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 Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2023 1:45 pm
Quote: Prompt 17 (Cryogenic Crisis): A strange phenomenon has overtaken the flora of Destiny City. Most prevalent in large trees, but occurring also in saplings, bushes, and any wooded plant, the color seems to be completely draining and the plants are becoming oddly crystalline. Leaves and bark especially almost seem to be turning to ice, and observant passersby might notice that the trees seem to be crystalizing. They are cold to the touch and even seem to melt under heat. The increased weight has made it dangerous to walk beneath any of these trees; branches also snap and fall, and even leaves and small twigs can become dangerous projectiles. Scientists have said there is a pollutant in the water causing a strange chemical reaction, but there’s still something suspicious about it. Destiny City has employed some specialists to treat the afflicted trees, and some already seem to be in various stages of recovery–but if you’re out and about, chances are that you’ll still find a few of these arborous anomalies. Todd still felt apprehensive about winter, in general—some of it was plenty nice, but seeing the bare trees set off an instinct that screamed danger in his brain. He wrestled with quieting it, knowing that Earth was safe, that spring would come again. One of his attempts at getting used to it was walking the dog around the parks and trying to indulge in the life he did find out there. Snow rabbits, the weird little lizards that hissed at everyone, even the penguins, plus all the people. Still, somehow, endless amounts of people out in the cold. Children throwing snowballs, other dogs out playing. It steadied him. Until he saw it. A group of large trees looking like... like... His heart quickened and he couldn't stop himself from diving into a thick bush, scaring Maxim, who stood outside the bush and stared at Todd like he was an idiot. He probably was being one. A big idiot baby. He hugged himself, trying not to cry, whimpering into his knees as he pulled out his thick phone with shaking hands and slowly dialed Zac's number. "Please come," he begged into the phone once it was answered. "There's—Todd see—trees, scary!" The panicky fear made him lose all his words, not even close to half of what he wanted to say falling form his mouth. He thought he'd been getting better at speaking like a "normal" person. But everything felt so sharp and raw...
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2023 10:58 am
Zac was not a fan of winter, no matter how magical or romantic it could be. The older he got, the less exciting he felt. He didn’t like being cold. He didn’t have anyone to throw snowballs at. Making snowmen wasn’t fun when you did it alone. So, he was just grouchy.
He was home, enjoying the heat. The house was decorated a bit, he’d put up lights. Even if he was a grouch, it was Christmastime. It was supposed to be festive. Pretty, at least. They’d decorate a tree. It was tradition. Even if some of them didn’t remember.
He kept his phone close to him, just in case. Always just in case.
Todd hadn’t been gone for long, he knew he was out with Maxim. He’d put on the little ‘dog boots’ Evan had insisted he wear so his feet didn’t get cold. The poor dog looked so silly, especially with the little sweater Evan had gotten for him, too. Zac was glad he didn't have to go out and walk him.
Of course, when he got Todd’s call, he suspected something bad. Like, Maxim saw a rabbit and took off or something. He didn’t expect a dangerous tree, but he didn’t criticize Todd, either.
“Okay,” he said slowly, but he was already walking across the house and sliding on his shoes. He hated the cold, but he didn’t even grab a jacket before he stepped outside. “Where are you?”
Couldn’t be far, he hadn’t been gone with the dog for too long.
He heard a bit of jingling on the other side of the phone–Maxim’s collar, no doubt, so–good, they were still together. He couldn’t see it, but Maxim had come over to Todd after he disappeared into the bushes.
The dog might have been perplexed by Todd’s behavior, but it didn’t take him long to think that maybe this was a game and he hurried over, butting his head against Todd and wagging so furiously that his tail knocked a bit of snow from the bushes.
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2023 2:58 pm
Todd sniffed. "Wav—Waverly Park," he said with a bit of a quiver in his voice. Zac was on his way, he told himself. Zac was coming. Zac would tell him what was wrong and they could fix it or something and it would all be okay. He'd be safe. Hopefully. He hadn't been able to save his own planet from this, what made him think he could save Earth? But Maxim's face thrust itself into his and he spluttered a bit, petting the dog shakily. "Maxim, good boy," he said into the dog's ear, still holding the phone sort of near his mouth. "Todd in... ah.. a bush." He knew how silly he sounded, but he couldn't help it. He felt safer in burrows. Even makeshift ones.
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Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2023 1:15 am
Maxim was a good boy, adamantly licking Todd’s face.
And sticking his entire, wiggling rear end out of the bush so Zac could see exactly where they were.
“All right, I see you.”
The bite of winter hadn’t gotten to him yet, he was a bit warm from rushing out. Seeing where the two were didn’t slow down any, and he walked with large, hurried steps until he reached the trembling bush.
