When the weird shadow guy emerges from his tree house... [Open]

[subconmodo]

Who: Snatcher and you (will match format)
When: February 15th - 17th
Where: Out and about
What: Snatcher emerges from his Valentine's Day induced isolation




A: Normally I'd have my minions do this for me, but...

[Thought exercise! What kinds of things would you expect a ghostly, shadowy noodle guy to pick up on his errands?]

[Did you guess a "Cooking For Dummies" book, stationery, and sewing supplies? You did? I'm pretty sure you're lying, but whatever.]

[Either way, you're going to find Snatcher taking up a fair bit of space on a bench as he mutters to himself and goes through a coupon book. Errands are expensive.]



B: You're Blue Now

[Congratulations! You've just stumbled on a disaster waiting to happen!]

["Standing" between a confused young man dragging a bucket of water balloons behind him and the young woman who would have been the man's target is Snatcher, whose head, frill, and body are now dropping with brilliant neon blue paint.]

[He also appears to be shaking with barely concealed anger. And summoning a bunch of explosive flasks to return the favor. Might be a good idea to step in before this currently-unseen menace starts to do any damage.]



C: Just how many people here are platformers, anyway?!

[You might have been out on an evening/morning/daylight rooftop stroll, out on patrol, or trying to climb up onto some out of the way spot of the city on a dare. Whatever your reasoning, you've managed to stumble right into the center of a ring of thorns that snap to life, blocking you in until the whole world becomes a dark, purple vortex, the city but mere shadows in the distance]

AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAA! FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooo... Really? Again?!

[How many times have you stumbled into Snatcher's traps? Are you doing it just to annoy him? Or did you just happen to be the Nth person to trigger one when he was trying to grab Hat Kid?]

Comments

Traps

[onedrinkwithme]

...it seems that this is not the first time you have tried this if your words mean anything.

[Instead of some kid, a tol elezen with a couple boxes in his arms somehow got into the trap. He also seems to be carrying a cloth animal carrier as well so don't mind the low growling from it.]

Do you acquire my assistance for any reason and decided not to ask?

[subconmodo]

[The shadowy realm falls away with little fanfare and a facepalm on Snatcher's part]

Ugh. No. I just didn't expect so many people to take this route.

[He'd rather have gone the more dramatic rite, but at this point it seems like practicality might be his best bet]

You wouldn't happen to have seen a kid in a top hat and yellow cape, would you?

[His glowing gaze occasionally (literally) flickers in the growling bag's direction. What kind of creature is he smuggling in there?]

[onedrinkwithme]

Recently? Nay, I have not.

[Kid, what did you do to piss this guy off? That has to be it because why else ask while trying to trap someone? But he does notice the creature's gaze on the cat carrier.]

Ah, forgive me. My cat always reacts as such.

[Cat growling more now.]

[subconmodo]

[Recently, eh? That means he's seen her before. Perfect.]

Well if you do see her, let her know her BFF is looking to present her with a few new job opportunities.

[He lowers himself to get a better look at the cat.]

...Huh. Weird. You actually going to tell me what your problem is or is growling just your "thing?"

[Why yes, he is talking to the cat as thigh he expects it to respond.]

[onedrinkwithme]

Oh, you know of some prayers?

[He's smarter than he looks but it can't hurt to pretend to be innocent.]

You can communicate with animals as well?

[If so, Mandragora is giving the cat Eorzean version of 'Fuck off'.]

[subconmodo]

Communicate with... Oh! Ha! Oh wow. That's way less dehumanizing than I thought. [he waves a hand dismissively and gives the angry hellbeast some space]

Cats aren't just animals where I'm from, Stretch. I think I prefer this furball to some of the ones I've met.

[those thieves from Alpine Skyline for instance]

[onedrinkwithme]

[And now Mandragora goes back to low growling because this guy is weird.]

Stretch? Quite strange that you speak of Mandragora as more joyful; most are unable to handle his attitude.

[subconmodo]

Oh, he's got attitude all right. I'm more than okay with him being right where he is.

I've just had to deal with one too many... visitors sticking their noses in my forest where they don't belong. And forgetting their manners to boot!

C

[hattersgonnahat]

[Yeah she sees that circle. After stumbling into that last one it's apparent that she'll have to keep an eye out for them, even out here. On the bright side, they aren't nearly as sneaky when it was only on damp, rotting forest floor.]

...... [Sort of has an idea though.]

[Checks pockets and pulls out a bag of marbles, wondering. They don't have much weight to them, even the bigger ones. But why not try this out anyway? She can always get them back later.]

