001 // There's a storyline here somewhere [Open]

[twilightskey]

Characters: Roxas/The Little Mermaid and YOU
Campaign: Hollow Christmas Carol, Act 1
Format: I will match
Open
Summary: Exploring the Draft and Sub Quest things!

A: Tombstone Hunting
[Roxas knew that this was what he had agreed to do when he came here, and wasn't one who simply shied away from a difficult task. But as he hunted around the fog-filled forest, he couldn't help but want to be done with this place.]

Hey, did you find any new pieces yet?

[He's been doing his best to put up a tough front, but the way he kept warily looking around and gripped at his arms from time to time betrayed how nervous the creepy forest made him feel.]

B: Collecting Wooden Planks
[This seemed like a task that Roxas was more than capable of helping out with. Though the current was fast, a few pumps of his tail enabled him to fight against it and help whoever he was working with to fish out the necessary planks of wood that they needed. But while his idea to get into the river seemed smart at first, he was quickly seeing the problem with it.]

Ow!

[That last bite almost made him lose the piece he was holding onto, though he had to flick his tail to bat the skeletal fish that had bit him away.]

These things are a nuisance..!

C:
[The group may not have been in the Draft for terribly long, but after a few days of searching for pieces of the set they need, Roxas was quite painfully reminded of a particular "quality" of his essence. Late one afternoon, he will be forced to write a shaky scrawl of a message to anyone who might have their journals on them.]

Could someone come help me? I can't walk

Wildcard
[[OoC: If you have any other ideas or suggestions, hit me up and we can work something out!]]

Comments

[ricebird]

Got it; I'll be there as fast as I can.

[Closing the book, Kotori ties her hair back into a ponytail and starts running towards the site the mermaid gave. She's not a fast or enduring runner, and she's not well equipped at first aid, but she can't just sit back and do nothing.]

Hello! Mermaid-san, are you here?!

[twilightskey]

[Roxas didn't reply, but was relieved that he knew help was on the way. That relief didn't last long, however; while he was waiting, after a shift caused another jolt of pain to shoot through his legs, the cry of pain he should have let out was utterly silent. A few tries later made him realize that not only could he not walk, but he couldn't talk either.]

[Worry over this realization plagued him until he heard a voice calling out. With little alternatives, he reached for his journal.]

I hear you. You're close

[ricebird]

[Kotori feels her journal buzz, and she reads the message. Oh, that's right. If this really IS like the story, then she probably can't talk right now either.]

I'm almost there! [Come on, come on... Ah, there's someone lying on the ground over there, maybe that's her-- wait... is that a guy? No matter, she's going to run over there anyway.]

Excuse me! Um... are you the one calling for help?

[twilightskey]

[He was about to see what else he could do to draw noise to himself, but soon enough he heard the rustling of grass, signalling someone coming closer. He looked up, surprised to see the girl coming closer.]

[He nodded, and made to say that yes, he was the one who had called for help... only no sound came. Frowning, he rubbed a hand against his throat, signalling something was wrong with it.]

[ricebird]

Oh... right, you probably can't speak if you're on land like this, can you? Sorry.

[She looks around... shoot, nothing to help her carry him, and she's not very strong. Crap, she REALLY didn't think this through.]

So wait, you were able to walk on land just fine until now, right? What happened?

[Because she's likely more familiar with the not!Disney version than Andersen's original tale, so she doesn't know about Andersen's foot trauma fetish the second part of the little mermaid's price.]

[twilightskey]

[He looked up at her and nodded sadly. She seemed to at least understand something of his predicament... she wouldn't be the only one he's spoken to that was familiar with his essence.]

[With no other way of communicating, Roxas pulled out his journal and began writing.]

I don't know. I was walking normally just a little while ago, and then all of a sudden I got this really sharp pain in my feet and legs. It was so bad, I couldn't stand anymore. And now my voice is gone.

1/2

[ricebird]

Hm, well the voice makes sense. After all, the little mermaid had to trade hers to the sea witch for--

2/2

[ricebird]

[Wait, maybe...]

This might not work, but... when was the last time you were in water?

[twilightskey]

[He blinked up at her, surprised, before pausing and thinking about that. After a moment, he turned back to his journal.]

I don't actually know. A few days? I stopped swimming in the river because of the fish.

