straw man argument [o]

[Lilou]

KINGS AND QUEENS OF PROMISE

By mid-afternoon, pummeling the training dummy they'd set up at camp any more heavily resembled beating a dead horse, so Lilou stopped. It was about time for a break anyway. She set her lance aside--it also looked like it was on its last legs--and retrieved a sack of straw. While others continued training, she sat off to the side, putting together a new straw dummy. It's head was triangular. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. Frowning, she adjusted it until it was nicely spherical. Then Lilou put a bronze helmet on it, so that you couldn't tell what shape the head was anyway. There. Perfect. Lilou replaced the dead dummy with the new one, but when she went back to retrieve her lance, it occurred to her that all their training dummies were looking a bit worse for wear. A few moments later, she was seated at the edge of the training grounds next to piles of straw and burlap cloth. Patiently, with nothing better to do until dinnertime, Lilou started work on an army of straw men. @open to anyone

[cassius]

“ GIMMIE THE BOOTY I WANT THE BOOTY ”

Being at the beck and call of some potato-shaming philistine was not what he had expected to be when he first joined the Ylissean military. However, this time he was quite happy to undertake the task Matthias had so graciously dumped upon his person. While he might have normally cursed the man and his luscious sideburns, the Knights' training area was settled close to home. For the first time in a long time, he was able to visit his family and despite the brevity of their reunion, the barrage of kisses that had peppered his skin made sure he would never forget where his heart was: in a field of potatoes.

He entered the settlement, lugging an unwieldy burlap sack filled with potatoes that were given to him by his mother. And as it clanged and bustled against his Ylissean armor, he hoped that the Knights of Cydonia had open-minds and open-stomachs for his famous "potatos three-ways." However, the dimming sky was only groaning a slight fatigued pink meaning there was still a fair amount of time until dinner. Time to explore. To find something interesting.

And it didn't take long.

A familiar face, although the familiarity wasn't mutual. The red-headed knight he had stumbled upon was a figure he'd seen many times before. While he had never participated in tournaments, he had spectated them and the fierce image of a confident young knight toppling over goliaths with her joust had stuck with him until he too, became a cavalier. He knew her name. He knew that she was the daughter of a Duchess. He knew bits and pieces of her history from stolen conversations and utterances around. But he didn't know if she knew him.

"Lonely enough to be making imaginary friends out of straw?" Cassius smirked, the bag of potatoes draped around his shoulder dropping with a thud. "We can fix that, if you'd like." Without any hint of hesitance, he slid into a seat beside her, looking at the army she had made, "I didn't know that heirs to wealthy Duchesses knew how to tie knots, let alone allow their hands to touch straw."

TAGGED Lilou
NOTES SWOOPING IN

MADE BY ★MEULK FOR SHIV <3

[Rain]

don't cry, destroy these imprisoned illusions. just once rise above your demise. Don't cry tranquility, let us end this by our own actions.

Lilou, cassius

It wasn't dinner time yet. But Rain was /hungry/. A wolf needed plenty of food, and well she had wandered off in the forests of Ylisse, and was now scrambling up the fence of whatever this was. The wolf dropped with a yelp, but shook herself back into good order, and continued stalking through this... was this a forest simulation area? She couldn't smell anything! The wolf wanted to whine, but ever the hunter, it slinked through the trees, looking, looking... and finding nothing! But she smelled people. Would they pity a wolf and give it some food? Well, possibly, as long as they weren't panicky villagers or knights. Those tended to attack her, probably because she was such a big creature. And this hunger made it hard to shift back to human to get information about her sibling too.

And then she smelled it, the under tones of earth in her snout. Was that... potatoes? The wolf almost felt herself salivate, and drop over at that. She wanted the food! So keeping her belly low to the ground, she advanced, sliding slowly and cautiously towards the two humans. Other scents graced her nose now, like straw. Straw was edible, but not suggested in the long run, it was horse food. Even grass did little and the wolf ached for something better under her fangs, and well she had tried to hunt but she had been close to a human settlement. No money to get food and no game because they were frightened of the humans shaped up a very, very hungry Taguel.

