TDM + GAME OPENING 🎉

[beleos]

Who: Shard-Bearers, new and old
What: Seeds take root
Where: The Tree of Life, Highstorm, Springstar
When: October 14th and onwards
Warnings: Potential for (mild) body horror, death, dismemberment

I. BEARING FRUIT (new characters only)

It starts out as a pleasant dream. You’re in your favorite place, with your favorite people. It’s a moment of idyllic comfort.

And then, it goes wrong.

The sky turns dark above, and as you look up, you see the black expanse of space spotted with faraway pinprick lights of stars. Yet, they’re not stars. You’re certain. They’re watching you. A billion eyes all looking down, and they spill forth as if sky itself was a dam holding back those dark waters. You reach back to the people you’re with, but they’re frozen in place. Their eyes are black, reflecting only the expanse of dark eyes.

So you run, even though you know you won’t escape it. You glance back and see it not overtaking, but consuming. The landscape around you is being devoured, and you can see it cracking apart. The world itself is breaking, and it cracks under your feet. You fall, and the billion eyes chase after you until the darkness swallows you whole. There’s agony as if you’re being ripped apart, and then—

You cannot see. You cannot feel. You simply are. Yet even so, impossibly, a woman’s voice speaks gently.

I’m sorry it couldn’t be saved. But, come, it’s time to wake.

You wake with a start, cradled by soft, velvety plants, and sticky with a sap that smells faintly of honey and iron. You can see the veins of the leaves that hold you, lit warmly and gently by what looks like a crystal embedded above you. Yet, it’s odd, because that crystal calls to you. When you reach out to touch it, it’s warm. Familiar. Important. You don’t know why, but you know you must hold onto this, because now it feels wrong for it to be suspended in these leaves. So, you pull it out.

The light starts to fade, but only in time to see as the leaves cradling you immediately start to soften and crumble, and with it comes a torrent of dirt. Soft, loamy soil starts to fill the space around you in the dark as you’re buried. Or, rather, you already were. You reach out through the dirt desperately, and your hands finds a root, so you pull while you clutch that precious crystal so close that it almost feels like it sinks into you (in your panic, you don’t notice that it does). You reach out again, and this time, your hand hits open air and plenty of sturdy roots around to grab.

From a seed you’re born, and like a sprout, you make your way out of the ground.

And once you’ve clawed your way out of the soft earth and the roots, nearby, you see the soil shift. Another hand comes up to grasp desperately for something, anything, just as you had been.

II. MORAL HAZARD

There are new Shard-Bearers at the Tree of Life, and Yima has asked that the earlier arrivals go to greet them and help them. These aren’t people from Horos, after all, so they’ll have many, many questions. As Yima explains, the roots of the tree rise up to create caverns underneath, and it’s there you’ll find the new Shard-Bearers. And indeed, with careful steps to not slip on the mossy roots, down you go. Perhaps Communion will help you find the new Shard-Bearers, but it might be a confusing process for them.

The roots all start to look the same, to the point that you’re sure that you’ve already been through this passage. You turn around, and most of the people you had come here with are gone, if not all of them. It’s confusing and unsettling, and strangest of all.. You’re starting to feel ill, even if that wasn’t something normally possible for you. But continuing forward, you do eventually find an unfamiliar face of a new Shard-Bearer. They look no better than you feel.

Before introductions, however, roots around you shift suddenly until you’re enclosed in a room together. From the roots, a face forms in the wall. It speaks in a creaking, uneven tone, as if it weren’t used to speaking at all.

Give to take. A sacrifice. To live.

---

LET'S PLAY A GAME...

As the Dryad will explain, characters are now trapped in a room and have been poisoned by the spores that the lichens underfoot release. An antidote lays beyond the roots the dryad has curled around you, but to access it, you must make a sacrifice.

Characters can pick one of the following options, but the decision must be made unanimously. If one character takes a drastic action (such as murdering another), it’s counted as a failure for the group.

