songerein | { a bit leafy }

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{ a bit leafy }

A BIT LEAFY

More details on everything can be found here.

I. LEAF STORM

II. INFESTATIONS

COMMENTS

I. LEAF STORM

During the first week of November, a storm of leaves will pass through town. It starts innocuous enough, with just a bluster of leaves carried in the wind that looks normal for the changing of the season. But as the days progress, there are large bursts even downpours of leaves that just fall all over town. And with this storm come strange things…

A. Leaf Monsters. As the leaves pile up and people attempt to rake and blow them away, there will be some strange movement...until it's revealed that oddly shifting pile of leaves suddenly rises up to try and attack, blasting sharp leaves and even trying to "engulf" the unexpecting, trapping them in piles of leaves. Time to deal with this sudden leaf invasion! (Note: the leaf monsters will be most active during the first week of the month and then taper off by the end of the second week. By mid-month, only a few will pop up here and there.)

🔥 Burn Burn Burn! Using any kind of wind will only disperse the leaf monster and make them split into more. They need to be destroyed completely, and the best way is through fire. Dreamotion fire especially.
🪤 Trapped. But be careful with that fire! There may be those trapped within the leaf monster itself, and burning it may hurt those inside. This is the one time using wind to disperse the leaves may be warranted, but maybe a "controlled blast" will help to keep the monster from spreading.
🐌 Animal Aid. While fire is the most effective, there are other methods—mainly through certain critters. The chickens around that statue from the Dream Board could probably help scratch and break them apart. Finding some special rainbow snails from the lake just south of town will also help as their glittery slime will not only trap the leaves, but also break them down quickly.

B. Leafever. The strange leaf storm and the leaf monsters are also bringing a strange cold-like disease, likely spread through the pollen or spores attached to the leaves. Those who get caught by the leaf monsters are most likely to catch it. Fortunately the effects are mild and only last a few days, week at most, but can be caught multiple times. There is also a cure, but it requires the same leaves that brought it.

🤧 Achoo! While having the leafever overall feels no different than a bad cold, some of the symptoms and side effects are a lot more…unusual with little consistency between individuals. Some may find themselves sneezing bubbles, others secreting slime as they sweat, and all dreamotion effects going haywire.
♨ Incense Burner. One way to help ease and lessen the effects of the leafever is to burn the leaves in a special incense burner infused with special dreamotion focused on healing and soothing emotions. A special stone must also be used, and it can only be found in the hot spring caves in Dragefjell, Dragon Island.
🍂 Leaf Sap. For the actual remedy, sap must be collected from the leaf monsters. How? Well—that's for everyone else to figure out, good luck. Maybe try squeezing the leaves? Or cook them?

C. Dryad. The most severe side effect of the leafever is the individual slowly turning more tree-like, some becoming similar to dryads. There are no serious side effects and will only last for about a day or two. In fact, those who "turn dryad" will feel healthier and livelier than usual. But it may be an interesting experience regardless.

🌲 A bit stiff. As the skin turns more bark-like and limbs become a bit more "wooden," those affected may find their movements a bit more limited at first. A bit of exercise and a gallon of water dumped on them will help loosen them up.
🌷 In tune to nature. While in this state, there will be an increased sense of awareness regarding all things plant. This includes the leaf monsters, allowing them to sense and pinpoint any that may be hiding or lurking around. There will also be a brief time where they can even control and call upon plants to do their bidding.
🍃 Big shed. When the symptom finally ends, all the leaves, branches, and bark will just fall completely off the individual and they will return completely normal without a single blemish. …And clothes. Hope this isn't happening out in public, ahem.

II. INFESTATIONS

With the changing of the seasons, all kinds of critters are either passing through on their migratory route…or burrowing in to start hibernation. Usually it's not a problem, but perhaps due to all the strange dreamotion energy flux over the past year, the creatures are behaving a little differently and getting in the way more than usual. The storm of leaves isn't helping matters, aiding in some of them to travel through. While some will appear during it, the majority will cause problems from around the second week onward.

