|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 8:36 am
Quote: The Wishing Tree (1): In Town Square, there is a beautiful tree with spreading branches. It is tall, but the lowest branches are easily reached. The city has decorated the tree with small, starlike ornaments and glistening lights. Thick leaves and beautiful purple flowers dangle from the branches, along with a myriad of different colored papers with handwritten wishes. Next to the tree is a stack of blank paper with twine attached, and a handwritten sign that explains: Write your wish on a sheet of paper and tie it to the tree. Take one wish off the tree and do your best to grant it. When you have granted the wish, bury the paper in the park. The papers are biodegradable and filled with seeds. There are no rules for wishing, but you are encouraged to wish for something vague enough that it can be interpreted in many ways so that it can be granted; you do not write your name on it, but it is encouraged to write something that doesn’t wish for self gain, but rather something that can make the world a better place. Some wishes dangling from the tree already include things like “I wish there wasn’t so much litter in the park,” “I wish someone would clean the graffiti off the old historic buildings,” and “I wish there were more volunteers at the shelter.” If you choose to use the Wishing Tree, what do you wish for? If your wish is private, you may write it on the paper and choose a spot in the park and bury it yourself instead of hanging it on the tree. Whilst large scale city events tended to fill Arian with dread, he had to admit that so far the star festival hadn't been terrible. In fact, surprisingly , so far it had actually been okay with no giant spiders or creepy bats– And no Negaverse plots or gatecrashing. Mayhaps it was down to the fact that the star festival wasn't actually a new event, but something that had in previous years had been more of a smaller and quieter event, or mayhaps it was down to something completely different - either way however, Arian wasn't complaining and was even reaching the point where he was (cautiously) starting to let himself relax and enjoy the event - which was how he had found himself at the large tree down at the town square that had been specially decorated for the event, absently glancing up at the different wishes that people had already hung up– He stepped forward, attention still mainly on the tree, not noticing the way how it had put his trajectory right in the path of another passerby until practically the last moment. It was perhaps a reminder that mayhaps he should have spent a little more time looking up at his surroundings and a little less time looking up at the tree. xxxIndigo_Plateau Apologies for the delay in getting this up, I strained strained something in my arm earlier this week. hope this works as a start but if not then lmk and I will tweak
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 8:52 am
It was required by one of his professors that Nataniel be at this event to fulfill a class project, otherwise, he would not have bothered coming. Any social event was not his forte. Not because he thought he was awkward or incredibly socially inept, but because he typically did not care to put forth the effort required of him in these situations. He didn't consider himself impatient when concerning topics of interest to him, but the niceties of events like these did not happen to be of interest.
As it turned out, he was quite impatient to leave.
But he couldn't yet, and it looked as though his summer class sessions for at least the next week would also revolve around being in the thick of the festivities, running some nonsense charity booth that Nataniel, admittedly, also had minimal interest in.
He'd taken a break to wander, for just a moment, away from the other students in his class. Exploring seemed to be reserved for people more adventurous than Nat, but given his lack of options in being here, he decided it may be in his benefit to look around. Anything would be better than staring from his team's booth for eight straight hours.
The large tree in the square had caught his eye, not because of the small crowd clustered around it and strangers flitting to and from it, but because the idea behind it (nothing Nataniel would partake in himself, of course) was weirdly cute and kind. Something he didn't expect anyone to think up let alone participate in. As his dark gaze wandered up to the branches, and his fingers followed to touch the silver lining of a crimson star ornament someone else collided with him from behind. Not enough to knock him over, but enough to draw a small frown to Nat's face as he pulled the charm from the tree.
This was more in line with what he expected of people. "You ought to be careful," he murmured, turning to face the other.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2019 2:28 pm
"You're right" Arian said his quiet voice tinged slightly with embarrassment, because in the split second that he'd spotted the other male it had already been too late– And because truth-be-told he really should have been paying attention "I'm sorry about that." The apology was reflected in his eyes, as he glanced at the reddish eyes of the other, something slightly familiar about the other, although Arian couldn't quite place from where. "I got distracted by the tree," he admitted quietly "But I really shouldn't have." Or at least he shouldn't have let it completely distract him from his surroundings even if it was pretty.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:04 am
At very least, running into anyone here wasn't so much a great hindrance as it was a minor inconvenience. Nataniel hadn't had a goal in mind by coming over here, so he wasn't being distracted from anything important, and the other boy, for all his mistake, did at least seem to be genuinely sorry. Though it was a bit difficult for Nat to be certain. Deciphering facial expressions and social cues was not any talent of his.
