pawnstorm | OPEN

Entry tags:

OPEN

Who: Anyone!
When: backdated 3/14
Where: Hall of Glory courtyard
What: You thought you'd just come and go normally, but no there's an obstacle course and a...barbecue...? In the courtyard...? Obstacle course log that requires TEAMWORK ~~or cheating~~ to get through!
Rating: Naked, succulent meats, but otherwise nah

The courtyard of the Hall of Glory today looks a bit different. It also smells delicious. Are those cooked meats? Sizzled vegetables? There's BBQ going on and it's all free, costs covered! The only problem? It's at the center of this damn obstacle course. You could just leave and get your own food. ...But that still involves going through the course ~~or one of the side exits of the compound, but where's the fun in that~~. Either way you should probably do as the sign helpfully pitched next to the entrance of the course says:

DON'T GO ALONE TAKE A PARTNER

I. THE ROPE BRIDGE
The entrance to the course is a ladder leading high up. When you get to the top... Congrats, a rope bridge awaits you. You can go it alone, but without someone to hold the ladder for you to keep it from flipping over you'll probably fall fifteen feet below. Onto a pile of cushions and...seagulls and cats? The cushions are covered in thrown out fish heads. Take this fall and you're going to have animals following you around all day. Probably best avoided.

II. THE SLIDE
You're doing good! Now it's time to get back down to the ground, lucky you. Your option is the slide in front of you. Just... Well. You're going to have a bad time when you reach the bottom unless your partner keeps the flames extinguished with a little ice magic (these flames will instantly re-ignite themselves once all ice has melted away, you see. Kind of a bitch). Don't know ice magic? Well that's what the helpful sign with step-by-step instructions to casting a low level ice spell is for! Time for a magic lesson!

III. THE BBQ
You reached it! Now you don't have to suffer Monday's deadly menu in the cafeteria. ...Oh. You were trying to get out? Keep pressing on, hero. Or not. Sit down. Have a bite! With a grill and a large selection of meats and vegetables to choose from along with water and juice there's plenty to go around. Maybe chitchat with the chef. Or maybe you've been conned into being the chef. There's no pay, but know you're doing your fellow heroes a great service!

IV. THE BOUNCE HOUSE
You enter a tunnel. Things get dark. And then suddenly there's flashing lights everywhere and every step your partner takes makes the floor rise beneath you, sending you flying up. You've enter the most obnoxious bounce house Caissa has to offer. Better figure out a way to walk in tandem with your partner or the two of you are going to be tumbling all over. Which isn't what you want seeing as you're not alone in here. Every bounce sends up slimy tendrils that squirm in your hair, your clothes, down your back. Isn't this obstacle course supposed to be kid friendly!? Get a good look in the strobe lights and you'll realize it's just worms. You're safe. Still disgusting though.

V. THE WALL
This is it. Then end. Finally. You can get out of this incredibly lame obstacle course. The final thing in your way? A wall of hay. Happily munching away cows included. At 15" high you can't get over this thing alone. Maybe if you stand on your partner's shoulders? Whatever it takes, now's the time to get creative because those cows sure aren't demolishing the wall any time soon at the rate they're chewing.

WILDCARD/INFO
This is just an obstacle course for fun to get characters ICly thinking about teaming up with one another and how to work together on their own terms in a safe (if...weird...) environment. Feel free to make up your own obstacles, wreck parts of the course, solve the obstacles however you like, etc. Essentially rule of funny goes!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Can't look a gift horse in the mouth, so... sure. Just don't drop me.

[ Wukong has to swallow his pride for a moment. Though he would be able to scale the impressive 'mountain', why expend energy if he doesn't have to? That way, if anything were to happen after going over it, he'd be able to do whatever else the obstacle course asked of him. ]

So should I just climb on your back or will you carry me bridal style?

[ Ha, being princess carried... ~~wait~~. ]

[ Pause. ]

You can go across alone just fine, can you not?

[ He's not going to help you if you can do it yourself. ]

[ The grin he wears freezes on his face for a moment, before fading into a pout. ]

Oh. Well, yeah. I just figured, you know... you could help a monkey out.