A. Bugged Trees. Those living in treehouses are going to have a bit of a time as a number of insects will be looking to find a new place to chill during winter. Specifically, their home. Those who are under the dryad effect may want to be careful of any bugs that may be attracted to them.

🪲 Giant Beetles. Some may remember these fellows from previous years. The beetles are quite friendly, but they are quite large, large enough to ride on. They can also cause some rough damage on gardens and yards, their massive size creating large holes as they burrow into the ground. However, some are really useful with their pincers, capable of pruning unwanted branches. If not chasing them away, perhaps one could use them instead? (Especially against leaf monsters.)
🐞 Ladybugs. These ladybugs are average sized (thank goodness), but they have quite the attitude. Preferring colorful and well tended flowers, they will speak their mind should they find any that are wilting. They will also drop critiques on anyone with poor etiquette and living poorly. Those who have well kept homes will have an easier time with them…and also suffer large groups coming in hosting parties in the branches.
🦗 Crickets. The crickets are of the musical sort, ready to put on a performance to try and endear themselves to receive temporary lodging. Just for a few days! Their range of music is wide, from classical to punk rock to country to jazz to even rap. And while they try to be polite, well… Sometimes music jams happen whether they should or not. Like late at night. Crickets are nocturnal after all.

B. Migration Migraines. As if dealing with bugs wasn't enough, other critters are either migrating or looking to hibernate around town. One would think the Wildlands would have plenty to offer, but some may find the easy access to food in town a bit more enjoyable.

🦡 Honeycomb Badgers. These interesting looking badgers have a honeycomb for a back. While they will dig up gardens in search of tasty flowers, they need to "shed" their honeycomb and are deliberately going to people to offer it. They are not harmed and will just reveal normal fur beneath before a new honeycomb forms.
🦒 Flying Giraffes. A flock of large winged giraffes will be flying in and roosting on various tall buildings. They act a lot like Canadian geese, so…beware.
🐻 Cotton Bears. These cute little bears look like they could be living teddy bears with how small and plush they appear. And for winter, they are looking to sleep somewhere nice, soft, and warm. Like a bed. Now they don't really care if they are occupied or not, so maybe it would be better if some dens and beds could be made for them instead.

C. Field Foes. The farms situated around the outskirts of town are preparing to harvest their fields, but there's trouble. Unless it gets sorted quick, food might be harder to come by for the winter!

🌾 Scarecrow Rebellion. Something is wrong with the scarecrows, but no one is sure what. They're either sitting in the fields not trying to shoo away the numerous wildlife that have decided to come through, or actively waving their pitchforks at the very gardeners and farmers they're supposed to help. Perhaps they feel a bit underappreciated so some word of thanks could help them get back to work. In the meantime, some help clearing out the fields of unwanted visitors, especially the crows, will be needed.
🍄 Hopped Up Hares. Among the unwanted "vermin" are some hares that have somehow gotten into some…strange green mushrooms that have made them behave a bit erratic. They're digging up tunnels, wearing carrots on their heads, and stare blankly out into the distance. Catch them and drive them away! And maybe feed them some special pellets that will help cure them of their, uh, "ailment." It's not recommended to eat the mushrooms should they be found, but if one does…well, enjoy the same dizzying, heightened experience the hares did.
🍆 Oversized Veggies. Some young "genius" thought creating a special formula mixed with dreamotion would help the crops grow larger and faster. However, it only caused the vegetables to overgrow to as large as an adult person and are now rolling dangerously through the fields. Some even get into town! Pumpkins, carrots, lettuce, corn, potatoes, cabbages—all manner of vegetables are rolling around, so stop them before they cause too much destruction.

I. LEAF STORM

II. INFESTATIONS

COMMENTS

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I. All The Leaves Are Brown...

[Azula will definitely take to fighting the Leaf Monsters with gusto. Barely back in town for a month, and already something suitable to inflict violence on? And it's weak to fire? It's clearly her lucky month. She won't be shy about it, either. She won't exactly be a gracious hero, but she won't be shy about intruding on any encounters with leaf monsters by gleefully igniting the offending foliage.]

