Fantasy &nbsp; ◟❀╎bouquet╻in.character

ERode

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ERode · Oct 26, 2023

gxxberkit

There was a loud whistle, certainly. It was a sharp, high-pitched phweeet, the sort that cut through the rumbling of the Fragment's mass, the rumbling that made those in Ginger Park imagine they were being struck by an earthquake. A strange thing, Fragments were. Before she had learned about it, how many times did the fire alarm at her school get pulled, that was actually due to a Fragment mucking around rather than a high schooler mucking about?

Huh. Probably never. Couldn't imagine that a Fragment existed just to force people to leave their exams half-way through.

But that was beyond the point! There was the matter with the loud whistle, and the only reason that such a loud whistle was worth emphasizing so much was because...

"TURN UP THE MUSIC!"

There were no spotlights, but there was copious amounts of magical energy, bursting out around the magical idol in a personal fireworks display. It was brilliant made doubly so by the dreariness of the clouds that day, as if it were a ploy by the heavens to not outshine a Flower who so embodied the blue sky. Indigo hues, an aurora of periwinkle persuasion, carried with it the heart of courage and love, a hysterical hype to induce a hard rock hype. And how could it not? Her powers had crystallized since the first time she had transformed. Her role, decided in lockstep with her wish. No matter what the situation, no matter what the scheme, Aconite had only one thing to do.

Make it a blast and wrap it up fast! Guerilla performance, baby, etching a feeling that'll remain beyond memory!

Phantasmal musicians manifested around the magical girl who took her place atop the tallest tree in the vicinity, their wolf-masks bobbing up and down as they played their electric tunes. And within this arena defined only by sound, arcane frequencies harmonized as hearts filled with explosive force.

Now, what was that about a loud whistle?

Right.

It was entirely drowned out by the roar of Aconite's microphone.

November Witch · Oct 27, 2023

Mariana Mirror

Status: Frightened, weary, uninjured.

It was safe to say that Mariana was outside her comfort zone for the first time in a while. Meeting new people, learning the rules, ins and outs of her job, about monsters and all sorts of otherworldly things. Things Mariana thought only existed in fantastical stories, shows and games. It was truly overwhelming. But the girl was determined. She had a small fire in her soul, and had her mind set on this. So, she would see it through.

The newbie had her phone out almost the whole time at the bouquet as she was receiving the tour and being taught her first lesson. She wasn’t ignoring those teaching her. In fact, she was taking notes on everything she deemed even somewhat important. Mariana was going to take this as seriously as she could. She may have been socially awkward and quiet, but that didn’t mean she would freeze up and zone out in those kinds of situations.

Well, that did happen… Sometimes…

However, just when they were about to move onto their next topic of monsters, it seemed they would get a chance to do some teaching in person. Someone interrupted the lesson, and would lead Mariana out of the building, pointing out the notification they both had just received on their phone, and explain what it is and what it meant. This person introduced herself as Cedar. There seemed to be a low level fragment not too far from them. Mariana would get to see one up close and personal on her first day.

Mariana’s heart raced. Her body felt heavy and her palms were clammy. She was going to see one of these monsters for the first time. It had her scared to death. Her hands shook as they quickly moved down the sidewalk. It felt like forever as worries and fears piled up inside Mariana’s head. She just wanted to see the dang thing already so she could dispel or confirm the ideas running rampant in her head. Having a concrete idea of what they looked like would be alot better than having unknowns floating around and worrying her.

Mariana’s hands clasped against one another over her chest as the stairs came into view. Her and the one who’d interrupted her teaching, approached the stairs. Mariana’s legs were trembling before she even saw it. It wasn’t particularly tall or as menacing as she thought it would be. However, the sharp teeth and beady eyes gave her a spook. It was far down an underground passageway, and hadn’t noticed the two. Mariana also didn’t notice the third person, and nearly jumped out of her skin when they approached.

She took a step behind Cedar, peering around them at the fragment, or monster. She felt that term more aptly described the being before her.

“what… do we do about it? I mean, what do I do? I… don’t know how to fight…”

Mariana meekly replied. The fear and hesitation clear in her voice.

AzaleaWonderland

Steve Jobs · Oct 27, 2023

good will hunting

team

Anemone

location

Light Rail Station

interactions

Nellancholy (Sophia),

606 (Letizia),

NameisUser (Kenji)

Will spun a pen between his fingers, his eyes on the practice questions he'd finished in less than an hour. With all of today's documents filed and his homework finished, he had little to do around the office. Normally he would pretend to tidy up his work station, but his boss being out of town meant he didn't have to fake busyness. The only reason he'd chosen to stay at the office was due to being an hourly worker...and his total lack of a social life at the moment.

Everyone in his social circle was either slaving away at their job, making the most of their still-robust liver, or crawling back into the womb of academia (aka grad school). It made gatherings few and far between, something only reserved for birthdays and holidays (where they'd get so wasted that they wouldn't even remember what happened). He reached out to people every now and then, but being a Flower left very little flexibility in his schedule and there was no way he would take them to the cafe.

The thought of having to bridge two different groups made him shudder more than spending another morning reorganizing filing cabinets, so when Bouquet pinged his phone, he was more than happy to answer. He grabbed his coat and left for the light rail station, reading the details as he biked towards the light rail station. While he wasn't particularly worried about the Fragment itself, leading a team would be tiresome.

