Who: Jusis and: Wataru, Lalli, Elliot, and Lux. (Separately.) When: This month Where: Lots of places What: Investigation with Wataru & Lalli, quests with Elliot and Lux. Warnings: N/A as of now!
Jusis is only really tangentially familiar with one of the members of his group. He spoke to Wataru once, and he met Emil...who happens to know Lalli. Discussing their respective talents, however, had led Jusis to believe that he and Wataru would require a certain other skillset in addition to their own, so he'd tracked down someone with skill scouting and probably bribed Lalli with food in order to get him to help.
They're starting at the city's edge, where the fog is less thick. Logically, if they sweep inwards from there... ]
Alright. I believe we're ready to begin - Lalli, if you would?
[ They can set the stray cat loose and then follow him in. ]
[Lalli's scouting fee: two (2) cookies and two (2) cinnamon rolls? Which he will expect to be hand-delivered to him after this mission is over and done with, thank you very much, but until then—hey, he's a professional! Catch him off to the side, stretching his limbs while half-listening to Jusis and Wataru talk about... important things, probably. Theories and strategies and whatnot. Or maybe they're just getting to know one another a little better; it's not like it matters to Lalli, because Lalli is just here to do what Lalli does does best: scout.
So the second that Jusis gives him the signal, he nods curtly, pulling the hood of his fur cape snugly over his head before turning to consider this mysterious fog. He's used to the misty Finnish wilderness; he's well aware what natural fog looks like, how it moves, which is why he sets right off down street... at a, um, fairly brisk pace. Maybe too brisk? He thinks nothing of zipping in and out of narrow alleyways, of disappearing for stretches at a time before popping back up to wave for them to follow, and while it's clear that he's following something—well! He's not exactly a team player!
Fuss at him about that, perhaps? Or find him standing by the side of a shabby building after once again leaving the group behind in the dust, head tilted to the side as he takes in all of this mist. It's definitely getting thicker, and if he hears someone approach, he'll turn to give them a quizzical sort of look. You see this shit, bruh... wild...]
[ Such an odd team they pulled together. Jusis was the only one he had met before, and he seemed quite the reliable fellow, but Lalli is... Wataru can't exactly pinpoint what sort of person Lalli is supposed to be. He would probably fit well in Fangire society; there are quite a few perky individuals in there sharing the same kind of energy.
That aside, Wataru had discussed with Jusis about the situation and how urgently they need to set up a plan as more and more people are getting turned into aggressive monsters. It may be their turn next, so... wasting time on guesswork is no use, which is why he appreciates Lalli's brisk attitude, despite the guy being a silent and solitary addition to their party.
The fog makes him feel uneasy as he navigates through, following the trail Lalli has tracked. His footing is a bit compromised by the fact he's still not used to his physical strength being more than halved in favour of magic, but he can catch up with Jusis at the very least, and what he absolutely wants to make sure of is that he's not going to become a burden for his teammates. ]
... Oh. Look around.
[ His voice fades a little from the fatigue, but once they catch up to Lalli he notices the change in scenery - and it unsettles him, of course. He knows they're still within the Residential area, which worries him all the more about the people living here. ]
The fog is thicker here. I think we're getting closer to the source.
[ It's fine, Jusis will pay the food toll later and personally. He's nothing if not strict about keeping to his word, and he has no intention of flaking out on this even if the deal is a little, er, strange. He's not certain what Lalli is following specifically here, but he trusts the skills that seem to be displayed.
He nods to Wataru, concurring, then asks Lalli: ]
How are you tracking it, exactly? Magic, or some other sort of trail?
[Lalli's eyes slide to Jusis, then back over at the fog—which is, in his expert opinion, moving in a fairly predictable pattern? Sure, it's swirling around—as fog is, you know, wont to do—but it's been relatively easy for him to spot places where it just seems... concentrated; then it's a matter of determining the way the air moves between the buildings, the direction of the wind...
