[A: 6 C: 106] - Step into my Parlor
[TWs: More coughing up flowers, a bitta blood, discussions about drug abuse and addiction.]
[Featuring OCs from @fungal--wastes and @neoncityrain]
(Ramos) [Alex] {Nihil} <Altiare> |Jasmine|
“How far does the metaphor go, Ramos?”
“Huh? (You look at, well, look in the general direction of Wren.) “Like. . .”
“As in how ones perception affects reality.” (There was a tapping of fingers on stone.) “Well really I mean metaphor, such as having ‘butterflies in your stomach’. Does that become literal here?”
“N-no?!” (You answer, baffled.) “Why would it?!”
“Oh come now. Your persons are manifesting in their own bodies and a fictional disease is now very real.” (Wren huffed, annoyed.) “Humor me.”
“U-uh. . .” (O-kaaaay? He does have a point.) “Well. . . P-people say that because they get nervous, right? But they know that there’s not really butterflies in their stomach, because how would that happen?”
“Hmm, well how about this?” (Wren shifted where he was sitting.) “‘Seeing stars’ as a metaphor for being dazed or feeling faint. It’s not strange to see stars, is it?”
“No no, you’re right.” (You nod along.) “Maybe in the dark like this, someone could see stars no-one else could.”
“And so having ‘a broken heart’ may actually damage your heart?”
(You wince.) “Yyyyep, or uh, I think so?” (You don’t like the implications of that, with Siffrin's history of heart issues.)
“. . . . Hmmm. . . . . . .” (There’s more furious tapping on the ground.) “. . . . . How would one induce a near death experience. . .”
“WH-?!?!?” (You jolt.) “Whatdoyou- ‘light at the end of the tunnel?!?’ NO we are NOT trying that!!”
“Why not? If we could safely approach death and be pulled away, then-”
“We said no, that’s final.” <You grit your teeth.>
“Oh I wasn’t suggesting you do it, I could easily-”
“NO!!” (You screamed.) |You yelled.| <You hollered.> [Stars, really?!?]
“Bloodstones and Soulfire!” (Wren exclaimed, clearly shocked by the chorus of “no”.) “Fine! Fine. If that’s no option, then let’s keep following the wind.”
“Prime idea.” <You sigh. Okay, back to the depths I go.>
(How’re things in there, anyways? You and Wren stand up and continue your trek. So, we can think and talk in our own head again?)
<I’m pretty sure we manifest because of the intent of if someone WANTS to be heard by other people. Don’t think about it too hard>
(And headspace?)
<Getting cleaned up, though weirdly enough we can walk back out into folded fields. I’ve barred anyone from doing that to save us all a headache on what THAT could do.>
(Oh thank Change.)
<Thank me, not Change.>
>>>
(Bonnie) [Crux] <Eight> |Ember|
Why’sit so loud. . . ?
You felt the loud warmth on your skin, and grumbled. You shifted in your daze, and a moment later, something was blocking that warmth. . . Yeah. . . That’s more like it. . .
A single boat alone in an ocean. Stars in the skies and the waters, lanterns, monsters, and taciturns. . . But, who. . . .
(You yawn big and wide, stretch your whole body out, and roll onto your other side, mumbling something you don’t even know what.)
“Heheh, g’morning Bonbon.” (Someones touching your head. You grumble something. Ugh, that sleep sucked.) “Feeling any better?”
(Better? Were you sick or- Your eyes snap open and you sit up! RIGHT! You’re stuck in that- AH! You cover your eyes soon after you open them, it’s BRIGHT! REALLY bright!! And there’s a strong breeze now, and no stinky sweet smell!!)
“Where, where am I?” (You slowly blink your eyes open.)
“I, err, we got you outside, Boniface.” (Second voice now- oh wait! That’s Muenos! Wait, then who was the other voice?)
“You did. . . ?” (Eventually, you pull your hand away from rubbing your eyes, vision coming back to focus- ISA!!!) “‘ZA!!!!!”
(You were on Isabeau's lap, he was using his coat to help cover you, and now he’s all smiles!) “Hey lil’ buddy!”
(You give him a REALLY BIG HUG! Holding really tightly like he might just, just disappear! You couldn’t, you didn’t-) <SHUDDUP!! You hug him TOO! AND you bury your face into his shirt for good measure!!!>
“W-woah buddy!” (Isa chuckles, patting you both.) “You were passed out for a while, take it easy!”
<We’re FINE you CRABFACE!>
(N-no wait, he’s right. You can already feel your head swimming from the rush of movement. You cling to Isa to not fall over, w-wow, stars. . . Haha, seeing stars. . .)
