[Open] Can't you see, we're trapped inside a dream

[grandspark]

Who: Rude and OTA
When: All throughout October Octeuril.
Where: Around Aefenglom.
What: Catch-all stuff. Monster changes during and in between full moons, a new strange eating habit, random encounters. Quests Added: Slashing Pumpkins, Shamblevine Blossoms, and Sparking Artistry. (He's also signed up for are Lawn and Order if you would like to create or have a prompt created for seeing him do that.) Whatever else. Hit me for additional prompts if so desired.
Warnings: N/A Slightly squicky monster changes, maybe some cursing at some point, can add more if necessary.
Note: Default written in prose, but actionbrackets are fine!

Octeuril 1st Full Moon

Rude woke up to find his bed in shambles. The sheets were ripped to shreds and the pillow was no longer stuffed. He was surprised for two seconds before he realized the culprit was himself. He took a good, long, hard look at himself as he stood in his room and examined his claws. It wasn't just claws, he found later, that had done the damage. Though mostly it had probably been that as he thrashed around and clawed at his sheets. He discovered scales growing in and spikes protruding from him as well. And one more very notable thing: a pair of slightly bulbous sacs had formed on his back during the night. Not very large yet but something within them was definitely growing.

He wasn't sure what to think at first. He had been expecting this sort of thing to happen sooner or later. His changes had been relatively subtle so far and it was time for major ones to come. He had been here long enough to come to terms with the fact that it wasn't something he could avoid. Not so long as he was here in this world. He didn't know what would happen if he found himself back home. (Would the changes cease? Would they reverse? Was it even possible to go back home or did those that disappear end up...somewhere else? There were no answers to those questions as far as he knew. Not yet.)

He spent a good time in the mirror after he'd cleaned up his mess (threw out the ripped sheets and pillow, replaced them with the spares for now) and examined all his changes. He could feel an itchiness already in place were he suspected more scales were getting ready to form over his skin. He thought he looked like a cross between a snake and a crocodile with smaller scales in softer areas and larger, harder scutes in places where it looked like he was growing armor along with the spikes. His scales were black with highlights of purple in areas, matching the colors of his feathers. They were most prominent around his shoulders and back, and his hands and feet, and then there was his face. It was odd there. At one point he reached up to feel what he saw in the mirror there and frowned slightly. He had an area of skin that was reptilian--he could only tell because the color had changed--but there were no scales growing there. Were they still forming slowly or was he, dare he think it lest it come true, scaleless in that area? It seemed an odd thing to change into. A scaleless reptile with partial feathers and scales and one area practically highlighted as to its weakness. Great.

He snorted in a distinct lack of amusement and covered that area up with his sunglasses. How convenient it was around his eyes. Or inconvenient because his eyes were already vulnerable just due to the very squishy nature of eyes themselves. Now he was becoming a dragon with no scales around to protect them. His sunglasses would have to make due as protection for now. Hopefully no one would really notice over the fact that his forehead was growing plates of armor and his head was sprouting nubs that were either spikes or slowly forming horns. Or both. Extra bonus was the sunglasses hid the bright yellow hue of his eyes, a change from the warm brown they had been before, and the slits for pupils that gave even him the creeps to look at in the mirror. He looked like a snake in the grass now more than ever.

Still unamused, Rude did his best to get clothed around some of the new changes, ignoring the sacs on his backs for now, and go about the rest of his day. More was coming but he knew better than to dwell too long on the future for this sort of thing. It was inevitable. He would live with it. He could learn to cope when the time came. Not worry over it before.


I. Strange Eating Habits

a.)
A strange thing began happening as Rude went through his days. He didn't notice it at first. It just happened when he wasn't paying attention, an unconscious act that didn't mean anything to him. It felt natural and thus didn't register.

Whether he was moving down the streets and just happened to pass by a fixture with some gravel in it, or he was sitting down in a garden feeding the birds some seeds he'd picked up for that very act, whenever he spotted certain sized rocks he picked them up. Texture or color didn't seem to matter, only the size. He slipped them into his pockets as he went through his day and forgot about them.

