intro ♚ december

[boardmaster]

WELCOME TO POLGAR

We’ve all had those dreams: you wake up on a table, to blurry, ominous images and the certainty that you are absolutely buck-naked in a room full of strangers. This is not quite it.

Instead, you come awake to the sun on your face. The soft burble of water nearby. The hustle and bustle of a busy street and the faint, fortifying smell of bread. You open your eyes and there’s no one there at your bedside, but there is what appears to be the end of the world happening just beyond your window.

There’s a crack in the world across the sky, the “sun” is the totally unnatural light spilling from that crack straight into your eyes, and someone’s left a neatly pressed and folded uniform at the foot of the bed that isn’t yours. Somewhere in the room, there’s a strange clatter like beads, the click of claws on the floor.

Something’s in here with you.

Also, you are naked.

ONE ♟ My Anaconda Don’t

Brace yourselves, Heroes, for Prime Minister Teddy has a special announcement for you today. It’ll be delivered either via carrier or mechanical pigeon.

	Woman? Hello, Heroes! Hmm? Who am I? If I don’t tell you who you are, you’re calling the police? Ahaha, no need to be so hasty!
	Thierry Toussaint It’s me, Teddy! The prime minister. This might be overwhelming for the new arrivals, but we need everyone’s help for this mission. Have you heard of the Alfersa? They’re a proud warrior race that live in Polgar. They’re said to be blessed by the goddess Gladia since they’re naturally strong, sensitive to mana, and skilled in combat. I guess they’re pretty much like our Knights? Without the magical talent, of course. We’re hoping they’ll lend us a hand in protecting Blanc. The Alfersa are distrustful of men, so negotiations have been difficult… Now that the Gladia Games are underway, I’m hoping to meet some beautiful women—I mean, recruits! It’s a recruitment drive, after all! Right, Alex?
	Alexandre Verdoni Prime Minister, I don’t know what possessed you to think your ridiculous ideas will actually work, but please refrain from making a scene at the Games.
	Thierry Toussaint Ah, ah. [ waves a finger at ] It’s not Prime Minister. It’s Zeed Stun, an enigmatic beauty from the East! Alex, come with us!
	Alexandre Verdoni No. Please refrain from making transparent aliases undercover. Heroes, the Alfersans have an extremely matriarchal society. The Prime Minister recommends that you follow his example to fall in their leader’s good graces, but I personally find it unnecessary. Stand tall, be proud, and may Gladia bless you on your journey. Oh, and… dress light. Get some sunscreen.

You’ll be given time to prepare before heading out. This is when you decide if you’ll follow after PM Teddy’s example or not. He has provided a generous number of colorful dresses to choose from. Unsure of how to pull off a good look? Ask your fellow Heroes or the maids and butlers of Hall of Glory for assistance.

Once you’ve made it safely to Polgar, you’ll be greeted with a feast for the eyes. A procession appears to be underway with several nubile women dancing to the beat of drums. For every pause in the drumming, anklets fill the air with a sweet, chiming sound. Leading the parade are scantily-clad shrine maidens. Should you happen to stumble too close, you will be greeted with an icy stare. Waiting at the end of the road is the matriarch of the Alfersans…

	Thierry Toussaint O Gracious One, I am Zeed Stun. Today, I am here to show you the dance of my people—
	??? You have a snake.
	Thierry Toussaint I’m sorry?
	??? You have [ grabs between his legs ] a snake.
	Thierry Toussaint Guh!
	??? [ in one fluid motion, the woman smears Teddy’s makeup off and makes him her personal footrest. for the first time since the Heroes’ arrival, she smiles. ] … Oh, praise Gladia. So these are the Heroes She said I would meet. I am Diana Serpente, Queen of the Alfersa, Lady of the Serpents, and head priestess of Gladia’s temple. Gladia has been telling me all about you. Ever since you put the soul of my ancestor to rest, I’ve been thinking of a way to repay you. After receiving this [ digs her heels into Teddy’s back ] pitiful man’s request, I should have known it all along… Lending you our strength was the answer.
	Thierry Toussaint Thank y—ugh!!
	Diana Serpente [ steps off Teddy… ] However, we don’t help just anyone. What’s friendship… [ lifts the chin of the nearest female Hero ] without a little intimacy? The Gladia Games are underway. I invite you all to join us in the festivities! Before we fight, let us make merry in the name of Gladia!