...He's just good at this shit. It's second nature to him, hence the flat Look he shoots Jusis' way. Buddy...]
With my eyes.
[Duh??? But since Jusis obvious knows nothing, once Lalli gives their surroundings one last scan? It's Wataru he turns back to as he points down a specific street.]
[ Just his eyes, huh. Wataru is no stranger to having a developed vision thanks to the helmet of his armor allowing him to see neatly in the dark. Too bad it'a a feature he'll never gain back as long as he stays here.
He mutely listens to the brief exchange between the two, before Lalli calls to his attention and points to a street - or what's supposed to look like one, since the fog barely even allows him to look beyond a few meters. ]
Alright. Be prepared for anything - it's a populated area, and some people might have likely gotten infected.
[ The mist is such a disadvantage for them, but his reflexes are still solid. He, rather confidently, proceeds towards that direction. ]
[ THANKS, LALLI. Jusis isn't going to call him on it for the moment, though, although he does step up towards the front of the group with his sword drawn. ]
We'll aim to disarm those instead of kill, then. There's no need for pointless bloodshed.
[Sounds perfectly sensible to Lalli, even if did make sure to bring his handy dandy dagger with him. He's practical, okay? Prepared to do what it takes to ensure his own survival...
...But as he follows the other two members of this team, he decides to leave it in its sheath for the time being. It's not like it can compare to a SWORD! He'll just trust that Jusis will, you know, swiftly beat down anything that pops out of the shadows; that leaves him free to keep check on their surroundings, aka peer through windows and peek around buildings. You never know what you're going to run into out here! Case in point:]
Mrr...
[Hear that oddly cat-like noise, gang? Lalli has doubled back a bit to squint into an otherwise benign alleyway, because hey, that... sure is a small figure crouched down behind a stack of crates...]
[ Is someone purring out there? Wataru is vaguely sure he's just heard the sound a cat would likely produce. Maybe there really is just a cat loafing around, but should he even take anything for granted in this situation? No, siree. He looks at Lalli for confirmation and then follows his companion's gaze towards the alleyway.
There's something hiding behind those crates. Is it human? Is it a monster? Is it... anything that resembles neither of them? Wataru bravely proceeds towards it, with careful steps, slow as if he's walking across a minefield. He makes sure Jusis is standing right by his side, in case the figure will attack them and they need a quick counter.
[ "Quest #1 - Lights Between the Trees With the Wilders back in order, they're able to tackle an annual problem: mysterious lights that travel through the forest, appearing and disappearing at random. They're colorful things, about the size of one's average hand, and tend to lead those who follow them astray--
Right into danger, that is.
Each year they attempt to deduce the cause and fail to reach the core of the problem, which they heavily suspect to be in the heart of the Wilde... which, historically, has not had successful, dying-free ventures, and so they remain more or less wary of it as they steadily mark their successes in clearing and cleaning. Regardless, they're looking for volunteers again this year to assist in studying the lights and finding the more minor sources of these lights, though beware the trickster who makes good use of these lights as part of their hunting strategy: an elk with naturally occurring bio-luminescent secretions on its antlers and pelt, which it uses to enrapture onlookers and mark its territory." Placed here so I don't Forget any details and don't have to constantly refer to a different page...
So, anyway. They're basically meant to go into the woods and find mysterious lights. This is obviously better done at night, so Jusis is in fine form, none of his new sun-sickness interfering with anything. He also has his blade, and assumes that in the usual way of things he'll be more front-line than Elliot here...but he also assumes a good deal of magic will be used, so they should be a balanced set. ]
I suppose the easiest way to track the source is to simply follow the first strange light we see. [ ... ] I must say that people being lost over this sounds particularly ridiculous. Why would you follow a strange light in dangerous woods?
Elliot was happy to agree to go. While most of his work was music or healing based in Aefenglom, sometimes it was nice to branch out into different type of work. And it's been awhile since he's done any work with Jusis.
