MINI EVENT: GARDEN OF EVIL

[sticksandbonesmods]

GARDENING

Content Warning: Carnivorous plants in a very unconventional way, horror hunger, attempted violence towards animals

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EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORNS

You've done well to avoid the flowers, haven't you? Though some hapless victims here and there may have nearly fallen to it, but even they've been rescued and taken to safety. And the flowers can't approach the General Store, the Trader's stalls, the inn or the house Elsword has built- something prevents the forest from creeping into it ever so softly, so of course it's minions couldn't either. But they're so hungry.

Starvation tears at the flowers like claws, and what should help them- the water and sunshine- burns like ice. The only thing that satisfies is flesh and blood and bone and they're hungry. And they've had enough of being told no.

As everyone goes about their day, the flowers still. They do not reach for and try to grab anyone, and for a moment all seems well. Up until Rusty begins snarling in a way uncharacteristic of him, trying to tear the nearest one out of the earth with his teeth. He is immediately ensnared in vines and leaves, with the full intent of tearing the old dog apart. The flowers shake and there's an odd hum in the air before they all seem to turn, looking at the denizens of the nest as if they had eyes. You will not look away. You can't look away. They are everywhere. On the ground, crawling up the walls of the fence, growing larger to block off the routes to safety, and always shifting to be in your line of sight. Look at them. Look at them.

Look at them.

The madness won't creep in slowly- as they force themselves into your vision, already you can see vines creeping at the edge of your vision, tearing into flesh that isn't there. Ravenous maws biting into the people around you and not letting go. Blood and sap pouring out like ichor. Blink once, blink twice, and it shakes away to reveal the truth but if you aren't careful the visions set in again. Misfortune radiates off of the flowers in waves, tripping you up and interfering with your aim and casting. Get ready, because the flowers aren't going away without some blood.

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Comments

[harmacy]

The correct term would be "splinted". I thought you might appreciate a more common synonym instead. [that's some PA sarcasm btw. does Elsword know what a synonym is...

also Add 100% expected Elsword to cut the broom with Els' sword so this is not shocking behavior, just normal ESP things. Add walks him through the splinting process which i am handwaving because it's 2am and i don't want to spend an hour researching first aid again. anyway,

braced. splinted. cherished.

he's not getting up off the floor, but at least he can rest assured that his injury won't get any worse... probably. he still wants to go back outside and keep helping, but he's slowly starting to realize that might be more of a detriment at this point. maybe he should stick to making herbicides... Dynamo could stay with Elsword to assist, perhaps...

he sighs again, more relief than annoyance now. watching Elsword from the corner of his eye... his gaze keeps wandering down to the flowers and wounds, but before he jumps right into it]

Secure, but not too tight. Good work.

[simplicitas]

[He knows what a synonym is!! And he levels Add with a look that's trying to be sassier than his limited facial emotion range can convey... maybe the effect reaches him anyway.

But with Add's leg successfully splant, he can now... hopefully, possibly, put his tight-ass pants back on. Hm. Elsword thinks it might be difficult, maybe Add should wear shorts for a while?]

I'm glad I could help. It looks like it hurts... sorry. I shouldn't be taking all the painkillers since you need them.

[boy]

[harmacy]

[... maybe he should've just cut the leg part off. ugh. he probably has more than one pair of pants somewhere tho. Dynamo will fetch pant it's fine,

He drags himself to the nearby wall, something to lean against while his leg is still throbbing... it absolutely hurts like hell, but he puts on a thin smile anyway.] Don't apologize. I'll medicate myself later, my patients always take priority.

[besides, they're not done here. he holds up his scalpel, the laser edge lighting up with a blue glow. c'mere, you]

I've been meaning to take some proper samples from you anyway... this many flowers should do fine. Let's start with a simple test of the painkiller's effectiveness. [translation: he is going to gently and lovingly stab Elsword's arm like he's checking the temperature of a steak, is it done yet?]

1/2

[simplicitas]

[why]

2/2

[simplicitas]

[Yeah, it's done. The arm is ready.

Elsword is just. staring down at the point where the scalpel is in his arm. There's a look on his face that says "there's no pain" but also "why is stabbing me the first thing you're trying".

...]

I think it's working.

[His blood is black but hey! At least he doesn't feel himself being stabbed!]

[harmacy]

[you've already got an arm full of holes, what's one more?????

the black blood is not great, but he's already waving a Dynamo over to collect some of that... more samples. more organic material to research and experiment on. he cleans the edges of his knife before moving on the the flowers.]

Wonderful, kukuku. Let's take this nice and slowly... now, be a good patient and tell me if anything feels odd.

