[OPEN MINGLE] Happy Trees

[redwinekindofgirl]

Who: Rosie, Julie, everyone who is volunteering~
What: Happy tree planting!
Where: The orchard, and all over the islands
When: Mid-Octoberish, after the monsters event
Warnings: Please be responsible and warn for anything in your threads O:

--

The storms that had battered the islands had called for a change of plans right when things were ready to begin. Ideal planting spots had to be re-evaluated, uprooted undergrowth and general detritus cleared, and by the time they were ready once again some of the population are already feeling the effects of the latest manipulations being thrown on them by both the gods and the Door.

A call goes out on the network before the work begins in earnest, with the aim of alerting those who already volunteered and perhaps netting a few more hands to pitch in. Replanting trees on four entire islands is no mean feat, and will need all the volunteers it can get.

Each individual or small group working outside of the orchard is given a something to dig with and a carefully sketched map of the islands with the ideal planting spots plainly marked out, along with a number of the seeds which have been kept safe until now. Several of them are already trying to sprout, reaching out small green tendrils towards any light they can find. It may not be an easy task for those few who offered their services in aiding the growth of the new trees, but those that will grow here are hardy and determined, and will put roots down quickly into the areas of good soil.

The orchard itself sees some more concentrated care and is overseen far more strictly. There is a place for everything, with ideal conditions and what will grow best beside one another all thoroughly thought through long before this began. The sorry remains of the trees that were dragged away after being cut down act as worthy markers for the cause, showing where each one was growing before. No one could complain, however, if the new orchard strays slightly beyond the boundaries of the old.

--

((ooc: this is an open log, feel free to make top levels and mingle etc~!))

Comments

ota;

[hasitsthorns]

[ As many people in Hadriel know, the orchard has been pretty much Rose's second home for the past year and some change. It was originally because it belonged to her favorite deity but then it just became somewhere she could find solace.

It's for that reason she's especially adamant about seeing it returned to its former glory. ]

Yo, dude, [ she'll say to anyone that rolls up to help. ] Thanks for coming out. I appreciate it.

[ If she's not thanking the newcomers, she can be found getting down and dirty herself. While Rose doesn't have a green thumb to speak of, she does have an inherent attunement to nature that will hopefully help. ]

[nascere]

[ Yeah, he's definitely rolling out to help, and he nods briefly before he dusts off his hands, having just handled the heavy lifting without breaking much of a sweat. Contrary to outward appearances, Noctis is actually pretty strong. ]

What else do you need me to do?

[hasitsthorns]

To start digging some trenches, [ the blond instructs, no hesitation. Rose herself is geared out for some hard labor. She's wearing her messy mop of curls up in high ponytail for once and has adorned a ratty pair of overalls and plaid. ]

Didn't figure you for the hard-working type, gotta' say. [ She refrains from a Your highness because, hey, she'd known Regis. She was familiar with Noctis if in name and proximity only. ] But I'm glad you made it out.

[nascere]

You know me?

[ Noctis raises his brows, surprised. But he's going to search for the shovel, picking it up nearby to get ready for it. He's the hardworking type when he puts his mind to it, and evidently doesn't mind being bossed around.

Giving her a small, crooked smile, he shrugs a little. ] I'm more hardy than I look, I guess. What's your name...?

OTA

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin shows up as he has been doing every day since he returned from his voyage. Up until now, he's been helping to dig out the old dead stumps and clear the storm debris away, but now it is time to plant. He brings his own tools plus the extra shovels he forged for the Orchard irrigation project work when they were living on the desert world, in case more people show up than expected. He gladly accepts a map of the surveyed planting spots on each of the islands, though today he's working on East Island only. And he collects a flat of seeds.

He looks over the grounds carefully, considers the map, consults with the project leaders, and then walks to a likely starting spot, shovel over his shoulder, seed flat under his arm. ]

Nice day for planting!

[am_i_a_monster]

[Abigail smiles when she sees her friend.  It's good to see him back on solid land.  She walks over, carrying the shovel she was given in one hand an waving to him with her other hand.]

It is much better than the weather we were having. 

[She agrees and glances up to the sky for a moment, to see if clouds will suddenly appear at the their words, then looks to Curufin again.]

Is this a good spot?   Should we just start digging?   I grew some vegetables back home, but nothing like the trees here.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ He grins and waves back, and waits for her to walk over. It is good to see her in person again! ]

I'll bet it is. I hear you had some heavy storms here, and I've seen the storm damage.

