voice; @elena » open

[otrazhenie]

Has anyone found a way to burn things yet?

[ The voice that comes over the network is clearly exhausted, an almost husky rasp to the words that are slightly muffled, as if her mouth might be covered by a layer of fabric. ]

Because I'd love to get rid of these damn flowers and burning them sounds really cathartic right now.

[ She sounds weary, frustrated, and a little bit sick. And for good reason: one of the perks of being a vampire is an enhanced sense of smell. ]

Alternatively, are there any magic users out there who could set up a ward or something to keep this smell out?

Comments

@hello, voice

[lunchbreaks]

Hello, Elena. Does regular fire not work? I believe it is still hot, even if it doesn't emit light. Otherwise there are several perfumes that might mask the scent, though I'm not sure if that would give you more of a headache.

If it helps, I think they are only supposed to bloom for two days.

voice, @badeaux

[ultraviolents]

Find a flamethrower, some fuel, and point me in the right direction.

[otrazhenie]

The lanterns are warm but not burning hot like they should be, so I figured fire is as messed up as healing here.

I'm willing to try anything at this point, it smells so bad in my room it's making me sick.

[ It takes a lot for her to admit that, to even make this call for help. But no one here is likely to really understand that. ]

[otrazhenie]

With our luck, there's one at the bottom of the lake with the rest of the stuff we couldn't save.

[lunchbreaks]

I can come over with several strong perfumes for you to try. It's certainly not ideal, but if it's only meant to last a day or two...

SuprNerd@voice

[moderatelymaladjusted]

Uh, hi. I'm not sure I can set up a ward like that. Not yet. But I've heard that mint is good at masking a smell like that? So, you could try to,uh, maybe put toothpaste on cotton balls or something and stick them up your nose?

[ultraviolents]

I’d be very interested in knowing who requested one.

In the meantime, I’d suggest torches, but based on what you’ve said I’m guessing someone’s already tried that.

[otrazhenie]

I don't know if anyone has, actually. It's clear that the bonfire is some kind of magic, since it's the only thing producing light and heat, but I haven't seen it burn anything. I've dealt with enough magic to not want to be the one to test it.

[otrazhenie]

At this point, I'm willing to try just about anything. I don't care how pretty they might be, those things need to die.

[otrazhenie]

That... I'd actually really appreciate that, thank you.

@riku; voice

[equinoctials]

[ So he's not the only one smelling that awful reek? Thank goodness, Riku's not sure he wants to know what's so dark that it smelled like the waste pit at the back of the butcher's. On the other hand, sounds like she's really having a hard time with it.

He blames location. Down by the lake, there's a lot more movement of wind off the water, not coming up from the forest, so it's a little more bearable - and a lot more cold. ]

Flowers? That's what stinks?

@eleven, voice

[savingthrows]

It's gross.

[Eleven sounds annoyed more than anything, like the universe has wronged her more with this than with death.]

Like... boys farting.

Action, because reasons

[worthallthis]

[At some point, the Soldier has figured out where Elena lives, because it shows up there with a tiny cheesecloth-wrapped package. It looks a little haggard, itself. (The smell of dead, rotting bodies brought up a really unpleasant memory when it first smelled them. Why do all of its memories suck.)

This one did come with a potential solution, though, so at least it was useful as well as horrible. As soon as she opens the door, it holds out its hand to offer the tiny cheesecloth-wrapped package, and advises,]

Put this inside whatever you're wearing on your face. Blocks the smell some.

[It's a little packet of smelly herbs it put together.]

[otrazhenie]

[ Right, probably not everyone is dumb enough to get close enough to the things to get a good look at them. ]

I went out to look when the smell woke me up yesterday. They're called carrion flowers — they smell like that to attract certain types of insects. They don't usually just appear out of nowhere like this, though.

[ What, she paid attention in her biology class. ]

[equinoctials]

[ Of all the things that would pop up for seemingly no reason... ]

Just when all the bugs came back.

[ If there was something to that they could use to, he doesn't know, maybe get the garden growing quicker? Solve their supply shortage issues? Riku might devote more attention to it, but ugh. Without that incentive, the stink isn't worth the trouble. ]

To answer your other question, I don't. Sorry. It's not as bad down by the lake.

[ Give it time, Riku. ]

[ultraviolents]

[ well, someone’s gonna the next time requesting items is a possibility. unfortunately that time doesn’t appear to be soon. ]

I haven’t dealt with any magic so if someone needs to test the waters, I’d be game. [ someone please talk her out of this. ]

[otrazhenie]

As someone who grew up with a little brother, you're not wrong.

[ Except those are the wrong words, the mention of Jeremy combined with that godawful smell bringing up... memories. Bad ones. Her grip tightens slightly around her tablet before she pushes past it all to focus on what's important. ]

Are you doing okay?

[savingthrows]

[Ah - it clicks for Eleven now, why she thought of Nancy when meeting Elena again on the beach. She's a big sister.

Warm. Safe. Pretty.]

Yes. Are you doing okay?

[otrazhenie]

[ A few moments of silence pass and then makes what is probably a Bad Decision, but it's not like there's anyone to talk her out of it. ]

I'll go with you. Be your backup in case something happens.

[otrazhenie]

[ Even if Jeremy is technically her cousin, he'll always be her little brother. She'll always have him in her thoughts, worrying for his future and wishing he could have been spared from all this pain. ]

Not really. But I'll make it through this. I've been through worse.

[ It's blunt honesty and perhaps more than she should be saying to someone so young, but with everything they're facing now... Well. She's pretty sure El can handle a little honesty. ]

@darkness ; voice

[evulsed]

Give me a break.

There's a huge fire in the middle of the town. Can't you put two and two together?

[savingthrows]

[Eleven nods, even though Elena can't see her. She worries her bottom lip with her teeth at little, then after a moment of hesitation offers:]

Okay. But... we need to help each other here.

[The line might sound familiar. Oh yes, Eleven is repeating Elena's own words back to her.]

Do you... want another hug, maybe?

[otrazhenie]

Have you tried burning anything with it or are you just assuming it'll work?

[ Yes, there's frustration in her tone now. A whole heap of it. ]

[evulsed]

I'm not going to do your work for you.

You asked about fire. Fire burns. Duh.

[ultraviolents]

Based on past experience, something probably will.

[ god, she hopes one of these doesn’t come to life. she shudders to think what they would attack them with. ]

We should try to figure out where they’re most concentrated first.

[ there really should be a ‘thank you’ peppered somewhere in there. one’s coming. eventually. ]