[ A very capable one, but darn. The way Light said it makes it look like Wukong will have to climb. With a defeated shrug, he approaches the bales and glances upward. ]

... yeah, I can do this. Do you mind keeping me company while I take a go at this?

[ Staff in his tail, he cracks his knuckles. ]

[ Well, he is a god of industry. No use profiting off other people when you could achieve your own happiness by yourself. ]

I could, but you are quite large. It may hamper both our speed.

[ Given that he's not very fast himself, it's going to be a serious problem. ]

Of course. I will go with you.

[ He waits until Wukong has started to climb before taking off, wingbeats surprisingly silent despite their size. ]

[ With a quiet snort of indignation, he starts to climb. Strong hands clench hay, pulling chunks of it out as he starts to ascend the less-than-dangerous height. At least, it's not as bad as long as LL spots him.

Only a third of the way up, Wukong checks to make sure he's being followed and he is--- those wings don't sound like anything at all. ]

Huh. So are you an angel or something?

[ He's able to speak normally, even as he expends his energy. Might as well enjoy a conversation through the monotony of climbing Mount Bale. ]

[ Wukong's movements are energetic and strong - as befitting a person of his stature, of course. Lord Light watches in quiet curiosity - he is not human, and yet there are certain traits that show as a blend of both ape and man.

The question, though : ]

I am not. However, I am not human.

[ It doesn't really answer Wukong's question, but he really doesn't want to say it blankly. ]

[ The best of both worlds: sentience gained through an unusual, magical birth and an upbringing alongside humans. Wukong is as close to human as a monkey can be, except being a monkey is about 100% cooler. ]

Huh. Could have fooled me, with the wings and all. [ Pausing for a moment, he wipes sweat off of his forehead and turns to look at Light with a smirk. ]

Then, I can assume you're not a devil as well? [ Wukong's pretty happy with himself, this man could either be his angel or devil and would hate to find out if he was a liar too...

But then, the hay shakes. Two cows must be fighting over one very specific piece of hay, because Wukong loses his focus and suddenly he's not clinging to the bales anymore and...!!! ]

[ He'll not comment on that, since he's not human either. ]

It does give that impression, yes. [ Leaving out the detail that he kind of created angels too, since he can't do that now. ] You can assume that too. I am neither -

[ - he would have added more at this point, if not for the fact that the bales oscillate much more violently than Wukong can handle. Lord Light cuts his sentence short, dropping a feet of height so he can catch the monkey by his armpits.

Unfortunately for the both of them, his wings don't have gravity-nullification properties anymore, so the added weight causes him to lose another two feet before he can stabilize himself. His wings are indeed making sounds now, deep beats that almost resonate in one's ears. ]

Is it alright with you if I place you back upon the wall once it has settled?

[ He's... not the strongest, admittedly. They're hovering, but that's it. ]

[ Wukong wasn't sure what he was expecting, whether he'd be caught or not as well as how painful it would be if he hit the ground from this height. Maybe using his weapon to keep himself from going SPLAT! would have been effective, but there were other dangers inherent to doing that.

Being caught, of course, removes those potential Bad Ends out of his thoughts. He's surprised how quickly Light reacted, given how suddenly his grip was lost? But now, he can hear the hard thumps of wings straining to keep two beings afloat, not to mention the small drop they took. It didn't take a genius to understand a still semi-precarious situation. ]

Yeah, no problem. No rush.

[ There isn't a rush, and the last thing he wanted to do was potentially cause both of them to plummet. Either way, before the cows get tired battling for hay domination... ]

Well, whatever or whoever you are? Glad you're here.

[ Lord Light doesn't have a body like most living beings, so there is no heavy breathing nor strain in his voice to signify the effort that he now has to expend. The only sign would be his wings being more laboured than before. He can barely keep his height, much less fly upwards. ]

Thank you. [ And then, to answer his statement: ] I am who I am. And - what I have done is only logical. You need not thank me.

[ His attention is focused on the hay bales. Once they settle back to their previous conformation, he would fly closer and try to place Wukong back onto them as gently as he can. ]

Your kindness deserves a 'thanks'. [ Slowly, he leaves the safety of Lord Light's arms and back onto the stable hay. The brief rest allows him to start climbing immediately at a steady pace, looking more than happy to get over the obstacle to avoid another cow-based interruption. ]

And you're definitely not human. [ Obviously, with the wings and all, but: ] Logic doesn't easily come to them.

