half a witch willow

willow park 🐝 waltrp 🧪 #vinemagic

[vinemagic]

🌻⠀⠀⠀ :⠀⠀⠀ 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓⠀.⠀⠀⧽⠀⠀⠀ ━━━ ⠀ advanced magical horticulture course sequence | unit 4 - final-exam.

🌻 Student Report: Final Exam 🌻

Subject: Advanced Magical Horticulture

Student: Willow Park

Assignment: Magical Horticulture - Final Exam

Reutilis-Vetrify Picea-Blue ( blue-glass spruce ) is an hybrid-spruce of the Colorado Blue Spruce ( picea pungens ) tree-family. As it was engineered to naturally vitrify its resin, pinecones and needles into solid-glass components right before they fall-of. Once they turn into solid-glass ⸻ they can be grounded down into an powder that acts as an adhesive for binding broken glass. While any recyclable glass-structure bonded or created by this new magical-ingredient can be completely dissolved and reverted back into sand after being fully-submerged in water for 48hrs.

🌻 Recipe &. Process 🌻

Colorado Blue Spruce ( picea pungens )

Sm. Glass Slipper Potion - Fairy Godmothers Potion | effect_descr. : temporarily turns any pair of shoes into solid glass - bought at Gloam Market April 27th.

Boron Trioxide - 2 tbsp.

Comfrey Root - 1/2 cup. ( dried &. chopped ).

Calcite Powder - 1 tsp.

Calcium Oxide ( lime ) - 2 tbsp.

Crushed Opaline Shell &. Freshwater Pearls - 1/2 cup of crushed opaline shell &. 1 tsp of crushed freshwater pearls mix.

Mica Flakes - 3 tbsp.

Silica - 3 tbsp.

Sodium Carbonate ( soda ash ) - 1 tsp.

Unpolished Feldspar - 1 cup.

Obsidian Shards - 1/2 cup

Unpolished Sandstones - 1 cup.

Unglazed Thick Terracotta Pot w/ 4 Cast-Iron Rings spaced-equally within the 4 gal-pot.

Soil-Mixing Instruction(s) :

Combine Boron Trioxide - Comfrey Root - Calcite Powder - Calcium Oxide - Crushed Opaline Shell &. Freshwater Pearls - Mica Flakes - Silica - Sodium Carbonate - &. Obsidian Shards in an kids discovery tumblr.

Add 3 drops of Fairy Godmother's ' Glass Slipper Potion ' every 12 hrs until the potion bottle emptys into the kids discovery tumblr.

Every 12 hrs - break down the geode clusters created into an fine powder &. continue to tumble.

Crush the empty Fairy Godmother's ' Glass Slipper Potion ' bottle into an sandy-grit &. add it to the tumblr.

Add the Unpolished Feldspar &. Unpolished Sandstones that have been soaking in direct sunlight &. moonlight into the 4 gal-pot.

Transfer the Soil-Mixture into the 4 gal-pot &. mix all ingredients together until well mixed.

Love* ( willows magic + mr. meechai's backwash/saliva in there smoothie-straw )

*** The Reutilis-Vetrify Picea-Blue | Blue-Glass Spruce was spritz with an reduction-potion so it stands at 5ft to transport easily for presentation &. inspection.

🧪 Chlorophyll_Notes 🌻

Reutilis-Vetrify Picea-Blue :

Scientific-Name : Picea vitrificans f. reutilis

Common-Name : Blue-Glass Spruce ( ... Reutilis-Vitrify Picea-Blue )

Classification : an hybrid-spruce engineered from the Picea Pungens ( Colorado Blue Spruce ) family.

🧪 New Magical Ingredient Notes 🌻

New Magical Ingredient : Vetrify-Spruce Powder | Blue-Glass Powder

This Vetrify-Spruce Powder solves the problem in glass-blowing history where mixing different types of recycled-glass can finally be re-imagined &. turned back into sand.

As this powder itself binds with the recycled-glass during the molten-process so that it cools properly.

The blown-glass that is made with the Vetrify-Spruce | Blue-Glass Powder can be dissolved back into sand after being fully submerged in water in 48 hrs.

Not only does it help recycled-glass become usable in an fight for demanding-resource but it also allows this glass to absorb magical residue from whatever liquid that could be stored within it.

001 : If the recycled-glass is forged into an Potion Bottle - &. the potions magical residue seeps into the glass-material over its shelf-time. Then the Potion Bottle is later dissolved back into sand - that sand would carry the magical-buildup from the potion as it becomes magical sand.

As highly charged magical-sand can - alter - enhance - &. magically-effect whatever its re-blown into over time.

002 : In the kind of way it can be understood - Positive &. Negative magical effects can vary from being an - Antidote or an Poison - Blessed-Item or an Curse-Item - Restoration vs. Deterioration - Good-Luck vs. Bad-Luck - Protecting vs. Harming - as the magical-buildup that builds in the sand will vary through its recycled - re-shaped - &. re-used lifespan.

Insp. / Gilbert Park from The Owl House | Recyclable &. Degradable Glass on an Magical Level | " The ghost of Christmas past, " + ( ... Krit continued sipping his drink, ... By the time she started speaking again, he'd finished his drink and tossed it aside- ) - Kritsada 'Krit' Meechai unclean-smoothie straw was used in the making of this.

Final Exam | Unit-4 A+

[vinemagic]

does your muse dream frequently ? if they do, what kind of dreams (or nightmares) do they have ?

⸻🌿 WILLOW WON'T TALK ABOUT HER NIGHTMARES. IT'S not that she doesn't trust her friends. But sometimes . . . things are just to heavy to talk about honestly.

Because when Willow first arrived in Elias an few years back . . . she would have nightmares of her dads being publicly petrified on The Day of Unity. As there is no doubt in her mind that Emperor Belos &. Odalia Blight would have convinced the narrative in the Boiling Isles that the Parks were monsters. In the kind of way when Willow realized Hunter &. Amity were also in Elias ⸻ they ruined not just The Day of Unity ⸻ but it would have threatened the Blight family image Amity's mother worked so hard to gain. &. her dads were an convenient scapegoat for it all when they all went missing.

They offered an easy blame for everything ⸻ the Coven Day Parade commotion ⸻ from the Golden Guard secret mission ⸻ leading up to the massive student-led rebellion at Hexside nearing The Day of Unity. While the story was simply tidyer with the Parks being in the center of it ⸻ because when the Day of Unity itself turned to failure &. the story needed an center ⸻ they died as monsters in the eyes of the citizens ⸻ traitors to the Titan ⸻ the enemy of the Titans progress &. against the royal-regime.

As that wasn't the end of Mrs. Blights mark in Willows nightmares ⸻ but Amity &. her own friendship meant it came with an bigger price ⸻ bigger than the expulsion from Hexside ⸻ no doubt Odalia Blight was more than willing to showcase. &. yet the nightmare slowly starts to feel an little more real recently . . . as Willow thought she buried this nightmare at 19 ⸻ replaced it with another ⸻ but what if . . . what if ⸻ unlimited patience &. time was all Emperor Belos &. Odalia needed to find an way to fix the door to the human-realm?

Reaching out to King recently ⸻ putting Hunter &. Amity back in danger all over again?

