paradisabeyond | (no subject)

[Good evening, explorers! After departing from Cair Paradisa, the path was south at first, but turned west fairly early on. Skirting well south of Eldritch Forest, the travelers had camped near the edge of the Amber Steppe, not quite within sight of the forest that marks the Totem Coast. The grasses are parched brown by the heat, though greener patches mark the presence of water. It's near one of these - a small, bubbling stream leading west that Raine has chosen to follow as it will almost certainly run into the river marked on her map - that the travelers have made their camp.

The carts and wagons are arranged in a defensive circle, though the campers are free to set up their tents outside them as well as inside wher ethe rest of them are. There are small cooking fires scattered around as well as a large bonfire in the center for socializing.

Play music? Sing? Teach those poor non-Earth kids how to make s'mores? Or just sit around and socialize with others.

Or hide in your tent and ignore everyone, if you really want to.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Yup, those defensive walls of his are going up]

I really don't want to talk about it. It's gone now. That's what matters.

[Ooh, ouch. She felt those walls go up for sure.]

Alright, then...I'm...sorry for pressing the issue, then.

It's okay. It' not your fault.

Hm...if you're sure, then alright.

[She sighs a little and flops backwards to look at the sky, quiet as she observes.]

Anyway. How are you liking the trip so far? [YEP Subtlety changing the subject]

[It's okay, it was probably getting awkward anyway!]

I like it just fine. It feels good to actually do something of worth again, rather than dawdle about in the castle all day. And it can be quite pretty out here, in its own way.

It is kinda pretty. I just hope nothing tries to eat us.

[She chuckles.] That would be ideal!

Yep. I can really go for the not dying by being devoured thing on this trip.

I just hope we find something of worth out here, no matter what it is. Doing so without being attacked would be a plus.

I think it'd be a pretty darn big plus.

[She's just going to chuckle at that.]

Are you really so fixated on the possibility of being eaten that you don't wonder what might be out here?

That and I honestly don't care what's out there.

Why not?

You mean besides my cutting myself off from the world thing?

Yes, besides that.

What would it matter? None of us are forever, and the way this works, it can be changed in a heartbeat.

[Why you gotta be so deep all the time Once. Now she's gotta think. Granted, thinking is good, but still.]

...Well, I think it is a good thing to document the changes. It's better than sitting on our hands at the castle, not doing a single thing to try and understand this place no matter how nonsensical it is.

[Because his life is a festering pile of crap]

Maybe. But what if whatever runs this place decides it doesn't want you to learn its secrets?

Then it is even more imperative that those secrets are uncovered!

And then it kills us all so we can never tell.

Hoo hoo! There is more to telling than speaking, you know! If you take note of your findings, someone is sure to pick up your trail!

I'm sure that'd be super comforting to me while I'm dead.

Oh wait. No it won't.

[She chuckles.] Whatever floats your boat, Mr. Once-ler.