Memory Lane: Aleda and Ezume Pact Bros Adventures 1

(( the lore outside of the lore time! ))

In a nearby forest... "Ezume! Fox dude!" offers bro fish to Ezume "So we're here to gather ingredients for the lounge, right? That is, if I wrote in my notes correctly..."

*fist ((Trigger Cassy scene accidentally))

(( offer that bro fish to cassy ))

((high five Same thoughts!))

(( aww yeah high five ))

accepts bro fist mhm.. gatherin' stuff for a potion that I heard sells pretty nicely in the black market.. maybe I could even stop bein' on that crime rings hit list if I sell them it!.. even though I have no idea what it does.. or how to even make potions..

"Potions?" goes over notes and struggles to read his own handwriting "POTIONS!" squints "NOT PENNIES..." sigh "I almost said another word just now... sorry... fucking handwriting of mine!" picks up a mushroom that's apparently on the list and it screeches before running away

rests arms behind back, lazing a bit while enjoying the feel of the wind ..honestly this was just a great excuse to finally be outside again! just like how I was before the lounge.. just travellin' and whatnot.. surviving on my own in this harsh world! taking risks and doin' anything to survive!.. or to wander into someone gettin' milked..

startled by screeching mushroom that ran off and looks over at Ezume "That... that didn't phase you? Shit. Luckily, I think it was one of them feral type mushrooms... for lack of a better term. Had it been one of those mushroom girls... we'd be in deep shit! Or perhaps deep bliss... depending." sighs as he regains composure "But... yeah, fox dude! Good to be outdoors exploring and shit every now and then... maybe we'll encounter Glacy getting milked again!"

mm.. I've seen enough weird stuff since I opened up the lounge again, a screamin' mushrooms nothin' compared to having to replace the windows every two days.. kicks a few sticks in a pile, then raises arm to create some sparks from essence. starting a small campfire and hah.. definitely not in a forest like this!.. but that'd be quite the sight.. and whatcha think this potion does anyway? gotta be a reason it's bein' sold around the black market!

"Yeah, that individual who keeps breaking your windows every few days seems to have a shitty sense of direction... or perhaps she's lazy as hell... can't even use the fucking door properly!" looks for more sticks to add to the fire "Love potion #9?" shakes head "Kidding... no idea what the fuck this supposed potion could do. Who requested this shit again? Draco? Or some other dude?"

nope, just info I got from the guy in the alleyway!.. plus I think mister dragon could've made it himself if he really wanted to!.. but I am pretty curious on what it could do.. drags in cauldron, setting it next to the fire

was able to grab a bunch of twigs and tosses them into the fire "So some random mysterious dude in the alleyway?" blinks "A random mysterious dude... but not Big Mysterious Friendly Dude, right?" looks over at cauldron "Because he's got a shit load on his plate these days to be milling about in some shady alleyway!" unfolds notes "Now what else did we need?"

nope!.. unless its some other form or somethin' he's been hiding.. definitely didn't look big or friendly! rubs chin while trying to think of the ingredients required for the potion mm.. some more weird herbs?.. heart of a rat? and.. cheese?

"Uh..." blinks upon hearing the ingredient list as he compares notes "Well! I think your list is more accurate. My notes say honey... possibly from the a bee girl... serious pain in the ass. Heart of a wraith... also a pain in the ass and probably impossible. And cunt." crumples note and tosses it into the fire "Your list sounds more accurate." goes around gathering some of the herbs on the list "Some of those sound tricky to get, and I'm surprised eye of newt wasn't one of the ingredients. If there's one thing I've learned from witches in EF City... when in doubt... always use eye of newt."

raises eyebrow first, mushroom girls.. then bee girls.. then witches?.. well not surprised as much of the witches but when'd ya' ever hear about the other two? clears throat while going back to thinking a bit ..and when I think about it, really sounds like a potion that turns you into a rat.. if I was to guess from the ingredients anyways! fills the cauldron with a bucket of water, still absolutely have no idea of how to brew potions ..but I won't question whatever crime ring or black market's wantin', especially with 'em not enjoyin' my past antics..

"Mushroom girls and bee girls? I've yet to meet one personally, but I've heard of them. They tend to be on the temperamental side and shit if you catch them at the wrong time, so I've heard." conveniently finds more required herbs nearby "When you think of it though... not so much different from everyone else in EF City." sets the herbs near the cauldron and slings Bloody Mary the guitar to his front before picking some notes "Well, heart of rat? I think I got someone that can help us out..." slightly smirks and then sighs in a way which hints that he's not 100% sure if he should go through with next action "Yeah, calming down the criminal rings around here would also help me a lot... cheaper venue rent and shit."

mm.. think its good we haven't met either yet.. can't imagine bein' drugged by a mushroom lady would be all too good!.. or a bee sting.. sets up some pole stands near the fire, setting up for the cauldron oh yeah, has my.. reputation.. in the crime ring affected your shows or anythin'? probably might not be happy seein' me on your headlines after rentin' the venues..

