Gain the weight of you then lose it

[reddosmod]

JANUARY 2022 EVENT

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Prompt One
[Image One: Woman in an elaborate blue dress with high collar staring at camera while people dance in background.]
[Image Two: Woman in pink dress touching chest and smiling at camera while people dance in background.]

Prompt Two
[Image One: Explicit gif of snake shedding its skin and a new viperlike snake coming out of the old skin.]
[Image Two: Gif of eyes gazing at camera and right eye turning yellow.]

Prompt Three
[Image One: Image of rock snake with fire glowing in its mouth.]
[Image Two: Gif of a snake made entirely out of flames hissing.]

[NAVIGATION]

Prompt 1 • Prompt 2 • Prompt 3 • Plotting • Newsletter

[JUMP TO COMMENTS]

SNAKE DEN

WHEN: Evenings throughout January
WHERE: The Red, Cellar Door
CONTENT WARNINGS: Alcohol/Drugs, possible NSFW scenarios, forced honesty, mood altering substances.

---

Around Trench, Sleepers will find a gold-edged flyer pinned to most doors, lamps, and posted around stores and throughout the market. Some may even find the flyer pinned to their front door:

MADAM GENEROSITY INVITES YOU TO THE SNAKE DEN

Hello darling and dearest Sleepers! Do not let the cold dampen your spirit or weaken your hope. Do not allow our differences to divide us; do not let the frigid drive you to isolation; do not hurt your soul by forgetting one another. They say snakes cannot thrive in the cold, yet here I am, defying it, thriving despite it. You can too. We must persist. We shall persist. Not with violence and bloodshed, not with pollution and corruption, but with unity! With compassion and fun.

I invite you all to join me at The Red every odd evening of January! Welcome to the Snake Den! A little Talent Show I throw occasionally to remind Sleepers of their profound potential for greatness and awe! Come be flashy on stage or to support your friends. After the Talent Show is our famed Fashion Show. Do you have eccentric outfits you would like to show off? Now is truly your time to shine!

The evening will be filled with plenty of food and drink for all. We shall dance, we shall show off, we shall persist and defy corruption together. Let my lovely Night Walkers shine and keep you company for the evening. Find some new friends, have an illicit affair, or just come so you don't have to be alone for a night. You are all welcome...And don't worry, I've enchanted the Red so that none of your powers can cause any damage while inside the building. Feel free to really make a light show with your fire! It won't hurt anyone.

I so look forward to seeing all of you there.

With Love,
Madam Generosity

The Red has been elaborately decorated for the Snake Den spectacle. Enormous golden statues of snakes have been placed throughout. Golden lights glitter above. Servers carry about golden flutes of champagne, soda, and sparkling water. You can order other drinks at the bar. While the invite has gone out to Sleepers, there are some regular Trenchies who have come to show their support. To perform in the Talent Show portion, one simply needs to go backstage to prepare with the rest.

A female Trenchie named Dorothea seems to be directing the acts. People can perform multiple times. Talents performed can include music, comedy, dance routines, or little skits. After the Talent Show concludes, a Fashion Show will be put on, and everyone is encouraged to join. You can get your hair and make-up done elaborately backstage and find eccentric outfits to try on if you're not so happy with the one you showed up in.

Going to the Snake Den at this time will cause incredible stress relief. Even those who are typically shy or introverted will find themselves soothed at the Snake Den. Giant pillows have been thrown about so people can puddle in together and snuggle up. Private rooms have been created out of silks for some private conversations or interactions.

There must be something in the drinks or the snacks going around because it becomes easy to become a much more outgoing version of yourself at the party. It may increase friendliness or touchiness and relax people's usual reservations. Who knows? It might encourage you to go up on stage and show off a bit or talk to that handsome stranger who has been eying you the whole night. Regular intoxication from alcohol/drugs is possible as well which means some people might not need the additional encouragement.

Regular dancing occurs after the Fashion Shows with various musicians performing on stage to fill the night up with plenty of mood melodies. As the evening prolongs, the lights dim and things become quiet and soothing. Since paleblood magic is exceptionally strong this month with honesty, attendants of the party may find themselves being more open and honest about themselves. Hopefully, you don't confess anything too vulnerable about yourself...

FAQ:
1. Characters with mental abilities may be able to resist the honesty sway if they consciously realize it is happening.