[there's still a possibility the plants will try to interfere, but at least Elsword will have an easier time with it.Add starts with the next flower closest to him, holding his blade to the base of the stem, waiting for Elsword's approval, then... a quick little cut, and it's off. easy peasy.

now they just have to do it, like, half a dozen more times? a dozen more times? how many flowers are in your arm-garden sir]

[simplicitas]

[what if he was a bad patient and didn't tell you ANYTHING.

...

Well, it's not like he feels much. The flowers aren't grown enough to fully resist, nothing like the nightmare he had — which he should maybe talk to Add about but haha lol — though they don't entirely hold still. The petals retract from the blade before it even reaches them, as if they're aware this is happening, but there's really nothing else of note. Elsword sits patiently and waits for Add to be done.

There are like a dozen little flowers, yeah. Don't worry about it.]

I have a feeling they'll grow back, but... maybe you'll find a way to make them stop doing that?

[He's tired of being fertile soil :(]

[harmacy]

[Add is... grinning maybe a little too wide, absolutely thriving in how the little flowers recoil from his blade. Is he going even slower on purpose, pausing to pluck off a couple leaves here and there, gently grazing the petals to a burnt edge before going in for the stems...?

He leans in close, a dry chuckle in his throat as he watches the parasite squirm. Who's the big scary one now, huh???? this is for his eye you perennial motherfucker]

They can grow back all they want... but you're my patient. Even the most persistent of parasites should know when to give up. I won't allow them to have you.

[simplicitas]

[Elsword like "yeah yeah Add's having a good time doing science, this ain't new—" leading directly into the brick wall of "whoa what".

He is feeling some type of way about this. He's not sure how to word it (he never truly is), but Add sure is being, well, characteristically possessive in a way that makes Elsword wonder if he's having heart palpitations because there's a knife on his bad arm or if he's having them because ?? why else would he have these actually. What is happening.

Lads, is it gay to find inherent attraction in the way your bestie threatens a fucking plant?

Maybe it's the blood loss.]

I'll, um. Be sure to let it know.

[oh boy]

[harmacy]

Oh, I'll be the one to let them know. Just try and gain any purchase, and I'll stamp you down like the pitiful weeds you are. [is add still trash talking the flowers (yes) (he's lopping the head off one just to accentuate that point, the forest can get fucked)]

Removing the root system will be difficult, but not impossible. If the flowers can absorb a painkiller, a paralytic may be an option. If they're unable to resist or defend themselves and the original root can be removed...

[... but it might get tricky since it's already grown this far... but he could try multiple techniques, whittling down the parasite's strength and stripping it away bit by bit, weakening it to something more manageable... even if it isn't removed fully, it'll still be a decisive victory. he will find a method that works.]

[simplicitas]

[Elsword feels so protected rn.]

...that makes sense to me. [He knows .2 things about this, but:] If you paralyse it, it can't do anything, right?

[Thinking...]

You'd have to do surgery, though, because it's in so deep. If you do that, can you knock me out? I don't really want to watch my arm being cut open.

[He's had gross, cut-to-the-bone injuries before, he does not need to see these things happening to him in real time thanks.]

[harmacy]

Correct. No sensation, no movement, nothing to do but watch as I have my way with you... kukukukuku... [slowly burning the leaves off another flower as he chuckles ominously....... this is very normal and heterosexual behaviour, don't worry about it]

Knocking you out won't be an issue. Rest assured, you'll be perfectly safe in my hands.

[ah, he's made it to the last flower... he pauses, here, truly taking his time to size this one up. he saved the largest for last... carefully, he turns off the laser edge to apply a more gentle pressure to the stem. one last cut—]

Dynamo, fetch a pot for this one. We'll see how cooperative it feels once I'm done here. [... and it's a good thing he wears thick gloves, because that flower sure is gonna start struggling in a moment. can't plant its roots in this body, sorry

he'd rather turn his attention back to Elsword, running the flat edge of his blade down the length of the knight's arm. he can still see the tiny wounds where the stems had grown through, the gouges, the claws...]

... You kept still the entire time. Good job.

[simplicitas]

[The Illuminous Phenomenon is out here furiously trying to crush the emotions he's vaguely feeling about this in its metaphorical El-shaped hands, meanwhile Elsword is like, 404ing completely. What is happening. Why is his heartrate increasing.

Elsword's ape brain is repeating the words have my way with you over and over despite the fact he knows damn well Add is talking to the forest parasite, but god damn.

As soon as Add starts tracing his arm with the scalpel, Elsword makes a mental note later to figure out what the hell is wrong with him. Why is he weirdly okay with this... anyone else doing this would be freaky (this is freak behaviour) but it's fine with Add? He needs to have a talk with himself in the bathroom mirror, clearly.]

Uh. [Swallowing thickly,] Well, it was pretty easy, since I couldn't feel anything. Thanks for getting rid of those.

[They Will Be Back.]