abraxaslogs | don't, don't, don't bite your friends

RAAAWWGGHHHH

[ Nanaue's roars can be heard from quite a distance as he chases off a pair of black bears from the Maypole. The relatively non-aggressive beasts look bewildered and frightened as they dart back toward the safety of the woods, while Nanaue hardly seems winded from the chase. He stomps both feet and nods decisively.

From a near distance, a small herd of goats watch the scene with their flat, expressionless eyes. Unlike the bears, the goats know no fear.

Yet.

Nanaue stomps back toward the Maypole. ]

[The roars are resonating and fierce enough to send the pair of black bears scrabbling backward, then twisting around to rush back into the copse of trees beyond. Henry's impressed, really, by the display, though he supposes he should expect nothing else. What creature wouldn't be frightened by a massive shark-man snarling at them with that big maw lined with sharp teeth?

Well. The goats wouldn't be.

And Henry, who holds a little bit of a grudge against the goats for now (headbutters, pant-leg eaters, troublesome creatures that listen to no one), sends them a very thin smile from where he stands at his place beside the maypole.]

You’re doing well, Nanaue.

[—he remarks without turning to look at him, his eyes still fixed on the goats staring at him in the distance.]

But the bears aren’t going to be our biggest problem. Take a look over there.

[He gestures towards the damnable goats.]

[ Nanaue stares down at the beanpole man, shooting a quizzical look from him to the dead-eyed goats and back again.

Ehhh... ]

Dumb goat friends...?

[ Another glance in their direction. One of the goats opens its mouth and makes a stupid noise.

He doesn't understand why they are a problem. All they do is stand there.

Henry clearly must be confused. ]

["Dumb goat friends" is a phrase that most people would use to describe the goats at a distance, staring stupidly in their direction. Opening their mouths to make the occasionally doltish sound. But Henry has the gift of holding a grudge, you see, and he remembers one of those goats via its markings. One that snubbed him at a goat race so soon after he newly arrived in Abraxas.

Yes, he remembers you, Mr. Goat. His smile thins and his gesture narrows to point a finger at the one standing in the middle of the small group.]

Yes. Idiotic goat friends. That one there, you see? The black one with little white spots on its backside. I call that one Number Seven. [Don't ask.] And I know he'll give us trouble.

[Baa! says Number Seven at a distance, flicking an ear.]

Edited 2023-05-16 13:12 (UTC)

Num-ber Seven...?

[ he repeats, more making sure he has that name correct than he is curious about it. Nanaue isn't particularly judgmental about names. His gaze follows Henry's pointing to land on the bad goat of the bunch, which seems to be aware that it's being singled out when it vocalizes at them. ]

Scare bad goat?

[ He turns back to Henry needing confirmation.

Conflicting instructions make him pause. Nanaue has been told quite a few times now to leave the dumb goat friends alone. ]

[Are they conflicting instructions? Not so much in Henry's mind. While it would be nice to crack every bone in that terrible goat's body—cathartic, really—it’s been made clear that they’re not to harm them under any circumstances. But technically, is scaring harming? Is tossing it away with his powers if it draws too close harming? There are loopholes abound, ones that they can weasel their way past if they’re creative enough.

Henry nods.]

Scare any of them who come too close. But that one in particular.

[To clear up any confusion that might be floating about in Nanaue’s head:]

We don’t have to hurt them. Just… keep them away.

[As if on cue, Number Seven lets out one more courageous(?) bleat and trots forward. He seems to rally the rest of his group with him, as the other goats follow suit, lagging behind in a goat-trail.

Right, he knew this would happen. Any moment, and a handful of them are going to lower their heads, crossing the space between them, and try to a) eat his pant leg again or b) ram either Henry or Nanaue, just because they can.

One is definitely beelining straight towards his companion, that’s for sure!]

[ Nanaue doesn't have much time to consider these instructions any further as the goat brigade ambles forward. The man shark blinks down as the trailing herd stops next to him, bah -ing. One steps forward and sniffs his leather kilt, another sniffs his toes. A third starts chewing on his kilt from behind where he can't see and doesn't seem to feel/notice it, while a fourth headbutts him in the kneecap to physical zero effect.

His arms are held slightly aloft and he looks perplexed at the sudden attention. Perhaps they are curious because they only have seen him from a distance.

Or perhaps, this is all part of their plan.

Number Seven continues trotting toward Henry behind Nanaue's back. ]

[Oh, he's sure it's a part of their diabolical plan. The goats are stupid, but their stupidity somehow circles back around to being devious despite themselves. Henry would nearly be impressed he wasn’t a victim of this same stupid-smart inclination more than once.