2. Any talent can be performed on the stage.

3. The flyer is magically enchanted so that people who touch it will feel unusually excited to go to the Snake Den.

THE SHEDDING CEREMONY

WHEN: Begins in January - Effects may be permanent. Players choose when the effects wear off.
WHERE: Everywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Forced modification of body, possible themes of body dysmorphia, shedding/peeling skin, burning/eating dead skin, alternate versions of characters, possible genderswapping, possible alteration of personality/memories.

---

[A passage from Rituals and Reality; Chapter 2: The Shedding Ceremony. Found exclusively in Gaze:]

"Worshippers of Madam Generosity believed that the shedding of snakeskin was symbolic to the shedding of an old life and the acceptance of a new life. The skin left behind was a reminder of past trials and tribulations, and the skin you walk away with is evidence of all that you have learned and experienced. In ancient times, Sleepers would ritualistically select one of their own to sacrifice to Madam Generosity. Eventually, Sleepers would come to learn that Madam Generosity did not appreciate blood sacrifices. Due to her gentle nature, she encouraged Sleepers to pay tribute to her in other ways.

Thus came the Shedding Ceremony. Sleepers would rub away chapped skin and set it afire in a bowl. They would reflect on lives left behind and the new life they had been given in Trench. Over time, this created a powerful magical experience that persisted beyond the original ceremony. The Shedding Ceremony is both a ritual and an enchantment.

As January begins, Sleepers may find that their skin has become dry and brittle. The generous application of lotions and oils may soothe the skin, but neglected skin can begin to peel off. Although it is a painless experience, it can be rather gross to look at and a bit itchy. Then one day, you simply fall asleep and when you awaken, you are an entirely different version of yourself. You will find a nearly perfect replica of your old self in a shed skin nearby. Your new body may be stronger, faster, more powerful. Old scars may be healed, lost limps replaced...Or you might be an entirely new gender. Some have even experienced becoming a different species. Some awaken as an older or younger variation of themselves while others find that they have become an alternate version of themselves.

These effects have been known to last for a few days up to months at a time. In some scenarios, the effects have become permanent. Some believe it to be a curse while others believe it is a gift. It may happen multiple times and take a few sheds to return to your original body. It is believed that ingesting your old skin or burning it alleviates the changes and brings you back to your original body faster. Generous application of lotion and oils can prevent the Shedding Ceremony altogether for some - or at the very least, slow it down."

FAQ

1. Characters can avoid this prompt altogether via the application of lotion.

2. If you decide to permanently change your character in a big way (ie; changing their species/gender/age) then we do ask that you update your character on the taken page to reflect that they are now an Alternate Version of a character. This would open up the original character to be applicable to new players.

3. This can change blood types for those interested in trying on a new blood type. You can either temporarily change a blood type or permanently. If you permanently change a blood type, let us know on the Blood Type page and update your information on the taken page.

4. You can play out the transformation as explicitly or non-explicitly as you want. Maybe characters see the changes happening under their peeling skin or just wake up in their new body. The peeling does not need to be any more graphic than what you would typically see on dry skin.

5. You can alter a character's gender, species, age, blood type, or switch to a general alternate version of a character (ie; Coffee Shop AU, an AU of your character but with different powers, an AU of your character if they came from a different canon or timeline.) Please have fun with this and explore the possibilities for as long as you like!

Unsnakely

WHEN: All of Bone Season
WHERE: Anywhere outside
CONTENT WARNINGS: Possible injuries or death from burns/fire.

---

[A journal entry from the Wayward Watcher that can be found in the Archaic Archives reads:]

"Do not trust the naked snake trails of January. They exist to trick you into a sense of Madam Generosity's comfort. The Good Pthumerian leaves snow tracks in her wake, but the Unsnakely leaves melted trails of snow. This creature has spent centuries cloaking itself to rope in those who devotedly follow Madam Generosity. The kind people of Trench look to snakes as a trustworthy, compassionate symbol filled with good intention.

There are many ways to anticipate the Unsnakely's presence. Besides its melted trails (that eventually turn to ice in the cold), you may notice pockets of comfortable heat. While many believe greenery is a good sign, do not be fooled by the melted patches of grass you find. These are not symbols of an early spring. They are symbols of incoming destruction.

The Unsnakely is not of blood or soul; it is a blood curse of the earth, a product of Blood Pollution. It's a creature made out of rock, with no pulse, no soul, no mind. Molten lava pours through its body. It moves in and out of the earth without disturbing the surface, transforming from rock into small beasts or a snake the size of your home. It looks to spill blood to freshen its own magic and its choice of weapon is its size and the fire it breathes. A furious Unsnakely will light up in flames and can bring great destruction to its surroundings. People have lost their homes to the Unsnakely and of course, people have lost their lives.

