yer pal boothill !

closed boothill affiliated with Gnostic Hymns .

[romaritimes]

"O-Oh, I'm so sorry!" he blurts out, his voice habitually becoming high-pitched to accompany his embarrassment. The freckles on Freminet's cheeks begin to burn a bright pink, and he looks away, scratching his head sheepishly, but not without stealing another quick glance at the stranger.

This person's body was like a Gardemek's, and he spoke in a bizarre dialect… Well, being a part of the Fatui, even among its lower ranks, will have you seeing some unique things, but something told Freminet the figure wasn't from around here - not from Fontaine, nor Teyvat, even.

"I'm Freminet," he answers, realizing a moment later that their speaking postures were awkward. He walks out of the water, shaking off the beads of salt water from his limbs before taking a seat beside the stranger, wrapping his arms around his knees. "Are you trying to get somewhere in particular? I'm not the best person with directions… but I could probably point you where you need to go." The corner of Freminet's mouth twitches with an unspoken question, and he looks away and clears his throat, pausing to choose his words before he continues. "I apologize… You look strikingly similar to my Father. I could have almost sworn you were her, when I was under the water at least…" He trails off, a bit curious about any possible relation, but he doesn't pry.

[dustymetaltrail]

Boothill remained silent as he gave his introduction , shrugging and waving it off as he apologized and all -- wouldn't be the first time he was mistaken for someone , not like it'd be the last , if he kept hanging around Fontaine .

" Freminet , eh ? the name's Boothill . " he said with that same cheeky grin , thumb pointing to himself , adding that little dramatic flair he had so much fun showing off , look slowly turning to confusion .

" Well , eh . . . anywhere , really , I ain't got a clue where I'm at , feels completely flippin' foreign to my arse . " he stood up , taking a look around once again , blinking a few times . . . he's been to plenty of planets in his time , but this one felt so strangely different , he couldn't put his finger on it .

" Like yer father ? apologies , kid , but I ain't got a kid that's around n' kickin anymore . " he seemed so calm and dismissive , something that felt . . . strangely natural in his head , as depressing as it may be to someone else , it wasn't something he properly got the time to process .

" Ya' think ya' got talents as a tour guide ? could fancy myself a look 'round . "

[dustymetaltrail]

fizzy frenzy .

[balemouns]

how she ended up here was a mystery in and of itself. the technology, the implications she'd heard over and over as she wandered about that this was somehow all a dream... it felt oddly real, unlike any dream she'd ever experienced. and there were some key features missing that recurred in every dream of her own... though she'd looked, at the very least, arlecchino hadn't seen any sign that this place was a typical dream of her own.

... and why she'd dream of something as mundane as being offered drinks as she looked around beyond her. though she'd tried to understand more before accepting the offer, it seemed there were few consequences that could really concern her --- so, carrying a bottle, and sipping only occasionally... she heads on towards the central square of this massive, dreamlike metropolis.

why have a clock-like cartoon character as a... mascot? that's what she's looking at, isn't it? head tilts, and marked eyes scan up bronze curiously. how... grotesque, this thing is; imagining how it must live, if it were a true living thing and not a work of fiction... how would it even digest the drink in her hand, let alone solid food?... a sigh, and she turns away from it, for fear of dwelling on the monstrosity the clock-like character evokes; then, she spies a figure sitting on a bench who looks oddly familiar; or, at least ,odd for where she finds herself.

"... mr. boothill? how charming to see you again, and meet you here, of all places." a few steps towards him, and she raises the bottle of mysterious liquid forced on her several minutes prior. "you wouldn't happen to know where here is, would you? every time I've asked, the answers I've received have cryptically suggested that I'm in a dream."

[dustymetaltrail]

this whole sitting around and watching thing . . . it wasn't working the best for him , his foot tapped against the ground multiple times , as if just waiting for something to be served to him on a silver platter , but nobody was really talking about anything too special .

just when he was getting ready to get up and move to another location .

" . . . yer' fudgin' kiddin me . " that voice was all too familiar , but hearing it ? yeah , that got a smile on his face , someone who he never thought he'd see after all that went down .

" good time ta' see a friendly face , though . . . how'd ya get here without knowing where ya' are ? this here -- " motioning to the area around them and beyond . " -- is penacony , let's see . . . this place IS a dream . "

he was trying to figure out the best way to explain this to someone who didn't know what Penacony was , which was . . . strange , for someone inside .

" outside of here , we got a big hotel -- then once ya fall asleep in there . . . you end up here , in the real dream , or somethin' like that . "

truth be told , he still didn't fully understand , but he had a basic idea .

" how'd ya' even get in here ? if ya don't know what it is . "

her presence , while welcomed , was definitely a little puzzling for him .

[thecharmonydove]

COMMISSION BOARD : CRYSTALIZE .

this will cover my wants for Sunday , Boothill: @dustymetaltrail and Mei: @originsrebirth !

SUNDAY .

Liyue’s famed Lantern Rite is just around the corner, and tourists from all across the land have already begun flocking into the Harbor. Of course, with so many naive souls looking forward to the celebrations, less savory individuals will follow. The demand for bodyguards exceeds the abilities of both the Millelith and private parties, and so a recommendation comes for visitors to journey in groups. What better way to meet a new friend than travel together through the beautiful fields and mountains of Rex Lapis’ lands… and maaaybe beat up a few Treasure Hoarders along the way?

as he's obviously not from Liyue or Teyvat , a muse from there will be needed ! but , i think Sunday would quite like to explore and see all the things happening , learn more about the places outside of penacony and see more of the world , i'm very willing to take this on any of my muses , but won't go out of my way to list it , feel free to poke me about this with any of them , but i am most interested in doing it with Sunday as of current !

MEI .

The reality of work at the Herta Space Station is that the researchers, who hail from all across the universe, rarely ever have an opportunity to visit home and celebrate whatever festivities their nations traditionally enjoy. Hardly surprising that some of them become a little homesick. A group decides soon to put together a faire, where they can share elements of their culture while learning about the beauty of others. Guests who wish to broaden their horizons, or perhaps even share their own, are of course more than welcome!

i think she'd absolutely have plenty of stories to share here , she has so many memories she's made , adventures she can share , so many she wants to hear , because while she has had her own experiences , she loves to hear what people have gone through , she loves to listen .

Though Belobog was a far cry from defrosting, expeditions out of the city are easier to execute on. One such expedition resulted in a rather… odd specimen. A strange creature, with a segmented trunk for a nose and gnarled tusks. Faint hues of pink radiate from inside, with faded pink markings decorating what would just be white and dark purple skin. Despite its massive size, there are no previous records of creatures like this on Belobog, and a signal has been put out, requesting any further information on this strangely alien beast and how it may have gotten here.

do you really think i'm gonna look at this plot and NOT wanna do it with Mei ? i absolutely BEG someone to take her up on this shit ! ! ! i wanna do it so bad ! ! there ain't nothin more to it ! !

