#flower-response

[fireteam-silent]

Sum of Her Parts

The chill of Europa may no longer bother her, but Forget-Me-Not was relieved to be back in her garden back on Earth all the same, especially after her extended stay.

This time of year was good for beans, and she was currently working Arc energy into the soil. Arc gave things a sharp flavour, almost acidic, and also seemed to help things grow faster. Of course, if she used too much, she’d fry her plants. It took a lot of careful concentration, working her Light into her garden like this.

Church knew all this, which was why he said nothing even though Notts had been not herself for days: quiet in a withdrawn way, avoiding eating, letting her projects stagnate. Only her garden, which required upkeep to keep alive, had received her attention.

This was different from when she first communed with the Darkness to find Stasis. She had been visibly distraught after that, guilty for what Church had been through. He knew what to do, what to say, to help her then. The kind of affection she needed to heal. He didn’t know what to do with this. What had he missed while they were exploring the old Bray Exo labs?

[fireteam-silent]

☎ | Notts for any of the pack!

You have one new message. To play your messages, press 1. To delete a message pr--

BEEP --

"Stop screening our calls, asshole, and pick up the phone!"

"Church! Sorry about him," Notts sighed heavily as Church's protests became muffled. "Hi Scout! I was wondering if you could help me with a project I'm working on. I need access to Solar Light, and Artie is busy with her Bug Camp for the children."

"And the last time Notts tried to use Solar, she nearly burned up her tomato plant." Church snickered, voice obnoxiously close to the receiver.

His laughter rapidly faded over the sound of a pillow softly hitting the wall. "ANYWAY," Notts huffed, "if you're interested, please send me a message with the days and times your available."

"And wear that cloakless hood of yours," Church was back up against the mic, "because last time Notts totally thought you had a cute aAAH!"

"CHURCH!" Forget-Me-Not shouted over his screech. "Get back here you--!"

BEEP -- END OF MESSAGE

To replay the message, press 1. To delete the message, press 7, or press # for more options.

[fireteam-silent]

((Closed Starter for @aurea-fide )) “Ooh, Church, look at this!” Forget-Me-Not cupped her hand under a peach to highlight its interesting colour. At its base, fading from the natural reds and yellows, was a faint shade of purple.

“Huh.” Church zipped closer to scan the fruit. “Is this the tree you had Khalom plant a Voidwell under?”

“Yes,” Notts smiled as she gently tugged the fruit off the tree. “I wonder what it tastes like... Oh, I bet it will make a wonderful jam.”

“Good on toast,” Church agreed. He liked these quiet moments with Notts. He didn’t have the impulse to pretend he didn’t care. “Well go on, take a bite!” He nudged her hand. “Don’t keep me in suspense!”

Notts laughed and took a bite. She hummed, eyes closed. “... Hmm, I dunno. Maybe a texture change? Oh--” No, there was a little twinge, a sharp tang that contrasted well to the sweetness of the peach. “This is good,” she said around the mouthful of fruit.

[fireteam-silent]

😊 —for all of them

Khalom dreams of warm embraces and stolen moments, fighting the arrival of dawn so that she can spend more time with her beloved. Night does not end, and her love does not leave.

Forget-Me-Not dreams of her garden, full of life, and sharing the sweetest of fruits. The branches of the trees are so heavy with fruit that they bow low to the ground.

Artemis dreams she is in a strange new land, where the colours of the sky and grass don't make sense. A pink creature with the softest fur cuddles in her arms.

[fireteam-silent]

“ look at me. “ | Scout and Notts teehee

Arc and Stasis were both about control. Being in control. Controlling the uncontrollable. Using them together, as Forget-Me-Not had come to do, one needed perfect focus to remain in control. A lack of focus could spell disastrous results. An Arc charge let loose could fly in an unpredictability manner and harm her allies, or her Stasis might thaw too early, releasing the powerful combatant from their prison.

Both powers could respond to her emotional state. Arc would surge with her anger, lifting her physically from the ground, demanding to be used, to strike. And Stasis might turn on her, like it did Eramis.

Which is what it was currently doing.

Forget-Me-Not yelped and panicked as the first crystals began to climb up her legs, colder than cold, quickly freezing her in place. Fear, already intense from her overthinking, skyrocketed as it climbed up her body. It was already up to her waist. What would happen to her? Eramis hadn't died, but she had spent over a year trapped.

The Stasis began to climb higher, and--

Scout was there. Stasis slowed, though did not halt nor recede.

She might not have strictly needed to breathe, but her hyperventilation stilled as she looked into his orange and pink optics. "S-Scout," she gasped, "help...!"

[fireteam-silent]

He's been searching for Notts for a decent half an hour or so, and when he finally finds her, she's with Artemis. Scout finds his feelings in relations to Artemis a little complicated, but he does his best to keep his composure and approach all suave.

"Sooo...hope I'm not interruptin', but I heard a new garden centre opened up, 's fairly nearby too, if you wanted to go there, Notts." Scout pulls a little forget-me-not seemingly out of nowhere, offering it to her, before glancing up to Artemis, "Uhm-- you're welcome to come with us if you wanna."

[ up to u if artie goes with em, or if she catches him later on in another thread to talk abt it maybe ]

Forget-Me-Not's face lit up with joy as she gently took the flower from Scout. "Oh, this is beautiful!" She inhaled deeply, enjoying its gentle scent, and sighed softly. "How thoughtful." She held it delicately between her fingers. "I would love to see this garden centre. I can always expand my garden." She smiled, then glanced up at the much taller Artemis. "Will you be coming?"

Artemis, who had been glancing between Scout and Notts with a little smirk on her face, nodded. "Sure. Someone has to chaperone you two love birds. And if it's not me, it'll be Church."

The aforementioned Ghost had yet to make an appearance... Perhaps Artemis was keeping him at bay.

[fireteam-silent]

“...Can I?” | Scout and Notts? Feel free to throw in Church's reaction too hehe

"'Aight, I'm out," Church declared. Before he transmatted away, he bobbed over towards Scout and bonked off his head, though not as aggressively as he might have done in the past. "Don't push your luck."

Which was pretty much a blessing as far as Church's protectiveness of Notts was concerned.

Forget-Me-Not laughed as he fizzled away, catching one of Scout's hands in her own. "He's improving," she noted pleasantly. With the aid of a little Light, Notts floated up the few inches needed so she could press her mouth against Scout's softly. "And you're awfully shy today," she laughed as she settled back down on the ground. She cupped his face gently. "It's sweet."

[fireteam-silent]

Life Is Musical | Scout and Notts hehe

Odds Are, by Barenaked Ladies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiTucKt-gM4&ab_channel=BarenakedLadies%28official%29 Look, I can just see this being a song of them getting to know each other over a montage, dancing, being cuties. Also, it sounds like Scout talking about all the ways he’s died over his long years of being Risen. XD