Our love is like water

[awryprincess]

Who: Heralia il Gardlanda and OPEN
When: Auguril
Where: Various
What: Catch-all! Quests, event, Full Moon Shenanigans(tm)
Warnings: A bit of blood and body horror for babby's first transformation. Will update as needed.

[1: Auguril 3rd, Full Moon, Night]

[She'd felt it itch like an infected cut, under her skin. Things flitting past her vision were... distracting for the whole day, and by the night, she could feel the itch across all of her to catch those distracting things in her claws (claws?) and bite them with her fangs (definitely doesn't have fangs). Something wanted to come out. Something bursting her at the seams.

As the sun sets, and the moon rises, Heralia understands what it means to be a Turnskin. Her skin stretches over something much larger, bulkier, furrier than she is, splitting and cracking, and the beast within starts to emerge, with a slosh of some... sticky, unidentifiable liquid that's a bit like peritoneal fluid, though it smells less like viscera, and more like wet dog. The skin liquefies as it hits the ground, into that same, strange, watery substance.

She bursts out of her old form with a growl, fur wet and slick and gleaming in the moonlight, and proceeds to... shake herself off, splattering the nearby structures with the remnants of the liquid. Her tongue runs across her forearms to clean off what's left of the substance, as though the taste doesn't bother her. And it doesn't - it tastes a bit like liquefied fat, with a tinge of blood. Once the grooming is complete... the hunt is on, and the wereleopard, now standing a good almost foot taller than Heralia's usually diminutive stature, rights itself from four legs, to two, and scents the air.

Hm. Something smells good. Something like... meat, perhaps?

She's out on the look for it. Close enough to the edge of the city to go hunting for live prey, but close enough to the wall to smell meats curing overnight, or someone sneaking a midnight snack. Whatever it is, the leopard stops, and stares, almost expectantly, long, pink tongue lolling out and curling over her muzzle.

Luckily, she can be sated with food. She can be sated other ways, as well, but it's not like she can communicate that at the moment. Or, perhaps, another Monster wants to join her on a hunt. Leopards are solitary predators, but pack instinct among Turnskins means she can be brought out for something more productive and less dangerous.]

[2: Match Made - Around Aefenglom - Lunasa]

[Let's rewind a couple of hours, or a couple of days. Ah, a festival made for romance. Such a thing had been a priority of hers, once, when she was a young girl, dreaming of a love that would sweep her off her feet, and promise adventure and companionship.

She got that, eventually. It just took an attempt on her life, and... well, it's not like her relationship with Laurel was traditionally romantic. That with Moraster, or the other dragons, either. But the end was more or less the same as what some people tried for when they married for love - and she got it without even needing to go that far.]

Oh! How's the happy couple? [Whether or not it looks like your character is dating said person they're standing next to, or not, she's there - she's there, and she's making that statement just to get attention. If she's right? Great. If not? Well, she can take the argument it'll spawn. Work it to her advantage. She's good at that.]

[3: Hazard At The Harbor - Aefenglome - Whenver]

[Through the harbor, a child runs, clearly holding something.]

And what do you have there? [And there's Heralia, calling out as the child scoots past, heading toward a back entrance to the factory.

A knife! [There's a glee in the child's voice. Definitely something they weren't expecting. Heralia claps her hands together.]

Excellent! Then you found the crate! Use it wisely~.

[Yep. She's giving kids knives. That's how she's going to start the urchin factory revolution. She feels eyes upon her, though, and looks to whomever is approaching.] Ah, hello!

[4: Antler Fruit - Wildes - Any time after the full moon]

Shh, shh-shh. [Heralia says, and drops into a crouch. Her ears, definitely furry and cat-shaped, swivel to the fore, pointed like radar dishes at the deer that's pawing its way through the underbrush.]

Theeeere it is. That must be it, yes?

[5: Lady of the Lake - Wilde - Any time after the full moon]

Well, well. Isn't that a sorry sight... [She mumbles to herself. This must be the lake and that must be... the spirit. Heralia looks at her traveling companion, as though to dare them to take the first step forward.] Well, let's get this started, shall we?

[6: WILDCARD]

[For all your Wildcarding needs! You can make your own starter, you can hit me up at Heralia's plotting top level, you can get me on Plurk at Reslari or you can hit me up on Discord, Reslari#9561.]

