nysalogs | closed feb catch-all

[ She's happy to see that he actually listens to her, at least, which cannot be said for a lot of people she knows. Mikazuki also has quite a good suggestion to give. ]

I'm sure I can -- [ Nami starts to tug at the guy's arm, attempting to haul him on top of her. He's much heavier than she had expected. ] manage ...

[ Another two more tugs, and she gives up, dropping the shaman back onto the ground. There's a big huff, and she pants a little. ] How are you so heavy!

[ Said like this entire ordeal is somehow the shaman's fault. If Zoro or Luffy were here, she would be making them do the legwork instead, but she can't exactly ask that of someone so ...small in statue, even if Mikazuki has proved unnaturally strong so far. ]

[ For a long, lingering moment, Mikazuki watches Nami do her thing. Or try to do her thing. Honestly, she gets more for trying herself first than if she'd just asked him to do it all, though his expression isn't really saying as such. A breath catches in his nose, sort of a snort-sigh.

Turning, he makes his way closer to her, unconscious cargo and all. ]

People who are knocked out are heavier. They can't hold their own weight.

[ Not that he has a lot of experience dragging dead weight around... ]

Let me have it.

[ Reaching out, he loops his grip through the other shaman's wrist binds so he can drag him along. ]

You're pretty strong for your size ... [ If he sees that as an insult, it wasn't really meant to be. There aren't a lot of men shorter than Nami where she comes from, so having to look down at a guy is different in itself. Now, watching him take her load for her so effortlessly ...

She ponders helping him for a second, then decides to let him handle it, since more hands would probably just get in the way. ] If you get tired, let me know. You don't have to pull them all the way if it's too much.

[ She'll figure something out if it comes to that. Nami picks up the pace, and eventually, they make it to the supply checkpoint. Once she picks the lock open, she clears some room for Mikazuki to drop off the unconscious men. ]

[ It's difficult to insult him, so he responds with a quiet huff. ]

I hear that a lot.

[ Well, since coming here. At home it was just sort of this universal truth that no one messed with, but the bar keeps moving around here. But he seems to do pretty well just hauling their cargo up the path until they find the supply checkpoint. When Nami finishes rearranging everything, he places one shaman down among all the linen bags and boxes, then drags the other over. With them locked up, he dusts his hands and then looks to the robe still slung over his arm. ]

So... now we just have to wear these, right?

Yes. You can probably wear it over your own clothes if you keep your clothes hidden. [ It might be a little hot, but it'll save them the trouble and potential awkwardness of changing right here, in front of someone they've known for all of an hour. Nami doesn't actually mind that much, but Mikazuki might.

She does take off her shirt, wearing the large robe over the bikini top she has underneath (it's like she's ready for the beach, like, all the time). She also starts to braid her hair, tying feathers into it in hopes that that will give her more of a 'female-shaman' look. ]

Oh, one more thing. Stay still, Mika. [ Once it looks like Mikazuki is done, she pulls out the container of red facpaint she had found inside the shaman's robe and starts smearing some of it onto Mikazuki's face, painting a few lines over the bridge of his nose and his cheeks. He'll get some beads tied into his hair too.

When she's finished, she stops to admire her handiwork. ] There. You look cute like this! [ He is cute... so smol and serious. ]

[ Mikazuki stays still without questioning why, though he thinks maybe he should have as he endures the fingers pushing over his nose and cheeks and messing with his hair. When he's done he still looks... pretty severe. Maybe he would blend in well with the wild Wyver natives like this, though all he does is cock his head to the side. ]

Should I look cute?

[ Is that what they're going for? But oop, he thinks he hears the faint sound of footsteps from further down the way they came, and hushes. ]

There, those are the ones.

[ That they need to follow up to the summit. Quickly, he flips the hood of the cloak up and passes a look to Nami.

He can't bullshit the motions, so he's gonna be depending on her. ]

[ He can look like a trival shaman, and cute at the same time. There's no time to talk, however. The moment she hears the footsteps, she pushes the unconscious men under a table and covers them with a large sheet that happened to be lying around. Nami flips the hood over head head as well, shrouding her face under its shadow and doing her best to convey a mysterious, unreadable expression. She doesn't speak immediately, waiting for the men to address them first. The men arrive, taking notice of them and bowing in respect.

'Teachers ... You have arrived. The ceremony is almost starting.'

Keeping her voice leveled, Nami speaks, sounding a lot less cheerful and upbeat than she normally does. While she doesn't actually know much about this ceremony or what's to come, she doesn't let her unease show on her face. ]

Understood. Take us there at once. [ The men nod, taking them to the base of the rocky hills, where a temple sits on the summit. They will be joining a parade of believers and their pet wyverns, all of them carrying ceremonial gifts and offerings. Two of the believers are dressed in a particularly elaborate fashion. She quickly puts together that they have come to form this apparent Volkkran pact. ]

[ Oh. That was actually really convincing. Mikazuki has his bright blue eyes peeked out from beneath the threshold of the cloak as it lays low against his brow, considering that talent as he looks at Nami. Anything that can get him out his penchant for trouble is a thing worth protecting — so he thinks, anyway.

