[open] And deep in my soul I’ve lost all control

[astudyinviolet]

Who: Sherlock and others
Status: Open
Where: Eltrut generally
What: MANTA quests and stuff, added giant snail prompt!
Warnings: For A Magical Mer May: aquaphobia and thalassophobia, potentially panic attacks, Sherlock hates everything about it

MANTA General: Rolling with Damacy/Dark Water

[ Once more, Sherlock is experimenting on dark goop that came from the ocean. He didn't get a chance to study the Blot as much as he'd like, but he still had a chance to note some qualities, enough to know that this is not the same matter. So perhaps it is no surprise that he's out with his field chemistry kit to run experiments and jot down information that could prove useful. Or not. Time will tell. ]

It is unsurprising that salt water does little to dilute the substance. Fresh water fares no better.

[ He tries a few other solutions to see how the substance responds. ]

What have you tried so far?

MANTA General: A Magical Mer May (cw: aquaphobia and thalassophobia, potentially panic attacks)

[ Unfortunately, the catfish on legs cares not for if someone wants to become a merfolk or not. They run about waving their wand and zoom zoom zap!—there is a new half-fish person who now has to deal with the consequences. How fun!

One unlucky victim of this chaos is Sherlock. Regardless of how he was before, he's been transformed into a mimic octopus merfolk. Those who are familiar with Sherlock's light magic will notice that some of the faint blue-green mottling on his tentacles match the light projections he creates. He collapses. The bare skin of his torso and arms scrape against the ground. His tentacles flail, unable to support himself as he lacks the knowledge of how to move his transformed lower half. ]

Wh-What—?! Wait! What did you—?!

[ Sherlock reaches out, but the catfish runs off to find their next victim to zoom zoom zap! With a wave of the wand, someone else turns into a merfolk with a more typical fishtail. A million thoughts run through Sherlock's head and most fall upon varying levels of terrified. Why is he an octopus? What is he going to do? ]

Where… where's my shellphone? My ring? Anything?!

[ He's fully on land and in the sun. Sherlock reaches out again, trying to pull himself across the ground to some shade in order to think (or panic). ]

Cafe Surasthana: featuring the Dictionary of the Deep Ones if desired

[ With a large cup of coffee, Sherlock sits at a table with a book and his casebook. He's doing some research. One topic is his usual "case study" where he tries to get a better understanding of someone's motivations and mindset through reading various books. (Don't mind that they tend to be romance novels.)

The other topic is deciphering a new purchase. Sherlock never learns his lesson about eldritch tomes, and here he is with another one. ]

[[ ooc: Dictionary of the Deep Ones: A waterlogged tome written in a nearly-indecipherable language. It is said to contain knowledge of the deep, but at what cost… (Note: this item is cursed and will force any who decipher it to speak in garbled, gibbering tongues for one hour) ]]

What a lovely thing a rose is…?

[ After the whole ordeal with the haunted manor, the Cosmo Conservatory gained a new resident, Fleur the Snail. Sherlock felt that the former pet whose owners had long passed was too dangerous to leave there. The large snail has an attitude and all too willing to headbutt anyone who upset it. Perhaps it was lonely after being alone with little company. With Wriothesley's help (who named Fleur and who Fleur seems to like), the giant snail made it Conservatory.

Sherlock's attempt to make friends with Fleur has gone poorly judging by how he's been knocked over by a strong headbutt. He winces. ]

Yes, you're welcome...

Wildcard

[ Want to do something else? Write a prompt or drop me a line at Sherry's journal, aviekokyre, or on Discord @ aviekokyre and we can plot something out. ]

Comments

magical mermay

[octoblot]

[Perhaps it's a stroke of good luck that of all people to come across Sherlock here, it happens to be Azul. An Azul who, if one did not know better, is suspiciously still in "human form" even after the catfish tried to zap him, which earns the catfish pausing to stare at Azul. Then at the wand as if checking to see if it is on the fritz, giving Azul the opportunity to use his own wand to send an ice spell that hits the catfish: not enough to hurt them, but enough to startle them into running away and causing mischief elsewhere for now.

And then Azul is turning his attention to Sherlock upon spotting him. He makes what seem like an odd expression, something like a cross between surprise and... pity, maybe, before he approaches.]

Sherlock-san, please calm down. It's going to be alright: the change is likely only temporary.

[astudyinviolet]

[ Unable to maintain any sort of control of his lower half, Sherlock remains laying on the ground. His tentacles alternate between multiple jerking in the same fashion at the same time (as if four were "one" leg) or laying completely limp. Only Sherlock's upper arms move like he suspects them too. ]

Azul, thank God you were nearby.

[ Sherlock knows that Azul is an octomer, so if anyone knows what it is like to be in this form, it is him. (It does hold Sherlock's tongue over how unnerved he is to be an octopus and his questions if that has any connotations to the Old Ones from his world.) ]

I've been a cat before, but nothing like this. Are you able to reverse this?