[Those skeletal fish had sharp teeth.]

[ricebird]

A few days... and I don't blame you, those fish are fierce. Not to mention too skinny to eat...

But... in the story, the mermaid's only allowed on land for three days, and then she's supposed to... [get turned into a sea worm monster in possession of a witch... MAYBE GLOSS OVER THAT PART.] I-I mean... maybe your voice and legs are doing this because you need to go back to water?

[twilightskey]

[He thought it over briefly, realization dawning on his face.]

Maybe you're right. But is the river the only source of water here?

Paging Frankenstein's Monster

[ricebird]

There might be a well somewhere in town... [Sigh...] And I forgot to bring anything to help carry you...

[Wait...] Hold on a second. [She pulls out her journal and starts scribbling furiously.]

Shizuo-san, it's Kotori! We have an emergency; there's someone here with The Little Mermaid for an essence, and he's been out of the water so long that he can't walk or speak anymore. We need help carrying him to a water source and keeping him safe from any ghost fish.

[twilightskey]

[Roxas looked around himself, frowning. Ah, right... that would be a problem, wouldn't it? He sighed; his essence was useful, but he was starting to see the downside of it.]

I can try? To move that is. If no one can come by. I just need help

[It would hurt like hell but he wasn't sure of his options. He didn't want to be a bother.]

[ricebird]

[She reads Roxas's addendum and shakes her head.]

You should rest, we don't want to hurting yourself more. Shizuo-san should be able to help; he's a nice guy and VERY strong.

[hatesviolence]

[Shizuo had been in town trying to get some of the decorations in there (with mixed results) when he notices his journal flashing from where he had set it down. Reaching for it, he flips it open and frowns a bit at the message.]

Mermaid essence? Roxas? [He's the only one he knows who has that particular essence, anyway.] Where are you?

[Just a quick question before he starts walking. His guess is the river, but it certainly won't be in town around where he is.]

[twilightskey]

[He frowned, but since he actually couldn't voice anything, he relented to her suggestion, looking down at the journal instead. The name that pops up made him perk up in recognition.]

Shizuo? From the library? Yeah, it's Roxas. [He remembered the blonde, and remembered him carrying that heavy ladder... he definitely was strong, like Kotori said.]

We're outside of town, on the way to the graveyard.

[ricebird]

We'll wait for you here and I'll flag you down. Thank you, Shizuo-san.

[hatesviolence]

Be right there.

[AND BY THE MAGIC OF TIMESKIP, Shizuo will soon be arriving at the location. Or well, trying. He still didn't quite know where everything was, but by some miracle he'll have picked the right direction.

So Kotori and Roxas will see him approaching, walking a little uncertainly as he looks around for them.]

[twilightskey]

[Well, there wasn't much that could be done except to wait, though when he spotted the familiar blonde walking nearby, Roxas motioned to Kotori and pointed in Shizuo's direction. She'll be able to get his attention much better than he could.]

[When Shizuo approaches, he will wave slightly at the taller man. Hey there.]

[ricebird]

Ah! [Kotori stands to waves her arms too.] Shizuo-san! We're over here!

[hatesviolence]

[Kotori does catch his attention and he'll jog the rest of the way.]

Hey— [A brief, grateful nod to Kotori before he looks over at Roxas in the water.] Roxas, you all right? Said something about needing to put you in more water?

[twilightskey]

[Roxas's face twisted into a sheepish grimace, nodding to Shizuo. He pulled out his journal, quickly writing in it before showing it to the other blonde.]

I think I've been out of the water for too long. I can't talk anymore, and every step I take is really painful

[ricebird]

[A solemn nod up at Shizuo.]

I would have done it myself, but... I'm not strong enough to carry him, and I forgot to bring anything with me.

[hatesviolence]

[He leans over to read the text before looking at the two of them and nodding.]

All right, I understand. I know there's a river around the town... Dunno if there's anywhere closer. But we can head over that way and stop if we spot something else. [And just going to walk over to Roxas and pick him up.

Princess style.]

[twilightskey]

[Roxas nodded, holding his journal close as Shizuo made his way over. He didn't protest to being picked up, but did let out a soundless gasp and gripped at Shizuo as the movement jostled his legs. It didn't last long, but it was still pretty painful if the tight grip was any indicator.]