video: un:trienemybest

[droptheious]

WHO: Varian and you!
WHERE: Gemini - but in person in the Fortress of Meropide
WHEN: 23rd December
WHAT: Varian gets cursed (???)
WARNINGS: None probably.

[ Sometimes you are the Fortress of Meropide's resident engineer and you're running some routine maintenance on the heating systems. It's damn cold down here without them, after all, and you want to make sure they're running perfectly lest they break down when the weather gets really bad. And sometimes you're doing that when one of the pipes bursts - soaking you in the process. No big deal, it's not the first time it's happened. You can just fix the leak, grab a towel and-

Except no. That's not what happens at all. Varian finds himself shifting shape - he's got two monster changes under his belt, he understands what they feel like - but this is different, he can't control it. And he's getting smaller... and smaller.

Anyway, that's how there's now a tiny Adélie penguin waddling around in circles on the main entryway of Meropide. He has the watch that Jun gave him which lets him use some telekenis, so he's managed to get his phone on - and now he's YELLING. Loudy!!! ]

I KNEW HE'D DO THIS! I KNEW IT!! Flins cursed me! Do you think this is FUNNY??? Because it's NOT!!! I've got WORK to do!!!!

[It's kinda funny.]

Can someone come help me, I don't have HANDS anymore!!!

Comments

UN: hikari-vi | Video

[whiteshroud]

[Jun was back in their place in the Alley, currently working on dinner when the call comes in. And... what the fuck? He'll turn on his video feed as he stares in surprise]

... Var? Are you... a penguin?

[droptheious]

[This is the worst day! Absolutely atrocious!!! He makes an unhappy squawking noise, flapping his stubby little flightless wings. ]

YES!!! YES, I'M A FREAKING PENGUIN!!! I'm EXACTLY the sort of penguin Flins said I'd be! He did this to me!!!

[whiteshroud]

Holy...

[Well. He didn't see this coming. ]

L-Listen, we don't know if it was him for sure. First thing first, where are you? I'll come get you.

[droptheious]

[Neither did he! This is misery! He's still waddling in angry little circles, his little penguin feet going fwap fwap fwap on the metal flooring. ]

I think it's pretty damn clear it was! It can't be a coincidence! [ He's gonna bite him, Jun. He's gonna bite grandpa!!!! ] I'm in the main hallway of the Fortress. I was doing maintenance work on one of the heaters and got wet and now THIS has happened!

[whiteshroud]

You got wet huh...?

[Is this another selkie situation...? Huh...]

Alright, I'll be there shortly. Just hold on okay?

[He's going to make sure dinner won't burn while he's gone and then teleport other there!]

[droptheious]

Yeah! And then I changed, I didn't have any control over it.

[It sure is, what a fun time!]

Okay, thank you.

[ When he gets there, he'll find Varian in his adorable little penguin form, still waddling in angry circles, his phone following him- floating along behind him. He's muttering some AWFUL German curse words under his breath. ]

> Action

[whiteshroud]

[It doesn't take long for Jun to teleport there, and it doesn't take long for him to track down the energy signature of his fiance.

However, he does stop in mid-step when he sees Varian. A hand goes to cover his mouth as he stares in awe and lets out a gasp]

.... You're so little and cute!

[droptheious]

[This is a betrayal. This is an awful and terrible betrayal. Varian turns to glare at Jun, flapping his little wings. ]

I am not! Jun this is a nightmare!!! Look at me! I've got work to do!

[whiteshroud]

I am looking and you're adorable!

[He'll kneel down and hold out his arms. Come here lil penguin]

C'mon. We can text Maxima to ask him to finish the job. In the meantime, let's try get you dry okay? I have a feeling that might fix the problem.

[droptheious]

You're the worst.

[ At least like most of Varian's temper flare-ups, this is blissfully short. He huffs waddling over to his partner, looking miserable. ]

Okay. Good. It's just this one in the main hall - he needs to fix the valve and it'll be fine. [ He's gonna rest his little penguin head on Jun's knee, sighing.] You do? Have you seen this before?

[whiteshroud]

You don't mean that.

[Yeah he's used to these flare ups, and is not at all fazed by it. When the penguin fiance comes near, he'll give him a pet on the head before picking him up to carry in both arms]

Yeah, I think so- the transforming when wet sounds like a selkie curse. Usually when they get dried off, they're able to change back.

[droptheious]

[Sulkily: ]

No. [ :(

He'll allow the head pat, before leaning into him with a forlorn little sigh.]

...Like Wolfwood has? [Look, that's his main selkie point of reference, okay.] Oh great, so he didn't just make me into a penguin, he also made me into a selkie. Thanks a lot Flins!

[At least they have an answer to getting him back to normal. He cuddles up to Jun and that feels nice. They already have a pair bond so he doesn't think anything more about it right at this moment. He usually feels better when he gets to touch his partner. No big deal. ]

Okay. Let's... dry off and see if that helps any.

[whiteshroud]

[He'll stand once he has the penguin in his arms, cradling him in this arms. ]

Yeah, like Wolfwood.... though you're thankfully much easier to carry! [Thank God.] And we don't know if it was Flins! He likes you, so I don't think he'd deliberately curse you into being a penguin.

