"To Catch a Shooting Star."

Cast: Seed (Deme) & Mars (Midas)

TLDR: Seed makes tea and Mars keeps watch while Seed rests. He also ate a Leaf once. They presumably head off towards Pachima the next morning.

Support Points earned: 1

[6:23 PM] != Midas: It was, judging by the sun, about 3:30 pm when Mars was awoke when his carriage had hit a bump. After a couple minutes of regaining his senses and realising the time of day, he decided that it was about time to set up camp, so he got up, paid the driver the agreed amount, and walked off the road to find a spot to set up a tent.

[6:35 PM] LadyDeme: Just aside the road was a small stream in the shadow of a strand of trees, cutting through an area seemingly unmarked by boundry-stone. The trees had prevented much grass from growing by the stream's side, leaving patches of bare ground that could have served for a fine campsite... Which seemed to be someone else's thought as well. Sitting on the raised creekbank, staring off into the middle distance, was a figure that seemed carved out of these trees, brown and green and dotted in faint purple flowers. From behind, the two major branches that curled around his head interwined and vanished into his leafy hair: A Florkana, staring off towards the pastures on the far side of the river, where a bevvy of white wildflowers were blooming. A small fire was lit, dedicately surrounded by stones, behind him: and over it hung a spit, where a single kettle hung. His rough, rooty feet resting in the water, his hands contained a folded book. A crunch -- Mars' step over a twig -- sounded behind him, causing the tree-man to turn his head. "Oh, hello there," he said, a smile spreading easily across what had been a pensive face. "I'm not intruding, am I? I didn't spot a marker, but I understand if it was simply overgrown."

[6:47 PM] != Midas: Mars saw the man, er, Florkana, before him and stood there for a moment, maybe he was startled by the voice, maybe he was sizing the man up to make sure he wasn't a threat, maybe he was simply amazed to see a Florkana outside of the island of the Arbor Aurelius, but it was probably a mix of all of those. Regardless, he stood there for a moment before speaking. "Oh no, sorry, I was just uh, looking for a place to camp." Mars' right arm threw open his robe to show the bag he was carrying, it was quite large, it had to be, it was carrying most everything he had, the tent, his tomes, whatever food he had, his few leaves in a side pocket, and more. "I'm sorry if I'm staring but uh, wait, no, my manners first." Mars set down his bag and bowed to the Florkana, holding himself there for a moment before raising himself and saying "I am Marcellus Sullyvan." he extended his hand, now free of his robe and his bag, finally a smile appeared on his face to attempt and lighten the mood.

[7:05 PM] LadyDeme: Seed had gotten unused to being looked at quite so intently -- he realized that only now, when the length of the stare had become somewhere between uncomfortable and amusing. He made a single chuckling noise, mixing the two feelings together, and rose up to his feet to accept the man's extended hand with a sort of knowing smile on his face. "Seed Viridius -- don't worry, I understand. We're not exactly a common sight." Seed had a deep, warm voice, something sonically akin to the color of light through a jar of honey. His handshake was slightly rough. "You've certainly packed for travel; you're welcome to use my little fire, if you don't mind me making some tea over it first."(edited)

[7:16 PM] != Midas: Mars was still shocked "I uh, yes, but uh, wow." Yep, still shocked. It took him several seconds before he realised he was staring again. "Oh I am so sorry sir, or ma'am or, whatever, I'm just, flustered, is all. I didn't anticipate to see a Florkana, well, ever, in my lifetime, so your appearence is just about as unexpected as, well, actually I have no metaphor here, I can't think of something just as likely as seeing a Florkana in my lifetime, much less one outside of the Arbor's island." Mars, again, realising he was staring, sat down and reached into his bag looking for something, anything really to steer the conversation in, well, ANY direction at this point, before he had an idea. "Oh, what brings you away from the Arbor? I hear your sworn to protect it and all that, so uh, why leave it?" Mars said, looking back up from his bag after pulling out his stakes to set them aside.(edited)