While several goats keep Nanaue confused with their not-exactly-aggressive-enough-to-be-worrisome actions, Number Seven comes galavanting right up to Henry, and the man gives him a very, very thin smile.]

No, you don’t. Not this time.

[And so Henry extends a hand and gives the creature a little telekinetic push.

And by “little”, I mean that he sends it skittering backwards, rolling a little down the hill, baaing angrily the entire time. No mercy.

This seems to strike up the rest of the goats into something of a tizzy, who bleat and bleat and “harass” Nanaue further.]

[ When Henry speaks, Nanaue turns his attention toward him just in time to catch the 'push'. His mouth hangs agape. ]

Magic friend!! [ Did you tell him this before? He can't remember. Either way, he still seems excited by magic 'tricks' despite being here a month.

He takes in the scene of the goat being shoved backwards and glances down at the rest of the goats with their more serious attempts to headbutt him into submission. Their efforts are to no avail, however, and Nanaue seems to have come to another realization: ]

Bad goats!

[ It's okay to push goats!

Unlike Henry, however, Nanaue's push has... quite a bit more force to it. Actually, it's less a push at all and more that he grabs one goat by its horns and hurls it across the field. ]

Edited 2023-05-22 18:18 (UTC)

[Nanaue's been privy to Henry's telepathy, though it was mistaken as the mental network shared between all of the Summoned. But he's never witnessed his telekinesis (very few have, so far), so he's quite valid in being surprised.

Henry's smile is spiteful and satisfied as he watches Number Seven roll away like a barrel pushed downhill. Now, why hadn't he done that sooner? He glances askew to see how Nanaue's doing and-

Well, he seems to have set a precedent, or at least it looks like it. His companion grabs hold of one of the goat's horns like a matador facing down a tiny, tiny bull. Then he flings it away, and it goes flying, arcing in the air and wheeling, wheeling farther down the field.

That actually earns a laugh from Henry. The first, real sincere one since his time here in Abraxas. And though it's low, and mean, it's a little delighted, too.]

You'd think they'd know better.

[But goats are stubborn, and here comes Number Seven again, ~~running~~ truding up that hill, fire in its eyes.]

[ Nanaue doesn't seem to register the darker side of Henry's laughter, and he roars victoriously over the receding sound of the goat's screaming as it flies through the air and hits the ground somewhere in the tall grass. The circle of goats around him scatter in fear, bounding away in all directions - except for Seven, who Nanaue spots heading toward Henry. ]

RAWWWGHHHHHH!! [ He roars in its direction, stomping a thundering foot into the ground threateningly. It's fortunate that the scent of blood isn't in the air, not yet, his flared nostrils catch nothing that might tip his predatory nature over the edge into a true frenzy. This is all threat display, defensive. This Seven goat wants to hurt friend Henry, and he will not let that happen. ]

Hey! What are you two doing with those goats? [ an admonishing voice calls out to them, an older native with a weathered face and gray hair. He stands at the edge of the maypole circle, two younger men flanking him. One looks at Nanaue with nervousness.

Nanaue holds his position, but blinks at them in confusion - then at Henry. ]

[Uh-oh. THE JIG IS UP.

Henry might not have minded seeing Nanaue tilt himself into a frenzy, but that's probably more indicative of a well-hidden violent nature than an easy-going one. But thankfully, that's not something they'll get to explore today, or at least... it doesn't seem to be.

Instead, they're duly interrupted by an older man who looks to be disapproving of the turn their "guarding" of the maypole has taken. Henry swivels around to look at them, then clasps his hands neatly behind his back, the very essence of innocence. (Citation needed.)]

The goats are causing a ruckus a little too close to the maypole.

[He smiles. He can sense Nananue's confusion, but it's fine; he'll take it from here. Number Seven bleats indignantly from where he trudges forward.]

We're just making sure they give it a wide enough berth.

[ Nanaue watches, jaws agape, as Henry maneuvers the conversation alone. The elder gives them a dubious look - clearly one of the few who is not intimidated by the giant manshark in the settlement.

The sharkman is, however, suddenly fixated on the last thing Henry said. ]

Birrrth?

[ Huh?

He looks at Henry, then Number Seven as it (she???) trudges forward. He puts a massive hand in its way, catching a headbutt in his palm. ]

Baby?

[ He's crouching down, arm still extended to gently keep the goat at bay, while apparently trying to check the under-carriage...