Comments

[awryprincess]

Oh? Oh ho! [Yeah, but she's always looking out for things that might spell danger for her. She likes Iramaat, but that doesn't mean she's entirely alright with walking into something potentially dangerous with her. Self preservation is key, and you always want to look out for #1. Everyone always does.

She grins as they approach the door. Oh this is going to be fun. Festival supplies. All kinds of potentially hilarious things in here. Even if she suspects most of it will probably be streamers and banners and party favors.] Oh what a cute little place. This should be great.

[wylderrant]

Oh, I agree.

[ Iramaat swings the door open and steps inside. It's a small place, but it does seem to have some depth to it. There's an older man behind the counter, thumbing through a book of some kind and the shelves are tightly packed, with things hanging out into the aisles here and there. It's a smorgasbord of ribbons, banners, noise-makers, and other assorted things. There are probably firecrackers in here somewhere though.

They just have to find them.

Iramaat breezes inside with a wave and immediately starts down one of the aisles with a glint in her eye. ]

Let's see...

[awryprincess]

[Heralia's right there with her, though she does separate so they can divide and conquer in their search for the fireworks. Even something small, she thinks. The aisle she heads down has an awful lot of sparkly decorations and very little otherwise.] Hm, nothing here. You have anything?

[wylderrant]

Possibly-

[ Her voice is a bit muffled by... well... everything. ]

Down here-

[ She's further back in the shop now. ]

There's quite a lot of dust - but I think I see something! Come and take a look.

[ She's found an old box of some sort of sparkler or noisemaker or firecracker that's apparently lain here unpurchased for a time. ]

[awryprincess]

[Now fuzzy, Heralia's ears twitch as she follows the muffled sound of the voice around, until she hears the exclamation.

With that, she bustles around the aisle (as tempting as it is to some part of her to just jump over the shelving), and is at Iramaat's shoulder in a moment.] What do you have? Ooh!

[It's... small. Not quite as destructive as Heralia would want, but it could be used to be annoying and a mild inconvenience, and she's all about that.]

I think the kids'll love that!

[wylderrant]

I think so, too. Not... quite as explosive, but for fireworks I don't think we're going to find much that will... well. Be large enough unless we really want to go hunting for the larger ones they shoot off.

[ Her eyes sparkle. ]

I still think a few of these in the right place will help immensely. Don't you?

[awryprincess]

That seems like something that'll take more than an afternoon to do.

[She waves her hand.] I think, for what we can do, this'll be the best option possible! Let's do it.

[wylderrant]

It probably would, but one can dream.

[ She laughs quietly and then hefts the box and pushes to her feet. ]

Distributing them might be a little more difficult-

[ She turns to wander back toward the front of the store, idly browsing some of the other wares as she edges past them. ]

-but if you've already spoken to them I'm sure you know who we can find to make sure they get where they need to go!

[awryprincess]

Oh I have a few ideas of how to make sure they get to all the right hands!

[She winks, and steps forward, watching the aisle pass. If she's throwing a party, she can see some of this stuff coming in handy, but for the most part... this store doesn't have anything she is interested in.

She motions toward the cashier.] Do you have exact change? I have a bit of money, now.

[Now that she's picked up a few odd jobs and done some tasks. Now she knows how all those... heroes... that kept coming for her and her Lord's castle must've felt at first.]

[wylderrant]

Oh, yes, definitely...

[ She doesn't mind paying. it's for a good cause. She digs her coinpurse out and starts counting money out onto the counter with a little hum. She's pleased. ]

I have to say, it feels good to be proactive, doesn't it? Better than sitting around and waiting for something to happen to you.

[awryprincess]

It does! And then, if it goes well, you can be an inspiration for others to take action, as well. [She grins, nodding at the shopkeep as he looks between them both, as though he follows they're not exactly going to use the firecrackers for good purpose, but with the way they're talking, thus can't really prove anything.

Then, once the money's forked over, he seems to decide he doesn't care anymore, and one of Heralia's ears twitches in amusment./small>]

Let's go find someone who can put these to the best use, yeah?

[And she flits away, grabbing the door and - even if she is the princess - holding it open.]

[wylderrant]

[ Money talks, apparently. Iramaat shoots the storekeep a wink and then saunters off toward the door with a grin. ]

I do enjoy being an inspiration. It's the hero in me, I suppose. Got to be a good example, you know?

[ She offers a bow and then ducks out the door, box cradled in her hands. ]

Now, you've actually been... ah... distributing certain items, so I'll let you lead the way this time.