“Please take it slow, Bonnie.” (Muenos pats your back.) “There’s no need to overexert yourself.”
“Too true!” (Isabeau's booming voice is pretty comforting.) “There’s another staircase leading up out here, once you’re all healed up we’ll see where it leads?”
“M’kay.” (You yawn again and slide back, sitting down. . . What the?) “What is that!”
(Isabeau follows your pointed finger, then chuckles and grins at you.) “Heheh, that’s Vixul!”
“THAT’S VIXUL???” (Your eyes were sparkling. The Fox standing by stairs that lead up and to the right turned towards you, waved, then looked back to the stairs.) “Nuh uh. . .”
“Yuh huh!!” (‘Za ruffled your hair.) “It’s a long story, buuuut it’s her!”
“Woah. . . Cool. . .”
>>>
(Ramos) [Alex] {Nihil} <Altiare> |Jasmine|
“I think we have a winner.” (Says Wren, words coming out slow and articulated, as if unsure.) “Sunbeam, right ahead. Or the remains of one, anyway.”
(You weren’t paying as much attention, but now that your attention was drawn to it, yeah! There was a trickle of light again pooling out from behind a corner. A twilight warmth that put a smile on your face. You grab Wren’s wrist.)
“C’mon!” (You start dragging him as you run.) “Let’s get out of here already!”
“Cutting-!!”
(You ignore his protests and keep running, only slowing down once you got close enough to look outside properly. You let out a few huffs and let go of Wren, before stepping out into the sun and basking in its warmth for a minute. . . . Ah crab that feels better. . .)
(You’ll be okay. You’re not scared to face Her.)
“Blooded cracked crystalline rubies-” (Wren mumbled. He was doubled over, hands on his knees.) “There was no need to run you impatient idiot.”
(You roll your eyes and look around. There’s not much, but to your right is--)[MADAME!?!?]
[Not far from you, you could see Madame Odile standing with her back to you, next to a shorter person who seemed. . . Familiar. They were in front of another staircase that led up and to the left. Without a second thought you rushed for her.]
“ODILE!!!” [She barely had time to turn around before you trapped her in a hug. She let out a wheeze, and a hiss of pain, and you instantly pulled away.] “Stars- w-what happened to you?! Are you okay?!?”
“POLARIS CHANDRAN!” [Wren's ever calm voice broke into a boom that made the familiar face- POLARIS! That was it -jump in place and bolt to your traveling companion.] “Are you hurt?! Who hurt you, and how did-”
“I’m FINE Wren!!” [Polaris protests.] “What about you?! Stars what about- w-wait nevermind that I-I need your help with something!”
[And you had just discovered what that “something” was.]
“Nasty, isn’t it.” [Odile says with a half-hearted chuckle. You were gently holding her right hand, which had a dangerous looking needle piercing straight through it. It was crudely bandaged up, but it was better than nothering.] “Polaris gave me ah, a hand, if you will.”
“H-ha ha?” [You try to laugh, and look back up at her.] “Miss, I- where the fuck have you been?!?”
“Oh not anywhere interesting, just, hanging around.” [She cracked into a smile at that, and you heard Polaris laugh as he dragged Wren forward.]
“It’s not that funny?!? I was scared shitless we wouldn’t find you or Isabeau or Mirabelle and-”
[You're cut off by Madame putting a hand under your chin and tilting it up, just a tiny bit.]
“. . . Are you going to continue complaining?”
“N-no miss.”
“Good. Now focus.”
[She takes her hand back and you shake your head clear.] “Right, right! First off, your wound. After that we can catch up with everything.”
“Wonderful idea.”
[You walk back a few steps, towards the cave, and sit down. The others do the same, and you get to work on healing Madame's damaged hand. Although, you did hear a little back and forth from the two other, well, you’ll just say flirtatious pair.]
“You would want me to do that to you, wouldn’t you.”
“N-nO!”
“Good, because I wouldn’t.”
“U-uh- I, I meanuh, uh. . .”
[Cute. Anyway, you take Odile's hand and gently look it over. Clean strike, bloody bandage, decent medical work. No healing craft, and the needle. . . Hmmm. . .] “So, what happened?”
“Polaris and I were stuck on a slim ledge of the cliff, about fifteen feet up.” [Odiles breath catches as you touch her hand.] “We slowly shimmied along the ledge until we were able to drop down here.”
“Fucking stars.” [You chuckle, nervous.] “How’d you manage?”
