[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

[brainiest]

[ There's no way for Hermione to avoid the forests, really, not when she feels so alive under the watch of the trees; it's as if her magic is singing a little, and she can reach out for it and feel a kind of warmth and rejuvenation that she hadn't felt since she activated her shard in the Drabwurld. Sometimes it feels a little like she can reach inside and unlock that place inside of her again, but when she tries all she's given is the hollow reminder of what the Atroma took away from her when she arrived here.

She's in a bit of a daze when she comes across Erik, and her expression softens as she moves up to walk to his side, standing there without pause. Turning her attention back to him, ignoring the prickle of things on the edge of her senses, she frowns at the metal near his hands. ]

Is there something in there?

[exothermia]

[He glances at Hermione as she approaches, but stays quiet until she speaks. A couple of screws and a sliver of broken steel hover above his palm, spoils from the earth.]

Nothing bigger than this. I've found a few scattered pieces like these, but never anything more substantial.

[brainiest]

That's weird.

[ She frowns, tilting her head and glancing out over at the forests. Taking a deep breath, she takes a step forward before she purses her lips. ]

I tried exploring a little, but I keep getting lost and this planet... It's doing something with my magic. I'm not sure how I feel just yet. Does your mutation feel different?

[exothermia]

[Hermione isn't the first to mention this sensation to him. Increasingly he wonders if he does feel something, but he's rational enough to know he's overthinking it. He knows his powers. Nothing about them has changed.]

No. Nothing has changed for me. Other people have mentioned strange feelings about this place, though.

[brainiest]

[ She frowns, considering for a moment, before she shakes her head. There's a part of her that is a little cautious, but the way it makes her magic feel warm, makes her feel more alive than she's felt in a while... She can't help but be excited. It's nothing like anything she felt in the Drabwurld, nothing malicious anyway, so she wants to give into the urge. ]

Maybe it's not to do with mutation? I'm a witch, not a mutant, so it might come back to that rather than anyone with unique powers.

[exothermia]

Not entirely. Charles feels something strange about the place as well. [Honestly, it's odd to be the one who doesn't have the impression of being watched or changed.]

[brainiest]

Maybe it's because Charles' power is more empathetic than yours? It's in tune with people, so maybe this planet has a life to it, like the one with the slugs. [ She's still frowning, arms tight around her chest as she thinks. ] I'm enjoying feeling energised again, but I'm not sure if I can trust it.

[exothermia]

You shouldn't trust anything. [That's his position on most places.] I'd recommend asking him, since I don't feel anything strange. All I know is there are random pieces of metal around, that don't belong here.

[brainiest]

It's been a long time since I trusted anything that happened around me. [ She shakes her head, huffing a noise. ] Let me guess - you can't get closer, because you get lost?

[exothermia]

I haven't honestly tried. [He's ventured into the forest about as far as half an hour's walk will take him. Searching things out doesn't much interest him.]

[brainiest]

It's probably not something you want to do alone, either way. If you wanted to go I'd go with you.

[exothermia]

I don't see much reason to.

[brainiest]

Good. I highly doubt it's safe, all things considered.

[exothermia]

That goes for you as well, you realise. Especially considering what you feel with your magic.

[brainiest]

Even if I went around as a lion?

[ She's mostly teasing, now; she has no intention of going around alone. ]

[exothermia]

[He tilts his head to the side, giving her an exaggerated, appraising look.]

The deer around here would stomp on you.

[brainiest]

I'm not that small!

[ She puffs out her cheeks a little, but it's obvious she's trying not to smile. ]

[exothermia]

You're not. But the deer are that big.

[brainiest]

Oh. [ Looking back out at the forest, she wrinkles her nose. ] Perhaps it'll be best if I stay away, then, just for now.

[exothermia]

There's little point in going too far. It's all the same, except deeper and darker.

[He hasn't gone too far himself, not inclined to commune with nature all that much. He had watched some of the deer-like creatures in silence, thinking of better days, and wondering how delighted Nina would have been. It may be another reason why he's reticent about staying too long.]

[brainiest]

Deeper and darker sounds almost too familiar.

[ It's almost like the Drabwurld, or the Forbidden Forest. Shaking her head, she turns back to look up at Erik with a gentle expression. ]

Maybe we could do something else.

[exothermia]

[He looks at her sidelong, noting the pensive pause.]

A friend of mine asked me to help her collect plants from this planet. That's what I've been doing, for the most part.

[brainiest]

[ She's not going to get over what happened to her in the Drabwurld, but at least she's not cursed any more. She's getting better, and that's what she clings to. ]

Any plants in particular? I could help.

[exothermia]

She was taking all types. Ferns, flowers. I haven't seen much in the way of fruit.

[A pause.] Charles and I may take some for our own ship.

[brainiest]

It's practical, I suppose. I need to gather some for my herb garden, to make sure I have enough for my potions, so...

[ She glances over and nods her head. ]

What ones do you want for the Heron, then?