open. Full moon is risin'

[oligomania]

Characters: Velvet Crowe [Big Bad Wolf, Red Riding Hood]
Campaign: July-ish Break
Format: [ brackets ]
Open [Closed sections for Rokurou and Eizen]
Summary: A wolf has returned and wanders around to check how things may have changed - or perhaps how they haven't.

A - No use in hidin'

[ Once again Velvet finds herself in a different world, the same one as before. That much is obvious as she can just feel the wolf ears perched on the top of her head brushing against the hood of her cloak. Her tail is hidden in the massive blackness that is her hair so she isn't particularly worried about it being seen. Before her stands the Index, an odd mix of buildings that could only come from a fairytale. She sighs heavily but with resignation, checks her gear to ensure that the blade she had picked up last time is still with her before taking a step forward. ]

Time to go see what's changed, if anything.

B - Oh, you're never gonna find escape

[ Seeing as how her journal, medallion and key all appear to be the same Velvet doesn't bother searching for her house here. Even though she knows she's been gone at least a few months, chances are the stone building will be in the same place. It may even be dust-free. Or that could just be her hopeful thinking. As much as the daemon-turned-wolf enjoyed a good cleaning, Velvet isn't up for it at the moment. Tonight she'll either rough it out in the woods (it wouldn't be the first time), or crash at someone else's place if her own magically granted house is dirty.

What she can't ignore is the unending hunger that haunts her even here. Was it too much to ask that her bottomless pit of a stomach didn't transfer over into this new world? Apparently.

Rather than pay for a meal in town, Velvet heads out to the woods to do her own hunting. Not as a wolf because that's a bit dangerous to do without knowing who's around hunting them at this point. She has plenty of experience hunting as a regular human so it doesn't take long for her to catch a meal, skin it and start a fire to cook it over.

Should anyone happen upon her at her campsite, they'll find Velvet cleaning the blood from her blade as she sits by the fire. To most it may appear that a whole wild pig on the spit would be more than enough to feed a single person. Truthfully, she could eat that and more without ever feeling sastifyingly full.

All the same Velvet will gesture to a fallen log on the opposite side of the fire. ]

Care for a bite?

C - When the wolves come out to play! [Closed to Rokurou & Eizen]

[ Eventually Velvet goes to seek out the two people who she knew had been here the last time she'd been in this world. Her feet remember the way to their homes (or where their homes used to be, if they'd left) - not that the wolf gets lost in the woods. The first stop is Eizen's. His house appears in the trees and a small part in her eases a bit. Hopefully the man is still actually here and the house wasn't simply left to stand after his departure. Upon getting close, Velvet steps up to the door where she lifts a hand to knock loudly. ]

I'm giving it to the count of ten before I let myself in. [ It certainly smells as though Eizen has been in the structure recently. Whether he's actually home right now is a different story. ]

_________________________________

[ Visiting Rokurou's cabin is potentially more dangerous so Velvet is on-guard long before moving anywhere in his direction. Last time he'd attacked simply because there was a wolf nearby and she'd be pissed if he managed to accidentally hurt her because the damn Huntsman sensed danger. Chances are good that Rokurou will know when she enters his territory (or he comes home - whichever it may be) so Velvet doesn't bother heading to the front door. Instead she chooses to drop into one of the chairs on his porch and wait for him to come to her. Velvet doesn't even need to look to know when a familiar presence makes an appearance. ]

Hopefully you're still ridiculously stocked up on meat or I might attempt to eat you instead. [ Having had "dinner" earlier means nothing to this bottomless pit of a wolf. ]

Comments

[deadmentellnotails]

--Velvet?

[Eizen had been out back fishing (because of course he was), back door open so he could hear if someone knocked. He did not expect to hear someone call out for him, and especially didn't expect to hear Velvet. He reels in his line and comes around the house, staring at Velvet in shock.]

You're here?