“We talked, that helped ground us.” [Odile sighed.] “Polaris dropped first, and I, second. I must have landed on an overhang, as it collapsed a few seconds after I landed. I would have died, but Polaris was able to stab this needle through my hand and into the ground.”
“Well! Polaris.” [Wren huffed.] “For once I have to compliment your quick thinking.”
“Thanks???”
“Hmm. . . Wren, do you know healing crafts?” [You glance up at him.] “I have an idea.”
“I do.” [Wren nods and walks over.] “You want to pull out the needle and quickly heal it, yes?”
“Yeah, since it’s the best we can do. Are you alright with that, Madame?”
“I will have to be.” [She says with a groan.]
“Alright. Wren and I will be ready to heal.” [You jab a thumb at Polaris.] “Get over here, you’re helping too.”
“Wh?!? What do you need ME for?!?” [A protest, but he walks over anyways.]
“You put it in there, you take it out.”
“W-WHA- I- U-uh. . .” [There’s a bit of shock, before finally pouting.] “Ffffffine.”
“Alright. Let’s make it quick, then we can chat after. Ready?”
“Ready.”
>>>
(Bonnie) [Crux] <Eight> |Ember|
“-then you and Muenos showed up a couple minutes later.” (Isa finishes with a hand wave, taking another step up the winding staircase.) “Now we’re just missing Ramos. Well and Wren too, right?”
“Yeah, and after that we need to find wherever Polaris’ gotten to.” (Vixul called from the rear. She wanted to trailblaze the group, but it was pointed out her tails were a tripping hazard, so, to the back she went.) “But after that. . ?”
“We’ll figure that out.” (Muenos mumbles, a step ahead of you.) “Do you still feel alright, Boniface?”
“Uhm, yeah.” (You nod, even though your thumb still felt numb, and the pang in your stomach and pressure in your chest still hadn’t left.) “Just uhm. . . Just tired.”
“Would a nap help?” (He replies with a heightened tone.)
“Nuh-uh.” (You shake your head.) “Naps here don’t do much.”
“O-oh, okay.” (Muenos takes a pause before speaking.) “. . . It might help, even if you just shut your eyes.”
“Yeah, sure. . .”
(There’s a minute of awkward silence as the group keeps climbing, your eyes still looking to the fl)oor. . . You sigh, not sure what to talk about. You let yourself lose focus.
“. . . How much do you know about the Shining One, Vix?” You don’t know how much time passed before Isa asked that question. “Since she’s hanging around.”
There was a barely contained groan from the fox. “She’s. . . I’ve heard of her?”
“Aaah.” Isa chuckles. “Spoilers?”
“Yup.” She replies. Huh?
“Er. . .” Muenos turns around and looks past you to Vixul. “Spoilers?”
“I’ll tell you sometime.” Vixul clicked her tongue and thought for a second. “Well. . . She used to be quite. . . Sociable? Nice? Kind? Something like that.”
“But not anymore, huh.” Isa finishes the thought. “Man. . . I wonder what caused it?”
“Power?” Muenos says oh so ‘matter-of-fact-ly’. “Power, and control?”
“What makes you say that?” |You mumble through the haze.|
“. . .”
“. . . There’s more behind it than that, that’s for sure.” Vixul says with a quiet sigh. “There’s a story behind that.”
“Starting to feel like everyone has something.” Isabeau muses, before quickly qualifying himself. “I mean, I know everyone has their own stuff going on, it’s just. . .”
“It’s different now, more. . . Apparent.” Vixul finishes. “Usually the actions of someone's stories stays behind closed doors. Maybe you’ll hear a whisper about it here and there, but with the world like this. . . Thoughts speak louder than any action or word.”
“. . . Yeah. . . .”
|You blink a few times and scrunch your head up tight, before relaxing. Huh okay, you’re here now, you guess. You look up and off to the distant skies, wow. . . The clouds looked like they’d never end, and almost like you could dive right in and sleep on one like a pillow. Hehe, you’d like that. . .|
“Oh hell-ooooo?” |Isabeau coos curiously from the front.| “I think we just found another landing!”
“Here’s hoping it’s not another death trap.” |Vixul grumbles.|
|One by one you stepped up to the, this time much larger, platform. On the far side there was another staircase, but it led back down. There was moss growing on the ground, and there was even a small stream trickling out of the cave.|
|The cave that uhm, looked a lot different. There were still plants growing out of it, but now there were so many more! The cave wasn't dark, it was lit by luminous flowers and berries. It looked like there was bark peeking out from part of the stone walls and ceiling, and there were weeds! Ferns! And, a, a-a disgustingly terribly sweet-|
|You gag and turn away, pulling up your cloak over your mouth and nose.|
“Y-yeah it's, pretty crabbing bad.” |Isa says with a grimace.| “gonna make me sick again.”