So when she approached the bench, noticing the bag, she didn't even think. Leaping, the giant white blur went for the bag... and then her legs hit the bench, making her flip, and with a surprised yelp, the wolf projected herself straight into the ground past the potatoes. The momentum had carried her a bit, and well she had streaked a nice path on the dirt, her face in the ground and her body up in the air. Shaking her butt, it fell down with a thwump, and the wolf pulled her head from the ground, and shook it wildly, dust and dirt moving everywhere now. The wolf checked her body, and apart from a painful throbbing, she was fine. These would probably be bruises in her human form she realized.

With a groan, the wolf turned around, and parked her butt on the ground, and then leaned on her paws with a whine. This wolf was not having a happy day right now. And she felt another whine on her lips, making a miserable picture of herself right there. She had totally forgotten about the people that were probably now watching her, and just pouted quite heavily. Stupid bench, why did you have to protect the potato bag that hard? She almost had it and then her stomach wouldn't rumble like a snoring bear, and give her away to things she was hunting! Stupid tummy, stupid animals that ran and stupid bench! All of these things were being mean.

And so the big derpy wolf pouted.

(C) ELLIE @ GANGNAM STYLE

[Lilou]

KINGS AND QUEENS OF PROMISE

She smiled in greeting, hiding any confusion over why someone would bring a sack of potatoes to the training grounds. Maybe for a snack during breaks? On second thought, that seemed wise, if a bit of a hassle--and an awful lot of potatoes for that purpose. "No, I suppose knot-tying isn't really a part of etiquette training, but it was so embarrassing to always have to ask someone else perform simple tasks in my place." Lilou didn't bother mentioning that straw was quite pleasant in comparison to shoveling manure in the stables. One does not discuss the details of manure with strangers. It wasn't ladylike. "I'd be a very abusive friend in that case, unless you're supposed to beat your friends with pointy sticks until all the stuffing falls out of them," she said with a faint smile. She set down a half-finished dummy and turned to the stranger. Lilou searched her memory, but she couldn't match his face with name. She couldn't even match his face with a memory. "I'm sorry, have we met? I'm afraid I don't recall your name--" Then the great white blur collided with the bench. Lilou, quick onto her feet, reached for a lance that wasn't within reach, so she was left only to stare at the sorry sight before her. It looked too hungry and bit too mangy to be a threat. She took a moment to right the bench and adjust her straw army so they were stacked just as neatly as before. (Neatness was important.) "Your hound, by chance?" she asked Cassius, hoping it was so, because she was going to have to have a very long discussion with Dorian if he couldn't keep wild dogs out of his own encampment. Somehow, she doubted it. cassius

[cassius]

“ GIMMIE THE BOOTY I WANT THE BOOTY ”

Cassius almost flinched at her response. He was pleasantly surprised and for a sliver of a second, he thought just maybe she could be a friend. For the love of Naga, what was wrong with him all of a sudden? Shaking himself out of this funky trance, he picked up some straw before letting it run off his fingers like beach sand. Perhaps, this particular simple task would bring him back to earth.

He laughed, his smooth voice peaking with each chortle, "To be honest, I'm sure everyone has friends that you want to beat the hell out of here and there." Cassius immediately thought of Matthias, although he wasn't sure if he could classify him as a friend or not. The sentiment still remained. He wanted to punch his throat.

"No, we haven't met, buuuuuu—" Cassius' parted lips froze in place as he witnessed the collision, yet the vowel continued in a strained dimuendo as the blur stabilized. "—uuuut, the name is Cassius..." 

The Captain blinked several times. He wanted to make sure what he was seeing was real and not just a hallucination caused by lugging several pounds of potatoes in broad daylight. "Not my hound."

He stood up as Lilou straightened the bench, "But," Cassius loomed down at the whining wolf, eyes narrowing down at her pitiful sprawl.

A beat.

"I wish it was! Ka-yooooooooooot! Damn, where did you come from you cutie!?" He was ecstatic. Dropping to his knees, he ran his hands through Rain's fur and despite the dirt and strands of straw tangled within, he didn't mind. He was used to filthiness, after all.  

