![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Eternal Summer
✖ The Isle That Blooms
Ⅰ. ALWAYS BLOOMING, NEVER HARVEST
July flowers bring, well, August flowers.
Another month has come and gone, and you may have noticed things haven’t changed much. Everything is still beautiful. There are still no signs of babies or prepubescent children or young animals.
In fact, if you’re paying close enough attention, you may have noticed there are no fruits or grains or vegetables that have come from the constant riot of color and pollen. Only flowers, always flowers.
You still have access to the city’s temple and the baths. The High Temple’s doors are open to everyone.
Some of you may still be dealing with the unpleasant side effects of the Ancient’s now dead and gone Flower Oracle, but it should wind down before the end of the month. Or maybe you already faced your demons.
Hiding out in the Temples for the rest of the month is always an option, but be careful not to get too stagnant. It would be a shame if your ScryWatch stays stuck on the same color forever because you, too, decided to stop growing.
Ⅱ. FLOWER MARKET FESTIVAL
CW: Optional Alcohol/Drug Consumption.
You didn’t think the celebrations would be over just because the Flower Oracle came and went, did you? There’s always a new event, a new thing to do, a new way to make some benefit off the Travelers who pass in and out of the Isle looking to take something away from this place.
This month it’s the Flower Market!
During the days, stalls bloom beneath the elevated buildings and in the empty center where the Flower Oracle once stood. There are flowers, of course, in buckets, arrangements, wreaths, crowns, growing in tiny little pots, made into cakes, salsas, and snacks! Artists will find pigments, paints, inks, dyes, and papers. There are perfumes, lotions, oils, soaps, and more. Spices and herbs are abundant; you’ve certainly never seen saffron this cheap. If you haven’t gotten enough tie-dye from the temple, you’ll find beautiful batik clothing, purses, and even jewelry. Everything is bright, everything is for sale.
At night, the stalls are all folded away and instruments come out. Little stalls sell flowery alcoholic drinks and did you know or remember that cannabis is a flowering plant? The locals certainly remembered to make the edibles. Careful, though, drink or imbibe and you’ll find yourself talking about the things you need that you cannot buy. The things you are aching for.
And you won’t stop until someone acknowledges it.
Ⅲ. POISON GARDEN
CW: Poisons, narcotics, ect.
As you wander the now familiar village, you will notice a new pathway has opened at the edge of the village. It leads to an area with a high stone fence and a heavy gate. A skull and crossbones are painted on the gate in bright white paint, but there’s nothing actually stopping you from opening the gate and walking in.
Do you read the labels? How long does it take you to realize everything in the garden is toxic or poisonous? There are so many options from hemlock and oleander to aconitum and angel’s trumpet and beyond.
Welcome to a study on how not everything that's natural is good for you as you continue to wander the fractal paths. Of course, not everything that's poisonous has no purpose. By the opium poppies there’s a sign that tells you that you can choose to wander the deadly garden until it kills you or you can own up to a toxic habit or behavior that you need to deal with.
Ⅳ. FLOWERY FIELDS FOREVER
Maybe you need to get away from the fuss at the market or just want to stretch your legs, but it’s time to explore the flowering landscape around the village. The villagers have baskets waiting at each of the outbound trails with the request that you come back with the basket full in trade for the picnic lunch they provide.
Wander the rolling hills and you’ll find a surprising amount of wildlife for an island without offspring. There are hummingbirds the size of chihuahuas, tiny pollinating bats, nectar eating possums, giant stingless bees, and more butterflies than you can shake a stick at. All of them seem entirely unafraid of humans despite being wild animals. If you get bitten or pecked, it’s your own fault.
As you fill your basket, you’ll notice patterns in what blooms. All kinds of plants bloom outside of reason and season and traditional need because the land is trying to talk to you through flowers. What did you need to hear? The villagers can help you translate when you come back from your adventure.
Bonus: music to watch the flowers bloom to.
July flowers bring, well, August flowers.
Another month has come and gone, and you may have noticed things haven’t changed much. Everything is still beautiful. There are still no signs of babies or prepubescent children or young animals.
In fact, if you’re paying close enough attention, you may have noticed there are no fruits or grains or vegetables that have come from the constant riot of color and pollen. Only flowers, always flowers.
You still have access to the city’s temple and the baths. The High Temple’s doors are open to everyone.
