seasonsrpg | Quest Mingle: April-May

Quest Mingle: April-May

Quest Mingle: April-May
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• These quests are valid from start of April until end of May.
• Characters don't need to be a member of the guild to do quests and anyone can do any segment's quest!
• City Location Details | Segment Location details
• Remember to keep distances (times are calculated as walking times) in mind when planning what quests to do when. You have two full months, so there's no rush!
• For some of the monsters, additional details can be found from the Beastiary.
• Rewards are for one completion of the Quest, but characters can do it multiple times to earn more money from them, as the problems do repeat.

• Please see the guild page for permanent quests.

City Quests

Even in your city... quests! [ Click to Expand ]

Quest Name	Description	OOC Notes	Rewards
Catch the Void	The animal shelter in Amberfall has its own section for a cat species called "the void cat". They look like normal black cats, but they have a habit of disappearing into the shadows of dark corners. A group of these cats has made an escape and are running around doing what cats do: stealing food, dropping things down from high places, scratching everything and absorbing light from light sources. Help the shelter staff catch and bring them back to the shelter.	Yes, the void cats are adoptable, hence why they are in the animal shelter. They just like running off a lot and sometimes make all light in a room disappear. The cats can be anywhere in the city, but generally don't go out into the segments as they do love people, but are just also adventurous.	50 Moon Coins
It's in Your Mayo	Solarpeak is known for its street food. And what goes well with street food? Mayonnaise. It's not, however, all it's used for as it's a way of attracting a culinary creature that only flies around the Summer District skies at this time of the year: The Cabbage Kites. They're flying cabbages that move around restlessly, but once they taste a mayonnaise that they deem tasty, they will turn into regular, very tasty and nutritious cabbages. Anyone around the place is challenged to make their own mayonnaise from scratch and see how well you do with the cabbage kites.	Cabbage Kites are creatures that search for the right food (mayo) that satisfies them all their life before their souls ascend, leaving their cabbage body behind. They can be attacked by other means, but the natives would find this disrespectful and likely throw mayonnaise at the characters, so it's not recommended when there's a peaceful way out.	any cabbage you catch
Welcome to the Jungle	When delivering new potions to people, please remember to use caution and don't trip. Someone did, right next to the clocktower. Now there's an almost literal jungle surrounding Coldreach's infamous clocktower and making it hard to access parts of it. Since the vines that surround the place were made by potions, they're impossible to cut through by normal means and making a potion to counter this one would take time. Use your imagination to deal with this problem without burning the place down. Anyone who burns the clocktower will be arrested.	Due to the excess amount of potions that fell on the tower, the vines regrow over time, making this quest be available for the whole two months even if someone manages to solve the problem right away. The vines are also alive and will try to grab anyone who tries destroying them and keep them as a meat shield.	100 Moon Coins
Who You Gonna Call	A group of mischievous ghosts have possessed some of the trash bins all over the city. Some of them have grown large enough to consume two people at once. They're not really in danger, just stuck in the trash bins. Help the people stuck in trash bins and try to chase the mischievous ghosts out of the city.	One way to get ghosts to evacuate the trash bins is to make them feel uncomfortable with temperature changes or shaking the bins enough (you might want to rescue the people before attempting these). That way they will find something else to possess or leave entirely. Ghosts can only be seen if they possess something, unless you're a Winter power holder.	100 Moon Coins
NSFW Quest Stranger Burglaries	Nightwake Center and it's Red Light Sub-district is in chaos. A group of burglars have been going around stealing people's lingerie. Any lingerie left unattended has been swiped and anyone has needed to go home commando afterwards. The natives that frequent the district and the staff members of clubs are all asking to get to the bottom of this.	The burglars are regular perverts who want to use them for magical enhancement purposes as the power of intimacy will work wonders for intimate items, or so the rumor goes.	500 Moon Coins

Winter Segment

Lights, Snow, Quests [ Click to Expand ]

Quest Name	Description	OOC Notes	Rewards
Bridge of the Lost CW: forced truths	At exactly noon, the bridge crossing the biggest river in the Winter Segment shines a peculiar light. In the past, it was a way of natives meeting their lost loved ones one last time. No one knows what would happen now, with the changes in the world, so we are looking for brave souls willing to go to the bridge and see what happens.	The Bridge only works now if people go on it in pairs and there are three possible scenarios that can happen: 1) The characters who entered the bridge will see each other as someone they lost. 2) The characters will see their worst enemy in each other. 3) The characters will see themselves in each other, but either an idealistic version of themselves or something they would never want to see themselves become. The barrier around the bridge will disappear once something truthful about the person they see in front of them has been said.	70 Moon Coins
Bone Sucker's Coming to Town CW: Gore, Death	Some natives enjoy going to the Watcher's Tower to look at the Winter Segment from a safe place. Unfortunately, bodies of the natives have started to turn up. They're all in the same condition: all of their bones in their body have been sucked out. Everything else is completely intact. Solve the mystery and bring peace to the lost ones.	The monsters behind the case are called Warlock Skeletons. The suck bones out of living things with their dark magic to make skeletons that move and do their bidding. They can be killed as long as the powerful jewel on their neck is destroyed.	200 Moon Coins
Harvest the Colors	In the evenings, by the Unfrozen Lake, various Northern Lights colored winter animals appear. These animals have absorbed the light and magic of the beautiful multicolored night sky. If you manage to befriend one, the animal will accepts pets. Touching the animals will lead to dust sticking to your hands and that dust can then be put into an empty bottle. Please collect a few bottles for the Tower of Potions to use.	The dust can only be collected by being kind to the animals. Being mean or killing them will make all of the dust around the area turn into regular powder and make the other animals flee. The Northern Light dust can be used for different power enhancing potions and medicine.	50 Moon Coins, a bottle of the dust
It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's an... Orca?	One of the rarer visitors of the night skies of the Winter Segment is a species called the Sky Orca. They usually appear once a year and seeing them is a sign of good luck. The guilds are encouraging people to visit the segments to pay a visit to the Orca offspring that want to play with people and to protect them from the dangers of the segment while they are here. After a successful playdate, the mother Orcas will drop clouds down that can be used as comfortable beds.	Seeing and playing with the Orcas will literally boost anyone's luck and make them less likely to get into accidents for a whole week. On the flip side, if someone would kill any of the orcas, they would experience nothing but bad luck for two weeks.	A comfy cloud bed, or 100 Moon Coins for giving it away
Test of Courage	A few times a year, a mysterious house appears near the border with the Spring Segment, close to the Flower Yard. No one knows how or why it appears, but for decades it has been used as a "Test of Courage" site. It appears at nightfall and disappears before the sun rises (on several nights for several weeks). There have been times when someone has walked into the house and didn't get out on time... and had to spend the whole night until next in there. They weren't the same after that... Otherwise the house is safe, even if very spooky. How about a test of courage?	The house is very much a haunted house. More accurately it's a house that has been possessed by several ghosts so they make the house move on its own and move things to spook people. They just want to have fun and don't do this out of malice. The only danger is staying in the house when the sun rises as the house will disappear into a void space with anyone inside. What happens in void space? The ghosts start showing characters' greatest fears on display for anyone inside the void space to see and make fun of them.	20 Moon Coins

