The 'Researcher'.

Odile ;; Isola Radiale ;; House 106

[powerofinheritance]

"I'm not sure. I came out all this way to ensure nobody got closer to the residential areas." Granted there was no way Rapi would be able to hold them back on her own, not without any kind of support. But if people were able to escape to safety then it was successful in her eyes. She could make an escape far better then any normal individual can. The less people around who couldn't defend themselves the better...

"Though I'm sure there are shelters already made. Or being put in place as we speak." Rapi said firing into the crowd behind the rock one more time to ensure there was enough distance between the two of them and any potential escapes.

"Don't worry, as long as you are with me you'll be safe. That being said we should get away from here before more of them decide to show up. If you trust me to take you to safety of course..."

[esprit--curieux]

It seemed this young woman has the same idea, protecting those who have no means to do so. It's admirable, but Odile realizes they can only do so much. With the street seemingly evacuated, it's their turn to get out.

The gunfire is startling, to say the least. Odile hasn't really seen a gun before, at least not one that can fire so rapidly. It's loud, too, echoing against the concrete buildings as shells fall to the floor with a light clinking sound.

"Fine by me," Odile replies, lifting her tome once more to cast a slowing spell upon the riot. They move now like they're trudging through unseen sludge, though the electricity still continues to flicker and zap between them like a large fence.

"Lead the way. I trust you to at least not feed me to these things."

[feelnofear]

Ugh. It is a shit job and he knows it. It’s also a waste of completely good resources and he definitely knows in a survival situation everything little thing counts, so wasting anything is stupid of him. At least he tried, but he’s effectively useless without the full function of both arms. That just makes him feel worse.

Although he does hate the thought of someone else handling his injury, let alone the person he just met… It’s enough to give him goosebumps. He might have gotten a little better about it after the many times he got himself hurt in stupid ways on expeditions but that didn’t exactly remove the aversion to having to have someone he had yet to trust helping him in a hands on way.

Stars, this is stupid. Aside from a handful of specific people, it seemed like his aversion and distrust to others would always cling to him.

That distrusting wariness is probably pretty obvious in the way he keeps his eyes on Odile even when he seems about to hold the bandages out to her. But before he actually hands them over, a question spills out:

“Well, you ever bandaged someone’s injury before though?”

[esprit--curieux]

Odile doesn't regret saving someone from the mobs outside, but she certainly wishes this boy wasn't so hard-headed. He's on tenterhooks, which is understandable for the situation, but even toward Odile who is perfectly healthy and absolutely not trying to eat his flesh.

She gives Dys a flat look when he asks if she'd ever applied first aid before, and snatches the roll with an exasperated sigh.

"I know enough to see you did a shit job." She replies, shifting closer and starting to gently peel away at the shoddy bandage work. It's already bleeding, pressure not properly applied and the wound deep but unpacked. They don't have enough gauze to do so, so Odile will have to make do.

Gems, she never realized blood is so... red.

"And I have. Many times. My party and I fought many different Sadnessess- or monsters- on our journey. Two of them are reckless at times, and one is a child always getting into scrapes." Odile explains, using some left over water to rinse the wound, and an alcohol wipe to clean the blood-smeared edges. Using the last pieces of gauze, Odile folds them and presses it against the deepest part of the wound to effectively staunch the wound from leaking through.

"Where are you from, Dys?" She asks, to make talk, to distract him from the pain that comes with packing and bandaging a wound while Glitched groan outside. Odile starts to wrap the bandage around, not too tight, but firmly enough that the hold will last for a few hours.

[charadrxxmxrr]

watching Odile fiddle with the device is kind of funny. Chara can’t wait for her to accidentally flip the sound switch and be assaulted by the tinny music. It’ll be funny.

“Mmh, well. Humans here seem to have a lot of idle time. Many have jobs to have some semblance of a normal life. Routine, and all of that. I have one myself, though for my own selfish reasons.

Really, the people here are very lucky. There is no war, no sickness. The sun shines brightly and the stars are endless. They have to come up with their own squabbles just to have some sense of conflict.”

It’s not at all like home.

“Basically… you may do whatever you please.”

[esprit--curieux]

Odile finds Chara's manner of speaking... strange. They talk with a cast to their voice that at times sounds haughty, and at others sounds isolated. She has a feeling the child has been through something-- or somethings, but it isn't her place to pry.

