…when he felt a nagging buzz of energy inviting him -- no, tempting him -- to let magic settle the disagreement.
No! What are you thinking?! Ghent dropped his arm and clenched his fists in refusal. He wouldn't give in. Magic could do more harm than good, and potentially hurt the both in the process.

Yes. My gosh, yes! I LOVE that!

Hmm. I’d say maybe both.

:-D

Wow! That’s impressive you still have your first one. I have no idea what happened to mine. I’ve seen those! They’re so weird. It’s crazy how they’re trying to bring back so many old shows. Some successfully, I’ll admit, but with others… WHY EVEN?

Oh my gosh. I’d call that the Drunken Tea Party.

Isn’t it great? Besides the editor needing to be fired, anyway. xD Probably should have warned you: the free version is a demo, as you’ve likely found out by now. I had a bit left from a gift card, so figured what the hey. I suppose you do and you don’t ‘win’ it. You have the main, originally planned story, with other possible endings you can run into if you don’t pick the correct options to continue the intended story. It gives you the option to return to the last selection if you choose one that leads to one of those other endings. And I agree about their Cheshire Cat!



Well, I’m honored you’re so enthusiastic about it! And great about Drust’s matching your imaginings! Heh, nah, not weird at all. Hmm. I was going to answer your wondering, but that seems like something that may potentially come up in IC. But I’m curious. What answer are you rooting for?

Aw, so glad you liked it! I imagine the magic will bring bouts of temptation and influence, especially since it seems to have a mind of its own. Can't trust it! Well, not yet, anyway. Ghent's still a magic newbie.

I LOVE the concept of Hollow Forest! They've only just set foot into it, and already I see so many things going wrong. Excellent.



Agreed. I think the one retro revival thing that baffles me the most is the Trolls dolls. They've brought those things back twice. I've hated all three versions. I want to bury them in the dirt, leaving only their hair visible... *cough* sorry. I'm feeling evil today.

I did find that out, about the demo version. I found out at 4am. I was hunched over my phone, excitedly tapping the screen when I was given the notification. As much as I hate to spend money on apps, I do enjoy this one a lot. When I get home, I'll buy the rest of the story. I'm excited to finish one of the endings!

Ah, good point! Hm...what am I rooting for...that's difficult to say. I've thought about it a lot, and can't decide for the life of me. On one hand, it would be interesting and a neat addition to who (or what? xD) he is. Especially since Drust ages differently too. But then I wonder if Elayra ages differently, because I imagine them being around the same...ahhh...I can't decide!

Indeed it does! Which reminds me. I should probably tell you I updated the info section a while back and added some of the rules of magic. However, so you know, not all of it has come up in the RP, and I still need to work some kinks out of it.

Thanks! Glad you like it so far! And that’s exactly why Elayra was willing to argue against it. xD And, “And I thought Walmart was depressing,” had BETTER make it onto your list of quotable phrases!

Also, yay for info dumps. xD I mean, it kind of has that small mentioned purpose, but hey. I think since this is a RP, I don’t feel quite as guilty about info dumps... Heh.

Now that’s a garden I could get behind! I kind of want to go Goodwill hunting for trolls now and make that happen. Those things are so creepy…


Thinking of trolls, though, the next season of Trollhunters is scheduled to come out December 15th! That’s what I read on a post from their Facebook page, anyway.


You’ve actually passed up two possible alternate endings, prior to reaching the demo’s end. At least, I believe it’s only two. I’ll have to look. There’s an option on the home screen that gives you a layout of what you’ve done, and what options you passed up. Doesn’t tell you about the endings, though, until you get them, but it does give you a list of the ones you run into, and how many you have not encountered yet.

xD Well, I’m sure you have plenty of time to come to a decision! It’s a difficult debate, to be sure!

Ooh, nice! Very informative, helpful, and a delight to read. I'm amazed by how well thought out the rules are. They make perfect sense to me...for Ghent? We'll see. While I was there, I re-read the Wonderland terms and brushed up on the names of spells again. Having everything in one place is super helpful. I'd like to thank you again for having written all of this! It's so handy to have all in one place, and sure beats having to hunt the information down.

xD I didn't even think to, but I just added it to the quotable moments. It's too true!

Wow...that reply. *^* The forest is even cooler than I originally thought, all thanks to Elayra covering the lore behind it. I realllyyy love Absolem, Edelia, and Zandon, by the way. If this was a movie, or a TV show, I would want them to have their own spin-off series. Super well done, and creative. I love everything about it!

While I'm in awe by Hollow Forest, I think Ghent is a little scared.



