Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

[faileas]

Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

I. Boaltinn (1st - 3rd) Boaltinn comes around again. A handful of Mirrorbound will remember the holiday from last year, but for others, it will be brand new. In both Residential Districts, bonfires burn in central locations through the night, frequented by the residents celebrating another summer come to Aefenglom. Curiously, while last year the bonfires seemed quite segregated by human or Monster, this year, there is more of a noticeable mix at each, and Mirrorbound are invited to join the games and festivities quite happily. Characters are invited to try and jump through the bonfire's flames to burn away any poor relationship experiences, be it romantic or platonic, past or present; to aid them in this, those at the Eastern Bonfire will give those participating rune-etched accessories to protect them from the fire. The city has quite a bit to offer for this holiday: shared rose baths at public bathhouses and pleasure establishments that increase feelings of friendliness and talkativeness, poles draped in ribbons meant to be danced around, wrapping a ribbon around the pole to bring good luck for the summer, food stalls whose offerings are meant to be shared, and fortune-telling set up by Divination students of the Coven, who can tell your day is going to go. To see last year's Boaltinn prompts, you can take a glance right here! Much of it, including the bonfires, baths, and entertainments will be similar this year, so feel free to use those in your top levels.

II. An Unusual Arrival (3rd on) A full year from the arrival of the first group of Mirrorbound, the 1st passes quietly, with no one showing up in the mirror-lined halls of the Looking-Glass House. Dates and times are important in most kinds of magic, and this is strange enough that some Witches of the Coven get together on the night of the 3rd to try a probing ritual, attempting to gather some kind of clues that could be useful in prying out the cottage's secrets. Boaltinn is the best time for such things, when the boundaries are thinner, and magic is stronger. Those who are awake that night at 3 am might notice a pulse of harmless silvery light that spreads like ripples on water throughout the whole city, originating at the Looking-Glass House, but nothing further happens, and the Coven receives no answers. Well, nothing happens in the Looking-Glass House. Before long, the reports start coming in: people are emerging from mirrors, regular old mundane mirrors, all over the city. Anything with a particularly reflective surface could be an entry point for someone from another world! Inhabited homes, businesses closed and locked for the night, pools of still water in fountains or the river, these unorthodox Mirrorbound pop up anywhere and everywhere, causing chaos for the City Guard (folks aren't happy to find strangers in their bathrooms at 3 in the morning) and the Coven both. Out of nowhere, a glint of light catches your eye; your heart thunders in your ears as your body moves on its own, your mind consumed with inspecting the source. Your reflection stares back at you, just as curious from the surface - a mirror, a pool of water, your most trusted sword, something fleeting that your mind can barely remember - then ripples at your touch. If you are one of these unfortunate arrivals, it's likely a rude awakening for you, to find yourself somewhere inconvenient, somewhere other than where you've been. It only makes sense to be confused. Hopefully someone finds you and explains to you what's happened to you. Resident Mirrorbound will hear a message from Miss Nessie shortly after it begins, a call to arms: "Dears, I'm quite sorry to disturb you, but it seems your fellows are arriving elsewhere than the Looking-Glass House this month! We're trying to track them all down for the usual welcome, but we could use a hand or several! If you could just bring them by the Coven, the usual spot, that would be lovely." She'll give her usual orientation and pass out Watches, but no doubt the Mirrorbound will be more helpful in this regard, with so many arriving.

III. The Goblin Market (All Month) Life goes on in Aefenglom, despite the addition of so many new residents. With the City Guard decidedly busy dealing with the sudden flood of break-ins (or, more accurately, break-outs?), the vendors of the Goblin Market find opportunity to set up their stalls more openly than they have since the crack-downs some months ago. They pop up all over the city, but clustered more often in the Residential Districts and the Harbor District, where there are even fewer law enforcement agents out and about to run them off. These sellers, while not as devoid of morals as those major players of the Black Market, still have very few compunctions when it comes to lying, cheating, fencing stolen goods, and misrepresenting their wares to unsuspecting buyers. It's also the place to find those things that are- not quite legal, shall we say. They won't say a word if you don't. If confronted, they are quick to pack up their things and slip away, however; they know this city and its hiding places a lot better than you do. With a brand new batch of what the natives assume are Mirrorbound, many undergoing rapid transformations into their Monster forms, many of the wares on display are potions: supposed cure-alls for aches and itches, calming draughts for the full moon restlessness, some even claim their brews can halt changes entirely! Some concoctions are meant to increase a Witch's magical ability, or decrease it, or provide them a finer control. They offer potions that they say will eliminate the need for a Bond, or temporary Bonding potions of their own that they claim are more pure, stronger, than the ones offered by the Coven. Claims are only claims, though. A few remedies for the pain of changing or some regular temporary Bonding potions can be found here and there, but for every potion that works, there are twenty more that have less than pleasant side effects. A brew that will cause everything you touch to turn to solid gold for up to an hour; a potion that will invert your sense of direction - trying to turn right will make you turn left, trying to go forward will cause you to walk backward; a potion that will remove all traction from your feet, causing you to slide around as if cobblestone are the slickest ice. Worse, some shadier vendors sell things more sinister, including a potion that gives you the appearance of being moderately to heavily infected by the Cwyld. Even if you don't drink any, the vendors are not at all careful where they're sloshing those bottles around, trying to show them off, and they all activate on skin contact.

