middaeg | Open

Open

Who: Alex and you (With a closed to Wei Wuxian)
When: Mid to end of July
Where: Wilde, somewhere with water the world is your oyster
What: Quests and Full Moon changes
Warnings: Tentacles. Maybe some other warnings later on.

I. Wilde Quest: Ingredients
[ The idea of a weird mix and match monster with the features of predatory animals was indeed terrifying, but hearing that their nests were way up there while the feathers would be way down below helped convince Alex to give it a shot. Gathering feathers sounded like an easy and quick enough task. No water was involved either, so she would have legs to run with if needed.

But things don't always go so smoothly, like yet another change towards her more monstrous form. She actually thought she was done. How much more fish could she become after gaining gills, fins, and a tail?

As she started picking up the fallen feathers, her eyes began to lose focus. It had been happening for some time now throughout the month, moments of blurred vision. She chalked it up to fatigue from the jobs she’s been undertaking, especially since she’d regain her regular eyesight right after. This time was different though. It was taking much longer for her to focus, and she was beginning to feel disoriented. She stumbles, but reaches out and manages to steady herself against a rock.

Except this rock felt oddly soft, and seemed to rise and fall steadily.

She turns to squint at it. Then knocks her knuckles against it. It starts to move ]

II. Full moon

[ Alex finds herself once again in the nearest body of water she could find. She was able to resist on any other day of the month, but when the full moons formed, she found it harder and harder to stay away with each passing month. There was just such a calm that came with being in it, like there was nothing for her to fight against while she floated along the surface of the water. She’d gotten rid of her skirt, but her blouse remained, although completely soaked through now. Her eyes, poor as they had become this past month, were sharper in water. She didn’t need her glasses there. To think even her eye sight could be affected in that way. Maybe it was just safer for her to be in this form, to stay off land. Even the cold didn't seem to bother her.

What was it she was able to do now? Breathe under water, hear and see better than she ever had before…Others had mentioned an ability. One that allows merrow to lure people to them. Was it really more than a story? Could she so easily lead someone into the water with no resistance whatsoever? Would they snap out of it once they were submerged and could no longer breathe? Could she make them do whatever she wanted? That could seriously hurt them, couldn’t it? That’s not something Alex ever wanted to do. It’s why she’s been trying so hard to control what she could with her changes.

And yet she began to hum as brought herself back to shore, waist deep in water still as she sat facing the water. The gold scales along her spine and the center of her tail seemed to glow brighter in the dark, like coins that had spilled out of a treasure chest. Her humming escalates too singing. No actual words, just a slow, soothing vocalization of a melody she head learned long ago.

Would anyone come? Would it work? How far would she let it go? Never had she felt so curious about such a thing before.

She hears a sound behind her, but she isn’t alarmed. She turns slightly to look at you, the blue of her eyes standing out even more against her now blackened sclera. Are you her guinea pig for tonight? What will you do now?]

III. The Cold War
[ It was some harmless fun with some kids at first. Building some snow men, then getting into a snow ball fight. She had time before work and they way they insisted with their cute little pouts...she was weak. But she had underestimated them as well, not thinking they'd actually use magic to their advantage. There was no hiding she was a merrow what with her fin-like ears, and some of the kids were aware of what worked on them. The snowballs themselves didn't hurt, but the next onslaught was different. They were mushier, and she could feel them melt into her clothes. She looked up to find the kids heating them up slightly before chucking them at her, and she soon realized why.

Down she went as her legs bound together and morphed into her tail, and there she was, a sitting duck for their next attack. She scrambled behind whatever she can find for cover, still attempting to keep them at bay by throwing some snowballs back. ]

Ruthless little..!

[ Would you like to help an outnumbered fish out, or maybe you get hit by a mushy snow ball as well. Or maybe it's Alex that hits you with instead. It's a little hard to aim and hide at the same time. ]

IV. Wildcard
[ I'm open to other scenarios too! I'm down for other things in the snow or what have you. Either toss up a top-level and I'll wing it with you, or hit me up at

mightycheese ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Her heel stops right above the tail, now looking at the right direction with Maria's voice being much louder, making her position for obvious. ]

Don't shout! What if it hears you--

[ There's a low growl, the sound of someone that's had its beauty sleep disrupted. The growl sure was coming from that rock, wasn't it?

Alex turns slowly, but in time to see the head that was starting to rise and turn towards her. ]

[It's already moving, it's already too late, and also they're both in a lot of trouble, aren't they. Maria winces when the foot almost comes down onto the tail, but stops short, and yet, it's still not enough; the beast is moving, stirring, rumbling as it turns toward them.

... Oh this girl's going to get eaten. Honestly, she should leave Alex to her fate, but before Maria even realizes she's reacting and that her instincts aren't giving her the choice, her sword is hissing out of its sheath and jabbing into the air between Alex and the beast's head as it turns toward them, putting her arm, sword, and shoulder more in chomping distance. As for the left hand, well, that might be a little too accidentally intimate of a grab as it seizes somewhere around Alex's hip and Maria starts pushing her away from the creature, keeping the sword pointed at the beast.

