Found Families (31/08/21)
Sept 10, 2021 22:15:27 GMT
Merla, the Daughter of Summer and Jaezred Vandree like this
Post by BB on Sept 10, 2021 22:15:27 GMT
“What are you doing after graduation?”
BB blinks the heat of the bonfire from her eyes as she turns towards Egle. She’s leaning forward from where she’s sitting next to BB, red hair falling slightly and red leather jacket creaking faintly with the movement.
Was I always at this fire or…
Egle is looking expectantly for an answer that BB hesitates to give.
“I dunno really. I haven’t thought about life past graduation much. I like growing flowers a lot but I don’t really get the science part of it all. Maybe like a floristry apprenticeship?”
Egle nods like she totally gets it, she is BB’s best friend after all, “Yeah you’ve not got the best luck with science have you...But that sounds good.” Then she gets up to make like she’s leaving, BB gives her a confused look as she does, “You going already?”
“Yeah I gotta go do something at home. See you all later.”
Her retreating figure is waved away by BB as well as Merla, Baine, Ghesh and Pi who are all also sat round the fire. There’s some nerves and curious questions as they all ponder what the first day of senior year is gonna be like tomorrow. Ghesh and Baine ethustiacally discuss the Crimson Serpents rugby team’s prospects, with BB quietly showing Pi the baby magpie she’s helping recover in her pocket, all with chirpy interjections from Merla.
Eventually they all go home that night, and well, senior year at Spruce Shield school starts.
BB comes downstairs at home the next day to the welcome sight of her Dad cooking the best porridge over the stove, her brothers Bon and Fog are already there impatiently waiting. She’s met with head pats from them both, Bon warning about just how bloomin’ boring Mr. Nappins geography class is. Eventually her Dad turns around to serve them all, then to all the animals in the house, slowly drawing them out with their own fresh breakfast. With porridge inhaled BB tidies up, her brothers joining in too, and it’s at this point her Dad turns to her.
“Now BB, good luck for today. This is going to be a great year for you, I know it. And I think your mother would be proud of everything you’ve done if she was here. But just one thing... no matches okay?”
Gosh I get why he mentions it, but I really don't like the memories it brings.
There’s a surge of apprehension on her face before she nods small and scoops Blue off the table into her long cardigan pocket as she leaves. Then she’s on her bike on the way to school, the wind tangling her vaguely neat braid for only a short while before she’s stopped and picking flowers from the roadside. BB would swear she’s not been there for too long, but soon Baine is driving by and dooting his horn to get her moving quick enough to not be late for school.
I wasn’t gonna be here for too long I swear. I just wanted to find something for Dwirhian.
And well school is school, classes happen, Mr. Nappin is indeed incredibly boring as Bon said. The most engaging thing about his classes is the nuisance that is Griff, he really can’t leave Egle alone, constantly pestering her. This time BB gets him to drop it by creepy wide eyed staring out the window, trying to channel the energy from those horror films she’s only watched through gaps between her fingers.
Egle is on one last strike with the school, so everyone's on high alert and BB refuses to let her best friend be bullied by… well a bunch of bullies. Some idiot with an agenda isn’t going to scare her. There is quite a terrifying incident with the new science teacher Jenna and a flaming ceiling. That does have BB retreating to her gardening stuff hidden in her locker.
Merla does lighten everyone’s mood by inviting them all to bowling with the Copperkettle siblings after school. Even Egle comes along, but she seems to be thinking about something a lot and soon she's touching BB's shoulder to ask…
"BB, the last strike I'm on. It's much more serious than just expulsion from school."
"Wait, wasn't I bowling? We got there by car... I feel like I know and don't know what a car is at the same time..."
"I really wouldn't think about it too hard, it genuinely is going to fry your brain. But BB, we have to stop Griff because in real life his gang is actually a group of Githyanki on red dragons out in the Astral Sea coming to kill me. I made this dream to even the playing field, but if I get expelled it's all over and they win."
"Griff...is a Githyanki, oh that does make sense. But then how do we win? Keep you safe in real life through this dream?"
"Just don't let me get expelled. Or I can dismiss this all and you fight them in real life head on."
"..The Astral sea is tricky, and I feel like it would put us at a disadvantage. I’m not willing to risk that, risk your life. Let’s keep this dream you’ve made and its even playing field."