IV. A Wilde Hunt (7th - 22nd) All Mirrorbound, temporary or not, are likely to feel it. Monsters are always affected by the full moons, but this month, it is more. Stronger. Instincts rise to the surface as the Sisters emerge full and visible in the night sky, and for many Mirrorbound, they are undergoing rapid transformations into whatever type of Monster they are meant to be. Curiously, the natives get along like they usually do, noticing nothing out of the norm, other than the increased agitation and restlessness from Mirrorbound Monsters. Monsters' aggression fades when the Sisters start to wane, but as the new moons approach on the 22nd, Mirrorbound Witches will notice their magical reserves overfilling, and will find themselves stricken with the overwhelming urge to use it, until casting spells, pushing one's magical limits, is almost a compulsion. Those who are not in proper Witch-Monster Bonds will feel it even stronger, with no stabilizing magic to consume (for Monsters) or avenues to expend magic (for Witches) other than casting spells. (For those who are interested, the Coven does offer temporary Bonding potions which can be used to help alleviate the effects somewhat.) The Coven Witches notice the signs, and they take decisive action on the morning of the 6th, the day before the full moons. So many Mirrorbound, likely to be so heavily affected by the lunar cycle this month, many of them coming into new features and abilities at a breakneck pace, only spells danger for the city. They barricade off a massive chunk of Wilde outside Aefenglom, largely free of Cwyld and totally bereft of farms, homes, and Wilder outposts. They invite anyone who feels the effects of the moons too strongly to control to come out for a Hunt. The hunting grounds will be open nightly to anyone who needs to work off restless energy or overflowing magic; all participants will be warned that their safety cannot be guaranteed from others, but they won't be able to harm bystanders out here. The woods are thick, with the river cutting through them, and full of wildlife. There is room to run and chase prey, or room to play with your developing magic. Play cat and mouse with your friends or Bondmates, or stalk a stranger. If playing games isn't your thing, there is something else to hunt out here as well. With the deep Wilde entering into Winter, this patch of land so close to the city is much warmer, and fearsome Shades have emerged to search for prey. These were once living beings, Monsters, Witches, or animals, who have been overtaken by Cwyld infection long ago, leaving them dead but for the infection, white-eyed and seeking out sources of magic to consume and infect. Anything could become a Shade, but the most common out right now are the ferocious remains of bears, wolves, and nomadic Arachne and Turnskins. If not killed, these Shades threaten the people of the Outer City, when they inevitably escape the barricade. Careful to limit your contact, though; anyone infected upon their return to the gates will be escorted straight to the infirmary.

Welcome to May's Fourth Wall event, An Inauspicious Arrival! The comms are now open to comments from all registered users and will be until June 1st. Current players, if you don't want fourth wall characters tagging your posts, just say so in your text. Fourth wall characters can use this post for their own network top-levels, or this post for log top levels. This event is game canon; threads from this fourth wall can be used as application samples later and current players may use these threads for AC. As always, be courteous to each other! Let the mod team know if there are any problems and we will handle things.

As always, please direct your questions to this thread!