BOOTHILL .

Though the tradition and legacy of the Four Winds has been largely forgotten by Mondstadt’s general populace for centuries now, there have always been individuals, even if singular, who maintain their beliefs firmly and try to preserve whatever is left of these great memories. When a rumor circulates about Abyss Order making their nest anew in the Temples of the Lion and the Falcon, and the Knights of Favonius turn out to be too busy to handle this matter, these devoted people call upon any help they can recruit before whatever is left of the sanctuaries of old is ruined for good.

tell Boothill anything about the Abyss and he's ready to fire , he does not know what to do in Teyvat and he's trying to go ahead and do anything to have a silly time !

[romaritimes]

The weather was perfect for a dive - that was mostly a lie, Freminet would still seek the depths of the sea even if it were storming, with the exception of a thunderstorm which could prove harmful. However, today specifically, the sun shone down in warm rays upon the surface of the ocean, and especially near the surface level was the water a comfortable temperature. Still cool as one glided through, but the warmth was a welcome departure from the cooler depths.

A familiar blur of red, white and black was obscured by the rippling waves. He paused to observe for a moment, moving to take off his helmet for better visibility. His mind immediately wandered to his Father; perhaps it were an emergency if she, herself, came all this way just to retrieve Freminet. His heart sank at what that could possibly mean, his feet already flapping to propel him up past the surface of the sea.

Freminet blinks his eyes, adjusting to the unfiltered light of the surface, and reaches to brush his damp bangs out of his line of sight with his fingers. "Father? What's wrong?" he begins, his tone betraying his mounting worry. A few more blinks, and the red, white and black come into focus… This did not appear to be Father.

The biggest giveaway was the metal body of the figure, but the face and hair still bore a striking resemblance… Though his interstellar travels were limited thus far, he'd gone far enough to learn briefly about the concept of bubble universes, and other selves. Perhaps this was the case with the stranger that looked like Father? Freminet did nothing in the stranger's presence but blink, mouth slightly agape, as if he were awaiting an explanation from the other.

[dustymetaltrail]

He stared for a while , wondering just what the hell was going on down beneath . . . as soon as that helmet ascending out of the water , Boothill jumped a little , but this one didn't look exactly . . . armed or dangerous , not that he could see , so he didn't jump to reach for his pistol .

" Eh ? who the fork are ya' callin father ? ! " this kid didn't LOOK like his daughter , besides . . . that just wouldn't be possible , surely .

the two stared a good while of silence . . . before Boothill let out a nervous laughter , eyes shifting around , nobody else around -- the apparent father this kid was asking about wasn't here .

" Eh -- ah . " a very clear confusion was present on both his face and tone , before clearing his throat and finally getting a sentence out . " Alright , kid -- I ain't ya father , the name's Boothill , reckon I'm . . . a tad lost here , so I took a second to come n' think about some carp -- then before I knew it , saw yerself under there . "

he reached his hand up to scratch the back of his neck , hoping that was a good enough explanation , so he didn't seem on the strange side for watching him until he ascended .

" Ya got a name , kid ? "

[dustymetaltrail]

fizzy frenzy .

[dustymetaltrail]

starter for @balemouns .

penacony -- somehow , the place he always ended up back at , after everything that happened , he felt drawn there , every time he visited , it had a new surprise slapped right in his face , today ? no different .

he had just been wandering , taking his time , taking in the scenery -- he couldn't tell what , but something had felt . . . just a little different , not the people , not the places -- but his surroundings .

it was still the same penacony , but there's some small changes , he'd notice people arguing , nothing new -- but . . . he'd overheard something about arguing about soda ?

about then , he'd take notice to the new advertisements of a new soda going around . . .

" the fork is this SoulJoy crud . . . ? "

brushing it off , he kept walking , slowly , it would come more to his eye . . . this new soda was everywhere , some kind of rising star -- was it some sort of wide spread scam ? is that why people are arguing about soda .

with a heavy sigh , he'd head out towards the clocky statue and take a seat at a bench , just relaxing and observing , listening to whatever conversations he could hear , leaned back with his hat covering his face , just so he didn't look so suspicious .

[dustymetaltrail]

fizzy frenzy .

[dustymetaltrail]

steel and sea .

starter for @dellarosula .

what a situation he's been put in , he thought infiltrating this airship -- taking out a few IPC , grabbing some intel and darting would be a quick and simple task . . . who would've known things could go this bad ?

it was a trap , set just for the gunslinging cowboy cyborg , surrounded by what felt like hundreds of IPC and bigshots , who all looked way too smug about this .

reasonably so -- beaten , battered , exposed inner workings of his mechanical body , scratches and cuts on his face , heavy breaths coming from him , hand still on his gun despite it all .

eyes darted around the room -- every exit was covered , wasn't it ? this situation isn't looking good for him .

even still , he had a smug grin on his face , did they really think he didn't have a way out ? he spun the chamber in his revolver , before firing one at the ceiling , which was paired with a loud explosion .

the wall behind him burst open , of course he had an escape plan ready , he just needed to get to the right spot . . .

" alrighty then -- toodle-oo , forkers ! "

he tipped his hat , as they started opening fire , he fell backwards , diving straight down off the side of the ship , into the body of water below him . . . what's going on ? why was his vision feeling all blurry ?

. . .

. . .

on the shores of fontaine , those walking by would see what looked like nothing more then a hunk of metal washed up and left to rust , those who looked closer would see a rather fancy looking hat not too far off . . . those who looked even closer ?

they'd see boothill , partly buried beneath the sand -- they'd see a mix of man and machine , unconscious upon the shores .

[dellarosula]

It's not, by any means, unusual to see a thing or two wash up on the shore. The sea is the sea, after all. Odd bits of wrecked ships and anything else tossed into it is subject to wind up in the sand eventually.

Just not often people.

Sunrise is only just nearing its end when Navia sees it, a figure of some odd sort, half obscured by sand. They're not even a proper mile from Poisson, and the ground is still damp from the morning tide. Intrigue and concern of equal measure put a certain urgency into her step.

She's maybe a few paces away when she notices the hat, and one fewer when she recognizes just what the half-buried figure is. Or what she thinks it is-- he is? Those are questions she can be concerned with later.

Bending at her knees, she waves a hand over the unconscious man's ( she's guessing, frankly ) face. When there's no reaction, she presses its back to his cheek ands then his forehead and... what the...

