[open] for those about to rock, we salute you

[tothemetal]

Who: Styx and open! (and a few closed)
When: Aguril
Where: Out and about.
What: Catch-all for the month! Both quests and some day to day life stuff.
Warnings: None atm, will edit if this changes.

hazard at the harbor;

[it was a leisurely jaunt rather than any requests swirling around the area that had brought Styx down by the harbor. as someone who's spent their most of their life in a decidedly inner city setting, he still can't get enough of all the natural wonders that Aefenglom has to offer - including the vast expanse of water here. it really amazed him that something so massive could just...exist right here, and he's more than content to amble along listening to the sound of docks and waterside trade alike.

of course, all that listening meant that he picks up pretty quickly on the sound of children's laughter when passing by one of the factory buildings. more of a child than a real adult himself, it doesn't take long after the start of his investigation for Styx to be roped into their games, chasing after them with raucous laughter up and over the water towers meant to cool the machinery within in a spirited game of tag. with all of the shrieking excitement and clanging of heavy feet upon metal, it was no wonder that the big guy hadn't realized that they were battering the cooling equipment (and the assembly lines they supported) to a standstill.

later in the day, if you haven't run into him acting about one third of his age, you may instead find Styx in a much grimmer scenario - one of the foremen has come outside at last to investigate the stoppage and discovered the cadre of rebellious workers. the man's shouting all sorts of unkind words at the children before their massive playmate can swing down from the nearest pipe and attempt to intervene; by the time his feet have hit the ground the foreman's grabbed one of the mouthier kids by the collar and begun to violently shake him, at which point all of the placating words on Styx's tongue die in an instant.]

Dude, cut it the hell out!

[he's never so assertive when it comes to himself, but this is different. Styx had always deserved being pushed around and manhandled by authorities in his mind, but he also knew how awful it felt - and that no one else could ever possible have done something to warrant that.

in an instant he's thrust himself between the man and the young boy in his grasp, a powerful hand wrapping around the foreman's wrist and practically crushing it to force him to release the kid with a curse. the drummer doesn't want to escalate things any further than they've already been, but he's drawn the ire of the children's superior now by virtue of being too big to push around the way he was accustomed to doing with his underlings. he's stepping back, half turned to ask the kid if he's alright, when a fist flashes out of the side of his peripheral vision.

there simply isn't enough time to react, and the big guy ends up eating a punch to the side of his face. although he's strong enough that the hit doesn't cause him to stagger backwards, Styx still feels as if the blow has triggered an electric current running through him - only to realize that the feeling is more reality than a metaphor when the other man cries out in mild pain as sparks leap from the drummer's skin and skitter down his arm.

judging from the spasm of horror on Styx's face, he absolutely did not mean to use any of his magic right now. left unchecked, this situation is doomed to spin wildly out of hand.]


striking matches;

[Styx has actually been pretty successful during his work at the matchmaking business, despite the fact that he was more dragged into the job than legitimately confident in his abilities. however, as time's worn on he's started to feel like maybe just matching people up based on the bios was a little...superficial? flimsy, perhaps, was the better way to describe it. just because people had the potential for a spark didn't mean that embers would flare up - they needed to be doing something to really help that, right?

only...well, he wouldn't really know what made for a memorable first date in his own world, let alone a completely foreign one. this is way more effort than anyone should feasibly be putting into a temporary part time job, but here Styx was all the same, weathering a sea of embarrassment and incorrect assumptions by asking some of the shopkeepers most heavily advertising things related to Lunasa and the vows taken during it about what the most popular date spots in the city were.

it's not going very well, judging by his near constant state of a beet red face. the natives, bless their hearts, keep asking him too many questions about his own personal life, oftentimes far too rapidly for the meek drummer to get a word in edgewise and explain himself. at present he's desperately trying to sidle his way out of a store (and employee) that was attempting to foist one of those lovemaking potions on him with the hopes that it could ease some of his nerves when the big event came for him and his bonded!]

I-it's really not...um-! S'not the kinda thing you wanna force, you know? Even if they, uh, know it's gonna happen...

[looking around for the exit to this madness, his eyes alight on someone - anyone - else in the store and his next words address them rather than the employee extolling how natural it all feels, that's part of the charm!]

Sorry, um...'m in the way, aren't I? You probably wanna get home soon.