[oligomania]

[ Even from the opposite side of the house, Velvet can hear that his voice doesn't quite come from inside but out back. Of course he'd been fishing. His footsteps don't move through the structure so she turns her attention away from the door, gold eyes reaching the side just as he appears. ]

Back again, it seems, and you're still here. [ She moves towards him. ]

[deadmentellnotails]

Aye. So's Rokurou.

[Eizen walks over, summoning a bottle of who knows what to hand.]

Still the wolf?

[oligomania]

It's nice to know there are familiar faces about if the Storyteller is going to drag me back into this mess.

[ Seriously, was there no one better to pick over Velvet? She pulls off the hood to reveal the animal ears once again perched on her head. ]

Still the same wolf. If I'm remembering right, there were quite a few different versions.

[deadmentellnotails]

At least they're consistent.

[Here, have that drink.]

Welcome back.

[oligomania]

I'll be grateful I didn't end up stuck as a cat this time around.

[ She takes it without fuss. ]

Thanks. So anything important happen while I was away? [ Velvet will start heading to the back of the house so Eizen can continue his fishing. ]

[deadmentellnotails]

Remember that story you vanished in the middle of? Rokurou got to be the princess.

[oligomania]

[ ... Now that has her laughing lightly in amusement. ]

I'm really disappointed I missed out on seeing that. Though I should tell you it wasn't his first time playing the princess in a story.

[deadmentellnotails]

You'll have to tell me about that, and tell me if he made a gown look as good as he did a furisode.

[oligomania]

Pastel green is not his color but it went nicely with the pale pink it was paired with. Though truthfully it didn't go with his regular boots and the fit was all wrong on his frame.

[ She may not be the most girly of girls but even she knows it looked relatively bad on him. ]

[deadmentellnotails]

At least he didn't get drunk and brutalize some Blots.

[rokubro]

[She was right to be wary—as he returned from his daily hunt, he immediately got the familiar feeling of a certain wolf within his domain. It may disgust his essence, but there's a thrill of excitement as well curiosity.

A curiosity that is answered when he walks up to his cabin and sees a familiar person waiting there.]

Heh, like to see you try. [And coming from Rokurou—that's both a joke and a serious statement.

That said, there's a bit of a light, amused grin as he stops just in front.]

But you're in luck. Got a fresh kill.

[Boar to be precise.]

[oligomania]

[ Velvet never bothered to ask if various kinds of wolves gave him a different sensation. If actual wolves put out a distinct vibe in comparison to the human-like wolves such as her. Whether Rokurou could pick her out against any other potential Big Bad Wolves that might come through. Maybe she'll question it later.

Surely no other wolf would dare get this close to a Huntsman's house unless they were a friend. ]

If I did manage to eat you, would I gain your strength while in these forms? [ Would it be like one daemon devouring another back home? Suppose it was good thing that she doesn't feel the need to get strong enough to seek revenge anymore.

Velvet doesn't quite move from her claimed seat yet. ]

As much as I appreciate a bloody meal, I suppose it would be best to cook it at least a little.

[ He hunted it, she'll cook it. ]

[rokubro]

[If she does ask him, he'll actually be able to answer now that she's shown up twice, technically third for the Wolf in specific, and there are a couple of other wolves now running around.]

That's an interesting question...too bad you probably won't ever find out.

[And from his smirk, he's more implying that in answer to that "what if," he's going ahead and saying she won't manage. Still, it's a friendly one as opposed to hostile.]

But a return dinner, huh? Sounds fine with me. The door's unlocked, but you can follow me around the back if you want. I have to cut this up first since part of it is actually for a customer.

[He then turns to walk around to the other side of the house.]

Should I call up Eizen or have you met him already?

[oligomania]

[ She might get around to it, eventually. If she doesn't forget. Or Velvet may just end up noticing. ]

Doesn't mean it won't be entertaining trying.

