Fantasy Mist Village (Working Title)

[Ocean123]

There is a village surrounded by mist, difficult to find for anyone looking for it. You may stumble upon it by chance, lost and confused, or you may be brought there by the hand of fate. No matter how you arrive, you will find in this village a house made just for you. No one made it, according to those already there, it appeared when you did. It seems that you must be here for a reason, though. Why else would you already have lodgings prepared to whatever specifications you may have set for your ideal home?

(Storyline to be continued)

 

[Ocean123]

ScreamingAtLightningBugs Lenny2000

Luke let out a small, contented sigh as he sat on his balcony with a coffee mug in hand. It was a beautiful morning and he was looking forward to going on a run once he finished watering the few plants he had growing in front of his home. It was just a couple of tomato plants and a few carrots, but he was still excited for the harvest. Just knowing that he'd grown them himself would make them taste amazing, he was sure. Still, they had a bit more growing to do first, and he had to make sure they got all they needed to get to that point.

((Kind of a boring start, I know, but we have to start somewhere, yeah?))

 

[ScreamingAtLightningBugs]

Afina stepped back, looking at the work she had done trimming a dark green vine that grew neatly on the side of her home. It was a habit to trim it everyday. If she didn't, it would surly expand over to another home or grow out of control. Hopper, the little fox, rubbed against her legs acting as if he was a cat. "It's still leaning to the side..." she mumbled with a sigh to her pet. He didn't respond, as expected.

She had lived in the town for as long as she could remember. Her home was always riddled with plant life which she kept neat and tidy. From asking around and little tidbits of rumors she heard, her house appeared just like any other. That, to her, was the charm of the town. Overnight you might randomly gain a new member of your neighborhood. No warning, no signs, it just happened. A vacant lot may become a house in a matter of seconds. Having lived here all her life, she considered it normal. Since Afina had no recollection of the outside world, this was her reality and her way of normal. She was fine with it.

The large and slightly rusted clippers were set next to her on the ground she now sat upon. Hopper crawled into her lap where she made a comfortable space by sitting crosslegged. Gently stroking his amber colored fur, she spoke to him again. "That looks like it always does, right? Or maybe it's just me..." She began to closely examine it. Light yellow eyes traced the leaves of the twisting stem until she decided she was satisfied with her work.

(Yeah, mine's not that exciting either. Just a lizard obsessing over a vine, haha)

 

[Ocean123]

Luke considered his options carefully. What had gone wrong? The leaves sticking up from his small garden were looking dull and a bit droopy, but he had no idea why. Did he not give them enough water? Did he give them too much? Was the soil not compatible? Bugs? Fertilizer? Repellent? He needed advice.

There was a woman on his street that lived in a house covered in plants. Maybe she could help him figure out what to do? She'd never seemed particularly social, though friendly enough the few times they'd run into each other. The worst thing that could happen was that she'd just say she couldn't or didn't want to help him. That's not so bad.

Nodding to himself, Luke started off down the street. He just hoped that her fox companion wouldn't start freaking out at the smell of a wolf approaching. She might be less inclined to help him if he freaked out her little friend just by coming near.

 

[ScreamingAtLightningBugs]

Afina shoved an upright barrel in a little compartment at the side of her house, cut out specifically to fit the container. She had picked up her tools and decided to call it a day before Hopper started letting out a series of small, high pitched barks. It was his version of an alarm call, which notified Afina whenever someone came near. Through research, she found out that he didn't exactly do it right, but it notified her nonetheless.

"Hopper, hush. Don't scare off guests," she fussed. In response he circled around her legs until he was behind her, occasionally letting out a small bark. She rolled down the sleeves to her white, buttoned up shirt as she waited to see what her neighbor wanted. She only really knew him as a neighbor, and they'd say hello a few times too. On good days, his garden was admirable, however it seemed to be lacking as of late. Maybe that's what he's asking about, she thought.

 

[Ocean123]

Luke tried to appear as unassuming as possible; he did not need to be getting in a fight with a fox. He was here for a purpose. And he'd been standing there, playing with the hem of his shirt for so long, he probably looked pathetic. Okay, time to ask!

