Dice Our Shenanigans

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"
​

“Who’d give a scroll without pay?” Isa looked at James in disbelief. “I don’t need to explain business to ya. You own this bookstore!”

“It’s not about the book that I’m talking about. It’s a warning against the inquisitor, rat face, and their intentions right now. The book is just a book. I worry more about this village with that guy and his little mindless minions around, okay?! That’s why I’m telling ya—- ya know what? Never mind. Obviously this is nonsense to ya.” He scowled at the end.

”The ends justifies the means. Just make sure no one bothers me when I banish the creature, okay? And I want a specific reward for this.“

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

"You want to be rewarded now . . ." James deadpanned at Isa. He got off the chair to pet the stag back to sleep. "And here I thought you wanted to help from the goodness of your heart." he said sarcastically. "I don't have anything to give you. The Templars are offering a reward for it, go to them if you want something. For all I know, this creature got here because you tore a rip in The Void."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"
​

Exasperated, Isa threw his hands up.

“No! Not now!” He retorted. “Stop jumping to conclusions! Aaarrrrgh!” He wanted to throw something right now. He really did. James really does push his buttons.

”For goodness sake! You know how weary I am towards the Templars! Why, in all of nine circles, would I go to the very people who just threatened my friend‘s safety? You don’t even know what the reward I want is!!”

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

"Fine, what's the reward you're suggesting?" said James.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"
​

“An ocean blue crockpot and Bird village’s recipe book.” Isa replied.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

"What?" said James surprised. "But you can just buy those. Why would you want such simple items?"

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

”It’s a parting gift for my friend.” Isa muttered quietly, warmly smiling as he stared at the fire. “I want to support my friend’s dream, even if it’s something simple like a crockpot and recipe book.“

Then he scowled at James, like he expect him to mock him. “So? Will you take my suggest for a reward or not?”

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

"I mean, sure, but don't you want something more?" said james.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

“If I wanted something more, wouldn’t I have gone to the Templars already? Like when they offered?” Isa sighed, rubbing his forehead.

“I could always work for payment with Sen, I figured it’d be faster to take care of the creature and have this reward without fearing for Moss’ life from the Templars’ devil-like deals.”
Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

"Well, alright then." said James. "So, how do we do the banishment?" And after discussing that with Isa, they got around talking about his uncle to which James suddenly looked alarmed. "That man was here last week. He left three days ago. But he called himself Lorenzo Alvares?"

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

“We need to corner it or grab the creature’s attention and then I start the banishment. I’d like it if no one distracts me. At all. That includes Templars. Why? Because whoever does bother me might get a horrible injury from the backlash of the spell.” Isa explained, calmly.

When it come to his uncle, however, the little red mouse suddenly kicked the chair’s arm. “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! AAAAAAHHHHHHH!” He snapped his head towards James, sickly yellow eyes staring him.

”That’s an alias! Of course, he’d change his name. Who would keep their name after trying to mine someone‘s soul like me?!“ Isa growled, sitting down to hold onto the pillow tight within his little claws. “Darn it!! Then that means the thief might not be here either —- my uncle wouldn’t leave until he has what he wants like that book. That or he just missed the thief somehow.... either way, now you know!”

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

"Okay, I need to tell Minnie." said James calmly. "Have you heard of what's going on in the forest? There was another sighting of the thief and they're searching for him right now. There's too many assumptions in this. Excuse me for a moment." And he went downstairs.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

”No. I didn’t know. I was calming down in Chenglei’s dojo with him and his husband there.” Isa replied roughly, tightening his grip on the pillow. “I didn’t leave until I had to go to Johnny’s farm.”

As James excused him, the little mouse curled into a ball. Taking deep breaths as he can feel his heart‘s pumping against his lung and rib cage painfully. It’s all happening at once. It’s too much for the teen to comprehend. The Templars, Moss’ safety on the line, the Tuilpost that‘s hanging around in the Highlands.

Something is off about the appearance of the monster. James has a point: Isa could have tore the realm’s space by coming over, but that tear should have happened in Windshear. Not the Highlands. Same with the monster. Isa had Loki’s help to arrive in the Sunken temple without tearing. It shouldn’t be here, someone else brought the creature here somehow. He wanted to tell that to James, but the man has selective hearing and jumps to conclusions. And when he doesn’t jump, he’s stuck on one note. He is too frustrating for the redhead to deal with.

