Fern (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
laminae) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
deercountry2021-09-08 04:53 pm
laminae) wrote in deercountry2021-09-08 04:53 pm
There's still cobwebs in the corners
Who: Fern laminae and open.
What: Event and non-event starters for the month.
When: Throughout September.
Where: Around Trench.
Content Warnings: Lich trauma, war, children involved in war, murder, violence, bug omen, body horror.
[The last thing Fern remembers doing is picking up one of those feathers, and a whirl of even more feathers as those ravens descended. He's unceremoniously dropped into a boat and, looking like a terrified cat with his sharpened teeth and slitted eyes, looks around frantically, forming a grass sword in one hand. Thorns shoot up along his arms until he realizes he isn't being attacked, and they sink back down into his grass as he starts to relax.
Where is he now? That was like something out of Deerington and even though this new place seems to have sunlight piercing through the clouds he doesn't like it. Scowling, he leans over one side of the boat, then the other to get a good look around, in the process rocking it dangerously. Sorry boatmate, he doesn't care that much.]
What the flip was that?
[It really only takes a small push to get Fern diving back into his love of fighting. Any excuse to fight is, in his opinion, a good one, and so when he hears about Bloodsport and The Gate he immediately heads over there. A good distraction from the stresses of settling in is what he needs, and what better way to distract himself than fighting some poor sucker? The locals even seem pumped for it so hey, maybe this city just has a very healthy appreciation for fighting like he does. Nothing wrong with that.
It doesn't take him long to find himself down in the arena. There might be a Sleeper opposite to him, or maybe it's himself, another Sleeper, and a large monster looming over them - it doesn't matter to him. He look raring to go.]
This is gonna be sick!
[It's been a long, long month. Between Luz and Varian's increasingly frantic behaviour, cephalopod trauma, and being forced to talk about regrets he'd like to keep shut away, Fern hasn't been getting much in the way of sleep. What little he was getting decreased even further with the start of those voice and those feelings invading his head. They scare him, even though he's been through this song and dance before. An invasion of foreign thoughts and feelings in his mind, ones that don't feel like his own even though they always were - it's like it's happening all over again, though this time his mind has settled on the idea that it isn't his own mind causing it all.
Oh no, it has to be something much, much worse.
He knows the Lich has been able to get into people's minds. He knows there should be a Lich hand out there in this world, lurking somewhere. It's clear who the culprit is.
When he has the time he wanders through Trench, looking for any signs of a giant monster claw hand skittering around, but there's nothing. That doesn't stop him though - if anything, that makes him even more stubborn and even when he should be stopping and resting he keeps going. He can be found throughout the city - Cellar Door, Prufrock, Willfill Machine, Gaze - and when he sees someone who looks worth approaching, he walks on up, one hand held against his head. He's abandoned his grass hat today in favour of someone more Trench-appropriate, his extraordinary long, flower-filled hair tied back into an elaborate braid. It's a very impressive braid, though those with a knack for flora will notice most of them are of the toxic variety - death caps, poison fire coral, nightshade, oleander, water hemlock, and others.]
Hey, you haven't seen a big claw hand around, have you? Yellow fur? Looks like it got cut off someone?
[By the time the end of the month rolls around Fern is officially having a bad time. The noise and feelings have gotten louder, much louder. Or maybe he's just been worn down so much by everything that's gone on that it feels worse than it actually is? He isn't sure. It doesn't matter. It's too loud in his head and it keeps on going, even when he tries to sleep, until the end of the month, when the cacophony hits its crescendo with one very beautiful, very long, very painful song of death.
On the upside, this confirms to him that whatever is going on with head isn't being caused by the Lich. He's realizing with a sudden horror that all that noise is coming from other plants, even though he has been distinctly aware of his inability to communicate with them since his time back in Ooo. Apparently this world has seen to it to correct that small matter, and here he is, getting to listen to dozens upon dozens (hundreds?) of flowers dying together. What a great start to a new world.
