awashlogs | Event Sixteen.

Entry tags:

Event Sixteen.

Pity the poor step-sister those big feet
she’ll never stuff in a size-six sonnet,

her flesh so fulsome the slipper seems effete,
unworthy of the labor spent on it.

t's yet another day in which a bunch of characters ended up in the bottom of the well. That sucks. Of course, when you get up and start heading over to see if they're getting out of the well okay... you might find that it's a lot harder than expected.

Thanks to that new ball gown, or the rags you've been put in, or your new coat of fur, or the puppets, trying to drag you right into a totally different adventure. You're the one starring in a fairy tale now, and it's not an easy life to live.

It's just a little distracting, probably.

But don't forget the poor newbies at the bottom of the well, standing in freezing cold water (and don't worry, the puppets will go down into the well to grab you too).

Welcome to Awash's sixteenth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to make your own logs and posts for this event!

If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Oh good. This person is taking--

Shen Qingqiu almost breathes out a sigh of relief before he has to choke down blood that he just about spits out. Why the fuck do you have so many apples! How many evil queens and stepmothers and step-step mothers have you angered, huh!

As soon as the apple is in the young man's hand, he is slapping out of it. The apple hits the door frame with so much force that it turns into applesauce. ]

Don't just take things from suspicious people. [ He sounds surprisingly at ease with the tone of a teacher scolding, despite the amount of panic that he feels in his heart for this boy. ]

[Look, he cut down a couple of the animatronics and they just kept coming back!

...well, they've still been coming back even after he accepted them but he's not exactly going to try eating an apple to get them to stop.]

Dude! [He says less because he was upset about the apple and more because he was surprised.] You were the one giving it to me. And you were less suspicious than those...whatever those were.

[ Did you 'dude' this teacher?!

His hand snap out as his trusty fan slides into his grip. He has long since tucked the fan away in the sleeves of his clothes, and thankfully, it looks like it came along for the right. (Otherwise, that would have looked like some dramatic hand gesture with nothing to show for it.)

He attempts to lightly smack the other on the head with said fan. ]

Simply because it was me does not mean that it should be taken. Do you know what those apples are? [ They're poison! Poison! Sure, you'll be fine if some prince comes to kiss you awake! But do you really want to give your lips to just any guy?! Think this through! ]

Now what do you mean by 'whatever those were?'

[A year's worth of lessons in a a cavern full of swinging pendulum blades and randomly sprouting fires while being chased by a troll makes it instinctive to duck when someone tries to hit him with anything, however lightly.]

They're poisoned. Probably. I mean, I haven't tried any of them but I'm not planning to.

[He's just not sure where to dispose of them.]

There have been all these...they look like dolls? Or some kind of puppet? All I know is they look creepy, they're all old women and they won't leave until I take an apple. I've tried fighting them but whatever I do they just keep coming back.

[And, sure, maybe his sword is most effective against trolls but it was still a sword and he was pretty sure it worked just as well on other things. Though, to be fair, taking the apples hasn't actually stopped them coming to his door...but at least they'd leave him alone for a bit before trying again.]

Edited 2019-01-10 01:08 (UTC)

You're correct. These are poisoned.

[ GOOD. It seems you have some senses! I can't believe there is so many. Somehow, Shen Qingqiu thinks that a warding talisman wouldn't do much to deter these creatures. They aren't spirits. They are puppets. And if they lack malicious intent -- because even if they are giving apples meant to poison if their emotional intent for evil is zero -- then the talisman won't work effectively. What a fucking mess!! ]

This means there is an endless supply of them? Someone creating them, maybe? But why? If we know the danger, there is nothing that can cause harm. [ So what is the fucking deal? ] In any case ... we need to figure out what to do with this pile of apples. Keeping them around is just asking for trouble.

[Why does it feel vaguely like he's being quizzed...?]

I have no idea. I've never seen any magic like this. [Because he avoided talking about these things back home to avoid seeming insane. But about two minutes after getting out of the well, he figured that the situation was crazy enough no one would probably care about trolls or magic.] Not that I know a lot about magic... [Where was Blinky when he needed him (actually, scratch that. Just where is Blinky, period. He could use someone familiar right now).]

I can't just throw it out. What if someone eats them by accident?

This sort of magic.

[ He goes through his mental encyclopedia of monsters that he knows. There are a few that match up, but he's afraid that none of them that could make this series of event happen in this order. Indeed, there could be multiple ones working together, but he somehow doubts it. It wouldn't make sense. ]

This teacher also can't get a read on it. [ What a fucking bother. He can understand the fear of someone eating them by accident, of course. ] But they should not remain nearby. What if, when they start to rot, that they emit some poisonous gas? No, no, we should ... bury them, maybe?