The Unsnakely, no matter the size it takes, is as fast and lethal as a typical snake. It cannot truly die, as it is a curse of the earth, but it can be physically destroyed by immense blunt strength or coldblood abilities whether fire or ice. Typical ice abilities will not work against the snake - they must come from a coldblood source. Enchanted coldblood items will be effective against the Unsnakely.

The Unsnakely can spit fire like venom and boil the air around it. It can be difficult to get physically close enough to land a blow due to the suffocatingly hot temperature rolling off its body. It traditionally hunts in the streets and in the woods, by the beach and among the cliffs. Once someone has slain the beast, it returns to the earth where it rebuilds itself over a period of 2-3 days. It primarily hunts during Bone Season, preferring to use the cloak of Madam Generosity to its advantage.

Since this is not a traditional snake, it has no desire to "eat" anyone. It will simply roast you alive - which is arguably worse for some. Its fire burns hotter and brighter than regular fire, and it is a slow, agonizing death that has caused absolute madness in some. People have claimed to see strange visions in the smoke that pours off of the Unsnakely, causing distortion in battle. Do not inhale too much of the Unsnakely's smoke as it will cause intense vertigo. Remember: this is a creature of deception.

Lastly, it would be beneficial to know that the Unsnakely cannot hear or see. It responds to the vibration around it. Some who stay still may get the upper hand, but the creature can feel the vibrations of your heartbeat if your pulse is unusually elevated. Good luck, fellow Hunters. Treat burns by the Unsnakely with vileblood. I know it sounds mad, but the vileblood seems to attack whatever cursed heat comes with burns from the Unsnakely.

Take care of yourself,
- The Wayward Watcher"

FAQ
1. Characters who can manipulate earth can contort/stop/fight against the Unsnakely's natural body. It will take great control to fully control or dismantle the body.

2. Coldbloods with fire abilities can similarly control the fire of the Unsnakely with great control.

CODING

Comments

blue - paleblood - ota

[firstroar]

i. snake den

Blue gets himself to this place as often as he can, drawn by the volume of people and the wealth of emotional energy to bask in. It makes him feel a bit more alive, his paleblood soaking up those feelings unconsciously as he lingers on one of the cozier pillows. His omen lounges at his feet, intimidating in size but peaceful in demeanor, often fast asleep or at least feigning it so as to not deter others from approaching should they wish - so long as they pose no threat.

Making eye contact with these red eyes will yield a longer, lingering look - as though he can perceive more than just one's form. Because he can. He smiles gently, exuding a welcoming presence that's even more enhanced by the effects of the moon. Comfort and truth...it's easy to settled down with here, isn't it? Or perhaps one is more bold and wants to sweep up a fair-faced stranger to dance?

---

ii. unsnakely

Given his frail form, going out to fight a snake is the last thing he ought to be doing! But if he senses the danger while he's set his mind adrift through the city...

You there! a voice will fill one's thoughts. It's coming, look out!

---

iii. miscellany

In daylight hours, Blue sometimes takes short walks through Crenshaw with his omen, perhaps even making it as far as Willful Machine to sit and people watch. As in the Snake Den, the Mu exudes a welcoming and gentle presence, someone one could approach in curiosity or the hope of friendship.

After dark...there's a spectral form moving through many of the districts with his form. A pale blue ghost with red eyes glimmering in the dark, perceptible by those on the lookout for strange things. When noticed, those eyes fix on the source.

[psychic permissions/opt-out!]

ii

[hearuthinking]

Jason was walking along when the words came to him. They were as clear as if someone spoke directly to him: You there! It's coming, look out! He did indeed look and saw that the snake monster was slithering in his general direction.

"Oh, shit." He had to make a quick decision: confront or hide? He debated for a few seconds before choosing to hide. It seemed like a smart choice. Then he could catch the snake by surprise. And he could figure out who had just called to him and warned him.

Jason ducked into an alley and looked around thinking the person was close by.

"Hey!" he hissed out. "Anyone there?"

[firstroar]

Thank goodness...this person's instincts kicked in at just the right time! It was really a gamble: Sudden mental thoughts from an outsider are just as likely to freeze a person in place as they are to spur them on, after all.

Good instincts, good sense to hide - this person's been in a pinch before and it shows; Blue doesn't need to be psychic to know that.