He truly didn't even notice he was doing it. A sly mention or straight up confrontation about it might be the only way he would even realize what he was doing... though why wouldn't occur to him until later.


b.)
At lunch or dinnertime Rude sometimes liked to eat on the outdoor patios of restaurants or pick up something and bring it to a park to eat while he watched people or animals scurry by. He wasn't picky about the view so much as just liked to watch and learn while he was idle.

Wherever he was, Rude had a meal to eat and that was normal. What was abnormal was that every now and again he'd slip something small and candy-sized from his pocket and pop that in his mouth instead of food. Upon closer observation it wasn't candy that the bald man was eating; it was small rocks.

Once again, Rude didn't really seem to be conscious of the act. He was just going through the motion without thought. But it was kind of weird, wasn't it? Even for a monster?

II. Quest: Slashing Pumpkins

Another farmer needing help with crops. Running theme for this fall it seemed. Rude was just thankful there wasn't any noxious poison of one sort or another involved this time. He didn't even mind the fact that he found out after he joined in cutting the vines away that the things were carnivorous. This he could handle.

Unfortunately it took him a while to notice the things simply regenerated after smashing the pumpkin-like gourds away or cutting up the vines and removing them. One time he came back to his pile of discarded vines only to discover newly plump gourds growing and the vines beginning to wiggle their way out to find new prey.

"What the hell...?" He sounded less stunned than just resigned. He was really beginning to see a pattern with this place.

Plus side: fire dragon! Minus side: he didn't actually have a breath weapon just yet. He loved fire but needed a starter. Time to get help or make a weapon out of random stuff!

III. Quest: Shamblevine Blossoms

They were a lot larger than he had expected. He did a modicum of research on the creatures before heading out, sure, but the description hadn't really done the flora covered creatures justice. Even as a strong-armed dragon he didn't really want to tango with one of these on his own. He was pretty sure he could but he had initially headed out here on his own so it probably wasn't worth the risk.

Instead, he focused his efforts on making traps and luring in the creatures. With them trapped he could hopefully harvest some of the blossoms without damaging them, and then set the creatures free. If they caused him trouble he could kill them, that didn't really bother him all that much, but it didn't seem necessary for this job. He might as well try to be tactful first.

He wouldn't mind help setting up the traps and lures, but please try not to run into any of them yourselves, either.

IV. Quest: Sparking Artistry

Having a Mirrorbound monster who was still changing into his full dragon self was probably not the best bet for working on explosive materials, especially as the moons grew closer to a second full moon phase in the month. Yet there was the black and purple dragon, working on explosive material as the moons grew close to full. The real issue was that his back irritated him, or so he told himself, because the bulges were steadily growing and forming wings beneath the leathery skin back there.

Despite this he kept his calm as he worked on the fireworks. He was much better at focusing on the task then he was dealing with people right now. Working on flashy explosives wasn't just a job to him it was practically a hobby. He had always been good with explosives, even slightly magical ones. Back home he could take a piece of Shinra tech and turn it into the loudest or the most flashy bomb on the continent. Fireworks weren't that much different, right?

Right. With the right concoction and skill, he could easily create a flashy firework that was all show and little bite. The magics here were quite different from what he was used to but with the instructions given he adjusted quite nicely. He even got a few praises from experienced artisans on his adaptations of fireworks once he started to get used to and then experiment on his own. Rude liked this work. It was good for him and it kept him out of trouble for a little while.

He came back for a few days as they experimented to create the finale for the final night of the month. His work progressed nicely but unfortunately his irritation grew worse the closer the full moons got. And then he was notably absent the final night but he'd finished and left his creations for the finale where they could still be set up by the rest of the workers present that night.

V. Back Pains

a.)
The sac-like bulge's on Rude's back grew more itchy and achy as the month passed by. At first it wasn't noticeable but eventually he figured out they were growing in size, too. Larger, more protruding, harder underneath the stretching skin as the things inside formed, became solid and strengthened. He had little doubt what it was that grew back there at this point but didn't think too hard on it. He wasn't certain yet how he was going to feel about having them.

It was just one more step towards being more monster than human. Then again, at least he'd have flight back on his side. Except this time he would have to learn a whole new set of controls and tricks to conform to actual winged flight, not the use of a vehicle.