"Okay. Your dream self won’t remember the conversation, but the motivation will be there. You’ve got this."
…”Hey BB are you actually going to bowl?.”
In flustered realisation BB jumps up, but then changes direction to spin back around and say directly to Egle. “No, no. I think we need to figure out a plan to get Griff and his croons off your back. It’s not fair that they get away with what they do daily.”
There’s nods all around before a whirlwind of chaotic planning unfolds, the Copperkettle siblings giving up on getting any of them to actually bowl. But ideas fly back and forth, ones of sugar in bike engines, or other slightly illegal bank account tampering, just how involved could Merla’s mum Titania be? But one thing is firmly decided, Griff’s street cred must be utterly ruined in the most public way. And so they put prom night in many weeks time firmly in their sights.
Of course a plan slowly develops in that time with help from the school’s most powerful gossip, Wanda. She divulges that Griff and his group still owe money to a local bike shop, information only shared after an accepted prom date from the illusively single Ghesh. With this they decide they must get the shop to think they’re skipping town on prom night, then hopefully turn up to tow away said bikes in front of everyone at school. It would be extremely embarrassing for them.
The planning wheels keep turning, and after some carefully curated snapchat screenshots are sent in certain directions, the group turns up pretty confidently to prom. Everyone’s outfits are exquisite, and BB makes sure to get everyone and their dates (including her own) all their own fresh flower corsages. There’s a few tense moments on the dance floor where it looks like Griff is about to try something, but not before a tow truck pulls up front and begins to take the bikes away as expected. It’s a spectacle for sure, *so many pictures and videos taken of their embarrassment. If it all happening in front of the whole school wasn’t bad enough. Especially the truly hilarious scene of Griff running into the distance trying to desperately chase after the truck.
We pulled it off. We really did it. Eagle is saved from those blithering bullies finally!
The sun sets over the horizon, it’s deep orange colours reflecting off the tow truck which BB is focusing on. She blinks and now it’s the flickering of fire, a bonfire, in New Hillborrow…
Egle and everyone is back at her side, but as she knows them, not highschoolers. What’s a highschooler again? BB physically waves the brain melting thoughts away and focuses on her friends and family around her, especially on Egle.
“We... we did it! I’m assuming if we’re here then you’re safe now Egle?” Her question is met with a nod, BB lets out a relieved sigh. “But I think this shows that we really need to find you somewhere else to live. The Astral Sea is full of danger and I know you’re lonely there...You could live here on the flower field maybe, can gods live on the Material Plane?”
Egle looks like she certainly considers it, but after a moment she decisively shakes her head. “I would love to, but I don’t think a god like myself should live here. I’m not sure great things will become of it. But where else could I go?”
It’s at this point that Baine interjects with a quick glance to the celestial good boi Frankie at his side, “I could probably ask Evelyn to get a word in with the big lad for Egle to stay somewhere on the Celestial Plane if you would want.”
The Celestial Plane, already with gods and such things. Egle could fit right in. Maybe get to know people too, find new friends and a place to call her own. I think finding her own place could be good for her. Wandering on her own for so long...I understand why she tried to link herself to me all those years ago.
Looking to Egle, BB can see the uncertainty, but it seems she understands that the unknown of the Celestial Plane is certainly better than the unknown of the Astral Sea. So she nods, and soon Evelyn is arriving next to their humble campfire in a burst of light, her first question of course being, “Do you like dogs?”
There's some discussion, some reassurances given from BB and the others. That yes a step in a new direction is scary, but all friends were strangers at one point, and maybe some amazing friends are just round the corner. So eventually Egle walks up to Evelyn, a final look and a smile to them all as the Goddess of Snakes and Dreams steps into the Celestial Plane.
I'm glad, so glad she's finally got somewhere to call home. But all that talk of stepping towards something you're apprehensive about from me, yet here I am still scared to finally visit my own family.
I should change that.
And so BB does. That night in the quiet of her large bell tent, the thought of her friends camping nearby grounding her, she uses the Sending spell scroll she's been saving for years to contact her Dad.
Several days later, after many heartfelt goodbyes and even a flower field party, BB finds herself trekking a distantly familiar path in the freezing reaches of North Faerun, the Ice Spires mountains looming over her.
