, kaeya takes another sip and glances to whoever is sitting beside him.

.. unless it's a kid. he's not going to offer alcohol to children!! ]

Care to indulge with me?

bear hunting;

[ it's not the first time that kaeya has ridden a dragon, but that doesn't make the experience any less exciting. it's dragon riding! that sort of thing never gets old, right?

anyway, for lack of anything better to do with himself, and to shake off his mild hangover, kaeya has decided to get some fresh air - very fresh air - on the back of a dragon, to hunt for armadillo bears, or some such. ah, it almost feels like being a young knight again, being tasked with such frivolous things as hunting down some angry pests. kaeya doesn't mind. it gives him something to do with his hands, and his time, even though he'd say he'd rather be relaxing. in truth, kaeya prefers to keep busy when he can, though he certainly makes plenty of time for less.. strenuous activity.

the wind in his hair feels good. he's reminded of home. ]

Ah, there!

[ slowing the dragon he's riding, kaeya turns to glance over his shoulder toward his partner in bear-hunting, who rides in the saddle behind him. ]

I believe I've spotted our mark.

hotsprings;

[ now, this is certainly what he can call good, healthy relaxation. kaeya can hardly remember the last time he indulged in something like this. mondstadt is well known for many things, but hotsprings are not one of them - communal bathhouses are the closest one might get to something like this.

but a bathhouse absolutely cannot compare to this.

yes, he is absolutely buck naked, this is a man without shame, though curiously, he still wears his eyepatch. kaeya sinks into the waters and leans back against the stone with a heavy, long sigh. on the rock beside his elbow sits a plate piled with cubed dragonfruit, as well as.. you guessed it, a bottle of sparkling white wine. never let it be said that this man does not know how to enjoy himself. ]

Now, if this isn't the ideal way to relax after a bit of bear hunting, I don't know what is.

wildcard;

[ feel free to tweak any of the above prompts to suit you, or contact me via pm, plurk (owlcoholic), or discord (redmage#4848)! ♥ ]

hotsprings + a lil wildcard

[creationary]

[ He ought to stop making deals with Kaeya.

Not that Albedo is particularly concerned about modesty, and the opportunity to unwind in a hotspring isn't unwelcome. It just is far removed from the way he typically relaxes, and there's still so much he needs to learn about this world. Taking a rest now seems like an ill use of his time.

Yet Kaeya talked him into it, on the stipulation that he would go bear hunting with Albedo. Albedo needed to see the armadillo bears first hand, and gather a sample of their hide, as well as try his hand at Dreamotion. It was a fruitful venture, all in all, but now his bill comes due...

Kaeya has already been in the water for several minutes while Albedo debated just slipping away while still in the changing room, but he's certain he would never hear the end of it if he did. So at last he emerges, a towel around his waist because he is Respectable.

Approaching the edge of the spring, he already wears an arched brow. ]

Is it...wise to drink while submerged in hot water?

[ It's at least rather scenic here...too bad a hot spring is hardly the ideal place for a sketchpad. ]

Rokurou Rangetsu | Tales of Berseria | OTA

[rokubro]

⋚ ia. legendary ingredients

[Rokurou plans on bringing in a few ingredients himself to begin with, but how can resist a good challenge? The mandragora leaves seem to require a more...delicate touch than he could offer, so he'll go for the other two.

1. Golden Truffles. Finding the pig a bit fun and amusing, Rokurou doesn't mind at all trying to help come up with a "song" to help encourage it.]

Hm, would whistling count?

[The pig seems to think...but then snorts, to which he just laughs.]

Haha, all right I got it. Hmmm, okay how about this?

[Rokurou starts humming a tune before breaking out in a boisterous, bawdy voice as if he's at a tavern.]

Oooh, I've got a lovely bunch of sharp swords, didalee dee ♫
There they are all lined up on the rack ♪♪
Greatswords, short swords, perfect to chop off some heads ♪
Across the chest, clean cuts are best ♬
That's what the swordsman said ♫

I've got a lovely bunch of sharp swords, didalee dee ♫
Every strike I make will hits it mark ♪♪
Parry the blow, a slash from below ♬
And then a stab through the heart!

[He even mimics the movement, even drawing his sword for dramatic effect before grinning and looking at the pig.]

So, how about it?

[The pig: .......]

What? No? Man, tough crowd...

[Someone help.

2. Rainbow Speckled Eggs. Whoever happens to be joining him may start regretting this.]

Hm... You know I think I remember these chickens. I know we're supposed to go after the eggs, but... [A smirk.] Would it really be so bad if we brought back some chicken meat, too?

[HE'S JOKING. .....PROBABLY.]

⋚ ib. food thieves

[Seeing there seems to be some unwanted guests, Rokurou helps in catching the ones that he finds, but this is kind of tough, huh? Seeing there's some effort to maybe lure the animals to a designated spot, Rokurou gets an idea and grabs a few spare ingredients and walks over to where a few animals linger at the designated area.]

Yeah, can't really blame you. This all smells delicious, right? Well here, I'll help you out. A special buffet made just for you, Rangetsu Style!

[With a grin he sets down the plate and pulls out his blades—which cause the animals to scatter.]

...Hmmmm. I probably should have thought that through, ah ha ha...oh well.

[Regardless, he sets up the cutting board and starts cutting the ingredients away into small, tiny pieces that are perfect for small animals. And he is just a blur with that blade, everything so finely chopped!]

