Shanodin
Major
The Chamberlain, Her Chivalrous Immensity, Lady Botanica. The Unyielding Vanquisher of Weed Killer
This is NOT her field of dreams
Posts: 700
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Post by Shanodin on Jun 1, 2012 19:26:03 GMT -5
"She is just shy, a new bloom. She will grow strong and unafraid. Or so I hope," a shadow passes over the dryad's face, "I don't know what will happen when I am gone."
Because eventually, she knows that she will be as she once was. She must be restored, as must they all, to keep the balance proper.
Her brow furrows as she tries to puzzle out his words. She thinks she understands his question, but how to answer...? Her tongue does not want to shape the human words.
Hesitantly she shakes her head up and down, then back and forth. Yes, but also no. She touches her lips, then reaches out and tries to just barely brush her fingers across Aidan's lips before touching one of the brambles. The green translates for them both.
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Flame
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Causam ago dementia
Posts: 198
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Post by Flame on Jun 10, 2012 22:16:13 GMT -5
Aidan holds his breath when the dryad reaches for him. He doesn't know why. He only exhales – and feels a bit light-headed for it – once she withdraws.
"Fair enough," he says dazedly. Then an idea comes to him. He asks, tentatively, "Might I come back tomorrow with a camera? And a notebook?"
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Shanodin
Major
The Chamberlain, Her Chivalrous Immensity, Lady Botanica. The Unyielding Vanquisher of Weed Killer
This is NOT her field of dreams
Posts: 700
|
Post by Shanodin on Jun 14, 2012 16:14:38 GMT -5
The dryad tilts her head to one side, considering, then slowly nods. A camera should not do harm. And if it does, there are ways to deal with it.
"There way will be clear," she says, though Aidan wont' understand. But when he returns, he will find a path marked in such a way that only he would note it.
OOC: timeskip?
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Flame
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Causam ago dementia
Posts: 198
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Post by Flame on Jun 16, 2012 14:24:33 GMT -5
OOC: Timeskip.
It's actually three days before Aidan can get back, after a powerful migraine lays him out following a therapy session that goes very poorly. When he finally returns to the grove, camera bag on his shoulder and notebook tucked inside the bag, he looks even more frail than before, wasted by the strain of the last few days. His eyes, though bright and cheerful as ever to see the plants, are sunken in, with thick dark circles beneath them. He puzzles for a moment on whether or not he needs to ask for entry again, but then he sees them: the little irises, bobbing and swaying as if in the light breeze rustling the leaves overhead. It takes him a moment to realise that they're nodding at him – and another moment to marvel over that notion – and then he understands. He can just see that if he follows their little bursts of colour through the foliage, there's a way in, and guarded by that long-thorned rose. Before he follows, however, he settles awkwardly to his knees and pulls out his camera.
"I'd like to take some photographs," he murmurs in a thin voice, "if that's all right. Just pictures, so I can show others how pretty you are without bringing them here." Because he understands how stressful so many people can be.
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Shanodin
Major
The Chamberlain, Her Chivalrous Immensity, Lady Botanica. The Unyielding Vanquisher of Weed Killer
This is NOT her field of dreams
Posts: 700
|
Post by Shanodin on Jun 26, 2012 11:42:38 GMT -5
Aidan's condition is worrisome to the dryad. He seems to have some marked illness. She doesn't fear him making the grove ill, but she does worry over what might happen should he collapse within it. How would she find him aid?
She watches him from one of the trees. The camera gives her pause, as well, even though she agreed to it before. Technology can be so fickle and dangerous....
Shanodin nearly falls from her perch, suddenly hit by the implications of her thoughts. No, no, she must not travel down that route.
The poisonous rose bows its largest blossom in answer to Aidan's question.
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Flame
Rookie
Causam ago dementia
Posts: 198
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Post by Flame on Jul 3, 2012 18:10:01 GMT -5
Aidan's brilliant smile almost makes the rest of his face look even more washed out in comparison, deepening the folds at the corners of his eyes and around his mouth.
"Would you do me the honour of being the first, then?" he wonders of the rose, giving his camera a little shake. Flattering the lovely gatekeeper couldn't hurt too much, he hopes. He'd rather not stir the ire of those wicked thorns, especially not when there are still so many plants to photograph and so many notes to take.
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Shanodin
Major
The Chamberlain, Her Chivalrous Immensity, Lady Botanica. The Unyielding Vanquisher of Weed Killer
This is NOT her field of dreams
Posts: 700
|
Post by Shanodin on Jul 16, 2012 22:20:09 GMT -5
The deadly rose gives a little shiver in answer to Aidan's question. The thorn tips shimmer with liquid. Take your picture, Aidan. Just don't get to close.
Shanodin slips closer to the sickly man and waves shyly from the greenery, trying to get his attention.
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Flame
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Causam ago dementia
Posts: 198
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Post by Flame on Jul 22, 2012 21:08:39 GMT -5
Aidan isn't oblivious to the hint, and he keeps a respectful distance as the auto-focus does its work. The zoom feature does wonders. One flash-less photo later – he kept one of the more robust flowers on the bush as the focus, wanting a clear view of the petals and the nearby leaves – he looks up and returns the dryad's greeting, if a bit sheepishly. He doesn't go any further into the grove until he's studiously tucked in any stray straps or bits that could catch on tender little branches or tear small leaves with his passing.
"Good morning!" he says, only slightly short of breath, and that mostly from trying not to laugh at himself. "I'd hoped I wouldn't upset her, but I don't think my charms work as well as they used to," he adds, looking back at the rose bush. Already, only a short while among the plants, he feels immensely better. Maybe it's the freshness of the air here, he supposes, or perhaps one of the plants has some restorative properties. He isn't sure, but he's happy to keep it to himself, too; he dreads the idea of his therapist trying to integrate the plants into his sessions.