Her slow and nervous footsteps take her to the crest of a small hill, and it's from here that she spots him. Silver, her Dad, patiently waiting on a rock with a woven basket at his side. He hasn't changed much since she last saw him, his black hair still meticulously braided with beads woven in, eyes still as friendly as ever. There's a pause between them both, like neither can believe the other is there, before Silver is opening his arms as invitation for a hug. BB sprints into the embrace, squeezing her Dad so so tight. They both take in the moment, just happy to exist in each other's presence, before Silver looks down to his daughter.
"Wildflower you made it, it's so good to see you again. I was so worried all these years. I’m just so happy you’ve come back, and I know everyone else will be happy to see you too.”
There’s a look of disbelief on BB’s face, unsure at first at the truth of her Dad’s statement, but she moves on from those thoughts as she nods and smiles wide.
“I’m glad...I’m so glad to have come back too. I missed you so much all these years, and I’m sorry I didn’t come back earlier even though I could. A lot happened in my life while I was away and eventually I thought that, well maybe you all moved on and were happy with that, and I didn’t want to disturb that peace.”
Silver leans back to hold up BB’s well tattooed arms, their symbolism of bonds forged and important events lived through standing proud in black ink against her pale blue skin.
“I can certainly see that a lot happened! Look at these. You know, we should get one to mark this occasion” The joy in his eyes softens slightly, a tinge of melancholy appearing there too, “But Wildflower you should know, there’s no moving on without you.”
BB looks at her Dad so full of emotions they might all burst, and barely gets out the word “Okay” before her Dad chuckles softly as he pulls her into another warm embrace. Reluctantly letting go BB takes off her backpack and pulls out a large stack of journals tied together with string.
“These are the journals I kept all the years I was gone, they’re of what exactly happened to me out there. I always hoped to get them to you one day. There’s...there’s quite a few bizarre and wondrous adventures told in them.”
Silver looks to the journals and with a grateful smile takes his long overdue gift. The two of them then slowly walk the familiar way back to the tribe of the Walking Stone. To home.
Long into the days, nights and weeks that BB is at home. She catches herself frequently thinking on how everything has come full circle when she never thought it would. Life had gone from the lonely Wildflower 20 years ago, scared and overwhelmed, to the BB with a purpose and surrounded by families. And well, she feels so happy she can scarcely feel anything else.
Another massive bloomin' thank you to Andy for running this graduate game for the big blue florist, and thank you to everyone who's been a part of her journey, both big and small.
BB blinks the heat of the bonfire from her eyes as she turns towards Egle. She’s leaning forward from where she’s sitting next to BB, red hair falling slightly and red leather jacket creaking faintly with the movement.
Was I always at this fire or…
Egle is looking expectantly for an answer that BB hesitates to give.
“I dunno really. I haven’t thought about life past graduation much. I like growing flowers a lot but I don’t really get the science part of it all. Maybe like a floristry apprenticeship?”
Egle nods like she totally gets it, she is BB’s best friend after all, “Yeah you’ve not got the best luck with science have you...But that sounds good.” Then she gets up to make like she’s leaving, BB gives her a confused look as she does, “You going already?”
“Yeah I gotta go do something at home. See you all later.”
Her retreating figure is waved away by BB as well as Merla, Baine, Ghesh and Pi who are all also sat round the fire. There’s some nerves and curious questions as they all ponder what the first day of senior year is gonna be like tomorrow. Ghesh and Baine ethustiacally discuss the Crimson Serpents rugby team’s prospects, with BB quietly showing Pi the baby magpie she’s helping recover in her pocket, all with chirpy interjections from Merla.
Eventually they all go home that night, and well, senior year at Spruce Shield school starts.
BB comes downstairs at home the next day to the welcome sight of her Dad cooking the best porridge over the stove, her brothers Bon and Fog are already there impatiently waiting. She’s met with head pats from them both, Bon warning about just how bloomin’ boring Mr. Nappins geography class is. Eventually her Dad turns around to serve them all, then to all the animals in the house, slowly drawing them out with their own fresh breakfast. With porridge inhaled BB tidies up, her brothers joining in too, and it’s at this point her Dad turns to her.
“Now BB, good luck for today. This is going to be a great year for you, I know it. And I think your mother would be proud of everything you’ve done if she was here. But just one thing... no matches okay?”
Gosh I get why he mentions it, but I really don't like the memories it brings.