[8:06 PM] LadyDeme: "Just Seed is fine. If you insist, Sir will do for me." He squirmed under the pressure of being somehow 'representitive.' A bad irony, he supposed, given his reasons to travel. It didn't change his smile, but it seemed a little less natural for a moment, until one of the man's comments attracted his attention. He deliberated, tapping a long paler finger against his face. It was a more relaxed smile, already forming possibilities inside him. "I'd call it catching a shooting star, or a flower blooming in a June snow."
Seed tapped his feet against the ground, drying them off of any water he hadn't observed. He was lightly dressed and unshod, though a staff and pack were leaning up against a tree, that he wasn't just wandering bare in the world. "Well..." He took a deep breath, trying to think of how to word his explanation with care. "I assume you've heard -- it struck me every nation has heard -- of the recent... Trouble, concerning that fair island and its blessed gift."(edited)

[8:12 PM] != Midas: "Very well then." Mars said, with at least some of his composure recollected now that the conversation had actually gone on for a bit "it is a pleasure to meet anyone considering the way I'm heading, and to meet a Florkana, that's truly amazing." Mars' smile changed, this was clearly a more comfortable one, or at least, one that looked less like it would break into a gawk. Mars felt a sort of peace from the words spoken by Seed "To catch a shooting star would probably be more likely than meeting one of you, but all the same." Mars' smile grew wider, which was quite a feat considering that his face muscles were the ones that he worked out the least "Your words are truly inspiring, and I thank you for your kind offer to use your fire." Mars got up alongside Seed, assuming he was getting serious by the look on his face "Oh, you're heading out to figure out who did it then? Well, I suppose this won't be the last time we meet if that's the case." Mars said with happiness in his voice "I'm heading off to Pachima myself to help figure out whoever it was who did this, hopefully the investigatory team isn't overflowing with magi already, and I'll be unique enough in my talents to get in based on that and my merits." Mars said as his left arm poked through his robe to reveal a standard wind tome, and due to the shape of his robes, reveal his masculine structure and pure white clothes alongside said tome. "Well, if that's the case, we could travel together, I only camp this early so that I can appear like an easy target in the night, and clear out foolish bandits who would hurt innocent people.(edited)

[11:20 PM] LadyDeme: "Seeing a shooting star, perhaps, but they're hardly hand-held," He said, smiling so wide it nearly split his softly green-flushed cheeks from the mix of praise and alliteration. For the former, he waved a hand idly. "It's nothing particularly special, simply what came to mind. Perhaps I'll use some of it someday, though, if it seems so striking." "Exactly so. I'll cross my fingers on your behalf... For myself, I don't doubt a healing staff would be amiss... Or find it overflowing with Florkana. I elected to represent us, if no one else decided to come...And, well... They allowed it, it seems," Seed said. While he was up, he could put his book down with his supplies -- it was clear he wasn't going to be doing much work in it this evening -- and went to check on his kettle, where the water was still heating up. Crouched down there, he glanced up at Mars's "I mean, I'd be glad to, and there's hardly an easier target than I am... But that sounds rather...Intense, for a camp activity, doesn't it?"

September 4, 2017

[5:58 PM] != Midas: "Come now, you truly do have some skill in your words! At the very least I'd hardly call it nothing special." Mars said, now starting to remove his cloak under the assumption that he'd be sleeping here soon. Mars was puzzled by Seed's response "No, I think you misheard me, I sleep early so I can travel at night and in the earlier hours of the day, at least, when I'm not going through the more civilized part of the continents." Mars sat down to level himself with Seed, his robes now removed to show off an expensive light blue suit, clearly meant to impress whomever would be interviewing him "Regardless, if you wish to travel together simply speak now, else I'll be setting up my tent and ending my day." Mars said, now awaiting Seed's answer with the same, comfortable, smile.(edited)