Comments

ryuunosuke tsunashi | idolish7 | dragon | ota

[gunshow]

I. AN UNUSUAL ARRIVAL.

[ for an idol, being in front of a mirror, many mirrors, isn't an unusual thing. responsible gyms, handy pocket mirrors, beautiful dance studios, light-drenched dressing rooms... it's the later of which that gets ryuu, fresh off the stage and high off the adrenaline of a rebellious performance. the sounds of cheers and applause still echo off the inside of his head and heart, and when he looks in the mirror to catch a glimpse of a pride restored, the sweat and color of exertion, the lights grow strange. billowed, pulling - that's so unusual, is he going to be sick?

ryuu doesn't have long to ponder on that question before the world flares and his balance goes all topsy-turvy, spitting him out on the other side of the mirror, maybe alone, maybe not. maybe it's your mirror? either way, a rather handsomely sized man goes toppling to the ground, still dressed in a get-up that makes it look as though someone had taken the night sky and thrown it, crumpled and shimmery, right to the ground.

it takes him a moment to gasp, swallow, and then turn bright golden eyes upwards owlishly. there's still sweat on his brow, but he's paled now. ]

- I'm so sorry, pardon me! [ where... is he. oh boy. he's looking a little panicked. ] Um...

[ at least he already comes with a collar? ]

II. GOBLIN MARKET.

...get rid of my teeth?

[ now that sounds like an alarming conversation to overhear. it comes from ryuu, who'd wound up blundering his way through a strip of vendors hawking all manner of wares, many of which he's never seen the likes of before. one such stall attendant actually has ryuu by the arm, dangling a pretty silver and pearl potion in front of him. he looks uncertain, but either too intrigued or too polite to break away by force. which is comical, given that he's tall, certainly beyond his usual 6'3", and sporting moonlight blue scales that run over his body like currents and sprays of water. his eyes shine, and his most crowning features are his massive fangs which - well, now it's easy to see why he's so intrigued.

granted, he's still slanted away from the pushy attendant like he really wants to escape, though his gaze is surely drawn to the beauty of the potion every time it's waved in his face. laughing haplessly, he seems to actually be considering it. ]

Well, I have bitten my tongue a bunch of times, and my voice sounds funny now, so...!

[ he needs an intervention. despite his intimidating looks, it's like picking off a baby animal. ]

III. A WILDE HUNT.

[ ryuu has had to come to terms with many things in his life. disappointments, struggles, conflicts. none have ever felt quite so aggressive or unconquerable as these new hurdles, as being called a monster. he's been trying to see the fairness in it, clinging to the sunny disposition he usually has in spite of the moonlit changes ravaging him. wandering out into a barricaded forest all but howling with life that he doesn't fully understand hadn't been his first choice. but he'd been told - go here, if he felt like he needed balance, to confront his restlessness. not a perfect solution, since he'd barely had the chance to wrap his head around the changes before they'd come at him in an onslaught -

...but better than risking harming someone.

which is why he's tried to stick to a solitary route, finding the river that cuts through the woods soothing to be near. only an approach sparks movement in him, a great serpentine tail sliding across the bank and then thudding half in the water, kicking up a generous splash of it. droplets scatter, twinkling in sound. he breathes out slow and shallow, almost like a sigh, breath heated with poison. it stays in his throat, however. he seems a bit guilty. ]

I know I'm out here like this, but I'm not much of a hunter, or fighter, so...

[ it's obvious he's having A Struggle, and playing really hadn't been something he could attribute to how he's feeling. is he someone worth provoking, for better or worse? ]

IV. WILDCARD!

[ bring your own prompt! anything goes, pm if needed. also not looking to app currently, just playing around ♡ ]

ii

[fallingcrows]

Oy, don't fall for that guy's bull!

( here comes an angry stomping not-Monster, whose tail is already hovering way above his head and quivering in rage. his eyes are bright, filled with anger; in his hands he holds an empty vial with no stopper. in a flash, crow hurls the empty tube at the vendor in front of ryuu, who barely gets out of the way before the hedgehog myuumon uses that time to grab the man's collar and shake him with a vigor normally reserved for his bandmates. )

You sold me this potion and told me I'd grow taller! It's done nothing!

( and then he turns to ryuu, scowl as pointed as his heels. )

I don't know what's wrong with your teeth, but don't give anyone here anything you own. They're just trying to fleece you.

( he's about to deck the wailing attendant, a fist raised. )

[gunshow]

[ reflexively and maybe half out of sheer fear at something hurtling through the air in his general direction, ryuu uses the opportunity to leap from the attendant's grasp. free! though now the attendant is... not so free! brain whirling, ryuu takes a moment to try and get a grasp of the sudden situation, but luckily he's been training for this moment. one could almost say it's instinctive to him, by now. forgotten are his toothy woes. ]

- ahh, now, now! [ scrambling forward, ryuu makes placating motions with his hands. ] I'm sure he was just trying to help! I was looking pretty lost, after all...

