[OPEN] 365 and a day to save my soul

[kivatteru]

Who: Wataru & YOU! Fourth Wall characters are welcome!
When: All of Maiuril
Where: Various
What: Catch-all for the month! Quests, DiplomaTea, etc.
Warnings: None at the moment

i; sad howls in the night

[ This task doesn't seem to need time fixing, unless the turnskin stubbornly refuses to stop howling, but at least he's not investigating a rotting corpse surrounded by hunger-inducing grass this time. Either way, he's mumbling to himself about the best way to approach Roman, but that's when another person passes by him, coming straight from Karen's Patisserie, catching his attention. ]

Have you also taken the quest? About the wolf Turnskin?

[ Well, if this isn't a lucky coincidence. ]

ii; this is egg-specially worrisome

[ So now it's about eggs. The circumstances for their appearance doesn't comfort Wataru, but he offered to take one of the eggs from the Coven and find himself a partner to alternate caring for it with. Kivat has been nervous about the idea, snapping at Wataru that he wants nothing to do with "whatever thing is gonna pop out of there", and then left without saying anything more. It worried the Rider, but his focus is mostly on his duty as an egg-sitter. Other problems will take a backseat until it hatches.

He sighs, looking over at his partner while holding the egg to his lap. ]

Thank you for offering to help. I wonder what creature we're going to have to take care of, though.

[ If the "mom" managed to cause all that carnage to make a nest, they might be dealing with something quite dangerous. ]

iii; an usual day at diplomatea

[ Wataru can be found working at DiplomaTea full time on weekdays and alternatively on weekends as well. Various options available are:

a) He's the waiter serving you;
b) You catch him skillfully playing his violin on the small stage built for him, and you can comment on his performance in whichever way he made you feel;
c) In case of already established CR being the patron, he'll ask permission to serve and interact closely with you;
d) Co-worker shenanigans! Interacting with others at the shop, offering help and most likely being around until closing time. If there's anything you want him for, he'll be readily available.

Pick your poison, or ask for a starter if you'd like! ]

iv; wildcard

[ I can make close starters if you want one! I'm definitely open for full moon or Fourth Wall stuff! PP me on gaiamemories or send me a PM! ]

Comments

iii. the D (except not at all)

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Some while into the month, after the new arrives had been making themselves well and known, Everett is showing up at the shop. This would be his usual, except he looks as worse for wear as he ever has. Half is face is bandaged up, though his eye on the side seems to be saved of whatever happened. His dominant hand has a brace holding it in place, though it seemed his hand was injured rather than needing an entire arm sling. His expression is simply... weary. Far less the lively man he usually was.

Spying Wataru, he's quick to stride over to him, patting the young man on the shoulder in greeting]

Wataru, my dear. I need ask a favor of you. Do you have a moment to spare?

[kivatteru]

[ Anxiety rapidly flares up Wataru's system when he first sees Everett in such ruinous conditions. What in the world happened to him?! What, or who...? The pat over his shoulder has him startle slightly, his heart racing and not at all quelled by the the friendly greeting from his injured boss.

It takes him a few seconds to find a sentence that's pertained to their current dialogue, before realizing what Everett asked is a yes/no question and nothing more. ]

Yeah... [ He nods. There aren't enough customers today to start his violin performance just yet. ] Is something the matter...?

[ Wataru wants to ask about the injures, but that should be something that might be better kept in a private room. ]

[rollfordiplomacy]

Why yes. [he answers, rather blaze and casual in tone] Quite a bit is amiss.

I could use some extra help. If you could look out for any mirrors we have around- hanging as decoration, in the bathroom, anywhere at all really- and gather them into a pile, I need to shatter and burn them.

[just. A thing. He needs to do. What a request to show up and make.]

[kivatteru]

[ ... Wait, stop the presses.

Wataru processes the request within seconds, but looks on at Everett in obvious confusion, having expected something related to the faun's injuries. ]

Sure, I could...? [ He can't stop himself from asking, though. ] Can I ask why, though?

[rollfordiplomacy]

Oh... A vengeful spirit has arrived from my world. She's most set upon maiming and killing me. [he waves to his just... everything going on right now. As an example. Of that.]

She can teleport at and away from me, using mirrors. My vanity is really turned against me, eh? [nudge to Wataru with an eyebow like "haha, ain't that just peachy?"

Just Everett's style, taking very serious things with a wink and a nod and a tired laugh]

[kivatteru]

[ If only he could be like this boss, treating the issue so casually. More importantly, Wataru's mind goes instantly in alarm mode at the explanation. He would ask what Everett has done to cause the wrath of a vengeful spirit, but he's wise enough to avoid wasting time when such an enemy could attack them anytime now. Talk about it later when the threat is not looming over them.

His shoulders tense, and he nods curtly. ]

I'll find all the mirrors then. Where would you like me to gather them?

[rollfordiplomacy]

Bring them to the cellar, where the furnace is. If you could start it up, I would be less averse once the fire is already worked up. Faunish instincts make such thing difficult for me, these days.