"Um... sir? Can you hear me?" She tries to nudge him, then tries again. "Helloooo?"

If he remains unresponsive, well, she'll have to dig him out herself probably. Which is fine, though he doesn't exactly look light, or easy to carry at all for that matter. And what with all the ladders and stares in Poisson, she'd have better luck getting him on the nearest Aquabus. Which would mean dragging him unconscious through the court, which would mean...

Another nudge. "I'll help you out, I promise, but it'll be a lot easier if you're awake."

[dustymetaltrail]

it took a minute of nudging and poking , before any movement was seen , those eyes finally opening and powering on , his very unique eyes flickering a few times before becoming properly lit up , he sat there for a second , a bit shocked , before sitting up and looking around , eyes eventually landing on the woman beside him .

" What the . . . fork -- ? "

something like this wasn't normal for Boothill , usually , he had his landing plan all figured out , but this was nowhere close to where he should have been .

" ey , lady -- where the darn am i ? "

he had never seen her face before , he could assume by the fact that he was only restrained by the sand , which he was able to get off of him with only a minor amount of struggle -- paired with the fact that he was alive , that she likely wasn't IPC or out to get him , chances are she didn't know . . .

once he started lifting parts of himself out of the sand , he'd begin to notice the bits of damage done to himself , what the hell happened ? he's having to shake sand and water out of his body now . . .

[balemouns]

high noons at high noon, sparkling and sweet as honey.

hellwalker week 3 -- arlecchino + boothill combat.

[balemouns]

as miss honey strikes again, they both feel the hit --- but it seems they're hanging in there together, if by a thread. a recovering strike leveled at the the note is quickly followed up by a much harder hit.

ARLECCHINO rolls 5 energy (1d3+2=5) [1 energy] ARLECCHINO 4/10HP uses Invitation to a Beheading against INK-NOTE B 10/20HP ( 1d20+2 = 20, crit! ) - 5HP INK-NOTE B 5/20HP Soul Siphon activates! ARLECCHINO +2.5HP, 6.5/10HP. 

but as mr. boothill just suggested --- they should carefully manage these kills, especially with the notes not striking back when they land their own blows against them. "just a little more, it seems --- but let's see how honey and her music respond to a hint of fire." a backwards slide, and black-red wing flares out before whirling around as blackened fingers sharply snap.

[3 energy] ARLECCHINO 6.5/10HP uses Balemoon Rising against all enemies. (-2, INK-NOTE B halves incoming pyro! MISS HONEY 50/50HP negates damage!) INK NOTE B 4/20HP, is affected by pyro. MISS HONEY 50/50HP, is affected by pyro. Soul Siphon activates!  ARLECCHINO +.5HP, 7/10HP.

at least the wide-reaching hit seems to have healed her a little more -- but the summoned creature resists the burn of her wing, and honey is still not phased by anything they do. "take your next shot, mr. boothill; let's see what happens when both of her notes are gone."

 ARLECCHINO forfeits 1 energy. @dustymetaltrail reckon I'll try to use more pyro next time, pardner...

[dustymetaltrail]

" same as before , i ain't lettin' this one get away ! once this forker loses her little guard dogs , she's as good as dusted ! "

BOOTHILL rolls 3 energy . (1d3 + 2 = 3. )

a quick four in the chamber , aiming two straight at the note , he didn't get a chance to fully load it , thinking two would be enough , but that damned note was durable , it had to be barely hanging onto life by now !

[ 1 energy ] BOOTHILL 2/10HP uses Skullcrush Spurs against NK-NOTE B 4/20HP  ( 1d20 = 11, hit! ) - 1.5HP INK-NOTE B 2.5/20HP Soul Siphon activates! BOOTHILL +.5HP, 2.5/10HP . [ 1 energy ] BOOTHILL 2.5/10HP uses Skullcrush Spurs against NK-NOTE B 2.5/20HP ( 1d20 = 11, hit! ) - 1.5HP INK-NOTE B .5/20HP Soul Siphon activates! BOOTHILL +.5HP, 3/10HP

he was still hanging onto life himself -- just barely , this power was really coming through , he still wasn't sure how he got it , but right now ? he sure as hell wasn't gonna question it , each shot he took -- he felt a little healthier with each , he felt he could keep going , he still had to keep Honey at bay -- .

[ 1 energy ] BOOTHILL 8/10HP uses Skullcrush Spurs against MISS HONEY 50/50HP  ( 1d20 = 1, hit! ) -0HP MISS HONEY 50/50HPMISS HONEY 50/50HP counters with Matchbook (1d20 = 13, hit!) -2HP BOOTHILL 1/10HP

he couldn't even focus on hitting her , her attacks were starting to wear on him -- wires slowly becoming exposed , his inner mechanics beginning to become his outer mechanics , pieces of metal burning off from the sheer heat she was throwing at him , he lifted his gun -- aiming to finish off the ink note with his last bullet , speaking up . " hey -- partner . . . i'm warnin' ya now -- i don't got much fight left in me -- might've been the worst enemy i could've gotten faced against -- but -- "

MISS HONEY uses Heatsink against BOOTHILL: 1/10HP and ARLECCHINO: 7/10HP   (2d20 = 18 / 20 , hit / crit !) -2HP / -4HP  BOOTHILL: 0/10HP ARLECCHINO: 5/10HP Boothill has been defeated!

yet that revolver never went off .

she struck again , this one feeling rather personal -- a hole burnt right through his chest , exposing insides , short circuiting and fried , sparks flying from inside as his eyes began to flicker , his voice box glitching out .

"̴̼̅ ̷̜͋-̴̞̚-̴̲͗ ̵́͜y̶̞͗o̷̊ͅú̸͉ ̸̨͌.̸̖̀ ̶̝͊.̵̰̂ ̵̧͝.̸̞͒ ̸̲̅w̸̹̾e̵̲͆ṛ̴͆ë̶̗́ ̵̛̫ö̵̢́n̴̫̎e̸̩͒ ̸̲̾h̷̬͗e̴͓͊l̷͕̀l̶͚̏ ̶͇͋ò̷͈f̴̥̆ ̷̻̈-̴̣̚-̸͚̊ ̶̥̀a̴͙͑ ̴̖̉p̵̜̈́a̷͍͐r̴̬̓t̴̟͐n̷̩͑e̴͓̽r̴̛̟ ̵̞̈́-̵̳͂-̸̲̏ ̸̦̈́l̵̠̕a̴̰͋d̷̨̀y̴̪͘ ̷̣̄.̶̧̏ ̸̭̏"̴͈́

his eyes flickered -- then went blank , this wasn't a mere power down -- this robot looked beyond repair , there likely wasn't a soul around here that could fix him .

the cowboy fell backwards with a loud CLANK -- .

his hat slowly floated in the wind , landing right next to him , his revolver falling out of his hand , as he laid there lifeless .

no sassy jokes , no over confidence , no stupidly censored curse words , just the melting of his shell and the sparks from inside .

so long , cowboy , ride that dusty metal trail home .

