middaeg | Gon August Catch-all

[this task didn't strike Gon as tremendously difficult when he'd initially read about it, even with its warnings in tow. all one needs is a general lack of regard for their safety (when not in lethal situations!! Gon has learned), and a learned way around wild life in general...

wearing some gardening gloves and having changed into a cheap pair of trousers bought earlier that day for such the occasion (though no outerwear, despite the cold), Gon simply wraps his face in one of his pillowcases as he leans far into the brush to extract some of the flowers. it's difficult for sure, but Gon manages to eventually pull some up with success without having to do anything extreme like cut away bramble.

he does, however, end up bit towards the end by one of the little white foxes. despite Gon's screams (initially surprise, then pain), he successfully shakes the fox loose and seems okay! he looks a bit disheveled as he carefully wraps what flowers he managed to grab, a couple of twigs and a some leaves stuck in the coarse stalk of his hair. while packing up, Gon carefully wiggles his garden glove off.

and he blinks, crouched before his backpack, holding his hand out as he spreads his fingers apart and flexes them. the action causes some blood to seep from the bite site on his hand, which appears to already be bruising.]

Wow, it actually got through the glove...

[Gon lowers his hand to look at the back of it, eyebrows lifting as his dark, fuzzy ears flip up in earnest curiosity.]

Good bite force for something so little...

[Gon won't admit that the literal fruits of his labor didn't come with some struggle.

he'd spent hours carefully, quietly stalking the rare albino bucks whose antlers bear what appears to be fruit—which is certainly strange (maybe it's a colloquialism and not literal fruit?), but Gon's seen stranger. what's difficult is that the bucks are already a bit skittish, because Gon's likely not the only one to have hunted them. and further, they're a mite aggressive by now, and powerful besides. so Gon's been focusing on dimming his presence, biding his time patiently—the whole time, devising ways to carefully remove the fruit without hurting the buck, lest he poison himself. he knows that the animal will move wildly when Gon finally has the right opportunity to literally leap on its back, so he has to find a way to center his core and his own strength to remove the fruits..

eventually, with some strife, Gon does indeed succeed—and he bolts, clutching his backpack, now full of fruit after managing to get a few of the deer in the span of about 8 hours. he's now running with a frantic quickness, one of the angry, territorial freshly-plucked bucks chasing furiously at Gon's heels.]

Edited 2020-08-06 20:31 (UTC)

[Gon's exploring some of the safer farmlands as he's been won't to do nearly every day since arriving, and he's quickly getting the hang of his compass and mental map regarding it. he's also finally learning a bit cohesively what is and isn't immediately useful in some capacity; he's learned what plants to stay away from, and which can be used for various purposes, and what can be eaten. he's looking for some edible stuff that he'll recognize, rather than gamble on foraging whatever he can get his hands on. the first couple of weeks Gon was here, he'd definitely briefly broken out in a rash on his palms from curiously grabbing something he shouldn't have. and that's how you learn! because books suck (okay, okay, he's actually been studying, too...).

but aside from Gon's mundane flora adventures, he's also been up to...developing some bad leg pain. nothing he can't soldier through, being incredibly resilient and stubborn that he is. but it's been getting uniquely difficult.

and it's today that suddenly, while steadily making his way up an incline that Gon's legs just suddenly give out beneath him. he hollers, startled, and sort of gracefully tumbles backwards, through various bramble and down many rocks. his backpack and fishing rod are flung someplace, and his watch some other place. grumbling, Gon pushes himself up, then scowls at his legs to give them a tender, RESENTFUL!! rub.]

Ugh... Jeez, what the heck is wrong with my body?

[he pushes himself into a sitting position, still scowling angrily at his legs, and tries to stand. he achieves some wobbly success, but ends up bracing himself against a young tree nearby. Gon hangs his head with an exasperated, loud groan.]

Augh, dang it!

[he has to at least gather his stuff; as it is, he can't even contact anyone right now! he's gotta find his watch...]

Stupid legs!! Work, or I'll break you myself! This sucks!

[while looking only a little bit scuffed up, Gon manages to make it back into Aefenglom in pretty decent time, his long-lasting adrenaline helping him keep his pace quick. he puzzles over his city map with his full bag on his shoulders, squinting as he takes another hour or so to eventually meander in front of the shop.

Worse Dragon.

Gon doesn't know too much about that kind of thing, nor is he interested to know, but he at least understands it's a store for adults—unsavory in that way, but knowing no other particulars. makes sense they'd want an aphrodisiac, but Gon, all the same... doesn't want to get too close. shoot. he hadn't really thought about how to actually bring the goods to the shop without actually going in...

feeling more than a little awkward, Gon manages to get the nerve enough to knock firmly on the front of the door.]