Some of you may still be dealing with the unpleasant side effects of the Ancient’s now dead and gone Flower Oracle, but it should wind down before the end of the month. Or maybe you already faced your demons.
Hiding out in the Temples for the rest of the month is always an option, but be careful not to get too stagnant. It would be a shame if your ScryWatch stays stuck on the same color forever because you, too, decided to stop growing.
Ⅱ. FLOWER MARKET FESTIVAL
CW: Optional Alcohol/Drug Consumption.
You didn’t think the celebrations would be over just because the Flower Oracle came and went, did you? There’s always a new event, a new thing to do, a new way to make some benefit off the Travelers who pass in and out of the Isle looking to take something away from this place.
This month it’s the Flower Market!
During the days, stalls bloom beneath the elevated buildings and in the empty center where the Flower Oracle once stood. There are flowers, of course, in buckets, arrangements, wreaths, crowns, growing in tiny little pots, made into cakes, salsas, and snacks! Artists will find pigments, paints, inks, dyes, and papers. There are perfumes, lotions, oils, soaps, and more. Spices and herbs are abundant; you’ve certainly never seen saffron this cheap. If you haven’t gotten enough tie-dye from the temple, you’ll find beautiful batik clothing, purses, and even jewelry. Everything is bright, everything is for sale.At night, the stalls are all folded away and instruments come out. Little stalls sell flowery alcoholic drinks and did you know or remember that cannabis is a flowering plant? The locals certainly remembered to make the edibles. Careful, though, drink or imbibe and you’ll find yourself talking about the things you need that you cannot buy. The things you are aching for.
And you won’t stop until someone acknowledges it.
Notes:
1. If you want it and it’s made of flowers, it’s here. No drugs or alcohol during daylight hours.
2. The Temple gives a small amount of spending money daily. Save up and get fancy, or buy a little bit of everything.
3. There is a tiny group of unknown Travelers that show up for the market. They don’t seem to have access to the same network as PCs, but their watches flash green, blue, or purple. They seem to be avoiding PC Travelers and disappear into parts of the Temples that don’t seem to be open to our group yet whenever they get too close.
Ⅲ. POISON GARDEN
CW: Poisons, narcotics, ect.
As you wander the now familiar village, you will notice a new pathway has opened at the edge of the village. It leads to an area with a high stone fence and a heavy gate. A skull and crossbones are painted on the gate in bright white paint, but there’s nothing actually stopping you from opening the gate and walking in.
Do you read the labels? How long does it take you to realize everything in the garden is toxic or poisonous? There are so many options from hemlock and oleander to aconitum and angel’s trumpet and beyond.
Welcome to a study on how not everything that's natural is good for you as you continue to wander the fractal paths. Of course, not everything that's poisonous has no purpose. By the opium poppies there’s a sign that tells you that you can choose to wander the deadly garden until it kills you or you can own up to a toxic habit or behavior that you need to deal with.
Notes:
1. In theory, a character could wander forever without touching or consuming any of the poisons. For plot/fun reasons, feel free to make it a little more difficult. And remember, some of your characters can be poisoned to death.
2. Acknowledging bad habits or a need for change in an honest way is very likely to result in a shift in a ScryWatch color. Remember, the Ancient is looking for growth and improvement, not moral perfection.
3. Characters can collect poisonous or medicinal plants but will be at risk while doing so.
Ⅳ. FLOWERY FIELDS FOREVER
Maybe you need to get away from the fuss at the market or just want to stretch your legs, but it’s time to explore the flowering landscape around the village. The villagers have baskets waiting at each of the outbound trails with the request that you come back with the basket full in trade for the picnic lunch they provide.Wander the rolling hills and you’ll find a surprising amount of wildlife for an island without offspring. There are hummingbirds the size of chihuahuas, tiny pollinating bats, nectar eating possums, giant stingless bees, and more butterflies than you can shake a stick at. All of them seem entirely unafraid of humans despite being wild animals. If you get bitten or pecked, it’s your own fault.
As you fill your basket, you’ll notice patterns in what blooms. All kinds of plants bloom outside of reason and season and traditional need because the land is trying to talk to you through flowers. What did you need to hear? The villagers can help you translate when you come back from your adventure.
Notes:
1. The giant orchid mantises are still there! Thank Gideon and Harrow for negotiating a truce, so they probably won’t eat you. A mantis might even have a conversation with you if you ask nicely, (Quentin managed somehow,) and they have their own knowledge and worship of the Ancient.
