realmofstories | [Open] A poisonous feast

Probably both. At least, despite the graveled growl to his voice, he didn't sound upset in any way. If anything 76 sounded far too incredibly calm for his own good, scratching the side of his neck idly. Did not help at all he was... pale naturally, given his Essence was an undead creature. Even the fur visible from the rips of his shirt were a pale off-white color.

"Feel fine."

Which was true. He actually felt better than fine, and that was all the confirmation he needed that this was indeed a tainted piece of fruit. Taste was subtle, too. Really, if he wasn't able to eat something like this and tell there was something off about it he'd have missed it.

"Should probably see if other stands have the same problem and are still selling."

Zidane side-eyed the guy, whatever urgent panic gone, given away to irritation. He can just say if he can eat contaminated food; that'd be nice instead of trying to prank people during something so urgent.

What kinda person does that?

"That's what I'm out here doing, but here you are, eatin' poisoned fruit and freakin' out people. A warning would be nice, y'know? We already got enough people screwed up by this." His tail was popping, reflecting his annoyance. Give him a few seconds to chill. "You're going to help now? It'd be a nice way to make up for that trick."

His tail flicked, more with how he turned and, well, was continuing to eat that apple as he was walking on.

"I don't control how people react," and why he was doing it was never asked for. Ana was helping with this mess, figured the least he could do was at least locate the places that were still selling the stuff- even if not. Telling anyone. Other than the vendors once he was positive. "Been doing this.

"You assume a lot of things."

"When you're missing information, all you can do is assume."

Unless he's going to start talking now instead of keep eating his apple like an asshole. "Like seriously, before running into you, I was told some food stands were contaminated by an unknown poison. It takes me a while to figure out which ones have been messed with, and then I finally reach this stall in time to see someone picking out an apple that could be poisoned. I dunno if he's an Aspect and what his Essence might be, I dunno if he can handle whatever poison this is... honestly, I'm still expecting you to suddenly drop on me."

"That's when you hang back and listen." Or watch.

He tapped the side of his mask, just near where his nose would be, at least somewhat indicating he could smell the stuff. "I can eat stuff like this fine. Good for me." In the most basic of terms, and it didn't sound like he was going to talk overly much with how rough his voice sounded; hard to tell if it was from disuse or simply sounded like that.

"And take the chance of you dying? No way."

If that's how he rolls, that's all well and good, but Zidane wasn't like that. If he could help, why not? "Good to know. Now I know that for the future if something like this happens again... or we're fixing a story and however that works." And now that they're doing this together, his mind goes elsewhere, noting he doesn't know the guy's name and could probably figure out a nickname until he does know.

"Circumstances."

Different circumstances, different actions. Then again he was a man who threw himself head first in to fights without a second thought. Be it beating down punks in an alleyway due to smuggling weapons and whatever else or... goons trying to rule a town through unsavory means.

Yet here he was. "Pain in the ass is how it works." Yet here he still was.

... Gosh, this was like trying to talk to Amarant before the Castle. At least it came with less hostility? Ehh, no, that could be amusing to deal with.

The answer got a chuckle. "It can't be that bad, can it? I mean, you're still here."

He sniffed lightly, the action hidden due to the lower half of his mask, scanning stands and even the people who lingered at them in passing. Since he had finally caught the scent he could do a bit better than he had been-

"Still a danger to other places," including where he came from. Did not want to deal with this shit on top of everything else in his world. "Turned in to random crap."

Following after him, Zidane's ready to go to any stand he sniffs out. Yeah, this guy was still a jerk, but like... grumpy old man jerk. And he was proving himself to be a good guy under it all.

"Random crap? You'll have to be more specific."

"You're changed to fit the places we get sent to." Whatever that might entail, and since this was important for future there was a little more to it. This came with a fight at times after all. This? This was moving and clearing out poisoned goods. There was a division in thoughts for it.

He did pause, taking a step back as he glanced over a stand selling figs, amongst other things.

"Ooooh, so we're given other roles to play." That doesn't sound too bad to him, but playing roles was pretty normal for him. "Not big on stage shows, huh? Heehe..."

