[Gal is sitting at the edge of the lake, one of the grassy parts where the bank is higher than the water, her knees drawn up to her chest. Martha the robot dog is "napping" in the sun by her side, tail waving idly. There's a fishing pole stuck in the bank, and Gal reaches over to test the tension of the line while waiting for the mirror to appear.]

Hey--everyone.

[she's getting a little better at this mass communication thing.]

I can't help feeling like...with everything handed to us here, I'm getting a little out of touch with practical stuff. So, if anyone wants to learn how to fish? I'd be happy to teach you. I know a few other tricks, too, if you're interested. Travelling around the world, you pick up a few things.

[she waves a little, to dismiss the mirror.]


[Private to Akiha and Kariya]

I've been--kind of putting this off, so--look, I think we should talk.

[Good morning, Ladyguardens. Hope you were awake, because if you weren't, you certainly will be, as you're about to be greeted by a shriek going off through the vines.

A good, long, ear-piercing shriek, followed by this message:]

RUBY! IRIS! WHERE ARE YOU GUYS? HELP ME, I'M NOT GOOD AS A SOLO HERO! WE ARE SO MUCH BETTER AS A TRIO.

[There's a pause, the speaker seemingly taking a breath.]

My diphtheria is acting up again. And I don't think these flowers are hypoallergenic. This isn't safe. Everything is too sunshiney here, there's cats that aren't dead and singing birds and...and...it's like Friday the 13th all over again.

Either I've truly been kidnapped against my will, or this is an incredibly vivid hallucination brought on by consuming too many of Skullboy's home-made pierogies. And they all said I was the bad cook.

[Another pause, this one a tad bit longer.]

If you two actually aren't listening, then...if anyone who is sees a doll-girl with red hair or a tiny cyclops with a hyperactivity problem, please find them and tell them Misery is here and needs her first-aid kit.

Hey, uh, guys, you might wanna keep your ears open along with your eyes for a few days.

[ There's no video to give away exactly why - that Katina's totally invisible due to fairy shenanigans - so the warning might come as an odd one. ]

You might not see me around too much, but trust me, you'll wanna know where I am if you can figure it out.

[ Because it might be right behind you look out! Not that Katina's going to do anything too mischievous, but being invisible is something that some people can only dream of, and she's been resisting the urge to just watch people while hiding in plain sight for days now. She might just be stalking someone while thy walk through the gardens, waiting to see something they wouldn't let anyone see, or she might start throwing things into a nearby puddle to freak someone out.

Or use it to peep on someone that is the ultimate temptation even when you have multiple girls who will let you see them naked. ]

Hi, everyone! Subaru here.

I've been tinkering with parts I made from the sand, and I think I finally have a working ice cream machine installed here at the inn. Maybe. I can't promise it'll be reliable in the long run, but testing it produced good results. [ Delicious testing, she might add. Headache aside... ] I need to figure out how to get certain ingredients, but for right now, this apple ice cream we made is pretty tasty!

[ She waves. ] Anyway, if you're interested, come on over! I'll leave it with some directions so you can try it out, and there's lots pre-made, too.

[ Subaru dusts off her hands and gives the mirror a curious look. ] I could also use the advice of anyone who has any experience with illusion magic! Don't worry, it's not related to the ice cream, eheh... I just want to compare some notes.

[ She's about to dismiss the vine, but then one last idea strikes her. In her rush, she neglects to filter this out. ] Oh! Katina, do you have some time for me, today? I want to make good on our promise.

((OOC: As she says, this post is open to Action at the inn / onsen, if you just want to cut straight to that!))

[ Well , wasn't this unusual ! The woman smiled as the vines twisted and turned together , intertwining as she dared to lean in close , a gentle smile on her pale lips as she backed up , long hair coiling around one of her clothed legs . Turning her head , she sees a mirror , and she tilts her head .

How peculiar ! ]

Hello? Is anybody out there? My name is Reiko Aya!

[ It's best to use her alias outside of business , right ? Crow-san would become upset if she did anything other than such ! ]

Do you want my business card? [ She pauses , then looks down at the letter in her hand , already crumpled from her grip . ]

This is an interesting place! ... So, is anybody out there? Hello, hello?

[ Katina looks a little less impossibly confident than usual. This is because she wants to ask a question without the obvious repercussions, but is not even remotely good at subtlety. ]

So, uh, I figure a few people have had birthdays here, right? Do you count yourself as older on your birthday? It seems kinda like you shouldn't, because it could have been a day way from your birthday before coming here, and then you could show up in a completely different month here, so I dunno how you'd actually count that. Just add days on from when you showed up?