As the nightmare that currently haunts Willow most is born from fire. Willow is trapped in an burning labyrinth ⸻ trapped in an burning maze with flaming walls that seem to shift &. radiate-unbearable heat ⸻ hissing sparks. While the heavy-smoke is so thick she feels it fill her lungs tasting the ash on her tongue. As she can't see feeling the way the metal of her glasses capture the heat pressing against her skin⸻ can't breathe ⸻ can't think. &. through the roaring of the fire ⸻ she can hear what little ⸻ friends ⸻ family she has left.

As Willow is always running ⸻ running to try to find them . . . But the roaring-fire is always shifting in the labyrinth &. the walls feel alive &. unbearable. While the voices of her friends ⸻ family calling out to one another starts to drift &. get further ⸻ further away from Willow. Fearing ⸻ terrified that she will lose them. As she never finds them. This was why Willow wanted to avoid the Corn Maze of Whispers back in October. An nightmare come to life is when the walls feel like there closing in ⸻burning.

&. her friends voices she can't quite locate? The inner-rage &. pain that someone she really cares about is just around the corner ⸻ hurting ⸻ in pain ⸻ &. Willow couldn't get to them? The awful sickening-feeling of certainly that she was always choosing the wrong path no matter where she turns. Over &. over it proves to Willow that she can't save anyone on there own. Always running no matter how the fire &. heat comes alive because stopping feels like . . . failing. It feels like she didn't try hard enough. &. honestly reflecting . . . on Willows current situation ⸻ before it even really became current.

╰ 🌿.⭒ʿ˖✧ @amityatelias | @clawthorncs | @luzuramagic.

[vinemagic]

send me “#” for cell phone headcanons about our muses including: - what your muse’s name is in mine’s phone - what your muse’s picture is in mine’s phone - what your muse’s ringtone is in mine’s phone - my muse’s last text to your muse

- what your muse’s name in willows phone -

⤷ anonymous

- what is anonymous picture in willows phone -

- what is anonymous ringtone in willows phone -

⤷ ၊၊||၊⋆.˚ lets get weird ⚠︎ ♪ ♫ ♬ ˚.⋆''

- anonymous last text to willows phone -

⤷ [ 📳 - 💬anonymous ] lets get weird ⤷ [ 📳 - 💬willow_park ] interesting you think you can handle my level of weird

[reapingsoul]

open starter

📍 the entrance of hatchaway cemetery

it was the quiet hours of midnight when grim stood outside of the cemetary. it had become a habit of sorts since he arrived in elias. he never hovered around cemeteries before this, call him sentimental he didn't want to risk meeting any grieving family members or friends of the deceased.

but right now? he felt the pull to go here... maybe to atone for what he had been doing for hades.

the path was illuminated by the light from his scythe, which he set down for a moment to surveil the area. "alright," he warned sharply when he felt the presence of another. "step back from the scythe. it's not your property."

[vinemagic]

⸻🍂 ONE THING WILLOW NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD be doing would be avoiding ⸻ King ⸻ Cassian at Hatchaway Cemetery.

As every known haunt had become an trap waiting to spring ⸻ so they had come here instead . . . where not even King ⸻ Cassian would think to look for them here ⸻ yet. As they were near an patch of clovers near the gated-entrance ⸻ trying to find 4-leaf clovers. Startled for an moment ⸻ as they stared at them from the ground.  While they just noticed the scythe ⸻ glowy⸻ &. dramatic.  As this was the kind of thing Elias loved to throw at them when they were already having an pretty bad week. Just there luck ⸻ being assumed they were trying to steal some stranger's glowly-gardening-tool.

“ I ⸻ I'm not stealing your garden-scythe ⸻ ” she said bluntly &. flat “ ⸻ I am looking for 4-leaf clovers!!! ”

But the accusation was like an physical-blow that they couldn't control ⸻ feeling there chest tighten &. there stress-rise ⸻ as the air grew suffocatingly-thin as they flinched trying to brace-down there magic . . . only for there magic to surge ⸻ as bright wildflowers tangled &. erupted. While aggressive weed-growth began to rise &. spiral-wrap around the glowing-scythe-handle to grow-out long enough to reach Mr.Grim holding it out offering it back to them ⸻ politely ⸻ but on there . . . own. As they looked away first feeling there cheeks warm up ⸻ there pointed-ears shifted-lower as if they had done something . . . wrong.

As they returned there smokey-quartz behind glasses back to finding 4-leaf-clovers! Nothing was stolen!! They were fine!!! They have everything under- control!!!!

[vinemagic]

[clawthorncs]

the city held its breath around them.rain softly hissing against the neon signs and cracked pavement. it turned the streets of elias into something half-drowned, yet dreamlike. thunder rolled like an old god shifting in its sleep.and king..he just stood in the middle of it it all..looking painfully mortal for once. mud line his boots as exhaustion stitched into the slope of his shoulders… eyes too tired to hide anything properly. clover chirped once from atop his head as if attempting to mediate the situation before emotions escalated into property damage. it did not help.

he felt something inside him drop straight through the earth. she was scared..not annoyed. or frustrated..scared..the kind of fear people only carried for things they couldn’t bear to lose. the last three months replayed in fragments sharp enough to cut: dead coastlines. empty forests. endless rain. hopeless dreams whispering his name like a curse. all those nights convincing himself he was chasing destiny instead of spiraling headfirst into another obsession he didn’t know how to let go of. and the entire time.. he hadn’t told anyone he was leaving.

not eda.  not luz. not willow…he had just vanished..as if that like that somehow made it easier. the realization hit him so hard he physically winced.“…oh, titan,” he muttered under his breath, sounding genuinely horrified with himself now. king stared at her for a long second beneath rain, lips parting slightly before shutting again. there were a thousand things he could say.. most of them terrible. one of them involved pretending he had actually died and come back somehow cooler, but even he knew that joke would probably get him buried alive beneath sentient vines tonight.

“yeah,” he murmured..lowering his gaze. clover buzzed softly atop his shoulder, tiny paws pressing against his damp hoodie as he stared at willow slowly understanding the shape of the damage he’d left behind. his grip tightened around the convenience store coffee until the cup crumpled slightly in his hand as the roots beneath the pavement began moving. “um..wow. okay. cool.” another helpless shake of his head. “i’m actually the villain in this story.” lightning cracked somewhere overhead.. “don’t agree with me.”

thunder rumbled anyway.“traitor.” he could feel the city reacting to her grief like a nervous animal pressed against a cage. his gaze dropped briefly to the cracks near her feet before lifting back to her face and thats when something inside him softened catastrophically.

there she was. still here. angry and frightened and shaking beneath the rain after three months of silence, and somehow she was still standing here looking at him like he was something worth being furious over. that was the part that undid him.

not the yelling. not the storm. that.

he ran a hand over his face with a tired groan. “okay..so… hypothetically speaking..” he started carefully, “if someone did accidentally follow a cosmic hallucination into the wilderness because they thought maybe the universe was finally handing them a life-changing revelation…”lightning cracked again"...but..there wasn’t anything out there.”

the humor slipped.just for a second. long enough for the truth to show through. “i kept thinking if i walked a little farther, or stayed one more night, or followed the dream one more time, i’d find…” his brows pinched slightly. “something that made sense.”

rainwater slid from the edge of his jaw as he laughed again, weaker now...sadness edging at this words…“instead i got attacked by seagulls in maine.” he pause. “which, by the way...they are demons..one stole my sandwich and looked me directly in the eyes while doing it.”

clover buzzed sympathetically.. “thank you. for understanding.” but the bit was unraveling already. willow was still staring at him like that. and he couldn’t joke his way around the ache in her voice. his shoulders lowered a fraction. the fight drained out of him like rainwater down a gutter. “i’m sorry..” he said again, softer this time. real enough that it almost disappeared beneath the storm. “i didn’t…” he swallowed once. “i didn’t think anyone would notice how long i was gone.” which was maybe the saddest thing he could’ve ever admitted.

