Welcome to Gaia! ::

One's wandering of the forest may bring them out of the dark and into the light once more. This clearing is somewhere along the middle of these woods and holds an air of gentle sweetness. The grass is tall enough to brush just past one's ankles in a ticklish fashion, the flowers that sprinkle in between the lush green varies from species to species, but whether this vast selection of floral decoration is the work of a certain mortal or just a wonder of nature and wind is for the individual to decide. Regardless, there is a delightful mix of smells here that some may find dizzying, while others will delight in it. Rabbits, groundhogs, and several other critters can be found lazing about here, somehow secure despite the open sky threatening them from above. The largest beast one may see is a deer hopping her way through or one of the wild horses enjoying nature's pasture. While strolling through, either taking this destination for a picnic or simple moment of contemplation, the wind will seem to whisper past one's ears. This eerie, yet calming, sound draws the eyes towards a shrine standing humbly in the center. Here, we give worship to the Wind Fairy and it's past followers.

The grass was a bit tall, which John liked a lot. He loved the field, where he could hear all the happy chirps of birds and the chattering of what he guessed would be squirrels, or maybe more birds! John liked it either way and he was just looking at the trees in hopes to see one of the great deer of the forest venturing out because it was time to show their young the meadow for no reason he understood because it just seemed unnecessarily dangerous with potential hunters. But, then, he wasn't a deer and, as he felt the sun warm him pleasantly, he could see how it would be something a deer just had to experience! Plus, if they never came out, he would never have a chance to see them – oh.. but.. today.. He turned slightly away and set a hand on the holster at his belt, looking at the dart gun there. He wasn't sure if he wanted a deer to come out when he may be that horrible hunter soon.

John stood there nervously, clad in the full-cowboy gear his father had been supplying him with since before he could remember. Boots, fur chaps, bandana, hat.. Even spurs! Though, he wasn't sure what the spurs were for and he sorta felt nervous walking around with them on when some innocent pill bug could get.. maimed.. Oh, god, he hoped he hadn't hurt any little families! He had leaned down to check the earth fervently for little bodies that he would have to bury because it sounded so mean to just leave them there when he heard the crunch of grass. He shot back up like a bullet and adjusted his hat with a smile at the man who arrived. “Hi!” He greeted and proceeded to stand there, smiling and smiling because there was nothing else to do, was there?

John lifted his hands up automatically to shield himself at the first cry from the man, expecting anger to follow shortly after, but the other just seemed to be surprised and that was it! Ah, what a nice man – not to say that anyone who didn't react in a calm, friendly manner wasn't nice, because that would be a very rude assumption for John to make and John tried his very best to not be rude at all. So, he laughed when he laughed and only flinched a little when the man smacked his shoulder, smiling at him, “I was – oh.” He bent his knees a little as he saw the man try to look over his shoulder for some reason, but he didn't bother questioning it. “I'm sorry, is that better?” He asked before remembering to actually answer the man, but then the other had continued talking again and he could straighten himself up.

Oh! So this was the person who had taken his request! How nice of him! “You're a good person.” He said first with a nod in complete agreement because what else could Garland be? He wanted to help someone as lowly as John! He would have started to cry if he hadn't been taught that crying was the worst response ever unless someone wanted to be pushed out a window. “Thank you. I like your – oh.” He didn't have a hat! Ah, what did he do? He frowned and turned around briefly before realizing he hadn't brought a second hat for the man. All he had brought was a paper bag with a feather-headdress and that really wasn't as nice as his cowboy hat was.

Still, he knelt and picked up the bag from beside his feet, gently taking the headdress out and handing it to the other, “I like your hat more, but Dad says it's not for me. You're the Indian here, anyway. I mean,” He chewed the inside of his cheek for a moment nervously, “if you want to be. But that was the request, so maybe you do? ..I think you would make a good Indian, your hair looks like an Indian's.. Unless you would be a better cowboy..?” He really didn't know at all! John was supposed to be a cowboy but if Garland wanted it more, then, maybe he would have to be the Indian, which would be fine. He guessed. He hoped it would be.

Tshila grinned biting her lip slightly. She didn't think the cheesy pick up lines were just him being in character but they were kind of adorable in a weird sort of way. AT any rate, she didn't mind playing a game of dopey flirtatious antics with a sexy older man...especially since she didn't really know anyone else yet.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that," Tshila said. "Even if your heart couldn't handle it, I have a few tried and true techniques to...um...stimulate pumping action. And a whole regimen of fun activities to give you a nice cardiac work out." She smirked up at him slightly.

