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Post by Ashe on Aug 1, 2021 13:30:47 GMT -6
Ashe held the paper that had been tacked up to the quest board, staring at it. This was not quite what he had expected, when he decided to start doing quests. Right now, his quest was... To spread the word about an upcoming theater show? He didn't know if he had time to thoroughly spread the word, considering it was tonight. If it was tomorrow, he would have been able to put the flyer up at the Midnight Panther and get some bodies from there. But at least he could go to the show, eh? "What do you think, 'Yala?" Ashe asked the blue creature perched on his shoulder. She gave a soft chattering reply. Ashe and his Imp had a close enough bond that he could understand and translate it to mean, This will be easy!"I suppose you're right... Maybe I should dress up. Take Vix out, make it a whole production myself." Still holding the paper, he turned and headed back home to prepare.
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Post by Ashe on Aug 1, 2021 13:37:37 GMT -6
At home, Ashe found Vix and Jinx. He told both the ladies about the show, and both agreed to go. Ashe spent the next couple hours getting ready; he had to shower, do his hair - sure, make fun, but it was shoulder length and needed care like any woman's! - and pick out an outfit. Because, as it turns out, he only owned one suit, and that was rather old... He wasn't sure if it would hold up. Well, of course it would, but Ashe didn't trust it simply due to age and disuse. He put it on anyway, a simple basic traditional black suit with crisp white shirt and black vest underneath. He was at a loss for ironing, so he employed one of the women's expertise. But he was all ready, and there were two hours before the show. Jinx had excused herself, saying she was going to go separately. Ashe knew that was both wise and the better option. He was not the best person to third wheel with...
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Post by Ashe on Aug 13, 2021 13:51:59 GMT -6
Ashe was able to hitch Adam to a little buggy, and he ushered Vix into a seat before taking his and giving the command to go. Adam was fresh at driving, but he did his best, and before Ashe knew it, they were there. Time had flown! Probably because he had been worried about Adam obeying strange commands, and also trying to make a good impression on his lover. Once they reached the Public Park, where the play was going to be set under the stars, it was a quick process to find their seats and get comfortable. Even though they still had plenty of time before the show started, the makeshift theater was starting to fill up! People must be excited to get out and try something new, Ashe thought. He was surprised, though. He didn't realize this many people were interested in plays. Was there a whole other world out there that Ashe was unaware of?
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Post by Ashe on Aug 13, 2021 13:55:14 GMT -6
Ashe didn't like sitting still, and the Imp on his shoulder was picking up on his emotions. She looked at him with slight concern; Vix seemed to be fine, and she was here, so why wasn't Ashe focusing on her instead of what troubles ailed him? And for Ashe, it was difficult trying to place just what was bothering him. But something felt off, felt wrong. Waves of unease rippled under his skin. He couldn't just keep sitting there, he had to get up and walk. He excused himself with a kiss, and went to maybe find some snacks and refreshments, to hopefully distract himself from... whatever it was. He found a stand selling things like popcorn and soft pretzels, and he ordered a pretzel for himself and some popcorn to share. Oh, and some pop to go with it, even though he didn't drink pop regularly. He didn't think lemonade or water would go well with popcorn.
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Post by Ashe on Aug 13, 2021 13:58:20 GMT -6
Still sitting on his shoulder, Inyala leaned down to snatch a pooped corn off the top of the pile in the bucket. She munched as Ashe took a bite of the pretzel. He gazed around the park, wondering what sent his nerves on fire. He felt like he was being watched, but the place was getting more and more crowded, so surely people were taking notice of him? In the same vague way that he was taking notice of them. He walked around the perimeter, thinking and leaving his intuition open for feeling. He relied heavily on his instinct, and it had kept him alive so far, so he was hoping for insight from it now when he needed it. He quickly finished the pretzel, disappointed because he had barely tasted it while it was going down. Inyala stole another popped corn piece, munching softly. She wasn't worried like Ashe was. Maybe he should trust her instincts over his.
