open

[carrotkeeper]

who: Iris Amicitia and you!
what: Searching for lost homework, shopping, bribing chocobos, the works.
when: Throughout July
where: Riverview, hydroponic gardens and beyond
warnings: None! Will add as needed


i.Lost homework

[Sometime during the first week of July, Iris can be found all over Riverview clutching a dirty, torn up piece of paper in her hand. People who glance at it might find it looks suspiciously like homework. This very important business leads her to look under café tables, with a quick apology from her if your character happens to be there, and behind cushions at restaurants.

You might even catch her later in the day, staring into a trashcan, arm hovering above the top. She’s starting to question her life choices and this could go either way. Please stop her from going this far.]

Ugh, ew. There’s no way I could have put it in there...right?

[She squints at the can and her arm stills. She did toss out the contents of her bag in here earlier, thinking they were just old receipts. It could be in there. Is it worth it? She just doesn’t know. It might be easier for her to contact the teachers, but it’s due tomorrow. It’s all due tomorrow.]

It's gotta be somewhere else.

[Is what she says, as she continues to stand in the same position she's been in for the last five minutes.]

ii.Hydroponics garden

[Anyone walking through or near the gardens will be stopped by Iris. She’s got a clipboard and a carrot pen to write with! This is very serious business, obviously!]

You got a second? I promise it won’t take long and you’ll get a free tour out of the deal!

iii.Shopping adventure

[After the homework debacle is over, she decides to go to the market the next day. She trudges through the crowd with both hands gripping two large, oversized and near tearing bags. She doesn’t have enough money to buy whatever she wants, but she certainly gave it the old college try by the looks of it. Every couple minutes she stops on the sidewalk and sets down the bags to give her fingers a break. It’s going to be a long walk back to housing.

Unfortunately for whoever happens to be nearby, she decides risking the walk back alone just isn't worth it and scans the crowd to pick out a friendly face to ask this next question to.]

Oh, hey! Could you please help me out?

iv.Wark games

[When she heard chocobos were stampeding around town, Iris decided to take it upon herself to help. Given her experience with them, she thought she would be perfect for this mission and set out to capture some. Except, she found she couldn't catch them on foot and they were too strong for her to outright grab, so she's approaching this from another angle.

In the park, your character will find her slowly backing up, throwing a vegetable trail in front of her as she does so. Lettuce, carrots, and various greens litter the ground and the reason why? Two small chocobos are munching on everything on this makeshift path. All seems to be going well until she shoves her hand in her bag and notes it feels particularly empty. Whoops.]

Uh oh. You guys aren't gonna be too happy about this.

[They're starting to squawk pretty loud. Someone help, please!]

Wildcard

[She can also be found at the middle school or on floor 7. If there’s another option you want to go with, a personalized starter or whatever just hit me up via PM or drowninginpears

Comments

iv.

[hellshot]

[This is far too familiar a situation, honestly. A stampede of alien animals causing havoc to the people who were forced to live in this place? Kind of reminds him when they had the herds of cow-like aliens aboard the Eluvio, running around when there was a ruckus they didn't much approve of.

Which means that not only does Reaper have absolutely no problem rounding the things up--but it also means he has absolutely no problem being rough with the things, either.

He's absolutely fine with rounding up the things on his own, too, but. It's around the time where he's chasing after a particularly loud and zig-zagging one that he crosses paths with Iris and her current predicament. He COULD just leave her to her own devices--she got herself into this situation--But if he left and she got pecked apart by giant birds(even if the ones she was entertaining were on the smaller scale), what kind of conversation would that set him up for in the future?

He lets out a low, irritated sound as the bottom half of his body shifts into a shapeless cloud, and in a few moments he's in front of the girl. In his hands, a rope he'd had with him to catch the things around the neck in order to herd them easier without much struggle.]

Don't just stand there. Grab the rope and help me pull them along. If they get bitey, give the rope a jerk.

[The kindness that was in his voice a few weeks ago was far gone, replaced with that rough, echoing tone--but it was still unmistakably Reyes.]

[carrotkeeper]

[Iris is all but resigned to deal with this fate alone and had been wracking her brain to figure out just what to do, when the other chocobo comes through. The small ones were already too much and the third crushed whatever half-made plan she had managed to come up with. So again, she's back to square one.

Not that she has to worry for long. A cloud appears, which seems like it's going to be problem #4 today, but within a few moments she hears a voice coming from it. A familiar one, even.]

Gabriel?

[Though it seems he's having another mood swing. Probably because the loose chocobos are causing trouble. Regardless, she has no issues following his orders and immediately grips onto the rope as tight as she can.]

Okay! Good, we can definitely do this! Come on, guys! Time to go home.

[hellshot]

[Gabriel. The name drives into his head like a splinter from a particularly haggard piece of wood. He almost drives a sharp response out at her, but it's held back by clenched teeth, a grunt of irritation escaping him, instead.