[ he sure is sugarcoating this, but now he's also attempting to wedge his rather impressive body between the irate guy with the cute tail and the sniveling vendor. ]

Maybe if we continue on together, we can find something to help the both of us?

[ ryuu puts his hand out. here, hedgie, hedgie... ]

[fallingcrows]

H-hey, come on! Get out of my way, I'm gonna teach this dude a lesson...!

( but to no avail, ryuu is just too big and crow is a dumb idiot who eventually has to let go, much to the relief of probably both the purveyor of garbage and the nice dragon man. already, the vendor is hauling his ass away from what could turn into a scuffle between crow and not-crow, probably thinking it's not worth it?

meanwhile, crow is too immersed in laying a smackdown on the nothing he's grabbing. he nudges his forehead into ryuu's chest in order to push him out of the way, but again--- he's mostly loud noises and very little bite right now. at least in his imagination, he's gotten his wish?

and then he wakes up (read: he opens his eyes and realizes he has lost). )

... continue on together? With you?

( he looks down and away, making very mature grumbles under his breath. )

Fine, dammit. I guess this is better than nothing. Besides, no one's taking me seriously around here... so you were looking for some kind of toothpaste or what?

( sob. )

[gunshow]

[ to be fair, the loud noises are very impressive! because not only are they working on the shopkeep, but the feisty words seem to get ryuu looking a little rattled too - with him... his expression falls somewhat. is he no good...? too scary looking? ryuu seems to ponder on this for a long moment, wondering what he can do to convince him to tag along. only he doesn't have long to wait for a change of heart, eyes brightening in response. ]

Really? You will? [ a smile blooms on his face, relieved. ] I'm so glad! You were really brave just now, so I'm sure we'll be fine! Though... it's not exactly toothpaste I'm looking for, haha...

[ given how big his smile was, it's easy to see now that things have settled that his canines are... long. and quite sharp. definitely not entire human anymore. ]

These seem to be a problem.

iii

[thatsamoray]

[The river was a great point of hunting. It was just turbid enough to hide, just wide enough to be cozy, and it let him patrol a huge area.]

[And, oh, someone was brave enough to take a dip?]

[It involved coming up close to the edge of the river. If Ryuu is paying attention he'll probably notice a rather large shadow beneath the surface. If he's not paying attention, then he'll definitely notice,]

[CHOMP]

[The sensation of razor sharp teeth digging into his new appendage.]

[He didn't intend to, but his tail ended up getting a catch on the line.]

[gunshow]

[ ever heard a large man yelp in surprise? even from underwater? well, it's loud, and rather higher pitched than one might imagine of somenoe of ryuu's stature, but there it is. feeling as wound up as he was, he'd been more preoccupied with keeping his senses alert to the surrounding forest. never did he expect the water to betray him...

but that it does, forcing ryuu to bolt to his feet on a pivot, bringing the weight of his body around to whip his tail up from the water in one long, powerful motion. it would look pretty impressive, that much muscle arching around, scales and water catching the light -

if not for it, well. being the line. which means whatever's got him is going to suffer the same momentum, being dragged ashore and made pretty airborne. ]

- oh!

[ A PERSON? ]

[thatsamoray]

[A PERSON(?)!]

[Rather, the top half is distinctly human. The bottom half is distinctly non human. As Ryuu instinctively pulls his assailant out of the water, he may notice that he's very long. With his tailfin included, he's somewhere around nine feet long. That long length of tail hits the dirt with a powerful thud that also makes him pull back from his bite.]

Owwwwowow, why are you so hard?!

[he brings a hand with webbed fingers up to his mouth, tapping the front of his sharp teeth]

[He's more irritated by his teeth, it seems, then the fact he just ended up slammed against the ground. His tailfin wriggles like an extremely powerful fish brought onto land where he's a lot more helpless.]

[Which, well, is sort of what happened.]

[gunshow]

[ person enough to make ryuu instantly panic! ]

I'm sorry!! [ he blurts out. ] I didn't mean to be hard, I promise!

[ hm. ]

Um, here...

[ there are so many things about this that are threatening to overload his poor feelings, but first and foremost is the idea that he might have just actually hurt somebody while like this. it's what makes him clamp down on the whirl of strange aggression inside of himself, shoving his pesky new appendage off behind him to approach. loud floppy fish sounds on the riverbank should alarm him way more than they do, but he's focused on those teeth...

frowning, he lowers himself to a squat, which only marginally lessens the impression of his bulk. ]

Nothing got broken, right?

