Eternal Summer

[polymods]

✖ 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.

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.

The garden is beautiful, but surprisingly formal after the chaotic abundance of the rest of the Isle. The paths are wide and there’s space between the plants. Each one is meticulously labeled with a stake in the ground.

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.

Bonus: music to watch the flowers bloom to.

Network · Logs · OOC · Memes · Plurk

Comments

Carter Ghazikhanian| Marvel 616 (adult au) | OTA

[extrasensory_problems]

Ⅰ. ALWAYS BLOOMING, NEVER HARVEST

Healing takes time.
As a nursing student he knows this but it doesn't make it any less annoying, his wound from his run in with the giant mantis creatures is healing up nicely but he is young and impatient and would like it to be 100%.
Now.
Please?
He recognizes his impatience and decides that this is a good opportunity to and re-balance himself, so while many of his fellow Travelers are out exploring the island Carter decides to stay near the Temple. Specifically a little spot he has found where there's a small creek and a big tree, one that gives him enough shade to sit under and meditate.
Which is what he is doing now, or would be if a tiny pollinating bat wasn't fluttering around him.

"Shooo. I'm trying to gain inner peace here...."


Ⅱ. FLOWER MARKET FESTIVAL

It would seem that this island has an endless supply of flowers, just when Carter thinks he can't see any more different types he finds himself wandering through the Market and is suddenly lost in all the colors and scents. Intoxicating and joyful, he slowly drifts about until he spots a small stand that seems to be selling jewelry. It's here that he pauses, picking out a small antique looking pendant of an apple tree branch and holds it up for inspection.

"Is this too plain and boring?" He asks himself, and whoever happens to be near by.

Ⅲ. Wildcard!

Feel free to start something random or ask me for a starter. :)

II

[helpdesk_hero]

David was someone prone to wandering when he needed to think. Which, today he needed to do. That the wandering path happened to lead to the creek and tree was coincidence, or maybe it was meant to be. He couldn't help but smile at the man trying to shoo away the pat.

"And here I thought you were talking to me," David observed as he moved to sit by the guy. Maybe he could distract the bat.

[extrasensory_problems]

Carter looks up and smiles when he sees David, "Nah not you. You have a much more calm disposition compared to this...whatever it is."

He waves his hands at the little bat which finally seems to give up it's task in annoying him and flutters up into the tree branches, Carter pats a spot on the ground next to him.

"Care to join me?" He asks David, "I was trying to meditate but not really doing a great job."

[helpdesk_hero]

"Well, in my defense, I'm not after your pollen, and you're not stubbornly denying me it," David pointed out.

Yes, he actually thought it was probably just that the little bat saw a great source of pollen that had walked up to it, and it just wanted to lick that stuff clean. Really, all this pollen in the air and everywhere was just brutal as hell. But he crossed his legs as he settled down and he considered Carter as he folded his hands into his lap.

"You very meditation experienced?"

[extrasensory_problems]

"I'd like to think so." Carter says, "I've been doing it almost every morning since I was sixteen. One of my foster parents got me into it when he started teaching me martial arts and I just kept up with it since it seems to help a lot with my mutant powers."

[helpdesk_hero]

"Makes sense. I understand it helps."

Not with all gifts, definitely not with David's all of the time, but he respected it. For him it usually turned into a situation where he took that quiet time to review and reorganize all of the information in his head.

"A calm mind is a telepath's greatest asset."

[extrasensory_problems]

"Yeah most days it helps, but today..." Carter shrugs, "Kind of having a hard time shutting my brain off."

"What about you? How are you?"

II

[speed_of_snark]

"If you're trying to get laid, ouais."

Because you really wanted the opinion of your mutant wine aunt.

[extrasensory_problems]

Carter squeaks and turns a bright red in response. "I-I'm not!"

He's obviously a liar.

[speed_of_snark]

"Oh my god, you're a blusher. Your mother would have a field day with you."

Jean-Paul sidles up and peers over Carter's shoulder at the jewelry.

"For a girl?"

[extrasensory_problems]

"Who do you think I get it from?" He counters and then sighs, defeated, and hands the necklace over to Jean-Paul.

"Yes, for a girl."

[speed_of_snark]

"Mm," Jean-Paul says, smirking. "Your mother was a little raunchy, at least when you weren't around."

He nods solemnly. "Then good god, no, don't get that."

[extrasensory_problems]

"Oh my god I SO don't need to know that." Carter says, making a horrified face. When Jean-Paul disagrees with his necklace choice his brows crease together, "Why not? I thought it was pretty. In like...a not flashy way."

Ⅱ. FLOWER MARKET FESTIVAL

[quire]

"For who? Jane Eyre? No, it's exactly her steeze." There's nothing he doesn't have an opinion about really. It's like he collects them as a hobby or something.

awwww finally these two meet <3 yay

[extrasensory_problems]

Carter blinks in surprise and turns to look at Quire, "Oh uh hi. No it's not for Jane Eyre, just...someone."

He turns the pendant over in his hand, "I guess it does kind of look old timey though doesn't it?"

\0/ advanced apologies to Carter. This guy's exhausting.

[quire]

"Well, as long as they're from the English regency or an octogenarian they'll love it I'm sure." He ignores the question because it's a much more interesting thing that it's not for Carter himself. Because that means he's out here buying jewellery for people. "Who you shopping for?"

Haha no apologies needed

[extrasensory_problems]

A small blush creeps across Carter's cheeks and he shrugs, "Just a friend."

[quire]

"You know, I had a theory about this place and the fact that you're buying presents for someone and blushing about it points to me being right. I'm gonna tell David—" he looks up suddenly from this table full of floral trinkets.

"Oh my god it's not David is it! If it's David and he's been fucking flirting with someone I'm going to kill him for not mentioning that!"

[extrasensory_problems]

Carter's eyebrows both go up and he utters a small laugh, "David?! Oh wow, no. David's cool but....uh it's not for him."

He hands over his money to the merchant and pockets the necklace, "But what theory are you talking about?"

I

[kyley_b]

If Carter were trying to attain inner peace, that cute little bat is the least of his distractions.

Kyle can be described as an apologetic disaster most of the time, and he crashes toward Carter through the fields with a lack of grace that is frankly a little impressive.

"Dude!"

[extrasensory_problems]

The little bat squeaks in fear and flutters high up into the tree that Carter is sitting under, obviously scared of the tall gangly ginger that is crashing towards them.
Carter opens one eye up at Kyle, "Hey dude."

[kyley_b]

"Dude, I've been looking all over for you," he says as he flops onto the ground, all skinny limbs topped by pointy knees and elbows.

"Have you just been napping out here?"

[extrasensory_problems]

He chuckles and opens his other eye, "No I was trying to meditate."

[kyley_b]

"Oh, shit. Am I interrupting?"

Yes. yes you are, Kyle. Little late.

[extrasensory_problems]

"Nah it's fine. It wasn't really working anyways, what's up?"