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Post by Liou on Oct 28, 2018 5:58:47 GMT -5
The ivy is so thick that you almost walk past without noticing, but a towering gate stands ajar, lost in the foliage, in the middle of an even more towering wall. The ivy is strung with ground cherries, golden-orange little fruit shaped like bells and reminiscent of jack-o-lanterns. What a well-timed decoration.
You step into a vast, lush garden and find yourself at the start of a lantern-lit path. Two women stand a few yards ahead, one tall and willowy, the other built like a mountain. They don't seem elderly at first glance, but their dark brown skin is textured, full of lines and ridges.
Before you can attempt to announce your presence, the garden explodes with their shrieks.
"You just take too many risks, and one day you will land both of us in deep trouble!"
"I guard and dwell upon this land and I will do this my own way!"
"Then you will do it further, for I want no part in it!"
"If we host them separately, we might as well not live together!"
"Indeed, we might."
Each turns her back on the other and storms down one path. The willowy woman disappears into the left half of the garden, the thickset woman into the right half. Crows flap overhead with disconcerted caws.
That put a bit of a damper on this inviting start. Perhaps you could try to smooth things over between them, so that they can celebrate together? Or you could just ask them for treats anyway.
Choose one path.
***
> You follow the left-hand path.
As you progress through the grasses and the thick scent of vegetation, you notice that the twinkles all around you come not from lanterns, but simply from flowers. Fireflies and click beetles wink all around. The ground feels damper, and you soon reach a pond.
The pond is flooded by moonlight, far too much of it for this time of night. An enormous willow leans over the water, a tree so large that it seems to have burst through the forgotten piece of garden wall that frames its trunk.
On one of its branches sits the tall lady, clad in trailing leaves and woven vines. She dips her bare feet into the water, forming galloping silvery reflections at the surface. Her body seems especially sinewy, like branches braided into limbs. She holds a cattail at an angle, like a parody of a cigarette holder. Her white hair floats around her dark face like a halo of fluffy willow catkins, and misty vapours seem to coil around it. Her eyes, glowing like foxfire, find you.
"Well, aren't you a treat! I am Valli," she greets you, her voice blowing like wind through reeds.
***
> You follow the right-hand path.
You walk through stately trees, very tall, very thick, of the kind only seen in ageless forests. It's much darker than it should be, considering the short distance you've walked, but the canopy seems endless above your head. Your steps echo.
What seems like stable ground keeps crumbling under your feet; thick roots trip you every other step until you slip on moss and slide into a dip. Brambles surround you, aiming thorns as long as your thumb at you. Several canine silhouettes with glowing eyes emerge from the brush, and they are of course much too large to be dogs, and that was really all you needed now. You cannot help but notice that they are hairless, skeletal, and entirely made of wood.
The wooden wolves hold still as a much larger figure leaps clean over the brambles and lands in front of you with a thunderous slam. You recognise the woman from the garden.
She seems much taller from up close. She is as sturdy as the colossal trees around you. Her feet are encased in a thick layer of bark shaped like rough boots, and you could swear that you saw roots underneath for a split second. A crown of thick, bristly hair stands atop her head like strips of bark. The lower half of her rectangular face is covered in hairs like cornsilk. From under very prominent eyebrows, her deep-set eyes glow red.
"Who seeks the grove of Karda?" she booms.
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Post by Shinko on Oct 28, 2018 6:58:54 GMT -5
A thylacine, semi-transparent with fur like blood and a skull upon the top of her face, gives a smirk. "Well met Karda of the right. I am- was- called Beech. Now I am vengeance."
She glances around, adding, "My sort of aesthetic. I approve. I understand why you didn't want any part of that simpering display over on the left." Bowing with surprising politeness for a revenant, Beech adds, "I believe the phrase is 'Trick or Treat?'"
