Greetings always followed by sweet goodbyes [Open]

[justbeingknife]

Who: Majima Gorō and OPEN
When: June!
Where: Everywhere!
What: Giant chickens, runework, plus quests and basically a monthly catch-all.
Warnings: Violence in the sunbear fight thread. Salty language, maybe.


A: I'll call you Nugget

[ Whoever had said 'don't go borrowing trouble' had been a smart guy, a wise man indeed, but the thing about being told you could potentially learn to transform yourself into a totally rad magic animal was that Majima wanted to do it immediately. So it was a quiet day in the Haven, sure -- up until, with a brilliant burst of magical fireworks, a giant, six-foot tall feathery menace descended upon one of the courtyards, stalking through the garden. ]

Fuck.

[ Someone get an adult. ]

B: Runetchers

[ Majima looked up when the shop door opened. It was a slow day, which meant he'd been making progress with the pile of scrolls and other orders for enchanted items. It also meant that his fingers were cramped, and a little distraction couldn't hurt. ]

Hi there, welcome to Runetchers.

[ He stood, gave the potential customer a little bow in a show of impeccable good manners. ]

Are you lookin' for anything in particular?

Research Required (For Justine)

Oh, I... yeah. Is there any way we could skip that part?

[ Apparently, no one had told Majima that this particular research was going to require Bonding. Hey, don't get him wrong -- connections were important, and so was emotional support? But getting himself magically attached to someone when he still hadn't made peace with the idea of sticking around long-term didn't really strike him as the best of ideas.

...especially since he wasn't sure if he wanted to get un- magically attached. He looked around for a friendly face, wondering how the hell he was going to bullshit his way out of this one. ]

Pastoral Pursuit (For Iramaat)

Hey, uh. For what it's worth, I'm sorry about your ears.

[ Look, maybe while they were wandering out into the woods looking for some stray sheep was not the best time to bring this up? But hey, Iramaat's ears had been kind of cool, and she knew how to nab foxes, and Majima knew if he'd had to give up one of his favorite features, he'd be pretty pissed about it.

With no outward signs of change, it was fairly obvious what side of the monster-witch coin that Majima had ended up on. He climbed over a fallen tree trunk, careful not to stave in its soft trunk. ]

Wildcard

Feel free to hit me up via Tetradecimal or PM for plotting!

Comments

[wylderrant]

It's always a gold sheep. Never a normal sheep - always "oh, my golden sheep has gone missing, please return it!"

[ Iramaat laughs and crouches to examine the game trail they're following. There are definitely hoof prints here. ]

That way, I think-

[ She points and then suits action to her words and heads up the trail. ]

[justbeingknife]

[ So far, so good, which was why Majima really should have figured this was going to go south.

You know, before they came upon the big old shank of raw lamb leg smack in the middle of the trail. ]

....oh.

[ WELL, WHAT WAS THERE TO SAY ABOUT THAT, REALLY. Looked like someone wasn't going to get their sheep back today, or at least not 100% of it. A few spatters of drying blood had fallen on the nearby trail and leaves, leading off into the woods. And of course, the first of what would no doubt be many flies were buzzing about the wooly gold fleece, intent on their business.

Majima drew his knife. ]

I gotta say, I don't have a good feeling about what happened to the other sheep.

[wylderrant]

That's... not a good sign.

[ Iramaat is an experienced hunter, but this is still a bit... off. Someone or something absolutely tore the poor sheep limb-from-limb and probably devoured the rest of it. Where ever it is. She loosens her sword in her sheath and suddenly wishes that she had thought to bring a spear along. But it was just an animal retrieval mission. Who would've thought they'd need to fight a large predator?

She crouches again, trying to get a better look at the ground through the blood and tearing up of the turf. ]

Something big. I think I know what made these tracks. Or at least... something very similar.

[justbeingknife]

Would it also happen to be angry and fast?

[ Because that was kind of the vibe Majima was picking up here, hunting background or no. Domestic sheep weren't exactly Thomson's gazelles, but they weren't defenseless, and they could book it in a jam. If something had taken one out without any sign of --

A roar, deep and bestial. And close. ]

...shit.

[wylderrant]

That very much depends on-

[ Iramaat would happily lecture Majima on bears and their habits, but apparently they don't have the luxury of time, because there's something very angry and loud nearby. She springs to her feet and draws her sword, the blade glinting in the sunlight as she glances around at the forest, ears twitching involuntarily. ]

Where is it? Damn, what I'd give for a good spear right now-

[ She's cursing herself. Just a little. But she's a heroine. She'll overcome!