[tell him he's in the way. give him an excuse to leave. please. this is as close to standing up for himself as he gets, he's going to cry if he ends up with an item like this in his possession.]


secondhand serenades; (late Aguril)

[he'd done it! he'd finally, actually done it!! Styx has been working with probably the most earnest effort he's put forth since coming here on this project, visiting damn near every music store in the city and working with the employees over ugly sketches and clumsy explanations, and now the time is at hand to reap the rewards. today he got to swing by one of the stores and pay for his drum kit, lovingly custom built and damn near close to the set he'd been forced to leave in his own world for a society more or less stuck in the Victorian age.

needless to say, he's ecstatic. being unable to play for so long has been like living with an itch you just couldn't scratch, always out of reach - and now, with relief literally within his grasp? he just can't wait until he got home to try it out. the store had said he had until the end of day to return the little cart he was moving everything with, so surely a brief detour would be fine..?

whether it is or not, the big guy's setting up his kit in the first park he passes by, a wild grin on his face long before he begins playing. those who've met Styx before may be struck with just how different the man looks wailing away on those drums; not only was he completely uninhibited, comfortable with every aspect of himself, but he felt powerful. it truly was like a fearsome demon was playing those things, smashing to a beat that could rattle god himself from the clouds.

it's no wonder that, despite the intimidating intensity of the music he's playing, that Styx has attracted a little gathering of fascinated picnic-goers. he doesn't notice them at first, completely absorbed in releasing all of the pent up energy that's been building in him for over a month now, but the smattering of applause when he eventually pauses for breath certainly grabs his attention. his cheeks are pink from more than just exertion now, but he's genuinely pleased to receive the audience's compliments - as well as take requests, provided that they don't mind humming a few bars of any unfamiliar tune for him.

in fact, you could probably get in some music of your own if you don't mind nudging a few overzealous children out of the way! the big guy really does look like he'd be more than content to stay here and play until the heat death of the universe.



...orrrrr, those people you have to nudge out of the way to chat up Styx yourself might be recognizable as some of the musicians who've been hired to provide instrumental accompaniment for those selfsame picnic-goers. the drummer had hardly meant to crimp on their gig, but there was no denying that he's been absorbing a lot of their tip revenue, no matter how earnestly he tries to return it to the giver every time. standing within earshot easily reveals that they're ganging up a bit on the hapless idiot, smoothly and surely convincing him that if he doesn't want to be a jackass he should definitely give them back the money that he so cold-heartedly stole from these hardworking and impoverished people!

that's a bit problematic, isn't it?]

[ooc; feel free to spin any of the prompts in a different direction if you've got a good idea! alternately, if none of these catch your eye but you still want to do something shoot me a PM here or at phantomblood and I'd be happy to write you up a starter. ouo]

Comments

[tothemetal]

[no offense to be had here! even if it had been discomfort aimed at Styx directly, he's too used to those sorts of reactions in his own world to be bothered by it. he heeds the silent request to let her work her way to freedom alone, waiting patiently until she'd managed it. would it be strange to clap for her? probably...so he just settles for grinning widely as a form of congratulations.]

Don't think you're supposed to get hurt playing? Uh...least, wasn't like that where I'm from.

[but maybe the game was kind of different in this world? huh. that's something he hadn't considered before jumping in, and he's briefly sidetracked before Mikasa mercifully speaks again and bring him back to the present.]

Would've been way worse with a wall though, yeah. Maybe we should kinda, uh, move in a little? I guess?

[tighten up the arena, as it were. Styx turns slightly, looking at their surroundings. it was still a pretty big place even if they stayed away from the edges, right? lots of nooks and crannies to wiggle through while being chased...most of which the kids were wisely making use of already.]

[stopfen]

Uhh...I'm not sure. I never really played before... [Being the only child for miles, living in a cabin in the woods.

Still, she's free now. Giving one last shake off, taking a step closer as she did. Closer, yes. Wings giving another little buzz. Would Styx notice those large, unblinking eyes staring at him...getting closer...peering.

Then SHOVING HIM into the bush as soon as she's next to him.]

Tag-!

[RUnrunrun...Wait, she can fly.]

[tothemetal]

Guh-!

[there he goes, sweet trusting fool, tumbling into the bush far more heavily than Mikasa's light frame could have ever hoped. the poor plant doesn't fare well this time around, snapping beneath his bulk rather than simply clinging and caging. alas, alack.

what's really rude here is the fact that he's it again after having just gotten rid of the title. like, come on. it's bad enough that he's getting (willingly, lovingly) bullied by a bunch of kids, but not a grown-ass woman as well? Styx tries to pretend he's upset as he pushes himself out of the wreckage, but he's laughing too hard for even the smallest of the children to believe it.]