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Post by Liou on Oct 28, 2018 15:06:01 GMT -5
A thylacine, semi-transparent with fur like blood and a skull upon the top of her face, gives a smirk. "Well met Karda of the right. I am- was- called Beech. Now I am vengeance." She glances around, adding, "My sort of aesthetic. I approve. I understand why you didn't want any part of that simpering display over on the left." Bowing with surprising politeness for a revenant, Beech adds, "I believe the phrase is 'Trick or Treat?'" Karda's eyebrow rises with an audible snap of wood. "If that is how you see the other half of this garden, vengeance, you did well in choosing this path, for I would not have been clement had you walked the other. I can only hope that no others of your kind decide to visit that reckless seedling." She leans over the revenant and inhales deeply. Little pieces of bark seem to bristle behind her head. "A great wrong must have been committed against you, to push you to exist in such a state." Karda pushes one foot an inch into the ground; slithers sounds from inside the soil. One of the wooden wolves trots into a patch of roots, drags out a very large bone and dumps it in front of you with a heavy thump. "We had not yet consumed it," says Karda, watching the thylacine. You got
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Post by Celestial on Oct 28, 2018 15:33:38 GMT -5
Jackie does not make a sound as the two women argue but her look of complete and utter dispassion suggests that she has seen this sort of argument a lot. After the two women disperse, she glances between the directions that she went to. Finally she gives off a deep, protracted sigh. "As if I did not have enough work to do already. Why am I always the therapist?"
She puts her ahdns in her pockets and turns left. As the ground gets wetter, she groans. "Great. I did not bring my waterproof shoes."
Eventually,Jackie stops in the meadow with the glowing flowers, looking around completely unimpressed. She continues looking unimpressed as her eyes meet Valli. "Hi. I'm Jackie. Don't look at me, I'm not a hunter: I only do their paperwork. I don't know why I'm here. I should be getting home. I have a workday tomorrow," she adjusts her glasses. "You look like you have enough of your own problems already without me disturbing you."
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Post by Liou on Oct 28, 2018 17:45:20 GMT -5
Eventually, Jackie stops in the meadow with the glowing flowers, looking around completely unimpressed. She continues looking unimpressed as her eyes meet Valli. "Hi. I'm Jackie. Don't look at me, I'm not a hunter: I only do their paperwork. I don't know why I'm here. I should be getting home. I have a workday tomorrow," she adjusts her glasses. "You look like you have enough of your own problems already without me disturbing you." "Jackie," Valli repeats with a smile, before melting into the branches of the willow. She reforms in a blink and emerges from the branches nearest Jackie. "Oh no-no-no dear, please don't speak like that! You sound just like my other half over there, always going on about workdays and disturbing me! You can't rush out as fast as she does. It all gets so boring when we never enjoy a bit of leisure time together." Valli leans elegantly over Jackie, peering at her face in concern, reaching for her forehead with a long, gently rustling hand. "You don't seem to have much leisure time either. And prone to headaches, I'm sure. Oh dear. You are in the right place. I have an excellent remedy for those." Whether or not Jackie had a headache earlier, she might just be acquiring one in the heady scent of all these night-blooming flowers. Valli coaxes a pouch of powder into her hands. You got Valli tilts her head towards the other half of the garden, thoughtful. "Oh, what if my darling was also unwell earlier? Maybe clearing her head would help too. Jackie, dear, I would be ever so thankful if you could bring this second dose to her. I can give you more of it, too. I will also clean your shoes."
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Post by Gelquie on Oct 28, 2018 18:09:50 GMT -5
The hooded-cloaked mage watches wide-eyed, clutching their staff in comfort as they watch the two fight. Then they sigh and put a hand to their forehead as each goes their separate way.
"What was that about?" the mage mutters to themself. A part of them wanted no part of the argument... but there was something about the two that intrigued them. They were obviously not normal humans. And the paths did look interesting. Perhaps they could look. But which one? Both areas looked good to travel...
After flipping a coin, the mage decides to go down the left path. They walk slowly, taking in all the sights, the twinkling of the fireflies, the rustle of the wind and the types of vegetation surrounding them. They come to the pond, and they approach it eagerly before they notice the woman sitting there. She looked right at home at this place.
"Valli, uh, hi. Good to meet you in... better times." The mage sits down next to the pond and takes off their own socks and shoes. "Do you mind if I join you in putting my feet in the water? It's less for my feet and more so I can watch the ripples. I'm a fan of seeing how fluids act."
While they wait for a response to this, they ponder for a while, then speak. "This is, uh... a nice place. Nice and gentle. Though I haven't seen the other side yet, you're the first. ...Uh, that woman. Do you... share the garden together? If you don't mind me asking?"