As you walk around Polgar, you’ll lay eyes on the various shops, with those specialized in weapons and armor the most renowned and high quality of them all. Female Heroes are in luck as they will receive discounts. Male Heroes will have to pay the regular price regardless of what they look like. However, those who didn’t decide to look pretty for the occasion will find a much increased price tag. If you’re in desperate need of colle, these shops will let you polish and arrange their merchandise for a decent wage.

TWO ♟ It’s a Jungle Out There

As per tradition, everyone participating in the Gladia Games must hunt down the monsters near the city. It is believed that Gladia herself sends them a different beast each year. This year, giant spiders crawl dangerously close to Polgar’s outskirts. Bring parts of the spider back to the city as proof of your skill and valor. Those who kill fifteen or more spiders win ONE of these fabulous prizes: one high quality weapon or armor, their very own pet anaconda or a night with Teddy!

In the Polgarian jungles, the humid air is thick with blood. Ferns and heavy branches covered in thick moss make the area difficult to navigate. Reedy sunlight filters in through the trees. You have a feeling that you are being watched… In fact, venomous snakes might jump out of the underbrush! Should you get bitten, have another Hero heal or help you suck out the venom. But don’t get distracted; danger looms from above as well. Like in the forests between Caissa and Petrosian, leafy vines are prone to descending and embracing Heroes rather intimately.

Heroes who have paid a visit to Salamanca Temple back in the day might recognize the spider nests once they’ve found them. These arachnids the size of a car will leap very high into the air and scuttle between branches to camouflage themselves during the battle. Some might even spin a cocoon for you until they come back to snack on you later. Avoid getting bitten—their venom can render you numb and unintelligible.

Kill the spiders and take down the nests, but remember: no one wants a forest fire. Safety first!

THREE ♟ Light and Sweet, Hot and Heavy

The Alfersans will welcome you back once you return to Polgar and are happy to take the spider parts off your hands. You didn’t forget to bring them with you, did you?

The festivities are now in full swing! Heroes, hit the streets for the citywide party! Large trays with food are being passed around as Alfersans view the close sharing of food as an act of camaraderie. It is customary for men to feed the women by hand. Yes, with their fingers. Alfersans will also encourage Heroes to join their dances, and some will keep dancing in front of you until you agree. As it turns out, dancing together actually only means holding hands and taking a jovial stroll around the shrines. You should be light on your feet and stay in rhythm, but the ritual isn’t too difficult.

Dancing may be good for the soul but your feet can only carry you so long until you are tired. Why not check into one of the many resorts? Or check out the far more numerous high-class brothels? Or perhaps you’d rather spend a relaxing day at the hot springs, spas or restaurants? The hot springs in particular are quite special here, as they are heated by the kiss of molten hot magma, blessed by Gladia herself. They possess healing properties, yes, but more curiously, if you happen to soak in the warmth for too long, you may start to feel a bit… virile.

INFO ♟ Welcome!

Welcome to Crosscheck's Month intro log! Please remember to read the Arrival Info! For any further questions, please see the FAQ or reach us at the Contact Us page. Have fun!

Comments

QUESTIONS

[boardmaster]

Please direct all OOC questions about this intro log here.

HALL OF GLORY

[boardmaster]

[Top-levels for individual room interaction or mingling at Weapon and Carrier collections at the Hall of Glory may go here.]

WEAPON & CARRIER COLLECTION

[boardmaster]

K206

[encaging]

Q102

[kenran]

[ This can go one of two ways. As in,

"Hi, nice to meet you!"

or

"NOPE.gif"

there's no in between. ]

nero claudius | open

[aurea]

l'armour. {one}

[As a lover of things aplenty, especially sharp and dangerous things, Nero had naturally been attracted to Polgar's mercantile offerings. Unfortunately, there's just one problem: even with a generous discount applied, she's absolutely broke, and she also absolutely must have the golden breastplate shimmering in the window. Talk about a dilemma.

...except it isn't, really. Begging may be beneath her as an emperor, but negotiating certainly was not. That's why she "negotiates" her way to the side of the nearest Hero and smiles.]

Oh, what's this I see? From first glance, your pocketbook seems rather stuffed.

[Pat, pat. Yes, she just felt up your backside, shamelessly.]

