Video | Isekai Veteran Tips #1 (Blue Flash Quest)

[mayoninofukucho]

[CW: Death on Livestream (but he'll be OK!)]


[While Ellipsa has been good to the otherworlders so far, it's still been a rough adjustment for Hijikata, and for one reason only: Nobody got power-nerfed!! Back in Edo, Lunatia, and Camelot he was considered a fearsome powerhouse of a swordsman, but here in Nightwake City... not so much.

He decides, however, to not let this break his stride, all the less once he takes notice of the 'Blue Flash' quest. At first the situation doesn't really ring a bell, but some research brings up previous similar incidents that saw people disappear in the same area, and the few blurry photos of the mysterious blue lights make a lightbulb go on in his head. He knows what these are!!

And so, a few days later, a stream goes live on the network. Despite the late hour and the creepy location (why does the airship station have to be in between the border to the cold Winter Segment, the Abandoned Mansion, and the Great Tree of Death?!) he looks confident as his phone floats in front of him (he got better at levitating things recently, and this way he'll have his hands free!).]

This is Hijikata, reporting in from the Autumn Segment. Some of you may have seen the 'Blue Flash' quest on the quest board. I'm here to confirm what happened.

[He wanders towards the dark forest behind him, still talking into the phone.]

I'm a bit of a veteran at being sent to other worlds, so I'm familiar with some creatures most of you may not have encountered before. When I looked into the case I noticed that the "blue flashes" can really only be one thing: will'o'wisps.

[As if on cue a couple of pale blue, flame-like wisps come into view, playfully circling around each other, and he makes the phone float past him to properly capture them.]

They're harmless fae beings that lead lost people out of the forest... ideally. I have an inkling that these might be spectral will'o'wisps. They're the corrupted version, if you will, and can create illusions to lure people to their doom. That's probably what happened to the missing individuals.

[The two wisps suddenly chase away into the distance, truly looking like mere blurs in the darkness. Another one, though, floats out from between the trees, so Hijikata heads towards it while keeping on talking into the phone.]

I'll confirm what kind they are! Even if it does throw an illusion at me, I'll be fine. I've seen it all by now.

[In the background the wisp moves towards him... and then a much larger thing made of the same pale blue flames bursts out from between the bushes, comes at him like a massive cannonball, opens enormous flaming maws before Hijikata even manages to turn towards it, and-- there's a tumble of night sky, trees, and then darkness as the phone lands on its face on the ground. A few moments later there'll be some clatter as the wisp spits out his swords and the other non-organic stuff, and then silence.

He sure got to the bottom of this!]


1) Who Can Do This Better?

[Hijikata can't take any calls right now, but he'll respond to messages and comments in 3 day's (in-game) time... and since that's a long while to wait, please feel free to tag out! Maybe based on this super professional research some better-prepared teams can assemble (Hijikata won't want to join, thank you very much)!]

2) Summer Flower Yard

[Anyone who knows that Hijikata is a summer power holder and wants to either congratulate him on solving the case (really?!) or is simply curious to see if the Flower Yards work as designed can of course stop by there. A blue iris will have popped up in the yard, emitting a strong cigarette smell. It'll spend a while budding, but on the 3rd day it'll bloom!]

Comments

Video; un: fenrirfang / Action (tw murder/danganronpa spoilers)

[corpsewarblade]

[Mukuro had seen a lot of death in her time. But whilst she was indifferent to the deaths she'd seen and caused back home, this hit very differently- she knew Junko would be delighted at the despair and numbness in her at his sudden demise.

These things were obviously more dangerous than they first seemed.]

...If anyone else intends to deploy against these creatures, they should make sure they are equipped for their ambush tactics. Fire magic and explosives are unlikely to be effective.

[And, well, Mukuro's going to go lurk at the flower yard. Her priority for the time being would be to provide defence should anyone try to harm the flower until he was revived. Yup, that smelled of cigarettes...that was Hiji's alright.

Once he's back, she can tell him what an idiot he was.]

[ooc: Feel free to either reply on network, or come help/hinder her attempts at making a defensive perimeter!]

action side

[totallycalledit]

[Of course Sun wants to see for himself that his new friends' flower is there and maybe see if there's something he can do about it.

There is, indeed one (1) flower on the Summer Flower Yard. And someone watching over it...]

Hey. You here checking up on Hijikata too?

[corpsewarblade]

Huh-...Yeah, I am.

[A coldness came into her tone as she studied this person, an unspoken warning that she wouldn't hesitate if he proved himself a threat to her brother.]

...You're a friend of his?

[totallycalledit]

[Sun definitely can't blame her. He's just a stranger to her and anyone could have seen the network post.]

I like to think so? We've trained for quite a few times since coming here and we share memories of Prismatica.

[He does keep his hands and tail where she can see them as a sign of peace.]

I just wanted to see for myself that he really does have a flower.

[corpsewarblade]

[Oh, that sounded familiar. Prismatica... Prismatica... oh, that was the name of the world Hijikata had been in before Avalon, wasn't it? And that was enough to get her to lower her guard a little. If he knew about that, that gave credit to his story.]

...He mentioned Prismatica before, when we were in Avalon.

[She turned her glance back to the flower, then.]

