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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 3, 2024 15:09:04 GMT -6
Zenjesi had been quite pleased. They were well aware that their camp counselor career had not been overly successful. Though they certainly had experience, wisdom, and knowledge to share when it came to matters of wilderness survival, others did not necessarily like to listen to Zenjesi, nor were they exactly comfortable communicating in any capacity. It had been awkward, to say the least. Thus, when their application for a plant technician role had been accepted, they had believed those woes behind them. Perhaps all that would be required of them now was, in effect, what they spent their free time doing regardless: gardening and studying plants.
Of course, they had been quite incorrect. They had only just finished their orientation when a new assignment was presented to them. Naturally, it was presented via a slip of paper left at the satyr's work station; nobody preferred to look Zenjesi in the face. It was quite brief, and stated they were to 'Understand the Pumpkin Phenomenon'.
Zenjesi: 0.1 The Wilde: 0.2, 0.4
Investigation: 1
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 3, 2024 19:58:24 GMT -6
This was perplexing. To their awareness, they understood pumpkins quite well already. They were not terribly complex nor unique organisms. A vine produced a fruit that contained seeds that... But no, there was something else noted at the bottom of the paper - it was a request submitted by The Trader. What concern did the keeper of Curious Collections have with pumpkins? Or, more importantly, what did he know that they did not?
Zenjesi took up their capelet in a sudden frenzy, buttoning it with one hand while they were gathering the lead for The Wilde with the other. He had been their chosen companion for the day. They had presumed a quiet day on the job would provide an excellent opportunity for the two to become more familiar to one another. Evidently it was yet to be determined how quiet this day would be. At least this creature seemed quite agreeable so far.
Zenjesi: 0.2
The Wilde: 0.4, 0.8
Investigation: 2
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 3, 2024 20:25:52 GMT -6
Still, there was no time to waste. A stop at the Trader's could be fruitful anyway, Zenjesi supposed. The Wilde fell into step behind them, his own hooves clopping along in time with theirs. Though he was accompanying them via a lead, they somehow suspected he may not require it. In their brief time together, he had shown no desire to escape from them or deviate from their plans. There was something unusual about it.
Zenjesi pulled the exterior door open, took two steps into the street, and was nearly run down by a civilian. They had a moment to see the individual careening towards them before a flash of brown interrupted. The Wilde had leaped in the way, and the person had crashed into his side instead. Hooves planted, he hardly budged against the impact, though he did snort heavily in the individual's direction.
The satyr heard the man cry out in shock.
Zenjesi: 0.3
The Wilde: 0.6, 1.2
Investigation: 3
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 3, 2024 20:32:14 GMT -6
It took Zenjesi a few moments to process the scene. The man's unexpectedly frantic behavior was one matter, but The Wilde's act was even more bewildering to them. They were left staring at the back of his head in wonder when they heard the man gasp out another pained cry. They would need to speculate on that matter later. The Wilde was large, but not so tall that they could not see over his back.
The man who had arrived was pale from fright, and attempting to disengage with the antlered Gallor at the present moment. "Sorry, sorry," he was mumbling, showing one of his hands as a peace offering. The other was pressed to his side. As he was sidling around the duo, Zenjesi observed the reason for this: he was bleeding. It was a large wound that his hand was not sufficient to cover.
Their brow furrowed, but they could not formulate a question until he was out of whispering range.
Zenjesi: 0.4
The Wilde: 0.8, 1.6
Investigation: 4
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 3, 2024 22:51:46 GMT -6
Yet the immediate disruption also meant that Zenjesi had a moment to observe the scene before proceeding. He was not the only one in flight. Others seemed to be hurriedly moving in the same direction, while others standing on their stoops seemed as confused as Zenjesi. A teenaged girl was among those fleeing, but she was struggling to keep pace as her legs were partially bound... by a vine? The tattered end was dragging along in her wake. Across the street, a woman turned and ducked back into her shop. The door slammed.
Zenjesi turned and began to walk against the tide of people. The man had left a small trail of blood - only a few drops here and there - that Zenjesi's eyes, tuned for tracking, could trace. The Wilde lingered close to their side, his eyes turning between any parties who drew too close. Surely this trail must lead to an answer.