We should take care to lighten this immediately, I feel! This way, this way...!

on the vine. {two}

[Nero was many things at heart: an emperor, an artist, a visionary, a scholar. But in her heart of hearts, she was also an adventurer, a Hero in her own eyes and for all history, so of course she jumped at the chance to strut her stuff and collect a few spider parts. Not even for the reward as much as the thrill, although... this may have been more thrill than she bargained for.

Or perhaps not enough. Because right now, she's caught in the grips of a rather friendly snag of vines, though she doesn't look too bothered by it. This too was valuable experience.]

Now, mind yourself. I am no mere floozy to be courted through brutish tactics alone!

[...actually, it looks like she's trying to scold the beast into submission. That's certainly an interesting tactic.]

feed me. {three}

[And thus Nero has found herself a throne.

Should she have been allowed such a luxury? Probably not, but she'd caught on fast to the Polgar tradition of feminine domination and quickly played it to her advantage. Seated high above the festivities on a golden pillow, Nero chats up the Alfersa while sizing up her food for the evening. Her food not being the literal kind, but the men she will soon devour.

When she sees someone she likes, she calls out to them.]

You there. Come forth.

[If they are male, she will demand to be fed. If they are female, she will demand a dance. If they are clearly neither, she'll try to pull them straight onto her lap! How forward.]

wildcard.

[Spider battles, brothel visits, a dip in the hot springs, whatever! Nero can be found almost everywhere, so don't be afraid to invent your own prompt.]

On the Vine

[rangerandking]

I do not think your tactics will work. {He may seem like nothing more than a glowing sword at first. Aragorn cuts at the vines, keeping a cautious eye on any movement in the undergrowth.} They do not listen to reason.

{And more dangerous beasts lurk within the shadows.}

one

[soulshift]

Saber...?

[ Irisviel was very worried because not only was she concerned that Saber was... addressing her strangely, plus was that her hand on her backside?! She blinks, rather alarmed as she was lead towards the stalls. ]

Are you alright?

[ Then she sees that Saber is indicating towards the golden breastplate. ]

Um... this looks like something Gilgamesh would have in his Gate of Babylon.

[ which was her way of saying it was kinda gaudy....... ]

1/2

[gwenhwyfar]

[ It's food and if there's one thing she loves unconditionally next to handsome men, it's food. So she sits and takes up a rather big plate for a woman (the again, she is fairly tall) in clothing that has a bit of a Celtic flare and-

What was that?

]

[gwenhwyfar]

[ She's not talking to her, is she? With a slow blink- ]

Are you talking to me?

[ Oh. That's precious. With a slow sip a wine and with the utmost grace. ]

Make me.

[ The most mature response. ]

3

[guerrilla]

[It takes Robin a few seconds to recognize where he's heard that voice before. He'd mistaken her for Artoria at a glance, but...no, that's definitely Hakuno's Saber.

As with her Master, there's a certain sense of indebtedness Robin feels toward her for giving him a chance to fight the way a real hero would. It hasn't stuck in Caissa, because he can't justify losing the effectiveness of underhanded tactics, but trying it even once was kind of nice.

That said, hand-feeding her is going too far, especially when he's pretty sure she's just fucking with him.]

Are you sure? I'm the last person here who should be handling food, you know...it might end up tasting a little funny.

[He doesn't have any real quarrel with her now that the Grail War is over, but that doesn't mean he's going to get too friendly with her, either.]

one?!

[hoasen]

[This feels like deja vu?! There was a time she first met someone and they had to on a shopping spree...well, that was a couple of meets later but still. The point stands.

Vietnam, to new people, doesn't mind spending for them though, only because she really is rolling in dough.

However, she jumps when her backside is touched.]

E-excuse me?!

Feed Me

[stonebird]

(Polgar traditions are downright refreshing for Sansa - who has learned, both to her benefit and detriment, how to exist in a male-ruled society. She finds a new strength - and a new pride - in herself as she watches and participates in the festivities. Her laughter, however, is cut off abruptly at the order and, for a moment, she feels herself stiffen in uncertainty and a barely contained fear.

Who dares to order her so? Who believes they have that right? She is rather angry at the memories the voice produces and, when she turns, she is frowning faintly.)

Were you speaking to me? (The woman is...lovely, but something about her brings a certain pair of Lannisters to mind.)

feed me

[sealeted]

[Hakuno turns at the call, her cheeks flushed and and her eyes glancing around furtively—their hosts had been very attentive, and she's been trying to find a way to politely turn down the very attractive man trying to hand-feed her.

A strange feeling of deja vu wells up within her.]

