✨summertime badness✨

[sicklysweet]

Who: Owen, unfortunately, and others, also unfortunately.
What: DOG, also general catchall for the month including other bonuses and monthly things.
When: All summer, y’all.
Where: Nowhere is off-limits.
Warnings: Owen

walkies and gossip;
[When Owen wakes up that morning, he immediately realizes something is different. Or, well. Not different, necessarily - more like things have become a bit more like they’re supposed to be, because he hears the obnoxious bird outside the window and he can understand its overly cheerful morning greeting.

Which… of everything he could get back, this wouldn’t be his first choice. It’s kind of useless for most things, honestly, and he has absolutely no plans for being useful around any of the farms on the island. The bird laughs at him when he tells it to shut up, too, still keeping that cheery attitude, but at least when he steps out onto the porch he’s greeted by something that does brighten his mood.

Kind of. Honestly, he’s more confused now, but this is a step in the right direction. A small step, though the dog at Owen’s side as he makes the trek from the forest to the village isn’t precisely small. Its shoulders reach up to his knees, but with its awkward, gangly proportions it’s obvious it's just a puppy. With three heads and teeth that are larger and sharper than what any normal dog should have, and the connected spikes that hover over it like some sort of twisted halo, it’s very apparent this isn’t just a dog Owen picked up from the island. (There’s also a song accompanying Owen and Cerberus, but he’s trying not to be visibly annoyed.

When anyone crosses his path, Cerberus perks up and growls. It’s unclear whether he’s being protective or just… aggressive.]

You should be careful, or he’ll take a bite out of you.

[Said very cheerfully, like Owen wants to see someone get chomped. It’s probably a good thing Cain isn’t here.]

task board;
[Looking at the board is utterly, laughably pointless considering Owen can’t actually read anything on it, but he can still tell that it’s been changed since he first arrived. What those changes mean... Probably that there’s new inane tasks to do to appease the Goddess, because he vaguely remembers mentions of it. He really doesn’t know how doing mundane nonsense is empowering a spirit such as the Goddess…

But he also doesn’t really care. She’s a bitch, and he is absolutely not going to do anything to help her out. At least not intentionally… He frowns at the list of… something on the board, before huffing and leaning back, adjusting his hat and eyeing anyone else who came to doublecheck the tasks.]

Are you doing these to improve your farm or because you care about the Goddess’ strength?

[A loaded question to hopefully draw away from any questions for why he’s been staring so long so intently…]

bingo time;
[The task board has reminded him of another thing he’s been hearing about but hasn’t concerned himself with - bingo. What even is bingo? It sounds like something a Westerner would do, which means the thought of it already has given him a headache. There are squares on it, and text, and somehow two of his squares have been checked off? When did that happen…

Well. Whatever. That’s a mystery he will solve approximately never, because he has more important things to do. He can probably use this to make someone miserable, he thinks, because starting a task and then quitting at the end… The dissatisfaction would make doing something the Goddess tells him enjoyable, and so would duping someone into doing something for him…

It’s a perfect plan, and the best thing to do about it is to be forward and hope he can bluff his way through any questions about what tasks he has. He can just show people his card, right?]

What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve been asked to do?

[Hello, random citizen, have a wizard appearing next to you and leaning way too far into your space. Hope you don’t mind.]

Or did you get lucky and you’re only being asked to spend time with people in the most boring ways possible?

[Is this… helping?]

mean bitch beach vacation;
[The heat is miserable. Owen’s not a fan, which probably isn’t surprising when he comes from somewhere that snows as much as the North. He doesn’t even have the clothes Chloe made to keep cool with him, either, and is stuck with just his normal attire and what he can get in town, which… Sure, he could have chosen to wear shorter sleeves and shorter pants, but why would he expose his skin?

The waterfront does provide a nice bit of cool, ocean air though, and Owen is content to at least enjoy that even if he doesn’t enjoy the sun and sand. Or the water, either. Or the other people on the beach, even if he is mystified by them. So mystified he caves and asks one of the offworld residents that he vaguely kind of recognizes. There’s a lot of people on the island he doesn’t care enough about to keep distinguished from the rest.]

What’s a hot girl summer?

[Wizards versus modern language round: god only knows. He sounds more annoyed by this then is probably reasonable, too, as if hot girl summer has personally insulted him.]

wildcard;
[Standard procedure! I don’t have a plotting comment at the moment and some other AC bonuses to get out, so I will update this if/when I make one! Otherwise you can reach me on Discord, revelries, or PM this journal to make plans!]

Comments

bingo time

[graftage]

...?

[Oh, whoah there, there's someone getting into his space. Steinbeck blinks, surprised but not really flummoxed, as he glances between himself and the wizard now occupying his personal space.]