Spring Segment

Breezing through quests [ Click to Expand ]

Quest Name	Description	OOC Notes	Rewards
Can You Dye With All the Colors of the Lake	The annual fashion show is in June and fashion designers are looking for new inspirations. In fact, they are all looking for unique colors for their fabrics. They are asking for people who would be willing to travel to Prism Lake to dye their fabrics into new creations. They are given a potion that will make the fabric permanently absorb the color - but before using it, it's easy to test out different combinations. As a reward they will make you any outfit, either out of the colored fabrics or something else.	The biggest threat on this mission are the rainbow dyed bears that will occasionally come to find delicious fish from the lake. They aren't anything special, just normal bears that have been dyed by the lake. Characters can also fall into the lake and get a new coloring... but it's only permanent if they drink the potion. There are counter potions for it, however.	50 Moon Coins, free designer outfit
Duck, Duck!	Lately, anyone who has been going into the Spring Segment has been bombarded by none other than ducks. Not just any ducks, but magical Kung Fu Ducks. They're ducks that know Kung Fu and can use wind powers with their moves! We don't know where they are even coming from, but somehow I blame Jeffrey.	There have been catapult prototypes that have been stolen from The Research Center scientists who came to test them out. The Kung Fu Ducks are using these to launch themselves to fight opponents bigger than they are... since they're no larger than normal ducks. Still, they can be pretty menacing.	80 Moon Coins
In the Eye of a Hurricane	Lately, a lot of tornadoes have been forming around the segment, especially near the safe zones. Unfortunately, this means people are getting trapped inside tornadoes, unable to get out of them. The tornadoes are stubbornly staying in the same spot for a long time, almost as if challenging people to break through the wall of wind and get people out. Which is exactly what we're asking people to do.	The tornadoes are mostly normal tornadoes, expect for the fact that they can stay in one place for a long time, almost as if someone would be controlling them. And they are, by a group of Hurricane Birds that fly around the tornadoes. They look like eagles that are made out of steel. Their weak point is their stomachs. Chase them off or kill them, as long as you get them to stop making hurricanes.	100 Moon Coins
On the Wings of a Butterfly	Once a year, for two month period, a group of giant butterflies arrive. They offer lifts for anyone who need them and they are very fast flyers. Due to their size they're also not affected by the strong gusts of winds. The butterflies will help anyone harvest fresh cherry blossom petals from the Cherry Blossom Park without getting in unnecessary danger down below.	Cherry Blossom Petals can be used for various cosmetics, food, drinks and potions. Their magical qualities lies in prolonging life, making them important for medical departments to have.	100 Moon Coins if you sell a bag of your cherry blossom petals or just cherry blossom petals
Slime Desserts	Everyone knows there are slimes everywhere in the Spring Segment. However, only a few know that there are special slimes called Dessert Slimes among them. Their essence, the slime they produce, is a great ingredient in many cakes and desserts. Depending on the color it can taste like chocolate, fudge, liquorice and many other things. The best part of it is you don't have to kill them - just collect some slime residue. A chef in Nightwake has requested a variety of flavors and promises to pay anyone who is willing to collect some slime.	Slime Desserts are the same as slime: very weak and easy to intimidate. They are, however, rarer than the normal slime and only their scent will be an obvious way to tell them apart.	30 Moon Coins

Summer Segment

Get your hottest quests here [ Click to Expand ]