Being responsible for three Flowers of varying skill levels meant enabling their strengths, fostering teamwork, and all those other skills Cedar kept encouraging him to learn. It seemed like something meant for veterans like Cedar and Gabi, but like any other business, Bouquet was dreadfully understaffed.

He circled around the entrance to the station, stopping at his (unofficial) slot on the bicycle rack before locking up and typing to his other team members.

Arrived at the station. Meet by the bike racks at the front entrance.

Having been there for a year, Will recognized Letizia emerging from the bus stop a mere second after sending out his message. He gave the other Flower a lazy wave, hoping to catch his attention.

IDKnuggets · Oct 27, 2023

Nymphaea

team

Buddleia

location

Underground Walkway

interactions

Rose

AzaleaWonderland
Buddleia

fluticasone
Rafflesia

November Witch

Chione’s head bobbed to the song playing in her earbuds, hand drumming absentmindedly against her thigh to the tune of Pennywise. She ignored the chime of a notification as it momentarily pushed her music into the background, weaving past a group of people on their way out of the underground walkway ahead of her. As she descended into the tunnel an unusual sight greeted her. A strange ball careened around the tunnel, smashing into a water pipe fixed to the wall and unleashing a torrent of water that soaked an unfortunate group of passing teens.

It took Chione a moment to realize that the ball ahead of her was sentient. Conor had explained the basic concept of fragments to her over coffee- and a delicious crepe that had absolutely melted in her mouth- just a few hours earlier. But the cliff notes version of Bouquets mission statement had hardly prepared her to come face to face with a creature straight out of some anime or video game.

Remembering what Conor had told her about the Bouquet app, Chione checked her phone and discovered that the chime that had so rudely interrupted her music was a warning about a nearby fragment. She mentally cursed herself for writing it off and opened the app. After quickly skimming the orders on the screen, she backed out of the passage and ducked into an empty alleyway.

Her thumb hovered nervously over the button that would transform her for just a moment before pressing it. As soon as her thumb selected the icon she could feel something well up inside of her. She began to tear up and a chill ran down her spine as cloudy memories of a thick, dark ooze came back to her. As her heart raced Chione slowly raised a hand to her face and wiped at the unfamiliar substance spilling from her eyes. Relief flooded her when she found not an inky goop staining her hand but instead a strange golden balm.

Looking past her hand she found that she was no longer wearing the black tank-top and torn jeans she had left the house in that morning. Her new outfit looked fancy, regal even with it’s color that fell somewhere between a soft blue or light purple accented by intricate golden lines. In no way was it subtle, and yet when she emerged back onto the street not a single eye turned in her direction. She approached a man sat on a bench scrolling aimlessly on his phone and waved a hand in front of his face experimentally to no response. Satisfied, Nymphaea spun on her heel and marched back to the passage where she had seen the fragment. A few women waited at the top of the stairs. From the way their eyes followed the fragment rather than passing right over it, it was clear they were seeing the same thing she was.

“You must be from Bouquet” she greeted them, raising a single brow as one of the ladies about jumped out of her skin when she spoke. “Name’s Chi-“ she paused, correcting herself and testing out the unfamiliar name as she said it aloud for the first time, “Nymphaea”

Eyeing the clearly terrified girl who peeked out at the fragment from behind another woman, Nymphaea shook her head. The girl didn’t look like she wanted to be there at all. “Are you sure that one should be here? She’s shaking in her boots just at the sight of the thing, and even she doesn’t think she’ll be any help in a fight”

Auda · Oct 27, 2023

Magnolia

Team

Crabapple

Location

Ginger Park

Interactions

gxxberkit

ERode

fluticasone

Anthony browsed the selection of cup noodles in front of him. Currently, he’s inside one of the convenience stores near the office for lunch. There was an urge to just go home and take the rest of the day off, but Anthony’s sure he doesn’t have any more leave credits for work, with them being used up because of his other responsibilities. As if on cue, his phone rang a familiar tune. Anthony didn’t need to check the notification to know that it’s the boquet app. For some reason—magic, probably—the app would override his phone’s settings and ring even if it was on silent mode. He checked the time—if everything goes well, I can still be back before my break ends—before leaving the store to go to the destination.

Excitement bubbled under Anthony’s skin as he made his way to Ginger Park. He’s only been at it for a month or so, but his enthusiasm only got worse for every fragment he defeated. He was near his destination as he browsed through the information of the fragment on his phone, specifically the grade of the monster. Anthony almost tripped and a tinge of anxiety made itself known as he read ‘Grade: B’ on his screen. The highest grade he’s fought was a Grade D, and this was two levels above that. However, the fact that Crabapple will be there eased the tension a little bit and if Anthony listened closely, he could hear Aconite’s beat.

Anthony pressed the button on his phone, and he quickly transformed as he turned the corner to see the rest of the flowers already fighting with the enemy. His eyes landed on Kinabalu as she kept the fragment’s attention on her. Luckily, Magnolia's companions were far more skilled than he is, and the threat of a Grabe B fragment ebbed away. Still, he can’t be complacent. Taking advantage of Kinabalu’s distraction, he quickly summoned his sniper rifle and settled down. It’s no use getting closer with a rifle, in the chance that he gets in the way of his more experienced allies.