[ If it didn't feel like she'd been tossed around, now could be one of those attempts but things have seemed so chaotic lately. Sealed away with Innominat, stuck in fairytale land, on a boat with Eizen, a trip "home", then whisked back here. Months have gone by for the boys but Velvet couldn't tell either of them how long she was home for. It was as if no time and yet an eternity had passed.

Rather than responding about her next move, she gets up from the chair and follows after him. ]

Knowing you, you have more stocked inside.

[ Once they reach their destination, Velvet leans up against a wall then proceeds to cross her arms over her chest. Not offering to help cut the meat up but willing to do so if asked. ]

I went by his place first considering I disappeared on him mid-boat trip.

[rokubro]

I'd have to be careful not to kill you so you can keep trying.

[Who's the villain in this duo now? Wasn't she supposed to be? But he just laughs, and she's right—he has a whole shed for stocking his meat. They don't stay there for too long of course, just long enough for any that are preserved to be well seasoned and dried before taking them to town. At some point he should consider investing in a freezer of some kind, but given the season, fresh is still best and more in demand.

Upon reaching the chopping table, which is kept fairly clean and well maintained he hefts the boar up and starts preparing, gathering all the necessary tools needed.]

Fair enough. I was almost disappointed I couldn't see your attempts to try and "win the princess's favor." Almost.

[Because he was said princess at the time.

He's taking off his coat, setting it to the side before he rolls up his sleeves, washes his hands from a nearby spigot, dons some gloves, and picks from one of the many axes, blades, and knives before getting to work. Chop chop piggy.]

So what did happen, anyway? Did you just like...disappear and return back to whatever void you were in before?

[Just a curious look over as he talks while working. He won't ask her for help out of courtesy, but he might later.]

[oligomania]

We wouldn't want our story to end the way it does in the fairytale.

[ Technically it was his role to kill the Big Bad Wolf so he'd just be doing his job, right? Though personally Velvet would prefer a more filling meal than some old granny and a kid. As she peers around his shed, she has to wonder just how he hasn't hunted the forest clean yet. Could simply be "magic" that keeps it replenished with animals.

Don't mind her, Velvet will just be chilling here not lending a hand. ]

Not as disappointed as I was when I heard you ended up being the princess again and I missed it. Maybe I'll ask Eizen to paint me a picture.

[ Eizen was all over telling her about that.

The nuturing sister in her is pleased to see him taking care to carve up this boar properly and cleanly. As cleanly as it can get cutting into a being that was once alive.

A sigh. ] One minute I was on the boat with Eizen and the next I was with Innominat again. Couldn't tell if any of what happened here was just another dream or not. I don't know how much time passed when I was there, only that the stupid book found me once more.

[ Honestly, if he weren't doing such a good job then Velvet might have insisted on doing it herself. ]

[rokubro]

[....Ugh.

This is the face of someone who plans to punch a certain pirate later, and a subsequent loud CHOP to go with it. For real Eizen why did you have to go and blab about unnecessary thing??? So just a bit of grumbling as he continues and listens to her.

But just randomly disappeared and found again, huh? He'll just. Focus on that topic instead of calling any further attention to his time as princess.]

Given your situation, I was wondering how it would work. So guess it might not be impossible for you to just randomly disappear and reappear again.

[oligomania]

[ It was literally the first thing out of Eizen's mouth when Velvet asked if anything important happened while she was gone. Besides, she's seen Rokurou dressed as a princess before so why was this time any different?

Still, she can't help but make an amused snort at his grumbling and sulking. Here's hoping he knows that there's no way Velvet will leave this alone that easily. ]

I'm sure you were just as pretty of a princess in that story as you were in the other one.

[ Absolutely teasing him even if it means she won't be able to crash on his couch because of his surly mood. Worth it. ]

Hopefully it doesn't happen a lot. The whole process is extremely disorienting.

