RITUAL 32 - never have i ever

[manwhofelltoearth]

WHO: you
WHERE: around the pasture
WHEN: morning 86

[so how are we doing, everybody? feeling a little more together? feeling a little furry, floaty, or both? well–don’t mind this newer Weed who’s just climbed up on a big rock, clapping his mildly bloody hands together to get your attention.

is that a new demon hovering around him? well–this might as well happen.]

‘Scuse me! I’m Father Argent, if we haven’t previously met. I know this is a little presumptuous and all, but it seems like most people could use a pick-me-up right now? So my friend over here and I have, well, arranged something. I hope you’ll indulge us today!

[and a little ripple of movement goes through the surrounding area, transforming it – the colours of this part of the pasture go pastel, and everything gets bubbly. rocks are now round and bouncy, the grass loses its edges and looks more like a carpet of fat succulents, fences look and feel kinda like pool noodles. you can bounce around without damaging anything, if you build up enough momentum, but even without doing that it’s just…nice to hang out on, soft and springy. there’s also some random clear spheres hanging here and there in the air, filled with small round crunchy snacks and drinks like popcorn, or pork rind and grain puffs, or gummies, or cold water, or weak beer. not enough to fill up on or really get drunk, but something to munch and keep you refreshed.

y’all are stuck here for a bit! and even if you’re not in immediate range or holed up indoors, you might feel the pull to come see what’s up – or simply be teleported into the ritual zone, in a bright popping flurry of bubbles.]

rules | turn-in | winners and prizes

Comments

[electricflock]

Um, gravity dragons. Nobody's seen them in centuries.

[jerkalope]

What makes them different from other kinds of dragons? Is it really that on the nose that they can manipulate gravity?

[electricflock]

Is that.

[jerkalope]

Well, can't fault the naming system for being disingenuous! If you don't have a powerful invasive species to blame things on, like humans, perhaps they are just keeping a low profile.

[electricflock]

Their um, home city was destroyed in giant freak accident. Killed them all.

[jerkalope]

Okay, that would do it. My bad, I should have included invasive natural acts of destruction along with species.

[electricflock]

Yeah. Visited one of their old merchant ships once? Was turned into museum.

[jerkalope]

Airship? It would be a waste of gravity powers if you couldn't make a galleon worth of riches lighter than air...

[electricflock]

Were ships too big too float on own. Can't sail without gravity dragons.

[jerkalope]

Hmm, at least you didn't have a Hindenburg catastrophe then. So you don't have smaller sloops for the flying races to ferry about?

[electricflock]

We have um... regular boats? On water? Aren't bad. Get enough wind types on board and will never be becalmed.

[jerkalope]

That's true. Although it sounds like those gravity dragons really had a monopoly on certain trade routes. That makes enemies easily.

[electricflock]

Um, well they're dead now, so enemies aren't really problem for anyone.

[jerkalope]

Haha, no vacuum of power? Maybe that was also part of the gravity abilities. There's a few of us jackalopes that wonder what would happen if the humans in our world had something like that happen to them.

Without taking the rest of us down with them, that is.

[electricflock]

I don't think about things like that.

[jerkalope]

Haha! Better for you! Frankly, I don't much either. That's why my scope is more individual takes.

[electricflock]

Individual... killings?

[jerkalope]

Reasons why individuals do what they do.

Admittedly, a lot of the wondering is over why they murder.

[electricflock]

That must be lot to think about.

[jerkalope]

Hehe! It does take a lot of my work time! It's a little like a human writer once said, "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."

Happy things are easily shared and seldom disguised. It's nice and all, but not very intellectually stimulating. Nobody is going to wonder why the small child eating ice cream is smiling so much.

[electricflock]

That sounds um, like quote an unhappy person would say. I think there can be a lot in happiness.

... And um. Sometimes people murder to keep their family happy.

[jerkalope]

I agree there can be a lot! After all, I'm usually a happy fellow. Just that people don't often feel like hiding such things, not like jealousy, wrath, or other such feelings.

Hmm, the murdering to keep others happy isn't an uncommon motive. Any specific reason you brought that up though?

[electricflock]

As, um, a happy motive. A happy thing.