APPLE BOBBING CONTEST

[catposting]

WHO: Rose & you
WHERE: Near Woolie Town, in a patch of open pasture
WHEN: Day 4, afternoon

[You might be wondering what Rose is up to over here, but not for very long! Chant steps forward and waves her arm cheerily. The wave is accompanied by the sound of invisible trumpets heralding her announcement. Her voice booms out over the pasture as if she was speaking into a magical megaphone.]

Hello! We're setting up a little contest! A bobbing for apples contest, to be precise! The prize is—Blood Fiend, what did you say the prize was again? …That's right, the prize is all the apples you can grab with your mouth! And this, um, rustic flower crown! It's handmade! Out of real roses!

[The flower crown she brandishes does indeed appear to have been handmade, out of real roses. Just…not very well.]

How was that, Blood Fiend?

[She clears her throat and turns off the magical megaphone.]

I mean, how was that, Blood Fiend?

Did you have to— [Exasperated tail swish.] That was perfect. Thanks.

[Blood Fiend is perched nearby on a clump of hay, a medium sized tub full of water in front of him. He looks absolutely delighted to be here, in the jester’s seat, demonstrating how to bob apples. Why wouldn’t he be?

Floating in the tub are fifteen apples. Around the tub are three empty clumps of hay, clearly intended as seats. Behind Blood Fiend is a pajama sack full of even more apples! Try to steal them, I dare you.

To anyone close by:]

So, what are you waiting for? Come play! It’ll be fun~ ♪

[Once more, that booming voice.]

It'll be fun! ☆

[IC RULES: Angel Devil will be handing out note cards! They’re handwritten! Go bug him, he also definitely looks like he wants to be here.]

[OOC RULES: Blood Fiend intends for four participants to race at once, but knowing timezones and schedules the little rascals around here – there’s no way it’ll happen that cleanly lmao. And Red didn’t specify four people playing at once...

So! As long as your character is competing with at least one other person for two IC minutes it’s fine. Either tag Blood Fiend for a 1v1, or tag someone else/another group and Blood Fiend will referee. He doesn’t have a watch, so you’ll have to trust his counting skills.

(I will try my best to chip in with time remaining etc. but if I’m not around feel free to handwave start/end! Expect Rose to make fun of you if you cheat, though.)

DETERMINING WINNERS: Feel free to work it out ICly/flip a coin yourselves. Or bug a Rose member and have Nadeko them arbitrarily decide for you.]

Comments

[catposting]

[ Such is the fangless life.

If this had been the first round, or if this was at all close, Blood Fiend could have pretended. But he's already shown that he can keep up with Biscuit, and he doesn't want to insult a brave soul trying their best outside their comfort zone. It's one of the few things he respects!!

He has a solid 7 apples by the end. Et tu, Crescendo? ]

[heavyliesthecrown]

[After flailing a great deal, in the last moment he managed to get a second apple.

OTL

Just trying to catch his breath after all that diving into the water.]

[catposting]

What's Bluebell's combat power, anyway?

[ Surely this kid can be useful SOMEHOW. ]

[ . . . ]

You can keep the apples you caught.

[heavyliesthecrown]

T-Thank you...

[He tried so hard, and got so far... but in the end, it doesn't even matter.

He brushes his wet bangs from his face, looking for something he might be able to somewhat dry off with.]

Combat power...? I am not so sure we have anything like that.

[Could they be used for combat? He had not really considered it much.]

We have the ability to calm one's anger down, or even cast something like a love spell. In addition to that and our ability to heal, we can forcibly move or redirect an individual. A little like a magnet.

[catposting]

............... A love spell.

[ i'm sorry what. ]

[heavyliesthecrown]

Fufufu, do not tell me you are wanting to test it out for yourself.

[catposting]

I don't mind.

[ tail curled protectively around himself. better now than by surprise, right....... ]

[heavyliesthecrown]

Wait. Truly...?

[catposting]

Truly.

[ tail squeezing even tighter. ]

Knowing these barn powers, it'll only be temporary, right?

[ it had better be temporary. ]

[heavyliesthecrown]

Of course, I can remove it, you needn't worry.

[ . . . ]

Is there someone, perchance, that you would prefer as the object of your affection, temporarily? Or do you wish to simply test it out with me?

[catposting]

Who said I was worrying...

[ putting on his best ^ ___ ^ face ]

You'll do just fine.