⋚ id. enjoying some hot pot (mingle)

[Joining a table, Rokurou won't be coming in empty handed. When he first heard about the hotpot, he remembered the last time he was in this world and how he and...someone... He couldn't remember who, but he remembers they had caught this massive squid and were thinking about how it would be good for a hot pot. So before arriving, he had gone out to the lake to fish—and to once again catch a giant squid. So don't mind him as he comes in with a nice portion of it, the rest of left behind at the giant pot for others to use.]

Hope you all like squid! Got plenty to go around, as well as some fish I caught at the lake. And if you need help cutting anything, I'm your guy.

[He can make some great sashimi. Though, uh, high risk of things getting cut a little too thinly.]

⋚ iia. dragon riders

[He feels a bit weird riding a dragon given how they are back in his world...but fighting some tough bear that is resistant even to dragon flame?? Count him in!]

My dreamotion is still a bit rusty, but I think we can handle it. Be good practice for my blades, at least.

⋚ iic. hot springs episode

[1. Testing the Waters. This isn't his first time at a hot springs, but as he chills in one of outdoor springs designated for the males, he can't help but chuckle to himself as he leans against the wall.]

You know, last time I was in one of these, I was with a group and our souls swapped places. Think that could happen here?

[For ease of interaction, the pool he's in could be close enough to the female side so could converse through the barrier separating them.

2. Ping PONG! After enjoying some time in the springs, Rokurou finds himself in the Recreation Room and spins two ping pong paddles in his hands with a challenging grin.]

Anyone up for a game? I can show you how it's done Rangetsu Style!

⋚ wildcard

[Open to all other prompts! Feel free to hit me up via PM, discord, or laenavesse.]

iic. i. sorry but he said "souls".

[recreator]

[Emet-Selch is simply minding his own business at the opposite end of the bath. Or at least he was, until one of the other occupants decides to start up a conversation...with something most would hardly find amusement in.]

[It's enough to make him squint, eyes narrowing as he studies the man who spoke and takes the measure of his soul (which thankfully still seems quite content to remain within its current vessel).]

I should certainly think not.

But tell me, do you know the cause of such a phenomenon? Souls are not generally known to travel freely from one vessel to the next unless they have already been set adrift.

[Or unless that someone is an Ascian, of course.]

Azula | Avatar: The Last Airbender

[itstillhurt]

[I - NEWCOMER]

[For a few days after the carnival, all anybody will see of Azula is her searching for something, or someone. She says nothing, she doesn't engage, and she seems to be somewhat agitated, but she's certainly climbing all over Reverein to find whatever it is- literally climbing, she's pretty acrobatic. Don't mind her.]

[II - HOT POT]

A: Food Thieves

[Azula has decided, in the spirit of community and generosity, to render her services to the preparation of festivities. She will therefore be dissuading the local woodland fauna from stealing the food. By shooting fire- yes, actual real fire- at the cute little squirrels and birds that get too close.

Don't worry, she's not hitting anything flammable, it's fine.]

B: Mingling

[If you can call it that. She's here because she supposes she ought to be and she, uh, 'helped' prepare. She's eating, she's among people. 'Mingling' she is not. Mostly she just seems to be eyeing all the other people in silence, like the social butterfly she is.]

[III - ISLAND]

A: Riding Dragons

[In fairness, she's not just doing this so she has an excuse to ride a dragon, though it helps. No, she's actually here because it's something productive to set herself to, and the lack of occupation is going to make her crazy. Er. Again.

Unfortunately, she's not at all confident about using firebending to fight these bears- if dragon fire won't hurt them, hers isn't likely to- and try as she might, she can't seem to get the hang of using dreamotion for anything practical yet. But it's fine. She'll just... improvise. And maybe coordinate with somebody, if necessary.]

B: Hot Spring

[This... is actually the most relaxed she's been since she got here, and probably the most pleasant. Feel free to find her enjoying the hot springs (She's sixteen, people, let's not make it weird) or enjoying some of the snacks- she handles the spicy peppers like a champion, it turns out, and honestly the dragon fruit might do her some good.]

C: Game Room

[Thanks to the effects of the dragon fruit, she'll even loosen up enough to go check out the game room. It will only take her a game or two of observation before she's ready to start challenging people. Don't mind the intense look in her eyes, she's probably not that competitive. Right?]

Dragon riders!!

[zomboii]

[ Not...that's he's riding any dragons, mind you. Unnamed's working on the latter half of the task, feet on the ground to help herd animals back to where they belong. It's a good job for someone like him, since his natural presence is enough to make animals want to avoid him--and thus, easy to herd. He just needs to make sure he's on the side that he doesn't want the animals to go on, and he can more or less corral them back on track.

Providing there isn't a giant, armoured, fuck-off bear. Which there now is. So.

...At least it's the same one Azula and her dragon have spotted?? maybe?? Please come do something about this bear, Unnamed doesn't know what to do with a rampaging animal-- ]

O-ouuuhh...! Auh! Auh!

[ Waving his arms around and shouting at the bear somehow does not seem to be working. ]

Zhongli || Genshin Impact || OTA

[gentryofhermitage]

Hotpot Mingle
[Hotpot is something that Zhongli is more than familiar with, and as such he is more than eagerly drawn to the riverbank to take part in the communal feast. It warms his ancient heart to see people enjoying themselves to the fullest, and he eventually finds a place for himself to sit down and pick up his own plate and set of chopstics. As he examines both the prepared broth and the ingredients prepared, he will begin to speak.]