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Post by Ashe on Aug 13, 2021 14:07:59 GMT -6
Ashe heard the crack of a stick in the woods, surrounding the clearing in which the play was being put on. Ashe jerked around to stare into the darkness, but it was just another guest arriving and walking in, arm in arm, with their significant other. Ashe sighed softly, internally rolling his eyes at himself. But he figured he might as well at least take a look around, eh? He hurried back to the seats and handed off the drink and popcorn, excusing himself with another kiss before he hurried off into the darkness. He hoped Vix hadn't seen him rushing into the trees, because she might very well take that to be a secret, dark, forest rendezvous with possibly another woman. The only woman Ashe was going to be seeing, hopefully, was Inyala - and she posed no threat to his relationship! The Imp herself was watching, starting to get a little worried based on her master's haste as he rushed around.
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Post by Ashe on Aug 13, 2021 14:18:36 GMT -6
The cool shadows of the forest enveloped him. The sun was setting, so the sky was still light, but the flames of it was hidden by the trees. Ashe felt right at home in the shadows, perhaps it was a perk of having a demon for his familiar or maybe just his own nature. But his eyes adjusted, and he kept on the lookout for anything strange. He was aware suddenly that there was a presence, about a dozen meters in. He walked on, cautiously. He really wanted to circle around and come from the back for a surprise attack, but he was already there out front and figured they'd already seen him, whatever it was. Ashe quickly touched his chaos node and cast Basic Biosense, so he could pinpoint just where this thing was. He communicated with Inyala, and she cast Mind Link.
They're over there. Whatever they are, Ashe thought to her. Inyala looked, following his gaze and his mind's direction.
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Post by Ashe on Aug 13, 2021 14:22:28 GMT -6
Her keen senses picked out what this thing was, and it wasn't human. It looked to be some sort of monster, but not anything Ashe had ever come across before. And he had a lot of monsters. This one was the size of a bear and it looked possessed, or under someone's spell. Ashe wondered what it was doing here, and why. Was someone trying to sabotage the play? Ashe could hear someone talking loudly, probably on stage wit ha microphone. Probably getting ready to start, so he had to act fast! Inyala clung to his shoulder as he picked up speed. And then, it noticed him and turned toward him, roaring defiantly. Ashe skidded to a halt, catching Inyala as she almost fell off his shoulder. This time, he reached for his hollow node and touched it briefly. He cast Pressurize, his first instinct. The bear started toward him, but as the pressure started to build, the bear monster slowed until it came to a halt.
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Post by Ashe on Aug 13, 2021 14:26:38 GMT -6
Ashe kept the pressure going, and the monster kept struggling. It almost broke free, but the magic was too strong, and it was already too weakened to fight its way out of it. Ashe closed his fist, the pressure pushing on the monster... and then it passed out and slumped. Ashe felt it as much as if he had been closing his own hand over the beast. The pulse was still there, it was still alive, but it wasn't moving. He hoped it would be out for a while, at least until the play was done... He had to get back in time for it to start or there would be hell to pay. But first - Ashe snooped around the area, looking for clues or traces, wondering who might have set this trap, who might have wanted a monster to wreck the play. He'd have to do some more investigating. All he found was some scraps of cloth and a slightly warm campfire.
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Post by Ashe on Aug 13, 2021 14:29:39 GMT -6
Let's get back, Ashe told Inyala. The Imp replied with the affirmative, and they turned to leave. But Inyala spotted something and hopped down from his shoulder to pick it up. It was a shard of glass, or maybe mirror. She handed it up to Ashe, who took it.
What is that? Inyala asked him, but Ashe could only shrug.
I don't know. I'll check it out when we get home.
He didn't know how he would be able to pay attention to the play now, but somehow his feet carried him back to the seats. He apologized to his girlfriend, took her in his arm, and together they watched the play. He found he enjoyed it, the costumes and play pretend of it, and it was able to take his mind off of things for the two and a half hours the production went on. It was magical - there were times when he wondered if someone actually had a node, or if it was special effects. And at the end, he was standing with everyone else, clapping hard.
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Post by NPC on Oct 12, 2021 15:59:59 GMT -6
Congratulations, you've successfully completed the quest! Your QP will be added to your bank shortly.
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