Dude, come on! 's not fair at all!

[which just means...he'll have to exact his revenge by tagging her mercilessly. the big guy may not be able to fly or anything fancy like that, but his legs are long and his determination is unshakeable. as soon as he's on his feet again he's charging after Mikasa like a runaway freight train.]

[stopfen]

['Light' lady was heavier than most men. But she was smaller, that weight more concentrated...Don't catch, it was potentially dangerous.

She was moving though, wings giving a buzz and she's going up and onto a small outcropping. A large door next to it, with on the other side. Something for loading carts with supplies? Well, it didn't matter what it was, they weren't going to be using it. It was pretty high up for the kids. About as high as Styrx was tall.

Mikasa was just going to peer down from it.

...Could he climb? Ehh, if he could, she could fling herself off again. Small sparkes flicking through her black eyes with mirth.]

[tothemetal]

[climb? Styx had...probably stopped trying to climb things in earnest after puberty had hit him in earnest. being massive didn't deny you the ability to possess dexterity as well, of course, but the people surrounding you drilling that concept into your mind could.

so when he finds himself quite literally running up to an impasse, the thought of scrabbling for purchase on it never crosses the big guy's mind. instead he's reaching up to grab hold of the ledge, using the momentum of his heavy footsteps to quite literally haul himself up to the top with a soft grunt. it'd probably be pretty fucking terrifying to behold if he wasn't grinning with just as much excitement as he could sense in Mikasa.]

[stopfen]

[Him hurling himself up the wall might have been more impressive if she wasn't from a world were people regularly hurled themselves around.

It would be very easy to just jump up, take to the air and be off again.

Except dumb bugbrain says no.

Instead of fleeing and avoiding being tagged liked the rules of the games dictated. Her wings fanned out behind her. Giving the occasional twitch to show the faint red-eye pattern that formed with the membrane spread. Arms raising out to her sides like she's going in for a hug. Then the hissing with chirps mixed in started.

It is time to play fite? is she being challenged? Come at her bro? She's strong enough to not be pushed back.]

[tothemetal]

[he's doing his best as a regular guy from a regular world ok!! we can't all be fighting giant naked monsters.

we can be fighting tiny humanoid bugs though, apparently - or at least we could be if Styx had any sort of understanding on the intricacies of insect behavior. instead, when he crests the lip of the little ledge, he finds Mikasa...doing, uh, something alright. it's bizarre enough that he kind of forgets that this is a prime tagging distance, instead allowing his brow to crinkle as he sort of just. stares in total bafflement.

while he doesn't hiss - sing? squeak?? - back, he does raise his hands up as well because this seems to be the sort of thing you're meant to mirror. maybe if he kind of waves them around something will happen..?]

[stopfen]

[Bro, even the nerds have abs for days.

The fae remained there, still. Her wings giving a small flick, look at the pink and red eye-dots. Her 'eyes' were so high up...Except with her now being a whole 5'6 now, they were only just above his head.

The stare-off continues. Mikasa's large black eyes not moving from him. Sloooowly side stepping, circling... Chirpping. Her face carefully blank, she didn't want to give away where she was looking after all.

THEN she's going, lowering her shoulder to slam into him. Thank you monster rudgby for teaching her tackling.]

[tothemetal]

[she'd not moving...although the little wings were, which momentarily distracts Styx by how cute they are. it's probably not the intended reaction of such a defense, but at least they've caught his attention?

Mikasa is being so careful in this standoff when, honestly, it's mostly wasted energy. the drummer is simply too thick to really know where she was looking even without such conscious thought; even the way he kind of spins around to follow her circling is making him vaguely dizzy, hardly the picture of a formidable foe. he's humming along to her chirps out of some desperate attempt to grapple properly with the situation, forming a rather cute tune between the two of them.

...and then he's being bowled over again, massive bulk not doing much in the face of a sudden attack. despite the loud cry that escapes him Styx is at least a little readier this time, as his upheld arms close around Mikasa as he tumbles, forming a cage to hopefully bring her down with him. play fighting it is indeed! ...albeit slightly confused on one side.]

[stopfen]

[Chittering intensifies.

Because Mikasa's life sucked. She'd shrunk from her relatively tall height of 5'9 to...5'6. And her arms weren't...She could grapple. She could grab and lift normally but he was a bit big for her arms to wrap around. So awkwardly clinging it was.