“It'll get worse.” |Vixul rubbed her nose.| “But it should be manageable.”
“Manageable?” |Muenos asks with a tilt of the head.| “Er, have I missed something?”
“Don't you smell that? It stinks of something super crazy sweet.” |Isa glances at you.| “You okay Bonbon? You're tearing up!”
|Huh? You feel your face, so you are.| “‘M okay!”
“Okay!!”
“I ah, don't smell anything.” |Muenos shuffles on the spot.| “That's so. . .”
“Can't dwell on it right?” |Vixul starts walking to the cave.| “We can't stop now, after all.”
“Yeah! Uh, that is uh. . .” |Isabeau turns to you.| “Will you be okay, Bonnie?”
“. . . Uhm, yeah uh, I'll. . .” |You blink a few times. Was that. . . Mirabelle? Waving to you from the cave. . . ? You shake your head clear.| “Y-yeah! Let's go!”
>>>
(Ramos) [Alex] {Nihil} <Altiare> |Jasmine|
“There's that cutting smell again.” [Wren complained as you entered the mouth of the moss ridden cave.] “Will no one rid me of this turbulent stench?”
“Ha!” [Odile smiles despite her tender, but somewhat healed, hand.] “And so are we now King of the Ichian Isles?”
“Right before the conveniently timed death of a Soleanist Seer, and quite an important one at that.” [You add.] “Will no one rid me of this turbulent Seer?”
“You two know your history.” [Wren hummed.] “If we survive this, it would be nice to meet up again in person.”
“If? [Polaris finally pipes up from the back.] “Only if?!”
“When. If it makes you feel better.” [Wren replies with a shake of the head.] “I’m sure you would like to spend more time around Madame.”
“Wh- HEY!”
“Hah.” [Odile chuckled.]
[Soon, the light from the entrance dimmed, leaving only the luminous flora around you. The stone flooring of the rest of the cliffside and cave system soon became a distant memory as moss and moist dirt brushed on your shoes. The brook running alongside the path you followed seemed off, with a silvery shine to it.]
[Stars, it reminded you of a forest, a thick one at that. The bark that permeated the walls, with roots making up the roof, was a dark grey shade with hints of what you think is red. The flowers and ferns seemed familiar, and the fruit looked enticing. Too enticing. You didn’t need to be smart to know they were poisoned in some way.]
[Odile coughed.] “Gems- you are right, Wren, this smell is. . . Thick.”
“Still don’t smell anything.” [Pol grumbles.]
“It’s a faint smell, at least to me.” [You add]
“Hmm. . .” [Wren sighs.] “I don’t trust it, cover your faces.”
“Fine, fine.” [You untie your bandana from your hair and cover your mouth with it. Eugh. . .]
“You look good with your hair down, Alex.” [Odile surprises you with a pat on the shoulder.]
“Thanks?” [You grumble, brushing your hair off your shoulders.] “Don’t be surprised if I switch out, though.”
“That is more than alright.” [She chuckles in response.] “Honestly, I’m fascinated with that manifestation you talked about before, and would like to see it work.”
“Yes, you’ve been ‘drinking all the tea’, as Vixul says.” [Wren gives you a glance and a slim smile.] “Ever since we met with Madame and Polaris, you’ve been a constant presence.”
“Oh shove it!”
“‘Drinking all the tea?’” [Odile raises an eyebrow.]
“Ah, that is how Vixul-” [Wren stops himself, then sighs and shakes his head.] “Bleeding- oh nevermind; she is Plural. She described her own front as a small patio table in a black void, with warm tea ready at a moment's notice.”
“So drinking all the tea means staying in front for a while?” [You half shrug.] “Makes sense.”
[You’re pulled away from the conversation by the veritable jungle that’s sprouting on your path. Vines hanging from the roof, and plants you could only imagine being in fantasy books! Heh, if it wasn’t already so dangerous, you bet Jasmine would love to stay here for a bit.]
(Same here, really. It’s almost like our own garden, here. . .)
[Unreal, right?]
(Yeah, and almost. . . Homey?)
[I feel that, yeah. With the ferns accenting the undergrowth of the forest and the trees that seemed to bend around your party, cradling you within this dirt path of bark and branch. The trickle of the brook sounded like salty tears on an autumn day. A soft, white sand lay at the edge of the water, almost out of place in this hearth of greenery.]