Well. Um. I mean, it hasn't been terribly exciting, but I guess I kind of like when things are on the down-low...

[Noticeably not answering the other question.]

[sicklysweet]

[Can't believe he's met someone who likes when things are dull... What's his damage?

He has definitely noticed that question being ignored, though!]

Aren't you bored?

[Don't you wanna go apeshit?]

But hey, that's not all I asked. You've got something horrid and filthy on your card, don't you?

[He doesn't even know smut squares exist but by god can he jump to conclusions after witnessing everything that went down at Hot or Not.]

[graftage]

Ahaha. Depends. I guess you could say I am, but I'm the type who doesn't like to work if he doesn't have to.

[And that question makes him pause, before a smirk crosses his face.]

Why are you asking? Want to see?

[sicklysweet]

Well, that also depends, doesn't it? I don't really care unless it's something you're willing to do. I want to get through these things, after all.

[He actually doesn't care that much about the state of his farm, but. That's fine. Nobody needs to know about that!!]

There's no fun seeing something appealing only to have it taken away, is there?

[graftage]

Well, don't you worry. I'm willing. Got a farm to keep up. And I do take that seriously.

[He says it so lightly, he could be talking about the weather.]

There's no fun to it at all, no. Could make a man mad, actually.

beengo

[pactmarshal]

Hm?

[ Whoa, hello intruder. Trahearne eyes Owen with surprise as he leans back, and it takes him a moment to catch up. Bingo? He's talking about bingo. ]

None of it has been particularly embarrassing. [ Honestly he was more flustered holding hands than he was with the banging. anyway. ] But it hasn't been boring either.

[ blink ]

Are you all right?

[sicklysweet]

[??]

Why wouldn't I be alright?

[It's not like Trahearne knows about all four of his deaths, right? Though it's also not like Trahearne should care about that. Not everyone is a weirdo like Gaku or Otegine.]

It's sunny and disgustingly hot and now I have you to keep me company.

[Lucky for Trahearne.]

That's good, isn't it?

[pactmarshal]

[ FOUR DEATHS?????????

what the hell is going on ]

...I suppose it is.

[ If Trahearne counts as good? Not everyone likes the sun? Disgustingly hot didn't sound like a good thing--and now he's just overanalyzing one sentence.

Whatever. Moving on. ]

Did you need help with something?

[ was he asking about bingo?? ]

[sicklysweet]

[Don't worry about it. That's actually not even that many, for Owen.]

How kind of you to offer.

[What offer? Again, don't worry about it.]

I need to fill up a few of those squares. I don't really care about improving anything or pleasing the goddess, but it's probably less boring then talking to the birds all day.

[He's only recently been able to talk to them again, and he's annoyed by them already.]

[pactmarshal]

All right.

[ Owen doesn't need to justify himself. He's right though--it is something to do.

Trahearne's already shifting to pull his out. ]

May I see your card, then? We may be able to help each other.

mean bitch beach vacation.

[unchainer]

[ Like Owen, Vanitas is in his normal attire, as he prefers to dress conservatively. He hates the idea of wearing one of these bathing suits for several reasons, so he is also very miserable in the heat and trying to cool off near the waterfront. He's kind of just sitting there, being grumpy until Owen approaches him.

A "hot girl summer"? Hell if he knows, but he'll grin and give a cheeky answer anyway: ]

A season full of stunningly beautiful women to feast your eyes on, perhaps?

[ He doesn't sound excited about it, nor is he really checking anyone out, but that's that... ]

Why, does that sort of thing interest you?

[sicklysweet]

[Does Owen look like the sort of man who's interested in stunningly beautiful women?]

Hah?

[Owen never really talked to the Sage prior to Akira, but he did hear about his explanation of Valentine's Day (and Akira's second, allegedly more accurate explanation) through the grapevine...

Owen tuts, crossing his arms across his chest and tapping his fingers against his arm.]

I don't really care, but I think the only person who would suggest something like that would be a lecherous man who's dissatisfied with what's on display on this beach.

[You're a pervert, Vanitas.]

[unchainer]

[ bruh. ]

If you didn't really care, why did you ask? The phrase itself seems quite self-explanatory, anyway.

[ That's not what it actually means, Vanitas, but okay, he's doubling down on it?? Not that he knows any better, but still. ]

I'm certainly dissatisfied with the display as it is now.

[ And he's looking right at Owen as he says it. ]

[sicklysweet]

How is it self-explanatory when different worlds and different times use the same words to mean different things?

[This man must be an idiot.

Also a jerk! Rude.