Magnolia scanned the enemy for any weaknesses. It’s evident that the fragment lacked any thought, with it thrashing and charging without strategy. He took note of the beast’s cannon-like protrusions. They look menacing and is probably a bad time if it were given the chance to use them. With a plan in mind, Magnolia aimed at the biggest one, just above the fragment’s eyes. He took a deep breath to calm his heart, his hair standing in rapt attention. Once the fragment faced his direction, Magnolia didn’t hesitate to press the trigger.

NameisUser · Oct 27, 2023

Kenji

team

Anemone

location

Light Rail Station

interactions

Nellancholy

Steve Jobs

606

Kenji Kurogane's day began like any other, a relentless cycle of work, responsibility, and an ever-present longing. This day, however, held a potential divergence from the ordinary, an impending encounter with a fragment that had the capacity to disrupt the fragile equilibrium of his life. It all began with a simple task—deliveries.

Arriving at the delivery depot on his Yamaha XVS 400 Dragstar, Kenji felt the thrum of the motorcycle beneath him, a familiar source of solace amidst the chaos of the world. He had chosen this particular bike not just for its reliability but for the sense of freedom and empowerment it afforded him. Kenji's choice of the bike, while practical and dependable, did come with a certain image. Its sleek black frame and roaring engine gave him the appearance of a bike gang member an image he was trying to erase from the world.

With a sharp exhale, he parked his motorcycle and stepped into the bustling depot, a cavern of activity filled with the sounds of engines, beeping machinery, and hurried conversations. Kenji had taken up the role of a freelance delivery driver. It was a far cry from the delinquency and violence that had once defined his life, but it was a choice he had made to ensure his mother's ongoing medical care. The job demanded a substantial amount of his time, with long hours on the road, navigating the bustling streets of Tiger Tail City. Yet but it provided him the flexibility to pause and attend to his Flower duties when the need arose.

The hum of the city and the rhythm of daily life enveloped Kenji as he maneuvered through the streets, skillfully navigating the chaotic urban landscape. Every delivery was a chance to earn the income necessary to support his mother's hospital bills, a constant reminder of the profound sense of responsibility that weighed heavily on his shoulders. The struggles and hardships he faced were a testament to the choices he had made and the price he had paid. It was a path he had chosen willingly, a path that diverged from the darkness of his past, and he bore it with a stoic determination.

As he crisscrossed the city, fulfilling his delivery duties with precision, Kenji's thoughts inevitably strayed to his mother. She was the heart and soul of his world, the reason he had veered away from the gang life that had ensnared him in his youth. Her illness, a mysterious and relentless affliction, had thrust him into a world of responsibility and sacrifice, pushing him to the brink of despair on countless occasions. The sound of her voice, her gentle laughter, her comforting presence—these memories kept him moving forward, even on the darkest days.

It was during one of his deliveries that Kenji received a notification on his phone, the Bouquet app alerting him to the presence of a fragment in the northern area of Tiger Tail City. The news brought a mix of emotions—anticipation, wariness, and a touch of excitment. Fragments were a formidable and enigmatic adversary, but one that he always felt the thrill of excitement from facing over the past two weeks.

Completing his current delivery, Kenji couldn't ignore the summons. He knew he had a responsibility to fulfill, not just as a delivery driver but as a Flower. This dual role was a constant balancing act, one that required adaptability and sacrifice. His app pinged a second time this time from a fellow flower and his team leader.

Gotcha, be there soon

His message sent, Kenji locked up his motorcycle and made his way to the designated meeting point, thoughts of the impending encounter with the fragment swirling in his mind. This was his chance to make a difference, to protect the world from the darkness that Fragments brought. It was a purpose he had embraced, a glimmer of hope in a life marked by hardship and adversity.

Arriving at the location, Kenji's eyes fell upon his teammates—Will and Letizia. With a confident grin, he approached them, exuding an air of assurance despite his relative inexperience as a Flower. As he neared his team, he greeted them in a friendly manner, "Didn't keep you waiting, did I?"

Nellancholy · Oct 27, 2023

There they were.

Sophia exhaled, a sigh of relief. Deep down, she...well, she didn't exactly enjoy this part of the job. But she appreciated it. She appreciated the purpose, an honest and valuable way to fill her days. If people consumed by their own hardship and grief were turning into Fragments...she wanted to help free them. So they wouldn't end up like her in the past.

The other Flowers...they were honest people. They had to be on some level, in order to manifest their power. And they were all supposed to come together to form a nice if eclectic bouquet.

Well then...

Gripping the railing of the rail platform, Sophia leaned back slightly, idly entertaining the notion of jumping down and landing next to them. But that'd be a bad idea, at least in this form.

She turned, heading quickly down the nearest flight of stairs to come up behind the assembled team.

"Hey." She glanced at Letizia, then Will, avoiding looking at Kenji head-on for the moment. "Got any leads?"

The slightest hint of a smile might have been forming under her mask: if they couldn't find anything, it'd be up to her to figure it out.

AzaleaWonderland · Oct 27, 2023

"Honor the dead by honoring the living."

