voidtreckerexpress | Spring Garden Preparations

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Spring Garden Preparations

Who: Elidibus, OTA
Where: Various, Rock Garden for landscape setup.
When: Evening, Quicksand 13 to Quicksand 15
What: Events leading to the Spring Garden Days Quicksand 16 (Platform Day) to Quicksand 18
Warnings: There's no particular warnings other than the possibility of individual character spoilers.

[An announcement over the intercoms goes throughout the train on the evening of Quicksand 13, after everyone's settled post-mission.]

Good day, this is Elidibus. Some of you may recall the brief transformation of the rock garden into a winter day several platforms ago. This coming platform I'm looking to arrange for a spring season change to the same carriage. Last time was a little spontaneous and short notice. This time I would like to ask for help.

One of the major changes is this will last for three days, including the Platform Day. During that time, those willing to help maintain the spring garden will be welcome. Whether by manual labor, organization, a special talent or other contributions. [After all the carriage is only so large and traffic may be regular.] Like last time, the climate, weather and soil will be present, but I'd like to ask some of those talented with the fast growth of plants and trees to lend assistance. Anyone familiar with planning the layout of a seasonal garden in a relatively small space would also be appreciated.

Those who might be interested in preparing food fit for picnic meals, I would like to ask for your help. Though I have a general concept for this seasonal garden event, I would ask you to bring any ideas you have to me. What I've observed on my star may differ from others and anyone should feel welcome to add their ideas. I may also approach some of you but there is no obligation to agree to my requests.

[This is announced over the intercoms. But there will also be signs posted near the public ICPs in each carriage or in a proper obvious place with this message printed on it.

Questions and the OOC prep links!]

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[ Tidus won't fall for that so easily!! Plus, who cares if the higgledies are having fun.

Daddy Roland needs to keep his children in check! ]

Suuuure, [ comes the very believable response to Roland's request. 'Somewhere easy' - but he hasn't budged from where he's got an arm under his head for a pillow, and won't until he's sure that Roland's started moving, going along with the hunt. He wants to watch this, while glancing over at the higgledies more inclined to play in the water; but it seems a few of them have noticed Roland is up to something, and have discarded splashing around for following the old man in his search!

Thus, Tidus ends up with his head propped up by his arm, watching the spectacle. ]

Why'd you tell them to hide up chocolate in the first place? Does it have to be chocolate?

[ He knows it has something to do with this Spring thing, but he isn't sure if it's a Roland idea, or a Roland's world tradition. He also wonders how many people are going to be keen searching around for small chocolate...

well, Inigo would. And Buttercup, maybe. ]

[ Does he have something to...write with? On a pot? Give Tidus a second to think about this, patting his sides like he's searching his pockets when it's his arms band he's thinking about.

While Inigo then starts voicing his true fears: magical snowballs coming out of nowhere to destroy his darlings. His mouth lifts into a smile, the reaction cute in that Inigo way.

Guy does love his flowers. ]

I don't see anything for people to start throwing as easy as snowballs. Do you? [ He even makes a show of looking around. Flowers, weather... nope! But he'll go to Inigo anyway, pat one of his shoulders fondly. ]

Don't worry, your flowers are gonna be fine! We can move them back if you're real worried, see about putting them on a pedestal to make them stand out! But just a small one. [ Like, the height of a book Roland might read. See? Look, Tidus is making a small height with his hands! ] Then if they get knocked over, it won't be so bad!

Yes, I think Roland mentioned something called 'Easter'. It was faintly similar to an event called Hatching-tide I've seen Eorzeans celebrate on my star in recent years. At least when it came to painted eggs.

[Honestly the rest was pretty damned different unless you counted that both had some ties to religion.]

I believe the children will enjoy what he has planned. And feel free to ask around. Some have approached me with suggestions but not everyone would be comfortable doing so.

[Well he knows his standing probably isn't favorable with some. He certainly doesn't blame them.]

Sure! Some people don't know they have an idea 'til you ask them personally.

[ Always good to ask people in person, even if it was a hassle. But it wasn't like Tidus had much else to do, so, before he goes anywhere: ]

There anything else I can help out with? There nothing you need buying?

[Obviously Elidibus is going to give that some thought.]

I need nothing, if only because it would be received the day the event begins. Though Roland mentioned making chocolate. Perhaps some other sweets that match whatever holiday he is celebrating? And I may speak to you when I plan for summer.