[vinemagic]

⸻🍂 WILLOW HAD NEVER UNDERSTOOD HOW EASILY THE human-realm loved an villain. As if the villainy-trope came out theatrical ⸻ painfully-overused ⸻ needing an cape &. some wicked laugh before anyone knew what to do with it. Standing there just an few feet away from an 24-hour convenience store with rain reflecting neon while trying to listen to them talk. As King? Cassian? Certainly talked themselves in &. out of blame as Clover vibrated as if trying to keep the storm from choosing sides. While they talked about some . . . cosmic road-trip disaster they tried to fold into an joke if they bent it hard enough. As she saw less of King Clawthorne ⸻ because the untouchable ⸻ walking declaration of impossible prowess of confidence &. chaotic-overlording ⸻ looked painfully mortal ⸻ &. painfully just as lost as she was. In the kind of way they both simply been alone to long &. dumbly standing in the rain outside an 24-hour convenient store long past midnight running out of ways to pretend that they were fine ⸻ spoiler alert: they were far from fine. Then Cassian reached the part about Maine ⸻ the joke was possibly somewhere to far away to recognize. As something moved across her face that she didn't bother stopping ⸻ jaw clenching tight ⸻ smokey-quartz going somewhere inward ⸻ pupil-sharp &. very far in thought from there. Because it wasn't just Cassian she was seeing anymore ⸻ but fragments of Luz ⸻ &. the moment her encouragement had carried Luz somewhere she hadn't thought far enough ahead about. As she believed in Luz the way Luz believed in everything . . . &. that ideology in an Demon-Realm had once felt like the right thing until Luz was captured.

Dragging Gus into danger. She had put danger around Gus as she dragged them into an nightmare ⸻ because she had believed . . . when she should have kept everyone protected &. rooted. As Miss.Clawthorne had lost there magic ⸻ almost had been stoned ⸻ &. stood at the edge of something irreversible. While the shambled-door to the human-realm was in Emperor Belos hands. &. the weight of that had never fully left her. Not protecting them the way she should have had an helplessness that doesn't go away.

While the knowledge that being STRONG after the damage isn't the same as stopping it before it began. Because Luz wouldn't have lost her way home. Miss.Clawthorne would not have had fought for Luz &. paid for it. The world would not have taken so much from people she cared &. loved while she stood there in the shape of her failure after the fact. Feeling her skin going cold ⸻ as its not from standing in the rain. Its the way Emperor Belos's voice ⸻ soft as rot ⸻ entered in her mind like something opening without knocking.

But I'll know ⸻ of courses they would know. Emperor Belos . . . always sounded as if knowing gave them the right to take ⸻ judge ⸻ &. press the Demon-Realm beneath there hand until it bent into the shape they wanted it to be. Pushing the weight of there hands on there shoulders from behind ⸻ pressing her down like an command ⸻ feeling spiders crawl beneath every layer of her ⸻ like someone forcing her toward an kneel ⸻ that had always wanted her on her knees. &. because of her Emperor Belos had. That. Damn. Door. The Day of Unity as the Titan intended ⸻ an door that had been broken in the chaos but what if . . . what if ⸻ unlimited patience &. time was all Emperor Belos needed to find an way to fix the door to the human-realm? &. what if there oracle magic didn't need the perfect fix to reach ⸻ an titan ⸻ an very directionless titan ⸻ that heard an voice that sounded like damn-destiny. Always ⸻ Half-A-Witch-Willow. As she stood there &. felt the full weight of Cassians words settling over her the way rain does ⸻ everywhere at once. There was hurt in her face ⸻ but she was holding it all back. While it felt more like trying to understand why something like that hurt so much. While still caring to deeply to walk away from it. As she didn't know if King ⸻ Cassian ⸻ was another missing name in Elias ⸻ traveling ⸻ somewhere in between ⸻ as she didn't know if they needed help ⸻ because they didn't tell anyone ⸻ didn't reach out ⸻ didn't consider that someone might actually be measuring there absence in small &. terrible ways ⸻ but luckily it lived rent free in that head of theres.

Half-A-Witch-Willow ⸻ with an Half-A-Sided-Friendship.

“ It's . . . late ⸻ ” she scraped out like metal against an rainy sidewalk ⸻ politely. As she honestly didn't even know what time it even was because . . . everything was grey &. rainy. Rubbing the back of her neck with her hand as her smokey-quartzs behind rain-streaked glasses gazed at Clover ⸻ ' Escort him ' ⸻ ' Wherever he wants to go Clover ' ⸻ “ ⸻ go home ⸻ Cassian. ” Or somewhere close enough to count. As Clover air-lifted from King's rained-flat curls in an soft-shimmer re-shaped into its staff-form ready to be taken in his hands &. take him wherever he wants.

As Elias was grey &. rainy as she decided it was better to ⸻ what-an-drag ⸻ walk-away with her hands clasped loosely behind rain-soaked-dutch-braids . . . because staying would mean she'd had to admit how badly she had wanted him to ⸻ come back.

[skellingtonisms]

Jasper raised an eyebrow at the blunt response from Willow. It seems as though every time he ran into the young witch, they were in some sort of distress. It was information he had tucked away. Interactions with Willow were odd, but Jasper was someone who could understand. "I see," he hummed thoughtfully. Whatever was attached to her seemed to be easily frightened, so the skeleton kept his composure.

Intense blue eyes remained transfixed on the thing Willow was holding back. His head tilted like a curious cat, as if he could solve the mystery with his sight alone. The skeleton was tracking the unknown being back. He was used to being the most terrifying creature in the room. If it meant he would remain safe, he would assert his own dominance.

Working as a teacher for so long made a fondness grow for the younger generation. He was great with children, always had been, but after their encounter in the classroom, Jasper had a soft spot for Willow. If only because he wanted to make sure she stayed out of trouble.

"I'm enjoying them the best I can. I haven't come solo to an event in quite a long time. I don't know what to do with myself without my better half," He admitted with a soft laugh. Once Willow revealed what she was talking to, he nodded and let out an understanding 'ah'. "My mother had a garden of carnivorous plants when I was a boy. Her favorite, Elvira, was a tricky one. It takes quite a lot to injure or even kill a skeleton monster, so rest assured, I'm fine."

His features fell into a more serious expression. He could understand Willow's fears. People tended to make irrational decisions when encountering creatures they didn't know or understand. "Would you like some assistance taking the vine some place safer?"

