Tony Stark (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
in_extremis) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
revivalproject2022-07-02 10:21 pm
in_extremis) wrote in revivalproject2022-07-02 10:21 pm
Mesh
WHO: You, your favourite person, your least favourite person, and someone you've never met. Open!
WHERE: The library garden, Temba
WHAT: Putting the plants in order, for fun and...fun. Tony's been building a hedge maze.
WHEN: A lovely summer evening.
WARNINGS: Mark it if you get nasty. This is an open invitation function, and the sheriff can't stop all of you at once.
NETWORK // un: ironman // TEXT
Come to the library. Try to find your way out.
It's better with a hand to hold.
What was supposed to be a much more gradual project had rapidly become unmanageable. After being released back into the sunlight, Tony was sure he was going to return to a yard that was parched and languishing without care. He had never been much of a botanist, if he could help it. What he found instead was a snarl of plants that were threatening to take over any progress he had made on this project, while he transformed the room in the library basement into his workshop and repurposed the gutted parts, and beating the stems and petals back was only getting him so far. The ring he had been carrying around, telling himself he needed just the right place to reveal it, might have still been missing, but this garden was not going to tolerate being tamed for long.
Even on the terrace wrapping the back of the library, the greenery broke through the flagstones in wild tufts of grass and thorny weeds that had to be hacked back. Much of it now was burning sweetly in the firepit, ringed by the last of the intact stone benches that were found here. Maybe sitting under them was more comfortable, though, like the few, cuddling mothcats that could be found there, because the benches were clearly Agrii design. The yard back here was braced in by a few tall trees along the edges of the property, obscuring most of the road beyond and sending fluttering seedpods skipping across the stones with every summer breeze.
Dominating the space now was a maze. It was imposing, particularly in low light, after the sun had set and Tony had sent his cryptic message. Not much could be seen peering into the structure from the entrance; the depths darkened rapidly, and the first path to choose came quickly. Flanking the entrance were torches, though, and with them baskets of lumpy, oily candles that could be lit on the flickering braziers to carry into the dark, and become floating points of light that whispered past each other in the soft grass and between the fragrant, lusciously flowering walls of the maze. Even now, the branches and vines that determined the structure seemed to be stretching voraciously, leaving beds of petals where they had crashed into each other, and sneaking across the paths to catch uncritical toes. Even experienced maze-solvers might find some challenges within, with some tricks of the eye and secret doors to discover, but they might also find there was no rush to the exit; the myriad blind alleys and cul-de-sacs weren't simply dead ends. In one, a set of swings, flat wooden boards hung close to each other and maybe tall enough to peek over the maze wall with an enthusiastic enough push. In another, a shallow pond, thick with small flowers that swam over the surface of the water that glowed eerily. A particularly lucky and industrious explorer might find a puzzle box, waiting patiently in a nest of purple sand, that rattled when shook. There was definitely something in there. What else might be hidden in the dark?* Around only a few corners, the whole experience might be over, breaking back into the open garden of the library from a surprising nook just a few steps away from the inviting entrance to the maze. It would probably be better not to get too impatient.
*Feel free to make up some fun, weird stuff, I'm sure we can all be cool. If you're really not sure and need me to say yes, you can dm here or @ me on discord.
WHERE: The library garden, Temba
WHAT: Putting the plants in order, for fun and...fun. Tony's been building a hedge maze.
WHEN: A lovely summer evening.
WARNINGS: Mark it if you get nasty. This is an open invitation function, and the sheriff can't stop all of you at once.
NETWORK // un: ironman // TEXT
Come to the library. Try to find your way out.
It's better with a hand to hold.
What was supposed to be a much more gradual project had rapidly become unmanageable. After being released back into the sunlight, Tony was sure he was going to return to a yard that was parched and languishing without care. He had never been much of a botanist, if he could help it. What he found instead was a snarl of plants that were threatening to take over any progress he had made on this project, while he transformed the room in the library basement into his workshop and repurposed the gutted parts, and beating the stems and petals back was only getting him so far. The ring he had been carrying around, telling himself he needed just the right place to reveal it, might have still been missing, but this garden was not going to tolerate being tamed for long.