But those ice-blue eyes are not focused anywhere near Alex; Maria's having more of a time having a staring contest with the stirring creature. And her own cold look is very indicative she has no qualms with killing the beast, right there.]

It doesn't matter now, I don't think. Just keep moving.

[ The beast yawns lazily, it's eyes unamused with the weapon pointed at it. ]

Is there no limit to how rude you humans are? You wake me, and then you threaten me?

Oh my god it talks.

[ Is all Alex can say as she keeps close to Maria, not resisting at all. Crossing a pond probably wouldn't work this time. ]

What brings you here? Speak.

... They frequently do. [Maria sounds very notably unamused. Less talking Beasts probably would've made her life a lot easier and less traumatic earlier in her career, but that doesn't matter. Frankly, Maria doesn't see a reason not to just drop this thing and kill it but... well, it wants to speak, so maybe she can talk it out of violence. It's hard to protect someone else as a Hunter. They tend to get caught in the waves of the Beasts' attacks.

Her hand, almost conspicuously, removes itself from that hip. But mostly because she doesn't see the need to keep it there anymore.]

We're here for feathers. They need not be from your hide. [She is absolutely willing to take them from the thing's hide, and is absolutely not afraid to make that fact known, but she'd rather... not.]

... Anything else? [That, she points at Alex. She's only here for the feathers.]

N-no, just feathers. I'm sorry, we really didn't mean to disturb you.

[ It looks them over quietly, exhaling through its nose. ]

And yet, those are my feathers you have in your possession. Without my permission no less.

[ Alex looks down at the pouch she had, the feathers sticking out of it. The..the beast had a point. Even if it was animal...they were the ones being rude in this scenario, weren't they. ]

Do..do you want them back?

[ If it meant not getting eaten, of course she'd return them.

The beast seems to be thinking it over. ]

I do not mind giving them to you..on some conditions.

[Really. She doesn't need, nor particularly want permission from this thing, but Alex is talking to it, and it's still listening, so okay. She'll play the game. For as long as it takes before she needs to draw her sword again.

The tip of the Rakuyo lowers, though Maria doesn't sheath it just yet. And she takes a slight step back away from Alex, as well. Personal space, for both of them, and the tacit understanding that she's the only human in this little opening.]

And what would you have us do? [She'll weigh the answer on whether or not it's just... easier to drop this thing where it stands.]

[ Things feel less tense with Maria lowering her sword. Alex is kind of glad she can't see all that well. Or maybe it's even more intimidating because she can't really make out the creature's full form. ]

Nothing too challenging, even for you, I would think. Simply answer my riddles, and you may collect what you have come for and go on your way.

[ Riddles?

Alex looks up at Maria, not bothered by the distance between them now. But..was this for real? Did they really just have to answer riddles? That seemed..rather generous. ]

[Nothing too challenging, but mind games. Great. Just what she wants.

Maria sighs, softly, just under her breath, then turns more fully to face the creature. She glances back down at Alex, and shakes her head a little, exasperated.] Fine. Riddles. Do you have objection?

No..I'm alright with it.

[ The beast's tail sweeps across the ground, pleased with the answer. ]

Good. Ah, but if you get them wrong..I will be taking something from you.

What do you mean you'll take something?

Well, you are taking something from me. It seems only fair that I get to do the same if you fail. But to make it fair, you will have three chances.

That's no answer. What will you take from us, Beast? [And honestly, this thing should be counting itself fortunate that Maria's idea of 'taking something' is just feathers, and not its life.

Because it will very quickly become "its life" if she's given the chance, and her patience is pushed further.]

We want shed feathers, of which I cannot fathom you have much use for any longer. What of ours do you consider equivalent?

If you do not fail, then you will not have to worry about it, now will you?

[ Was that supposed to be comforting?! ]

Then, first..

A prisoner is told "If you tell a lie we will hang you; if you tell the truth we will shoot you." What can he say to save himself?

[ It didn't seem like they were being given much of a choice, but Alex does look at Maria to hopefully try and get her to go along with it for now. Wouldn't it be best if they avoided violence? ]

Let's try?

[It's just a Beast, who would even miss it? The look she says tells the Chimera, though, very plainly, if it wants to take her items, it will have to do such with a sword hilted in its throat.

... Right, she's also standing next to a Beast, and that one's hide is on the line, as well. This is more complicated than she wants.]

Alright. Well, getting into semantics about whether they can even tell which is a lie and which is the truth aside, because that is rarely the point of a riddle, it seems like a lose-lose situation. No matter what he says will be met with death. [She looks at the chimera. Either she's taking that as a threat to her, or she's levying exactly that threat back to it.

Except minus the hanging.]

So, what do you think, Alex?

[ The lose lose situation here is either one of these two trying to kill the other, as far as Alex can tell.