"It is fine," he answered, dark red irises flicking from the tree to the other boy as if studying him. He had a vaguely familiar face, as though he wasn't someone Nataniel knew, but should at least be able to place- "Ah."
Right. Recognition dawned on him. Though he wasn't a beacon of social interaction and had had a very limited set of relationships during his high school experience, Nataniel had always been observant. He severely doubted anyone had paid half a mind to him, but he'd at least always been aware enough to recognize familiar figures from his classes. They'd shared two years at Meadowview, though Nat had never cared to learn his name.
Even if he had at the time, there wouldn't have been any benefit to remembering it six years later, as it was now. It was peculiar to think of, though, how people stuck around after high school. Destiny City wasn't even this boy's hometown, if Nat remembered right.
Nataniel didn't care to ask about that, and instead focused back on the tree. "It seems to have a lot of peoples' attention, doesn't it?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2019 5:13 am
As it happened Arian was genuinely sorry about having stumbled into the other earlier and a part of him couldn't help but feel a little relieved that the other appeared to have accepted his apology, however it wasn't as mind reading was something that lay amongst his abilities. The niggling sense of familiarity persisted, vague enough that Arian still couldn't quite put a finger on the where, although also not quite going away. "It does," he agreed at the other's comment about the tree, lips quirking up in a slight half-smile as he admitted "Although the city council looks like they've put a lot of effort into setting things up" he gestured towards the prettily decorated tree and the paper that lay waiting for people to write out their wishes. There was also the fact that nothing crazy appeared to be happening as with the case of a lot of the previous events that the city had put on, although Arian wasn't sure about how much the other male knew about those and was equally unsure on whether it was his place to actually say anything. "Are you here..." He began, meaning to ask whether the other was part of those out adding wishes to the tree, but it was that at that moment that the strands of vague memory chose to connect. "Meadowview" he blurted out and then flushed faintly as that hadn't come out quite right "Er not quite I meant," he said quietly, adding "But did you go to Meadowview by any chance?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2019 5:26 am
The city council had put a lot of effort into setting things up all over the city, as far as Nataniel could tell. ...It really felt like more of a hindrance than a celebration to him. Places that weren't usually crowded now were, as people who typically did nothing with their evenings now wandered outside. He was among them, he supposed, as Nat found it far easier to enjoy a night inside rather than surrounded by strangers.
His sigh was soft, dark red lashes falling shut as he shook his head. "It is a cumbersome event," he replied, never one to be wary of being blunt over his feelings. "But the idea behind it is unexpected in its goodwill, and I'm surprised how much interest there is."
Neither was he one to doubt the extent of human selfishness.
Nataniel's gaze flicked back to the other man. "Yes. We graduated in the same year and even had a scattering of classes together," he said with the faintest pinching of his brow and downward quirk of his lips as if to suggest, 'Don't you know that?' It had been several years ago, though, and Nataniel hadn't been one to stick out. Perhaps it wasn't so strange that none of his former classmates remembered him very well. It suited him fine, besides.
"I'm sorry I can't recall your name, but you moved from the UK, didn't you?" That bit of information had at least been interesting, enough for Nataniel to remember that much, anyway.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2019 4:09 am
"I'm not sure I'd personally call the event cumbersome" Arian admitted with a slight shrug. He actually personally thought it kind of nice - at least he did now that he had slowly started to relax about the whole thing "I mean so far it's seemed relatively smooth, unlike some of the previous events that the city has put on" his lips quirked up in another small, but rueful smile as he added "Although mayhaps that's just me." Not that he had any intention of going into any detail about any of said events, but he figured that the news had covered enough of them for the other to get what he was talking about - even if said coverage was along the lines of 'mutated animals' or special effects that had somehow 'gotten out of hand'. Arian hadn't really expected quite such a direct response to his question about Meadowview, although at least it explained what the other had seemed so familiar. "I did" he admitted, in answer to the other's question about him having moved from the UK, fingers absently tugging against his braid as he spoke, the accent still there even after 8 years of living in the States. "I think I spent that first summer, before formally starting classes, practically living in the main city library" in part because he had had to catch up to the areas where he was behind in and in part because his cousin had wanted him to sit his GCSEs. "And it's Arian - Arian Laith, but there's no need to apologise for not remembering - it's been a while since Meadowview and it wasn't like we spent a lot of time together unless you count classes." There was a rueful note to his quiet voice as he admitted "And I don't recall your name either." And so it kind of made them even.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 9:47 am
Nataniel thought most events were cumbersome. Lengthy city-wide social displays? It was disruptive to someone like him, who preferred quiet solitude and simple routine. He didn't like the idea of areas of the city that were normally peaceful (that he would enjoy) were suddenly scenes for parties, festivities, scavenger hunts, and barbecues. It was too difficult for him to appreciate the day when he didn't know where such events were being held. If it was up to him, he would hole up in his room and wait it out, as he did with most such things...
