polylogs | Eternal Summer

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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.

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"It is what? There's a lot of ways to determine how right something is outside of rectitude. That's just the moral, which like sure, it's a fave. But there's the rational or logical. The most efficient or effective. The most humane or empathetic. Sometimes these things overlap. Sometimes they don't," he says using the back of some stranger's linen shirt to pat his hands completely dry.

"You look uncomfortable," he says knowingly. "But without reading your mind I'm not gonna know why. What's the matter? I didn't take you for prudish."

"Doing what's right IS moral," Kyle stubbornly insists. "And I know that, I'm not some naive gullible idiot. I'm going to law school, you think I just slept my way through the last few years of University? I'm familiar with different metrics people use to determine righteousness. And I'd say that you have to take them all into account."

He sighs irritably. "God, that kind reading thing really does render deflection pointless," he mutters. "Okay, fine. I'm easy because I put out on first dates, but I don't actually date much because I don't meet people I like, and I'm a little worried I won't blow your mind and you'll stop being my friend."

Quentin doesn't mind stubbornness. Lord knows he has plenty of his own. He doesn't even seem terribly worked up about it. Just frustratingly confident in his own point of view. As always. "Great. Then you know that what's right isn't always moral. And if you take them all into account then you're taking some kind of average which A) isn't really the moral approach and B) isn't always going to favour the moral answer. Right? Think about it."

Dusting himself off from sitting on the edge of that fountain he reaches out to pull Kyle to his feet again too. "I know, but I'm trying to like. Respect your space here or whatever, you know? I CAN just read your mind if you'd prefer it over my asking really blunt questions like that. Your call."

When Kyle falls into step with him, he throws his arm around Kyle's shoulders, even if he has to reach up a bit to do so. "We're not gonna stop being friends. Because there's only so many people here and even less I like. So don't worry about that. Half the mutants I know have fucked each other at some point and still manage to get on with their lives so like. Let's just take the pressure off by saying this doesn't have to perfect to be a good thing. We don't even know how long anyone's going to be stuck here, right? So let's just like. I dunno. Make the most of it. It'll be fun."

"Okay, I'm thinking that we're agreeing on most shit except the definition of morality or 'right'," Kyle says, the frown line between his brows pronounced.

"I appreciate it," he says sincerely as he's pulled up. When Quentin's arm goes around his shoulders he smiles, surprised but pleased.

"Right," he agrees. "Low pressure, no expectations. It might suck, and that's okay, we're just like... making the most of it. Yeah.

"...where are we going?"

He frowns thoughtfully and bobs his head. "Yeah, sounds about right." Looking at Kyle makes him chuckle. He reaches up and irons out that crease in his brow with the tip of his index finger. "You're cute when you're frustrated," he beams.

Quentin shrugs. "Somewhere there's not so many people? Maybe the beach or out towards the fields? I dunno, I was thinking the temple but how private is it really? Somewhere we can make-out without the peanut gallery hanging around."

Kyle flushes pink again. "Uhm. Thanks."

He nods, considering. "Fields? Less sand to get everywhere. Unless the smell is gonna drive you nuts."

Quentin's head flings back with a laugh. "How much effort did that take you not to refuse that compliment? Did you burst any blood vessels clamping that down?"

"I'll survive," he promises. "It'll be easier to take with your tongue in my mouth."

"Shut up, it's hard, okay?! Nobody calls me cute!"

Outwardly Kyle manages to look unruffled, but there's a hot rush through his body at those words and he sure doesn't waste time walking in that direction.

"Well you started it."

Despite his near constant complaints the fields are pretty. And at this time of day they err towards quiet as well with most of the locals and travellers alike returned to the town and the temple for the early evening.

Towards the gently rolling hills in the distances there's a thin line of trees that offer some shade and vantage enough to see the village in the distance.

"So you were saying something about fucking on the date, but never meeting anyone you like. Does that mean you've been with guys before or...?"

Kyle flops down beneath the trees, long legs stretched out and his upper body propped up on his elbows.

"Yeah, I've been with guys," he says. The view really is beautiful. "More guys than girls, actually. All. Uhm. Like Tinder and Grindr."

He picks at some of the grass. "I didn't date in high school, so when I went away to university I was like, okay, I gotta figure my shit out."

Quentin drops his back against the tree itself and lets his feet slid out in front of him until his ass touches the ground. "Well if it's any consolation or like, makes you any less nervous about stuff, I've never dated any guys. Just girls." And frankly not a lot of them either but he's not offering that up quite so quickly.

"I get that. I didn't date much in high school either. Not by choice mind you," he adds. Because his constant deprecation of things doesn't always exclude himself.

"Really? In spite of, what did you say? being pan before it was cool?" He sounds gently amused.

Kyle laughs a little. "Me neither. I was as much of a dork then as I am now. Worse, maybe. And I come from a really small town, so." He looks at Quentin with bright curiosity. "You've had sex though, yeah? That's all I've done. No dating. Not that I think you wanna like... romance me or whatever, I'm not trying to make anything what it isn't or whatever..."

"Hey, don't invalidate me based on a lack of experience. I don't need a guy to blow me to know I'd be into it," he says plainly.

