open

[catpiper]

Who: Ren and you!!
What: Catchall for September
When: Throughout the month
Where: Ensō
Warnings: Will add as needed

A

[Guess who has a slingshot, tons of free time and only enough awareness to recognize there's no one in her direct line of sight, but not enough to realize someone might be ambling around the woods within slingshoty range? Sup.

Because there's an onslaught of garbage heading into the woods-leaves, sticks, clumps of dirt, the occasional chunk of old food. There's a method to her madness that's probably only apparent to her, by the way she excitedly yells ten points or two points at the end of every shot. It's pretty easy to follow the line of trash to the horrible source-try not to get hit along the way.]

B

[Last month was a trip and flowers? Aren't great right now. She's long since buried her flower barrette somewhere around the blooming temple. It's easier to ignore everything it represents that way. She might look for that special treasure again one day, when the thought of it offers a feeling of safety instead of sending jolts of terror down her spine. Not today though.

Today, she's trying to find something else to shove into her hair, using the small mirror Ichimatsu gave her and asking her cat's humble opinion to guide her during this accessory hunt. Grass, leaves, a whisk, a glowstick, a necklace, an unlit sparkler-there's so much. She's really trying. There's a point where a combination of all of these items are tangled in her hair, braided in to the best of her ability. At least she looks happy with her new styling method. It's certainly shiny.]

C

[She could help the new god, on the new island, or-

Or she could learn a lesson from the previous three and occupy herself with tasks on Ensō, instead of wandering into the nearest death trap. Sorry Harv, it's nothing personal. She's heard they're a good dog, but dang. She's not ready to take the leap. But it's the thought of that hardworking harvest god that makes her do something that looks almost semi-useful, in case she gets the courage to make her way over there.

She's gathering sticks. So many sticks. Just the hugest freaking pile of twigs and driftwood, amassed together, like she's going to start a huge bonfire. Catch her grabbing more sticks!! Or sorting through her terrible stick pile. Or while she's starting to hide the pile by pushing her collection into the woods, shoving it under leaves, in small holes, or under bushes.

What's she doing?? It's a mystery.]

Comments

c

[wisdomspring]

... Hello?

[ She sees the pile of sticks before she sees Ren, but before too long the princess comes across the other girl, blinking in surprise as she spots her. Zelda smiles then, albeit hesitantly, glancing from Ren to the would-be bonfire. ]

Ah - Do you need help? [ Her gaze follows to where she sees that some of the sticks trail off, as if the pile itself has been moved. There's an uncertain sort of giggle as she looks back to Ren, tilting her head slightly. ]

What are you doing, if I may ask?

[catpiper]

[Her head perks up and she raises her hands in the air, waving the two sticks in her grasp high above her head.]

I'm hiding them.

[As if that's the most obvious answer in the world. Who wouldn't hide a bunch of useless sticks?? Gosh.]

That's how you make 'buried treasure'-that'll make these sticks special.

[wisdomspring]

Why are you hiding them? [ There are a lot of sticks around. Are these special, somehow?

Zelda doesn't want to offend, though, so she continues to smile politely as she looks over the 'treasure.' ]

Is something buried beneath them?

closed to kravitz

[catpiper]

[Dying wasn't great and she's been avoiding the thought ever since they were resurrected. It would have been one thing had it just been her, but unfortunately half the camp succumbed and everyone was a little messed up afterwards. She couldn't talk at the time and wasn't able to ask Kravitz if the scars on his body still hurt or if he felt the flowers growing in him. No amount of rock throwing or jumbled dirt writing seemed to get her feelings across.

Even after the penalties wore off, she would occasionally circle him without a word, scanning his body before heading off to whatever dumb game she had planned for the day. And today's no exception. Breakfast, a nap, lunch and then-

She circles him again. Nothing unusual catches her eye, but that doesn't mean there aren't injuries under his shirt and after weeks of this song and dance, she finally asks-]

You're not hurt, right? You still feel good?

[deathfindsaway]

[Thankfully, the penalties have mostly faded, since his death. He didn't love waking up feeling like he'd been hit by a battlewagon-- what's the point of dying if you still wake up in pain, for fuck's sake-- but they cleared up. The wounds closed as if by magic, sealing over to unbroken skin.

For... the most part.

He hadn't caught it at first, the bit of an ache remaining at his shoulderblades, and with the lack of mirrors it certainly made it hard to check. But sure enough, when he twisted around enough, he could see it in the reflection of the water; two or three lacerations, places where the flowers had jammed through on his spine, still raw, still real. A reminder, in the end- this happened. Not only did it happen, it happened to him, in this skin and body he's been denying is his own.

