sticksandbones | Event: Mizuki Quest

[ Given that he's probably closer to the front in their little line too, Jade immediately stops the moment Joshua crumples like a piece of aluminum. Peeking around Livio, he looks down. ]

...Oh my. I'll check on him- I'm trained in first aid and some healing magic. In the meantime, please keep a lookout for anything that may be lurking nearby.

[ Because a magic school of boys always has its incidents. Stepping around, he'll put two fingers to Joshua's neck to check for a pulse. ]

[ If Jade is brave enough to risk the darkness that Joshua has collapsed into, he will find that there is, in fact, a pulse. His breathing is even, as well. ]

[ Plays TAPS for Joshua....

When Jade steps over the entrance to get to Joshua's neck, he does not also crumple over. Congrats! Good luck, y'all. ]

[ Absolutely! Having grown up in the ocean, especially in colder, darker climates, the dark is like second nature to him. He'll probably be one of the first whose eyes adjust to it, if there is anything else that could be seen. Also thank the Seven he also doesn't crumple. ]

He's alive, and breathing evenly.

[ Does putting Joshua on his back glean anything? Any weird wounds or markings on his front that show something Hinky happened? Jade will also mutter a little spell to sense if there's magic at play. ]

[well. that's good.

while jade is looking joshua over, and since he hasn't collapsed too, livio is just gonna step to the other side of them. assuming being one foot deeper inside won't knock him out too. he'd rather not take the chance of something jumping out at them. his true calling: meatshield.]

[You guys are fucking disasters.

Gnosis will butt his way up to the front, stopping before Joshua's collapsed form and letting Jade do his thing — and then raise his cane up and cast Ice arts forward into the darkness.

DM does this hit anything—]

[ You hear something squelch inside. ]

[ In the meantime, Jade will be able to tell that Joshua seems to be asleep! ]

[ But he rolled a 19!!!!!!! This does not bode well for the homies.

He's also slightly ignoring the squelching. ]

...He's just asleep, it seems. I suppose the next question is: Will he wake up on his own, or will we also have to do so?

[While all of this has been Happening, Sesa has remained at the back, watching...listening. Staring into the depths of the tree and wondering, just what Joshua might be seeing in there. Because now that they've confirmed he's just sleeping...

Sesa's expression tightens.]

I think we're going to have to go in there. Whatever forces have caused him to faint I doubt are anything he can just wake up so easily from on his own...and everything to do with Seaborn circles back to the mind.

If it is like the brand, then we need to remove him from this place for him to awaken.

[ But is the Brand the Hivemind Mizuki is part of. He's not sure if one can escape from that by simply being removed from the source. ]

But I believe our Dragon here is right.

[So for a good chunk of this, Dipper just straight up couldn't see what was going on. He hops uselessly to try and see over Livio before finally sighing and trying to go around him, only for Livio to step aside right then.]

--Oh god, we killed him.

[...Oh he's sleeping. Cough.]

I mean. One, there's nothing guaranteeing that we won't also drop from whatever put him to sleep the moment we try earnestly walking in, two, Uh. I could try and wake him up? I do have dream walking powers.

[Though, he kind of winces, and adds a caveat.]

Though, a lot of my powers haven't been playing nice with whatever's been going on. Mostly I think that's because none of this stuff [He gestures to the Brand.] is actually a dream, but if Joshua is actually asleep that might be a different story.

Edited 2025-02-10 05:57 (UTC)

[most of the others here definitely understand the brand more than livio, but...]

I don't like the idea of leavin' someone unconscious in the middle of the forest. Think we oughta let Dipper try -- if yer up for it. [the last bit is addressed directly to dipper. he isn't gonna put pressure on a kid without leaving him the choice to back out.]

Agreed.

[With a nod to Dipper.

He will be normal even though he really wants to go deeper and see what the fuck SQUELCHED at him, but for now... he will stand out of the way. Best not to test his luck and also possibly get trapped in a dream or otherwise.]

No one else proceed further in unless something happens, [said local man who was About To,] otherwise I fear Dipper will have his hands full.

[ Sir, you're full of shit. Affogato clenches his jaw but remains silent, because every moment spent standing here with this man means whatever is going on lasts longer. Mizuki may be in danger, every moment matters, but these damn bleeding hearts-!

