APRIL 2015

[thecanopycrew]

Uncertain if this is a game for you? Curious to see how your character would act in it? Testing the waters? Then take them on this Home Tree Test Drive! directions ❀ Don't forget to read the Introduction , our Rules and the F.A.Q ❀ Post with your character with their name and canon in the subject line. ❀ Use the prompt(s) given here or make up your own! ❀ Both prose and comment spam format are welcome. ❀ Tag around! Make friends. Don't be afraid to discuss OOCly while tagging. ❀ The Test Drive Meme can be used for your application's first person sample. ❀ This meme is is considered as OOC and not part of the game's canon. prompt Night of the Fireflies! It is late at night after you have gained your wings, and the tree is surprisingly dark. All the fireflies have gathered outside, flying around the tree in a display of glittering stars. It is almost as if they little critters are dancing with joy to see the new friends joining the Tree. On the first floor's branch, the glow worms have settled, illuminating the whole bark like a shining band of Christmas lights - and they, too, are reveling in the joy of new adventurers. Explore how your new gem works, try put your leaf clothes and join the critters in their dance - or simply watch them imitate the starts in the sky. It's a nice night to meet new friends. Just bring a squirrel fur or two, it's still cold outside.

Night Gem Wing Inspiration ❀ Day Gem Wing Inspiration

Comments

Pitch Black || Rise of the Guardians

[isolophobia]

There are many types of darkness and contrary to popular belief Pitch Black was neither the creator nor residing in all of them. He didn't care fore that sort of darkness at all. That sort bring the musty, stale sort. The sort that could go on for hours or for centuries because the Nightmares had turned inward. The fearlings and the Nightmare Men pulled at his mind an memories as they have done a thousand times over. Punishing him for failing, for falling, for becoming as trapped as they were. That darkness went on and on in unrelieved black. It was that long dark night from lifetimes ago that he'd unremembered.

And then, of a sudden, there's a light. Then another. And another. Before long the tiny lights in the dark grow larger. brighter, resolve themselves into glowing golden insects.

:...Sandy?"

At first, Pitch thought it must have been some personal taunt. The Sandman's reminder that Pitch had failed, that his army was defeated, and the Nightmare King imprisoned within his own lair - as if Pitch could ever forget. But watching them a moment, they...sporadically lit up? They weren't butterflies at all, they were fireflies.

Suspicious, but desperate for an escape, Pitch started to move closer to a pair of the more curious bugs that had landed near him, when he noticed the rather surprising addition of wings. Flying isn't a new idea. The number of fireflies joining their fellows is. Pitch is trying to shoo them off with his hands first.

"Oh Off with you. This is my little piece of tree. Go find someone else to bother."

Ceiling-cat is watchin' you shoo fireflies~ X3

[alley_kit]

Pitch would soon find out that he isn't alone, as a girlish giggle is heard from above. When he looks for its source, he sees a little girl with some decidedly feline features and a pair of purple butterfly-ish wings on her back. She sitting on the edge of the hole leading up into the second floor of the tree, swinging her legs idly in the air. A firefly is perched on her shoulder too, but she doesn't seem to be paying it any mind.

"I don't think that's gonna work," she says. "They'll settle down later, but right now they're excited about all the new people arriving."

Het now, the fireflies said something mean about the bathrobe.

[isolophobia]

Looking around at the tree shows nothing, but looking up reveals s th source of the laughter. Since Kit lookalike no child Pitch had ever seen before, he assumes she must be some kind of spirit, like he is.

"It's rude. And worse, it's annoying."

Kit probably would too, if asked for comment. X3

[alley_kit]

Pitch would eventually find out that that's not the case, however, for the moment, Kit is unaware of his assumptions.

"Somehow, I don't think they really care. But try flapping your wings a little," Kit suggests. "The wind it makes will shoo most of them away." Though not all. Pitch is likely going to be stuck with a firefly or two til they settle down.