(( watch out, notebook speaking! ))

((Thanks for the head's up... I was like... oh...))

(( mhm, this time I warned ya! ))

((And... whoa! Nice continuity there! It is indeed alternate Ezume that knows about the higher venue rents... from that breakfast scene that one time))

(( I brought out the writers mind out, lots of stuff I could throw back to from last month! ))

((A small detail where nobody would bat an eye I'm sure it it was missed, but good all the ame))

*if it was missed

(( even the smallwr details of continuity can add to a character! ))

smaller*

"Wait--" raises an eyebrow but then remembers the interesting breakfast some time ago "Oh! Right. Well, let's just say... a lot of the venues are controlled by certain individuals with a lot of power and influence and shit... and they got connections and shit with the underworld. Your--" ahem "Side hustle of being a version of freaking Robin Hood of sorts makes them raise the prices on almost everything else they have a touch on..." randomly plays a song that somewhat fits the atmosphere "Breaking the law~ Breaking the law~"

"Not sure if they know it's you personally though... they probably would've retaliated against you directly by now... especially since it's no secret we tend to hang out a lot and shit!"

"Of course, should they make an attempt on your life... well..." proudly pounds his chest a few times "Pact bros for life! I'd have to a throw down with 'em myself!"

have to have a*

shrugs a bit after setting up the pole stands well I've been layin' low off that hustle for a while, so I wouldn't be surprised if they really just forgot about me!.. gotta thank miss ice dragon for the lower rent, but don't think I'm gonna see her for a while.. lifts up cauldron a little to set on the stand, putting it over the fire to let it boil as we collected the ingredients I wouldn't be surprised either if they were all scaredy-cats though.. we have a tendency to leave no forests left undestroyed!

..but of course, pact bros for life! if ya' need extra funds to deal with those shady dealers, then I can always find a way of gettin' you some way of payin' em off!

to pay 'em off*

"As long as it doesn't involve you prostituting yourself!" chuckles a bit before clearing his throat "Nah, I know we have each other's backs at the end of the day even through all the teasing and disagreements..." knocks on his guitar a few times and it begins to glow "Besides, as you said, it's well known the two can decimate a forest... should be cause enough for certain assholes to back off from our business!"

gradually morphs into a blood mist from her guitar form and reforms in her true form behind Aleda while hugging him from behind "You're bloody lucky I'm in the mood to move around a bit you bloody wanker! Hehe~" ruffles Aleda's hair "So, a rat's heart, was it? I certainly can help you with that... give me a few moments..." temporarily vanishes away in a mist of blood

o3o

turns his head to see a familiar face "Glacy dude!" offers bro fist to Glacy

sigh ..I shoulda' expected that from ya' mister rock star.. again, not a prostitute.. but 'course we got each others backs!.. or at least 'til I kill you myself, but that'll be far far later on! I chuckle a bit as I keep adjusting the cauldron, also making sure the fire doesn't go out ..and ya' gotta teach me how to play guitar still!

"Hope you don't mind waiting a bit in line then... Big Bad Villain Dude is already at the top of the list... followed by angsty rocker chicks... followed by a shit load of other people I probably don't remember due to drinking too much!" shrugs and then gives off a laugh "But, hey! If you reach 9 tails level or something... I'll make sure you jump ahead of the line." clears throat "Ah! I do recall you mentioning something about playing guitar... I don't got a spare on me at this time, so you'd need to borrow one from someone or somewhere or some shit... or maybe we could look for one in a random mysterious cave... people seem to find all sorts of random shit in the caves around here!"

I rest my arms behind my head, taking a fresh breath of air after finally setting up everything. hah, there wouldn't be a line by the time I reach that!.. but I can be patient, not in a rush to find my inner rock star or anythin' but just a nice little skill to have on the side! glances towards Aleda ..I don't think I've been in any caves except Draco's.. did ya' find your sunglasses there or somethin'?