• Each of you must offer up a personal/treasured memory. The memory will be shared in Communion with all characters assembled, and then will be destroyed. No character will retain the memory or memory of its Communion.
• Each of you must offer up something physical. A finger, a toe, an ear, it’s your choice. The dryad will offer a knife if this is chosen that will sever the body part of choice cleanly and immediately stop any bleeding.
• Offer up another. Kill one person in the room.
• Refusing is also a valid option. Characters will get more ill as they debate until they start to find it difficult to breathe, and they’ll die quickly after.

The following is OOC knowledge that will not be known IC: The consequences of this game are about intent, and thus are not real. When characters are freed from the tree’s thrall, they’ll have their memories/body parts/life intact.

This can be done in groups of 2 to 4 players, and Loremasters recommend three if you can swing it! It’s more fun when you get in philosophical debates, right? Regardless, when your group comes to a decision, please record it here. These don’t have to be fully threaded out to be recorded, so the conclusion can be discussed OOC if you prefer. Actions can be submitted until October 21st, after which groups will be informed of what comes of their choice…

When a group receives the antidote, they'll be released from the tree's thrall... But will have a hard time waking up. It feels like something has grabbed onto their spine.

III. DREAMING OF HOME

You may wake with a start from your deliberations (or arguments) with a jolt of pain from the base of your spine as something is pulled away rapidly. A dark-haired man who looks to be in his thirties or so holds you carefully, but as soon as you start to regain your senses, he sets you back and holds up his hands.

Woah— Woah there, it’s fine! The tree was, uh, trying to take you back is all. You’re fine now.

As long as you’re not going to attack him, he offers a friendly smile and a hand to shake.

Name’s Cyrus. Sorry about the rude awakening. Let’s get your friend here unhooked too.

And indeed, glancing over, you can see the person you met in that room laying nearby, and it looks like a vine has snaked underneath them to exactly where something had just been pulled from you… Best not to think about it, maybe. Or if you've been unlucky enough to be one of the last people rescued, you might find vines and roots starting to grow into your skin. It's fine!

---

CYRUS, THE TRIBUNE

Cyrus is the NPC heading up the Meridian Faction, and is available to thread with under this header. Cyrus has come to the Tree of Life to help rescue the Shard-Bearer’s from the Tree, so he’s not going to be inclined to explain too much right away, since he’s on a mission, but he’ll stick around once everyone is successfully freed from Prompt 2 to speak with anyone that wants to. The following is just an OOC summary of information in case you do not need to thread with Cyrus:

Cyrus will gladly introduce himself to everyone, and will further explain his position in Meridian and Springstar (see the NPC Page) and the goals of Meridian itself (see the Faction Page, save for the italicized section). But most importantly, he’ll explain that he knows it sounds like something overly optimistic. It’s fair to be skeptical. He’ll produce a small glass bead from a bag he’s carrying. It looks like the necklace he wears, though not lit up. He’ll explain that the force of Meridian is a gift and can be a tether to your home, if you let it. As his fingertips light up, the energy is infused into the bead, which he’ll hand to you.

Taking the bead into your hands, you’ll take a bird’s eye view of your home world as if your consciousness is split, since you’ll still perceive standing in front of Cyrus at the tree. Rather than a vision, the view of your world is absolutely real, you’re certain. It’s a glimpse at the world that you thought destroyed, and if you focus on a particular place or a particular person, you’ll find the view shifting rapidly to it. No one you watch is aware of your presence, but simply continues about their daily life, whatever that is. But after about a minute, the view will fade as the light in the bead also fades.

That’s an iliachtida, a sunbeam, and when infused with Meridian’s light, allows someone Harmonized to it to check in on their world, he explains. It also acts as an anchor that tethers their soul to their world in the Timestream. With it, their world can’t entirely disappear, so eventually, they can go home. It’s a gift he’ll allow anyone that wants it to keep it, but indeed, they’ll be unable to use it again without first Harmonizing to Meridian.

To help manage threadload for the Loremasters playing Cyrus, we ask that you only tag him with the character you are most likely to app. Similarly, new tag-ins will not be accepted after Monday, October 17th.

III. SPRINGSTAR, αιώνιος ήλιος

After your ordeals at the Tree of Life, perhaps you’re drawn to Springstar, the city of eternal sun and the seat of Meridian.