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Post by Celestial on Oct 29, 2018 7:11:37 GMT -5
Liou Jackie raises an eyebrow but otherwise looks very unimpressed as Valli poofs in and out sight, reappearing next to her. It is clear she has seen a trick like this before. As Valli reaches out to touch her head, she moves aside, gently swatting at her hand. "I do indeed not have a lot of leisure time. I am always swamped with work, in part due to the fact that my colleagues have no idea how much of a pain they can be. I insist on proper procedure for a reason, and when they muck it up, I am the one who has to deal with it. Do you have any idea how many trespassing and noise complaints DEACON deals with?" She coughs. "Sorry, I tend to go off. Did you say you had aspirin?" she perks up slightly, tilting her head. "I must confess, that would be really handy, especially when it comes to dealing with Aeneas or trying to work out how exactly privacy policies apply to Erika," she takes the pouch of powder and shoves it into her pocket. "Thanks. It's appreciated. Hopefully this won't get lost in one of those raids that keep happening. I'll give the other one to your colleague too." Jackie glances down at her shoes and smiles. "Nice to see someone appreciates cleanliness," she heads out of the grove and down the right path. Normally she hated running errands for others- she had enough to do already- but by Valli's description, her other half seemed like she and Jackie had a lot in common. Finally, she reaches the other grove and holds out the aspirin to Karda. "Hi. This is from Valli. She thinks she might have a headache. I'm just the messenger. If you'll excuse me, I got a lot to do, so if you can take this, I'll be leaving you alone to get on with things."
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Post by Liou on Oct 29, 2018 16:53:46 GMT -5
"Valli, uh, hi. Good to meet you in... better times." The mage sits down next to the pond and takes off their own socks and shoes. "Do you mind if I join you in putting my feet in the water? It's less for my feet and more so I can watch the ripples. I'm a fan of seeing how fluids act." While they wait for a response to this, they ponder for a while, then speak. "This is, uh... a nice place. Nice and gentle. Though I haven't seen the other side yet, you're the first. ...Uh, that woman. Do you... share the garden together? If you don't mind me asking?" "Of course you may," Valli says with a little laugh, "if you don't mind me putting the water around your feet." She leans lower to watch the ripples with them. "I am fond of fluids, too! I feel them and hear them more than I see them, flowing in and out of roots and branches, and pumping through your cells. This fluid should bring you interesting experiences." She hands you a jar. You got She nods at the compliment, eyes twinkling, and tosses a string of crystalline flowers around the mage's shoulders. "I tend a land of softness, patience, and self-care. Karda is my other half, my beloved partner, dearest to my heart, and our lives have been entwined here for ages. It feels like we tear the ground apart when we disagree! But she never seems to enjoy our time together anymore. No decorations are safe enough, no gifts are useful to her... How I wish that she would let me bring cheer back into her life." Valli plays moodily with the water, drawing bright streaks with her feet. "I don't suppose you could bring her some more of that lotion and try to reason with her, could you." Jackie glances down at her shoes and smiles. "Nice to see someone appreciates cleanliness," she heads out of the grove and down the right path. Normally she hated running errands for others- she had enough to do already- but by Valli's description, her other half seemed like she and Jackie had a lot in common. Finally, she reaches the other grove and holds out the aspirin to Karda. "Hi. This is from Valli. She thinks she might have a headache. I'm just the messenger. If you'll excuse me, I got a lot to do, so if you can take this, I'll be leaving you alone to get on with things." Just as Valli said, Jackie's shoes are cleaned. As she walks off, the dirt simply leaves and sinks back into the ground from which it came, reclaimed by the grass. "Valli gave you this?" She snatches the powder from Jackie's hands, takes a fleck of it on the tip of a dark claw, tastes it, inhales it carefully, while two of her wooden wolves rush forth to give Jackie a thorough sniff-down. "Well, I'll be. She was sensible, for once. You are lucky that she needed a messenger more than a plaything." Karda hands the pouch back to Jackie. "It's safe for you. You can use it." She gazes in the direction of Valli's area, frowning. "So she still thinks I can't take proper care of myself. I don't need that." Turning back to Jackie, Karda says, "It's still dangerous for you. Follow my steps." There isn't much choice, as the sharp brambles have really closed in on them in this hollow, and Karda is opening the only safe path. In fact, her heavy, steady steps are leaving prints for Jackie to follow her instructions literally. They take a turn around an elephantine tree and are suddenly out of the forest and back into something that resembles a garden. The warm glow of the sunset suffuses the sky, lighting up a vegetable patch full of rotund gourds of all shapes and sizes. You are behind the ruins of a house, covered in so much vegetation that it was invisible from the front. "There's a shorter way out," says Karda, jerking her head towards a neat trail that snakes around the house. With a grunt, she sets a slab of something onto a tree stump next to you. "For your trouble." You got
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Post by Gelquie on Oct 29, 2018 21:04:09 GMT -5