II. Now Can You Tell What's Ailin' Me?

[It turns out the month may not be quite so lucky as she thought. As the month wears on, she's not looking so hot- pale, sweaty, lethargic, and her fire is getting a little more sporadic. All this leaf-fighting is going to expose her to Leafever! She's certainly not going to go full Dryad, fortunately, but she's still going to be under the weather, and it's only getting worse- not that she'll acknowledge it, or get any rest about it.]

III. Take A Good Look Around, And If You're Looking Down

[Eventually, the Leafever will get bad enough to compel her to stay home and rest. Or at least, she intended to. And then the Ladybugs came. Ugh.

At first, she simply tried to chase them away with fire- she's bending at a fraction of her usual effectiveness, but it's enough to deal with the ladybugs, or so she thinks. Until they not only avoid the fire, but begin scolding her for it. In fact, their scolding gets so bad that eventually she's compelled to try and stagger back outside just to get away from them. Not that she'll get far- certainly not far enough to avoid them following her to chastise her further. Send help.]

IV: Things That Bother You, Never Bother Me (Locked to Shealtiel/@lemoncandy)

[She's going to snap.

Again.

She's increasingly at wit's end with this stupid bird toy following her. The Leafever has gotten out of hand to the point that she can barely function. The ladybugs won't give her any peace. Now there are even crickets infesting the branches outside her treehouse and they insist on blaring orchestral music at all hours of night. She could almost- almost- manage to handle that. And then the flying giraffes show up. And her attempts to drive them away result in- well, a rather humiliating counterassault.

If she was at her full strength, she'd have routed them easily. Instead, she finds herself forced back over the balcony, and barely able to twist and land on her feet between her treehouse and Shealtiel's before the fatigue and sickness set in and she staggers against the tree with a loud thud.

Ow.]

V: Wildcard!

(Got something else in mind? Nothing here grabbing you? Feel free to hit me up in DMs on this account, on the Songerein discord, or on plurk at

yonfellow to plot something out)

[Note: During all prompts, Azula is still being followed everywhere she goes by a stuffed blue phoenix toy, which hasn't left her alone since last month. Apparently she's particularly stubborn about not confronting it.]

[The thing was, Kaoru wasn't the best at keeping a neat house so she too has had ladybugs tutting at her about that, but her manners could be impeccable when she needs them to be so she got them off her back for now.

Still, it meant that she had limited patience for them when she sees some following a girl. So she waves her hand in their direction and pushes them away with her psychokinesis...before she reaches out for the other girl's hand.]

Come on, let's go before they come back.

[She threw them pretty far but she also doesn't want to hurt them so it's not like she can just...pitch them into the sky or something.]

[Azula eyes the offered hand with a contemptuous stare, but huffs and follows her nonetheless.]

They're lucky that I'm in such a merciful mood.

[... That and the Leafever has inhibited her strength and coordination, and left her typical firebending extremely unreliable, but, y'know, details.]

I suppose I should thank you.

[Ah, well. If she doesn't want to take Kaoru's hand, then that's fine.

But also, Kaoru sort of enjoys the company of weirdly unfriendly people? In fact, a good chunk of her friends were people she'd initially fought.

Which is to say, she thinks Azula's reactions are kind of cute. In that contemptuous ojou-sama way...the sort of character type that usually turned out to be some sort of tsundere? She won't make assumptions but like. It amuses her to imagine it.

So she smiles, genuine and friendly.]

Oh, you don't need to thank me. [She winks.] I'm always happy to help out a cute girl!

[Because all girls are cute she doesn't make the rules.]

[... Indeed. Azula's just gonna stare flatly at her a few seconds longer than is strictly necessary... aaaand then the typical smug presentation slips back onto her face with practiced ease]

I can hardly fault your taste. That's a fascinating trick, by the way.

My taste is impeccable.

[She agrees easily because it's true. Well, Minamoto would have something to say about that but Minamoto also got himself kidnapped so like. His opinion is irrelevant.]

Thank you. [Her thank you isn't shy or self-conscious. Nor was it arrogant. This is a power she's had since childhood and despite all her different feelings about it, she's accepted it's just another part of her.] It's psychokinesis...though I couldn't really throw them that far without hurting them. [So they better hustle.]

