[Event] Pumpkiller

[npcsofmana]

Who: A very big and magical Jack-O-Lantern and you
What: A giant pumpkin is trying to take over Domina... or something like that.
Where: West Domina, past the residential area
When: Day 33
Other: Likely some violence. Check the post for more info and ask any questions here.




At least, that's what the usual mail pelican is frantically squawking about on the front steps of home with her feathers going everywhere as she flaps her wings.

And.... there are some very disconcerting dark clouds gathering around Domina that haven't yet started intruding on the sky around Home. Perhaps this merits some checking out.

To those that venture forth, they'll notice that Domina is eerily quiet as they step into it from the road. Both Domina's tavern and inn seem empty, which is a strange thing in itself. Anyone who's visited the town regularly will have noticed that those two places, for good reason, are often the most lively places in town.

Just where has everyone gone....?

Comments

[kokuyoyo]

[That sure isn’t surprising. Chikusa sighs before he decides to point out the obvious.]

Do what you just did again, Ken… It hit itself.

[junkyarddog]

[Ken stares at Chikusa for a moment, head cocked, and then turns to look at the pumpkin. It takes a second or two, but then the light dawns bright in his eyes and he grins, all fangs. He doesn't waste any time in darting back into the fray now that Chikusa's given him a strategy, and in short order he's on top of the pumpkin, not just inviting more vine attacks but openly taunting the thing.

Whether it even understands the taunts he's yelling, who knows. It may just be reacting to his physical presence. But Ken seems to be enjoying himself. And while Ken may not be the type of person to come up with clever concepts and strategies, he's actually quite efficient in carrying them out; he's doing a pretty good job up there.

One wonders how long he can maintain it, though. There's only one Ken, and a lot of vines, and Ken's energy levels are immense but they're not limitless. He's eventually going to slow, going to tire. And already there's more than one vine striking out at him now, from different angles. The longer he keeps this up, the riskier it gets.]

[kokuyoyo]

[Fortunately, Chikusa is keeping a close eye on Ken. By this point in their lives, it’s not even something he consciously does. It just happens, like breathing, as he keeps track of any injuries even minor that Ken might get or if his speed is keeping up. The second it looks like Ken is starting to feel the exertion, Chikusa gives a sharp whistle.]

[It’s really not unlike that for a dog, but then, Ken is basically part one, and it’s sharp and quick without being too bothersome with directions.]</small

[junkyarddog]

[The whistle snaps Ken's head up, and honestly it's a good thing Chikusa didn't wait any longer to call him back because as it is, the momentary distraction is enough that Ken dodges a vine the size of a tree trunk crashing down where he paused by the skin of his teeth. But then Ken's bounding away from the pumpkin, slower than earlier but still with enough energy to avoid any serious injury as he makes his way back to Chikusa's side. (At one point a vine trips him and wraps around Ken's leg, trying to drag him back, but it's luckily thin at the tip and an angry slash of Ken's claws severs it enough for him to squirm away.)

It's only a minute or so before Ken's standing in front of Chikusa, breathing hard.] What? Did I do okay?

[kokuyoyo]

Yeah… But stay here for a while, Ken. You were getting slow.

[It’s blunt and simple, not really an insult because it’s true. Chikusa shifts on the branch he’s settled on.]

...Come up here so you don’t get dragged into it again.

[junkyarddog]

Was not, byon. [He huffs a little, but it's clearly just him objecting as a point of pride. He makes no effort to run off and prove Chikusa wrong, so on some deeper level he probably acknowledges Chikusa as correct.

At the invitation, he leaps up to scrabble onto the branch, settling against Chikusa to observe the fight from the outside for awhile.]

...how do we kill it, Kakipi? [He asks this idly after a minute or two, in the voice of someone who doesn't necessarily have any pressing need to destroy a giant pumpkin, but who would definitely like to pull it off just to say that they did.]

[kokuyoyo]

[As Ken presses against him, Chikusa shifts slightly to account for his body.]

….Smash it, probably. We’ll get there first.

[Or, rather, Ken will, because Chikusa isn’t getting involved in this clusterfuck.]

[junkyarddog]

Think it'll smash open if I keep doing what I was doing long enough? [Ken gives Chikusa a questioning look.] Or were you thinking of something else?

[kokuyoyo]

Probably. [Chikusa shifts his weight so that he’s leaning completely against the tree and doesn’t have to hold himself up.] Unless something changes, it’s the easiest way…

[junkyarddog]

When should I go back out, byon? [Ken's not wriggling yet, not full of impatient energy; he must still be recuperating. And yet mentally, he's still raring to go, even though physically he seems content to keep leaning against Chikusa's side.]

[kokuyoyo]

[Of course Ken wants to go out to fight it again. Still, Chikusa looks over him carefully.]

...Tell me how you’re feeling in a few more minutes. If you’re energetic again… It should be fine.

[junkyarddog]

"Okay, byon." And Ken relaxes against Chikusa's side again.

Within five minutes, he's dozing fitfully, even in the less-than-comfortable position. He probably won't sleep long; in fact, this is probably him recharging his batteries.