Being a reformed villain is so very very hard when he just wants to poison this entire group and go in alone to rescue his love.

Instead he sighs and turns away to watch another angle, arm across his chest in a bit of a pout as he holds his staff, alert. At least he's not arguing. ]

Edited 2025-02-10 17:30 (UTC)

Only if you're sure, Dipper. After all, we don't know the rules of this place just yet. I'd rather not have two cases of unconscious people on our hands if we can help it.

[ More people to carry around and slow down the expedition. ]

You know your own abilities best however, so I'll defer to you. Perhaps after a minute or two, if nothing is working, we move on? I imagine the moment we find Mizuki, we'll be a step closer to finding a solution.

It's worth a shot, at least. I know how to get out in case of an emergency. Besides, trying to wake him up might tell us more about what's going on.

[So, Dipper will go ahead and kneel down next to Joshua. He holds out a hand to summon what looks like a burst of black smoke from his chest, that eventually forms into a little round feathery creature with red eyes. Alcaid will take their place on Dipper's shoulder. Dipper hands the creature his pendent, which they hold in ....their mouth? Hard to say with a void creature.]

If something goes wrong, Alcaid has the thing that can wake me in a pinch. They'll alert you guys if I run into trouble.

[And with that, he places a hand over Joshua's forehead and closes his eyes. Is he able to get inside? Do his powers short out just like they have been trying to use them on any of the memories so far? What is there to learn here-]

[ With your rolled 3, you are able to learn… Joshua is, in fact, asleep. Congrats!🎉🎊🍾

Fortunately, while Dipper’s powers have not worked with the memories, this does not seem to be the same paralysis that the brand inflicts. Joshua is just taking a little nappy nap. Which means, his powers do work here. ]

[ And, since Dipper's powers work here--

When Dipper steps into Joshua's dreams, he'll find himself standing in the bailey outside of a grand castle. It's bustling with activity, many of the folks around being in some sort of guard unit. Rather than horses, there are large, yellow birds saddled up and being tended to.

It's a very busy scene. But, if Dipper looks around long enough, he will spot a group of kids - the younger boy and the girl sitting on crates with a puppy between them, and the older boy standing with a wooden practice sword in his hand. They seem to be in deep, enthusiastic conversation abiut something, featuring a great deal of smiles and laughs.

Whether he approaches or simply watches for a bit, eventually he will get the attention of the boy with blond hair, though the other two and the pup do not seem to notice his presence. As soon as the younger Joshua notices Dipper, his smile fades into confusion and apprehension, and then a sort of realization as the pristine dream is broken by the existence of someone that shouldn't be there.

The dream abruptly ends as Joshua's eyes snap open and he sits up pushing up on his elbows with a sharp inhale. What is he... doing on the floor? For a moment, he presses a hand to his head, just over his eyes, trying to will the disorientation away. ]

What... what happened?

Oh! You live! How delightful!

[ So why doesn't it translate into your voice, sir. He tilts his head a little to eye Joshua sitting up. ]

You stepped through into the darkness and were instantly unconscious. We have all been waiting with baited breath to ascertain that you are unharmed.

[ If your foot hurts from Affogato jamming it with his staff's very sharp end, you DID fall so it was just that. Haha.

He turns towards him and offers him his hand, quite like he did after he pushed him over into the snow after the Suri fight to make his point. ]

[affo are you fucking serious rn.

after he gets a glare, though, joshua and dipper both get looks of concern. livio won't crowd them, there's already a few people over there.]

Y'all alright? Think y'can keep goin'?

[ Bats his eyelashes at Livio, fuck off you sexy hunk of beef. ]

[bro, sexy or not, he's fucking watching you, you little shit.]

[ Oh, hot, watch these curves, honey~ ]

[When Joshua abruptly wakes back up, Sesa can't help but let out an audible sigh of relief. Given the uncertainty of their situation, even though he wasn't dead, that doesn't necessarily mean he was guaranteed to wake up so easily...or at all. But that just begs the question...

What happened, exactly? And how are they meant to go in there if they fall asleep the moment they step past the threshold?

For now, he keeps those questions to himself, since he doubts anyone here would know the answers any more than he does.]

It's a relief to see you are alright. You have Dipper to thank, for that.

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