Leaning back and giving her a long look, he offered a slanted smile, "You're... you're super huge. What do you eat? Humans? Aha-ha-ha." He paused before continuing, "Where'd you come from? Lost? Where's home, buddy?" He cooed. Cassius beamed, a stupid grin painted across his face. "Seems like he or she's used to humans!" Scratching her behind the ears, he continued to pet and pamper her. 

Maybe he'd do it until her "stuffing" fell out.

TAGGED Lilou & Rain
NOTES UGUUU

He's in the place where the Knights of Cydonia are assembled before they go to Plegia, so if your character is not a Knight, it may be odd for them to be here.

MADE BY ★MEULK FOR SHIV <3

[Rain]

don't cry, destroy these imprisoned illusions. just once rise above your demise. Don't cry tranquility, let us end this by our own actions.

Lilou, cassius

Of course, Rain's attention was on the bag of potatoes. So she didn't even hear the distaste in the girl's words, but the words themselves brought the wolf's head up. There was a male in front of her now, and she tilted her head, and then let out a startled yelp when the male just... went off. The male's hand landed in her fur, and the wolf just let out a soft bark, and then suddenly his hands were just... frng all the right spots thank you. The wolf was just melting into the touches, but when the male made the comment about her size, she let out an indignant huff, and then playfully snapped her teeth at him. She wanted to roll over her tummy and just bask in the attention, but the wolf's tail stilled.

Shaking off the hand, she slunk back to her hunches, now drawing herself to full height. Which was about the size of a pony, if not bigger, which in itself was probably freaky. Needless to say, the wolf was big enough for even an adult to ride, as her hind leg came up and scratched out something near her ear. Tilting her head the other way, it seemed the wolf was thinking for a moment. Was it worth shifting back to her human form? Well not only did her clothes were not on her, but she was amongst people. No, probably not a good idea, as the wolf stared intently at the knight girl.

Yes, probably not, that one looked like she had an itchy stab finger. The red markings on pure white fur would probably seem odd, as the wolf shook herself again, straw falling out now, and with a paw to the ground seemed to have stabilized herself. She was still debating the merits of transforming back as she looked up at the male, and then reared up, placing her paws on his shoulders. If he wasn't standing, it would probably be a lot of weight, so she did hope he stood. And perhaps, either he or the female, would notice the stone around the wolf's neck, gleaming a bit in caught light, as then the wolf just licked his face whole. It was a thank you kiss, but unfortunately her tongue or lips weren't small enough for the cheek, so he got a face-full of it.

Well who knee what would happen next anyways, right?

(C) ELLIE @ GANGNAM STYLE

[Lilou]

KINGS AND QUEENS OF PROMISE

"I suppose you might have a new hound then. Do take care to feed and groom her, please. She looks like she could use a bit of love and kindness. Naga knows we already have enough horsemen that don't care enough for their horses," Lilou said, at least content that she wouldn't have to cast out a dog that clearly had had better days. At least she looked happier now that Cassius had her in his grasp. How had the wolf gotten so far into camp without anyone noticing though? It was gigantic, a dire wolf if not a very dire dire wolf, larger than any she had ever seen-- The gleam of the beaststone caught her eye. Lilou frowned, the rare sight of a taguel raising more questions than it did answers. It at least explained how she'd been smart enough to get this far undetected though; Lilou supposed she could spare Dorian a lecture or two this time. "Ah, well, nevermind. It looks like she's her own person then. Look, sir knight, a beaststone." cassius Rain

[cassius]

“ GIMMIE THE BOOTY I WANT THE BOOTY ”

Cassius hadn't laughed this much in a long time and even when she huffed and snapped her teeth, it only decreased the amount of temperature the captain needed until he melted into a cooing goop. Thankfully, he was cooled down before such a thing occurred as he braced himself for the wolf's cool, slick drool. Blowing a raspberry in an attempt to get some of the thick saliva off his mouth. He wiped his face off with his sleeve of his tight garment.