[You had to pause for a moment, wordlessly, your companions did the same. The sights, sounds, and smells with their strings entwined, it left you in awe. The wind blew, the woods whispered faintly, and dripped with tears in the form of silver leaves. The canopy dipped and danced overhead, erupting into a thoughtful hum as the wind passed, infinitely louder than before. It’s as if the very cave was breathing, living, listening. . .]
[Growling.]
"Why are you here?"
[As loudly as it had begun, the wind stilled, and whatever had been with them grew silent. It did not pass, however; it did not leave. There was a certain level of distrust in the air mixed with the growing sweet smell.]
(Tag! You and your friends draw your weapons, your eyes pass around the room, listening for the voice, watching for the flower between the trees. Your breathing quickened. The woods, no longer weeping, was now holding its breath as if waiting for an answer.)
“U-uh, uh. . .” (Polaris’ voice was quivering.) “J-just, looking for, uhm, for our friends??”
“We do not intend any trouble.” (Wren cuts him off, elbowing him in the gut.) “If ah, you could simply point us to, t-to--”
(Wren gags, then starts coughing like crazy before doubling over!)
“Wren?!? W-what-?!” (Polaris jumps to his side.) “What’s going on?!?”
“Cover your mouth!” (Odile orders with a pained breath; she has her arm over her mouth.) “The smell, t-there’s something in the air!!”
(The winds picked up, the trees rustled and rumbled with whispers of promises and desires. You glance from side to side, moving to put yourself between whatever was out there and your friends.)
“Your own cries betray your lies, my dearest butterflies~”
“Wh- what?!?” (You grit your teeth, and unfocus your eyes. Where are you. . . ?)
“It’s just toying with us.” (A cough interrupts Odile.) “Just ignore it, just ignore it so we can, we, can, c-can-”
(She coughs, a second, and third time before aggressively clearing her throat and taking a few deep breaths. Crab, CRAB!!! C-c’mon, think, think!)
{Breathe, Ramos. . .}
(Y-you’re, you’re trying-!)
“I can’t breathe--” (Wren gasps from one knee.) “I-I can’t--”
“Starstarstarstars- I-I got you Wren, I-I got you!!”
{Stop. Trying.}
(What??)
{Stop trying to breath, stop trying to think. Just, breathe. . .}
(. . . . . You. . . You breathe in. . . And out. . . .)
(. . . The first mind, of soft grasses and sunny days and stary nights, that’s you. The second, an endless sea, a labyrinth of knowledge, Odile. The third, neat, organised, puzzle pieces in picture frames, shifting, watching, Wren. The fourth, soft static buildup on strings gently plucked, stars, seen through a kaleidoscope, Polaris.)
(Yet, there is a fifth. A mind circled you all like a predator, a cat, or spider inspecting the latest flies in its web. It was slowly creeping to your flank, your back. You shifted your stance, focused on nothing but the presence.)
“Tears, fueled by fears; why bury cravings with deaf ears, dears?”
“SHUT UP!!!” (Polaris screams.) “JUST, J-JUST SHUT UP!!!”
“P-Po--” (Wren’s cut off by a cough.)
“Cravings, huh?” (You shift your feet, and crouch down. Ready, ready. . .) “Alright, I’ll bite.”
(The trees rustle with laughter and mania.) “Gooooood~”
(There’s a tingle on your neck-)
*Block now.
(In a blink you twist and block with your tonfas, eyes closed tight, hands guided by instinct and mind craft. A tremendous force smashes into you, shoving you back, leaving trails in the dirt and moss. And yet, you do not falter, no matter how much the power behind this attack dares you to.)
“WHAT THE BLINDING FUCK IS-?!?!”
“W-WHA-!?!”
“RAMOS, RUN!!!”
(You dare sneak a peek at the force pressing against you. You’re greeted back with multiple rows of dangerous, sharp teeth.)
(You can feel your knees buckling, you leap to the side and the beast crashes into the foliage behind you. A cloud of pollen, spores, SOMETHING fills the air as your breathing gets faster and faster! You back up to the others, eyes on where the thing landed its strike.)
“You’re more than you show, pretty little butterfly~” (The voice, which is DEFINITELY coming from this beast, coos at you.) “Seeking your fill, and more beside~”
“W-what’s--” (Polaris starts, before gagging.) “T-that- STINKS!!!”
“Y-yeah.” (You choke back tears, the pollen was thick and sweet and so much worse than before!!) “Just- W-wren, Odile, back up!”
