Day 224

[croceamors]

Who: Saix, some Dusks, and you whether you like it or not
Open: Open
When: 224
Where: Your room! Yep. ALT: around the Bastion
What: As it turns out, Dusks are assholes.
Format: I'll follow
Warnings:


Normally mornings in the Bastion are... routine and occasionally dull. That's just how it is.

Yet this morning, a few people might feel something... wet and cool on their face. Moving? The moment they open their eyes, they'll- Okay what the fuck is that. That might be all the thought they get to have before the Dusk Nobody suddenly vanishes in a swirl of Darkness and... Was it holding a sharpie in its hands?

...You might want to go take a look at your face in a mirror. Or give chase. One or the other.

Alternatively...

Whether you've been a victim to bored sharpie scribblings with your face on the canvas or just going about your day as normal, you'll suddenly find a golden retriever and another (or maybe even the same) Dusk Nobody nearly barreling into your kneecaps. The dog moreso than the Nobody, really. The dog looks up with a happy tail wag and what looks like a stick in its mouth before a sharp whistle has both creatures returning to Saix's side.

"Sorry about that." It sounds more obligatory than sincere.

Comments

[amourtician]

Jay glares at Saix. He's got Vanya the Espurr with him and both the dog and the Dusk seem to have terrified him - he's climbed up to curl up on top of Jay's head, trembling.

"Do control your ... menagerie, darling," he says, crisply. He's not in the mood to be accosted by dogs or strange humanoid things or, indeed, the likes of Saix.

[croceamors]

The Dusk makes a small rasping noise deep in what could be called its throat, but Saix just waves it off. Any of its complaints can be saved for later. The dog seems perfectly oblivious to any of Jay's disdain, as some dogs stubbornly are. You can't discourage this one, Jay. Being Saix's dog has only made it more willful. It does, however, make pleading whining noises up towards the Espurr.

"I'm afraid I can only forcefully control one of them," Saix returns dryly.

[amourtician]

The Espurr hisses at the dog and Jay gently removes him from his hair and cradles him as far away from the dog as possible. He eyes the Dusk suspiciously.

"What the hell is that thing, anyway, darling?" he says.

[croceamors]

The dog looks appropriately crestfallen and befuddled at not making a new friend out of a strange wide eyed cat. Saix ignores it, clearly used to it.

"A Dusk Nobody, a Lesser Nobody variant." Aware that it's being talked about, the Dusk takes up station just slightly behind Saix and tries to stand straight. For Dusks, this really just means wobbling in place a lot. "A creature which has lost its heart but not its will. Unfortunately for it, that will wasn't strong enough to have it keep a human form unlike myself." It's the simplest explanation without going into what losing their heart means for a Nobody. Saix isn't sure about it himself anymore.

[amourtician]

"Oh, um," says Jay, rather confused. "How does one lose one's heart and ... not die?" He peers at the Dusk, eyes narrowed in suspicion. A thought occurs to him and he grins.

"Is it undead?" He sounds inappropriately excited. He even starts to grin.

In his arms, the Espurr hisses at both the Dusk at the dog. The Espurr is not a happy camper. He doesn't want these strange creatures around him.

[croceamors]

Well that's a new reaction. Saix tilts his head to the side, considering the question. After a moment, as his eyes land on the Espurr, he seems to realize something and nods to the Dusk. Obediently, the pale creature starts to usher itself and the dog away.

"I'm not actually sure. Keep in mind I mean a more... emotional sort of heart than a physical one. I suppose it's closest equivalent would be a 'soul'? I'm not a proper scientist or mage of any sort."

[amourtician]

The Espurr calms down some and climbs to Jay's shoulder, where he stands on his hind legs and leans against Jay's neck. He's staring at Saix, like he's trying to see his soul.

"Oh," says Jay, in the meantime. "Um. Still, isn't that the definition of undead? That which seems to be alive but lacks something ... fundamental to mortal and immortal existence. Like a soul!"

[croceamors]

"It's not something I've ever really pondered." Possibly because it's a bit disconcerting at best, but also just as likely that he's been too busy to ever really think on it properly. There's some slight eye narrowing at the Espurr before Saix ignores it.

"Is this a field you know something about, then?"

[amourtician]

"Ahhhh," Jay says, averting his eyes. "In a way, darling. Why? Are you ... religious?" He eyes him, suspiciously. He doesn't want to reveal that he's a necromancer to someone who might have some sort of moral objection to it.

[coolerthansora]

For Roxas, this is not a new occurrence. It probably isn't even the first time it's happened in the Bastion, although he thought he was safe at first since Sharpies are a little more difficult to obtain here. Not anymore.