"U-um, hi!" Wincing at the volume of his own voice, the redhead let out a small sigh before continuing a bit quieter, "I'm sorry to bother you... Afina, was it...?" Maybe he should have tried harder to remember her name before coming to talk to her... "Um... I've noticed you seem to know a lot about plants... I was growing some tomatoes and carrots, and I'm not sure what I did wrong, and can you please give some advice, please?!" He snapped into a deep bow, hoping that the habit he picked up from reading manga wouldn't look too strange.

 

[ScreamingAtLightningBugs]

The reptile stood confused for a bit by Luke's... odd actions, however quickly dismissed it away. "Well, alright. Could I go see it? I'll be easier to figure out the problem," she offered to him. To Afina he had a sort of likable charm, like he'd be a good person to be friends with.

Friends. That never happened often. She was content with her plants and her little companion, so she liked to keep to herself. Speaking of Hopper, he was still acting a bit strange. One light tap from the back of her foot silenced him though.

 

[Ocean123]

Luke nodded as he straightened back up. Seeing it for herself making it easier to figure out the problem seemed reasonable, though part of him balked at the thought of showing her his failure. He quickly shoved that part away, knowing that asking for help from someone that knew what they were doing would be more effective than trying to figure it out himself and potentially making it worse.

He turned and led the lizard-like woman back to his home, gesturing to the drooping plants. "Thanks for the help. And sorry for the trouble. I'm just not sure what I did wrong here..."

 

[ScreamingAtLightningBugs]

"It's quite alright, neighbors are supposed to help each other after all," she said with a small smile. Afina then took a small moment to examine the plants and assess the situation. "Good news is it's nothing major," she began after she diagnosed the problem. "You just overwatered is all. Leave it alone a few days until the soil's dry then it'll be good to water again. I'd say leave out a cup of the usual amount you'd give and they'll be perfect. Oh, and to fix the dullness add more fertilizer to your normal amount. They'll fix themselves with the right amount of minerals."

She stopped and looked over at Luke. "Was that... too long?" she asked almost sheepishly. Often times she'll get lost in her explanations, oblivious to whether the other person was following or not.

 

[Ocean123]

Luke breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good... I was afraid I'd messed up at the beginning with the type of soil I planted in and would have to start all over..." He tilted his head slightly in confusion. "Too long? No, I'd rather have precise instructions than something vague that would require a lot of guesswork. Thank you so much for the help. Um... Do you have any suggestions on what type of fertilizer is best for growing these types of vegetables...? Sorry if I'm asking too many questions..."

 

[ScreamingAtLightningBugs]

"No, no, it's fine! It's good that you want to take care of your plants so well. For tomatoes it's best for something low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus, it helps balance it properly. Carrots are good with whatever quantity of minerals, just as long as the nitrogen is lower than the phosphorus or potassium."

She really did know a lot on plants.

 

[Ocean123]

Luke offered a fanged grin. "Thanks again, so much! Would it be alright if I maybe came to you for advice again in the future...? I swear I won't come crying to you with every little thing." He hoped he didn't sound too desperate. He really wanted his little garden to be a success and Afina really seemed to know her stuff. He vaguely remembered something his uncle once told him, about returning the favor when someone helps you. "Do you like tomatoes or carrots at all? I would be honored if you tried some when they finish growing, as thanks for helping me out."

 

[ScreamingAtLightningBugs]

Her smile only grew at the kind gesture. "I don't mind answering your questions. I'll be more then glad to help!" she said. "And I'd love to try some. I'm sure they'd be great! I can let you try some of my homemade tea in return if you'd like. It's Hopper's favorite!"

She was growing to slightly enjoy Luke's company. He seemed nice and sweet. There was the fact Hopper didn't like him, though. It was something she would have to ponder over.

 

[Ocean123]

Luke nodded, still grinning. "Sounds great! Wait... I didn't know foxes drank tea...?" The redhead looked a bit like a puppy as he tilted his head with wide eyes. An image popped into his head of the small animal seated in a dining room, one hind leg crossed over the other, wearing a three piece suit and a monocle, sipping delicately from a tea cup.

 

[ScreamingAtLightningBugs]

Afina giggled slightly at the human's resemblance to a dog. "He's special, really special. He's more adapted to human life than anything at this point," she explained. "I found him when he was little so he never learned anything about being an actual fox."

