[PQ] ex-goose me

I've done nothing wrong
Except for all the atrocities

It'd become apparent that at this point in the season, people were a little weary. A little overwhelmed. A little…not amused. Far too serious. Which meant it was time for the Honeybee to do her actual demigod work.

She’d put up several flyers throughout King’s End, as she hadn’t picked on that region yet and she doubted her uncle would care if she led some ridiculous game out amongst Mourn. A little mourning jaunt amidst the flowers – already beginning to place people (mostly children and teenagers, who are we kidding), in a neat circle.

Once she figured she had most who’d participate, and some clearly watching to see the dramatics go down, she cupped her hands together, standing on a nearby bench to get attention. “Hello and welcome – we honor Ludo today by playing Duck, Duck, Goose! I hope you have your running shoes handy.” Pausing, and wrinkling her nose for affect, she persisted. “For those who don’t know how to play, it’s very simple,” except it wouldn’t be soon but shhhhh. “One player walks around the rest of the seated ones, tapping each on the head, saying ‘duck’. When they choose someone, they tap them and say ‘goose’, and then the player must stand up and chase the ‘it’ player around the circle.” She indicated said circle, where several children began to demo. “Whoever is it has a goal to get back to the empty spot, and the goose is aiming to tag them.”

Smiling, she tilted her head. “Of course, we’ll add in a little twist! Whoever else is sitting can aid the tagger or the tagged, but only from your spot. We’ll change some things up as we go along! For now, take your places and we’ll get started.”

--

Welcome to another honoring Ludo rendition – with a little twist on Duck, Duck Goose! For now, have your character take their spot or ask questions (Mel may not answer but hey worth a shot).

The first person to be It will be determined by dice roll!

1. Melita
2. Koa
3. Aithne
4. Noe
5. Soren

the honeybee

Besides that
I'm innocent

NOE

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

Noe had never spent much time in King's End, but seeing as this was where Koa was based now, she figured it was time to change that. Having come to visit her brother, she had seen the flyers posted around the skyport and persuaded him to join her for a game. I'm sure it'll be quick, she'd said, all innocence and pleading. It's just duck, duck, goose.

And it was something to distract her, which was really what she was after more than anything.

Melita was the ringmaster for the game, and Noe listened to her instructions, rolling her eyes playfully at Koa as the demigod explained the rules. "Doesn't everyone know how to play this?" she whispered to him, a shadow of her old mischief making an appearance in her eyes. But then Melita announced a twist on the game, and Noe grinned, positively delighted by this turn of events.

Then she took her place in the circle, waiting to see who would be It first.

---

Noe arrives!

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

Aithne

The ties were black, the lies were white

Aithne drags Soren to the game, all effervescence and mischief. She hasn't played duck, duck, goose since she was a child, but the flyers seemed to promise a unique twist on the game, and what else is there to do, anyway? "Come on," Aithne complains, tugging her best friend along. "We're gonna miss it."

But fortunately they arrive on time, just as Melita begins to explain the rules of the game. At the news of a twist, Aithne grins at Soren. She can already imagine all kinds of ways to fuck with whoever is It. Or whoever is being chased. Or both. Always both.

Taking her place in the circle, Aithne waits for the game to start, sizing up her competition with a feral grin.

---

Aithne arrives!

In shades of gray in candlelight

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

A game of duck duck goose didn’t sound enticing to the young ancient, but Aithne wanted to play and so Soren agreed.

He complained about it the whole time though, and dragged his feet.

As they approached his tail flicked behind him like an agitated house cat, and his nose wrinkled some. ”Aith, this is for Ludo.” he nearly sneered, ”but I think we should add some Dygra.” his followed with a sharp wink.

Soren found a spot across the circle from Aithne as Melita explained what was about to happen. His tail still twitched like a house cats even as he crossed his legs and tilted his horned head, watching.

---

Soren arrives!

Soren

and I play it on repeat

idealism sits in prison, chivalry fell on his sword

Hope you have your running shoes. Hardy har har. Koa squints suspiciously at Melita, not convinced this isn't an overt reference to his (still) missing boots. He's got sneakers on today, tightly laced, his legs tucked under him in a position of readiness to spring up and sprint at Melita's call.

