[PQ+] you quack me up

// you knew who I was //

Not having expected the size of the duck he manages to locate inside the cart - or for it to be dressed like a bad caricature of Safrin - Danta is momentarily puzzled as he stands on the axel gazing down at it.

More fool the owner of said cart for doing their actual job, though, because they're about to find themselves down one weird-looking duck. Reaching for it with the intention of raising it above his head to march back towards the bonfire, Danta glances up at the shriek that warbles through the air.

Taking that as his cue, the Maverick hurries away with his prize still hopefully held aloft over his head, his other finds safely secured in pockets that couldn't hold any more ducks even if they wanted to.

---

Danta grabs up #9 and hurries back to the bonfire!

Dantalion

// with every step that I ran to you //

You need chaos in your soul

Stuffing her face full of tacos, Nova apparently wasn't paying very close attention to her immediate surroundings. But how would she miss a floating bag? Her head snapped up at the bobbing movement of the unaccompanied package looking suspiciously like it contained ducks. She tilted her head in confusion and utter delight at the mysteriously magical sight. 

She might have sat to see where it was going if she hadn't been interrupted by the screeching alarm that seemed to be the final push of encouragement for her to leap forward towards the escaping bag. As she reached, her hands became paws, claws stretching out between black and rainbow fur that poked through her skin. Her head stretched forward with excited determination to reach her target, blue eyes glittering brilliantly above her sharply outturned fangs. 

---

Nova shifts to her Tide Jaguar and lunges for the floating bag (and Mel)!

Nova

to give birth to a dancing star.

you gotta get bruised before you get mad
you gotta fall down before you fight back

Sohalia searched around the tree, determined to find at least one more duck. She might have given one of hers away, but she didn't want to end the game with only one to call her own. She wondered vaguely if they were meant to keep what they found, or if they would turn them in to Melita at the end. Tarak would likely be disappointed if the latter.

Speaking of Tarak, the little griffin hunted in the branches and spied a glittering, golden something hidden in the boughs. He squawked the alarm to Sohalia, who peered up at him, trying to see if she could see what he could. Yes, just there - there was indeed something in the tree. "Can you get it, or should I shift?" she called up to her companion, who screeched again (sounded vaguely offended at the implication that he was incapable) and tried to snag the duck from the tree.

---

Tarak tries to get the duck!

was feeling so weak but baby i'm strong
little did i know i'm a champion

Sohalia

I've done nothing wrong
Except for all the atrocities

In the end, perhaps many things were for naught or for good. The chaos unfurled, with tide jaguars lunging, with invisible demigods and their bags barely escaping, with Ancients plucking at other notions and snagging remains, and even little griffins, plucking away at gilded things from boughs and branches.

Eventually, they all clambered back together, showing off their wares, tallies being counted. Some clearly had never been found – and perhaps would be later, in between snowstorms and spring, or after a great, grand thaw; little glimmers of curiosity and ridiculousness. But here and now, it was time to declare a winner.

Was Melita disappointed it wasn’t her? Probably – but given the grand success of the brewing bedlam, the rioting gestures, the roars in faces, the promises of bloodshed, and children only crying sometimes…it was still a triumphant, chaotic thing. And that had been enough.

Standing back on her box, the Honeybee ushered attention, cupping her hands around her mouth to deliver the verdict. “Congratulations goes to Dantalion, for the most ducks found!” Whether or not people were hissing, grumbling, or clapping scarcely mattered, as she persisted and continued. “He has won a duck of his choosing -,” of which she proudly displayed the opulent and ludicrous of such ornaments: all four fashioned after the Big Gods.

Pandering back to the somewhat jaded crowd, she grinned again. “Thanks everyone for a great time! You may all keep the ducks you found, and any that are still around in the future!”

From there, they could dissipate; a little richer in nonsense.

--

Congratulations to Dantalion for securing the win! He may choose a prize and everyone gets to keep their ducks! Thanks for participating!

[FIN]

the honeybee

Besides that
I'm innocent