[OPEN] Inner Glow

[graveling]

Who: Angel and Y'all
What: Springtime shenanigans
When:Anytime between mid-March and the April Event
Where: Various
Warning(s): Mention of minor non-specific injury in first prompt.

1. Got to fill your cup and find the way out of your own maze [Temple]
Whatever one's reason for stopping by the Temple of Sacred Roots, there's a decent chance to find Angel there. Right now, he's doing a lot of cleaning that Degas hasn't had the energy or strength for--dusting high shelves and cabinets, taking down curtains to be washed, doing windows. After all, his beehives are mostly getting situated right now, so he has some extra time to turn to the physical space of the temple.

If you hear singing from where he's working, well. Yes, you absolutely do, but he'll pretend otherwise if called on it.

And perhaps you come on a day where Angel's sustained some minor injury, and there's an unmistakable golden glow as a cut or bruise heals. He does not bleed blood, but on sanctified ground, he bleeds light.


2. Now there's a category for every song [Flowers?]
Angel thought he knew what he planted on the farm, in terms of flowers. But something's popping up, especially near the beehives, that's unfamiliar. Pointed clusters of teal-blue flowers that seem eerily, perfectly bee-sized. It concerns him a little, which is going to lead to Research.

Perhaps you find him in the library, trawling through books about plants. Or if you're known to be a scientist or druidic sort, you're likely to be approached by Angel with a sample in hand. Either way, he's got some funky plants he doesn't yet understand.


3. Don't keep your aching, celebrating, wonder-making heart alone [Wildcard]
Find me on Discord to plot or just throw anything at me!

Comments

[graveling]

"Nothing. Which is weird. I mean, maybe it's a seed that somehow came from the cave thing place, but. I'm just worried about what it might do to the honey." Angel pouts. "I'm pretty sure it's not demonic or abyssal in nature, though. For whatever that's worth."

[batteryacid]

"I'd hope that anything demonic or abyssal would get burned up by your healing," Eddie comments. If Angel heals in sacred places, then the light must be sacred, right? "Maybe Mortanne and Celestine put in a good word for us with their sister? Serranai gave First Aid his moss and flowers..."

But First Aid's moss and flowers are identifiable. Which is different from the comfortably bee-proportioned teal flowers that have sprung up at their farm!

"I mean, it couldn't have come along with the newest set of newcomers... they said nothing grew where they were before..."

[graveling]

"I didn't ask Serannai for this. But if she did it, then we know the flowers are good. Right? Right. They'd have to be." But Angel still sounds nervous.

[batteryacid]

"I think if she did it, then the flowers must be good. The Mothers love us, right? And they want to help us, even if they can't be clear about it."

Eddie opens one of his books and pages through it until he gets to the first marker. He leaves it there, illustration displayed without comment just yet. Eddie leans into Angel a little, hearing that nervousness in his tone, but not sure how to address it, except...

"We could take some to Sally? Even if she doesn't recognize the plant right off the bat, maybe she can do tests, figure out if it can be used for medicine?" He taps his own chin, thoughtfully. "Medicinal use was part of why you wanted to start the hives in the first place."

...presenting a possible plan of action. Eddie is hoping the flowers are an approval of the plan -- a goddess equivalent of a thumbs up?

[graveling]

Angel nods a bit. “Yeah, and she might recognize if it might do anything bad in honey, too. Or the beeswax. Smart idea. Thank you, Eddie.”

It’s nice, to have someone who can help when he’s anxious. It’s nice, not being alone.

“Speaking of the goddesses, Degas got a letter from them. He was hedging a bit about how it got to him.”

[batteryacid]

It's very nice, not being alone or lonely. Eddie can't help a little internal preening at the praise -- he likes being useful and helpful, especially for Angel.

"Huh," it's another thoughtful noise from Eddie, as he turns that information over in his head. "If Degas didn't say who handed it over, my first guess is the ferryman. Anyway, is he okay?"

Eddie remembers how he felt when Angel passed on a simple 'Celestine says hi' type of message. Unsure that it was real, and then overwhelmed by the concept of being noticed by a goddess. How much more overwhelming must it be, when it's an entire letter and you've believed wholeheartedly in these goddesses for years?

(But also, Eddie remembers how wonderful it was to go out to the bluffs for the rescheduled ceremony for Celestine... dancing with Angel and feeling like someone was looking on them with pride and happiness. It wasn't just the townsfolk, either. Not that he's really talked about it.)

[graveling]

"If he isn't, he hasn't told me about it." And that phrasing is so very deliberate. "But he also hired on a new aide for the temple. One of the newer arrivals who was a Catholic priest where he came from. Or who still is, here."

[batteryacid]

"If those two start to shut you out, you'll tell me, right?" Eddie asks. He wasn't watching out for Angel when Angel worked with the fire brigade, and missed that people weren't treating him right. Eddie isn't going to let that happen again. "I don't know if they'd do it on purpose, but it happens anyway."

Eddie knows that Degas has been... standoffish with Angel (to phrase it diplomatically). It's mostly Eddie desire not to make things worse, competing with his desire to call out people not treating Angel fairly, that keeps him from confronting the preacher.

Eddie reaches out, rests a hand on top of one of Angel's.

[graveling]

"Naw, it's not like that. It's more...to Degas, I'm a student. I'm not a peer, he can't really open up to me completely. This new priest has been through a lot himself and can share his burdens properly. I'm happy for them both, to have a connection like that. I've worried about Degas being isolated and lonely."

[batteryacid]

"Okay, I'll follow your lead on this," Eddie says easily enough. And it does make sense -- experienced priests probably have more common ground, religious differences aside, when it comes to making friends. "Anything that gets Degas to open a little more, let someone figure out when he needs help, is better than the status quo."

A thought occurs to Eddie, and he chuckles. "Remember in the dream, there was a community garden around the Temple? Maybe for the next batch of chicks, we can raise up a few hens and donate them to the Temple. Sneak a therapy chicken to Degas that way."

[graveling]

"Ask him first. He might not want an animal to take care of right now."

But Angel chuckles at the mental image of Degas dealing with a Bobbin-like lass.

[batteryacid]

"Ah, stop my mischief before I can get that far, why don't ya?" Eddie pretends to pout for a moment, but gives it up when he hears Angel chuckle.

"To be serious -- yes, I will ask if Degas would like chickens for the Temple. Even if he doesn't, maybe he knows someone else in town who could benefit from a backyard coop but can't make it out to our farm to ask."

Eddie taps at the topmost book on the pile. "Do you want me to keep looking for more botanical references? Or is there another topic I should tackle?"

[graveling]

"I'm starting to think the flowers are something new. That we're not going to find it in the books."

He closes the book that he's been reading, gives Eddie the puppy eyes.

[batteryacid]

Eddie chuckles, and leans in to kiss Angel's forehead. "Is that pleading look meant to ask me to take you away from the books and back into the sun? Because I'm willing to head out if you are."

[graveling]

"I might wilt like a flower if I don't get enough sunshine."

He grabs the front of Eddie's shirt to hold him close for a light, playful smooch on the lips, before standing up and letting go.

[batteryacid]

"We can't have that, my Angel-flower!" Eddie gasps -- though that playful smooch keeps him from joking some more. He's blushing and smiling softly when Angel pulls back, and a moment later he rises as well.

He reaches out and takes Angel's hand, giving it a squeeze. "I'll let a librarian know we're done with our books here, so they'll reshelve them. I'll catch up with you outside."

(If Angel opts to head outside, Eddie is maybe five minutes behind him. They can walk together and discuss their next steps when it comes to the mysterious flowers, and also enjoy the scenery about town.)