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

[helpdesk_hero]

[Oh the temptation to push with his power, to know the things that Loki knows, to learn the skills the man had. Not that he'd be able to make use of the spells or illusions. David had always been hopeless with magic, no matter what it was called.]

Typically the latter. I'm Psychomimetric. Comes with the territory. I have more control these days, but not really as much as someone would want.

[Something he should probably be careful with around Loki. The man's magic was absolutely more than enough to overwhelm David's mental shields, he knew that much.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ ah. he should tighten his mental guards, just in case. ]

Do you want it?

[helpdesk_hero]

[Perhaps they both should. At least Loki was probably able to, though.]

It's like a sense. As well ask me whether I want to see or not. Of course I do. It's part of me. It's as much what and who I am as breathing.

[dothelokimotion]

[ he nods. that's how magic feels to him after all. but magic is less invasive in nature. ]

I am not aware of mortals having special abilities.

[helpdesk_hero]

[How strange. Was that even really possible?]

Really? No mutants? I mean, I know our numbers are down due to racism, but surely if you've been to New York you've at least run into one of us. Or a mutate at the very least. You know, your Spider-Mans, your Hulks, your Luke Cage.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki briefly grimaces. ]

I know of a Hulk. But it seems to mostly meddling with science. No one there is born with powers so to speak.

[helpdesk_hero]

Mutates come from meddling with science. Mutants are born that way. We have powers that manifest in adolescence because of a genetic difference between us and normal humans.

[A sub-species, if you will. Interesting, that Loki didn't know of any. Really did just sell the idea that Loki wasn't his Loki.]

Next thing you know, you're going to tell me that you aren't a fan of bacon and breakfast sausage, and don't know that strawberry jam serves as a reasonable substitute for blood in certain magical rites.

[dothelokimotion]

. . . I understood perhaps half of that.

[ bacon?? breakfast sausage?? ]

[helpdesk_hero]

[Oh come on, half of that? Surely they're speaking the same language.]

Which part are you having problems with? I'd be happy to sit down and explain.

[It's said with a friendly smile. Which might be weird, right? Probably. But David? He knows this isn't the same Loki, but in a way it's still a familiar face. Close enough to being familiar without the complications of actually being from home.]

[dothelokimotion]

The part about . . . breakfast.

[ like . . . why even. ]

[helpdesk_hero]

[Oh, he has to start laughing, loud and happy. Sorry Loki.]

The version of you I know? Loved the sorts of foods that are common for breakfast back home for humans. He called them breakfast meats. And ketchup with them, which is sacrilege.

[dothelokimotion]

[ his lips press tightly. ]

Then I'm afraid I have very little in common with such a Loki.

[helpdesk_hero]

Well, you've got me in common with him now. The rest are just differences. And it's the differences between people, even between us and ourselves, that make us unique and interesting people.

[Isn't it?]

[dothelokimotion]

[ he looks a touch bemused. ]

I think the differences between Lokis are more noticeable. And dangerous.

[helpdesk_hero]

Perhaps they are. But...

[David tapped his own Scrywatch, and through that implied the one the man obviously had.]

Whatever brought us here thinks you've got the potential to have a great weight upon the path of your world, your universe, right? And our progress is to a betterment of ourselves. So perhaps you're dangerous, but you've got motivation, and steps backwards doesn't seem very useful.

[dothelokimotion]

[ he raises an eyebrow. ]

So you're placing faith in an unknown omnipotent deity? That seems unwise.

[helpdesk_hero]

Actually, I'm putting my faith in your ability to continue to shock people. Not to mention someone's applied a label to you, and not the title of a god. I can't see you being content with a judgemental color applied to you. Especially not one that clashes with your preferred colors.

[dothelokimotion]

[ that is . . . uncannily insightful. loki isn't sure how he feels about that. ]

No. I'm not one to accept anyone's labels.

[helpdesk_hero]

[See, that's part of the whole 'knowing things' stuff. He could compare this Loki to the one he knew, all the ones he'd fought and come into conflict with, and use his psychology background too. But mostly?

Mostly the insight and potential he gave came entirely for a moment no one really knew David had shared with the Loki of his world. Too men on a hilltop, looking down at a party that the Loki had paid for with treasure that David didn't know the origin of. That moment had done a lot to change his perspective on, well, Lokis.]

You're more the sort to make them, aren't you? Well, that's why I don't worry for my safety. Not from you. Not right now. Not that you couldn't, of course. If you're anything like the Loki I know, then you could probably seriously hurt me, or worse. But at the moment, there's not really anything in it for you. And there's something to lose.

[dothelokimotion]

[ hmm. ]

And now I'm more surprised you're not dead.

[helpdesk_hero]

Does it help to know that I'm just really good at reading people. And yeah, I'm not dead at the moment.

[But he way he breezes over that statement, that agreement, might say a lot. He was no stranger to such things, and that wasn't a normal human thing. Probably better not to have to redefine your concept of mortal, Loki. Is it really worth the headache?]

From what I've heard from Deadpool, things like that don't last here. Granted he's got an edge.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki waves a flippant hand. ]

Apparently not. Though I wouldn't put much weight in whatever that man says. It is constantly couched in nonsense.

[helpdesk_hero]

[Be flippant if Wade if you want, but don't discount all he says.]

Yes, he's a headache and a half, but he's got a surprisingly good read on people too. Or so I've heard. But that's not here or there I suppose. I do take weight in what he says, though. If anyone knows death, it's him.

[dothelokimotion]

Knowing death isn't what I'd call insightful.

[ loki's died plenty. there's no great revelation awaiting at the end. ]

[helpdesk_hero]

No, but learning from what led one to such an end can provide its own insights.

[And that point David would stand by.]