Event Seventeen.

[awashmods]

I went to the wood and got it; I sat me down to look for it And brought it home because I couldn’t find it.

he magical vines creep ever onward, slowly infringing upon the Town. No matter how many are chopped down, no matter how many are set on fire, they keep coming even so. And slowly, one by one, the people in the Town start to fall to the curse that they bring along with them. Stay and tend to the cursed? Venture out into the woods to find the castle at the source of these vines? Whatever you choose to do, you'd better decide quickly; the curse only seems to get worse and worse the longer everyone is afflicted. Welcome to Awash's seventeenth 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!

Comments

[shizun]

... yes?

[ Does he find it insulting that I'm calling His Majesty kind now?! He breathes out a small sigh. This gap moe-type... the tsundere... you really never know what is going to set them off!! But he doesn't want to set him off to the point where he is abandoned in the woods!!

At the very least, with this little bit of chaos, he can focus on it over all else. ]

[superioritis]

[ He wants to know. Was that meant to be an insult, or was it simply another misconstrued interpretation? He has no idea what gap moe means. But for a prince to ask the meaning of a couple words—how degrading is this?

In the end, he can only rely upon these familiar words: ]

Don't treat me like a child.

[shizun]

[ Ah. It is like that? ]

I greatly apologize to you, Prince Berkut. [ To constantly have someone point at what they love and ask them to talk about it when they're this sort of prideful shy!! In short, Shen Qingqiu feels like he has been bullying someone younger than him that the younger party now has to say that he needs to stop. ]

I merely found that the relationship that you have with His Majesty and bride-to-be such an endearing one that I could not help but say something I should not have.

[ Even though I still want to throw hands with your uncle! Motherfucker better watch his back should I see him... Rinea sounds like she might just be the soft flower that's melt your heart in shining, sparkling love. ]

[superioritis]

[ To think he'd started this game of asking questions. When did it get so far out of his control? No matter. What's done is done. ]

The relationship of a noble is no business of yours. Take care not to overstep your boundaries.

[ His existence is meant to be respected, not treated like a story for the rumor mill. Otherwise, it's an affront to those precious individuals named by him. ]

[shizun]

I--

[ Yikes! That's a door slamming in my face! A period to our conversation! His lips clamp shut. Doesn't everyone like talking about their loved ones? He thinks of how much he went on about Luo Binghe. Because I knew he wanted me to shit-talk! But he supposes that he hadn't been thinking about this from Berkut's point-of-view.

It's difficult for his thoughts to grow quiet with so much noise around him and his emotions bursting at every little thing, but he tries. And it takes a second. Let's see... from the prince's point of view, he has come across a cultivator that is babbling about his disciple non-stop which caused him to start an escort mission that he doesn't want to be on... only to be rewarded by said cultivator making light of the warm relationships that he has!!

Shen Qingqiu feels the coloring of his skin turn much paler. Ah!! I really am scum!! I am the one that's holding a death flag in my hand!! A beat. It's probably in the fucking right hand, too!! ]

This teacher has been acting unseemly this entire time. I have let my mouth run away with me, and am grateful that you continue to be willing to lead me back to the edge of the forest. [ His tone becomes solemn. I really wanted this time to be fun for you, too!! This is what happens when one tries to always have the conversation set to high-level of fun! They let their thoughts run rampant without any concern or care!! ]

Your Highness has every right to be upset with this humble one. I shall take care to not let myself get so carried away now and in the future, as well.

[superioritis]

[ He exhales through his nose. Since the fault is not his, there's nothing to say to the admission. At the same time, his silence is his acknowledgement of the underlying apology.

Vines have overgrown on their original path. Berkut takes his lance and cuts the new growth down. ]

See that you don't.

[ The man is not himself today.

Not that he has a terribly good idea of what Shen Qingqiu is like on a good day, but he knows it's definitely not this—dogged by a persistent hallucination, throwing leaves and speaking more carelessly than their first encounter to escape. It just so happened that Berkut had to be there. ]

[shizun]

[ Shen Qingqiu pales that much more. He's pissed. He's absolutely fucking PISSED!! The silence that follows weighs heavy on his shoulders. Even though he knows logically that the vines need to be cut down, he feels like Berkut is imagining that he's cutting down the useless cultivator at his side. "If only I wasn't stuck with this annoying person!!" That's completely what he's thinking!!