@balemouns sorry i couldn't see it through to the end -- partner . finish this dance off for me , will ya ?

[balemouns]

high noons at high noon, sparkling and sweet as honey.

hellwalker week 3 -- arlecchino + boothill combat.

[balemouns]

"sounds like a plan. I'll continue to watch for a chance to strike honey, but will leave the first note we've attacked to you..." mr. boothill's strategy is sound --- and with the psuedo-demonic powers working to their benefit to keep them fit for the fight, it was perhaps best for her to focus on the other note anyway. but the notes come for her first --

INK-NOTE A uses A Sharp against ARLECCHINO 8/10 HP ( 1d20 = 15, hit! ) -1HP ARLECCHINO 7/10HP ARLECCHINO 8/10HP counters with Invitation to a Beheading ( 1d20+2 = 22, crit! ) -5 HP INK-NOTE A 0.5/20HP Soul Siphon activates! ARLECCHINO +2.5HP, 10/10HP. INK-NOTE B uses B Sharp against ARLECCHINO 10/10 HP ( 1d20 = 7, hit! ) -1HP ARLECCHINO 9/10HP ARLECCHINO 8/10HP counters with Invitation to a Beheading ( 1d20+2 = 20, crit! ) -5 HP INK-NOTE B 15/20HP Soul Siphon activates! ARLECCHINO +2.5HP, 10/10HP.

--- and powerful strikes with scythe swat them away handily, enough for her to recover and ready herself to strike at honey again. but before she does so, a strange blue glow from one of the note's attacks leaves a lingering shock --- "ugh! damned creatures..."

ARLECCHINO rolls 3 energy (1d3+2=3) Entanglement triggers! -3HP, ARLECCHINO 7/10HP [1 energy] ARLECCHINO 10/10HP uses Invitation to a Beheading against MISS HONEY 50/50HP (roll: 1d20+2 = 6, hit!) -0HP MISS HONEY 50/50HP.

dark eyes marked with crimson focus on the blonde bartender, and another lunge towards her doesn't even leave a scratch. but miss honey still strikes back before she can get away, and arlecchino tries to quickly swing towards the other note -- only to miss it by a paper-thin line in the arc of her scythe.

[1 energy] ARLECCHINO 5/10HP uses Invitation to a Beheading against INK-NOTE B 15/20HP and misses (roll: 1d20+2 = 3). [1 energy] ARLECCHINO 5/10HP uses Invitation to a Beheading against INK-NOTE B 15/20HP (1d20+2=18, hit!) -2.5HP, INK-NOTE B 12.5/20HP Soul Siphon activates! ARLECCHINO +1HP, 6/10HP.

but the backswing lands -- and that's enough for the moment, she hopes. it's all she has the capacity for at this moment, so it'll have to do... a quick backwards slide brings her closer to her comrade's side, and a quick look meets his eyes with her own. "ready to take one of them down, at least?"

@dustymetaltrail get yer sights aligned, pardner!

[dustymetaltrail]

" don't you worry , partner , he'll be down in a jiffy . "

BOOTHILL rolls 4 energy . (1d3 + 2 = 4. )

eyes on the prize , aiming another bullet straight towards Honey -- hoping surely one of these bullets will pierce through and hit the mark , but same as before .

[ 1 energy ] BOOTHILL 5.5/10HP uses Skullcrush Spurs against MISS HONEY 50/50HP (roll: 1d20 = 9, hit!) -0HP MISS HONEY 50/50HP. MISS HONEY 50/50HP counters with Matchbook (1d20 = 3, hit!) -2HP BOOTHILL 3.5/10HP

he fires , she fires back twice as hard , this is startin' to hurt a bit , but he's not stopping now , he's got a mission he's got to see to the end .

[ 1 energy ] BOOTHILL 7/10HP uses Sizzlin' Tango against INK-NOTE A 0.5/20HP. Standoff Initiated ! INK-NOTE A is taunted !

standing against the Ink Note , in the style of a western duel with a rather wide grin left on his face , hand on his gun -- the second the ink note even made a slight movement towards him .

[ 2 energy ] BOOTHILL 7/10HP uses Fanning the Hammer against INK-NOTE A 0.5/20HP. (roll: 1d20 = 14, hit!) -2.5HP INK-NOTE A 0/20HP Soul Siphon activates! BOOTHILL +.5HP, 4/10HP . BOOTHILL gains one stack of Pocket Trickshot . Standoff Ends ! 

he put it to rest , watching as it fell , quickly reloading after unloading every last bullet he had into that first note .

" try n' leave that one alive for me , if ya can't , don't stress it ! surely we're gonna get through whatever's guardin' this forker if we keep throwin' our heads at it . "

@balemouns hit 'em right between the eyes , partner .

[balemouns]

high noons at high noon, sparkling and sweet as honey.

hellwalker week 3 -- arlecchino + boothill combat.

[balemouns]

...and the minute a shot is fired and smoke comes from the robotic cowboy's weapon, all is for naught --- any hope of talking to avoid further bloodshed is gone. perhaps she should've anticipated it from the moment the stone-headed scholar among their entourage waved dismissively at any further discussion of his intergalactic concerns... the next moment, with a sudden lurch of one arm, scythe pulls clean through the neck of the man she's held onto, and a suddenly lifeless body that had been a bargaining chip is quickly tossed to the side as the blonde bartender reacts to her own assault. "...should've aimed higher," a soft mutter under breath, not even loud enough for the man next to her to hear -- but eyes watch carefully at the horrific substance that flows out from wound, betraying the sense with a definitive nail that honey is the angel she portrays.

ARLECCHINO rolls 5 energy (1d3+2=5)

a quick swirl of scythe cleans it of excess blood before she bounds forward towards honey --- who is too fast, too quick, and seemingly invulnerable even as cursed scythe draws close, and hits her before she can fully process what's happened.

[1 energy] ARLECCHINO 8/10HP uses Invitation to a Beheading against MISS HONEY 50/50HP and misses (roll: 1d20+2 = 3). MISS HONEY 50/50HP counters with Matchbook (1d20 = 16, hit!) -2HP, ARLECCHINO 6/10HP. 

a swift bounce back -- and arlecchino speaks to the cowboy more clearly this time. "let's focus on these creatures she's summoned first... but if you see a chance to try and strike honey again, by all means -- take it." in almost the same breath, scythe swirls again, and a series of attacks focus on one of the musical creatures brought forth by the bartender.