There’s a surge of apprehension on her face before she nods small and scoops Blue off the table into her long cardigan pocket as she leaves. Then she’s on her bike on the way to school, the wind tangling her vaguely neat braid for only a short while before she’s stopped and picking flowers from the roadside. BB would swear she’s not been there for too long, but soon Baine is driving by and dooting his horn to get her moving quick enough to not be late for school.
I wasn’t gonna be here for too long I swear. I just wanted to find something for Dwirhian.
And well school is school, classes happen, Mr. Nappin is indeed incredibly boring as Bon said. The most engaging thing about his classes is the nuisance that is Griff, he really can’t leave Egle alone, constantly pestering her. This time BB gets him to drop it by creepy wide eyed staring out the window, trying to channel the energy from those horror films she’s only watched through gaps between her fingers.
Egle is on one last strike with the school, so everyone's on high alert and BB refuses to let her best friend be bullied by… well a bunch of bullies. Some idiot with an agenda isn’t going to scare her. There is quite a terrifying incident with the new science teacher Jenna and a flaming ceiling. That does have BB retreating to her gardening stuff hidden in her locker.
Merla does lighten everyone’s mood by inviting them all to bowling with the Copperkettle siblings after school. Even Egle comes along, but she seems to be thinking about something a lot and soon she's touching BB's shoulder to ask…
"BB, the last strike I'm on. It's much more serious than just expulsion from school."
"Wait, wasn't I bowling? We got there by car... I feel like I know and don't know what a car is at the same time..."
"I really wouldn't think about it too hard, it genuinely is going to fry your brain. But BB, we have to stop Griff because in real life his gang is actually a group of Githyanki on red dragons out in the Astral Sea coming to kill me. I made this dream to even the playing field, but if I get expelled it's all over and they win."
"Griff...is a Githyanki, oh that does make sense. But then how do we win? Keep you safe in real life through this dream?"
"Just don't let me get expelled. Or I can dismiss this all and you fight them in real life head on."
"..The Astral sea is tricky, and I feel like it would put us at a disadvantage. I’m not willing to risk that, risk your life. Let’s keep this dream you’ve made and its even playing field."
"Okay. Your dream self won’t remember the conversation, but the motivation will be there. You’ve got this."
…”Hey BB are you actually going to bowl?.”
In flustered realisation BB jumps up, but then changes direction to spin back around and say directly to Egle. “No, no. I think we need to figure out a plan to get Griff and his croons off your back. It’s not fair that they get away with what they do daily.”
There’s nods all around before a whirlwind of chaotic planning unfolds, the Copperkettle siblings giving up on getting any of them to actually bowl. But ideas fly back and forth, ones of sugar in bike engines, or other slightly illegal bank account tampering, just how involved could Merla’s mum Titania be? But one thing is firmly decided, Griff’s street cred must be utterly ruined in the most public way. And so they put prom night in many weeks time firmly in their sights.
Of course a plan slowly develops in that time with help from the school’s most powerful gossip, Wanda. She divulges that Griff and his group still owe money to a local bike shop, information only shared after an accepted prom date from the illusively single Ghesh. With this they decide they must get the shop to think they’re skipping town on prom night, then hopefully turn up to tow away said bikes in front of everyone at school. It would be extremely embarrassing for them.
The planning wheels keep turning, and after some carefully curated snapchat screenshots are sent in certain directions, the group turns up pretty confidently to prom. Everyone’s outfits are exquisite, and BB makes sure to get everyone and their dates (including her own) all their own fresh flower corsages. There’s a few tense moments on the dance floor where it looks like Griff is about to try something, but not before a tow truck pulls up front and begins to take the bikes away as expected. It’s a spectacle for sure, *so many pictures and videos taken of their embarrassment. If it all happening in front of the whole school wasn’t bad enough. Especially the truly hilarious scene of Griff running into the distance trying to desperately chase after the truck.
We pulled it off. We really did it. Eagle is saved from those blithering bullies finally!
The sun sets over the horizon, it’s deep orange colours reflecting off the tow truck which BB is focusing on. She blinks and now it’s the flickering of fire, a bonfire, in New Hillborrow…
Egle and everyone is back at her side, but as she knows them, not highschoolers. What’s a highschooler again? BB physically waves the brain melting thoughts away and focuses on her friends and family around her, especially on Egle.
“We... we did it! I’m assuming if we’re here then you’re safe now Egle?” Her question is met with a nod, BB lets out a relieved sigh. “But I think this shows that we really need to find you somewhere else to live. The Astral Sea is full of danger and I know you’re lonely there...You could live here on the flower field maybe, can gods live on the Material Plane?”