[ Azul does transform between his two forms, so there must be something that can be done now, right? ]

[octoblot]

I can certainly try to help you reverse this. But first, let's get you moved somewhere else--it can't be comfortable for you being stuck in the sand right now.

[Azul gives Sherlock a once-over here, considering before he lifts his wand here.]

Do I have your permission to lift and carry you using my magic? Once I do, I can either place you in some water... if not right here in the ocean, we can go to a lake nearby instead.

[astudyinviolet]

[ In an instant, Sherlock goes pale as if he tries to blend into the sand below him. However, it is not only his tentacles which undergo the change but his human half as well. He looks like he wants nothing more than to find some hole to crawl into and hide. ]

No! Not in the water! You can lift me, but only if you swear not to put me into water!

[octoblot]

[Ah, already using the camouflaging abilities that comes with being an octopus, are we... Azul would be impressed at how fast Sherlock manager to trigger that if it wasn't for the other man's distress. Azul holds up his other hand not holding his wand in a placating manner.]

Okay, okay, I won't put you into the water here.

[There is however a risk of Sherlock drying out here the longer he sits out on the hot sand, so Azul casts his magic to help lift Sherlock off the ground, and slowly floats him along to a spot where they can get some shade.]

Better?

[incensor]

[ The adoption events had drawn Lio to the conservatory where he now wanders through the expansive grounds, marveling at all the exotic creatures gathered in one place. Many of them like something out of a storybook his mother would have read to him as a child.

A giant snail doesn't seem that out of place at first glance. The flower growing out of its back commands a bit more attention and draws him over to investigate. That's when he spots Sherlock, dropping to the ground mid-headbutt. Not completely satisfied, he watches on as the snail rears back for a second strike.

Closing the distance with surprising speed, Lio grabs onto the other man and hauls him out of the path of imminent danger, just as the snail's head slams down into the ground. Incredibly, it doesn't appear phased in the least. ]

How's your head? Can you move? [ Clipped. Urgent. Because they should probably fall back. And soon. ]

[astudyinviolet]

[ The glow of Fleur's rose brightens, annoyed by the interference. How dare???

Sherlock on the other hand steadies himself. ]

I'm fine. I suspect I'll simply get some bruising again.

[ Yes, again. This has happened before. ]

[incensor]

[ And now it's glowing... He hopes that doesn't mean the snail's abilities extend beyond physical violence. After hearing about the snail cultists sacrificing people, he's not going to be trusting any gastropods for a long while.

A lesson Sherlock apparently needs to learn. ]

Then let's get out of here and hope bruising is the worst of it.

[astudyinviolet]

[ This snail isn't cultist related. It just has an attitude which Sherlock has found himself on the wrong side of and is trying to correct. ]

Constantly retreating from Fleur goes against what I'm trying to do.

[ Sherlock looks at Fleur. Yes, that is a grumpy snail. ]

I have seen you eat this plant while here. Do I need to bring you a garden buffet before you are satisfied?

[incensor]

[ Lio glances from Sherlock to the snail. Back to Sherlock and back to the snail again. It has a name. Which implies this is not even their second encounter but there's a familiarity here.

Not that it appears to mean much the way Fleur swings its (his? her?) eye stalks around, clearly agitated at. ]

You're trying to feed it.

[ He's more incredulous than questioning. ]

[astudyinviolet]

[ Fleur is Fleur and cares not for gender. Snacks are better, except Fleur doesn't care for this scrawny, shadowy not-snack feeding it. Doesn't even bother to bring the yummy stuff. ]

I am. I am in part responsible for its arrival here. Leaving it at the haunted manor was liable to get it killed by people investigating the place. Or it being a danger to them.

[ Sherlock rubs at where he was headbutted. ]

I volunteer here besides.

[incensor]

[ Lio doesn't know enough to argue with those circumstances, so he simply grimaces. It's not like he expects an animal to understand the altruistic intentions, though. ]

This doesn't seem like a one person job. At least me help.

[astudyinviolet]

[ Some animals do. This one just has an attitude. Possibly from being alone for so long. Possibly from once being a spoiled pet. Possibly from just being Fleur. ]

Are you certain? You may end up on Fleur's bad side.

[ It's hard to be certain, one way or another. ]

[incensor]

[ Lio regards Fleur again. Despite the impressive size, it's still a snail right? If it gets fussy he can probably out-walk the thing.

Failing that, he can protect himself, though he'd prefer it not come to that for Sherlock's sake. ]

I've faced worse. What do I need to do?

[astudyinviolet]

As have I, but I would hate for your visit to the Cosmo Conservatory to end in insult and injury.

[ Sherlock has volunteered here for a time now, and while he doesn't know everyone well who helps out here, he thinks he would have seen the young many in passing should he be a regular. He once more picks up the bundle of leaves and shakes off any dirt. ]

However, as for what to do... that I am uncertain of. I have been observing Fleur since its arrival and have seen it eat vegetation when a shadow creature isn't present. This is something it has eaten, but how to get it to accept the meal with any amount of ire is...

