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 Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2026 11:16 pm
Flower Power (15) : Destiny City has erupted with colorful wildflowers, both beautiful to look at and surprisingly fragrant. The aroma is incredibly alluring, and it's difficult not to be tempted to get a closer whiff. As expected, it smells even more amazing up close, and immediately after inhaling the aroma, colors seem brighter. Lights appear softer. The world takes on a warm, dreamlike quality where everything feels just a little more magical. Some describe glowing trails of light, shifting colors, or patterns that seem to move when they aren't looking directly at them. Others find themselves unusually cheerful, creative, or sociable. Unfortunately, not every experience is pleasant. What begins as a pleasant daydream can quickly become overwhelming, and the same flowers that inspire wonder in one person may leave another feeling confused, anxious, or trapped in an unpleasant hallucination. The effects always fade with time, maybe a few minutes, maybe a few hours, but no one seems quite sure why these flowers have such unusual properties. If you're the type to stop and smell the roses--be careful.
She was being careful, though! And doing her best to be respectful about the whole process. First and foremost the plants were out in the open, and while there were no signs that forbade anyone from taking some for their own, these were as much hers as everyone else's in the city. So she had looked into how much she would actually need for her little project and committed to only taking that much. If she failed—and she sort of expected to, if she were being honest—then only a little bit would have gone to waste.
"Maybe a couple more," she murmured to herself, looking down at the small mason jar she'd brought with her. It was loosely filled with flower petals, about two-thirds of the way up.
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2026 9:00 am
New flowers in Destiny City meant one of two things–either they were supposed to be there and Andreiya just hadn’t experienced them (very possible), or they were not supposed to be there and this was about to be a problem (also very possible).
He came prepared with a bag of supplies, just in case they started spitting acid or catching on fire, but–
Here was a Knight, already collecting them. Or, parts of them.
Andreiya had the opportunity to leave. She hadn’t even seemed to notice him–or had she? She was talking, but it didn’t seem to him.
He shifted slightly where he stood, one hand resting over the satchel he’d brought with him, and debated. It was probably more suspicious if he tried to slink away–how would he explain it if she spotted him?
No, he knew what he had to do.
Andreiya sucked in a slow, steadying breath, and announced–a little too loudly, and a little too quickly, “Hello! I want to look at those flowers, too. I think there is room for both of us. Can I join you?”
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2026 6:48 pm
Ekstrom started where she sat at the sudden, and rather loud, introduction. She snipped the edge of her glove as a result, though she barely registered that. She turned to see who it was and her expression immediately brightened, her shock already forgotten as she beamed at him.
"Andreiya!" Because how could she forget him? "Yeah, of course!" she replied, gesturing to the area just beside her. "Here's a spot, or." She glanced around. There was plenty of space, but she still grabbed her jacket and shield and scooted them closer to her, hoping to make the space she occupied at least a little bit smaller.
That took a fraction of a second, after which she waved at the small, open field around them. "I mean, sit wherever you like. I'm happy to have company."
Her eyes snagged on the satchel he had with him, and she gave it a little nod.
"Are you here for some samples, too?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2026 1:32 am
Andreiya looked at her for a moment, and then his nose wrinkled. “Oh, Ekstrom. I was nervous for no reason! You look different from behind. Actually, you look different in general,” he said, and promptly hurried over. Some of the awkwardness seemed to melt away, and he immediately relaxed as he crouched close to her.
“You got stronger? Congratulations.”
He could have sat anywhere, but knowing her meant he didn’t need a field of flowers to separate them. She had her space, and he had his–only a few feet away from her. Just enough that they could work without smothering each other.
“I am always looking for samples,” he explained, but was certain she already knew this. “My research has been quite productive! But I’ve hit another wall. I am trying to ‘clear my head’ a little. I won’t say it’s difficult,” because maybe that would imply that he couldn’t do it, and he didn’t want to shame the Vanguard, “but it hasn’t been easy.”
He spoke while unpacking his bag, and then meticulously began to collect samples–starting with the soil. “I will tell you more in a moment but I don’t want to be rude. How is your Wonder? Oh, and you.”
