catch-all open log!

[rebells]

Who: Anyone and everyone!
Where: On the beach, and various other places throughout the hub island
When: Day 80, and the next couple days after
Open/Closed: open log for hub shenanigans!

[This evening, someone has placed an old, rusted-over camp stove on the beach near the coven's row of huts--anyone examining it in detail will see that it's not operational at the moment, but that could potentially be changed, couldn't it? If someone was handy with mechanical things . . . .

Next to it is a crate (which, from the weight of it is empty) and pinned to that crate is a sheet of paper with a map on it, something like a much cruder, black-and-white version of this:



with the following key:

1 - crags. Contain snakes which may be poisonous. Watch out.
2 - ocean, going about one mile out from the coast.
3 - lagoon. Contains thick reeds (could be woven or shaped into tools) and frogs (edibility uncertain).
4 - abandoned campsite.
5 - orchard. Currently, trees are diseased and bare. Plant healer needed.
6 - abandoned house. A family used to live here, from the looks of it. Still contains some useful supplies.

And there should be a 7 north of base camp with the notation "graveyard. Graves unused." but the player forgot and is too lazy to go back and fix it right now. Observant individuals will note that the map looks like a more detailed version of one hanging on the door to a certain coven member's cabin, one that has a note on the bottom: "Have information? Ask for Jay."

Other than that, it's a quiet night on the hub island. We've been here for a couple days; maybe you're getting restless? Want to check out that ocean, or lagoon, or even those crags? Maybe just go door-to-door in the beach huts? Maybe you're sick of shrimp and looking for other things to eat . . . hopefully someone's got a fire going tonight, and thought to kill a boar . . . .

What are you doing tonight?]


((here or here for place descriptions))

Comments

[lohengrins]

5) It's Tree Saving Time

[ percival has spent the majority of his time in the orchard. he can be seen...stroking quite a few of the trees, almost...soothingly? speaking to them all the while. the select few he's spent an extensive amount of time with have visibly deepened in color, and begun to sprout leaves again. no fruit yet — it took hours to get many of these to budge. trees! what can you do, some are more receptive than others.

there's still a great amount to account for, so he'll speak to you once he's noted your presence. ]

I can't gauge where the source of this disease dwells, but a comparison will serve us well. Perhaps some may even begin to bear fruit.

[ a beat. ]

However...some of these...trees are more difficult than others. I'm not certain how to—

[ this is EMBARRASSING. ]

Raise their spirits. Which is necessary for this...power to be..ugh...effective.

[ read: please help him. do a comedy sketch with him, give him a song to sing, some good pick up lines, these are dire times. ]

[splinten]

Try some pick-up lines.

[SUPER FUCKING HELPFUL, DIRK.]

1/2

[lohengrins]

This isn't a laughing matter...!

[ DIRK!! ]

[lohengrins]

[ but then, more bashfully— ]

Ugh. I suppose it may make them l—...they're trees.

[ they're TREES. ]

...Which lines, exactly.

[ GOD. ]

[splinten]

[Dirk looks at a tree, dead on. In his head, he imagines he is Jake English, and that this tree is a sexy nymph lady he wants to fuck. Because he's pretty sure Jake would fuck a tree lady.

Only with sincerity and devotion can one reach levels of true irony.]

You look beautiful when your foliage comes out. [He puts a hand on the tree's trunk.] I love how your bark protects you from burrowing insects.

[lohengrins]

[ oh my god.

if you look closely, you can see one of percival's eyes twitching. with a huff, he steps forward, his gaze meeting...that of the tree's. a hand is place on its trunk, right next to dirk. ]

It's true. You do...indeed look beautiful when your foliage comes out. Your bark is sturdy and resilient — no insect could possibly surpass you.

[ two or three leaves slowly sprout. okay. ]

...

[ he swallows. ]

...I have a feeling it's laughing at me....

[splinten]

[Good job feeling up a tree, boys.]

Then you're doing your job and makin' it feel better.

[Technically!]

It's an orchard tree. I'd recommend trying some praise of its ability to bear fruit.

[lohengrins]

...Ugh.

[ he raises a brow, frowning. ]

I assumed that would offend them, as they're unable to bear fruit at the moment...wouldn't it be better to provide them with unconditional affection...?

[ it's...an oddly pure sentiment. ]

[splinten]

[It actually is. It makes Dirk kind of pause, and look at Percival with more genuineness, behind those cold shades of his.]

What do you think would actually make them feel good?

[lohengrins]

[ he lets out a small hum before looking towards the tree again. ]

Reminding them that they are a vital part of the world they inhabit. Without these trees, the rest of these flora and fauna suffer as well. They have their place here, just as everything else does.

[ the tree before brightens in color, suddenly. ]

They are still beautiful and grand as they continue to fight. Human beings aren't the only ones who forget that they're more than their downfalls.

[rootandbranch]

I think I can help with the trees, but I don't understand... raise their spirits?