Did you know that hotpot has a rich and unique history behind its inception? Indeed, its origins can be traced back centuries, and many of the methods remain the same to this day even though many regional variations now exist. In fact, one could pinpoint the origin of a particular serving of hot pot depending on the types of ingredients used, methods of which one cooks them within the pot, or even the base of the broth itself. It is quite a fascinating practice, I must say, and is a unique reflection of the culture and lifestyle which is responsible for its inception. If you would allow, I would be happy to educate you on how to identify the subtle differences between Liyuean-style and Inazuman-style hotpot...

[You might want to stop him soon, unless you want to get a sudden history of hotpot and its origins in Teyvat. Or keep him talking so you can take all the choice ingredients from under his nose.]

Dragon Nursery
[Though he may have been caught under sway by the dragons's influence back during their "raid", he understands why they had been so upset. And now that things have settled, Zhongli wishes to do what he can to help the dragons with their current struggles; their methods may not be commendable, but they were still a populace in need.]

[Evidently, he finds himself helping out in the nursery. Perhaps it's due to his own draconic nature, but he finds himself drawn to the small hatchlings and to their wellbeing. He may not be an expert storyteller or babysitter, but he does know a few tales or two. So those in the nursery can find him sitting around a group of small dragon hatchlings, finishing recounting a tale from his home world to them. By the end of it, the dragons let out cheerful little chirrs, flapping their wings excitedly. Zhongli chuckles.]

Another, you say? Well, I am sure I have more. I do recall a tale that an old friend told me from his home country, about a fox and a sea of dandelions...

Hot Springs
[After a busy day, being able to relax in the hot springs is a blessing indeed. Zhongli can be found leaning against the edge of the hot springs, relaxing quite gracefully with his hair out of its usual ponytail. He is bare in the water, but he at least is being modest and keeping himself covered until he is in the water itself. What is interesting, though is that despite looking like a middle-aged man, Zhongli is built, with hard and well-defined muscles that would be more fitting on a soldier or warlord than on the mild-mannered businessman appearance he usually portrays.]

[He lets out a sigh as he relaxes in the heat of the warm water, and he will nod at those nearby, offering them a relaxed grin.]

Are you enjoying yourself? I would recommend taking advantages of the facilities offered here. Natural hot springs such as these are well known for their rdejuvinative and therapeutic benefits to the body.

Wildcard
[Got something you’d like to try out? Feel free to write up a starter, or PM me here or at pocketnoivern to plot something!]

Dragon Nursey

[whatsamada]

[Meanwhile, as Ken listened intently, he had to admit. He was rather curious about what this person's home world was like. From what it sounds like, it sure was rather chaotic. As much as he wanted to say something, it seemed like the storyteller was busy.

And yet, he wanted to say something. Instead, he'll just stare from the side and just listen in on what else he might have to say.]

Dorian Storm | Critical Role | OTA

[makingmyway]

Rainbow Speckled Eggs

[ Dorian isn't much of a cook, but a communal hot pot does sound interesting and he wouldn't mind contributing. But there were a lot of ingredients that he wasn't too familiar with, even if there were some that he recognized as the same or similar from home. So instead he'd taken up the challenge he'd seen to gather some more unique ingredients.

Currently he's at the Wildlands to gather some eggs from the wild hens. The eggs are easy enough to spot, but after the warning about the roosters there's a need to make ap plan before they can get the eggs. ]

...I can try turning us invisible?

General Mingling

[ The food is definitely different than what he's used to, but that's part of what he likes about it. Even before he really digs into the meal, he spends a moment seated at a table and just watching everyone cooking and sharing with one another, and he can't help a small smile to himself.

It's nice, seeing people gather together like this. ]

Dragon Nursery

[ Dorian really has had very limited interaction with children, so he honestly has no idea what he's really doing trying to help out at the nursery. Feeding the young dragons isn't really too bad, but they are quite like energetic toddlers and that's a bit more than Dorian is used to handling.

Somehow he doesn't mind taking on an adult dragon, but a baby? This is a real challenge.

Still, he's not entirely without tricks up his sleeve. Pulling out his lute, he plays a gentle song for them to help them settle down, his thoughts drifting as his fingers pluck the notes of the familiar lullaby he'd grown up with on the instrument's strings. ]

Testing the Waters

[ Honestly, this is what Dorian had come here for. After making sure to clean up, he pulls his hair up into a bun on the top of his head and, with a towel wrapped around his place, he steps into one of the springs.

And he can't help the relieved sigh as he slowly sinks into the heated water. Because this is exactly what he's been looking for. ]

Wildcard

(( Want to do something else with Dorian? Go for it, or hit me up at usamichan13 to plot something! ))

General Mingling

[grandduchess_anya]

(So far, everyone’s really enjoying themselves over the hotpot and Anya is having a nice time as well. After the chaotic dragon incident in the fair and a partly stressful clue search time at the carnival the month before, it is a nice time to have a slow chill time to enjoy the company and food.

With Pooka tagging along, Anya is in the middle of searching for anywhere to sit and cook when she crosses paths with Dorian’s table. Seeing a familiar face, she waves at him, hoping that he can see her and her dog.)

link | loz: breath of the wild | ota

[skyglider]

i. and then we went for hot pot

a. [Stories in Hyrule tell tale of legendary birds, creatures made of wrath and fury, mobs of ancient feathered demons who could peck a person down to skin and bones. It's those creatures Link thinks of now, and as he stares down one particular feathered beast, he can't help but think the bok-bok sound it's making at him sounds threatening.