Zenjesi: 0.5
The Wilde: 1.0, 2.0
Investigation: 5
_8wqGiqLrange d4range d4range d4·range d4
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 4, 2024 14:56:36 GMT -6
Nobody seemed to pay them any particular mind, which was perfectly fine with Zenjesi. They were quite accustomed to standing against public opinion, although in this case, doing so seemed particularly ill-advised. Something had clearly gone terribly awry. Perhaps they ought to be in the habit of bringing a Bulldozer to work after all. Their eyes turned to their companion, who lowered his nose to the path and sniffed at the red trail as they followed it.
Supposedly, he was derived of a Gallor. Zenjesi had several, and he bore minimal resemblance to any of them with his hooves, short tail, lack of wings and beak, antlers... It was as if he was the Zenjesi of his own kind. Though presumably he still shared his species's dietary preferences. That could aid them today, even if he did not possess claws or wings.
Another woman ran past them, stifling a sob.
Zenjesi: 0.6
The Wilde: 1.2, 2.4
Investigation: 6
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 4, 2024 18:40:44 GMT -6
As she passed, she brought with her a distinct but unexpected aroma. No, it was not entirely unexpected. She smelled of... pumpkin. Zenjesi hesitated, looking after her. Again, she was moving too quickly for them to inquire. "Pumpkin Phenomenon," they mumbled to themselves and to the Wilde. They turned back and began to move at a faster pace.
Their mind was turning over possibilities in an attempt to prepare themselves for whatever it was they would soon be facing. In which direction were they headed? Were the gardens not down this path? Yet as they were often discovering when it came to matters of the Labs, there was little sense in theorizing. The Labs liked to humble them.
As the two came into view of the gardens, Zenjesi stopped short. Without any word or other signal from them, The Wilde stopped as well, lingering by their side. Pumpkin Phenomena, indeed.
Zenjesi: 0.7
The Wilde: 1.4, 2.8
Investigation: 7
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 4, 2024 19:13:30 GMT -6
The gardens were always colorful, always teeming with plant life. Both facts were still true, and yet the source had, evidently quite suddenly, changed. Pumpkins and their vines were running rampant, and had overtaken, as far as they could see, everything. Zenjesi took a few hesitant steps closer. Like a shadow, The Wilde was following them. It was inconceivable. If they could not see the remains of the once precisely tended gardens at the entrance, they would have believed they had wandered down a wrong street and found a back entrance to the Mansion.
But no. They crept closer. There, the remains of the beautiful blue flowers that had once been cultivated. Now, pumpkin vines encircled and strangled them. Closer, and Zenjesi could see where a bunana patch had been crushed beneath the weight of a massive pumpkin. They frowned. Something about this seemed... deliberate? The way the vines grasped the flowers seemed almost malicious.
Zenjesi: 0.8
The Wilde: 1.6, 3.2
Investigation: 8
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 4, 2024 23:04:11 GMT -6
But how could that be? Had someone stolen into the grounds under cover of darkness and planted pumpkin seeds by hand? Had they plotted strategic locations for the plants to sprout to cause the most disruption, destruction, and ground coverage? That seemed far-fetched. Then again, a swarm of pumpkins had appeared across all the grounds, and virtually overnight. Any explanation was far-fetched. The situation itself was.
They turned their attention to The Wilde. His hackles were standing on end and his attention was fixated on the vine that was currently throttling the flowers. Perhaps that would be the best place to start. The satyr crept forward, peering around the gardens as they entered. Truly, there seemed no end to the pumpkins. Orange, yellow, white, some of a green hue that were more subtle amidst their surroundings. But they recalled the man who had left the trail of blood. Who had attacked him?
Zenjesi: 0.9
The Wilde: 1.8, 3.6
Investigation: 9
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 6, 2024 10:33:30 GMT -6
More important than that question: was the party (or parties) responsible still present? Perhaps someone was very defensive of their pumpkins. Frowning, Zenjesi finally dared approach the garden plot. They were careful to keep their peripheral vision alert, should a threat show itself. But first... they leaned in towards the choked flower stems. The pumpkin vines were a bit spiny, as they always were, but perhaps they would be able to free the flowers from their grasp. It was a good thing they had come from work, and had brought their gardening gloves on hand. At this rate, they were beginning to believe they should never leave them home.
They reached out for the vine -- and with inexplicable speed and accuracy, a vine that had been lying on the dirt suddenly sprang up and slapped their hands away. Startled, Zenjesi leaped a foot in the air, and with that, The Wilde was upon it.
Zenjesi: 1.0 - logged!