Art Credit- Face: ElaraArt ~ Rose: angelhitsground

Everly, Petra - Rose She/Her

Petra flattened the dress, threading the hanger through it before finally resting it on the rack with the others. She checked her things, making sure she didn't leave anything behind. Petra was wrapping up the practice, putting stuff away, and cleaning up, along with everyone else. Petra was smiling as they finished. Petra and her friends had plans to try this new restaurant with glowing reviews about their crazy spicy food. Petra shoved the stuff she brought for this event into her tote bag and covered it with a hoodie so her friends wouldn't see it.

Just as Petra threw the tote over her shoulder, her phone lit up with a notification. Carefully reaching into the tote, she retrieved her phone and flipped the red wallet case open, revealing a text from her dad. Petra let a sigh escape, opening the text and mindlessly texting a reply, "Went great. I'll be home by ten after checking this restaurant out," before swiftly closing and pocketing it. She figured that'd satisfy them for now.

As Petra began climbing the stairs, a voice from behind called out to her, "Petra, you heading out already?"

Barely turning around, Petra answered, "Yeah, I got plans. I'll see you next time." As Petra finally reached the top step, she paused, a question lingering on her mind, fermenting on her tongue before she finally spoke, "They enjoyed it, right?"

"Is that even a serious question? Of course, they did. Thank you once again for helping out." Petra only nodded in response to their reply before exiting into the ever-busy streets of Tiger Tail. Without hesitation, she was off to the arranged meeting spot. As she was walking, her phone started getting bombarded with several notifications, all at the same time. Petra audibly sighed as she veered off the sidewalk, leaning on some building wall before checking her notifications.

There was a wall of text notifications from her family. Petra figured a group chat for them all would make her receive fewer texts, but it somehow seemed to do the exact opposite. She quickly tapped and swiped through each notification nearly mindlessly to check it was nothing important. After clearing around four, Petra saw a new notification, the bouquet app. Tap, tap, the app opened up, informing her of the D-grade fragment nearby. It was also surprisingly close to the restaurant. She didn't even have to worry about canceling the reservation if she dealt with this thing fast enough.
----
With a confident smile, Petra tapped to transform. She looked down at her rosey uniform. The outfit was a mix of cool and elegant that she didn't even think was possible. Her red and green colors were unmistakably rose. She was also surprised by the real roses attached to the sheer skirt. Despite looking limiting, the outfit was extremely flexible and felt easy to move in. After gawking at her transformation, she started for the underground walkway.

Making quick work of the distance, Rose made it to the underground's entrance. "Coming through!" Rose shouted before jumping onto and sliding down the railing. At the end of the railing, she bounced off it and landed on the flooded ground, creating a splash around her. With a grin wide with excitement, Rose pulled out the thorn whip with no idea how to actually use it, but that didn't matter to her. Her eyes locked onto the fragment, which looked exactly like something a hero would typically fight, perfect. Before jumping in headfirst, she figured she should do the courtesy of inviting those already here to join before she initiated a fight with the monster. Rose turned her head up to the other flowers, "Are we standing slack-jawed while this place floods, or are you all going to kick some fragment butt with me? Today, preferably, of course." Rose grinned, "I don't mind either way. I'm just worried if I thrash it too quickly, you all won't be able to use any of your cool abilities."

Underground Walkway| Tags:

November Witch

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tsurene · Oct 28, 2023

Crown Imperial

mood.

brooding -> electrified

location.

ginger park

tags.

gxxberkit

ERode

Yep, they’re definitely not prepared for this.

It's only been a week since Gunay accepted the terms of the Bouquet App. At first, they were happy that this was a legitimate organization and not a bogus scheme they walked into. A cozy job at the cafe, familiar faces, a guaranteed wish that could turn their life around after five years, what's the worse that could happen?

Well, a lot. It's now Gunay's duty to follow what that magical girl in the mini-comic did when they first opened the app: fighting monsters. They already knew they have to fight at any given moment. Nothing comes for free, after all. But what they didn't expect was the type of transformation they were given.

It's not that they were disappointed in their powers. If anything, they love how much damage they can do with a swing of an axe. But it just makes them feel bad. Aside from their stuffy costume and how heavy their weapon is, Gunay had their psyche overhauled by this transformation. It’s like their mind was cleared and their lips were sealed, refusing to let out any unnecessary words. Gunay couldn't even force a laugh out of this transformation because they would have an overwhelming sense of guilt right afterwards. If it wasn't their personality that's linked to their transformation, then what is it?

So here's Crown Imperial, currently hiding behind a tree with their axe on hand as they watch the Fragment thrash about. It’s Grade B, something that even a regular team of Flowers need a little assistance with and something that’s way above their experience and skill level. While the civilian Gunay would've escaped as soon as possible, they can’t afford to now that they’re bound by responsibility (and it’d look bad if they refuse to help.) Just because normal people can’t see Flowers or Fragments, doesn’t mean they won’t suffer the consequences.

Judging from basic observations and prior knowledge, their teammates seem well-suited for this particular enemy. Kinabalu's supposedly a rogue, so she probably has the highest agility to keep up with the Grade B Fragment. Em- Aconite is someone they're more familiar with, being a singer that can boost Flowers' magic and will. And Magnolia wields firearms, which is perfect to deal with a monster that can shoot explosives and fire beams. If everything went to hell, at least they got Crabapple to deal the finishing blow.