[6:14 PM] LadyDeme: "I'll accept the praise, if you insist; I won't deny I have some skill, only that I think of my finest words like tea: they need time to steep, and to be chosen with some care. But there's certainly a germ of something lovely in the choice, I'll agree on this," Seed nodded once, to accept the praise as gracefully as he was able -- so, with less grace than many things, frankly. But it hadn't been special not from being a poor choice in words (the star one had, the cool bit of him said, been a bit clunky), just that it was a fairly ordinary selection for him. "I'd know if I misheard you," said Seed, a little sensitive about his hearing; when pricked thusly, he'd draw himself up like a slighted matron, his mouth turning downward in sharp edges. It didn't strike him that night-time travelling made a man seem an easier target, but a harder one: what man of comfort, soft and easy, travelled outside of daylight? "You never said you'd be travelling when you appear as an easy target. I assumed you made an alluring camp, since that was our topic." Then, now that he was clarified and defended on this, he returned to a quiet, easy expression and tone. "But travelling would be fine. Though, as you can see, I like an early evening, and have set up camp already. An early start would be fine." He gestured to his carefully-tended firepit, with its teakettle starting to steam. He didn't need a bedroll, and while he had a tarp for impromptu cover, didn't think it'd be needed. The afternoon sky, still vivid in its blue, was cloudless.(edited)

[6:27 PM] != Midas: Mars was surprised with the change in Seed's expression, he seemed like, well, for lack of a better word, and Angel, one seemingly devoid of ways to get angry over simple mishearings. Regardless, he smiled "Well, I'm sorry that I mispoke, and I'm glad we have the facts straight now." "Well, if you are willing to start the night, I suppose I can start calming down." Mars began winding down, and when Seed gestured to the teakettle Mars responded with "Oh no, I prefer a stiffer drink." This was a lie, Mars loved tea, but the moment Seed decided to travel alongside him, Mars himself decided to become Seed's bodyguard on their way to Pachima, and sleeping whilst there was no one to take watch would be irresponsible, someone had to take watch, and judging by Seed's disposition, it surely wasn't going to be him. Mars, after a couple minutes doing very little but sit, started to set up his tent.(edited)

[7:10 PM] LadyDeme: "Very well. If you need to sleep first, I'll be up for a little while yet," Seed said, unaware he'd been attracting a bodyguard. Instead, he spent those few minutes brewing tea -- he'd selected a strainer and the tea leaves from his bags... But as he let the tea steep, he went and picked a leaf from an unusual place: the small mossy patch on his arm, slightly sunken compared to the rest of his more gnarled bark, where grew a number of small things -- something of a dandelion-leafed persuasion with a little yellow bud forming, a heart-shaped leafy thing, and a small sprig of what appeared to be mint, from which he took a fresh leaf to break into his tea, and mixed it in with the rest. It was not one of his, of course, but it was a handy thing to have every now and again. "While that steeps, would you like a hand with your preperations?"

[7:18 PM] != Midas: Mars, only hearing the last bit as he was setting up, grabbed the bag of stakes he had, looked up from his work, and responded "I mean, if you're willing to help, I think I only need to drive the stakes down now." Mars said, whilst there was still clearly quite a bit more to do beyond driving the stakes "I mean, if you do that, I can handle the rest." Mars said, now with the bag of stakes in his hand outstretched towards Seed.

[7:30 PM] LadyDeme: "Of course," he said, taking the stakes. It wasn't the sort of work he was used to, but there was nothing wrong with getting one's fingers dirty. His first thought for an easy way to do it was to create the space first with a well-placed root -- for this, he marked the spot with his toe first, before extending himself outward, growing quickly from a dormant root to an active one. It was an inch in that he realized the gap wouldn't hold, and retracted it, leaving a mostly foot-shaped foot once more. He shook his head, and instead knelt to drive them in by hand. "About how large is your tent, Sullyvan?" No, wait, that was far too formal, wasn't it? "Marcellus?"