Incredibly rude, so it's unfortunate he's saying the exact right things to make Owen feel like he's been issued a challenged and he needs to get back at Vanitas. He's seen what some of the locals were wearing to the beach, and with his suitcase back his power has been boosted just a bit...

There's a pale purple shimmer that wraps arounds Owen's body as he leans in, caging Vanitas in, but he looks a little... different, now.

Owen smirks, but it looks just a bit murderous.]

Is this display better? You can certainly see more, can't you.

[unchainer]

[ Hm. You know, it'd make sense for someone to find this very, very attractive. Unfortunately, Vanitas is a petty bitch and instead grimaces at the sight of Owen trying to present himself in a more alluring manner. ]

Really?

[ He is unperturbed by the murderous look in Owen's eyes, because he's seen that look too many times to count. ]

Congratulations, now go pick up someone somewhere else.

[ where's otegine- ]

DOGGO

[forfeited]

[There wasn't a particular reason he was in the forest today, but as he ambled along by Owen and Noé's farm, there sure was a Fucking Enormous Three-Headed Dog. Goro startles, and stops walking in a very careful gesture, looking somewhat like he'd suddenly shifted into slow motion as he turns mostly his eyes to Owen. His eyebrows raise at a normal pace, but seem to be making something of a bid for space.]

Could I request you be more specific as to what designates "careful" in this situation? [Cerberus as far as he's concerned is a weird lion chimera thing, but the teeth are about the same so the concern is appropriate, perhaps.]

wheeze I AM SORRY THIS IS SO LATE

[sicklysweet]

[Hey, he could be bigger. Be grateful he's still a puppy, Goro.

Owen raises an eyebrow at him, as if he's just asked the dumbest question in the world.]

Do you not know how to deal with dogs?

[Because dogs with three heads and large teeth are very commonplace.]

He's just a puppy. He's extra excitable, and I don't know that there's anyone on this island capable of treating dog bites.

[There's a clinic, but... Dog bites are nasty enough when not from hellish beasts.]

no worries i deadass started exactly one other thread in the entire month of january engrjkdfn

[forfeited]

[Akechi does not appreciate being assumed stupid, and the only reason the flattening of his expression is mild is because he's still extremely wary of Cerberus. Can't go pissing off the large three-headed dog by being visibly agitated at who he assumes is its owner.]

Dogs as I am accustomed to them don't have three heads, so I suppose you could say I do not know how to deal with this dog, no.

[sicklysweet]

Why would having three heads make him any different from other dogs?

[Don't answer that.]

It's not like it's an unusual trait where I'm from, but I would imagine canine behavior to be a universal constant. So many things seem to be the same no matter how different our home worlds, after all.

[Three heads is absolutely not normal even in fucked up wizard land, but he's not going to mention that.]

[forfeited]

[He doesn't answer that, though mostly because it has such an extremely obvious response he doesn't feel like wasting his breath to say it.]

Well, it's certainly a difference from yours to mine, in terms of domestic animals. [Shadows are a different story, but Akechi won't be talking about that anymore than Owen was about three-headed dogs being a wizard oddity.]

walkies...

[feralheart]

[ M-21 glances down at the dog, its puppy-huge paws and unreasonable teeth. He glances back up at Owen, the man whose main (only?) association in M-21's mind is dying to the goddess.

He frowns, a tiny bit. Honestly, maybe it's weirder that more of the animals here haven't been bothered by him. ]

You should be careful, too. Don't let your dog eat strange things.

[ M-21's clearly not worried, but he doesn't begrudge a puppy feeling a little nervous. Courteously, he takes a decent-sized step aside to give the little(?) guy more room. Maybe that will help...? ]

[sicklysweet]

[It's not the worst association he could have, which is probably not a good thing?]

Like you?

[Is Cerberus capable of eating M-21 in this state... it's unclear. Probably not. Werewolves are probably bad for digestion no matter what size he is...]

He knows better then to eat anything he shouldn't.

[...Except for Cain that one time.]

[feralheart]

Like me.

[ He called himself that first, he can't exactly get offended at Owen echoing it. But he glances down at Cerberus and raises an eyebrow. You really know better, little guy? ]

If he knows better, he should know not to growl at strangers.

[ Owen did your dog eat Cain. Does it have a taste for himbos. ]

[sicklysweet]

[Cerberus growls at him. Oops.]

Maybe you’ve got bad energy.

[Didn’t pass the vibe check.

…

Heh.]

Or you’re too cat-like.

[Nya.

Also Cain didn’t die, so does it really count as being eaten? Things to ponder.]

[feralheart]

[ This is about those damned 'nyas' isn't it. M-21 gives an irate huff, considering and thankfully rejecting the idea of growling back. ]

Not when I'm not cursed. I'm guessing you made nice with the goddess if she let you have that back.