As for Crown Imperial, they already figured out what their purpose is going to be. With their power to turn their limbs into roots, they can ingrain themself onto any surface and stick to them, no matter how much speed or strength is used to remove them. If they can lay their hands on even the smallest scale, Crown Imperial can restrain the Fragment for a long period of time or attack them while they're sliding. It's ginormous, yes, but it would only require a little bit of effort than say, something as wide as a motel. The real issue, however, is the perfect timing.

Their teammates are already doing their part of the battle, and Crown Imperial could only wait so long before either one of them get exhausted. Yet at the same time, the fragment is extremely aggressive, potentially shooting explosives or use their jaws against Kinabalu in the unlikely chance it happens. Just as doubt started to consume them, Crown Imperial’s jade eyes began darting left and right, a rush of energy coursing through their veins due to Aconite’s lively performance. Now this is what Gunay the civilian wanted to feel all this time.

Now that their resolution’s been strengthened, they make haste around Ginger Park until they see the back of the Grade B fragment, before taking cover in one of the bushes. Adjusting their axe to their belt in preparation, Crown Imperial grew roots on the fingertips of both of their hands then jumped out of their hiding area, reaching for the Fragment’s tail while it’s still distracted.

♡coded by uxie♡

fluticasone · Oct 28, 2023

buddleia

cedar fortuyn

underground walkway

annoyed

rose | nymphaea | mariana

If it wasn't one thing, it was another.

She thought she'd be able to sleep in and go to work only in the afternoon, but a brutal reminder from her calendar told her today was wash day. On the way to the laundromat, her laundry bag's seam ripped. She was unfortunately none the wiser until a kindly old woman pointed to the trail of dirty clothes she'd left in her wake. Then there was the slight inconvenience of them not having her preferred detergent in stock. And that was only during the first couple hours of being awake.

By the time she reached Bouquet, Cedar was ready to chew out the next Flower who made a mistake. Before she could rip into anyone, however, her phone went off with a notification. A fragment.

Perfect.

"Oh Cedar, hey."

One of the old timers was giving a stranger a rundown of being a Flower, interrupting himself to greet her. Ilja had graduated long before she'd joined; he'd been giving newbies their introductions as far as she could remember. She'd even been the newbie once.

"Fragment nearby."

She gestured towards the matching notifications on hers and the newbie's phone screens.

"That means we need to move as there's a Fragment nearby. It's just a D-rank, and at least 2 others have already confirmed response, so we should be fine. I'm Cedar, by the way."

The Fragment wasn't far, just the next block over in one of the many underground walkways that punctuated major intersections. People were leaving the area, soaked to the skin and telling everyone to use a different path. A pipe had burst out of the blue, apparently. A sure sign of a Fragment. The two made to the staircase entrance, immediately greeted by a black-haired Flower downstairs. They were vaguely familiar, though Cedar couldn't quite place them.

The question simply made Cedar shrug, gently guiding the new Flower as they made their way downstairs in their human forms.

"She signed the contract - she can still back out if she'd like."

Bringing out her phone, she hit the button to transform. The warmth that enveloped her was now a gift she took for granted as she neared the end of her term. As she opened her eyes, yet another new Flower came. Her cocky words irritated her - a perfect target Buddleia's already sour mood.

"First off, you are in no position to take charge considering you can't have been a Flower for longer than a couple of days."

The words were firm and steely; they offered no room for rebuttal. It was the same tone she took when the kids at her middle school stepped too far out of line.

"This isn't a game; your cocky attitude could endanger your teammates."

As if to prove her point, the Fragment spotted the group. Its mighty roar was ear-splitting and vapors rose as its heat caused the water around it to evaporate. It happened quickly; one moment it was obscured by the steam, the next a wall of butterflies stood between it and them, the Fragment bouncing back with a splash.

"Mariana-"

Her voice was gentler, though no less firm.

"I need you to transform, or figure out you aren't cut out for this so Bouquet can call another. I've been at this for over four years; I don't judge anyone who decides to quit."

She didn't have time to coddle her when she had two fresh Flowers and a D-grade to deal with. As the enemy shook itself out of confusion, she ran away from the group, causing the enemy to focus on her.

"I'm going to focus on luring and keeping the structural integrity of this tunnel intact."

If monkey ball here kept rolling and hitting the walls, they were more likely to die from a cave-in than they were from the Fragment. As it lunged and made a swipe, she cushioned its blow on their shared surroundings with her butterflies.

"The two of you - we're in an enclosed arena. Now's the time to understand those power's you've just unlocked."

AzaleaWonderland

November Witch

November Witch · Oct 28, 2023

Mariana Mirror

Status: Frightened, weary, uninjured.

“Cause I’ve never fought before…”

Mariana replied to flower already there before them. The girl was still being taught and learning. She hadn’t had questions answered like: “Do I need to learn my powers, or will they just come to me? Do we all start out with magic? Do I need to buy a weapon from somewhere, or does that come with the transformation when I change?” and many more. Apparently learning in the field was a valuable enough prospect that she was told to go along with Cedar, but she still didn’t really know much at all.

“I, uhm…”

She trailed off as another flower appeared in their midst and started trying to take control of the situation. Mariana stood there awkwardly as Cedar berated the other. Then visibly tensed as her name was called out. Her blood ran cold when the other mentioned backing out.

“No, no, no, no…”

She quickly shook her head and pulled out her phone. Mariana took a deep breath and pressed the button.