So he follows along with him, staff in hand. He's conjured a small ball of light to travel with him, so they can actually see where they're going in the dark]
Ahaha, well maybe they think it's a lantern from another person? Though you do wonder why they're in these woods alone in the first place...
You know, I'm not sure. This forest can be dangerous no matter the time, so they should be more careful anyway.
[Elliot meanwhile does his best to keep up. At least he's not running out of breath as much as he used to during his Thors day, so it's not too hard for him to keep up.
Speaking of low energy though, Jusis's sun sickness hasn't gone unnoticed by the class healer. So...]
[ Elliot..............he'll be fine, since it's the dead of night. And he's theoretically also getting stronger while being a limp noodle during the day. ]
[He sings a couple notes to a song, and a individual barriers appear around both of them before disappearing. There's still the hum of magic just off their skin, even if its invisible to the naked eye]
There, that'll protect us from one hit. It'll break afterwards...but at least it'll help in an ambush.
[Sure you don't need comfort Jusis. But it isn't a surprise Elliot uses music for his magic. It's just...easier for him to focus on musical songs than memorizing spoken incantations. Those were more Emma's thing.]
Alright.
[He follows after Jusis, his staff at the ready to back him up. As they get closer, it becomes clear the glowing marks aren't looking. If anything, it looks like...bioluminscent material of some kind, scrapped onto some tree trunks]
Huh? It's...paint?
[Or maybe something else. Elliot hasn't touched it.
[ He'll head towards the second tree. If they keep following the trail, trap or no, they should eventually reach the source. Although he's looking at more than the glowing stuff on the trees - Jusis is also looking at the ground, examining it for any tracks leading to and away from the trees... ]
It's definitely some sort of beast...on the larger side, I think.
That's possible...I mean if it works for people then animals would fall for it too.
[From the sight of the second tree, there looks to be more further on ahead. There are tracks, but they're not the easiest to decipher among all the foilage in the forest at night beyond what Jusis picks up. Elliot for one, was not a master tracker]
That'd...explain the height of the markings. [He sighs.] But I'm not seeing destroyed trees, so maybe it's not too big?
That or it has some reason to be careful about the trees - but I'd suspect it's not the size of any of those ridiculous abominations we came across the other year...
[ After all, Elliot is right about the trees and he'd like to think the beast isn't THAT smart. ]
[ Or is that even doable...he's still learning. Jusis is careful to walk so he's not stepping on anything particularly noisy, pausing every so often to examine their surroundings... ]
[Elliot will take that cue to be quiet, slowing his pace a little so he can move quietly after Jusis. He's not the...sneakiest person in the world, but at least he's small so his footsteps don't make that much noise when he's trying to be quiet]
[ It works! And as they sneak closer they'll see...
Some sort of deer? Elk? Jusis isn't certain what to term it, as they don't usually glow...
A monster of some sort, then. But is it dangerous or not? He's assuming it is since there are missing persons involved, but he's watching for a moment anyway just to be sure. ]
[Elliot stops behind Jusis, seeing the same elk. He's not sure either. On one hand, deer are usually nice. On the other hand, there are killer deer in Erebonia. So it's a 50/50.
But it sure is the source of the glowing, so he looks over at Jusis, trying to get an idea if they should attack or not. He'd say something outloud, but he doesn't want to spook the elk into running. ]
[As Jusis approaches, the elk takes notice. Not sure of Jusis's intentions, it makes a show of calling out and kicking its hooves in the ground. It doesn't go for the immediate attack, but looks like it might charge him if he's not careful]
[ "Rux & Ruby: A pair of wolfish Turnskins are looking for playmates! They're both rather young, see, and their mother (a Tailor) would appreciate their distraction." So I don't forget any quest details. Listen.
So anyway, Jusis shows up for this particular job because playing with children isn't really so bad in the long run. He likes most children; they're preferable to most adults and certainly to most nobles...and helping out a mother in distress seems a good way to start off his working career.
He should have expected someone else to respond to the same job ad as himself, really. Once they're there, Jusis turns to Lux to introduce himself first off... ]
Jusis Albarea; a pleasure to make your acquaintance.
