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pumpkinhollow ([personal profile] pumpkinhollow) wrote in [community profile] ph_memes2026-03-08 07:05 pm
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TDM #14 - Bloom and Doom


Pumpkin Hollow Gazette: Spring Issue 2026
We ask that all toplevels include the age of the character (or at least a rough estimate) for TDM posts, to ensure that players both old and new can quickly make informed decisions about how to interact with a given character. We also ask that if someone lists a prompt as having an age preference, that it be respected. This is specifically for TDMs unless otherwise stated. Thank you!

Pumpkin Hollow Gazette

3/11/26 - 6/10/26 | TDM #14 - TDM TITLE
Spring Pokémon Types - Grass, Fairy, Ground, Bug, Normal

WELCOME TO PUMPKIN HOLLOW

By Yorick Aberdeen

The image?

The crop for which the town is named. (And a celebrity guest--- say hello to Christopher Mango, one of the temple cats!)

Springtime greetings, and a blessed reawakening of the earth to you, Pumpkin Hollowites! It's everyone's favorite time of year again. The snow is melting, the trees are budding, and the flowers are slowly starting to rise from their slumber and stretch their petals out. If you're just arriving to the island, you'll be seeing her in her prime, with the blessings of Serranai painting the world technicolor. Our main festival this time of year was Merrymeet, which has sadly already come and gone, but we look forward to welcoming you for our spring equinox potluck--- assuming it isn't ruined again by forces beyond our control, orchestrated by beings beyond our mortal comprehension.

We invite any newcomers, as with all those who came before you, to enjoy your stay at the Oak & Iron tavern inn while you settle in. (Or the Autumn Leaves Dormitory House, for the newly arrived youngsters.) Please stop by Town Hall to discuss opportunities for work and more permanent housing! All newcomers get 100 Brass in their pocket upon arrival, so we encourage you to take advantage of this as well. Reach out to your neighbors for help if you need it, and don’t forget to pick up your copy of the Pumpkin Hollow Gazette whenever you need the local news!

SPRING WEATHER REPORT

By Phil Connors

The image?

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Put away your snow coats and take out your rain coats, folks; the long winter is finally at a close, and the cold snaps are giving way to fresh fields. Early in the season the lingering cool weather will give us some lovely dewy mornings and dramatic sunrises as the days get longer. Expect balmy temperatures and lush growth as we get closer to summer. Rainbows are also likelier to occur this time of year than any other: we’ll be seeing regular rain showers throughout the season to help wash away all our winter slush and perk up those flowers, to the pleasure of all the birds who needed a shower anyway, and the dismay of all the insects who haven’t invented umbrellas yet. Be sure to jump on your spring cleaning earlier than later. Everyone likes a fresh start, and knowing this island, it’s probably going to send a monster that lives in piles of dust and unfolded laundry or something.

CLEAN UP YOUR ACT, PUMPKIN HOLLOW!

By Mettaton

The image?

Break out your broomsticks!

It's time for Spring Cleaning, darling readers! You know what that means? Well, it apparently means we're all getting helpers this year for this task! How fortunate~ A local tribe of funny little fellows called "treasure elves" have made an agreement with Miss Dahlia Leeds and offered to assist everyone with cleaning their living spaces or shops! This rambunctious group of fuzzy, bunny-earred, pointy toothed girls are eager motivate and help you! In fact, they insist. Why, their small size and boundless energy is perfect for reaching every little nook and cranny. They'll chase away those dustbunnies in no time!

As their species' name suggests though, you may want to check your belongings after they're done, especially if you didn't accept their offer. (How utterly heartless of you to turn away these cuties!)

FLORAL FRUSTRATIONS MOUNT DUE TO CURSED BOUQUETS

By Yorick Aberdeen

The image?

A gift or a warning?

The showers of early spring and late winter always bring spring flowers, and this year's transition of the seasons has brought the flowers directly to our doors! Lovely bouquets in vibrant assortments of flowers have been found at the doorsteps of our local townsfolk, assembled with care and placed in paper, vases, or decorative baskets.

Every rose has its thorns, though, and these flowers are no exception - though seemingly mundane in nature, these marvelous medleys seem to carry with them some manner of curses. The effect varies by bouquet, as we here at the Gazette have heard. Some effects are as mild as being somewhat disorienting, and others have been as severe as the recipient finding themselves lost in the wilderness, or even earning the vicious attention of our local wildlife.