All of a sudden a geyser of water enveloped Mariana. Except, it was a sickly black and red color. Slightly viscous and sticky, compared to normal water at least. However, it only was there for a split second before a transferred Rafflesia was there. A stark contrast to who stood there before. Someone completely and utterly different. A smile full of bloodlust and wild eyes that refused to look at anything but the fragment.

An unsettling giggle left her lips and tentacles snaked out from beneath the ripped and torn skirt. They shot out in all directions, gripping the tunnel and flinging herself through it towards the fragment. A chain pulled tight in her hands as she chased the fragment which chased her fellow flower. There was no thought or strategy in her approach. Unless one counted pure strength and brute force as a strategy.

Once close enough, black, detail-less tentacles shot out, grabbing at the fragment wherever they could and wrapping themselves as tightly as possible. For grip, and in hopes of breaking something. All earlier hesitation and fear completely gone and replaced with a bloodlust and fixation on the creature before her. Nothing else mattered. Just making sure it suffered and died.

606 · Oct 30, 2023

click! Letizia lily of the valley location lightrail station transformation interactions Kenji, Will, Sophia tags NameisUser Nellancholy Steve Jobs

return to happiness...

Letizia first saw Will giving them a small wave, and would give a small wave back and they checked their phone to see the message he had sent as they walked over. A small smile appeared on their face. Will had joined only a few months before them initially yet somehow he had been convinced to be a flower tutor quicker than themself. However, Letizia at the offer always had to be declined since working at the restaurant took a lot of their free time outside of any flower duties, and on top of that, they took up part-time positions at the cafe simply to get to know some of the other flowers as well.

"Hey, what's the news?"

they would ask, their head swiveling as Kenji would appear, asking if they were waiting long, a soft chuckle escaping their lips and shaking their head.

"Not at all, I just got here not too long ago myself,"

they responded cheerfully

Then the last member of their team appeared and waved at Sophia, their small smile turning brighter now that everyone was here which meant, the hunt could begin.

"I was just asking the same thing! Should we split up in some fashion to cover more ground? Has anyone gotten any notifications getting here or not?"

They asked, looking around to Kenji and Sophia before their attention turned to Will as they would all wait for further instruction, after all, Will was the leader and would have to make the calls. Letizia only had some vague ideas about what they were doing but didn't want to assume anything, and wait until they were told further information. It really was like working in a kitchen sometimes. Everyone had some type of set job, or skill they were good at but everyone would answer to the head chef. Of course, that's the analogy that Letizia would come up with but it made the most sense to them.

it is what it is

♡coded by uxie♡

IDKnuggets · Oct 30, 2023

Nymphaea

team

Buddleia

location

Underground Walkway

interactions

Rose

AzaleaWonderland
Buddleia

fluticasone
Rafflesia

November Witch

Nymphaea tensed as a blur of red and green flew past her, leaping onto the railing in the center of the staircase and grinding down like a skater without the board. Once the blur had passed she was able to recognize it as a person, another flower arriving on the scene. It wasn’t hard for Nymphaea to figure out what the new flower’s alias was, catching sight of the roses that lined the hem of her skirt. The weapon Rose brandished fit right into her theme, a thorny whip that thrashed dangerously through the air in the hands of it’s inexperienced wielder. She shouted back an enthusiastic call to action, like a girl who had just installed the latest MMO and couldn’t wait to check out the combat.

The oldest among them, and clearly the one with the most experience as a Flower, looked irritated with the newcomer. She lectured Rose in a tone that made Nymphaea’s back straighten and nearly sent her scrambling to climb a non-existent rope. Taking a closer look at their commander’s face, she had to do a double-take. “Ms. Fortuyn?”

The fragment punctuated Ms. Fortuyn’s lecture with an earsplitting roar, and the water surrounding it began to quickly evaporate shrouding the beast behind an expanding wall of steam. Faster than Nymphaea could react the fragment pounced, claws glancing off of a barrier formed from butterflies that hadn’t been there a moment before. She took an involuntary step back, eyes wide. She hadn’t expected something so large to move so quickly.

Ms. Fortuyn split off from the group, acting as bait for the large creature. She defended herself as well as the tunnel around them with her butterflies, keeping the fragment from bringing the tunnel down around them. “The two of you –“ she addressed Nymphaea and Rose, “we’re in an enclosed arena. Now’s the time to understand those power’s you’ve just unlocked.”

Reaching a hand back over her shoulder, Nymphaea grabbed for the source of the weight that had settled onto her back when she transformed. Her searching hand found the rim of a large metal disc, lifting it over her head and raising it in front of herself defensively. The shield felt much lighter than she would have thought looking at it. Whether that was the magic that had formed it at work or the extra strength the transformation had imbued her with, she wasn’t sure. Engravings ran across it’s entire surface, creating a pattern that connected the entire shield from front to back. From her hip, she drew one of the two swords that hung at her side. She recognized the weapon from a report she had done on her family heritage in middle school. Like her shield, engravings ran across the surface of the ancient Egyptian khopesh’s blade.

Behind Nymphaea a jet of water burst upward causing her to spin on her heel. She had to fight to keep from slipping in the water pooled at her feet, leaning on her sword for support. As the inky black water settled, she caught sight of the girl Ms. Fortuyn had called Mariana. Transformed she looked nothing like the timid girl shaking in her boots at the sight of a fragment- she looked crazed, and the unsettling giggle she let out before launching herself into battle did little to reassure Nymphaea. Tentacles emerged from beneath the girls skirt, gripping the walls of the tunnel and using them to slingshot herself at the fragment. Between the monkey wrecking ball and the tentacle-sprouting flower wildly swarming it with no thought but to kill, Nymphaea couldn’t decide which worried her more.