Noe's question has him smirking with a wry shake of his head. "Oh, I'm sure she has some sort of twist," he murmurs back to his sister, glancing at the other two unknown players of their game. And sure enough the twist comes, with permissive cheating added in. And while the Dragoons may disagree with cheating in all forms, Koa is all for maximizing any available advantage when it comes to competition.

With Noe on his right and an unfamiliar boy on his left, Koa is ready to se someone's goose get cooked.

koa

code by sky

I've done nothing wrong
Except for all the atrocities

With everyone sitting and settling in, Melita extended a shitty little grin to those she knew, namely Noe, Koa, and Aithne. The Ancient newcomer she didn’t recognize, but that was all right – there were a fair amount of strangers milling about and joining in. Mostly kids. Some teenagers with nicer attitudes. “All right, first one to go will be…..,” and she closed her eyes, waving her finger around until it pinpointed on someone: namely, Soren. “You!”

Then she also sat within the circle, cross-legged and ready to bolt. “Once he goes for someone, the game is on,” and she winked at everyone in turn, eager for the revelry and antics to start.

--

The first person to be it is Soren! Soren must post first, essentially choosing who they’re going to tag. Thereafter, anyone may “participate” in assisting Soren or the tagged, or spouting off any particular brand of chaos.

the honeybee

Besides that
I'm innocent

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

The moment Melita closed her eyes and pointed to him, Soren just blinked. 

“You’re joking,” he muttered, glancing across the circle at Aithne, who looked far too smug for someone who had orchestrated his doom. He sighed through his nose. The sound was sharp and theatrical, the noise someone made before stomping their foot into the ground in defiance. But slowly, and deliberately, he pushed himself to his feet. “Fiiiiiiine,” he drew out the word like it physically pained him. “Let’s get this over with.”

He began walking the circle with the air of a predator forced to wear a party hat, eyes narrowed some. His feet barely made a sound against the grass, and he tapped each head he passed with two fingers, a little harder than necessary. “Duck. Duck. Duck.” Each word was flatter than the last, boredom bordering on insult.

But then as he made a second turn of the circle, and he approached @Aithen, his eyes gleamed with something more mischievous. “Goose,” he said sweetly and in a sing-song type of way. Immediately then, he bolted, tail lashing behind him like a whip.

---

Surprise surprise, Soren chooses Aithne!

Soren

and I play it on repeat

Aithne

The ties were black, the lies were white

The moment Soren is chosen to be it, Aithne knows what was coming. She snickers, shooting a fanged grin across the circle as she prepares to be selected as goose. Tense and taut as a bowstring, she waits, tail twitching, her eyes never leaving Soren as he slowly makes his way along, calling out, duck, duck, duck, as he goes. To the uninitiated, his tone is bored, but to Aithne, it is a sign of chaos to come.

And when he gets to her, she is ready. As soon as he taps her and calls goose, the girl is on her feet and away, chasing her best friend around the circle, a feral grin on her face as she sprints after him, aiming to grab his lashing tail.

---

Aithne runs after Soren, trying to tag him!

In shades of gray in candlelight

NOE

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

The first person to be chosen as 'it' was an Ancient boy who looked to be around Noe's age. He seemed less than thrilled to be here, but once he'd chosen his victim target, he seemed to throw himself into the game with zeal. Noe watched the pair tear around the circle. A familiar spark of mischief blossomed in her chest, and for the first time since she'd been cured, she felt a little bit more like herself.

She'd never channeled before, but this seemed like as good a time as any, so as she watched the pair rush around, she put out a silent plea to any lingering spirits. Hello? Could any spirits around maybe slow them down without hurting them? After all, this was just a game, and she didn't want any true harm to befall the participants.

---

Noe tries to channel a spirit to slow down Soren and Aithne!

