sticksandbonesmods | Let's go in the garden...

Add will not remember passing out. He will, however, remember waking up. The garden is... warm. An endless expanse of colorful flowers, with a soft white mist coasting across the land. It smells like rain and the flowers, and a single tree whose roots he lays in stands tall and green. He cannot see the sky, and should he try to stand, it may feel akin to waking up and trying to get out of bed too fast.

He was in danger, he may remember that much. But here is a safety he hasn't felt in years.

Was someone singing? It sounded like his mother.

Wreathed in flowers and his mother's voice, it feels every bit like a dream he doesn't want to wake from. How long has it been since he's had a proper night's sleep? Yes, it would be good for him to relax for once. That's what Elsword is always telling him... he should let his worries melt away, enjoy this feeling of peace and comfort. Let himself drift away, back to the warm, fuzzy feeling his heart has been yearning for...

... alas, such soothing siren-calls aren't quite as effective on machines. And as much as Dynamo would like their master to relax, they have the sense to blare several warning alarms directly into Add's brain.

He stirs, dazed and sluggish, eventually forcing himself to stand on two feet. He'd have to be a real idiot to fall for a trick like that. Stay sharp, focus—look around and analyze the situation. That's what a genius like him should be doing.

First order of business... the tree is right there, so that's where he'll start. Not because he's still dizzy or anything. He presses both hands to the trunk, catching his breath, trying to remember literally anything about the past few hours.

Tragically, he won't be able to recall much.

But there's a sound.

( specifically, it's the sound of footsteps. if he looks up, he'll see a girl who may look familiar- someone he's seen in only a passing vision. she's carrying a pot again, white-green hair loose and tangled, and a crown of flowers plopped right on her head. her dress must have been beautiful in it's prime, but now the edges are torn and tattered and stained with dirt and grass and... blood.

her legs are wooden and ball-jointed, creaking with every step. flowers grow out of her skin along her arm and up her neck, and her veins are black. her red eyes are heavy-set and weary. yet they still light up when she looks up properly to see him. )

Oh... you're awake...

[Footsteps, a voice. He tries to stand upright, make himself a little more dignified as he searches out the source.

There is... a distant familiarity. A face he's not sure if he's supposed to remember or not. He stares at the flowers, the ball-jointed limbs, bright eyes that stare back, not quite listening to her few words. He knows this girl. There are differences, discrepancies, but the identifying features add up. What's wrong with her? Why is she...

Add groans, dragging a hand across his face. He wants to lay back down again. Dynamo buzzes in his pockets.]

Who are you? Identify yourself. [like he's in any position to make demands, but at least he's trying]

You don't...?

( she trails off before shaking her head, dismissing the thought. frowning, she looks him over and then looks away, to the flowers all around them, like she's listening to something. )

... My name is Nene. I used to live in Aldric's Grove with my mom and big brother.

( her voice is soft, strained- like she's experienced throat trauma of some sort recently. after a moment, nene places the pot on the ground upside down, and sits on it. )

I'm here to bring you back there, but... you still look a little dizzy. So you can rest a bit- but we can't stay here long, or we lose our forms.

[Ah, a clear misstep. Talking like that to a stranger, and a young girl no less... he still feels a pang of regret, but it's too difficult to sort out his feelings right now. She'll have to cope with the rudeness. He can apologize another time...]

Nene... [the name sounds right. A flicker of a smile, soft laughter, a memory that doesn't add up no matter how he measures it. His head feels like it's stuffed with cotton. He feels like throwing up. It's too hard to think. The flowers and grass look soft.]

I'm fine. What is... where is this? What are you doing here?

Mm... this is the Garden. It's... supposed to be a safehaven, from the forest. But it's... too safe? When things get bad enough, you come here, though. Or get brought here- I can do that. And it keeps the forest out. I like to come here when it's voice gets too loud...

( it's always loud. always adoring. always demanding. but in the garden, it's quiet. her words are her own.

a shame she can't just let the flowers here claim her, but she has no idea if the corruption would leave her corpse and spread to the safehaven- and it's too much of a risk.

besides. nii-chan said he'd save her. so she'll wait, and survive, no matter how much it hurts. )

I'm here to bring you back to the grove. Like I said, people can't stay here for too long. A-and I don't want you to die. I don't want anyone to die. So, when you think you can walk alright, I'll lead you there.

[She's saying a lot of words that sound important. Later on, he'll remember all of this and get mad for not asking a billion more questions, but for now it's in one ear and out the other. He's staring at the stains on her dress, her creaking wooden legs, why are they wood, he can't fix wood]

Who are you? [his mouth moves ahead of his addled mind. the mask wavers. he doesn't understand] Why are you here? You're not supposed to be here. You were with her. You...

[dirt under fingernails, a flutter of white petals

Abruptly, he turns around—at least, he tries to. His legs buckle underneath him. Fingers dig into soil once more, a panicked hiss welling up from his throat. Where is she?]

