locksmith

Chilchuck's rather blasé advice about death is sure unnerving!! Badou peeks at him, wide eyed at hearing that.

"The fuck-- what d'ya mean it hurt-- obviously, unless you die in your sleep-- the FUCK???"

This is sure bothersome!! Chilchuck doesn't look like a ghost...

"I'm an info broker, that's what I've got going on..."

oh. right. different world, different circumstances.

"right." a very unhelpful response. so no ressurection spells in this land. that meant there was a whole bunch of issues that had popped up in their conversation already, but having to backtrack to clear them up would be too much of a pain.

"information broker is about what i figured." chilchuck was still trying to figure out how to deal with the whole coming-back-from-the-grave issue. "well, guess i've got my bargaining chip in return for how to get about in this world."

"Nah, I don't mind at all. They really did that to you, huh?" Marcellus shook his head and, without making a big deal about it, he's taking some of the load off Chilchuck. "Yeah, damn. These are pretty heavy, huh?" They weren't. Not for him, at least.

"What's in them? Food? You know, I'd say definitely ask for compensation!" After all a little warning would have been nice if these were going to be heavy for someone small.

#dragonhcrt #marcellus.oo2

"big load off my back, thanks man." he knew that weight was a matter of perspective. all the same, it was appreciated that marcellus played along. well, at least he assumed the guy was playing along, because otherwise he'd be kind of weak.

"hmm, i'm not too sure on the specifics, but i doubt it'd be food. more like trinkets. usually, we open up in shop and start the sorting and appraisal right away. well, i guess the bosses would know, but a lowly worker like me?"

Badou's always wondering, not always looking for another career, but curious nonetheless about what others are up to. He tries to keep up.

"No way, man. I don't think I'd fit in with the atmosphere. And the small spaces. Makes sense a more dangerous job pays better...always told myself I'd never go down over a big job."

His expression hardens a little, the look in his single eye a million miles away.

"Not interested in bodies, nah. I think I'll keep what I've got going on."

honestly a reasonable logic. the only kind of people who took on the truly big and dangerous jobs were the gullible idiots who got lured in by the big sums, or the heroic fools who thought they were all cool and mighty and could never be defeated.

and then there was the secret third option: the touden siblings.

"you and me both," chilchuck chimed in and rose his glass in a cheer.

"dying hurts like shit, y'know. and you aren't gonna be able to use all those money if you don't make it back in the first place."

at last badou laid out a good option for chilchuck to naturally probe into something he was curious about. "oh? what've you got on? maybe i'm the one who has to consider a career change here."

@trapsforbreakfast

"Hey, we meet again." After a bit, at least. Well, Marcellus has seen Chilchuck here and there since their last meeting. It's not that he's stalking the guy, but the island was rather small. Okay....maybe Marcellus was just keeping an eye on him. Make sure he wasn't having any issues.

"Ya need help carrying those?" They looked pretty heavy.

#dragonhcrt #marcellus.oo1 #HELP TALL MAN

"ah--" it would be a lie for chilchuck to claim he hadn't spotted the other here and their through the time that had passed since their last meeting. but marcellus had seemed like he was trying to be subtle about it, so chilchuck had refrained from commenting. this whole situation had also caused him to push back contacting the guy though. it simply seemed too awkward to do so. however, to his pleasure he noticed that the fear ingrained in his body had definitely lessened.

"sure you don't mind? they're goods for my workplace, but those bastards didn't mention it'd be so heavy. i was planning on making them give me some bonus as a compensation, but honestly i'd rather not throw out my back in the first place if i can help it."

firefcxian

A slight tilt of his head and a thoughtful twitch of his ears as he took a sip from his own bottle, savoring the burn on his tongue and throat. "I would venture to agree," he nodded his head. "Of course, I haven't been here all that long, but from what I have heard so far, there seem to be some things that I would consider... universal constants, that have no bearing here at all-- but it's the same way for others. Whatever is happening here may well be outside the bounds of what is known, to either of us."

Each new 'echo' that Jiaoqiu had met seemed to come from a different world-- well, most, at least. But what they all had in common, and what differed from the interstellar travelers that he knew, was that none of them knew of the others' homeworlds. It wasn't reasonable that they'd all come from different backwater planets, and the Xianzhou Alliance was quite well-known, so the fact that not a single person here had even heard of his homeworld... the signs pointed to something else going on. What, exactly, was a lot harder to tell.