There seem to be some commonalities between certain flowers, but this reporter never did manage to learn the language of florists. Any members of our community who may have insight onto this matter are encouraged to arrange a meeting at Town Hall to share what they know! One detail could be all the difference for the fate of your neighbors.

CAN YOU DIG IT? ARCHEOLOGICAL MARVEL FOUND ON NORTH END

The image?

The stuff of legends.

By Timothy Stoker

A small flood near Eeltooth Lagoon to the north caused enough of a shift to partially expose the skull of a fossilised dragon. A massive and shocking discovery, this has led to the organisation of Pumpkin Hollow's first archeological dig. Dr. Elias Coldwood leads the charge, with Dahlia Leeds and the Historical Society footing the bill, but without access to the academic organisations on the mainland, it seems the dig site is shy of its most important feature--- diggers. If you're interested in volunteering to help with the excavation of this enormous ancient dragon and helping make global history right here on Marrow Isle, sign-ups are taking place at Town Hall and are projected to have open availability all through the end of May! Helping out is also incentivised--- any treasure from the dragon's hoard that isn't substantially historically relevant enough to be taken for preservation is up for grabs to anyone who lends a hand.

That said, it is worth mentioning that folks who have already been involved with the dig to some extent have reported "strange things" happening around the dig site, particularly after dark. Reports vary somewhat, but like many things around Pumpkin Hollow, the dig site does appear to be haunted in some capacity. Be careful to keep your wits about you while digging, and if you are an occult specialist, it's worth knowing that there are also sign-ups to study the paranormal activity as well. Happy digging!

DECEPTION AT LAKE SAL-CO-PENN TURNS DEADLY SWEET

By Melanie King

The image?

You do not recognize the lover in the water.

There are certain hazards on the island that we all learn to ignore, after a while, and one of those is the horrifically cursed Lake Sal-Co-Penn, out in Lockwood Forest. Ever since June of 16:53, the lake has been host to a dangerous illusion of bodies in the water that appear, to any unfortunate visitors, to be people you know. Those who attempt to rescue these individuals by entering the lake very rarely make it out unscathed, dragged into the depths by whatever really inhabits the bodies in the water.

Of course, by now, most people know the pattern and how to avoid being lured in. Good, news right? Wrong! It seems in response to an increasing lack of victims, the lake's behaviour has changed. Reports now reaching us from victims and bystanders say that they have witnessed living bodies in the water, seemingly beckoning you to walk in and join them with the faces of loved ones. People you trust. The results of following them is the same.

Do not trust anyone you see in the lake. Do not look at their face. Do not follow them. This is the only warning I can give you. The rest is up to you.

WICKED WEDDING BELLS (AND A RAVENOUS REGISTRY)

By Timothy Stoker

The image?

A charming engagement photo sent to the radio station.

Ahh, spring time. Season of fertility and romance. And for some, the perfect time for a wedding. We already saw one wedding over Merrymeet, our early spring festival, and several new engagements are floating around if the rumors hold any water, which means that there are weddings yet to come. It's an exciting time for many couples! Including one couple you already know. A shy dust-bowl boy meets an elegant, mysterious girl with a surprisingly high body count, and the rest is history…

Yes, that's right, Yuki-Onna and the Dirt Man have marked the date for their wedding in May. I'm sure many of you remember the bossa nova playing demon cowboy who would break into our homes in the dead of night and kidnap anyone who didn't leave him an offering of loose dirt under their pillow that plagued the island several years ago, right? Well, the murderous snow spirit who was looking for love this past winter has finally met her perfect match, and wedding bells are ringing!

Don't bother saving the date, of course. None of us are invited, as it's meant to be a "close, intimate ceremony for family and close friends only". But they did kindly release a statement to the Pumpkin Hollow Gazette that they only somewhat threatened us into publishing, which states that they do expect everyone on the island to supply wedding gifts, "or else." While they didn't elaborate on what that meant, they were very descriptive about their wish list, which includes, "warm-weather clothing and beach supplies for the honeymoon, home goods, bath towels, skin care items, baby supplies and nursery decor, high-quality soil, interesting rocks, or just money."