He's outside when it comes, having been wandering around looking for the Lich. The operatic song flowers straight into his head and Fern reflexively winces covering his ears and trying to block it out. But it's too much, and there are too many of them, and he just wants it all to stop -
Any unfortunate passers-by might be getting bowled over by one of the half-dozen thorny vines snaking out of Fern's body and attacking anything in his vicinity. He doesn't notice what they're doing, or the additional thorns and spines and more toxic flora shooting up all over himself. Even the roots in his legs are reaching out, trying to break through the cobblestone to get at the earth underneath. His whole body is shifting to something more pointed, something less human, and something that looks a lot more hostile. Sleepers from Deerington might recognize the shift from back in the town, though it was rare and only happened when there was too much going on in his head to handle.
Looks like Trench can be just as rough.]
[A date in a new world seems like a fantastic idea. Not only will they get to explore their surroundings, but it has to be a good distraction for Varian. There's nothing more attention-grabbing than exploration, and in the alchemist's case getting a hold of more alchemy supplies. It's a perfect plan and absolutely nothing can go wrong!
Nevermind the main reason they're going on this date is because Fern's increasing worry about Varian's mental state. He had thought that coming to a new world in one piece would mean things would be okay, that they'd be okay. Seeing Varian grow increasingly anxious and agitated, leaving half-finished science experiments everywhere, not sleeping....
It's concerning. It's hugely concerning. The longer this goes on the more useless Fern feels. He should be able to do something, help his boyfriend through the trouble he's having, but nothing seems to be working. He's desperately hoping this does, somehow.
Once Fern is ready to go he heads downstairs to Varian's lab, poking his head in.]
Ready to go? You got your list of stuff you need?
[Unlike probably a lot of Sleepers, Fern is loving his time in the arena. It feels like a way to get all his energy out, a familiar way that he's sorely missed since arriving in Trench. There's been a lot - Luz and Varian's sudden change in behaviour, the poor soil, the lack of sunlight, the creeping paranoia - that have been getting to him, so having the chance to punch a few monsters to an adoring crowd is a wonderful form of escapism.
It's even better when he has someone to fight alongside, and like, two dozen times better when that person is a fellow knight. Fern doesn't know Flynn very well but the guy seems really cool. Older, obviously has the knight thing down, and in Fern's eyes that's more than enough for him to like him. So getting to hang out with the guy, getting to defeat a monster with the guy, that's the perfect afternoon for him.
The downside is that by the time they kill the creature - some weird hydra monstrosity - Fern is more than a little keyed up than a regular person. The cheering crowd is faltering a little as it becomes apparent that his fanged teeth and serpentine, glowy eyes, and thorns that have risen up on his arms and legs aren't going away anytime soon. It looks too close to Corruption for their liking, though Fern is entirely clueless.
Nope, he just looks super pumped as he waves his bloodied battle axe at the dead creature.]
Hah hah! Take that, ya donk!
[Fern knows what it's like to lose someone close, he knows what it feels like to lose that person and feel so helpless, so angry about it that the only answer that seems reasonable is violence. He sort of gets why Yuri texted him about not going after Maul (even though a small part in his mind is still insisting the guy deserves it), and he gets why Yuri is trying to fill that hole by fighting crab monsters. It isn't the same, but he hopes the guy could find at least a little bit of satisfaction in cutting them down.
And honestly, it's a nice afternoon for him. It's cold and rainy and he's pretty sure sand is getting in between his grass blades, but this is a great way to get out the pent-up stress that's been building up in him all month. Trench hasn't been the easiest world to transition to, so getting back to something familiar (and destructive) is a relief. Between the two of them, by the time they've finished clearing a few caves out they've acquired more than enough crab monster meat to feed a small army.
Fern is actually pretty tired. His body is looking a tiny bit more loose and ragged, and he's covered in crab monster blood and gore, but hey, that's part of the fun. With that last crab dead he starts trying to flick blood off his grass sword.]
This has been really fun, dude.
laminae and open.What: Event and non-event starters for the month.
When: Throughout September.
Where: Around Trench.
Content Warnings: Lich trauma, war, children involved in war, murder, violence, bug omen, body horror.
River of Regrets (Throughout September)
[The last thing Fern remembers doing is picking up one of those feathers, and a whirl of even more feathers as those ravens descended. He's unceremoniously dropped into a boat and, looking like a terrified cat with his sharpened teeth and slitted eyes, looks around frantically, forming a grass sword in one hand. Thorns shoot up along his arms until he realizes he isn't being attacked, and they sink back down into his grass as he starts to relax.