He suppresses a shudder. It mustn't sense his fear. Any weakness may see him torn limb from limb before he can say cucco.

Hearing footsteps, he'll glance at anyone passing by and put a finger to his lips. Shh. Don't alert it to his presence. ...Although actually, he pauses after a moment of thought, whispering:] Could you distract it? I'm going in.

c. [Hot pot is more his speed -- or rather, anything with food, really. Especially this sort of curious concoction, the kind that seems to turn different colors when different ingredients are used...

Currently, the soup seems to be purple. Link is looking at it curiously. If asked, he'll nod and gesture for you to join him, but it's a moment before he speaks.]

The color is a little unusual.

[Throughout the night, he'll be experimenting with different ingredients. At one point, it's possible that his hair turns green or smoke starts wafting from his ears or something like that. Shit's wild.]

ii. the hot springs episode

c. [Link spends much of his time at the outdoor part of the hot springs. While he may be caught relaxing for a few moments here and there, he's not really much for sitting still -- at various points he may be found swimming in the water or testing out some of the snacks. Thankfully, still wearing his shorts.

As the evening goes on, he chills out a little bit -- enough to either stargaze or...start nodding off a bit in the water.]

d. [Unique foods and special snacks? Sounds perfect. The durian isn't exactly new to Link, of course --nor is he really that afraid of it-- but the peppers sure do sound interesting. He manages to down a few before feeling the need for some water, and after he tries a couple--]

Urp!

[... he burps out a trail of fire, and grimaces at whomever happens to get a little too close.]

Ah-- sorry.

[He sure does look apologetic...and maybe a little mortified, too, as flames still spark at the corners of his mouth.]

iii. the wildcard one
[I'm open to any of the prompts if you want to throw something at me, or if you want to hash something out, feel free to contact me at posolutely/kribbit#6023.]

ii. D

[zomboii]

[ WELL THAT SURE SCARED THE EVER-LIVING HECK OUT HIM. Here he was, spying Link about to eat another red pepper and feeling the immense need to warn him--when Link just goes and spews out a bunch of fire.

Unnamed is terrified of fire. ]

Auh--!!

[ So terrified, in fact, that he slips up his footing and completely disappears beneath the water. He doesn't need to breathe so it's not as if he's in any danger of choking or drowning--but Link was on fire and maybe he needs helps--so he flails and scrambles to the surface with wide eyes, Very Alarmed^TM ]

Amy Rose | Sonic the Hedgehog | OTA

[pricklybloom]

Mandragora Leaves

[ The fact that someone had to first ask to take the leaves, and that they can scream and attack makes Amy feel a little wary about gathering these leaves to cook in the first place. But apparently they would help with the hot pot flavor, and she supposes that as long as the plants were okay with it then it should be fine, right?

So approaching one of the mandragora, she does her best to be as friendly as possible. ]

Hello there! If you don't mind, would it be okay to gather some of your leaves?

General Mingling

[ Amy is more than happy to help out with the cooking, especially knowing that dreamotion could affect the flavor. She's careful with cooking and preparation, but still excited and eager to share with others. When someone approaches, she smiles and waves while gesturing to the pot that she's stationed at. ]

Hi! Wanna try some?

[ The broth is rich and flavorful, with something fresh and a bit sweet mixed in that gives it an additional flair. It seems Amy is certainly having a good time.

...though someone should probably remind her to eat as well. ]

Dragon Riders

[ Amy is glad to help out, of course. But getting to ride a dragon? Heck yes.

So she heads towards the farmlands on the backs of one of the adolescent dragons, and up in the air it isn't long before she spots some of the armored bears that were scaring the livestock. ]

There!

[ She doesn't even wait for the dragon to land, and instead springs off its back to leap high into the air and summoning her Piko Piko hammer. The hammer then glows with dreamotion energy to add to its force as she swings it down and right on top of one of the bears. ]

Special Snacks

[ The springs themselves are certainly enjoyable, and Amy had taken a dip in the warm waters herself for a bit. But currently she's trying out some of the available snacks.

She isn't too sure about the peppers, and the smell of the durian made it difficult to really want to try. But the dragon fruit has a nice mild flavor, and while it's not too sweet that made it a nice pair with a bit of ice cream, and she gives a pleased sigh. ]

Mm, this is really good!

Wildcard

(( Want to do something else with Amy? Go for it, or hit me up at usamichan13 to plot something! ))

Special Snacks! (i am sorry in advance Amy.......)

[helluvaboss]

You could say that again!

[Blitz had just been leaning against the counter where the treats were being served, taking a bite of his own dragonfruit dessert, too.]

These little bitches are so aesthetically pleasing, sucks that cameras don't work that great here, they'd be great to post on Sinstagram.

Shigeru Miyata | Original Character | OTA

[mysophobic]

Dragon Nursery 🐉

[ Soo taking care of baby dragons is not a thing he thought he would be doing today?? But they're actually really adorable and they seem to be having fun chasing the flying dreamotion powered origami cranes that Shigeru's made for them to play with. He'll huff out a laugh as a whole group of dragonlings rushes past him, almost toppling him over, as he watches them nip and try to smack the cranes out of the air. While the dragons are busy with that Shigeru on the other hand will be drawing and documenting the babies with a warm smile. ] They're really cute, aren't they? I've never seen a baby dragon before...