No offense, [And oddly enough, he doesn't sound like he's saying that just to be sassy.] but that's not very helpful.

[And it was...different, to be around people who are just as lost as he was. It wasn't how things happened when he first became the Trollhunter. It wasn't better. It was good to be able to ask Blinky or even Aaaargh! or Draal and know that even if they don't have an answer Vendel would.

But not being the only clueless one, does make him feel less like he;s out of his depth...in a weird way.]

Honestly, I was worried about that too. [But more in the context of trying to vaporize/make them explode, by slashing them with the Sword of Daylight.]

...can poisoned apples grow poison apple trees?

There is no offense to be had.

[ He lightly waves his hand to show that he agrees. Shen Qingqiu wishes that he could give a better idea about what is going on, but ultimately, it doesn't seem like it is anything he can discern. How do you think I fucking feel? This is literally my one and only fucking skills and I can't even fucking do anything.

There isn't offense to be had, but his heart feels stuffy about his one ability of knowing the lore and bestiary of fantasy creatures has been rendered useless in a situation that is definitely magical in nature! ]

I don't think we need to worry about that one. The poison of these apples were caused by someone dipping them in poison so long that it soaked through the skin into its flesh. [ So to speak. ] That is why peeling off the skin will not work to avoid being poisoned. But even if the seeds are the same way, it's doubtful that a poisonous tree would come from it.

[ And that's because?? ] Because it was not part of the make-up of the apple to begin with. You can't dye an apple blue and expect to grow blue apples from it, ah?

[He wouldn't be able to relate: he's never really understood what was going on. He's listening though!]

That's a relief. Could you imagine if we ended up with a poison apple tree? That would be a disaster.

[Now that they have a plan for taking care of the apples he feels so much better.] You sure know a lot about this.

I also agree.

[ Getting these the fuck out of here is very good! Wave bye-bye! I suppose that'd make a compost heap? Maybe? Hm. No, I don't think burning is a good idea. Fucking passity-pass-pass on that one. ]

I merely know what I know. [ I'm touched you're impressed! I feel really cool right now! Really cool!! ... but oh, right. ] I'm Shen Qingqiu. I feel if we are to be hauling apples together, it is best to share names, ah?

[Is it still a compost heap if it can't be used for farming?

...are they going to poison a section of soil like this? Will everything that grows there henceforth be inedible!?

Jim has no experience with agriculture, however. He's just glad they have a plan to get rid of these appls.]

Hey, knowing things is really awesome though. We would have been in serious trouble if Blinky didn't know as much as he did. [Well, he ended up in a lot of serious trouble regardless but it could have been worse!

He holds out his hand.] Anyway, I'm Jim. Jim Lake Jr. It's nice to meet you.

Blinky? Who is "Blinky?"

[ Whistle while you work, la-la-lah! So he says as he locates a bed sheet to use for transporting the apples. Until this matter is handled, I guess there is just going to be a hole filled with apples. Huh. Weird. Oh well. I can't think of a better solution, so this one is it!!

Shen Qingqiu pauses to reach his hand out to lightly shake Jim's. Normally, a person'd bow. But that's a bit stuffy. It's stuffy, and I get it! ]

It is nice to meet you, as well, Jim Lake Jr.

He's my friend and mentor. [He's also a troll with four arms and six eyes. But that isn't something he needs to mention.] He's been helping me a lot the last year. [Like keeping him alive.]

Just Jim would be fine. [And now to get the apples onto that bed sheet!]

[ .........why "Blinky."

He decides to let that part go. Shen Qingqiu notes the fond way that he talks about his friend and mentor. If that is the person's name, that is their name. There's no reason to make it seem like the individual is someone to be made fun of. Even I am not that big of a bully to roast someone over their name. ]

Jim, huh. [ He immediately feels some goosebumps about it. ] Would simply calling you "Jim Lake" be acceptable? I apologize but calling someone by just one name is to speak of a familiarity reserved for family, close friends, lovers, and teacher to disciple. [ Sorry! Sorry! If I don't lay it out there! You won't understand my discomfort! We're both uncomfortable now! I'm sorry! ]

[He also knows a troll named "AAARRRGGHH!!!".]

Oh, uh. [Not the question he was expecting.] That's fine! Sorry, I didn't realize that was a thing. [He will try to keep that in mind for the future! He rubbed at the back of his neck.] So...should I use your full name too?

