awashlogs | Event Nineteen.

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Event Nineteen.

Shall I compare thee to a blasting hot stove?
Thou art more scary and more perilous;
As thou sit above thy towering treasure trove,
Thy breath is bad and thy voice garrulous.

t's yet another day in which a bunch of people ended up in the bottom of the well. It's very, very cold down there, though spring is at least slowly starting to make itself known --

But the people in the Town who would usually come save you might be a little distracted today by the glimmer of scales on the ground, and the unfortunate side effects that come along with them.

Don't worry, friends in the well -- as soon as you haul yourself out via magic powers or that convenient rope ladder dangling down into the water, you too can join in the chaos of picking up those sparkly, pretty scales.

Welcome to Awash's Nineteenth 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!

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[It is probably fortunate that Nyx's mount doesn't even look like a horse, but after resting most of the day and reassuring the few people he's run into that he's not dead Nyx wants to just faceplant into the soft feathers of a chocobo and have some space to think for a bit.

He's been through hell, just about literally, and is coming to the realization that as a consequence he can no longer live and fight the way he used to. It's sobering in a way that the loss of the King's magic when he died somehow couldn't live up to. Nyx would rather not have the magic at all than to have it effortlessly at the tip of his fingers and be unable to use it.

Nyx is almost to the stable when he spots Tonbokiri, and his relief that the man is still here, too, is tempered only by concern at his steadfast defense of the gate. He stops walking, rubbing idly at the new scars burned into his arm.

Rather than greeting him, Nyx cautiously takes a few steps closer to be in comfortable speaking range, eyeing Tonbokiri as his point is brandished warily.]

Come on, I can't look that ugly now, can I?

[Tonbokiri's stance eases when he hears that voice, his expression breaking into a relieved smile.]

Nyx Ulric-dono! I thought you had left this place... While I would never call you 'ugly', you do look quite different from when I last saw you. How are you faring now?

[Oh good. Nyx breathes a sigh of relief.]

Oh, you know, better than ever. Magically crippled, inches from death. The usual.

[He’s cheerfully sarcastic, even with the truth. He goes to clap Tonbokiri on the shoulder.]

Let’s just say the last two hours of my life have been a ride.

[He shakes his head over that list of 'the usual', but returns the shoulder clasp firmly.]

In that case, my comrade, you should be at your home resting. What has brought you this way? [His expression abruptly becoming wary, he sharply asks,] Have you come for one of the horses?

[There had been no horses in Nyx's world though, right? This is suspicious. But even if it's Nyx-dono, Tonbokiri won't hold back in protecting his precious horses.]

[Nyx freezes as Tonbokiri’s expression shifts, muscles tended to move if that wariness turns hostile. It’s out of character enough that Nyx feels a suspicious familiarity to his own weird impulses earlier.]

You know I don’t like your weird fur beasts enough to want my own. I just assumed Chocobob was staying here while I was gone. She wasn’t near my house.

[He speaks soothingly, as he would when trying to talk someone down from doing something stupid.]

Did you pick up anything today?

[His lips tighten in a reprimanding frown - they are not 'weird fur beasts'! - but he is relieved that Nyx has confirmed that he is not here for the horses.

The question, at least, gives him pause.]

Pick up? ...As far as out-of-the-ordinary things, there was a shiny yellow thing outside my door this morning.

[They are totally weird fur beasts?? Who comfortably rides an animal with four legs?

Nyx’s lips thin, but to his relief his mood stays steady upon hearing of Tonbokiri’s scale. He’s got several that he left back home in a drawer, picked up in a determined hunt when he was so certain that they belonged to him, but the effect seemed to have faded after his rest.

He didn’t particularly want to throw down with his friend. Inconvenience aside, he’d lose horribly and that just bites.]

I found one earlier too. Some kind of scale maybe? They’re making people weird.

'Weird'? Unusual things happening here are not uncommon, as you know. [He shakes his head regretfully.] You have only just returned, and already are mired in such a happening.

What did you see that was 'weird', Nyx-dono?

Experienced. And it's less weird for the town and more weird for the people involved. I picked one up today and couldn't stop myself from picking up every one I saw after that. Even accosted a guy to get the one he found, would you believe?

[He shakes his head.] Quite a welcome home, huh?

[Tonbokiri nods slowly. He would believe.]

Yes, it is unfortunate timing. Not that any time is good for such happenings.

...If I may ask, how did you recover from needing to pick up scales?

[He opens his mouth and pauses. When did the urge go away?]

It just wore off? Short effect, thankfully, though I'm going to hazard a guess and say it's not a universal time limit.

You are likely correct. The town's happenings are never so simple. [His tone is distracted. An urge to collect things, likely from the town, and who knows when it will wear off...] This is unfortunate. I hope no one comes to harm from it.

[Nyx raises an eyebrow and reaches over to pointedly tap his knuckles against the spear.]

This one seems to want to turn us against each other. You and I both know better.

[Although, on any other day Nyx probably would want to throw down with Ardyn, if he were being completely honest, but at least then he'd have a legitimate reason for doing so.]

[Although Tonbokiri has the good grace to look abashed at the subtle reprimand, his expression quickly returns to a frown.]

Yet there is little resisting the spell that has been set. I believe we can both speak from experience to that.

Then let me help? I can't do much to hold you back if the spell takes hold again, but I can offer a distraction at least.

[He nods toward the stable.]

Have they been brushed today?

[Tonbokiri's frown deepens for a moment, suspicious.]

What do you know of brushing horses?

[He then shakes his head and consciously smooths his expression.]

My apologies. You have already said that you're not interested in the horses. But perhaps you will be better off leaving me alone with them. I already regret being suspicious against you this much.

[Nyx sighs, nodding. It's clear the spell is too strong to find a loophole around. As much as he'd like to help it seems that even with this he's useless. He pulls his upper lip between his teeth and sticks his hands in his pockets.]

You're right, there's no sense poking at it any more than necessary. Just do me a favor? Make sure Chocobob has enough greens? I can check on her after this is over, but it's gonna be up to you to take care of her until then.

Leave it to me, Nyx-dono. And again, my apologies.

[In sincerity, he puts a hand to his chest as he bows slightly.]

Please, take your ease as best you can. You did say you were near-death but two hours ago, after all.

Nothing to apologize for, my friend. I'll get some rest and check in with you tomorrow.

[He presses his fist to his chest, saluting in response, and turns to head back down the street with a wave over his shoulder.]

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Event Nineteen.

a

Welcome back ^^

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