shellphones | Video || 3 Bottles And a Ring

Type: Video
Sender ID: catsgothistongue (Ranma S.)
To: Public
Subject: Ranma found some goodies he has no use/no knowledge on, so he's giving them away to any takers.
Warnings: Alcohol, small mention of underage drinking, probably cursed ring that makes people go mad and experience hallucinations, more will be added as needed.

[The video feed opens up to Ranma sitting somewhere in Eltrut, seated at a table with a bag right beside him.]

'Sup. Me and a birdbrain went treasure hunting on a ship a month ago, and these things have been sitting around my place since. I thought about pawning them off to one of the shops here, but I figured I'd see if anyone'd want to take them off my hand first.

[His hand reached into the bag, and pulled out an expansive bottle of alcohol by the nozzle.]

There's two more in here that's the exact same brand. Looks like rum if the labels' are correct. I haven't opened or drank from it, hasn't been messed with, nothing. I certainly don't want it, gotten drunk too many times in my life already. Anyone wants a bottle, you can come meet me at one of the shops in Eltrut, I'll be outside. If you want more than one, it'll cost you a pretty penny.

[Putting the bottle bag in the bag before sitting back.]

Oh! There's something else! Almost forgot about this thing...

[Ranma pulled out a clothed jewelry box that he opened up, showing off a ring. The ring was adorned with a dark purple gemstone cut and shaped into the image of a skull, with small green gemstones for eyes. Staring at it even from beyond the screen makes one feel like it is staring directly into their souls, and no matter how Ranma moved it or they're viewing the angle, the skull always faces them.]

Freaky, huh? It was in the same crate the rum was. Haven't actually worn it myself, but I've kept it around my place. It's... weird. It feels like it keeps looking at me, even when it's in its box. Sometimes I'll even find it outside it at times. Might be super cursed... So anyone want it?

[Oh what a tempting bargain...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Is he getting his hopes up? Maybe, but he's got to try!]

How about the type of curse that makes people's bodies change? Could you remove it?

Most likely.

( immediate answer. he couldn't see any reason why not.

then a thought. )

Is that why you carry around the hot water?

[Nodding sheepishly.]

Yep. Think I brought up with you before how people from back home had a 'condition' that made them change? It's a curse they all got from a cursed spring ground. And I got knocked in one myself.

( he nods, recalling the occasion. it had made quite the impression on him back then. )

Oh, I see.

( this young man is lucky he didn't drown in those springs. )

And what is it that you transform into?

[If he can endure swimming from Japan to China, he doesn't have to worry about drowning!]

A girl. Cold water touches me, I turn into a chick. Do you think whatever magic you did for the ring could work on me?

I see.

( aziraphale's eyebrows lift, surprised.

it turns him into a girl? how curious! )

I don't see any reason as to why I could not.

( what he means is yes. he's just reluctant to make any concrete promises. )

But am I understanding this correctly? Cold water triggers your transformation and hot water removes it? I wonder, do things like eating soup count. . .?

( it's written all over his face, he's fascinated by this. )

Are you sure you'd wish to remove it?

[He's willing to try or do just about anything at this point! If it works, it works. If it doesn't, hey, yet another potential cure down the drain.]

Do you need a demonstration? Yeah, that's how it works. Cold water triggers the curse, hot water reverses it. Luckily, it only causes the change when it touches my skin. Drinking anything liquid doesn't affect it.

[Thankfully. Otherwise, he'd be changing to a girl every time he downed a water bottle. It'd just cause him more trouble than needed.

His face dropped to a light scowl.]

Yes, I am. Any man with a smidge of dignity would!

( yeah, sure.

this is not a sentiment aziraphale understands at all, but it seems important to this young man. )

Mm, alright.

( but more importantly, he really wants to see this curse in action. he's never heard of anything like that. he would absolutely bury this boy in questions if time allowed. )

I must admit, I would be appreciative if I could see it. But first, I don't believe I asked for your name last time?

( because it would just be too rude to ask him to demonstrate anything without asking this first. )

[It is, very much so! He'd think any other man would share the same sentiment, unless they're a creep.

Ranma gave an acquiescent sigh. Figure... He bit back his tongue and any further grousing, though that didn't stop him from slouching in his seat.]

It's Ranma. And yeah, give me a sec.

[After all, he needs water. He gets up from his seat and entered inside the shop. Coming back a minute later, this time with a cool bottle of water he purchased. Unceremoniously, he unscrewed the cap and emptied the contents over his own head.]

[The change that followed was nigh-instantaneous, that the water nearly obscured it all as it ran down. Ranma lost mass and height, going from 5'5" to a short 4'11". His frame shrank inwards, all masculine traits being flushed out to a dainty and petite figure. He- she shook her hair, which had gone from jet black to a crimson red, off like a wet dog trying to shake itself dry.]

There. That good enough of a demonstration?

Yes! Quite fantastic, thank you!

( genuinely.

truly! he'd never seen anything like this. )

Let's get you fixed up then.

( and with a snap of his fingers, something in the air shifts. it feels a little lighter, a little softer, ranma's form changes back to his masculine one—along with some freshly dried clothes and hair as a small courtesy.

. . . but only for a moment.

like the snap of a rubber-band, the angel's magic breaks and immediately reverts back as if it had never happened in the first place.

aziraphale's face scrunches up, unimpressed. )

What in the bloody—

( what the hell was this? )

[She could feel the air around her shifting. It felt something akin to her pulling her ki from within, except if it encapsulated her. Ranma felt herself starting to grow, the strands on her head turning back to black and dried with her clothes. For a moment, he actually thought it'd work.

How naïve of him. Just as his masculine form was to take hold, it all snapped back down. Back to his cursed state. She looked down at her small hands, before blinking up at the gobsmacked man.]

Something up?

( SOMETHING MOST CERTAINLY IS UP INDEED.

aziraphale doesn't say anything at first, but the look on his face shifts from shocked to immediately pissy. this isn't the first time that things haven't quite agreed with him as of late. he couldn't simply send himself back to his shop in soho, just as he apparently couldn't dispel this curse.

by all rights, it should be as simple as removing the one from the ring.

he absolutely did not like this. )

Mm.

( he wags his finger at no one in particular, deep in thought. )

It's quite unusual. Oh, it's quite unusual. I felt it touch you and I'm quite sure you did as well, yet—

( then bounced back? a part of him immediately wonders if ranma had been protected from angelic magic. or was something wrong with his own ability? )

My apologies. I don't know what happened.

It didn't work. That's what I'm hearing?

[Ranma suppressed a desire to groan in annoyance while she massaged her temples. Wasn't sure what magic or technique Zira did just now, but it felt like someone smacked her with a rubber band. A really hard rubber band.

She wordlessly pulled out that same thermos from before, still filled with scorching hot water steaming from the canister. The boiling water steamed off her — now him as his visage morphed back to the black-haired young man as before — while he stared unblinking like he isn't being boiled.]

Another bust. Thanks for trying anyway, old-timer.

[He never caught Aziraphale's name whoop.]

Video || 3 Bottles And a Ring

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