Um, hello! I have some items to sell, [Gon calls, fishing a quest receipt from his sign up out of his pocket (giving him a good excuse not to have to look through the windows), eyes scanning for details. Gon blinks, leaning his head back a little in surprise.]

For..."Stiles"...?

[...was that a common name in other worlds, or]

[ It’s one of the few shifts where he’s working during the day instead of night, as his nocturnal Arachne schedule demands. As such, he’s lightly dozing at the front desk when the sound of knocking startles him into sharp awareness, a line of drool wetting his chin. Stiles stands, blinking in vague surprise, and absently wipes his face with a sleeve while staring at the front door. Because of the signage posted there, he can’t actually see who his visitor is – or hear them very well, for that matter. Maybe tomorrow’s shipment has come early? Sighing, he rounds the counter and heads to the front door. ]

Hold on, hold on, [ he calls back loudly, fighting down a yawn, ] I can’t hear anything you’re saying.

[ The moment he opens the door, it becomes immediately obvious why their visitor didn’t enter the store; it’s just a kid. Stiles is relieved that the anti-minor spells didn’t have an opportunity to go off – those things are annoying as hell to listen to as they screech bloody murder at the underaged intruder. ]

Uh, hi. You lost, kiddo?

[oh..... he's definitely an Arachne. it's definitely the same guy. Stiles works at a place like this??]

Nope!

[Gon holds out the receipt for Stiles to inspect, which, of course, has Gon's name signed on it as someone who took the task to get the antler fruit. simultaneous to this, Gon shrugs his shoulder so that his bag swings off his back and in front of his belly, intending to open up the bag once Stiles takes the receipt to inspect Gon's business.]

I didn't realize you were the one who put up that quest bulletin; I didn't look at the name until now! We talked on the network. Little bit of a funny way to meet you in person...

[ Squinting, he snatches the receipt out of the boy’s hand to glance over it – eyes flying over the name dismissively before recognition kicks in and forces him to reread. Gon. Why does that name seem so familiar? Sure enough, the kid jogs his memory by reminding him of how they originally met over the network. The pieces fall into place. ]

Dude! You took on the quest? [ In spite of himself, Stiles is impressed; the Wilde is highly dangerous, after all. ] Way to go, kiddo. And is that bag full of the fruit? Damn. Shareen is going to have a field day.

[ Money wasn’t, fortunately, an issue for Worse Dragon’s aristocratic owner; the Witch will likely be over the moon with the sheer amount Gon has brought back for them. ]

Smart, by the way, not coming into the store. There are some spells woven into the entrance that wouldn’t react too well to your presence.

[aside from the Cwyld, the Wilde doesn't really scare Gon all that much. which makes sense when he basically has a penchant for getting chewed up recreationally.

Gon blinks, opening up his bag up.]

Mm? Really? Is it cuz I'm not an adult?

[Gon supposes that makes sense...]

To be honest, I would have been too embarrassed to step inside anyways... I wasn't even considering anything like that...

[and Gon's not easily embarrassed. he's casually walked through the red light district a couple of times, but that's different from actually going inside any of its establishments...]

Oh, um, since I can't come inside, you might want to get a bag or something for these fruit.

[Gon's not sure how dexterous Stiles's other limbs are, and besides, it's not like spiders have... you know... hands.]

[ An Arachne limb reaches out to helpfully reopen the door behind him while a second darts inside to snag one of the shopping baskets provided for customers. Both seem to lengthen in size in order to accomplish these tasks, with the emerald amulet Stiles wears glowing faintly in response to the magic spell that he’s consciously and silently activated. Once the basket is on the ground between them, the spider legs shrink in size yet again, then return to their resting position – folded around his torso. ]

Yup. [ The “p” is popped loudly. ] Anyone under eighteen who tries to enter the store will set off the spells. Useful for keeping minors out, but also super annoying.

[ For his part, Stiles seems to have no issue conversationally chatting about Worse Dragon to Gon – there’s no sense of shame or embarrassment at being associated with such a place. Work is work. In his eyes, Stiles is an employee to two of the coolest locals in the city and in a store that’s way more interesting than most. ]

So, how many did you grab? Did you keep count?

[ Though they may still be acquaintances, Stiles is already drawing a few conclusions about Gon, correct or not, and he thinks the kid probably did keep track of how many fruits he collected. Despite his age, Gon seems to be fairly responsible about doing a job correctly. ]

[ Alex had been walking back after helping out with harvesting at one of the farms. She’s learned quite a few tips on growing veggies and the like, and has gotten some fresh produce out of it too. A win win really.

As she makes her way towards the incline, something suddenly zips past her, barely missing the merrow. Stunned in place, she turns her head slowly and sees the fishing rod on the ground.

