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

[theboogieman]

[he wants to ask her what she saw, then. he wants to know what he must look like, what he's doing. the urge hits him like an arrow through the heart. it's clear and crisp.

but he doesn't ask. he's... quietly frustrated, he rubs at the back of his neck.]

She is my... [the word "mother" is so close, but it's wrong.] ...Master. I would be serving her now if I was not here.

[blindoptimism]

[hm, a Master. His dedication is obvious, even if he chose a different term at the last moment. She wonders for a moment if the forest summoned her hoping to instill fear, or guilt. His tone now implies guilt, especially if he wishes that he could be there serving her]

I'm sorry... that this place is keeping you away from her. [she looks back now on how frail she seemed, her disappointment]

You'll be able to return to her, I'm sure you will.

[theboogieman]

[he mulls that over for a while, brooding... but eventually, he nods.]

I will.

[blindoptimism]

[good. She smiles ever so slightly]

And... no one would be able to question your loyalty. [it's the best way that she can think of to say "you don't need to feel guilty"] Not when you answer with such certainty.

[theboogieman]

[something about that finally gets him to relax. he takes her words very seriously. it sounds sensible. it's exactly the kind of thing he needs to hear. there's still a lot churning just under the surface, but for now... it won't get out, won't flood. it's just a bad day, now. that's all. he's had those before.

after another, easier pause, he adds...]

We're further than Hange got.

[blindoptimism]

[she sees the difference in the way he holds himself, and she respects moving on in the conversation. So she nods]

I feel bad for benefiting from the knowledge that she gathered. [she pauses...] It must have been so terrifying to see an illusion and have no way of knowing if it wasn't real.

[theboogieman]

[that gets a nod. he was there. it was plenty scary, the kind of rational fear of death he wouldn't have been at all afraid to admit. still, it is Hange, so...]

Ran right back in.

[blindoptimism]

[wow, she wonders what it was like]

Did you... get a good look of it as well?

[theboogieman]

[he nods again, glancing up at the skyline. he's trying to think of a way to describe it, but he's... not that good with words, not for something like that.]

[blindoptimism]

[she waits for a moment, but when the pause has lingered long enough she nods as if to say 'that's alright']

We've made quite a bit of progress. I think... I think we'll be able to make it. [that's asterisked with a 'as long as we don't see more crazy shit', but she really is feeling optimistic at this point]

[theboogieman]

[another nod in agreement. there's a chance that something will try to startle them off the path, still, but it seems as though the biggest challenges have passed. like any good fairytale, perhaps, they'll be allowed to pass.

it's still a long walk, but eventually... the trees will thin out, revealing the large clearing at the end, the giant tree, and the treasures.]

[blindoptimism]

[oh... she can't help an unconscious sigh of relief as the clearing approaches. She glances up at Zhas and smiles before she speeds up her chair a bit. Even though this clearing is very pretty, she's excited to leave it and not look back.

She almost feels a slight draw towards her reward, a small unassuming envelope. She resists the urge to look and watch Zhas to see if he's gotten something as well, and tries to focus instead solely on opening her own package...

And inside is a few photos held together by a paperclip. The one on the top of her family... She bites her lip a little bit, something like fondness and pain stirring in her stomach. She hurriedly stuffs the pictures back in the envelope for now, and looks over her shoulder to check on Zhas]

[theboogieman]

[he's... initially a little startled by something appearing so suddenly on his person, but as soon as he investigates, that all goes away in the wake of familiarity. he's got a paperback book in his hands, a little one. red cover, yellowed pages. weathered edges.

American Sign Language is the title. he's flipping through the pages. he looks... "happy" isn't something that can be easily tacked to Zhas, but there's something almost akin to wonder on his face, past all the makeup. it's his copy, and he can see all the signs of it.]

[blindoptimism]

[it's enough of an emotion to be readable to Nunnally. Happiness is a rare emotion for him, so for something to elicit a reaction that's close... It makes her smile ever so slightly as she rolls her chair closer to him]

Did you find something interesting?

[theboogieman]

[he hadn't even remembered to look at hers--and he's not conniving enough to think to do it now. instead, he closes the book and holds it out to her.]

It's from my office.

[blindoptimism]

[Zhas... he's so open with his, she starts to feel a little guilty about stuffing hers away. But she looks at it with interest, examining it very gently. And... in return she offers her own envelope if he wants to look]

I got some pictures. [...] I wonder how these things were able to come here?

[theboogieman]

[...he takes the envelope, carefully. but instead of opening it, he just kind of... looks it over, smells it, and then decides he would rather hand it back to her.]

Forest of illusions. Who knows. Maybe it's that... [what did they call it...?] Prize.

[blindoptimism]

[Zhas... is always so sweet in the most unexpected ways. She smiles, grateful for his choice as she exchanges the book for the envelope]

Then... I suppose we should head back with our prize? Although it feels strange to call it that.

[...] And, again... thank you. I don't think would have made this far if you weren't here.

[theboogieman]

[...] You too.

[was it worth it? he doesn't know. the memory of his mmm-- master is still heavy in his mind, even if it's been shoved to the back of things. he supposes... he knows what she looks like now, doesn't he? so maybe it was a good thing.

he does want to ask, a little, about who she saw in the forest... but now's not the time.

LET'S GO HOME, NUNNALLY. he'll make hot chocolate.]

[blindoptimism]

[AND WITH THAT, THE SICK THREAD OF A MILLION MONTHS IS COMPLETED, WE ARE CHAMPIONS o/\o]