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.

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.
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!

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

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.
A
Deadpool storms through the market until he finds Jean Paul, and then yoinks his drink away and gulps it down himself. It's okay, JP's had several and there are several more to be had. And honestly, he's not angry at Jean Paul so much as at...Krakoa in general.
"If you wanna feel compelled to talk about shit, then TELL ME WHY I CAN'T BE AN X-FACTOR. David said I could. And he's obviously the team leader. And you have a spot open now that Lorna's gone. Which sucks because I specifically wanted to be on the team to crush on her but oh well, I'll take whatever spot I can get. LET ME BE AN X-FACTOR I JUST NEED TO BE ACCEPTED FOR WHO I AM BY SOMEBODY AND I KNOW YOUR TEAM IS THE MOST ACCEPTING OF THEM ALL."
Man. That got oddly personal and whiny. What was in these drinks, anyway?
no subject
"David is not in charge. I am. You're not allowed on Krakoa because you're an unpredictable lunatic who cannot be controlled. It's that last part, really - they let all sorts of insane or annoying fucks on that island, but you can generally keep a reign on them."
He sips his drink and looks at Deadpool calmly over the rim of his glass.
"Did you perhaps mistake me for your therapist? I have my own problems, Wade."
no subject
"WHAT?!" Actual fury laces his tone at that one. Being told he's not a mutant is one thing. It's technically true, he wasn't born this way, but if his best friend who was a clone of a clone could be considered a mutant then surely the mutant DNA shoved up his ass could make him one.
But. But.
"This. THIS. This is why I'm so mad at all of you. Something in the water - which is definitely Krakoa sweat and body oil and maybe even pee by the way, because it's a living island that wants to eat you - has made you all hypocrites."
He flings his glass away, and there's a muffled HEY! as it hits someone in the crowd further away. Then he points at Jean Paul with pointed angry points.
"How you doing keeping a reign on Sinister? How about the Shadow King? You definitely didn't just let him kill MY BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD, did you? Might want to check on that when you get back. What ever happened to Sabretooth? Hey, how's becoming just like Apocalypse working out for you? What about the ones who were so unruly you had to ship them off to Mars? Am I really worse than ANY OF THESE CHUCKLEFUCKS?!?"
He just stands there panting for a few moments as all of this pent up anger just comes gushing out. This is not the fun Wade. He's a little surprised at himself, but he can't really hold it back and finds himself not wanting to. As someone wanders by, he steals their drink and just gulps it down and tosses the glass away.
"A lot of you guys were my friends. Now you're gone. And you leave me on 'read' when I try to reach out. And you stab me when I try to visit. Even a guy like me needs friends, and I know I'm not the best, but I don't deserve this shit. I think I need to save you all from whatever is going on because that's what friends do, but I don't know how. It's too big for just me."
He pinches the bridge of his nose. "And...no. You're the worst therapist. There's just something in the water here too. Keeps fucking with my head in the weirdest ways."
no subject
Finally, he lowers his glass.
"Jab your finger in my face again, Wade, and I will snap it."
He swirls the last little bit of liquid left in his glass before he downs it. "Krakoa didn't make us hypocrites," he says. "We already were. Have you not been paying attention? Xavier is the worst of us all. Maybe others will defend him and his methods, or defend the way Krakoa is run, but I wont. I don't trust the Council. I don't tell Xavier anything when I can help it."
His eyes are so very blue, so very intense. "You shouldn't save people who treat you like shit, Wade," he says. "Not everyone on Krakoa is there for the same reason. There's plenty of us who just want a place to live safely, and who do not agree with - or even KNOW about - the way things are behind the scenes. I strongly suspect that as a nation it will experience some rather violent growing pains in the near future. I hope we survive it. I must hope that."
He sets his empty glass aside and sighs. "It's not fair, Wade. You're right about that."
no subject
"Some of you weren't hypocrites," he mutters. "Maybe that's why I want to be an X-Factor. You guys know what's up. You investigate the Kool-Aid instead of drinking it.
"I bet Charley doesn't want me on his fancy island because he knows he can't get in my head. I'd probably be the only one who legitimately wants to be there."
no subject
He sighs. "That's... actually one of the least insane things you've said. They do so love getting into people's minds. About the only telepaths I think would be free of influence is Rachel and, ugh, Quire."