He laughs weakly. I guess it's good that you have Binghe's face, because that's what he thinks about me, too...!! Someone that needs to be cut into a human stick for all the wrongs that I've committed!!

Thankfully, he has just a little too much dignity to reach out to wrap his arms around his waist, begging to be forgiven. What he does, instead, is follow after, while fanning his face with idle movements of his wrist -- but he uses his left hand instead of his right! Despite the color of his face, his expression has turned aloof and cold but that is his main defense when his panic level has hit an all time high!!

"See that you don't." He's absolutely wanting to hack me to pieces, and only the fact that he's a noble villain prince will he not!!

This really is the death flag!! ... and you don't have to hack the vines so viciously!! I understand! I got your meaning!! I'm sorry!! ]

[superioritis]

[ Backtracking is a simpler affair than advancing into unknown territory. Berkut doesn't waste a second, and the time it takes to undo their progress is less than half of what it took to make it. If an entanglement of vines blocks their way, he cuts it down without blinking.

To be fair, not all of that calm haste is Shen Qingqiu's doing—not that Shen Qingqiu would know, because Berkut doesn't say anything.

Pretty soon, they reach a narrow opening large enough for one man to exit the woods. Berkut gestures to it with a gloved hand. ]

There. I trust that you know your way back.

[shizun]

This humble one does.

[ He has stopped fanning himself to close said fan to hold it tightly instead. Stepping forward, he exits the boundary that marks the "woods" and "outside" the woods. Of course, hallucinations of his disciple follow, but he feels the cold, cold fear of Berkut's anger to keep him from being too upset by it.

Either continue to be upset by what's fake, or be upset by a real and honest threat! He chose the one that made the most fucking sense!!

Shen Qingqiu turns back before bowing deep at the waist with his hands together. I honestly was a little worried that you were going to cut a path to throw me in some clearing rather than complete the escort mission!! Congratulations! Mission complete! 1000 EXP! Plus the absolute fucking gratitude of me!! You probably aren't too happy about the last one, and more happy about the points... imaginary though they are. ]

Thank you. [ ... WAIT A FUCKING SECOND! Am I exposing my neck to someone who is super pissed with me that they imagined me as vines as he cut his path all the way to town?! He stares at the ground as he realizes how fucking screwed he is. ]

[superioritis]

[ Berkut gains ten levels! For what, though? How can one improve upon perfection?

Fortunately for Shen Qingqiu, this Rigelian prince is not the type to lop someone's head off during a show of submission. He acknowledges the thanks with a flat hum before he turns around, resolved to make it through the vines on this attempt. ]

I would not dawdle if I were you. With your luck, who knows what else the curse will do?

[ Terrible things, most likely. It would be for the benefit of everyone in the area if Shen Qingqiu went home straightaway. ]

[shizun]

[ No one can improve upon perfection!!

He takes that flat hum as Berkut breathing out his nose in annoyance. Right, I've been pathetic this entire time. Crying and crying for Binghe. His head tilts slightly. But hey! No sudden sharp pain then fade to black?!!

But Shen Qingqiu suddenly has a mouthful of blood that he needs to swallow. When the prince does speak next, he feels a cold panic. He absolutely wants to kill me! But he isn't killing me yet... "I spare your life today! But next time you won't be so lucky!" He understands!!

Our relationship is probably so far in the negative... how am I going to save Berkut that way?! Well, the prince's thinly veiled threat is agreed upon, even if the words were chosen to hide Berkut's disgust and anger. Shen Qingqiu doesn't know what the curse will do to him next, so he best leave. ]

Thank you, Prince Berkut.

[ He decides to throw down another thanks before rising. And he sees his dear teenage disciple heading back into the woods with no one with him. Yes, it is best that I return to town. With a faint sigh, he turns around to start his trek back -- doing his best to ignore all the voices and images plaguing him the entire way. ]