[Everett... why so many mirrors? The answer is simple, he likes to see himself and check his appearance. He'd never think that would have such dire risk, now.]

We will shatter them and throw the lots in to burn. I can gather the mirrors I have around down there, if you gather those up here.

[kivatteru]

... Alright. I can start it up.

[ He wants to rebuff the plan and gather all the mirrors himself, because Everett is injured and shouldn't really carry weighs. But they can also finish quicker if they work together, and there will be less of a chance to have the spirit attack them and the patrons currently in the shop.

A stifled sigh. ]

If you need help, call me.

[ And then he's off on mirror-hunting, carrying all that he finds to the cellar and putting them into a pile. ]

[bonewife]

[Everett will part and go to the cellar. Unfortunately.

Adelheid's had careful eyes on this place ever since she arrived. The Ward of... well, her on the door gave it away as Everett's establishment. She knew he'd make an appearance. She just needed the right moment to strike.

Which comes when Everett is alone in the cellar. He goes first to his vault and opens it, moving to retrieve a mirror from inside, one he'd paid a nice sum for as it had an enchantment on it- but figured was best destroyed for good measure. While he's getting it out, Adelheid manifests behind him, kicking him straight into the vault with a clatter of shelves and stored money spilling out.

Then slams the door behind him, laughing manically]

A fitting death for a Vaughan! How long will it take for you to suffocate? [she'd have done better to be more quiet, but that's not really her style.]

[kivatteru]

[ Wataru only had to be away from the cellar for a couple minutes, having remembered of a mirror still hanging by one of the sinks in the restroom. It didn't take him long to retrieve it and finally appear in the room to dispose of everything, but it turns out a lot has happened in that time frame.

He's suddenly facing the spirit. Everett is nowhere to be found. The mirror drops as his first instinct is to step back, producing a few wisps of flame in his hand. He's just hoping his boss was made invisible and not just pulverized before Wataru could do anything to stop the spirit, whose presence has him quickly seize up and recall all the spells he's got at disposal. ]

Stop right there!

[bonewife]

Another puppet, I see! [Adelheid turns on her four long legs, towering in the space below the cafe, her antlers leaving gnarled scraps along the ceiling. The illusion of the hidden room was swept away when Everett entered and remains gone, but her facade is mostly intact. She appears a centaur, not a pile of bones, not unless Wataru throws that fire at her.

It won't do much good if he does, but she can try to bait him into it or scare him away with sheer intimidation factor of her wild gaze and the terror of standing before a creature capable and ready to trample him]

Let him die, little one. He's not worth saving. Scatter, like his rats.

[kivatteru]

[ He had fought countless monsters whose appearances were likewise terrifying. What made them even scarier than this spirit was the fact their regular appearance was that of a regular human who could blend into society and attack when no one was looking.

But this spirit doesn't seem so unlike the Fangire he defeated, or the mythical beasts that served him. She spoke wildly, sadistically, vengeful indeed. Whatever happened between her and Everett was something he really needs to learn from the man himself, preferably avoiding a death in the process. ]

I'm afraid I can't let that happen.

[ The flames burst stronger in his palm. Wataru knows he won't be able to chase her away through words alone. Trying to convince her that this isn't an area she should be in and she should be the one to leave... sounds like a stupid idea that only serves to buy a little time. He just hopes his attack won't cause too much collateral damage in the cellar.

He outstretches his hand, shooting a sizeable orb of fire straight at the spirit. ]

[bonewife]

[Adelheid does not bother to dodge the flame. It hits her in the chest and her illusion goes up in flames. What's left if a ghoulish creature of dark bones in a half broken, centaur skeleton shape, carnation flowers erupting from joints where sinew once held everything together. The fire doesn't seem to harm her, though the flame settles inside her chest, burning within the topmost, exposed ribcage.]

Watch ooout. [She practically coos, before the ball of magic is shot right back at him, smaller, but quicker. Adelheid uses that to cover an escape, knowing this was a foolish place to sustain a fight. Others would hear and come down, in no time. Besides, maybe he won't be able to get Everett out of the vault and it will still be a success.

Even if not, she knows she'll have properly terrorized him. She turns to a ghostly wisp and goes out through the mirror she arrived through, leaving the space quiet and still.

Save Everett banging on the inside door of his vault.]

[kivatteru]

[ Wataru registers the moment his spell was thrown back at him, but not how the spirit let the entirety of it burn her down without much of a reaction. He doesn't have the time to ponder on it as he dives to the side and narrowly dodges the blast. It collides on the wall behind him, and fortunately the concrete absorbs the fire like a bullet, only leaving a blackened hole.

The smoke it causes enters his nose and the poor Witch wheezes before coughing his lungs out. That was a... terrible idea. He should have conjured either an icy or electric spell to block her, but instinct told him to use fire instead. It's never wise to listen to his own instinct during such situations, it turns out.