Couple of bridezillas, if you ask me, but considering their unsettling history, it's probably wise to pony up. Though they didn't exactly explain how they would be collecting these items, so… I guess just keep something on hand? Good luck, all. However, it does seem that they'll be leaving the island permanently after they get married, so at least come summer we'll be able to rest easy knowing these two will no longer be breathing down our necks. Congratulations to the happy couple, and good riddance.

SOCIALIZE SWIFTLY FOR A GOOD CAUSE THIS SPRING

By Mettaton

The image?

A table for two, please!

A fun charity event from last year is making its return! The "Swift Social", held at the Festival Green every Wednesday evening. (Or the Oak & Iron in case of rain.) A reimagining of the classic speed-dating get-together, this particular event allows for all sorts of relationships, whether romantic or platonic! Sometimes people just need a little nudge to find the right companion. ♥

You're making friends/partners not just for yourselves, but for a good cause, darlings~ As with last year, all proceeds go to the medical community and the Autumn Leaves Dormitory House for Young Residents!

Thank you for reading!

Further Details...
Spring Cleaning Per the meeting between a large, fluffy elf named Zimomo and Miss Leeds, the town is abuzz with life, the chattering of the smaller elves going from place to place and offering their assistance in your much needed spring cleaning fills the air. They seem friendly enough, if not a bit mischievous, and they appear to mean well... but looks can be deceiving. Perhaps its due to their limited knowledge of human languages? Or perhaps it's just the nature of elves in general. Or at least this sort of elves, who are a little different than the ones native to Concorde.

Should you accept their help, you'll have a lovely time working with them. Their attitude, energy, and willingness to have you work with them seems almost infectious, helping to motivate you until everything is sparkling! Why, you'll even find they leave you a gift the next morning for working with them — a small bag of various treasures: jewels, coins (unfortunately not Brass but they are very pretty), wood-made charms. It's entirely up to you what you do with these gifts but at the very least you should hang on to the charms. Though you may find yourself struggling to keep up with them as time goes on--- after all, cute little critters who may or may not have been bribed to help with cleaning by their elder brother with treats tend to have a lot of stamina. And you better not slack off either! If you have time to lean, you have time to clean! And also you're a lot taller than these little elves so can you please get your butt out of that chair and dust the high shelves???

Should you refuse their help, they will barge in anyways in a far less friendlier manner. They'll still get the job done, of course, but what you experience that night is less than pleasant. You'll wake up to nibble marks on your arms, your ankles, and even some of your belongings stolen! Maybe if you chase them down you can get your things back, but good luck catching them. Maybe it should be a team effort.

Also, Knuxie, a mod-helper who had the idea for this prompt, has kindly offered to write the treasure elves for a handful of threads! Please mark your prompt as being open to these threads if you are interested. Maybe you can mark them as "OTLBB"? (translation: Open to Labubu) You can also ping Knuxie in the discord server if you're a member!
Flower Deliveries Knock knock! You've got a delivery! It's a beautiful bouquet, apparently from a secret admirer or mysterious friend. How exciting! Unfortunately, each of these bouquets comes with a magical curse attached, whose nature is hinted at by the flowers chosen. See, since this a Victorian era setting, floriology is all the rage these days, so the flowers you receive have hidden meanings which will clue you in. Here's the different bouquets available, and what they do:
Amaryllis - "Forsaken" - Those who receive a bouquet of amaryllis flowers will find that the next time they go to sleep, they'll wake up in some remote location on the island. The wilderness? A boat off the shore of the beach? Some forgotten mineshaft? The world is your extremely inconvenient oyster. Maybe you can find someone else who's lost to join you on your trek home.

Begonia - "Beware" - Recipients of these beautiful begonias will quickly discover that the cost of this lovely display is running afoul of some terrible creature the next time they're out and about. The nature of the beast is up to the player, so long as it's sufficiently dangerous as to risk injury or even death. (Don't worry, you'll be back tomorrow, good as new.)

Belladonna - "Silence" - A flower whose name means "beautiful woman," but whose reputation as a poison precedes her. You're not at risk of death with this bouquet, but you'll be as silent as the grave, as receiving this curses you with the inability to use your voice for 24 hours.

Borage - "Bluntness" - This darling little flower is more common in bee and butterfly gardens than bouquets, but should you receive a bundle of them, you'll find yourself a little more honest than usual. Maybe a little too honest, in fact, as you'll be blurting out "inside thoughts" at inopportune moments, and they'll come out meaner than you'd prefer. Tell us how you really feel, why doncha.