Ah, well, at least he'd settled in enough that the initial shock had worn off, and he could get on with the theorizing.

"Perhaps it's not hidden at all," he shrugged his shoulders. "For example, say that your homeworld's skies are blue. It's hardly something that would be remarked upon regularly, nor is it an interesting feature from your and your friends' perspectives. However, for a traveler from a world with golden skies, it would become a notable feature. All that to say, perhaps this sort of... universal common-language... modulation, is simply a known fact so unremarkable that the natives of this world don't think to even bring it up."

Of course, who could know for sure? Maybe the ones with their noses in books all the time down at the archives had come across something. Though, Jiaoqiu's lips pressed together at Chilchuck's apology. "Mmm... on the contrary, I think it's wise to be a little wary. Even the most peaceful, secure places have their vulnerabilities, and there is always someone... or something that would love to exploit them. Some dangers aren't immediately apparent-- so, don't lose that caution." Then, he paused with a short chuckle. "Or... maybe I'm just a little too suspicious. Who can really say?"

he felt flabbergasted listening to the proposition. jiaoqiu made it sound so straightforward, but chilchuck doubted he would ever naturally arrive at such a conclusion on his own. which, he supposed, only served to support the theory.

"you know what? that might just be it? i guess for a person who's able to see so many different worlds on a regular basis, it's much easier to think along those lines! it's like that, because it is like that... so simple, and maybe that's what makes it so complex." maybe this idea could be applied to dungeons as well? the scholars back home had spent ages trying to understand how they worked. how each realm could have different unique rules to govern them. this whole thing was so far from his own hands-on approach of understanding dungeons that he couldn't tell for sure if he was onto something or just feeding himself nonsense.

he sighed for what felt like the 100th time that day.

"well, stuff like that is just what motivates the explorer, isn't it." although shaped like a question it was more of a statement. the halfling thought he was more than ready to leave the life of adventuring behind and retire, but the thought of there being so many new things to see was also... simply dazzingly enticing.

"even though you know it's dangerous... you know that that beautiful golden sky might be poisonous... that you're getting too old to run around and toying with your life like that... you just can't help it, y'know." his glance fell on the tall constructions that were supposedly buildings spreading around the outline of the park.

"have you ever seen anything like that? the golden sky? i can't begin to imagine what must be out there to-- oh..." in his musings he had entirely forgotten about the other's predicament.

#firefcxian #jiaoqui.oo1

epilvgue

「𝔟𝔞𝔫𝔤 𝔟𝔞𝔫𝔤!」- The yelling made the taller man flinch. Well...

He'd expected that sort of... Maybe not the getting sworn at in some foreign tongue he couldn't place, but...

He tried to wave things off with the police staff who had told them to be quiet. - They were fine. They weren't making much of a fuss, honest.

Vash smiled apologetically. "Sorry... sorry... I really didn't mean anythin' by it..."

But he hadn't meant it as a joke. ...He really was. He'd be 200-something this year. He'd started losing count, honestly. - But it was easier if people didn't believe him.

Just then there was a call from a door: "Vash...?" There was a small hesitation in the woman's voice. As if she weren't sure how to call to him. And Vash quickly hopped up. "Hello! Here!"

The woman came over, casting a glance at the apparent child next to him. She sighed. "Well... you are free to go. Your testimony has been processed and we will keep it on fine. However, next time, I would suggest that you simply call the police rather than taking people's weapons."

Vash looked sheepish and guilty.

#epilvgue #vash.oo1 #i figure you can decide whether to end it here on the confusion or continue!

the moment chilchuck had let the outburst flow out, he started regretting it. while he was surprisingly immune to being insulted as a singular person, insults to his race as a whole was a sore spot. usually it was rooted in ignorance and a history of half-foot people being looked down on both literally and metaphorically. it had always bothered him, but after becoming a father, the mere thought of his daughters having to experience the same discrimination he'd been through was enough to make him angry.

but this was not the world he was used to. from the looks of it, his people didn't even exist here. there was no history to discriminate and make jokes upon. heck, how could he say for sure that this tall-foot wasn't from some place where they could easily grow to such ages? or maybe where the perception of time was entirely different.

his outburst had very evidently hurt and confused the other, who was even trying to deescalate the situation before the nearby law enforcement would actually find a proper reason for detention.