It’s currently (and fittingly) Spring in Springstar, and the bustling city is coming back to life after finishing up winter. It’s not as if the winters are especially harsh here, but you’ll quickly get the sense that the people of Springstar are vivacious and happy to celebrate. You’ll find the Entertainment District to be the liveliest, whether it’s at a rowdy bar or a brothel, but no matter what, you’re welcome with open arms and without question.

Of course, if you’d just like to use the chance to explore the city alongside your fellow Shard-Bearers, that’s fine too. It’s easy to get lost in the crowds of Springstar and see all the city has to offer.

IV. HIGHSTORM, луны-близнецы

Or maybe Highstorm, the city of twin moons and the seat of Zenith is more to your liking. It’s certainly the quieter of the two cities and is a relaxing, meditative place if that’s what you prefer. The chill in the air is constant, since it’s Autumn in Highstorm and the eternal night doesn’t help keep things warm, exactly. Snow isn’t out of the question at this time of the year, but it’s beautiful in the moonlight.

Because of the cooler weather than Highstorm is prone to, you’ll find many of its delights inside rather than outside. Libraries and museums are popular in the more introspective city, though it’s easy enough to find something that might please you. For example, the indoor hot baths are popular at this time of the year too. You’ll find the people are kind, if cool-tempered, though if you mention the fact that you’re a Shard-Bearer or allied with Zenith, they’re more likely to warm up.

Though much like Springstar, it may just be more interesting to explore the city with a fellow Shard-Bearer. And as a resident may warn you, it’s best to stay in the city. Wandering out into the marshes and forests isn’t advised. Of course, if you do, just contact a Loremaster to find out why. ♥

NOTES

Welcome to Kenos! As a reminder, all players are required to fill out an application, which are now open. This does include characters/players from Aion Teleos, so please don’t forget to fill one out! Any character/player that does not submit an application will be swept from the communities and the Discord after applications close.

Activity Check is optional this month, but is highly recommend so Christy can check her fancy program so that you can earn Activity Reward Tokens! Activity will be able to be submitted shortly after applications close. You can find more about how we do AC here.

This log is Game Canon. Any characters who are not apped to the game will disappear. If Cyrus or Yima are asked, they’ll explain that this happens sometimes, since not every soul has a strong tether to Kenos and sometimes return to the Timestream. They’re fine and may even return to Kenos one day, but for now weren’t able to make the full journey.

As a reminder, your character has a Shard somewhere on their body that encompasses their soul, so keep note of where you're sticking it on their person for reference! Additionally, they have a tattoo of their Aspect somewhere on their body. Please be mindful this Aspect will be assigned to you upon approval and whatever you choose for the TDM may be temporary (for new characters)!

For the Highstorm and Springstar prompts, both cities will be fully open and accessible to all characters once they are saved from their rather harrowing ordeal at the Tree of Life. For prompt ideas and any general information about the cities and what you can find there, please see the Navigation page and check out the locations!

FOR NEW PLAYERS:

New players are welcome to join our Discord Server if you haven't already!

When they emerge from their cocoon/the ground, characters may be wearing their normal clothes, or they might be nude. Up to you!

At some point in the days after leaving the Tree of Life, new Shard-Bearers will have a dream, even if they're usually not capable of sleeping. All new players should read this post, since this details how they'll learn about both factions and their goals and should help them make a decision in which Faction they'd be drawn to.

New characters will not have access to any canon abilities on the TDM.

Your character will be offered temporary housing either at the Heliopolis district or Yima's manor for the first few weeks after their arrival. They will also be given a stipend for basic supplies like clothing and personal effects, and food is served in the cantina (Heliopolis) and at regular meal times in the Dining Room (Yima's manor). Once they Harmonize, they will get personal permanent chambers and a fancy retainer in their Faction's city. Wow! 🌈

FOR OLD PLAYERS:

Characters may be Harmonized to their Faction (if that makes sense for the character, of course!) by the time of this log. This is more for IC reference, and just wait until application acceptance to do the OOC paperwork!

General reminder that your character won't have access to their powers until they have Harmonized.