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Shanodin
Major
The Chamberlain, Her Chivalrous Immensity, Lady Botanica. The Unyielding Vanquisher of Weed Killer
This is NOT her field of dreams
Posts: 700
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Post by Shanodin on Jul 29, 2012 21:08:14 GMT -5
The dryad’s smile widens at Aidan’s acknowledgement. He does seem improved upon closer inspection, but still, there is a part of her who worries. It is so rare to find a human who truly understands and respects the green. She finds she does not wish to lose his companionship too soon.
“It is good to see you again,” she says, though she knows he won’t understand. Hopefully, her smile and the way she moves closer to him will convey the proper sentiment.
After a few hesitant starts and stops, she reaches out and tries to take his hand, intending to gently tug him down a path that was not there but moments before.
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Flame
Rookie
Causam ago dementia
Posts: 198
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Post by Flame on Jul 30, 2012 14:20:44 GMT -5
"How are you today?" he asks the dryad, then looks all around. "How are all of you today? Feeling well? Enjoyed the showers last night?" He's so wrapped up in greeting and looking around to see who might have changed in the days he hasn't been here that he hardly notices the dryad's shy attempts until there's a slim little hand on his. Somehow, he thinks dimly, he expected she would feel just like a plant, and in some way, she does. But she's as warm as any person, and… and this grove is an amazing place, he reminds himself as he realises what she's doing. "Should I watch for angry roses?" he wonders, partly in jest. He certainly hopes she wouldn't lead him to his leafy death.
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Shanodin
Major
The Chamberlain, Her Chivalrous Immensity, Lady Botanica. The Unyielding Vanquisher of Weed Killer
This is NOT her field of dreams
Posts: 700
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Post by Shanodin on Aug 1, 2012 11:12:06 GMT -5
A little giggle escapes the dryad before she can stop it, though she quickly clamps a hand over her mouth. She shakes her head at Aidan's question about roses. "No, it is safe for you."
Oddly enough, the words no and safe are said clearly in English. Shanodin doesn't even realize she did so.
The path is covered in the most comfy looking moss, which invites one to take off one's shoes. As they move along it, Aidan may notice that the number of exotic flowers surrounding them is increasing.
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Flame
Rookie
Causam ago dementia
Posts: 198
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Post by Flame on Aug 16, 2012 12:22:17 GMT -5
Aidan is a little old to be traipsing barefoot through the woods, but he does eye the moss in a wistful sort of way as the dryad leads him along. He doesn't know what she said between no and safe and he rather hopes it was something reassuring. Her tone certainly sounded so.
"Goodness!" he breathes, taking in the density of the flowers, their wild array of hues and shapes with unabashed fascination. He'd like to stop and take notes and snap photos, but he's also immensely curious; she was so very shy the last time he was here, and now she's leading him by the hand. He wonders if it's something terribly important and decides there will be time for camera and notebook later. "So is this a surprise, or will you tell me where we're going?" he wonders.
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Shanodin
Major
The Chamberlain, Her Chivalrous Immensity, Lady Botanica. The Unyielding Vanquisher of Weed Killer
This is NOT her field of dreams
Posts: 700
|
Post by Shanodin on Aug 19, 2012 14:54:57 GMT -5
Shanodin giggles at Aidan's question, merely tugging a little more strongly on the man's hand as she leads him down the path. "She is very shy, but she agreed to meet you."
The path opens up into a small clearing. On the far side of the clearing is an extremely large plant which looks very out of place in among the more expected foliage in the park. It looks rather like a cross between a Venus flytrap and a Cala lily, and is certainly not in any botanical text which Aidan may have read. The plant in its entirety is taller than the dryad, with a decidedly tropical, almost prehistoric look to its leaves and pods.
When the dryad's feet hit the clearing, the largest flower on the plant twists toward them, and one of the wide pods opens slightly, exposing long, delicate feelers.
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Flame
Rookie
Causam ago dementia
Posts: 198
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Post by Flame on Aug 26, 2012 16:26:53 GMT -5
"O-oh." Aidan is far too surprised at the sight of the very large plant to move his limbs. He thinks, numbly, that it's rude to stare, but he can't help himself. "Oh my." He has never seen such an eerie and lovely thing anywhere. The plant itself is so much a surprise that he doesn't bat an eyelash as it – she, he reminds himself, the dryad called it a she – turns in their direction. He's almost too busy trying to get a better look at how the spathe and the leaves relate, if they do at all.
For an instant, there's a part of his mind that knows this plant isn't of Earth. He can't be sure which part. The feeling passes quickly.
"She's spectacular," he says on an exhale, sunken eyes bright. He almost takes another step into the clearing, only stopping himself as he watches the pod unfurl and remembers that he's a tentative guest here, and a probationary one at that. He cautiously stays right where he is unless invited forward.
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Shanodin
Major
The Chamberlain, Her Chivalrous Immensity, Lady Botanica. The Unyielding Vanquisher of Weed Killer
This is NOT her field of dreams
Posts: 700
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Post by Shanodin on Sept 17, 2012 13:14:18 GMT -5
Shanodin smiles brightly at Adian's praise for her childe. With shy, soft giggle the dryad tries to tug Aidan closer to the plant. Whether the man follows along or not, Shanodin reaches up and strokes the curve of the largest pod, the feelers curling around her arm as she does so.
"She is a spectacular beauty," the dryad says, her tone growing slightly sad, "But she is far from where she should be. Here, in this special place, she manages, but..."
"She misses her family."
Shanodin doesn't realize she's slipping in and out of English as she speaks, roughly every few words or so, enough so that Aidan can probably get the gist of what she says.
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