[PQ] ex-goose me

idealism sits in prison, chivalry fell on his sword

Koa sticks his tongue out at his sister as she bounces off, reaching up to smooth his tousled hair. The first round had been absurd enough to make the Dragoon feel equal parts nervous and excited for round two, and he keeps his narrowed gaze on Noe as she waltzes around the circle, blasé as you please. He's pretty sure she won't pick him - it feels too obvious for his chaotic sister - and that confidence is rewarded when she finally sets a hand on Melita's head, shouting the age-old 'Goose!'

Ah, but here Koa feels conflicted: who to fuck with of this pair? Certainly both more than deserve it, for all the grief they've given the boy. In the end familial ties (and the memory of a 99 red balloons) win out, and Koa reaches out with a projected hand to grab Melita's shoelaces, hoping to trip her up enough to give Noe time to get back to her seat.

---

Koa uses his bracers to try and slow down Melita by grabbing her shoelaces

koa

code by sky

there's this tune I found that makes me think of you somehow

The channeling worked, and Soren was suddenly slowed down from his retreat. The feeling came over his limbs like what Dygra had described to them about stasis when she changed them into their new forms. The moment Aithne’s hand tapped his shoulder, Soren froze mid-lurch, mid-stumble, mid-snarl. He gasped like he’d been shot with a bolt of lightning magic, and clutched his chest as he fell into the grass. “No,” he declared, twisting dramatically to look at her, eyes wide with exaggerated betrayal. “No. This was rigged!"

He groaned and moaned and rolled over, clawing and dragging his body back to his spot. “Sabotage,” he drawled out, slowly and deliberately as if in rtue agony, as he pulled himself to a sitting position once more. He huffed out a breath and then sighed, all dramatics, as Noe was chosen and she went around the circle. He refrained from hissing when she touched him, half-expecting to be chosen as the goose based on his antics. But it was their gamemaster, and Soren's head cocked to the side with avian delight as she chased the accepted.

He did not interfere.

---

Soren is dramatic, but does nothign else.

Soren

and I play it on repeat

I've done nothing wrong
Except for all the atrocities

So, sometimes the Honeybee realized turnabout was fair play.

Like…now.

Melita didn’t pout, didn’t whine, didn’t flop around dramatically as the Goose was shouted upon the top of her head. But she did bolt, laugh, figured she could claw her way right back to Noe and then the Accepted would simply have to accept defeat.

Except others, especially those like Koa, had probably been exposed to her tricks one too many times. And vengeance, at least in their case, was likely sweet.

Aithne’s tail tripped her initially, and while it slowed the demigod down, it certainly didn’t take her into the ground. She regained her speed, her momentum, only for Koa’s tug on her shoelaces to be enough. By the time she recovered (as her shoe had been loose enough apparently, and nearly fallen off), Noe had gone right back into her spot.

“Huh,” she declared, trying to soften the edges of a loss in her mind. No matter. No biggie. She could get them back. “Guess I’m up,” came with a fanged grin.

“Duuuuuck,” she emphasized, patting Soren on the head. “Duuuuuuck,” she declared once more, prancing by Aithne and Noe. “Gooooose!” She shouted at the top of her lungs, granting Koa another opportunity, while also dousing his head with glitter, and taking off.

--

Due to everyone’s antics, Melita has failed to catch Noe, and has now tried to make Koa the new goose. No post order!

the honeybee

Besides that
I'm innocent

NOE

But I got smarter, I got harder in the nick of time

Noe pelted around the circle as quickly as she could, fully anticipating that she'd be caught rather sooner than later - and yet, it seemed that the antics of the masses were enough to keep her safe, because she slipped into Melita's spot with a breathless grin, not having been tagged out. Shooting the demigoddess a too-sweet smile - not unkind, but perhaps a little gloating - Noe settled in for the next round.

A round that resulted in Koa being chosen as goose and doused in glitter, much to Noe's delight.

