April Showers Bring Strange Flowers [OTA and one closed]

[blindwatchersees]

Who: "Theodor Gorlash," the butterflies, and you!
What: Getting to know the island and its inhabitants, finding oneself in the more literal sense
When: April general
Where: Downtown general/Paradesium
Warnings: To be listed in individual threads, likely to contain heavy discussions of various mental health topics


Strange Signals For a Small Desert Town [Closed, for Cecil]

In the middle of the night, that strange voice makes its way into Cecil's head yet again. That's quite rude of it, considering that at this time, more people are trying to sleep than not. There's an appropriate hour and an inappropriate hour for psychic communications!

Find... her. Find... her. The scion-to-be carries the spores. Find... me. Find... me. The worm waits alone. Dark. Strange.



A Fiddle of Sinews, a Flute of Bone [OTA, Empty Pockets]

He hasn't an instrument of his own, but Theodor wonders if perhaps he might find one on loan in the lovely little place where music wafts out like the alluring smell of freshly-baked bread. In the manner of a hungry stray cat, he makes his way though the door and settles in a corner (not in a chair, just a corner, sitting in a manner that is oddly feline and rather ill-befitting the frame of an old man). He scans the place with yellow, lamplike eyes, taking everything in.



A List of Things, Strings, Wings [OTA, Northwest Hollow]

After managing to scrounge up a bit of paper and charcoal, Theodor has settled in the quieter parts of Northwest Hollow, and is attempting to sketch the flowers and butterflies of the area. He's quite good at capturing their likenesses, however, the edges of his drawings seem to have a tendency to melt into faces, bearing exaggerated expressions of laughter, terror, and sorrow. It's probably intentional.

If anyone walks by, he's going to look up and acknowledge them, while his hand will keep scratching out designs independently. One of the aforementioned butterflies will keep its eyes on the page, as it perches on his shoulder.

Hum Dum Dee Dum, Hum Dum Dee Dum, Time For Something Sweet [OTA, Oak and Iron]


Speaking of the smell of baking bread, he's gotten quite hungry, and it suddenly occurs to him that he can't remember the last time he had a nice cup of tea or a strawberry tart. He makes his way to the Oak and Iron, and sits down at the first open spot that's just a little too close to someone else's seat to make ignoring conversation entirely feasible.

"So tell me... what's a good blend of tea around here, in your opinion? I imagine it's hard to find Greenmote Gunpowder around here."


Wildcard: PM me on Discord (redheadednimbus) if you have other ideas!

Comments

[tisnotthehouse]

"You did?" Tarantulas stares at Theodor in surprise -- which rapidly turns into heartbreak. How horrible would it be, to look back at his own history and realize he'd forgotten even a single microsecond of the time he spent with Ostaros? Which reminds him, he really should figure out a work-around for information creep sometime this epoch...

But for Theodor, he fears there's nothing he can do. He hesitates even to speak out loud, for fear of derailing his train of thought and causing him to forget what little memory he still has. If Tarantulas were a praying mech, then perhaps --

But wait. Why not? He's ever believed in Primus, of course, but the divinities of this world are empirical beings, with measurable effects on reality. And unlike the demons, there doesn't seem to be a price for calling on them. What could it hurt to just...maybe...

Is anyone listening? he thinks anxiously. Please help him. Even just to remember the child's name...No parent deserves to suffer like this.

[blindwatchersees]

“It’s strange what I can remember. I grew a horse for her, made out of magnolias and June bugs, in the palace gardens. I taught her how to fight in the shadow of ivy-covered walls, and imparted to her the manners a wild thing is expected to keep in the presence of gods. Together, we figured out every curse one could utter with the fingers and palms, and I wept bitterly when she set off into the wider world. But her name… it’s like it’s fallen down a rabbit hole.”

[tisnotthehouse]

"It will come back to you," Tarantulas quietly insists, his spark aching as if Theodor's struggles are his own. "It must. Something so important can't stay lost forever."

He rubs his cheek against the top of Dawn's head, holding her close. Such a terrible, agonizing thought, the idea that through accident or injury he might forget her precious name...

[blindwatchersees]

"I think you're right. It's out there, and so long as I never stop reaching for it... it's all connections, it's all a matter of connections, and hope."

[tisnotthehouse]

"That's right...if nothing else, there's always hope." Tarantulas smiles slightly, adding, "I expect I'll be quite busy in the days to come, but if there's ever anything I can do to assist you, I do hope you'll let me know. I..." He laughs quietly, surprised at himself. "I'm not sure I've ever sympathized with someone else's struggles as much as I do now, to be honest..."

[blindwatchersees]

He tilts his head yet again, almost cat-like, and replies, "I knew someone once who didn't think he had a drop of compassion in his body. He was quite wrong." And then,

"I'm glad to meet someone who longs for understanding."

[tisnotthehouse]

"I've lived quite a long time without any evidence of compassion," Tarantulas remarks. "But it would make my life easier if there were some hiding deep down in my spark after all. I suppose we'll see."

But then he smiles and explains, "I've always wanted to understand everything. I used to fancy myself a master of time and space...even built my own pocket dimension once. But, hyeh, as always happens sooner or later, my hubris caught up to me. That's how I wound up here." He shrugs. "I won't let it stop from me trying to learn all I can, though. I simply need to be more mindful of the long-term effects of my experiments -- and the people I associate with." He definitely needs to stay away from people like Overlord, no matter how handsome and visionary they are.

[blindwatchersees]

He nods, seeming very much in agreement with all of this.

"Tell me, what drives you to understand? Does it help you feel in control? Does it give you comfort? Or is it as intrinsic as scratching an itch?"

[blindwatchersees]

"Ah, but don't get too mindful. Can't have you locking yourself up in fear of making a wrong move, eh? Can't let that tremendous curiosity go to waste!"