...me?

one

[ateaist]

[Well, that's the best way to get her attention. Shameless behaviour like that speaks to Nobunaga, deep in the heart.]

Hm? What're you-?

[oh wait, that's...]

...red saber?

Keiji Maeda | Sengoku Basara

[kenran]

1-A

[ The good news? Keiji knows how to dress pretty. It won't get him a discount or any favors of course, later on everyone learns the Alfersa are perceptive and it'd be best to not get... grabbed down there. But the bishounen upkeep is enough of a natural skill for him that he'd be happy to help fellow heroes out, whether they're guy or girl. Or if they actually want to go through with this silly plan of Mister, er, Miss Stun. ]

Do you want me to fix your hair? It helps make it convincing! You know, complete the look and all.

[ His own hair goes down his back and looks pretty tidy with some hairpins, it might be a good offer. He managed to get a comb and some accessories from one of the maids that took well to getting an extra hand for all this dress-up. One wonders how they feel about their Prime Minister's plans. ]


1-B

[ Well! That is certainly one hell of a way to welcome Heroes. Or heaven in Keiji's case, because look at all those lovely ladies in clothes that do their job and accentuate the right things... They sure are proud ladies.

Yeah, you can expect how well having an attitude like that does for a guy in Polgar. ].

Don't worry about it! I've been hit with worse in my life.

[ He's bleeding. It's right at his temple and drips down the side of his face before he rubs it away and applies some pressure to the wound. He sounds very light-hearted about it, hoping that his fellow Hero won't worry... or go easy on the scolding. Either or. ]

It's hard not to stare, to be honest.

[ A sheepish smile. He can't say he regrets it though... He likes women, and he likes strong, competent women too! Something something poetic about passion and fiery hearts. However, "quiet appreciation" of the female from does not fly here unless you want to end up a footstool. One imagines even saying it out loud, instead of being quiet ends up worse...

Ii Naotora, if you were here, eat your heart out, Miss Protector of women's hearts. ]


3-something

[ FOOD. After a day of spider hunting and vine-cutting, what a perfect way to end the day. It's not all stuff that he recognizes, and while it can't compare to stuff back home from Sis Matsu's kitchen, the feeling of celebration is a welcome one. Still, this is a new place, a new world even, and Keiji's curiosity is getting the better of him. The Hero thing may be starting to settle in his mind, but it's not going to change that he likes a free-spirited lifestyle. One that comes and goes... like now. ]

Hey, you want to take a walk? I want to go explore, and I bet you too. C'mon!

[ Whoever they are that was approaches, Keiji gently tugs on their sleeve with one hand, the other has a plate of dumplings snagged from the table he was at. The filling is a mystery for the non-natives, but still delicious with the spongy bread shell! also perfect for snacking on the go. ]


wildcard option!

((Want to do something else from this log's prompts? Sure! I'm up for anything.))

3

[soulshift]

Oh! Certainly...

[ says Irisviel with a small smile. Unlike the other the new people she's encountered, he seems much more... happy? And less concerned about where he is and what he's doing here.

And then she notices the dumplings in his hand. ]

Are you sure those are safe to eat?

nakigitsune | open

[foxhands]

one

[thrust into strange new events in a strange new world, nakigitsune found himself entirely out of his depth the minute he woke up today. unsure what the correct thing to do is in a situation like this, and without his trusty fox for advice, he finds himself wandering aimlessly through the streets of polgar. in a dress.

he didn't put any effort whatsoever into this getup, and he's not exactly used to dresses in the first place, but hopefully he still looks okay? not that he cares about that. what has his attention right now is the people! the buildings! the shops! he's basically wandering around wide-eyed like an adventurous kid off his toddler leash. what's this! what's that! what's the other thing!

later, you might also find him putting great care into polishing weapons for the shops. their well-being is important, after all.]

three

[ah yes, a nice relaxing feast after a hard day's work. the food really is good, and he doesn't mind the hand-feeding if anybody wants him to do that. the dancing seems easy enough to do, too, though however easy it might be, he's still a little shy about actually doing it.

which means, of course, that at some point he manages to get stuck with a friendly reveler insisting he join in. dance! dance! dance! as the flustered not-quite-fox awkwardly tries to wave the stranger away.

will anybody come to save him! or maybe you're the one inviting him to dance! or something to do with food?

unrelated to that, if he finds someone else being a wallflower (or having anything noticeably fox-related on them), then hello! he's staring at you! this probably means something.]

one

[sakeplz]

[Oh you poor sweet child. Jirou is so worried about your well being! Wandering around the streets...wearing that dress all wrong.