Quest Name	Description	OOC Notes	Rewards
Hope You Have a Landing Strategy	Since the Mermaids have invited people to The Great Ocean Lake (see the Rain Dance quest), we have come up with different ways to get people there. There's, of course, the airship but for those who want to get there faster there's a big catapult waiting at the Dayrise Bridge. It's strong enough to throw anyone over the forest and beach, straight into the lake. It should only take a few hours through the sky, maybe even less! Scientists will pay anyone who is willing to use it.	The landing may very well end up getting them a bit too short and landing onto the beach instead, but with a right landing strategy there shouldn't be any problems. Right? Right. Use any powers available to make sure your landing is safe or depend on others for to help you out. Getting back from the lake is definitely a different story.	100 Moon Coins
It Only Stings a Little CW: scorpions, willing poisoning	Coldreach's Tower of Potions has made a request to go to the Deserter's Desert and find a specific scorpion species there that produces a poison that will make them sick (high fever), will also make them invincible for as long as the poison is in their system. The poison needs to be harvested by letting the scorpions sting someone, so bring a partner who can help you come back from the Desert.	There's a time limit of 72 hours to get the poison out of someone's system before they pass away, which is why the members of the Tower have made a safe place to treat patients near the Summer Flower Yard. Doing it yourself is also an option, if you know how.	200 Moon Coins
They Lava You CW: Lava, Fire, Possible Burns	A larger group of Lava Lizards have left their home of the Lava-Ridden Land and are now terrorizing everything at the edge of the Jungle of Judgement. They're spitting lava at everything and anything, making the area dangerous to walk in and burning trees. They are steadily walking towards the city barrier. The larger pits of lava they manage to make also attract the Wyverns, so the fight may get dangerous and fast if something isn't done about it.	Both the Lava Lizards and Wyverns are tough skinned and hard to fight with. Wyverns also breathe fire so things may get very heated, very fast. Some of the lizards are also chameleons and will mask themselves to ambush their prey. Mermaids will send pillars or water with their magic, as well as work on the Rain Dance to put out fires (see Rain Dance quest).	500 Moon Coins
Technical Move: Rain Dance	The Summer Segment is known for its rough droughts. The Mermaids of the the Great Ocean Lake have decided to do something about it: a special dance called the Rain Dance. They need a lot of help though and are inviting everyone to participate either in the water or on the beach nearby. As a prize they will give you a special seashell necklace. Be careful of the Sirens though because some may be pretending to be mermaids and will try to drag you with them underwater.	The seashell necklace will release a temperature altering bubble when used underwater, making the water around the user a pleasant temperature and also lets the user breathe under water. Out of water it's just a pretty shell that you can put on your ear and hear a whale sing. The necklace needs to be powered up by touch energy and it lasts for 12 hours per charge.	Seashell necklace
Temple of Frustration	The Temple of Life has been a mystery for the longest of time. For some unknown reason all of the monsters avoid it and no one has been able to figure out why. We would like to investigate what's inside so use any methods possible to break down the temple door. If that doesn't work, please leave our measuring devices there so we can monitor any changes to the temple. Enter the Jungle of Judgement from the Spring Airship Station side for the easiest route.	The Temple of Life's door remains closed no matter what you do to it. It seems that something really powerful is protecting it. The Research team will pay for a full report of all the methods characters have tried of accessing the temple and for leaving their measuring technology on the scene. Otherwise, the Temple will surely be important later. If your character decides to wander to the Jungle of Judgement, please let us know and we will let you know what to expect.	50 Moon Coins

Autumn Segment

Maple scented Quests [ Click to Expand ]

Quest Name	Description	OOC Notes	Rewards
Blood Bloom CW: Blood, Blood loss	A species thought lost to the darkness has been spotted around the Autumn Segment. It's called Treanpire and it's a living, walking tree that also has the qualities of a vampire. It uses its roots and vines to suck blood out of all living things. After a feast its branches will bloom different colored flowers, depending on the blood it drank. They're dangerous and like to stalk people around the Airship Station and the Flower Yard. Take care of them.	The flowers on a Treanpire can be used for various blood related potions and medicine, but they can only be plucked out when the Treanpires are alive. When they die, the flowers die with them. If plucked before death, they remain good for potions.	500 Moon Coins
Chef Needs Maple Syrup Badly	A chef working at Coldreach has sadly run out of maple syrup for his restaurant that sells creations made out of maple syrup. He has requested that people would travel to Maybe it's Mapleline forest in the Autumn Segment to gather some more of it. He warns that staying there for too long might be a bad idea, so just quickly take some maple syrup from a tree and run (yes it comes as ready to bottle maple syrup).	Maybe it's Mapleline is a mysterious forest that turns anyone partially into a maple monster when they spent too much time there. It's said seasonal power holders are more resistant to it, but eventually the forest's power will affect them, too (in around a full day in the forest). Normally herbivorous animals that live there are now carnivorous and the other way around, so try not to get killed by a small, cute, maple squirrel.	50 Moon Coins per jar of Maple Syrup
The Graveyard Shift	The Abandoned Graveyard needs some maintenance every now and then. Cleaning the graves, sweeping some fallen leaves and leaving fresh flowers by the graves as a memorial. The natives would usually do this themselves, but with the increase of monsters and catastrophes, they're asking for otherworlders to do it instead.	A part of the graveyard is flooded, but it's still safe as it's inside the barrier made by the whole graveyard. However, if someone goes outside of the barrier and near the water, there are vicious Skelefish waiting outside. They're believed to be related to piranhas, but they're made out of sharp bones.	30 Moon Coins
Thunderbolts and Lightning, Very Very Exciting	A group of Research Center staff has been interested in the thunderstorms over the Autumn Segment. Because of that they are looking for volunteers who would wear a rubber suit and stand in the storms to collect some data on special thunderproof devices. It should be safe with the specially made rubber suits. They're not the comfiest to walk in or do anything, but it's better to be safe than sorry!	During the thunderstorms a species called a Storm Surfer (foxes made out of pure electricity) will appear. They're playful and curious and will likely try to take off anyone's rubber suit by using the zipper on the back and if they touch someone who isn't resistant to electricity they will most likely paralyze them.	100 Moon Coins
With Great Power Comes Great Frogs	The Research Center has a capture quest. There is a species called "Almighty Frog" that's living in the Autumn Segment that they have taken an interest in. It's a frog that can wield all the basic elements (water, wind, fire, earth). The scientists are curious as to why a native frog can use all elements without everything going to hell, but native humans cannot. It's important the frogs are captured alive and brought back to the Center... but they're hard to catch and challenge people to a duel.	Almighty Frogs are the size of an infant, so larger than normal frogs, but still relatively small. They still pack quite a punch as they are agile and can use all elements simultaneously. Usually they are pacifists, but they love challenging people to battle. They mostly live in the swamps near the Pumpkin Spice Trail that drains seasonal magical energy (ineffective against the frogs) so they need to be lured out to fight.	200 Moon Coins

code bases by tricklet

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Oh to have the golden eyes of the Monkey King. At least his phone will let him get to appreciate it more later.]

[He can only catch glimpses for now, really its more being able to feel her. Able to track the movement of the fire on an instinctual level that it allows him to keep track better than simply his other senses. Keeping his phone on her, his hand directing the wind like a conductors baton, feeding more air to the fire.]

[His finds his eyes trailing over her, following the fires path before it all bursts and its really a subconscious thing, the wind he's not as focused on moving closer to her, trailing over her, trailing along the fire, helping the radiant glow as he watches with a lidded look.]