[ let him take a peek, you. ]

i

[yesdoubt]

[Momo, being the good samaritan he is when there's no gentle trolling to be done to people in his vicinity, is on the lookout for weird arrivals at the moment after getting the message sent out to the current Mirrorbound. Tailing at his feet for this particular outing are two young, wolf-looking creatures, except instead of fur, they have foliage, one covered in peach leaves and flowers and the other with snowdrop. Momo himself clearly hasn't just come out of one of the mirrors, dressed as he is in a button-up shirt and open waistcoat in the local style, though the open part is definitely more of a modern take on the more polished wear of most of the other people around.

Ryuu might see his lace-up boots first from the ground, though, as a familiar hand with hot pink nails reaches down to offer a hand up. That performance outfit had been awfully distinctive, and Momo is only too happy to see someone else from home, showing his sharp canines as he grins.]

I'm already walking two cute puppies, so find me a leash and I'll add you to the mix, Ryuu-chan. [Ignore that his petalwolves aren't on leashes and are, indeed, now sniffing Ryuu rather curiously, as if wondering if they really do have a new companion.]

[gunshow]

[ ...ah. for a minute, he thinks he's going crazy for one reason or another, but ryuu is a simple man, and liable to trust his eyes. his gaze catches on the polished fingernails, quickly flicking upwards in an honest mix of perplexed and hopeful. if he hadn't known that peppy voice anywhere, the fangs would do him in. ]

...Momo-san!

[ leash comment bouncing off his thick skull, his relief is near palpable when he reaches out to accept momo's hand, gripping it tightly just to grip it for a long moment. he hesitates to even pull himself up off the ground, given how insane everything had felt, to blink and be in one place, then another. of course, climbing to his feet and getting oriented means he has to accept that something's off. or rather, a few somethings are off.

giving a glance to the two wolf creatures, ryuu then lifts his head to take in momo's appearance, concerned. ]

I'm glad to see you, but... what's going on?

[ is he getting punked? ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo will give him a moment and not pull him up until Ryuu seems set to move himself - he'd been pretty thrown when he arrived, and that was when he'd had the dream beforehand to introduce him to all the weirdness. These arrivals don't seem to even have that, and he gives an apologetic sort of smile to that question.]

I don't know if you're going to like the answer to that. [That said, Ryuu is easygoing enough that he'll be one of the easier people to explain it to, honestly, so he spreads his free hand to the city around them, the old-fashioned buildings and the people in attire that largely looks like it came from 100 years ago in whatever Western country comes to mind first. If probably more colourful than was normal for back then, since there's definitely Some Fashion Trends around.]

This city's called Aefenglom. Don't ask me the specifics of how it happens, but every few months, people from other worlds get pulled here through mirrors. It's not usually random mirrors people come out of, but I guess this has been a weird month for the Coven.

[Coven as in witches, which is probably not going to help any confusion. Momo already knows it's going to be confusing, he's just starting with the confusing basics first.] Anyway, basically you got dragged to another world for a little bit. Also, magic exists here.

[The casual way Momo says that implies he's been here long enough for both of those to not be entirely foreign and bizarre ideas to him.]

[gunshow]

[ given that ryuu all but forgets to let go of momo's hand once he's gotten up to his feet in a starry unfurling of his half-mantle, it seems he's gotten his wish of a leash, in a manner of speaking. and ryuu sits there listening obediently thanks to that tether, though whether or not he looks less confused... debatable. ]

Magic...? Real magic? [ . . . ] You mean this isn't some kind of set?!

[ which would have been his first thought, were he just to see the building fronts rising up from olden streets. of course, looking around, even the people seem real. like really real, just going about their business in any other city street. all at once, he starts feeling wildly visible. on any street, that'd be natural for how he looks, but there's nothing like the process of a good, solid truth sinking in. sure, momo could get up to mischief like no other, and ryuu is gullible -

he frowns, the process of him visibly concentrating written all over his face. ]

III

[trost]

[ It's come here and put himself in danger, or potentially hurt others, they said. That's the only solution he was presented when he brought up that unease building up within him as the magic he apparently now has gradually swelled to the seams. Jean was skeptical at first, as he is of many things, but after a mishap of accidentally setting someone's clothes on fire he's decided that waiting until he loses complete control simply wasn't an option. He doesn't like to fight, and with no maneuvering gear and a serious lack of magical know-how he feels disadvantaged, but it beats hurting people. Plus, he'll be protecting the town. That's the right thing to do, any way you spin it.