But he's noticed that she's noticed, even as he does his best to keep his shirt on so she doesn't worry. At least she's speaking up about it, and he sighs.]

Yes, Ren. I promise. Those markings were just... leftovers, from the event. The flowers are gone.

[He reaches out, giving her a little poke in the head.]

What about you, hm? You're alright?

[catpiper]

[I promise are powerful words that finalize this as the truth. She doesn't need to look at him anymore and wonder if there are flowers near his heart. She knows what symptoms to keep an eye out for, should anyone start to feel that ache again. But for now, she can rest easy.]

I'm okay-I promise. Nothing hurts.

[She stands on her tiptoes, poking his head right back. It probably means something good? Whatever. It's done now.]

I'm glad the Storyteller's kind heart can help ghosts too. We should go say 'thank you' to them.

closed to guzma

[catpiper]

[It's been rough, between the previous island's Everything, Seto's vanishing act and Luna's disappearance. The weight of that loss presses against her own heart at all times and she can't image how it must hurt Guzma. But she knows the particular way he expresses his own pain, with a loud voice and sometimes cruel words that state the truth and-

It doesn't matter. If she keeps her eyes on the beach, she'll spot Luna when she returns, just like before. Maybe Seto will be with her. She's confident they'll both find their way home again.

But she's here for another reason. While she's tempted to declare war after her devastating loss at the clothing pile, it's getting pretty late. That's not enough time to win a battle and she doesn't have darkvision for a favorable outcome at night. Which means there's only one thing left to do.]

Can we make cocoa?

[yallstupid]

[It certainly has been rough. Luna did leave, and Guzma...well. He took it hard, but not nearly as hard as the first time she disappeared back to Alola. Knowing now that she could return again some day, and still having Lillie is...something. He's not alone, though he's more used to being alone. It's strange, isn't it? Being so used to something, but craving the opposite so desperately.

But he's kept himself busy as a distraction. This new island was a true godsend - there was indeed so much to occupy his hands and his mind, and the rewards were plenty. He has honey to sweeten his meals, oats and wheat, fresh meats and fruits, and milk. Finally, some goddamn milk for his cocoa. If Guzma wasn't so attached to his home on Enso, and poured so much into renovating it already, he'd want to live on that new island. It strangely fits how active he's gotten.

Active, but not as youthful as he once was. It's growing dark, and he's hanging from his hammock outside his house, rocking back and forth as an incredible smell emanates from his wood stove nearby. It's fruity, sweet, and spicy all the same. Nothing Ren has probably smelled in her life...and if she were hoping to see Guzma, he's perhaps not the real treasure of this visit, nor his cocoa.

Speaking of--]

Hm? [He rolls a bit in his hammock, legs hanging off the sides, and peers at Ren through his sunglasses.] Oh, hey, darlin'...yeah I think I got 'nuff left for a few more cups, but y'all gotta wait a bit. Got something else cooking right now.

[Something that smells FANTASTIC.]

[catpiper]

[There's a lingering tension that lifts from her body when he talks to her, same as always. A part of her had been nervous, given the way their last few conversations have gone, but maybe that's what makes people family too. The gentle darlin, agreeing to her cocoa request even though she knows he can't have much left, like nothing's changed between them.

Just like he said before.

What is that smell though? The elves cook things she's never heard of and let her try an incredible variety of food covered in delicious spices, but this is still new. She was going to plop down on the ground and wait out whatever was on the stove. Was is the keyword here and she finds herself ambling closer instead. She won't touch!! Or mess with it!! She's just smelling and peering at the top to see what's up.]

Apples? Spicy eggs? Cake?

[She's trying SO HARD to figure out what it is by the smell and failing horrifically.]

Spicy berry cake?

b!

[tuskenlancer]

[ Did someone mention hairstyling??

It's hard not to notice Ren, sitting on the ground with a rainbow of stuff twisted into her hair. CT pauses, just watching with a smile for a moment, and then approaches her. ]

Hey, Ren. Trying out a new look?

[catpiper]

[Hell yeah, a challenger arrives.

Her head whips back to look at CT, whisk, grass and all. Incredible.]

Yes, do you want to try out 'a new look' with me?

[tuskenlancer]

Oh...um...

[ That's...not exactly what she'd had in mind. She hesitates, taking in Ren's...everything, and stalls for time. ]

Where did you find all of that?

a

[forwearemany]

(Um, ow.

Except, not really, because they don't feel pain.