CODING

Comments

[oomfies]

[ The question almost pains her more than the unpleasant throb and swell of her finger. There's a reason why Misa and her didn't go for it — it's simply something neither of them considered as an option. Especially for Lottie, who is staring dumbly at the man opposite, taking steps so calm and balanced that she's feeling jealous. God, her head hurts.

It's a long silence, one that she knows is costing them something important like time. They're being poisoned by nature and here she is, thinking about all the stupid things her hair means to her. Stupid things that don't really matter but still make her hesitate, even though she knows she's allergic to nature and it's only speeding up whatever is seeping into her lungs. ]

No..

[ At least he isn't going to kill her, or something. The thought makes her feel less bad about how gross (and worrying?) the cough that bursts from her lips is, ]

No, I — [ 'I like my hair', is right on the tip of her tongue. She feels herself begin to cry, ] I can't. My hand, it's.. I just can't.

[prizeneck]

[It all tastes tart in his mouth, and he listens carefully to that voice as Lottie almost hacks out a lung from it.] Respiratory problems?

[A moment of silence where he tries accessing the information he can gather from behind his shades, standing over this girl as her breath starts to hitch violently — he's surprisingly okay with her starting to cry and doesn't mention it. His mind is having trouble processing some of it, and he can only blame it on whatever this asshole is trying to poison them both. Really, a fuckin' laugh, this MO.

Great, he has even less time here.

He turns his head just slightly, reaches to his own shoulder with the opposite hand. His fingers trace the fabric of his shirt's sleeve, and once he finds the stitching at his shoulder, he digs his thumb into it with enough force that he can start to tear at it.

Once the sleeve is off, he rips it once again, opening it into a wide strap — it's only a matter of wondering if the circumference of his shoulder is wide enough for his companion here, but if not, she can always fold it and press it against her nose and mouth.

He crouches, and it's an effort. It's a good thing Mamoru thrives the most when he's getting his ass kicked. He hands out the stripe of fabric to her.] Use this to filter out the air. It'll give us some more time. Give me the knife, and let's try it.

[oomfies]

[ She doesn't even bother to deny his initial assessment, like she usually would. The rip of fabric is distant, the hot thrum of pain too distracting. Every sensation melts together into some irritating amalgamation seizing at her body. She's not even sure if her nail is the worst part of this anymore, because the spores are more volatile than they were the last she was here. Lottie scrunches her face up, trying to steady her breathing.

Predictably, it doesn't work — she's holding in a cough that's threatening to burst free when he crouches in front of her. It takes her a moment to realize that.. That's what he was doing? She cries, sniffling to herself, all kinds of thankful and relieved when she finally registers his words. It doesn't help her congestion, or breathing, at all — these tears — but she doesn't care, simply folding the torn sleeve into a haphazard square to press against her face.

It's clear this is infinitely better, the only real reprieve she's getting from what's happening, her breathing becoming slow and measured. Focused inhales and exhales, through that sleeve of his. ] Okay, [ Her head nods once, then twice, switching hands so her functional one can fumble and grab for the blade. There's a hiss, a shaky intake of breath, at the nick she gives herself when she grabs blade first. The handle is pressed into that outstretched hand of his, ]

Okay.. [ Fuck. She's really hoping he doesn't make her look goofy as all hell.

(She doesn't want to say this out loud in fear of manifesting it.)

Lottie twists and turns her back to him, acutely aware he has a knife and not a pair of scissors in his hand. Her heart beats even louder, and quicker, than she thought possible. ]

Am I okay?

[prizeneck]

[He tilts his head at the clumsiness, more at how the blade sounded against the skin than the following hiss. With a measured breath, he takes the knife, measures its weight, and checks the shape of the blade. The steel rings different, somehow, under his fingertips, and he wonders just what exactly it is made of.

He leans back, setting one knee on the ground to steady himself. Lifting his torso higher, he uses the knife to cut his other sleeve. Dropping the blade, he decides to wrap the fabric around his mouth and nose like a facemask first. As if the sunglasses he's wearing already don't make him look like a downright tool, the ripped fabric over the rest of his face completely hides his expression.

