[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

[avocadoatlaw]

Uh, close, yeah.

Are you sure? Would that be faster?

[ He can tell easily that she isn't human, her physical makeup is too different, and even with his very limited understanding of the non-humans in the fleet, he has a feeling it would be. ]

[resnipstance]

Well I couldn't powerwalk it, but it'd probably be faster than navigating all the upturned roots and low-hanging branches.

[avocadoatlaw]

[ Matt is still working through the offer. ]

And do you offer everyone a ride right off the bat?

[resnipstance]

[ She just shrugs. ]

Why not? If they need one.

I'm not worried. It's easy for me to tell when people have bad intentions.

[avocadoatlaw]

How's that? Good intuition?

[resnipstance]

Hmmm. Something like that.

[She's not lying. But she's not telling the whole truth, either. That's a skill that you perfect quickly when everyone you grow up with can tell if you're lying.]

Besides. I may not look it, but I can take care of myself.

[avocadoatlaw]

[ Matt chuckles. ]

I wouldn't know, but I believe you.

[resnipstance]

Good.

[She means it. So often people don't believe her when she says that.]

All right. I'm going to stand a little in front of you, back facing. All you need to do is lean on my shoulders, and I can do the rest.

[avocadoatlaw]

[ Matt follows her instructions, not entirely sure how he thinks this is going to go. But when in Rome. ]

Alright. I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be.

[resnipstance]

Hup! [Ahsoka uses the Force to give Matt a gentle boost, and then she's easily got him in prime piggyback mode. It's a good thing Matt's blind, because a tiny teenage girl carrying a tall guy like Matt on her back looks slightly comical.]

--Oof. Don't take this the wrong way, but you're heavier than you look. [Teasingly:] Someone's got muscles!

[avocadoatlaw]

[ Matt doesn't have to see this to know they must look ridiculous. He smiles. ]

Well, I don't always get the chauffeur treatment.

[resnipstance]

[Now we're all happily situated, Ahsoka starts her trek through the woods. Her footing is sure and steady, someone who's used to walking long distances, and surprisingly graceful despite carrying a full grown man.]

Eh, I needed a new workout. I can't get complacent, even in a place like this.

[A harmless bird cry sounds up above them, but not anything Matt would have heard before. It's hard to pick-- it sounds somewhere between an owl's hoot, a rainforest bird's trill, and an eagle's cry.]

Oh! [Ahsoka perks up, and there's some wonder evident in her voice.] Look, it's a convor...

[She seems to temporarily forget that Matt can't look. Despite the fact that that's why she's carrying him. Good job.]

[avocadoatlaw]

[ Matt focuses on the sound as he bounces along on Ashoka's back. ]

You know that bird?

[resnipstance]

Mhm. They're similar to owls-- do you have owls where you're from? But smaller and rounder. Like a ball. Their bodies are usually a golden brown, and bright green on top-- it helps them blend in with their natural habitat-- usually rainforests and jungles. They like temperate climates.

They're actually really clever, which is why it's rare to see one in the wild, and why they're popular as pets. They say if you see one in the wild, it's a good omen.

[avocadoatlaw]

[ Matt smiles. He can sense the shape of the bird, but appreciates the more detailed description. ]

Oh yeah? I'll take a good omen. Better than a raptor.

[resnipstance]

Ha! Careful, you might jinx it.

[She continues padding along comfortably. After a bit:]

Do you sense anything... strange about this place?

[avocadoatlaw]

[ Matt's thrown by the question, unsure if the use of the word sense is purposeful. ]

Uh, what? What do you mean?

[resnipstance]

[There's no guile in her voice. She seems to be just musing aloud.]

Hmmm. It feels like... I don't know. Like there's something in there, calling to me. Sorry, I know that sounds vague. I can't explain it. I was hoping it wasn't just me...

[avocadoatlaw]

[ Relieved, Matt considers the question more calmly, listening closely. ]

It's almost like it's buzzing.

[resnipstance]

Ha. So it isn't just me.

[Somewhat conspiratorial:]

Want to get closer?

[avocadoatlaw]

[ A grin. ]

Absolutely

[resnipstance]

Good. 'Cause I don't like leaving mysteries unsolved.

[She keeps going further in for a while, and gradually it gets darker as they go. Though the visual may be lost on Matt, there are other tangible symptoms. The air chills from lack of sunlight, and the warm patches of sunlight they pass under on their way seem to grow less and less frequent. Songbird cries sound further away. Curiously enough however, the darkness doesn't seem to bother Ahsoka, much in the same way it doesn't bother Matt. She continues to move with confidence, deftly stepping over every upturned root and ducking every low-hanging branch as easily as before.

At least, until the roots of the trees start to grow bigger, anyway. They start to grow tall enough that they're half way up her shins, and then halfway up her legs, and she has to take more care scrambling over them as they get bigger. Eventually, she comes to one that comes up to her waist. She stops in front of it and looks at it, frowning. Annoyed.]

... Huh.

[That's all she says, nothing more. She's clearly still thinking about how to approach this. If she wasn't carrying someone she could clear it with ease, but the lack of being able to use her arms and the extra weight makes it too difficult. She looks from side to side-- maybe she can go around...?]

[avocadoatlaw]

[ Matt can sense most all of this happening around him, but it isn't until the roots have grown all around them that he decides it's time to use his own legs.

Maybe more if the situation gets worse. ]

Let me down.

[resnipstance]

[She tilts her head backwards towards him.]

... Are you sure?

[It isn't condescending or doubtful-- merely checking.]

I just ran into a big tree root. It's not a problem, I can probably find a way around.

[avocadoatlaw]

I'm sure.

[ He straightens himself out, not sensing a way around. ]

Let's just go over, if that's the best move.