Where is he now? That was like something out of Deerington and even though this new place seems to have sunlight piercing through the clouds he doesn't like it. Scowling, he leans over one side of the boat, then the other to get a good look around, in the process rocking it dangerously. Sorry boatmate, he doesn't care that much.]
What the flip was that?
Bloodsport (Throughout September)
[It really only takes a small push to get Fern diving back into his love of fighting. Any excuse to fight is, in his opinion, a good one, and so when he hears about Bloodsport and The Gate he immediately heads over there. A good distraction from the stresses of settling in is what he needs, and what better way to distract himself than fighting some poor sucker? The locals even seem pumped for it so hey, maybe this city just has a very healthy appreciation for fighting like he does. Nothing wrong with that.
It doesn't take him long to find himself down in the arena. There might be a Sleeper opposite to him, or maybe it's himself, another Sleeper, and a large monster looming over them - it doesn't matter to him. He look raring to go.]
This is gonna be sick!
Moonflower - Voices (Partway through September)
[It's been a long, long month. Between Luz and Varian's increasingly frantic behaviour, cephalopod trauma, and being forced to talk about regrets he'd like to keep shut away, Fern hasn't been getting much in the way of sleep. What little he was getting decreased even further with the start of those voice and those feelings invading his head. They scare him, even though he's been through this song and dance before. An invasion of foreign thoughts and feelings in his mind, ones that don't feel like his own even though they always were - it's like it's happening all over again, though this time his mind has settled on the idea that it isn't his own mind causing it all.
Oh no, it has to be something much, much worse.
He knows the Lich has been able to get into people's minds. He knows there should be a Lich hand out there in this world, lurking somewhere. It's clear who the culprit is.
When he has the time he wanders through Trench, looking for any signs of a giant monster claw hand skittering around, but there's nothing. That doesn't stop him though - if anything, that makes him even more stubborn and even when he should be stopping and resting he keeps going. He can be found throughout the city - Cellar Door, Prufrock, Willfill Machine, Gaze - and when he sees someone who looks worth approaching, he walks on up, one hand held against his head. He's abandoned his grass hat today in favour of someone more Trench-appropriate, his extraordinary long, flower-filled hair tied back into an elaborate braid. It's a very impressive braid, though those with a knack for flora will notice most of them are of the toxic variety - death caps, poison fire coral, nightshade, oleander, water hemlock, and others.]
Hey, you haven't seen a big claw hand around, have you? Yellow fur? Looks like it got cut off someone?
Moonflower - Death Song (End of September)
[By the time the end of the month rolls around Fern is officially having a bad time. The noise and feelings have gotten louder, much louder. Or maybe he's just been worn down so much by everything that's gone on that it feels worse than it actually is? He isn't sure. It doesn't matter. It's too loud in his head and it keeps on going, even when he tries to sleep, until the end of the month, when the cacophony hits its crescendo with one very beautiful, very long, very painful song of death.
On the upside, this confirms to him that whatever is going on with head isn't being caused by the Lich. He's realizing with a sudden horror that all that noise is coming from other plants, even though he has been distinctly aware of his inability to communicate with them since his time back in Ooo. Apparently this world has seen to it to correct that small matter, and here he is, getting to listen to dozens upon dozens (hundreds?) of flowers dying together. What a great start to a new world.
He's outside when it comes, having been wandering around looking for the Lich. The operatic song flowers straight into his head and Fern reflexively winces covering his ears and trying to block it out. But it's too much, and there are too many of them, and he just wants it all to stop -
Any unfortunate passers-by might be getting bowled over by one of the half-dozen thorny vines snaking out of Fern's body and attacking anything in his vicinity. He doesn't notice what they're doing, or the additional thorns and spines and more toxic flora shooting up all over himself. Even the roots in his legs are reaching out, trying to break through the cobblestone to get at the earth underneath. His whole body is shifting to something more pointed, something less human, and something that looks a lot more hostile. Sleepers from Deerington might recognize the shift from back in the town, though it was rare and only happened when there was too much going on in his head to handle.
Looks like Trench can be just as rough.]
