spellbinders | catch-all open log!

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))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Vern came out with Geir, an while the frogs make him nervous in a way the Palai didn't (they're so little, and damp, and they hop so suddenly), he's been able to cover that up well enough by hanging out on Geir's back in the meantime instead of going in the water. while they're waiting for the reeds to grow, he's making a game of walking up the length of Geir's back with his arms spread to keep his balance -- he's not trying to walk on the spinal ridges, but on the smoother stretch to the left of them, at a bit of an angle.

this seems fine, as long as Geir, like, doesn't move at all]

[Geir rolls an eye back at him fondly, watching Vern's movements with his excellent peripheral vision; he's not sure exactly what Vern's doing, but it's kind of adorable to see him doing something almost childlike. he's never wondered what Vern was like as a child before, but he abruptly thinks of it now. was he one of those chattering kids, like some of the bolder young Palai? or was he shy and retiring, like the ones who used to hide behind Geir's tail?

Geir's never had much experience with kids before the Palai -- he's always been the baby among most of his relatives, and his sister was so young in his memory that he missed a lot of her growth past toddlerhood. this is a new train of thought.]

What are you doing back there...?

Trying to see if I can stay on...!

[he's actually doing a pretty good job right now, considering the rounded slope of Geir's back; he's not all that athletic, and he has to squint at anything more than a small room's length away, but he's at least coordinated enough.]

Edited 2017-09-28 17:16 (UTC)

[maybe if you took care of yourself you'd be more athletic, Vern!

--is what Geir would say, if he wasn't just appreciating the sight of Vern... having fun. when has he even seen Vern goofing off unprompted before, without Geir cajoling or teasing him into it? certainly not often.]

Bet you can't do it if you hop on one foot!

[sniffs at him meaningfully and BALANCES ON ONE FOOT, taking a hop forward

wobbles...]

Uh-oh! Be careful!

[this is amazing]

Dammit--

[TUMBLES OFF]

[WOW??????

Geir just completely loses his composure laughing, oh my goodness.]

[sits up in the water with an indignant (and slightly muddy) squawk]

Hey! Hey.

Sorry-- [gasps] I--

[...NOPE, STILL LAUGHING]

[gathers in air to be indignant, only to lose it in a squeak when a frog hops near him, crowding back against Geir's side]

V-Vern? Wha--

[oh no. Geir is, while still trying to stop laughing, turning to look at what Vern is cowering away from.

which means that his sides rustle the reeds as he shifts.

SUDDENLY: FROGOCALYPSE]

Noooooooooooo--!

[TRIES TO SCRAMBLE UP GEIR'S BACK WITHOUT ACCOUNTING FOR BOTH OF THEM BEING WET AND MUDDY, AND FALLS RIGHT INTO THE WATER AGAIN]

Vern--!

[Geir dives for him to gather him in between his front feet, back arched and wings mantled over him, ready to protect him from--

frogs?

ribbit, one says reproachfully from a couple of feet past Vern's leg.]

[squeaks again in alarm and jerks his leg up out of the danger zone of being brushed by a frog, nooooooo]

[...puts his claws protectively between him and... the frog...]

...Vern...?

I'm fine! Nothing's wrong!

[HIDING HIS FACE]

Vern... Vern. Something is wrong. You're being squeaky.

[it's a sign, Vern.]

Noooooo I'm not!

I hear squeaking.

[nudges him firmly. the frog ribbits again.]

Maybe there's water in your ears, or marsh-rats in the reeds!

[a valiant effort at deflection, ruined by him curling the rest of the way into a shrimpy ball to get his legs as far away as possible from the nearby frog noise]

[...Geir just scoops him up gently and puts him between his wings where he'll be safe. he leans his head back to look at Vern upside-down between them, wide-eyed.]

Is that better...

[what a sulky puddle. still valiantly attempting to pretend he wasn't SUPER LAME just now]

Maybe.

[Vern is not very good at pretending.]

Vern, are you scared of frogs?

No, why would I be?

[looks aside, though, voice not quite steady; he is also, when surprised and off-balance, not a very good liar]

(no subject)

rootandbranch - 2017-09-29 05:12 (UTC) - Expand

rootbound - 2017-09-29 05:14 (UTC) - Expand

rootandbranch - 2017-09-29 05:16 (UTC) - Expand

rootbound - 2017-09-29 05:18 (UTC) - Expand

rootandbranch - 2017-09-29 05:21 (UTC) - Expand

rootbound - 2017-09-29 05:22 (UTC) - Expand

rootandbranch - 2017-09-29 13:52 (UTC) - Expand

rootbound - 2017-09-29 16:33 (UTC) - Expand

rootandbranch - 2017-09-29 16:36 (UTC) - Expand

rootbound - 2017-09-29 16:37 (UTC) - Expand

rootandbranch - 2017-09-30 02:13 (UTC) - Expand

rootbound - 2017-09-30 02:16 (UTC) - Expand

rootandbranch - 2017-09-30 02:38 (UTC) - Expand

rootbound - 2017-09-30 02:40 (UTC) - Expand

rootandbranch - 2017-09-30 02:54 (UTC) - Expand

rootbound - 2017-09-30 03:06 (UTC) - Expand

rootandbranch - 2017-09-30 03:35 (UTC) - Expand

rootbound - 2017-09-30 04:18 (UTC) - Expand