The girl practically squealed with glee as the chase began, reaching out to grab at Koa's legs as they rushed by. Of course she was going to help Melita now; Koa simply could not be allowed to best the Honeybee. Sibling rivalry, in this case, was very real, and she was eager to (lovingly) watch her brother fall flat on his face.

---

Noe tries to trip Koa!

Honey, I rose up from the dead, I do it all the time

Aithne

The ties were black, the lies were white

Aithne giggles at Soren's dramatics, shooting him a playful wink as they all settle back in for the next round. She is pleased when her tail manages to trip Melita, snickering softly to herself as the demigoddess continues her round and comes up empty-handed. She doesn't know the girl who shoots a simpering smile towards the Honeybee, but she decides that she can't be too bad, if she's willing to participate in this little game and play along with the chaos that has followed.

The Ancient waits for the game to continue, electing to utilize the same efforts as before: flicking her tail directly into the path, she wiggles it about in an effort to trip one or both of the runners. Hopefully they won't step on it; she will be quite upset if they bruise both her tail and her ego like that.

---

Aithne tries to trip Melita and Koa with her tail.

In shades of gray in candlelight

idealism sits in prison, chivalry fell on his sword

Glitter? Glitter? The herpes of crafts?!

The knowledge that he'll be pulling glitter out of his hair for days spurs Koa out of his seat faster than any declaration of goose, a combination of indignation and competitiveness energizing his feet. "Oh, I'll get you for that, Zombee!" he cries with a laugh, feet tearing into the ground as he sprints after the demigoddess. And while later on he'll have some choice words for his traitorous sister ("I helped you, you little brat!"), right now his focus is entirely upon Mel.

If she can cheat with glitter (GLITTER!!!) then he can, too - not with glitter, but with his grasp. Reaching out with his bracered reach, Koa tries to grab at Melita as she runs, either to slow her down or to grapple her from afar entirely - the better to duck her goose right on up.

---

Koa tries to use his bracers to grab Mel as he chases her

koa

code by sky

there's this tune I found that makes me think of you somehow

There were new runners and new geese and new antics and Soren could only feel excitement swell within him. For not being sure he even wanted to be here in the first place, to flailing around dramatically, to this -- well, this surely was a day for the young ancient.

In this moment, as the glitter bombed soldier chased after the fiery haired demigod, Soren only wished he could call on a chaotic spirit in the honor of Dygra to escelate the dramatics. But he couldn't, so he did only this--

Soren flopped backwards as if he were dying from being caught all over again, trying to trip Melita.

---

Soren, once again, does nothing much more than be dramatic and try to trip Mel

Soren

and I play it on repeat

I've done nothing wrong
Except for all the atrocities

With gleeful abandon, Melita ran as fast her legs could carry her. Versed in some of the Ancient’s prior attempts, she launched over Aithne ‘s tail, and kicked Soren on the way by. She might’ve met Koa’s spot without any trouble or further interference, but it’d be difficult to tell, given Noe ’s impeccable range towards her brother.

The Accepted stumbled, his bracers flying outward to only snag at grass and ground, nearly coming down to his knees. By then, the Honeybee had already, victoriously and obnoxiously, returned to the space needed, crowing and snickering with a fist pump to the air. “That’s perfect! You’re the next to go anyway!” She winked, then finally sat back down, hoping Koa would be cleaning up the glitter for some time. “Last round everyone, make it count!”

--

Koa didn’t catch Mel, but no worries because it was going to be his turn regardless. Koa has to post first, then everyone else may go!

the honeybee

Besides that
I'm innocent

idealism sits in prison, chivalry fell on his sword

Later he will fully blame Noe for his failure to catch the Honeybee, because it's definitely not that he didn't stand a chance against the faster, stronger demigod. "Traitor!" Koa accuses with faux indignation, pointing at Noe dramatically, his hand over his heart. "My own flesh and blood!" His wounded affectation might have borne more weight were it not for the glitter on his hair and nose, merrily catching the light and lending him the appearance of a five-year-old's Ken doll whose endured an overzealous makeover with arts and crafts supplies.