[isolophobia]

"I am almost surprised that you are not at least chasing them, if not eating them."

Trying the wing thing, though. And revealing such lovely fluff on shoulders and the back of his neck in the process.

[alley_kit]

Kit makes a face at the idea of eating the fireflies. "Eew, why would I wanna eat bugs?", Kit says. "We almost had to do that in Evista City, but Kat and I were smart enough to bring some candyfruit with us. Better Panthro having to eat the gross, giant caterpillar and stuff than us..."

Meanwhile a few flaps of those big moth wings do send most of the fireflies scattering. Those not blown away outright by the breeze the wings generated are startled into scattering to other parts of the room or buzzing back upstairs or outside. One or two of the more curious and/or stubborn ones remain, but the situation is much more manageable.

"I like your wings," Kit says once the fireflies have settled. "They make it look like you're wearing a big cape with a fur ruff around the shoulders."

[dissemblance]

[She is definitely still wondering why this place kidnapped Marilyn Manson's slightly more Gothic brother when he starts batting at fireflies, and Natasha quirks an eyebrow.]

I don't think they're big English speakers, if you ask me.

[isolophobia]

[ Well, then. She's a bit older than Pitch usually prefers. But the wings are a surprise.]

...you...can see me?

[dissemblance]

[Suspicion sharpens all the edges 'Anna' hides in her, and she manages nothing more overt than a pleasant smile.]

Yes? Don't tell me that's unusual for you.

[isolophobia]

[ The confusion quickly evaporates to be replaced with a look that can only be described as pure joy. ]

Yes it is. Which means you're so afraid, you can see fear.

[ That's what he is, see. The anthropomorphic personification of fear. With moth wings. Be in awe of this awesome. Or something. ]

Do you think they'll linted to another language? Deutsch? Français? Italiano?

[ Pitch is also coming closer with each question...though the last gets a pointed glint of gold eyes. ]

...русский?

[dissemblance]

[Afraid? Of what, exactly? She glances down at her fingernails, and then back up to him. The Russian gets a faint quirk at one corner of her mouth, less the start of a smile and more something wholly wolfish.]

Did you hit your head trying out your wings?

[Ah, but 'Anna' is so sympathetic. Her brow furrows with concern, and she starts rather obviously examining those eyes of his for some sign of a concussion.]

[isolophobia]

[ Well so much for that idea. Pitch isn't a fan of being mocked, though, and being patronized counts as the same thing in his book. 'Anna', Natasha, Natalia, or whatever name you've settled on these days.

Be careful looking too deeply into those particular eyes. You may not like what you see. ]

Well naturally you're not afraid of me. But you are afraid.

[dissemblance]

[Playfully,]

Yeah, that my cat's not getting fed back home. Are you sure you're all right?

[redactions]

'I think they like ya,' says a moderate Brooklyn drawl from above Pitch. Bucky's tucked comfortably into a small nook in the tree that lets him see the entire room at a glance. He's dressed simply in his own combat fatigues, with sergeant's stripes, and his wings flutter idly. 'Nobody named Sandy here, though, sorry.'

[isolophobia]

Well, he was certainly never intending for someone else to hear that. The fact that someone else did hear that throws Pitch for a bit of a loop.After all when you've been completely alone and invisible for centuries, you start to forget little things like talking to yourself.

"You did hear me."

Hi Bucky. Fluttering up to invade your space.

"You can hear me right now."

[redactions]

'Sure I can. You're not gonna start singin' or something, are ya?'

He's still smiling amiably, but there's a lot less humor in this statement as he looks over Pitch. That's the sound of someone used to being ignored, or invisible, and he... knows the feeling intimately.

[isolophobia]

No, but he may start dancing like Fred Estair. Pitch looks obscenely happy, either way.

"You are positively terrified."

Seriously. Kids on Christmas morning aren't this pleased.

"Oh, do you write, too? I do so love writers."

