Futuristic Dormant Hearts

[_Line 213]

The remnants of fresh rain.

Sun.

A cool breeze.

Blooming flowers.

Spring.

They call it the Free Season. Plants confined to the soil spring forth to drink the early morning air. Baby birds break free from their shells to feel the sunshine for the first time. Ice and snow thaws, freeing ground and tree alike from their wintry prison.

And in tandem, the fresh fifteen-year-olds of Column take off on their bicycles for the first time.

Rarely are they new. Most belonged to parents, and parents' parents, but that's not a bad thing. The bicycle is a marker of pride for any colony dweller. A symbol of freedom. A symbol of spring. And the ceremony only happens once.

The click of whirling gears and tires heralded the coming of the colony dwellers as they rocketed down the largest hill near the colony of Column, the empty blacktop stretching off into the green trees, winding ever onward into an endless expanse of green.

Vines, bushes, and trees wrapped lazily around the tall, ever-present Husks, frozen in the middle of various stages of battle--defeat, rest, triumph, sadness, relief, all were there--what little of their hulls that still surfaced through the grime and plant-life gleaming like beacons in the early afternoon sun.

As did the bicycles; new, old, the difference was impossible to note, for each had been polished, tuned, and oiled to pure perfection. They all might as well have been made that very day. And the same could be said for the clothing adorning each rider--uniforms, bright blue, white, and gold, formed from supple fabrics stitched and woven into well-fitted blazers, trousers, skirts, and berets, spotless, bold, and free.

Just beyond the bottom of the hill was the storied trail to Husk Valley, run by hundreds upon hundreds of bicycles for generations. The valley itself was a storied place of both solace and togetherness, a place of unrestricted freedom, if only for a single day. Some explored the stationary mecha and the forests surrounding them. Some grouped together with their friends and played "Husks and Robots" until they fell over in an exhausted heap. Some simply found a spot in the shade or the sun, gazed up at the sky, and took in the fresh, spring-scented air and the beauty of dappled sunlight creeping in past the leaves. And when everyone had tired themselves out and done all they wished, everyone pushed their bicycles up the hill again, one last hurrah before returning to the colony, to classes, and to life.

Some laughed, some cheered, some shouted as they rushed down the hill for the first time. Brown, homely flyers watched from nearby power lines as they went, the children the only source of sound in the quiet valley that did not come from the beaks of birds or the rustle of wind through trees.

The afternoon after the Bicycle Ceremony. A time all to themselves.

Rushing rivers.

Tweeting songbirds.

Gleaming bicycles.

Falling pedals.

Spring.

 

[GasMaskie]

Spring.

A time of renewal and rebirth. Blossoms bud and the cold ceases.

He sneezed as he carefully pulled his bike alongside him - the pollen in the air was just another reason why he despised leaving the confines of his room. Had he a choice in the matter, he simply would have sat out the ceremony. A small sort of contempt welled up inside of him as he watched others begin to frolic about. These would be the moments that they'd look back upon wistfully as they transitioned into adulthood and their role within the colony. The boy, on the other hand, had already abandoned his youth. He had grown up early - far too early, if the doctors had anything to say about it.

Naturally, they were one half of why he had gone out here today. The other reason lie within his backpack. His violet gaze surveyed the expanse of the valley - from the derelict forms of the Husks to the abundant nature that had grown in and around them. The boy mounted his bike now , a worn hand-me-down from someone he didn't know, and started a leisurely descent down the hill. Within a few moments, he was already feeling the strain of physical activity. Any sorts of regrets he had about this, however, were already left behind on the other side of the hill.

***​

The boy left his bike underneath a certain tree - an out of place specimen with a fan-like leaf. Even if the bike had been worn down by the sands of time, the maintenance they put into it brought up to the same standards as everyone else's bike. He hadn't brought a lock for it. There was little chance of someone stealing another person's bike during a time like this. And... it wouldn't really have bothered him one way or another. If he had his way, this would be the first and last day he'd ever touch it. As he looked back at the dull red frame in the shade of that tree, he brought one hand his backpacks strap and gripped tightly.

It was exceedingly unlikely that others would recognize or even know him - in school, he was either truant or silent. Teachers eventually stopped making a fuss about it because of simple exasperation or notifications about his current living situation. As for friends - he had none. Even the most bull-headed and friendliest person gave up long ago against the cold front that swirled about him. A sharp gaze and pointed words were the key components of this strategy. Without any connections or a presence to speak of, he left no footprints where he tread.