[There are a LOT of things not on the train that can totally be worth pre-purchasing for summer. Like shaved ice. And water balloons.]

[The snicker doubles again when Roland explains his problem, bottled laughter that barely just does not make it aloud. Well! Glad he's able to give a hand at least!~

He has to tuck a few questions away from his companion-- curiosity nipping at him-- but for now, he allows the flow of the conversation to keep him rooted on the spot, giving the little sprites a few seconds to find their little higgle-hideaways.]

"Tal--?" [A small furrow appears between his brows, but it doesn't last long. Another grin brightens him, laughter tucked into the curve of his eyes.] "Hah! I just prattle on an' hope people keep up. Give it a few minutes an' you'll see~"

[Because Esteban is definitely going to ask. He's curious by nature, and the people on the train have all lead such wildly different lives, with strange stories and other worlds that he almost can't conceive. Skills and ways that snag at the half-elf's open eagerness to learn, hopefully Roland will be in a sharing mood as they work together.]

"Y' sure you don't wanna participate? Take a few minutes t' have fun?" [He stretches a hand between them in an open invitation, but doesn't require his companion to take it, really. Roland should enjoy the time that he can, but Esteban won't push more than this-- he's got higgledies to go and catch!]

[ He steps closer to the pot, staring at the flowers within it the way a concerned parent might be looking at a child.

There's a few moments of quiet, like he wants to make extra sure, look at every angle.. and then he slowly nods. ]

They look fine.

[ He'd ask if they were really protected, but then again, he sure does not want a demonstration when it comes to that. His heart might give out. ]

.. thank you. That's at least a relief. Do you think anyone is going to be doing something rowdy here in the first place..?

[ Inigo pouts.

It's just a little one, rather than his usual dramatic one, but maybe that's exactly what makes the pout itself more genuine, matching up to the worry behind it. ]

Their petals are fragile though...

[ So fussy over his plant babies. ]

.. I think it's fine to keep them standing here like this [ without a pedestal, that is ] as long as you're sure there's nothing here people could throw.

[ Which does seem to be the case, but Inigo glances at the other teen, elaborating: ] You know people here can get.. creative.

[ And not in good ways!! ]

Why don't you ask Elidibus? If there's plans to throw anything, he'd know. I don't know any Spring traditions, but it looks like it's going to be a lot of flowers and plants, to me.

[ Unlike snow. He's got his hands resting on his sides now, mind trying to come up with any downside that could support Inigo's worries, but...! Nothing's coming to mind. ]

There are those eggs Roland's making, but who's gonna throw chocolate?

[ When you can eat it, instead! ]

[ Other sweets? Got it, but it's the mention of summer that intrigues Tidus. He folds his arms, grin widening. ]

Summer needs a pool party. [ Hello. ] If you're out in the sun, the best place to be's in a pool! With iced drinks, hot food, good music.

[ He leans forward, slightly. ]

You ever swim for fun?

I think not. I would expect naught more than a clumsy accident.

[ Someone bumping a table for example. ]

But since it will overlap new arrivals, it is best to be a bit cautious.

[ Which is certainly another reason for the protection to be a little better than safety from a short tumble to the floor. When old foes meet on the train things can get dicey. ]

Edited 2022-04-01 15:13 (UTC)

Unfortunately for Elidibus, Pahja has found herself with time on her hands and nothing more but a deep desire to express herself artistically. She doesn't mean to seek out Elidibus on purpose, thinking it's better to leave him to his space and only intrude unasked every few days or so. It's still difficult to see him use Ardbert's face -- not only because of the man who's form he took (and shaved!) but because the face of a young man is stronger still in her mind. Themis, and Pahja wouldn't normally fight such a strong urge to protect, but it is Elidibus.

He probably wouldn't like it if she did, and he probably would hate it even more if she told him why.

It's still difficult to fight the urge to ruffle his hair when she comes across him in the arts car, however, though she does peer over his shoulder at the convocation eggs he's made.

"Are you going to leave Azem's up to Emet again?" She jokes, before pulling up a seat and sitting across from him. "He did it once before, so I have no doubt he will do it again if you mention you left it out."

Yes, I'd thought about something like a beach at the ocean. Yet the scale... Hmm. A pool may be better. I'll give it some thought and speak with the Voidtrecker Express.

[ Spatial scaling is.... tricky at the best of times. A train in voidspace moreso. And it's probably even more complicated than that.

Anyway! Tidus does earn a look bordering on bemusement when he asks if Elidibus has ever done recreational swimming. ]

I don't think I have. At least, not in the way you mean it.

[ Keeping up appearances during one of the many times he took a body to keep the balance? Probably. But for personal fun? No. ]

If you are going to suggest I do, I will consider it.

[While it's probably honest that he will consider it, it's also probably going to end up something he'll need to be dragged into.]

[ Of course a guy like Elidibus hasn't! But that's okay. This old man can learn to have fun yet! ]

You better! [ He takes a few steps back, readying to leave, but also- ] 200 more votes and we'll get that pool. And I don't want it going to waste - I'm throwing points into it!

[ And he will, more. Soon! Once he asks Roland about these sweets for Spring. ]

But first - Spring!

[ And finding their one Spring-knowing-traditions guy! ]

Do people throw eggs in spring?!

[ Granted, this doesn't sound like something Tidus knows about either, judging by the way the other is saying it.

But it just brings such a natural freakout to Inigo that he can't help but let the words escape his mouth instantly, even if Tidus might not have the answer to it. ]

That'd hurt though! I mean, throwing snow is one thing.. It's just snow! It falls apart! [ Isn't that the whole point of a snowball fight?

Granted, it's been a long, long time since he had been able to have one back home, but it always seemed like that was why snow was perfect for it. ]

.. do you think Roland has thrown eggs before?

[ Is this a serious question, Inigo?! Tidus gives him a helpless shrug of the shoulders, hands raising in the action, a 'How should I know?' for a scenario they don't even know is real!

And speaking of a bigger unknown. ]

Uhhhhh.... [ Uhhhh. ] May....be? If it's a thing where he's from.

[ Which is the important part here. But all this talk of eggs, and throwing... ]

You know... Romeo did show me a show he watches where the art guy in it made eggs filled with paint you could throw to splatter the paint around. Or drop from high places? We were wondering about sticking paint in some waterguns we got too.

...

... but no one's going to do that in here.

[ Just! You know! Irrelevant to your current worries, bro! ]

[ Good luck to you Tidus! It'll be a long process. But it's certainly possible. ]

Oh? I'm sure many will enjoy the addition. [ Of course it's polite. Of course it's very non-commital. ] If it's added, then maybe I will reconsider the beach for summer.

[ I mean, why have two pools! ]

I'll see you later, Tidus.

[ After watching the youth go off, he turns back to whatever he'd been watching or doing. ]

Fortunate or unfortunate. It might be difficult to say, though the expression he turns on Pahja as he looks up. It's not Emet-Selch levels of irritation. But you wouldn't call it happy. It's cold and clearly distant; all you would expect from someone who could remain civil in the face of a representation of his kind's enemy.

"No." Elidibus probably knows it was a joke and apparently refuses to respond to it accordingly. He does allow, "I haven't decided if I will."

Well Pahja is here. And by her personality observed so far, she's probably not going to just leave for a bit. Thus, he nods his head at the pile of eggshells still waiting to be painted.

"Pray make yourself useful while you're here." ...Even now he holds the pragmatic view of making use of available resources. His personal feelings about them aside.

He'll go back to painting his egg. It's not one of the convocation ones but there's still a few left. If Pahja were to remain and take up the task of painting eggs with him however, the Ascian will eventually speak up again.

"Why do you use only part of Emet-Selch's title when you speak about him?"

While Elidibus is still watching Faux experiment but he still has enough attention for his own work. Other than the ones given a bit of his memories, the colors are right for spring. Most have filigree patterns he'd seen on what were called 'archon eggs' during the seasonal event of the world he's from.

"It depends what image you have in mind," Elidibus answers. He'd paused and fully focused on Faux again when he mentioned a 'user sky'. "Could you first explain what you meant by a 'user'?"

Well, usually things go fine with the new people..

[ It's like Inigo is trying to reassure himself a little with the way he's saying those words. Like he has to believe that things will be okay, so he won't spend the rest of the days until the platform day - and the platform day itself - doing nothing but fussing over his flowers. ]

.. and if they're going to pick some sort of huge fight, I like to imagine they'd at least do that on the platform, rather than here in a cutely decored spring carriage. [ He gestures at some paper bunny decorations someone has already been putting up, probably as an example of said cuteness. ]

A cringe forms on Faux's face from the question, again caught out by inserting program speak unconsciously into his words. "Haha, ahh, that's more of a habit. Program lingo; since I'm a computer program."

He dips his paint brush into the water jar while answers Elidibus, "A user is.. well anyone outside of a computer system. Those that use or create a computer. I admit I may be a little too aggressive with the tag." Not all users here seem to fit the definition, yet he can't quite get himself to drop it yet.

"In this case, a 'user' sky, is one out here. I've been to a fair few systems in my days. They're all kinda dark, not quite.... real." Yeah, that sounds right, "None of them look like ones I've seen so far." Well, unless it's a night cycle.

Edited 2022-04-02 07:22 (UTC)

They do.

[Elidibus is in agreement. Of course what he doesn't say at all is that he had been actively dipping in and out of the Snow Day garden a month or so back because he was avoiding someone actively hunting him for conflict. But this wouldn't ease Inigo's mind so he doesn't say it.]

Think of it assurance to you. Anything that could reasonably be expected happen in this carriage during its transformation will be prevented. Even to a point beyond what would be expected.

[After saying such a thing, Elidibus does add something.]

The ward will last for a while if left unbroken. Pray let me know if you want it removed after your plants have been returned to where you keep them.

[ Sticking paint into waterguns still sounds like a weird idea to Inigo, but at least he can kind of imagine that, because it sounds exactly like the sort of wild and weird thing Tidus would do.

But the rest of what he's saying.. that is just getting the most stupified look ever from Inigo. Like he truly can't wrap his head around any part of this very idea. ]

.. Art is so strange.

[ It's a conclusion that has little to do with their current situation, sure, but it has to be said. Why make eggs filled with paint? Why not.. just paint? It's already hard enough!! ]

I'm never putting my flowers in the art car.

Gah. But the point was to show me where so that I knew where to point people if they couldn't find anything...[ Such is the job of a guardian 24/7, though he isn't completely distraught about it. In fact- ]

Hm. Then again, we could use this as an opportunity to test out the candy hunt for later. Gauge how difficult it would be for the two of us. [ Roland regards the pink-haired girl, and immediately the recognition connects in his head, a smile on his youthful face. ] You're Madoka, right? You up for a quick game of round 'em up?

That's right. Though traditionally, they're really supposed to be chocolate eggs.

[ It's definitely an intensive search for them, and so far, in the minutes that trickle past them, there's little sign of the higgledies in charge of auditing the goods- badly put. Roland might even find this game a bit unfair since they had the advantage of appearing wherever they want to. Bending by the hip, he checks behind what sparse foliage is already in place. Benches, too; literally leaving no stone unturned.

It's not distracting enough that Roland can't multitask though. Thanks for the help, there pro!! ]

I don't know about Elidibus's world, but back home, we had a thing called Easter. It was always during spring. [ Maybe there? He walks a couple of steps forward...No luck yet. The train of higgledies that follow him, however, are giving him hints. Behind Tidus? Roland walks closer to where other sits comfortably, then. ] We'd invite a whole bunch of kids to the White House, where they could play some Easter games. Something to do with the origin of the holiday, where a bunny represents the coming of new life after a long winter. Eggs were part of that symbolism too.

[ He rounds the bench where Tidus and just as the higgledies on Roland's side have been trying to tell him, there was one candy wrapped in colorful art paper and foil did with a ribbon that was indeed, hiding in plain sight. Meanwhile, as Roland's story spins longer yarn, the fonder he seemed to become. As if recalling a warm memory. ]

And of course, it eventually evolved into a holiday full of treats and chocolates since mostly children would participate. We're talking rolling eggs down a hill to see which one reaches the bottom first, painting egg shells, and at some point, we even had a ball pit in my office. [ He laughs, dusting off the chocolate and placing it somewhere a bit more obvious for the regular person. ] The Easter egg hunt was the most popular game, though. You would go around the White House garden and look for hidden eggs. Whatever you find, you keep. Kids with the most eggs found obviously win the most prizes.

[ Roland's smiling wide now, vivid in his recollection. As if he can still hear the peals of laughter in the air. ]

Anyway. It's just a little something from home to hopefully brighten this place up for the occasion. Lacking hills and ball pits, hunting for the chocolates seemed the next best thing. Heh.

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Spring Garden Preparations

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If Roland doesn't come and play with them, I'll skim over the next few minutes?

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PAINTING EGGS.

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