They're insects, how much can a long fall possibly hurt them?

[The soul of concern and compassion, is Azula. But she takes the point and starts walking.]

[It's more like she's worried throwing them too hard will cause them to catch fire or something due to air resistance, but like. That's a lot and she's not even sure she has the physics of it right. So she shrugs with a laugh.]

Who knows? But this is good enough, anyway. I'm Kaoru, by the way! What's your name?

...Azula?

( Shealtiel is, strangely enough, not in his own treehouse. He's just outside of it, leaning over the edges of the makeshift railing and staring off into the distance. It means he gets a perfect shot of Azula's graceful landing when he turns to find the source of the noise, and he leans slightly to get a better view of her where she is.

From his disheveled hair and lazy clothes, it's clear he's not having a much better time in his treehouse, but. It's unusual that he's not the one thudding on the ground. It's kind of nice?

Not that he'd wish this on her, of course...

He makes his way over, steps slow as he gets close. )

Uhh. You okay? ( He can hear the orchestra of crickets. He can see the bird. )

[Oh, no. No, no, not him, not-

Ugh. Yes. Him. Okay. It's fine. He's seen worse than this, it's fine. She straightens herself, tries to unmuss her hair from the fall, and attempts to muster the usual haughty tone.]

I'm fine. Just a little pest control.

[The plush bird drifts in front of her face. She irritably bats it aside, takes three steps, and feels one knee buckle under her, nearly falling over again. She manages to catch herself- with some obvious effort and an undignified grunt of frustration.]

( Hm. It doesn't seem like she's having an easy time of it. He shifts, placing a hand on his hip after a moment. )

There sure are a lot more pests around, lately. I can't even sleep in my own house right now.

( He doesn't prefer to talk about his own problems, but if it's a cushion for talking about Azula's, then it's different. )

Should I kill it?

( THE PLUSHIE? )

It's a stuffed toy.

[She says it with an air of mockery, as if she hadn't just been flummoxed by insects.]

And I'm fine, I just need to-

[She goes to step up onto the stairs to her treehouse, but her leg buckles and she fumbles forward with an uncharacteristic clumsiness. She grumbles inaudibly into the wood as she begins plucking herself back up off the ground.]

...!

( That... was not fine. Shealtiel looks surprised before hurrying over, automatically crouching just slightly so that he can see if she'll accept his help. He doesn't push it, only reaching to do so if she seems willing. )

...Is it your injuries from before?

No.

[A little too forceful, but she does accept his help- actually, she rather harshly grabs his arm as she hauls herself upright. She normally runs a little warmer than usual, but this is definitely unnaturally warm, and she seems a lot paler and sweatier than usual as well.]

It's just this- affliction.

[... it's probably not contagious. She thinks. Uh. Sorry?]

You're burning up!

( It's an automatic exclamation when he feels her. Even the harsh grip feels like nothing in comparison. The last time she was this hot to the touch... it was with the phoenix stuff, right? It wasn't the same, though. This isn't... painful to him.

He helps pull her up and shifts, moving to help her to and up the stairs. She has to get back inside... If these pests will let her. )

What affliction? You mean like a cold??

A disease caused by-

[She winces and nearly buckles again, and- yep. She hates doing it, but she's absolutely leaning on him now as they go up the stairs together.]

By those stupid leaf creatures.

( Each buckle causes a pause in their walking, but Shealtiel does well with helping her up. She's a lot lighter than some of the other beefcakes he's had to deal with falling into him, so it's not bad at all. He pushes away the strange part of himself that feels comforted by it (she's sick, don't feel that way!) and steps up with her.

He tries to keep his eyes ahead, but he can't help but keep glancing back to check on her. )

...I think I've been missing out on too much. There are leaf creatures? ( Drinking alone at home to cope with countless thoughts, it turns out, does not help him keep up on current events. )

Nevermind that. So it's a disease, but... how do you treat it? Should I make you tea or something? ( Leaf water?? )

Azula | Avatar: The Last Airbender

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III

Apologies, I've been a mess all month.

It's alright, that's just how life is sometimes

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