[open] february catch-all: 'tis the season for gathering choco coins

[neronian]

WHO: Nero Claudius (Saber) and you, good fellow!
WHERE: All over the town, forest, and so on.
WHEN: February!
WHAT: February catch-all, quests mainly!!
WARNINGS: None currently (unless Nero's horrible singing counts), but will update as necessary!

quest 44; the idol emperor!

[ Did someone say serenade??? This sounds like a job for Nero Claudius, genius artist extraordinaire. Though serenades are usually associated with love and romance, Nero finds little qualm with serenading her beloved friends and even those she hasn't met before in a platonic manner, certainly enthusiastic to spread the cheer (and her artistic "genius".) It doesn't even matter if the recipient is a Yellow or not! Any excuse for her to stretch her vocal chords is a good excuse, in her book.

She proudly struts up to anyone, really, with a satisfied smile on her face, and declares: ]

Consider it an honor for the likes of my genius to sing of your praises! Would you like me to serenade you? Do not be shy. I am sure that there is something about you that is worth singing about.

[ What is that sense of foreboding that suddenly hangs in the air? It's probably nothing. Just a trick of the imagination, promise. ]

quest 45; ultra-beautiful empress choco

[ Her mind is filled to the brim with thoughts of lovingly decorated chocolates to make to show her appreciation (and show off her skills) (and hopefully to prod others so she receives chocolates in return), but upon receiving the ingredients, she's noticed that one of them is missing, and she must go fetch it. Of course, she will not back down! Forget going without it, her chocolates must be perfect. ]

You there! Come with me. My beautiful imperial chocolate-to-be is missing a key ingredient, you see, and I have deemed you perfect for helping me secure it.

[ Whether it's because they look strong or smart or like they have too much free time on their hands, she will find a reason to drag anyone along. They wouldn't say no, would they??? ]


quest 47; weed whacking

[ Nero squints at the looming branches near the edges of the forest, which seem closer than they did before, she could swear, and taps one of the all-too-visible-by-now roots with one of her plated gold heels. ]

Hmph. I do not need a quest to tell me that these woods need to be pushed back. There is something foreboding about their encroachment.

[ She turns to the closest person to address them, and holds up her large crimson sword. ]

Don't you think we need to do something about it? Sooner than later.


wildcard;

[ Go nuts! Have a prompt I haven't thought up of? Slam it here! If you need anything, want to add me to plot, etc. I can be contacted at chlorophylls. Let me know if you want me to throw up a custom starter! ]

Comments

Weed whacking

[goeshyper]

[He receives an ominous feeling from the forest that infringes on the town. It makes his hyper intuition even more sensitive, and he figures it has to be the cause of his frequent headaches. Though what really pushes Tsuna into action is seeing how the trees seem to strip the color of whatever it touches. That's certainly not a good thing!

He goes by the edge of the forest and notices a girl there. It seems she has the same idea as him, and he notes the crimson sword she has.]

Y-yeah. I think if we ignore it, something bad will happen.

[He starts putting on mittens, which might seem pretty silly to someone who doesn't know what form they take.]

What's the plan of attack? Do you think the forest will fight back?

the idol emperor!

[superioritis]

[ Must be something in the air. Ignoring the odd sensation, Berkut returns Nero's smile with a flat stare. She stopped him for this? What a waste of time. ]

Hmph. Of course there is. [ He lifts his head proudly. ] But I've no interest in listening to a glib song.

ultra-beautiful empress choco

[troubadamsel]

[Actually, she would like to say no, because of that awkward naked incident...]

Wait, what? Why do you think I can help?

idol emperor

[holycurse]

[Xie Lian's pretty used to feeling foreboding (or just straight-up pain) so he easily ignores that in favor of being...surprised at the sudden offer.]

Ah--well, if that's what you'd like to do, I won't stop you...

[Honestly, this is the first time anyone's ever offered to serenade him before? Probably because he's been a bum for the past few centuries, but still. Feels weird, man.]

[neronian]

[ Nero stares at the tree in front of her, a pensive look on her face. She's been feeling some headaches from the trees this time too, on top of her occasional actual headaches, so this hasn't been fun for her. ]

It has yet to make a move on us so far. These seem to be but mere trees at the moment...albeit trees that are propagating abnormally quickly and stripping color from others.

[ They're not like, ents or anything so far. So. That's a plus. ]

Therefore, they are like weeds. And what does one do when weeds threaten to infest any beautiful garden? Forcibly remove them, of course!

[ Her line of logic, in one fell swoop. ]

[neronian]

[ She puffs herself up, and nods in affirmation! Since he's given the go-ahead, all she needs is a few more details so she can serenade him for proper! As beautiful as he may be, Nero can't sing only about that. She doesn't even know what his name is! ]

I would not ask if I did not want to do this of my own volition.

[ She beams at him. ]

Ah, but the very thing that is stopping me from expressing my talents to their full capability is the unfamiliarity between us. Who might you be?

[holycurse]

[What a friendly woman. And so polite! He nods at her question, giving her a polite hand-over-fist bow, and smiles cheerfully.]

Oh, of course--my name is Xie Lian. May I ask for the pleasure of knowing your name as well, lady poet?

[neronian]

[ Nobody is ever quite prepared for the awkwardness when Nero happens, it's true. ]

Because you seem like a woman who is as capable as she is beautiful! It seems the ingredient I seek is in the hands—er, hooves—of a unicorn. The problem is that the quest did not say where it is supposed to be, so I assume it must be sought out.

[ And, well...Nero may be graceful and elegant and beautiful (if she does say so herself), but she is not...pure. In more than one way. ]

[neronian]

[ Umu! Xie Lian...a Chinese name, just like a bunch of other Servants! And her roommate. Wait. She has heard his name before... ]

Indeed! You may refer to me as Saber.