The Wilde: 2.0, 4.0
Investigation: 10
OekSrpiZrange d4range d4range d4·range d4
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 7, 2024 10:51:39 GMT -6
The Gallor's hooves made contact first. Without a moment of hesitation, they beat and battered the portion of the vine that still lay on the ground. Then, as it was pinned in place, his jaws parted to bare an array of sharp teeth. That gave Zenjesi a momentary questioning pause, which was promptly disrupted. Those teeth sank into the rest of the vine that was stretched up like a serpent, and began to rip and tear. He was single-focused, clearly determined to eliminate the perceivable threat.
But more movement caught Zenjesi's eye. The vine around the flowers was beginning to uncoil. Was it in response to the attack on its counterpart? There was no time to wonder further. The Wilde did not notice this occurring, or it may have been that he did not recognize this as an enemy. Zenjesi reached for their bag. A small, handheld gardening rake was the first tool their hand fell upon. That would do.
Zenjesi: 0.1
The Wilde: 2.2, 4.4
Investigation: 11
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 7, 2024 18:14:34 GMT -6
Pulling it forth, Zenjesi took just a moment to don their gardening gloves as well; it was an easy and quite practiced gesture. Their eyes tracked the vine as it curled its way off of the stalks. Though the vine's slap on their hand had been surprising, it had not hurt them in any real way. Was this truly just a plant, reacting to stimuli in its environment? Such a thing was possible. Yet... it had moved before Zenjesi had made any contact with it. Was it some sort of plant-based creature, like a Pachee? What were the vines' intentions with these motions?
The Wilde snorted again, as, with a snap, he severed a portion of the vine. The end under his hooves wriggled and quite suddenly withdrew into the garden. Glancing up, Zenjesi believed they could identify to which pumpkin it must have belonged. The entire plant shifted slightly.
Zenjesi: 0.2
The Wilde: 2.4, 4.8
Investigation: 12
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 7, 2024 18:24:25 GMT -6
And at last, the vine had finished curling its way away from the flowers. There was a moment where it and Zenjesi seemed to regard each other motionlessly. Was that what it was doing? It did not appear to have any means to visually do so. Yet, slowly, it began to extend in the satyr's direction. They could see The Wilde raise his head in a challenging manner, but Zenjesi held one hand out to him. "Wait, Wilde one," they whispered. He was entirely untrained, but they hoped he would understand the message and the gesture together. What did the plant intend to do?
A creaking noise accompanied the vine as it stretched towards Zenjesi. It was maintaining its height, nearly in line with their face. It touched their shoulder lightly, almost as if it was assessing their scent. Then, once again with alarming speed, it began to coil itself around their person.
Zenjesi: 0.3
The Wilde: 2.6, 5.2
Investigation: 13
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 7, 2024 20:58:28 GMT -6
Zenjesi permitted the vine to rest itself along their shoulders, and even allowed it to begin to twist back towards them. But all the while, they were recalling the image of the girl, legs bound by pumpkin vine, and the flowers, grasped in a deathly tight hold... Now, while they held their breath, they could see the abandoned flower heads drooping, stems broken. They suspected they knew what this pumpkin intended now.
The moment that was confirmed by a tickle across their throat, they pulled away, turned, and grabbed the vine in their gloved hand all at once. It began to twist with renewed vigor and irritation, while Zenjesi worked to wrestle it to the dirt. The Wilde lunged ahead and held it in his jaws. Frankly, this somewhat hindered their effort, but it was probably for the best that he was at least attempting to assist them. The vine was a bit stronger than they would have liked.
Zenjesi: 0.4
The Wilde: 2.8, 5.6
Investigation: 14
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 7, 2024 21:09:10 GMT -6
One brief struggle occurred, during which The Wilde and Zenjesi together managed to sever the vine with fangs and gardening implements. This vine, too, withdrew quickly towards its mother plant. Zenjesi rested for a moment on their knees, then looked up to the Gallor. "Do you think there are casualties?" In response, The Wilde flicked one ear, head suddenly turning towards the pumpkin that had been rooted a few yards away. Zenjesi leaped to their own hooves, expecting another creeping tendril.
But... no. There was no pumpkin to be seen. Their mouth hung open slightly. "Was there not...?" The satyr glanced around. It had been in this direction - they were certain of that. A few hesitant steps carried them through another row of cultivated plants and within visual range. A circular indentation was plainly visible on the earth, having crushed several other smaller plants beneath its weight. It had been here.
Zenjesi: 0.5
The Wilde: 3.0, 6.0
Investigation: 15
Cabro3mNrange d4range d4range d4·range d4
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