No really. That's actually his first concern. Mainly because the little fox sword is obviously okay right now so obviously he plans to focus on the fact that said sword needs fashion help. Badly.]

Naki-chaaaaaan. That's not how you wear that!

[And he's sweeping in to cup his face with both his hands, smiling sweetly. Of course he has a dress on too but he looks flawless in it right down to hair and makeup. Which is no surprise really given his beauty.]

Come here with Jirou-san and he'll get you fixed up.

Toma | ota!

[encaging]

one

[ It is somewhat disappointing to learn just how bad Blanc is at being a sugar daddy. Clothes? Check. Bed and board? Check? Weapon? Check. Money? That’s where things start to fall apart. Answers to what is going on and why Toma has been dragged from the comforts of his home in order to fight some war in a world he wasn’t part of before? A little less than a vague shrug and the standard explanation.

He’d like a refund.

Which he unfortunately won’t be getting and what’s left to do is to tackle the first issue at hand. That being the lack of colle. It’s a good thing that Toma’s already used to working so when one of the shopkeepers asks him if he wants to earn a little extra, he wastes no time and jumps on it.

Polishing armor isn’t too different from washing dishes. The smell of the wooden floor is nostalgic to Toma so when the doorbell tinkles, he immediately lifts his head to smile at whoever just came in.

And greets them with a well practised 'Welcome back, Master!' or ‘Welcome home, Mistress!’

...Old habits die hard? ]


two

[ Toma’s breath leaves him in short, quick puffs as he lowers himself to hide behind a tree. This is madness, pure madness. He doesn’t know much about other Heroes yet but aside from traditional archery classes, Toma has no battle experience whatsoever. And being tossed straight into the cold water (or rather, hot jungle) isn’t going to endear the entire matter of the war to him. At all.

Whiners don’t get very far in life though.

So Toma takes a deep breath and pushes himself back up. The bite wound on the back of his upper arm throbs in time with his heartbeat. Sweat trickles down his temple which he wipes away with hasty fingers.

He can’t stay here and hide forever. He has spiders to hunt down and who knows - Maybe someone out there is in some dire need of backup? ]


wildcard!
Or tell me what you want, what you really, really want.

two

[notwagging]

[ Giant spiders? No problem! If anyone knows how to break a spider into pieces with relative ease, even if it's not in his beast-like form, it's Keaton. His love of spiders AND big hunks of dead spider can finally be sated, though he's very careful not to destroy them into bits. Even better? Being rewarded for his slightly unpractical method of slamming his fists into their faces with ferocious enthusiasm.

As he finishes up pounding another spider into goo, it stands to reason that he's gotten very sweaty. Very hot. Even though it's not terribly practical, he has to finally do what MUST BE DONE...

... and tears his uniform's jacket open, to let his skin breathe a little better. ]

Whew! What was that, number ten? Eleven?

[ Talking to himself in a jungle. The reminder that he's alone in the middle of a strange place weighs heavily on him, especially on the tail. If he wasn't distracted, he'd surely be a little more upset, but. ]

Hey. Who's that?

[ And so he stomps towards Toma, though he has no idea that it's him. Time to investigate! Maybe it'll prove to be more of a challenge than a spider. ]

asano keigo | ota

[loudmouths]

A: WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS

1: YOU CAN'T MAKE ME
Keigo had just gotten over the entire mistletoe situation when he came to learn there was yet another facet to his current nightmare. He'd received the message, just like everyone else, but there was little that could mask the true horror in his eyes when he realized what the implication of it was. They expected him to dress like a woman? They had to be joking. There was no way anyone in their right mind would expect any of the men to participate in such a thing, right?

How wrong he truly was.

Apparently, the suggestion was being taken Very Seriously by some. Keigo was seeing a lot more guys wearing makeup than he ever sought to. Was this really necessary?? Couldn't they just grovel to the women instead? Convincing him to go through with the charade would take some extreme coaxing... or perhaps a pretty face pleading with him? In either case, he was stalling out as long as possible; embarrassing himself was never high on his priority list. Part of him even considered hiding in his room until it all blew over. Unfortunately, that wasn't what was expected of the Heroes, was it?