[Casually flicks some right over the thorns. Not too sure what she'll do if the trap does trigger. Haven't really thought that far ahead yet.]

[subconmodo]

[And by some miracle--or whatever the opposite of a miracle is--it works, and hey, turns out it looks like a swirling, distorted cyllinder of fog from the outside, too. You can even see Snatcher (or, rather, the blurry, indistinct black shape that can only be Snatcher) pop up, pause, and then dive back down to disappear]

[Looks like he reset the trap, too]

[hattersgonnahat]

[Interesting....]

[It didn't go away, so why not try it again?]

[subconmodo]

[This time, not only does Hat Kid get a show, but she ALSO gets to hear the sweet, dulcet, muffled tones of Snatcher grumbling from inside. He stops, apparently noticing the marble, and picks it up, stopping to look around before disappearing once more.]

[Then popping his head back up. And disappearing again. The trap is still up. WHAT DO YOU DO?]

[onedrinkwithme]

[And boy does his mind go straight back to Votelli and the forest and all those kidnappings. What's next? More fireflies? Aymeric is lucky that he knows how to be calm in situations so all he does is adjust the carrier to a standing position, unzip the door halfway, and put his hand in to pet the growling beast. Said growling came to a halt afterwards.]

So this forest you mentioned is your home then? I suppose a sign would not work but if that is the case, why not have used a spell to make sure no one would get in without your permission?

1/2

[subconmodo]

You'd be surprised how many people like to WILLFULLY IGNORE every single attempt to tell them to GET OUT.

2/2

[subconmodo]

[Pause. Pull self together. Breathe.]

But! It's not like I kick everyone out. Sometimes you need a little help to keep things in order.

[onedrinkwithme]

So you are selective when it comes to visitors then. As long as they respect your home?

[subconmodo]

[PFFFFT NO. Well. Sort of.]

You could say that. I mean, I didn't exactly go out and bother other people.

[there are laws against stealing souls in other parts of the world, apparently.]

C

[priforprince]

[ There is a small, mute, adorable stuffed goat plushy on a wheeled platform sitting right in the center of the trap. It turns in a circle, heedless of Snatcher's cries, making sure to get a good shot of its predicament.

For the sixteenth time today.


....If it's any consolation, Snatcher, the person watching this via the cameras installed in the spygoat's eyes is also slumped over on her couch, rapidly losing all ability to can.

This is absurd. Make it stop. ]

[subconmodo]

Excuse me? Hello! Ignoring someone when they're taking to you is pretty rude you know!

[he puts his hands on his hips, but not before leaning over to poke the spy goat's head with one claw]

Can you even hear me? Ugh. This is probably some stupid kid's remote controlled toy.

I should just steal it.

[priforprince]

[ The goat wobbles in place, but does not tip over. It is made to be sturdy, so that things like tea trays and anti-sentence-ender-riot-shields and anti-lava-stronger-riot-shields may be attached to it if necessary. (Lots of shield variety. Anyone wishing for REVOLUTION must be prepared, at all times, to erect a barricade.)

Then it wheels closer. Hello. Can it leave now? It has filming to do. Maybe it will wheel right towards the edge of the trap and see if it can get out that way.

Hibiki buries her head in a pillow. ]

[subconmodo]

Ohhhh no you don't. You've caused more than enough trouble for me today. You're coming with ME!

[he grabs the goat and tucks it under his arm, resets his trap, and teleports off to his temple with the goat in tow.]

[Of course, now that he's dragged it into his room and put it in the corner...]

Huh. Looks a little out of place.

[No kidding, Snatcher. Adorable goats aren't normally part of the spooky, creepy forest aesthetic. Or the mostly red and purple decor of his room]

[onedrinkwithme]

So...what exactly do you do for the forest? Might you be a guardian for it?

[Well...at least soul stealing has regulations?]

[subconmodo]

[He tilts his hand from side to side in a "kinda" gesture]

Guardian's a strong word for a place that's pretty much dead. Still, home is home!

[onedrinkwithme]

But if you watch over it and is considered your home, that does make you its guardian.

[This is a thing: talking to some weirdo who attempted to trap him with thorns while recalling the last forest experience but hey, at least those things ain't bothering him. Or around.]

[subconmodo]

[it's hard to tell with his face being all shadowy, but something about his smile seems a little strained. Uncomfortable.]

Sure, if you want to get pedantic about it. I'll stick with boss, thanks.