That was another worry for another time. Right now his back was so itchy and ached so much he couldn't stand the thought of fabric rubbing across the thinly stretched skin of his back. Rude would have had a hard time seeing it even with a set of mirrors for him to look, but passerby as he strolled single-mindedly down the street with one purpose in mind--get to the store, find an ointment for this madness--could catch glimpses of the limbs growing inside, sliding against the skin as they shifted uncomfortably in the small space. Rude didn't care if he was getting looks from locals or Mirrorbound as he stomped down the street without a shirt on. All he wanted was to get to the damn store and solve this problem.


b.)
He made it to the store. Now there was a shirtless, half scaled dragon with shifting bulges on his back standing in front of the ointment section of medicines. He was staring at the jars and bottles with a hard set to his jaw. Honestly, all he wanted was something simple but effective.

Unfortunately, he didn't have much experience with the medicines of this world. He didn't know what worked well and what didn't. He could go for a magical potion but he didn't know how those worked in this world either. If they were anything like back home then they could be super effective for certain common ailments. But they could also be a load of crock or not work on uncommon factors if he picked up the wrong thing or from the wrong place. At least back home he had a better idea where to start and what to look for.

Here he hadn't a clue. The store owner was keeping his distance, wringing his hands together and watching as if he wanted to speak up, but he was either nervous because the bald man was intimidating in his current state or the owner had already gotten a low growl from the dragon when he'd tried to happily offer some useless advice when Rude had first entered.

Either help him pick out something or tell him to vacate so he stops scaring off the other costumers?

VI. Blue Moon

Nighttime had fallen several hours ago but Rude wasn't ready to head home anytime soon. He had never felt so restless in his entire life. Not as a teenager, not as a Turk, not ever. He was always so well in control of his inner workings, always calm and stoic in demeanor, naturally predisposed to quiet. The full moon had other ideas in mind tonight.

He wasn't a turnskin but this was the first time the full moon had really exerted any kind of grip on him and a part deep in him still connected to its usual logical nature knew that changes were coming. His changes had been relatively minor up till now (he'd had it lucky so far, he knew) and he usually slept through the beginning stages of most of what he had experienced to this point. He had minor issues during the daytime as he grew further into the feathers, and much more recently, the scales now showing. Easy changes on him, itchiness and slight irritation he could handle, not much in the way of psychological changes, all physical. That felt like it was all about to change.

He didn't remember when he was suddenly surrounded by trees but it happened sometime well after dark fell. He could see just fine in the dark it turned out but it wasn't his vision that was failing him tonight. He roamed restlessly in the forest, almost as if looking for a fight or something to chew up and spit out tastelessly. He wasn't hunting per se but his mind was running around in circles as much as his body at the moment, struggling, sluggishly behind the rest of him as he kept on the move.

Then it happened. He felt the ache settle into a dull pain. The wings on his back stretched the sac protrusions on his back stubbornly, craving the night air as much as any living creature might. He rubbed against bark and stone alike as he wandered, as if he were scratching an itch, but it wasn't enough and eventually it came to the bursting point. One time his hand went back to scratch over his shoulder at his back and when it came back the claws were covered in ichor and blood. It didn't hurt though; it felt good.

The rest happened quickly. Rude didn't even register most of it. He went down on all fours as his wings stretched tight one last time against the sacs holding them and then all at once they burst forth, the skin ripping apart where his claws had started the tear and running all down his back. That felt really good. The wings were free now, and they stretched to their full length as best they could. They were still wet and new, and there was no way he could fly on them yet, but they were surprisingly large and strong. The scales and leather were black with streaks of deep purple running throughout them, the same colors as his feathers. A fearsome set of claws sat at the top joint looking sharp and strong enough to rip into flesh just as easily as the talons of a hawk. He held them aloft for a long moment, letting them stretch real good and drip free of the liquid that had accompanied them in the growing-sac, before finally folding them and setting them against his back.

They shifted awkwardly, uncomfortably, for the rest of the night as he tried to get used to them and as the ichor began to dry. He was still too feral to take care of it this night but later--definitely later there would be lots of cleaning and adjusting and figuring out what the hell to do with them while idle as much as whenever he wanted to actually use them--but tonight he wandered more and stretched them periodically just because he could. At least he'd managed to make it back onto two legs instead of crawling around on all fours for the rest of the night. His changes weren't that far along, it would have been terribly awkward walking around like that.