[ Lio does not know of the speed Fleur can reach. Fleur is not to be underestimated by shadow creature, scrawny shadowy not-snacks, and now skinny weeds. It faces them head on, watching them. ]

[incensor]

I'd hate to think what that says about me if I can't weather a bit of both.

[ You don't scare him Fleur. ]

Eating often puts animals in a vulnerable position. Some refuse to eat until the threat is gone. [ Sherlock seems rather certain of his assessment about the source of the snail's distaste. Which begs the question... ] So where is this shadow creature?

Magical Mermay

[icefangrush]

So you're causing all this trouble, huh?

[The weird catfish wouldn't get much further with its zapping. Freezing it in an ice block, Wriothesley would take the wand it was waving and pocketing it to turn in later. He's already been a merfolk once, thanks; he'd rather not be on land attempting to reach water. But now there's a mess to clean up - of victims that probably need their scales hydrated, and he's going to follow the path back the way the catfish folk came.]

[He doesn't know if he's only expecting the usual fishtail, but there's someone with more octopus traits that looks familiar.]

... Sherlock.

[Well... this is unexpected.]

[astudyinviolet]

[ Wriothesley has saved some other poor soul from a similar beached fate. Luckily, there doesn't seem to be many about beyond Sherlock. Either they managed to escape the chaos, or this is nothing new to them and have already teleported away to the nearest body of water.

Meanwhile, Sherlock is doing his best to drag himself into the shade. His octopus tentacles flop uselessly or jerk awkwardly at once in the same way as if he tried to "move" his two legs beneath him. As it is, he can't manage to sit upright, so he lays on the ground. ]

Wriothesley?

[ Thank God. He doesn't have any of his belongings right now, so he couldn't contact anyone. ]

How did you find me?

[icefangrush]

[He'll let the fish thaw out; maybe it'll think about what it's done during that time, or come up with another way to fling spells at people. Either way, not their problem for now. What is 'now', is Wriothesley watching Sherlock on the ground trying to move...? He thinks. Octopi out of the water aren't very graceful when it comes to movement.]

I was following the path of chaos. Heard there was one of our new arrivals turning people into merfolk, but they might not be the only one.

... what happened to your stuff?

[He didn't see any fragments of clothing...]

[astudyinviolet]

I don't know. I had everything on me before this happened.

[ His clothing, his charms and enchantments, his casebook... where are they?! Sherlock tries to push himself up to get a better look, but his lower half, as he can currently control it, does not give him any strength to support himself. He ends up flopping back to the ground. Bones. He's used to bones. ]

The magic must have done something with them.

[icefangrush]

Right. Only way to know is to wait then.

[Watching Sherlock struggle to sit up is a little amusing, but mostly sad. A bit more upper body strength would help with that; even with the boneless tendrils now writhing out of his lower half. Not that he didn't see Sherlock falling over anyway if he did succeed.]

... Do you want to go back to the cafe for now?

[In other words, did he want to go back to his room?]

[astudyinviolet]

Yes... I can't stay here as I am....

[ Sherlock looks up at Wriothesley. The man looks even taller from this perspective. ]

Without my Ring of Returning, I'm afraid I'll need to impose upon you. I'll dry out or scrape my tentacles raw if I attempt to pull myself the entire way... or possibly run over by someone unawares.

[ Or abducted because he's an easy, pretty target. ]

[icefangrush]

[Poor Sherlock is just brought down low.]

You say that like that's an issue. Don't worry, I can carry you back. Although, you know that 'drying out' problem means I'll have to possibly put you in a tub when we get back.

[Because, what's the other solution? Eight glasses of water to, what, soak just part of his tentacles in?]

Cafe Surasthana (Dictionary of the Deep Ones edition)

[chatteblanche]

[ Don't mind Lynette as she looms over your shoulder with curiosity. How did she get there? She snuck up on you, obviously. ]

Do you understand what those symbols mean?

[ Because she sure doesn't. ]

[astudyinviolet]

[ After a slight jolt of surprise at Lynette suddenly being at his side, Sherlock moves the book over, so she can see it better. ]

Not yet. It's curious that the translation magic does not apply to this text. However, the tome might be written a cipher instead, and in that case, it is a matter of breaking it.

Surasthana cafe~ (yes! Thank you for linking me)

[tarttyrant]

[Ah that one. Riddle glances at the dark-haired young man currently occupying the table near his seat of choice. The dorm head's morning errands have cost him his usual favored spot, but there should still be sunlight enough by the stranger. Or. Should Riddle call him a fellow mutual patron?
It was strange. No matter how often Riddle made it a point to visit the cafe, this man was often leaving or already present, regardless of the hour.

Today it seems it will be much the same.]

"You. Are Azul's neighbor."

[Riddle states, by way of greeting. Striding past, he takes a seat, a few chairs over.]

"A curious manner of text you have there. Is that one of the cafes?"

[Which book could he be referring to? Could go either way..]