-Just a voice this time around, Lady Gardens. And one that sounds very, very unsure. But she's been turning this over in her head for awhile now, and she needs help.-

Um... H-hello... I don't usually use this thing for this sort of business, but...

Um...

What do you do when you have someone you care about... really and truly do... someone you are in love with, and... They can't return your feelings because of some conviction that has nothing to do with how their heart may or may not feel? We had a fight, and haven't talked in awhile, and... I want to see her again, but that argument still lingers in my heart...

I just need to know... that I can be loved...

Mm... If I can take one thing from the ordeal with the Pirate Queen, it's reminded me how much I love flying at the cloud level. It's rather cold up there, but if you breach the cloud line, the sun is super warm! There's really nothing else like it...

It makes me wish the Vine could show you all what I see when I'm up there. When I'm in the sky... that's when I feel closest to God. There, the troubles of the mortal world seem so far away. All of the war, the prejudices, the deprivation...

Ah, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to go on like that. What I meant to ask was if there was anyone that wanted to come flying with me? I'm strong enough to hold most anyone, regardless of size!

-Yep. More crying.-

Oh my... A-ah... If I could only feed it, this wouldn't be such a problem! But they don't seem to be responding to anything! Oh dear... I need help!

-And to think, she's going to be a real mother someday...-

[Sora's going to pop up really quickly, grinning.]

I promised cooking classes, right? Well, anyone who wants to learn, meet me at the spaceship tomorrow morning! There's enough room there for quite a few people to learn. And when we're done, we can all share!

[Sora is willing to provide directions, too!]

Also, um... Does anyone here want to go exploring? I know I've been here a year, and that I've had time to do a lot of exploring, but... It's always more fun when you do it with other people.

[Ky studies the Vine for a moment once the feed picks up before she shrugs.]

I suppose that in general it's not a problem if we duplicate each other's work, since we're coming from different angles.

But it seems like some sort of central repository of what people have tried and what they have learned might be helpful. It might seem like a lot of hassle, but it would in effect save a lot of time for everyone.

And more importantly, since I would imagine that most of us have an overabundance of time, it might save some frustration.

[Ky understands paperwork, and imposing a little organization on this situation seems like it would be helpful.]

As well as we could make it clearer to new people what the full situation is, rather than simply sharing our personal experiences.

[Not even watching the vines twist and twine together, tuning into the new arrival that had already been very much distracted in The Gardens.

She was breathing. Living. Her testing clothes being taken away from her was replaced by a dress, but the metal collar was still wrapped around her neck.

It was all confusing.

She couldn't understand it, sitting there staring at the flowers that she so badly wanted to see all around her with a shocked expression on her face.]

Haine?

[The first word that stumbled from her mouth was barely even audible. Lily stood up, realizing the mirror that had been recording her, her once surprised expression had easily adjusted to a gentle smile.]

Hello? My name is Lily and um...

[She glances back at the flowers.]

This place is really pretty! I also got a letter, but I don't know how to read it... can someone help me?

-The vine finds our winged girl in the kitchens at her residence near the Arena. She's got with her a whole counter full of ingredients.-

You know, it's come to my attention that a lot of people here in the Gardens don't actually know how to cook. I think I'm going to do my part to help with that! Today, I want to teach everyone how to make a speciality of mine, one of the first dishes I ever learned to prepare. It's pretty easy, too! It's called potato salad!

-INSERT FAIRLY SIMPLE RECIPE HERE. She demonstrates every last step as well, happily singing to herself inbetween steps. Seriously, it's like she's out of a disney movie. If disney princesses wore sailor suits.-

There! All done! Wasn't that easy?

Ah, guten tag. If it isn't too much trouble, ladies of the gardens, I have a bit of an inquiry. I'd like to know what nations exist in each of your worlds. I've noticed during my time here that some of you recognize me, or at least my name, as a nation, but some of you do not. I've found myself curious about the nations that presumably exist in the worlds in which they are unfamiliar to me. Also, I am curious as to the state of the nations I know in other worlds as well.

This is all just idle curiosity, but I would be grateful for it to be indulged. Thank you.

[ Caprica is in her kitchen, having just finished doing a round of dishes — her attempts at cooking have been more successful lately, with some of the cookbooks she's found in the library. The sleeves of her dress are rolled up, and she dries her hands on the towel nearby before smoothing them down over her arms. It takes a moment for her to notice the Vine, but she's so accustomed to its presence by now that she barely reacts save for a brief, acknowledging glance. At least, not at first.

Presently, she speaks — addressing the mirror idly, unrelated to anything she'd just been doing. But it's something she's been thinking about, of late. ]

There was a place where I used to live—

[ She steps around the counter island that separates the kitchen from the dining area, passing by the dining table, fingertips grazing its cool glass surface. ]

A city that bordered on the sea. Even over the traffic and the pollution and the bustle of so many millions of people, you could still smell the sea salt, sometimes. Hear the calling of the gulls. See the sunlight on the water, if you had a tall enough building with enough of a view.

[ She's smiling faintly, only a small amount of barely perceptible tension about it. The memories are pleasant, if a little bittersweet. Her forward movement stops near the windows that face out onto the rear balcony, hands resting on the glass, only touching lightly. ]

There are lakes here, rivers, streams, but no oceans. I wonder why.

[After a ending her conversation with Kris, Lambda set out on a quest. A quest... to learn to make beef stew. This means that today she can be found doing various things centered around this particular task.]


A. Video
[When she appears on the Vine, Lambda is already dressed for going out, which in her case mostly means that she is in full armor. She doesn't waste time before cutting right to the heart of the matter.]

