middaeg | [open] oh lamia please try to help me

Entry tags:

[open] oh lamia please try to help me

Who: Styx & OPEN
When: All through Noveuer
Where: Various
What: Catch-all for the month! Quests and other various activities around Aefenglom. Starters in the comments!
Warnings: I'm also doing the sex pollen quest, you know how this is gonna go.

if you'd like to do something else or want a closed starter, hmu! PMs or

phantomblood ouo

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[wow, that is a hell of a lot of stuff! in a way Styx is kind of impressed by this weird and unintentional display of excess; he's never seen so much garbage that really isn't garbage in his life. it must be crazy to have money, huh?

the awe is short-lived once it becomes apparent just how badly it's inconveniencing the people who actually live here. one of his own self-proclaimed few talents is lifting things, so it doesn't take very long at all for the big guy to roll up his sleeves and pitch in. it kind of reminds him of his old job at the music store, honestly, and so he's in an especially cheerful mood as he works along.

you can find him doing one of two things:]

a;

[peeking at the passersby rather anxiously from over a rundown fence. he's got a prodigious number of boxes stacked up high in his arms, but these don't seem to be the cause of his disquiet in the least. as soon as he locks eyes with anyone who seems to be even remotely amenable to being flagged down, he's tentatively calling out to them.]

Um, hey! Uh...do you know anything about plants?

b;

[alternately, he's seated on a recently cleared doorstep taking a look at the pile of things by his feet that feel like they could still have some use. this isn't the sort of handiness that he's got any experience with, but it just seems like such a damn shame to toss all this stuff. someone could definitely be using it!

the big guy's further stymied, unfortunately, by the fact that a lot of these things are firmly lodged in the "weird Victorian shit" category of items. chairs and trinket boxes he can understand, but some of this stuff...

well. it leads to things like him holding a, uh, whatever this is in his hands like it might explode, very gingerly turning it over this way and that.]

This how it's supposed to look..?

[in all honesty, Styx probably can't swim.

he's never really had the opportunity to learn, growing up, and now...well, it isn't something that he's ever thought about here. that little fact doesn't seem to have impacted his desire to help any - or maybe it just never registered in the first place, his dull mind failing to connect a need to swim with disappearing waterbound creatures. if they're underwater then you'd want to sink, right?

whatever the reason, he's standing at the bank of the river now with a big stick, tentatively poking as far as he could reach with it in the hopes of dredging something up. he'd written down a spell from the Coven to provide him with some air in case they had to wade in deep, but at the same time...the waters just looked so peaceful right now. did something really happen here to all those people?

guess there was only one way to find out. whether you'd come here to investigate as well and had just wandered over from looking at another part of the banks or are just an innocent passerby, you'll notice there's a massive dude pulling his shirt off now. it's unclear whether or not he'll be going for his pants as well, but...why take the chance and leave him to it?]

[the Wilde is dangerous, he knows, but Styx has always felt...not quite at peace, but something sort of pleasant vibe from the time he's spent here. growing up in an inner city as he had, he'd never had the opportunity to take advantage of all the wonderful nature spots that Eddan had boasted; simply being able to wander here and see nothing but trees is a novelty that hasn't worn off on him even after nearly four months in this world. every journey really does seem to bring something new to his attention.

it's that childlike wonder that has the big guy humming even as he puts his back into some rather hard physical labor today, the tune audible even through the bandana he has tied around the lower half of his face. he'd been told to keep his face covered if possible, and that it would be better to keep the plants in as much of one piece as he could manage, but not a lot else. with the way that there always seemed to be a million things going on at once around the city, it's understandable that nobody really had time to brief every single helper in depth.

they're heavy, but Styx is strong, and he doesn't have any problem at all with spending a fair amount of time sawing away at the various appendages keeping these things in place. he's more than happy for any help extended to him, of course, and will sidle over gladly to make room for an extra pair of hands.