[ He follows that uncertain look she casts at the skies, and he can certainly understand. There is no telling what Hadriel might throw at you, and it can happen any time. The rules of the real world don't apply. ]

This is a very good spot. Yes, we should start digging. And we should space out the planting so that the adult trees end up twenty or thirty feet apart. You grew vegetables? So you already know the basics of gardening, even if you've never grown trees.

[am_i_a_monster]

[She gives him a little smile.] 

The damage didn't make it to my apartment at least.   The harpsichord's fine.

[She nods.]   

We did.  Dad didn't like buying food and mom didn't want us to only eat meat, so we grew what we could.   I knew how to look for good spots, well-draining soil, to pick crops for each season, what needs sun and what needs shade, to clear weeds, dig, make compost, stuff like that.  I'm not sure how much of it applies here.    But I'm willing to learn. 

  [She begins digging in the spot he indicated.]

[unphase]

[Tinya hasn't seen him since the hallucination she had before she already came here, but she recognizes him. she smiles welcomingly and walks over to him, a flat of seeds in her hands as well]

It looks like it will be. I hope that we're able to get a lot done today.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin had that same dream or hallucination, and he recognizes her instantly. He breaks into a smile. ]

Tinya Wazzo! I am so pleased to see you! [ Not that he's pleased that another person is trapped in this world, but he's pretty sure she's dead in her own. Hadriel is not so bad if seen from that point of view. ]

It's early, and we're all strong here. We'll get a lot done, I guarantee it!

[unphase]

I'm happy to see you, too, Curufin. [she's not sure she's dead in her world and continues to be unwilling to talk about it. and Hadriel is too bad as long as her friends aren't here]

Where have you already been? I don't want to repeat your work.

[onlyanautomaton]

Let's hope that the weather remains in our favor.

[Oscar joins Mr. Curufin by his side, a round-mouthed shovel in one hand. He looks over at him after peering down at the freshly turned soil before them.]

Where shall we start?

OTA~

[redwinekindofgirl]

[This has been a long time coming, and god, she's actually looking forward to it. Anything to get her mind off the mood swings she's been dealing with this month - maybe having something to concentrate on will actually keep her head on straight for a while.

It doesn't work entirely how she wants it to. Julie moves from one island to the next, stopping by where people are planting to encourage their efforts and tell them they're doing a damn good job (reel in the enthusiasm, Cabernet), but a particularly stubborn root or rock that isn't really in the way occasionally finds itself at the unkind mercy of a sudden ire as she launches almost viciously into removing it.

At least once, she physically throws one of said rocks several feet with a yell of frustration before abruptly calming down and looking around, slightly embarrassed.

She stops by the orchard a few times, but doesn't stop by for too long, just checking in on how things are going.]

Hey, don't forget to drink enough water. [Julie's eager enough to remind people as she wiggles a bottle of water in their direction.] I know it's always trying to rain but this is still hard work.

Re: OTA~

[soldier_blade]

[The orchid wasn't one off the places Sonya visited a lot, but it was one of the few places within this realm she could appreciate. Anything to ensure some food supplies that wasn't dried, canned or preserved in some way. When the call came out to help replant and restore, of course she came in to volunteer her time.

Also, this was a way to keep busy with something productive.

She was clearing out some old roots, getting the soil reading for more seedlings when the young woman reminded them to hydrate.] Already got something, thanks.

[She stopped just enough to point towards the waterbottle attached to her belt]

[redwinekindofgirl]

Oh, sure. [Julie shrugs, smiles, and holds the bottle back for herself instead. She twists off the cap and swallows a mouthful, then pauses in silence for a few long moments to look around the orchard.

It's nice to see that the effort wasn't for nothing. They might actually get something out of this after all.]

Thanks for coming out.

[soldier_blade]

Source of food that's not immediately dried or canned, sign me up. [Having all but grown up with institutional food during her school and military career, she could definitely appreciate agriculture as it stood.

She gathered some of the roots she'd been pulling and set them with the rest of the rocks and dead branches.]

[unphase]

[Tinya is in the orchard as she's most interested in getting a source of fresh fruit for the people. she's used to having easy access to it at all times and to not is yet another shock to the system.

she smiles up at Julie when she stops by with her water bottle and lifts her own to show that she's being careful] Thank you for looking out for us. It seems to be going well so far?