But he does sound absolutely amused at Lottie's back, a slight chuckle that doesn't quite sound right.] You offer yourself like this right after a show of kindness? Kind of naive, right?

[Nevermind that this is a big scarred man with a knife in his hand right behind her.

Instead, he only reaches at the back of his neck and pulls a black, longer strand of his unruly hair, cutting it with ease (do you think this guy ever goes to a hair dresser, of all places?).] It needed a trim anyway.

[oomfies]

[ God, who says that?? And just.. Laughs all weird??? Lottie would blush if she wasn't already tinged red from her allergies. She still feels embarrassment burn the tips of her ears, resisting the urge to clench her fists. She knows, she's aware. Very aware, because he's down on one knee behind her and the more he comments, the more she starts to let her brain run with all the terrible things that could happen. Besides, why would he go through the effort of ripping that sleeve if he wanted to kill her?

Obviously, there is no benefit. So why is he bullying her!!!

Lottie's voice swings higher, equal parts agitated and just plain flustered, refusing to turn around and look up at him. ]

It's.. It's not — I'm not offering myself, it was your idea!

[prizeneck]

And you went with it straight away and turned your back on me. [Chipping away at the longer ends of his hair, he tries to capture most of them in his other hand, but he feels some strands drift and fall onto his shoulders and into the collar of his shirt.] Either your survival instincts aren't that great, or you're an excellent judge of character.

[Call it a messed up way of tutoring. Scaring people shitless sometimes is the quickest way to have them learn about the what ifs, about vigilance. This girl is untrained — that makes sense; of course he wouldn't be the only one being brought over here — so the faster she learns, the better.

He gets up with a groan and takes a moment to steady himself for a second before he turns to where the voice in the wall had spoken, raising his fist with the hair he cut off and raising his own voice to a disappointed growl.] This enough for you, you asshole?

[oomfies]

[ Lottie refuses to let this man know exactly how much she is hating on him (mentally) right now, so she just seethes quietly as he chops away at his hair. Of course, he's right — she hasn't really taken anything seriously until now. She usually wouldn't be caught dead on outings like this, but her friends were going and.. Well, who is she if not one to support them? They're all she knows, and Lottie adores nothing more than comfort in familiarity.

It still doesn't make her any less comfortable knowing she's effectively been scolded™ by a man in a sleeveless shirt and sunglasses.

(Also, couldn't he just let her bask in a kind gesture?!! Lottie is going to be bitter about thinking he was cool for all of two seconds for the rest of the week.)

Her finger thrums unhelpfully, her migraine getting even worse the seconds following his shout. It is completely silent, save for the ambience of nature around them (and Lottie's occasional wheezes). ]

We both have to do it.. [ Now she turns, tired of staying on her knees. She rests her weight on one arm, leaning back so she can look up at him. ] That's the deal.

[prizeneck]

[She doesn't have to show it.

Mamoru feels aggression, like some sort of spidey senses. He's already feeling quite smarmy about it.

However, he doesn't spend that much time reveling on the hate. He tsks something nastily and sighs something gruff.]

They're not specific. Fuckin' amateurs.

[He throws the knife into the ground, its blade lodging very close to Lottie's fingers with a muted sound. For someone who sounded slightly threatening a few moments back, he sure is okay with her having the weapon while hating his guts.] Fine. Get it over with.

[oomfies]

[ The knife flops by her hand and Lottie is slowly hit with many weird realizations. The first, is that this guy is so impossibly hot and cold (so weird and just, flippant? And weird??). The second she mulls over when she picks up the knife, staring at it with bleary eyes — she thought he was going to do this, when he asked for the knife? Was he trying to save her hair by chopping his strands first? Also.... Amateurs?? What?!!

..Hm. Actually, she probably shouldn't think too much into this. It's not like she'll ever see him again, right?

With that in mind, she sacrifices her makeshift mask to finagle her locks into one hand, knife poised in the other. Warily, she stares up at him, ]

..Would you tell me if it looks bad?

[prizeneck]

[At that, Mamoru finally looks in Lottie's direction, hearing her hair shift in her grasp and the tentative breath from her throat.