bandanas can only do so much to block out foreign particles, of course, especially when one has been working for hours. if you don't happen to run into Styx earlier in the day, you may instead see him later in the afternoon in the midst of disaster striking.

the drummer's seen the way that the plant's shoots have wrapped rather stubbornly around its fellow flora, but this is the first time that he's spied it actually gripping onto something a bit more alive. the bird is practically shrieking in terror, thrashing its wings as it desperately tries to fly away with enough force to tear off the tendril knotted about its leg. his heart aches the moment he notices, and in an instant Styx is abandoning his work to go to its aid.

the only problem is that the bird is (quite understandably) terrified out of its fucking mind. it only grows more agitated when the big guy reaches for it, prompting him to withdraw his hand immediately. he sits for a moment, contemplating his next move to the best of his ability; Ymir had always held a deep affinity for birds, but on the occasion that he'd found an injured one he would usually wrap it up in something. it made them feel safe, he'd told his friend. ...ah, perfect!

and, without another thought, he's pulling that bandana straight off in order to try and swaddle the panicked creature...]

[ooc; it is up to you how spicy you want things to get! I'm just as happy with cuddles and makeouts as I am with smut. or, you know...both. both is also very good. OuO]

[it's slow going, but Styx really has been trying his best to improve his magical abilities. today's the cold, rainy sort of day that just begs to be spent inside, so he's indulging the desire and being productive all in one by holing up in a local cafe with his textbooks.

today's focus? transmutation. it's a subject he's been putting particular effort into for several weeks now; after the incident in Dorchacht, he wants to make absolutely certain that he won't ever cast a spell he can't undo himself again. which means...lots of practice. and lots of failures.

after an hour or so, he finally manages to achieve a small victory! it's not really even close to his intended transformation, but his cup of coffee now sports a gangly set of legs all the same. he laughs quietly to himself as it gallops around, gently bumping into his protective hands before changing course. it's...kind of cute, honestly? he can't help but wonder if it would be weird to use this same spell on some of his own drinkware at home.

a waitress chooses this exact moment to drop by, inquiring as to whether he'd like another slice of cake; while answering in the affirmation he thoughtlessly drops his arms back into his lap, allowing the adventurous little cup to escape out into the world. it lopes elegantly down the counter, stopping only to very gently 'head'butt the arm of another patron that it has decided needs a fresh cup of coffee.

at this point the waitress has left and Styx has realized his tiny companion is nowhere to be seen. locating it quickly, he calls out an apology with a pretty embarrassed look on his face.]

Oh, shit, sorry about that. 's not gonna hurt you or nothing though, promise! He's just curious...uh, I think.

[When it was clear that hands were needed to help take care of the situation in the Outer City, Karin had been quick to volunteer, but it wasn't until she actually arrived to do her part that she realized just how extensive the dumping damage was.

It's disheartening— as much as she appreciates the sentiments behind Samuin, it just seems so wasteful. Having grown up without much to call her own, she can't imagine tossing so many things away without a care. Much of it can be repurposed, it seems, or at least used for parts, but the locals don't seem to find that a comforting thought, instead angry at being used as what essentially amounts to a junkyard.

She's been doing her part with the cleanup efforts for awhile when she comes across Styx on his doorstep, waving as she sets down the box of refuse she'd been carrying to give herself a brief break as she approaches him, nose wrinkling as she draws closer and gets a better look at the object in his hands.

Creepy. And not too long before her time, unfortunately.]

You know, I think I've seen one of those before. Terrifying, isn't it? Scarier than some demons I've seen.

[Styx looks up at the movement at the edge of his vision, waving back cheerfully. he's always happy to see a familiar face, and even more so when Karin informs him that she's actually familiar with the...uh, whatever it is, in his hands.]

You've seen it before? [like...there's more than one in the world? why is that sending chills down his spine?] Uh...you know what it's supposed to do?

[murder? murder demons?? it must murder demons.]

[IT HADN'T BEEN RAINING WHEN SHE'D GONE OUT-!