Once again, Isa took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Staying curled up as James came back. Then he quietly asked. “Have any ideas on how to lure the Tuilpost so I could banish it?”

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Chickadee Tavern -
"Next Day, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

James sat back down after he returned, shaking his head. "I don't know what it wants. We'll look for it first tomorrow." He then paused. "You should go and get some rest, you look like you're breaking down."

Later that night, Isa took some time to venture out in the woods to search for the thief, but no luck. It was the same for the Templars who left early the next day. They didn't head back to Windshear, and instead set up camps around the village, not close enough to be a bother, but close enough so that the smoke of their campfires can be seen from a distance. They weren't letting go of their lead on the thief that easy.

Sen told Isa that there was no work today, since his beloved Minnie had told him that Isa was going to help them banish the monster. Instead, he told him to prepare for what will probably a few days of hunting, and that they were going to ride out at ten o' clock.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Chickadee Tavern -
"Next Day, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

Isa was close to saying something sarcastic to James, but hearing the same annoyingly stoic tone being slightly worried, he decided to nod. He left after quietly saying thank you to the bookkeeper and left towards the forest for a bit. No hope to find the thief or the book, not in this darkness and Templars potentially stepping on him. So he went back to Johnny’s place, yelping when he realized that he was naked and asked his clothes back.

”T-thank ya for measuring me.” Isa muttered as he closed the dressing room door behind him. With a good bye, the redhead left to where he’s staying and slept. Weary about everything.

When he came to work at Sen’s smithy, Isa was not surprised that he found out. James must have told Minnie again. Not that he was against it. Less explanations.

”Alright —- do ya know who else is comin’ to the hunt?” Isa asked curiously.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Chickadee Tavern -
"Next Day, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

"James our bookeeper, Renee our doctor, and Echo our diplomat and singer and the strongest lady around." grinned Sen. "James will be your leader for this quest, Echo is the second-in-command. Ah, and Kenren will also be letting you guys borrow some chocobos."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Chickadee Tavern -
"Next Day, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

“I’m excited about the chocobos.” Isa commented. The doctor is coming with them? Maybe he could ask her questions about his skin like if she can heal him?

”...would it be bad if I pranked James?” He asked honestly.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Chickadee Tavern -
"Next Day, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

“Of course not!" said Sen, looking at Isa in a new light. "Do you want help?" he whispered.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Chickadee Tavern -
"Next Day, Bird Village, The Highlands"
​

Isa grinned impishly, like a cat that caught the canary. “I would love some help~ Got any suggestions, Sen?”

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Chickadee Tavern -
"Next Day, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

Sen's face cracked into an evil grin. " Yes, I'll give them to you alphabetically." And so, for the next hour, the blacksmith told Isa in great detail the ins and outs of pranking his brother dearest.

Spoiler: Isa Gains a New Ability

▪ To Jest a James
+2 to all rolls related to pranking James for every hour Isa spends preparing the prank zone, for a maximum of +10.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Bird Village -
"Next Day, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

Isa couldn’t stop grinning cheek to cheek as Sen showed him the ropes, nodding enthusiastically. He couldn’t wait until he does prank James and enjoy it~

On the second hour, Isa asked Sen if he could take a look to the old box, telling him of where he found it. “It was in a ruined house of Elunore...actually, we found a painting too. The lady in the painting looked like Minnie. Mind if ya tinker with it? See what it does?”

Afterwards, the redhead packed his bag. Taking his tent, sleeping bag, and sold certain things to Sen. Like the bull’s head. “Hope ya like it.“ He said pleasantly as he tucked his staff under his coat and around his waist. Hidden from view. He waved his hand and left the smithy to reach the meeting place for the hunt, spotting James and .....

Is that a fluffy satyr?!

Her fiery red hair waved and curled, held up in a high ponytail with braids and beads decorating it. Her antlers crowned around her head gracefully with fluffy ears underneath. She wore light clothing, whites, browns, and there’s a skirt of wendingo fur around her hip. Leather guards around her wrists and ankles.

There was another person that caught his attention among the small crowd of burly men. A person with an owl mask, hopping around like she was a bird as she came close to the pair. A bag in her hands as she silently showed James what was inside and a list. She wore clothing that Isa could only sum up as shamanic based on the wing designs on her sleeves and the warm colored poncho with a tail scarf billowing behind her.