In the meantime, something big and angry is crashing through the undergrowth and getting closer. ]

[justbeingknife]

[ The bear burst through the trees; Majima had never more wished that he had his old strength with him, but look

desperate times called for desperate spellwork

He gestured with his blade, summoning up a blaze of fire that caught the bear's left side as it reared and bellowed in rage. Heat, sizzling, the telltale shimmer of the air before the beast and the smell of burning flesh, except whoops, now the bear was angry and on fire. ]

[wylderrant]

[ Oh! Iramaat wasn't expecting the wave of fire and she blinks, eyes widening as the flames leap up and scorch the massive beast as it keeps barreling toward them. She steadies her sword, brow knit, trying to time her actions just so. Despite the heat and flames and smoke, it keeps coming and she manages to leap aside at the last moment, slashing and drawing a cut against one furry shoulder.

Which doesn't seem to slow it down any more than the fire did. ]

Open to suggestions-!

[justbeingknife]

[ When in doubt, fall back on what you know! Which, in Majima's case, was ducking down, grabbing a handful of loose dirt and rocks, and hurling it at the bear's face as it took a swing at him. He just barely managed to avoid its claws as it roared in fury, and he took off towards Iramaat. ]

Here's a suggestion -- fuckin' run!

[ They had a few seconds, maybe. ]

I ain't too great at those attack spells yet! If we could buy some time, I could probably try again, but...

[ But they probably didn't have that long. ]

Ya got any superstrength or anythin' to go with those new ears?!

[wylderrant]

Ah, yes, tactical retreat-!

[ And Iramaat takes off with him, bounding over a fallen log and weaving into the trees. She's actually very light on her feet, apparently. ]

Well-

[ She glances over her shoulder and she's reminded of a certain saying - you don't need to be faster than the bear, just faster than the person next to you. That makes her laugh, but she doesn't say it out loud. ]

No super strength, but what if we find somewhere it can't reach?

[ She's trying to keep her breath, which is hard. ]

You know, trees very close together, that sort of thing?

[justbeingknife]

Good idea as any, I suppose.

[ She was light on her feet, wasn't she? As they ran toward a denser crowding of trees, Majima motioned toward her with his blade. ]

C'mere a sec, I'll give ya a boost! It's somethin' I've been working on.

[ And provided she did move into range, he'd give her a quick magical boost to her speed. Rejoice, Iramaat. This was what he'd been trying to achieve for at least a month. ]

[wylderrant]

[ She angles back toward him without a second thought. She's not looking back - something might be gaining, after all. Then there's a flicker of magic, a spark - and she feels fast.

She laughs and shoots him a grin and takes off, bounding over a fallen log, feeling incredibly free, despite the murderous bear bearing (ha) down on them. She scoots between a couple of trees and then flails into some of the tighter undergrowth, leaping to catch a branch and swinging herself up. She leans down, offering her hand. ]

Come on, then!

[justbeingknife]

[ He grabbed her hand and scrambled up as the bear crashed facefirst into the undergrowth, bellowing in ursine fury. It was mad. It was really mad, though Majima at least didn't have to worry about being too distracted by fear to remember how to cast spells, because strangely enough this was not the first time he'd been face-to-face with a bear. ]

Okay, plan formin'. I think it'd be a good idea to go for the thing's eyes.

[ It could join the club. ]

Then we can take it apart, because it don't look like that bear's going to simmer the fuck down anytime soon.

[wylderrant]

[ Iramaat grunts and helps lever him up into the branches of the tree and then she scampers another branch higher, peering down at the bear as it rages and thrashes through the undergrowth. Fortunately, it seems like it's not one of those bears that can climb. Or at least it hasn't tried to yet. ]

Blinding it is a good first step - really wish I had a spear - but I do think the only way out of this is to kill the unfortunate creature. It's got the scent and I think it wants to make us dessert...

[ She touches the hilt of her sword thoughtfully. ]

I'd rather not get too close, but I'll do what I have to do.

[justbeingknife]

If we get outta this in one piece, I'll be sure to make sure I'm never without again. But okay.

A simple light spell oughta take care of its sight for a little while. Let's use that moment and --

[ The bear crashed into the brambles, even as the thorns dug into its snout and paws, straining the vines to near-breaking. Holy shit, was it actually going to -- ]

Close your eyes!

[ A brilliant flash of light from Majima's blade, and a corresponding roar from the bear. ]

[wylderrant]

[ That surely is a very determined animal. Iramaat has to admire it in a detached, sort of way, even as her ears twitch in alarm. And then she glances away, squeezes her eyes shut as the light flashes into existence, dazzling and blinding. She blinks, clears her focues, and she launches herself, blade extended.

She's apparently going for it's back, trying to sever the spine by landing and putting her weight behind her blade.