[1 energy] ARLECCHINO 6/10HP uses Invitation to a Beheading against INK-NOTE A 20/20HP (1d20+2=5, hit!) -2.5HP, INK-NOTE A 17.5/20HPSoul Siphon activates! ARLECCHINO +1HP, 7/10HP. [1 energy] ARLECCHINO 7/10HP uses Invitation to a Beheading against INK-NOTE A 17.5/20HP (1d20+2=7, hit!) -2.5HP, INK-NOTE A 15/20HP Soul Siphon activates! ARLECCHINO +1HP, 8/10HP. [1 energy] ARLECCHINO 8/10HP uses Invitation to a Beheading against INK-NOTE A 15/20HP (1d20+2=10, hit!) -2.5HP, INK-NOTE A 12.5/20HP Soul Siphon activates! ARLECCHINO +1HP, 9/10HP. [1 energy] ARLECCHINO 9/10HP uses Invitation to a Beheading against INK-NOTE A 12.5/20HP (1d20+2=9, hit!) -2.5HP, INK-NOTE A 10/20HP Soul Siphon activates! ARLECCHINO +1HP, 10/10HP.

another backward slide closer to her comrade follows the barrage of slices; not one attack is returned, and some sort of demonic force has restored her to full health in the meantime. "we may just have this if we stay mindful of one another, mr. boothill."

@dustymetaltrail yer up, pardner.

[dustymetaltrail]

before he can even react to everything , everything had begun as quick as the bullet left his gun -- the groups being split off , Miss Honey having summoned some strange things he couldn't make out -- " Son of a -- ! " yelling out , eyes watching as his team gets split up -- but he couldn't focus on that , they could handle themselves , he needed to focus on the fight in front of him , muttering something under his breath . " Should've aimed for the forkers head , tch . "

BOOTHILL rolls 4 energy . (1d3 + 2 = 4. )

attention fully focused on Honey and his teammate , watching as she dashed forward , speeds rivaling his own bullets , a hit at that speed might be hard to hit -- so he's not the most surprised when she's countered with ease , Honey wasn't no pushover .

[ 1 energy ] BOOTHILL 8/10HP uses Skullcrush Spurs against MISS HONEY 50/50HP ( 1d20 = 10, hit! ) -0HP MISS HONEY 50/50HP

firing off a shot at the recommendation of his ally , one that made contact -- but seemed to leave her unphased , just what the hell was this lady ?

MISS HONEY 50/50HP counters with Matchbook (1d20 = 7, hit!) -2HP BOOTHILL 6/10HP

before he could even come to a conclusion in his head , she struck back , leaving Boothill with an injury -- albeit , one he was gonna walk off , watching as Arlecchino delivered a flurry of slashes towards the notes , firing off three quick shots just as she came sliding back .

[ 1 energy ] BOOTHILL 6/10HP uses Skullcrush Spurs against INK-NOTE A 10/20HP ( 1d20 = 10, hit! ) -1.5HP INK-NOTE A 8.5/20HP Soul Siphon activates! BOOTHILL +.5HP, 6.5/10HP . [ 1 energy ] BOOTHILL 6.5/10HP uses Skullcrush Spurs against INK-NOTE A 8.5/20HP ( 1d20 = 18, hit! ) -1.5HP INK-NOTE A 7/20HP Soul Siphon activates! BOOTHILL +.5HP, 7/10HP . [ 1 energy ] BOOTHILL 7/10HP uses Skullcrush Spurs against INK-NOTE A 8.5/20HP ( 1d20 = 5, hit! ) -1.5HP INK-NOTE A 5.5/20HP Soul Siphon activates! BOOTHILL +.5HP, 7.5/10HP .

odd -- he feels that same feeling , those shots he let out almost made that last attack he took brush off with ease , this was a feeling he could get used to , with a grin on his face , exposing serrated teeth , he looked to his side . " we keep up like this , we ain't gonna be stopped , i've got yer' back , Miss Arlecchino , you get 'em weak , i'll deal the last blow from a distance , i don't want to test if those forkers explode on us when dealt with . "

as the two were making their swift plans . . .

1. MISS HONEY uses Heatsink against BOOTHILL: 7.5/10HP and ARLECCHINO: 10/10HP  (2d20 = 10 / 4 , hit!) -2HP BOOTHILL: 5.5/10HP

honey wasn't having any of that , but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle , she wasn't gonna break him down that easy .

@balemouns give em' hell , partner .

[incitomniaveritas]

The Embers Echoes Quarry 一 Dr. Ratio, Boothill, and Clorinde

[incitomniaveritas]

It’s a short ride, maybe only a couple hours. A level of uncertainty as to what awaits, but the ride is calm.

Eventually, the screech of metal wheels cries out, the train skidding to a halt. Light creaks in as the doors are rolled open, and what you find is more akin to a camp. Shoddy houses and makeshift tents surround the rundown station and the quarry itself. A hole, running deep into ground, with staircases carved into the side. Scaffolding supports different platforms, with ladders decorating them for ease of access.

There are people watching the train, men, women, and children, all curious about the return of their baron and what they may bring.

Viper would step out from the front, ushering them all along. “Alright everyone. We gotta do a quick screenin’ of you all just to make sure yer in good health. Natural gas and manual labor. No injured or sickly folks go down. You’re gonna meet the other barons runnin’ this joint. Calamity, Delta, and Jasper. Keep yer wits about ya, it ain’t as bad as they say here. Just form a single file line and hit all three of those folks right over there.”

A motion over to the other three, two women and a man, waiting. “Afterwards, we’ll show ya yer sleepin’ quarters and get ya settled in.”

With the instructions to go forward, Ratio steps forward to reach the line before him, taking place before the cowboy and lady in very dark purple. "I trust you two are in good health. You didn't get into too bad of a fight, yes?"

”I’m fine. Only a few scrapes. Thank you.” She falls into step behind him, glancing over her shoulder at Boothill. ” And you? That rat didn’t bite you, did it?”

The first of the three is waiting for them. "Morning you three, welcome to Ember Echoes. Name's Calamity. Do you have any special skills we should know that could be useful here?" She would examine the Doctor first, who had no issues. Then Boothill, and then Clorinde. "You two are gonna need to stop by again afterwards. Gonna patch you both up. It ain't serious, but it's better safe than sorry."

She opts to stay quiet, not willing to divulge anything about her ability or lack thereof. A small nod of thanks is offered. ”I appreciate it. I don’t have anything special, unfortunately.”

Thankfully… it seems like people here don’t know anything about Visions. Otherwise, she’d need to hide hers.