He wakes in the midst of the scribbling and yells after the retreating Dusk, "How many times do I have to--?" But then it's gone. He could give chase, but... well, what's that going to accomplish? It hasn't worked before.

Saix might run into him outside later with the faded signs of a swirly mustache and eyebrows still on his face. He hasn't figured out the best way to wash it off.

[croceamors]

...Well, it was honestly inevitable when you think about it.

Saix just narrows his eyes at the particular Dusk that's accompanying him, but it's quickly figured out that, no, this one isn't responsible. That only leaves a few others. He'll attend to that later. For now, he just approaches Roxas. New Moon quickly gets closer in the usually doggy demand for pets.

"I've been trying to keep them preoccupied, but it seems they still manage to find free time."

[coolerthansora]

Roxas leans down a little to give New Moon the desired pettings, sparing a little smile for the dog before he engages in conversation with Saix.

"You can't keep them working all the time. Maybe they just need better stuff to do when they're off."

[croceamors]

It's said like it's that simple. Saix gives a sigh and crosses his arms, looking annoyed. Which honestly isn't too much of a change of pace, he's well aware.

"What would you suggest? This wasn't something that was particularly considered back in the Organization." Partially because Dusks weren't expected to live for too long as resident cannon fodder. "It's not as though I can play fetch with them."

[coolerthansora]

Did his face change at all there? Roxas didn't notice.

"Well, they're not dogs." Roxas gives a little sigh of his own. "I don't know. I've been having a hard time- trying to explain free time to my Samurai at all."

[croceamors]

"It might very well be something they'll simply never understand, considering their status." They're called Lesser Nobodies for a reason, after all. "Still, something to keep them occupied that wouldn't count as work is something to look into. We know they have an interest in petty harassment, at least."

[coolerthansora]

"It might just take a really long time." Roxas isn't willing to see it any other way. They're all Nobodies. The Lessers might not remember how to be people, but neither did Roxas at first. They just need help.

"...maybe they'd like drawing." They sure like drawing mustaches anyway.

[croceamors]

It's also possible that they just like harassing Roxas. That's certainly something to consider although not something to encourage. Saix thinks over the suggestion.

"...I suppose it's worth a shot. Maybe I'll be able to enlist their help in something I've been wanting to do. Whatever keeps them from harassing the rest of the residents here."

afternoon

[tophgirl]

Toph didn't wake up when the Dusk Nobody drew on her face. Nor did she run into Zuko when getting breakfast that morning.

So basically, nobody has told her that she's got a giant mustache drawn on her face and big "girly" eyes drawn on her eyelids. She saunters towards the Skyway, completely oblivious to the state of her face.

[croceamors]

And Saix would be completely oblivious to this issue... If not for a certain dog immediately getting distracted from fetch by a new person! New! Or at least new to New Moon, which is all that matters.

So Saix sighs as the golden retriever goes sprinting off at high speeds as it spots the girl and follows along. "New Moon, come back."

[tophgirl]

Toph is not really a pet person. She never really understood Aang's attachment to Momo, considering the little creature just ate food and teased Sokka (admittedly, two worthy pursuits). So when the dog approaches, her initial reaction isn't fear exactly, but it is very wary.

"Woah! Slow down!" Don't make her bend a wall between the two of you, dog!

[croceamors]

At least New Moon seems to have some sort of manners. The order has it scrambling to a pause, ears perking up as it shifts its head to the side. There's a small whine as it tries again, taking a few steps closer and wagging its tail hopefully. Pets?

Saix finally comes besides the dog, glancing at it with a frown. "I'm sorry about him-" A pause. He raises an eyebrow. "...There's something on your face."

[tophgirl]

All right, good. Toph relaxes a little as the dog doesn't continue its reckless advance, though she doesn't get any more welcoming. (Again, not a pet person.) She's not about to reward it for whining like a two year old by petting it.

Also, there's evidently something on her face. Toph tries wiping it off. "Did I get it?" she asks, thinking it was food.

[croceamors]

"It seems very... stuck there. Someone drew on your face." He sends a glare directed at the Dusk hovering somewhere near the background and it cowers a bit. He has a feeling he knows what at least the others were up to.

[tophgirl]

Toph stops and stares in his direction — an adaptive technique that's become second nature by this point.

"Somebody did what?"

[croceamors]

Saix is just bring his hand up to his face so he can pinch at the bridge of his nose. The Dusks are going to be more trouble than they're worth soon enough.

"They drew on your face."