....A direct attack?!

No, no. Obviously no one was going to actually fling a fishing rod at her. It doesn’t look broken, she thinks after picking it up. There also seems to be a few other things lying on the ground from where it came from. One by one, like a short trail of bread crumbs, she gathers these items until she’s close enough to hear someone’s voice. ]

Is someone ther—- Oh my god, are you alright?!

[ The sight of the child has Alex scrambling up to where he is, placing the backpack (she’s put the stuff back inside) in her arms down as she looks him over. ]

Where does it hurt? Did you twist or break anything?

[Gon deflates with some relief when Alex approaches him, though it does wound his pride just a little bit to be found in such a state and to rely on a stranger...

but whatever, he's of no use to anyone in this state, now is he? thankfully, it seems like this nice lady managed to collect his stuff...]

Um, I don't think so! My legs have just been hurting kinda badly for the last few days... They just suddenly gave in... Thanks so much for getting my stuff together.

[Gon crouches once Stiles places the blanket down—he finds it interesting, the way Stile's Arachne limbs move so gracefully about... but it in just as equal measure makes him feel discomfited, and a little queasy. Gon swallows, grateful to be away from the display as he sorts the fruits out of his bag, but feels pretty bad for about the 600th time for feeling that way about arthropod type monster folks...]

Yes! I got about 11... Each antler had 2-3 fruit.

[feeling a bit more composed, Gon stands back up, lifting the basket cheerfully to Stiles.]

It's pretty funny you work in a place like this, [Gon laughs.]

[ If Stiles notices that he’s made Gon uncomfortable with the Arachne limbs, he doesn’t comment on it; self-loathing has been an internal battle he’s waged since his first day in Aefenglom when he realized what he would become. Almost no one likes spiders. It’s understandable, really. Stiles doesn’t even like himself. ]

Funny, huh, [ he remarks idly, doing the mental math and reaching about 93,500 cunes that Worse Dragon owes Gon – an impressive amount. ] Why’s that?

[Gon doesn't even dislike arachnids or insects; it's so unfair!! it's a good thing Stiles doesn't pick up on Gon's very subtle tells on his discomfort, but some people are intuitive like that.]

Cuz I didn't think you were a pervert, but I guess you're a male adult after all...

[Gon says this frankly and quite casually, blinking innocently as he stands up straight again and gazes up at Stiles, fixing the straps of his bag back over his shoulders.]

[ Wow, excuse me. Stiles can’t decide if he’s offended or amused at having been so nonchalantly point-blank called a pervert. Twerp, he thinks, a little fondly. ]

It’s a job, dude. You know what they say about the word “assume.” You’re making an ass outta you and me.

[ An Arachne limb, tarsus clicking, hoists the basket with its fruits up off the ground. But Stiles lingers outside, knowing he can’t continue this conversation in the store. ]

Let me ask you this. Why would I be a pervert for working here?

Huh.

[well, that's the second time Gon's heard that expression in the last month. the way that Stiles puts it that way makes a bit of sense, to Gon; it is just a job...

and it's not like Gon knows anything about that kind of stuff, especially not well enough to call anyone a pervert. honestly, it just felt like something Killua would say... either way, it means that Gon ends up having no idea how to answer Stiles's question. he scratches his cheek, blinking.]

I guess it is like a job anywhere else... But it's a bunch of perverted stuff, right?

[Gon seems to be asking earnestly, genuinely curious rather than scandalized or accusatory, at least...]

[ While the teenager in Stiles wants to remark flippantly on the subject, the owners of Worse Dragon have educated him a bit more in this field about the importance of such a store for people. Gon seems to be curious and genuinely interested in hearing his answer, which also helps temper his more snarky humor. Still, this isn’t a conversation he’s necessarily prepared to have with a fifteen year old. He’ll need to be careful about wording here. ]

I mean, are your parents perverted for having had you? No. [ He hopes. ] It’s just a natural part of life, bud. A store like this helps people be responsible about what their bodies need.

[ He rubs his face. ]

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… It’s probably the kind of thing that’ll make more sense to you when you’re a little older. You just haven’t hit that point yet, I guess.

Yeah! I know that much at least! I know sex itself isn't perverted, [Gon responds to the naturalist stuff regarding sex, frowning. but he listens, and even that just makes things a bit clearer. which Gon's not really keen to think about any more than that.

he just smiles up at Stiles kind of bashfully with a shrug of his shoulder.]

Yeah, yet, maybe. But I am a Faun, I guess...

[Gon's expression is maybe a little nervous, but he's playing it cool. teenagers. why]

Anyway, sorry if I said something offensive. I didn't mean it that way. I was initially just trying to be playful.