"i-- i didn't--" but before he could finish his sentence, vash's name was called. then chilchuck's own from a different door. he had no choice but to follow the other's example and simply steal a glance back before responding to the summon. the young policeman who had detained him stood awkwardly by a woman who was very obviously his superior.

'we've confirmed that what you said is true... our most sincere apologies for the confusion, uh, sir... we will make sure you get special documentation to avoid confusion with anyone else in the future. we hope you enjoy your time in our beautiful city.'

"I wouldn't eat you," he says reassuringly and nods. "Yeah, you'd just search my name up and hit that button right there. That's to call. You can send a text--Or a letter of sorts by this," And he shows him.

"As much as I love flying, you won't see a dragon. At least not me. I promise I won't turn into a dragon."

#dragonhcrt #marcellus.oo1 #damn actually about to finish a thread?#sounds wild

trying to control the tensing of his body as much as possible, chilchuck committed the instructions to mind. there was definitely a lot he would have to learn about, but it was also important to count your limits. whether in the workplace or in life, one should strive to avoid overworking.

"... i know it might not sound very convincing, but i really am thankful for the help. i don't like having unpaid favours so... next-- next time, let me pay it back."

"It doesn't give me-- well a full picture, but a bit of one. Some pieces I can kinda put together." He hums to himself and takes a sip of his drink, trying to indeed picture it.

It's fascinating.

"So what you do is really that lucrative? Enough to survive off of? Or is it like winning the lottery kind of deal."

well, that much was expected. chilchuck himself was struggling a lot with this whole concept of separate worlds, and if his observation skills allowed him any sense of understanding, this world would consider people like him and all the other races he was describing something straight out of an imaginative mind. still, the man was somewhat keeping up.

"hm? considering a career change?" his tone was joking, and he let an index finger playfully run along the rim of his glass. despite everything, chilchuck was in a pretty decent mood.

"well, all joking aside. if you know your own worth and know how to stand up for it, let's just say you're not gonna be short on money. but all the well paying jobs are also pretty dangerous. and if you're not lucky enough to have a healer who can also rescurrect in your party, then you might also lose way more than what it's worth to the corpse retrievers."

#aevum open #event: journey to kinohtala #intended to be set in phase 1 but flexible!#feel free to bring danger if you so desire

cornpapers

this meme is like 7 years old and still lives in my head rent free

#chil;;visual

open event starter.

peace and quiet. he was done with the dungeon life. done risking his life to explore the unknown. his golden years would be spent as a hardworking, upstanding citizen where he could amass enough wealth to retire peacefully and live out the rest of his life without much hassle.

that was how it was supposed to be at least.

so why was it, that he was now following in the trail of some lizard beastman, navigating an uneven jungle trail? well. the why was a matter of chilchuck having uttered a desire to learn of the flora and fauna in terms of procuring nutrition. he should very much be thankful to his hosts for entertaining his request.

but the very fact that a simple business trip had turned into a full scale stranded-in-a-hostile-terrain situation? he was way too old for this shit.

his nimble build had currently earned him a scouting position in the higher grounds of a treetop. definitely better than an expectation of combat, but that certainly didn't stop the halfling from making complaints in his silent mind. at ground level, three reptiles were awaiting his report.

with a light thud as his feet hit the ground, he rejoined them.

"it's no good. not even i can see much for all this damned fog. it only gets harder to get around the further you get. i don't know where those bird people you're looking for are, but it definitely isn't going to be here--"

the rustle of leaves disturbed by a physical body sounded from somewhere not too far away. it was hard to hear anything more specific to identify the approacher by, but whatever creature it may be, it was definitely coming closer.

"beware-- something's coming...!"

Whatever experience he has had with dragons was definitely not good. He wishes he can rid Chilchuck of that awful experience, but there's no way to do that.

"I get it. I can't pretend that my kind are all great and protectors. In my world, thats what theyre supoose yo bem protectors, but....well," he chuckles bitterly and shrugs.

"Is there...Anything I can do to help you?"

#dragonhcrt #marcellus.oo1 #he's trying his best

not be a dragon? well, not really something he could just say.