It was probably a funny sight. A drenched fae in a light jacket, clutching the soggest puffball to her chest. She's getting a few things at the cafe. Some nice warm hot chocolate for her, some warm meat in gravy for Tater. The waitress was even nice enough to give her some tea towels to attempt to dry herself and the puppy with. With both fae and pet as dry as they could be, she settled, nursing her hot cocoa in both hands.

Eyes sliding shut as she let out a sigh. That rain...really had come out of nowhere. Then something bumps into her. It got a wrinkle of the nose, her antenna flicking back as she turned to look at the....

Moving cup of coffee? Then a familiar voice spoke up and she's looking to Styx instead as she kinda, pushes the coffee back. No, no likely.]

What is it?

[oh, a furry potato...Styx is thankfully too wrapped up in his runaway coffee to lose all sense of purpose and quietly admire how cute that dog is, at least for the immediate present. his mouth briefly quirks up into a smile when he recognize the unfortunate 'victim', dropping back into a neutral line as he neatly misinterprets her question.]

Uh...Dorchacht Dark, think they said? Supposed to be really powerful.

[not...not the blend. the moving cup, you dingus.

speaking of the coffee cup, it slide backwards under Mikasa's push with a small dip that almost seems to express disappointment? before trying to waddle over to offer the same invitation to the fae's dog - a path that is thankfully intercepted by Styx's long reach. alright, little guy, that's enough.]

Crawl, I think?

[She winces slightly. Yeah, not very exciting, she knows. She smiles as she comes to a stop beside the doorstep, propping her right hand against her hip.]

It's a toy. I never had one, thankfully.

[They were creepy even at the turn of the century.]

It just looks like it's probably haunted, doesn't it?

Really?

[what are you talking about, that's definitely exciting. mostly because Styx isn't entirely sure how something like this is supposed to get anywhere, let alone without summoning the spirits of the damned, but the reason is unimportant!

his gaze drops down to the ""toy"" before he very gently places it on the sidewalk between his feet. stares a little longer...gives it a gentle nudge, just to see if it can be prompted to move even with the broken machinery bits.

...is he disappointed or relieved it just sits there?]

I mean...don't wanna be mean to it or nothing, but uh. Seems kinda heavy for something to give a kid, doesn't it?

[heavy with the souls of its victims, at least.]

It might need to be wound up, I'm not sure how to get one started... the mechanical parts might be too rusted, though.

[She, too, watches it for a moment. It doesn't move, which is unsurprising, but she supposes that she's probably a bit jaded when it comes to moving dolls. After Cornelia, anything else just seemed... clunky.

Your perspective changes when you travel for a year in the company of a living marionette.]

I don't think kids minded that it was heavy. It was so incredible for them to have a toy that could do something mostly on its own, you know? But... it does kind of give me the creeps. I can't imagine being a little girl with that sitting on top of my toy chest.

[this thing was absolutely, undeniably creepy as all get out. but the more that they talk about just how freaky the doll was, the more that Styx finds himself feeling...kind of bad for it, honestly. it's not like it asked to be built the way it was.]

Something's gotta be wrong with it, yeah? Otherwise they wouldn't've thrown it out.

[sweet, optimistic Styx. thinking rich people need an object to be broken to chuck it.]

Never really had any toy toys growing up, so I guess I get it...'nd it'd have like, a dress or something on if it was with a kid, right?

Mmm... I'm not so sure. People can be really wasteful. Just coming this far, I've found all kinds of things that still have plenty of use in them, but I guess people with money to burn don't think about that kind of thing.

[She can't imagine throwing out anything that might be able to be salvageable or otherwise reused. Even old clothes had other household uses.

She helps herself to a seat beside him on the stoop, scooting over an inch so that they're hip-to-hip, pulling her knees up and resting her folded arms atop them.]

I didn't really, either. Some wooden things that my grandfather carved, but nothing like this. I imagine this would have been dressed up, some dolls have really intricate clothing.