no subject
It was true, too. Sure, it was colored by a lot of fury and hurt, but it was raw. Deadpool was never raw. This was weird.
"I just want to belong." He frowns fiercely at the drinks being served. "No seriously, what is in these drinks?"
He glances up at the mention of the other omega telepaths. "You really think they're not in on it too? If not, you ever asked them if they perceive things differently?"
no subject
Jean-Paul studies the drink and makes a face like he's smelled something terrible. "Christ only knows, but sure seems like truth serum.
"I really do. Rachel gives no fucks, and even if she's a Summers she's different. Quire is a little shit who if he was actually in on anything would use it to become King of Krakoa or something ridiculous."
no subject
Deadpool studies the drink too, frowning still more fiercely. "I should be immune to that. These islands are creeping me out as much as Krakoa, man, and that's saying something. Hey wait, why aren't you spilling your guts?"
To the comments on Rachel and Quire, he nods. "Yeah. I think I'd really like Quire, and he'd really hate me. Or would he really like me? I'm the biggest system bucker there is. Does he like bucking the system more or hating everyone more? Inquiring minds want to know..."
no subject
Jean-Paul raises an eyebrow. "Probably because you haven't shut up yet," he says dryly. He looks at his drink and shrugs lightly. "I'm not sure what it's supposed to do. I feel fine. Just... missing my husband."
Another shrug. "That's a question. Honestly he'd probably like you as long as you agreed with him, and hate you the second you got in his way."
no subject
Talk about not shutting up. Deadpool nods in response to that, acknowledging it. "Well, you're welcome. I'm saving you from the awkward. I mean, if you want to spill your guts to me, go right ahead. I'm a good listener too."
He shakes his head. "Man, you really do know your people, don't you. This is why you're the team leader. Thank you for inviting me to be an X-Factor. I humbly accept, and will look up to you as the best mentor."
no subject
Snort. "You're a prince," he says. "By all means, keep babbling.
"And of course I know people. People aren't actually particularly difficult to figure out, it's just they they get all pissy when you say what they are out loud. Although Quire isn't one of mine. He belongs to Logan." Another snort. "You know what? Sure. As long as we're here, you're on X-Factor version 2.0."
no subject
"YES!! I'M AN X-FACTOR!!!! YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!! I CAN INVESTIGATE THINGS!!! I mean, I'm no Eye Boy, but at the very least I can annoy people into slipping up so you catch them easier!! Just sic me on Magneto! You'll see!!! I'll get him to talk in no time!!"
no subject
"He's not here, something I'm grateful for, but I'm sure you'll come in handy for other things."
no subject
"I do feel the overwhelming need to hug, but it's okay. I'll just take it out on some hapless hummingbird. It'll feel mostly the same, I think!"
He pauses, and seems to grow more sober for a moment. "Hey, if I was impaled on a stick by a goddess of death deep in the Canadian wilderness, would you come rescue me too now that I'm an X-Factor?"
no subject
"Merci." Poor hummingbird.
Jean-Paul has to think that one over. "I mean... sure, why not? It's not like it would take me long to get to you if I knew where you were. If it required FINDING you? Well. I could get David to work it out, I think." What? It's called delegating. "So, sure."
no subject
Jean-Paul's answer has Wade actually wibbling. The air started to get supercharged with an impending hug, consent or no, but Deadpool resisted. Would he normally resist? Of course not. But he was just so overwhelmed, and he would not jeopardize his chance to be an X-Factor.
"YES!!!" And he leaps away to hug some random passerby, who is quite startled and quite squished.
The only thing better than this moment would be the moment that he could use his hard-earned points to buy Jeff. Loving Jeff to pieces was Gwen's thing, but in her absence he was more than happy to make it his thing.
no subject
"...I was not expecting that to make you so happy."
Jeff could very well be within grasp. In the meantime he could hug the hummingbirds.
no subject
"Oh! And then I was an Uncanny Avenger. I've gotten around! I even got to make out with Rogue!!! But wait...if we're going with the family metaphor still, does that mean I made out with my sister? Huh. Oops. WHEN METAPHORS GO TOO FAR."
At that moment, a hummingbird miraculously zips up and hovers long enough for Wade to leap out and hug it. It...goes slightly better than hugging Jean-Paul, in that it stabinates him with its rapier-length beak at a bajillion times a second. But it's still a heartwarming moment, if a bit bloody.
no subject
Jean-Paul's face puckers into an expression of distaste. "Please, just... don't. Rogue is a friend, I don't need to picture that."
And what the hell can he possibly say to that? Nothing. It's just Deadpool.