[vinemagic]

⸻🌵 WILLOW WAS AWARE OF EVERYTHING SHIFTING AROUND her ⸻ most days felt like being submerged underwater.

Feeling like the world moved above her in blurred lights &. muffled noises while she trys to remember which way is up sometimes.  As her heart felt heavy with the burden of uncertainty since November.  Everything . . . seemed to be evolving.  Leaving her struggling to find herself in the aftermath ⸻ because festivity's like these pretend they are not haunted by absences ⸻ the missing ⸻ but maybe it will only really start to matter when someone who matters goes missing. She isn't doing well ⸻ since the beginning of November.

As she was caught off-guard ⸻ Mr.Skellington quickly became personal &. how much of themselves they laid into the space between them without seeming to notice how dizzying ⸻ dangerous ⸻ &. confusing that was.  An better-half ⸻ she should've looked at there hands ⸻ as she should have known to look prior but never felt the need to ⸻ because working to understanding someone is that hands can tell things about an person.  Greenhouses were not cheap ⸻ neither were carnivorous-plants were not an casual hobby to take up.

Unless someone had $$ ⸻ patience ⸻ as she took notice of Mr.Skellingtons ears for an split-second but they were nothing like hers. While she noticed Mr.Skellington always had an refined look.  As there was the skeleton ⸻ monster ⸻ part.  The fact that Mr.Skellington says it so easily . . . Skeletal-demons don't call themselves monsters.  Smokey-quartz blinking behind glasses as it felt warped.  Mr.Skellington didn't embody ⸻ structural-cruelty ⸻ nor wickedness ⸻ that she had come to associate with monsters like Emperor Belos. “ Why . . . do you think you're a monster ⸻ Mr.Skellington? ” As her innocence outshined her caution as it was dangerous getting personnel with others but she was genuinely confused by that. While Mr.Skellington ⸻ indeed tall ⸻ phased through an wall once &. is curious ⸻ but monster ⸻ doesn't make sense being filed under that word. As she wanted to say ⸻ yes ⸻ to the help but she showcased her bandaged-hands. “  I ⸻ I do want to ⸻ but if I mess up there is nothing like them out there. ”  &. for an while the Carnivorous Underland Vine was focused on Jasper.

All predator edged to strangers ⸻ but it was Willows insecure-emotions that climbed way to high ⸻ &. way to fast as it noticed it ⸻ felt it.  While it turned away from Jasper as its attention was dead set on Willow as chlorophyll-green pulses grew brighter through its thorny-bark flesh. As the Carnivorous Underland Vine striked ⸻ tried to slam itself right into her broken-ribs but she double-overd &. caught it by the thorny-horns in time before it could. Scuffling with it ⸻ playing around ⸻ going weightless for an moment ⸻ as she was lifted of the ground slightly ⸻ “ Oh ⸻ ” “ ⸻ wrestling with me is NOT helping your case right now!!! ”

[clawthorncs]

it had been 3 months since he had left elias, all thanks to a dream and an annoying pull. in hindsight, he should have taken that as a red flag, but him being who he is...that was not the case. normal people ignored ominous prophetic visions, maybe even told a trusted adult or friend, but normal people did not wake up at three in the morning, stare dramatically out a rain-covered window, and decide, you know what? maybe i should follow the horrifying celestial omen into the wilderness. unfortunately, king had never once been accused of being normal. he didn’t even know what “normal was”

so he left.

for three straight months, he chased the possibility of another titan across dead coastlines, abandoned towns, forests that hummed too loudly at night, and at least one cave that absolutely contained ghosts… or bats…could be both. he slept in places that probably violated several health codes and survived almost entirely on gas station coffee and spite, and so he kept following the voice in this dream that kept insisting he was close.

spoiler alert: he was not close...at all.

there had been no hidden titan waiting for him at the end of the journey. no long-lost family reunion. no ancient revelation. just some weird symbols carved into walls, increasingly threatening nightmares, and one old fisherman who threw a shoe at him after he accidentally might have sleepwalked onto his boat..rude.

by the time he stumbled back into elias sometime past midnight, exhausted and damp and carrying a backpack full of useless notes that now felt personally offensive, he had reached one very important conclusion: the universe was a comedian…and very very mean.rain drizzled lazily over the city as he stood outside a twenty-four hour convenience store looking like every cryptid warning poster rolled into one. curls now, flattened beneath his hood, boots caked in mud, and there was a concerning amount of glittering dust still clinging to one sleeve from an incident he had decided not to unpack emotionally. the automatic doors slid open behind him as he walked out. 

“just so we’re clear,” he informed the universe with one fist lifted up towards the sky, “if i ever get more prophetic dream, i’m becoming a dentist.” lightning cracked somewhere in the distance, causing him to almost drop the coffee he was holding “heyyy! don’t you dare start with me.”

[vinemagic]

⸻🍂 WILLOW WAS UNSURE IF THIS WAS AN omen or just another spring storm:

As she &. Clover had spent an few hours with Hunter &. Flapjack. While she walked beside Hunter with there hood half-slipped back with Flapjack tucked close under the hood like an small cardinal-heartbeat. Having conversations about everything &. nothing as she enjoyed listening to which somehow made it all the more important.  While she watched the way there facial expressions take shape under the dim-illumination of neon-shop signs. As Flapjack &. Clover at some point fluttered around creating there own chaos in the rainy-background making Hunter laugh like they'd forgotten to be guarded . . . just the 4 of them wandering nowhere beneath an rain that doesn't burn. She honestly adores them in the quietest way she knew how ⸻ which means she won't say anything at all.

&. everything was blurring grey past 10 ⸻ as grey swallowed everything ⸻ the gold from earlier turned grey. While the buildings around her were like soaked gravestones against an rainy-city as she moved through it with Clover &. the lonicera × ' mandarin ' ⸻ mandarin honeysuckle ⸻ threading into the gaps outside of apartment buildings gone silent.  Still breaking in &. rescuing animals with ribcages showing through fur ⸻ but not all get saved in time. The part that no spell can fix ⸻ it just sits inside her like she had swallowed-glass. As saving the ones left behind isn't really solving the disappearances. As its not even justice. It isn't even getting anywhere closer to answers she needs. Its just . . . standing in the aftermath holding up . . . some invisible structural-instability right before the whole damn thing collapses.

As it all happened so fast. While Clover found King first ⸻ because Clover had always been better at knowing what Willow needed. While she chased after an fire-bee palisman around an corner ⸻ past the blurry illuminated-glow of an 24-hour convenience store . . . where King ⸻ Cassian ⸻ looked like an like an cryptid who had robbed an lost-&.-found bin &. somehow lost. As they were alive in an way that made her own body forget how to move. However Clover reached them first ⸻ happy little tackle ⸻ vibrational-buzzing as they climbed &. settled on the top of there flattened-curled head with an soft-given headbutt to the forehead that would not have harmed or scared an leaf. As she felt happiness first ⸻ brightly ⸻ painfully ⸻ like she was touching an bruise to prove it still hurt.

