003 [Accidental Video]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus's communicator switches on without his doing...in this case, it looks like Kura accidentally turned it on while lifting it up with his tail. Kura peers under the communicator, then temporarily scampers out of sight of it.]

Yaza?

[Kura's not the only one that appears to be searching. Eraqus is looking around the small room he's taken up at Sunset Hill, with Gengo and Chuza also glancing around in confusion.]

Yaza!

[Still nothing. Eraqus stops, looking frustrated.]

Honestly...what good is it to have a Spirit that immediately goes missing?

[He sighs, and walks out of view of the communicator, which is still broadcasting. As soon as he is out of view, a Toximander's head can be seen slowly emerging out of the floor. The Dream Eater blinks in the direction that Eraqus went, looks around a bit, then dives back into the floor.]

Comments

[buymedumplings]

I dunno...maybe you didn't have to do anything. He could just be easily intimidated. [He shrugs. He's only saying what he thinks and YOU might not think so but you ARE kind of intimidating.]

Well it doesn't help that your opponent can apparently melt into the floorboards.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

That's going to be problematic if he ever hopes to participate in combat. [He doesn't much pick up on the idea that he is the intimidating one.]

Yes...also problematic.

[buymedumplings]

You just have to train him, that's all. It just might take a little more effort.

[He taps his chin.]

You could always try luring him out with treats. That's what I used to do with Pabu when we first got him and he was scared of Mako.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

Considering the others, I suppose I should not be surprised.

A rewards system does seem to be effective, but in this case...

[He stops to think. It does seem to go for treats, but then immediately disappears with them. This time, Eraqus decides to try something different. He takes out another confetti candy, but this time leaves it on the top of the desk instead of holding it over the floor. He then goes to stand aways from it.]

You'll have to come all the way out if you want this treat, Yaza.

[For a moment, there's a bit of a shadow under the floor, as if Yaza is considering it. But then, one of his other Spirits decides to snag the opportunity of a free snack...the Hebby Repp hops up and snatches up the candy first.]

Kura!

[buymedumplings]

[Bolin watches curiously. A grin slowly forms and before Bolin can help it he's laughing.]

Yeah...you might want to make sure the OTHER Spirits are out of the room first.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

Maybe...

[Eraqus sighs...this seems to be a running theme tonight.]

Kura! Why don't you, Gengo and Chuza leave for a little bit?

[The Hebby Repp doesn't seem to like this idea, but then again, it did just get a free treat. It jumps off and heads out, with the other two Spirits in tow. Eraqus pulls out another block-it chocolate, and leaves it on the desk.]

How about we try this again.

[Yaza again forms a darkness puddle close to the desk, but doesn't quite want to appear out of it while Eraqus is standing nearby...]

[buymedumplings]

Okay. Looking good. Now back up a bit, I think that will encourage him.

[Bolin gives Eraqus an encouraging smile. You can do it!]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus sighs a bit. Is the Spirit being trained, or him? But he does as requested and backs up far enough away so that Yaza won't spot him right away.]

[Yaza eventually pokes his head out of the floor, checking to make sure that it's all clear. Once he's mostly sure that it is, he makes a quick dash for the treat, then clambers back into the floor. Doesn't look like he wanted to stick around too long for it...]

[buymedumplings]

[A little bit of both.

Bolin looks excited to see the progress but then his smile drops when Yaza is just going back for the floor.]

Wait! Yaza! No! Stay! Master Eraqus isn't going to hurt you!

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus sighs and stares down at the floor. He’s going to go through all his treats at this point.]

If you won’t listen to me, will you at least listen to Bolin here?

[There’s no immediate reply from down below.]

[buymedumplings]

[Bolin frowns in thought.]

Maybe I'd better come over there. I'm not sure training is as effective over the communicators.

[Still he tries, making soft cooing noises that one might use to attract a cat or a dog in a normal world.]

Come on Yaza. No one is going to hurt you. And the more you come out, I bet the more treats you'll get. You can't get treats if you're hiding in the floor.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

You can if you would like to. [Although Eraqus would rather be able to figure this out himself.]

[After awhile of nothing, Eraqus puts one more treat up on the desk. There's a shadow bubbling around the edges of the desk, still considering popping out for it...]

[buymedumplings]

[Quietly cheers him on.]

Come on Yaza. Come on out!

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus backs up a step or two. Yaza finally ventures out enough for him to focus on the treat, then scrambles up on top of the desk to snag the candy. There, he immediately starts to munch on it.]

Just stay for a second...

[Eraqus takes the opportunity to try and move back in and at least touch the Spirit, if not try to hold on to it.]

[As soon as he touches its back, Yaza rolls over in surprise, effectively scrambles up his arm and over his shoulder and then jumps behind him back into the floor.]

[buymedumplings]

[Bolin sighs, shaking his head. So Close!]

I'm on my way. Are you at the hotel?

[hiptobe_eraqus]

No...at one of the spare houses on Sunset Hill.

whoops, forgot they were in twilight town XD

[buymedumplings]

Got it.

Let's see if I can be more help there.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

I suppose we shall see.

[In the meanwhile, he keeps trying to track Yaza in the floor, but that's near impossible right now.]

[buymedumplings]

[Bolin knocks at the door. He's got Ping and Mako Jr. with him]

Hello~ Master Eraqus?

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus answers the knock, and steps aside to give him space to come in. Well, Kura's gonna be happy to see another Hebby Repp here, at least. Hopefully this'll coax Yaza out, too.]

Come on in, Bolin. It's still in the floor, although as to where in there I'm not certain now.

[buymedumplings]

Thanks. I brought some more treats so hopefully we can lure Yaza out or at least figure out where she is.

[Bolin holds up a bag which looks rather heavy with the treats in it.]

Lead the way.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus nods towards the small bedroom...there's not that much space in it, but enough where the Toximander could be anywhere.]

Yaza? There's more treats here if you want to come out now.

[There's nothing obvious, but perhaps there's a shadow forming just under the bed?...]

[buymedumplings]

[Bolin scans the room and steps further inside. He then moves to the center of the room and sits on the floor. A small, low to the ground dream eater like a Toximander might just be intimidated by their height.

Plus, if he's in the floor Bolin will have a better view closer to the ground. He scans around him and notices the shadows under the bed. Bolin breaks a Shield Cookie in half and tosses it under the bed. He wants to test something.]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[There's no response for a little bit, but then finally Yaza's head pops out of the floor just long enough to grab up the Shield Cookie and take it back down under. Well, he looked happy enough with the treat for that brief second...]

[buymedumplings]

[Soft voice.] Ah hah.

[Bolin started digging out more treats and tossed another one under the bed, he then started leaving a trail from the bed and slowly working its way closer to where he sat. Finally he picked out a large cake and held it in his lap. It had taken a lot of munny to buy the cake but he felt like this was worth it.]