"Valli, uh, hi. Good to meet you in... better times." The mage sits down next to the pond and takes off their own socks and shoes. "Do you mind if I join you in putting my feet in the water? It's less for my feet and more so I can watch the ripples. I'm a fan of seeing how fluids act." While they wait for a response to this, they ponder for a while, then speak. "This is, uh... a nice place. Nice and gentle. Though I haven't seen the other side yet, you're the first. ...Uh, that woman. Do you... share the garden together? If you don't mind me asking?" "Of course you may," Valli says with a little laugh, "if you don't mind me putting the water around your feet." She leans lower to watch the ripples with them. "I am fond of fluids, too! I feel them and hear them more than I see them, flowing in and out of roots and branches, and pumping through your cells. This fluid should bring you interesting experiences." She hands you a jar. You got She nods at the compliment, eyes twinkling, and tosses a string of crystalline flowers around the mage's shoulders. "I tend a land of softness, patience, and self-care. Karda is my other half, my beloved partner, dearest to my heart, and our lives have been entwined here for ages. It feels like we tear the ground apart when we disagree! But she never seems to enjoy our time together anymore. No decorations are safe enough, no gifts are useful to her... How I wish that she would let me bring cheer back into her life." Valli plays moodily with the water, drawing bright streaks with her feet. "I don't suppose you could bring her some more of that lotion and try to reason with her, could you." "Of course I don't mind you putting the water around my feet," the mage says with a smile. "And true, those count too; I'm glad you noticed! I pay attention to those as well." They accept the jar. "Thank you! I'll be sure to try this sometime, feel what's that like." The mage fondly adjusts the flowers around their shoulders, grateful for the gift, while listening to Valli continue. "I'm so sorry you're having disagreements. It sounds like you really care for her. I may not know her, but I'm sure she cares for you too." They think for a moment. "Sure, I can take the lotion to her. Though... while I give it, would you like me to say anything to her for you? Because I was thinking... If gifts and decorations aren't enough, then perhaps she's looking for something else to bring her cheer? Perhaps she ascribes to a different love language? What's happening during the times you two are together when she becomes her most cheerful?"
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Post by Celestial on Oct 30, 2018 5:41:13 GMT -5
LiouJackie backs away from the wolves, looking very concerned. "Uhh...do you have a license to keep these creatures? They do not look very tame. Could easily attack someone." As soon as Karda declares the powder safe, she relaxes, if only for the fact that the wolves do not seem poised to attack her at any moment. Shoving the pouch into her pocket, she looks up at Karda (quite literally: she stood head and shoulders above the tiny administrator) and nods. "I know when not to question an order. Please lead the way, ma'am." Perhaps she ought to have remarked on Karda's still chilly attitude towards Valli but that was none of Jackie's business. Sometimes you just did not get on with your co-workers, or they irritated you. She follows KArda, having to practically jump from footprint to footprint (again, shortie) in order to keep up. Finally they come out and she admires the sunset before the scent of the pumpkin pie catches her attention. Jackie's mouth almost waters.. She smiles and nods. "Thanks. This should be good with a nice cup of tea. You don't happen to know where I can get a good cup of tea around here, do you?"
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Post by Liou on Oct 30, 2018 16:02:17 GMT -5
Gelquie "Her most cheerful?" The permanent glow of moonlight dims, and Valli takes on a greener hue while she ponders this. "Karda seems happy when she sees me safe and well. When she sees anyone else safe and happy, too. Then she gets so angry whenever someone wanders into the woods, as if it was dangerous. She can't help it, you know. She's a very protective tree. I just love to play. You could tell her that... I can take care of myself. She knows my power. So she... she should take care of herself, even if she won't let me do that for her. I want to see her well, too!" When the mage next attempts to move, they find that they cannot. The flowers around their shoulders have quietly twined around their body, down to their legs and into the water, and they seem to have rooted strongly. "Careful!" Valli calls. She raises her hand, and in the blink of an eye, the tendrils snap up to her wrist, forming a chain between the mage and the dryad. "She can get a little clingy," Valli says, her grin full of pointy teeth. She twirls her wrist and the tendrils twine around her arm, detaching from the garland, which stays limply and innocently around the mage's shoulders. Valli's laugh rings from every leaf and blade of grass. Celestial "Creatures?" Karda seems confused. "They are as tame as I am. Do you need a license to keep your arms and legs?" She gives a discreet smile upon seeing Jackie's reaction to the pie. "Thanks. This should be good with a nice cup of tea. You don't happen to know where I can get a good cup of tea around here, do you?" Karda frowns. "A cup... of tea. Just tea, in a cup? No... You must mean something like bark or leaves, stripped off and bathed in steaming water. Well, I... I believe that if you want something done well, you ought to do it yourself. I make a fairly good tea, but..." The bulky dryad lowers her eyes and wraps her arms around herself. "I usually only do this for Valli, when it's just the two of us, and we're safe. I'm not sure she'd care right now, but... I'm not used to people being so forward, and it's a little too fast, and too soon. I am flattered, though."