It might even work. ]

[justbeingknife]

[ God, he sure hoped it work, because otherwise that was a very angry bear. Majima struck the creature's head with a kind of drop kick across the snout that ended in a flash of heat and bolt of fire. The smell of burning animal flesh went up, only eclipsed by the smell of burning animal hair as the magical flames spread up its muzzle and over its face and shoulders. ]

Iramaat!

[ u ok buddy ]

[wylderrant]

[ Iramaat lands and drives her weight down against the animal with a grunt. She can feel the flesh give way under the sharp steel of her sword, hears a roar of pain and then she's shaken off and goes sprawling into the undergrowth, leaving her sword lodged in its back.

It's on fire, though, so there's that.

What's more, it's back fee are dragging now - apparently she damaged something and that means it's not nearly as fast or dangerous. Especially since, yes, it's on fire. But Iramaat is pretty sure she's cracked something, since she hit a tree. ]

I'm alive! I think!

[justbeingknife]

Good news! I'll take it!

[ And while he was at it, he'd also take a moment to back off as the creature lumbered in what was probably meant to be in their general direction, but instead slammed into the trunk of a tree.

Okay, he'd practiced this. Piece of cake. A warm glow from the tip of his knife, and then strength was flooding into him, the way it used to. Would he have to use it? Well... ]

We can't leave it like this, yer right.

[ Putting the thing out of its misery, on the other hand -- surely that was the right choice here. ]

[wylderrant]

So will I, honestly...

[ Iramaat groans, but she's scrambling away as best she can. Pain sucks - why do mortals deal with it? There's a bit of a pain in her side, something that makes breathing a touch laborious. She can't stop, though. Even wounded, the thing is dangerous. ]

And... I agree with that-!

[ She's circling away, worming under a bush to avoid a swipe of its forepaw. ]

Just give me a moment to get my sword back...!

cw: gore

[justbeingknife]

[ Who knew? #justmortalthings.

The bear lashed out with an enormous forepaw, but its movements were slow and heavy now, accompanied with the small of burning fur. Majima brought his blade across and sliced through the thick muscle of its paw in response, but of course you didn't kill bears by cutting their limbs. ]

So what's the best way to take out a bear? Inquirin' minds would like to know.

[ Human anatomy? A-OK. Bear anatomy? Help pls. ]

[wylderrant]

[ Iramaat grits her teeth - but she's a heroine! And that means she dares, she wins, and she comes out on the other side just fine. She gathers herself, beginning to steel herself for a leap. ]

The heart, I imagine. Or cut the head off? I'll see what I can do. No promises, though-

[ And then she makes a running jump, trying to land on the bear's back and get at her sword, where it's stuck in its spine. The creature roars in pain and lashes out, trying to get at her, but the smoke and fire have blinded it - even if it means Iramaat's coughing herself as she works to wrench her weapon free. Each twist and pull earns another growl or roar of pain.

Sorry, bear. She'd rather not make him suffer. ]

[justbeingknife]

[ So the heart it was. While Iramaat tackled the bear from behind, Majima shoved the knife into the bear's chest. He heard (and also felt) the blade slice through what he could only imagine was the bone of the creature's rib cage, and then tore upward through some unseen, pulsing bundle that had to be the Shade's heart.

It was almost frightening how easy it had been to do it -- part the thick fur and skin and gristle.

The creature roared again, but Majima was already backing off; blood was oozing through the thick matting of fur at its front as it attempted to strike either of its two attackers in its rage. ]

[wylderrant]

[ Iramaat finally wrenches her sword free and goes tumbling off of the bear's back, sprawling into the dirt and grass and then bouncing back, rolling back to her feet in a practice movement. Her hair is plastered to her face by sweat. There's blood and soot and ash and dirt on her skin and she doesn't care. Her eyes are alight and she lunges, ducks under Majima and the swipe of a massive paw and sinks her sword into its chest.

Feels the resistance. Pushes past it. Lets the blade pass through.

It's enough. Finally.

The creature gives its death rattle and then slowly, slowly, topples toward the ground and Iramaat has to wrench her sword free and dodge back to avoid being crushed underneath its bulk. ]

[justbeingknife]

...Damn. Ya figure anyone back at the coven'd be interested in a piece of this thing?

[ "Bear" didn't quite seem adequate to describe the creature, now that he was looking at it up close. It had little in common with the wildlife he vaguely knew existed up north.

Important question, though: ]

What happened to the other sheep?

[wylderrant]

Probably. Although we need to be careful of infection.

[ Iramaat wipes her blade off on the creature's fur and then strikes a pose, flourishing the sword in the sunlight. Despite the drifting, acrid smoke and the cracked rib. ]

Victory-!

[ Oh. Yeah. Sheep. ]

-oh. Probably in his belly, I imagine.