2: ...OK I GUESS YOU CAN
Either through intimidation tactics or his own gullibility, Keigo found himself amidst the festivities in Polgar... dressed for the occasion, as it were. Someone (was it you, perhaps??) had painstakingly dolled Keigo up, much to his endless pain and suffering. If it wasn't for the broadness of his shoulders or his insistence in carrying himself like a man, he might have been able to fool someone. Maybe. His more delicate features were accentuated through the magic of makeup, and his hair was lovingly feathered, and his eyes simply popped with the colors chosen...

Someone kill him.

The dress he was somehow fitted into was elegant enough for any proper lady, but to Keigo, it was a finely crafted torture device. He was fidgeting in place, resisting the urge to readjust himself in public through all the clambering of the parade and pounding of the drums. At the very least, he had some lovely eye candy for his trouble... those dancers? Man, some of them were stacked. Hopefully no one would notice a rather tall... lady... paying a bit too close of attention to said dancers. Or maybe they would and give him a proper thrashing.

B: LET'S GO HUNTING

Getting out of the dress had been such a high priority for Keigo, he didn't really care what the price was. Even if said price meant going spider-hunting. Didn't Orihime mention something about giant spiders a month or so ago? Or did he dream that up? Either way, Keigo was eagerly stomping through the forest, shedding the dress but not quite all of the makeup... Though he was in more traditional exploratory attire, that eyeliner and mascara were difficult to remove fully. So slaying spiders with stunning eyes would have to do.

"So... how big are these spiders, exactly?" Perhaps his fellow Hero would know the answer. After all, Keigo had a right to know how much shit he'd gotten himself into before it hit the fan, right?

C: JUST DON'T

After all was said and done, the idea of a hot spring sounded way too tempting to pass up. Keigo couldn't recall the last time he'd been in one, but that was all the more reason to investigate the ones open to him. Having sustained a number of minor scrapes and cuts in his journeys, the news that the springs held healing properties to them only bolstered his excitement. To think, a few months back, he would have laughed at the very idea of a hot spring having those kinds of qualities to it. Now? Now, he was expecting it. As he sunk into the waters, he let his mind drift. The steam had such a lulling effect, and everything felt like a warm blanket, coiled around him. He thought of his bed, back in Naruki, the soft covers and plush pillows that were the highlight of his home. How he could spend all day nestled in them, escaping the stress of his life, of his problems... It was so comforting...

...Maybe someone should say something about the guy slowly sinking into the springs? That can't be a good sign, right?

D: WILDCARD

[ HELLO FRIENDS. throw your ideas my way if these prompts don't work for you! /o/ let's plot! either PM me here or at heartsigh and we can hash something fun out! as always, i will gladly match format if action is more your jam! ]

B

[rangerandking]

"Large enough." Aragorn glanced up from ensuring he had enough rations for the hunt, one brow rising skeptically, "Are you frightened?"

While fear was a suitable response to giant arachnids, he knew that a hunter could not risk such a reaction. Freezing at the wrong moment or not thinking clearly could have deadly consequences.

"They are not as nimble as us." if that gave any comfort whatsoever.

Rory Connor | Open

[moreasleep]

One

The fuck business are you running?! You sold the same shit to her at a fraction of the price!

[Rory leaned over the counter as he screamed at the woman's face. He had taken the time to select the perfect handful of plants, only to find the woman wanted to charge him thrice the price labelled on it. The woman insisted that 'snakes', especially ugly ones, had to pay more.]

Eat a bag of dicks!!

[Maybe... maybe stop him. This was not looking good for the rest of the Heroes.]

Two

[Rory did not care for the slaughter. There were better methods for animal control. That was not why he came. As long as others were at risk of harm for this stupid game, he had to be there for them.

Should anyone appear to be in danger, he tore through the forest to get through them whether it was with a barrier to keep the animals at bay, or with a healing spell to mend wounds and dispel poisons.]

two

[openhanded]

[It's not exactly clear how it happened, but Sorey is a bit over his head. Kings have notoriously bad luck and he is no exception. At first it appears that the white-garbed King is simply out for a brisk jungly jog... and then five or six giant spiders skitter after him.

He spots Rory and waves his arms frantically.]

Run, man! They're really mad!!!

Wander | Open

[nh2h]

Two

[A swarm of spiders descended upon Wander, one of which snatched him up in its legs. His body was stiff as a board as it turned him around and placed him upon its web. The other spiders joined in as they spun a web around him.