 

[Ocean123]

Shaking the (freaking hilarious!) image from his head, Luke nodded solemnly. He felt he could kind of relate to the little guy. In a way. He'd never learned anything about being a wolf, though it was a big part of who he was. He silently pledged to never chase a fox, regardless of any temptation to do so. Sure, he'd never gone after Hopper specifically, and he certainly never attacked any of the foxes he 'played tag' with, but that didn't mean his new resolution meant any less than if he had.

... He probably looked ridiculous, offering this solemn nod to a fox.

 

[ScreamingAtLightningBugs]

She noticed his nod and was almost delighted in a way. "You feel bad for him too?" she inquired. "It's alright if you do, you're not the only one." She let out a random laugh. "To be completely honest when I first found Hopper I saw myself in him. Funny, isn't it? Thinking a fox resembles you. Can't help but laugh every time I think about it."

 

[Ocean123]

((I totally forgot it was my turn to do something here DX ))

"I'm not sure I feel bad for him, exactly... But I'm not sure how else to describe it either..." He crossed his arms as he considered it a moment before shrugging. "It's not ridiculous at all; I was just thinking something similar myself." He grinned sheepishly, shrugging again. "Can I offer you some water or something?"

 

[ScreamingAtLightningBugs]

(It's fine)

"Oh, well, if you wouldn't mind," she replied. All in all, she was thankful that her thoughts went unshared. Afina really did see it as a silly subject, but a lot of people could relate to the little fox. Everyone in this town had something happen to them, whether they didn't remember or not.

 

[Ocean123]

Luke smiled and went to open the door, gesturing to allow his guests to enter before him. His front door led directly into a simple dining room with light-coloured hardwood floors and mint-coloured wallpaper with faint leafy designs. A small island made of painted white wood and a shiny black surface separated it from a basic, similarly-coloured kitchen. There were a few hanging plants around the kitchen and in the nearby living room (light grey carpeting, cream walls) and hanging off the railing leading upstairs.

"Make yourselves at home." He went towards the kitchen before glancing back at the two. "Did you want anything in particular?"

 

[ScreamingAtLightningBugs]

Afina took a moment to admire the interior of the house. The plants in there looked well kept, she could barely detect anything wrong with them. "Um... I don't really have a preference. I know Hopper likes bitter things though." The fox had sticked close to her feet, never letting Luke out of his sight. It looked like Luke still wasn't trusted.

At the door, a scratching sound rang out. It was probably just a wild animal or something similar.

 

[Ocean123]

((Sorry for the wait, got distracted making another character and then dinner happened before I was done with that DX ))

Luke looked up at the sound, pausing in his attempt to figure out what to offer Hopper. He was considering espresso; he'd heard that was supposed to be a bitter drink, though he had no idea how to make it. He was sure he had an espresso machine somewhere, though...

"Here's some water for now. I need to check the door real quick." He brought Afina and Hopper a glass and a bowl respectively, though he'd decided to put some tea leaves that he thought were bitter next to the bowl, just in case regular water wasn't to the fox's liking. He then went to open the door to see what was making that scratching noise.

 

[ScreamingAtLightningBugs]

(Tis okay)

A cat stood at the door. It casually walked in as if it lived there, its multicolored tail brushing against Luke's leg. The cat seemed new, no one had seen it before. Afina immediately took a liking to it, however. Hopper grumpily lapped up his water while glaring at the cat for stealing his owner's attention. "Awww... this yours?" she asked while stroking the cat. It seemed to highly enjoy it as its back arched and tail curled. It seemed to... stare at Luke in the eyes. It was a kind of stare that made you unnerved, like there was more to this cat.

 

[Ocean123]

Luke studied the cat curiously. "I've never seen this cat before..." He crouched down to get to the newcomer's eye level. "Wonder what you came here for...? I don't think I have anything that would particularly interest a cat..." He also wondered at the timing of the feline's arrival. Convenient that it would show up one of the few times he actually had guests. "Hmm... Would you like some refreshments as well, then?" His voice as he addressed the cat was dead serious.

 

[ScreamingAtLightningBugs]

In response, it purred in agreement. Afina stayed silent as to watch how the interaction went. This cat was just treated as a normal person. She did that with Hopper sometimes but that was only because he was her pet.

The cat brushed under her hand before jumping onto the island's top. It sat there, tail curling around its legs, as it cleaned a paw casually. It was aware that it probably wasn't welcomed, but it didn't want to miss out on the fun around town. The two drew it in some way. They were intriguing in a way that the cat couldn't begin to explain.