[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

A

[exothermia]

[The glade was one of the quieter ones in the forest, with fewer animals going about their business. After helping Tempest with yet more plants for her room, Erik opted to stay behind for a little while, let his lungs fill with unoccupied air. He's been restless since the altercation yesterday, and didn't get much sleep. He'll have to try again tonight, he supposes.

Eventually he gets back to his feet to make his way back to the ship's landing spot. He gathers up the three cut flowers he'd tossed aside in the aftermath of the work with Tempest, turning them over in his hands. They were violently purple things, but maybe the slug would eat them. Who knows. It seems to slowly hoover up anything else he puts in the box.

He's halfway across the glade when he realises that Charles is approaching from the other side. So he stops, and raises his free hand when Charles emerges from the trees.]

This is a bit far for a stroll, isn't it? [In a manner of speaking, of course.]

Re: A

[axiomed]

Hm?

[ Distracted, it takes him a few moments to reply. ]

Oh. Yes, I suppose it is.

[exothermia]

Or did you get lost?

[Easy enough to do, on this planet. Erik has a natural advantage in being able to hone in on the ship metal to direct himself back.]

[axiomed]

[ He frowns, though it's not directed at Erik and Charles glances away a few times before turning his attention back on him. ]

No, I was . . . listening to something.

[exothermia]

[It's not like Charles to be so distracted in conversation. Erik looks off in the direction Charles last did, into the trees. He can't hear anything, of course, other than the ambient sounds of the trees.]

Listening to what?

[axiomed]

I . . . don't know. There's something there but it disappears. Or it's hidden.

[exothermia]

[Listening. Being watched. Charles isn't the first to say something like this. Dimly, Erik wonders if this place really was the safer option compared to the waystations.]

That's a concern.

[axiomed]

[ Charles quietly winces. He hadn't forgotten Erik's strain over being watched. ]

It'll be a concern when a situation arises. Right now, it's only . . . present.

[exothermia]

[It isn't at the intensity it had been that one horrible morning. The feeling has only resurfaced with the events at the waystation. Erik shakes his head, turning his thoughts in a more rational direction.]

Tempest said she felt like she was being watched, here. Is it anything like that for you?

[axiomed]

[ That surprises him. He had assumed the signal - voices were telepathic in nature, not magical. ]

Yes, to some degree. Almost like longing?

[exothermia]

[His nose wrinkles a bit at that comment, finding that more concerning.]

She didn't say that, but we didn't talk about it for long. I couldn't feel whatever she did. [Or whatever Charles does, it seems.]

[axiomed]

I honestly just assumed it was telepathic. Maybe I was picking it up from someone nearby.

[exothermia]

[Erik shrugs, looking down at the flowers in his hand. He rubs a thumb across the stalks.]

I couldn't say. Maybe you two should compare notes.

[axiomed]

I'll talk to her about it.

[ He pauses, in a gentler tone. ] How are you liking this planet?

[exothermia]

[Dryly:] It's very green. [He sighs, and looks back up at Charles.] It's all right. I've only come down here at times when Tempest wants help with collecting plants.

[axiomed]

[ He chuckles. ]

I hear the junkyards and the waystations can be interesting. I had to fend off a few people too interested in how my chair works.

[exothermia]

[He's notably more quiet on that subject.]

Mind yourself in those places.

[axiomed]

[ Charles smiles, touched. ]

I'll be careful.

[exothermia]

[That's enough for Erik. He knows Charles can take care of himself, even in places like that. He could say more about the types that lurk there, but he'd rather not. He merely nods, twisting a flower in his grip.]

[axiomed]

They are interesting locations, regardless, though I'm not much of a tinkerer.

[exothermia]

I've been trading for some scrap metal. [He watches the canopy of the trees as he talks, the patterns of the light filtering down.] I assumed Tempest would need something to actually put her plants in, so I thought I'd do some makeshift pots.

[axiomed]

That's sweet of you, Erik. I'm sure she'd appreciate that.

[exothermia]

It's practical.

[axiomed]

[ His lips quirk. ]

That doesn't take away the consideration put in, Erik.

[exothermia]

[He snorts, relenting. It's hardly worth being stubborn over, when Charles has the right of it.]

I could make some for the ship, if anyone's inclined to grow something. [Given the makeup of the Heron... it's a long shot.]