It's definitely his. It's got the smell of his cigarettes.

[totallycalledit]

[Sun lowers his hands as he notices her relax and then takes a nice, long deep sniff of the air and... cringes. His tail curls, too, in discomfort.]

Yep... I can smell it all the way here. But also the scent of the flower itself, at least.

[So it's not completely ruined by cigarettes.]

I'm Sun Wukong.

[corpsewarblade]

[Wait was that a tail...yup, that sure was a tail. Huh. And that name seemed weirdly familiar too, had Hijikata mentioned him? Where had she heard that before...?]

I'm- Mukuro Ikusaba.

[She was largely used to introducing herself by her own name these days- but well, it was as she gave him a quick salute that the penny dropped. Even with her poor academics, that name was famous enough.]

Wait...Sun Wukong? The Monkey King?

...Um. You're not a Heroic Spirit, are you?

[The trials and tribulations of an isekai veteran. She'd heard about Servants from Billy and Kipposhi before- beings from history or legend who had been summoned to fight for a Master- so was Sun Wukong similar?]

[totallycalledit]

... I can assure you, I'm not a king. A monkey faunus, yes, but not a king.

[This was not the first time he heard about this monkey king.]

I may be heroic, but I'm definitely not a spirit either. I'm just me, a huntsman in training from the world or Remnant.

[corpsewarblade]

Right. Different worlds, different rules.

...What did you hunt?

[totallycalledit]

Creatures of Grimm. They're monsters very much unique to my world. Thankfully I haven't seen any here so that's remained a fact.

[Video; un: shoto - roughly 30 minutes after]

[itsmypower]

[He hasn't grasped a single thought yet.]

You're not thinking of getting near them, right? Any idea if he's still with those things by now?!

[We have to find him something says. Now, now, right now. He has to run; he's too far out.]

private video to both Mukuro and Shoto; un: jean

[rustyhonesty]

Calm down. He'll be back in three days in the Summer Flower yard.

Don't go out there. He wouldn't want you guys getting in danger because of him.

[corpsewarblade]

Negative. I'm not engaging without more information. You both shouldn't either, it's done.

[Perhaps she sounded too harsh, as she often did. Unlike Shoto who was clearly distressed, she'd gone numb.]

...Three days at the Summer Flower yard? Right.

[itsmypower]

[He's had enough of being numb.]

If that's the case, then I'll go right now. [Barely listening... Restless youth with no stillness. But—] I'll just stay as long as it takes him.

[Three days, three weeks; no matter.] What about you two? [Worried.]

[rustyhonesty]

[Meanwhile Jean is upset, but he's the kind of person who can hide his feelings to try and take command of a situation. Much better than breaking down, but also not the healthiest ways of dealing with things.

Plus he's also pretty incapable of crying so that's out.]

Summer Segment is very warm, so at least bring sunscreen, enough fluids and something you can set up as a shelter for the time you're camping.

[He knows they're too stubborn to listen so he might as well try making sure they'll be fine.]

I'm not joining you. Better not overwhelm him the moment he wakes up.

[corpsewarblade]

...Right, I'll pick up shelter supplies and sunscreen. Shoto, could you bring water and rations? I'll be there soon.

[She appreciated Jean's advice. She'd be glad for Shoto's company whilst camping out as well.]

[itsmypower]

[Why does he sound like a worried sibling so much?]

Then I'll tell him you looked out for us. [Because he had.] And this body of mine is fine with heat. I don't need anything like sunscreen here.

[One less worry with all his Quirk's effects.]

But I promise I'll pay this back someday. [For all the info.] Mukuro, I won't take long. [He'll go find plenty!]

[rustyhonesty]

[He is a sibling to at least one of you.]

It's fine. Don't worry about paying me back. And the yards are supposed to be safe, but you never know, so. Look after each other.

[Don't die too, is what he means, even if he doesn't say it.]

I'll let you go on with your preparations.

[And he's signing off. Mostly to go react properly to this. Most likely by covering his ears and retreating into a corner. Yeah, sounds about right.]

Video -> Action at the flower yard?

[corpsewarblade]

That and other people might set up an ambush whilst he's incapacitated. I'll set up a defensive perimeter, we can take shifts-

[She trailed off as he prepared to sign off. Right. She had a mission to do.]

Understood. Over and out.

[And with that, Mukuro got ready to head to the flower yard and set up the perimeter, just as promised.]

[itsmypower]

[Three days left. Four more hours before he's properly at the flower yard, and just as promised, he brings himself with twin rations, drops their essentials to wander warily towards a fat, blue iris. One lone flower among the nothing. He notes its smoke-scent, faintly. Rests his palm flat against it.

Words, now, seem insufficient still.]

Can sensei really bloom from a flower...?

[corpsewarblade]

[Mukuro had taken the time to set up a couple of tents to act as their makeshift shelters for the three days it would take her brother to come back. That done, she had been patrolling the area around the area, keeping watch. She wasn't sure what else to do, and setting up traps felt a little excessive...

She gave a small, stiff nod to Shoto when he arrived, going to join him by the flower.]

...it smells like his cigarettes, so...I hope so. Even after Avalon and Empatheias, I don't really understand how magic works that well.