Boothill gives a smirk. "Put a target infront of me, I'll hit it dead on, sharper eyes then yer' normal fella."

…. This guy. Clorinde heaves a small sigh, stifling it as much as she can. So much for subtle.

A nod from Callie. “I’ll follow up with Jesper afterwards. He focuses on defending us from bandits and monsters. Thank you for your honesty.”

"Ain't got no reason ta' hide nothin'." There's a sense of bitterness in Boothill's tone, taking a look around the area the train took the group to.

Callie looks at him, before changing to look at the doctor.

"Skills? Well, I teach and I have quite a few achievements under my belt." Ratio doesn't miss a beat after by listing: "I practice medicine and hold a doctorate, a PH engineer, a philosopher... Well, I think I'll stop there. I could do with medicine and engineering on my list."

Staring blankly, Callie laughs. "Haha, you're a funny one. Alright, head to Jesper. You three are clear. I'll uh. Putcha down for teachin', medicine, and fixin' stuff." A thumbs up, before calling out, "Next!"

With a hard turn down the lane, he steps in front because he's not in the mood to dawdle and casts his gaze onto the man and two women who had been motioned to much earlier. As he steps forward, he's unable to presume from sight alone and asks, "Jesper?"

He stands behind a makeshift, wooden table, a hand propped on his hip. "That's me. Gotta check your belongings. Weapons are allowed, we just need to keep stock of what's being brought in and out. All personal stuff on the table."

With not another word, Ratio puts upon the table his codex where weapons were indicated, and separate to that at its side he places the many booklets he's obtained from the bookstore.

A quirked brow, confused if this guy heard him properly. He doesn't say anything, and instead looks to Clorinde and Boothill. "You two as well. Only for a moment, I get not wanting to let go of 'em."

@dustymetaltrail & @huntersoath

[dustymetaltrail]

boothill had been rather quiet , keeping to himself since the group entered , he seemed a little frustrated , but it wasn't big enough for him to comment on .

once asked to set his weapon down , he took out a sigh , setting it down with a few of his bullets , eyeing the other who had been examining the three .

at least this guy knows what he said , a quick investigation of both the codex , the different books , and the gun are done . “ alright , you two are good . ” A look to Clorinde. “Just the sword and the gun?”

Boothill picked up his gun as the rest were talking , eyes wandering around the place they'd ended up as he hummed quiet , off in his own world as he took in the view of the place , waiting for the group to catch up as he heard from the man .

a quick examination , then a nod . “ Alright , good enough . Delta’s next . Short lady with the blonde locks and black dress . ”

so he headed over along with the rest , off to meet up with the woman they were told about .

As the three would approach, they would meet the leader of this rather large encampment. Despite how much effort may have gone into her appearance, no amount of makeup can properly hide the sheer drained expression she permanently wears, even when offering a smile to the new guests. “Welcome. You three can call me Delta. Can I get your names and where you folks came from?”

" The names Boothill , not many aside from my partners have heard my name , and there ain't a forker that's challenged me ended up livin' to spread my name , I ain't from anywhere specific , I'm a bit of a wanderer . " he wasn't exactly sure what to say about where he's from -- but he's not exactly lying , either .

”Boothill. Got it. Don’t go shootin’ nobody now. We don’t need no senseless violence here, just people tryin’ to survive.” A check mark.

a grin formed on his face as he introduced himself , looking to his other partners to begin speaking .

[huntersoath]

woah there pardner

GHOverture24 - Hellwalker, No Call No Show

[balemouns]

The man sitting at the desk answers the other woman's question with a consistent lack of enthusiasm. “Well a lot of people like to try and hunt these things, but usually die. So I guess there probably aren’t many. Tough. Did you check the bars?”

she could speak to that well enough herself -- “we checked the… what was it, again? the smoke hole?…” arlecchino looks to the others, then back to the attendant. “regardless. miss honey from that bar directed us here — but I don’t think my companions and I are incapable of handling ourselves.”

the attendant answers again, maintaining his dismissive tone -- "Your problem, not mine. Whatever makes you feel better. Out the door, left two miles. Rocky areas."

a straightforward direction to follow. she then turns her head to boothill and clorinde, “seems we have our directions,” and, again, an expectant gesture signals for them to follow as she starts to head back out of city hall. but before she leaves completely, arlecchino stops to take one last, long look at crescent wraith, then quickwhisker, before she heads to the door. she hears clorinde starting to speak up just behind her as they exit city hall -- arlecchino turns to look, noting the readiness of the other to fire at a moment's notice.

“I can scout ahead, if needed. It may be possible to stage an ambush instead of a reckless frontal assault— I don’t believe you’re the type to make brash decisions like that, anyways.” clorinde looks to her, then to boothill before continuing, “I don’t know enough about you to assume the same.”

arlecchino listens quietly as the other woman speaks, considering the offered strategy -- then, responds to confirm her theory — to an extent. “I don’t mind knowing more about what I face before rushing right in. but a frontal assault can be effective in the right circumstances,” but she also doesn’t know much about boothill, except for what he’d shared at the bar. dark eyes turn to him as well as she turns left as instructed by the attendant at city hall.

boothill responds when he seems to realize both of their eyes are on him. " if a plan is needed , we do a plan -- i'm a fella who goes with the flow , just so happens the action moseys on up to me ? got maself a plan on the spot , if we need plannin' before hand ? sure we can come up with somethin' , you two ladies seem the more calculated type compared to myself . "

clorinde nods to him, then -- eyes start searching for high ground. “Scoping out my prey makes for an easier hunt altogether. I’ll see what I can find. If I run into trouble, I assure you I’m fast enough to get away.” the town starts to fall away around them as they continue further out into the outskirts -- until large stone structures draw into view that can provide the other woman just the vantage point she's looking for.

arlecchino folds one arm across her torso, then props her other elbow on it as she stops while the other climbs --- own eyes scan the horizon, keeping the directions she'd been provided in mind. as she finds little in their surroundings, a thought comes as she turns to the man accompanying them. "so, mr. boothill... you're not from teyvat, are you...? only two nations have the technology to produce firearms --- snezhnaya and fontaine --- and I'm familiar enough with the designs in both to tell you're from neither. are you an outworlder, perhaps...? though it's possible that's true of all of us here right now, isn't it."

