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

[cursedwords]

[ Toge did leave as he seemed to, well clearing much of the distance so that Shalem could do it safely, but he didn't feel comfortable just leaving him behind. He was in relative safety.

Shalem walking across the the distance would catch his interest, especially if he looks unsteady.

He'd come back for him, swooping in with a solid arm to try and hold him up. Toge might be small, but he was pretty strong. It would probably be alright. ]

[prozaic]

[even as he's removed many of the plants attempting to eat him, there are still more, because of course. they're surrounded by forest, why would there not be even more around? the serpent fires off more of his magic to protect himself, even if his weakening state means that some things slip through the cracks, so to speak. plants scrape at his limbs and face, tug on his hair and tail, and his best method is to fight them off by burning them.

so shalem is quite glad for the help, embarrassed as he is. it's for that reason that shalem doesn't put all of his weight on the boy.]

Ah, thank you. But shameful, for you to help me like this when I came in to help you in the first place, but... Oh well.

[cursedwords]

Fish flakes. [ His tone is emphatic protest. What's important is everyone getting out alive. It shouldn't be shameful or embarrassing, not really.

Toge's grip with his arm is strong, he's got muscles even if he's quite small. He knows he looks pathetic, but he would say he isn't.

It's easy enough to navigate to safety based on Shalem's first instructions. ]

[prozaic]

[yet another fish-related comment-- shalem can't help but laugh, softly not because he worries about aggravating his injuries, but because that's the only sort of laugh he knows how to make without a terrible mental state.]

I think I'm coming to understand your quirks. [it may present some communication issues, but food-only speech is not one of the strangest quirks he's encountered over the years.] Even if I haven't managed to get a hang of the language barrier yet.

I'll be sure to pay you back someday.

[cursedwords]

[ It's alright if Shalem finds them amusing, Toge isn't offended. He smiles a little. ] Salmon.

[ It's good he's understanding them, or at least thinks he does. Toge's been giving people easy mode so far, because it's a learning curve. Perhaps they don't have to learn, but he appreciates it all the same. He needed some way to communicate and this is the best he has. ]

[prozaic]

Close enough. [shalem is being silly, now. loopy. tired from his exertion even if he was fighting for only a few minutes.]

My name is... Shalem.

[though he doesn't expect a proper answer out of the boy. he can just perhaps be "the fin boy".]

[cursedwords]

[ He shouldn't, but he's holding up Shalem so his hand isn't free and he can't pull out his phone. He speaks very softly, mostly because the one who would pay for it is himself. ]

Toge Inumaki [ Ah, he shivers a little bit, but that's good. He's strong enough to shake off a curse that small. It'd be pathetic if he wasn't. ]

[prozaic]

[shalem's brow wrinkles when he hears the boy's voice-- it sounds rough, and getting rougher, and shalem raises his hand to stymie more words. then he tries to get his weight on his feet again, to walk properly without needing assistance.

he feels guilty now.]

You needn't force your voice on account of me.

[cursedwords]

Fish flakes. [ Since he has his hand back he waves it back and forth. His voice is stronger when he speaks in his cipher, specifically because it's harmless words, for the most part. ]

Mentaiko. [ He's fine, he's fine. ]