He doesn't answer right away, still trying to perceive if that creature was still a threat. It's hard - it has no mindful presence, so it was mere luck that Blue was able to catch some notion of it in passing by the man's mind. Now, though? Blue senses nothing.

Yes, his voice replies at length. In a sense. I felt the pressure of danger near you.

[hearuthinking]

What the fuck? It was like the voice was just in his head. Great, was he hearing voices now on top of everything else. But... no, he knew it wasn't him going crazy. Jason looked around still hoping to see this person.

"You ain't a fuckin' ghost, are you?" If vampire aliens could be a thing, he's not taking anything off the table of possibilities.

[firstroar]

No, I'm not. The tone he replies with is gentle, almost amused. I'm still alive. I can reveal myself, if it will make you more comfortable.

wildcard; early in January, a few days after tiny Yuri yeets out of there

[thinkfirst]

It takes Flynn a few days to notice.

This is for a few reasons, primarily that he is wrapped up in Yuri's reversion to childhood and subsequent disappearance but partially because Flynn just isn't expecting it. He'd disposed of the strange shed-skin version of himself and Yuri both, burying them in the backyard after burning parts as the books instructed, but he'd figured Yuri's change was much more drastic.

But then come the dreams.

He'd thought they were nightmares, strange reactions to Yuri's odd regression, but they're so pointed and he keeps dreaming of the same thing again and again: an apparent future where Blue and Yuri are gone and Flynn is alone in the house, older and grayer and sad, missing an eye like Repede, who is the only non-Omen creature left. He has it one night and wakes up sweating and lonely, then puts it from his mind on the search for Yuri.

Then he has it again.

And again, and then he touches someone else and gets a flood of feelings and images and now, after waking up for a fifth time from that exact same dream, Flynn stumbles wide-eyed down the hall toward Blue's room, worry clenching his throat and his stomach all at once. He knocks quietly on the doorframe, trying to look composed and not like he's lightly panicking.

"Blue? Are you there? Do you have a moment?"

[firstroar]

Likewise, Blue has been quite preoccupied with Yuri's whole situation; the notion that there were two skins was missed in the sharing of information. That it's happening all over Trench is something of a cursed blessing in that it's always weirdly comforting to know one isn't dealing with terrible things alone. Even so...it's excruciating not knowing what to do - worse, knowing one can't do anything to help. That just means Blue hard-focuses on Yuri in specifics, anguished for knowing it was mere days since being given such meaningful gifts and moments to this...how fast things change here.

All that enjoyment from that gathering space, the music and laughter...as much as he craves it, he puts it aside for now, casting his mind out into the streets to seek out Yuri, to ensure he's safe. He's doing just that, mind too far away to notice Flynn's distress until that distress focuses in on him, prodding his psyche hard enough to shudder his concentration. From where Blue rests, faintly glowing, he stirs as though suddenly roused from sleep, his eyes fluttering open while still aglow - a feature that dims as he regains his focus and form. All the while, the lion's gotten up and moved to Flynn to offer some kind of physical support, acknowledging his unease.

Flynn-- He starts to sit up, searching the room before his eyes fix on him.

"Flynn..." He frowns. The distress is radiating off of him, almost blurring his form. "What's happened? What's wrong?"

[thinkfirst]

"I'm not precisely sure," Flynn says, all in a rush, the way people get when they've got too many words built up behind their teeth. He has been practicing what he's going to say, or more accurately, wondering and spiralling off into vivid daydreams about what Blue might say in return. This isn't new for Flynn, exactly—he has always been a planner—but the intensity and the reality of them is. He keeps getting very strange bits of deja-vu, and like everything else right now, it's uncomfortable.

Probably it would be better if Yuri was around, but Yuri is ten and out in the city somewhere, an unknown anchored only by Blue's assurances that he's alive. Thank the goddess for that, at least.

Flynn clutches the doorframe like he's trying to hold the house itself up. Maybe the house is holding him up. Who knows. Where does he start?

Last night. He swallows, straightens up past his racing heart, and holds up his left hand, pulling at his own sleeve. "My blood has changed. I am fairly certain it has, anyway, I suppose we can verify tonight under the moon but it smells different and I am experiencing... a lot, actually. Um. I thought you might be able to help me verify?"

[firstroar]

Blue sits up and shifts, getting his legs over the edge of the bed while Flynn explains. All the while his eyes are fixed on him, the quality of his anxiousness that fuels his words, his brow creasing at the mention of the blood change.