@dustymetaltrail

[dustymetaltrail]

about time someone took an ask for his place -- he was too scared to bring it up since he wasn't sure how they'd react .

at the mention of it , his revolver was lifted out of his pocket . " figured y'all weren't from the same place as me , judging by your clothes , ain't heard diddly squat 'bout no teyvat , sorry to tell ya . " that same , mischievous grin he usually tends to carry , spinning the revolver once , popping it out -- a bullet straight out of it , into his mouth . " reckon i'm a lot different from you folk , as well . " fist lightly pounding his metallic chest twice .

a brow from the other raises at the metallic sound. "hm. I've seen stranger, in all truth, but... curious that you haven't heard of teyvat. was that not where you were for the film festival beforehand?"

his eyes lit up a little , so that's the name , huh ? " that's what that place was called -- ? i kept hearin' folk call it somethin' about a fountain . "

correcting him , they spoke up . "fontaine, but yes. it's one of the nations of teyvat."

" well , I guess bein' there is 'bout the most I know regardin' that place , back home , I'm somethin' called a Galaxy Ranger . " he spoke with nothing but pure pride in his voice , he wouldn't ever hide what he was in a situation like this , his name carried no true weight here , but in his own metallic heart -- it was the most powerful thing .

“I don’t think I’ve heard of those before. but it sounds like it matches your aesthetic,” a head tilt, then a look around —- “really think we need to wait until dusk to find these two, ranger boothill?”

his eyes had been wandering around , looking out for good spots to watch from , where they could be coming from and all .

" askin' me ? well , i ain't too sure , I've been thinkin' bout this thing , I reckoned -- we play the long game , wait for those forkers to make a move n'all , if they're active at night , safe to assume they're inactive at day , follow 'em back to their base , I reckon -- but it's risky with one bein' a darned horse , ain't ever gone and fought one of 'em before , so this one's out of my realm of expertise . " arms crossed as he took a look around . " so if we don't know what to do ? take 'em head on , meet 'em on their turf , bit of a roundabout answer to ya' question , but I hope it made sense . "

he let out a quiet sigh , lowering his hat over his face to block out the sun . . .

[huntersoath]

woah there pardner

GHOverture24 - Hellwalker, No Call No Show

[huntersoath]

As expected, there's a whole lot of ... nothing outside the tavern. Dirt, a few locals marching ahead with a destination in mind, and more dirt. Even with a quick canvassing of the establishment, Clorinde can find absolutely nothing of interest, and she finally heaves a sigh before leaning on the wall next to the front door. It doesn't take long for the others to come out, yet the heat feels more stifling than she originally thought. A curt nod is given to them as acknowledgement, finally righting herself and slipping over to join them in their strangely formed trio. "I hope you bring good news," The Duelist begins, her expression somehow managing to look grim without it changing much. "I don't have much to share on my end. The biggest tip I've gotten was about a shopkeep that's quite interested in most weaponry-- it was suggested that I take my pistol to him. Perhaps as a means of persuasion." "A fellow demon, Izzol was his name. It may be worth our time to pay him a visit. I was warned that he can be quite the scam artist, though."

@balemouns @dustymetaltrail

[dustymetaltrail]

as he stepped out , he let out a quiet sigh , his attempts at information gathering wasn't the best , but at the very least , he didn't have nothing ! " most i can tell ya is odd jobs , aside from the train , is the way to go when it comes to trying to earn money . . . what caught ma' eye the most , though , was the mention of bounties . " a very visible grin on his face at the mention of it .

" miss honey in there said they got 'em down at the town hall , so if that's of interest to either of y'all , it's a mighty fine option , our friends got way more info outta them there , though . " his eyes and focused turned , thumb pointing towards Arlecchino .

[dustymetaltrail]

{ Who, What, Where? } - Scene 3

Penacony will forever haunt Caelus. So much suffering in the supposed Land of Dreams. And his prompt is a tad too uncomfortable a reminder. Oh well- might as well just get it over with. Might as well just get it over with-

And--- ACTION!

The scene is set- a calm atmosphere of a look-alike 'Dream Lounge' ( interesting choice, but he'll take the familiar setting over being lost ), extras here and there at some seats scattered around the space. He's not the bartender this time around, which is both a nice change of pace yet also a strange feeling. A quick glance and see spots his scene partner, easily identifiable by not only his height, but the big black cowboy hat. Nameless can already hear the tiny, barely noticeable voices begging for mercy, a ghostly cry for help-

A nervous shuffling of feet to reach his destination, an arm playfully placed over the seated man's shoulder. Caelus does another fast scan of the counter, taking note of all the glasses and bottles, both empty and not, spanning from end to end. Not all of these were from Boothill, obviously, but man there are a lot just.. left. Where was the fictional tender to clean up the mess left behind by "other patrons"? Stop. Thinking too much about it- the silver can't help it, when he's been on the other side of that counter.

❛ H-Hey there, lone Ranger! Haven't seen you in a while. What have you been up to? ❜

Not the most original conversation starter, but lad's brain is going haywire as it is, so Caelus it just glad he was able to provide anything at all.

said lone ranger -- had been dealing with the scorching heat , even his metallic body was unable to handle the darned heat around here , you could cook an egg on his chest , that's how bad it was getting , he was overheating , panting -- sat at the bar .

in his hand ? a nice , cold , bubbly can of soda he'd yet to open , just when he finally got to sit down , ready to pop the can open .

" ah -- shucks , if it ain't the trailblazer . . . look -- man , i'll love ta chat , ya just gotta give me a darn second -- i need to cool down . "

he took a deep breath , getting ready to pop his soda can open once again .

[trailblczed]

The screams are daunting, the voices louder, begging for a savior--ignore them. Ignore them. IGNORE THEM. Lad quickly reaches a hand forward, placing it right on top of the cap of his companion's soda. A nervous laugh stays light and quiet as the poor boy looks pointedly away from the ranger.

❛ Aha- I see, I see! Well- I can offer you a nice bottle of plain old water to cool you off! ❜

Caelus doesn't do much to the pop in Boothill's hand other than just cover it, using his free one to pull out a tiny device. Mini Omni-Synthetsizer please be merciful. Lad doesn't care if these things are just "props" to others- it's too much for his soft heart to handle.

❛ Will take only a minute to get! ... Unless you're wanting something a bit more.. adult oriented. That I cannot make. ❜

[dustymetaltrail]

his expression dropped , looking down at his hand covering the drink he's yet to get to pop open . . . this was about his last straw today , but it's fine , the Trailblazer had always been a . . . quirky fella , so he'll have some tolerance .

" look , I'm alright , promise ya -- i just wanna drink my can of pop n' let that be that , we can talk after . "

trying to gently nudge his hand off the top of his soda , he doesn't wanna shove him , but he REALLY wanted this can of soda .