Really, priorities are vastly different in people. Here she is, looking as though she may just spew blood out of her lungs at any second, and she cares if the hair cut looks bad.

Would he tell her if it looks bad?] Sure. [If he could, that is. But he won't say that. He just wants her to get it over with.]

[oomfies]

[ She's not sure if she believes him, but really, does it matter? Lottie stubbornly bites at her lip, forcing the cough threatening to spill out of her mouth back. Just a trim, just like he did, she decides. A few inches won't matter if her hair is already longer than it used to be, before she woke up here, right?

It still stings, in the oddest of ways. She feels something like acid crawl up her throat and worry sting at her brain. She still doesn't want to do this, but it's not like she has much a choice.. Right?

Right. She has to do this. Tears spill over her cheeks unpleasantly as she commits fully, fumbling her way with an unsure grip on her hair. Her head feels the slightest lighter when she finishes -- she's not sure how to feel about it. But it seems that is enough to appease the dryad, its face making odd contortions as the spores at their feet seep less and less poison, the air becoming far easier to breathe. Vines are slow to unfurl, each ebbing away strand by strand.

But Lottie isn't particularly interested in that, all she does is turn to Mamoru and stare at him. Buzzing with a sort of energy that only can be conveyed through the tiny little gestures she does to her head (her hair), not even particularly noticing she almost pokes at an eye out as the knife is still in hand. ]

[prizeneck]

Hah. [There we go, it worked. All this creepy ass shit out of a stereotypical satanic ritual from the 80s that would make every movie critic need to change their pants and every veteran police officer roll their eyes hard enough to have them pop out of their heads. Mamoru shakes his head, taking in a deep breath as if measuring how much better the air is, and fuck it if it still hasn't cleared enough. He barely notices the rustling, the impertinent and insistent glare the other girl is sending him.]

What? [He nudges his shades low enough to show the rest of the scars across his brow and eyelids.] You really askin' a blind man if something looks good?

[oomfies]

[ The knife slips and near drops from her hand with how lax her fingers become. She scrambles to catch it for a hot second, ultimately backing away and letting it fall flat on the ground. The sunglasses.. Weren't a statement??? Lottie has so many questions, a lot of them stemming from embarrassment, but the one that comes out is a bewildered: ]

Why... Why did you say you would then???

[prizeneck]

[The roll of his shoulders as he shrugs is casual, as though matter-of-fact. His lip keeps quirking, unable to hide how amused he really is that she really hadn't noticed the scars all over his face.

Granted, that he did cover half of it for a while for safety's sake, and that Lottie was a coughing ball of nerves, but…]

I would if I could. Though I honestly don't care. You'll live long enough for that hair to grow back. [If only they knew…]

[oomfies]

[ He's.. Smiling! He thinks this is funny?? They almost died and here he is, smiling with that mouth of his about successfully duping her! She'll remember this.. And also, a smaller amount, remember that it's his shirt in her hands. The same little piece of cloth that helped ease the burn of her lungs, the phlegm (or blood? God, what if it was blood?! She shivers,) aching to be coughed up. ]

Fine.

[ It Is Not Fine. ]

D'you.. Do you want your sleeve back? [ Her voice is hesitant, unsure. Even a little small, ] It can be sewed back on..

[prizeneck]

I have no use for it. [He's only wearing a black t-shirt, Lottie, one that's probably seen better days, too.

He takes a moment. It's actually a good thing that Lottie remains lower on the floor, and her voice wavers. It helps him figure out acoustics now that they're not—

—they're not locked in. That's a good thing to know. He turns his head slightly to her] You're injured, right? Take it this isn't the first time this thing has done this to you.

turns out it's actually all five nails on one hand gone so dont mind me changing facts LMAFAEF

[oomfies]

[ Stubbornly she wants to say it might be his only shirt, because she's never seen him before and he has to be new to be in these woods, right? But she keeps her lips shut, before remembering, oh yeah, her nose is clogged and she's doomed to mouth breathe. Gross.