...Hopefully, he wasn't too attached to this shirt. Because it might have been stretched in a few places where she'd tugged. But then he's going down and taking her with him. She kept ahold, clinging and stilling as they landed. Trying to work out what was now happening.

She hadn't expected him to fall? But here they were??]

[tothemetal]

[listen, Styx may be gigantic but he's also been trained by his environment to be a pushover and that extends to physical altercations as well. couple that with being caught a little off guard...well, here we are.

at least the big guy's not wearing the shirt he arrived in today, which he actually is very fond of. this one stretches and flaps uselessly, hardly tailored to his massive frame at all, as they hit the ground with a heavy thud. the drummer is more concerned with what's happening now (just like Mikasa) than the brief twinge of pain since this has once again spun far out of his realm of understanding. he stares back at the fae still chittering at him blankly, stupidly, before...gently trying to lift her off? but like. straight up rather than over to the side, like she's a cat or something. moron.]

[stopfen]

[The mantis fae kept clinging and giving little hisses, like some horrible cat with too many limbs.

A horrible cat that was being...benched? Her fingers still stayed wrung in the shirt, pulling it up as she was lifted. The large black compound eyes lifted, her head tilting so she could look at him as her wings folded flat.

... This is the most awkward staring contest.

Then there's a squint slowly forming on her face.] You... I've seen you before. Haven't I? [She was sure, he had a memorable face. Something to do with the pieces of metal sticking out of it.]

[tothemetal]

[this is not only awkward but extremely bizarre. never in Styx's entire life, including the small part that's been lived here in Aefenglom, had he encountered anything that might have prepared him for this moment. which means that he's going to do exactly what he always does when faced with a baffling situation: just keep repeating his last action until someone tells him to stop or something changes.

and lo and behold, something does change indeed! that it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact he's been unable to disentangle Mikasa from his shirt by lifting her up and down like a carnival ride doesn't really occur to the big guy, too struck by the question as he is.]

Um...yeah? We met at the festival.

[there's an uncertain lilt to his reply despite the fact that he is absolutely sure of this information, the sort of tone that is simply waiting to have to shift instantly into apology. they've definitely met before, but with Mikasa questioning him like that he's...not sure if he was supposed to remember that or not. geez.

(he's also paused in his unintentional aerobics, holding this conversation with the fae up in the air. oops.)]

[stopfen]

[She was being held up by her armpits. This was unusual in so many ways, normally this was the other way around. After another few seconds, her fingers stopped wringing the fabric. Wings fluttering to send her up and out of his arms.

Planting herself onto the ground, reaching out with her red and white chitin covered hands to grab his. And pulling him up... Or attempting it. His weight wasn't an issue, it was his height. That he'd still be sitting even if she pulled him up.

She clicks at him. Then breaking her gaze away, ears turning red. Ah...she had a moment, didn't she? ]

Are... Are you okay? I didn't bite you or anything did I? [She hated that it was a question she had to ask but... If she had, she probably shouldn't be here. Not near the kids. She was potentially dangerous to an adult.]

[tothemetal]

[he releases her easily, almost glad to be freed from this situation that surely he must be handling poorly. Styx doesn't need any help to rise, honestly, and burdening someone with having to yank at his heavy ass is usually enough to get him to actually say no to such offers...but this has been a confusing time for Styx, and so he takes the hands before he can stop himself.

well, at least it only goes so far as getting him into a sitting position. allowing his hands to drop from Mikasa's to dangling between his bent knees, he stares a little blankly at her question and reaction alike. what did she have to be embarrassed about..?]

Huh? Nah, of course I'm fine. See?

[he holds an arm up for her to investigate with a reassuring smile - nothing more than a little dirty, see?]

You don't gotta worry.

[stopfen]

[The movement draws her attention to the limb. Her own hands falling in front of her. Visible, not ready to fight. Her head tilting to look as her antenna splayed out. Like they'd sense something her eyes couldn't see... And finding nothing.

The relieved sigh slips out at the lack of teeth marks or blood.]

Good. The last time I did... [Tried to bite one person, successfully bit another and mauled a rabbit.] Are you sure you're alright?

[Given she'd knocked him over and everything.]

[tothemetal]

Mm, for sure!

[and even if he hadn't been, after hearing that Styx would have lied his goddamn ass off to convince her that had had been fine. he knows that fear all too well, although he still hasn't fallen over the precipice yet - but it was an inevitability, he's afraid, something that he would never be able to manage to put off for the entirety of his life. he'd rather die himself than stoke those same flames further in another.]