When he recovers, Wataru becomes aware that the spirit is gone and the pounding he hears afterwards comes from the vault. That's Everett, isn't he? His friend is alive... Wataru would sigh in relief if he didn't know the smoke would cause him to caugh even harder if he inhaled more of it.

He stands up, dusts the back of his uniform off, andproceeds towards the vault. He places both hands on it. ]

Everett, I'm here. Can you hear me? Are you hurt?

[rollfordiplomacy]

[A bit of bleating from the safe, but Everett's relatively quick to collect himself from that pathetic noise. The vault is very heavy duty thing, not magical, just very difficult to crack. Of course, Everett had a great eye for a vault, being a Vaughan.]

I'm fine! For the moment! She'll come back! Break all the mirrors, lad! [first an foremost, that needs to be done, he can't risk Wataru being harmed by her while trying to rescue him]

[kivatteru]

[ Panic is very palpable from the way his boss was bleating... Wataru quickly files away that noise, remembering the time Everett got his horns stuck in a cabinet. No need for that. Death by suffocation is a possibility and as the faun keeps talking Wataru's worry raises higher and higher until he has to speak up before the worst really comes to happen. ]

Please, save your breath as much as you can.

[ He darts off to retrieve the mirrors, crushing them as quickly as possible while avoiding to get hurt by the fragments. They're thrown straight into the active furnace.

Panting with fatigue, Wataru returns to the vault, knocks at it. ]

... I've done what you asked me. How do I open this?

[rollfordiplomacy]

Good lad. Very good... [Everett is trying to steady himself, but he does not enjoy any moment he's trapped in here. He's try to take deep breathes and steady his nerves, but that's only going to make the problem worse. Faun instincts scream at him in the claustophobia of being trapped, caged. He's caught up in the irony if he died a Vaughan in a vault... just shameful, that! He speaks a clear and concise as he can]

Simple. A number combination. Can you hear me clearly? Two. Two. Zero. One. Three. Again. Two. Two. Zero. O, one. Three.

[... a combination that has been changed, at Viren's suggestion. That isn't on Everett's mind, which falls back to the number he set it as, the more familiar one.]

[kivatteru]

[ Okay. That's easy to remember. Wataru quickly steels his nerves and concentrates his focus on the numbers Everett is instructing to him.

A deep breath, before he turns over the last number.

...

Nothing happens. ]

Huh...? Why? I'm sure I've input everything.

[rollfordiplomacy]

... input... everything... [Everett repeats, utmost nervously, before shaking it off. No panicking! That won't help. Only make this worse. Think and focus, old goat, what was wrong with that number? Why wouldn't it-]

Viren! Call. Viren. Lord Viren. You have his number in your watch? [Wataru should, all his staff should have some numbers shared between them as coworkers]

He changed the number. I forgot. What it is.

[kivatteru]

Yes... I do have it. Hold on a second.

[ Wataru pulls out his watch in a hurry, steading it on his hand as he quickly scrolls through the list to find Viren's name. He won't allow himself to think about the way Everett talks - which is transpiring the start of a panicked response to being locked inside a vault.

He needs to focus. But... wait... ]

Should I tell him that you're locked inside it?

[rollfordiplomacy]

Absolutely do not tell him.

[humiliating!! Please. Viren. Don't let him down, now!




If he wasn't panicked, he'd know better. A foolish notion, to believe Viren, of all men in this world or any other, to give up a vault code simply because it was asked it of him.]

[kivatteru]

[ ... Okay then. Everett's panicked tone settles it for him, and without further questions he dials up Viren's number.

The exchange is brief and hushed. Wataru turns to the vault, an apologetic look despite the fact Everett can't see him. ]

He said, well... [ and he quotes: ] "Absolutely not".

[rollfordiplomacy]

Fine! Tell him I'm locked in it! [That was a quick turn on that, Everett. Real quick. But suffocating in his own vault is definitely far worse than admitting to such nonsense.

He can't exactly talk to Viren through the watch, there's no way it would pick up his muffled voice, even if he did yell loud as he could. He'll settle for a pathetic bleating that Viren is sure to hear and understand his panic through their bond, even if he can't articulate full words.]

[kivatteru]

[ Fortunately for Everett, Wataru won't pick up on how pathetic all the bleating sounds like. Instead he lets Viren listen, after which he gets the positive answer he hoped for. ]

He agreed to give me the number this time... hold on.

[ With Viren's guidance, he slowly manages to turn every single number with calculating precision, his brow wet with sweat as tension guides his hand.

... When he hears a click, that's when he notices he almost stopped breathing, and sighs out loud as he gently opens the vault for his boss to come out. ]

Everett... are you okay?

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Viren (sighing) gives out the new number, one Everett knew and yet couldn't come up with in his panicked mindscape. The vault clicks as it's entered and Everett is also holding his breath, purely on instinct to do so. When the door finally opens, the rush of fresh air is a rush of relief, too.

He staggers himself out and immediately falls into Wataru's arms, hugging him! Tight! So very grateful!!]

M, my dear! Thank you, thank you thank you, so very much, h, how distressing!