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Post by Gelquie on Oct 31, 2018 4:15:36 GMT -5
Gelquie "Her most cheerful?" The permanent glow of moonlight dims, and Valli takes on a greener hue while she ponders this. "Karda seems happy when she sees me safe and well. When she sees anyone else safe and happy, too. Then she gets so angry whenever someone wanders into the woods, as if it was dangerous. She can't help it, you know. She's a very protective tree. I just love to play. You could tell her that... I can take care of myself. She knows my power. So she... she should take care of herself, even if she won't let me do that for her. I want to see her well, too!" When the mage next attempts to move, they find that they cannot. The flowers around their shoulders have quietly twined around their body, down to their legs and into the water, and they seem to have rooted strongly. "Careful!" Valli calls. She raises her hand, and in the blink of an eye, the tendrils snap up to her wrist, forming a chain between the mage and the dryad. "She can get a little clingy," Valli says, her grin full of pointy teeth. She twirls her wrist and the tendrils twine around her arm, detaching from the garland, which stays limply and innocently around the mage's shoulders. Valli's laugh rings from every leaf and blade of grass. The mage seems at first alarmed when they realize that they've been trapped, but seems to relax and take interest in the process while Valli frees them. They brush her fingers against the garland, but eventually rise to their feet. "Clingy indeed... But it was kinda nice, in a way," they say. "Still, thank you, for freeing me." They step out of the water and stand a moment to dry their feet. "That's kind of sweet of her, in a way, how she gets so concerned. I think that's sweet of you to say too," they say with a smile. "I'll deliver the message and the lotion. If I don't come back before dawn, I want you to know that you have a lovely garden and lovely foliage, and you seem nice; I'll enjoy your gift. And, maybe I could come back another day, if things don't otherwise go well. I liked my time here." After they dry their feet and slip their shoes back on, they begin the journey to Karda's side of the garden. They step through the dark, seemingly ageless forest, and soon find that they must take care with where they step. With all the branches, the crumbling roads, the dark... It felt just like home. Of course, they still get caught off-guard and slip on a bit of moss, and they take a moment to recover, when they realize that they've arrived before Karda. The mage blinks. Time away and time in Valli's garden had caused them to momentarily forget just how formidable a person they were dealing with. But they remembered that they had no reason to feel fear before her presence. "Uh, hi, um, I guess I seek the grove of Karda," they stutter, collecting themselves. "This is a lovely garden, first off. It was a nice enjoyable walk; neat aesthetic, and this is just the kind of walk that I'm used to. Felt kind of peaceful, really, until that slip." They pause. "Which was my own fault, by the way. ...But um, I'm fine, I promise." ...Hm, what were they here for again? Leaving Valli's grove kind of made them shift mindsets... ...Ohyeah! "Um, I came from Valli's grove? Lovely dryad-lady, by the way; I can see why you like her. ...Or, well, did? Do? I don't know. But she sent me by; seemed concerned. Just for a quick message, if you'll hear it?" They hand over the lotion first. "She wanted me to give you this first, to help you out. And then she wanted me to tell you that..." They ponder. Should they try for as word-for-word as possible, or paraphrase? They go for the former, not wanting to give a lie through paraphrasing. "She says that she feels she can take care of herself, because of the power she has. And so in that case, even if you don't want her help to do so, that she wants to see you taking care of yourself and being well, doing well. No matter what." They pause. "That's the message. You can take it how you like; it's your choice. I just... felt concerned. And I know she is too."