Its worse when the rain made everything softer except the hurt ⸻ for 3-months ⸻ 3-months was not an number it was every unanswered worry ⸻ fear ⸻ &. ghostly-reminder of what she could lose ⸻ again. “ Start with you? ” As her voice came out to sharp &. trembling an little around the edges not knowing how to address them ⸻ King ⸻ Cassian ⸻ “ ⸻ I have been waiting 3-months! The storm can file a complaint &. get in line. ” &. for an moment she felt the way her magic restlessly ⸻ almost completely out of her own control ⸻ stirred the roots beneath the pavement desiring to break towards the surface. As she was to scared to move an single inch because she isn't so sure she's in control. As the rain slipped down her glasses . . . hopefully hiding her own fear behind smokey-quartzs ⸻ but it might not be enough.

“ You . . . scared me. ” 

[fangedchaos]

nimona had planned on spending their afternoon sketching in the botanical gardens - the weather was perfect for it, sunny and warm with the slightest breeze. they'd tossed their sketchbook into their messenger bag with a handful of various art supplies - pens, markers, pencils of different colors - and set out after lunch. unfortunately things don't always go to plan and after an hour and change of mostly erasing things, they'd given up their own artistic endeavors in favor of observing the artistic endeavors of others... which is how they found themself here, at the art museum.

they stood facing one of the paintings, their eyes flitting from object to person to landscape. a soft hum left their lips and they leaned sideways a little - just enough to sliiiightly invade the personal space of the person standing closest to them; enough to catch their attention without touching them. "do you ever wonder what they're thinking?" nimona asked, eyes still focused on the painting in front of them. "the people in the paintings, i mean."

[vinemagic]

⸻🍂 WILLOW STOOD INSIDE THE ELIAS MUSEUM OF History &. Art. There heart pounded in there chest with every passing second.

The museum itself hummed with the faint-echoes of others footsteps &. conversations. As warm light poured in through the tall windows illuminating the paintings &. sculptures ⸻ casting gradual-soft shadows onto the marble floor. While this was there 7th visit ⸻ each time more hopeful then the last there filter-films capture what was hidden &. unexplained from within. They braced there ' Rollieflord-XZ ' an camera-prototype they commissioned with both there hands. It was not an normal looking camera ⸻ exactly. This camera-prototype looked like 3 different ideas that had been taken apart ⸻ argued with ⸻ &. rebuilt into commission by an certain someone with stubborn roots ⸻ mostly Rollieflex ⸻ part Rolliecord ⸻ &. Chuzhaos inner-digital-components. While this camera-prototype felt heavy in there hands ⸻ an lifeline in an world that had felt it was spinning out of there own control ⸻ with weighted expectations. As there mind was miles away ⸻ tangled ⸻ &. stubbermined-locked. While for 3-months straight ⸻ of Cassian chasing some possibility out beyond the edge of reason ⸻ left without an word ⸻ ghosted ⸻ &. returned with an change in them: As if they had brought back an shadow of another self ⸻ coming back with glittering-dust &. symbols that left more questions than answers.  While they rotated an metal-crank clockwise ⸻ until the filter-frame counter showed ‘ 0 ┊ 0riginal ( Normal ) ’ ⸻ looking down at the viewfinder ⸻ being there to check the film-filters they had made themselves as trail &. error had become its own language. 

As they weren’t there to look at paintings ⸻ but past them.  In the kind of way they were looking for what shouldn't be there through the film-filters they created.  But an presence had arrived without an sound ⸻ as there proximity being subjugated &. compromised without touching!!!  While an still-jolt of surprise stunned them as they snap-shut the viewfinder. As if what they had in there hands were contraband ⸻ getting caught doing something wrong ⸻ for an awful moment they felt like they were 12-years-old ⸻ because there reflex showed signs regardless of them not doing anything wrong to begin with. While the strangers question . . . made there smokey-quartzs behind glasses squint at the paintings ⸻ needing an moment to re-calibrate. As they blinked &. gave the question some thought ⸻ but didn't realize how . . . strange the question really was. “ It . . . must be agonizing ⸻ ” while they felt an playfulness “ ⸻ I mean ⸻ the food must taste terrible in paintings. ” Only to be struck with wishing they honestly hadn't been asked.  As the question turned to an different question entirely ⸻ while it felt like Emperor Belos's hands closing around there throat. Having an portrait . . . locked in there mind. Locked in memory enough that the golden-frame stopped being beautiful &. started to become an cage. “ . . . lonely. Being stuck . . . in an moment while people just keep . . . walking ⸻ ” being reminded the way The Golden Guard carried the weight of Emperor Belos message ⸻ the titan's will ⸻ in an body that was covered in scars no one saw &. still growing. &. growing up they had believed in The Golden Guard ⸻ but not once . . . ever wondering whether ⸻ The Golden Guard ⸻ was ever tired ⸻ frightened ⸻ or if any of it was what they wanted ⸻ as they believed it because The Golden Guard believed in the cause. While they didn't realize there was someone ⸻ underneath The Golden Guard worth asking. As there was ⸻ Hunter. Hunter who had scars &. bad sleeping habits &. to much courage shoved into an golden-heart that was never given room to be young. While how much of Hunter could have stayed in that golden-cage. How easily . . . the person they know now could have never existed at all if they never had met them. “ ⸻ past. Everyone deciding what there worth means but never knowing who they really were behind the painted-expression. ”

“ Only to leave. Leave them when they're done admiring ⸻ glorifying the moment there frozen-in-frame for justifying the means &. the cause ⸻ leaving them in an abusive-cycle ⸻ an eternal loop locked in . . . You know I'm seriously going to have some strange nightmares after this. ” Because that was going to spiral in there mind for an month ⸻ as they might not be able to physically face Hunter for an while. As they thought they needed an distraction from Cassian but not that KIND of distraction. “ Why in the titans name did you think to ask that kind of question? ”

[vinemagic]

𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕤𝕞𝕚𝕔 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕖𝕣

⋅ ˚. ⋆ ☾ ⁺ ₊ ‧ Following Cassian's disappearance ⸻ the loyal general François masterminds an galactic space-opera fueled by chaos &. cosmic destruction. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ ✦ 　.   　　˚　.　　. 　 ˚　. ✦ 　.   　　˚　.　　. 　 ˚　. 　　 ✦ 　.   　　˚　.　　. 　 ˚　. ✦ 　. ˚　.　　. 　 ˚　. ✦ 　. ˚　.　　. 　 ˚　. ✦ 　. ˚　.　　 ✩ * ⢄ ⢁ ✧ As this epic ⸻ bedroom-saga ⸻ tells an story that Cassian missed out on of an rebellion pushing into deep-space to locate there missing ˚ʚ👑ɞ˚. ✧ ⡈ ⡠ * ✩ ✦ 　.   　　˚　.　　. 　 ˚　. ✦ 　.   　　˚　.　　. 　 ˚　. 　　 ✦ 　.   　　˚　.　　. 　 ˚　. ✦ 　. ˚　.　　. 　 ˚　. ✦ 　. ˚　.　　. 　 ˚　. ✦ 　. ˚　.　　 ⋆⭒˚.⋆ 🪐 Across an remodeled bedroom-galaxy torn by war ⸻ the ultimate search for Cassian began. . . &. as months went by many stuffed animals . . .⚰️ during the rebellion &. search.🛸༄ ּ ۫ ּ ⋆⭒˚.⋆ ✦ 　.   　　˚　.　　. 　 ˚　. ✦ 　.   　　˚　.　　. 　 ˚　. 　　 ✦ 　.   　　˚　.　　. 　 ˚　. ✦ 　. ˚　.　　. 　 ˚　. ✦ 　. ˚　.　　. 　 ˚　. ✦ 　. ˚　.　