"Yea, you wouldn't believe the number of idiots who sign-up for the cavalry, thinking that they wouldn't be the ones responsible for their own horse." Cassius rolled his eyes, waving a hand, "The amount of scolding I've had to do, I swear, if I had a gold coin for every time..."

At the mention of a beaststone, Cassius took a whimsical look at the wolf-now taguel-and took a step back. He flushed red, embarrassed at his earlier display of affection and while she may have not minded, the fact that he had been so intimate with a stranger simmered his cheeks. Cassius might need that drool again.

"I didn't... even notice." Cassius, humiliated turned to face Lilou and changed expressions, his face contorting as if to say "why did you not tell me this earlier I am so embarrassed I want to die."

And when he'd think about this event for the years to come, the painful throngs of remembering an embarrassment would force many a sleepless knight.

TAGGED Lilou & Rain
NOTES pls 

MADE BY ★MEULK FOR SHIV <3

[Rain]

don't cry, destroy these imprisoned illusions. just once rise above your demise. Don't cry tranquility, let us end this by our own actions.

Lilou, cassius

The wolf was just happy at the pets and rubs and wanted more, tail wagging faster then most considered safe. She didn't even note the other knight's sorta scolding manner, but it was okay, as she was happy with potato man's affection. But she seemed to say something, the froze the man, despite how amusingly he had cleaned the slobber from his face. And then he stopped, and the wolf sensed something wrong, as she tilted her head with a question whine. Even her tail had stopped thumping, and they seemed to be looking at her... neck? Trying to stare at her own neck, the wolf twisted and turned, and somehow ended up being on her head, and her butt squirming in the air, before she fell down again.

And then shaking the dust off, she blinked, when the male seemed embarrassed, and then it sunk in. Ah! That's right she could be a human! The girl had completely forgot about that, so absorbed into the pets and rubs and just the fact that she had been a wolf for far too long had sort of clouded her mind to some degree, as the girl pawed the grown a moment. She let out a soft whine, kind of sad she wasn't going to get pets now. And then she closed her eyes and concentrated, trying to bring back that self she had forgotten about for so long, so into her wolf persona since meeting Tsan'lo. Slowly she was bringing it back.

And then nothing happened. For a moment that is, as the wolf almost scared herself, and then there was light, and she was... well bare as the day of her birth, with a large tail behind her and wolfen ears on her head. The markings that had been on the wolf was now on her skin, as she looked up at the man, big tears in her eyes. ''Rain's sowwy!'' she said, launching herself at his waist and hugging it. ''Rain wubs pets dun stop! Pwease pets Rain, really like!'' she said. It was somewhat broken, considering the large amount of time she spent roaming, but she was sure she could pick up on the language again, lifting up her big eyes to stare at the male, almost ready to start bawling.

Nuzzling into his waist, she then let out a squeak when her stomach rumbled loudly. ''Uwaan! Rain forgots words and hungry... uu, wolf too long, Rain has.'' she said, nodding to herself as if it made sense that way. She wasn't even sure how the two would react, as her brain was still coming up with the meaning of no clothes and not being a wolf right now. Generally, it seemed the derpiness the wolf had exhibited was a natural thing with the girl, as her ears flicked and twitched, and her tail was moving too, as if getting ready to wag if she was petted. She felt.. so weird being so much smaller then her wolf form, but there was a form of comfort in knowing she could be human again.

Slowly, she would pick up on how to be a walking, talking human again.

(C) ELLIE @ GANGNAM STYLE

[Lilou]

KINGS AND QUEENS OF PROMISE

On second thought, she'd have to talk to Dorian. Perhaps she's spare him a proper lecture, but their camp still wasn't nearly as secure as it should be. While it was true that taguels were a rarity, the potential of a taguel force sneaking into their camp... it was definitely an oversight. For now, there was their new guest to attend to though. She looked at the starved taguel and the knight. Lilou sighed. "I only noticed just now myself," Lilou said. A thin smile pressed on her lips as she continued, "Well, our lady taguel seems not to mind. In fact, I believe you've made yourself a new friend. I'm delighted for you. My lady taguel, this is Cassius, a most capable knight. Should you require sustenance, I am certain he can provide." She tilted her head and observed the two. "Shall I give you two some time alone?" cassius Rain ( I don't know if she's tossing Cassius under a bus or helping )

[cassius]

“ GIMMIE THE BOOTY I WANT THE BOOTY ”

She spoke.