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Post by Celestial on Oct 31, 2018 4:58:58 GMT -5
Celestial "Creatures?" Karda seems confused. "They are as tame as I am. Do you need a license to keep your arms and legs?" She gives a discreet smile upon seeing Jackie's reaction to the pie. "Thanks. This should be good with a nice cup of tea. You don't happen to know where I can get a good cup of tea around here, do you?" Karda frowns. "A cup... of tea. Just tea, in a cup? No... You must mean something like bark or leaves, stripped off and bathed in steaming water. Well, I... I believe that if you want something done well, you ought to do it yourself. I make a fairly good tea, but..." The bulky dryad lowers her eyes and wraps her arms around herself. "I usually only do this for Valli, when it's just the two of us, and we're safe. I'm not sure she'd care right now, but... I'm not used to people being so forward, and it's a little too fast, and too soon. I am flattered, though." Jackie's mouth hangs open slightly as her eyebrows are knitted together in confusion. "Err...I only asked for a cup of tea. I'm not sure what you're implying here. Is it offensive to ask for tea because you are a tree and I would be drinking boiled parts of ones such as you? Or...wait, are you offering to make tea from yourself?" The admin looks a little weirded out by this. She quietly wonders if that is safe or hygienic and whether this dryad's tea would comply with food standards. Though judging by the pie, she certainly would. And what did she mean by "too fast" and "being so forward". Those are the words people used when someone else was flirting with them. "If you think I'm flirting with you, you seem very nice but I have never been interested in anyone in that way. It's not my thing," Jackie puts her hands in her jean pockets. "I just want a nice cup of tea. You don't have to make it from yourself if that's too intimate. Because to be honest, the idea of that weirds me out. Please only do so for your significant other. Especially if you have one already."
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Post by Liou on Oct 31, 2018 19:10:36 GMT -5
CelestialKarda groans under her breath, having stopped listening to the human halfway through. "It's a ceremony, unique for every participant. Heating water is not something that we do every day. Never mind. Do not concern yourself with our ways. I will brew you the basic draught, as thanks for your message." Karda adds wood to a small fire pit set well away from the edge of her trees, uses flint to light it, and digs up a pot for the water and a few fragrant bunches for Jackie to choose from - verbena, chamomile, limeflower... She stays very calm while handling the fire, and does not say a word while the heat picks up. Just as the mage reaches the woods, Karda leaps to her feet and stomps off to let them through her sharp wall of brambles. GelquieKarda listens to the mage's flustered description of Valli as stonily as a wooden creature can. She leans over the mage and inhales deeply - not in the soft way one would sniff someone else's perfume. The air rumbles like a tiny storm wind as she reels it in, and a faint white mist is left to float over the mage's head, drawn out by Karda's breath. She waves it away with one hand. "If you feel dizzy when you get home, or see too much sparkling light on fluids, or feel an urge to jump into fluids, or any other strange symptoms, just... make sure to breathe clean, dry air, and visit whoever can look after your health." Karda slaps her forehead with the sound of wood striking wood. "This is why I can't let her invite in humans for any jolly occasion. Someone has to look out for you. And it always ends up being me." She pauses in her grumbling to hear the mage's message. "She was that concerned, huh. So Valli's acting all responsible tonight." Karda watches the mage thoughtfully, her eyes going over the crystalline flower garland. She glances towards Jackie as well. "Sending me two mostly intact humans is just as much of a message as what you're telling me," the dryad mutters. Checking the fire on her way, she walks back towards her pumpkin patch, at the edge of which is the start of a field, and picks up something. "Fairly good listener, aren't you," she tells the mage, shoving some corn into their hands. "Use this to drown out any thralling whispers in suspicious swamps." You got
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Post by Celestial on Nov 1, 2018 4:46:07 GMT -5
LiouJackie stands back with her arms folded, shifting from foot to foot in the awkward silence as Karda boils the water. As she goes over to pick the tea- chamomile: the others she was not familiar with- she turns to her, watching as she goes off down the bramble path. When Karda returns, Jackie turns to her. "Uh, if I offended you, I'm sorry. I was confused what exactly you were offered. I'm not familiar with many supernatural creatures: most of my job consists of being at a desk reading about the various ways they were taken down. And I think you are perfectly lovely, just I am not interested in you in that way. I also do appreciate you making me some tea to go along with this pie," she gestures to the pie, which she had set down on a nearby tree stump. "Perhaps we can share it, if you like? After that I'll leave. Or I can leave now if I'm bothering you. But I am really glad for the tea."
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