[There is laughter and]

[He doesn't join immediately. Invitations are always hard for him to follow through, but there is fire and wind in the air, the elements he had always found the most comfort in, the fire singing through his veins, wanting to reach for the other flames as his core crackles, play with it, the wind dancing over him with the growing desire.]

[He sets down his phone. He's long since reinforced it against extreme heat anyway and while the video won't be as good, he won't pass up extra footage.]

[He breathes in, and closes his eyes, eyes are useless for keeping up with her or tracking the shades really, and this was a clearer view for him anyway. He lets the fire dance over him and he moves forward, letting him flow with the flames and air, passing by her with a teasing brush of his hand over her waist because he may be inexperienced, but never let it be said Red Son was a coward. He was going to push back eventually.]

[And when it comes to fighting, he is remarkably good at dancing around a partner, even a new one. Letting himself follow where the flames could be to never crowd her, listening for the sounds of movement, or where the temperature was far too cold for the amount of flames around. A bit different from before, when there was a mix of powerful hits in the spar.]

[But power isn't really needed for ghosts, and certainly not needed for too close brushes to her, his own fire dying whatever makes contact with her before he moves off to another part of the room.]

[ She can feel him watching and wanting her and it only urges her on. Her speed ticks faster as she swirls around him, closer and then just out of reach. Her movements coltish and teasing as she shrugs off whatever restraint she had. If he's going to reach for her, with both his power and his touch, she'll certainly answer. But distance isn't what she has in mind. ]

[ Once they're moving together, past and around each other, she responds to the fact that he can't help but touch her. He'll feel her touch trailing down his arm, a huff of breath through his hair. Her fire gives off red-gold spicas when his touches it which, by the playful note she hums, are absolutely intentional. She makes sure to get plenty of that in front of the camera. When he watches the playback, he'll catch her eyes slowly turning more and more golden. ]

[ She runs a fingertip down his arm as she moves past at a speed far too fast to visually follow even if he had been looking, and her fire seems concentrated where her touch is -- no risk to his clothes, however, her control is too perfect to allow it. Just the heat, and the contact, and the playful way she moves in the wind. ]

[ This isn't about the shades anymore. Maybe it never was. ]

[ After some time, he'll feel her hand curling over his shoulder, still impossibly warm, and hear her voice from close enough that her breathing stirs against his ear -- she's nearly breathless, and as she doesn't technically need to breathe air it's clear this has no physical cause. ]

Should I keep going?

[He does open his eyes at times, mostly to check what of the walls were on fire. He could feel where they were, but he needs to visually check if it might be a load barring wall, snuffing out any of those fires, but allowing the rest to crawl around for now.]

[It was already a wreck building, what was a few more burnt boards as long as it was stable?]

[Though he opens his eyes a little more then first intended as he sees the change in color. Something to appreciate and pull along with his movements, more than happy to add the color to his near dance while moving with her. Only looking for color and structure, letting his other senses guide the movement.]

[And then there's the touches. The only 'inconsistency' in his fire, brief flares in response, even as its pulled into his movement after a moment. His heart was pounding, very much unused to this game, but more than determined to play, to see it through to...something. He really isn't sure what exactly, just the vein of it. But he's already admitted he doesn't know what he's doing and she still wanted to play the game anyway. Expectations should be fairly low and that was...]

[Freeing, actually.]

[It pulls a laugh from him, something soft and a little crackly, not really used to it that isn't a mad cackle.]

[There is also more appreciation. He can feel the heat across his clothes, and he knows they're not burning. Its an impressive amount of control and it just makes the desire grow because if there was one thing that his family always appreciated, it was power.]

[He returns his own touches, still ever so careful to not burn her, pushing away the flame from points of contact, but letting the heat build under his skin. Letting his own touch sear across her skin, pointed and inviting and giving her that 'warmth' she seemed to enjoy before. Hands over her back, along her arms, even a cheeky touch on her outer thigh.]

[Even if his nerves were buzzing, it was exciting.]

[Then a touch that was firmer, allowing his feet to properly touch down on the ground, letting himself not get pulled along with the wind as he opened his eyes. Darkened golden eyes still surrounded by the flames that framed his face.]

I want to say yes. [His voice is low, soft. His voice usually has an edge to it, something hard and guarded, but it seems to have smoothed out. Letting down that barrier, at least briefly. The smirk on his face somewhere between nervous, and highly interested.] But I'm not entirely sure your end goal, but I do know there is only so much I want to do in a decrepit house.

Even if you are...

Making an incredibly strong case for me to take you up on your offer.

[ Another flash of movement, and Saya appears in front of him, almost seeming to float for a breath before she settles. Her arms slide around his shoulders in a way that is not at all like when she embraced him before. That had been a simple hug, contact to feed Ellipsa's requirements, a smattering of affection buried somewhere within. This is touching because she wants to, because she's drawn to. She focuses her magic tightly around her body, the whole of her gleaming with it, ensuring that it's burning bright where they're touching. ]

[ She presses slowly but purposefully closer, giving him a good taste of the shape of her through her dress. Hopefully giving his thoughts a place to linger, later. ]

I don't have an end goal. [ Her eyes glint, and she seems to consider this, ] Beyond, perhaps, catching your interest. [ Which she clearly has done, though if he had more of it to give she'd gladly take it. ]

[ They're royalty, they're not going to go rutting in this husk of a building. But oh, part of her wants to. She can be tightlaced and proper, and that has its appeal, but the wild parts of her want what they want, and in this moment that would be Red Son pushing her back against one of these creaky walls to rattle the dust loose. She's not accustomed to delayed gratification of this kind, however -- it agrees with her. She's always been one for anticipation games. And if he truly has no experience, he deserves better than a quick romp in a haunted house. She'd show him better if he lets her. ]

I hope you do take me up. You've barely scratched the surface of what I can do with the right partner.