"Nothing wrong with pursuing music and shit for a hobby to relieve some stress and boredeom, fox dude!" grins and gives a thumbs up "Got any particular guitar builds in mind? You strike me as an acoustic type... seems to go well with the whole fox thing you got going on, but there are a few other options..." pauses for a minute to somewhat muse aloud "And believe me, you might want to stick to the hobby part... being basically a combat bard such as myself comes with a lot of pressure and responsibility and all that shit. Imagine worrying about others constantly during battle and having them, in turn, depend on you to enhance them. There's a reason you don't see too many bards around... much less combat bards!" sighs as if the recent comments weigh heavily on this mind "However, I digress." pulls out sunglasses and inspects them "The sunglasses?" grins "A gift from my entourage several weeks ago! They were just happy about how things were progressing... the concerts... the Afterparty talk shows... and whatnot... they thought it would be a nice gift for me. $500 sunglasses... very expensive... if someone or something broke the... I would bonk them over the head with Bloody Mary in a rage!"

*broke them

raises eyebrow with a confused look ..why specifically bonk 'em over the head with your guitar? isn't it more effective to shoot lightning outta it instead? bet it'd hurt more and teach whoever breaks your glasses a lesson! stretches out arms while making a low hum mm.. I did play both acoustic and electric.. but electric is way cooler!.. though, definitely not bein' a combat bard considerin' I already have enough on my plate in the magic department!

"I could do the whole lightning thing in retaliation... keyword... could!~" raises a finger "But a bonk... especially with a guitar... has a certain satisfaction to it! Besides, she's durable enough to not break upon simply bonking some random ass jerk!" ahem "Maybe a semi-acoustic could work for you... I guess we could visit one of the mysterious caves someday and find you one!”shrugs and grins “Or we might be unlucky… or lucky enough… to run into… a succubus!” laughs a bit nervously “I’m already concerned about the one that attended one of the recent Afterparty shows… said she was gonna put me on her list… whatever the hell that means!” shrugs and sighs “Anyways, magic is definitely your department! You were born with it naturally, if I remember correctly?” hears a plop in the cauldron

is suddenly next to the cauldron and shrugs "So... that was one heart of a rat I put in there just now!" grins "Would anyone like to know the bloody details?"

"N-no, I don--" was interrupted

bonks Aleda before he can finish "Ruining my fun, eh? Blood wanker!" vanishes again supposedly to... get the cheese... somehow...

I look back to the cauldron, hearing the plop of the rats heart into the boiling water ..y'know, I never questioned your guitar at all after findin' out it turns into an absolute hottie! but I dunno if I wanna know the answers.. I look over to the cauldron to see the rats heart floating around in the boiling water, having a mild look of disgust before glancing back at Aleda eugh.. anyways.. most of my magic was pretty natural! glad I was born with fire potential 'cause I didn't have to worry about bein' too cold or too warm when I travelled!.. though I don't know if the fiery heart stuff is actually true or not.. rubs chin while thinking I also have spiritual magic since thats traditional to have for many kitsunes.. but I haven't tapped much into it!.. and my 'illusion' has been.. rocky..

(( notebook! watch out! ))

(( maybe you should change Aleda (notebook forme) to a PNG of a notebook ))

((Oops~ I did it again~))

((Hit me baby one more time~))

((Good catch though Ezume and I might think about the other option))

"I suppose my guitar is kinda hot!" softly laughs as he walks over to the cauldron to take a peek into it out of morbid curiosity "And looking into this mixture of... whatever the hell is brewing here--" gestures at the cauldron before sighing and sitting down on a nearby tree stump "Not exactly the kinda shit I like to see!" raises a finger "Bloody Mary has quite the history... let's leave it at that for now for simplicity reasons and shit..." ahem "Fiery heart? Like, your actual heart is literally on fire?" scribbles in notebook because it sounds like a good song idea "I don't know if a heart on fire is exactly healthy... you may want that checked out someday fox dude!" he jots a few more things down before looking up towards Ezume's direction once again "But I do recall you talking about a fiery heart once or twice or some shit in the past... do refresh my memory if you don't mind, bro?" puts his pen back in ready position because once again... a heart on fire sounds like the basis for an awesome metal song

mm.. well, I just said stuff about a fiery heart 'cause of the unnatural warmth and the fire powers.. but again, could just be a stretch! no way of findin' out unless we cut my chest open, and I'd prefer not to have surgery to see if my heart is naturally on fire.. shrugs but a safe assumption, right? moves arms to rest back behind my head, waiting for Bloody Mary to come back with cheese to complete the potion. buut I can't explain it, feels like I have a fiery spirit in a sense.. but that could just be me.. but I do have horns if that could be used for a cool song!