The high pitched shrieky chatter is probably loud enough for half the forest to hear. The more normal chatter after is much quieter.

Soon enough, Legion emerges from the trees, bits of food stuck to the side of their head.)

[catpiper]

[W H O O P S

She drops the slingshot, as if that completely absolves her of this terrible crime. Maybe the grass will take the blame for her? It's fine. It's probably fine-

Oh, it's Legion. The tension in her shoulders relaxes and she eyes the food on the side of their head.]

You get five points for catching that.

["Catching"]

[forwearemany]

(Fortunately Legion isn't hurt or angry, just startled and confused.

They raise a headflap.)

This system of achieving "points" is potentially hazardous: others do not posess armored platforms.

A- and after 21st so they're done with herding!

[savedbyasong]

[Shion jumped when the first clod of earth whizzed past him, looking around him for the source of the attack. What was happening? Was it an animal? Another islander? A monster? Something more sinister?

As stick nearly missed him a second later, from the same direction at least. Before Shion could react to this strange threat Cobweb decided that sticks were clearly only being thrown for him to play with and bounded after it.] Cobweb, wait!

[Cobweb didn't wait, attacking the stick and bounding off to investigate where it came from! Shion chased after the tigerlilly, his heart hammering in his chest, calm but worried. Ready for whatever this new threat might be. Another projectile flew into the trees nearby. Ten points!

Wait... He knew that voice. So did Cobweb and soon Ren would have an excited Tigerlilly bounding up to her.]

[catpiper]

[Anything that summons a cat is worth twenty points minimum and there's a gleeful little jump as she runs to meet the tigerlily she recognizes as Shion's adorable kitty companion.

And as if this were planned all along, she pats Cobweb's web and happily adds-]

You get thirty points for catching that. Good job.

c;

[hyperlit]

[The Drifter moves at as brisk a place as always, cutting through the woods of Ensō at a brisk clip. Only to slow and stop, inevitably, when the hitch jars up in the base of their lungs. Brace a hand against the trunk of a tree. Cough a stream of neon onto the grass, and wipe away the excess. Watch the blood wick into shivers of static and black.]

[Shake their head to clear it. Focus on the blotch of silvery hair moving through the jungle, and advance slowly.]

[They cannot call out, so they simply wave, instead. As though there is not a bright patch of pink still staining the front of their mantle.]

[catpiper]

[Knowing they're sick doesn't prepare her for the sight of their blood stained shirt. The wave is returned, though she seems far more hesitant and it's not because of the sticks she's trying to balance in her arms.]

You should sit down.

A

[vagabone]

[What a lucky, lucky man he is! He's still stuck on this horrible island and he may have swallowed a bug, but at least he's coming from the right direction and not the one that'll get him pelted with garbage. This is a very good thing, since he doesn't want to have to wash himself up--that's a waste of soap.

She has a toy and that's great. Just what all kids need.]

Hey, Ren! Having fun?

[catpiper]

[This is great timing because she has escalated to tiny stones and lowers her toy when he speaks up. No chance of him getting smacked, at least. Smart skele.]

Yes, it's very fun. I've gotten fifty points. Do you want to play?

b.

[crosslaced]

[Recouping from last month has been.... a lot. Blood needs to be washed out of the floor, the bedding, food to be replenished, and so on. Laurent hasn't worried about Ren in a while. And when he sees her on the well-worn paths around the temple, some secret fear makes him almost take another way around, to avoid crossing paths entirely.

But her hair is really Concerning. ]

Ren?

[catpiper]

[It's called fashion, god. She's in the process of placing Stick Number 2 through a messy braid when a familiar voice reaches her. That distracts her long enough to drop the stick on the ground, in favor of holding her arms up to wave at her friend.]

You found me!

a!

[lesbeau]

[It is not long into Ren's garbage sling that, not far off, she can hear a noise of something hitting something and a loudly pronounced word.]

Fuck!

[Guess who was caught in the crossfire? It's Beau. Who managed to get slapped in the head with a can that she's now carrying back to where it fell.]

Alright, who's bright idea was it t--

[She pauses, when she sees Ren. And just. Stares.]

... Dude.

[catpiper]

[If not for the loud smack and the following curse, she'd be excitedly awarding Beau points for catching this little can. But, well. Seems like, much like the others, the catch wasn't by choice? Hm. Maybe she should stop sling shotting things around the jungle?

Nah.

Still, this bacon girl deserves a little something for her unintentional catching efforts.]

'Dude', you get five extra dope points and-

[And as icing on the terrible cake, she pauses and adds-]

A gold star? For finding that thing.