I wouldn't call it that. [ they do pick up a cute pair of white sunglasses for themselves though. ] But one of my old jobs was wreath-making, and another was helping replant other people's flowerbeds. You learn to identify them after a while.
[ also, sometimes you have a special interest in nature. ]
Is demiflora the proper name for what you are? [ they sound curious about this, like they want to ask questions but aren't sure what's appropriate and/or what won't make them sound foolish. ] How many kinds are there?
That's right. I... don't know exactly how many demiflora species there are, honestly. There's a lot, and I even heard a new species appeared a few years before I was born, so who knows?
There are a lot of species of flowers, so that makes sense to me that there would be plenty of demiflora. And you're all in... your tower?
[ they ask this like they're trying to piece together what laurence's situation was before he arrived here, and in knowing what he's already said before. backstory is a little important, they think. ]
Not all of them? There's a lot of us there, but it's definitely not enough for all the demiflora in the world. And I don't know everyone in the Tower, either, so I don't know if we've even got someone from every species.
Makes sense. Even as small as my hometown was, I don't know if I could name everyone who lived there either. Just most of them. [ but they put on the sunglasses and give him a friendly walk. ]
Let's take a walk. You can tell me a little more about it. [ whatever "it" is, to him. whatever he decides. ]
[ hometown? it gets a curious look, but he nods. they can walk. ]
When I was a kid, this guy I was friends with thought all the different demiflora were named after specific flowers for a reason. That's why we looked them up - to see if we could find any connection with them and the different abilities we have. I don't know what we expected, but that's how I learned about the flowers.
[ pointless trivia, but something to fill the silence. ]
...So you're not that familiar with my world, either? I kind of thought you guys would know more about us.
I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to find connections and learn. Even if you don't find the exact answer you're looking for, the research could lead to more answers later. And now you know more than you did before.
[ and isn't that good? but they shake their head. ]
That seems to be a thought a lot of people have. We only really know what's on those profile cards, and anything you tell us yourself.
You sound like Mr. Taair. [ slots them both into the "instructor" category. ] I never really went out of my way to learn things if I didn't have a reason to, like for class.
That's it? But I thought you guys were supposed to help us with earning redemption. Isn't that going to be hard if you don't know much about us?
Oh, no, definitely don't put me on the same level as Taair. I'm not that enthusiastic about it. [ they like learning, but they are not exactly a nerd or anything. ] I like learning about things that interest me. Otherwise there isn't a reason to.
There's a very easy solution to learn more about you. We're doing it right now.
[ the way this actually gives them a point of respect in a different way. i hate teenagers. ]
So we're on the same page there. I asked to read his book because we didn't have anything else to do and all, but it's not like I'll ever need to know that much about his home country.
Yeah, but I thought you'd have, like, files on us or something? [ he is so used to authority having a file on him what do you mean you don't. ] So you don't even know what we've done to get here in the first place?
[ the thing is they like taair and think he's nice and that his life work is interesting! but they are not very scholarly themselves, that's someone else they know. so they agree more in line this way. ]
Even if you don't, don't you want to know more about places around you and places people come from? I used to like hearing about different countries and the things you could do there... even if it felt impossible to imagine getting the chance to go.
We don't have anything official like that. We only have the profiles you all have, God's word, and the things you tell us. I think part of our job as guides is to talk through your misdeeds and untangle the web to help start your redemption.
Sure, if you want to be boring about it. Besides you're here for eight weeks. You can at least pretend to have some interest. Maybe it'll inspire you for something different at home, too.
[ they think about this, and affection week means they're casually linking their arm with his as they walk. ]
No. People will only know what you tell them. Are you worried about secrets getting out?
Boring? [ offended?! ] I'm just saying it's something to kill time, but it won't make a difference later. His world's too different from mine.
[ and he's not UNinterested but he can't just let anyone know that? ]
I don't want to get in trouble. Especially because... it's my fault Iris left the Tower. I let him go. [ and madam is awesome, but also a little terrifying. ] That has to be why I'm here, right?
What's boring is spending all your time daydreaming about things you'll never even have a chance to see. [ he's soooo easy to bait ] You can't just live like that all the time.
[ huffs! ]
Iris is Madam's son - er, she runs the Tower. So he's, like, her precious little baby who's always gotten away with everything he wanted to, so of course she wouldn't want him to leave, even if it wasn't so dangerous outside of the Tower.
[ secretly they agree, but for the sad reason of it hurts a lot worse to think about all of the things you can't have no matter how much you try so it's better not to think about them at all. but it's still easier to rile him up and be an opinionated little shit. ]
And I suppose it's much more exciting to live in your tower away from everything else and going through the same things day to day. [ huffs back!
but right. iris. for a moment they seem to pause though before seemingly peering into his soul. or at least his face. ]
Is this Madam person the one who needs your help? [ they sound a little judgmental about it right now. ]
Under someone you're afraid to be punished by. [ this is an assumption based off of what he's said so far. they have zero proof.
they do seem to ease up though when he confirms it's iris and not madam. ]
I was hoping that was the answer. [ it's a start. ] ...why did Iris leave? Do you know where he might have gone? A direction, I know you don't know the exact location or you'd find him already.
I'll take Madam over the spawncampers any day. At least I'll be alive.