She repeated the words in her head, trying her best to make sense of them. Alex can't say she's done very many riddles, and it felt like the more she repeated it in her head, the more confusing it would just get.

Maria's opinion on it made sense though. If you were screwed either way, wasn't it best to do nothing at all? ]

I think you're right.

[ But it didn't matter what Alex thought. ]

Well? Final answer?

If no matter what you do say is met with death, then perhaps silence [Goodness, what a pointed look at the chimera.] is the best answer.

[As in 'you should have just stayed quiet, Beast', but again, it's all silent threats for now, and though her sword is not sheathed, it is pointed away. She won't sheathe it so easily.

But she might maneuver a little closer to Alex, in case the answer is wrong, and the chimera thinks it can take something from their hides. Saving one Beast from another...

... Well, at least the one at her side was easier to fathom. She still looked mostly human.]

[ There's a soft rumble that comes from its chest, seemingly unfazed by the weapon at the ready. ]

While that is a plausible course of action, it does not answer the riddle. The question was 'what can you say', not what can you do.

[ Was it supposed to be that specific? Alex looks back and forth between the beast and Maria. Did that mean they wrong? ]

Two more chances. Are you ready for the next?

[Okay, so it's going to use semantics and trickery.

She can do that, too. She'll rename her sword from "Rakuyo" to "Semantics and Trickery" for the time she is killing it and they can harvest as many feathers as they want. Done.

She feels eyes on her, though, and she looks down at Alex, nodding, with a wholly unamused press to her lips - just this side of rolling her eyes. But that's beneath her dignity, so she will not.]

Are you ready? I am.

[ Alex nods and faces the beast again, more determined to think things through. ]

What's the next one?

[ The hybrid rolls its shoulders as it sits up, looming over them both. If it weren't trying to trick them into getting killed, Alex would even find it majestic. ]

It is so fragile even just saying its name can break it. What is it?

[Ohhhh, majestic, majestic. A Beast is a Beast, even in the waking world. It may be large, but Maria's taken larger on. Much larger. It even could do nothing but scream in pain as she cut it apart, bit by bit.

She wonders if this one will try to go down telling her riddles.

Still, the question prompts a bit of an eyebrow raise. She's less hesitant about this one.] It's in a "silence" rut, I see. Does it know anything else?

[ Silence also made the most sense to Alex as well, but she also doubted herself because it seemed far too obvious. ]

It would be a shame if you had lost confidence in yourselves. [ It laughs with another sweep of itms tail.

Huh, so this time, it was obvious. ]

How many more do we need to answer?

Just the one. A tie breaker.

So if we get this right, you’ll let us take the feathers and leave?

Correct.

[ Alex was fine with this, although the anxiety of not knowing what would happen should they lose was still there. But she does glance over to check on Maria. She’s sensed her growing annoyance. ]

You alright? [ She whispers, reaching out to touch her arm, but stopping right before doing so. Maria didn’t seem comfortable with it, from what she’s observed. ]

[For a moment, Maria wonders if it's trying to call a bluff on her part, or if it really is just trying to be friendly. It's still not enough to get her to relax her position just within grabbing distance of Alex, or her sword.

She looks down at Alex, then, another quick glance. They have one more. Is she ready for this? ... And there's a hand making its way for her, though she watches it stop and wonders, briefly, if it was because she looked over.] I will be alright. If we only have to answer but one more, I think it will do.

[She's still not putting that sword away though. Back to the chimera.]

I am ready if she is.

[ Alex takes another moment to watch Maria, just in case. But it does seem she can be patient enough for one more. ]

I'm ready.

Very well.

I have seas with no waters, coasts with no sand, towns without people and mountains with no land. What am I?

[ Alex's brow furrows, a hand placed thoughtfully over her mouth. Silence was definitely not a part of it this time. ]

seas with no waters..coasts no sand..[ She mumbles under her breath. So it has all of that, but doesn't? ]

Something like a picture? [ She looks over at Maria. ]

[Maria closes her eyes, briefly, trying to imagine what the creature tells her. Seas with no waters, coasts with no sand, towns without people, and mountains with no land...

It's not until Alex speaks again that she opens her eyes once more, and gives a sidelong look at her companion, even as her left hand settles on her own hip in a more relaxed pose. See? She's doing juuuust fine here.]

Yes, that fits all the qualifications. I think we'll use that for our answer if you are okay with it. [That, is to Alex, before she looks back at the chimera, expectantly.]

[ She perks up when Maria agrees. ]

You think so? But..would a regular picture really have all of that?

[ That seems an awful lot to fit in. ]

Perhaps not individually, but a picture can have any of those things, or only a few. I suppose our next question is if the creature is looking for a more specific word than "picture" - "painting", perhaps?

[Don't ask her. She's too old for riddle games.]

[ A painting would make sense. ]

Is that too vague an answer?

[ Alex didn't think she was wrong, but with how the riddles have gone too far, you could never be too sure.

The sphinx does wait patiently, seeming to enjoy their little game. ]

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