𓊆 💫 𓊇 ::　 𝔥𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔬𝔯𝔦𝔠𝔞𝔩 𝔯𝔢𝔠𝔬𝔯𝔡 ⠀ׅ | ͜͝ | ͜͝ | 𓈒 𓈒 𓈒

⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦⟡ ✦ ⟡

☄️── .✦ The Before

✦┊When Willow ⸻ Hunter ⸻ &. Gus figured out Cassian wasn't . . . missing but just TRAVELING ⸻ the records of Cassian using the credit-card Willow gave THEM. She always made sure they had $$ on there card for what ever they needed on there journey but left them worried because of the no-warning.

☄️── .✦ The Missing Months

✦┊But within the 3-months of Cassian having gone missing ( . . .traveling ). Every Sunday ⸻ after the Market-place ⸻ Willow ⸻ Hunter ⸻ &. Gus would remodel &. DND the galactic space-opera. Starring General François ⸻ with there underlings ( Gus Porter &. The Veilguard Pothos as the ' Kraken ' ) ⸻ the resistance ( Hunter Ashborn ) ⸻ &. the space-nature/mad-mage ( Willow Park ) as they wanted Cassian to come back to an remodeled room after there travels.

The Veillguard pothos ⸻ Clover ⸻ Flapjack ⸻ &. Emmiline Bailey Marrow ⸻ were the stuffed animal ⚰️ &. uncontrollable forces of adorableness ( conspiracy-cheaters especially Clover &. Flapjack ⸻ but mostly Clover )

☄️── .✦ Cassian's Bedroom Currently

✦┊#an teal neon sign that says ' outer space ' above there bed, #easy peel &. stick chalkboard wallpaper against there bed-wall to draw on, #general françois ⸻ knitted in an ' space-armor ' outfit w/ an red LiGhT sAbOr w/ there pink ears &. there bunny-cottontail sticking out, #cardboard-spaceship build around the bed w/ general françois sitting in center-console on there golden-throne ⸻ for dramatic effect upon Cassian's ?! return &. super-easy to take down, #an new sketchbook &. space-themed pencil case filled with glitter-pens + ph drawing pencils + pencil sharpener + eraser ⸻ 24 chalk-markers next to an ' log book ' of general françois galactic-adventure trying to find ' cassian ' on the nightstand, #an few missing-made posters of ' cassian ' under the neon sign on the chalk-wall ⸻ 2 out of the 4 where defaced by the resistance, #ceiling covered in glow-in-the-dark stars w/ an mix of constellations from the human-realm &. from the demon realm, #new pillows &. cosmic space-pillowcases that glow under the black-light w/ the same comforter they got for there birthday, #irredescent black-light starlight's dangling along the constellation gaps on the ceiling, #an black-light planetary &. constellation orb of the demon-realm &. planet-earths that casts everywhere, #sealed cardboard ⚰️ of the fallen-stuffed animals in the closet ⸻ RIP, #cleaner then ever before ⸻ as all there clothes were cleaned &. sorted ⸻ items put away nice &. neatly where they could be found ⸻ &. not. an. flake. of. glitter. in. sight., #an empty cork-board framed to the bedroom door w/ space themed pins, #an empty cork-board framed in &. out of the closet door w/ adventure &. space pins, #come back the cosmos is to big to conquer alone ⸻ from general françois, #your friends are waiting to welcome you back in there orbit,

☄️── .✦ @clawthorncs. ┊ No Matter How Many Months Drift Apart ⸻ every constellation taken leads us back to each other.

⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦ ⟡ ✦⟡ ✦ ⟡

[kritikalhit]

He watched with mild interest as she picked up the discarded flyer. "There's a bin back there, I think," he said, pointing vaguely behind him, slurping again at his drink. Krit ignored her as she spoke, circling around so he could see and read Orion's headstone more fully.

"Can't a guy enjoy Dickens in the spring?" There really wasn't much to the headstone. No essay, no loved ones left behind. He was dead. Gone. Part of him wondered if he should begin kicking aside some dirt to check that the bastard was actually in there, but he figured his (unexpected) company was going to be a little too sensitive for that.

He stopped his circling and faced her with an amused expression. "...am I in trouble? It's really not that deep," he started, slipping into a well-practised mask, "you got a mysterious recent death, a creepy headstone, and all in the most haunted place in town? Selfie," he mimed taking a picture of her with his hand. "And what are you doing here, paying your respects? Did you know him?" Krit asked, arching an eyebrow, paying more attention.

[vinemagic]

⸻🍂 &. THEY STILL THREW IT ON THE ground? As she looked at them mildly-familiarized.

While that reminded them of someone they used to know. “ Thanks ⸻ sir-ghostly-slurps-alot-of-past-decembers. I will remember that for next time. ” As her tone was light &. playful regardless of the chill beginning to seep into her bones. While she squinted at his comment ⸻ as her mind raced. As her thoughts rippled like the roots of an plant seeking water in dry-soil. Either this is an human-term she didn't know much about . . . or where dicks something seasonal in the human realm?

She would ask Luz about it later instead of asking an stranger. Look at them both ⸻ demoninning without realizing it ⸻ in the kind of way she also wanted to uproot Orions coffin to see if there body was inside. Only to have unplanned-company meet in the middle. As she kneeled down at the base of ‘ Orion Bartholomew ’ headstone ⸻ her fingertips resting against the stone first. While she thought the stone would feel cold but . . . sunlight had collected there all afternoon.

While that surprised her. As the warmth felt . . . soft &. inviting as that was the wrong words for grave markers. Yet she leaned her entire body against the headstone feeling something in her chest respond to it with an ache she hadn't braced herself for yet. While this grave was tied to many missing names &. to many questions no one would give an straight answer to. They died knowing the truth of it all. But Sir-Slurps-Alots phone came up to view ⸻

catching her at leaning against the grave ⸻ as her smokey-quartz behind glasses looked directly into the lens with the flat patience of someone who had been underestimated enough times to have stopped being polite about it an long time ago. While she lets sunset-green rise in her pupils ⸻ concentrating just enough of her magic to catch the glass of her glasses to bend her reflection. &. when the mimed-picture was taken of her ⸻ it didn't take all of her if it was taken for real.

Only her dutch-braided ebony-jade colored hair ⸻ nanochip-hairclip⸻ the distinctive pointed ears showed clear against the headstone ⸻ but an sunset-green sunglare showed someone feminine there but without an good image of there face. “ No. Not directly. ” As she gently-spoke in an different tongue “ aún no ⸻ pero espero cambiar eso. ” As she could feel something ⸻ in an eerie ⸻ more plant-kind-of way that made her want to stay.

[vinemagic]

╰ ⚗️.⭒ʿ˖✧ . Metabolic Fire-Remedy ⸻ an tea &. sigil-amulet to help fight of &. remedy the long-lasting effects from the frostbite-sigil.