"Sounds very normal. Though, I suppose people will continue to go about their daily lives even if conflict and war are present." Even in Dormont, people were running their shops, baking their breads, children playing in the grass. Mere kilometres away the King sobbed away, freezing everything in time.

"I'm curious, why do you refer to people as 'humans'? Are you not one?" She asks, finger lightly tracing along the worn lip of the teacup, still warm. "I've seen my fair share of 'non-human' entities here, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised." She gives a small shrug, remembering passing by a woman with large angel wings just on the way to the diner.

Despite everyone's differences, life seemed... just as Chara said: normal.

[yannation]

For someone as old as Bufu, he had younger employees do all the paperwork and coinage. After all he's a chef, not a trendy internet obsess hipster. Of course even at his age, there are still things he cannot do. Using the internet for clout was one thing, hence he never knew to do a persona for stuff like that.

Enough about that.

"...Very well, wait by the table. if you have any other requests, we have sodas to order while waiting."

The kitchen was filled with something that smelled extremely good, but the spicy sauce he was using looked very red.

Just another day.

[esprit--curieux]

The last pair of customers lave just as Odile sits with some water, not particularly drawn to soda. Too sugary, a waste of calories and-- well, the carbonation makes her want to sneeze. She sits at a clean table that has a partial view of the kitchen, and she watches as the man skillfully tosses in spices and tofu into a wok.

When was the last time she's had this kind of food? Boniface was an amazing cook for their age and would always make a variety of cuisines to keep morale up. Still, Odile missed the authentic taste of her homes food after years of travel, no place in Vaugaurde quite getting it right.

By the way the restaurant smells, Odile has a feeling she won't be disappointed.

While waiting, Odile opens a book she got from the library in the Cotes Ward, on the history of Spirale. If she's going to live here for awhile, she might as well know the place.

[esprit--curieux]

@allhesaid

Will is an expected acquaintance.

Normally, Odile would never bother an artist in the midst of painting. She wouldn't give such a peppy-flirty personality the time of day, far too focused on finding Familytales and, later, preparing to fight The King. Maybe it's the more relaxed and colorful atmosphere that Spirale has that urges Odile to be more outgoing-- at least, as outgoing as she can be.

She also never knew wine was colorful either. She doesn't have a lot of knowledge about vintages and types, so she buys a merlot because the label catches her eye.

With the wine in tow, Odile maps her way to Willem's home on her phone, and arrives at his door number just a few minutes past 6 PM. In Ka Bue, this would be a faux pas that would stick with the person for awhile, but Odile learned in Vauguarde that some people like to be 'fashionably late'. She likes that rule better, anyhow.

She checks the correct room number once more in the messages, then pockets her phone and knocks on the door. She would be lying if she said she wasn't looking forward to the little painting lesson.

[esprit--curieux]

NAME / ALIAS: sunny!

AGE / AGE GROUP: I'm 30!

PRONOUNS: they/them please!

TIMEZONE: JST (Japan Standard Time)

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?: New York babey!

CHARACTERS IN THE GROUP: Odile and Yuki!

A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF: Hi I'm Sunny! I love jellyfish and sunflowers! I've been in Isola when it first started out, but then life got a hold on my writing for about 8 years... until now! I'm back! You might have known me before as 'mimi' but I no longer go by that since becoming nonbinary!

I live in Hokkaido and have for 6 years, and I have a rescue cat named Tsuki! I'm also on the group Discord, so feel free to @ me there if you want to talk~

[esprit--curieux]

HUES AND SHADES

[esprit--curieux]

HEHSU ADNN ASHDAES

Are you having a stroke

[esprit--curieux]

“Hues and Shades”

"This. Deceptively bright, slightly irritating, but still pleasant if seen in the right circumstances."

[esprit--curieux]

Demmel, Feverkiss, Winterbore

Strange Horticulture Inspired Headcanons

Feverkiss - Does your muse depend on caffeine to make it through the day? What's their go-to form of liquid energy?

"There is little better in this world than a good cup of matcha." She definitely misses the stuff from back home, bitter and earthy and whisked until frothy. She prefers it over coffee, but either way, Odile definitely owns a 'don't talk to me before I've had my caffeine' mug.