meanwhile in a not so distant dirt path from the location of Aleda and Ezume... a wandering traveler conveniently carrying a bag of cheese is passing by while looking in her pocket mirror checking for bug bites… when suddenly the face of a certain individual appears in the mirror “Boo…” the figure in the mirrors says rather dryly “You should run now...” the traveler shrieks and drops her bag of cheese as well as her mirror while running away "Hehe~" giggles as she shoots out from the mirror back into her normal form

back the at the site "Horns?" scratches head "I don't remember you having horns and shit, fox dude!" pauses for a moment "Unless I was drunk or some shit when you told me about them..."*

moves hair a bit to reveal horns nope! they're tiny and unnatural!.. ahem ..haven't told anyone about this, but my illusion is.. otherworldly.. its all supposed to be a mental power but it physically affects me? ever wondered why that was?

"A clever disguise, fox dude!" claps in Ezume's direction "I never would've figured out the horn thing!" raises a finger "Wait, maybe that's why you're such a cat magnet! They can sense your... horniness!" chuckles at his own joke before clearing his throat "Illusions? Well, I've seen you fall through the ground a few times... unless that was actually other you..."

sigh of course I was goin' to hear that one.. but I.. think I got these at a young age!.. holds hands up spookily, shaking them as if I was playing peek a boo the foorest of illuusions.. the place of the devil! raises arms up to cover the horns, resting them back behind afterwards ..let's just say I was a bit young when I made a.. mistake.. thankfully it was a lesser devil.. but I was a kid when I did that!.. and now I have these horns.. and why I sometimes fall through portals to mysterious dimensions..

(( aka I realised that the character I use for my pfp has horns ))

"That sounds slightly disturbing..." he muses aloud as he takes down notes "But also sounds kinda metal!" gives a thumbs up with a grin "So I guess the horns hint that your magic is a bit more enhanced than normal? Say... compared to a fox without the horns?" feels a familiar presence whizz past him

suddenly appears next to the cauldron and empties bag of cheese into it before turning to grin at Aleda

"That look..." sighs "Did you kill anyone?"

"Um... no?" shrugs "Did you WILL me to kill someone? Did you WILL me to hurt someone?"

"N--" interrupted

quickly appears next to Aleda and bonks him "NO! No, you bloody didn't! If you WILLED it, then I would have harmed them one way or another... ya bloody wanker! How many bloody times do I have to tell you this?" sighs and gradually returns to her guitar form strapped to Aleda's back

sighs in a way as if hinting that all of what happened just now doesn't surprise him at this point "And that was her being nice!" throws his hands up "One day, I'll show you her powered up form..." raises a finger "My ultimate attack, basically..."

is about to say something but gets cut off by the sudden reappearance of Bloody Mary. hearing another plop and assuming that it was the cheese that was required before going up with a big ladle to mix all the ingredients together in the boiling water. mm.. seems like its a complicated relationship!.. and its probably best we assume this cheese 'came' from cow cat ot something.. literally! I snicker a bit at my joke as I keep mixing the contents of the cauldron ..but I guess you could say.. enchanced.. I don't know if they're supposed to be growin' more but it's still all very strange!..

chuckles at the Glacy reference "I tell you, Glacy should definitely start his own dairy brand or some shit!" looks over at the cauldron as Ezume mixes the contents within "Huh... so I guess you are slightly more powerful than a normal fox then!" sighs as if in deep thought and reminisces a bit... "I guess that's how we pulled off that explosive fireball lightning thingy of pure hatred some time ago! Although... I'm sure even if you didn't have those horns... it'd still be almost as destructive! I do think you getting more tails is more suiting to you though than larger horns!" smirks a bit "Otherwise, you'd be an even bigger cat magnet than you already are!"

..huh, I.. actually never thought about it that way.. my memory is still foggy on what happened long ago but maybe I did get stronger after takin' that deal with the devil?.. stares a bit blankly at the cauldron, still subconsciously mixing together the ingredients ..could I get stronger then?.. coughs and shakes head to snap out of trance just kiddin'! if I grew more tails im pretty sure that'd make me an even bigger cat magnet!.. especially with the fluffiness..