I require information on the preparation of beef stew.

[She doesn't know anyone to ask in particular, and she hadn't wanted to waste time hunting someone down, so this seemed like the most efficient course of action.]


B. Action
[A while later, she can be found in Orchard, carrying a large basket. (It's hard to say where she got this from; maybe she constructed it out of the dirt herself?) Whenever she comes to a vegetable patch, she stops and crouches down, picking and digging up a fair amount of just about everything she comes across. She's not certain what vegetables go well with beef, so she's just grabbing some of everything instead.]

[Also of note is the fact that what seems to be a living radish pokes its head out of the basket every so often. Perhaps its appetite is the reason the basket never seems to actually fill up...]


C. Action
[Finally, having collected all the vegetables she needs, she sets out with a fresh basket and no Hoppip to find the "Arena" Kris had mentioned. She can be encountered either wandering near and far in an attempt to locate the place or actually there, looking through the meat that has been laid out by the bears. Where did they leave the beef, now...?]

[a girl appears in the mirror, practically drowning in a hooded winter jacket and scarf. She's standing by something gold-colored and covered in decorations. The mirror adjusts itself after a moment to capture the large object in full: a tram car. The lights are dark and it sits idle, silent and unmoving. Behind both girl and train is one of the tunnel entrances in the Clock Tower walls. A set of tracks with the snow cleared from them leads out from it.]

Um. Does anyone know how trains work?

[ super late intro... but, the vine opens up to a bedroom in the onsen with a girl looking curiously into the screen, making slight adjustments as if it were a webcam, before giving a flowery smile. ]

I realized that I've never actually used this to talk to everyone, so I should correct that, right? Hello, to whoever might be watching! I'm Ryoko Asakura. It's a pleasure to meet you!

Hmm... this feels a little like an introduction at school... but, speaking of, I happened to be the president of my class. So, if you're ever in need of a friend or any help, I'll try my best! Even if it's with love advice~ Valentine's day is coming up, isn't it?

[ she winks cheerfully. look at that face, there is no way she could be anything but a genki japanese social butterfly schoolgirl, you know you want to be friends! h... haha... ]

[There isn't any speaking -- not at first, anyway. Someone has passed along the pearl of wisdom that the vines of the Garden enjoy this sort of attention, and now that Link has finally found each and every missing item of her inventory, she's doing her best to win over this cluster of foliage with a slow, clumsily-plucked harp melody.

She's playing from memory ... or, rather, from the memory of hearing someone else play. She misses beats often, overcrowds her runs, and has to pause frequently to prevent herself from producing blatantly wrong notes. Eventually she stops, and from the shuffling that ensues, it can be inferred that she's carefully putting the instrument away.]

... Not my best. But it's my favorite. What do you think, huh?

[In case you're wondering: yes, she is speaking to the actual plant. And any response that she receives will be interpreted as the opinion of ... the plant.

Give her a break. She's still catching on over here.]

[Voice]
The greatest certainty is change, for it flows like a river, leaving nothing untouched.

[The voice that speaks pauses for a moment.]

I was trapped before. With no confidence that there was a return possible. Until with great suddenness I once again found myself home. And so several seasons passed. Festivals, the building of another temple, births, deaths, the bringing down of a great beast that had terrorized us for years, and so on.

Then once again, I awoke and found myself here. But this time, I knew that captivity here is not endless. At any time, it might change. The winds of change flow, smoothly and continuously. At times they form a great tempest, but for the most part they are so quiet and gentle that you do not notice the changes occurring until you reflect upon what has passed and how much has transformed.

Ah, but such philosophical musings are a character defect of priests such as myself. There are other matters at hand. I have returned, and I have prepared a feast for all.

[The video suddenly switches on, revealing the plump green-skinned woman in colorful, loosely flowing robes. She makes a sweeping gesture across tables loaded down with dish after dish. Just how long did it take her to make all this?]

All who wish are welcome to come here, to where I have set up tables outside the Temple near to the Arena, and treat themselves as a guest. Partake, enjoy, rejoice!

((OOC: details of the Temple's appearance can be found here.))

*Upon arriving in the Gardens, the usual sight is a dismayed girl in a state of shock, panic, or anger. Or all three. But Erika? Nope. She's sitting in front of the vine in an elaborate looking chair with a teacup in one hand and saucer in the other. Erika takes a sip of tea before speaking to the vine, which she had already closely examined and figured out beforehand.*

Good afternoon, everyone. You haven't had the pleasure of meeting me yet, so I decided that needed to change. I am Erika Furudo, first class detective. A pleasure, I'm sure. Since I already understand the basic premise of this game board, I only have one tiny favor to ask of you, the viewer.

Why don't you tell me about yourself?

[ A familiar face appears in the mirror. ]

What a pleasant day it is. My type of day.

But down to business—I have a game for you all. One that, if you are able to win, will reveal some mysteries of this garden.

Why can’t I tell you directly, you ask? Well, I don't really know it. This information isn’t from me, but one of those Incarnae, who won't give it up to me. Ridiculous. [ She rolls her eyes. ] Using my powers to set up a game.

Now, I’ll give you the riddles about where you should go to find said information. I suggest going in groups. Saves time.

[TEXT]

Group A:
Flashing screens, opposed to a lake unclean. Wastes of time which usually only cost a dime.

Group B:

Fires burning bright, women in the spotlight. Anything obscene is guarded from the teens.

Group C:

Red and filled with signs of the dead. Where is it coming from?