Date Time - For Varian (Early September)
[A date in a new world seems like a fantastic idea. Not only will they get to explore their surroundings, but it has to be a good distraction for Varian. There's nothing more attention-grabbing than exploration, and in the alchemist's case getting a hold of more alchemy supplies. It's a perfect plan and absolutely nothing can go wrong!
Nevermind the main reason they're going on this date is because Fern's increasing worry about Varian's mental state. He had thought that coming to a new world in one piece would mean things would be okay, that they'd be okay. Seeing Varian grow increasingly anxious and agitated, leaving half-finished science experiments everywhere, not sleeping....
It's concerning. It's hugely concerning. The longer this goes on the more useless Fern feels. He should be able to do something, help his boyfriend through the trouble he's having, but nothing seems to be working. He's desperately hoping this does, somehow.
Once Fern is ready to go he heads downstairs to Varian's lab, poking his head in.]
Ready to go? You got your list of stuff you need?
Bloodsports - For Flynn (During September)
[Unlike probably a lot of Sleepers, Fern is loving his time in the arena. It feels like a way to get all his energy out, a familiar way that he's sorely missed since arriving in Trench. There's been a lot - Luz and Varian's sudden change in behaviour, the poor soil, the lack of sunlight, the creeping paranoia - that have been getting to him, so having the chance to punch a few monsters to an adoring crowd is a wonderful form of escapism.
It's even better when he has someone to fight alongside, and like, two dozen times better when that person is a fellow knight. Fern doesn't know Flynn very well but the guy seems really cool. Older, obviously has the knight thing down, and in Fern's eyes that's more than enough for him to like him. So getting to hang out with the guy, getting to defeat a monster with the guy, that's the perfect afternoon for him.
The downside is that by the time they kill the creature - some weird hydra monstrosity - Fern is more than a little keyed up than a regular person. The cheering crowd is faltering a little as it becomes apparent that his fanged teeth and serpentine, glowy eyes, and thorns that have risen up on his arms and legs aren't going away anytime soon. It looks too close to Corruption for their liking, though Fern is entirely clueless.
Nope, he just looks super pumped as he waves his bloodied battle axe at the dead creature.]
Hah hah! Take that, ya donk!
Killing crab monsters - For Yuri (During September)
[Fern knows what it's like to lose someone close, he knows what it feels like to lose that person and feel so helpless, so angry about it that the only answer that seems reasonable is violence. He sort of gets why Yuri texted him about not going after Maul (even though a small part in his mind is still insisting the guy deserves it), and he gets why Yuri is trying to fill that hole by fighting crab monsters. It isn't the same, but he hopes the guy could find at least a little bit of satisfaction in cutting them down.
And honestly, it's a nice afternoon for him. It's cold and rainy and he's pretty sure sand is getting in between his grass blades, but this is a great way to get out the pent-up stress that's been building up in him all month. Trench hasn't been the easiest world to transition to, so getting back to something familiar (and destructive) is a relief. Between the two of them, by the time they've finished clearing a few caves out they've acquired more than enough crab monster meat to feed a small army.
Fern is actually pretty tired. His body is looking a tiny bit more loose and ragged, and he's covered in crab monster blood and gore, but hey, that's part of the fun. With that last crab dead he starts trying to flick blood off his grass sword.]
This has been really fun, dude.
no subject
When the plant solution is dumped on him his grass twitches, and as it's absorbed he perks up a tiny bit.]
It's cool. [Because what else can he say right now?] I'm not dead.
[There's that???]
no subject
Fern, it is not cool! I set you on fire! You could've died!!
[Oh god, what if he'd ended up killing him accidentally again? Three times is way too many times to accidentally kill your boyfriend. WAY WAY TOO MANY TIMES!!]
Does it hurt anywhere? Do you need more stuff?
no subject
No, it's good. I'm good.
[He rests his hands on Varian's shoulders. If he starts freaking out, then more fire might happen, and neither of them need more of that.]
You barely singed me, and then you put me out! [He casts a slight look towards the canal.] Not... really in the best way, but I'm not on fire anymore. Let's just focus on that.
no subject
He wants to pull away- scared of hurting Fern further- and his shoulders tense as if he's about to do just that. But they're supposed to be working on being better here, and so he resists, sucking in a shuddery breath instead. ]
Okay...okay. [Fern isn't dead, he's just singed and wet. It could have been so much worse but it wasn't. ] Are you sure you're okay? I'm sorry- I didn't... I didn't mean to do that.
no subject
I know you didn't. I know you'd never want to hurt me on purpose.
