MIDDLE EARTH ; oo1

[phatroles]

[ The party's already in full swing by the time you arrive, checking your name off with a doorman so sozzled that the whole exercise is pointless anyway. It's a bit surprising how many people the Prancing Pony can fit, or indeed how many have even turned up.

Why are you here? Well, that's obvious, of course. It's because-- never mind, that's not the important thing. There's a greeting to be given, and drinks flowing freely. Perhaps you'll find old friends or make ones new. Perhaps the same will be true of enemies too. Maybe you'll even notice tat you don't quite look the same as you thought you did.

Perhaps you'll find out why your thoughts are rhyming and your sense of timing is off. It's not likely. This isn't a riddle to be taken so lightly.

But you have a part to play, even if you don't quite realise it. Maybe that dysphoric, I-Shouldn't-Be-Here sensation is the result of too much Hobbit weed in the air? Just go with that for now, before you think too much and spoil your fun. ]

Comments

[thatjackass]

[The party was hilarious for Hiruma, watching all these crazy idiots getting wasted. it would be simple to trick them horribly, get their money, or at least get some info. As funny as this all was, something was up. His ears were different, and so was his vision, which was super tripping him out. It's not like he could've magically transformed into an elf or something!]

[muchfaster]

[going with the flow is kind of a problem with Sena, but at least he has the sense to feel more unnerved about it than usual. for one thing, who decided to just shove a tray full of beer steins into his arms and practically kick him into the crowded room like that? moreover, the booming yelling of HURRY UP AND GET TO IT doesn't give him a chance to question anything.

years and years of conditioning: don't think, just run! and so he does. except...except his cleats aren't cleats and his feet are too large to negotiate and oh boy here he goes tripping over one of them and crashing right into–] Uahh–!!

[thatjackass]

Hey, what where you're go--

[thatjackass]

SENA!

[muchfaster]

HIIIEEE–!! [clatter clatter, tray and steins everywhere, BUT DOES IT REALLY MATTER?

he's crashed right into Satan.]

Hi-Hiruma-sen--[...pa...i............

on the floor, Sena gawks. something is amiss yeah as if nothing else is amiss here, good job kiddo.]

[thatjackass]

Wow, look at you! [he slaps sena on the back, not giving a shit about having the beer everywhere because seeing a familiar, tiny face is awesome.] You've gotten shorter! And hairier!

[muchfaster]

Eh-? [himself?

he looks down, over toward his feet, gulping loudly.] S-something's happened to my feet! They're huge...?

[thatjackass]

I'm surprised you can still run like that. [he's only half laughing, because really, what the shit?]

[muchfaster]

Ah– you're right...I won't be able to wear my cleats like this! [which makes him consider the silly hobbit trousers and vestments, increasingly perplexed.

this is a lot weirder than he'd initially thought!

but– wait. he blinks over at Hiruma's feet. he...thinks they're normal-sized? at least, enough for shoes. or...funny little elf-boots, whatever those are. cue slow pan back up at Hiruma's weird elf (well, elfier) face.]

Uoh...you look weird, too!

[thatjackass]

Huh!? [he glares down at Sena, like he's gonna punch him or something.

but then pulls back the evil face once he looks like he'll pee himself.] Nah, you're right. I feel weird too.

[muchfaster]

[once Sena can swallow his heart back down his throat and let out a breath:] Do you...remember what was happening before this? Even getting here?

[thatjackass]

I remember we just finished that big game, but nothing about getting here. [hm. he starts tapping his foot, because this is weird and getting to him the more he thinks about it. how does this crap even happen?? this isn't some fantasy manga.

[muchfaster]

[yeah, only the splash pages can have fantasy...and even then, that's mostly Ojou!

wait, let's not get off-track. Sena frowns harder, still sitting in that mess of spilled booze and poorly-mopped hardwood. "big game" is..........................


aren't they all big games. he winces a little, looking back up, and then nearly leaping to the ceiling with a fright hearing someone bellowing about their drinks so loudly it may as well have been right in his ear.] YEEP–!!

[thatjackass]

[Even Hiruma jumps, because that seemed way louder than it should be, stupid sensitive elf ears.] OI! SHUT THE FUCK UP! [pulls a crossbow out of his ass and fires into the crowd]

[muchfaster]

YIPE!! [that. that was way too violent! Sena's heart's back in his throat, even as he peeks out from between his fingers to see...lots of people pulling out swords.]