[The small puppy feels about the same as his owner about the coffee. Reeling back, small ears folding into his fur and yipping. Like how the fae was leaning back with her antenna flattened.]

I can smell that... It's so bitter.

[She's just going to hold her hot cocoa up. May it's sweet chocolatey smell smother out the coffee.] I've heard that stuff wakes people up. But...

Is it worth it? [Sokie had offered to show her how to make such drinks sweet. But...then Sokie had left.]

Right? 's killer.

[Styx grins, not entirely aware of the fact that this is not a positive in his friend's mind as he gently lifts his own cup back into his little personal bubble. the cup seems to understand that now is close to drinking time and folds its legs elegantly to hang out calmly in his palm. it's very cute.]

Uh, I like bitter stuff, so 's definitely worth it to me! Love that bite. Makes the sweets you can have with it taste even better, too.

[hence the third slice of cake inevitably heading his way.]

Mm, I guess? 's kinda hard to fix stuff if you don't know how, though. Might've just been something like that.

[he really was something, wasn't he? giving people the benefit of the doubt when there was proof literally surrounding him that they didn't deserve it. it isn't a thought capable of planting itself in Styx's head, for better or worse, and the topic floats from his mind entirely without further contemplation. it's more important to wiggle over slightly when Karin goes to sit down - although he can't help playfully bumping her hip after it comes to rest so close, just the once.

he hopes that wasn't too much.]

Hey, that's cool though! That you had stuff your grandpa made you. That kind thing's way better than shit from the store anyhow.

It certainly could be.

[He's so intent on trying to think the best of people that she really doesn't have it in her to argue or try to convince him otherwise— after all, in some cases, he may actually be right, though in this situation, she thinks the evidence to the contrary is overwhelming.

She grins as he gives her that playful bump, retaliating in kind with a gentle bump of her arm against his in answer.]

But yeah, I always thought so! They meant more, because he went through all the trouble to carve them. We didn't have a lot of anything, really, so you learn to really treasure what you do have, and be grateful for it. You must have had something special to you, too, right? Maybe something your auntie gave you?

Think I'd be pretty pumped about getting something just for me like that even if I had a ton of stuff! You're real lucky.

[and what a nice piece of good fortune to have. he bet that she probably still had those toys tucked away somewhere at home, just waiting for another cuddle. ...cute.]

I mean, she gave ma a place to stay. But I guess that's not really something you think about when you're a kid.

[he laughs, rubbing at the back of his neck as his gaze drifts off thoughtfully. food, clothes, a place to stay...love. his auntie had given him so many really precious gifts throughout his whole life that he was having trouble remembering anything that was an actual physical object.]

Um, a lot of stuff kinda ended up getting broken along the way - [by other kids] - but do songs count? She'd always sing the same thing when I got sick.

[soren is usually aware of his surroundings, but he's not perfect, and he was in the middle of speaking to the barista about his order, forearm propped on the counter, when ah... you spilled your coffee on soren, styx! or rather, it spilled itself, as the case may be. as liquid tends to do when its receptacle is jostled, a tiny amount breaches the walls and splashes out to mark the dragon's sleeve. this would be considered a minor offense if the dark brew made its mark on the black of his sleeve, but the sin is a little more serious when it sullies the white ruffled lace peeping out from his overcoat. he submits a light gasp and retracts his arm on reflex, then huffs sharply.

the small dragon flashes a look of cold smoldering umbrage at the identity of the real mess-maker. his eyes flare once like poked embers.]

I could have been burned.

[he says so calmly and levelly, like he's not actually concerned about the potential to be burned, but the tone is pinched with the faint bite of obvious resentment for the inconvenience his clothes soiled by a stranger's carelessness. he keeps his arm raised so the mess is on display for styx to be shamed by.]

[another dragon...it really doesn't matter how many times he sees one, or apparently what sort of sour expression they were shooting his way; each and every time he has to pause for just a moment and allow himself to come to terms with how fucking cool they were.]