"Don't underestimate the skill of these hands," she said, holding them up. "I am a doctor, you know. Well, for tonight anyway. But I'm totally great with my hands all the time."

**

Michael shivered slightly when the girl in front of him ran a finger over his body paint. Ah...she was pretty bold. Not that he really minded all that much. Bold women were nice sometimes, too. He smiled down at her. "Oh, yours too. You look great," Michael said. "And yeah, I'm pretty new. Michael Pearson, by the way--and, sadly, not Scottish. Love their fashion sense, though. But I think my students might be a little weirded out if I showed up to work in a kilt..."

It was a pity too, because he looked awesome in one, if he did say so himself.

"So...here by yourself?" Not subtle but, eh. Whatever.

"Oh, really? I've seen those hoses firemen use. It probably takes a lot skill and stamina to be able to wield something that big," Tshila teased, leaning in closer so she could whisper next to his ear. "I'd totally love a demonstration sometime, know what I mean? But...then...I'd love to have dinner sometime too." She paused, hoping he didn't think she was just trying to tell him she was hungry. Or some kind of weird cannibal. "With you, I mean. Uh, in case that wasn't clear."

She felt like she was kind of taking a risk by basically asking him out because, well, he was older than her and for all she knew, he really just thought of her as some dumb kid. Flirting was one thing but, you know, actually going on a date was another. But...he seemed like a lot of fun and she was not going to get to know him by just ordering pastries at the bakery occasionally.

Tshila figured if he turned her down, she hadn't lost anything, really. It would be totally understandable iff he wasn't interested in seeing someone a lot younger--she actually hadn't really ever thought about dating someone so much older than her before either. But hey! She was the kind of girl that just rolled with whatever was given to her so it was all good. Unless he turned her down. That was bad. But she'd just go with it.


--

Her dad? Oh, God! Was she one of his students? Michael didn't recognize her. He didn't think she was but he was pretty sure he'd die of horror if he was hitting on (and being hit on) by someone in his class. Probably. Then again, she was very attractive. He followed her gaze to a very fit man who was, maybe, in his late 40s, but who appeared to be chatting up a much younger blonde. Judging by her face, this was either Lyra's father--or someone she really detested. Michael made a mental note: whatever happens, do not piss this young woman off because her father can probably break your spine in half.

"Ah, yeah. I teach high school here. Which, pretty much makes up most of entire school," he told her. If she didn't recognize him then she couldn't be a student. That was...that was good. Definitely. "It's a lot of work but all my students are good kids. Well, most of them. There are a couple that need some extra guidance and all that. But they're good kids too, I think."

"Anyway, what about you, Lyra? What do you do? Besides attend parties and basically steal the spotlight from every other woman there, of course..." It was a small town so there probably weren't a lot of options but as long as she didn't say she was a student, he was fine.

Tshila had actually been expecting to be turned down or something. Because Xeiro was a mature older guy and things and she was, well, herself. She got turned down a lot. And cheated on. And stood up. So she supposed there was still time for either of the latter two, but at least she didn't get instantly rejected! That was great! She was totally ecstatic because, well, even if he was older and stuff, he wasn't just good looking. He was also, you know, funny and things and she wanted to get to know him a little better outside of stopping in to buy croissants and seeing him in costume at parties.

Plus, he could apparently cook! That was totally cool. She'd always thought men who were good cooks were definitely worth getting to know. And, actually, he was kind of the only person she really even knew on the island except her colleagues at work.

"We should totally do that sometime then. Like, really soon, you know? So...is this where I ask for your number, or is that your job?" she teased.

**

Michael smirked down at Lyra. Okay. Well, that answered that question, thankfully. He felt much safer flirting with her now. Well, sort of. Her father, the hulking--wait, did she just say he was a baker!? What the hell? That was...weird. He tried to shake that bit of weirdness off as he grinned at her. "Well, to be honest, I think that if you're not one of my students, I might still have a thing or two to teach you," he told her. "At least, I'd like to think so."

"And I haven't really settled into anything here. It's a pretty quiet island so I was thinking of taking up surfing or rock climbing or something. Back home, my hobby was my motorcycle--and the occasional road trip. Basically I like anything that gets the adrenaline going. Then again, it's no so bad living in a quiet place if there are people who can get the adrenaline going too."

"Or who can at least inspire the occasional smooth line."