[Frankly, its amazing how the blush manages to show under all the flickering flames. He's inexperienced, but he can tell the difference in body language well enough with all the context. His hands hover to the side several moments, hesitation. Not one born for a lack of want, to be sure, because that is more than clear from how he's looking at her, absolutely bridging on awestruck.]

[Gorgeous and sublime.]

[But he has his pride and he's decided to play and he's not going to back down now. Not when she's radiant and powerful and dangerous in a way that called to every demonic instinct that made that more of a drawn than a deterrent. His hands move to her sides, and then further, moving to rest at her lower back, pulling her just a little closer. Not as much as he wants to, and oh does he want to, instead making himself content to just feel the shape of her a little more, one hand trailing to the expose skin of the low back.]

Consider it very much caught. [It would be easy to give into instinct. He had his pride, he was raised a prince, respectability was important, but he was a demon and there was always that part that near beastly, where strength ruled, and wants to just take, take, take and it would be so easy to fall into it even with the uncertainty of inexperience, she was so inviting and the fire honestly was making him feel primal.]

[(And really, with the amount of fire, its no surprise they miss how the sky is starting to lighten outside.)]

[But for as reactive and fiery his temperament could be, impulsivity was not something he indulged in much. No matter how very tempting it was. There is a shiver that goes through him that certainly couldn't be due to temperature, eyes lidded and focused with a very intense curiosity.]

What I have seen is....quite impressive. [He bit his lip, eyes narrowing a moment, and she had looked before and he ducks his head, just under her ear, against her neck as he whispers.] And I can promise I am a fast learner. [And just a very light nip against her skin with a fang.]

Edited 2023-04-06 22:12 (UTC)

[ The way he's looking at her makes her breath catch in her throat; her kind has a potent reaction to being wanted and worshipped. That he's no servant of hers makes things particularly dramatic, her entire body fluttering as something clicks that hasn't before -- it's so rare to find someone who is her equal, and rarer still that they'd watch her with that expression. It's intoxicating. Her red-golden eyes watch him from behind her eyelashes, her mouth turning up when he holds her and tugs her closer. And further still when his hands rest on her bare back, which gives her a rush of euphoria that has only a little to do with this place and its demands. ]

[ The words are nearly on her lips, take me home, then, she can all but taste them on her tongue. But -- no. She has very little sense of propriety normally, but there are times, there are people, that bring it out. She's told him he needs to invite her, and so she'll wait. ]

[ But then he's murmuring against her neck and brushing her skin with his fangs. Saya inclines her head to sweep her short hair out of his way, exposing a long stretch of bare skin from her ear down most of her shoulder. Distinctly inviting. ]

[ If that weren't clear enough, she makes a low, rumbling sound in her throat. The impression of what a purr would be if a predator made it. It's no human sound, but it conveys her delight and satisfaction neatly. Her fingertips brush the back of his neck, coaxing. Beckoning. Perhaps it's not the best idea for anyone's willpower, but she's not willing to stop him. If he weren't inexperienced, if he weren't proper, she'd be shedding this dress already and damn the ghosts. She can make anyone forget this house and everything in it if given enough road to run on -- Queens don't compel those that are not theirs, but they have a force of personality that is as undeniable as gravity, and just now her full attentions are focused on him. She has a way of making her partners forget the entire world beyond the two of them (or three) -- which makes the creeping sunrise all the harder to notice. ]

I think you hardly need any lessons at all. [ Her voice is right next to his ear, husky and pleasing. The tip of her nose brushes its way to the tip of his long ear, she's learned that tends to feel nice. ] It'll be my pleasure to offer them regardless.

[ To say the very least. She's going to feel a twinge down to her knees every time her phone pings. ]

Don't keep me waiting too long, hm? I think I'll quite miss being in your arms.

[Infatuation is a powerful thing. Especially for someone like Red Son, who for all his mental hang ups, especially in regards to others, has never seen attraction nor romance as something to shy away from. (Well as long as there weren't outside factors that could cause an issue). But those factors aren't here, no concern for standing or how his parents would react or any of that. Any hesitation is to do with not looking a fool in his own ability and standards. And the niggling thought of check with Kantera, just to be Sure. Hardly a reason to hide the growing attraction however.]

[Especially when indulging just a little brings a rush. Touch is going to be a whole thing here that he would have to be careful of, but he has managed to self control through harder things. Probably.]

[It is difficult though. He hadn't been sure if the stare was interest or concern, she isn't a demon, and she's a queen, it had as much chance to be of interest to her as a potential insult, but as she tilts her head, he feels the ache in his teeth, wanting to bite down, wanting to leave a mark and claim and take and there is a returning rumbling noise, a light dragging of his teeth over her neck a mockery of a bite, where all it would take is pressure to mark that tempting neck.]

[The sound gets lower, deeper at the words and the teasing touch, both rather strong with sensitive ears and just hearing someone have faith in his abilities so easy.] You do feel quite nice in my arms. I-

Is this how you have spent your time while we were jailed? [The voice deep, commanding, a force of presence as commanding as an earthquawk.]

[And immediately Red Son has let go of Saya, stepped back several steps, the fire around him disappearing in an instance. Its almost like a switch. The usual pride and strength he holds in his frame is gone for something small and a facsimile of something young.] Father?!

[And there, maneuvering into the room carefully through the door stands a truly massive figure. Twice their size and more width, hunched in the room that can barely contain him, glaring down at Red Son. There are black spots over his form, that look almost like ink, dripping down to the ground at his feet.]