[ This typically isn't the type of job that Lux would take, but sometimes it's fun to do something out of her comfort zone. The idea of watching two children on her own seems daunting, so it's a relief when she sees another person here to help.
Look at that, she's meeting new people and expanding her horizons. Maybe this was a better idea than she thought. ]
Lux Crownguard—and likewise.
[ She holds out a gloved hand for him to shake, if he chooses to. ]
I take it you have experience watching children, then?
[ She hopes. Look, she didn't even really have playmates growing up, If he doesn't have some previous knowledge, this might be an ordeal. ]
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CLOSED TO: WATARU & LALLI
Jusis is only really tangentially familiar with one of the members of his group. He spoke to Wataru once, and he met Emil...who happens to know Lalli. Discussing their respective talents, however, had led Jusis to believe that he and Wataru would require a certain other skillset in addition to their own, so he'd tracked down someone with skill scouting and probably bribed Lalli with food in order to get him to help.
They're starting at the city's edge, where the fog is less thick. Logically, if they sweep inwards from there... ]
Alright. I believe we're ready to begin - Lalli, if you would?
[ They can set the stray cat loose and then follow him in. ]
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So the second that Jusis gives him the signal, he nods curtly, pulling the hood of his fur cape snugly over his head before turning to consider this mysterious fog. He's used to the misty Finnish wilderness; he's well aware what natural fog looks like, how it moves, which is why he sets right off down street... at a, um, fairly brisk pace. Maybe too brisk? He thinks nothing of zipping in and out of narrow alleyways, of disappearing for stretches at a time before popping back up to wave for them to follow, and while it's clear that he's following something—well! He's not exactly a team player!
Fuss at him about that, perhaps? Or find him standing by the side of a shabby building after once again leaving the group behind in the dust, head tilted to the side as he takes in all of this mist. It's definitely getting thicker, and if he hears someone approach, he'll turn to give them a quizzical sort of look. You see this shit, bruh... wild...]
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That aside, Wataru had discussed with Jusis about the situation and how urgently they need to set up a plan as more and more people are getting turned into aggressive monsters. It may be their turn next, so... wasting time on guesswork is no use, which is why he appreciates Lalli's brisk attitude, despite the guy being a silent and solitary addition to their party.
The fog makes him feel uneasy as he navigates through, following the trail Lalli has tracked. His footing is a bit compromised by the fact he's still not used to his physical strength being more than halved in favour of magic, but he can catch up with Jusis at the very least, and what he absolutely wants to make sure of is that he's not going to become a burden for his teammates. ]
... Oh. Look around.
[ His voice fades a little from the fatigue, but once they catch up to Lalli he notices the change in scenery - and it unsettles him, of course. He knows they're still within the Residential area, which worries him all the more about the people living here. ]
The fog is thicker here. I think we're getting closer to the source.
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He nods to Wataru, concurring, then asks Lalli: ]
How are you tracking it, exactly? Magic, or some other sort of trail?
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...He's just good at this shit. It's second nature to him, hence the flat Look he shoots Jusis' way. Buddy...]
With my eyes.
[Duh??? But since Jusis obvious knows nothing, once Lalli gives their surroundings one last scan? It's Wataru he turns back to as he points down a specific street.]
That way. Shouldn't be far.
[Agreed, boss?]
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He mutely listens to the brief exchange between the two, before Lalli calls to his attention and points to a street - or what's supposed to look like one, since the fog barely even allows him to look beyond a few meters. ]
Alright. Be prepared for anything - it's a populated area, and some people might have likely gotten infected.
[ The mist is such a disadvantage for them, but his reflexes are still solid. He, rather confidently, proceeds towards that direction. ]
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We'll aim to disarm those instead of kill, then. There's no need for pointless bloodshed.