Oh shit dude, 'm sorry! He kinda got away from me when I wasn't looking - was it still hot?

[despite the genuine penitence in his tone, Styx can't help but sound faintly impressed by the possibility that his coffee was still hot enough to burn. he'd really thought he'd been struggling with that spell long enough to chill it to the bone, but perhaps he's been making more progress than he'd realized?

a little thoughtlessly, and certainly with no heed for the fact this brew had the very real chance of scalding him, he dips a finger lightly into the cup.]

...geez. Really could've been bad. [which just makes the chagrin in his expression deepen.] 'm real sorry, man. Um, think there's a spell in one of my books for fixing that kinda thing if you want me to give it a shot.

[it's an offer that he makes in earnest, even as he doubts it will be taken. who'd trust someone letting their hot drinks slosh all around on strangers to fix that sort of thing?]

[She nods in agreement, her grin pulling to one side. She'd considered herself lucky, too— for all the hard times her family had fallen on, they had meant everything to her. It was hard to think about them being gone for good now, but her last conversation with her grandmother remains with her even now, warm and yet bittersweet. She's glad she'd had the opportunity to speak to her again, however brief it had been, before finding her way here.

She watches him as his expression shifts, thoughtful, and her own softens after a moment.]

I think a song would count even more. Toys and keepsakes are nice and all, but it's what we keep in our hearts that matters the most. Memories, experiences— a song is perfect.

[whether it was hot or not, soren would have said the same thing. he raises an eyebrow as he watches him dip his finger directly in the drink to test the heat when cupping it in his large hands would have spared him any possible burns. is he thick? or just thick-skinned?

soren sighs to nurse his exasperation and seizes the handle of the frisky cup to stop its rampant skylarking. his tail thumps the floorboards.

but based on the nature of the spell that the witch used to transform the coffee cup, and the nature of what he now offers as remedy, soren can gather that he must be studying transmutation. the air tastes like an alluring blend of roasting beans and confections, peppered with the use of magic. thanks to one of the dragon's own bonded witches, he's grown quite familiar with this school in particular.]

I might just know the very spell. Have you ever attempted it before?

[that's a very sweet thought, and one that aligns perfectly with the way Styx already looks at the world. he smiles warmly and leans over, bumping Karin's shoulder with gentle affection this time.]

Got a song, then. Whenever I got sick, always the same thing...put me to bed, stroke my hair, 'nd sing until I fell asleep.

[his stare takes on a faraway quality for a few moments, transporting him back in time. it's only a few moments, though, and he snaps out of it with a quiet chuckle.]

's silly, but I was still asking for it even when I was fourteen 'nd stuff.

[there's a very clear answer to that question, but only further conversation will be able to reveal it beyond a shadow of a doubt. for the time being it appears that some of the muted chaos has been quelled; the cup, 'thinking' that it was about to be used thanks to scaly fingers wrapping around its handle, settles down peacefully on its spindly legs. it looks a bit like a giraffe preparing for a night's rest, in an abstract sort of way.]

Um...not for stains, nah. Tried it on cracks 'nd stuff though, didn't turn out too bad!

[not exactly a ringing endorsement he's just given, and that's something even Styx would be aware of. rubbing at the back of his neck, he allows his hand to slide down and alight upon the book in question.]

You wanna see? To check if you know it, I mean.

[That affectionate bump gets a small but genuine laugh out of her; as always, she finds herself feeling completely at ease around him, and she tilts her head to give him her undivided attention as he goes on to explain, her smile persisting.

It's sweet, she thinks— not silly at all.]

That just shows how much it meant to you. I don't think there's anything wrong with that at all.

[It's almost better than anything that his auntie could have passed down to him physically.]

She sounds like she was a pretty incredible lady, your auntie.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 10

[open] oh lamia please try to help me

clean up & clear out

a watery pit

prurient petals (possible nsfw in replies 👀)

around aef

b

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