Even on the terrace wrapping the back of the library, the greenery broke through the flagstones in wild tufts of grass and thorny weeds that had to be hacked back. Much of it now was burning sweetly in the firepit, ringed by the last of the intact stone benches that were found here. Maybe sitting under them was more comfortable, though, like the few, cuddling mothcats that could be found there, because the benches were clearly Agrii design. The yard back here was braced in by a few tall trees along the edges of the property, obscuring most of the road beyond and sending fluttering seedpods skipping across the stones with every summer breeze.
Dominating the space now was a maze. It was imposing, particularly in low light, after the sun had set and Tony had sent his cryptic message. Not much could be seen peering into the structure from the entrance; the depths darkened rapidly, and the first path to choose came quickly. Flanking the entrance were torches, though, and with them baskets of lumpy, oily candles that could be lit on the flickering braziers to carry into the dark, and become floating points of light that whispered past each other in the soft grass and between the fragrant, lusciously flowering walls of the maze. Even now, the branches and vines that determined the structure seemed to be stretching voraciously, leaving beds of petals where they had crashed into each other, and sneaking across the paths to catch uncritical toes. Even experienced maze-solvers might find some challenges within, with some tricks of the eye and secret doors to discover, but they might also find there was no rush to the exit; the myriad blind alleys and cul-de-sacs weren't simply dead ends. In one, a set of swings, flat wooden boards hung close to each other and maybe tall enough to peek over the maze wall with an enthusiastic enough push. In another, a shallow pond, thick with small flowers that swam over the surface of the water that glowed eerily. A particularly lucky and industrious explorer might find a puzzle box, waiting patiently in a nest of purple sand, that rattled when shook. There was definitely something in there. What else might be hidden in the dark?* Around only a few corners, the whole experience might be over, breaking back into the open garden of the library from a surprising nook just a few steps away from the inviting entrance to the maze. It would probably be better not to get too impatient.
*Feel free to make up some fun, weird stuff, I'm sure we can all be cool. If you're really not sure and need me to say yes, you can dm here or @ me on discord.
no subject
And then it raises its thumb to first extinguish the flame, then turn in Dustin’s direction to give him a thumbs up, the candle’s wax stick still in its hold.
He’s of course free to throw more.
no subject
So the boy stands there, stock still, anxiously glancing from the hand through the bushes to the paths around him. He's well aware of the fact that he's not hidden; the sun has mostly finished setting, so his torch stands out like a beacon at the exit of this maze. But Dustin hardly considers extinguishing his other light source a good idea right now, not while he's studying a hand made of pure darkness. Besides, maybe the hand only responds to movement? Is that why it knew where to turn to give him that cheeky thumbs-up? Or maybe someone else is nearby, acting as its eyes? Only thing for it is to wait and see.
no subject
“I could be wrong, of course. Haven’t really figured them out yet. Some steal fire, yes. Others just rip your throat out.” Wilson shrugs. Who could say…
no subject
no subject
He doesn’t tolerate too much of this assault, however, before the shadow hand that had caused Dustin’s initial confusion sprouts forth from the hedge next to them to grasp the burning end of the torch, effectively extinguishing this flame as well.
no subject
"--What the fuck guy?!" he spits, eyes wild with a combination of adrenaline and rapidly growing annoyance. "Don't sneak up on people like that you--" The shadow hand that he had been so attentively watching earlier appears from the hedge, but as alert as Dustin is, he catches sight of it immediately, promptly swapping the torch to his other hand and taking several quick steps in the other direction. "--Hey! Fuck off!"
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“Told you. It’s the light.” Wilson offers innocently.
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The teen's heart hammers in his chest. Fucking hate the dark. It's an irrational fear and he knows it, though, so he quickly starts working on ways to calm himself down. Relax, Thatcher. This is Wilson. Way too unlikely to be a Shade. He's in control of this situation and using it to tease you. Don't let him get to you.