Columbine - "Foolishness" - Receiving a bouquet of lovely columbine flowers will fill your head with fog and whimsy, and maybe make you a little wobbly. Affectionate, silly, and totally out of it, you'll probably seem a bit drunk. But at least it's the fun kind of drunk?

Crocus - "Youth" - These flowers are so lovely, they'll take a few years off you--- literally. Get your hands on this bouquet and turn back the clock, transforming into a younger version of yourself. Whether you're a rowdy teenager, a younger kid, or a toddler who needs constant adult care will vary from person to person, as well as how much the transformation impacts things like memory.

Tansy - "Hostility" - It's like being struck by Cupid's bow, but he used the wrong arrows. Receiving a bouquet of tansy flowers will cause you to instantly fall in hate with a random person. It's not meant to be permanent, but depending on how far it ends up going, you might just have an enemy for life!

Gladiolus - "Victory" - Ever wondered what it'd be like to become a fairy tale knight? Wonder no longer--- with a delivery of these sword-like flowers, you'll become convinced of your knightly status. Fight for the honor of innocent civilians, challenge ruffians to duels, go on honorable quests, and take oaths of loyalty to people, places, objects--- whatever strikes your gallant fancy. (Think Sir Didymus from the Labyrinth. Feel free to go totally over the top.)

Lotus - "Enlightenment" - Recipients of these delicate flower arrangements will find themselves enlightened to the point of detriment. Become burdened with great and terrible revelations, and know far, far too much for your own good. Some of the information you obtain by force may not even be true, but you'll have a terribly hard time telling the difference.

Zinnia - "Constancy" - For this bouquet's curse, we decided to bring back a beloved classic from one of our very first TDMs! Recipients of zinnias will find that no matter where they go or what they do, at an inopportune time, there will be a goat present. Sometimes several. It might not even be the same goat each time. But that goat will always want one thing--- blood. For an indeterminate length of time, zinnia recipients will be cursed to suffer from random goat attacks.
There are 10 total curses, so roll a D10 to randomize your misery or choose your favorite way to suffer, and feel free to take some artistic liberties with how they manifest to emphasize horror or shenanigans to your taste. Unless otherwise stated, the duration of the curse is up to you. Have fun!

Fossil Dig The fossil dig can be found, as Tim mentioned, along the eastern edge of Eeltooth Lagoon to the north of the island. Located shallowly off the treeline of Lockwood Forest, the lagoon itself is situated on the Bluffs, which means that the edges of the shoreline are sheer rock faces raised up off the water by a fair distance. While jumping into the lagoon is technically safe, getting out will prove difficult, and it is also quite close to the notorious Ripjaw Falls, so tread carefully.

The dig site is an encampment with tents set up for people to just stay there overnight, as it is quite a substantial hike back to town, and takes up about the space of a baseball field if you include the dragon, which seems to have died laying directly on top of its treasure pile. Typical. There are many treasures to be found here, however, and while some of them will need to be taken for study, there are plenty that are just completely up for grabs!

Unfortunately, though, another thing this dragon had been hoarding was lost souls, which have now been freed by the dig. Many of them are just confused and traumatized, wandering aimlessly around the dig site in various degrees of visibility, reliving their deaths or other traumatic memories. Others, however, are vengeful, and looking to terrorize anyone they can find with horrifying visions. Some are even capable of genuine harm.

Anyone who completes a thread at the dig site consisting of at least 10 tags total (5 from each player) can pick a prizes from this handy dandy pinboard. You get one item for a day time/digging thread and three for a night time/paranormal experience thread! Duplicates are fine (i.e. you can get the same item someone else does) and the reward can only be redeemed as many times as desired, but be aware that these items aren't enchanted nor can they be traded for money, and they are for aesthetic purposes only. Also it's worth mentioning that a 10-tag thread is conveniently our AC length, so you'll still get a payout if you're a permanent player, or if you become one!

Lake Sal-Co-Penn [cw: drowning, hypnosis] Lake Sal-Co-Penn first became affected by the SCP-2316 back in June '23 and has been a background fixture of the game since then. You can see Lake Sal-Co-Penn on the setting map, deep in Lockwood Forest on the way up to Crane's Ridge. Until now its behaviour has mimicked the original SCP directly, but it's now taken on a new twist by using the illusion of living people.