[He'll teleport both of them back to the Alley. He sets the penguin down on their dining room table in the common area before he heads towards their room]

Just hang on there, I'll grab some towel!

Video; un: lightkeeper

[lanternae]

[Flins was on watch with Casimir when there's a new notification from the Gemini App. The sea's relatively peaceful--December had certainly granted them peace there--so he goes to check it on the job.

...

He looks at Casimir, who only blinks back evenly.


...

Back to the app. Did he do this? He doesn't know. He didn't willingly do it if so, and with the month waning his powers, it's even less likely.

Still. Maybe he tilted the needle slightly to the left?]


Oops.

[droptheious]

[ HE IS GOING TO BITE YOU! HE'S GOING TO BITE AND BITE AND BITE!! ]

OOPS??? What do you mean "OOPS?!!" Undo it!!! I can't be like this!!!!

[lanternae]

[That's not very raccoon of you, Varian.]

I'll need to take a look at you personally to be sure, but I do not believe this is my work.

[Wait, let him clarify.]

At most, I might've...inspired the change.

[droptheious]

[ It's very raccoon of him! They're very bitey! ]

But you're not sure???? Flins, I can't stay like this! I don't have hands!!! I need hands, Flins, I WORK with my hands!

How?? With your animal quiz?!! Did you do this to other people?

[lanternae]

[Flins mutters a soft 'watch the lighthouse' to his cat before he starts to walk into the lighthouse and down the stairs, explaining as he goes.]

I'll confirm in person, but. How do I put this... That night there was a considerable amount of magic in the air. My powers were certainly not at their peak, as I'm Shadow aligned.

That said, my assessment of you may have...unlocked your latent inner Adelie Penguin.

To put it in plainsterms, perhaps you have had this inside you all along, and my power of suggestion brought it out.

[He continues his walk down, making his way to the door.] It hasn't affected anyone else that I know of, but. Hm.

[He has some people to check up on now.]

Your short statured self is in Meropide, correct?

[droptheious]

[ Varian is also shadow aligned, and that is about the only thing that stops him from exploding in tiny feathery rage about this. ]

...I mean. That is a good point, it is a very light dominant month. My shadow powers have been really weak, too.

[ Oh. No. He doesn't care for that explanation at all. ]

No way! We've been though this! I'm a raccoon, I'm not an Adelie Penguin!!!

[ He says, while being an Adelie Penguin. ]

...Yeah, I'm in Meropide. I'm at the front entrance. Are you sure it hasn't affected anyone? You talked to a lot of people.

[lanternae]

Then again...

[Was that hope you had for a moment, Varian? I'm so sorry.]

My fae abilities are not exactly linked to the Shadow element. It's entirely possible I tilted the compass. I'll know for sure when I see you.

[He's outside now, and the sound of feet on the docks is heard.]

That said, you are quite cute. I feel validated in my choice.

I'll be sure to follow up with the others as well. If I did have something to do with this...well. That truly is a lot of people...

[droptheious]

[Wow, way to crush all his hopes, grandpa!!! ]

But why???? I told you I didn't want to be a penguin! Why would you make me one? [So cruel, so unusual, grandfather :( ]

I am not! I hate this! I'm so tiny!!!! I don't even have HANDS.

It'll be a pandemic!!! They'll be so many people, Flins!

[lanternae]

[Grandson, you're denying what you are inside...]

Now, now, before we wrongfully accuse me of punishing my grandchild, I'll take a look. It shouldn't take me too long to get to Meropide.

...

Would you like a fish?

voice | un: kissmyash

[switchaxe]

[Nope, laughing.]

Holy shit.

[droptheious]

[ HE'LL FIGHT YOU TOO, COME AT HIM, BRO!! He's waddling in angry circles!!!!]

It's not FUNNY, Ash!!!!

[switchaxe]

It's fuckin' hilarious. You're a tiny ass penguin!

[droptheious]

I can bite you too, you know!!! This is humiliating! I don't even have HANDS.

[switchaxe]

Do you even have teeth like that?

[droptheious]

The inside of my beak is pretty sharp so good as!!!

[switchaxe]

Next question: could you even catch me?

[droptheious]

I'm sure I could try!!!!

[switchaxe]

Yeah, you sure could. Why're you so sure Hellvater did this anyway?

[Light-father. Yes that is what he's calling Flins for now. He's workshopping it.]

[droptheious]

Because he's the one who told me my animal horoscope was specifically an adelie penguin, and here I am! Specifically being an adelie penguin! It's far too on point to be coincidence.

[switchaxe]

Dude, this city has a sick sense of humor. He probably didn't do fuck all.

[doublethumbsup]

[And there's Hermes. Minding their own business meandering down the hall, ordering batteries online. Why? Don't worry about it.]

[That's.]

[A penguin.]

[A yelling penguin.]

[They stop. At their feet, Benny also stops, tilting his head in the way only dogs can really pull off.]

Uh. Don't be offended little guy but. What kinda work does a penguin... have to do...?