His gaze eventually trains forward as the crowd thickens and grows louder. Shamans chanting their prayers and blessings, the beat of dragon wings. It smells like foliage and fire up here, the smoke from incense tickling his nose.

Once they shuffle into line, close to the Altar where the pact pairs stand, Mikazuki shifts beside Nami to spy the gathering of items — mortar dishes filled with crushed herbs and salves, various ingredients and other tools to make medicines. It looks like a few of the shamans are blessing them to increase their potency. Any of that would probably do if they could make it out of here with them. With a touch to her elbow and a nod, he keeps his voice low. ]

That's it.

[ A table full of dollar signs. ]

[ They were told to bring back some supplies. When Nami's eyes follow Mikazuki's, they practically light up with delight. If she were back home instead of here, one of her crewmates would probably tell her her eyes have started to look like dollar signs. All they really need to do is swipe a few things, hand them over to their client, and the money will start rolling in! It sounds easy enough. They can wait until the celebrations start and dart off with the loot in the shadows.

She gives him a nod, siding up closer so they can speak without anyone eavesdropping. ] Good find, Mika. Once we get everyone drunk on the festivities, those supplies are as good as ours.

[ Ka-ching! Though she's ecstatic, she manages to keep her cool, resuming her character when someone steps closer into their circle.

The couple looking to form their pact are summoned to the alter, where Nami and Mikazuki are standing, and they fall into a kneel before their high 'priests'. This must be her cue to start spewing out some bullshit and hope it works. A Volkrian pact is sort of like getting married, right? ]

We are gathered here today to witness the holy union of two dear members of our tribe, [ What even are their names -- she tries to remember the conversations she overheard on the way to the top. ] Shak'rar and Almeen. Their first meeting was fated by the gods, and now, the gods will oversee this passage into the next chapter of their lives as well.

[ She's nailing it?? But the villagers then bring out a live wyvern before the alter, holding a knife out to Nami and Mikazuki. She's kind of unsure about this, but trooper that she is, she continues on her little facade. ] A-Ah --

May this sacrifice bring great blessings. [ She doesn't want to sacrifice it though?? ]

[ She really is nailing it. He somehow feels he ought to be extra quiet just so he doesn't blow it, but somehow that's — weirdly comfortable for him, almost nostalgic.

Still, while Mikazuki has half an ear on Nami, noting how it was good she managed to get the names because he sure didn't, he's aware of the commotion as a shaman leads a wyvern up through the crowd. There are onlookers throwing flowers and trinkets, and the creature doesn't seem at all agitated or frightened about what's going on. When the knife intrudes on his line of sight, he senses Nami hesitate at its apparent purpose.

Time for him to step up. He reaches across to accept the blade easily, moving out from the circle and up to the wyvern. It chuffles out a low noise, but otherwise allows his approach. Placing a hand on the swell of its breastbone, he steadies and then drives the knife up between the scales.

The wyvern bellows and cracks its wings with a threatening hiss, but stays standing. It doesn't die, but it does bleed heavily as Mikazuki pushes the knife up against the scales to get at the tough flesh underneath. It seems the only sacrifice they want is blood — he reaches aside to Nami for a bowl.

Obviously, he can't say where he learned that, but that can come later. On with the show. ]

[ Mikazuki's ability to stay calm in even the most distressing situations kind of saves them in this moment, though she does feel a tinge of guilt that he had to take over for her as she stood frozen. Well, what is she supposed to do? She doesn't want to harm an innocent animal if she can help it, and all that blood is sort of squicking her out. If Mikazuki hadn't stepped in, she might have blown her cover in her hesitation to bleed the animal.

But Mikazuki's making this whole thing so convincing, it's almost like he's played the part before. The other worshippers look completely fooled. Taking the cue, she hands him the bowl, stepping closer to him so she can let out a whisper. ]

Mikazuki, you don't have to ... [ If this is too much, she's certain she could bluff her way out of this in some form. There's no need to do anything he's truly uncomfortable with. ]

[ In front of him, the wyvern shifts on its feet as the bowl fills with blood, trails of it streaking down the sides. He's pretty well aware of pain and blood loss thresholds, so he hands the bowl off to another shaman so he can take another. It's gotten all over his his hands in the process — it's weird that it stays warm almost, warmer than human blood.

He keeps his eyes on the creature even when Nami moves closer to try and allay the fear he doesn't have. Dipping his chin, he keeps his voice low among the chanting and passing around of blood. ]

I'm okay. This guy will be too.

[ He'll probably just need a big meal afterwards. There goes another bowl, until there's enough to get passed around between the party. He nods aside. ]

Ready?

closed feb catch-all | T is for Thottie

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