Edited 2023-04-06 23:48 (UTC)

[ Saya begs to differ entirely -- touch is nothing to be careful of, not with her. If he weren't tempted by her she'd be gravely insulted. Likewise, there's a compliment in the way his teeth scrape her neck, an act she's done too many times to mistake it. And she finds that she'd welcome being marked by him -- it would only last a few moments, but that's not the point. However, she will have to warn him not to swallow her blood, not for any pride or sensibilities but for fear that her ability to turn might be restored and she has no idea what it would do to him... ]

[ Saya blinks as Red Son practically leaps away from her. She startled a bit, herself; the appearance was so sudden. She didn't so much as feel a prickle of instincts, as she should have. And when she focuses, there's no heartbeat -- a shade? ]

[ ...Or possibly one of those dimensional spells. Saya decides not to take chances immediately. So she offers a low and formal curtsy to Red Son's father, or the image of him, learned from her youth living amongst French nobility in the 1800s. Respectful but certainly not intimidated. She's a Queen. ]

[ But she is looking at the giant who suddenly appeared with unusual intensity. She glances at Red Son, noting his demeanor, and takes a few steps closer to him. Observing, for now. Watching closely for anything that seems off. The black material, for instance, is noted. ]

[Red Son, for his part is...mixed. There is a look of relief, even joy if the small bit of wind that has managed to maintain itself despite his fire going out was any indication. For the moment, he can believe his father is here, that he's okay, and despite everything else, he can't deny that rush of positivity at thinking his beloved family might be okay.]

[But with it, there is also dread, pain, even a bit of fear as his heart hammers like a jackrabbit. Despite this, he steps forward, reaching for him.] Father, you're...you're here. You got out. I-I'm glad. I thought-I mean-

[He seems to struggle for words under the oppressive glare.] Um, this is Saya! A vampire queen-

I do not care for your tryst. [The shade doesn't have to yell. He barely raises his voice, but while Red Son could use his more boisterous personality, the Demon Bull King was much like Saya in he has to do little beyond exist to bring attention to himself.] I care that you ran like a coward.

[Red Son flinches back.] I-they were your sworn brothers. I couldn't beat them on my own-I-I went for help, I got help! It just-it wasn't enough... [He looks down, shrinking further in on himself, breath quickening.] I've...I've been trying to get home, I've been trying-

Then why did you not retrieve our scrolls? Or did you think I would not find out?

[He swallows.] I-I didn't know if it would work.

[ Saya watches this unfold with a sharp eye and a ready glare -- not for Red Son or this distortion of his father, but for the ghosts around them. When she concentrates, she can hear voices in the air -- laughter. ]

[ Oh hell no. (Being called a tryst doesn't sit well either, so even if he is real she's not having it.) ]

[ She makes her way over to Red Son, and speaks with a low voice so only he can hear her. ]

I don't think it's real. He has no heartbeat. I can't sense any presence at all. And the ghouls are cackling over it.

[ She well knows that a demon king in their presence would have the ghosts fleeing, not mocking. ]

What? [Red Son looks at her and its clear from his gaze that he's slow to fully register what she said. The fear is starting to overcome anything else, but]

[Then there's heartbreak as he looks to the shade of his father.] Father, are-did-did you escape? The ink is still on you. [There is a subtle shivering to his form as he steps forward again.] I-I know you're mad about the scroll. But the stars only restock once a month. If I found a way back, I needed-I needed to be sure I wouldn't be trapped. I was going to get you next-

YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN YOUR MOTHER! [Its only then he shouts, booming and a growl under his voice, raising a hand in the air.]

[Red Son freezes, staring at the hand.] You won't. It wasn't you, you wouldn't. [His voice is soft, more to himself. He swallows, feeling the tears at the corner of his eyes, because his father isn't moving, his father either loomed or got in someone's face, he isn't. He isn't this half step. His heart is breaking and he moves forward again, unsure what he wants the outcome to be. His father this angry at him....or not being here.] Mother would have never forgiven me. You know that. I couldn't...I couldn't bring her back, not without you waiting for her. Not again.

[ She can tell Red Son is starting to see through the illusion. Little cracks in the veneer of this mocking shade of his father. She can also see the genuine love and fear that he might have failed and disappointed his family, and the fear that this glimpse of his father is the closest he'll be able to reach. It breaks her heart. She lost a father, after all, because of her failure (and a brother, and a sister, and her love). ]

[ She rests a hand on Red Son's shoulder and squeezes. Both for comfort, and to demonstrate what's real and what plainly isn't -- ]

[ There's a distinctive metallic clink in the air, and then two men walk right through Red Son's father, dragging a petite woman by her hands. Around her ankles and wrists are heavy chains. The woman's dark hair at first curtains over her face, but she glances up... and she looks exactly like Saya. Except that she has bright blue eyes. ]

[ Saya yanks her hand off Red Son's shoulder as if he'd actually burned her. Instead she clenches fists at her sides, so tight that her nails draw blood. So much that she's shaking. ]

Don't.

[ Her voice is cold iron, absolutely terrifying. On one of the cluttered shelves nearby, a vase shatters. And then a hanging mirror. ]

Stop this now, or I'll make all of you wish you were alive so you could be granted the mercy of death.

I...I have to know. It could be- [It could be the ink. If he touches the ink, it'll react, and he'll KNOW-]

[He's about to pull away from her hand, cross those last few steps, when the illusion is dispelled as it changes and]

[His legs give out. It doesn't matter how much he feared disappointing his father, feared his anger if he had truly worked his last bit of patience, the thought of him still suffering...]

[The tears fall, just a few, but there is an ache in his chest, that maddening void that had driven him for so long and with no direction.]

[The shattering of objects doesn't concern him, but]

[This is not his...game, he supposed.]

[Blue eyes.]

[Twin.]

[Its an idle thought, one of the first things he was able to do that wasn't for himself the first time he felt this ache, reaching out for Saya's hand because he's not sure this is any better for her heart than his father had been for his.]

[ Saya's twin, yes. The men toss her into an adjacent room and then pull a sliding door made of wood and iron bars across the doorway. Diva reaches out toward Saya from where she's fallen onto the floor, her hand shaking and -- injured. Bleeding freely. That, given the healing abilities of a Queen, is most horrifying of all. ]

Sister... help me.

[ Saya's halfway into taking an ill-advised and useless step toward the two human men that are walking away with smug laughter when Red Son grips her hand. The injuries from her nails are healed, but her palm remains bloody -- she squeezes his hand hard, enough to crush a human hand many times over. ]

[ Then she leans down and presses a quick kiss to his knuckles. The best comfort she can offer, and it's all but useless. ] I'm sorry.

We need to get out of here, or I'll do something drastic. [ Her voice is closer to normal now, at least. She's not hard to call back. But there are things she never wants to know about, especially if this is just her head filling in blanks. ]

[He winces. He can still feel the crushing pain, but his bones can endure it, and it helps ground him.]

[He breathes in and lets it out.]

[Stand up. Act. You're needed. Just like when mother needed you. Just like everyone has needed you to keep acting.]

[He pushes himself to his feet, stumbles a bit, then finds his footing.] Let's go. [He tugs her hand, heading to the front door.]

[And there is a young girl in front of them.]

[His pace stutters, then his grip tightens on Saya's hand and he walks forward.]

You're dead. Nothing survives the Samadhi Fire and MK going all out.

Hm, true. It makes your father's imprisonment a true shame. If you had kept yourself from losing control a little while longer, you would have been able to prevent it entirely, but instead, it had to be removed for your safety.

[He grits his teeth and moves right through the illusion.] It doesn't matter. You can't hurt me.

[There is laughter, and whispers start up around them as the girl floats along beside them.] Oh Red Son. We both know you were never afraid of me because I was powerful. You knew I was dangerous, you knew I was a threat, but that wasn't what terrified you so.

t̶̖̆r̸̹̅a̷̗͛ȉ̴̞t̵̼̏o̴̡͋ȑ̴̬ ̵̛ͅw̴̘̉e̶̼͝á̷͙k̵̛͔ ̴̖̋f̵̘̕ä̵̯́i̵̬͠l̷̰͋ŭ̸͔r̸͔̿ę̷́ ̵̤̓ỳ̵̞ŏ̵̖u̴͠ͅr̷̪̊ ̴͔͐ḟ̵̻ả̷͕ü̷̙l̶̪͊t̵̰̅

You were afraid because I was right.

We're leaving. We're going to LEAVE and then I'm burning this place to the ground!

[Another giggle from the girl, light and lyrical and so very menacing.]

Edited 2023-04-07 02:35 (UTC)

[ Saya numbly follows when her hand is tugged. One or the other of them might not be enough to get out of here with their sanity intact, but together they seem to be finding a bit of strength. Saya ignores her sister's screams in the background, and the second voice which screams her name in her little brother's voice, and the third which whispers it in Haji's soft, even tones. ]

Poor, scared Queen. [ The girl's shade tsks. ] Queen of nothing. Everyone whose life you touched is dead. Your father, your brother, both your Chevaliers, your sister over there. That man over there loved you for two hundred years, granted your every desire... and you left him to die.

[ Saya whimpers, then buries her face in Red Son's shoulder and keeps walking. It's not real. ] Burn it now. [ Fire can't hurt him, and she has enough anger brewing in her to keep her magic fire resistance focused and active long enough to get out. ]

We won't need to listen to the voices outside. [Which is the real priority. To be OUT and away from the voices before hand.]

[Especially as he can't ignore the words. Information he knows she doesn't want to share, but his survival instinct won't let him drown out the Lady Bone Demon, fake or not. She had been too much of a threat too long for him to pull his mind away from tracking her even if he knows its not helping.]

And you don't want to hurt her. Oh, but she's a vampire queen! She's hurt people before! Maybe she would accept that you've hurt people. Tried to conquer the world, killed so many who got in your way, eaten humans. After all, that is fitting for a good son for the Demon Bull King. Surely she would be understanding. She's been so kind so far.

[He grits his teeth and there's the front door and he increases his steps.]

Mei and MK wouldn't.

[He stumbles, and pushes through.]

But you want them to. You like them. You want to be friends with them.

t̷́͐ͅr̸̡͈͓͚͉̈́̀́̏̽ͅa̶̟̩͕̳̻͋͑͂̔i̵̽̀͜t̵̬̫͝ọ̸̧̢͖͖͕͋ŗ̴̛̩͔̀ȍ̶̞̤̪̣̀̄́̾͘͜u̸̼͋̐̀s̴̥̏̍͐͆̈̕ ̵͓̟͌̑͐̃͛͝s̵̢̼͕͆̔̀̑̆o̵̳͙̝͕͠ņ̶͎͗̒̚ ̷̨̢͎̈́͒͊w̸̋̋͗̒́͠ͅe̴̦̺͑̌̏͒a̵̩̘̰̜̩̱͝k̷͚̯͍̪̯͒̌̽̈́͐͘ ̸̡̧̘͕̗͙̈́̋͂͑f̵̧͕̀̒̃a̶͎̰̻͑ͅͅi̴̡͚̭̯̻̋ĺ̸̙͙̤͓̳ừ̴̙͕͛̄͜ŗ̷̠́ͅe̸̩̤̐̽̕ ̷̥͂͂̌t̸̜͋̒͝ŗ̸͙͖͙̲̦̅͗̚a̵͈͖̮̭͔͒̀̈̅̀͝i̷͈͍̹̠̽t̵̹͒̃́̈̄ô̶̢̫͎̦̓ͅr̶̡̫̞̜̻̣̈́͂ ̵̻͕͊̔b̴͚̈́̐̑ë̵͎̰͒̀̈ṯ̶͓̫̮͖̝̈́͗̋̎̚ȑ̶̹̼̗͝͝a̸͖̪̤͎͛̊͛̓͑y̸̹͇̙̞̟̗̿͋̆̓̓̌e̶̛̝̱̠͆r̵̡͕͇̫̤̪̆͒͠

Your father's enemies and you so badly want to be their friend. It had been so easy to convince the Demon Bull King you were a traitor. Do you really think he doesn't suspect how his half baked son isn't built for the villainous lifestyle?

BE SILENT, YOU PATHETIC FACSIMILE! [He snarls and throws open the door, exposing only void.]