Comments

IV

[yesdoubt]

[Momo is taking advantage of the very user-friendly spell to make some extremely flashy fireworks, because he needs that little bit of extra drama in just about anything he does these days. There's a lot of neon pink and lurid green coming from his side of the field, but after a little while, things calm down to be replaced by some angry rodent noises as a few of the chinchillas burst out and start to run around the area.

Momo doesn't have too hard of a time jumping over them when they try to attack his ankles, at least, but one of them starts running towards Rude as the next closest person in the vicinity. Though Momo doesn't initially recognise him from the back, he calls a warning as he throws a barrier in the creature's direction.]

Watch your ankles! [Thankfully, the barrier hits and contains the creature in a bubble about twice the size of itself, but the others are still running rampant a bit now that their tempers have been piqued.] I'm starting to feel like they could've picked a better clearing for this.

[grandspark]

[Rude was more surprised to see the tiny creatures running around than the other Mirrorbound. He was content to work on the fireworks with his knowledge of explosives and show non-witches how to work the materials without the aid of magic to put on almost as flashy a show as the magical creations. He had been at it for most of the day. He knew others were around, therefore, but the creatures were a new surprise for the day.

It made sense the creatures were upset but he hadn't realized this was their home. He might have suggested moving to another area himself otherwise. But now they were set-up here and the creatures were already riled up anyway. A pity. Rude was torn between wanting to help them calm down and just kicking them out of the way.

He wasn't sure if that was his monster instincts flaring up with temper at the annoyance or just his Turk side hating the interruption. Perhaps it was a bit of both, he decided as he backpedaled quickly out of the way of a different rodent heading towards him. His feet moved like a boxer's when he moved quickly backwards like that. The next one that tried that might not be so lucky.

He took a breath and glanced at the Witch. A familiar face.]

They most certainly should have.

[Not quite a growl but he was clearly irritated. It seemed he was just trying not to growl at Momo when what he really wanted was to growl at the creatures and scare them away.]

[yesdoubt]

[Once he sees him front-on, Momo immediately recognises Rude, and gives him a cheery wave as he picks up the round barrier that he trapped one of the chinchillas in. He knows a tiny bit of Enchantment and could probably try to calm them down with a spell, but when they're this riled up there's a good chance it'd just backfire and make them even worse.

That growl in the other man's tone, however, gets something of a knowing and understanding smile. Momo might not be a Monster himself, but he's Bonded to two and he knows how the moons can get. That said, he himself is a lot more upbeat and cheerful than the last time they met considering the relative calmness of the situation.]

Not much we can do about that part now, I guess, but I wonder if we can move them to another part of the field for a bit. I don't want to catch any of them up in the explosions accidentally, and you seem like you want to be left alone at the moment.

[Momo knows when not to force his presence, but having the rodents running around the place probably isn't going to do much for Rude's mood.]

[grandspark]

[It was a good thing Momo was so calm and cheery today because Rude didn't know where his usual demeanor had gotten off to. Well, he knew enough to blame the moons but this was the worst it'd gotten so far and it annoyed him. Which, of course, exacerbated the issue exponentially as it circled round and round.

He was doing his best though. And because Momo was a familiar face, even a welcome one considering they had worked well together during battle last time, he felt inclined to keep trying. What didn't help unfortunately was all the magic going around. Rude didn't realize it probably was making matters worse that he so far refused to take a permanent bond. Moving closer to Momo actually set his spines on end like a cat's hackles rising, a tingle setting his newly formed scales on edge. It was low-key enough at the moment to ignore but it would have gotten him to wondering--if they weren't already preoccupied.]

That would be the most humane way to deal with them for the moment.

[Which normally he would have benevolently helped do without complaint, but he was half inclined to eat a few along the way today. Thankfully, that still didn't sound all that appetizing to his human part so he wouldn't. He shifted awkwardly and focused on Momo instead of the rodents running around.]

How do you plan on keeping them there?

[yesdoubt]

[Momo holds up the bubble that he has one of the rodents trapped in.] A house this small would be a bit mean, but if I can make a kinda more fence-like barrier around a certain part of the field, they could all hang out in there for a bit. I might even be able to soundproof it for them if it's a specific area.