Winterbore - Is your muse the type of person to relocate a spider or kill it?

Splat.

[esprit--curieux]

demmel, mellow-glow

Strange Horticulture Inspired Headcanons

Demmel - What sort of behaviors does your muse display when they are worried or nervous? Do they have any coping mechanisms they use to calm themselves down?

Odile has a habit of chewing the inside of her cheek when she's nervous, as well as clenching her jaw. She probably has TMJ because of it.

To calm down, she's learned a breathing technique from Siffrin, something her and her whole family uses to calm down when they're upset. In, hold, out, in, hold, out.

Mellow-Glow - Does your muse ever feel invisible or ignored? How do they react to these feelings?

"Are you kidding? Ignore me more. Please. I value my silence and alone time far too much to be concerned about feeling invisible or ignored."

She says, but sometimes she does wish someone would try to prod a little bit deeper as to how she feels. She's just too guarded to say it outright.

[esprit--curieux]

bardum and tribblehuff!

Strange Horticulture Inspired Headcanons

Burdum - Does your muse have any superstitions? Do they have any objects they consider lucky or unlucky?

Odile is very much a woman of logic, and superstitions of different cultures are something she definitely enjoys learning. She only has one: knocking on wood. If you say something that you don't want to 'jinx' you, you knock on a piece of wood to dispel that possibility.

For example, saying 'I haven't gotten the flu in years!' might put out the energy that, suddenly, you'll get the flu after not having it for so long. If you knock on wood, it dispels that.

Of course, she knows that obviously won't help her be any more or less susceptible to germs, but she finds herself softly rapping on a nearby piece of timber anyway.

Trimblehuff - How does your muse feel about weddings? Is there a particular kind of wedding they enjoy? Do they dream about what their own will be like? Do they even want a wedding?

She's largely indifferent to them. Weddings carry much meaning to people and she realizes this, and is happy for those who can find their significant others and legally join with them.

When she was little, maybe she had an idea or two about what her wedding might have been, but she no longer remembers. At her age, she considers herself 'past marriageable age'-- at least by Ka Bue's standards.

Likely, she believes, she will never be married.

[mintyisms]

Strange Horticulture Inspired Headcanons

prompts inspired by some of the names, descriptions, and uses of plants from the game Strange Horticulture

Aguria - How does your muse feel about psychics? Would they ever seek one out for answers about the past, present, or future?

Bella Nox - Is your muse prone to obsessions? Do they ever become so obsessive they might forget to eat or sleep? What is their current or most recent obsession?

Brimlock - Does your muse prefer cold or warm weather? Do they travel as the season changes to avoid cold, rainy, or scorching seasons?

Burdum - Does your muse have any superstitions? Do they have any objects they consider lucky or unlucky?

Caballia - Does you muse believe in an afterlife? Do they believe their actions in their current life have any impact on what happens in the next?

Candlewood - Would your muse be considered neurodivergent? Have they been diagnosed with or treated for any sort of mental illness? How do they feel about the concept of mental health in general?

Carnivorous Torren - Does your muse eat meat? If so, would they ever consider going vegetarian or vegan? Why or why not?

Cauldery - Does your muse hunt? If so, what do they use to hunt what type of game? Do they have any sort of moral stance on the way hunting should be done?

Clavilium - Does your muse know how to pick locks? If so, how have they used this skill in the past?

Common Trouse - How good or bad is your muse's eyesight? Do they need any kind of corrective lenses to be able to see? Have they undergone any sort of surgery to correct their vision issues?

Daisy Dock - Has your muse ever experienced an event that required them to show great courage? What kind of impact did it have on them as a person?

Demmel - What sort of behaviors does your muse display when they are worried or nervous? Do they have any coping mechanisms they use to calm themselves down?

Embersoul - Where would your muse consider to be their safe space? Does it have more to do with the place itself or the people associated with the place?

Feverkiss - Does your muse depend on caffeine to make it through the day? What's their go-to form of liquid energy?

Forest Camphry - How quickly does you muse fall asleep? Are they able to sleep anywhere or do they need specific conditions to fall asleep? Do they sleep soundly or wake up multiple times over the course of the night?

Fox Button - How many friends does your muse have? Are they able to form friendships easily? How much effort do they put into maintaining friendships?