[ He kind of wants to take one home... ]

Hot Springs - testing the waters ♨️

[ After a long day's work Shigeru will be settling into the hot springs with a relaxed 'ah' as he tries to find a more secluded part of the springs. Despite looking scrawny he's actually pretty well-toned and muscular for his presumed work as a doctor. His body isn't marred with any kind of scar except for the right side of his neck with has a rather jagged and painful-looking scar on the side of it. Normally his shirts cover it up and even now his hand might flutter over it as if he's awkwardly trying to hide it. He keeps his journal nearby in case he has to communicate with anyone, but he is found dozing off with a peaceful look on his features as he just...relaxes. The added effects of the dragon fruit snacks he just consumed only aid in making it easier for him to do so. ]

Wildcard

[ Hit me up with any other prompts you'd fancy! Or feel free to contact me over on plurk @ pathogenic for any plotting you'd like to do! ]

hot springs

[concierto]

[Venti spends most of his time relaxing these days. He is a retired god after all (did he ever work- it's a mystery) so enjoying a little bit of rest and relaxation is one of his favourite pastimes. He's earned it! So these hot springs are a great place to be.

He tiptoes his way into the water and soaks into it with a gentle and happy little sigh. His braids are undone so his hair pools in the water at the front leaving it looking more teal than usual. Venti's body tattoos are fully on display because he doesn't care much for being modest in a hot spring like this.

Eyeing Shigeru resting on the other side of the pool Venti actually considers if he should disturb the man or not. Their last meeting was... questionable. And he's not sure he should send Shigeru into a flustered mess again even if that had been terribly fun in itself- But after a moment he speaks,]

Enjoying the hot water, are we?

beat | neo: the world ends with you | ota

[stillarhino]

i-a. food thieves—

[With everyone preparing the scattered hotpots around the area, a few chipmunks made it into the gathering as others watched from the outskirts. They seemed relatively innocuous enough, merely curious about the smell and the large amounts of people convening in the area.

One of the squirrels even scampered up Beat's leg, making its way up to his shoulder. It sniffs at the air, before leaning down closer to smell the bowl in his hand. Beat doesn't mind it at first... Until it lunges at the piece of meat that he was just about to pop into his mouth.

Unfortunately, for the rodent Beat wasn't going to give it that easily. With his chopsticks clamped tightly on the piece of beef, he and the chipmunk begins a strange game of tug of war.]

Tha's mine, yo! Get your own meat!

i-b. pot surprise—

[With a bowl in hand, the contents within almost finished, Beat looks over to the large cauldron that stands in the middle of the entire clearing. While he had been to several parties held in Reverein over the past few months, he can't help but be skeptical about this one in particular.

He looks on with a furrowed brow, sticking one last spoon of the soup into his mouth, before speaking out loud to no one in particular.]

I'm all for tryin' out new stuff but... Been seeing people put call kinds a' shit in there. You think it's still gonna taste good?

[Yes, he's still talking with that spoon, so whatever he says comes out a little muffled.]

ii-a. rec room—

[It looks like Beat is fresh out of the baths at this point, headphones missing on his head. Even his hair is pushed back away from his face, still slick from the water—an unusual sight for those who have seen him before. The sleeves of his shirt are rolled up all the way to the seams, showing off his toned arms that are usually obscured by his jacket.

He's preoccupied with the ping-pong ball he bounces on the paddle as if trying to warm up for a game should anyone want to play a round or two.]

ii-b. peeping toms—

[Perhaps you came to the hot springs to be able to kick back and relax. Maybe you came here for some quiet time. Whatever the case may be, that serenity is short-lived as you hear someone stomping around the area.

Should you choose to investigate, you find a monkey barreling around one of the hallways, screeching aloud with a wooden bucket in hand. Across it stands Beat, clad in nothing but a small towel wrapped around his waist.]

You ain't supposed to be in here, aight!

[The monkey just screeches back at him, threatening to toss the bucket in retalition. Beat grits his teeth, almost growling back at the monkey.]

Yo, can you gimme a hand here?

iii. wildcard—

[None of the prompts interest you? Come up with you own or plot with me at riyuji.]

ii-b

[oathkeeper]

[Sora can't remember the last time he got to hang out in a hot spring before. It's been a while so when the new hot springs pop up he's itching to check it out. So, he's also clad in a towel with some hairclips in his hair to keep his bangs out of his face and ready to enter the hot springs when...]

Huh?!

[A monkey and another boy are having a staredown in the middle of the hall?! Where did it get that bucket?!]

How did a monkey get in here?! Hey! Get out of here! People are trying to take a dip in the hot springs in here! We don't need any monkey business?!

[Sora will try and get the monkey's attention. It better not toss that bucket at him...]

Ichimonji Norimune | Touken Ranbu | OTA

[kikuichi]

► Food Thieves
[Normally, he wouldn't step up for this. Let other people defend their own food, he have his own to eat.

Unfortunately, the pesky animals made the poor choice to target his food. And that's why one might find Norimune's sword being dangerously close to a squirrel's neck, who squeaks in surprise. It somehow still hold onto the chestnut it stole from Norimune.]

Drop that back onto the plate, will you? Or I might wonder what your meat taste like.

[He sounds serious... is he really?]