2. Feel free to use any reference for plant/flower meaning. Here’s one to get started!
3. Don’t get too attached to any of the critters, they will stay here at the end of the month.
no subject
"Uhm, I hear you're a lawyer in real life?"
no subject
"In the comics, too." That is not a joke.
no subject
Kyle blinks at Jen, not sure how to respond to that. "Cool," he decides on. "Uhm. My dad's a lawyer. I'm supposed to start law school in the fall." He looks around. "That's, uh. Sorta been derailed..."
no subject
She nods with a smile. "So you won't be making any terrible lawyer jokes, good to know. But yeah, I don't think any of us are going to be working on big plans soon. That's rough."
no subject
He shakes his head. "Not me, nope. It's okay, I'm trying to think of it as an enforced vacation or something. Kinda. Where things sometimes nearly kill you."
no subject
"Sounds like most of my vacations, really." She watches him a little, thoughtful. "Were you thinking about taking a gap year? There's not always a lot of space to have a life between getting into law school and actually trying to get through that, too."
no subject
Kyle makes a face. "For seriously? That sounds pretty fucking awful." At the very idea of a gap year he laughs shrilly. "Oh, man. No, no. My 'gap' was not overloading the last two years so I could also study for the LSAT. If I took an actual year off I think my mom would murder me."
no subject
"Eh, you get used to it." Raised eyebrow. "Kind of like studying too hard for too long. But...also that's a glass house I live in, so I guess I don't get to throw stones."
no subject
Kyle smiles but he looks uncomfortable. "Yeah, well. You don't know my mom. Besides, it's okay, I can do it."
no subject
She shrugs. "I'm sure you can. No judgment. I did studying over having a lot through undergrad to passing the bar."
no subject
Kyle studies his hands, smiling nervously. "Yeah. I'll be fine. I've got Adderall and no social life."
no subject
Headshake. "And I'm not sure if I'm jealous from only having caffeine and sugar or generally concerned."
no subject
Kyle laughs. It's a shrill noise, but at least pretty genuine. "Well, I mean, this is my gap year here, then. Say, how old are you?"
no subject
Honest laughs are good laughs as far as Jen's concerned, but her eyebrow goes up at his question. "Why? Want me to buy you some beer or something?" Look, she gets to be evasive with Carter's friend.
no subject
Kyle shakes his head. "No, I'm twenty-four, thanks. I was just wondering how long you'd bene practising law." Sneaky, sneaky Kyle.
no subject
His question has her making a face. "It feels like at least since the eighties, but, I don't know, ten years?" It sounds wrong, but Jen chronically struggles with her own timeline vs. the age she's supposed to be. One of the issues of being a semi-meta-aware hero.
no subject
He nods, clearly doing mental math. "So like, thirtysomething. You look younger."
no subject
But not tired enough not to give him a look. "Good genes. And you're about as subtle as a sledgehammer, aren't you?"
no subject
He opens his eyes wide and holds up his hands. "Hey, I'm just asking! For, uh. Research!"
no subject
A snort. "I think I might have insulted sledgehammers. You can just ask questions at this point. Might be more effective and less insulting."
no subject
He winces. "Sorry. My friend has a major thing for you, so I am trying, badly, to suss out info."
no subject
There's a degree of tired amusement that settles over her. "So, other than not trusting his ability to get the information himself, what do you want to know?"
no subject
He offers her an embarrassed little smile. "Look, he's hopeless. I thought I was bad? No way, he has legit no game at all. He's lucky he's hot." Kyle settles into the closet seat.
"I'm guessing you're not married."
no subject
This is not changing her opinion of Carter, other than maybe his choice in friends, but she's definitely getting a feel for Kyle at the moment. "You have no faith that people might actually like nice, do you?"
Raised eyebrow. "No, I'm not married. Or engaged."
no subject
Kyle laughs. It's a really stupid sound. "No, no, I do. I don't trust HIM to notice when people are into him. He has this bizarre self image that's not exactly insecurity but more like... this dogged insistence of mediocrity."
If Jen thinks Kyle is bad, wait until she finds out Carter is hanging out with Quentin Quire.
"I have no idea how you could be, if you're saving the world AND juggling cases," he says, shaking his head. "I don't even know how you'd have time to sleep."
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)