[Illusion magic has some wild and wacky uses he hadn't entirely considered before making it the magic type he picked up here literally immediately.]

They obviously dig, but it'd take them a while to dig any new holes, so I'd just have to make sure any that are in that side of the field are blocked off from this side of the field for a bit.

[Either blocking the holes themselves or making the barrier extend a bit further down than ground level. It'll be tricky, but he figures they're probably coming up because they live in shallow enough ground to make all this irritating.]

[grandspark]

[Rude had been wondering if Momo could do that exact thing with his barriers. He also wasn't certain how long the magic would last. But if Momo thought he could do it then Rude was on board. It was a good plan at least.]

Good. Let's try it. I'll help herd them. [Or catch them and put them over there. Either way. They'd eventually get all of them, hopefully.]

[yesdoubt]

Alright, let's see what we can do! [Momo seems up for the challenge, at least - it'd probably quicken the process if he could experiment a bit to see what illusions they might want to flee from, but as it is he'd rather save his magic for maintaining a barrier, since it is going to chew through a decent amount.

So chasing them around manually it is. Momo keeps the one he has in his hands, since its angry noises are attracting some of the others, but he still has to actually get them over to the other side of the field.]

[grandspark]

[It seemed that the act of herding the rodents actually calmed Rude down some, as if he enjoyed it a bit perhaps. A part of him was on the hunt--the dragon could have made a snack out of all these tiny creatures. But that wasn't quite what they were up to and certainly not something Rude was intending at the moment so he kept it to baring his teeth and growling as he chased the rodents around the clearing.

It wasn't easy to get them to go in the proper direction though. They tended to scatter away from him. But he kept it up, herding one rodent at a time when he had to, and letting Momo do the rest--with the barrier magic that was.]

I

[electrod]

[ It's becoming a habit of sorts. The Moons are shining brightly, and Reno wants to remove himself from Rude's vicinity. He can't tell if it's a rational decision (it's dangerous, instincts go wild, and he slowly is able to recognize which of them are his own impulsive nature and which are... enhanced by the whole, changing into a Harpy, thing) or selfish decision (he can set loose, and now that his nails grew into something resembling talons— now he has a weapon, and there is a need to hunt)

But doing that last month ended with quite... an unexpected turn of events.

Perhaps that's what inspired him to try and stay the night this time. It wasn't something he announced, and perhaps might even come as surprise when he strolls into Rude's room in the morning. Holding two glasses of water and putting one of them on his partner's bedstand wordlessly. (It's not water though, but white rum instead). He takes a look around the damage then assess changes he can notice on Rude.

Dragons have horns, right?

The initial feathers were sure a misleading trail. For a moment Reno believes they were changing into the same thing but now— patches of changed skin, growth on the forehead, and the back. The eyes, he caught the sight of Rude's eyes before. If there was any doubt whether Rude was becoming a Naga or a Dragon, this month firmly gives an answer.

He nurses his own drink, just as shirtless— Most of the feathers grow on his back and sides, though his arms are now are almost done changing into— wings. With reddish-brown and black plumage, and long feathers, sharp in shape. The talons are a bit to get used to, he probably should look into trimming them later.

At least the damn itch is gone. ]

Rough night? [ He finally speaks, holding back on the worry he feels. ] I might have a remedy for that.

[grandspark]

[There was a soft not-growl from Rude in initial reply to Reno's question. A soft hum that had transformed into a low rumble with his change into a dragon. It was a usual noncommittal response from Rude though and Reno should have been used to it by now despite the change in tone.

He looked up at Reno.] Restless.

[Despite the changes he looked otherwise fine, but that was Rude for you. He hardly ever showed his weariness or wounds. His newly yellowed eyes shifted to the drink that Reno had set down for him and he was sorely tempted. He could smell it wasn't water, which probably would have been good for him right about now. But the alcoholic beverage was more than appetizing at the moment. He reached for it.]

You?

[He was surprised to see Reno here this night. It had been another full moon and so far Reno hadn't stayed home for any since their arrival here. Not that Rude was surprised. If anything, Rude's refusal to go out on the night of full moons was strange for a Monster.