"I'm not a virgin," he assures and falls easily into his rambly way of both divulging and explaining in tandem. Almost as if he's talking in some kind of stream of consciousness and forgets who's listening. It's candid if nothing else. "I've dated a bunch. I almost dated a guy once. We were kind of close like that, but then he met this other guy and decided I was too much trouble. I tried the Grindr thing too, but there's a lot of anti-mutant sentiment on apps like that. Plus, everyone assumes I want to bottom because I'm kind of a twink and it's exhausting."

He smiles a little. Rarely has Quentin looked so calm here without also looking intentionally indifferent. "I know," he promises. "You haven't really tried to tell me to change since we met. That's pretty rare. So I'm not worried about it. Oh. And for the record. I'm not categorically anti-romance."

That pulls another shrill little giggle out of him, which graduates into a full fledged cackle that startles some of the possums trundling around. "Oh my GOD, you are kinda twinky!" he cries. "Jesus, I didn't even THINK that, but yeah, I can see it I guess."

Oh, shit. That's a good smile.

"I don't think I am, either," he says. "I don't really know, though. I, uh. Don't usually get a second date. And never a third. So." He shifts a little closer, studying Quentin's face.

"Can I kiss you again?"

"I know! Shut uuuuup!" he whines. "I'll have you know I'm currently at my most jacked. I had to bulk up a bit. To look good in spandex." But even his irritation can't withstand his own amusement over Kyle's giggle fits.

"Well, you're like one of ten people I know here so it's not like either of us can ghost on the other," he points out. "But I'd give you a second date. I like people who can get into a knock down drag out fight over anything and still want to see each other tomorrow. It bodes well for me."

"Yeah," he takes off his glasses and his ears seem to stick out a bit making him look a little younger and a bit more impish still. "You don't have to ask."

"Did you want to be jacked?" He's trying to picture Quentin bulked up and failing. "Like besides to look good in spandex, which is like... a very weird thing to say, but I can't say I don't get it."

Double shit. Quentin's adorable.

Kyle gives up completely and leans over, one hand coming up to cup Quentin's cheek gently as he kisses him. Softly, but he fails utterly at any pretense of being chaste - he licks his way inside Quentin's mouth pretty quickly.

"Pftf no," he says a little too quickly to be completely believable. "None of fashion I like would look good on that kind of bulk."

He can feel the warmth that rushes to his face. First by the shared touch and then perpetuated by his own nerves. That little rush only lasts a moment though. Quickly any nervousness takes a backseat to his delight an fascination with the way Kyle feels and tastes and smells.

He smiles a dopey sort of smile when their lips part for a breath and his little hyuk of a laugh belies his intelligence. "You are horny on main," he grins.

"Yeah, I believe it." Which he does.

Kyle goes bright red, but when he looks at Quentin his gaze is furiously bright. "For you, sure," he admits.

It's not merely a new experience because Kyle outsizes him by several inches and a few pounds. Not even just because he finds himself enjoying the way the faint grit of facial hair on Kyle's chin feels. Perhaps most novel thing for Quentin here is being pursued so plainly as Kyle does. He's done a lot of chasing but rarely ever been chased himself. For a guy who craves attention it's intoxicating.

"Heh. Smooth," he teases and rolls his lips together tasting Kyle on his mouth. He turns himself to the side to see Kyle straight on and places his hands on either side of his head, holding him where he wants him when he kisses him again.

Kyle doesn't feel very smooth, but he does feel very, very lucky. And when Quentin holds his head like that he practically melts.

Quentin's focus is on him, and only him. He tastes good, and when Kyle's hands find Quentin's back it feels strong enough to dig into.

He's not entirely sure when he started to be forced back, but he becomes aware he's about to wind up on his back under the onslaught of Quentin's tongue.

Shamelessly making out with Kyle is cathartic in a way Quentin didn't expect to find here. It does more for his temper than the aura of this calming island which, while it has taken the edge of his wrathfulness, has not slowed his mind down at all.

When Kyle keels over with his back on the ground Quentin follows. Slinging his leg over Kyle's hips to perch himself on his partner's thighs and hunker over to kiss him all the more.

"I can't believe you didn't get any second dates. You're a good kisser," he smiles.

"I give pretty good head, too," Kyle supplies before his brain can stop him. He slips his arms around Quentin's neck.

"But, you know. Hookup apps. You kiss good, too."

Something he intends to enjoy again, clearly, since finds his mouth once more. Having Quentin's tongue against his and his body resting warmly on his has inevitable and predictable effects on his dick before long.

Quentin cops a cheeky look. "Is that an offer or do you just want me to spread that around for you?" he teases.

"Do not DARE tell anybody I said that," Kyle warns, cheeks hot.

"But, yeah. Yeah, it's an offer. ...oh my god, I AM easy."

"I won't! I won't! I'm joking! I'm joking!" he snickers. God forbid he actually chase away such an offer with his stupid remarks.

"You say that like you're embarrassed about it," he steals another kiss. "But you're obviously not embarrassed too much to ask." Sitting back on Kyle he applies a little more of his body weight and rocks gently in place. "You don't have to act coy. I'm not going to judge you for liking sex you know?"

And I've never turned down a blow job in my life. I don't intend to start now," he beams.

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