Steeling herself, Nymphaea strode purposefully towards the clashing forces. Batting a flying rock out of the way with her shield, she called out to her ally. “Mariana, if you crush us all in this tunnel I am going to be so pissed!”

Breaking into a sprint Nymphaea quickly closed the distance between them. “and if you kill the poor sap trapped in this fragment-” She dropped into a softball slide, passing narrowly under a stray tentacle as she entered the fray. As she rose out of the slide her sword came up with her, slashing at the fragment in a rising arc.

“I’ll kick your ass!”

Steve Jobs · Oct 31, 2023

good will hunting

team

Anemone

location

Heading to North Tiger Tail

interactions

Nellancholy (Sophia),

606 (Letizia),

NameisUser (Kenji)

Will took a breath as everyone arrived, just barely hiding the smidge of irritation over the lack of clues. "For the past hour, we've received word of a Fragment bouncing around the city, with this being the last known location. Initially I thought we'd be able to take care of it quickly but if you look at your phone..." he trailed off, flashing his screen towards the group.

"The Fragment's already gone."

He met Letizia's gaze with a shake of his head before gesturing for the group to follow him across the street. "While I'd normally let split off, a Fragment that can evade the radar is extremely rare. Rather than risking us getting picked off, Sophia I want you to suss out any oddities as we try to hone in on its location."

Though she wasn't as experienced as either himself, her skill set made her particularly suited to this mission. Unlike most of the other Flowers, she had the ability to not just fight Fragments but gather information. It's what distinguished her from the other, purely damage-oriented members of Bouquet.

There seemed to be a pause, as he felt his (and presumably everyone else's) phone vibrate. A quick glance was enough to see a pink dot blink in and out of existence, taunting the app's limits. "Come on, it's heading towards the warehouse district."

Nellancholy · Oct 31, 2023

"Don't have to tell me twice." Sophia remarked dryly. She had a direction, and a target. That was all she needed.

"Try and keep up." With that, Sophia began to jog in the direction of the warehouse district. That didn't last long, and in a few seconds she'd broken into a sprint, as if building up momentum for Carnation to use. She pulled down her mask, exposing her nose to the air as her other hand tapped on the notification on her phone.

The chain was broken, and the beast loose.

To any human observer, Sophia would seem to blur and vanish from existence. Her hair formed into a shaggy black ruff, a pair of sensitive ears popping up on her head. Carnation did not break her stride for even a moment as she blew across the vacant streets of the warehouse district like a gale.

She snarled as she took in deep breaths, her heightened senses doing the work of blocking out everything that was irrelevant to her quarry.

There. No, there.

The fragment's power was troublesome indeed.

It smelled like...a wisp of perfume in a thick cloud of choking smoke. Carnation growled as she ran, reaching her arms out as she bowled headlong towards the outer wall of one of the warehouses. As if on all fours, she dashed upwards, easily hauling herself onto the roof.

It was here, somewhere. She could feel it. But not even being able to tell if she was getting warmer or colder...

"Our quarry proves obstinate. My fellow hounds, dare we separate to flush it out?"

ERode · Nov 1, 2023

gxxberkit

Drowned out by Aconite’s performance, Kinabalu’s presence practically disappeared from the Land-Shark’s mind as it whipped about, the beady golden eyes beneath its runic crown flashing with the malice that only an individual that didn’t think pop music was real music could. Of course, unlike those old fogeys with their dated musical tastes, this Fragment actually stood a chance of getting the kids to turn down the music. With a torso the size of an SUV and a mouth that looked like it could swallow cows whole, the Land-Shark had all the affectations of a sea lion, using its feathered flippers to waddle around in a manner that was both comical and terrifying. Two cannon-like protrusions emerged out from its armpits, a third out from its crown, and its entire body was covered with stone scales. Durability, strength, speed, and options for both melee and ranged attacks. Compared to Flowers and their specialties and roles, it was almost unfair that a creature so ugly could have it all.

But that was a Grade B Fragment, after all. It was the sort of Fragment that only a proper squad, not a motley bundle, ought to handle.

Magnolia’s sniper rifle cracked, a thunderous boom sounding a half-heartbeat after the magical bullet pierced the surface of the horn. It had been empowered by Aconite’s own magic, and he had a clear shot, yet the piercing shot had left only a crack in the green-ish stone. And he had, in return, exposed his position. With a growl, the Land-Shark whipped around a second time, targets changed as it made its intent clear. Turning its back to Crown Imperial, its rear flipper dangling behind it.

They did not miss that opportunity.

Thick roots burst out from the scarlet-enshrouded Flower, entwinning and grasping. And, simultaneously, it did not miss that opportunity either. Crown Imperial wasn’t like Kinabalu. Their outfit was obvious. So it had presented an opportunity. It had laid its bait. Its front flippers pushed backwards instead of forwards, its head twisting 180 degrees. Like a spring, it shot for Crown Imperial in a backwards flip, jaws wide open to swallow them whole! Those ensnaring roots, entangling with its tail, prevented only escape, not approach!

