[Open]

[promissum]

WHO: Val+ YOU
WHERE: Bluo, the woods, around town
WHEN: February
WHAT: Open quests
WARNINGS: None for now!

Quest 45, open to blues

[Because Val is himself, he'll just bring whoever is around along with whatever quest he's decided to take on. Make chocolates? That's an interesting thing he's never done before. He can think of a few people he'd show his appreciation for.]

You there, are you a blue?

How do you feel about monster slaying?

Forest talk

[It's unsettling, the way the forest feels. He doesn't live in Flavo, but he does go into the woods often enough to notice the changes. The longer it goes in, the heavier it's presence seems to be, even if he can't quite pin down what's off about it.]

Does something seem off about the forest to you?

Comments

Quest 46 + Percy

[promissum]

[When it comes to people burying him, there aren't that many people who come to mind. He's almost certain Fenrich would have a fit if he even mentioned it.

Good thing his common sense filter isn't here.

He's already near the garden, a shovel next to him.]

Burying me alive won't be worse than draining my color.

[expulsions]

[Val is way too calm about this, but Percy arrives at the garden with his hands in his pockets and an eyebrow raised incredulously.]

You are way too casual about this, dude. But you have a point. We won't have to keep you down there for long will we?

[promissum]

[When he lives thousands of years, it's hard to really believe something as simple as being buried alive will actually do him in.]

I don't need to breathe.

Anyway, something like ten minutes should be fine.

[expulsions]

I know you don't, but that still isn't exactly the best reason to bury someone in the dirt. [Sigh.] I can do ten minutes, but after that I'm letting you out. You want to stick to the garden or should we try somewhere else?

Q45

[bittybat]

[Well, well. It's the demon vampire.] Who wants to know? [But the talk of monster slaying sort of leads him into thinking it's quest related.

He's also been trying to make chocolate to finish the quest. Weird how one ingredient is missing.] Oh.

Are you after chocolate? It must be February by now, based on the quests.

[promissum]

I do. ["Who wants to know" is an odd question, but it's not as though it's put him off at all.]

I'm intending on making some. There was a note in the middle of the ingredients. "Conquer a chimera."

Are chocolates an important part of human Februarys?

[promissum]

The best reason would be a death, but I won't be dying.

[He's far too stubborn for that.]

How upset would people get if they saw you burying somebody next to their food supplies? You can pick a different place, if you'd prefer.

[bittybat]

Hm. [A chimera. Geez. Can't this town ever make anything easy.] Valentine's Day is probably why there's a quest for chocolate. [This is almost groaned? Sort of.]

I'll assist you, but I'll need to get my supplies. I awoke to the forest bursting through my house, and I had to relocate.

[promissum]

Never heard of it.

[There are so many human holidays.]

Very well. Do you need assistance gathering your things from your forest ruined house?

[bittybat]

You aren't missing out on anything. It's a "holiday of love." [A lesser Damian would vomit at the thought.] I'll explain as we go if you want.

I don't need your help, but you can accompany me. It's in Flavo.

[promissum]

I see... There's no reason we would celebrate something like that in the Netherworld.

[He falls easily into step next to Damian.]

What do love and chocolates have to do with each other?

[bittybat]

[It's Halloween all over again, it seems like. He doesn't fault other people not knowing ridiculous human holidays. It just sucks having to explain exactly how ridiculous.

But Damian takes a kind of shoulder to shoulder lead to Flavo. Even heading in, it's clear the forest is beginning it's approach even if it hasn't exactly shifting so far inward it's dangerous.]

Valentine's Day. It's supposed to be a feast day for martyred Christian saints with a similar name. Then it became romantic because of stories of the knightly court. Chocolates are thanks to Cadbury, a confectionery company, more than likely. Every culture celebrates differently, but essentially there's a great needless, commercialized necessity for showing love.

Cards, chocolates, jewelry, roses. [A pause.] There.

[The cottage had already been secluded at the edge of the forest in Flavo. Damian, however, stops several long yards away at another house, probably the one he relocated to after. Batcow and the goat he and Dextera purified from the forest have been moved, but the fire-breathing geese... RIP geese, left in the woods.

Distantly, Val can make out what's left of the cottage. The looming, dark forest has taken it completely over, puncturing roots and branches and trunks throughout.]

[promissum]

[Wow, what nonsense is this? This sounds like an awful lot of nonsense to him. But humans are just like this, he supposes. They believe in Santa Clause who slips down a chimney every winter, so is this such a far stretch?