(The only response was the sounds of retching and coughing, and even that you didn’t have time to let sink in! The beast was moving again, slowly, head on, towards you; each step made its features clearer and clearer. Four legs, a long tail, some kind of mane, a-and a headpiece that glowed and, caught your eye again and again. Its eyes glowed a soft shade, a strange shade; the word "violet" comes to mind. C-crab, you readied yourself, but, you’re not going to let yourself, l-let yourself get killed by, b-by a, a-a--)
“A D-DRAGON!?!?!?”
(The word came from your lips as soon as your brain put two and two together. The pollen cloud cleared and standing in front of you was indeed; a dragon. It grinned, then roared! C-crab, that same strangely shaded glowing was coming from its throat!!! N-no time, it pounced!!)
(There wasn’t any time to move, and if you did the others would get hurt! Wren and Odile were still being affected by the gas, you had to stand your ground!! You braced, and still it wasn’t enough. You held on for just long enough for the others to move, but not a second more! Your stance falters, and you’re thrown to your back, stunned. The next thing you know, you’re pinned to the ground with one taloned paw, a claw to your neck.)
“You want and you wane, just to fight it off in vain!” (The dragon said with evil laughter.) “I will not beg you pardon, for you are my dinner; the dinner of the Garden!“
“H-HELP!!!” (You squeal, wide eyed, it- it’s leaning down, you’re, y-you’re finding it hard to focus- c-can’t breathe, the, t-the BREATH of this thing it’s, i-it, it---)
(There was a blur on The Gardens head as Polaris appeared in a blink! He grit his teeth, pin in hand!) “T-TAKE THIS!!!” (And he thrust the weapon into the eye of the beast. It ROARED and shook them off, but gave you just enough time to scramble out of its grasp.)
“Rha-” (There’s a cough from Odile as she struggles against the miasma.) “W-we, need to, run!!”
(With that, she casts [Slow IV]! The Garden doesn’t even acknowledge the attack, as it was too busy batting its eye clear. Wren followed it up with [War the Worlds]! Razor sharp pages slashed at the dragon, but still it was unphased!)
“Oh me oh my! What a fierce little fly!” (The Garden yawned and stood tall, whatever wounds it had soon fading. Was that- n-no! You can’t get distracted now, just focus on your enemy!)
“O-odile! Wren!” (Polaris sputters, burying his face in his cloak.) “G-get outta here! You, go!!!”
“N-no.” (Wren gasps.) “I cannot, l-leave you, here!”
“Oh? Is that quiver to endear, I hear?” (Garden crouches down, about to pounce.) “How queer!”
(The dragon roars and lunges for Wren! You move in to strike, Polaris moves faster, pushing Wren out of danger! But Polaris, he’s thrown across the room and lands tangled in vines. You dive in low and strike, but that crabbing TAIL knocks you down!)
(The Garden struts around the cave and laughs.)
“Oh will you just shut up already?” (Odile groans.)
“Oh there's no need for such a sneer,” (Garden turned to her, still grinning.) “Then I'll start with you! With-”
“[ICICLE SPEAR]!!!!!”
>>>
(Bonnie) [Crux] <Eight> |Ember|
(A small torrent of pointed ice flew from Vixuls hand into the, t-the whatever it was! Ramos was getting cornered by it, Polaris was tangled in vines, Wren was s-struggling to breathe!! And, t-there’s, there’s Odile!!! Odile’s okay!!! On the floor, b-but, ok! The cave you all were going through had led into one big room where all the plants had pulled away; your group was near the entrance.)
(Vixul barked orders.) “ISA-!!!”
“ON IT!!”
(You ran up to ‘Dile as Isa struck the dragon thing with [Ka-Boom!!!]. You’re already set on helping her up when that smell hits you again! You grit your teeth and try to hold your breath. Did Muenos pass you just now?)
“‘D-Dile!” (You grunt.) “C-c’mon! Get, up!”
“B-Bonnie-?!” (She’s cut off by a coughing fit but that’s FINE! WHATEVER! You get her arm over your shoulder and start moving her towards Vixul ‘n Isa.) “W-what- h-how--”
“C-C’mon we gotta move!!” (You breathe faster, half dragging, half carrying her!) “Y-you’re, you’re gonna--”
“BUDDY!” (Ramos hollered, using [Class Cutter!]) “Took you long enough!”
“W-what’s going on with Odile!? A-and, Wren??!” (Isabeau shrugs off a swipe form the Garden.)