...I think he was trying to help the guy who broke into the Tower. He was a Lily, so they - they would've taken his eyes, probably. [ thinking about that room full of glowing pink eyes sets him on edge all over again. ] I don't know if he was thinking straight, or if he was hypnotized into it, but he was always talking about going outside, anyway.
[ absolute idiot. ]
And no, I don't know where he is, or even a direction. That's the part I'm supposed to help with - apparently a Daphne might be able to teleport straight to someone they have some kind of connection with, even without knowing where they are.
[ they are going to come back to the spawncampers momentarily. one subject at a time. ]
Sounds to me like he saw an opportunity and took it without thinking. [ relatable. ] I've never met someone who can teleport before. But for you to have a connection to him, that must mean you're close?
He would do that, the idiot. He never stops to think about things when it matters.
And no, we're not. [ a beat. ] We used to be, but we haven't been friends in years. I'm just the best person to find him because he never had any other friends.
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[ also, sometimes you have a special interest in nature. ]
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I'll take your word for it. The Tower didn't have many flowers... I mostly just know the ones demiflora are named after.
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[ they ask this like they're trying to piece together what laurence's situation was before he arrived here, and in knowing what he's already said before. backstory is a little important, they think. ]
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Let's take a walk. You can tell me a little more about it. [ whatever "it" is, to him. whatever he decides. ]
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When I was a kid, this guy I was friends with thought all the different demiflora were named after specific flowers for a reason. That's why we looked them up - to see if we could find any connection with them and the different abilities we have. I don't know what we expected, but that's how I learned about the flowers.
[ pointless trivia, but something to fill the silence. ]
...So you're not that familiar with my world, either? I kind of thought you guys would know more about us.
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[ and isn't that good? but they shake their head. ]
That seems to be a thought a lot of people have. We only really know what's on those profile cards, and anything you tell us yourself.
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That's it? But I thought you guys were supposed to help us with earning redemption. Isn't that going to be hard if you don't know much about us?
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Oh, no, definitely don't put me on the same level as Taair. I'm not that enthusiastic about it. [ they like learning, but they are not exactly a nerd or anything. ] I like learning about things that interest me. Otherwise there isn't a reason to.
There's a very easy solution to learn more about you. We're doing it right now.
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So we're on the same page there. I asked to read his book because we didn't have anything else to do and all, but it's not like I'll ever need to know that much about his home country.
Yeah, but I thought you'd have, like, files on us or something? [ he is so used to authority having a file on him what do you mean you don't. ] So you don't even know what we've done to get here in the first place?
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Even if you don't, don't you want to know more about places around you and places people come from? I used to like hearing about different countries and the things you could do there... even if it felt impossible to imagine getting the chance to go.
We don't have anything official like that. We only have the profiles you all have, God's word, and the things you tell us. I think part of our job as guides is to talk through your misdeeds and untangle the web to help start your redemption.
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[ kind of reminds him of iris asking about the stars outside of the tower... but they're all the same, anyway. what's it even matter?
he falls quiet for a minute, thinking. ]
Will anyone else know about our... "misdeeds," if we do get to go back?
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[ they think about this, and affection week means they're casually linking their arm with his as they walk. ]
No. People will only know what you tell them. Are you worried about secrets getting out?
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[ and he's not UNinterested but he can't just let anyone know that? ]
I don't want to get in trouble. Especially because... it's my fault Iris left the Tower. I let him go. [ and madam is awesome, but also a little terrifying. ] That has to be why I'm here, right?
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[ but there are more important things to argue about. ]
... why don't you start from the beginning. Who's Iris? Why wasn't he supposed to leave?
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[ huffs! ]
Iris is Madam's son - er, she runs the Tower. So he's, like, her precious little baby who's always gotten away with everything he wanted to, so of course she wouldn't want him to leave, even if it wasn't so dangerous outside of the Tower.
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And I suppose it's much more exciting to live in your tower away from everything else and going through the same things day to day. [ huffs back!
but right. iris. for a moment they seem to pause though before seemingly peering into his soul. or at least his face. ]
Is this Madam person the one who needs your help? [ they sound a little judgmental about it right now. ]
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[ he kind of recoils a little - not enough to break their hold on his arm, just to look at them like ??? ]
No. Iris is. Madam doesn't know I'm trying to do anything and I don't want her to.
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they do seem to ease up though when he confirms it's iris and not madam. ]
I was hoping that was the answer. [ it's a start. ] ...why did Iris leave? Do you know where he might have gone? A direction, I know you don't know the exact location or you'd find him already.
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I'll take Madam over the spawncampers any day. At least I'll be alive.
...I think he was trying to help the guy who broke into the Tower. He was a Lily, so they - they would've taken his eyes, probably. [ thinking about that room full of glowing pink eyes sets him on edge all over again. ] I don't know if he was thinking straight, or if he was hypnotized into it, but he was always talking about going outside, anyway.
[ absolute idiot. ]
And no, I don't know where he is, or even a direction. That's the part I'm supposed to help with - apparently a Daphne might be able to teleport straight to someone they have some kind of connection with, even without knowing where they are.
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Sounds to me like he saw an opportunity and took it without thinking. [ relatable. ] I've never met someone who can teleport before. But for you to have a connection to him, that must mean you're close?
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And no, we're not. [ a beat. ] We used to be, but we haven't been friends in years. I'm just the best person to find him because he never had any other friends.
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You have very strong opinions about someone you're no longer friends with. Why did you stop?
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