...Yet, Wander was smiling throughout this entire fiasco. He seemed in no rush to escape, though it was dubious whether or not that was the work of venom or his own volition.]

Three: Blond-er edition

[The Alfersans stared, large tray held in their hands. They looked at Wander, whom sat prettily while he flipped his yellow hair and checked his lipstick. The women looked at each other; they could not even determine the species of this Hero, let alone its gender.

Upon seeing another Hero approach, Wander eagerly waved them over. After all, this food was meant to be shared! He found their traditions quaint and, while he was here, he might as well participate in them.

Later on, still wearing the same wig and makeup, he could be found encouraging Heroes to dance with him. Wallflowers and grumps alike were not safe from him. Everyone should have a little fun!]

2

[rangerandking]

{He has had his fill of these beasts! Aragorn spies Wander being lifted onto a web and runs to his aid without a single pause. Deftly, he climbs onto the backs of the creatures and hoists himself into the nearest tree. Then, using his glowing sword, he hacks at the web and any who try to stop him.}

Are you injured?!

Shunsui Kyouraku | Bleach | OTA

[sugegasa]

One. It's a dress-up party and everyone's invited

Pretty dresses? Shunsui had no objections to that whatsoever. In fact, he was looking forward to it! He did look good in bright colors, after all.

So come with him and try on some of the many dresses laid out for the occasion. He'll offer a compliment to everyone! And he can always use ladies to help him decide on which dress suits a man best.

Two

Hunting down and killing the spiders and getting rid of their nests wasn't a big deal for Shunsui, although he did feel a little bad about killing them since they were still living things.

But that didn't mean he wouldn't protect his fellow Heroes! Likely still in his dress. Much more freedom to move, and all.

Three.

Feeding ladies by hand just so happened to be one of his favorite things to do! If anyone's hungry, come find him. He loves to dote on people and will hunt down their favorite treats only to feed them happily!

Dress up party part one!

[sakeplz]

Jiroutachi looked so much like a woman that he was easily getting discounts on everything and had already dressed himself up wonderfully. A touch of makeup and his hair done up with his clip weapon in it as well as some other sparkling hair ornaments in it. But the real thing was the lovely kimono he had on. He wore it all with grace and delicacy as he came up to Shunsui's place to help him with getting ready.

"Oh Shun-chaaaan! I'm here! Shall we have some fuuuuun?"

sion astal | ota

[sunderings]

two.

[ Though he is a man of King's rank, Sion fights as though he were a Holy Knight, a blessing for strength upon him as he wields Guiding Light, disabling arachnid after arachnid with the blade's crescent strike, then surging forward and in for the kill. He is efficient, in his butchering of the vermin, taking from them their fangs; draining from them their venom, the poison stored in the main vials adorning the belt which keeps the free-flowing material of his dress in check.

From afar, he cuts a beautiful silhouette (and from up close, a stunning one), a flash of gold (the aura which limns from his skin), silver (hair), and dark cyan amid the lush greenery of the forest, bright slats of sunlight tracing out the high muscle of his shoulders, his thigh, before he breaks into a sprint, navigating the tangled, twisting knots of jungle undergrowth with footsteps that fall soundlessly until...! ]

You there, Hero. [ —he happens upon another, slowing to a stop, though not before tossing a—is that a spider's fang??—a prize their way! Funny, that while he has surely been participating in the Gladia Games for the majority of the day, the sport seems not to have taken its toll on him—not a single strand of his hair is out of place, no blood stains his garments, and the humidity does not slow him down. In fact, he seems ready to take off again, his spirits high and somehow ...free. ] For good luck!

[ And to help with the count toward fifteen arachnid parts??? ]


three.

[ After redeeming a necklace comprised of spider fangs for a well-earned prize, Sion takes to relaxing at the edge of the hot springs, his feet immersed in the magma-warmed water as he remains perched upon an overhang of rock, the material of his dress pooled about him.

Come, join me he might ask of some, and of others, might you assist me with slipping out of this shoulder harness? Or if a fellow Hero should approach, looking far more weary than he, the King will make an offer of: ]

Are you in need of healing?

[ ...before calling restorative magic to his fingertips regardless of the answer he receives, his mana leaping to life with no need for incantation, but channeled instead by a single, flourishing gesture of wrist. ]


(wildcard!)

[ s-s-surprise me?! or pm avichuus to plot! ]

two.