Anyway, he's up now, and he's gotta make it count. No pressure at all. Going through the circle, Koa offers the obligatory head pats and 'Ducks', paying particular attention to the ruffling of Noe's locks. He's tempted to stop upon his sister, but there's an Imp to tame. He's made three intentionally obnoxious revolutions and is halfway into the fourth when finally his hand lands on Soren, and Koa mutters, "Goose."

Then he takes off running, hoping not to be outdone by a little brat with a tail.

---

Koa tags Soren!

koa

code by sky

Soren

You have got that face that just says

Melita made her way back to her spot and Koa was left to be the next ducker. Soren shifted himself back up and placed himself properly in the circle, lip gently twitching to reveal the tip of one fang as the man started around.

The Imp—er, Soren—was ready. Anticipation vibrated like static beneath the young ancient’s skin, his tail lashing as he waited for what was to come. With each of the soldier’s revolutions, he felt the anticipation within him surge and swell like waves crashing against the shore.

Koa’s hand finally landed on him, followed by the taunting goose, and Soren surged. Flesh turned and shifted to scorched feather, and powerful wings flapped hard and deliberate as he made his attempt after the accepted.

The cinderscourge let out a screaming call, eyes narrowed as talons reached out to grab.

---

Soren shifts and tries to catch Koa!

"Baby, I was made to break your heart"

Aithne

The ties were black, the lies were white

Aithne lashes her tail as she realizes that her attempts at tripping the runners has failed, her lip curling in a silent snarl. But then she calms. No matter. There's always next round.

And the next round promises to be quite the round, indeed, as Koa tags Soren, leaving Aithne to snicker as her best friend shifts and gives chase around their circle. She sits innocently, even going to far as to tuck her tail out of the way of the running dragoon - but then, at the last possible moment, she flops backwards, twisting in an effort to grab for the man's legs and tangle herself up in them. If it works, perhaps he'll go sprawling. Wouldn't that be hilarious?

---

Aithne tries to trip Koa!

In shades of gray in candlelight

NOE

But I got smarter, I got harder in the nick of time

Noe giggled at Koa 's dramatics, sticking her tongue out at her brother from her spot in the circle. The effect of Melita's glitter was to erase any severity that might have been present on the dragoon's face, and the girl stifled a grin as he began to count his ducks, ruffling her hair affectionately as he passed her by. Round and round he went, until finally he settled on a goose.

And then he was up and away, chased by some kind of flaming bird that Noe had never seen before. Impressed in spite of herself, Noe watched as the bird took to the air, soaring after the dragoon with a fierce cry. This time, Noe did nothing to help or hinder. She figured that Koa would expect it from her this time, and she wasn't sure how she was supposed to reach a bird to mess with him. So instead she merely watched as they circled around, offering only an innocent call of, "Faster, Koa!"

---

Noe does nothing except yell at Koa to run faster.

Honey, I rose up from the dead, I do it all the time

I've done nothing wrong
Except for all the atrocities

Content with all the glitter arrangements, Melita watched the proceedings. Koa’s next chosen victim happened to be the sullen, sulky Ancient boy – though she didn’t expect him to shift into some kind of fire bird. “Huh,” she muttered out loud, thinking the arrangement was pretty neat (the affinity for flames still going strong), while she opted to give the Dragoon somewhat of a chance, and a break from her meddling, and tried to throw a spare duck at Soren.

It landed squarely on the Ancient glider’s head, but he seemed remarkably undeterred. Continuing on his flight path, while Aithne strived to trip Koa, the Dragoon managed to launch neatly over her impending and intending assault. Noe ‘s encouragement might’ve bolstered her brother’s efforts, it certainly didn’t impede them, and Koa was back at his spot once more.

The demigod rose from her spot and started a round of applause. “Well done everyone! I’m sure Ludo enjoyed our little show. Make sure to pass all these games onto your friends too! The more the merrier!” Especially if they played it in this particular facet.

With a wink to everyone, she suddenly blinked out of sight, invisible and gone, leaving the rest to their own devices.

--

Thanks everyone for a stellar game of Duck, Duck, Goose!

[FIN]

the honeybee

Besides that
I'm innocent