I'm real tough even if I don't look it. Takes a lot to get me super banged up.

[stopfen]

You look pretty tough. You have metal in your head... [Completely 100% deadpan. She knew what earrings were, she'd been talked into getting some that were enchanted. It was still a work in progress... She was kind of poor. Too poor for normal jewelry. Let alone something with an enchantment that needed rare ingredients.

...She probably looked tough to with that scar on her face.]

Doesn't change that I've hurt tougher than you.

[Like flinging Reiner across the yard.]

[tothemetal]

[metal in his head..? despite the fact that Eren had directly referenced his eyebrow piercings when they'd first met, the big guy fails to connect them with his companion's comment now. instead he just raps gently on the side of his own temple, brows furrowed, as if that's somehow going to provide him with an answer.

maybe she just means he's stupid. it wouldn't be an incorrect assessment.]

Haha, probably!

[he chuckles, finally dropping his hand back down to his side.]

But it wouldn't bother me if you did...uh, hurt me, I mean. 'S all good.

[stopfen]

[It was hard to tell with her compound eyes, but they did flick to focus on them as his eyebrows moved. The piercings moving a little with them.]

Are they heavy? [Her pointed ears gave a little wiggle. Poking out of short hair.] I'm supposed to be getting special ones for my ears... But- ['She couldn't touch metal to check. how they'd feel.

Instead of asking though she pauses blinking. Silently letting her head drop for a moment. Then lifting again, after a few seconds of thinking her life choices. She swallows, frowning.]

...Are you one of those people that like being hurt?

[She was warned about them!]

[tothemetal]

[heavy? what...it takes him a couple seconds to figure out that she's talking about the piercings and not his head (it feels very heavy sometimes, as a matter of fact) but thankfully Mikasa has proven herself patient with his laborious thought processes.]

These aren't that heavy, but they're not all that big either. My buddy at home's got some he wears sometimes that look like-

[look like his own thoughts are getting completely and thoroughly derailed by the fae's subsequent question. it's such a startling inquiry that he can't even manage to finish the sentence he'd already planned out so neatly in his mind. his voice sputters out and he just. gapes at her for several long moments, trying his damnedest to process what she'd just said.]

Uh...no? Don't think anybody really likes it.

[stopfen]

[Her confusion really had killed the conversation as she peered at him with those large black eyes. Then pursing her lips as she thought.]

I was told there was and...And I've met one. [Eren...That had been Eren. When she'd stepped on him and he'd... Purred. Then just let her bully him. Mettaton had told her what it meant, why the dragon had let her bully him even when he was both bigger and stronger.

...That sure was a thing to remember. She'd have to ask Eren at some point... Maybe.

Her eyes scrunched shut, shaking her head.]

You're not like that? ...Then why are you okay with me hurting you? [The most awkward conversation.]

[tothemetal]

No shit?

[Styx seems to contemplate this, rolling around the new information in his mind and trying to figure out what it could possibly mean. inevitably he's drawn back to memories of home, and the occasional marks and bruises his bandmate Ymir would sport during practice. some of them were Vincent's doing, he knew, but whenever he asked about the others...

oh. is that why he'd just smile at him?]

Uh...don't think I am, at least. [not that he's. ever been hit by somebody he's been attracted to? oh god.] Just figure it's better if it's me than somebody else, you know?

[stopfen]

[He gets the smallest of nods. The fae still not sure how to deal with this forbidden knowledge.

Then he answers and that gets another little knowing nod, her antenna bobbing along.]/small>

Oh...Yeah. I know. [So he was like her...and not a strange person like Eren apparently was.] Back home, I'm stronger than most. So it's better I get hurt instead of them being killed.

But it works differently here. There'll be people a lot stronger. [She's felt really usless about it for a long time. Even now she had to remind herself of her limits, the limits of other monsters.]

[tothemetal]

[Styx finds himself nodding along before there's really even anything to agree with, the bounce of Mikasa's antenna kind of hypnotic. thankfully he stops to speak himself, before he starts looking like some kind of bobblehead.]

Oh yeah, of course! Was probably people stronger than me at home too, for sure.

[but...his fingers spread out, then contract, an unconscious fidget as he tries to find the right words for why he still felt this way.]

Even tough dudes still get hurt though, right? So it's ok even if they could probably tank the same kinda thing, since it'd still slow them down. I don't matter that much so nothing bad's gonna happen if I get banged around for a while.