The lure will take on the appearance of a loved one, beckoning you to join them in the water. Looking at this lure for more than a couple of seconds triggers a powerful cognitohazardous effect, drawing characters into the water by making them wholeheartedly believe that the lure is their loved one. More bodies will then appear, and the victim will be drowned. Once a character is under this effect, they will not be able to resist unless affected by an outside force—aka, another character helping them. But of course, helpers will also have to be careful not to be drawn in.

Any character that dies as a result of interaction with the lake will respawn after spending 24 hours as a ghost, as usual for the setting.

Wedding Gifts On a prior summertime TDM, the Dirt Man became known for breaking into people's homes by night and dragging them from their homes to submerge them in a dirt pile under Crane's Ridge if they didn't leave an offering of a handful of dirt. On this past winter TDM, a Japanese snow spirit called the Yuki-Onna decided she was ready to settle down, and would threaten residents into dating her and attack them if the date was not to her liking. Sometime in between, the two met, fell in love, and decided to get married right away! What a beautiful love story.

Except now they expect you, their victims, to foot the bill for their honeymoon, their new home, and their nursery for any impending progeny. How entitled.

In order to collect, the two of them will be going door to door by night. If one of them shows up to your door, you'd better pay up--- or pay the price. If it's the Dirt Man visiting, he'll likely drag you through the streets to the forest to be buried alive, while Yuki-Onna's methods are more varied. She might fill your home with snow and ice and freeze your door shut, leaving you for dead, or she might try to drag you to the river or the sea and drown you with icy hands that sting you with frostbite and make it harder to struggle. Or she might just stab you, that happens too.

So what can a friend do? If you're looking to help one of the pair's victims, you can either try to fight them off, trick them, or fork over your own gift to buy the other person some time. If someone's frozen into their home, you can also help them escape! These two monsters may be making a silly request, but their dangerous tendencies are no joke.

Swift Social Under the Swift Social toplevel posted from the mod account, join the fun by posting a starter with the provided code to create a profile card! Then comment on someone else’s starter with one of the following icebreaker questions to get started:
Which would be more surprising to see on your doorstep, a unicorn or a walrus?
If you could commit any crime with no consequences, what would it be?
If you were caught in a trap and the only way to escape from it with your life was to do something genuinely impressive, what would be your approach?
If you had to live on only one food for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
If you were held at knife point and instructed by your assailant that you must call someone on their sending stone, and if they do not answer, you die, who would you call?
Which would be most frightening to encounter in a dark alley: a ghost, an alien, or a horse?
If you could have any wish granted for you, no matter how big or small, what would it be? (Cannot ask for more wishes, that’s cheating!)
What’s a subject that you could confidently teach an hour-long class on with no preparation?
If you could instantly become an expert in any skill, what would you choose?
Make your own!
Be advised that you must post a comment with your profile card so that any Swift Social partners you have can reference it for your age and preferences.

Pokémon Each season, new types of Pokémon can be found in nature around the island! They cannot be captured as the technology does not exist on Marrow Isle, but they can be befriended and kept as pets. Since there is no PC, each person can have no more than six. You can befriend any Pokémon who has at least one type that matches the list at the top of the newspaper, or that can evolve into one. (Eevee can be caught in any season.) Legendaries and mythicals are off limits for obvious reasons, but they may be obtained through other means for full-time players! Evolutionary stones can be found in Paradesium, the magical subterranean jungle beneath the mountain to the North. Every type will be available at some point throughout the year, so if you don’t have access to your fave yet, check back next season!
curiouscrafter: (up1)

Odile | In Stars And Time | mid-50s?

[personal profile] curiouscrafter 2026-03-21 03:17 pm (UTC)(link)
A low-spoilers gist of In Stars and Time, and the canon point Odile is from.
ISAT is a time loop game based in the last two days of Final Fantasy type RPG, beginning with the party in the last town before the final boss, having collected the orbs needed to unlock the castle. The player character (Siffrin) is the only member of the party to remember the time loop.

I'm playing Odile from a loop based late in the game, one in which Siffrin had sentimental moments with all the party the day before their final adventure, went looking into various significant lore details during their climb towards the boss, and generally acted so suspiciously that Odile began to connect the dots as to what was wrong.

