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

[wilder]

Yeah! And not just any curry, it's gotta be the good ol' spicy stuff.

There was this guy in Exsilium, he was related to one of my roommates so I'd eat dinner with him a lot. And he always made us eat mild curry. Mild.

[Asbel you were a friend but he still kind of hates you for that]

[idealistic]

...Mild curry?

[ yyyyyeeeeeaaah no. he understands your pain, Kaneis: it has to be spicy or bust for curry. ]

That guy must have had some really weird tastes. I can't even imagine what mild curry tastes like.

[wilder]

Not great. Like a brightly colored stew or something.

[Not that he has anything against stew but dammit it's not curry]

But he kept insisting! He'd go on and on about how mild curry was a superior tasting curry when I pointed out curry's usually spicy.

[idealistic]

[ yeah he's wrinkling his nose at that description. that sounds kinda gross, honestly. ]

That's weird. Guess he just can't handle spicy. [ ... ] How can you even make curry mild and still call it "curry"?

[ HE IS HONESTLY CONFUSED BY THIS. ]

[wilder]

No idea, I never managed it. Usually his girlfriend...friend...kid's mom...whatever she was to him- usually she'd make it.

[idealistic]

[ ...wait, what is she supposed to be to him again? ]

She must be a pretty amazing cook to pull that off... [ it sounds like something Regal or Genis could do, but there's no way he could pull it off without following a recipe.

amidst their conversation, Lloyd notices something a little off about their surroundings. it takes him a moment, but once it does... ]

Hm? Where'd the lights go?

[wilder]

[tbh Kaneis has no idea. Cheria and Asbel made no sense okay. WHO ADOPTS A KID TOGETHER WHEN YOU'RE NOT TOGETHER?]

Yeah, she...

[He trails off when he notices the lack of little lights]

...That's...a good question.

[A good, worrying question]

Let's keep going, okay? Maybe we'll get an answer.

[idealistic]

Sounds good.

[ no need to be told twice: he continues on, checking back occasionally to make sure Kaneis is doing okay.

it's awhile before there's any other change: it's by a very small margin, but the forest seems to be brightening. ]

Maybe this means we're close to the end?

[wilder]

[Kaneis is doing mostly alright. He's tired, and sick of this trail- but the thought that being out in the dark sucks is enough to motivate him to keep going. The more things lighten up, the more he seems to be looking around...as well as complain]

Man, I hope so. My feet are killing me.

[idealistic]

[ on most instances, Lloyd would have rolled his eyes at Kaneis (/Zelos) complaining about his feet hurting. probably would have told him to quit complaining and to keep walking, as well. this particular instance, though?

he couldn't agree with him more. ]

You're telling me. I can't wait to get out of this stupid forest.

[ considering what they saw along the trail, it's no surprise that Lloyd would want to get out of here ASAP. ]

[wilder]

[Lloyd's reaction isn't even surprising to Kaneis. Of course he'd want to get out of here after what he saw. Who wouldn't? So he makes a simple "ha" as he keeps walking. The further they go, the lighter it gets - much closer to the daylight they saw when they first went in.]

[Soon enough, it opens up to what looks like a clearing with some giant, twisted up trees - red and gold leaves with black branches. Kaneis slows to a stop]

So....is this it?

[idealistic]

[ Lloyd slows beside him, staring up at the trees with silent awe. the war the red and gold from these trees sharply contrasted from the green foliage of all the other trees... it was beautiful in a way. he feels something slip into his pant pocket at that moment, but it doesn't quite register. a thin gold chain that wasn't there before hangs delicately from his pocket. ]

Hm... [ without warning he shoots off, running past the three intertwined trees to the other side of the clearing. he disappears behind the trees only for a few seconds before emerging from the other side, jogging up to Kaneis with a grin. ]

Hey! I think this is it-- I'm not seeing a path behind 'em!

[wilder]

[And there Lloyd goes. Kaneis doesn't follow him. He really doesn't feel like running around, and he should hear Lloyd if he runs into trouble. He instead stands and waits, looking around to see if there's a good place to sit down]

[He'll perk back up when Lloyd jogs back to him]

You do? So...we did it? [WE DIDN'T GET EATEN??]

[idealistic]

We did it!

[ screw sitting down. with a flash, his wings disappear and Lloyd flops backwards onto the grass, molted mana feathers flying up from the impact before settling back down or fizzling out entirely. from his position, he's able to see the sky clearly: the sun is definitely lower than it was when they first went in. in fact, it's already sundown.

had they really been in there for that long...? ]

Whew, finally... I thought it'd never end.

[wilder]

[It seems so. He lets out an amused sound at Lloyd flopping back on the grass. He looks up at the sky himself as he sits down next to him with more composure because he was not raised in a goddamn barn]

Probably would've if your wings hadn't lit the way. [Is that a compliment? Who knows]

[idealistic]

[ excuse you neither was he how rude

he doesn't react much to Kaneis taking a seat next to him, only moving his arm away so that he could have more room. his eyes are still kept on the slowly darkening sky, watching the clouds gradually turn pink and orange and purple. he almost feels like he's home. ]

Probably. But you know, it's not like your fire didn't help out any either.

[wilder]

Ah, yes. My beautiful burning fire. How lost we would've been without that.

[He snorts a little as he watches the darkening sky. It's been a long time since he's actually seen a sunset. You don't get that in space, or in the constant drizzle of Exsilium]

...Hey. What if we stayed here for the night?

[idealistic]

[ he lightly elbows Kaneis for that comment, mostly playful but lightly agitated. as much as Lloyd took on the brunt of the work, he knows very well that Kaneis was not only the one who provided the light first, but Lloyd probably wouldn't have pulled out his wings that soon if it weren't for his idea, if at all.

his suggestion definitely has his attention. he's been sleeping among the stars and it was awesome for a while, sure, but it didn't quite have the same magic as sleeping under them.

he turns to Kaneis with a grin. ] Why not? It's been a while since we camped out!

[wilder]

[Hey man what's that elbow for? He glances down at it but doesn't make a comment. What is this whole physical affection thing, it's weird and been too long]

[But...at least Lloyd seems to like the idea. That's good, right? ...He has no idea what he's doing]

Yeah...exactly. And it can't be less comfortable than our bunks.

[idealistic]

The bunks aren't that bad. [ gosh Kaneis, maybe you're just too spoiled with those super plush beds you richie riches are used to. ] ...But yeah. This isn't so bad either.

[ he relaxes, watching the passing clouds in a moment of peace as he lets his mind run. the forest was... definitely something. the way it conjured illusions in order to lure them away... if Kaneis hadn't been there, he definitely would have fallen for that illusion of Kratos. ]

I wonder how it did that...