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

grey skies are gonna clear up

Noe's silent prayer will be answered with a chuckle against one of her ears as fingers tickle playfully across her back. Both Soren and Aithne will find their shoes suddenly incredibly heavy, almost as if they've become magnetized to the earth such that every step will become difficult, but not impossible.

Run, run! a small voice titters playfully.

put on a happy face

idealism sits in prison, chivalry fell on his sword

The first it is an Ancient Koa doesn't recognize, but whose over-the-top theatrics earn an eyeroll and the mental nickname 'Imp'. Teenagers, he thinks, raising an eyebrow at Noe as a hand presses far more firmly than it needs to into first his head, and then hers. He leans in close to his sister, muttering playfully under his breath: "Looks like we got a badass over here."

There's a flurry of activity across the circle, and suddenly the other Ancient is on her feet, chasing after the Imp. Koa's expression is a mirror of Noe's, mischievous grin growing broader as the pair becomes inexplicably slow. Yawning dramatically, Koa leans back onto his palms to watch the chaos unfold.

And if he happens to extend an arm just as Soren runs past and trip the brat, well. Oops.

---

Koa will attempt to trip Soren as he runs past

koa

code by sky

I've done nothing wrong
Except for all the atrocities

And then it was chaos.

Soren ’s aim for Aithne came, and then so did the masses thereafter. Noe ’s spirit clung to the Ancient’s shoes, pulling and tugging and ensuring their movements were haphazard and slow. Koa ’s arm slipped out towards Soren, pulling and tugging and essentially drifting the youth out more and more –

Then Melita’s water cannon from her ridiculous wild magic ensured the lad had no chance, no opportunity, to make it back to his spot.

Allowing, after everything, for Aithne to tag her companion. There were raucous cheers of applause and rambunctious screaming from the sidelines, and also the other children participating. And some pointing and laughing at the soaked nomad.

“Mmm, just to be fair,” Melita added with a tap of her chin, “We’ll have other people go too. Wanna make sure we all get turns.” Like payback would be an absolute bitch but completely worth it kind of vibe. Closing her eyes for a moment, she spun her finger and pointed again, opening her eyes to see it’d be Noe ‘s turn. “You’re up!”

--

Due to a lot of antics and shenanigans, Aithne was able to tag Soren. For fun’s sake, we’ll have Noe go next! Noe must post first and then all others can go!

the honeybee

Besides that
I'm innocent

NOE

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

Noe snickered at Koa's muttered comment, already plotting her own brand of mischief. Her spirit arrived without fanfare, though the giggle and following tickle across her back raised goosebumps on her arms. The girl laughed aloud when the two Ancients seemed suddenly quite unable to move their feet, pleased by the outcome of her very first channel. Things might be weird and complicated, but at least this was fun! In the end, the girl Ancient tagged the boy and the round was over.

The next to be selected was Noe, and she grinned innocently at Koa as she rose from her spot. Tousling his hair as she passed him - just for the sake of messing it up - she went around the circle twice, droning, "Duck, duck, duck..." as she went. Then, with as much of a surprise element as she could muster, she tagged Melita and shouted, "Goose!" before taking off around the circle.

---

Noe tags Melita and fleeeees~

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

Aithne

The ties were black, the lies were white

Chaos ensues - not that Aithne minds. In fact, she rather thinks that if this is what Ludo wants people to do for fun, she wouldn't have minded following it if she hadn't pledged her loyalty to Dygra. She chases Soren around the circle, hopping over outstretched hands and doing her best to catch up to her friend - but then, suddenly, her shoes feel much heavier than usual, and she nearly trips over her own feet before she gets used to the sensation. Although she's never had to move through quicksand, she thinks that this must be what it feels like; still, she's able to catch up to Soren and tag him, crowing a triumphant, "Gotcha!" as she did so.

With Soren's turn over, Aithne returns to her seat, waiting for the next victim to be selected. The girl who's chosen to be it tags Melita, and Aithne innocently stretches out her tail, aiming to use it to wrap around the runners' ankles and cause them to trip or even fall.

---

Aithne uses her tail to try to trip the runners!

In shades of gray in candlelight