[muffled spooky scary skeletons playing in the distance]

[geonomy]

Who: You! Me! Everybody!
Broadcast: idk but we've sure got a pretty broad cast of folks eh, eh
Action: HECK YEAH PLANET MINGLE
When: 10/7 until plot update or recaptcha

It's a deep, deep forest filled to the brim with fungi, mysterious life forms, and pitch black darkness. Explore if you dare and discover all these things and more! Just don't get lost...

Comments

[exothermia]

[He nods, accepting that. Who Tempest chooses to speak to is her own business, and he knows that being half-elven has lead to wariness on her part.]

[noprophecies]

[oh so much wariness, but it isn't as bad as it used to be. Then again, her cousin isn't here to smooth out the bumps, like he did back home]

In any case . . . if you are down here by yourself, be careful. It could be nothing, but - it is rarely ever nothing.

[exothermia]

I don't think I'll spend much time here. [The forest is a pleasure to be in, after the closed spaces of the ships, yet Erik's level of interest is still low. It's the same with most things.] I'll keep that in mind, though.

[noprophecies]

[she tilts her head at that, but hums a little and pushes to her feet, brushing dirt off of her pants]

Mm, well, I will just have to ask you to accompany me down here again. I am certain I can find another excuse.

[exothermia]

And here I thought this was a legitimate purpose.

[noprophecies]

It is legitimate. These will be going in my room, just like I told you.

[she gives him a smile, small and impish]

But it was also an excuse to get you to come spend time with me as well. [away from the ships and, hopefully, to get his mind off things. That part goes unsaid, though]

[exothermia]

[He lets out a light sigh, glancing upwards through the trees. It really is pleasant to be outside. As long as his thoughts don't stray to the other woods he used to live beside.]

You don't need anything too elaborate for that.

[noprophecies]

You mean I can just ask? [she puts some mock surprise in her voice] Goodness, who knew.

[exothermia]

It's a well-kept secret.

[He gets to his feet, brushing stray dirt and blades of grass from his pants. For this exercise, he'd worn the standard Fleet-issue jumper, the most suited to utilitarian work. Not that his other clothes were pristine, but he'd gotten used to the idea of having work clothes.]

[noprophecies]

[aha, she got him to joke around a little. She's in her usual tunic and pants, attached to them as she is, but she's without her cloak and gloves - both folded and set aside, since it would be silly to work while wearing them both]

My, then I will have to keep that to myself and keep up the excuses for show.

[her nose wrinkles briefly as she massages some kinks out of her hand, scars sticking out in contrast to the dirt] I hope you will let me thank you properly for helping me with this.

[exothermia]

Properly...? [He doesn't know what she means, really. Surely she isn't going to give him credits.]

[noprophecies]

[she pauses what she's doing, glancing up to raise both eyebrows at him]

Yes? Let me buy you a drink. [a pause] Or dinner, if you do not drink anymore. One of those.

[exothermia]

I still have both. [Though his dinner lately has largely been the ship-provided pastes.]

[noprophecies]

Then I will do both.

[she rarely uses her credits, may as well spend them spoiling one of her old men]

[exothermia]

That's really not necessary.

[noprophecies]

I know it isn't, but I want to.

[exothermia]

[Gathering up the bag, he considers for a few moments, before nodding. If Tempest wanted to, it wouldn't hurt. And he has to admit he wouldn't mind a drink.]

[noprophecies]

[that makes her smile wider, genuine. She wouldn't have insisted if he had turned her down, but she's glad he didn't. It meant spending more time with him, and, admittedly, drinking alone was getting old]

Whenever you feel up to it, then.

[exothermia]

[Waiting for that could be a frustrating exercise. He feels all right today, so it might as well happen now.]

Why don't we just go after we take the plants back?

[noprophecies]

[she blinks, before the smile comes back, just a touch wider. If he felt up to it, she was by no means going to argue it]

That is fine with me, too.

[exothermia]

All right. [He hefts up the bag.] Let's get this taken care of.

[noprophecies]

[she gathers up her things as well]

Mmm. After - do you want to check the waystation, or just go to the Iskaulit?

[exothermia]

[He grimaces a bit at the mention of the waystations. Hardly a good choice for a meal, he thinks. He's only made a short trip out there so far, and it wasn't exactly a savoury place.]

The Iskaulit.

[noprophecies]

[she raises an eyebrow at the grimace, head tilting, but decides to let it go for now. She can ask about it later]

That is fine with me.

[exothermia]

[He nods, and slings the bag over his shoulder. They make the trek back to the ships, to deliver their green cargo. Erik doesn't make much conversation on the way, but he'll listen to Tempest as they go.]