[redwinekindofgirl]

[It's a pain, but at least they're not starving? Julie's used to not having the kind of access to any kind of food she wants that a lot of people here seem to be. It hasn't been too much of a problem for her, but that doesn't mean she hasn't missed it.]

Yeah, I think so, too. I guess someone had to say something about it, I just didn't think it was gonna be me.

[unphase]

[no, they're not starving. and Tinya would deny it vehemently, but she's spoiled by the range of fresh fruits and vegetables available in 30th century Metropolis. living with Hadriel's more limited choices has been hard on her]

Why not you? You seems smart and capable. So, why wouldn't people listen to you and follow your lead?

Ota!

[boats_n_hoes]

[ Floki had been a part of what had caused all of this in the first place, so it only felt right that he gave back to the land, what he took from it.

He'd never had to worry about this kind of thing before, back in his home world where there were forests and mounts covered in tall, thick, healthy trees- And if he was taking from a place he'd been invading? Well, he would have cared at all! But there was something about being stuck here that made the Viking feel more responsible than normal.

So, with great care and consideration, Floki set out on his mission. Digging up a patch of land and preparing the holes ready for the seed. He'd made sure to plant one extra tree for each of those he used for his own boat when he first arrived here.

Before he could start the actual planting, Floki had to practice a ritual to one of his Gods. Instead of sacrificing for Freyr like you might have thought, Floki actually prepared the ritual for Thor. A blood offering to te God! Normally the sacrifice would be hung from a tree in a grove that healds great importance, seeing as well, the trees were all but gone, Floki had no choice but to lay the rope around the hole he dug for the seeds instead. ]

Mighty Thor! I offer you these sacrifices of blood! Help this patch of land to be fertile and abundant! Take pity on our foolishness and replenish the earth with your power!

im so sorry

[itsnotaonesie]

[So Peter's all helping plant shit too, because he's nice that way. He's probably carrying soil around or something like who even knows, but he stops next to Floki to see what he's up to because honestly this dude is way more interesting.]

Oh, are we yelling at Thor? Hang on, I'll help.

[By "help" he means that he's going to drop whatever stuff he's carrying, dig a can out of his bag and wiggle it in the air while yelling.]

Hey, Thor! I don't have any blood to offer, but I've got some fruit cocktail if you want it! I didn't think you had plant magic, but if you wanna shoot lightning at the ground, maybe that'll help! Okay, nice talking to you!

[This is super helpful, right]

Lol!!

[boats_n_hoes]

[ Floki, curious by nature, obviously turns to look when the boy asks then offers help. Furrowing his brow, turning and watching as he fishes around in his backpack. What on Earth could he have to offer in there?

And then he opens his mouth, holding some kind of food in a container and waved it around in the air?! ... Floki was gobsmacked. He didn't know if he should be insulted or impressed in the young one's keen attitude. Though, joker to joker, he had a feeling this was all in jest. Floki let out that strange hiccup of a laugh of his and grinned at Peter. ]

Te-hee! You think it's all just a joke, do you? And don't fool the Gods like that, we both know you have plenty of blood to offer.

[ It's not a threat! Though Floki does seem unhinged and it could have been, but it's really not! This is the boy that claimed to know the Gods or at least Thor, Floki could play along, see how much he really did know him. ]

Thor would rather you offer him just the fruit... I don't imagine he'd like a cock's tail all that much. Not enough meat on it, y'know?

[ Yes, yes the Viking thinks you're talking about a chicken, he's never heard of a cocktail before okay! ]

[theweakhavepurpose]

[Coming up behind him is Pratt, smiling shovel over his shoulder ready to dig some holes. He feels like some of the people he'd given DUI's to who got stuck with community service digging trenches.]

What are we sacrificing?

[Because of course there's a blood sacrifice. As it should be right?]

[boats_n_hoes]

Brother! Ah! Oh, it is good to see you here!

[ Clapping his hand on Pratt's shoulder, a smirk on his lips and a quirk to his brow as he noticed the shovel. Floki was amused! Giving such an object a face? Why it was madness... And he loved it. ]

Well, come, come now with Floki and I will show you! ... I couldn't find a willing human sacrifice so I have these small offerings instead.

[ Showing Pratt the selection of small animals he had collected and killed. ]

OTA LINK

[northerndragon]

[OOC: Since I'm 1000 years late to this, there's a stand-alone prompt on Jon's open log!]