( years ago- centuries? decades? just two? it's all the same in the forest of sticks and bones- years ago she wouldn't have noticed the spike in panic and worry as quickly. by the time his legs give out she's already up and running to his side, fear and concern plainly written across her face- )

Add!

( quietly, she pulls him close, almost curling around him in a tight embrace. let her weight (frail as she is) ground him, let her presence (dirty as it is) distract from the flowers- please- )

It's okay. It's okay...

Edited 2023-07-29 06:35 (UTC)

[He's trembling. Small arms wrap tightly around his shoulders, holding him in place. He doesn't recoil.

It's okay... it's not, it's really not, but it has to be. It has to be okay.

He closes his eyes. Deep breaths. Inhale, exhale...

slow, slowly... his strength is wilting, but he's back in control. Today is not the day Edward Grenore bawls his eyes out.

still fighting with his exhaustion, he manages to raise a hand up to her shoulder. There's a hesitant pause before he gives her arm a soft tap: a simple gesture to let her know he's there.]

( she doesn't let go, not yet. no, nene stays, though her embrace is a little less frantic and a little more assuring now as she shifts. she's quiet, and the air seems to still. when she breaks the silence, her voice is still soft. )

... Nothing can hurt you here. I'm here. You're okay...

[He's fine with letting the silence drag. He needs time to sort himself out, collect enough thoughts to start piecing the facts together.

"Too safe", was it...

... for now, at least, it seems to be fine. If Nene says he's okay right now... against his better judgment, he wants to believe her. She doesn't seem like the type to lie.

He tries once more to stand, but his legs won't budge. Perhaps he's not ready yet after all. He leans into Nene instead, staring down at the white anemones.]

There was someone else here... where is she? [softly, carefully. don't get invested in false hopes. it's probably just an aspect of this place, like the Hall of El. comforting illusions to let down your guard... but he still has to ask, just to confirm his theory. the alternative is simply too insane to accept.]

( nene closes her eyes and inhales- she

doesn't want to answer. please don't make her answer.

her hug tightens a little. it's more for her sake than his, now- it's not the same, not like when she was younger at all, when she was on the inside of such a hold.

a gentle breeze brushes the two, flowers swaying. )

She's part of the mist, now. ... She has been for a long, long time. ... Like I said, we can't... stay here too long, or we'll become the same.

[A nonsense answer. Well, what was he expecting, really? Nene is probably also a part of... whatever it is that's going on here. Mother couldn't be here if she's been dead for 300 years.

There must be a different meaning to it, if anything. A metaphor, a generalization... any explanation that means he hasn't lost her a second time.

He pulls the girl a little closer, a one-armed quarter of a hug. He's not supposed to be the one who needs comforting, anyway.]

I don't intend to. There are people who rely on me too much for that.

You shouldn't stay here, either. [he's already decided she's coming back with him, he will Not take no for an answer]

I won't. ... But I do come here a lot. Like I said. It's the only place that the forest isn't just... screaming in my head.

( she's oblivious to his plan- in her mind, she's beyond salvation, even if she still waits for rescue that won't come. she's been forgotten, after all. maybe only the ghosts of settlers past know who she really is now.

they should... go. they should. as safe as it is, it's too safe. not safe enough. however you want to look at it. she can't bring the flowers grafted onto her soul to mom, though.

and yet, she can't bring herself to break this moment. it's been so long since... )

[He hums quietly, frowning out of her view. Yes, he recalls she did mention the voices earlier... if it weren't for Elsword, he might be more skeptical about all of this. Unfortunately, he knows better.

Add pulls away from her this time, kneeling in the grass next to her. He brings a hand up to touch her cheek, gently turning her face towards his own. The veins and flowers alone are concerning, but does she have any bruises or other marks? Any other limbs or body parts that are missing? Is she eating alright? Thin, sickly? Are any of those bloodstains her own?

Regardless... he's a professional, and this is a professional assessment. He eases the worry out of his expression, replacing it with a gentle smile. It's okay. Nothing can hurt her here, either.]

I'm afraid I can't do much for voices, but I am a doctor. Is there anything that hurts? It looks like you've had a rough day.

( ... oh, add. nene's condition is so much worse than it seems once you take a closer look. the blood stains are most assuredly hers- likely from whatever happened to her legs, given the old rust-colored bandages that barely separate skin and wood.

there's a litter of rope- or vine- shaped bruises along her neck, like she'd been strangled or choked multiple times but not all at the same time- differently aged bruises and marks.

she's terribly gaunt and pale, like she hasn't eaten in ages and her exposure to the sun means nothing.

though her legs are the only wooden limbs, flowers seem to be sprouting everywhere. especially around her joints. they have the audacity to frame themselves like jewelry or something similar, but the bruising beneath the petals and leaves say more.

she stares for a moment before giving a shaky half-smile. )

You can say that. ... The forest- it... it's taken my legs. One of my lungs, I'm sure- it's... attached itself to everything it could. I don't... I don't think I can be cured...

( by all accounts, she should be dead. but the forest won't let her die. )

[His hand traces down to her neck before stopping again, surveying the rest with his eyes. It's not looking good. If a parasite has overtaken multiple organs, it's not as simple as removing the source. Something else has to take its place, or it has to be controlled and contained safely...