But it didn't always happen that everything was up to him. Even without the excuse of school projects, his roommate, Gabriel, was encouraging toward activities that were typically beyond Nataniel's norm and comfort.
He hadn't partaken in anything else hosted by the city because he hadn't felt compelled or pressured to as he did now, and frankly, if it had all gotten out of hand, Nat didn't feel as though he'd missed out on anything. This one was already bad enough without all that...
He didn't intend to argue opinions with the other man, though. It would be a pointless activity.
Which was a similar notion to how he felt about the library. Nataniel may have read a bit when he was younger, but by the time he was in high school, all the information available in a library would be just as readily accessible from his laptop, and more conveniently, even. Why would he bother leaving his home and room if anything he needed to study was right there, on the internet? But perhaps someone like Arian, who had roots in a more crowded sect of the world, preferred to be out and about more than someone as reclusive as Nataniel did.
Most people probably preferred to be out and about more than Nataniel did.
"Nataniel, but Nat is fine, if that is your preference," he answered as the other admitted to not knowing his name. It was as he'd expected, so he dismissed it with a shrug. His eyes flicked up to the branches of the tree before them, then to the neat stack of paper. "Were you going to make a wish? Don't let me stop you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 4:02 am
Arian's lips quirked up in a small but slightly rueful smile "I wasn't going to" he admitted quietly, because truth be told he hadn't really gotten past looking at the prettily decorated tree. Although given that he was here and all, then maybe he should - after all it was in the whole spirit of the thing and it wasn't like it would hurt either way– And it would be nice to actually treat a city event on face value for once, to treat it as something - normal , something fun without waiting for the other shoe to fall. "But now I think that perhaps I will." He gave Nataniel another small smile as he reached out for a piece of paper "It was nice meeting you Nataniel - I haven't come across that many people that I went to high school with - and apologies again for bumping into you." Indigo_Plateau Apologies for the delay in this, wasn't sure if you wanted to continue but if so then I am happy to move towards a wrap :3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2019 1:26 pm
Ah, so it had happened that they'd both wandered here by little more than happenstance, with neither of them actually interested (or at least aware) in the cute activity the tree provided. Nataniel had never been much of an outdoorsman, but despite that being the case, he still enjoyed the benefits of nature. He liked the way it smelled, the way it sounded, and the softer elements of it when juxtaposed to the city. He hadn't come here to engage, but since he'd walked this far, perhaps he should.
He reached for a slip of paper as Arian did and slid a sheet toward himself. Curiosity made him wonder what the other man would write, if it correlated with anything Nat himself would put, and he was tempted to peer over just a bit to see...
But Arian's tone had been dismissive, an obvious bid for farewell, and this suited Nataniel just as well. He scrawled his own wish on the slip of paper, something short and direct in his narrow script, 'I wish more people would interact with the charity booths.' Something to help his school project, of course, while still keeping to the theme, so to speak. Nat folded it, looped twine around the crease, and moved toward the tree trunk. As he stepped away, he tossed an answering, "You as well," over his shoulder before hanging the paper from a low-hanging branch and heading off.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 11:55 am
Arian bit his lower lip thoughtfully as he glanced over his piece of paper. What to write?It was hard coming to a decision and he most definitely spent a few moments as he mentally considered and weighed up what he wanted to write down, however eventually he carefully scrawled: I wish for the city will have more peaceful little events like this one He'd taken so long dithering over what to write that Nataniel was gone by the time that Arian finally reached up to carefully loop the wish around the closest low-hanging branch, although he was happy with what he'd come up with– Because it would be nice if a normal city event could be more than just a one off - particularly the ones that fell around a holiday.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