[now the conversation is here!!]

[ Stiles waves off the apology with a dismissive tarsus. ]

Nah, you’re fine, dude. You’re not the first person who’s questioned my decision to work here.

[ A moment while he weighs whether or not to tell Gon the truth, then he shrugs. ]

Between you and me, one of the owners is an Arachne local. She’s been helping me figure out how to handle my transformation since… Well, there aren’t any other Mirrorbound Arachne for me to ask. When she offered me the job, I jumped at the chance to pay her back, y’know? I owe her a lot.

[Gon's expression brightens, his eyes widening as his eyebrows raise.]

Ah!

That's really sweet, [Gon says with a smile, and his ears flatten somewhat.] It sucks there aren't a lot of Arachne Mirrorbound... I've been thinking I wanna meet a local Faun or two. It's useful to get the perspective of other Mirrorbound, but probably natives have the best guidance in some things...

[ Somewhat abashed at his sentiments being called “sweet,” Stiles huffs and makes a show of counting the fruit in the basket once and then twice, just to stall for time. ]

In some things, sure. But they don’t experience the transformation and full moons the way we do. Control is a lot harder for us than it is for them. Go figure.

[ One Arachne limb pushes open the door again while a second sets the basket just inside, so the fruit aren’t sitting out in the sticky summer heat. ]

How’re things going with your transformation? Looks like your Monster bits and pieces are coming in pretty fast.

[Soren had been lurking somewhere nearby, having only recently begun the quest. his strategy is quite similar, but more of a waiting game, hiding high in the shady boughs among their favorite food sources where he would ambush from above and seize the prize by the antlers when they weren't suspecting. it works well for someone who has wings to fly with and the strength of a dragon to wield... and he came equipped with some kind of soft claws nail caps for monsters to further avoid blood injury to the deer.

Gon may not have noticed him yet, since he's been so preoccupied with gathering fruit and Soren hasn't been here for very long. but it's easy to notice Gon when he's stirring up such a commotion. even his deer were startled and scattered...

well, that's annoying. more importantly, but perhaps even more annoying, is that the young faun over there could be in serious trouble. Soren doesn't have an altruistic bone in his body, but even he doesn't want to see a kid get mutilated by a wild animal. or worse, blinded. he doesn't leap haphazardly into action, observing the situation before deciding how to best avert the crisis. grabbing the sprinting faun seems too difficult at any angle without risking himself, so if he can't rescue the kid, he may just have to wrangle the deer.

...or scare it.

Soren leaps from the copse of trees and toward the clearing where their chase has taken them, landing a ways before their path but not directly before it. The compact little dragon boy with long dark hair and striking red eyes bursts into a whitish blue light and explodes into a giant winged lizard at least ten times his size, and standing erect on his hind legs. the buck practically flips over in its mad bid to dart the other way, willing to chase down a runty faun, but not when something that looks like an apex predator suddenly stands in the way.]

Hmm... I think that makes sense, though, if they've been experiencing since they were babies, probably... I wonder if we're kind of embarrassing to watch, [Gon laughs, seeming legitimately tickled by the idea, when probably he should be somewhere closer to mortified.

Gon tilts his head, watching as Stiles's limbs tidily and articulately scoot the fruit indoors, and then he grins back to Stiles.]

Yeah! Nothing happened to me the whole first month I was here, and now it's kinda happening a lot. It hurts!

[Gon lets go of another little breathy laugh, hooking one of his fingers against the inner curve of his short horns.]

When these were first growing in, my skin was so itchy and sore that I was grinding my forehead on bark. I'm sure the tail and the legs are gonna be worse.

But! Now I have a Bond with a Witch, so maybe it won't hurt as bad.

[ Leave it to Gon to brightly proclaim that the transformation hurts while grinning. This kid sure is something else. Stiles is endeared in spite of himself. ]

I know what you mean. When my spider legs were first coming in, I wanted to rip the skin off my back. At least you won’t be growing fangs. [ A pause. ] …Probably.

[ A cow with fangs. Well, stranger things have happened. ]

The legs will definitely be worse. There’s gotta be some kind of remedy to help ease the discomfort though. Or maybe your Bonded could look into spells for that kind of thing? I know they exist.

Oh... I hope not. [Gon blinks, expression falling as he mulls that over.] Not a lot of hooved animals have horns and tusks... But this is a whole different world, so who knows what kinds of animals Fauns can take after.

—Ah! Spells? Maybe...

[Gon thinks about it. he could mention it...]

Being Bonded with a Witch helps with the pain a lot though by itself, right?

Gon August Catch-all

quest: FORGET-ME-NOT

quest: FRUIT ANTLERS

2ND/3RD WEEK OF AUGUST:

STILES

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject