[ OPEN ] Chroma’s First Annual “Make Sierra Cry” Competition

[regrede]

WHO: sierra mikain and you! she is a yellow.
WHERE: the well-ish.
WHEN: early april!
WHAT: sierra is holding a contest to make her cry for the sake of the quest. there is an exciting reward to bring back a small item from home, for incentive!
WARNINGS: she may also fulfill the near-death experience quest for your character, if anyone steps on a landmine.

MAKE ME CRY
(quest 55, but potentially quest 54 if you’re unlucky)

[ throughout the month, to inject a little stimulation in her life, sierra can be found sitting by the well with as bored a look as any on her face. there’s a makeshift sign posted in the ground next to her, and anyone who approaches to ask her what she’s doing is going to get a yawn and a gesture to the instructions very clearly laid out. ]

Make Sierra Mikain,
Founder of the Village of the Blue Moon,
Cry

Reward: A magical ring with which to retrieve one small object of your choosing from your home world.

[ sierra twirls another handmade object in her hand, another small sign with a number written on it—apparently, you’ll be graded from zero to five on your attempt. she yawns again, covering her mouth with the 0 side. ]

Well? Shall we try?

Comments

[sirnyxalot]

[Nyx passes through the square, a bundle of freshly cut wood under his arm, and pauses long enough to read the sign. He looks at Sierra, looks back at the sign, opens his mouth to ask and then immediately thinks better of it. He continues walking, a smirk on his face, disappearing towards Bluo.

About twenty minutes later he show up again, his coeurl chasing his heels, and has himself a seat on the well itself. He gets himself comfortable, a smaller block of wood in hand, and takes a knife out of his pocket.]

Any takers yet?

[regrede]

[ oh?

nyx’s return was somewhat unexpected, though perhaps she should have seen it coming with that little smirk he was wearing. the animal is unexpected, too, but not necessarily unwelcome—as long as it keeps its distance. she’s not good with pets. ]

We live in a town of cowards, it seems.

[sirnyxalot]

[Rahm isn't a typical pet. She has no interest in interacting with just about anyone other than Nyx. The bigger she gets the more surprised he is that she hasn't electrocuted him yet, but who's keeping track?]

Usually something so personal requires knowing a person.

[He sets his knife to the wood, shaving off a piece with every swipe.]

[regrede]

Be that as it may, there’s an entire quest devoted to attempting it. Surely someone has the guts to at least try.

[ she examines her scoreboard, idly, but there’s no way she’s going to ditch something she put so much effort into making in the first place. ]

I take it you aren’t interested? Some code of chivalry?

[sirnyxalot]

The quests seem a little aggressive this month.

[Nyx works his way towards removing a solid corner off the block, and sets the bigger piece aside to begin shaping the new one.]

Besides, there isn't much in it for me to try. I don't need anything from home, and the last time I succeeded in a quest like this I had nightmares for a week. Call it selfish if you will.

[regrede]

I will. That’s selfish.

[ but sierra says it with a slight smile, and then her attention turn to whatever thing he seems to be whittling away at. it’s an interesting hobby, for someone like nyx—but maybe she doesn’t really know who “someone like nyx” is. he’s managed to surprise her plenty of times before. ]

I doubt the town truly wants us to complete these quests… but it would be this poor maiden who cries, so at least the punishment would fall upon someone else.

[sirnyxalot]

As shrewd as ever, my lady.

[He says it cheerfully, taking the harsh edges off the wood to shape a kind of bead before looking up to raise an eyebrow at her.]

It would sure be a sight to behold if someone manages it.

[regrede]

Oh? Are you the sort that likes to see a woman crying so you can wipe away her tears?

[ she thought about leaving it at “crying,” but really, she has more respect in him than to accuse him of being an aggressive misogynistic sadist. ]

[sirnyxalot]

Do I seem like the type?

[Nevermind that he's definitely the kind of guy to comfort a crying woman. Men, too, though it would depend on the person, really. He's not sure whether or not Sierra would be the type to want comfort.]

Of course, should it happen I'll be happy to offer a shoulder to cry on.

[regrede]

Hoho! Swooping in to take advantage of a young lady’s sentimentality… are you quite practiced with women, then?

[ sierra remembers an early conversation of theirs, if not the earliest. this friendship started off with a kiss, and sierra thought nothing much of it at the time except that it was a lovely distraction from everything else going on. she’d be a little remiss to comment on his “practice” when she herself hasn’t seen it in months. ]

I will warn you, the last man who tried to court me didn’t get very far.

[sirnyxalot]

To say I am would make me sound like some kind of playboy.

[He feigns a wounded expression, pressing his hand against his chest, then breaks out into a laugh.]

Though I'd probably get further than these poor questgoers are at tugging your heartstrings.

[Nyx looks down at the bead taking shape beneath his knife and his smile turns fond. It's not like it hasn't crossed his mind to test his luck with Sierra. She's a beautiful woman and he enjoys their conversations. Had he been younger and still chasing a distraction from a never ending pain there wouldn't have been any hesitation.]

[regrede]

[ sierra laughs, too, surprised at herself when it comes. conversation with nyx is easy and comfortable, and she strangely doesn’t feel the need to prove herself around him. it’s not always proving herself that motivates her guardedness with others, however—she just trusts that nyx already knows and respects all that she can do. ]

Of everyone in this town, I’d say you rank quite high on the list.

[sirnyxalot]

You honor me, My Lady.

[He affects a small bow, tucking the toes of one boot behind his ankle to complete the motion, and falls into a comfortable silence as he resumes his work. There’s another resident interested in the challenge, and he idly glances from time to time to see how they’re doing, but mostly works on taking off tiny slivers of wood around the bead.]

[regrede]

[ of course they do poorly, largely because sierra is herself and wouldn’t post this challenge if she weren’t confident, but having someone else to do it in front of makes the whole thing even easier. when that particular failed attempt ends, sierra heaves a dramatic sigh. ]

As I suspected… my standards are impossible.

[sirnyxalot]

Your standards are exceptional, as a lady's should be.

[He finishes off the bead with a small piece of sandpaper and a quick polish, studying it for imperfections. Given a week and proper tools it would be better, but he likes the swirls he notched around it. They feel elegant.

Standing at last, he makes way over to Sierra and presents the bead to her with a bow, free arm folded behind his back.]

I never thanked you for your assistance upon my return. It's traditional for my people to carve their appreciation by hand for the people in their lives. Please accept this from me.

[regrede]

…oh!

[ sierra never thought that what he was crafting would be for her, as egocentric as she can often be. the surprise on her face is quite genuine, as she takes the bead delicately, in her slim pale fingers. ]

You have no need to thank me, but…

[ hmm. ]

I shall graciously accept these feelings.