Anytime throughout the month of December!

[charming_jerk]

[A - Aqures Ixen
Johnny spends a lot of time out in Aqures Ixen playing music to trying to get tips by busking, and Christmas season is the best season for this. It can be tough to play a guitar when your hands are cold, but it's worth it as folks are feeling more generous this time of year. Normally he tries to play more local songs since they get him better attention and tips, but every once in awhile he can't help but stick in something from home. And what a better time to play an Earth Christmas song while getting to do his best Lemmy impersonation?

Maybe this one won't get him as much money, but he sure looks like he's having fun trying to rock out as hard as one can on an acoustic guitar.]

[B - Christmas Markets
Johnny's never been a good at gifts, or so he feels anyway. Right now he's wandering around various shops and stalls looking very put out. He could probably use some help. Dare you?]

[C - Trano Goldsaucia
While he signed up to be a bodyguard against the Calamity creatures, Johnny didn't realize how tough the monsters here were. Taking on a Calamity Ochu by himself was probably a bad idea, even with two maxed out Jobs. Right now he's losing due to the Poison it's inflicted on him more than anything. If you're out in the cold trying to get earn some monster-hunting money, maybe you can step in.]

Comments

A

[mindofathief]

[Duster can't say no to rock music. The sound of electric guitar catches draws his attention to the corner where Johnny is performing, through he has a hard time making out the words at a distance. Even as he gets closer, he doesn't pick up anything familiar, though "Rudolph" does sound familiar...

The passer-by aren't paying much attention while Duster finds a wall to lean against. They could use more upbeat music like this, songs about things like--

Wait, is a song about Santa being sung in a voice like that?!

...Duster isn't sure what to make of it.

...Duster uses the Christmas Spirit on the people near Johnny. Maybe they understand what this is about.]

[charming_jerk]

[The Christmas Spirit works like a charm, and gets Johnny some applause and some cash. He seems surprised at the response, until he spots someone nearby who's probably using a certain Job skill. Well, whatever works. He thanks the parting crowd, then gives Duster a nod in recognition.]

Man, maybe I oughta take up a new Job. My tip jar is ready to pop already.

[mindofathief]

[Duster has a moment where he feels like he should apologize for cheating the system, but Johnny doesn't seem bothered that he got some decent cash because of magic. He weaves his way through the dispersing crowd until he stops right in front of the tip jar.]

Maybe next year. That skill doesn't work as good after Starlight Celebration. [A small shrug.] How's the gig?

[charming_jerk]

I'll keep it in mind. I dunno if these even counts as a gig, either. This is just work as usual, for me. Most 'a the time, people just ignore me or toss in a coupla gil. The season must be making 'em feel a little more generous. [He waves a hand at Duster.] That, and yer little trick, I guess.

[mindofathief]

There's nothing wrong with helping people feel happier about the holiday, right? [He chuckles to himself.] I thought it'd be the right thing to do, anyway.

[charming_jerk]

Well, the generous tips've made me feel happier, that's for sure.

[Johnny starts to clean up and gather his tips and equipment as they talk. He was going to wrap up the set after that song anyway. Gotta go out on a high note.]

Usually I get more money 'n positive attention when I play Crystllis's hits. But sometimes I gotta indulge, y'know?

[mindofathief]

[Always end the show with a hit. That's the only way to do it.]

No, man, that's exactly how it is. There's songs that the audience love, and then there's songs you can pour your heart and soul into even if you're the only one listening. If you only play whats popular, you start losing who you are, what your band means.

...Not just a band, but you as a musician.

C - Trano Golsaucia

[shinrasfinest]

[One of the weeks in December sees Sephiroth and a sizable platoon of his own army deployed to the region of Trano Golsaucia to assist with the defense against the Calamity monsters while the theme park unbelievably has re-opened on the 10th. Some might see it as commendable, the fervor with which the locals are keeping the Starlight spirit alive in the face of such adversity, no matter how Sephiroth's stone-cold logic told him it was a fruitless endeavor. Almost stupidity.

Impossible to believe that it's only the strength of those that have come to assist in safeguarding the perimeter of the City that is keeping the monsters from completely overwhelming the festive sanctuary in such a corrupted landscape.]

-heads up!

[If Johnny looks up he might just catch the glint of a vial in the gloom as a small Remedy comes sailing in from behind-to-the-right some. It's not a bad throw and lands just outside of reaching distance, chinking a little on the ground.

Only a beat later Sephiroth's boot falls come charging in, louder on account of the frigid atmosphere which defines the corrupted lands left behind by the Crystal. Masamune out in front and poised spectacularly for a clean uppercut attack as soon as he gets in range. He knows Ochu well enough, so as to quickly dodge backwards away out of the range of those vine-like arms should they whip out to counter.

He's back in line with Johnny, as hopefully the poison is resolved for the time being. Sephiroth affords only a quick glance at the other Hero before fixing his attention on the monster again.]

You good-?

Decided to move this here so you have a party

[not_most_days]

[Lucky for Johnny he's not the only one out hunting. Even luckier, one particular Hero has decided to take a higher altitude approach. Mary spots the ongoing battle and even from the distance she's at she can see he's in bad shape.

Her personal airship flies in low, handling quite nicely thanks to the upgrades it received when it was repaired. The new swivel guns are nice as well. With quick aim she launches a burst of fire against the Ochu, pulverizing one of its vines and filling its open maw with shot.]

Ahoy there!

[She's glad to see Sephiroth joining the fray with potion in hand as well. Still on her airship and equipped as she is she's not in much position to help him with healing. At least they have some support drawing the monster's attention now.]

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny immediately scrambles for the Remedy while the Ochu is busy dealing with his allies. He also takes the opportunity to take a swig from a flask to get some health back, thanks to Rum Diet.]