🌻 Recipe &. Process 🌻

Cinnamon-Smoked Ginseng Oolong-Tea

Fresh Moran Ginger Root &. Dried Red Ginger

Crushed Black Pepper &. Charcoal-Cinnamon Bark

An drop of Clovers honey

Instructions :

001. wear the bloodstone amulet w/ the ' fire infinity ' sigil before brewing.

002. brew the cinnamon-smoked ginseng oolong-tea &. steep for 9 minutes.

003. drink the cinnamon-smoked ginseng oolong-tea outdoors facing the suns direction during the ‘ imperial fire ’ or ‘ ultimate time of fire ’.

004. keep the bloodstone amulet on &. wait until the stone cracks on its own.

Notes :

Official Notice -⚠️- Hunter was not harmed during the testing of this remedy

12 pm - is the strongest fire-time of the day

Number 9 - The Forge - burn away the old to make room for the new

Ginger - The Internal Furnace - brings warmth &. feeling back to the frost-bitten marked

Charcoal-Cinnamon Bark - Purify &. Cleanse - the charcoal filters out the toxic frost &. the cinnamon-bark actively pushes the frost curse out

Bloodstone - Iron Oxide ' hematite ' - bloodstone is the ultimate purifier &. revitalizer of blood

Bloodstone Amulet - Fire Infinity Sigil - when the bloodstone finally fractures it means the ' frostbite sigil ' is completely gone as the iron-veins within the bloodstone crack from the thermal-absorption

Can be bought at ' Clover &. Willow ' Co. anytime

Insp. / In My Blood - The Score | Hunter Ashborn - &. the power of friendship | Event - Holiday Festivities &. the Frostbite Sigiled Victims

Fire Infinity Sigil - RFNTY - 96527

[thomashopper]

hopper didn’t answer right away... just let the silence stretch a second too long, like he was deciding whether she was worth the effort. then he stepped out from behind one of the older headstones, boots scuffing lightly against the overgrown ground.

“relax,” he said flatly, dragging a hand over the back of his neck. “if i was something you should worry about, you wouldn’t have heard me.”

but, he was someone she should worry about... his eyes flicked over her, taking in the careful footing, the way she stood like she actually meant to be here. that alone earned a faint, crooked smirk. “what’s your deal?” he added, tone tipping toward dry amusement. “this isn’t exactly a scenic shortcut.” his gaze shifted briefly to the creeping moss and rot around them before landing back on her.

[vinemagic]

⸻🍂 WILLOWS SMOKEY-QUARTZS BEHIND METAL-FRAMED GLASSES stared at them for an moment.

Then covertly reached into her adventure bag an grabbed an acorn &. . . . did the most logical-thing she could think of ⸻ flicking it at them ⸻ without context. As she surprisingly watched it bounce of the other. Something solid ⸻ someone solid. “ Okay ⸻ great! Good news. You're solid. ” As if her conductive ⸻ &. very reasonable acorn-field-test made the tension in her relax. While she exhaled with relief ⸻ feeling the burning ⸻ splintering ache against her own ribs &. burn-out. As she was taking the effort to stand there looking unbothered. But it was the faint ⸻ crooked grin they had that ⸻ made the hair on the back of her neck stand up.

As she answered with another acorn from her adventure-bag ⸻ hurling the acorn at them ⸻ again. Watching it as it arced &. surprisingly hit them where the first acorn had. “ I'm just ⸻ foraging &. committing financial crimes against squirrels. ” As it wasn't entirely an lie but it certainly was not all the truth. While she could only hope her dry-commentary she was inflicting on squirrels catches them off-guard? As she needed the pollen ⸻ the ghostly-ooze ⸻ the moss &. the rot. “ I honestly wasn't really looking for scenic anyway. But the counter question I have is ⸻ what are you doing . . . are you lost ⸻ or need any help with something? ”

[vinemagic]

╰┈➤willowpark: Olympus OM-7 | Grotto Reopening ♡ likes ; #grotto_reopening, #gloam_market, #underland, #underland_vine,

[skellingtonisms]

the underland was still not a place that jasper chose to frequent. while for him it might have been safer to explore, he still chose the comforts of new elias. work never allowed him to travel far anyway. the events taking place meant that he had to be in the underland. too many times had the trust of elias been broken when an olive branch was extended to the underland. jasper was optimistic, but he was also realistic in the sense that as long as hades was in charge, nothing good could come from this place. still, a hope burned in his heart that they could change things.

he had left where the guardians were stationed. the sight of them was assurance alone that nothing too bad would take place. the council was doing all it could to make sure all citizens were protected.

the city that refused to be forgotten hummed. the bright neon lights burned brightly above him. the metal of the industrial city groaned, a warning to those who dared to listen and heed what was being given to them. it was a far cry from the shining utopia of elias, it was grittier, harsher and held deadly secrets only few could uncover. jasper did his best to he was not bothered but for someone who was a polished prince, he knew that the city was more welcoming to the monster he was than elias ever could be.

a familiar face came into view. jasper brightened, smiling as he caught willow in the crowd. "afternoon, miss. park," he greeted. "are you enjoying yourself during these festivities?" he asked, head tilted slightly like a curious cat. "what are you speaking to?"

[vinemagic]

⸻🌵 IT IS WHAT IT IS.  “ NO. ” THEY spoke bluntly. Because there birthday gift to themselves was honesty ⸻ &. protecting carnivorous sentient vitaceaes in the Underland.

They winced because there where micro-tears throbbing from thorns that pulsed in time of there heartbeat. Long bandaged ⸻ but those punctured-lacerations created an fiery-map of red &. made even the simplest of movements throb. While the carnivorous underland-vine hovered above there shoulder with its illusioned ' green-python ' shaped head. As they don't have enough stamina to apologize about there own blunt-behavior right now.

“ I honestly didn't come here for the festivities. ”  They admitted while they shifted half-an-step between Mr.Skellington &. the carnivorous underland-vine. Realizing they meet more in odd situations then they like to admit.  As smokey-quartz behind glasses tracked the carnivorous underland-vine movements carefully as it tilted its viney-head with an slow-serpentine grace.  As its attention fixated in Mr. Skellingtons direction as acidic-green under thorny-bark in quick poisonous-chlorophyll bursts of burning light through-out its vine-body in uneven pulses. 

As the pressure of encountering yet another humanoid ⸻ tracking Mr. Skellington ⸻ reading there intention ⸻ feeling there vibrations ⸻ though the vibrations had been distorted as it was taking-in everything happening in the gloam market festivities ⸻ the music ⸻ the crowd ⸻ making it feel the tension in its thorny-bark body. Making it an living shadow in Willows presence with its thorned-crown. Being able to see the seams on the sides &. top-n-bottom on the verge to split.

Into the disoriented-reflexive tension of an 4-petal-plate about to burst out.  “ Easy ⸻ ” they breathed out trying to calm the carnivorous underland-vine under there breath “ ⸻ again there very much not food.  Socially.  Morally. &. legally. ” While they tried to sound composed in politeness as they asked the other. “ But Mr. Skellington ⸻ are you . . . enjoying the festivities? ”

What where they talking to? “ I'm currently with this underland-vine making sure it doesn't get destroyed. ” they said in an honest &. gentle-way. “ Because ⸻ anyone can take one look at this carnivorous underland-vine &. decide the easy solution would be the final one. ” Why they came to this festival to begin with because nobody else was going to protect it. While they understood that this ⸻ specific-vine ⸻ was the first of its own kind in the Underland that had against all odds made it.