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2026 9:26 pm
"Different in a good way, I hope," she said with a giggle as he registered who she was. To his question she gave a little bobble of her head to confirm. "Aw, thanks! I've made some progress, yeah." She gave a little shrug then, not wanting to put too much emphasis on it. She was glad to be stronger, and grateful to have the power to protect herself and the people around her, but she always hoped to not actually have to use what strength she had.
Ekstrom frowned slightly at his news, then gave a nod in understanding. "I think you've come to the right place for head-clearing," she said, reaching over to give him an encouraging pat on the shoulder. "I'm glad your research has been going well. Hopefully things'll be smooth sailing once you're past this wall." Turning back to her own work, she considered what she'd collected so far...and started to look around again.
Maybe just one more, she thought with a little smile.
"Challenging things are always worth the effort though, don't you think?" she said as she started sifting through the flowers once more, hoping to find one that she hadn't picked yet. Instead of a new flower, though, she managed to spot another ice cream charm to add to her collection. She grinned as she grabbed it.
"See?" she said, turning to show him what she just found. "I decided to look for one final sample and wound up with a bonus!"
"As for my wonder, it's got lights now! Still cold inside, but it's...fine. I get by okay, and I tell– or. Well, I try to remember to tell people that wanna visit to bring thick jackets if they don't do well in that cold." She paused, using the second to pocket the charm, before quickly adding, "As for me, I'm good! Same as usual, more or less."
She went back to sifting, but carried on the conversation. "How 'bout you? And your research? Besides the wall you hit, I mean. And I remember you said you were looking into ways to restore a planet. How's that been going?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2026 10:10 am
Andreiya tilted his head at the ice cream charm she picked up. "Are those good? I found one too. I thought it was litter. But I also thought it was pretty." He pulled it out of his pocket to show her, but as he had more important things to do, it was quickly pocketed again so he could focus on taking his samples.
"Congratulations on your Wonder. I hope you will let me see what you've done up there," he said, not really very subtle about it.
"Most of my research is on very moderate worlds. I started to think about it, a while ago, but I don't know if Velenia is moderate. It seemed a safe middle. But if it was a safe middle, maybe it would have restored already! So maybe it is extremely hot. Or extremely cold."
He let out a miserable sigh and hurried to gather more samples.
"I need to do more research. And I am procrastinating. I have to talk to the Commodore and I am afraid of disappointing him. Which is unusual, because I am very competent."
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Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2026 7:54 pm
"I'd be more than happy to take you!" She beamed at him again, a certain light in her eyes that was often there whenever she spoke about her Wonder—or more specifically, taking people to visit. It wasn't in perfect shape yet, but it was improving bit by bit! And she was more than a little proud of how far it had come, though she never quite expressed this in words. Just in her eyes, but for her that was also plenty.
"I can go a lot more often now, so just let me know when you wanna go."
She turned her attention back to the flowers, mostly so she stopped staring at her friend. She sifted a bit absently, though, as she listened to him speak.
"That makes sense," she said after a bit. "Is the next step in your research this conversation with your– what did you call them? Commodore? And I can understand the concern, but if it's for the sake of progressing your research I wonder if that's something they could be disappointed about? I'm sure you're competent and doing your best to help..."
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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2026 9:54 pm
Ekstrom was practically glowing at the mere mention of visiting her Wonder–and if such a thing truly made her so happy, how could Andreiya feel a modicum of guilt for asking?
Actually, she wasn’t practically glowing. She was really glowing. Like rivalling the moonlight.
He didn’t stare. Humans were weird, always doing something strange. Especially the magical ones.
“I would like to go often. I am interested in what you are doing. And the progress of your restoration. I hope one day to show you how much my world has recovered as well.” A world he did not know, but hoped to. Badly.
His hands worked quickly, and he took an array of samples.
“There is no real ‘next step’ in my research. There are many variables, as you know. I am not on a specific deadline. The Commodore checks in. And I give him updates. He is very supportive. But,” Andreiya sighed heavily. “I wish to make him proud. Badly. So every day I do not have a success, I find myself disappointed. He is very important to me. I am sure you understand,” he insisted, “Humans are far more sentimental than Velencians, so you must know what I mean.”
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