That wide jaw, opening up to reveal the rows upon rows of churning, budding teeth that laid inside a shark’s mouth, promised an instant death.

CRACK!

Crabapple’s bat slammed against the Land-Shark’s temple, their face twisting as the recoil reached their hands. It was force enough, however, to divert the monster’s charge and send it flying to the right of Crown Imperial instead.

“Who let the new-”

Whatever the senior Flower said was cut short, of course, by the complication provided by Crown Imperial’s roots. It had connected with the Fragment, had formed a strong bond. And now that the Fragment was sent flying behind the both of them?

Crabapple was clotheslined by the vines, doing an impressive 540 degree somersault before faceplanting into the ground.

Crown Imperial was dragged off with the Fragment, bouncing against the dirt before crashing into the surprising fluffy beard of the monster that had just tried to eat them a moment ago.

All this, of course, was both concerning and comedic, but Aconite’s song had a sudden injection of laughter, so she must’ve leaned more towards the latter than the former.

NameisUser · Nov 1, 2023

Kenji

team

Anemone

location

Light Rail Station - Warehouse district

interactions

606

Nellancholy

Steve Jobs

With the team assembled and the mission ahead, Kenji exuded an air of confidence and determination. He knew that joining Bouquet was the right path for him, and this mission was just another step on his journey toward redemption. As the leader, Will quickly briefed the team on the situation. They had been tracking a Fragment that had eluded detection by Bouquet's radar, making it a particularly elusive target. As the discussion continued, Kenji's mind raced with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. He had only recently become a Flower, and this would be a good chance to prove himself and show that he could be a valuable asset to Bouquet.

Will pointed to the pink dot on his phone, indicating the Fragment's current location. The fact that it had moved quickly raised the stakes. Kenji observed the pink dot blinking on the screen, a silent challenge to the Flowers to track it down. He couldn't help but feel a surge of adrenaline as he anticipated the chase. The team started moving towards the warehouse district, led by Sophia, who had already transformed into Carnation and raced ahead. Kenji watched her go with admiration opting to hold off his own transformation for the time being. She was a more experienced member of the team, and her skill made her a formidable asset.

As the group approached the warehouse district, the anticipation in the air was palpable. The Fragment's ability to evade detection by Bouquet's radar made it a challenging target, and Kenji was well aware that they were dealing with a formidable adversary.

With the team now in the warehouse district, Kenji's eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in the sight of towering warehouses and industrial structures. The urban landscape was a stark contrast to the more familiar settings of his previous life. He had spent his days in the gritty streets of the city, but now he was part of a team dedicated to protecting it. Will, the team leader, contemplated their next move. The possibility of splitting up to flush out the Fragment was mentioned, Kenji pondered the idea, recognizing the advantages of covering more ground. But he also remembered Will's caution about the Fragment's unique ability.

Kenji raised an eyebrow, his confidence still evident, but his tone took on a more cautious note. "I get it flushing it out seems like a good plan, but I think sticking together is the smarter play here. Like Will said, it's not worth getting picked off one at a time. This Fragment is crafty, and we need to be one step ahead. We should at least stay within sight of each other, just in case." Kenji was unyielding in his conviction. He may have been the newcomer, but he had a strong sense of responsibility for the team's well-being, and he wasn't about to let anyone take unnecessary risks.

As the team continued to navigate the warehouse district, Kenji's confidence remained unshaken. He was ready to face the challenges that lay ahead, knowing that he was part of a team dedicated to protecting the city from the elusive Fragment. Kenji was determined to prove himself as a Flower, to use his unique abilities and combat skills to make a difference. It was a chance at redemption, and he wasn't about to let it slip away.

fluticasone · Nov 3, 2023

buddleia

cedar fortuyn

underground walkway

exasperated

rose | nymphaea | mariana

She should've known this team was bad news the moment Nymphaea called her by her surname. Buddleia rolled out of the way of the bowling balls headed straight toward her - with a Flower attached. She nearly lost her footing as she stood, causing the butterflies to fall for a brief moment. Thankfully, both Flower and Fragment bounced off as she quickly focused her energies on erecting a wall.

"Mariana-"

She called out, not knowing her alias.

"You keep that up I'm going to confine you in a box!"

It didn't always work, but considering she was new Buddleia was rather confident she could keep the Flower trapped for a few minutes.

Knock off Sonic became more agitated at the tentacles wrapped even tighter around it like some fucked up hentai - it grew increasingly hotter. It took Buddleia moments too late to realize what it was trying to do.

"Shit - let go!"

Buddleia barely managed to erect a shield around Mariana's body in time. The scalding heat would've burned off her skin - steam burns were nasty. Thankfully fresh cool water kept pouring from the pipe, keeping the water around their legs warm but not scalding.

The constant heat emanating from the Fragment had turned the tunnel into a wet sauna. Sweat began dripping from her forehead. If either Anemone or Crabapple were here, they would've been closing in on it by now. Instead, she was babysitting three newbies who could barely keep their weapons aimed at the right place while growing prunier by the minute.

Freed of the tentacles, the Fragment roared in triumphed. It fixed its gaze on a new target, the proverbial red flag to a bull: the Rose. The monkey sent water crashing into the other Flowers as it rolled like a bowling ball aiming for a strike.

AzaleaWonderland