[Geir wanders forward willingly enough, nosing at one of the still-ailing trees, but he doesn't really know what's being asked of him. is Percival talking about something else living inside the tree, or are these trees weird somehow? he turns to look inquiringly at the newly appointed tree doctor for more information.]

[lohengrins]

Plants are receptive to attention and care the same way beings like you or myself are. It's often said that if you speak to your crops routinely, they'll grow at a faster rate.

[ his eyebrows knit together, and he brings a hand to his chin. ]

Due to my power, I've been able to...cheer them up in a sense, thus allowing them to heal. However it's been...a matter of trial and error. They can't speak so it's...not as though I know what they like or enjoy...

[ he looks towards geir. ]

You said you could help with the trees — what did you mean?

[rootandbranch]

It's my power from Qri -- "enlivening."

[he looks over at Percival inquiringly, still not fully grasping what he means. enjoy? do trees have a mind to enjoy things?]

I don't have to talk or anything, I just give things some strength... it made the Palai's crops grow, anyway.

[lohengrins]

Enlivening...you're capable of restoring life, then.

[ a brow furrows, and percival is clearly interested. ]

Have you tried using your ability on the diseased trees yet?

[rootandbranch]

I'm not sure how far it goes, but that's kind of what the word sounds like, right? ...restoring life sounds really dramatic.

[Geir shakes his head, looking around at the trees; he can see that Percival's already been working on them.]

I haven't. Are you doing the same?

[lohengrins]

Hm? Are you implying that you haven't seen your power in effect before?

[ he glances at the trees, and then back towards geir. ]

I am. Try it; I want to see if it helps.

[rootandbranch]

[Geir is mildly indignant at the suggestion.]

Of course I've seen it -- I've used my power a lot! But never to try to bring something back from the dead. Is that even possible?

[he hesitates, then steps forward to rest his nose on the tree he was investigating more solidly, reaching up with one claw to touch it as well. this one isn't dead, just sick. time to concentrate...]

[lohengrins]

[ he smirks at that. ]

I don't think it is — but in a realm like this, it's not as though you can ever truly know.

[ percival simply steps back and allows geir to do his thing. go for it, my dude. ]

[talim]

[ jude is just sort of marveling from afar until percival speaks. he must have sensed his presence; jude isn't very subtle. ]

I'll see if I can help, but first... What kind of power is this in the first place? I've never seen anything like it.

[ it's... amazing. it's something that could potentially change his world back home, what with all the dying nature there, but that's not something he's right about to delve into. focus on the here and now. ]

[lohengrins]

[ it's not an unwelcome presence, not by any means. his expression softens the slightest bit. ]

Communicative healing is what they called it. It's a form of healing that's dependent on the mental state of the affected party — I've...yet to see anything like it until now. It'd be a power far more fitting for someone like yourself.

[ that last statement isn't borne from insecurity — it's a fact more than anything, and his tone reflects that. ]

I'm not sure...what would make a tree "happy", to say the least.

[ read: please help me, jude. ]

[talim]

[ jude gives pericval a Look, a Look that says he's sure this power suits him just fine. even if it is better suited for jude... jude believes, with sincerity, that percival can make it work. he just needs to have faith that he can do it.

jude certainly doesn't mind helping, though. ]

Hmm...

[ jude places his hand on the tree, humming in thought, tilting his head and observing it. the leaves have withered and fallen long ago, it seems. ]

What if you try to clearly envision memories of the tree when it was bursting with life, with color? The time when it was happiest. Imagine how it must have felt then.

[lohengrins]

[ the look is noted — whether or not it's understood is a different matter. he raises a brow at that suggestion, but the look in his eyes is more pensive than anything, if not somewhat impressed.

huh. his own palm grazes across the tree. ]

Rife with color. The leaves would have burned with an array of oranges and reds in this season — they will again. I believe that.

[ and in that moment, a few leaves begin to sprout — as though they're attempting to prove something. he closes his eyes for a moment, voice now growing soft. ]

I...often pick strawberries to remember what I've lost. It doesn't sadden me; rather, it reminds me that life is endless. The world never ceases to grow, regardless of what no longer remains.

You have not yet left, however—

[ the bark darkens rather deeply. a seedling begins to bloom from the branches. ]

You're still here. So all you can do is continue to grow.

[ he doesn't...actually realize that he's just said this all in front of another person...until now. it doesn't take long for him to look away, a shade of pink oh-so subtly creeping across his cheeks. ]

Tch...could they have not given me something else...

[soulcomet]

I've read that plants grow better when you play music for them. Maybe you could try singing?

[Madoka doesn't really think of herself as a singer, but she'll try if it helps.]

[lohengrins]

[ he'll admit, it's...embarrassing, but she isn't wrong. ]

What do you suggest I sing?

[soulcomet]

Um ... well, personally, I've always been a big fan of Kiyoshi Hikawa!

[which obviously means that Percival should sing the opening to Dragon Ball Super to the sick trees. but Madoka tilts her head, thinking.]

But, maybe something like a lullaby would help? What sort of music do you like?