He can tell her off later. After all, it's his fault she's calling him by that name. Logic dictates that telling her off for it would be pointless, so keeping from it (For now) is all he can do.]

You make a habit of throwing yourself headfirst into danger?

[He tightens his grip on the ropes, tugging the now squawking birds along with him, the things realising their fate has been sealed along with the ropes.]

[carrotkeeper]

Guess I can't help it. There's nothing to fear when I've got the best backup around, remember?

[Not that she expected any to appear when her makeshift chocobo seed ran out, judging from how empty the area had been moments ago. Gabriel, the surprise backup, is truly the best of all. She had been trying to stay out of trouble, honestly. Her minor food miscalculation is what caused the problem here.

Speaking of, one of the chocobos stops and while she knows it's okay to tug them, her attempt leads nowhere. One tug. A second. Look, she's trying okay. They're heavy animals. It'll move eventually.]

Too bad we can't ride these like the ones back home.

[hellshot]

['The best backup around'.
Were he in the position to do it, he'd be groaning right now. After all, he's the one who had said that to the girl in the first place, so he has absolutely no right to complain.

But that doesn't mean he's going to grumble quietly before he even bothers answering.]

And if you didn't, where would you be, now.

[Chased around by giant chickens, probably--

Wait.

He'll help her tug the thing along in a second, but he needs an answer, first.]

...Ride them.

Why in the name of anything would you ride something like this.

Closed to Re-l

[carrotkeeper]

[With all the weird events that happened in the previous month, Iris shouldn’t have been surprised when she called her new candy loving friend and heard a much older voice answer. Still, she had such a good time with the younger version of Re-L, that she wanted to meet the person she grew up to be. The best way to hang out, in her young mind, is at the shopping mall.

So she waits for Re-L outside the giant shopping center and turns on her phone to send a quick text.]

I'm here! Are you? Hope you brought some candy with you too. I don't think I'll recognize you without it.

[realimperfect]

[ The call was pretty much what Re-L had been dreading happening since that little incident. After all, who wouldn't possibly call up the small girl who had nothing better to do than be generally charming to people, having them buy candy, food, whatever it took to appease her at the moment? Still, she hadn't quite expected Iris to call. Maybe the person from whom she and Jim had stolen that classic car, or Jim calling to laugh at her and how she'd been able to smile and laugh just fine when she'd been smaller. Her slight delay had come from a new regimen of sun lotion before she exited her building, still dressed in had to toe black, her hair and make-up done as usual, but now outfitted with a large brimmed hat and sunglasses for a little extra protection.

She's still as pale as she had been as a child, at least, though the Re-L coming to met Iris today is a good deal taller, nearly 5'11" even in her flat sandals, and decidedly not wearing pink. Her phone blips, and she takes a moment to look down at it before typing back a short message. ]

I've been told I don't look all that different, just taller. We'll see for sure with this, I guess. I'll be there in maybe three minutes.

[ It's a generous amount of time - it only takes her around a minute and a half to come around the corner, looking for that familiar face and spotting it rather easily. She removes her sunglasses as she gets closer, at least, wanting to make it easier. ]

I've finished off all the taffies so I could't even bring one of those.

[carrotkeeper]

[Just taller is what the message says and Iris shuts her eyes to remember what the small girl looked like. It hadn't been long thankfully, so her memory of the day feels solid. A young kid. All smiles. Long hair. She can look out for that, no problem.

Iris stands on her tiptoes to look over the crowd. No sign yet. Which makes sense, given the timeframe. She had a couple minutes left to spare and that's more than enough time for her to hold the camera up for a selfie, peace sign and all. Right after, she follows up with 'See you so-'. This process takes just 'long' enough that it's abruptly cut off and accidentally sent to Re-L when someone starts speaking to her.

Just taller is right. The outfit is different and she's wearing makeup, but this has to be her.]

That was quick! I'm glad you could make it. You got here so early we'll be able to get more taffy anyway. That shop's open for another hour.

[realimperfect]

My teeth are already thrilled at the prospect. [ There's less smiles from this Re-L, but the latent amusement is still palpable. She'd spent a good amount of time after each candy hoping to clear her teeth out from sticky residue - they're still good, and still very worth it, but damn was it a bit of a pain in the ass. Her phone chimes in a moment and she checks it - half expecting it to be a work question before realizing that it was Iris - that earns an upturned lip as she exits back out of the messaging app. ]

I did give a bit of a wide time frame, but with these crowds you never know, even with strides as long as mine.

So, candy store first, then? Since it's closing the soonest?

ii

[mysophobic]

[ Well Shigeru does know Gladio so why not meet his sister as well?! He, of course, doesn't know who she is but there is something about her that makes him think of the other man. They do look alike but he doesn't make any sort of mention towards it. Instead he'll use his own drawing pad to write something down in response to her. ]

Is there something you need help with?

