realmofstories | Chapter 07: Act I

SUGAR PLUM BEAST: ACT I—

§ instructions.

The Sugar Plum Beast Act I is underway! This is the designated log for all Main Scenes. Others are free to create their own toplevels for the Sub Quests, which are detailed below. Each Main Scene has their own unique toplevel and those cast into the roles are to thread their scene under each. All scene instructions are provided in the toplevels.

Quick reminder that everyone is dressed to fit the rustic village style! Costumes for each role is linked in the scene they first appear but carry over into other scenes. And for those who are cast as Beast roles, will undergo full transformation, though the degree of transformation is up to the players. They can go into full hulking beast or be something more benign and cute with just ears and a tail or something. The Beast form also can be whatever you want, there is no set "design." In terms of affected personality, in general those in the role will be a little angrier and grumpy than usual, but it's not a complete personality switch. So it's possible to have the character mostly unaffected but snap or get annoyed more easily than usual or over the most random things they normally wouldn't. However there are cases when they may fly off the handle and while we leave it up to the players on if and when that can happen during a scene, anything more extreme that is specifically required will be noted for that scene.

Finally, just to be clear, characters who are in Main Scenes are not immediately dropped into their location and will have to go through designated flowered arches and then return. Threading all of that isn't necessary, but it's to help give a better idea that characters can take a break between scenes or wait a bit to help with other things like the Sub Quests.

Feel free to refer to the Game Notes for more detailed info as well as ask questions or clarifications.

§ sub quests.

Everyone is free to participate in the Sub Quests. There are no specific top levels, so you're free to incorporate them however you wish in your own top level.

¶ I. Toy Repair. Scattered around the roads and around the boundaries of the town are damaged sometimes broken toys. They vary in size and shape, but for some reason their expressions are one of fear and pain. Take the toys back to Drosselmeyer's workshop and try to repair them. Even a fresh coat of paint will make the toys seem happier and relieved. Who knows maybe this good act will be returned later…

¶ II. Toysitters. Some of the toys brought into the workshop are on the young, baby side, and boy are they needy. Constantly crying "Mama! Papa! Poopy!" one would easily think they're just malfunctioning. Though that's strange, does this kind of setting have the technology for these toys to have voice recordings...? Regardless, better pair up with someone and try to soothe these baby dolls before the locals come in wondering what kind of witchcraft is going on in there.

¶ III. Garden Birthday Party. There is a birthday party being thrown and everyone is invited to either help decorate or just chill and enjoy the food. However, the garden it's held in needs some pruning. You know those plastic joke flowers that squirt water at people? They're blooming all over the place and are dousing anyone who gets near them. Either weed them out or figure out a way to lessen their water output! And of course there are Eraser and hostile toy blot problems that need to be taken care of. The further out towards the boundaries of the town, the more dangerous it is.

¶ IV. Easter Egg Hunt. Similar to a scavenger hunt, toy eggs have been scattered all over town and all the children are having fun trying to find as many eggs as they can. Perhaps the Aspects want to join in either hiding or finding eggs. However, some of these eggs are actually not toys but rotten, or if they are toys, terrible pranks like a pie to the face or a small firecracker exploding happen once opened. Some of the children are upset, even hurt, so it's imperative to find the culprit! Witnesses say they saw a strange, yellow polka dotted Velveteen rabbit hopping around the areas where the prank eggs are found.

¶ V. Wildcard. Make up your own prompt!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

General

The moment Jean enters the gate into the next story, he's automatically transformed into his beast form. He's now two meters tall (not that big of a difference from his normal) and hairy all over his body and face. His hands and feet are now paws with claws and his regular wolf tail, lion ears and horns remain. In addition he also now has wild boar tusks on his face.

Jean groans, understanding quite well what this must mean since he can't turn back to normal no matter what he tries. This was... his essence's story wasn't it. At least partially.

He looks grumpy and doesn't seem like he really wants to talk to anyone. Which may be the case. He hates being in the Beast form and now it was looking like he'd be in it for a while.

II

Even if he looks like a beast it seems the toys don't mind. They're crying for entirely different reasons and clinging onto his clothes and fur.

"Alright, alright, I got you." He takes one of the ones that is crying the most onto his hairy arms and the toy seems to calm down quite a bit at that. "Hey, can you see what this other one wants?" The one clinging onto his leg that is.

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Well, this is one way to take out your frustrations. Jean is using his claws to destroy the plastic flowers and rogue toy blobs. It's useful and helps him vent a bit without causing too much chaos. Perfect.

Cookies.