He holds out his hands, both beckoning him to sit, to take them.

"I will do whatever I can to help," he affirms. "Come here. Sit. Your nerves are...very potent." And he'll need to calm down to gain clarity easier.

iii - Day Time

[tempredmental]

Keith was familiarizing himself with the city. Along for the walk was a blue wolf with bright markings that stood almost to Keith's chest. His attention was drawn mostly to the Omen first, as Shiro also had a white lion, but female. It was then that he looked up at the other person, having been staring for a bit, and he shook his head a little, noticing the person was looking at him.

"Sorry, I just... I noticed your... uh, omen?" Strange name for it, but Keith was still getting used to everything in Trench.

[firstroar]

Blue's life has been long, but not very full in a lot of ways - one of those ways being an exposure to wildlife. The first wolf he's seen...that was Haru's. She was already small, so the scale was impressive enough, but this one is larger than even that. That little bit of instinctual alarm, no matter how watered down it can be, still stirs the lion to lift its head and be on alert, watching the other omen for signs of hostility.

"And he...seems familiar to you?" Blue suggests, his tone mild, expression thoughtful. "Are such creatures common where you are from?"

[tempredmental]

Oh, the wolf wasn't Keith's omen, though his odd appearance would likely lead many to believe he was, especially those from Earth. But Keith also nodded in response to the questions.

"Yeah. They're called lions," he said. "They're rare in white, though... usually some sort of albino thing. But one of my friends here... His omen is a female white lion. No mane." He gestured to his hair to indicate the equivalent on the lion.

[firstroar]

"Then...you must've known Terra. Earth."

Many humans washing up here do, but not always the same ways, and definitely not with the same level of reverence with which Blue perceives it. He's never been there, after all; all he has are implanted dreams and desires to see it.

i, late jan

[vibing]

[ Yuri is no longer a child, much more possessed of himself, and much warmed than he's been since he arrived in Trench. Warm enough that he shed his coat when he entered the Red, dressed in the outfit that Madame Generosity left for him, and really feeling himself. Sure, it's weird to turn into a kid for a while, but he's back to himself and he's feeling good. Really good. He's feeling much more willing to talk to people, much more amicable and open, smiling as he walks across the Red back to Blue. He even went up on stage a while ago to belt out a song. His voice isn't stellar, but he sure had fun and worked the crowd like a pro. When he's feeling it, he's really feeling it.

He holds out a hand for Blue, smile widening, fully intend to pull Blue onto the dance floor now that a slower song is on ]

Come with me.

[firstroar]

[being witness to Yuri performing has been profound enough for a single night - it's something Blue will carry with him for a long time, grateful to have been witness, and kind enough to not prod a more easily-fussed Yuri later on. even if it is some effect of this place, of that serpent...Blue's grateful for it. this is a kindness, isn't it? especially after all the harrowing things that keep happening.

he'd been resolved to remaining comfortable in his spot and is a little surprised when Yuri approaches with such intent. his eyebrows lift, questioning even though he automatically reaches for the hand offered.]

I have a sense of what you're on about, but... Yuri, I don't know how to dance. [and no matter how nice he feels, he certainly isn't going to have the stamina for some of the wild moves some people get down with here.]

[vibing]

Hey, funny thing. I don't either.

[ He grins brighter, pulling Blue gently with him. It is a slow song, Yuri knows that much, and if Blue gets too tired, Yuri can always pick him up. He's too keyed up and happy to let this go so easily, unless Blue tells him "no" straight out. ]

Figure it out with me.

[ The dance floor is less packed with a slow song, some couples swaying, others trying a more sophisticated dance, which Yuri certainly doesn't know. He pulls Blue in against him, a hand on the small of his back, keeping their hands tangled together like he thinks they're supposed to be. ]

I

[searingwing]

[Its the eyes that catch his attention. As red as his own he feels the draw of nostalgia at first. He’s comfortable here in The Red, enough that he and Dellingr currently the size of a wolf, approach.

He stops a respectful distance away. His mood that of a calm almost sleepy air. Odd for a man like him who hasn’t been able to rest his guard even for a moment for years.] May I join you? I confess I would like to know a little about you.

[firstroar]

[it's a little strange, isn't it? that amidst the diversity of people and worlds present...Blue rarely finds likenesses too often. there was a peculiar creature in the shape of a boy who bore pale hair and red eyes, and a sandy-haired man with similar reverberations of feeling, but... no Mu. no likenesses.

still, when he feels himself being focused on, even that little prod pulls at his attention, and Blue now finds a new set of red eyes drawing near. the lion lifts his head as well, peering warily at the man and the creature accompanying him.]