She remembers a number of suspiciously fortunate coincidences, new information about mysterious craft that could explain them, and a post-victory confrontation that went very badly.
Edited (splitting to multiple top levels so I can add 1-2 more ) 2026-03-25 23:12 (UTC)
curiouscrafter: (worried1)

◇ Arrival - Inn, around Town

[personal profile] curiouscrafter 2026-03-25 11:26 pm (UTC)(link)
There hadn't been much to her decision, in the end. Not when she'd come to with such a mix of anger and regret overtaking some strong but fading relief, and a new dread full of certainty that something had gone wrong. Remembering the fight, and walking that last stretch with the others, and... a blurred certainty that something went wrong.

If she'd known for certain that it had only been her affected, maybe she would have simply accepted it, and passed on the nameless one's offer. But without remembering the specifics, without knowing the others were all right... There really was no question. Even with whatever strings would surely come up in such an arrangement so seemingly favorable as simply spending time saving some other land first.


The story that none of the people of the island can die or leave seems ludicrous, but so had the so-called King freezing Vaugarde in time.

At least this mystery doesn't require continuous travel, and comes with a free inn for those still habituating themselves. She takes the offer, and sleeps in late with the bittersweet relief that she doesn't need to keep tabs on anyone else... Only to emerge from her room in the late morning, light feeling over-bright with the headache of fragmented but returning memories.

"This... couldn't be that island, could it?" she mutters to herself later, in the midst of searching shop windows for notebooks. There's a lot she'll need to make note of, it seems.
fukuyokoi: (002)

[personal profile] fukuyokoi 2026-04-01 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
"What island?" A voice comes from behind Odile. A short, young girl with strange animal ears and a tail made from hair swishing behind her, bright amber eyes with stars as her pupils looks at the older woman with a big smile. Her hands are folded behind her as she sways back and forth, awaiting Odile's answer.
curiouscrafter: (huh1)

[personal profile] curiouscrafter 2026-04-01 11:08 pm (UTC)(link)
"The island north of... Vaugarde..." Odile trails off mid-answer as those remarkable features catch her attention.

Specifically, it's the swish of the tail that startles her into a doubletake. If those ears and tail are crafted accessories, they're very well made, to have the shade so precisely matching that hair. And if they're not... Then this is a stretch further than most people ever take body craft, and all the more surprising for how young this person seems to be.

"...The one that's difficult to recall much about," she continues after a few seconds, recollecting herself. "Or, has proven difficult to people elsewhere in the world. I suppose it might not be, on the island itself."
fukuyokoi: (007)

[personal profile] fukuyokoi 2026-04-01 11:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"Vow-guard?" She attempts to repeat, holding a finger up to her chin in thought. "I've never heard of that place before! Maybe that's why people don't ever recall it? Because they don't know about it!"

Her ears swivel slightly, lowering as if she's embarrassed. "I've never heard of this island either though so maybe I'm not that knowledgeable...?"
curiouscrafter: (SASASA Battle)

◇ Research - at the Library, at a bar

[personal profile] curiouscrafter 2026-03-25 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
It takes some asking around and some reading to truly realize, this isn't just another land somewhere in the world she knows - this is another world entirely. The notion is at once baffling and strangely familiar, in that way that brings on yet another headache for examining too closely.

So it's with something of a migraine that Odile's scouring the stacks in the library, reading more about Concord's history, and the history of Marrow Isle in particular. Squinting at the pages, wishing she still had those darkly tinted glasses that she picked up... When had she picked those up, again?

"Gems alive, what is wrong with my head today?" She grouses to herself, closing the latest book with a sharpness that makes her wince again. It might be easier to read it back at the inn, in the evening under candlelight, than like this.



Research from books is well and good, and important for getting certain basics down - the names she's likely to encounter, some of the assumptions in what the writers do and don't think to specify. But what's written down is never as complete a picture as she'd like, and simply going up to people on the street... It's an option, but not one she's rushed enough to use.

Besides, after everything, she could use the chance to unwind. Visit a bar, have a drink or two, and talk with people loosening their own tongues.

"Have you lived here long?" Odile asks her neighbor at the bar, taking a sip and settling the glass back.
fullyfunctioning: (pic#18389621)

Library

[personal profile] fullyfunctioning 2026-03-26 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
Someone of a similar mind to Odile is also taking in as much information in the Library as he can possibly find. However, unlike Odile who (I assume) reads at a normal human pace, this man who is usually starkly pale is going through books like they're light reading pamphlets. In fact, his only real limit on how fast he can read through an entire book seems to be how fast he can turn a page.

