tarantellx

[tarantellx]

Today is apparently Pinocchio Day.

[tarantellx]

That she may not walk far from him, Bokhohn flicked a single thread at her back. In all his years, playing dumb was one thing while a dismissive smile another.

"Wait," he demanded.

"What was it exactly you fail to attempt just now?"

He felt something prick his neck, but the hand reaching for the sting came away with nothing. At most it left him annoyed, but Bokhohn said nothing as his eyes narrowed at the smiling, elf woman.

@tarantellx

As he looked to her, the woman's smile tipped all the more innocent.

Nothing to worry about~

[tarantellx]

Not his intended quarry, but he watched the pathetic moth rise and fall in a sickly stupor. With a musing hum, he lifted his other hand where a thinner set of strings reached out in attachment to each of the thing's wings and body- careful not to harm, but only to raise it aloft and reel back towards the hero.

She manages to gain just enough altitude to clear this one, at least! However, she does not manage to clear the floor yards away soon after...

[tarantellx]

Crafting a taut tripwire by the door because he's bored enough.

[tarantellx]

Resting angry face, and I love it.

[tarantellx]

Probably would be a joke if I said Bok absorbed via photosynthesis.

[tarantellx]

Just Bok. Doing Bok things. Back at the landship.

[tarantellx]

He sees Roc and...

And to all a good night...

[tarantellx]

MOBILE DOSSIER

BASICS

Name: Bokhohn (ボクオーン)

Race: Ancient

Hair: Red

Eyes: Amber

Age: Immortal, looks younger than he actually is

Occupation: Lawyer/Politician (formerly), strategist of the Seven Heroes

Hobbies: Puppets

Goal: To make a name for himself and be renowned for his brilliant mind

An egotistical puppeteer specializing in the magical arts, he operates by cunning intellects and manipulative scheming.

Like the other Heroes, he can assimilate the flesh and souls of others into his own. Bokhohn prefers to assimilate puppets and plant creatures.

THE SEVEN HEROES

A millennia ago, the world was threatened by the Dread Queen and her relentless army of Termites. In the face of certain doom, Wagnas, a devout priest, and Noel, a formidable and skilled fighter, summoned the finest warriors from across the lands to battle.

To combat the overwhelming army of the Dread Queen, the Seven Heroes resorted to forbidden magic, a power which allowed them to merge with the souls of other creatures, absorbing their strength. Owed to this magic, the Seven Heroes emerged victorious, securing the salvation of the world.

However, the very power that had saved the world soon became a source of apprehension among the other ancients. Fearful of the assimilation abilities wielded by the Seven Heroes, they soon became convinced that the Seven would someday turn their potent abilities against those they once saved. They sealed the Seven Heroes away in another dimension, condemning them to an existence beyond the realms of time and space. The heroes, betrayed by the very people they had saved, vowed to one day return and exact vengeance upon the world that had shunned them.

One thousand years later, the Seven Heroes rose again, more powerful than before. Defeat was meaningless– their true bodies remained concealed in the dimensional rift. Until their genuine forms were vanquished, they would persist in their cycle of reincarnation.

Bound by a blood oath, the last remaining hero among them would fiercely guard their true bodies to the bitter end.

[tarantellx]

The antagonizing heat returned, and as Noel neared, the more he drew a sweat. How the flower did not engulf in flames betwixt the commander's grip would forever be a mystery. And just so, Bokhohn carefully extracted the bloom and took a comfortable step back.

The lily itself was beautiful, an additional flora he'd derive pleasure adding onto his collection would he procure its species- and grow it in secret. What sort of properties would it hold within the leaves, roots, or crushed buds.

...

All else ignored, his expression scrunched with this too late to retract his offer. Bringing it close, Bokhohn caught a delicate petal between his lips as it's sweeter taste began melding upon his tongue. And soon enough, the entirely shoved into his gullet. With it the memories stored of Rocboquet.

"A refreshing surprise."

A pause, as if reflecting upon his impromptu meal.

"It's uncertain, but I've inquired an image of plains inhabited with prehistoric dinosaurs."

It was then that he finally returned... But at what cost?

Minding his step, Noel navigated around Kzinssie, who was now sprawled out across his path (he was fine.) A brilliant amber blossom swayed in his grasp with every footfall. Thankfully, it was able to tolerate the heat rather well as his blood felt to boil, the air growing hot once more in the face of going through with this prospect.

Surely, it must be done, however... He tired of no leads. He tired of these wildly unsuccessful searches. He was tired.

The lines of a clenched jaw marked his face, claret irises aflame. One final glance was given to the radiant bloom before handing it off to Bokhohn.

"Do as you will."

[tarantellx]

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE LOVED BY YOU?

it feels like burning

Everything about you is captivating. You're very intense, and passionate, and some people can't handle that. But no one loves as powerfully as you do, and some people will love that about you. You're easily excited, and tend to feel things very deeply. Your emotions are unpredictable. But you are so so beautiful. More so than you know.

TAGGED BY: @psychobind lead hero TAGGING: not roc

[tarantellx]

Can confirm, he does not care.

Dabbling into a bit of my musings for him, of course, but... he's out there to prove he's got the smarts. Looks are irrelevant because why are they even important? He doesn't need them for anything really when he has every other tool- or thread- at his disposal.