His steps were deliberate and silent as he continued down a solitary path through the forested area. It wasn't a straight path nor the most efficient one to get to his destination, but it was one that kept him from bumping into any of the others. A simple consideration on his behalf - he felt that suddenly intruding, even on accident, would be enough to spoil their moods. A gloved hand idly played with the braid that hung from the left side of his head. Perhaps he'd pay a visit to the barbershop sometime this week. After a few more minutes down his path with no incident, he took a seat against a tree and retrieved a carton of water from his pack.

Purple eyes gazed up at the sky hidden away by the flowering branches. By now, the sniffling had stopped and he was growing more accustomed to the smell of the nature. Though, that didn't mean that he liked it. He was simply growing more used to it. His eyes slowly began to close - the preparations that had gone into today dragged him far past midnight. Perhaps a short rest wouldn't hurt - he was almost there anyways. The spot he had surveyed at the top of the hill. A perfect place to say his farewells.

 

[Lucem]

As a kid, he'd often dream of riding on a bike of his very own. With each passing year, that desire only grew stronger. He'd sketch them in his notebooks, laying out how his bike would work and what parts would go into it. The one he received was nothing like those designs, but he didn't care about that. The only thing that mattered was that it was his now. For so long, Alex had wanted to expand his world. Today, he took a big step toward achieving that.

With the wind rushing through his hair, he quickly pedaled down the hill with a smile plastered on his face. Even after he finally made it to the expansive greenery, the expression remained. It wasn't just the bicycle that made him smile. He could feel the sun's heat mix with the cooling breeze as both spread across his skin. The beautiful flowers had bloomed, greeting him as he arrived. The air smelled like spring itself. Many of the children sharing the same experience as him let out screams of laughter and joy. All of these things made for a lovely day that Alex was sure he'd remember for a very long time.

Approaching the grassy areas that weren't well-suited for bike riding, Alex was reluctant to let go of the handlebars and settled for pushing it as he walked along the path, taking care not to get anything caught in the wheels. While he had been thinking about this day for a long time, it wasn't only the bicycle that he was looking forward to. After several years of crafting models based on their appearance, it was natural that he'd want to see the machines responsible for the name Husk Valley.

Navigating through the tall trees and avoiding vines that swayed in the wind, Alex finally found what he was looking for. A large amount of their exteriors were covered by overgrown plant life and other filth, clearly showing just how much the once great machines had aged. However, Alex still looked at them like they were in pristine condition, excitement visible in his pair of azure eyes. He often had the same look on his face when working with things that interested him, but this was on a completely different level.

Walking closer to the Husks, he attempted to get a better look at what lied beneath the outer layers of dirt by wiping away at the accumulated filth on one of the legs. While he couldn't do much to get rid of the grime that had been there for longer than he had been alive, Alex did succeed in revealing a bit of the hull. His excitement grew as he ran his finger along the exposed area, taking in the sensation and committing it to memory. There was also some sadness mixed in with that feeling of joy. These machines would never be active again, left to collect dirt and serve as homes to the new life that climbed around their bodies.

Reaching into his blazer, Alex retrieved the notebook that contained many of his designs. Today, he'd be adding these Husks to the pages of detailed sketches. While their true forms were obscured, he'd try his best to capture what he could see, carefully copying every position and structure he saw. After being able to see a Husk from up close, he'd be sure to make use of this opportunity.

Alex sketched in silence as his pencil moved quickly along empty pages. In moments like these, a happy expression always formed on his face. Not that he was grumpy when he wasn't indulging in his hobby. He still loved being around other people and planned on meeting with his friends shortly. However, this came first. It probably wouldn't take long, considering how fast his hand was moving.

 

[Kiroshiven]

Umi hated the uniform that adorned her person. Sure it was tradition and for her father's reputation, she wore it, but at the end of the ceremony a small seemingly unnoticeable smirk crept onto her face as she grabbed a duffel bag out from one of the nooks and crannies she'd found while roaming the Colony. Quickly throwing the shoes into it she smiled at the familiar sensation of dirt and pavement against her feet. "Comfortable." She muttered to nobody in particular as she followed behind the rest of her classmates. Each one's face holding a different expression. Some seemed to grow tired from the trek but Umi's "outings" made this walk seem rather tame.

At the top of the hill, Umi pulled her bike off to the side and hid behind a tree. She stuffed the beret and blazer into the duffel bag and rolled her shoulders. The adults called the uniform freedom, but Umi called it a sign of incarceration. No longer would she be free to roam the streets and play music as passionately as she wanted to. She would be stuck heading down the path of the Botanist, like her mother. Working day after day for the safety and security of the Colony. It wasn't a bad fate, but it was more like a gilded cage than true freedom. As these thoughts jumbled within her, Umi pulled out one of her usual dresses. The flowing material stopping just at her knees. The fabrics design and materials reminding the girl more of birds and freedom than anything else. Slipping it on over her blouse and skirt was annoying, but once she'd done that and removed the last of the uniform, Umi felt truly free.