“Afternoon, James.” Isa chimed, nodding a greeting towards the satyr that stood tall and the shaman who jolted her head to the side.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Village Gate -
"Next Day, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

"Sure" Sen said curiosly, taking a closer look at the box. "Elunore? That sounds familiar, I think I remember James talking something about a poem or a warrior poet from there?" His eyes widened when he unraveled the ancient tattered red cloth and the insignia emblazoned there. "This looks like Minnie's family crest!" He was in awe. "Yeah, I'll check this out, Isa!"

He traded a fair amount of loot for the trinkets Isa sold him, and laughed at the bull head, saying he liked it and that it'll make a nice decoration for his armor stand, maybe turn it into a helmet.

At the village gate, James just greeted Isa witha nod as he checked Renee's bag. Johnny was also there, carrying Echo's bag; and Kenren was checking the saddle buckles of three chocobos: a lively red one who was rearing to go, a purple one that kept nuzzling Kenren and trying to get his hand to pet it, which he did, and a white chubby chocobo that looked kind of derpy as it chased its own tail . The beautiful white stag was grazing nearby, all saddled up with Sasha the white owl perched on its antlers.

There was another man, who at first glance reminded one of Moss. But no, his white hair was whiter, and his skin was pale instead of sun tanned like the merman's. He had no horn, and his eyes were a stormy grey instead of cool teal. He was more handsome though, the kind of handsome that made the other girls in the village look at him with hearts eyes.

This man was wearing a scarf and standing next to the lady with the ow maks. He had only eyes on her as he fussed over her gear and supplies, looking worried for her safety, and kept holding her hand or caressing her cheek or . . . . the wings behind her head???

Once James was done checking, he introduced Isa to the group. "Echo, Renee, this is Isa, the one I told you about. He'll be banishing the monster. Isa, this is Echo and Renee. Echo will help us keep the monster in place, while Renee will heal and provide long ranged support."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Village Gate -
"Next Day, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

As James checked the bag’s items, Renee looked over at the fretting man, and held his hand as he caressed her cheeks and fluttering wings. She cooed softly, reassuring as she cupped and rubbed his cheeks. Isa can tell by her silent actions that she cared about him, watching her lean towards him and tucking his white hair back; her wings tickling his fingers and hands caringly. She tilted her head as she listened to the greetings.

”It’s nice to meet you, Isa. I’ve heard interesting things from James.” Echo said, smiling in amusement. Her hand in Johnny’s. Isa raised a brow, glancing at James.

”Really? What did he say about me?” Isa asked. The satyr giggled behind her other hand. “Nothing bad, just about your reward. You’re sweet.”

”Ah~” The redhead leaned on one leg, ruffling the back of his head. “I-I’m not sweet.”

”Uh-huh.” Echo muttered, not believing him. “I see. You are one of those secret shy types~“

She looked at Johnny with a knowing smile. “This, here, is my boyfriend, Johnny and the man over with Renee is Seifer.” At this, Renee trilled, hugging Seifer without qualms.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Village Gate -
"Next Day, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

"We've met!" grinned Johnny cheerfully.

"Hey." said Seifer suavely, which became a chuckle as he caught Renee and hugged her tight too, an engagement ring glittering on his finger. He was so in love that he couldn't stop touching her, as though he was missing her already even though Renee hadn't left yet.

"Isa is a nice person, he complimented my galletes the other day." Johnny said to Echo. "I brought some for everyone." he gave Isa a share of the galletes wrapped in leaf and cloth. "Please take care of each other and keep each other safe." he squeezed Echo's hand, and gave her a tight hug and come-back-home-safely-please kiss.

"Come choose your chocobos everyone!" said Kenren. "Isa, would you like to pick first?"

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Village Gate -
"Next Day, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

Renee cooed, tweeted, and trilled at Seifer as she lifted his hand with the ring and kissed it. There’s an engagement ring on her finger too, glittering happily with how close it is to it’s fated pair. It seems like they are a couple too, being all lovey-dovey.

“Not nice.” Isa pouted.

“Of course, Solid Marshmallow.” Echo hugged back, squeezing him tight, completely disregarding Isa’s comment. The teen swore he saw some of the burly men around them wince and wondered why. They looked happy... Isa accepted the galettes and carefully tucked them in his bag. His ears turned red as Kenren called him over, needing an excuse to escape from all this...fluff.

“I’ll take...this one.” The teen held onto the reins of the white chubby chocobo that’s chasing it’s tail, grinning wide. “Seems like he has a lot of energy. What’s his name, Kenren?”

Zer0