In any case, even if he is a plant troll, he can send his soul into his puppet if he wanted. Bokhohn's appearance has changed the most dramatically since he first appeared as old man, to buff hot guy, to pretty boy. So who's to say he couldn't soul transfer while human as well~ (Was performed in the stage show anyway with the king.)

And yes, he is slimy. Underhanded moves for the win. The less you know about him, the better.

Honestly, it was really funny being exposed to the wider SaGa fanbase and finding out a lot of folks really liked Bohkohn. Meanwhile here I am just thinking he's that slimy plant guy who keeps summoning annoying minions and had a side-hustle in cooking up that good shit. Yeah, finding out that his bio-labs on the Landship was for making narcotics was so wild, lol.

I do gotta wonder what it's like being Bohkohn and Kzinssie and having to watch as Noel and Rocbouquet kept their good looks while Subier and Wagnas got sexier in their own ways. Meanwhile they both became completely inhuman monsters.

I think redesigning Bok to be a prettyman was a smart move~.

And Idk about Bokhohn's opinions about his funny little bug form, though he doesn't seem the kind to really care about that sort of thing... He gives absolutely no clues out in any of his material. Thoughts, @tarantellx??

And Kzinssie, I imagine, was probably happy to look intimidating for once in his life. Though, he has a very low opinion of himself for all his blustering. He probably thinks its fitting.

[tarantellx]

It is some crunch time making things for friendos to send off. Once I'm done there, I'll be working on making Bok proper promo and stuffs.

[tarantellx]

After the Avalon commercial concluded, Bokhohn's shoulders relaxed. The heat still unforgiving and weighing heavily upon his robes just as Noel's eyes previously had, but he had no doubts about the commander's understanding. It was the tempered emotions which were of concern.

Ignoring Kzinssie, the puppeteer thanked their leader nonetheless. "Despite the mute inferno, it seems the conversation went much better than I anticipated. However, best we retain this secret amongst us," he urged. "I dared not relay to Noel that this maneuver may also present opportunities of us learning information of each other should we assimilate the appropriate attachments."

Not that Noel couldn't figure such out himself, but... one less trigger to worry about. If any they could worry themselves with, it is the accident sprawled upon the floor.

Glancing between his fellow companions, they were received with warmth. A literal one. Too literal, perhaps. It seemed to only grow in magnitude as Bokhohn enlightened him, relaying this suggestion of his.

Yes, any form of advantage they could find should rightfully be taken into account. It was within reason. This was a sensible enough request...

Yet, there was something about the notion of Bokhohn consuming this ever personal and precious article of his sister's that felt... amiss. Even derogatory.

Unintended as it may have been, he weighed the prospect in his mind, staring holes into the strategist that surely felt akin to a laser boring its way through wood. He reminded himself that this was indeed logical, however. This made sense. This was fine.

"… If it must be done, then so be it." An answer was finally given. "I will retrieve one of her flowers immediately."

Soon after, he placed his back to the three, marching away once more to locate and retrieve one of these beloved blossoms... his best efforts extended towards not thinking too deeply upon its harrowing fate.

📺 We'll Be Right Back

[tarantellx]

Apparently these moths distort a predator's echolocation with such quivering tails...

Testing this, he has a bat tethered onto his string.

As she flutters her wings, her tails quiver in a hypnotizing manner... ... purely by accident as she tries to fly once again, immediately colliding with a wall.

[tarantellx]

Seems treading upon dangerous fields was inevitable today. First Wagnas, now Noel, Bokhohn cleared his throat dismissing any creeping concerns. They were a reasonable sort after all, and this was logically sound test of their capabilities regardless.

It was after all, merely a flower.

"Yes... It stands to reason this could be nothing more than grasping at straws as it were, yielding a heading or leaving us with minimal results of an experimental gambit. Given my preferences on dining, would that I assimilate an all too real ancient flower of Rocbouquet's, I may provide more insight thereafter," he explained matter of factly.

"And what, pray tell, may invoke such hostilities?"

In the wake of Bohkohn's latter lines, it was then that he appeared. It could not be ascertained where he came from, be it by pure chance of turning the corner amidst conversation or having intentionally strode into this place; nevertheless, he was once again present. And there was a palpable heat to the air.

"What would you ask of me?"

Capable of maintaining an even (enough) tone, he maintained civility, but there was no denying the burning sense of concern that only grew with every passing minute his sister could not be located.

His context was limited. As was his patience.

[tarantellx]

The critical eye returned. Help in the same way his blundering led to a chain of targeted attacks upon all heroes. Disproval ever more evident, there wasn't a chance of him allowing Kzinssie have a hand in such delicate matters. "You've warranted the wrong attention far too many times for my carefully crafted plans to operate smoothly. But if you wish to incur Noel's fierce disappointment handling familial mementos, be my guest."

The puppet master stood as if not to be swayed otherwise. "I'll inquire with Noel myself. Wagnas," he inclined dutifully, "I can think of none immediate alternative. You should also be present to allay possible hostilities.

"What is learn, we may act independently upon..." At least he'd allow their begging member that much.

As expected, Bokhohn seemed to have caught onto something almost immediately. "I suppose he might." Noel's habit of indulging Rocbouquet at every opportunity was well known. It stood to reason that he might have a hidden supply of her favorite flowers tucked away. "I shall ask him. What are you planning?"