"Bro?" blinks at Ezume's trance like state "Maybe the cauldron fumes are getting to you..." he then notices Ezume seemingly snap back to normal before clearing his throat "Well, growing another tail or two by the time we fight Dorkman would be helpful!" shrugs "But we'll make due with what we have and shit..." points at the cauldron "So... how's that... uh... hellish mixture you got brewing there going?"

looks in the cauldron, seeing as the water turned gooey and.. green? huh.. morbid curiosity is makin' me wanna try this, but I don't wanna turn into a rat!.. if my detective skills were right anyways! I bring out a glass to slowly poor a bit of the gooey substance in a bottle, closing it up with a cork and swishing it around a bit to observe it

raises an eyebrow at the whole scene unfolding in front of him "Transformation potions seem to be the trend these days..." decides to try out a certain potion for the hell of it... "Down the hatch and shit!" poofs

"Ara ara and shit!~" drinks the potion yet again ... poofs

"See what I mean?" points at the supposed rat potion in Ezume's possession "I'm still not entirely sold on that... mixture... whatever you wanna call that shit... maybe you can sell it to a lab for some good money?"

mm.. labs? I wouldn't think they'd pay any more than the black market! and if we're to sell it a lab in a city like EF, then I don't think they'd be askin' for potions to experiment with... swishes the green concoction around, still eyeing it curiously ..but yeah I know transformation potions have been absolutely everywhere, but why would anyone wanna be a rat specifically? I know it's probably like some weird kink.. but rats?.. if this is a rat transformation potion anyways..

meow_(:з」∠)_

eyebrow raises looking at Cassy but I still wave hey Cassy.. whatcha' doin' here?

blinks at Cassy "Cassy! Want to try out a rat potion?"

raises a finger "Maybe you could sell it to that mysterious alleyway dude!"

rubs chin I could.. but I haven't seen him since!.. coulda' totally tricked me and just said a buncha ingredients for the heck of it.. but it's definitely strange that mixin' all of these ingredients made.. this...

"Oh! We can totally sell it to a slime shop! The slime girls would probably love to try it out... you know how much they love experimenting with transformations and all that shit!~"

mm.. I don't know if I'd trust a slime shop either.. but does sound safer than goin' to a mysterious unlicensed lab!.. and I'm surprised we haven't seen any slime girls here actually, considerin' how kinky you can get with 'em~...

"Now that you mention it... never seen a slime girl personally... and I've heard so much about 'em too!" shrugs "It's safe to say you sure as hell won't drink it... I'm sure as hell not gonna drink it... slime shop seems to be the better option..."

mm.. rubs chin with a mischevious grin, thinking of an idea.. ..well what's stoppin' me from tryin' it and taking over the world with an army of rats? then I'll take and enslave those crime rings, then bam! we'll have connections all around and we'll take over the world with my army of rats.. then the univserse!

universe*

stares at Ezume blankly before slowly nodding "Not sure if you're being a genius.... or just batshit crazy... but that definitely sounds fucking metal!" chuckles ""

*"Don't know if you're actually serious, but I'm here to take you to the hospital... if needed!"

yep! tables turnin' this time if I knock out and almost die!.. and also I just came up with that in my head.. shrugs works as a good excuse to try whatever this thing is!.. I look at the potion, removing the cork I put on it to swish it around some more. moving it close to my nose to get a whiff of it ..mm.. it actually.. doesn't smell that bad?

"Maybe it's not a transformation potion? Maybe it's more like a cologne or perfume for rats?"

raises eyebrow at the thought of a rat perfume ...why would it be so gooey? or even called a potion at that point?.. or what would make it super marketable in the first place!? and why would you kill a rat to make a product specifically for rats!?

"I don't know, fox dude!" shrugs "The place has all sorts of people and shit! The gooey texture might just be that... a texture... or maybe it's actually a lotion..."

shrugs eh.. too much to question if it wasn't a potion, saves us brainpower just sayin' this things a potion!.. clears throat before finally deciding to chug the bottle of the slimy, green.. whatever..

"I... uh..." blinks in astonishment of what just happened "Can't believe you just did that, fox dude!" sits up as if readying himself to bring Ezume to the hospital "Well, feel any different?"

I stare at the empty glass for a bit, waiting to see if there was any change.. but I just get into a coughing fit, feeling as if I couldn't breathe from how bad it tasted and barely holding in the urge to puke it out ..g-god.. cough cough cough i-its tastes so bad!.. a-and I.. cough cough d-don't feel any different!..

"Whoa!" pats Ezume on the back to help him cough out whatever may be stuck in his throat "Ah... you know what? Forget this hellish mix of... whatever the fuck this stuff is... let's just make a quick buck off the slime shop with this... or just dump it."

keeps coughing a bit more as I clear my throat of the disgusting aftertaste ugh.. y-yeah.. cough cough ..might as well make a buck off of it with the amount of effort we put in to create this!.. or your hot guitar at least.. cough cough ..kinda sad I wasn't able to turn into a rat, but probably for the better..