[ She catches herself rambling, sighing because everyone's going to start asking the obvious questions now. ]

It's not really important, but it's been on my mind lately.

SHICCHAN ITS NOT NICE TO RUN OFF JUST BCUZ I FELL ASLEEP U NO （￣へ￣）

neway where am i SHICCHAN DID U LEAVE ME SUMWHERE TO DIE ｡ﾟ(ﾟ´Д｀ﾟ)ﾟ｡ I DON'T WANNA DIE SHICCHAN

r we still on campus... i can prob find my way back if i am... maybe...

but u wouldn't leave me out here would u...




would u shicchan.......?


[I apologize for the font (never mind that font colour, turns out it was unreadable) and nominal chatspeak, but I feel it's IC. Anyway, she's super duper out of it rn, so pardon her if some of the basic facts of this place haven't registered yet. Like the fact that she's communicating via plant]

Within those Gardens, time stretches out with little to fill it with, in an endless stream of leisure. After all, food gives itself to you almost without asking, and shelter is freely given. Clothes and other things can be fashioned with a simple trip to collect the very earth of Chaos, and far more safely than the usual methods of calling Chaos into shape.

I am lacking in the usual duties that fill my time. No growing seasons to bless with fecundity, as the Gardens almost care for themselves. No births to bless with prosperous growth in life, and likewise none coming before me to ask for a gift of fertility. Chaos' touch is so light that little call exists to manage it. A mere facade of a temple of Zephyr stands here, its ceremonial halls empty.

But there is one duty that a place still exists for. And that is to bring merriment. So if any occasion arises where you could use my aid on such matters, I will gladly extend it. If you wish to have delicacies, intoxicants, and other things that bring joy upon their imbibement, I can provide. And I will give other kinds of aid as well. I have a great deal of experience with celebrations, festivities, and other such matters.

And, after all, there are many kinds of pleasure to be found.

[Hello, Gardeners. It's not so unusual seeing a new person on the Vine, is it? It's usually the first stop on one's "figure out what even the fuck" tour, after all. What's probably less common is seeing a new person that... doesn't really seem confused. At all.

Rather? This one just seems irritable as hell.

She stares uncompromisingly into the recording node... frond... thing, holds up her greeting scroll, and says only two words... although, has a response so brief ever sounded so exasperated? I wonder.]

I decline.

[As the mirror flickers to life the image of Rumia sitting upon her coiled tail appears. Wearing a smile that clearly showed her pointed, snake-like, teeth, Rumia was excited for a reason that soon became apparent as she moved farther away from the mirror standing before her. As the snake-girl moves back a two-story building comes clearly into view. Sporting a simple and rustic facade that resembled the decor favored by architects of her homeland, Rumia's home was testament to simplicity and elegance.

The buildings innards were of special note, as every structure and piece of furniture within was made especially to cater to the specific needs of the snake-like Lamia race. With shallow ramps instead of stairs, a round bed that lay sunken into a small alcove in the floor, and a skylight designed to allow Rumia to partake in sunbathing on even the coldest of days, in all Rumia's new home was something of a slice of home in a foreign land.

With her home fully in view of all who wished to see it, Rumia excitedly waves at the mirror.]

Hello everyone, I've finally finished my house! It made be a bit awkward for humans to move around in, since I made it to fit my body especially, but I'd love to have friends over for a awhile anyway!

-The vine picks up a girl laying among the flowers. The scroll has been left somewhere beside her, and seems untouched. Furthermore, the position she is in seems hardly natural. Not like someone resting, but rather... she had fallen there. And, in fact, the more one looks at her, the more it appears she's not alive at all... At least for a few moments before her chest starts to move.

With a loud gasp and cry, she sits up, clutching at the space just below her ribs but above her stomach. She breathes heavily, a look of complete shock in her eyes.-

I'm... alive? But how... No wound remains, either... Not even a cut in my gown...

... These are not the ruins... Could it be God has delivered me unto heaven? Impossible... I deserve no such grace...

-She quickly moves to her feet, looking around. She is seemingly completely unaware she's being recorded.-

Hello! Is anyone there!?

... What trickery is this place?

-Amidst new visitor time, the vine has picked up another new person! One that... Well she doesn't quite look like a girl at first, but we're sure most of the viewers will assume she just has a boyish look. It's easier to imagine than the Queen suddenly bringing a boy.

She lays on the grass, seemingly unaware she's being watched. Her jacket is off, balled up behind her as a makeshift headrest. She has the scroll in her hand, and she just seems to be watching the sky...-

I think... I have a hangover...

-To say the least.-

[ 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?