It is really too bad this place is so primitive, being limited to paper bound books. Oh well. Nevertheless, the man? puts his book, which only took him a few minutes to read on a large stack of other books he's finished. He gets up, sees Odile with her stack of books on a similar topic, and stands to walk over.

"Hello!" He greats her cordially, "I have noticed that you have taken an interest in topics similar to my own research. Perhaps we could trade stacks of books? I am done with all of these-" He gestures to his pile of books, "You are welcome to any that pique your interest."
curiouscrafter: (reading1)

checked out the icons you've gotten uploaded - the Spot icon >^..^<

[personal profile] curiouscrafter 2026-03-26 09:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"All of them?" Odile wonders, taking in the size of the stack with a raised brow. Far too much for anyone to have done more than briefly skimmed, but... "Were they not actually about the topics you're searching for?"

If the books are poorly titled, or their introductions are misleading as to the contents, then it's questionable at best whether she'll find use in them. Worth looking at, but after she knows a little more.
fullyfunctioning: (pic#18389624)

I HAD TO

[personal profile] fullyfunctioning 2026-03-27 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, on the contrary, I have read them all." He pauses, like this is not a strange thing to say in the slightest. And then he realizes he should clarify. "I am an Android so I am able to read and process information more efficiently than a human. It is one of the ways I am superior to humans such as yourself."

He does say this in a very matter of fact way. It is not as if he is bragging, just being entirely factual about his skills and abilities.
curiouscrafter: (urgh1)

You had to!

[personal profile] curiouscrafter 2026-03-27 08:32 pm (UTC)(link)
"...Is that right," she replies after a long, intent stare.

It's the tone of voice that's throwing her. Not smug, like she'd expect with a comment like that, or even particularly superior, despite the word choice. And there was another word in there she'll have to get back to, but first:

"Did any of them discuss the history of this 'barrier' around the island?"
curiouscrafter: (SASASA True Ending)

◇ Flower Deliveries - Inn, around Town

[personal profile] curiouscrafter 2026-03-25 11:47 pm (UTC)(link)
◇ Flower Deliveries ◇
    It's terribly unexpected to receive flowers so shortly after finding herself departing the ferry to this place, much less a whole bouquet of them. Odile has to think it's another of the free amenities the town's leadership is so eager to offer, like the free lodging, meal vouchers, and small stipend. Little things to boost morale for these people in unnatural captivity, and encourage their economy not to stagnate.

    That surprise bouquets in vases appear outside her inn room a few separate times is less welcoming gesture than it is annoying. But not so much so that she feels any need to interrogate the mayor's aids about it, and it is at least free decoration for the room.

    So she humors the presence of the flowers enough to take each subsequent vase into her room for a day or two, and even press a flower into the first notebook she's purchased.

    Borage (bluntness)
    Maybe it's because she's apparently died, in circumstances that are difficult to think about. Difficult in a few ways, from the emotional whiplash of the last clear memories, or the vagueness that overwhelms her recollection for an unclear amount of time past that. Maybe it's simply from having come to lean on the others for reminders to mind herself, out of concern for them.

    Whatever the cause, Odile finds it harder than usual to soften the sharper edges of her tongue, or take the time to find more polite words for anything. Let alone...

    "If you're finished, could you move out of the way? Some of us have places to be."


    Zinnia (goats)
    It's a good thing she's still used to the adventure, the stress of the dangers and the reflexes needed in the regular fights they faced. Even if she was hardly the best suited for taking the lead, she still had to keep pace with the others, and these last months have pushed her. With all the warnings that came bundled with the requests for help, she's sure to need it.

    But it's not doing her freshly dead nerves any favors, to be on watch for goat attacks. Of all things.

    "Please help bar the door," she instructs the moment she rushes into the nearest doorway and pushes the door shut behind her. Maybe it's a shop, maybe it's your characters home, but right now it's a wall between her and an animal with inexplicable violence on the mind.


◇ Swift Social ◇


◇ Wildcard ◇
    I'm open to other prompts as well! Feel free to poke me by pm or in this discord - this is Swirl testing a second character.