[redactions]

He makes a so-so gesture with his hand, shifting in his little corner to make space. Weird black floaty thing or not, never hurts to be polite. 'Not much of a writer,' he says. 'Less of a singer. James Barnes. Nice to meet ya. Guessin' nobody has in a while.'

Hi, hello, I want to join this game sob

[isolophobia]

Pitch Black is less of a name and more of a 'it made sense at the time'. He also hasn't stopped invading your space, in spite of the room made for him.

"You're afraid often. You have become very good at not showing the fear, but it's there isn't it? Tell me more. Oh do tell me who she is?"

[stormcalling]

Quite the odd event to watch. Valamia was normally one to stand by and watch, sometimes stand by and laugh. Sometimes there were some sights that were entertaining enough for her to butt in. Watching someone try and shoo bugs away? In the midst of everything it was enough motivation for her to approach him. "I'm going to go ahead and guess that won't work." She shrugs as she comes a few steps closer.

"I'd say a new spot might be a better idea unless you want to spend a bunch of time arguing with bugs. In which case I hope you don't mind a spectator or two."

[isolophobia]

...Okay but really. Pitch Black is less of a name and more of descriptor. The guy had more titles than most people have friends, but a tall purple woman with horns and wings fairly screamed 'spirit' to Pitch. It was really rare to see one that was humanoid, but definitely 'other' these days. There used to be more. Must have settled among some forge making weapons, they were an odd lot. Either way, Pitch did think he was speaking to another spirit.

"No, an 'argument' implies that they are replying, which they are not. Though, by all means, since watching me yell pointlessly has become a spectator sport, bring everyone to point and laugh.

Sarcaaasssmmm.

[stormcalling]

Well she wasn't willing to erase the possibility that the other was spirit, granted he was a lot more physical then other spirits. For what she knew of spirits they tended to be a lot less solid looking and didn't bother with shooing away bugs. All in all she could really toss Pitch up to being just about anything. Not that it mattered to her. There came a point in time and age when what a person was stopped being anything worth noting by what they were. She waves a hand dismissively at his sarcasm.

"That would mean others are interested. I'm sure most people are more interested in flying or adventuring off to see what's here. Those sort of activities are best left to the younger groups."

I shouldn't love an old fogeys convention this much after 2 tags

[isolophobia]

"What's here? Truly?"

Pitch crossed his arms and looked directly to his left.

"Oh, well. Looks a bit like a tree."

Then his right

"Look at that! More tree."

And up.

"My, my. Still tree."

Down, this time with mock-surprise.

"Tree!"

Though when looking back the sarcasm is a little more scaled back because she wasn't actually mocking Pitch. After all, he really get snippy when he was mocked, or even thought he was mocked. It was much more fun to mock other people.

"...or does this have something to do with the mist and some gang of silly children poking at it with swords?"

To be fair, it's turning into a hilarious conversation

[stormcalling]

It's a good thing it takes a lot more then sarcasm and slight melodramatic behavior to get under Valamia's skin. During his little display she flicks her tail and watches him. He's entertaining, she can give him that.

"You must know how younger generations work, don't you? They're going to do either a few things. They'll get angry because how dare they be taken from home!" at the end she fakes a level of offense and rage that she finds suitable for making fun of people.

"Or-! There's going to be people who want to band together. We'll all have to join forces to survive and overcome whatever obstacles lay ahead. Brave into the wilds, conquer the unknown, be brave heroes and all of that." Now at the end she dips back into sarcasm, rolling her eyes once she's done.

"A few other choices too but they aren't as fun to make fun."

It is, and I will forever weep it was only on TDM

[isolophobia]

"Perhaps we'll really get a show and group B will toss someone from group A into said mist and follow the indignant yelling."

Well she's very tall for someone who only hits three inches. And anyway, he has not yet begun to melodrama.

"See how many of group A end up in the mist before someone sorts out that string may work better for recovery."