You stayed too long~

Edited 2023-04-07 03:05 (UTC)

[ Saya is too surprised to be angry about what this girl says about Red Son and herself, but she notes it. Is any of that true? Probably it's just something she's saying to torture him... then she can't think about that anymore because she has to grit her teeth against the horror that floods over her when Haji's voice whispers to her, begging to know why she's leaving him again-- ]

[ A dread that peaks when Red Son throws open the door and there's nothing there. ]

[ So she ignores Haji's ghost and tries frantically to think about how the hell to deal with this without both of them losing their minds. Flying out into the void won't do a thing. Maybe they should still burn the place? She's not entirely sure she's got enough focus to not burn with it. ]

[ She does her best to get her arms around Red Son so she can speak in his ear, louder than any of the stupid shades. ]

Don't listen to them. Listen to me.

I accept that you've hurt people, and I do understand it. You won't hurt me. And I'll help you find a way back to rescue your parents. I'll go with you myself if I can help.

[ That's the way to combat despair, right? Hope. ]

We'll get out of here at sunset and we're going to be fine. They're just sad imitations. We're too powerful for them to hurt, so they're doing this instead.

Whatever happens for the rest of this day, whatever you did before that, I'm not going anywhere, and I won't go anywhere. I don't care what any of them say.

[Its very much what the fake Lady Bone Demon said. The part of her that scared him most was how she was right. Nothing she's said so far has been a lie. At least nothing about him and his thoughts.]

[He can hear the other voices mixed in, not her accusatory whispers, but other people he doesn't know, calling to Saya. Listing crimes, listing loss.]

[He doesn't fight her as Saya pulls him close.]

[She just might see how stricken he looks, the guilt and conflict.]

[And she whispers and there's]

[There's something so rarely offered to him, so open and insistent.]

['Let's help him.']

[Those first little words that had wormed into Red Son's head, offered so calmly and evenly by MK, offering him trust and hope in equal measures, never once questioning their alliance when he had said what he was going to do. Mei did, the rest of his lot, but never MK.]

[So much so that the next time he realized they were his hope for his parents, he didn't even need to be spoken with, he had merely acted of his own accord to help.]

You were always so eager to work with them, and you never even tried to use it to your own advantage.

[He closed his eyes tightly, his hand moving up to grip her arm.]

[He's being offered help and support, calm and even, and it worms into his head, into his heart in a way little else does. Hope is important. Hope was everything for centuries because it was all his mother and he had, as what few allies they had abandoned them over the years, where they could only help each other, and his mother grew more and more desperate and he pushed harder and harder to make it easier, as she ran out of resources, and he figured out a way to make more and]

[And maybe in the end that was it.]

[He was tired of being the only source of hope, a source of disappointment over and over again until something would finally work.]

[Maybe]

[Maybe he just wants to believe what she says, instead of questioning it like he does every good thing in his life, finding the ways he can't have it. He's not as strong as his father wants, he's not as dependable as his mother needs, his friendship with Mei and MK are on a time limit until his parents decided to continue conquering the world and they're mortals with limited lives and are they worth his parents ire?]

[He is so tired of it and here he is being offered that this good thing will choose to stay, over and over and he wants to believe as his every shortcoming is laid bare.]

I don't care either. [He shifts, he grabs her hand, and he pulls her into the house.] I don't die. I've had to leave my parents behind because I would just die to stay, and it was the only hope I had. I never had the time to get close to anyone because I was all my mother had and she loved my father so much and I wanted to see her gentleness again without it being because of tears.

I'm selfish. I'm angry. I'm not a good person. But I keep my word, even when it is only heavily implied, and when I decide to do something, I give it everything I have, and I will continue after every failure because to do otherwise would mean to only be a failure, and I will not resign myself to that fate.

And when I like someone, I will do near anything for them and we need the largest room right now.

[ Saya's reflexes are too sharp to ever let her stumble (unless she's anemic, but that's another matter) so she falls in smoothly as Red Son grabs her hand and tugs her back into the house. ]

[ His words register, and she knows that he's telling the truth as he sees it -- she'd have wanted to argue, because no one terrible volunteers to help someone with something as big as her hibernation and amnesia just for a project, no one so awful would grab her hand and try to comfort her and lead her out of here rather than just cut and run -- but her own thoughts about herself are equally as rotten and no one can talk her out of them, so she sees the futility of it. She'd rather accept him as he is than try to fight him on how he explains himself to himself. She's a murderer, so is everyone she knows and loves. It's not unforgivable. ]

The biggest room? Why? [ At least he's got her focused on that and not on the yowling ghosts of everyone she's ever loved and failed. ]

[ As they walk they step through a... statue? One that's cracked open and is spilling red gems all over the place. But look closely and the features are a little too lifelike, the curl of its hand a little too perfect. Saya hops over it despite knowing that it's not really her dead Chevalier. ]

Because the smaller it is, the harder it is for me to maintain. Never destroy the vehicle that brings you to a void space, that is how you get trapped somewhere.

A shame that intelligence wasn't any good for your father for so many centuries.

[His grip shakes, but he's also determined, head snapping to the statue and he marches forward. More than intent to pass through it to head for the living room.]

They can come from too many directions. I'm going to minimize it so we can get some peace.

[ Saya bites off a retort despite how badly she wants to tell that woman to fuck off. This is probably a "letting it know it's upsetting you makes things worse" situation. ]

Anything you need me to do?

[ She's useless with spiritual stuff, being purely grounded in biology. But if there's anything... ]

Kill anything that might be clever enough to make it through.

[He knows there will be a gap at the floor, but he's not going to advertise that.]

[Into the living room.]

[....he grabs his phone and just. Going to stop that recording. He makes a note to edit out the last chunk, no need for any of that to be getting out.]

[He moves to the middle of the room, only now letting go of her hand, tugging off his jacket, and laying it down on the floor, making sure the symbol on the back is flat.]

Do not touch the fire. Purple is dangerous.

Wait...you're not serious, are you? You know you can't maintain them. You only did it once!

And I rather suspect WHY and you know I have that factor involved.

So I would start exercising caution. [He sits down on his jacket, over the symbol, reaching up and untying his hair, letting his hair fall down around him in cascading crimson.]

[...honestly, the boy looks like he could be a model in a shampoo commercial.]

[But he needs to feel unrestrained, to a certain extent.]

For now, sit down in front of me while I set up.

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