THAT GIF. Now I want to watch Toy Story. The more I think of it, the more I think that'd be a cool Halloween idea. Bury Troll dolls in the yard, some half sticking out of the dirt...heck, we could put together an entire haunted guardian! Cabbage Patch dolls, but only the heads, and we paint them green to represent cabbage...ah, maybe some white roses with painted blood too...*blinks* Am I getting carried away, or are you with me on this?

What?! December can't come fast enough! After scouring their FB page, I see that they're making two other series too, but they're all in the same universe? Something called Wizards (this sounds wonderful already!) and 3 Below. If they're anything like Trollhunters, we're in for a treat!

Nice! This game has more to it than I realized. I still haven't gotten a chance to play yet (things are still in the post-vacation phase where things are hectic) but I plan to soon. Can we just talk about how the Mad Hatter was 80% hat? Judging by his height...he was, what, seven? xD What has scared me the most so far is the jail of those creepy bread boys. I am still greatly disturbed and I can't look at jelly donuts the same way.

Glad to hear it! And you’re welcome, but I did it just as much for me as for you! Any kind of complicated story does well with some sort of glossary. Plus, it helps to keep details and world/magic rules fairly straight. I can’t remember which bits have been mentioned, but not explained to Ghent, though.

^.^ Heh, maybe we could come up with our own spin-off for them someday. Glad you approve!

Oh my gosh. Ghent’s reaction is wonderful. Scaredy-cat! See what you do, Ghent? xD

Pfft, I’m totally with you. Poke some eyes out on the Cabbage Patch heads, throw in a few twisted black roses, maybe around a coffin with a beat-up, abandoned teddy bear inside to preside over the garden, baby doll hands sticking up randomly from the earth…

Thinking of Toy Story, though, I had a dream the other night where I got sucked into a world that was like that meets Wonderland (surprise, surprise). It was weird. Another person and I were the only people not toys or life-like stuffed animals. A queen and an incompetent squire guy who liked to slither around like a snake and bite people took the rule over the kingdom from a cowardice king. I woke up wondering what the freak my brain was doing.

Oh! Nice. I saw something about that, but didn’t look into it. Did now! The Wizards one makes sense. I mean, “By the glory of Merlin,” after all. The 3 Below might be a tough sell for me, though. Hopefully they tie it all in together really well!

Doesn’t it? And my gosh, right? xD Oh, Hatter. That was amusing. The bits with the anpan and strawberry jam bread boys made me want bread. Actually, I’m pretty sure I went and made some toast to munch on while reading about Rotty and the Duchess. Is it bad, though, that the whole concept of the Bread Boys made me grin, and I found it all morbidly wonderful? Actually, I think I was grinning through 95% of the story. Like Cheshire’s apprentice or something.

That has stumped me once or twice. For example: when Elayra scolded Ghent for using Drust's name, I made it so that Ghent didn't quite catch on. If she did explain, I guess it didn't click or he forgot. x'D I may start jotting down the specifics, so I don't get his knowledge confused with my own.

I think 'ghosts' will be officially added to Ghent's list of fears.
I keep laughing over the fact that Elayra was sorely tempted to knock him out.

YES. All of that is spectacular. If we make the garden large enough, we could charge an admission fee. With the funds, we can expand. I've heard of haunted houses, haunted ships...but never a haunted garden.

That's got to be one of the most interesting dreams I've heard of in a long time! Any dream inspired by Wonderland is bound to be wild. The squire is actually very frightening to imagine...what on earth could have inspired that?! xD

So...I just looked into 3 Below, and I now see it's sci-fi based. I went by the name alone, and thought it would be based off of a yeti or something...because I thought it meant 3 degrees below zero. *facepalm*

You actually ate bread and grinned during that?! Why am I not surprised?! I was staring at the screen, mouth agape in shock. The whole concept...it's wonderful, but it got me spooked. I guess because I didn't see that coming. AT ALL. xD
Hah! You would totally make a good apprentice for their version of the Cheshire Cat. That should be added to your future costumes list. He's got a cool cloak/coat looking outfit going on...and I know how much you like cloaks.

Hmm. Must’ve spaced on that, or hadn’t set the rules in stone in my head yet. Drust’s name would not matter, since Knights aren’t connected to magic. Created by, but no extreme access to. Plus, they’re already prone to magic, so it wouldn’t be necessary. In Elayra’s case, she doesn’t have to worry on the magic side, being a human with limited access and not well trained in it, but, as a royal, her name would have been known to the land from birth. Unwanted ears overhearing and recognizing it or the title “princess” could spell trouble. Ghent’s would have been kept from all but a select few people.

WE WILL MAKE THIS GARDEN HAPPEN. Still say wearing ratty Care Bear and/or Cabbage Patch Kids costumes would be like icing on the cake. Could cut off a leg of the CB and hop around with both legs in the remaining leg hole.