Would you, now? [that's peculiar, but then...perhaps not so peculiar in this building.

Blue gestures to the seat beside him while the lion sits up to make room.]

Please, then.

[searingwing]

Thank you. [Dellingr immediately shrinks and flaps up to wind around his neck as he settles on the seat. He feels relaxed. There is a passing thought that he hasn’t felt so…in a very long time.

From the moment he could lift a sword, his life was made to be given to others in word and even composure. Dellingr spreads out over his shoulders. And the vision on his belt so like Kaeya’s glows with a steady red light.]

I think whatever the Red is doing to make us all so relaxed…we needed it. After all the influences on us since we arrived.

[He wouldn’t normally have voiced that but the forced honesty just has him saying it.] I’m Diluc, Diluc Ragnvindr. How long have you been in Trench?

i

[unmelting]

[There's a small curious figure approaching Blue, his attention caught both by the strange peaceful looking man and the huge LION just hanging out with him. Kaeya is probably recognizable -- blue-haired and eye-patched, the same star-shaped pupil in his visible eye but almost a decade and a half younger -- but Blue has seen a younger version of him before, only a bit younger than the boy currently approaching.

Kaeya himself with this shedding has basically started over with no memories of the people he's met here. Well, almost, there's a weird deja vu feeling, like things that shouldn't be familiar definitely are.

In any case, he's a bit wide-eyed. He knows what omens are. His own, a white peacock, is following along with him. But this is a fancy party with lots of grown-ups and he's not sure he's dressed fancy enough for it in his little collared shirt and trousers.]

Excuse me, Mister. Can I pet your lion?

[firstroar]

[thankfully, this isn't Blue's first encounter with a childlike version of a friend out in the world - and that doesn't even include the dreams they've shared! still...when Blue got a whiff of the familiar 'scent' of Kaeya's mind, this one bereft of the weights and woes of his adulthood...it still leads to raised eyebrows.

Blue sits forward a bit to be closer to Kaeya's eye-level, his countenance shifting from mild surprise to a small, kind smile. even if it's strange, a child is a child, and Blue cannot be cruel to a child.]

Well, I think you should ask him. [he nods to the lion, who slowly lifts his head and flicks an ear, fixing his attention on the boy.]

[unmelting]

[The place is full of kids lately. And Kaeya is a proud member of that tiny little terror taskforce at the moment. He hesitates a little when Blue turns to face him, but that smile and the gentle response helps and Kaeya smiles back.]

Will he understand me? I guess that makes sense. Rime can understand me, right Rime?

[The peacock nods. So this logic all checks out as far as Kaeya can tell. He turns his attention to the lion.] Would it be okay if I petted you a little? Please?

ii

[alternia_strength]

[Voice, in his think pan? Chicanery and horror! Well, ok, he was aware it wasn't unheard of with palebloods, but it still elicited an almost immediate reaction. He growled in his own mind and muttered to himself.

'Inestimable foolishness. What is coming that requires the invasion of my pristine mental landscape?'

That was when he saw what looked like a snake slithering along the ground about fifty yards away. It was no larger than a reticulated python, so the only thing odd was that it was leaving a scalded path behind it. Frowning, he stared at it as he folded his arms, eyes squinting.]

"What? It's just a hiss-beast!"

[firstroar]

Don't be deceived.

[if the voice was troubled by Equius' inner and outer scoffing, it doesn't show. there is genuine concern for this person here.]

It grows. It burns. Give it a wide berth.

[alternia_strength]

"HUFF! If it is so powerful then it had best show itself rather than lurk like the slithering, sculking coward that this beast..."

[Yeah, that got its attention. He'd tamped his foot down and now it was racing to start moving in his direction, doubling, quadrupling in size. Hmmm. This was a thing. He rolled to the side, because for all that he was foolishly overconfident, he wasn't actually stupid in a fight.

The blistering heat, however, was noticeable. He bolted to the side and grabbed a piece of paper.]

"It is a little warm, isn't it. Tell me, how do I kill this thing, voice in my think pan?"

[As he hastily kept distance, he was drawing on the paper for some cockamamie reason. At least that was made clear when he yanked heavy, fire-proofed gauntlets from the paper, tugging them on. Look, if he was going to punch lava, he needed asbestos gloves alright?]