[rokubro]

[Because it was more than once!!! One time was already one time too many!!! And he knows she won't leave this alone, ugh. He has such terrible friends. But could be worse. Magilou could be there.

And yeah he is definitely shooting her a look before he just flicks his butcher's knife at her to spray her with some blood and guts. Yeah. He went there. (But she can handle it.)]

Starting to think I might have been better off with you back there.

[HE'S KIDDING.........]

[oligomania]

[ Is he really upset about being a princess or just missing out on the action part of the story? Clearly Eizen needed someone to share in his enjoyment as Rokurou is such a grump about it.

When the attack comes, Velvet lifts an arm to block the bits from ending up in her hair at least. Had he been anyone else then she would have licked the blood clean just to freak them out but it's Rokurou and hardly anything has managed to get that reaction - even when she devoured other daemons. ]

I'd leave again if I didn't think I would just end up here eventually.

[ PARTIALLY A JOKE. And also not. ]

B

[detectiveforhierophant]

[Dojima was pretty used to going out at night on his own, or sometimes with a partner; if a case took a while to solve, he'd come in at the wee hours of the morning to try and sleep an hour or two before getting up to go back to work.

Here, he didn't have that sort of work to drive him for late night strolls, but... old habits die hard, and he felt restless. Wearing an outfit that was more suited to walking in the woods, the 'King' walked on... until he smelled smoke, and saw the tell-tale light of a campfire. Curious (because when was a detective not curious?), he walked toward it, only to be met with...

A woman with animal ears, roasting a full sized boar over an open camp fire. The Boar made something twinge within him; something he had read at the library? But he couldn't remember.

...He should be far more cautious here, but perhaps accepting the woman's offer would lead to some more information about this place.]

...Thanks, if you don't mind.

[He took a seat accross from her, leaning so he would rest his elbows on his thighs crossing his fingers before his face, looking both at the cooking boar and her.]

I haven't met a lot of people here in the Index yet. Who're you?

[oligomania]

[ Even without her new role in this place, Velvet was extremely at home in the wild of the forest. Her own small village had been surrounded by trees and she'd done plenty of the hunting for their table.

Coming across strangers in these isolated trees might make others particularly nervous but there isn't much the woman feared. She was a fighter and much more. A beast, a monster, a wolf. This isn't the first world where a bad title has followed her around like a curse.

However, she won't curse him or even bite. Probably.

For now Velvet merely carves a piece of meat off of the cooked animal with her sword and drops it onto a piece of stripped bark. Then she proceeds to hold it out for him. Even out here in the wilderness, it should taste pretty good. Even after all this time she's still a decent cook.

With her guest with his meal, Velvet dishes out a large portion for herself. ]

You certainly wouldn't have met me before. I'm Velvet. Newly returned to the Index after a trip home.

[detectiveforhierophant]

[Well, he's not one to say no to food. He takes it gratefully, thanking her with 'thanks for the food' before digging in.

...Wow, for something done up in the middle of the woods, this was pretty tasty. Colour him impressed.]

Huh, so you can go home before the work is done here?

[Interesting... not that he was going to leave soon or anything, but good to file away for later.]

I'm Ryotaro Dojima. I just arrived recently here at the Index, so I'm still getting used to things. It's pretty... far fetched compared to where I'm from.

[He watched as the woman took a huge portion of meat. Was she normally like that, or was it her essence, he wondered?]

[oligomania]

[ With or without a kitchen, Velvet is careful to ensure that all of her meals are delicious. Seeing as how she has her sense of taste here, she isn't going to waste that opportunity. ]

As far as I'm aware, you can go home anytime you want. Whether or not the Storyteller will leave you alone is an entirely different matter.

[ Velvet is proof that some people can just simply come right back in a few months. Unfortunately, she can't say how long she was home for. It could have been days, months or even years. ]

Fairytales come to life is a bit odd where I'm from but not unbelievable considering everything else that exists there.

[ If he's curious, he could always ask. She might even answer. ]