If all else fails he can also release some of this magical energy at some hugeass trees. Might help.

Feeling thirsty, Jean approaches the river to fill up his canteen. He stops only when he sees a man with clear dragon-like features and takes a moment to assess if he's a threat. Ryuu doesn't sound like one. He sounds ... kind. ]

Funny you say that, because you look like you could really tear someone a new one. [ Just bringing attention to the mismatch between his dragon-features and the pacifism in his voice. ]

[gunshow]

[ hearing someone just come by and point out that he looks as monstrous as he was said to be makes ryuu's eyes pinch at the corners, almost a wince. he looks away, clearly trying to dull whatever emotions are boiling over in him. it comes across as - frustration, maybe. that moonlight blue tail slides up from the bank again with all the hues of a river rapid, then curls close to his body. it probably doesn't make him look any smaller, but he hadn't meant to flourish it like a warning, either. it doesn't seem like this man poses a threat to him...?

but then again, ryuu's never really had to learn to size anybody up before and decide in the moment if they're trustworthy at best, or dangerous at worst. a frown holds fast on his features, and he looks down to the river. ]

How I look and how I feel right now are opposite. I won't do that.

[ that strange sensation in his throat has even faded. ]

[trost]

[ A perceptive guy by nature, Jean gets a good read of Ryuu's body language and the takes notice of the way his tail slides in closer to his body. He's making himself smaller, trying not to look like a threat. He definitely doesn't like what the changes have done to his body. ]

I have a habit of saying whatever's on my mind. I wasn't implying that you would.

[ He also has a habit of looking cautiously at everything before performing his actions. It's just something you do when the worst you expect usually happens to be reality. Still, Ryuu sounds kind. Jean likes to think he has a decent enough read on people to tell when someone is genuine (a certain ... 3 people in his childhood aside). ]

If you're not much of a fighter, you should stick by me. I'm not saying I'll absolutely be able to protect you without my gear, but it's still better than wandering around alone.

[gunshow]

[ temperance counts for a lot. hearing an admittance put so plainly makes ryuu's gaze flicker upwards, curious. his eyes are brighter and more fiery than a human's ought to be, but still not hardened enough to be inhuman. quietly, the tension he'd felt grip his chest loosens, making him look a lot less threatening. ]

Oh... [ it takes him a minute for it to sink in. he leans in, stance breaking. ] ...really? You're okay with that?

[ it's hard not to sound hopeful. even coming from a stranger, the offer puts him at ease in a way that's almost instinctual. whether it's just because he's never liked being alone or because of what's happening to him, he's not sure, but. ]

I'm not sure what a gear is, but it's fine. You don't need to protect me.

[ just having someone nearby is enough. ]

ii

[ourdays]

[Alright, so, Jian Yi has seen enough terrible sets of chompers here to last him a lifetime. He'll suffer a new nightmare every night, thanks! But grown men walking around with granny gums are worse! He refuses to let whatever this happen!!

There's nothing heroic about the way he saddles up to the gentle giant and leans against him as if they're long time friends.]

How about you drink it, baldy? [Rude, this guy still has a small ring of hair.] Gotta prove that it works somehow, right? [Of course, the (now very offended) vendor protests, and Jian Yi raises his arms between the man and his new friend, waving wildly as if he could banish the exchange like smoke.]

Come on, blue, let's go find something good to eat. [Maybe he can get a meal out of this guy for saving him from becoming a grandpa. He does seem easy to swindle.]

[gunshow]

[ it is quite... stunning, how quickly this all goes down. though ryuu is technically the focus of the exchange, given that it's his pearly whites (the two elongated fangs and a set of four handsome incisors to match - luckily, he's not entirely lizard-mouthed yet -) on the line, he almost feels on the outside of the whole thing for a moment?! it's not often someone is bodily putting themselves in the way of an altercation for his sake, at any rate. so he looks on, somewhat awed by the whole thing until the almost-bald vendor is sent away, empty-handed and sulking. now's their chance!

taking his cue, ryuu steps away, a broad palm laid kindly on his defender's shoulder to indicate yes, hello, he'll follow you. ]

- ah, Blue...? [ a relieved laugh. ] Either way, you saved me! I really felt like I was going to be in trouble there, for a second...