[ It is not her True Name, but that should suffice. More importantly however! ]

But ah, it is you! In the flesh!

[ Finally, not from mere hearsay! ]

weed whacking!

[organfarm]

[ He ... just wanted to say hi? Jion's just making his way around town, minding his own business, and when he spots a familiar face, of course he trots over to say hello. Too bad he doesn't even get to greet Nero before she brandishes that enormous sword, and he takes a startled step back. ]

Yeah, I guess so? It's definitely kind of weird that they showed up so suddenly, huh. [ Pause. ] But, uh. Seems kind of a waste to use your sword on some trees? Won't it dull the edge or something? I can probably go find you an axe.

[ It's a very nice-looking sword, after all. ]

[neronian]

[ Nero almost immediately frowns at his...frown-worthy response, her cheeks puffed slightly. It's not like Berkut has anything better to do at the moment...does he??? ]

My performances are not glib. I pour my heart and soul into them! However, my serenades can only shine as brightly as the subject does.

[ And if she doesn't know her subject well...glib wouldn't be an inaccurate descriptor. It would not be her fault! ]

[neronian]

Do not worry about my blade being dulled. It is made of a special material.

[ Hand-crafted and made from meteor metal, apparently. Extra, just like she is. ]

But yes, fetch an axe nonetheless! Two able bodies will be better than one!

[ Did she just drag him into the tree chopping??? Yes, she did. ]

[troubadamsel]

[At first, the compliment hits the mark.]

Well, when you put it that way...

[... wait a tic.]

... Hold on, what food could possibly need hooves of any animal, much less a unicorn?!

[superioritis]

[ It would not be her fault, on that much he would agree. Is that not the problem? ]

How can you pour your heart and soul into a serenade about someone you've just met?

[holycurse]

[That recognition gets him to pause, a hint of surprise seeping into his smile as he looks at her.]

You know of me? That's rather unexpected...ah, did you hear of me from Sir Archer? [Similar names, after all!]

[organfarm]

Special material?

[ He's immediately intrigued by that, wondering what kind of 'special material' a magical historical emperor uses. Too bad he doesn't get to peer at it for more than a moment before Nero's command gets him looking over, a little confused. ]

Wh -- um. Sure, okay? [ Did he just get recruited for the job. Well, that's fine, it's not like he was in a rush. ] Uh, I'll be back in a bit, then.

[ Compliant as ever, Jion jogs off to do as he was ordered. And returns a few minutes later, axe in hand. ]

[neronian]

Cocoa powder, apparently. I had assumed the description to be metaphorical, but knowing this place, perhaps it is not...? It would be too cruel to have to take the hooves of such a creature if it is not willing.

[ Maybe it'll just dump a pouch/bag of cocoa powder with its hooves instead. Hopefully. ]

[neronian]

[ Jion is a little too susceptible to an emperor's orders. He might've been on his way to something more important, but Nero thinks that these! Trees! Are a more pressing matter. When he returns, she perks back up and looks at him expectantly. ]

You have returned! How experienced are you with felling trees?

[neronian]

[ Nero nods. ]

Some from him, and some from Pyra, a friend of mine. You also know Wuxian, do you not? He is my roommate!

[ She beams rattling off those names, for they are all important people to her in different ways, and thus it is a confusing happy network of friendship he has fallen into, surely. ]

[neronian]

[ Indeed, she cannot rely on her assumptions about him alone. She is not Andersen, who honed his human observational skills through years and years of experience and exploring the nature of humanity and relationships. She doesn't even know his name! ]

I suppose I could wax lyrical about your appearance [ Which is. Hm. Not bad, but he's not a cute girl. ], but that would not suffice for either of us. Thus, you should regale me with your triumphs and tribulations. ...And provide a name, as well.

[ It is a simple request for someone so accomplished, isn't it? ]

[holycurse]

[Xie Lian stiffens for juuuuuuust a teensy bit of a second...and then keeps going, perfectly natural.]

Ah. Yes, they are all very good people! I appreciate the company they've given me, in my time here.

[He folds his arms, still smiling just as good-naturedly as before, inwardly hoping that Pyra and Wuxian haven't mentioned anything about weddings or wives....why is this even a thing he has to worry about? Chroma life is seriously confusing.]

Oh, but if you are Wuxian's roommate, would that mean you are the one who created all those artworks in the house? They're all quite masterfully made.

[troubadamsel]

WHERE did you read this? Surely not the quest board!

[Did she really skip over something that morbid?]

[superioritis]

[ If she were to go on about his appearance, that would truly be glib. Although Berkut has no interest in this serenade, he won't turn down an opportunity to introduce himself. ]

Very well. I am Berkut, nephew to His Majesty Emperor Rudolf of Rigel. As a proud heir and knight in service to His Excellency, I have secured numerous victories in his name.

Currently, Rigel is at war with the neighboring kingdom of Zofia. Once I return to the battlefield, I shall crush the Zofians' precious Deliverance, and prove my might as the next emperor.

[organfarm]

Um, not that experienced, sorry.

[ He's a little breathless from jogging back as quickly as possible, but he still oblingingly hefts the axe in his hands, looking it over as he thinks. ]

I got a basic survival training course before being deployed, so I know how to do it, but I don't think I've actually done it before ... But it's okay, I'm pretty good at manual labor and I can learn through practice! I'll do my best.

[ A firm nod. Of course, he's assuming Nero is well-versed in tree-clearing. She sounds so confident, how could she not be! ]

Do you think we should start anywhere specific? Or just start hacking at any tree?

[neronian]

[ The subject change thankfully distracts Nero from any talk of wives and weddings, playing on her vanity as it does. ]

Not all of them, but a good portion of them, yes! You have quite an eye for beauty! My soul is that of an artist before all else.