The elder looks both confused and irritated now. ]

Make sure he doesn't do anymore damage! [ he grumbles at Henry as he stomps past them toward a group of younger children, probably giggling too loud or something. ]

He hasn't done any damage.

[—Henry turns and says with a smile as the man trudges past, in that well-practiced tone of politeness that holds an edge of patronization beneath. But it's not like it’s a lie; they’ve not “damaged” any goats or property. They’ve done absolutely nothing wrong. (Probably.)

But with that out of the way, a warning tucked firmly under their proverbial belt, Henry turns back around to see Nanaue checking Number Seven’s belly. Some of his mask-like politeness eases back and he allows his brows to cinch a little.]

No, he’s a boy. “Berth” is just another word for… room.

[Speaking of room, he holds his hand out and the goat once more skids back under the force of his telekinesis.]

Maybe I should just keep him like this all day.

Edited (omg sorry for your inbox) 2023-06-04 22:25 (UTC)

Not yet he hasn't... [ the man grumbles on his way out, seemingly intent on having the last word.

His under-carriage inspection reveals a very large pair of hanging organs. Nanaue turns to blink at Henry for his explanation, and he can probably hear the gears grinding within that large skull as he processes this information. It's hard for him when two words are pronounced the same, or when one word has too many meanings that he has to remember.

The goat is punted backwards again and away from his extended arm, which causes him to laugh low and rumbly for a moment, before looking curiously at Henry again. ]

Tired?

[ Nanaue never gets tired! But Henry is small and skinny. Or does his magic make him not get tired doing this? ]

[Oh. That man is definitely going to have to deal with Polite Yet Passive Aggressive Henry the next they meet. But for now, his attention returns to the matter at hand.

Mostly: Henry's powers keeping the goat at bay. He hasn't frozen every bone and muscle in his body, though, so Number Seven paws fruitlessly at the ground with his hooves, trying to gain traction.]

What, this? No. A goat's easy.

[Not nearly enough to cause a nosebleed.]

I can handle much bigger. Want me to lift you for fun?

[ Another rumbling heh heh heh heh from him as the goat tries to fight back.

Nanaue tilts his head at skinny Henry. ]

Fun! [ but then he adds: ] You lift try...

[ This is like a challenge.

(it's almost like he's forgotten how he recently got punted across Horizon by seemingly average human man)

(he has most definitely half forgotten this) ]

[His brows lift high enough to nearly reach his hairline. Try. Was that a challenge, Nanaue? Somehow, bafflingly, this actually amuses him.]

You must really think I'm weak.

[And physically, yes. He is lanky and noodly and does not command much of a presence. But there's a reason why Papa had implanted Soteria into his neck for all those years, back at the lab.

While one hand keeps Number Seven at bay, his other reaches for his companion, palm-up. Nanaue will feel an invisible force simply... lift him off the ground, raising him a handful of feet up into the air. And keeping him there. He can move his limbs around, but it's just like he's floating.]

How's this?

[ He shakes his head. ]

I no think...

[ That Henry is weak.

His attempt to lie about this after just heavily implying the opposite is extremely transparent.

It doesn't matter, though, because soon after Nanaue finds himself floating. He looks down at the ground in wonder, wiggling his toes first and then spreading his arms out wide in delight. ]

Grahahahahah!

Up! Up!

[ Can he go higher? ]

[Yeah, no, Nanaue thinks he's weak. But that's fine; there's more to strength than physical power, especially where psychics are concerned.

Case in point: when his companion requests to go even higher, Henry humors him, hoisting him up several feet more. Then, very slowly, Nanaue begins a rather lackadaisical rotation around the maypole.

All the while, Number Seven is kept in his spot. At this point, the even the goat cranes its head up to look at the shark man floating in a circle above, and bleats as though to comment.]

[ As he floats in his circle Nanaue begins to happily paddle - the way a dog might when held above water.

He'll continue on like this until Henry eventually lets him go. ]

[Aren't you a shark, Nanaue? Why do you need to doggy paddle.

Henry is "nice" enough to give him a few more rotations around the maypole, just slowly enough that Number Seven somehow loses all of his fire and grows bored, sitting down. Henry tests its loss of motivation by letting it go from his powers; he immediately gets up and... trots the other way.

Good.

Eventually, Nanaue is set down.]

Back to guard duty, Nanaue.

don't, don't, don't bite your friends

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emerges from totk, sorry for the delay

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i must also apologize for zelda hell..

it's okay, we suffer together

"suffer"

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we can wrap this lmao

consider it wrapped!