enchanted forest . mingle

[misconceived]

WHO Forest planet occupants!
BROADCAST N/A
ACTION Enchanted Forest / Spa Time
WHEN Upon reaching the system (Jan. 4) to leaving it (Jan. 31)

[ It's another day, another planet for the Drift Fleet to explore. Whether it be relaxing in the landing field, checking out the spa (and subsequently getting urged to enter the woods), or taking on the Enchanted Forest's game, there's enough to do for stir-crazy Fleet members.

Just remember one thing: make it look good. ]

Comments

[hearsthesea]

[Spa]
[Once she has some free time, it's not too long before Shirley leaves the company of her shipmates and heads for the bathhouse for some time on her own. She likes her shipmates just fine, but some time away from the guys is nice all the same.

Currently she's relaxing in one of the hotsprings, keeping her hair out of the water with an extra towel to avoid drawing attention with a light show. That business aside, the water's warm and relaxing and a nice reprieve from recent stresses - not to mention, just the feel of open air and time to relax is refreshing after days on a ship. Ahhhhhh.

It does feel like something's missing though.]

It's strange being here on my own...I wish the girls back home were here, too.

[Forest]
[But of course, once she's bathed for a while at the spa she can't shake the urge to return to the forest. Her first run with the rest of her crew's been quite an experience and not really something she'd like to relive, but still something's telling her to go back inside.

The result is that Shirley ends up pacing around the path's start, alternating between checking out the automaton robot and glaring at the ground. She's very frustrated right now: she's spent several minutes doing this, and she hates being indecisive.]

[Forest]

[twifork]

[Seeing a young woman at the entrance to the forest, Ludger heads over. He isn't sure what she's worried about, but maybe she needs some help? Ludger warns her of his approach with a wave, and then he gives a questioning smile and a tilt of his head as he comes to a stop before her. What is going on, young woman?]

[hearsthesea]

[The wave catches her attention, giving Shirley a much-needed break from her thoughts. Somebody new!]

Oh, hello. I haven't disturbed you, have I?

[twifork]

[He shakes his head to indicate that he's fine. Then—] Is everything all right?

[hearsthesea]

[Well, that sure is a good question.]

Um...I'm fine. I just need to make up my mind whether I should go into the forest. Have you been in there before?

[twifork]

[Ludger shakes his head. Then he steps closer and tilts his head towards the forest.] I can go with you. [mamoritai mamorareteru—wait, wrong game]

Spa;

[catamite]

[she was hoping for more girls... which means she's of course going to end up with exactly the opposite.

in frolics a little guy with piercings and pointy ears, with an armful of little plastic bottles. luckily, he's at least wearing some of the machine-provided trunks, but with his arms full... they're beginning to slide a little ways down his hips. they don't fit him very well, okay.

he startles a little when he sees someone else in the pool he'd been planning on hopping into... but that hardly slows him down.]

--Oh! Sorry. Hi!

[hearsthesea]

Oh!

[She hasn't seen you before. And, um--mind the pants, dude. He gets a pass because of those bottles, though...probably.]

Do you need help with those?

[catamite]

Oh, no... I got it!

[--as a few of those little plastic sample-size bottles pop out of his arms and go clattering across the floor.

so, excuse him while he stoops to chase those down. and also pray that his trunks stay in place, because boy is it a little precarious right now...]

[hearsthesea]

[Watch those pants, dude, she hasn't even reached that stage with her boyfriend. Bottles are more important than that right now, though.]

Here, let me get those.

[Shirley quickly gets out of the water and picks up the nearest bottles, standing up again to offer it to him.]

[catamite]

[phew! the help at least allows him to keep a hand free to hang onto his trunks with. he tugs those ineffectually back up into his hips before holding hand out for the bottles]

Oh... thanks.

Man, I really wish there were, like... little baskets or something around to carry these in.

Spa!

[ladiesss]

[after hearing that, a girl who's been hanging around, relaxing nearby, perks up and adds in a whispery voice:]

Oh man, me too... [a pause. she... gets kind of awkward, all of a sudden.] ...She said, to a random stranger. Hello, stranger.

[maybe she can make this better with a little wave? d'oh.]

[hearsthesea]

[Hey, another girl! Not one of her friends, but maybe that can change. Seems like they're both lacking in female company right now, after all.]

Hello, my name is Shirley. Who are you?

[ladiesss]

[she giggles, still awkward--but also relieved.]

Uh, my name's Krista. I'm sorry to butt in, I just overheard you...

[hearsthesea]

No, it's all right. And it's good to meet another girl. I don't think I've met any since they took me here.

[Which explains why it feels so weird, actually. What a strange thought.]

[ladiesss]

[ah, acceptance! she eases up a little.]

...Yeah, isn't that weird? There was one other girl on my ship, but I think she... left. Which sucks, 'cause she was really nice.

Spa!

[blindoptimism]

[Nunnally had been skeptical of the spa when she first saw it. While it sounded nice, it seemed like a place where she would require a great deal of... "help". She was pleasantly surprised when she found the robot helpers within the facility. While for most patrons their services seemed to end at dispensing luxurious bathing utensils, a small but deceptively strong spindly robot emerged from the depths of the facility to help her. She was moved from her complicated motorized wheelchair to a simple wooden one-- one that wouldn't suffer ill effects from all the water in the place.

So instead of the usual whirr of a motor, Shirley will hear the clacking noise of wooden wheels turning as Nunnally rolls to the hot spring. She pauses when she sees someone else in the tub, and adjusts the towel that is wrapped around her body]

Hello. Do you mind if I join you?

[hearsthesea]

[A chair on wheels? She's never seen something like that before...how interesting. The girl asked a question, though!]

No, not at all. I'd love the company.

[blindoptimism]

Thank you. [she taps on the robot who is assisting her, and whispers something to him. The robot lifts her up, and places her in the water. But not...gently. She winces a bit not in discomfort, but at the splash. looking over towards Shirley, she apologizes]

I'm sorry, I hope I didn't splash you? [she doesn't quite realize from her perspective, but she wasn't put down near enough to Shirley to actually get any water on the other girl]

[hearsthesea]

[Shirley shakes her head, getting up for a moment to move a little closer. Seeing Nunnally and the robot makes her a little curious...]

I'm just fine. Is that automaton yours?

[blindoptimism]

[whew, she looks relieved, and shakes her head at the question]

No, it seems he was provide by the spa. [she taps her chin] I suppose they place great importance on customer service?

spa

[aberrant_type]

[At least she's not entirely alone! Hange has her own hair tucked up into a towel, and she's happy to relax in the water in the nude otherwise. It reveals a heavy farmer's tan and skin criss-crossed with weird lines, not scars but calluses.]

Ah, it's tough to be away from your friends, huh? Well, just think they're where they should be. Hopefully we all will be, soon enough.

[hearsthesea]

[Shirley doesn't know the woman, hadn't really expected her to listen or comment (not that it was bad!), but she has a point there.]

Oh! Hello. Um...well, you are right. I'd like to see how they're doing right way, but the surest way to see is to get back. Somehow.

[However that is.]

[aberrant_type]

Mmhm. I don't know what you all were up to at home, but it's better to be in your proper place regardless of that, isn't it?

[She sighs a little and sinks deeper into the water.]get home, at present...

[hearsthesea]

It wasn't much out of the ordinary - thank goodness. But I'm worried about what will happen now that I'm gone.

[At least one party raising hell is not an unlikely outcome, actually, but that's not a good topic of conversation.]

What about you? What were you doing before they took you here?