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

[misconceived]

[ how did I lose this tag... ]

I'd say we walk side-by-side but that might make staying on the path harder.

[ As they get further into the darkness of the forest, small lights begin to appear. Steady and soft, not like what Shirley is seeing from just out of reach, these lights appear to be coming from holes in the bark of the trees around them. Bioluminescence at its most ethereal. Chris doesn't stop but he does slow down to take in their new, creepy and kind of pretty surroundings. ]

Okay... Nothing bad so far. But I didn't see this ahead two seconds ago, so... we're probably in some kind of undefined maze here. Or everything is just reacting to us when we pass by. Like motion detectors.

[merchantprince]

No one's straying just yet.

[Varric is still alert, and he is definitely sweeping his gaze from side to side in case anything jumps out.]

So the creepy magical forest is actually magical? I never would've guessed.

[hearsthesea]

If it's responding to us, then we should be extra careful. I wouldn't be surprised if we came across a trap.

[Stay on the path, they said. But did they ever say the path wouldn't be dangerous?]

[misconceived]

Oh, shut up.

[ That's to Varric, and if it weren't so important to keep his eyes forward he'd start walking backwards just to make faces at the dwarf. He's very mature, you see. ]

What, like a booby trap? At least if one catches me, you'll know to walk around.

[merchantprince]

[Snrk.]

Haha. Booby trap.

[hearsthesea]

[Really? That's...Varric, you're the oldest. Shirley looks pointedly at Chris and tries to pretend she didn't just hear that.]

If one catches you, we might need to heal you first. But I hope it won't come to that.

[misconceived]

[ Chris slows, turns over his shoulder and just. Wow, Varric. ]

And you thought I was fourteen?

[ Okay, but no, he actually is going to walk backwards long enough to make his next point to Shirley. ]

Yeah, um, about that. Me and magical healing don't really get along that well, so... [ That medkit he's carrying isn't just for show. ]

[merchantprince]

[Varric shrugs.]

What? I have an appreciation for puns.

[He presses his lips together.]

Keep your limbs attached, folks.

[hearsthesea]

Oh.

[Well, it's good that Chris told her before she ever tried healing him. Shirley makes a mental note; this means that learning her way through real medicine and lab work is even more important.]

Then it's even more important to be careful. Varric's right, we don't want any accidents.

[misconceived]

That wasn't a pun, that was laughing at "booby traps".

[ Chris shakes his head and moves to turn back forward, just in time to avoid a low-hanging branch. Well, somewhat low. Low enough that someone at 6'1" might run into it, anyway. ]

Hope we just get the choice, you know?

[merchantprince]

[Varric will leave the med shit to them, then. Or at least Shirley. Because Chris seems like he'd stab you first, even if it's an accident.

Varric settles into a grumpy silence, which has basically been the theme of his whole time here. But this time... this time... he hears something that makes him stop dead in his tracks.

K-chak kchak kchak.]

Shit, now I'm hearing things.

[hearsthesea]

I've been seeing things, too. I can't tell what is, but there's something there.

[And now that she thinks about it again there's another flicker at the edge of her vision. Shirley turns her head out of reflex, not really expecting to find the source but...no, there!

Whatever she's seen disappears, but Shirley gasps - she's sure she recognizes it.]

A teriques?

[misconceived]

[ Chris is kind of regretting taking the lead if only because it means he can't give his crewmates worried looks while also keeping an eye out. ]

Varric, what are you hearing? Shirley — what's a teriques?

[merchantprince]

Sounds like a crossbow. My crossbow.

[He rubs at his temple, then glances at Shirley.]

I didn't see anything, or at least not a... whatever.

[hearsthesea]

A teriques. They're--the Ferines use them.

[Not the most eloquent answer, but she's still in shock.]

Either this is an illusion, or...

[But there couldn't be other Ferines here, could there?]

[misconceived]

Or this place is bringing people in. Impossible people.

[ Chris whirls around like a gun just went off. He stares in the same direction as Shirley, but instead of seeing whatever it is a teriques is, it's... it can't be. There's no way it is, but... His heart aches when he sees his dead fiancée standing just off the path. ]

Bianca?!

[merchantprince]

It has to be. There's no way--

[Varric snaps his head around to see whatever might be off the path. On the other side, mirroring where the woman is, there's a crossbow. Floating. Magically. In a beam of golden light. There could be a choir of angels.]

Bianca?!

[misconceived]

[ Oh, that wasn't an echo. That was Varric. He turns to share a look. ]

Bianca?

[merchantprince]

[But someone else said that name at the same time. He looks at Chris.]

Bianca?!

[hearsthesea]

...Bianca?

[One person calling that out can be chalked up to an illusion, but two? Something is almost certainly up here, and Shirley feels like she's missing something.]

Who or what is Bianca?

[misconceived]

[ Chris sucks in a breath and turns to Shirley, side-eyeing Varric for obvious reasons. There's no way this dwarf knows Bianca. No way. ]

My fiancée.

[merchantprince]

[Sorry, Varric is still talking over Chris. He's not meaning to, but Shirley just asked a question, and he's still kind of freaked out. This shouldn't be here! It's floating SO OMINOUSLY. He looks suitably freaked out because WTF does Chris know about Bianca?]

My crossbow!

[hearsthesea]

[WHAT THE HELL GUYS. Shirley looks back and forth between the two of them, but all she sees is the teriques from earlier fluttering away - a lavender one she's never seen before.

That can't be Bianca, but then what is?]

Are you two...what do you see?

[misconceived]

[ Chris pauses at that, turns to give Varric another disbelieving look. ]

You named your crossbow Bianca?

I think you're missing the point here, Chris.

[ He practically flinches, turning to face the ghost with as steely an expression he can muster. ]

And I think this is all some kind of sick joke.

[merchantprince]

You're not seeing my crossbow? Twenty-four inches of Dwarven craftmanship? No?

[Varric is doubly confused because 1. Bianca??? and 2. Chris is replying to people who are not there.]

It's a good name. And she's a good crossbow.

... I take it you're seeing something else.