Along the way, he’d kept his eyes peeled for any scary looking trees. It would have been just as likely Todd found something tree-like and confused it for some sort of tree monster, but–what. Telephone poles? He knew what those were. The lamps were decorated, but they looked the same as always, just with some extra tinsel. The only tree he saw was–
Oh, the one that looked like someone had carved it out of ice.
“Todd,” he announced, a few steps away. Maxim looked like he was ready to bound out to greet him but he pressed his nose into Todd’s cheek needily–something that always worked on Evan when he was struggling to breathe.
“I’m here, you’re safe. Nothing’s going to get you. You can close your eyes if that’ll help.”
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2023 2:35 pm
Todd hung up the phone the moment he saw his sweet, perfect Zac and took a deep, gulping breath as he recognized Maxim's particular behaviors. He needed to calm down. If he wasn't calm, he couldn't talk, and he needed to talk to Zac to make him understand— Deep breath. Another. Another. He hugged Maxim around the neck tightly and peered up at Zac with wet eyes. "Safe," he repeated as his heart rate slowed. "Safe, but... but the trees, Zac. They—They—Earth in trouble. Like..." He swallowed the rest of the sentence. Like Fang. He couldn't say that aloud, not in public, not as Todd, plain simple Todd without funny little ears or a fuzzy little tail. Todd who was definitely not an alien and just "touched in the head", whatever that meant. Someone had shouted it at him before, that's all he knew.
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Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 5:33 pm
For a few seconds, Zac didn’t understand what Todd was saying. It was winter, the trees were how they always were. For the most part. A little icier than usual, or whatever the news said was going on with them, but it was winter. He didn’t care enough about trees to wonder if he should be worried.
“It’s okay,” he said, in a surprisingly calm voice. He’d learned how to temper his tone and volume a bit with Todd, like he did with Maxim. If he was too harsh, the dog would run and cower. He didn’t want to chase off either him or Todd right now. “Here, do you want to come on up?” He held out his hand without demand.
Now that he knew Todd was safe, the adrenaline was fading a bit. He could feel the bite of the air but he didn’t make it obvious how eager he was to get back to the warmth of the house.
“It’s safe. When it gets cold outside, the trees get icy. And in spring, the leaves will come back. And all the bugs and birds. This is normal. Well.”
He looked at one of the nearby trees. It looked like it was half ice, like if the heat rose it might just melt away. “Maybe not totally normal. But it’s not dangerous. It’s just ice.”
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Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2024 2:15 pm
Todd took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He was okay. Zac was right. Grasping Zac's hand, he berated himself as he rose from the ground. Stupid. Earth not like Fang. Safe! How many times need to learn?"Thank you," he said quietly. "Todd sorry, Zac." He frowned as he realized Zac had clearly exited the home with no coat or jacket to speak of—and without thinking much, he slid his arms around Zac in a warm hug.
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Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2024 5:37 pm
Zac had never been big on physical intimacy. It seemed like such a soft thing. He’d made being tough such an important part of his personality that things like this always took him by surprise.
When he was younger, it was because he hadn’t wanted anyone to get the wrong impression or think less of him.
Now, it was because he just didn’t think he deserved it..
Not that he’d even entertain manifesting such a thought. That, like most things, he kept buried. He didn’t like to be vulnerable, but he didn’t like the idea of putting anyone close to him in danger. Some days it felt like spikes might break out of his skin and explode like shrapnel around him if he let down his guard.
He wrapped an arm around Todd, not for himself but for him. Maxim bounded behind him, face pressed practically to the back of Todd’s knees. He was twisted around him; Zac could feel the dog’s tail beating against his leg.
“Don’t be sorry,” he said gruffly. “You’re supposed to call me if you get into trouble. So this counts.” Kind of. He wasn’t going to split hairs. “The important thing is that you’re okay. And Maxim. And those trees do look a little weird, so you did a good job being aware of your surroundings. I heard on the news that the snow was so heavy that a lot of branches were breaking. So be careful about what trees you go under for a little while, okay? It’ll go away when the snow clears out.”
Probably. He wasn’t used to seeing trees turn into ice but he wasn’t a scientist. In Destiny City it was hard to tell if some corporation had toxic runoff messing the place up or if the Negaverse was up to no good.
He rubbed Todd’s back as if to reassure him. “Were you done with your walk or are you ready to go home?”
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Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2024 1:25 pm
Todd's tail slowly began to wag as the hug went on for longer than he'd anticipated—he had expected Zac to pull away quickly, but he didn't. He kept hugging. Todd felt so... warm. Maxim's face slamming into his knees brought from the moment a little and he laughed, nosing at Zac's hair. "Go home," he answered, a deep, happy rumble beginning in his chest. He felt so happy. And safe. Everything would be okay.
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