With her duffel bag holding her keyboard, uniform and her usual outing supplies (the mortar and pestle with some empty jars), she grabbed her bike and let gravity do its thing. The downhill slope was a great ride. She felt the wind make her hair billow behind her. Her mind began to picture herself flying. The sky surrounding her and birds joining her. Despite her imagination, Umi could tell that she was quickly approaching the end of the dream. She slowly applied her brakes and came to a stop, the dream closing. "It's too sad." She sighed as she walked over and leaned her bike up against a tree and began walking off down the road to Husk Valley.

The walk was littered with plants that Umi had collected frequently on her outings, but this time she wasn't interested in them. It was the Husks, the great machines of old that held her attention. The lessons that spoke of war and the music she'd found referring to it made it sound tragic, violent, beautiful and ultimately a new adventure. Her eyes shone as she walked along, tightening her grip on her duffel bag as she looked about. "Could any of you have flown? Did you see the world for what it was?" She asked as she spun around her eyes clinging to them all with rapt wonder. As her urge to get lost within the valley began to grow stronger, Umi knew today was not the day to get lost wandering endlessly. She quickly climbed into one of the hands of a nearby husk, or what she imagined to be a hand and pulled out her keyboard from her bag. "That song." She muttered as she adjusted the settings and began to play.

 

[Coin]

Ida's grip on the handlebars of her silver bike tightened as she readied to push herself off and speeding down the hill. There she sat atop her sister Ana's old bike, which had been forgotten and gathered a heap of dust in their family's shed for over a year. When the time came for Ida to get a bike of her own, it only made sense to scrape the dust and rust off Ana's old bike and hand it down to her. The bicycle was nothing new at all to Ida. When Ana had found a new venture to explore, Ida would always stand atop the rear pegs, gripping tightly to her sister's shoulders for dear life as they rode. She could even remember the night Ana snuck off into the night to commandeer two bits of pipes from an obliterated Husk to attach to her bike as jury-rigged pegs. Ana had gotten in so much trouble for sneaking out, but no one ever found out that she had stolen and repurposed scrap from the Husks. Ida was far too ignorant and gleeful when Ana showed her the pegs -- it was her first taste of freedom.

She could practically hear her sister's voice as if she were a ghost behind Ida's shoulder, "We should explore that over there tomorrow!" And even though Ida knew her sister was not behind her, she knew where her sister would point: the forest beyond the graveyard of Husks. Ida's gaze drifted over to the steel behemoths laid to rest in the valley and her throat began to close. Was she cursed to merely exist, eclipsed in the shadow of her sister?

Would Ida ever outrace the sun?

Ida stomped her foot into the ground and pushed off, sending her and the bike barreling down the hill at speed. She grit her teeth and pedaled until her legs could no longer keep up, letting herself free fall down the hill. The wind in her hair threatened to yank the beret that sat atop her head off, and she deftly pressed one hand to keep her hat still while the other guided the handlebars of her bike down the slope.

"Awesome! Let's go again!" Ida could hear her sister in her head as she slowed to a stop at the base of the hill near a group of other teens who had also made their first bike run. Even Ida knew that one measly hill couldn't possibly help Ida scamper out from under the shadow of her sister's infamy.

Ida's vision had blurred and become tear-stained sometime down the hill. She quickly turned away from view when she discovered she had been crying and hastily rubbed away the tears on the back of her palm. One day, she'd matter to someone, somewhere.

 

[dwif]

With the gentle clicks of his bike and the bird song accompanying him, Sebastian pushed his bike down the path his with his classmates slowly getting ahead of him. He wasn't concerned with being left behind for now, he was happy they had even brought him along despite his family's reputation. This was a moment that he wanted to savor. The freedom. The change in routine. This is what his bike meant to him. It may not have been the best quality with spots of rust apparent around the chain and its frame, but to him this didn't matter, this was his opportunity to find the excitement he'd been craving.

Draping his blazer over his bike's frame and rolling up his sleeves, he was content to just enjoy the cool breeze and take in the new sights. But deep down he knew the real reason for his excitement lay at the bottom of this hill. The husks that he'd heard about so much growing up, he was about to see them close up. If only he was born a few hundred years sooner he would have been able to see them active, perhaps even able to pilot one. Despite his excitement he reminded himself that it was just a stupid daydream, one that can never come to fruition. "Life is just a repeating cycle, the same thing happens day in, day out and nothing will change that. No amount of wishful thinking will, so it's better to forget about it." he muttered to himself bringing himself back to his usual unenthused self.