The squire was super annoying, actually… No idea what inspired him.

Yep! I do enjoy some sci-fi, but its premise just seems so random in compared to what they’ve done so far.

Awesome. It’s always wonderful when you don’t predict something like that! Oh, I also loved the concept of roses becoming red by drinking blood. That was unique.
Ha! Thanks. xD It’s a robe, actually! A robe is basically a cloak with (often wide) sleeves. Cloaks are long (ankle to floor-length, typically), sleeveless garments that wrap someone completely, with a closure at the front, and occasionally slits added to the sides as armholes. Capes vary in length, but only drape down the back, or cover only a portion of the shoulders (think superheroes).

Then, of course, “coat” is a very broad term, and has its own sub-categories, so I won’t get into that.
Bet you weren’t expecting a lesson in clothing today.

Whew. For some reason, that post did not want to be written. I haven't had writers block this bad in ages. Again, that twist at the end was brilliant. I never expected for this to happen! *^*

And...noted! Thank you for elaborating on that. Hm...are you telling me that Ghent's nicknames actually serve a purpose now? XD

Heck yes. I can't decide if I want to be Funshine Bear or Grumpy Bear. I am a mixture of both. Or...maybe a made up bear. A Scare Bear? Is that a thing yet? If not...it will be.

Could cut off a leg of the CB and hop around with both legs in the remaining leg hole.

YES.

Wasn't it? Everything about it was great. I often find myself thinking back on that game with fond memories. I never did buy the full demo...I had to get a new phone, so I lost my data. I don't mind, though...gives me a chance to replay it. I'm downloading it now.

A robe! Why couldn't I think of that word?! Thank you! That makes total sense. In that case, you should get matching robes. And that gif is a little too perfect. xD

I hate when that happens. You’re not alone! But still. Your writing’s wonderful. You never fail to challenge me to do my best! And thanks. Neither did I. xD

They’ve always served a purpose: Elayra’s amusement, and to annoy Ghent. But yes. They have another now.

Hmm. Take half of each Bear and stitch them together? But obviously, with huge stitches. Actually, there is such a thing as Scare Bears. But I like our version better.

Same. Sucks you had to get a new phone! It’s never fun transferring everything over. Hope you enjoy the replay as much as the first time! I’d say it’s worth keeping around for another read/play-through sometime down the road.

Because words are finicky (and even fickle at times) like that?

You know, the number of different conversations we have going on in various forms is rather amusing.

You're the one who challenges, and also inspires me, me to do my best! We're a good match.
And...this killed me.

"She gripped the bridge of her nose and took a few deep breaths, as she had seen Drust do to try calming himself"

I just...I feel so sorry for Elayra and Drust.

Hah! So true. Don't ask, but I envisioned them wearing matching shirts. Ghent's would say 'I'm with Blondie' and Elayra's would say 'I'm with Featherhead'. I'm greatly amused by this.

I like our version better as well! Maybe I'll donate my Care Bear to the cause...*eyes scissors*

It was a pain, but I love my new phone because I have so much storage space. I'm enjoying it, thank you! Haven't gotten to the point where I need to purchase the full version yet. I said it once, I'll say it again. I love their version of Cheshire.

True, and true. Never a dull moment with us. XD

Agreed. ^.^

Ha! Glad you enjoyed that. Oh! I meant to mention it in my last OOC post, but it didn’t happen. I like how you described the opening of the backpack, and then there was this:

He hated it when Elayra wielded anything sharp. Which was always.

Also love how tempted Ghent is to use magic.

That’s… just… great! xD xD I could totally see them wearing shirts like that.

I just imagined your Care Bear staring at you in utter terror while you eyed the scissors.

More space is always a good thing! Do you keep a lot of music and other media on it, or mostly games/apps? Or a good mix. I’ll always laugh at their Cheshire’s morbid borderline obsession with Alice and cats tasting good.

Oh, about the armor reference I sent. I forgot Drust still has the gauntlets.

Drust, his katana strapped to his back, stepped back and raised a hand, a tight-fitting gauntlet protecting his arm from fist to the crook of his elbow. Elayra’s sword clanged to a stop against the gauntlet, the metal of the armored glove a dirtied shade of white.

While the full set of armor would be something he would not have hung onto for space reasons, he has a couple pieces of it.

I’ll add the picture reference and some info under his character profile. Because I like background stuff WAY too much. Decided to reread a bit to remind myself of what wounds Elayra still has. Note to self: a nasty bruise on the back, and a sore shoulder. Dang, though. I’m more prone to long-winded sentences than I thought. Imma work on that! I’m also starting to think that trees are Drust’s worst enemies.

Glad you liked it. xD I figured he would be tempted by it, especially when he's scared.

I can too. They'd be at the height of fashion!

