week 2

[arsholes]

[One week down and (if the Alchemist's promise is to be believed) just three more to go. In the past week royalty has been bullied, explicitly non-Satanic chairs were ordered and you began the pact-bonding process with your new proprietor of mercantile wares, ✨Garfield the Deals Warlock✨.

All in all, a surprisingly good week despite the kidnapping and looming threat of death. We'll see how long that lasts.


Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

✨WEEKLY DEALS✨
1. The Cloak of Duplication - An ancient vampiric artifact, when worn it changes your appearance and voice to perfectly mimic another individual of your choosing. (You still have to sell the act, though.) [5 coins] SOLD
2. The Battle Axe of Hatred - A sick as hell electric guitar with an energy that feels like it is powered by the screaming of an ancient and evil lord- or at least once was. It has a signature on the body that simply says "Ron" and looks like it might have been written in blood. [5 coins]
3. The Jable - Put down your keys and stay a while. [2 coins]


✨LEFTOVER STOCK AT 50% MARK-UP✨
1. The Tingler - The whole hand tingles from wearing this ring, as if more blood rushes through the area. [2 coins]
2. Christine Jr. - A tiny red convertible. It's powered by pedals like a bicycle, with a steering wheel. For some reason it makes you think of old men in silly hats. [6 coins]



(( OOC: Don't forget to submit your orders for any threads that aren't with the Alchemist or Garfield! The Alchemist and Garfield both have "office hours" now so feel free to reach out to them. The compact functions have also been updated and don't forget activity check!

This week is where the real game begins, so get in your regains and CR while you can. >:3 ))

Comments

[seaweedwrap]

[Wu isn't seeking Zenos out specifically. At least, not intentionally. More that he's been wandering, having Some Thoughts. So when he passes by the training room and spots a very very very tall bulk in there, he pauses, moving back into the door frame to get a better view and see if it's who he thinks it is.

And like, of course it is, Wu, who else would it be.

Anyway that uh...wow, Zenos is pretty strong, huh? Not surprising, of course, considering how huge the guy is but Wu is maybe staring for a moment, kind of in awe. How can someone have that much muscle???]

[philomachy]

[He doesn't need to see Wu to know there's someone there. He can feel the presence. It isn't anything that matters much to him, at first, but that definitely is staring happening.

...So he pauses, looking over.

Despite taking his shirt off as a precaution, Zenos is barely sweating at all. He's combined weights together and it's still barely anything to him.]

Do you need something?

1/2

[seaweedwrap]

[OH NO HE'S BEEN CAUGHT. Wu freezes up a moment, stomach twisting into startled knots and he can feel his ears heat up, suddenly embarrassed about being caught which WAIT WHY DOES HE FEEL EMBARRASSED there's nothing to feel embarrassed about it's not like he's seen anyone of Zenos' size and stature so of course he's curious ANYWAY MOVING ON--]

2/2

[seaweedwrap]

[anyway, about that question...Wu shifts a bit, uncomfortably, folding his arms over his chest, quiet for a moment (he's been doing that a lot, lately,) before he speaks again]

When we first met, you said said something about looking ahead.

[Wu's brow is furrowed, not really looking at Zenos but rather off to the side. And he's thinking about Stella. Stella who is so strong, so very strong, but also there are parts of her that are soft and fragile. Even so, she's made it clear that he's under her protection. That she's the one someone will answer to if anything happens to him. Wu knows he's not a fighter in any way; he's thin and wiry and has very little muscle to speak of, much less the courage that that sort of thing requires. But...he wants to be able to be there for Stella, too. To be able to protect her in the ways that she needs protecting. Especially after hearing about her mother, well...he doesn't know what he can do about that, really, but that's why he's here.

He finally turns his attention to Zenos fully, looking up at him]

How do I do that? How do I prepare for what's ahead?

[philomachy]

[Okay, this is a little unexpected. Not that Wu would need help with this, because. Obviously. But to think he both listened to his words and is acting on them now is surprising.

Honestly Zenos barely remembers the conversation. If not for the fact that they're forced to see each other in the limited space available to them, he would already have forgotten who Wu even is. It's only because of that that he even entertains the thought of answering this.

...Why not.]

You simply do it. [Not helpful? Too bad.] Prepare as you would for an enemy right in front of you. Better yourself. Eliminate your weaknesses.

Because when an enemy is at your door, they will not go easy simply because you never thought preparation was necessary.

[seaweedwrap]

[Wu frowns again at that, but this time it's more in thought.]

And if your possible future enemy seems greater than you can imagine tackling in the short time you have for preparation?