I will take that.

[ He's deferring to Wukong's opinion here. When the monkey is safely upon the hay, he will continue flying upwards to keep pace. ]

I know. Humans are very emotional, it is a consequence of their short lives.

[ Too ruled by their primal instincts, that's what. ]

Makes sense. I mean, I know I can be very emotional too, but... well, I don't make the mistakes that might shorten my lifespan.

[ He can almost see the top! Almost over! His muscles burn, but that's a good feeling--- it's been a while since he's been pushed to a physical limit. ]

So, are you immortal or something? Feels like you've probably lived a long time, if anything... longer than me, too.

[ Wukong's been alive for like, four years. Four long years ~~of buffs and nerfs~~? He's an adult, though. ]

[ It's a wise decision to make. Even though most humans tend to not make decisions that can lead to their deaths, the way Wukong says it seems to accentuate the difference between him and others. ]

I am. I will not die as long as my spirit persists.

[ It's... not a lie, honestly. He can no longer access the Golden Aether, the realm which he returns to if his physical vessel is destroyed - but he can feel the connection to it nevertheless. ]

[ Last... few... okay! He's finally up there, the peak of the hay mountain, and he's glad to be done! It's rather picturesque, being able to see the entirety of the obstacle course and others attempting the various tests. There's enough space for him to stand and then crouch with his hands on his legs. ]

Well, I knew a few like you back home. Some weren't exactly friendly, so in a way, I'm relieved someone with your disposition exists here.

[ Staring down, Wukong realizes that he has to make the trip down, too... ]

[ It's a good thing, then. He's been told about the same by Adrasteius, and his mellow disposition commented on more than once. He's glad that it can set people at ease. ]

I will not raise a hand against those pure of heart and mind. [ His aspect revolves around judgment, after all. He has to take action against the wicked. ] I seek to learn and understand. You need not worry, I will not hurt you.

[ There's no reason to, as far as he's seen. ]

[ 'Pure of heart and mind'... ]

That sounds exactly like me. Not to mention, I respect your want to learn. Especially during a time of war... or something.

[ He says this, recognizing the concept of participating in this Ninja Warrior-esque game! Still, it's time to go down and with a heavy sigh, he starts to climb down. His tail tucking safely away with his weapon. ]

[ He actually means it as 'absent of malicious intent'. 'Absent of lewd' is something else altogether. ]

Only a fool would believe there ever existed a reason to stop learning.

[ It's all he says about the topic, gliding downwards along with Wukong as he descends. ]

~~[ internal screaming ]~~

My master once told me that there are no lack of lessons to an open mind! Then again, this was also after I told him he needed to learn how to brew a more interesting cup of tea...

[ It's easier on the way down than it was going up, which is a blessing. As he gets closer to the ground, he stops when he knows that a fall wouldn't hurt him. ]

... but yeah. I don't plan on stopping any learning until I'm the best. Even then, I'll continue so I can be better than that.

[ And with a smirk, he pushes off of the hay with both feet, flipping backward as he vaults toward the ground. Landing safely, the monkey raises his hands in the air and exclaims: ]

Ta-dah!

[ Wukong's atitude is something that he greatly likes, so that gets the monkey a rare, noticeable smile from him. ]

It is a good path to pursue. You will become a better individual that way.

[ He lands delicately, folding his wings. An instant later, they've vanished. ]

I would consider this a job well done.

It's hard to see any other path but that one.

[ And he stretches, up and out, side to side. Happy to be on solid ground again, Wukong gives LL a a smile right back! ]

I would, too! Man, that was a climb... I think I need to jump in a bath or something. Probably one of the best things about this place is getting to relax on a more constant basis than what I'm used to.

[ Rigorous training, deadly arena battles, and sometimes food without bananas in it. ]

And thanks again for catching me. Maybe one day, I'll be able to return the favor.

[ And he flashes a thumbs-up! ]

[ That line earns Wukong a great deal of his approval, really. ]

I will look forward to working with you again. You are true of mind.

[ That's a compliment, by the way. Even if Wukong sounds to him to be one to enjoy the simpler things of life, because such a preference doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. It is important to relax. ]

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