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sticksandbones2024-03-11 05:48 pm
ACT I.I — the final translation of love
What: Quest, to summon a certain lady (Miss Christine)
When: Mid-March? (after Wolfwood's bonfire)
Where: Network & The Manor (outside its boundary)
Warnings: Mentions of death & grief, will add more if they came up
Network post, early afternoon.
Hello. May I borrow one of you who's free at the time being? Only one person is enough.
...Perhaps I should rephrase that: does any of you want to receive some flowers? Vase optional, but I can get one for you from Heimr, if you'd like. Erm, this is for quest purposes. Please help me out.
If you're afraid that any of the monsters are still wondering around, I'd come to you. Fret not, my Arts enables me to sneak past them.
...Thank you.
The Manor, before evening, semi-closed (?)
After he'd given the first half of the bouquet to someone, Phantom heads to the mysterious, fenced manor. It stood almost at the centre of the Grove, still proudly so, despite its state of dereliction and abandonment as well as the forlorn air surrounding it. Even without the fence and its...general strangeness, the Feline operator was aware that he should not trespass there, or even dared to attempt to enter. The complete darkness inside (from what he could glimpse after passing by a few times or so) is there for a reason.
...He wasn't there for the old dog, either. No, he went to the stone grave, covered in white, cloth flowers with a particular name inscribed on its headstone.
Audrey.
He has no memories of his life here (as of yet), and the name had yet to ring a bell to him. But surely she was someone when she was still here, still alive — someone loved, someone who laughed, someone who, like his past self, once existed.
...Everything was still when he arrived at her grave. Not a single shadow moved, although Phantom kept the ones he manipulated with his Arts close by, in case the Forest brought out more monsters.
The phantoms of the past are still here, watching silently, their spectral forms still choking the Grove. He was growing used to them, after all.
He, too, was silent; his cloak of the night draped over his dark grey suit, the second half of the flower bouquet that Ydallir had given him rested in his arms. The vivid red of the gladiolus flowers was a stark contrast against his dark attire — he thought them more suitable than the traditional, ghostly white roses of Victorian funerals, since they symbolised strength and bravery.
Perhaps love, too. One that endures.
"...May you find your way home," He bends down, placing the bouquet of red gladiolus atop the grave. They made for a brilliant sight, a lovely complement to the white cloth flowers already decorating the grave. "Into dust we return, and into dust we shall go."
After he spoke the words to the owner of the grave, he straightened up himself. Hopefully, the magic is complete now, and the 'price' to summon his dearest feline companion has been paid, and well enough at that. He lingered for a moment after he'd completed his task; although his cloak would render him unnoticed, anyone who passes by might still catch a glimpse of him, or at least the new, fresh flowers on Audrey's grave.
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Yes, I merely need to give them - the first half of the bouquet, that is - to someone, and then find it a suitable container. Would you like a vase to go with it, or...do you already have a place in mind to put it?
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[ After all, the Trader had entrusted them to him, and...well, more than just ensuring that he'd complete the quest properly, he felt that it was his responsibility to see the flowers receive a proper treatment, too.
Although he trusts his dear friend to not give them anything less. ]
I could come and visit you instead, if you'd like. Either way is fine by me. I am currently at the inn, if you would like to stop by.
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[ He promises that's not ominous.
To the question he looks around his bare house. Mm.. ]
I'm afraid my house is rather... unfurnished still, and I would feel bad being unable to entertain you properly on your visit! So please, allow me to visit you at the Inn. I shall be there shortly!
[ And he will be! He also brought some.... river reeds? with him. ]
1/2, network
[ No, it's certainly not ominous at all. In fact, it's very much a welcome distraction during these...trying times. ]
It is quite alright, and I do not wish to burden you or to impose upon you...but I suppose that would work out best for both of us. Then, I shall wait for you in the lobby.
...Please be careful on your way over.
[ Since the entity might send out more monsters, if it was still feeling vengeful due to the recent religious texts burning. ]
2/2, action
Good afternoon, dear friend. Thank you for willingness to help me out. [ He greeted, his gaze flickering to the river reeds for a moment, eyeing them curiously. ] Are we...planning to make something today?
[ The bouquet of flowers that he got from Ydalir sat on the sofa, a stark and vivid red. It was all gladiolus, and they were as fresh and fragrant as they were beautiful. ]
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[ Don't worry about your lack of plantimal friend, Phantom, you can borrow Pure Vanilla's. The stoat has hitched a ride with him, and the moment he stops to admire the flowers, she scampers out of his robes and begins to sniff around, the small lily bud on her head closed tight still.
Never mind there she goes, a reed clenched in her jaws and trailing behind her. ]
These are lovely, my friend! And quite perfect for what I have in mind!
[ He stops observing the flowers to throw a smile to Phantom, tail wiggling lightly. ]
Do you need to physically hand the flowers to me?
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[ Phantom nods, a small smile playing on his lips for a fleeting moment as he glanced at the reeds and then back to his friend. He still worries about Raoul, especially since the little critter hadn't been back ever since Wolfwood's bonfire, but the sight of the stoatlike plantnimal puts his heart slightly at ease.
The creatures come and go as they please, after all — it won't be too farfetched to say that perhaps his critter friend was distracted by something.
Surely his fear of him turning into one of the monsters that the entity had sent their way was unfounded.In any case, he let Pure Vanilla and his small friend observed the fresh flowers, his own tail also wiggling lightly. ]They are lovely indeed, and I am certainly glad to hear that. I cannot wait to see what you planned to do with them — well, what you planned for us to do, as well. [ He nods again, slightly, observing the stoatlike creature from the corner of his eye. Both his friend and the critter was distracting enough that he briefly forgot what he was supposed to do until the former reminded him. ] ...I almost forgot. Thank you for reminding me.
[ That being said, the Feline then took the bouquet of red gladiolus from the sofa, and offered it to Pure Vanilla. He had separated it into two halves after getting it from Ydalir, and the second half was safely stored in his room. He plans to place them somewhere later, after he'd concluded the first half of the quest with Pure Vanilla. ]
Please accept these gladiolus, dear friend, the flower that symbolise strength and bravery. [ ... ] And I hope...love that endures, even after a person had passed on. They are not only lovely and perfect for what you have in mind, since I chose them with a specific intention in mind, after all.
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I accept these flowers gladly, my friend. Though they may fade with time, what they symbolize never will. It is with this in mind, that I ask you allow me to return the gift you have given.
[ He gestures for Phantom to sit, then gently sets the bouquet back into his arms so he can fetch the water reeds. He chose them for their strength and ability to be woven together without breaking. After he sits himself beside Phantom and begins to separate the reeds. ]
Have you ever made a flower crown, my friend? They are a little big for the bracelets I originally had in mind, but I believe the meaning will translate. Love given, and love shared in return. A friendship that will endure, just as the meaning of the gladiolus will.
[ He shows Phantom what he's doing as he begins to weave the reeds together, working them into a basic shape so the other can learn, smiling gently as he does. ]