There it was. The bottom of the hill. Where these relics from the past lay dormant. He was hesitant, would it live up to his expectations?

Entering the opening where several of his classmates already were was breathtaking. The husks were overgrown and almost completely reclaimed by nature but their presence was still apparent to Sebastian. These giants sitting silent and forgotten for so long. Once a great symbol, now left to rot and becoming nothing more than a sightseeing attraction. Sebastian slowly approaches one and stops just short of it, sitting down in the grass to look up and admire it. Reaching into his bag he pulls out one of the small cakes that he spent the night baking, spending what little money he had left from working to ensure that he had made enough for everyone.

This was it. This is what he had always been leading up to. In this moment he forgot about the troubles of colony life. He was happy.

 

[QizPizza]

Kori "K.C." Chang
Kori was a mixed bag of emotions during the Bicycle Ceremony. This was her coming of age, a taste of freedom, the next step in her life. She was excited like one couldn't believe. She remembered her brother's own ceremony, back when he was 15 and she was 7. The smile of pure joy that Corey bore on his face as he looked back at his sister was permanently implanted into Kori's mind. That, and his subsequent crash because he wasn't paying attention. It was an amazing day for the two of them, and only the two of them. Neither of their parents could make it that day. And now, it was the other way around. Corey was gone and her parents were there.

Sure, Kori loved her parents, but they weren't around back then, and they weren't Corey. She wanted her brother to be there, telling her how proud and happy he was for her and recount his own stories with her. But at least she had her friends with her. Alex, Hexa, and Amelia were all like family, especially Alex. Years ago, the two had become friends during their parents' absences, and now, they were still just as close, if not closer.

As the ceremony drew to a close, Kori shouted with all the other kids. This wasn't the day to be melancholy, this was a joyous occasion! The black haired girl jumped on her bike and ride down the hill with everyone else, and for a brief moment, forgot all about her troubles.

Her glossy black hair flying in the wind and into her face, her chest heaving as she pedalled as hard as she could and her heart pounding with excitement. The cool spring air kissed her face as she flew down the hill on the same crimson red bike Corey rode for his ceremony. When she reached the bottom, she only pedalled harder to maintain her speed as she wove in-between the legs of the gigantic Husks that dotted the appropriately named Husk Valley.

At some point, Kori finally tired out and stopped underneath a Husk. She leaned her bike on one of it's legs and threw herself down onto the grass. She didn't care if she got her pristine white blouse and newly tailored skirt dirty. Her parents wouldn't care, and her father would simply use some strong smelling liquid on the stains, and they would be gone the next time they washed it. She was soon bored of staring into the sky and pulled out a portable game console. Kori propped herself up against the leg of the Husk and began to play some old game she patched up. "Wonder what the others were doing..."

 

[Entity.Eclypse]

She wore the stupid hat.

In her youngest of years, she would look to the other kids and see their hats as they stood about in the ceremony and her eyes would light up with wonder. Flash forward a few years and here she is in their shoes, not literally but metaphorically, but it was much less enthusing than she had imagined it to be at that time. The outfit felt too proper for her; the colors didn't seem right when you were giving people who were prone to failure bikes. The adults made absolutely no sense and were quite possibly denser than a steel sheet. But there was at least one thing the adults could do right; in the next minute she had been given her bike.


A black frame raced against the unkempt pale grass around it, Mochi had abandoned the ceremony half-way and since she was on the bike already had easily escaped; it wasn't like they really chased the troublemaker. A few yellow stripes had been painted on and seemed to be dry currently while the girl muttered to herself, "Hopefully Hachi will be alright" She was speaking to herself with a tad of worry present in her voice. Though after a moment she shook her head and perked up a little bit, even scoffing off the idea of her sister getting berated for her rebellion. "She's my sister so she'll be fine... if not. I'll hurt them," The bike continued to move gaining even more distance and approaching the top of the hill now. Maybe a trick could be cool to try out.

So approaching the top of the hill she began to lean back on the bike with her arms pulling the black rubber coating the metal handles upwards. She could feel the instability from the bicycle as it swerved slightly, however the front wheel did lift itself off the grass somewhat with greenery being stuck within the spokes. This was when Mochi yielded some of her balance and the front end of the bike slammed back into the plains freeing a few blades of the green before continuing once more. Thankfully she remained on the bike, but a soured expression retained itself upon her face, instead of being glad she hadn't face-planted she was upset that the trick hadn't gone as planned.