[exp]

[ he's just managed to push through a wall of bushes, twigs catching in the material of his rather embarrassing in his opinion outfit and scratching the exposed skin of his legs ( he would have protested harder against wearing the leather brassiere and skirt set, but, so many of the other heroes had went along with it— and sion. he doesn't look so bad in the dress he's wearing. it feels strange, the leather laying flat against his chest where... ahem.... the material is supposed to fill out but it's not uncomfortable. it could be worse. ) when there's something being thrown at him. and he fumbles it for a moment, before grasping it securely.

haha, it's a fang. a fang from one of the giant spiders. ] Sion... how... how is this lucky?!

[ he's never liked spiders. he's never liked spiders of a normal size. he likes these oversized one's even less.

he's too fixated on the fang in his hands, this one must have belonged to a remarkably huge spider, to notice that something is descending from the jungle canopy. a spider slowly creeping down from a strand of web, that's on trajectory to land on yoosung's head. ]

Junko Enoshima | open

[cutcrease]

1a
[ Born to always appear good looking, Junko will happily peruse through all the dresses provided. Quite frankly, this is the only time anyone is going to see her looking complacent (and silent, especially silent). She won't bother asking for opinions on what she should wear-- she doesn't care enough to ask.

But, if she sees anyone else try and put something on, or even look at something.. maybe even trying to figure out an appropriate hairstyle, she'll say one thing and one thing only: ]

No offense, but you look kinda ugly.

1b
[ Shopping, while fun, is pretty soul crushing and boring when you don't have the funds to purchase anything good. Or anything, actually. She doesn't necessarily need anything from here, but she's sure she can find something of use out of all this trash. ]

Isn't there something you want here?

[ Whatever poor sap is around her, next to her, or even catches her eye, will get a tug on their clothes from Junko as soon as she speaks up. ] I mean.... You can't walk into a marketplace like this and not want to get something. It's only natural.

..Or are you one of those stingy types who just want to die with their money?

3
[ Throughout the course of the night, Junko has managed to refuse to '''dance''' with most of the people that have attempted to court her. The only exception being her blatantly ignoring everyone who comes into contact with her. Despite the pests, the fact that she's bored out of her mind pushes her even farther to find something to entertain her.

Even though this festival is painfully domestic, she figures there's some use to getting to close to people in this type of environment where it's encouraged. ]

Is there anything to do outside of holding hands, lol. [ She's obviously still going to complain aloud about it, though. ] Is the spa even good here?

1b!

[hoasen]

[Good thing she doesn't mind spending, but at the same time--!!]

A-ah, well, one doesn't need to spend if you do not have to. Though I wonder if I want to get something. What of yourself?

leo | ota

[pragma]

one;

[ given the choice, leo would never go near a dress - unless it's firmly on someone else. it's a little offensive honestly, when he first hears the conditions. what's even more offensive is the fact that he's actually (albeit begrudging) considering it, because his pockets are not heavy and it would be nice to have a weapon that didn't threaten to rust.

but even as leo considers that, he feels the heavy weight of shame in his chest. it's too bad shame won't fill his wallet, and that's why, after some long and serious debate with himself, leo gives in and puts on a dress.

it takes some time. it takes a lot of time, considering he can't even put on his own clothes right sometimes. it takes even more time standing in front of the mirror grimacing at his own reflection just to make sure he's got everything on right - or at least, he thinks it's on right. a wig comes next - something that hangs heavy over his eyes and the sides of his face so he wouldn't be recognized. the dress he chose has ruffles at the bust to hide the lack of bosom. the shoes - he's just opting for something flat. he's tall enough. heels are uncomfortable and obsolete.

it should be a short trip. he only wants to buy a sword or two. walking in a dress isn't as difficult as he expected it to be, but the experience is made worse because of the heavy wig on his head and the fear that he might step on the skirt and make a spectacle out of himself. despite all that, leo manages to reach the stalls eventually. he's pointedly not talking to anyone and simply scrutinizes his options, maybe picking up a blade or two to examine them closer. he will also discourage any attempt at conversation with him, jsyk. ]

wildcard;

[ just give me something else if you'd like because i'm too lazy to write more prompts kill me ]

[hoasen]

[Which means it's time to bump into him. Or at least by that I mean she really just nearly cut in front of him because someone else was in her way.

As soon as she whips around, she immediately apologises! She hasn't even taken time to realise that it was a man, and that it was Leo.]

A-ah, I am sorry, that was rather close. Are you alright?