Looks like I do owe you one!

[ very easily swindled. ]

[ourdays]

[There's something a bit intimidating about the hand on his shoulder - Jian Yi wonders for an instant if he's about to discover this guy's dark side. He quickly leans into him further, folding into his side. An attempt to charm the beast...

That seems to work (or, it was wholly unnecessary to begin with).

Jian Yi's been, he thinks understandably, jumpy since arriving, but this monster's not so bad.

And totally easy to swindle.] That's right you do! I'll have you take me to a nice noodle place to compensate.

[They just... have to find one first. Jian Yi very confidently leads the way down the street and away from sketchy vendor town, though the next street over doesn't seem to have any restaurants that fit his specifications.] My name's Jian Yi, so you don't forget how to address me.

[gunshow]

[ seeing as how he's a sturdy 6'3" and weighted to match, he makes a good escort around, in theory. as long as no know knows he's a gentle giant, his fierce looks ought to do the trick in giving them a wide margin of space to explore, sans sketchy snake oil salesmen. his mouth might be full of wicked looking teeth, but it seems the locals are quick to spot hapless outsiders, even so...

needless to say, ryuu is more than content to put up with this in comparison. it's not exploitative if ryuu technically owes him! ]

Jian Yi? Okay, I got it. I'm Ryuunosuke - but Blue is fine too. [ a laugh, he'll take his dues there too. ] I don't know my way around just yet, but we can just do this the old fashioned way, I think.

[ and follow their noses to the best smelling spot. ]

How do you like your noodles? Cold? Spicy?

iii

[barbeardian]

[The eight-foot-tall, broad shouldered goliath looks every bit of the rough brawler that he is, wielding a battle axe and sporting tattoos over gray skin which only make him look more fierce. But Grog's smile is just as wide, and when he runs into Ryuunosuke he doesn't seem upset or aggressive. Well, maybe slightly the latter, but that just might be his nature.]

You came out here to what? Do nothing? Come on, nothing's no fun.

[He doesn't know this man or anything about him, but he's in the area that is supposed to be set for fighting so clearly he needs to fight. It's probably good for him.]

You don't need to dodge around. People come out here 'cause they want some action, you know? Don't worry about it. You can let loose! You want to try me first? Go on, give it a try.

[gunshow]

[ of all the ways he could have been approached, this is the one that he least expects. big...! way bigger than he is, even half-gripped by his draconic changes, and seeming all the larger for his gregariousness. perhaps the effect of a personality flooding a space more than a body is what ryuu really notices, being in the business that he is. ryuu looks a little stunned, kneeling there with the length of his tail curling inwards towards his body shyly. just for a moment while he gets ahold of himself. ]

You're... right. [ he's right. doing nothing isn't something that ryuu advocates. ] It's just that, um...

[ how does it he put it? patting his knees, he climbs to his feet, still rather decently sized for a human. well, sort of human. he's pretty fanged and clawed, which puts him at odds with his bone-deep politeness. still, he's not one to back down from a challenge, and he recognizes when someone's trying to help him out. ]

I've never really fought anyone before. At least not for real.

[barbeardian]

[ Grog has never seen a half-Draconian before and logic might tell a different person that this is not how such a pairing would end up, but this is a new place, so you just never know. Anyway, this seems like a nice guy! He might be a bit quiet, but he probably just needs a hand in getting comfortable with the whole battle game thing.

When Ryuu stands and makes his confession, Grog gives him a hearty pat on the back. ]

Oh, don't worry about that! You've got Grog Strongjaw here, and if I knows anything, it's how to fight. I can show you how to beat up anybody!

[ Should he really sound so proud about that? No, but here he is. ]

[gunshow]

I, I'm not sure that I'd want to beat up just anybody...!

[ not even being the giant, secretly competitive jock of his friend group. not to mention he'd get in an unimaginable amount of trouble for beating someone up, being in the public's eye, having a reputation to uphold, a manager with hawk eyes and a wicked temper, so on... then again, just looking like he does has already thrown half that out the window. when in rome, right?

with a laugh, he takes the pat well, eyes scrunched. ]

You've got a lot of confidence though, so it does make me want to give it a try. Moving my body has always helped me keep a clear head about things, ah...

[ something he sorely needs, he feels. ]

I'm Ryuunosuke. Ryuu is fine, though.