"well... i think i just need time to process... it's like... i mean, it's not like you're going to eat me..." smooth. real smooth. deep inhale and deep exhale.

"... this thing works like a communicator, right? can i... get back to you?"

Oh, he hadn't even considered the seat. Huh. That has to be annoying as hell-- as a tall gangly thing, Badou's never had to worry about issues like that, except maybe when he was like 5. He slides his beer over to his side, and takes a sip, sighing a little, content.

"This ain't bad, yeah. Not much for hard liquor, so I appreciate there's no burn."

He does wonder--

"Maybe they still have phone books...could put a few on your chair?"

His companion's makeshift seat doesn't bother him, though.

"I take it this isn't a problem back home?"

"phone books?" he repeated sceptically. he might not know what a phone was, but he sure as hell wasn't about to gather a stack of book to sit comfortly. if they weren't ready to accomodate him, he was going to find his own way to do so. he wasn't about to dwell on a suggestion he wasn't intending to take either, so he simply waved his hand dismissively.

"well, it depends on the nation you're in. us half-foot people and the dwarves tend to gather more around places like khaka brud and the northern continent, and i know there's also quite a few gnome and dwarf communities in the south. but in the far east and the elvern lands you generally don't find a lot of us."

"... but well, not sure how much of that actually gives you a picture of it. different world and all that shit. let me know if i'm just talking your ass off."

mischiefmodig

That was something they agreed upon. It would have certainly been nicer to receive private accommodations than to be forcibly housed with a stranger. However, in Loki's experience, his usual shared-house residents rarely stayed for long, regardless.

The corner of Loki's mouth twitched upon receiving the apology. He had faced far greater threats than this very close to the ground mortal that shared space with him now. Still, Loki was rather undisturbed by the fellow.

❝ Consider me unoffended. I admire a cautious individual. ❞ Loki's only comment was as he crossed his arms, leaning casually on the couch in the room. ❝ Indeed, there are only two housed per home. I do not enjoy keeping company here, so you shan't worry about that. ❞

Loki watched the stranger, sighing through his nose slowly but deliberately. ❝ My... name is Loki, of Asgard. ❞ It almost p a i n e d him to introduce himself, but custom dictated that he offer respect.

❝ My dwelling is located there- ❞ Loki nods to his side of the house. ❝ Yours is just across. As long as my privacy is maintained, we shall not have contention in this house. ❞

#mischiefmodig #loki.oo1 #well he appreciates not being threatened #you've got family issues i've got family issues wanna be friends?

it didn't really seem like his new housemate was particularly threatened at any point of the interaction. chilchuck did know that he wasn't exactly the most threatening guy in the bunch. but somehow it felt like more than that. reading people and situations was a matter of actual life and death in his positions. especially when the person leading his party was such an oblivious idiot.

but this wasn't the dungeon, and this guy wasn't a monster out to kill him. not as far as he could tell at least.

"well, that's fine then. not exactly one to throw big parties either." usually his wife had been the one to invite guests over. or people just intruded on their own. but that wasn't going to be much of a problem here. but hell if he was about to dump his family issues on a total stranger.

the way the other added of asgard was peculiar, but not an entirely foreign concept to chilchuck. heck, one of his best friends was like that. the only difference was that the location place was unfamiliar to him.

"chilchuck," he returned the greeting indiffirently. then his gaze fell on the door to the appointed room. "sounds reasonable. i'd be a douche for just coming in and demanding your room. anything i should know about? bugs in the walls? noisy neighbours?"

firefcxian

Ah, had he oversold his own capabilities? Jiaoqiu's cheeks turned a little pink as he released a short laugh, shaking his head. "Well, I can mix up a medicinal formula or patch up a wound, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't get into any trouble..."

As a matter of fact, Jiaoqiu had a tendency to end up in situations himself. Not difficult to imagine, for a strategist who deemed himself usable as a pawn when needed... of course, he wasn't reckless-- just pragmatic about what that kind of thing was worth.

"I suppose it does seem like a strange idea when you put it that way," Jiaoqiu's ear twitched a little, "but really, the convenience wins out most of the time-- interastral communication would be virtually impossible otherwise."

He listened patiently, then his brow furrowed slightly when Chilchuck spoke another language-- this one, Jiaoqiu couldn't understand in the slightest.