[7:40 PM] != Midas: Mars smiled at Seed's attempts to make a slot for the stakes, it was charming, seeing this supposedly godly entity that Mars had only read about in books and that he's never expected to see in his lifetime still struggle with something that Mars does almost weekly, and that he'd use his powers in such a smart way. Snapping back into focus from Seed's question, Mars answered "Oh, yes, I suppose I haven't said yet, I prefer to be called Mars, it was a nickname my mother gave me and, well, if nothing else I respect her for raising me to be..." He paused. Was he respectful for his mother for raising him to look at an entire sex only being able to see their raw muscle? Mars didnt quite know the answer himself. "Oh, nevermind, the tent fits just 1 though, I'm sorry but I hardly expected to travel with anyone else for more than fleeting moments. I'm sure I could make space for you however, but it may not be comfortable." Mars said in between putting together the poles to hold the tent up.

[7:58 PM] LadyDeme: "She seems to have raised a fine mage," Seed observed, his tone very soft and quiet. His eyes, green and lightly ringed by a paler gold, softened under their lids as a sigh escaped him. Even the movement of the trees under some gentle breeze above their heads relaced "Ah, no, I'll be fine taking my rest under the trees; it looks like a beautiful evening. I was asking about the placement of the stakes, but I think your poles are a fine enough guide." It wasn't very large, apparently, so from there, he managed to pick a spot not far from this hypothetical center-front, and pushed the stake down. And down. And down, pushing until he managed without much more than the sturdiness of his own hands -- until it found a place where it remained fixed. Then he walked a small distance away, left of middle-back, and repeated the process.(edited)

[8:07 PM] != Midas: "Yeah" Mars said in a hushed voice "I guess she did..." Mars quickly to pushed the thought of his mother out of his mind, and all the uncertainties of his love of her with that thought. "Well, in that case I suppose there's no harm in me sleeping in my tent without you." Mars said in a more casual way. Eventually, after quite a bit of work from both Mars and Seed, the tent was finally set up.

[8:20 PM] LadyDeme: The tea was about ready at that time, and Seed spent a little while drinking it, and writing for himself an account of the day in his diary. The mint had, as he might have hoped, opened up a clear flavor, and the water itself was refreshing -- it was amazing what a simple infusion could do! Above them, the afternoon deepened and began to cool into evening. The teakettle and cup were put aside. When the Florkana stretched out his arms briefly, then folded his legs beneath him. Strictly speaking, it wasn't necessary. But it seemed more comfortable that way. "If you could wake me up when you intend to leave... That'd be appreciated," he said, trying to decide the best way to word the request. That sounded about right. With that, he shut his eyes and folded his limbs into his lap... And his roots spread out beneath him into the ground, as the rest of him fell still and cool. It was a total stillness that transcended the animal kingdom: his eyes didn't flicker beneath their lids, though surely, he'd eventually dream; his chest didn't rise and fall, though surely, he'd eventually take another active breath. For now, only the leaves in his hair, or the branches from his shoulders or that crowned his head moved. It was just a little rest.(edited)

[8:31 PM] != Midas: Mars smiled at the Florkana now sleeping besides him, er, he thought Seed was sleeping and not merging himself with the earth or something else, the little knowledge he did have of Florkana didn't include a Biology lesson. Nevertheless, he decided that he was going to stay up for the night, he had to defend those in need of help, he was smart enough to do that, he wasn't just muscle. It was now about 1 in the morning, Seed was still in deep, er, hibernation, and Mars was beginning to doze off I have to stay awake, I have to, I have to prove that I can. he thought to himself I have to prove that I am more than muscle. After about 10 minutes of these thoughts going back and forth in his head, and the sun nowhere near rising, he decided to take desperate measures. He reaching into a side pocket in his bag, pulled out one of his Leafs, and ate it. Oh goddess that's good. He thought to himself, the taste of the Leaf was savory, like a good pasta dish with meats. By eating the Leaf, he had gotten an energy boost, one large enough to keep himself going until he could wake Seed up and have an excuse to burn some nearby herbs to give himself another upper.(edited)

[8:32 PM] != Midas: ==== FIN ====