Besides, he's no stranger to human greed. If there's an opportunity to make money, they'll take it.

Not that it's going to stop him from making chocolates today.

He'll look at Damian's home. Isn't that unfortunate?]

Is this the first time the forest has moved into the town?

[bittybat]

[Damian looks displeased and grim about the condition of the house. Very rude, forest.] Yes, as far as I'm aware. I don't believe the vines count. They seemed like a trial as opposed to being the forest. [He glances at Val, still frowning.]

It wasn't through the entire house completely when it began. Just the backside. It's moving forward.

[promissum]

So the forest is trying to retake the town.

[He closes his eyes in thought. It's natural for forests to expand, but not like this. Perhaps the castle last month amplified the forest's ability to grow?

The best he can do is guess.]

... Do you think there's a reason for it? If it's the beginning of the month, by the middle we may have some additional information.

[bittybat]

[For a moment, Damian gets thoughtful and quiet. It's true, the castle did appear with the vines. It could be pushing the forest out, but...

If it really is February, or the equivalent of it...] The month maybe. [It lines up with the story, with some things they've learned.] A month of "love," and the story the forum is following. Love, bonds.

Why does the forest have so much interest in snuffing out these things? In hindering us when we go in?

[promissum]

Some people say the forest has been testing our bonds. Perhaps once it's satisfied with the strength of that, it will retreat back to normal. As for why... that's harder to explain. Chroma is the first world with a magical forest that I've run into.

[Who knows, honestly.]

Now what did you need to get?

[bittybat]

Mm. I plan to investigate after. Earth isn't know for it's magical forests either necessarily. [It's a sort of agreement. The encroaching forest is worrisome, but he'll deal with it later.] Stay here. I'll be right back.

[He turns to go into the house they're standing near. He won't be gone for long, and Val has free range of Batcow and the goat. And lo!

Who comes slowly prowling up, one foot in front of the other, tail sailing high? Pennyworth, the black and white tuxedo cat. It offers Val a throaty, male yowl of greeting.]

[promissum]

[Val was looking over Batcow and the goat, but with the way this cat greets him it's hard not to shift his attention entirely.

So he does, looking pretty amused, even if he doesn't bend down to start petting.]

That lad has quite the collection of animals here.

[bittybat]

[This is fine. Pennyworth is confident in typical cat fashion. He sidles up at Val's feet and attempt to make use in rubbing. His paws have nothing comfortable exactly to knead, but it doesn't stop him from bumping them up and down at the ground with the motion.

If Val doesn't move, pretty soon, Pennyworth will loaf partially up on Val's foot with both paws tucked under.

Thankfully, Damian returns in a few minutes, and Pennyworth rolls head to yowl loudly in greeting. Damian now has an arrowhead-looking dagger tucked in the tight strap of cloth belt at his waist, and a handmade shortbow. The arrows aren't modern, but there's a good bit of them in the stitched cloth quiver over his shoulders. Having one of those ammunition ribbons worked out.]

Ready. [Pausing, he glances down.] Pennyworth.

[expulsions]

Good point. [To both not dying and being buried next to food.] I'm pretty sure a lot of people would be upset. I think there's an empty lot behind my house. We can try there?

[promissum]

[He stays completely amused by Pennyworth deciding that Val's shoe is now a nap spot. Is it comfortable? Probably not. Is the cat content there? Content enough that Val won't move.

While he has some knowledge of arrows, he's just not good with them. It'll be nice to be with somebody who has some range.]

I'm surprised he wanted to rest like this. There must be more comfortable cushions elsewhere.

[promissum]

That will work as well as anywhere else.

[He'll pick up the shovel and start walking.]

[expulsions]

[Off they go. He's letting Val keep the shovel and follows with his hands in his pockets.]

What do you think the quest reward's going to be this time?

[bittybat]

Tt. Have you ever met a cat before? They don't do anything out of comfort, only necessity. Your attention is a requirement, so it's necessary for him to sit on your foot so you can't escape.

[Damian gives Pennyworth a Look, but only receives a thick meow in return.] Come on. You can't follow us. It's too dangerous. [Damian squats so he can beckon the cat, but said cat stretches into a stand and instead loops through Val's ankles a moment.] Come on. [Hm. Damian stands again and goes back for the house.] Dinner.

[Pennyworth races after him at the word, beating him to the door. Baited. But Damian takes the cat inside to supposedly feed, then he returns, shutting the door behind.] See? Necessity. [Smirking some, he heads toward the forest.]

Alright, let's go.