Way better now. Thanks. Underestimated these things.

[He gives Mary a thumbs up too before jumping high into the air. His best bet to keep away from this monster was to rely on his Dragoon skills for the time being.]

[shinrasfinest]

Understandable.

[There isn't much time to wait for Johnny, to make sure, as there is apparent cover fire from above! Sephiroth snaps his attention back in the direction of the Ochu as it flails it's vine-y tentacles as far out as it can in the direction it thinks the shots have come from.

He trusts Mary enough to get well clear as he also takes another jump back while Johnny Dragoon!leaps up. He'll just stay his position and judge the outcome of that, first. He doesn't exactly trust that particular skill.

In the meantime, Deathblow is charged, the energy humming through himself and seemingly adding some weight to Masamune as he brings the great sword back up and ready for his next turn.]

[not_most_days]

[Between its size and its tendrils the Ochu has a very long and agile reach, but Mary's got enough experience with ships that it dips away before it can catch hold of her. As the plantoid turns to give chase she spins the wheel to cut in and across, bringing her dangerously close to the creature, but behind it now.]

Fire broadsides!

[Her ship's small crew opens fire with the cannons, lighting up its side with shot before she pulled away once more. The ochu flails and turns, trying to attack her once more, turning away from Sephiroth entirely.]

(ooc: I'm awful with scale but I figure her personal airship, after repairs and all is somewhere between an AC4 Gunboat and Schooner)

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny's hoping that with an airship involved, the Ochu will go down much faster. Even being Calamity-juiced, that's a lot of fire power to contend with.

Now that he was high in the air, Rope's End keeps Johnny up there, and he takes this advantage to use his gun instead of his Lance. Luckily Piracy makes that hit harder than normal.

The Ochu is taking a beating, but it's not out for the count yet. It swings a tentacle towards Johnny, the closer target than that airship.]

B.

[sullenstallion]

Hey! Hey you.

[Two seconds ago, Johnny was peacefully shopping. Now that those days are over, there's suddenly seven feet of Wendigo calling out at him, clawed finger extended and pointing straight at him.]

You're a demon, aren't you?

[He means no ill will, but his social skills are lacking and maybe he should have done this discreetly. Whoops, too late.]

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny is obviously not happy about any of this. Especially the public spectacle being made out of this in the middle of the market. He glowers at Dylas.]

Half demon. What's it to you?

[sullenstallion]

[Dylas lower his hand. They're attracting a few stares, and Dylas clicks his tongue, a soft 'tch' sound.

And then nothing.]

I haven't gotten that far yet.

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny's confused, giving Dylas a suspicious look. Is this guy for real?]

What? Well, you got that fact confirmed, so good for you, I guess. Whatever that gets you.

[He's going to go back to looking at the stalls. Gift shopping is hard enough without the distraction.]

cw: this just got weird

[sullenstallion]

[Don't strain that neck while giving him a suspicious look, Johnny. Dylas looks surprisingly calm for someone who'd just been yelling a few seconds ago.]

So...did they fix you, too? I don't need to eat flesh anymore, so...you don't have to eat souls anymore.

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny stops and turns to Dylas, after stopping to think on this for a moment. Did he her that right?]

Huh? Who said I ever had to eat souls? I said I was half demon, didn't I?

[But Johnny had been fixed of one of his demon problems, in a way. He never liked his Charm powers. The Initiative in Exsilium fixed the power so it wouldn't go off on its own; Crystallis just sealed it away. He was relieved by that. But they also sealed away his strength behind his Limit Break. Remembering this makes him back off.]

They... they flipped the switch on my demon powers, I guess ya can say. But I'm not regular demon, so don't go thinkin' I am, okay?

B

[neverfirstclass]

[The happy chatter of children fills the air after a turn past a set of stalls. Out in one of the open plazas is Santa Cloud and a festively decked out gold chocobo. The costumed Hero laughs as he chats with the eager kids, but he looks up just in time to spot the wandering shopper.]

Ho ho ho! Hello there Johnny!

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny's not the biggest fan of Christmas, but it's such a spectacle in Crystallis that he's nearly bowled over by it. The number of Heroes who get into it with the Santa Job also mystifies him. A gold chocobo is a real surprise, too.]

Oh, uh, hey there Cloud. All into the Christmas spirit, I see.

[neverfirstclass]

[Santa Cloud glances over his shoulder at Johnny's words, as if looking for who he's addressing. He then turns back and gives a wink while tapping the side of his nose. Can't break character while kids are watching.]

Ho ho ho! Everyone has the Starlight Spirit right now. And what about you? Out shopping for a gift?

[charming_jerk]

[Oh, right. Even Johnny's not cynical enough to ruin it for the kids.]

Oh, um. That's right, Santa. I ain't ever been good at pickin' out gifts, so I thought I'd get out here early enough in the month so that I have a lot of time to think things over.

Damnit I know I had a gift suggestion in mind, but now I can't remember

[neverfirstclass]

Whatever it is, I'm sure that the person you have in mind will love it. After all, it's always nice when someone you know gets you something. It's not just treasures we give on Starlight, but the joy of love and belonging as well.

[He chuckles again as he strokes his beard.]

You can always write to Santa for his sake if money is a problem too. The workshop will be busy but there's always time for one more gift.

no worries

[charming_jerk]

Yeah? [That is definitely a factor, but not the biggest one.]

Thanks. Guess that still requires me to think of somethin' to get him.

Um. [He fidgets for a moment, wanting to ask something but not wanting anyone else to hear. He leans in and loudly whispers at Cloud.]

What if... I wrote him a song? I bet that's like, way too lame of something to be a real gift, right? Heh. [He spits that last sentence out quickly. HAHA FEELINGS. So lame, right?!?]