"No, no, no, no, no," Cassius shook his hands at her to try and ease her worries, "I'm sorry! No, I'm sorry." Although he wasn't sure exactly what for.

However, she appeared to be tearing up and while crying wasn't a foreign concept to his own eyes, at this moment in time, his thoughts were in a whirl. From wolf to Taguel to crying and now, her nuzzling against his waist, he wasn't sure what to do. His arms spread out, unsure what to do with his own hands. She wasn't a wolf anymore, so was it... proper to even pet her? Was it seen as offensive? He wasn't well-versed in cross-cultural exchange.

"It's okay! I forget words too!" Cassius was clutching for responses, "And I... get hungry too! Normal, normal things! Normal human—Taguel—people things! Wolf too?" What the fuck was he saying?

Then Lilou called him "a most capable knight."

Cassius almost flushed at the sudden praise; he wasn't expecting it, especially from someone as renowned as her. At least, she was, in his eyes. Despite her being part of the cursed scum called "nobility," her compassion for the local farmers and her generosity in lending out her stable. That, in Cassius' mind, was something akin to compensation. And that was all right in his eyes.

Wait, what?

"Sustenance? I..." He eyed his potato bag and then turned to face Lilou, "My potatoes?" Certainly he had brought them for the good of the entire group, but he was not ready to part with them so quickly. He had to kiss every single one of them goodbye after all. "Ahahaha, nooooo, no, no, no, you're staying right here." Cassius gestured to her as he matched Rain's eyes, "And this is Lilou, a most capable-er knight."

His linguistics weren't having the best day.

TAGGED Rain & Lilou
NOTES HEEBILY DEEBILY

MADE BY ★MEULK FOR SHIV <3

[Rain]

don't cry, destroy these imprisoned illusions. just once rise above your demise. Don't cry tranquility, let us end this by our own actions.

Lilou, cassius

Her tail was dropping, and she stared up at the guy with her big eyes, hoping, hoping he forgave her. She didn't seem to notice how uncomfortable he was, well considering her... clothing it wouldn't be surprising firstly, and secondly a giant wolf did just turn into a girl. The scary knight woman seemed to be nice though, as Rain's ears perked up at the both of them. She smiled, no, beamed at the duo. They were capable knights! The girl then gently let go of poor Cassius' waist, and then stood up, her long hair thankfully covering some things, even as her tail wagged out behind her. She was quickly remembering how to speak, as she took a moment to formulate her following words.

''Hmm, Rain happy! Rain was in wolf form, looking for Knights, and looking for sibling. Rain's sibling has gone missing.'' she said, nodding. The words made... most sense to her. Good, it often jarred her when she was in her wolf form too long, to return to human speech. But it seemed to be coming back to her quickly, more so if she was careful with them. ''Rain's hungry because forest here is clean. No wild things to hunt to eat. But it's okay, Rain is happy that Cassius and Lilou are here and not mad that Rain's here!'' she said, beaming again. After all, plenty of people had gotten mad at her, a taguel, despite her... upbringing. In fact, perhaps it had tickled into their ears at some point.

A taguel child being raised by a Ylissean lord as a debt to a Feroxian tribe. That was who Rain was, as she clapped. ''Rain is happy, so Rain thinks of ways to make you two happy too!'' she said. But then she frowned, and looked at the duo. ''What would make Cassius and Lilou happy?'' she asked, tilting her head. Unfortunately, she hadn't realized how her arrival was monopolizing and if she had, she would probably apologize and sit in the corner and shut up. But right now, she felt happy since Cassius petted her, and Lilou, although scary at first, seemed nice. She smelled nice. She didn't smell like a lot of the nasty people she had met in her travels, that's for sure!

Maybe Rain would make friends here? She surely hoped so, that would be very nice for her!

(C) ELLIE @ GANGNAM STYLE