He watched Reno over the rim of his glass as he took a sip of the sweet drink, wondering what the redhead saw when he looked at Rude, what he thought of the changes, and what he could see of them that Rude couldn't without the help of a mirror.]

[electrod]

Feels like I'm running a fever. [ Reno mutters taking a sip of his drink, rolling his head back so it hits the wall. ] The type you just, ya know, feel in your bones.

[ Hopefully, he didn't bring a bug or anything similar. The timing is fitting for some full-moon-related issues, it's just vastly different than ones that he experienced before. Still, it is possible he caught some minor infection instead.

Either way, that also is another reason for him to just stay at home this month. ]

But yeah, as for remedy— I've been thinking... maybe we could try again, ya know.

[ The bonding potion. Or maybe full proper Bonding, he doesn't specify. Leaves it open for interpretation on purpose. That's probably what both of them need, though. ]

[grandspark]

[The admission of a fever got Rude's immediate attention. He looked closely at Reno as if he could determine what was wrong with the redhead if he just looked hard enough.

He would have responded to that first but Reno surprised him with the next slyly added suggestion. Reno didn't have to say what they should try again, somehow Rude just knew what they were talking about.]

...You think it would help?

[electrod]

Everyone says it should.

[ Eat shit, millions of flies can't be wrong! Nah, it's all too easy to go that route, but as suspicious as Reno is about the Bonding— there is no denying everything is happening exactly as he was warned it would.

And even it's him that's the weak link here, even if Rude can manage while he can't— then he's being a burden, and that's not something he wants. ]

I don't know— but there is no one else but you that I trust. [ Still, with the feelings confessed, he could understand why Rude wouldn't want to go with this. Besides some things they went through are fairly recent. Would the negative effects amplify if they were in each other's heads?

So many possibilities, overthinking isn't his style. It's jump first, think later. ]

[grandspark]

True.

[He heard all the same arguements as well. Bonding made witches and monsters feel better, left them with one less concern to worry over. Stabilized their magic and instincts respectively. It was a smart move to make.

The only downside was the emotional connection. For someone who usually hid behind stoicism and kept a mega-company's secrets safe, such a thing wasn't exactly appealing.]

...I understand. It'd be easier for the two of us not to involve anyone else. [He trusts you too, Reno.] We can do it again. If you're certain.

[He had nothing left to hide from Reno but did the redhead feel the same yet.]

[electrod]

I got the potions, stashed. [ So yeah, they could go right here and right now. Maybe ease everything a bit ] But that's a short-term solution.

[ Real Bond would be a long-term option. Pulling in a witch could be a benefit, not a necessity, still— it's probably not the moment for serious conversations like that. Reno slides down the wall, sitting down, bringing his knees close to the chest and putting the feathery mess that is his arms around it. ]

Looks like it's your turn to grow wings too. [ It's a guess but— naga was ruled out for Rude ages ago, nothing happening with legs and the like. ]

[grandspark]

[Rude flexed his hands, watching the light glint off his newly formed claws.]

Yeah. It could keep things settled for this moon though.

[They probably should discuss the more permanent option(s). Right now even.]

...Back feels weird. Better be worth it.

[Or not.]

ii.

[weatherscience]

"Ehhhh?"

Nearby, Nami had made the exact same discovery — trying to get rid of the stupid pumpkins by simply smashing through them, now a vine was growing there again, winding itself around her ankle.

"No! Stop that! Leave me alone, you... you creepy vine!" Then, as she glanced around, her eyes landed on Rude.

"Hey, you! Help me with this!"

[grandspark]

Rude was contemplating how best to deal with the new growth, leaning towards torching the damn things, when he heard the woman call out to him. He glanced over his shoulder to see her caught up in the clutches of one of the vines.

"Damn."

That was pretty creepy.

He had no qualms in helping though. After the initial moment to notice the trouble, he was quick to take action. There was no way he could leave a lady in such dubious trouble after all. Besides, these stupid plants needed to just die already. No eating anyone on his watch.

He pulled out a dagger from his suit jacket and quickly got to work on the vine. He'd cut through it before too long. As he stood back up he held out an arm towards her and backed up, indicating she do the same. "Watch out."

There was already another vine heading out towards them.