[awryprincess]

Of course. Especially to children, since they're so impressionable.

[#do it for the children]

Yes, let's go to where the kids were meeting up. Just be aware, they're a little shy at first. You understand. But they're pretty easy to gain the trust of.

[They can be bought, more like. With, say, those fireworks Iramaat has. Those will do nicely.

Heralia leads them back to the general area of the factories where she had been with the kids before, but she takes a detour down a side-alley, that opens into another, with a little "opening" in the center of three buildings.

It's there the conglomerate of kids are, giggling and congregating around things.] Kids! Did you all like my knives? We have more for you!

[Then, she cedes the floor to Iramaat, so she can gain the kids' trust.]

[wylderrant]

Wonderful-!

[ When they finally arrive, Iramaat has to pause to take it all in. So many children! And they're all ready to make trouble, which is exactly what Iramaat wants. She sets the box down and spreads her hands in a little wave to all of them, a laugh stealing from her lips. ]

Hello, darlings - I'm Iramaat and I'm here to help you out a little. I know that you've already gotten some knives, but... well. We figured that making some noise and smoke might make things even more entertaining - which is why we've brought you these delightful little noisemakers.

[ Which is one way of describing firecrackers, sure. She opens the box and holds one up to show it off. ]

I trust you know what to do with these, hmmm?

[awryprincess]

[Noisy, explosive toys? The kids are all over it, and though their first few steps are tentative, they soon all start to approach with a rapid, joyful enthusiasm that makes Heralia laugh from behind Iramaat.] Don't use them all at once, kids! We're going to try to find more, but since we can't guarantee it right now, make sure to make them really count.

[She walks up behind Iramaat, and nudges her.] I think they like them, though. You have good ideas.

[wylderrant]

[ Iramaat is rather smugly watching the kids have a go at them. She's done what she can - now she just needs to see what results. She glances at Heralia as she's nudged and flashes a broad grin. ]

Oh, I have my moments. Thank you for saying so, though. Do you think that's our good deed for the day? Or should we hang around to see what they do with them?

[awryprincess]

I think! We've done our good deed for today. Wouldn't want to have any of these ideas traced back to us. We're just a supplier.

[She giggles, and reaches up to gently put a hand on Iramaat's lower back, to start getting while the getting is good.] It's in the kids' hands now, how they want to do this. They're getting old enough to make their own decisions.

[wylderrant]

[ The hand against her back is a bit of a surprise, but she acquiesces easily enough, drifting toward the exit with a bit of a backward glance. ]

You know, I think you're right. Whatever they end up doing, I'm sure it will be constructive. Somehow.

[ Or destructive, as the case may be. ]

I think we deserve a little of relaxation.

[awryprincess]

[Look, Heralia's comfortable, therefore she has little consideration for personal space anymore, sorry. Not sorry.]

I think we do, too! What're ya thinking? A drink to celebrate?

[wylderrant]

[ Look, Iramaat is all about getting up in peoples' business. She's just used to being the one doing it, that's all. She eases herself back out onto the street with a smile. ]

Certainly. How do you feel about wine?

[awryprincess]

Ooh, good wine, or bad... wake up half laying on the floor from your bed wine?

[There's an important distinction there, and while Heralia's sometimes okay with the latter, she'd much prefer the former.]

[wylderrant]

Good wine, of course. There are times for the bad stuff, but that's usually when you're too drunk to care...

[ That's a joke. Probably. ]

I do have some bottles at home, but we could also go find some more.

[awryprincess]

Well, yeah, or you just want to get so drunk you don't remember the day. Which seems a bit counter-productive to what we're doing...

[Of course, the offer comes with a cocked eyebrow, and then... Heralia laughs. Less a giggle, more a proper laugh, and she raises an eyebrow.] At home? Oh my, are you inviting me over? [There's an out there, too, she can hear, but... well...]

[wylderrant]

Is that a bad thing? If you'd rather not, I do know a few places where we can get something.

[ Look at her, trying to be smooth. ]

Besides, the house feels dreadfully empty these days.

[awryprincess]

No. No, I'm perfectly fine with ending things with a drink at your place!

[Why not, YOLO (even if technically Heralia probably should've died that one time), etc.]

As long as the drink is good, of course. I've had some of the finest in our realm. [She winks. She's not actually serious, but she might as well play up the princess angle a little.]