[philomachy]

[#can'trelate]

If you view your enemy as insurmountable before you even start, you have already lost.

[seaweedwrap]

So...what? I just need to find another way to look at it?

[philomachy]

You need to make an attempt. Any improvement you can make will be one step away from a humiliating defeat.

[seaweedwrap]

[he's quite again, thinking]

...alright. I'll come up with something, then.

[philomachy]

...Good. [holy shit was that just straight up approval--] Even someone like you should be capable of that much.

This foe you're thinking of. Tell me of them.

[seaweedwrap]

[--wait, did he just...?? Wu blinks at that praise, however brief, startled and...flattered??? what is happening.

BUT NO WAIT Zenos is asking him a question, refocus Wu]

Well, there's Kuvira, of course. But...I'm also worried about Stella's mother.

[philomachy]

...Her mother.

[He raises an eyebrow at that second one.]

Why?

[seaweedwrap]

[....]

...I don't want her to hurt Stella. [he kind of...folds his arms over his stomach] I know both you and Stella said it was fine and that it's just what happens but I...I don't like it. And I don't know what to do about it, but...I'll figure it out. That is, I'll figure out what I want to do about it, if anything. Or if I should do anything. That's what I need to figure out.

[philomachy]

For what purpose need you figure out anything? As far as I can tell, that is not your foe, but the Princess's.

[seaweedwrap]

I know. [and he does] And I'm not saying I'm going to step in and take over for her in a physical fight. Stella's strong--I know that. And I know that's her battle, but...

[he huffs] ...that doesn't mean I don't want to help her, if I can. I know I can't protect her the way she's protecting me, but...maybe I can do something.

[philomachy]

If you can.

[Gods, this is pathetic. Self aware, perhaps, but still.]

She's more than capable enough and no stranger to getting what she wants. Meaning that if she desires your help, she will have it, whether or not you wish to accomplish something or not.

Perhaps she will decide to turn her light onto her mother, next, as she did her friend. [Hm...] Now that is something I should like to witness.

[seaweedwrap]

[Now Wu starts to look annoyed]

I know she's capable. And if she asks for my help, I'll do whatever I can. But also I think you're only seeing the side of her that's capable of that kind of thing. There's more to her than that.

[he sounds...angry?]

[philomachy]

Such as what? Fragility, weakness?

There is that in all who live. There is a time in which we fear those above us and a time when we realize that if they were truly so much more powerful than us, they would not need us to fear them.

[maybe you just hate to see a girlboss winning wu]

I think her capable of not just that, but much more, were she to allow herself to be truly blinding.

[seaweedwrap]

[his expression morphs, then--perhaps towards actual anger]

Kindness! [snapped, now] Stella is capable of being kind! She can be nice, and sweet, and funny, and clever! And those are amazing things about her, considering what she's obviously gone through! [woah he might actually be really angry because the volume of his voice is rising towards a yell] Yes, she can also be dangerous, and yes, she's capable of a lot more than she can do right now. I know that!

[yeah that sure was shouted, and Wu sucks in a breath, his mouth twisted into a scowl and shoulders hunched towards his ears]

And yes, I know that she's also be scared, and sad, and upset! I know that part of that is her mother--that she's just accepted that that's how she and the people of her kingdom need to live. I know she needs to overcome that. I know that's her foe and her battle, but I want to help! Not just with that foe, but with the fear she has of herself. But her mother's the tangible foe ahead, and though that may be her battle, I want to be ready to help her, if she asks it of me!

[philomachy]

...I truly do not know why you came here pressing me for answers. It seems as though you are already decided on your course of action.

[Once again, he finds himself just... not understanding people, for all that he sees right through them sometimes.]

So tell me, Powerless King. If you already understand her so deeply, why not simply tell her all of this yourself?

[seaweedwrap]

[It takes a whole lot of effort not to flinch at that name--but he kind of does anyway lmao]

I--[and all that pent up angry, that yell, seems to disappate out of him, suddenly, and his shoulders slump, like even that much has Taken It Out Of Him]--I don't know. I don't think I'd really decided on my course of action until now. Or if I had, I didn't know that I had.

So that's probably why I haven't told her myself.

[philomachy]

Then you have your answer. And your path.

1/2

[seaweedwrap]

[Oh. Somehow...there's a straightening in his spine, then. Something resolute?]

...yeah. I guess I do.

[seaweedwrap]

[he pauses for a moment, and then--]

Thank you, Prince Zenos, for your advice and assistance in this matter.

[yep he's gonna give him a bow. He knows his manners!]