► Communal Pot Surprise
[Norimune's curiously checking out the communal hotpot, seeing the various ingredients (both obvious and... not-quite-so in shape) floating in the broth. He glances over when he see someone approaching.]

Are you curious as well? I wonder what this one might taste like.

[His nose can't quite pin down the broth. It certain smell savoury... Some kind of meaty soup base? Or the umami comes from something else? Which probably get balanced out by the various green vegetables (?) he see floating around.]

(OOC: Will turn him into a frog for this prompt later in thread.)

► Dragon Nursery
Uhahaha!

[There's a distinctive laughter coming from one part of the village. If one follows the sound, they will soon see what looks like a swordsman playing with a group of young dragon hatchlings.]

Come and catch me, little ones!

[Norimune's not running at full speed, but just fast enough for the young dragons to keep up with.]

► Hot Springs: Testing the Waters
[Which spring is this? The sign is quite difficult to decipher, but Norimune doesn't mind. He can excuse himself if someone freaks out at his appearance. Then again, if he's first... he should be allowed to stay, right? And allowed to invite someone to join him.]

Yo!

[He raise a hand in greeting, when he walks in. Huh, turns out someone's in this spring already. Norimune's wearing the robe they provided for him, which did show his toned body. He's going to take it off eventually, and feel no shame in people seeing his body.]

You don't mind if this old man joins you?

[Nothing about him looks old, beside his speech...]

► Wild Card
[For any other scenarios, or bringing your own! Hit me up over on PMs/Sonica, or on CR meme plotting if you want to hash something out.]

Pot Surprise

[whatsamada]

[Meanwhile, Ken found himself staring at the various ingredients in the hot pot. It had been quite some time since he last had this, but it was even weirder knowing that he was having this with strangers around him.

As he heard someone speak up, he gave a small shrug.]

Why don't you try it? It seems like they're pretty good and it would be a waste too.

[Granted, he couldn't deny that he was grabbing mostly meat in his bowl....]

Mammon | Obey me! | ota

[stupidmammon]

1.) [Hottest hotpot]

[ With a few little spice dragons just perching on Mammon's shoulders, he was happily sneaking around the food area sneaking spices into everyone's hotpot. The hotter the meal the better, right? That's the way Mammon felt anyway. He slides up to his next victim, gently scritching under the little spice dragon's chin while showing them a grin. ]

Man, this food is pretty great, doncha think? These guys really know how to go all out for us.


2. [HOT SPRING EPISODE HOT SPRING EPISODE]

[ Who would come to a hotspring resort and not come enjoy the nice hot watery reward??? As soon as he got to the island he made a beline right to the hotsprings. It had been forever since the last time he got to dip into one of these, and this time around he didn't have his pesky brothers to deal with! (well he had one, but he was the most normal of the brothers)

Aaaaah, Mammon slowly sunk into the outdoor spring, towel wrapped around his waist and letting out the happiest groan. ]

Man, I could live here...


3.) [ Recreational room]

[ hehehe~ Mammon wanted to play some games and definitely scam some, people out of their stuff. He found himself at the ping pong table. twirling a little ping pong racket in his hands, scoping the area. ]

Who wants to play a round with me~? I'm soooo rusty, I might not even be able to hit the ball back~


4.) [Wild card]

[ If you had any other plans you wanted to do with mammon, please feel free to start it here! Open to anything! ]

1

[heseesonlyher]

[It's always an interesting time when Mammon enters the picture. Maybe Nier is just expectant of that, or maybe he appreciates that in his company. Never a dull moment in Mammon's presence, and the man (god??? demon???) provides excellent distraction. He doesn't even notice the spice dragon going right to work in his food and who knows how the old [appearance] man will take it when he finally gets down to eating.]

Used to make food back home when I was out travelling, but not like this. Definitely a step up. If they're goin' all out, it's just because we're all getting along now. Politics and all of that.

[Not... that Nier knows much about politics. Every time he starts thinking about them, he's revisiting Facade, the elaborate town in the desert with thousands of rules to follow. Good times. He wonders how the prince-turned-king's doing.]

Looks like you're havin' a good time, though. You gonna sit down and join me or are you just here to visit?

Yamatonokami Yasusada | Touken Ranbu | ota

[hairpinings]

1.) [A dip in the nice warm water~]

[ Yasusada had been incredibly excited about this ever since he got the notif to come here. It was like the outdoor baths they had back home, but even bigger. There were all sorts of food smells around, everything seemed so spicy, which kind of made it more exciting, but the reall pull from Yasusada was the bath. He got himself cleaned off, towel wrapped around his waist, but as soon as he got close enough to the waters, he sprinted and did a cannon ball right into the hot spring.

Sorry anyone nearby the splash zone. ]


2.) [Hotpot Surprise!]

[ Unfortunately for Yasusada, he wasn't really the type to really think before he acted, especially when it came to a big huge delicious meal. The hotpot he happened to decide to take a bite from had been spiked with alcohol, but the food was so delicious that Yasusada couldn't stop eating. When the flavor finally seemed to hit him, instead of passing out, Yasusada just laughed and moved to the middle of the dining area. ]

Hehe~ You can't have a big big meal without a song to go along with it~!

[ He looks around the room and grabs a random broom he found to "wield" as a sword before getting into a goofy pose. He starts tapping his foot down to a beat and starts to dance around a little.]

Kappore Kappore~!

Kappore Kappore~!

Are you guys ready~~?