[ Or at least he doesn't see the need for it. ]
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...But as he follows the other two members of this team, he decides to leave it in its sheath for the time being. It's not like it can compare to a SWORD! He'll just trust that Jusis will, you know, swiftly beat down anything that pops out of the shadows; that leaves him free to keep check on their surroundings, aka peer through windows and peek around buildings. You never know what you're going to run into out here! Case in point:]
Mrr...
[Hear that oddly cat-like noise, gang? Lalli has doubled back a bit to squint into an otherwise benign alleyway, because hey, that... sure is a small figure crouched down behind a stack of crates...]
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There's something hiding behind those crates. Is it human? Is it a monster? Is it... anything that resembles neither of them? Wataru bravely proceeds towards it, with careful steps, slow as if he's walking across a minefield. He makes sure Jusis is standing right by his side, in case the figure will attack them and they need a quick counter.
Gently, he speaks up. ]
Hello?
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When the form moves again, though, it seems to be - two small figures. Children.
Jusis doesn't relax his guard, but he does look somewhat less likely to attack. ]
We are not here to do you harm.
CLOSED TO: ELLIOT
With the Wilders back in order, they're able to tackle an annual problem: mysterious lights that travel through the forest, appearing and disappearing at random. They're colorful things, about the size of one's average hand, and tend to lead those who follow them astray--
Right into danger, that is.
Each year they attempt to deduce the cause and fail to reach the core of the problem, which they heavily suspect to be in the heart of the Wilde... which, historically, has not had successful, dying-free ventures, and so they remain more or less wary of it as they steadily mark their successes in clearing and cleaning. Regardless, they're looking for volunteers again this year to assist in studying the lights and finding the more minor sources of these lights, though beware the trickster who makes good use of these lights as part of their hunting strategy: an elk with naturally occurring bio-luminescent secretions on its antlers and pelt, which it uses to enrapture onlookers and mark its territory." Placed here so I don't Forget any details and don't have to constantly refer to a different page...
So, anyway. They're basically meant to go into the woods and find mysterious lights. This is obviously better done at night, so Jusis is in fine form, none of his new sun-sickness interfering with anything. He also has his blade, and assumes that in the usual way of things he'll be more front-line than Elliot here...but he also assumes a good deal of magic will be used, so they should be a balanced set. ]
I suppose the easiest way to track the source is to simply follow the first strange light we see. [ ... ] I must say that people being lost over this sounds particularly ridiculous. Why would you follow a strange light in dangerous woods?
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Elliot was happy to agree to go. While most of his work was music or healing based in Aefenglom, sometimes it was nice to branch out into different type of work. And it's been awhile since he's done any work with Jusis.
So he follows along with him, staff in hand. He's conjured a small ball of light to travel with him, so they can actually see where they're going in the dark]
Ahaha, well maybe they think it's a lantern from another person? Though you do wonder why they're in these woods alone in the first place...
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Especially at night - I assume. Or have any of these disappearances occurred during the day...?
[ He should have asked. For now, he's keeping his eyes peeled as he keeps pace with Elliot, a little ahead but no further. ]
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[Elliot meanwhile does his best to keep up. At least he's not running out of breath as much as he used to during his Thors day, so it's not too hard for him to keep up.
Speaking of low energy though, Jusis's sun sickness hasn't gone unnoticed by the class healer. So...]
So have you been feeling better?
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I feel well, yes.
[ You know. Currently. This exact moment. ]
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Good. But let me know if that changes, okay? If we need to take a break, we can.
[The guy who would regularly get tired on long hikes, suggesting that Jusis might need a break before him...]
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I could say as much to you.
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[Now it's time to look for this glowing stuff]
See anything yet?
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[ It's far ahead, tiny enough to be stars, but...
Closer to earth, and with a stranger sort of fuzzy glow. ]
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[He looks at where Jusis is indicating, frowning]
...I don't think stars are visible that close to the ground. [Not in the woods, at least]
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[ Magical or mundane. ]
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[He sings a couple notes to a song, and a individual barriers appear around both of them before disappearing. There's still the hum of magic just off their skin, even if its invisible to the naked eye]
There, that'll protect us from one hit. It'll break afterwards...but at least it'll help in an ambush.