Dustin's letting it get to him. Shoulders hunched, he whirls around to face Wilson as he struggles to control his breathing. "Knock it off," he demands, although he's embarrassed by how timid his voice sounds. "You've had your fun, you ass. Now leave me alone."
no subject
Wilson's grin spreads when he is addressed. "No. I don't think I will." He replies cheerfully, his own hands now folded into his lap. "You seemed fascinated by that single hand." Yes, fascinated. That's the word he is going for. "What I don't understand is... Why did you attack it. It was just there. Existing... Not very unlike yourself." He gestures vaguely in Dustin's direction. Does he deny any involvement? No. Not at all.
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"I dunno," he snaps, voice thick with sarcasm. "Maybe I didn't like the look on its face. Who fucking cares? It's none of your business anyway."
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"Has picking fights ever done you any good?"
no subject
I need an exit strategy.
Running appears to be out of the question; the hands manifest quickly from all observable solid surfaces, and it seems Wilson can make them show up at a non-trivial distance away. Dustin isn't sure what kind of control the man has over these manifestations, close up or at range, but he figures it would be good enough to catch or trip his ungainly ass on a mad dash for the library's back door. The only thing he's noticed that could maybe be helpful is the fact that Wilson had used the shadow hands to protect himself from getting poked by a torch. If I charged him instead of the exit...but he's put enough distance between us to manifest another hand there. Shit. Maybe I could throw something at him, force him to catch it...would only work if he can't control multiples at once and I can keep him distracted with it long enough to run away after. That's a gamble.
Although it might be the best plan he has. Dustin takes a step back with one leg, crouching slightly into a defensive position. "Is that what you're looking for?" he asks, still working quite hard to keep track of all the hands in what's left of the murky ambient light. "An excuse to beat up a child?"
Dustin would hardly allow anyone to bin him as a kid under normal circumstances. Here, though, he's more than happy to lean into it.
no subject
"I'm here for science, but so far this little maze has not offered much to be researched. The hand was merely a little... Let's call it a social experiment. Not the biggest fan of these I will admit." Too few possibilities that something explodes.
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In fact, Dustin's estimation of Wilson is going rapidly downhill the more he talks. The casual but quietly intense focus on conducting experiments on people is quite reminiscent of the adults he's spent the majority of his life around - the same adults he's developed a deep, simmering resentment towards over the past couple of years. His expression shifts accordingly, warping from nervous and defensive to sneering disgust in a matter of moments.
"Oh, even better," Dustin spits. "Your fallback was to manufacture a situation that makes people uncomfortable for your own scientific curiosity? Fuckin' brilliant. Enlighten me: What kinds of experiments would you rather be doing?"
He feels like he knows roughly what the answer will be, and he doubts he'll be happy about it.
no subject
The question is an interesting one, though, and Wilson takes a moment to consider. "Ohhh... Something interesting. Something big. Of course I would love to discover something new or create something BIG! Doesn't have to explode, of course even though science often does just that..." He trails off for a moment, then may come to a final decision. For now. "What I really would enjoy is experimenting with a new mineral, that sounds exciting!" And potentially explosive.
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It hasn't been, though. Not entirely. This comes through, albeit unintentionally on Dustin's part, in how he decides to test Wilson's motives further.
"...Have you seen the beach?" he asks, cautiously.
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He has been to the lake so far, yes. But that one doesn't really have anything one may consider a beach. A shore, yes. A place to access the water itself. But- No beach. A beach hints at access to an ocean. Which offers up a whole other list of possibilities...
"How do I get there?" Wilson finally asks, tone sharp with an eagerness to get going.
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"Due south," Dustin answers. His tone is warming gradually away from cold anxiety to, at the very least, neutral. "There's a path through the forest. The sand there is a different color than it is on Earth - a sort of purplish-blue. I suspect the color comes from a type of organic contaminant, but don't have the tools to test for myself yet."
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And he's totally ready to head out and do just that.
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Wilson cuts off Dustin's answer before he can give him the full bad news, but he isn't about to stop the guy who was borderline threatening him just minutes ago to correct him. Instead, looking a bit shell-shocked, the teenager sidesteps out of Wilson's way and awkwardly waits for him to pass. Have fun, weird and upsetting man. Don't mind him.