[ Someone please stop him before he hits someone with the broom on accident. Or feel free to join in! ]



3.) [N-not the mandragora leaves...]

[ Anyone nearby will here such loud unnerving screams, and among the screams they'll also hear a human screaming as well.

That's because while trying to sneak a few leaves off these mandragora's seemed like a good idea at the time, they didn't quite like the way Yasusada had done it and decided to attack. Unfortunately for Yasusada, he hadn't brought his sword with him! The best he could do was flee! ]

uwaaaa! I'm sorry I'm sorry!!!!

[ Yasusada could be seen running by anyone trying to get these special ingredients with a trail of mandragora's chasing after him. ]

4.) [ Wild Card!]

[ Bring your own prompt! See something else you'd like to do with Yasusada, feel free to throw it my way! ]

3

[feale]

[ It's been a day full of fun and relaxation. Sumire started it by heading up to the hot springs for some much-needed quiet time, and then came back to the riverbank to not only gather food for the hotpot, but to help cook as well, although she's ended up staying mostly around her own private pot, not wanting to risk the huge public cauldron in the middle of the area. She's a pretty good cook, and the strange ingredients add unique flavors to the mix, so she's relaxing again now, sitting over the hot steam with her eyes closed—

The shrieking makes her startle enough to drop the serving bowl she's holding, and she leaps out of her seat.

Some might run from the sound, but Sumire moves toward it, finding herself before long at the marked-off field where the mandragoras reside— and pausing to stare in disbelief for a moment at Yasusada as he runs, a trail of angry mandragora behind him.

Isn't that the boy who saw her dancing?

It's a thought that strikes her even as she calls for her Persona, blue flames wreathing her and changing her outfit into something else; she grips her gun in her hand and flips her way into the field, putting herself between the running boy and the angry creatures, holding it out like a threat.

At least for a moment, it seems to still them— though whether it's fear or confusion she doesn't know. ]

Hi. [ She glances over her shoulder at him. ] Are you okay?

Rob | The Amazing World of Gumball | Open

[nulland]

[A. Mandragora Leaves]

[Rob gets motivated by having a clear goal, and fetching ingredients seems like it's worth his time. Getting some leaves from some plant sounded simple enough, too!

Except he's a teenage supervillain, so the "respectful" thing isn't exactly in his wheelhouse. Even if he thinks he's been so by not holding the plants hostage and threatening them with weed killer, the mandragoras feel otherwise about his attitude.

This is why there is a very loud and chaotic scene in the mandragora field by the time you get there.]

Just gimme the leaf already!!!

[He's not loud only for the sake of it; he's trying to be heard over the shrieking of the plants. His adrenaline is also pretty high from the attacks he's trying to fend off. Rob is mostly holding his own, although it does not look like a winning battle in the long run. He has some small object in one hand that he's waving around in their direction as though it might scare them off. Upon closer inspection, it just looks like a pair of tweezers.]

[B. Food Thieves]

[Figuring out methods to stop major annoyances definitely sounds like something Rob would be chomping at the bit to work on. However, he hasn't made any effort to devise complicated traps to stop the hungry thieves in the area, nor is he tossing out threats to them and/or their loved ones. His response to a squirrel hopping up and yoinking away the ear of corn he was trying to heat up is a bit unusual for him.]

Oh come on!

[Okay, the yelling part isn't weird. It's the fact that he just watches the rodent scurry off without making any effort to retrieve the food. Instead, with a heavy sigh, he turns and makes his way back to the ingredients tables. Something about his body language says this isn't the first time he's had to do this today.

In fact, this has (and will) happen to Rob a lot. A variety of foodstuffs, some of which look hard to replace, are let go without a fight even though there is a lot of grumbling. All this from a kid who can notoriously refuse to back down. What's up?]

[C. Testing the Waters]

[He's aware of the tropes that go along with hot springs visits, but something relaxing is too tempting for Rob to avoid after...his life. He has also done his best to follow the signs to a child-appropriate area, and at worst he should just see someone else who's properly pixelated. ...What? That's how it works in Elmore. Apart from that, other mistakes in his choice are certainly possible.

Whichever spring he's selected, you'll probably first see him leaving the showers with one towel around his waist. Seems normal enough, but he's still got his clothes on. The towel is clearly draped over the shape of his shorts. His yellow top leaves a bit of torso exposed at the bottom, although that's either pink or static-y depending on when you look at it. Also there's that awkward hole on one side of his shirt. Like, the sort where you can see through to what's behind him.

But Rob just casually heads to the water. After situating his other towels and some snacks and a soda nearby, and possibly not paying close attention to anything else that could tell him it's the wrong hot spring, he eases his way into the water as is. Clothes, towel oddly over them, and all. You're free to ask any questions or address him whenever, but he's just gonna exhale and close his eye otherwise.]

a

[judoflipped]

[. . .

yeah, he's just gonna watch for a moment. his arms are crossed over his chest and he's smirking as if he finds it hilarious.

which he does.

after a few moments of this, he cups his hands over his mouth as if to try to be heard over the chaos in front of him.]

So are do you always just find yourself in crazy situations?

Closed to Kazuma

[locumstudentesquire]

The last few days have been a period of adjustment for Ryunosuke. Reverein... Is an adjustment.

It's not that he finds it unpleasant here. No, the difficulty is really rather easy to explain: he'd gone to sleep on a steamship headed back to Japan, possessed by a murky but nonetheless important mission. Now he's here, or... At least some independent part of his consciousness is...? He's still trying to wrap his head around that concept. The point is, that mission is no longer available to him.