"Hmmm..." he rested his chin in his fingers, head tilted thoughtfully. "That didn't translate. If this world worked through the same rules as mine, then it would seem like your 'common tongue' is indexed by the synesthesia beacon, but your native language was not. I'm not sure that's happening here, though... but I haven't really thought all that much about it before now."

There was quite a lot that was puzzling about this. Jiaoqiu was no genius, but he'd never come across anything like it before.

somehow jiaoqiu seemed sheepish at having his presumed abilities praised, but chilchuck hadn't necessarily meant it as baseless praise. maybe more as a jab at a former comrade. but of course there was no way the other had a chance to know that, so he kept that to himself. after all, maybe he was being a bit too harsh on marcille considering she did get them through the dungeon despite healing magic not even being her specialty.

instead he emptied his bottle with a big swooping motion as he contemplated the new information.

"you could be right about indexing, but i'm somehow getting a feeling that it isn't as simple as that. or that the premise is entirely different." he took out a note book to jot down some thoughts as he was speaking. "i mean, if i also had some form of technology like that, it wouldn't be too far fetched to imagine, but if our worlds are this different, then i think there would be too many differences between the people here for the common factor to be with us. if i have to make a guess, this is some kind of rule or governing principle of this very place instead. but what's the point in hiding it? i think most people wouldn't even realise they were speaking different languages. i guess convenience is an aspect, but why not just be open about it..."

maybe he really was just putting way too much thought into it. this place seemed way too peaceful for there to be any hidden agendas behind something like that. chilchuck exhaled deeply, deciding that was probably the case. at least he wanted to believe that.

"sorry, i guess it's a habit of mine to try understand as much as i can about my surroundings. i used to go about navigating dungeons, so i had to try figure out everything as fast as possible or it might be a matter of life and death. at least that isn't the case here, haha." although he laughed, he couldn't help the hesitation.

"but, well, it's not like this place is a dangerous one, right? i'm just overthinking things!"

#firefcxian #jiaoqui.oo1

"A dragon--dragon," He says, confirming. He knows fear, though, when he sees it and smiles. It's gentle and kind, "Don't worry. I won't eat you." Was it reassuring, though? He isn't sure, but he'll lean back a bit, give Chilchuck a little more space.

"Not all dragons are all about destruction," he says, reaching down a bit to run his fingers through Wynter's fur. The smaller dragon arches his back, much like a cat would at the little scritches he receives.

"Some are like Wynter. Others are like me and...well, judging by the look on your face, some are like the runs you're familiar with."

#dragonhcrt #marcellus.oo1

so, he's not gonna be eaten? well, everything was fine and dandy then. not! as if he could simply rid himself of a deeply rooted fear just like that. this was bigger than simply a matter of misconception. and yet chilchuck found himself gritting his teeth, bothered by the whole cause of events.

"goddammit." deep inhale. at least the guy was conscious enough to widen the distance between them. "yeah. i can't say i've had the best experiences with dragons. i can't even pretend to deny that even though you've only been helpful to me. this sucks."

maybe it was the fact that marcellus was a humanoid dragon that made it worse. had he just been a beast, chilchuck wouldn't be getting all sorts of bad memories dredged up like that.

mischiefmodig

Another day, and another unannounced house dweller that Loki must contend with. He'd been through several " opponents, " and yet they still arrived one after the other. The silence had become second nature to him, much like the cell he had been cast into not so long ago.

Loki was rather enjoying the book he was reading when the light of the outside world flickered into his eyes. Whoever it was was rather squirrely as he would describe it. He could use a bit of fun that day, so he chose to simply ignore the newest arrival.

With light steps, he stood to return the book to the shelf, then lazily traced his fingers along the spines of these texts, debating. contemplating. Whatever should he read next? Sarcasm brewing in his own mind.

When Loki finally turned around ( beckoned by the demanding tone of the voice ) he was rendered unable to hide the surprise on his face. Not about the knife that the person wielded, but more so the size of what carried it.

❝ At close range? I don't doubt that. ❞ Loki rolled his eyes upon the dagger pointed at his chest and the thinly veiled threat.

❝ Unfortunately, however, I dwell in this residence. ❞ He gestured vaguely to their surroundings. ❝ And you are the latest addition to these quarters. The "guardians" place two individuals per residence. ❞