Gandyroot - Are there any foods that cause your muse gastrointestinal discomfort? Do they avoid these foods, take medicine to help with the side effects, or just eat them and suffer the consequences?

Glowhorn - Is your muse afraid of the dark? Did they sleep with a nightlight as a child? Do they as an adult? What kind of things do they imagine lurk in the dark?

Grey Sandfire - Does your muse keep up with their dental hygiene? Are they missing any teeth? Are they at all self-conscious about their smile? Have they ever had braces?

Harlequin Blue - Has your muse ever screamed in genuine terror? Did the situation scar them in any way, whether mentally or physically?

Haverage - Does your muse believe in the idea of soulmates? Have they found theirs yet or are they still looking?

Henchuck - How forgetful is your muse? Do they have any methods for reminding themselves of things?

Jacob's Worth - Has your muse ever gotten genuinely lost somewhere before? Were they able to find their way to safety/home by themselves?

Lesser Merrydock - How sharp are your muse's mental faculties? How much value do they place on their mind? How would they react if they discovered they were suffering from cognitive decline?

Lisle of Neptune - How honest is your muse? Do they believe white lies are okay? How do they handle being lied to?

Mary's Breath - How good is your muse at keeping secrets? If sworn to secrecy, is there a price someone could pay (monetary or otherwise) to get them to spill the beans? Do they trust others enough to share their own secrets?

Mellow-Glow - Does your muse ever feel invisible or ignored? How do they react to these feelings?

Mountain Astory - How persuasive is your muse? Would they ever consider going into politics or sales?

Red Abony - Does your muse have any secret hiding places? What sort of things do they hide there?

Solomon's Sceptre - Does your muse believe that witchcraft is real? Do they embrace it or are they afraid of it?

St. John's Poppy - How is your muse's hearing? Do they often engage in activities that may damage their hearing? Do they wear hearing protection?

Sunset Mountcap - Does your muse believe in ghosts? Would they ever try to communicate with ghosts or spirits?

Thum - What kinds of scents does your muse prefer when it comes to things like soaps, candles, or body sprays? Are there any popular scents they absolutely hate?

Trimblehuff - How does your muse feel about weddings? Is there a particular kind of wedding they enjoy? Do they dream about what their own will be like? Do they even want a wedding?

Wild Cole - How often does your muse drink? Do they commonly experience hangovers? Are there any cures they swear by for dealing with hangovers?

Winterbore - Is your muse the type of person to relocate a spider or kill it?

[esprit--curieux]

hues and shades

Odile flips through her book, pausing when she gets to the one she's looking for.

"This one."

[starlitmemes]

Send in “Hues and Shades” and my muse will tell you what color(s) they associate most with yours.           Bonus: they may add why they do so!

For multi-muse blogs be sure to specify muses.

[esprit--curieux]

[Odile:] Very. And noted, I can bring some as well. What do you prefer? [Odile:] And... Hm, let me guess... The sunset and... [Odile:] Your reflection?

[allhesaid-deactivated20250918]

[ will :) ] Red. But I'll make do with whatever.

[ will :) ] Ha! My reflection in what? Your eyes? [ will :) ] Hmm, maybe. But a reflection is simply as beautiful as the vessel it's in. [ will :) ] So, you know.

[esprit--curieux]

[Odile:] Ah, I understand. Your reflection in my glasses. [Odile:] They are quite nice, aren't they? [Odile:} Goodnight Willem. I will see you on Saturday.

[esprit--curieux]

[Odile] Ah, I see.

[Odile] Address and time, if you please. Assuming the painting offer is still on the table.

[Odile] Thank you again, by the way. I apologize for interrupting your sunset painting, but you were quite helpful Will.

[allhesaid-deactivated20250918]

[ will :) ] Oh, okay. You're direct, huh? [ will :) ] Townhouse 214. Around 6pm. [ will :) ] You alright with wine? I usually have some when painting. Makes me feel professional.

[ will :) ] Nah, don't worry about it. Above painting, I love meeting interesting people, and I can already tell there's a lot to you, Odile. [ will :) ] That, and it means I saw two pretty things today. The sunset, and .....

[esprit--curieux]

[Odile:] Very. And noted, I can bring some as well. What do you prefer? [Odile:] And... Hm, let me guess... The sunset and... [Odile:] Your reflection?