Hah! I've been debating getting rid of my Care Bear...so why not re-purpose him?

I have a couple apps and around three games, but they use up a ton of space. I don't have much music since I've been using YouTube a lot for that. Especially lately, with our playlists.
And...YES. I believe Cheshire Cat would approve of our loyalty to him. =^^=

Oh, sweet! Yep, I definitely forgot about those too. I love gauntlets, and those ones are especially cool. Drust just got even cooler in my book, if that's possible. Yay for photo references!
...I also forgot that Ghent packed a bunch of junk food along with him. I wonder how much of it has survived through the abuse the backpack has gone through.

Aw, I never thought you were long-winded with sentences. But, we are our own worst critics.
"I’m also starting to think that trees are Drust’s worst enemies." Oh my gosh. Wait. Is this the second time he's hit a tree? The first time was with Elayra, right? x'D I gotta read back on this. If that's the case...his worst enemies are trees, and also the two children he's sworn to protect...

At least it wasn’t a two month wait this time. xD Because of how I did the skip, let me know if you want/need me to change anything! Or have any suggestions. Or questions. ;-) Also, so you know, I added the tichari (including its pronunciation) under "Wonderland Terms," and linked the armor picture under Drust's profile.

Oh my. I’d say poor Care Bear, but I totally approve of your re-purposing plans.

Yay for YouTube! I have yet to get the links to the ones you were putting together, though.

“I believe Cheshire Cat would approve of our loyalty to him.” That kind of makes me think of one of the alternate endings of the game. Heh.

I imagine Ghent will probably have quite a bit of chip dust and smushed mush to munch on by now!

I don't recall it ever being a 2 month wait. xD Though, even if it was, I'm perfectly okay with that. Real life has a habit of sabotaging us, plus there's writers block to deal with. I started reading back more last night, since Jules started to read again (yay!) and I wanted to see where she was. I'd forgotten so much dialog. I laughed out loud several times, and started to feel sentimental. I can never accurately describe how much I love our cast of characters. My heart is flooded with admiration for them. <3
Yay for the additions! Still adore the armor. I liked how you described it to be more form fitting, rather than bulky. I can imagine it very well, I can't wait to draw Drust again! Also, I love the tichari/Safe Zone concept.

As for your latest reply, no suggestions needed, it was perfect! As I mentioned in our chat, I wanted to point out how much I liked it. First, your description of the forest was amazing. You're so good at describing surroundings, it made everything so much scarier and easy to imagine. I really like how you write for Elayra being afraid, too. She hides it better than a certain someone.
Finally, I like that she offered Ghent a dagger. And proceeded to warn him.

Can't wait to get to the ending! Or, one of the endings. I was playing a little last night. Their version of the Cheshire Cat is on my list of things to draw.

Mmm. Tasty. Reminds me, I saw a chocolate bar with crushed potato chips inside of it at the store. Why do I think that'd taste good?

Edit: Just wanted to point out that I love your avatar.

It was roughly two months because of the holidays. I did not post from the end of November to sometime in January. And I love our brain children. So much.

My turn! I’ll never get over how wonderfully you play off of the information given, always adding something to the situation at hand, and even inserting Ghent so he becomes the direct instigator of some of the actions and dialogue I put. You do that so seamlessly. RP partner goals, there. And of course the humor in dialogue and descriptions. “That’s the sixth time! I’ve counted!”

Aah! If you ever draw him, please share! I bet he’ll look amazing. :-D

I’ve seen those, I think! And because it has your sweet and your salty all in one snack?

That explains it. Things were so busy then, I barely had time to breathe. Gotta love the holidays!

Aw...shucks. Well, thank you. :'D I always say it, but I feel so honored to be a part of this. I can never thank you enough for all the hard work and time you've invested. My imagination's never been happier!
I'd say we are the definition of RP partner goals. And, our sense of humor works so well together.

His disbelieving expression made her want to punch him. But, then, practically everything he did made her want to punch him.

Need I say more?!

Mhmm. *nods* Now I'm hungry.

So, not quite a fortnight's wait, but close enough.

I'm honored to have you apart of it. ;-) It's been my absolute pleasure thus far!

... CURSE YOU, DELICIOUS-SOUNDING FOOD!

Oh my gosh. I did some research to find out what sounds foxes actually make. FOXES SCREAM!

Oh wow! I had no idea they made noises like that! Kinda cute when you see it, but if I heard that in the woods I'd run for my life. Makes me wonder what (or who) he's screaming at. "Get off my lawn!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN4t9O3sGP0

I fell into the rabbit hole again. Have some cuteness.

He is the king (or she's the queen?) of the lawn!

Already commented elsewhere, but aww! Foxes are so adorable.

My turn!