hopping on the open log train

[pebblestone]

Who: Frederick (pebblestone) & open
What: Beach ep, red light ep, you-name-it ep
When: May
Where: Olympia
Warning(s): NSFW doubtful but I'll update if it comes up


FLONA COVE, PT 1

[ Frederick the Wary does not go to beaches for fun. There's simply too much to do and not enough time to do it, and it's not like he's ever learned the meaning of the word relax anyway.

But he also understands the value of team bonding, and so when Cam and JJ clamor to go to the beach he begrudgingly follows along. Perhaps there might be gossip at the docks about the current state of affairs, or some fresh seafood he might be able to turn into tonight's dinner, and so he begrudgingly follows behind, hoping that the whole affair ends sooner rather than later.

Instead, JJ and Cam run off and Frederick ends up swarmed by a group of small children at the beach, all of whom have declared him a perfect fit for their sand project - a project they refuse to reveal the nature of when he asks suspiciously. His initial response is to turn them down, suggest they find some other more willing victim for their tricks, but there's a little girl with hair the color of the sun and a wide, wide smile, and he can't help but accept when she shyly asks please.

So here he sits now, expression resigned and long-suffering, as the children pile sand over his legs. One of them, wanting a second opinion, runs up to the nearest stranger - that's you - with a question. ]

Hey, hey, should he be a starfish or a mermaid?

[ Congrats, Fred's fate is now in your hands. ]

FLONA COVE, PT 2

[ Of course, Frederick wouldn't be Frederick if he didn't turn his beach outing into an impromptu training session. Once he's fulfilled his requisite duty of posing as Mer-Fred in the sand, it's back to work for him. After all, the resistance provided by the sandy beaches provides wonderful benefit to strengthening ones legs during a run, and there's nothing like warm sun to work up a good sweat.

His armor's been traded for shorts and a simple short-sleeve shirt - because even Fred has limits - and he's proceeded to engage in all manner of exercises typically included in a fitness regimen: push-ups, sit-ups, laps around the beach. In fact, to anyone that knows him, this is probably the happiest he's ever looked.

And if he catches you watching, he'll happily wave you over. ]

Would you care to join me? There's nothing quite so exhilarating as a good workout.

SHADES DARKER (MINI QUEST 1)

[ Every now and then, even without Lord Chrom around, Fred's overbearing instincts kick in. The house gets cleaned from top to bottom, the weeds around the house (and as far as two blocks down, much to the bemusement of the neighbors) get pulled, and he makes lunch for the whole household which everyone frequently forgets to bring with them.

He's taken the liberty of dropping off Clair's lunch today, lest she starve to death, but Lady Luck has seen fit to turn her face away from him. Clair is nowhere to be found, the gaggle of models at the front are all too happy to press themselves against him, and what's meant to be a simple three minute task suddenly turns into a much longer stay as he's pulled to a side room, one of the girls determined to bully him into doing a favor for their wonderful Lady Koralle.

In this case: mixing and matching perfumes alongside a few other patrons.

So there he sits on a plush chaise lounge, the tie around his neck askew and tufts of hair sticking straight up, looking absolutely befuddled at the dozens of small glass bottles in front of him. ]

I'm afraid I haven't the foggiest idea what scents young women like to wear these days.

[ NOTE: I'd like to stick mostly to SFW options for this prompt (truthfulness, relaxation, etc) but if you're interested in NSFW options, send me a message/hit me up on plurk and we can hash something out. 18+ F only. ]

AROUND OLYMPIA (MINI-QUEST 2)

[ In the interest of fostering better relations between Wyver and Olympia, Frederick has taken it upon himself gather some samples of the local flora and bring them over. Rumors float in the air of a man willing to reward anyone who comes forth, though of course Frederick is less interested in the reward than he is the idea of improving goodwill.

He's currently attempting to tackle a cluster of stickweed, the task made all the more difficult by the little bits of fluff that keep attaching themselves to his clothes, his skin, his hair. But he pays them no mind, because surely they're harmless, like fuzz from a dandelion, and so he keeps going, never quite realizing that the puffs are lifting him up and away until he bonks his head on a nearby tree branch. At which point, it becomes quite obvious that something is definitely not right. ]

What's the meaning of this—?

