LUPINQUEST 2: REVELATIONS

[heartsteals]

WHO: Lupin and YOU?
WHAT: Stealing gems, stealing unicorn hair, the works.
WHERE: Places where you can steal gems and unicorn hair (and the edge of the woods)
WHEN: July (July 8 for the open prompt)
NOTES: Pre-planned quest prompts will be going in the toplevels, but there is also an open prompt in the body of this post! If you want to do a quest with Lupin, shoot me a PM.



[ Lupin's decided he's recovered enough from being shot three times to get back out there, although his friends may disagree - and that means it's time for him to start doing the jobs Chroma's lined up for him. One of them, of course, is more suited to him than the others. The others, though - or one of the others - are apparently going to be a little more difficult. He'd broken his own rule and gone out into the forest (while injured, no less!) to do a little bit of preliminary investigation, as any good thief should, and now he's come back.

He looks a little disgruntled, in fact. He's at the edge of town, sitting on a bit of rubble and thinking out loud. ]

... Why can't I get anywhere near those unicorns?

[ stealing a hair from a horse should be easy for a thief like him!! ]

Comments

[heartsteals]

We need a hair--

[ when Lupin raises his voice, the unicorn spooks slightly, trotting a few paces back and glaring at him sideways - so he continues in a harsh whisper. ]

-- a hair from its mane.

[scooptimistic]

... Okay, new unicorn buddy, why don't we just go take a quick walk awaaaay from the big, scary man?

[ Sorry, Lupin. This is just to snag some hairs. ]

[heartsteals]

[ he looks exasperated, but she's right, so he hunkers down and buttons his trap, peering at the goings-on from behind his bush quietly for now.

The unicorn doesn't move closer to Maya again; it just shakes its mane restlessly. It might be annoyed its drink is getting interrupted... ]

[scooptimistic]

[ She can't blame it, honestly. But fine, she'll step closer instead and hope it doesn't immediately bolt. ]

Or you could just ignore me and go back to what you were doing!

[heartsteals]

[ do unicorns understand English? The answer remains unclear. It continues to stand there, looking for a while at the bush Lupin ducked behind, then turns to Maya again, almost questioning. It doesn't seem to be running again, at least. ]

[scooptimistic]

Just consider what you saw before a really unfortunate trick of the light.

[ Okay. Good. Not moving is good. She's offering her most beatific smile. ]

[heartsteals]

[ The mythical beast hesitates, tilting its head at Maya as if to say how dumb do you think I am, but... even so, it takes a few steps forward. There's some intelligence glinting in its eyes.

It's definitely wondering why she's hanging out with such an impure jerk like Lupin! Not that it can voice that. ]

[scooptimistic]

[ Hey, we can't all be virgins. But Maya smiles encouragingly when it steps closer, head tilted. ]

I've got to say, I kind of feel bad for you and your... buddies. You've probably become incredibly popular over the last few days.

[heartsteals]

[ They really have?! Normally, no one even believes in them! The unicorn shakes its mane haughtily. Once it gets close enough, it leans in again, sniffing at Maya's hair curiously. ]

[scooptimistic]

[ Thanks to Haru, her hair actually smells nice and not at all like she's had to wash it with just water-- lucky unicorn.

But fair's fair, so if it's leaning in to sniff, she's going to reach out to thread her fingers through its mane. If she's lucky, a few strands will be loose enough anyway. ]

You're so pretty!

[ Not a lie. ]

[heartsteals]

[ at that, it snorts happily, as if in agreement. All unicorns know they are beautiful! That's why they have to be so particular about who they associate with. Common sense. Her fingers feel nice, so it doesn't move away... but it does go ahead and start nibbling at her hair in return.

Lupin is anxiously biting his fingernails in the background somewhere. ]

[scooptimistic]

[ And her fingers draw back after a bit-- with some hair!

But also she's giving the unicorn an affectionate pat on the neck. ]

Okay, buddy. I do have to go, so you'll have to snack on something else.

[heartsteals]

[ Lupin pumps his fist silently in victory!

The unicorn, on the other hand, doesn't seem interested in having this meeting end so soon after all that trouble. It neighs a little bit, bumping into Maya the moment she might try and step back... and continues munching on her hair. ]

[scooptimistic]

Oof-- hey! You do know there's plenty of grass to gnaw on instead, right?

[ Help. ]

[heartsteals]

[ oh yeah, he could probably help here, couldn't he... his belated realization will only cost Maya a second or three of hair-munching, at least.

All of a sudden, he leaps out of the bush quite theatrically, holding his hands out in a stock scary-monster gesture. ]

Graaah!

[ and the unicorn, for its part, seems surprised - at the very least, surprised to see this Impure Man(TM) leaping out so brazenly and making a fool of himself. With a whinny, it jumps a little in surprise (and possibly knees Maya in the thigh in the process) before darting off at a shockingly high speed and disappearing into the woods. ]

[scooptimistic]

M-my hero--!!

[ CLUTCHING HER THIGH. ]

[heartsteals]

-- Uh, are you okay?

[ he'd take a look, but... inappropriate?! so instead, he just sort of reaches over to put a hand under her arm in support. ]

[scooptimistic]

Yeah, I'm fine-- just kind of sudden.

[ But she's all right! ]

It really didn't like you though, huh?

[heartsteals]

Seems like it.

[ he shrugs, shaking his head; since Maya seems fine, he lets go of her. ]

I'm a lover, not a fighter... but I guess that still makes me impure.

[scooptimistic]

You probably loved a little too much.

[ Eeeeeey. ]

[heartsteals]

[ he holds his hands out to the sides in a totally unapologetic shrug. ]

I don't think that's a topic suited for your ears, fair maiden.

[scooptimistic]

This fair maiden is still only one year younger than you. Buuuut it's true that it's not really anything I need the scoop on.