Against the metallic ⸻ dark ⸻ &. neon lights ⸻ against the pressure &. underland grime. Its an sentient-vine ⸻ which they have deep rooted respect ⸻ but right now they have to not just survive human-intervention ⸻ but learn to behave from this.

[incredibledash]

as the sun began to set on the gloam market, dash started to note where and when the underland began to pulse with irregularities. this part of the city seemed to sleep during the day and thrive in the dark - the good, the bad, and the ugly. ugly proved to show its head most in moments it could not otherwise be seen. dash was starting to see things that frequent trips to the beer tent could no longer explain.

just as he was starting to think that maybe it was time to check on violet and get out of here, his last loop around the market let him happen upon a woman and a terrifying ... vine? was that a vine? the laugh that escape his lips then was nervous, unsure. he sidestepped quietly around the woman, an attempt to get a better view of her view. the thing pulsed like it was more alive that he was. dash finished off his beer and tossed it in a nearby trashcan as he contemplated his next move.

why wasn't his next move to walk away?

"hey, uh ... what in the little shop of horrors is going on over here?" he finally asked, poking fun in attempt to mask any fear. it looked like either one of them could lose a limb with this thing, but something told him she might have been used to handling it. "do you ... need help?"

[vinemagic]

⸻🌵 WILLOWS THOUGHTS WERE SWIRLING ⸻ CAUGHT IN AN vortex of emotions.

&. just as they were gathering there thoughts an loud clatter of noise caught there attention.  While an beer bottle hit the trash-can with an resounding metallic-glassy crash. As the sound startled the both of them!!! “ This isn't a shop ⸻ ” they bluntly-forced out as they continued politely “ ⸻ so you know . . . Please don't browse. ” While the carnivorous underland-vine seemed to react ⸻ with green pulses flashing brighter beneath its gapping-thorny-bark like something poisonous being agitated.  As it gracefully hovered in the strangers direction in the way an compass would point towards north.  Being . . . interested in the worst way possible.

While it felt the other as more of an potential threat ⸻ the-attempt-to-get-an-better-view ⸻ as the carnivorous underland-vine fixated on the stranger as much as an horned-python-looking-vine does right before an strike. While it didn't bloom in the same way it had for Mavis ⸻ this was much slower ⸻ &. less to do with food-source but more to do with protection ⸻ with 4 petaled-panels flaring from all sides of its horned-vine-sides having given the illusion that it wasn’t actually an eyeless-horned-green-python ⸻ slowly covering the strangers view from Willows facial-features.

Showing of as each petaled-panel was lined with thorns that curved like cat-claws in perfect ⸻ terrifying ⸻ symmetry. While acidic-chlorophyll drool being highlighted by the weak lantern-light spilling from the gloam-markets festivities behind the stranger. Slowly hitting the alleyway stone floor in an smokey-hiss. “ Oh ⸻ titan. ” In an not-again tone.  As they didn’t know if there hands could handle another game of tug-a-underland-vine-thorn-war. Prepared to lunge at the first sign of an strike.

In the kind of way the carnivorous underland-vine pulsed with an life of its own. Waiting for its opportune moment to strike if provoked.  “ If you want to help I'd suggest looking for the nearest exit? ” Though stating the obvious doesn't always warrant success. Especially if the strangers reflexes were slower due to alcohol ⸻ flight-or-fight response lags. “ But if this is your version of sightseeing the Underlands native flora ⸻ I have several concerns. ” As they used dry-humor to tuck the worry behind the joke.

Thinking . . . until they could come up with something that could be of help.  “ It senses your intent &. it is reading you ⸻ so maybe don't give it a reason to think you're an threat. Aim for calm ⸻ friendly ⸻ &. not tragically-dangerous vibes? ”

[mavisvaduva]

mavis had been halfway past the alley when the glow caught her eye, something instinctive making her slow instead of walk away. curiosity tugged, but this time it came with a flicker of caution as she took in the scene-- the girl, the vine, the way it moved like it was thinking. her shoulders stiffened just a touch, weight shifting back like she was already planning an exit if it lunged. “uh… okay, that is a amazing,” she muttered, eyes locked on the thing as it pulsed. still, she didn’t leave. she just hovered there, tense but rooted, like watching a car crash she couldn’t look away from.

she edged a step closer despite herself, lifting her hands slightly like that might somehow help. “what are you, poison ivy or something?” mavis called, voice a little sharper now, nerves threading through the humor. her gaze flicked to the girl, then right back to the vine. “because i’m not trying to get… that… wrapped around my throat tonight.” a pause, then, a little more cautious, “you got it under control, right?”

[vinemagic]

⸻🌵 " I KNOW ⸻ " AS THEY BEGAN TRYING TO be responsible " ⸻ I know it's loud. It's even strange &. none of this is what your used to. I get that . . . but if you behave yourself maybe I can show you? "

As they thought maybe relocating them would be better if this would be an more frequent-obstacle. While they worried that this wasn't an safe place anymore for it to stay ⸻ thrive in ⸻ &. maybe it was sensing that from them to. But the nightmare of relocating this carnivorous underland-vine was that . . . they didn't know the underland passed the gloam-market. As the carnivorous underland-vine head snapped in the direction of the sound before they could fully-register that there was someone there.

" Oh ⸻ no. "

While they shifted there weight back feeling there magic surge in sunset-green rings ⸻ blooming hot around there fingers. As the carnivorous underland-vine mouth opened ⸻ opened nothing like an snake. &. not in an place that belongs anywhere near music ⸻ lanterns ⸻ &. festivities. While the way its jaw split opened ⸻ along with the sides flaring outward ⸻ 4 petal-panels bloomed. Each hooked with thorns that curved like cat-claws as it was made to catch &. cling ⸻ refusing to let go of its captured-prey. While an acidic-chlorophyll drooled between the thorns dripping down onto the alleyway with an faint hiss.

As this carnivorous underland-vine lunged gracefully forcing them to drop there weight &. lean back quickly ⸻ as there boot-heels dug as the carnivorous underland-vine snaps taut. But thorns found there palms as they registered pain distantly. “ First ⸻ poison ivy is a surface plant. This ⸻ is something else entirely. Different taxonomy. Different threat profile. Different everything. ” As they sounded so proud of it though. While the carnivorous underland-vine thrashed as there fingers-tightened around it even more regardless of there palms stinging even more.

“ Second ⸻ ” they calmly hummed “ ⸻ I have it under control . . . so don't move away to quickly ⸻ just . . . stay where you are &. let me talk it down. ” But that was easier said then done. In the kind of way people's instincts vary from person to person ⸻ the flight-or-fight response in others vary &. they wouldn't blame them for it.  “ &. yy-ee-aa-hh ⸻ I so get that. I personally wouldn’t want this latched to my face either. Honestly ⸻ it would not do me any favors on the dance floor later ⸻ you know? ” Trying to ground the other with calm-humor not that it would work.