" nah -- fella , i told you i'm good ! i don't want nothin' alcoholic right now , we can order some after , but i REALLY wanna drink this ! "

[dustymetaltrail]

{ Who, What, Where? } - Scene 3

Penacony will forever haunt Caelus. So much suffering in the supposed Land of Dreams. And his prompt is a tad too uncomfortable a reminder. Oh well- might as well just get it over with. Might as well just get it over with-

And--- ACTION!

The scene is set- a calm atmosphere of a look-alike 'Dream Lounge' ( interesting choice, but he'll take the familiar setting over being lost ), extras here and there at some seats scattered around the space. He's not the bartender this time around, which is both a nice change of pace yet also a strange feeling. A quick glance and see spots his scene partner, easily identifiable by not only his height, but the big black cowboy hat. Nameless can already hear the tiny, barely noticeable voices begging for mercy, a ghostly cry for help-

A nervous shuffling of feet to reach his destination, an arm playfully placed over the seated man's shoulder. Caelus does another fast scan of the counter, taking note of all the glasses and bottles, both empty and not, spanning from end to end. Not all of these were from Boothill, obviously, but man there are a lot just.. left. Where was the fictional tender to clean up the mess left behind by "other patrons"? Stop. Thinking too much about it- the silver can't help it, when he's been on the other side of that counter.

❛ H-Hey there, lone Ranger! Haven't seen you in a while. What have you been up to? ❜

Not the most original conversation starter, but lad's brain is going haywire as it is, so Caelus it just glad he was able to provide anything at all.

said lone ranger -- had been dealing with the scorching heat , even his metallic body was unable to handle the darned heat around here , you could cook an egg on his chest , that's how bad it was getting , he was overheating , panting -- sat at the bar .

in his hand ? a nice , cold , bubbly can of soda he'd yet to open , just when he finally got to sit down , ready to pop the can open .

" ah -- shucks , if it ain't the trailblazer . . . look -- man , i'll love ta chat , ya just gotta give me a darn second -- i need to cool down . "

he took a deep breath , getting ready to pop his soda can open once again .

[dustymetaltrail]

[DRESSING ROOM]

A jingle, the door opening to the boutique. "Welcome to Chioriya Boutique, how can I—" She stops, mouth agape as she perceives the mechanical cowboy before her. A tilt of her head to the side, eyes squinting, bemused and baffled by this strange man before her. A need pinched between her thumb and index in indirectly pointed towards him, with her hand flourishing an open palm, silently asking too many questions to feasibly understand.

"A. A crop top? A zip up crop top? A zip up, long sleeve crop top? With the cuffs folded? Who let you dress like that this morning? This is more dire than I ever could've anticipated. Come on, I need your measurements." Several, small, circular hand gestures, ushering the cowboy in closer. "This isn't gonna fix itself. Chop, chop!"

all he wanted to do was come in and look at the fancy hats , that's all he wanted , he wasn't even sure if he came into the right store , his eyes looked around a little , before his attention turned to the woman who welcomed him , he raised a hand and went to open his mouth -- serrated teeth shining through , but before words could leave his lips . . . the criticism began rolling in , his expression grew more and more shocked by the second , he kept trying to speak , but each time , another comment to his outfit , this was baffling ! who was this woman ? !

" hey -- I'll have you -- the zipper is con -- the sleeves are com -- i don't want them in the way ! i dressed my darned self ! who the fork you callin' dire ? ! " measurements ? what's she on about ? despite his confusion , he just followed her lead , her commanding aura was simply overpowering , he felt like he couldn't really say no to whatever she was saying .

[dewdrip]

non! zéro! barre-toi!

[ what, who, where — scene 2 ]

[dustymetaltrail]

" AIN'T SQUIDS THE FUDGERS THAT SHOOT THEM BLACK N' GOOPY INK STUFF OUTTA THEMSELVES ? ! "

it was very hard for Boothill to keep his composure , he didn't even realize he made a mistake , at this point , he was genuinely confused , you poor , poor cowboy .

" I ain't got a moment , I got places to be , lady ! "

his arms are crossed , fixing his hat on his head and crossing his arms , tapping his feet against the floor .

" I mean , I can go n' dig that goopy thing out the trash , all the papers were all soaked ! I wasn't gonna bring 'em in , you can give me it again , I'll get it done this time ! "

he taps his chin a few times , answering as casually as he could . " well , what else ya gonna do with the squid comin' outta yer drain ? they went n' made 'em into that uh , taco yucker stuff , what was it again ? " scratching the side of his head .

[dewdrip]

"Tako…yaki? But squids aren't… sacré blue…"

The realization hits with about as much force as a speeding starskiff, and the Healer Lady is sent metaphorically flying. Bailu falls to her knees. The dull thud echoes across the stage. She runs a hand through her hair, widening her eyes and clamping her mouth shut. Her heart is racing; its beat is heavy and falls fast like the strike of a drum. She's about to cry—really, truly start weeping at Boothill's feet. Thankfully, the laughter that seizes her body can easily be mistaken for shock. The audience would certainly think she was some masterful actor.

 She heaves herself upward, legs still shaking, "You… you idiot! Do you not know the difference between a squid and an octopus?!"

Quivering hands grab another piece of chalk from the board. She throws it at him once more, though the tears that begin to line her eyes make her aim quite terrible. It ends up landing on the floor between them.

"Don't bother submitting the assignment—in fact, don't bother returning to this class! How you survived this long in MARINE BIOLOGY without knowing your cephalopods is beyond me!"

[dustymetaltrail]

Snapping his fingers , calling out once she spoke it .

" Takoyaki ! that's that one I meant ta' say ! "

arms crossed , smug grin on his face , looking all overly confident , nodding to himself , oh , how confident the stupid boy looked , in reality , he was doing this to try and hold himself back -- the absurdity was really getting to him .

" I know tha' difference , I told ya , it was the butt crack o' dawn ! "

he dodges the chalk , as if anticipating for it to go flying past him -- jumping once the teacher raised her voice , he was flabbergasted -- appalled !

" Well son of a darned gun ! I can't BELIEVE this ! after all the forkin' work I be puttin' into this freakin' class , studyin' all them freaky see creatures n' all these six legged , eight legged , AQUATIC FREAKIN' ABOMINATIONS ! I don't wanna come back to this class anymore ! I quit this darn class , ya hear ? ! "

before angrily storming out the prop door -- never to be seen in the class again . . .

only for a moment -- walking up to her desk , opening his backpack , slamming down the homework , covered completely in ink .

" AND FOR THE RECORD ! I DID TAKE IT , I WANTED TO BE NICE TO YA' AND MAKE YA' NOT LOOK AT THE DARNED HOMEWORK COVERED IN INK ! BUT I DON'T GIVE A GOSH DARN ANYMORE ! "

out he goes once more , truly -- never to be seen in the class once again .