Egle looks like she certainly considers it, but after a moment she decisively shakes her head. “I would love to, but I don’t think a god like myself should live here. I’m not sure great things will become of it. But where else could I go?”
It’s at this point that Baine interjects with a quick glance to the celestial good boi Frankie at his side, “I could probably ask Evelyn to get a word in with the big lad for Egle to stay somewhere on the Celestial Plane if you would want.”
The Celestial Plane, already with gods and such things. Egle could fit right in. Maybe get to know people too, find new friends and a place to call her own. I think finding her own place could be good for her. Wandering on her own for so long...I understand why she tried to link herself to me all those years ago.
Looking to Egle, BB can see the uncertainty, but it seems she understands that the unknown of the Celestial Plane is certainly better than the unknown of the Astral Sea. So she nods, and soon Evelyn is arriving next to their humble campfire in a burst of light, her first question of course being, “Do you like dogs?”
There's some discussion, some reassurances given from BB and the others. That yes a step in a new direction is scary, but all friends were strangers at one point, and maybe some amazing friends are just round the corner. So eventually Egle walks up to Evelyn, a final look and a smile to them all as the Goddess of Snakes and Dreams steps into the Celestial Plane.
I'm glad, so glad she's finally got somewhere to call home. But all that talk of stepping towards something you're apprehensive about from me, yet here I am still scared to finally visit my own family.
I should change that.
And so BB does. That night in the quiet of her large bell tent, the thought of her friends camping nearby grounding her, she uses the Sending spell scroll she's been saving for years to contact her Dad.
~~
Several days later, after many heartfelt goodbyes and even a flower field party, BB finds herself trekking a distantly familiar path in the freezing reaches of North Faerun, the Ice Spires mountains looming over her.
Her slow and nervous footsteps take her to the crest of a small hill, and it's from here that she spots him. Silver, her Dad, patiently waiting on a rock with a woven basket at his side. He hasn't changed much since she last saw him, his black hair still meticulously braided with beads woven in, eyes still as friendly as ever. There's a pause between them both, like neither can believe the other is there, before Silver is opening his arms as invitation for a hug. BB sprints into the embrace, squeezing her Dad so so tight. They both take in the moment, just happy to exist in each other's presence, before Silver looks down to his daughter.
"Wildflower you made it, it's so good to see you again. I was so worried all these years. I’m just so happy you’ve come back, and I know everyone else will be happy to see you too.”
There’s a look of disbelief on BB’s face, unsure at first at the truth of her Dad’s statement, but she moves on from those thoughts as she nods and smiles wide.
“I’m glad...I’m so glad to have come back too. I missed you so much all these years, and I’m sorry I didn’t come back earlier even though I could. A lot happened in my life while I was away and eventually I thought that, well maybe you all moved on and were happy with that, and I didn’t want to disturb that peace.”
Silver leans back to hold up BB’s well tattooed arms, their symbolism of bonds forged and important events lived through standing proud in black ink against her pale blue skin.
“I can certainly see that a lot happened! Look at these. You know, we should get one to mark this occasion” The joy in his eyes softens slightly, a tinge of melancholy appearing there too, “But Wildflower you should know, there’s no moving on without you.”
BB looks at her Dad so full of emotions they might all burst, and barely gets out the word “Okay” before her Dad chuckles softly as he pulls her into another warm embrace. Reluctantly letting go BB takes off her backpack and pulls out a large stack of journals tied together with string.
“These are the journals I kept all the years I was gone, they’re of what exactly happened to me out there. I always hoped to get them to you one day. There’s...there’s quite a few bizarre and wondrous adventures told in them.”
Silver looks to the journals and with a grateful smile takes his long overdue gift. The two of them then slowly walk the familiar way back to the tribe of the Walking Stone. To home.
Long into the days, nights and weeks that BB is at home. She catches herself frequently thinking on how everything has come full circle when she never thought it would. Life had gone from the lonely Wildflower 20 years ago, scared and overwhelmed, to the BB with a purpose and surrounded by families. And well, she feels so happy she can scarcely feel anything else.
Another massive bloomin' thank you to Andy for running this graduate game for the big blue florist, and thank you to everyone who's been a part of her journey, both big and small.