“Whatever’s in the air! It’s, i-it’s making them sick!!!” (Ramos stepped back, and glanced at ‘Vi) “W-who are- Vixul?!”
“Not the time!!” (She growled, rushing forward with a spear, stabbing at the Dragon. By now, you had gotten ‘Dile back near the entrance.) “Focus on the fight and nothing else!!”
“W-what?!?” (Isabeau stutters, backing up.) “How can I do that w-when, when-!”
(As if on cue he starts to cough, and as if sensing something, the Garden turns to him and lunges! In a blink, Polaris is in front of Isa, and throws pins into the gaping maw of that beast with [Shock and Awe!]. Just a moment later it screams and croaks, spitting the pins out, but giving enough time for the two to get away!)
(Looking back to where you saw Polaris tangled up earlier, Muenos is sitting there with a lot of cut vines and a dull pair of fabric scissors.)
“ENOUGH of this BLATHER and BOTHER!!!” (The dragon rears.) “Covet your cravings, you’ll all bleed one after another!!”
(With uproarious laughter, and a slam of the tail, clouds of pollen and dust bloomed through the whole room; you couldn’t see ANYTHING!!! It was thick! Just out of, of instinct or want to help your friends, you step forward even though it’s impossible to see through! It was so, s-so, so THICK!!!)
“B-Bonnie, wait!!” (‘Dile’s trying to stop you, but she’s coughing already, it’s--)
(T-thick and smelled of sweets, o-of plums and grapes and, and, and SUGAR!!! You hated, h-hated, hated HATED IT!!! You cough again, then gag, and wretch and cough and cough and cough! You feel it coming, and slam your mouth shut. You bit your tongue? Maybe b-but you dunno just, j-just-!!)
(There’s an evil cackling, a glow through the clouds of pollen, a-and then you can feel it! A tingle at the back of your neck, the rising bile in your throat. The Dragon lunges at you and, a-and you wait for the worst, but, but you don’t shut your eyes. You’ll be okay, y-you’ll be okay, you’ll be OKAY!!!)
(The Garden looks ravenous and bloodthirsty once its shape clears through the pollen. Its eyes were narrowed, mouth salivating, claws sharp. You’d be hurt really badly in just a fraction of a second, and you knew that, b-but. . .)
(As soon as you saw it through the dust, or maybe when it saw you, its eyes went wide in panic. It slammed its paws down, claws retracted, mid leap to stop itself. Its wings flew open to change direction, and it shifted around to land at an awkward angle that, put you, out, of danger.)
(It stared at you for a second, in the same way that Siffrin once did. When that sadness nearly got you but ‘Frin got in the way, or, when they first taught you how to fight, and the sadness hit you. It stared at you like, like. . .)
<Like a stupid, dummy, crabfaced, overprotective adult!!!>
(Odile blasted the Dragon with [Paper ɑ V]. It stumbled back, roared, and started charging at her.)
(You jumped in front of ‘Dile and stood there defiantly. Just as expected, the Dragon skidded along the ground, looking to change course and leap away to some other target very far away from you. You don’t give it a chance.)
<You get your pan and whack it on the snoot as hard as you can,>(and scream at the top of your lungs!!!) “SNAP OUTTA IT YOU BLINDING DUMB BATTY IDIOT CRABBING STUPIDCRABFACE!!!!!!!”
(The Dragon stumbled back, clutching its nose and snoot and, and WHINING?!? It rolled its head and-)
“Oooowwwww!!!” (Said the Dragon.) “T-that’s, a crabbing good arm you have there, kid. . .”
“HA! YES!!!” (You point at it, grinning.) “So you ARE just a BIG DUMB BABY!!!”
“A-aha!?!?!??!?” (The Garden startled, before scrambling back onto all fours, back arched.) “N-no, NO! I will, I will eat you alive! Into, a, a-a, er. . .”
“Wait. . . Wait I know that voice.” (Ramos calls out from somewhere in the pollen cloud.) “. . . . Eden?!? Eden is that you?!?”
“HA?!?” (Eyes wide, the big dragon who’s DEFINITELY super scary stumbles over his own feet.) “W-what?!? No, ha, y-you must be mistaken!”
“Wait, from the pharmacy?” (Isabeau and Ramos break through the pollen as it begins to settle.) “Oh yeah I remember you! Pretty cool guy, helped us out, teased Siffrin.”
“So then why-” (Odile’s interrupted by a bit of coughing, but continues.) “Why attack us, and why the sudden change?!”
(Eden snarled, slowly crawling backwards.) “Oh I don’t know, how about we return to fighting?!”