Now that's something Makoto can get behind, despite the rather... rosy way this place looked. Soon, he had a bag full of sugar and snickerdoodle cookies. He was quite happily (in a muted way) munched on one of the cookies when he noticed the actual Beast of Index sulking out of the way of the village. Honestly, he felt for the guy but he did host nice parties. He made his way over and held up the bag in his hand.

"Here."

Maybe under more normal circumstances, cookies would be a great idea and he'd appreciate the gesture, but right now he was just annoyed at everything. So instead he huffs.

"No thanks." Well, that's still kind of polite way of saying no, even if the tone of his voice is very rough around the edges.

"You'll feel better if you have something to eat," Makoto wasn't backing down, his hand still held out with the bag of cookies. The rough tone of voice didn't phase him, he simply stood there holding out the cookies. His own tone was mild, almost deadpan.

Jean stares at him for a little while before sighing and taking a cookie. It was small compared to the size of his paw so he just put the whole thing into his mouth and chewed.

"They're pretty good at least."

Makoto nodded and bit into another one himself. "Your friends will wonder where you've gone if you stay here."

Just a light observation, he didn't want to be pushy about it. But after a few of his own friends went home, he wasn't real fond of the idea of people possibly looking for a missing beast because he wanted to sulk about. Not that he couldn't understand why.

Now this is familiar territory for Naoki. Fighting against monsters is something that's become second-nature to him, and even if his opponents take on the forms of possessed toys and inky blots, it's all the same to him. So it's not long before he takes his scythe and goes hunting.

As he fights, he'll catch sight of Jean. It takes him a moment, but he recognizes the horns and fur from before. So, the Beast has been turned into a literal beast? Ironic, considering their prior exchange... So as Jean fights against the toy blobs and plastic flowers, the metallic swish of a scythe will cut through the air, and two encroaching blots will be sliced in twain. Naoki slices his scythe through the air, flicking ink off of it.

"Keep an eye on your blind spots."

Jean had definitely completely ignored his blind spots, mostly because even if some of the toy blobs had reached him, he hadn't felt much pain. He could endure a bit of it. That says, you never knew if something more dangerous would try to attack him so the advice wasn't at all a bad idea.

"Thanks, I guess." He's not sure how to feel about Naoki seeing him as a full beast, after their first meeting. It's not like he's embarrassed about his form, it's just a mess of complicated feelings that he managed to dig up straight away.

Naoki huffs a bit, before turning to continue to cut down the blots. Judging by how he's fighting, it's clear that seeing Jean as a full beast isn't phasing him very much. In fact, in a small way, he prefers it; he's grown used to fighting alongside monsters and demons and deities. In fact, most of his enemies had been human at one point. So, this is admittedly more comfortable for him.

However, just like his demonic teammates, he does expect Jean to work together with him. So when he slices his scythe through a blot, his gold-eyes will flick over to Jean when he sees movement.

"On your left!"

Taking orders and working together are actually something he's kind of used to, being a soldier and all. He'll cooperate willingly just to make this whole mess easier.

Jean turns and strikes the approaching blot with his paw, sending it on the ground.

The blot is easily dispatched, splattering to the ground. And when it's defeated, Naoki will deal with his own, though he doesn't stop the occasional barked order at Jean.

"Behind you!"
"Watch it!"
"To your right!"

And together, the two are able to thin out the Erasers until the last ones are being sliced by Naoki's scythe and crushed beneath Jean's paw.

Meanwhile, Ken wasn't too sure what he walked into. After spending a month of two away from the place, he really should have known better to expect the unexpected when he arrived back. Although, he couldn't complain as this act seemed to be a lot more lighthearted compared to what he experienced before.

So when he saw Jean destroying the plastic flowers, he just raised an eyebrow at him. At first, he didn't know if he should say something. It was one thing to stop the plastic flowers from bothering any more people but on the other hand?

"Uh..."

Jean's ears flick when he hears someone speak behind him. Or, well, more like make a noise. His lion ears are sensitive now that they were the only ears he had. He turns around to look and he looks surprised. That's a face he hadn't seen in a long time.

"Ken? When did you come back?"

"Why's it gotta be dolls," it was half growled and half exasperated, but it was some acknowledgement as the clinging doll was scooped up if furry clawed hands, his own tail keeping close against the back of his legs. All the better to just... let a smaller doll continue sleeping in the slight curl of it.

Even with only the lower part of his mask on, there was some mild annoyance visible on the upper part of 76's face.

"You check to see if they needed any mending yet?"

May as well ask as the one he scooped up had quieted, even if it had sounded surprised at being picked up by someone else. Not much phased by the appearance, scent was familiar enough.

Chapter 07: Act I

Jean Kirstein | The Beast

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