[weatherscience]

She struggled against the vine trying to pull her down, its grip on her uncomfortably tight. It was a relief that the man seemed willing to help her out.

As soon as the vine was cut, Nami scrambled away from it, backing up as much as she could without running into pumpkins or vines from the other side.

"Thanks! Aaahh, why did I agree to do this, again? These things are terrible! So even cutting them won't do?"

She glanced at Rude, tilting her head. Then:

"What do you say, wanna team up with me? Let's get rid of as many as we can!"

[grandspark]

Rude was a man of few words even when a dire situation wasn't at hand. So he certainly didn't say much when there was one.

Still, he managed a nod in her direction and a curt, "Agreed."

He might have actually said more but the creeping vines were starting to get close and that bothered him. They didn't amount to much for his strength but he didn't want to find out if they could still overwhelm him with numbers if he got caught up by more than one. And the pumpkins themselves were still troublesome just for their greedy maws.

Rude stomped on the nearest vine as it reached out for him and took a few more steps back out of the way. This wasn't going to work. They needed more than just brute strength to take these things out. What had he been thinking before? Ah, that's right. They needed something that could deal with all of this at once. Like a hydra, take out all the heads at once so none could regrow.

The Turk turned his head to look at Nami. "Got any fire?"

[weatherscience]

She watched the approaching vines with barely-concealed terror, glancing from them to the pumpkins and the teeth that she knew lurked there, just waiting to get to bite them.

Why had she thought this was a good idea??

Oh, right — because she got money from this. That was it.

She grabbed her Clima-tact and hit one of the vines that was starting to get closer, and then twirled around to blast some wind at the pumpkins, just in case.

At Rude's question, she paused.

"Fire? Hmm... I guess I could try? I use elemental magic."

[grandspark]

Rude winced at the wind attack despite the fact that it went no where near him. The sad truth was he used to have the ability to create an effective whirlwind attack but now he found unnatural wind hurt him and storm winds bothered him much more than they used to. Something from his changes he suspected. A weakness to wind and cold.

But fire he had no qualms with. "Burning this stuff might be what we need to get rid of it permanently." So if she could summon it they could use it against this monstrosity.

[weatherscience]

Had she known that, she would have... well, no, she would have used the wind regardless, but perhaps with a warning, or a reassurance it wouldn't hit him.

But at least the wind died down quickly, so there was that.

She tilted her head, nodding.

"Yes, you have a point. If we burn it, it can't just grow back, right? Can you make fire?"

Because though she could... probably not enough for all of the pumpkins.

III

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede had done this song and dance of playing bodyguard so long and so often she didn't even bat an eye anymore, let alone warily stare at whoever she was paired with this time for most of the day. It was just half an hour of staring now.

This one seemed capable enough, and so far Kaede hadn't needed to drag him out of any holes or fend off any annoying Shades. Yet. A Dragon's presence might attract them. But that was something for later. Right now, though, was the issue of the shamblevines, which apparently had a creature attached to them.

Said creatures seemed to like mushrooms. Kaede also liked mushrooms. This made baiting the traps feel like an unnecessary sacrifice more often than not. Sometimes, one mushroom out of the bait pile went missing, or had pieces carved off it.

Of course Kaede used a knife to cut off the bitten ends before putting them back. She may have been a half-feral goblin raised in the woods, but she still had some manners.

The Chimera had fluttered up to the branches a short way into the canopy when she heard distant rustling, peering into the undergrowth. And holding one of the half-eaten mushrooms in her hand.]

Hurry up. One's coming.

[grandspark]

[Rude ignored her taste for the mushrooms as he worked. As long as she left enough for the traps he didn't care. It helped that he was used to such antics from his partner.

When she mentioned a beast was on it's way he didn't look up. That would have detracted from what he was doing. He finished quickly instead and moved away so his presence would be hidden from view. Hopefully the creature wouldn't care about lingering scent. Ideally they would have had longer to wait so that little trace of their presence would have been noticeable. No reason to fret over that sort of thing now though. It was coming.

Rude listened more than watched as it was easier for him to not get noticed trying to peer out. He didn't have time to climb into the trees with her. His hiding spot down below would have to do.

He listened as the creature rummaged closer to the trap set and waited for it to spring.]