“But we’re your friends, dummy!” (You pout, hard.) “I dunno a lot about you but you seem cool and stuff! So why-”
“Don’t fill my ears with fake hope, kid.” (Eden hissed, still backing up.) “Friends? Really? After what just happened?!”
“WHY NOT!!!” (You stomp your foot. You feel your family take a few steps back.) “If something bad’s gonna happen to you just SAY IT!!!”
“I- No! Not like that!” (He turned away from you and lazily swiped his tail.) “What sort of self-respecting adult would let someone young anywhere near a snake like me!”
“I mean. . .” (Isabeau shrugged.) “I would? Ramos knows you and trusts you, and the whole ‘becoming a poison dragon’ thing isn’t exactly something that happens every day.”
(Eden inhales sharply.)
“I-isa, uh. . .” (Ramos grimaces, motioning to Odile.) “That’s. . .”
“. . Ah.” (Odile crosses her arms and nods, walking towards them.)
“Huh??” (You look around, confused. Ramos whispered something to ‘Dile and ‘Za. Muenos and Pol were being gross, ‘n Wren sat by Vix, who had kept quiet through this whole back n’ forth. You pout even harder.)
“. . . . Oooooohhhh” (Isabeau nods solemnly, before puffing his chest out, hands on hips.) “Nah, you’re fine.”
“What?!” (Eden was taken aback, before loudly squinting at Ramos.) “My dear Ramos, what was it that you told them?”
“I-it’s, not a big deal Eden, it’s okay!” (Ramos insists.) “I uh, I know we don’t know each other the best, I mean, y-you did send me those bluebell seeds for my birthday a few years ago, b-but. . .”
“What are you all crabbing talking about?!?!” (You holler at the stupid adults. Ramos winces, and Odile sighs, walks over to you, and kneels down.)
“Eden here has. . . Dependencies-”
“Not a kid, ‘Dile.” (Arms super crossed now.)
“Ah, yes, of course.” (She looks away for a moment.) “. . . Eden has an addiction, do you know what that is?”
“Uhm, yeah.” [You nod. Oh, co-front, okay.] “It’s when uhm, when someone needs to take something or they get sick?”
“Er, essentially.” [She and you look back at Eden, who’s being comforted and reassured by ‘Za and ‘Oz.] “What Eden needs to take can ah. . . Hmm. . . . . Well. . . . Ah! Do you remember, er, a few weeks before we made it to Dormont you were woken up by Isabeau, Siffrin, and I?”
“Oh when you were being weird?” (You nod.) “Yeah.”
“Well, It’s something akin to that.” (Odile sighs.) “Eden needs to have something similar regularly, or he cannot, ah. . . Well. . .”
“. . . Was it like when ‘Frin skipped his med-di-ca-tion?” [Yeah, while you were chasing the Monets, ‘Frin had a day where he totally forgot those deulo, dule, dul- not be sad medicine, and it made them feel really crabbing bad.]
“Ah, yes, in a way.” [Odile smiles and ruffles your hair.] “That’s what Eden is worried about.”
“Huh?!?” (You bat her hand away.) “But that doesn’t make any crabbing sense!!!”
“W-well, some of the medicine he needs can make him not act like himself-”
“I KNOW that! So WHAT!!! That’s STUPID!!!”
(Odile goes from kneeling to sitting, she looks tired.) “Many people outside of Vaugarde see people like Eden as. . . Dangerous. Gems, it wouldn’t surprise me if there’s some in Vaugarde who-”
“THAT’S DUMB!!!” (You jump up, and sprint over to Eden, and before you let him back away like you know he WOULD the STUPIDCRAB! You give him as big a hug as you can.) “DON’T LISTEN TO STUPID BATFACES LIKE THAT!!! YOU CRAB! YOU’RE NOT A BIG MEAN MONSTER!! OR BAD! OR EVIL OR SCARY!!!!”
(Eden didn’t move an inch! Not for a really, REALLY long time! And even then it was just to talk.) “. . . .L-little buddy. . .”
“‘M not letting go, ‘kay?” (You grumble and huff.) “ ‘N That’s final!”
“. . I. . .” (Very, very awkwardly, Eden pats your back with a paw.) “. . Thank you. . .”
“. . . Well uh, glad that’s sorted out!” (Isa chuckles awkwardly.) “. . . Mind if we uh, rest up here for a bit?”
“N-not at all!” (Eden blinks, and rests his head on a paw.) “Make yourself at home, dears. Just, don’t eat the fruits~”