[So in other words, it's a barrier spell]
Okay, now I'm ready.
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Familiar and comforting, somehow. Not that he needs the comfort, of course! Jusis nods, taking Elliot at his word, and then takes point. ]
As am I. Let us see what awaits.
[ He's going quietly, however, to see if they can't ambush the source of the lights instead of being attacked immediately... ]
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Alright.
[He follows after Jusis, his staff at the ready to back him up. As they get closer, it becomes clear the glowing marks aren't looking. If anything, it looks like...bioluminscent material of some kind, scrapped onto some tree trunks]
Huh? It's...paint?
[Or maybe something else. Elliot hasn't touched it.
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I'm not sure it's paint; it seems more organic in nature...perhaps related to an animal of some sort?
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Oh! You're right! Maybe it's something that leaves a glowy residue?
[He looks around, before pointing at more glowing marks at a tree further off]
Think we got a trail too.
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[ He'll head towards the second tree. If they keep following the trail, trap or no, they should eventually reach the source. Although he's looking at more than the glowing stuff on the trees - Jusis is also looking at the ground, examining it for any tracks leading to and away from the trees... ]
It's definitely some sort of beast...on the larger side, I think.
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[From the sight of the second tree, there looks to be more further on ahead. There are tracks, but they're not the easiest to decipher among all the foilage in the forest at night beyond what Jusis picks up. Elliot for one, was not a master tracker]
That'd...explain the height of the markings. [He sighs.] But I'm not seeing destroyed trees, so maybe it's not too big?
[Goddess he hopes]
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[ After all, Elliot is right about the trees and he'd like to think the beast isn't THAT smart. ]
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[Time to keep following the trail!]
On the bright side, I'm not seeing any signs of Cwyld around these marks. So we probably won't be dealing with a Shade either.
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[ Or is that even doable...he's still learning. Jusis is careful to walk so he's not stepping on anything particularly noisy, pausing every so often to examine their surroundings... ]
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The problem is you have to be careful not to get infected yourself.
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[ Time to be quiet as they sneak! ]
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[Elliot will take that cue to be quiet, slowing his pace a little so he can move quietly after Jusis. He's not the...sneakiest person in the world, but at least he's small so his footsteps don't make that much noise when he's trying to be quiet]
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Some sort of deer? Elk? Jusis isn't certain what to term it, as they don't usually glow...
A monster of some sort, then. But is it dangerous or not? He's assuming it is since there are missing persons involved, but he's watching for a moment anyway just to be sure. ]
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But it sure is the source of the glowing, so he looks over at Jusis, trying to get an idea if they should attack or not. He'd say something outloud, but he doesn't want to spook the elk into running. ]
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So, Jusis signals to let him approach first as bait. If the thing attacks a non-attacking approach, they deal with it. If not, they discuss options? ]
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CLOSED TO: LUX
So anyway, Jusis shows up for this particular job because playing with children isn't really so bad in the long run. He likes most children; they're preferable to most adults and certainly to most nobles...and helping out a mother in distress seems a good way to start off his working career.
He should have expected someone else to respond to the same job ad as himself, really. Once they're there, Jusis turns to Lux to introduce himself first off... ]
Jusis Albarea; a pleasure to make your acquaintance.
I could have sworn I tagged this, I'm so sorry...
Look at that, she's meeting new people and expanding her horizons. Maybe this was a better idea than she thought. ]
Lux Crownguard—and likewise.
[ She holds out a gloved hand for him to shake, if he chooses to. ]
I take it you have experience watching children, then?
[ She hopes. Look, she didn't even really have playmates growing up, If he doesn't have some previous knowledge, this might be an ordeal. ]
No problem!
I've spent a great deal of time with children at home. It was never an official arrangement, they simply...liked me.
[ He attracts small children mostly because he's good with them. ]