[He's absolutely certain of that.]
I'm sure I'm okay. I can already feel myself regrowing.
[Which is true, the damaged grass is being replaced by new growth. It's a process that's happening much quicker than it ever did in Deerington, which should be a small mercy.]
no subject
Are you sure?
[The worry is clear in his voice as he turns his head to try and look at Fern's back, to study the grass there, to make sure it's actually healing like Fern's saying it is. It is, thankfully, regrowing and quickly and that does at least ease Varian's worries enough that he finally wraps his arms around Fern, hugging him tightly. ]
I'm so, so sorry. I thought I had a better handle on this.
no subject
I'm positive.
[As rough as it is being set on fire and then shoved into a canal, he doesn't feel like he's about to fall apart. Even if he did there's no way he'd be telling Varian right now, he doesn't want him to fall apart, too.]
It's okay. It's not your fault, you've - you've been doing really great, and this world is just a huge greaseball for foisting this on you when you didn't even want it.
[He sighs a little, relief flooding him when the hug is returned.]
This is just a little bump in the road. You'll get better at the fire thing, and... and in the meantime we'll just be more careful. And not let things get that, uh. Heated up.
[He winces, that might not be the best choice of words.]
no subject
I hate this. I was finally dealing with everything and things were going really great, and now I can't even kiss my boyfriend without worrying I'm gonna burn you to a crisp.
[It sucks so much. Fern's accidental pun does pull a tired little laugh out of him as he buries his face in the crook of the other boy's neck. ]
That's rude, too. I was really enjoying that. [Which is part of the problem, he understands. He shifts, resting his chin on Fern's shoulder.] Well, I'm definitely not planning on never making out with you ever again, so getting a handle on these stupid fire powers is just something I've got to work harder on. And just...yeah. Try to be more careful.
no subject
Maybe it has something to do with the weird, complex feelings he has about fire? Who knows.]
We'll both be more careful, but whatever happens, I trust you. [He cannot overstate that.] You'll figure this out. We'll figure this out.
[Or that, because he's going to do whatever he can to help Varian learn to control this. And hey, there's at least one tiny good thing coming out of this. Fern's expression lightens a bit, as he reaches up to run his fingers through his boyfriend's hair.]
You're gonna have control of these fire powers in no time, and it's gonna be hot.
[He's regretting that pun a little less than the previous one.]
no subject
I trust you, too. [If nothing else, he trusts Fern.] ...I might have to... to focus on that a little more while I'm trying to trust myself with this.
[The fingers in his hair are very pleasant though, and slowly he starts to relax against Fern, his breathing evening out. He snorts in amusement at the pun.]
Oh my god, Fern. That one was awful. [He does sound deeply amused, though, so clearly it's a win for Plant Boy.] Preferably not hot enough to cause third-degree burns though, huh?
no subject
I think that's fair. [He gets what it's like having a hard time trusting yourself, they both know that. So if this is helps, then he'll do whatever he can to support him.
He's at least glad Varian is calming down. No more accidental fires, hopefully, even if this also means that because of that grody canal water they're both going to have to clean up later.]
Hah, yeah. But can plants even get third degree burns? Or are they just burns?
[Important questions, here.]
no subject
They will definitely have to clean up later, everything is gross and unpleasant. He huffs in soft, tired amusement. ]
I'm pretty sure it counts as that when it's you, because I say so. [He pats Fern's arm.] So there.
no subject
Sure. I'm not even gonna try and argue with you on this one. You're the fire expert, after all.
no subject
I don't know if I'd go that far yet, but thanks for the vote of confidence anyway. We should probably get going, eau-du-canal is not a good smell for you.
no subject
Then he makes a face, because yeesh. Canals aren't great.]
You got that right. I need a shower.
[He climbs to his feet, hauling Varian up with him.]
Let's go.
no subject
You absolutely need a shower. Sorry to be the one to break it to you.
[He smiles as they get back to their feet, slipping his hand into Fern's.]
Okay, let's go home.
no subject