But he'll pause when the guy does and follow his head to the stand. "That one our next stall to close?"

"Roles of the story main cast, or just background to blend in." Grunted, and no he wasn't. He'd had enough time dressed up and forced to play a role expected of him because a certain aspect of him was used. A show horse; this was only a little less worse than that. It actually got something done.

A couple coins was tossed to the stall owner as he plucked up a fig and pulled it apart, just getting a bit of the juice- "Yeah. This one's gotten the treatment." Smell was what he followed, but apparently the taste was what sold the deal for him. Which explained part of what he was doing. Once he figured out the first time what was up with the smell and taste.

"Sounds like fun~" Man, he couldn't wait to actually start putting stories back together. Hopefully they were good ones!

Watching him toss a few coins and rip into the fig, Zidane grimaced. Was that really the only way to check for poison? At least he was unaffected, by what if someone made a poison that could affect this guy? They'd be screwed. "It's probably not the only one here either. Geez, what's the point in trying to hurt random people like this? If whoever's doing this says boredom, they're just an ass."

Was the only way for him to be sure, and to be sure it was the same source as well. There was that same subtle aftertaste that made his nose wrinkle a bit. "If it's one, it could be everything edible at the stall- I'd half worry about it bein anything touched, too." A growl to his voice, ears pinned back and tail curled close to a leg.

Hopefully it was just whatever was edible and not objects that would be touched often, or could prick skin- "Probably is an ass."

"Well, I'm not gonna stop you this time." He was free to sniff them out and Zidane would go grab a bucket or bin to put all the ones they found in. While the older man's tail curled, there might be some irritating swinging from Zidane's own.

Having his companion agree that whoever did this was an ass just made it worse. "Guess that can't be avoided, but a realm of stories, right? We can kick their ass if we find 'em."

His head tipped, and of course a few other fruits were gone over- but he did pause over a bit of meat, ears pricked forwards. Eyes narrowed behind that black 'visor' of his before he was picking it up with one hand and of course paid for it before biting in to it as well. The fur along his tail bristled a bit- "Not just the fruit here." Though the poison added an interesting flavor to the meat.

Not going to admit that out loud, just tearing off a bit more of it to eat. "People like that as needed as those who help when it comes to stories." Muttered a bit, but it was easy enough to realize that much.

Watching and picking up the fruits that were poison positive, he blinked when the old man seemed to get distracted. Raising an eyebrow, Zidane followed - and then grimaced as he ate raw meat. Oh yeah, this guy and Quina would be good friends in regards to their stomachs. "Maybe we should just have the market closed down for today."

Not commenting on the next bite, Zidane crossed his arms. "Yeah. A story isn't that interesting without conflict."

"Be a good idea. No worry about any more poisoned goods being bought by anyone." Maybe give a little break to those working to make an antidote- even if some of that thought was for Ana. He knew well how she'd throw herself in to it if she could help, especially since so many here were young. He was at least wrapping the meat back up rather than taking a third bite.

Making sure to seal on the paper stuck back in to place with a smoothing of clawed fingers. "Even if some people from whatever world are the type to do this for likely no reason," outside of boredom.

"Alright. I'll go look into that. You keep stopping people from picking poisoned produce." He feels bad though. Stopping the market might be cutting off someone's daily meal, but better to starve and live one day than miss living at all.

"When there are real people like that, they suck." C'mon, there's even honor among thieves. Someone this bored wasn't honorable at all. Anyway, off he headed to hopefully find someone in charge of this. It's gotta be a committee or some organization running this, right?

"Just be clear as to why, and firm." Sometimes it was better to get a point across, and some things certainly stuck with him after so long of who he used to be. He was going to be keeping the bundle of meat, even if just for his own uses; well out of the way of what the young dragon in his care could get in to.

There was a slight huff, more a low rumbling exhale than anything more. "More than can be described." At least he had the time to send going around stalls hunting down the ones that had been tampered with.

[Open] A poisonous feast

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