[carrotkeeper]

[That's right. The siblings are a package deal.

The notepad surprises her when he takes it out and she's unsure as to how he'll respond to her question. She expects a quick yes or no, so him writing it out is unexpected. That's fine though. It's nothing she can't roll with. He seems open enough to at least hear her out.]

Yeah, it's kinda like a survey.

[And she holds up her own clipboard and clicks her carrot pen to start writing.]

It's pretty easy though. We're trying to grow different foods in the garden and getting ideas from the people here.

[It's a very exciting, super important question about vegetables. Try not to feel too much regret Shigeru.]

[mysophobic]

[ He can do surveys, they're easy enough and don't require him touching unnecessary things. ]

What kinds of things have people suggested so far?

[carrotkeeper]

[Rather than try and say the names, she flips the clipboard to face him and lets him see the items for himself. Outside of the ones she gathered from random passerbys, there's a few off to the side. It's her own personal list that she adds to as she remembers them-aegir root, leiden pepper, ulwaat berries.]

Not much, but we're getting there. This whole page will be full by the end of the day.

[She's determined okay.]

ii

[dancingmd]

[It was only a matter of time before Beverly found her way to the hydroponics garden - she loves plants and finds great comfort in being among them. Working here is probably not an option with how much she has to do at the hospital, but perhaps some volunteering... oh! She smiles at Iris, clearly unbothered by the interruption.]

Certainly! What can I help you with?

[carrotkeeper]

With this!

[Great, another taker! The more variety she's able to get from people, the better. Holding out her clipboard, she taps the carrot pen on one word-food. It's underlined with flower doodles around it. Clearly this official looking survey is very important.]

We grow vegetables here and we're trying to see what kinda stuff from other worlds we can grow too. You know, to give people a taste of their home.

[Even if they can't grow it, the list can be passed along to other areas of the hydroponics garden. Maybe the Riverview government can get involved. The options are endless and, in her mind, they all end with success. Everyone will get their homeworld's food somehow.]

So my big question is, what what do you wanna see growing in our gardens?

[dancingmd]

Well... this is my first visit. What do you have already?

[carrotkeeper]

All kinds of vegetables. Lettuce, tomatoes, carrots-the basics! It'd take awhile to go through them all.

[She pauses, and then asks:]

We could do the tour first, if you want. You could see them all firsthand.

one

[maskerading]

[ Sometimes you're out walking, and sometimes you can't help but watch what people do during such excursions. This is one of those moments for Yuuto, gradually pausing in his steps as he spots a girl frozen in front of a trash can in an alleyway between two buildings.

He doesn't quite catch her muttering, but it eventually becomes clear after a long minute that she's going through some kind of dilemma. ]

... Lose something in there?

[carrotkeeper]

[Having to admit she may be five seconds away from digging in old trash makes the list of top five embarrassing moments in her life. But whatever, it's fine. This is okay.]

My homework. Maybe.

[That hand keeps hovering over the top, but with another pair of eyes on her she starts to pull it back.]

I dumped my bag out this afternoon to make room and-

[Ugh. Why couldn't she have done this at home? She could have asked her brother dig through their trash instead.]

Now it might be in here.

[maskerading]

[ Well. That's a level of irresponsible even he's yet to achieve, as far as homework goes. There's a subtle grimace on his face as he approaches, his own hand hovering over the lid in lieu of hers. ]

... Maybe it's still on top.

[ Start praying, 'cause if she won't do it, he lifts the lid for her. ]

[carrotkeeper]

Yeah, that's right! It could be-no! It's gotta be. I wasn't gone that long.

[Even though Carnivale is in full swing and the spur of the moment parties may have long since buried her math homework under old tacos. Still, that's a hope she's going to hold onto. Her eyes shut tight as he lifts the lid and she visualizes the homework on the top. Preferably attached to the lid in a plastic baggy with some disinfectant wipes on the side. Please.

One eye opens as she peeks at the trash. No homework, but those are some choice looking hamburgers. Someone ate well earlier. ]

Think the teacher would accept this instead?

[She's joking, obviously. But well. This is tragic.]

[ wildcard ]

[supersweet]

[ Jon pops in after dropping a message to Iris. With Iris, Jon doesn't feel the need to hold back and worry about annoying her. Iris is closer to his age so he feels confident enough that she actually enjoys his company instead of simply indulging him due to his youth. ]

Hi Iris!

[carrotkeeper]

[She's always happy to have his company and his earlier text was met with enthusiasm. She's right by the entrance when he arrives and greets him a wave of her hand.]

Hi Jon! Glad you could make it out today. I can't wait to give you the grand tour.

[supersweet]

[ He beams. ]

Is it a big place?

[carrotkeeper]

Not as big as a farm, but it's it takes awhile to get through.

[She waves a hand, motioning for him to follow.]

You'll see soon enough.