Hi-Hiruma-s--!!

[thatjackass]

RUN!! [He shoves Sena toward the door, laughing like a maniac as he jumps on the bar and fires at everyone who whipped out a sword. He's not hitting anything vital, but just enough to slow them down so he and Sena could get the fuck out.]

[muchfaster]

[run? running's what he's all about. Sena totally runs.

er, tries: those giant hobbit feet make it a struggle. it's like the running-through-tires exercise! he winds up with a hop-like gait, but he's pretty darn quick, all things considered, until tripping over his own feet once more and falling flat on his face.]

Yurhghhh... [lifting his head up, squinting.] Eh?

[blinkblink.]

EEEHHHHH–?!

[the crowded room was one thing, but look at this scenery!]

DRUNK BONDING CORNER

[phatroles]

[ get drunk, make friends. what could possibly go wrong. ]

[nextyoullsay]

[HECK yeah, Joseph can totally get behind drinking and related drunken shenanigans. Although for now he just started by tricking some party-goers who were wayyy drunker than he was with card tricks. of course they fell for every one, trying to call him a magic user or a cheat, but really, is that necessary?]

[chayots]

[ HEY PAL jonathan's not very drunk, but he's every bit as bewitched by card tricks. and probably even more easily tricked than the actual drunkards. ]

That was impressive!

[nextyoullsay]

Heh, that's nothing! Here, [holds out the deck for him] Pick a card.

[chayots]

[ EXCITEDLY PICKING OUT A CARD-- for the record, it's the ace of hearts. ] What should I do next?

I'M SOBER AND WHAT IS THIS

[phatroles]

[ what do you mean do don't drink or do hobbit weed are you twelve or something

no but that's cool, here's the snacks table ]

WHEN MARIMBA RHYTHMS START TO PLAY

[phatroles]

[ of course there's a band. the longer this night goes on, the better you think your dancing skills are. take it away, dancing queen! ]

[ferroucious]

[ Gazille can immediately tell that something's wrong here. First off, nobody invites him to parties. Secondly, he's pretty sure the beard is new. But everyone just keeps passing him pints and calling him by name, so maybe he's just imagining things?

Confusion disappears with every sip, and he finds himself remembering details about his life. His forge, deep in the mountains. His brother dwarfs, and some of the mischief they get up to. His foot taps along with the beat and he scowls to hide it, one arm crossed firmly across his chainmail.

Maybe in another dozen or so ales he'll find the courage to ask the musicians if he can examine that lute... ]

[ayesir]

[and then, outside, there is absolute, window-rattling chaos. window-breaking, too, on account of someone diving through the window to get inside. now the room is filled with shrilling, wailing animal noises over top of the shrilling, wailing people noises trying to get away from the former.

there is a giant, blue-feathered bird sprawled out in the middle of the muddy road in the downpour, just yelling and being altogether obnoxious and awful.]

i SHOULD PROBS ACTUALLY GET THIS BOY SOME ICONS HUH

[ferroucious]

[ The caterwauling outside doesn't go with the Hobbit banjos or whatever at all. Gazille's scowl darkens. He puts up with the noise for about a whole half of a minute before his temper gets the better of him. Cursing, he shoves his way to the blighted window and tries to see what all this is about.

A giant blue eagle or whatever wasn't what he expected somehow. And it looks so familiar... ]

--Cat?!

IF U WANT I MEAN FOLLOW UR DREAMS

[ayesir]

[HICCUPsob.] Uwuuu... [SNIFF.

his head turns...then turns again. damn these sideways eyes.]

WAH! [hopping up on his talons, wing stretching out and pointing.]

Beard cosplay!!

FLIES INTO THE SUN (THIS WAS A TERRIBLE IDEA)

[ferroucious]

GEH--

[ YOU STUPID CAT. ]

It's not a cosplay, this is real! Real! And what's wrong with you?!

NOT MY FAULT

[ayesir]

[hiccup-sniff.

beat.]

...S-so it's not...Gajeel cosplay–?

CONSPIRACY CENTRAL

[phatroles]

[ you're not convinced you even go here. neither am i. let's pass the pondering pipe around and let the paranoia flow. ]