And it would stay gross, and at the forefront of her mind, if it weren't for his healthy concern. Her hand twitches, and the exposed skin of where her nails should be is hit with fresh, crisp, air and it stings. She's uncomfortable all over again by the time she answers. ]

No. I mean, yeah. We came to go get you guys out of here and.. [ How much should she even say? Does it matter? He's helped her, even if he's weird and a little mean. She frowns. ] After we were done, the roots.. They just.. It felt like they wanted to bury us alive.

ajsndha that's fine

[prizeneck]

[He can only assume injuries to her hand, arm or shoulder, but can't really tell what it is. The way she twitches and seems aware of the injuries somehow denounce how whatever it is, it's open and painful to the cold air.]

Whatever it is you're injured with, cover it with some clean cloth or wash it with cold clean water whenever you get the chance. Don't wanna risk infection. [Very matter of fact, as though disregarding how distressed Lottie is when describing the incident.

He does frown, though. The roots. This is all so strange. He did feel the Dryad was no machine, not enough reverbrations and dryness that it tends to escort whenever machinery and electronics are concerned, but neither did he feel something organic, in the way that animals or people breathe in air, give away—mostly—heat.

The voice seemed odd, and now he remembers the snapping of old wood at his grandfather's house above him, while he fought the ghosts of his memory as a child.] Y'don't seem too surprised by roots gaining sentience, though.

[oomfies]

[ She grimaces deeply. That is going to hurt so much, she almost wants to cry with frustration at the thought. But he's right (again), so she nods, almost soothed by how impersonal he sounds. It means she can focus more on the details of what type of cloth to sling her fingers in, if it even matters on how pretty it'd look.

Lottie actually glances up at him, surprised. Both at his question, and the fact he's right. She isn't.. And she probably should be, right? She blinks slowly, mulling over all this by herself. She thinks over the initial response she had with Misa during their first romp at this, and it was not to cry — but to actually debate over which option to do.

She lets out a 'huh'. ]

I.. Guess? [ She guesses what?? She can't say. ] Weirder things have happened.. It makes sense some stupid tree guy would think it's funny to do this.

[prizeneck]

'Tree guy', huh… [Well, that does explain the why of amateurism. This girl is either amazing at lying while enduring torture or in too much pain to say nothing but the truth. While roots and trees gaining sentience seems as farfetched as everything, the fact that he woke up here, covered in goo, after a weird dream while he was being transported back to Japan on a ship means he is dead, tripping, or this is very real.

He tips his head toward the ground before them.] Where's the knife?

[oomfies]

[ Is he judging her nickname capabilities?? Only time will tell (because Lottie certainly can't). Now, she's actually moving to stand, being careful to let her hand that's nail-less hover awkwardly by her chest. She feels dirty and gross, sweaty and tired.. Vaguely irritated about nothing.

Well, hm. Not about nothing -- he mentioned the knife and suddenly she puts two and two together this tree guy is giving everyone the same knife to do their business with. ]

Over here.. [ She points, at first.. But then remembers he's blind so she taps at the blade with her foot. ] Why?

[prizeneck]

[Not at all, only a mere objective assessment of his situation. A sitrep, of sorts, if Lottie ever wanted to get technical. He steps forward to grab the blade, feeling the weight of it again.

That 'tree guy' is letting them go, and yet letting the knife here is kind of convenient, but then again, he's not expecting this to be the last thing they have to deal with. He scoffs, uses the torn rag he used as a mask to wipe the blade clean (just in case) and wraps it so he can keep it with him.]

Y'think the thing is just happy with this and let us go? Best to be prepared, right?

[oomfies]

[ She stares at him, then the knife. Then back at him, again, her mind working faster the fresher the air becomes. She presses her lips together in a fine line, thinking that it probably won't be that easy. She doesn't expect violence -- the worst'll happen is they get stuck again in another loop.

So there's no real judgement, or implication she can come up with a better idea, when she whispers to him: ]

You're gonna try and stab a tree?

[prizeneck]

[Mamoru's eyebrows arch, and his lips purse.

Then he grins, tauntingly.] How violent. Nah, I'm gonna keep it.

[Watch him tuck the knife into his back pocket.]