It sort of leaves him at a loss for what to do with himself, on top of just generally needing to adapt to being in a new world. He is, at least, fortunate enough to have several of his friends here... But he's also trying to wrap his head around the fact that they've apparently been here for somewhere around a year, at least? And things are... Different. Kazuma's grown his hair out? He and Susato are apparently an item now, too, which had certainly surprised Ryunosuke to learn, though he's earnestly pleased for them both. But take all that and add in the information that HE was apparently here in this world at some point, but simply doesn't remember it... And it all leaves him feeling very out of place indeed.

Hotpot, though? Hotpot is familiar. Hotpot with Kazuma is familiar, or at least, it should be. And that's another thing that Ryunosuke needs to sort out: his feelings about his good friend. From his own perspective, he'd barely yet had any time to himself during which he could process everything that happened, everything that came out during that trial... And he hadn't the faintest idea where Kazuma's head was at about all of it.

...Honestly, it's much easier to just focus on the food for now. The thorny snarl of hurt and confused feelings can take a goddamn backseat. It's time to get lunch with aibou.

They're down at the riverbank trying to scope a good spot with a free grill to claim, but the huge communal pot in the center keeps catching Ryunosuke's eye. He hums, and then elbows Kazuma lightly to get his attention before pointing towards it.

"What do you suppose is going on over there--?"

As he's speaking, a local steps up to the pot and tosses in what appears to be... A whole-ass slice of cake??

Ryunosuke breaks off, looking extremely offput and concerned by this development. Look, he has a rather insatiable sweet tooth of his own to contend with but, come on...

[chippedsoul]

[It's why Kazuma hasn't, or at least tried not to overload Ryunosuke with information until ask. There are some things he's not ready to talk about himself, so the gradual information gathering works for him. It feels surreal just to be exploring with his best friend again. How long has it been since they got to just, hangout? It feels almost foreign to him now.

He glances in the direction of Ryunosuke's inquiry. He frowns, seeing what appeared to be chicken-like meat being tossed into the pot. Whatever tasty concoction they were making has been destroyed for him.]

Nothing good, no doubt. [Even as he says that...] Thinking about having a taste?

Dante | Devil May Cry | OTA

[strawberryredgrave]

IIA. Enemies to Partners

Now this sounds like a job for Devil May Cry! While the office may have recently been burned down, it doesn't mean Dante's out of commission. He'll just need to work harder to build the office from the ground up again. Again. It happens a lot with him.

But hey, this job's more about getting more favor with the dragons and Dante likes to think he's got a decent track record with them. Sure enough, the dragon he's partnered with is the one he and Beatrix dealt with a few months ago! Dante not only proved how capable a fighter he is to this dragon, but even demonstrated restraint and compassion as he prevented any killing blows from being delivered. It was an easy decision to recruit the demon hunter's services for this one.

And true enough, he's getting what he paid for! The biggest hurdle is the shell making it difficult for the dragons to do much damage. Dante's plan? Twofold. With a combination of powerful punches and kicks from Balrog, he can start making some cracks. He gets to whip out one of his favorite toys, too: the motorcycle chainsaw, Cavaliere. Doing donuts around the bear, he's able to create openings and cut into it with the dragon contributing his own punches and claws to the plan.

Things are going well for now, but they're not gonna say no to extra help.

IIB. Daycare May Cry

Hey look! Hatchlings! It's a huge relief to see so many of them doing well after their eggs were stolen. Poor little dudes. Dante won't admit it, but he was genuinely sad to let them go back then. He had to; it's better for them to grow up among their kind and around people who know what they're doing. That softer side of him shows with the little ones he looked after immediately hop over and latch onto him like they did the first time they met. It puts a genuine smile on his face.

Less of a smile when they call their friends over and Dante's being swarmed. Fuck. He can work with this, though.

People entering the scene will see Dante in the middle of a crowd of young dragons, several holding onto him, one around his neck and one on his head as he's on a seat with his electric guitar, Nevan, in hand. Unlike the usual tunes he jams out to, he plays something much softer to help them relax and maybe even put them to sleep. Little ones need their naps, don't they? Despite the chaos of it all, that warm expression on his face is hard to beat.

Wildcard

Hit me up with whatever prompt you want. I'm open to suggestion! Dante's gonna doing all kinds of work since he...really needs to, but will really enjoy kicking back and relaxing as a result. We can discuss ideas at rikimaruhitori or through PMs or the game's Discord server!

ii-a

[daemonise]

[And extra help is on the way.

Velvet, however, is not so inclined to simply hop on the back of a dragon. She had been paired with one, sure, and it was the one that put up the lesser fight than the others, but that didn't mean the two of them had an amicable relationship. The dragon could likely sense her unease and she could sense what that it wasn't feeling it, so the ride in had been a little rocky, to say the least.

Which is why, as soon as she's within landing distance of the ground, she leaps from its back and lets it do its own thing. She fights better up close anyway, and she's not going to try arguing with a dragon on whether banking left or right is better while riding on its back.

So, it's as he's doing a donut around the bear that Velvet lands, her bladed boot coming down to pummel at the armoured bear...

Only for her to bounce right off of it and land a foot or two away, only just narrowly missing the motorbike.]

Watch where you're driving that thing!

[Says the woman who literally just fell in from the sky.]