Time To Roll The Dice ;

[obscurus_phantasma]

Who: Damien Brenks & Melinoë (featuring a mention of Merlin).    // + Viridi & Mel
What: An overdue argument post-Dream World.    // Lamenting being de-powered again.
Where: Merlaut Apartments; Room 108/-9     // Takoba Beach
When: Within a few days of Awakening and returning to the Void.
Content Warnings: Language, sexual references, arguing (for the Dae/Mel portion).



Without her ghosts and abilities, life after the spell of sleeping has returned to being rather dull for the Goddess. Though there are the flower shoppe and garden to occupy time (and how strangely relieving it is to have such a concept returned, even as oddly kept as it is), it compares not to the gifts of divinity. For that, Melinoë has entered a slump of sorts, hardly venturing out and resorting to staring out the window forlornly or filling apartment 108 with things collected from the beach or gathered in the woods. Some materials have been used to recreate the adventures enjoyed within the dreamworld, one section of wall turned scrapbook. There are 2D ghosts, a cello, and the floating fortress from Merlin’s world.

The mage himself has recently departed and she’s simply hovering in the doorway with a vacant expression, debating leaving for fresh air or something, or returning to moping within her home.

Comments

Um, *I* want the birbs and butterflies.

[obscurus_phantasma]

It's rather saddening to hear, and Mel offers an empathetic look since it's more or less her predicament here. Partly (possibly mostly) her fault, but that's why she's here now. She's trying.

"Well, I like to think we're becoming friends. And I'm more than fine with a cartoon-y sign," Melinoë explains with a wink.

She comes over to examine the items Viridi has chosen and nods. "Sí! We could find something to put in the frame or even use it for vines...or both. The table could be for the waiting room? Unless our shrine isn't all that large, in which case, we can place more flora atop it."

they're pretty cute!

[forceofnature]

Viridi hurriedly moves on after a brief, spontaneous coughing fit for no reason.

"There's always room for more flora!"

She hops onto the table and swings her legs back and forth.

"OK. If you like this kind of stuff, I'm seeing a... 'Gothic forest' theme. Woodsy witch, luminescent cave moss and mushrooms - as the kids call it nowadays, cottagegore. Lots of lavender and statice, dark delphiniums... We can do a contrast - that wagon will go great outside the door with some brighter colors and the atmosphere can be more foreboding inside."

[obscurus_phantasma]

Mel lets it be, smiling more inwardly than outwardly. She'll just gush to Damien or Merlin later.

She wrinkles her nose at the unknown word but goes along, because it all speaks to her soul. Cupping her head, Melinoë has a think. "How about ranunculus, Bird of Paradise, and Eglantine roses?" She looks to Viridi with one brow raised. "For the wagon, that is. With something like berries or Queen Anne's lace in between?"

Mother would know better, but she's trying. Viridi obviously knows best and can always shut down whichever ideas simply don't work. Mel won't take offence one bit.

[forceofnature]

"Ooh, you know flowers. A little heavy on the red end of the spectrum, but we can even that out with trial and error. ...Provided we can even find these flowers here. Cannot wait to have my real powers back."

Viridi hops off the table and points at the beach sand.

.........Nothing happens.

"Worth a shot. Alright! Let's start carting some of this stuff off. Where should we put our shrine?"

Hover translation

[obscurus_phantasma]

Mel bops the palm of her hand against her forehead. "Che palle! I hadn't even thought of that. Whatever, we'll make what we have work until we can properly pretty things up."

Adding two unique lamps to the wagon, Melinoë begins to pull her haul along. "I was kind of hoping something might suit our needs with the next 'drop' of structures. So many Japanese inspirations." Nothing wrong with those, but it'd be nice to have a balance. And sometimes, it saddens the Goddess, reminding Mel of her water dragon love.

oooh fancy! thanks!

[forceofnature]

"Do you see that dome over there?"

She points at the Unforeseen Simulation Joint, just barely visible from their location on the beach.

"It's new-ish. There's a flower field inside that has a pretty hearty variety. We can scope it out and see what fits after we get this stuff somewhere safe - there might even be flowers I don't know from my world."