But this is his line of work. No, more than that... this type of harsh, hopeless situation is exactly what he thrives in. His gaze flicks back up to her own.]

I can't turn you back to how you were before... but, there's no such thing as an incurable condition. Only cures that haven't yet been found.

[He reaches for his medkit, one of the dynamos wiggling its way out of his jacket and into the air. He's not so foolish as to claim he can cure her now, but if he's to help Elsword, something like this should naturally come next. For now, though...

Three blue vials left. He slips one out to make it two, inserting it into Dynamo.] Can you hold still for a few seconds? I promise you, this won't hurt a bit.

[It only takes a few seconds to process the drug into a usable spray, guided by its master's hand to mist over Nene's injuries. It's not enough to remove scars or bruises, and he knows it won't affect the parasite... but this is about what he can do, in this moment.]

There. How do you feel now? Is it any better?

( nene watches dynamo curiously, almost enchanted- and then it starts to spray medicine? and- well. it's not going to fix anything at all, but the usually lingering pain abates, and thats a relief in and of itself. )

... Mhm. Thank you...

( add may also notice that the grip of some of the floral vines seems to slacken a bit. )

... Um- you're going to need supplies, right? I- I shouldn't return to the grove like this, i-in case I hurt someone, but... I can bring you stuff from the woods.

[What?? Hello?? It did something???

He's still listening, honest, but he's also going to just... immediately forget all of that politeness and get up in her business. There was an unexpected change in the patient, so it's imperative that he study the results closely. Is it a reaction to the drug? Or something else? He leans in to stare at the vines.]

... response to pain, psychological... hrmm, could also be... no, it's too inconclusive. I need more test results. Ah, where's that needle...

[He keeps one hand on her shoulder, the other digging through his medkit... this is fine, probably. Unless she's afraid of needles. There's a big needle in there somewhere.]

It would be much easier if you came with me. Samples have limited uses... continued exposure would also risk undoing any progress. We should at least aim to reduce exposure if a clean break isn't possible. You wouldn't replace an alcoholic's liver if they're only going to return to the same behavior... ah, not that this is exactly comparable.

Have you eaten today? The body needs proper rest and nutrients to heal. We can start there.

( ah- she almost wants to laugh. her brother would have done the same. )

It... goes dormant, when I'm a bit more relaxed... But that's pretty rare for obvious reasons. That's why I like it here. It's soothing... so its grip eases up some. Not enough to get out, but I can pretend a little... the pain going away some helped.

( somehow she almost expected his line of thought. she doesn't flinch at the needle, but she does watch it a bit wide-eyed- not that she's not usually wide-eyed. though, nene does visibly falter at... everything he says, actually. )

I- no... the forest feeds me with photosynthesis. But it's not enough. It doesn't... I don't get a lot of chances to eat... a-and it can control me. I don't want to be around people, I don't- I don't want to hurt them.

( please don't leave her alone, though. please. )

I see. A response to stress... could be tension agitating the roots, or a reaction to chemicals such as adrenaline. Dormancy but no decline in the parasite's health, so it's needs are being met... [mumble mumble yes he is taking some blood, thank you. He's being gentle, but it might sting for a second... the Cure dose from a moment ago should help it heal up quickly, though.

Anyway... eventually, his attention wanders back. He tucks the blood sample away safely, then clears his throat while remembering how to act normal. Okay, back to the topic at hand—]

Humans weren't designed to survive like plants. You'll get sick if you keep this up...

You said you could fetch supplies, didn't you? Why don't we have something right here? It'll be just the two of us.

[and the mist... Add's cooking skills aren't amazing and they're literally in a big field, but it doesn't have to be complicated. Just a nice little family picnic. Something to help them both relax.]

Oh, no, it... wants me to be in pain. So that it's easier for it to do what it wants to me.

( she doesn't flinch when he draws blood- nor does she flinch at the viscous, inky-black quality mixed with otherwise normal red blood. she's known for too long what she's become.

quietly, nene nods in agreement- she's gotten sick plenty of times. but still she's forced to live this way, a puppet who can't die because the forest loves her too much.

"loves". )

It doesn't care. I belong to it now, so I live on its terms. ... My actual health is not a factor. It won't let me die, anyway, so it doesn't matter how it treats me.

But yes- I can find all the best wild fruits and vegetables, and sometimes I can get a trap to work... What do you need?

Plants absorb light from the sun with their leaves, but many species will close those leaves when conditions become sub-optimal. It's something like that, I imagine. [and he could ramble on about his theories for hours... but he's trying to be normal right now. Even if it's hard to stay on topic, with all these ugly details coming to light. Why is it even a question that they should try to understand it, control it? He doesn't care what a plant thinks.

He smiles a little harder, somehow.] Let's save that discussion for another time. I care about your health, so it's a factor to me.

What do you want to have? Outdoor cooking isn't my specialty, but Dynamo can make a stove with a metal plate.

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