[heavyliesthecrown]

[ Suddenly debating if he wants to actually do this or not. ]

Whenever you are ready, then?

[catposting]

[ deep breath, fur standing on end, still ^___^ -ing. ]

I'm ready.

[heavyliesthecrown]

[ It may feel a little anticlimactic. He doesn't believe he actually has to move in order to cast the spell or anything. He instinctually knows how. But regardless, he reaches up and-- touches the top of his head.

And once he does, the spell activates, spreading throughout. Affection, love, a feeling of endearment. He will feel it all.]

[catposting]

[ he can't stop himself from flinching a little when touched, but -- ]

Huh.

[ a blank expression washes over his face as his tail loosens, settling into a relaxed half-wag. he blinks, tilting his head. ]

Hey, Crescendo. Do you feel... inferior? To your team, I mean.

[heavyliesthecrown]

[That is certainly not what he was expecting him to ask.]

I... huh?

[He blinks.]

Y-You weren't thinking that I was, were you...?

[catposting]

No!

[ a little too vehemently. ]

That's not what I think at all. You're —

[ shakes his head this is a spell this is a spell this is a spell ]

—You said that you had yet to contribute meaningfully to your team. Why is that?

[heavyliesthecrown]

Oh-

[ Right. Of course. He had mentioned that earlier, hadn't he. He smiles a little sheepishly.]

I suppose that I feel a little sad that I do not possess any common skills. I do not really know how to cook or clean. Neither do I know how to garden. I am not sure if I have any skill in a weapon, but I do realize that I am quite unfamiliar with how to even navigate within the woods, or how to identify edible plants within the wild. Naturally, I cannot sew and I haven't the foggiest idea as to how to repair or fix anything.

[He sighs.]

Of course, I am doing my best to learn. But without my memories, the only thing I know for sure that I am talented in is music. And that will not exactly help the problem of food scarcity, or help provide or mend clothing.

So I suppose I simply feel... frustrated. So many possess magic or can do such mundane things effortlessly. I have not yet found a method of contributing meaningfully. Or in a way uniquely my own. So I have felt somewhat discouraged and vexed over it.

love makes him monologue too apparently

[catposting]

[ he listens intently, hanging onto every word until Crescendo is finished.

then he shakes his head again, looking straight into the kid's eyes. ]

Common skills are just that: common. Mundane. Anyone can learn those. You're no exception.

What you have is rare. You'd never done something like this before, had you?

[ gestures at the tub ]

You were anxious. Concerned. And — you wouldn't have won against me. [ he has fangs, bro. ] But you rose to the challenge without hesitation in spite of that, for teammates that might not even thank you. Because you're the type of person that will overcome their fears, no matter what.

Many of us are gifted with power. It's natural that we can hunt or fight. But you remember our first day here, don't you? Before we touched those statues.

Powers that we thought were our own no longer belong to us. They're borrowed. They can be taken away.

It's bound to happen. And when it does, we'll need people like you.

1/4; Tsukasa's ultimate power has entrapped him now too.

[heavyliesthecrown]

2/4

[heavyliesthecrown]

[ . . . Uu... Uuu.... ]

3/4

[heavyliesthecrown]

[ TURNING AWAY. He's not crying, you're crying. It's just that he has something in his eyes!!

H-He is probably only saying all of that because he is temporarily in love with him.

. . . But even if it is, it feels a little nice to hear it. He scrubs at his face from the safety of facing another direction.]

4/4

[heavyliesthecrown]

[When he turns around again, he's smiling. Surely there is no evidence of his former tears.]

Mm! Just you wait. Before the end, I will magnificently climb my way to the top. And be someone that everyone can depend upon. You can count on it. I will grow to heights that none would believe possible.

[He's just got to work hard. And conquer the world. And have everyone listen to him.]

And next time, I will beat you in an apple contest.

[catposting]

[ there is definitely evidence of his former tears.

if anything, that just endears Blood Fiend to him even more. so determined, even now!

Blood Fiend smiles back, tail swishing as he reaches out to pat Crescendo on the head. ]

Of course. If it's you, I know you can do it. You can do anything you set your heart on.

[heavyliesthecrown]

[The conflict of liking his head being patted and the desire to be seen as grown... ]

I do wonder if you will say as much here in a moment.

[He allows the spell to dissolve, returning Blood Fiend back to his proper feelings.]

Even if your mind is changed, though, I shall prove to you what I am capable of, no matter what.