She will rearrange some of the objects in the wagon so there's room for the table, which seems to be the heftiest item. The smaller objects she'll carry in her hands.

"So you want to store these until inspiration strikes? That's too bad. I was hoping to get us started sooner."

Of course.

[obscurus_phantasma]

She sidles up to Viridi with the wagon, following the line of sight made. Dubiously, Mel asks, "The ones on fire?"

Her experience with said flaming blooms has been through Merlin and his garden, and while he'd been able to douse some, not all seemed keen on going out.

"Well, I don't mind placing them in my apartment, but did you already have some location in mind?" She isn't dead-set on waiting, after all.

[forceofnature]

"...OK, yes, but also the center plaza ones are not on fire, which is really much more tolerable."

A faint pause.

"My standards for this place are so low."

She begins to think out loud as they progress down the beach.

"It can't be in a residential or urban area. That would just be all wrong. Parsee's already got hers up in the mountains and - we don't get along that well, but it's still rude to snipe a location. And I'm not a mountain sort of god anyway. The flesh maze is obviously out of the question.

"That just leaves... the forest by the lake. You know, the purple one that sometimes dies and comes back to l...ife...

"Wait, that actually kind of fits."

[obscurus_phantasma]

While the other Goddess thinks out loud, this one carries on with pulling the wagon in the general direction of Merlaut until Viridi comes up with yet another genius idea.

"Why hadn't I thought of that? It'll tie everything together! And maybe our energy or presence or something will bring about architecture or some such that's more Grecian."

Slightly altering course, Melinoë asks, "Would you like to check out the flowers after we drop all of this off? There's also Aerith's shoppe that I've been working at."

[forceofnature]

"It's gonna be great."

A faint pause.

"My energy is more... wild nature-y shrine stuff, but if you want to make an effort at something more European, be my guest. At home, I usually just lounge around in my private sanctuary."

It's mostly green and pink.

"Flower check sounds good! We can do a general sweep and just see what's available for now. ...Who's Aerith? Is that the flower girl who owes me?"

[obscurus_phantasma]

"I'm content with our plan thus far; playing it by ear, if you will. And you can add whatever makes it feel close to your sanctuary." Melinoë winks with a playful grin. If only they had photographs from home, because she'd love to see the place.

She starts to nod, but the latter bit of the inquiry catches up and a soft laugh escapes. "Sí, but what does she owe you?"

[forceofnature]

"Oh, you know. Firstborn child. Her eternal soul. One favor to be redeemed by me when I deem appropriate. Typical god stuff. I saved her from some lava in those flesh tunnels. When we had our powers working in the dream."

And boy is she going to cash in on that.

"You know, this was probably the most productive I've been since I got here. It's nice to have a goal."

((Since Melinoe's actual temple is back, any thoughts about changing the plans here?))

[obscurus_phantasma]

The answer causes Mel to snort which then evolves into a full-blown laugh, because it's somehow equally as unexpected as it is a perfect Viridi answer. "Vi, you're rather wicked sometimes, do you know that?" And barely a pause occurs before, "And if that nickname is deplorable, you're welcome to give me one that works or none at all." She shrugs to show that it's neither here nor there for her. Di-di could be cute...

"I have to agree. I gathered mushrooms when hunger came out of nowhere, and I've helped Merlin with his garden. This was fulfilling in a different manner, though." Because it's personal.

(( Yes, I was hoping it would appear! The excuse could be they hadn't finished setting up and then it showed up? If you're on board for being in or around it, of course, because otherwise, the forest still works. ))

[forceofnature]

"Eh."

She pauses and considers.

"I don't hate it."

Which, as Mel has probably figured out by now, is the closest Viridi gets to a concession. ...On the other hand, Di-di would probably invoke some stronger negative feelings.

"I'm just pragmatic! Life is about exchanges of goods and services. I save your life, you owe me the rest of it! That seems fair."

...She's probably joking. Maybe.

((That sounds fine to me! I'm also good with fading to black at this point if you feel like this is a good place to leave off and pick up next time with her shrine returning or something?))

-= FIN =-

[obscurus_phantasma]

In which they drag their findings back to Mel's apartment and access flower options.