[ A little help here? ]

[ ooc: Or pick a different plant, I'm easy. ]

WILDCARD

[ ooc: I'm definitely open to any other situation that strikes your fancy! Feel free to slap down a starter or leave me a blank wildcard and let's get this ball rolling. ]

Comments

[notwagging]

[ well, that's a pretty big surprise to Keaton, too! he thought Fred would've just floated above the water, but instead he must be so heavy that his weight took him all the way down into the water. ]

H-hey. I... uh. At least we can get the rest of the weed off of you, right?

[ except Keaton is doing his best to not touch the water too much. in fact, he angles his body in such a way so that his tail won't get touched, standing on his tippy-toes while lowering his upper body.

basically he's shoving his butt in the air. ]

Is it working...?

[pebblestone]

[ Put that butt back down from where it came or so help him—

Though, all things considered, this is probably for the best. The water's enough to splash some sense back into him, as is the dull pain of river pebbles digging into his shin. ]

Well, I'm no longer floating in the air, so it appears to be working.

[ He clambers up into a sitting position and proceeds to pick off all the white fuzz on him. No point in standing when half his frame is drenched in water. Speaking of water—he peers at Keaton quizzically. ]

The water's just fine. Not too cold.

[ Don't be a pansy. ]

[notwagging]

[ NO the butt stays where it is, it's not coming down for no one. ]

True! You're definitely on the ground.

[ hands on his sides, it's a little awkward to do this while keeping his tail raised--- so he has to return to a somewhat normal standing position. still, that one part of him doesn't lower. not even an inch. ]

Yeah? Well... that's fine. I'm glad.

[ but the longer he stays in the water, his face gets a little redder with every passing second. something is making him awfully uncomfortable. ]

So. Who're you.

[ gotta break up that anxiety somehow, even if it's with small talk while he tries not to think about his fur getting touched by the Worst Thing Ever. ]

[pebblestone]

[ 'I'm glad' he says, and yet he doesn't move from his spot, only huddles closer to himself away from the water. How bizarre. Does he really fear the water so much?

If Fred were any other person - like, for example, Henry or Miriel - he'd test this hypothesis, casually splash some water in Keaton's direction just to see what might happen. But he isn't, and so Keaton is saved, and instead Frederick simply continues to rinse himself off and pick off bits of fluff.

He'll still ask about it, though. Later. ]

Sir Frederick, of Ylisse. And you are?

[ Other than afraid of the water. ]

[notwagging]

[ let's start with the first thing: he would actually cover Henry in fur if he did that, and Miriel would PROBABLY scare him more than water. but he's happy that Fred's answer is formal and courteous despite being the surprise bath. ]

... uh. Keaton. [ he fidgets nervously. ] Keaton of... Mount Garou? Nohr? The mountain is in Nohrian territory, so.

[ another little wiggle, the tip of his tail twitching then tilting, starting to slowly lower. mostly because it gets tired, and he's pretty sure it won't touch the water? ]

Looks like you got most of it off. [ a pause, then: ] Weird how it seems like it can lift whatever or whoever it wants.

[pebblestone]

[ He's never heard of this Mount Garou or Nohr, but if nothing else, it lets him know that his new furry friend is most likely another refugee rather than a native of either Wyver of Olympia. ]

A pleasure, Keaton. [ Though he says this somewhat distractedly, still too puzzled by the white fuzz he brushes off. ] Yes, it's certainly very strange. How can such small weightless things lift up a fully-grown man?

[ He's not really one for the sciences, but even he finds himself intrigued. Not enough to go back there and test out various theories, of course, he'll leave that one for Miriel whenever she wakes. IN ANY CASE. Once he picks off the last of the fuzz, he peers at Keaton. ]

Thank you for the assistance. Did you require your favor now?

[ He's a man of his word, after all. ]