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

[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.]

[ricebird]

[Geez this is hard to watch... she's always been a bit squeamish about blood, and if there's none here, Roxas is clearly in pain.]

It's okay, Roxas-san. Hopefully we can make this stop soon.

[hatesviolence]

Sorry. [Shizuo hastily said as he feels that grip. He didn't really have any better way to do it, but he tries to not jostle him as he begins walking towards the direction he believes the river is, keeping an eye out for anything that may be closer. Hell, even a well would work, right?]

[twilightskey]

[He really appreciated their help, and once he was settled in Shizuo's grip he gave them a weak little wave and nod, signalling it was okay. Man, he was never going to go so long without taking a dip in water, skeletal fish be damned.]

[hatesviolence]

[And so Shizuo has to act like some kind of prince, carrying the mermaid princess to life saving water with his squire, Kotori. Too bad that's not this story.

Anyway, A SHORT TIME LATER Shizuo spots the river and he only quickens his pace a little, still taking care to not jostle the poor boy anymore than necessary. Once at the edge and after making sure Roxas was ready, he'll carefully wade into the water before setting Roxas down into the shallows. Although he takes a step back, he stays nearby in case he might be needed.]

[twilightskey]

[Roxas would be more embarrassed about the situation of being carried around like a princess if he wasn't in such a predicament, and as it stands was willing to bury his pride for the sake of getting to some water.]

[Once he was ready, he braced himself as he was lowered into the shallows, feeling the water soak into his clothes and over his skin. But once settled in the shallows, he gasps sharply as the magic of his transformation takes hold. But unlike normal, where the transformation caused little more than a light tingle, this time it caused a sharp pain that made him spasm and grit his teeth. He ended up laying almost flat, submerging himself in the water, and from the surface there's a bit of thrashing and a gurgled cry of pain that's muffled by the water.]

[After a few long moments, Roxas slowly sits back up again, breathing a little heavy. A part of his tail, which his legs had transformed into, broke the surface briefly, as did the remains of his pants, which had been ruined after his tail had forced its way through them.]

[ricebird]

[Oh shoot! She hadn't expected the transformation to hurt him MORE, and then as Roxas falls under the water she gasps, is he able to BREATHE yet, what if his lungs are still human?!]

Roxas!

[Kotori rushes to help him sit back up, not caring about his state of dress or even registering his tail yet, only focused on making sure he's not drowning.]

Are you alright? Can you breathe?!

[twilightskey]

[Roxas looked up at Kotori, surprised to see her running into the river. He forced himself into a more upright position, though he winced as his tail throbbed dully in protest.]

I-I'm alright...

[His voice was shaky, and he leaned over and coughed a few times. He cleared his throat before bringing a hand up to rub it.]

My throat...

[It hurt like hell, but at least he could talk again.]

[hatesviolence]

[Since he's still there, Shizuo drops to one knee to place a hand on the merboy's shoulder to offer support, and is kind of glad Kotori rushed in because he was caught off guard by the sudden pain Roxas had been suffering from the transformation. He had been half tempted to pull him out of the water, but in the end opted to just let things run their course because hell if he knew what else to do or if interfering would make things worse.]

Do you need to drink something? Or—

[Ah! Thanks to dealing with the Story Eater and helping Asougi back then with the medical aid, he has a few things in his leather pack. But in addition to that, he learned a little more about all the weird potions and stuff they were given. He pulls it around and quickly opens it to pull out one of them, holding it out to him.]

Here, drink this. Should help. [And he continues to feel as if he's in a video game..... Hell the thing is even blue—]

[twilightskey]

T-Thanks.

[Roxas reached out and took hold of the potion, slowly popping it open and drinking down its contents. When done, he let out a sigh, and instantly felt a calm, cooling sensation go through him. It instantly helped his throat, and even the pain in his tail didn't feel as bad.]

Whew... that's a lot better.

[ricebird]

Phew... I'm so glad, for a second I was worried you were going to drown...

[She lets Roxas sit up by himself, and then still kneeling and hands in her lap, she turns and gives a deep bow. Not a full kowtow, but back bent and reverent.]

Thank you SO much for your help, Shizuo-san...

[hatesviolence]

[If she's in the water, a full kowtow would probably not end well—]

It's no problem. Glad I could even help at all. [He's not really used to being relied upon, so...]

Sure you're doing okay, Roxas?

[twilightskey]

Sorry about that...

[He hadn't meant to startle them, but even he didn't know his transformation would have hurt so much. He looked up at them and nodded.]

Yeah, I'm alright, I think. My tail is still throbbing, but not as badly.

[He lifts the end of his tail out of the water, looking over it for a moment before sinking it back under the water.]

[ricebird]

Good... [Sigh.] Magic really can be troublesome at times, can't it...?

[Now she's kind of glad that her world is so mundane, and that her powers don't affect her body (that she knows of). Poor Roxas...]

[hatesviolence]

Seems that way.

[What a weird place they're in. But magic or no magic, at least he's glad he was able to help.

So to Roxas:]

I'm not really doing anything right now, so I'll stick around to make sure you don't need anything else.

[twilightskey]

You're telling me.

[The magic in his world isn't this complicated back home... At least he was able to get some help.]

Thanks, Shizuo. I'd appreciate it. [He has no idea when he'd be able to transform again, but at least he won't be alone.] Thanks for your help, both of you.

[ricebird]

[Kotori gives a nervous chuckle and jazz hands in protest.]

No no, you're fine, it's no trouble at all. Besides, Shizuo-san did all the helping, really.