[ That's only fair, but... ]

A compromise. You can call me what you feel is most comfortable for you. [ Seriously!! You don't know how many goosebumps go down my body when I have to call people just by one name! It's way too familiar in a first meeting!! But, I understand this is unreasonable to ask in return! So, let's do this? Okay?! ]

Is that all right?

That's really nice of you. [He still looked awkward though. And the reason is because...]

Do you mind saying your name again. Maybe slower? [He can only speak a smattering of (terrible) Spanish. He wouldn't even be able to understand troll without his Amulet. He has zero idea how to pronounce a Chinese name.]

Of course.

[ And slowly: ]

Shen Qingqiu. You may also call me "Shifu", if that is easier. It is a title that means teacher. One a person can use without being a disciple of mine.

Then I'll call you Shifu. [And if he's pronouncing that like he just walked out of Kungfu Panda right now...well. He'll work on it! And he'll get it, sooner or later.]

So what did you teach?

[There's a lot of time to talk while they're disposing of these poisoned apples, after all.]

[ Nice kid. ]

I teach the ways of cultivation and also the four fundamental accomplishments all scholars must master. Music, painting, poetry, calligraphy, and chess.

[ A very small nod. He's getting used to talking about what it is that he teaches. Looking at the kid, he wants to say, "I know kung-fu." But presses his lips together to keep himself from uttering such a line. Clearing his throat, he continues: ]

And you? That is, what are you attempting to work towards? [ Heavy question!! But he supposes that he's used to those disciples of his that know what it is that they seek. So it isn't so much a heavy question as it is making sure that the person has thought of it by this point. Eh?? So I say! ]

A scholar? Man, you and Blinky would get along great. And Claire too. [Maybe even Vendel would have liked him....but cuts that off before he can even say it. Because wow. He really doesn't want to talk about Vendel right now. It's not fresh anymore but he hasn't really had the chance to really think about that loss. So he'll just...talk about something else and hope whatever flicker of grief is there was gone quickly enough it can be ignored.] But what's cultivation?

[What is her working towards? That's a question, isn't it? And a year ago he would have just said, 'surviving school' maybe 'talking to the girl I like' or 'looking for an adventure'. Normal teenager things. But now his expression is wry but also a bit weary as he rubs at the back of his neck.] Well, not dying would be nice.

[Is he joking? He'll probably try to play it off as such but he's being very literal here. Though there was more than that but it's...a farfetched story and he's not sure even with all this weirdness that anyone would believe him.]

Claire?

[ He holds off on asking if that is another acquaintance of his. That much is obvious since he had listed him among those that Shen Qingqiu would get along with, after all. Though, he looks up to see that the young man's looking rather conflicted -- and is about to ask before the question comes up.

Right, right. I understand. I won't ask. But don't hold in that bad blood for too long. Swallowing bad blood is my poor habit. ] It's the circulating of energy through your body. Yin and yang. It's controlling that and turning it into qi, or spiritual energy. It's becoming more in tune and able to adjust the flow within your own body. Eventually, with circulating the yin and yang to qi and back, you create a core. A center of all that power you have come to understand within yourself.

There are many schools of thought on how to acquire such and no school is necessarily right. All paths are correct because all paths are headed towards the same end. [ He offers a slight smile as he feels like he may have lost Jim Lake. ] Does that make sense?

[ And fuck, me too, kid! Me too! ] Is your life in such peril back home?

[He'll just keep it to himself forever, thanks. He doesn't have time for anything else.]

Sort of...? It's working with energy that's already inside you, right?

[He's trying to keep up. Really. But it's confusing and nothing like anything he knows about.]

I could just mean surviving school. You should see my Spanish teacher. Senor Uhl can be pretty intimidating. [And any other day he'd leave it at that. But they were in a weird town that was missing its colour and they're from all different worlds and apparently he can understand...was it Chinese? Well, anyway. He can understand it and he shouldn't be able to.

Everything is screwed up, basically. So he sighed.] It's a really long story.

That's right. [ He gives a small nod. ] Everyone has energy within them. It runs through your body much like the veins of your blood. It's already always circulating within you. What cultivation does is help you become more in tune with that natural flow and control it. Eventually, that flow of energy will allow you to obtain the highest achievement known ... immortality.

[ That's really, really heavy!! But that's more or less the sum of things!

He breathes out a sigh of relief. Here I was really worried!! You're young enough to be a protagonist so I was really worried! Don't go using a hyperbole like that!! Though, he looks away suddenly; he wonders if perhaps he is just too serious these days! Has he actually become serious even in his thoughts!! ]

We have a long walk ahead of us. A story would be good as we walk. I already told you an interesting story, so why not tell me yours?

II

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject