Game: Flowers of Heaven

[errours]

Who: lost(?) idols
Where: ???? a mysterious garden
When: Day 232

[ You’re in a garden. It’s lush, beautiful, and almost too wild with growth to quite merit the term “garden.” There are fruit trees here, their trunks twisted and knobbled with age, their branches still low enough to easily reach. The ground is carpeted with colorful wildflowers, and flowering vines and wild roses twine around trees and golden trellises alike.

In the center of this roughly circular area is a broken-down stone fountain. The water sits stagnant, and nothing remains of the fountain’s design except a basin and the shattered base of a once-golden sculpture.

The light here is twilit—or just kind of dim, if you want to be less romantic about it. Looking overhead, it’s easy to see why: actually, the sky isn’t visible from this place at all. Instead, there’s a dense canopy of branches forming an almost perfect dome.

How did you get here?
The last thing you vaguely recall is a sudden fit of drowsiness. There’s no sign of any guide or host around, and your powers don’t currently work either.

Maybe, based on all the other idols here, it’s some kind of game…? ]

Comments

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[puzzlekeeper]

[ COOL.

He looks unusually pale and queasy, attempting to avoid any and all plants.

Nailed it. ]

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Nailed it.

Here, King. Have some tall noodle hovering nearby.]

Is this a sign they're running out of budget or ideas?

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[puzzlekeeper]

[ The noodle provides something else to look at and think about, thank god ]

The latter.

Something tells me they spare no expense.

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Nudges some of the rubble of the fountain with his boot.]

100 points says it's a dating game.

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[puzzlekeeper]

[ Snorts ]

I'd happily bet against that.

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Shifts to lightly brush the inside of King's wrist]

Done deal then.

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[puzzlekeeper]

[ He goes still -- then his hand twists, catching Intensity's in a grip that's inexplicably white-knuckled despite his forced calm. ]

Fine, but make the wager higher.

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[He grips back tightly in response though the rest of his teasing demeanor doesn't change]

Higher?

[He laughs]

Now you're just being greedy. But fine.

Let me think of something worthy.

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[puzzlekeeper]

Haven't you noticed I'm always greedy?

But I'm sure you'll come up with something.

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Winner picks the location. Losers plans the excursion and incurs all costs associated.

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[puzzlekeeper]

Hmm . . . sure you can afford that?

1/2

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Certainly. I've been saving up just for---

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Wait a minute]

Hmph.

Bold of you to assume I'm going to lose this fucking bet.

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[puzzlekeeper]

[ Smirks a little despite himself ]

Saving up for . . . ?

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[He takes two steps around King as if he was going to circle him, though not easing up on the grip of their joined hands in the slightest.]

You're smart.

Maybe you can guess.

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[puzzlekeeper]

[ His eyes trail Intensity's movements, curious. And maybe relieved to have some insignificant puzzle to work out instead of thinking about -- uhh, all the rest of this. ]

A real bed?

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Huffs. Performatively.]

Wow, I didn't know that was such a sore point for you.

Fine. I'll get one better than your stupid bed. So there.

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[puzzlekeeper]

Careful. If you do, I may never leave it.

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Takes another two steps so King has to crane his neck or partially turn to follow]

All part of my nefarious master plan.

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[puzzlekeeper]

[ He does indeed turn. ]

It seems your scheming serves me even better than you, so I have no complaints.

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[worldlyafflictions]

[Was checking for Cobalt but...]



...Would it be too obvious ta put a jacket over your head?

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[puzzlekeeper]

[ Glancing sideways at him--

Well. He probably knows about Cobalt, so . . . ]

It would probably raise questions I have no easy answer for.

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[worldlyafflictions]

Sit on somebody's shoulders...? Just wanting ta feel tall is a legit reason.

Re: EXPLORE THE GARDEN?

[puzzlekeeper]

--Hey.