Heaving a profound sigh, her chest sank while the decline was easily done, turning her bike she slid to a quick stop. By now the ceremony had ended and it was likely that others had gotten close to the meeting spot.

"Maybe they haven't dirtied their stuff up yet" the females voice came out with a hushed tone. She had come to a vaguely overgrown dirt pathway and turned onto it, a small vortex of dust kicked up behind the black cycle with yellow stripes. The stretch wasn't bad so she began to pedal faster and soon not even the dust could catch up to her, the world around her began to blend with all it's colors. The wind nipped at the brim of her beret and soon crawled beneath. Flying off slightly a few strands of black hair sprang free, A hand swiftly reached backwards and snatched it back from the air.

Her split attention was the first step to a tremendous downfall only a few pedal presses down where a rock lay in wait to trip up an unlucky biker. Today however, was not the day that Mochi would suffer this. When reaching to snatch her hat from the winds grip she ended up veering right into a pathway that launched her towards a husk. When her eyes returned to face forward an enormous eye returned her vision, griping her hands tightly to the brakes she heard the slight creaking of the breaks along with a higher-pitched squeal as it halted.

Dust kicked up and joined the rest of the debris and overgrowth upon the Husk. She rested about a fingers-length away from the Husk's eye, a short breath of relief escaped her lips as she kicked one leg over her bike and stood normally now. Moving she placed her bike against the husks mid-face before climbing to the top of its head and dropped her beret atop the seat of her bike. Stretching her arms upwards she laid backwards atop the head and stared into the partially clouded-sky.

 

[simj26]

CainShe stared straight at them, only the slightest of smiles on her face. That’s right. Even if she had altered her skirt just slightly, just so the hem didn’t drag across her knees every step she took, even if her beret seemed a little skewed, so long as she wasn't being a complete idiot during the ceremony, her parents would not have minded. So she offered them just that. They were simple people, with a mindset of ‘if they didn't see it, or hear of it, it was fine’. She was appreciative of that. She, herself, didn't ask for much from them. This strange symbiotic parent-child arrangement between them of ‘she followed their expectations, and they don’t bother her’ was just fine. Which was why, even when the wind beckoned her, and when her feet tapped impatiently in class, she never skipped a single hour. Why should she anyway? She learned many things just listening, not only to the teacher, but to the other faceless students. She had all the freedom in the world after school anyway.

Which was why, at the peak of the hill that overlooked the valley of the husks, she was quite overwhelmed by just how much each and every other child was so overwhelmed by the world and the freedom set in front of them. She couldn't blame them. The sight truly was one to behold. She can’t deny them that much. Every sunset she watched from on the roofs of the colony, the horizon just over yonder tempting her to run as far as she can, the wild wind that whispered wistfully to her to keep on running set her heart ablaze, and her thirsting for more than just the alleyways and rooftops. Here she was now, overlooking the glade of the legendary Husks of yore. The less enterprising of the children pushed their bikes through the grass, but enterprising was one of Victoire Cainewright’s many middle names, as she kicked off her bike’s stand and pushed off from the top of the hill, letting gravity do the work for her.

That was the thing about cycling. If you knew how to manipulate the bike and gravity, it was simple. Still, when the rush of the wind howled to meet her, she was overcome with the same adrenaline that she had when she was running. Maybe it just didn't matter. So long as the world was a blur, so long as she was heading somewhere, Cain was happy.

She curled her fingers around the brake handles, and pulled lightly. The bike slowed on its descent, until it came to a halt at the feet of one of the metal giants, slumped over the grassy knoll beside it, as if it was taking a well-needed rest after a day of hard work. Cain stood her bicycle up, hopped off, and strode over to the machine. Vegetation had taken hold of it already, small vines working up its body, grass and the occasional flower taken root in small crevices. Maybe Jeremy could give this a once over. She’d seen him work on a yard once or twice, he could spruce this place up a little bit. That was mostly in jest. But still, seeing how deft he was with his hands…

That said, where was their owner? She turned around, something within her hoping that he was right with her.

 

[Hextremus]

Otto didn't like his bike. It was green. The red highlights adorning sections of its frame further intensified his faint dislike of the human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle. It could at least stick to the colour scheme presented. But no matter; it was a perfectly good bike, after all. Even if its colours did deviate from the plain blacks and whites that the tall fifteen year old favoured, he didn't mind using it. When his parents had presented it to him, he had accepted the gift without a second's hesitation. The world didn't care about what he preferred. Better he conform to the world's standards than his own.

Otto pedalled slowly, right index finger gently lifting and tapping against the rubber handlebar as he ascended towards the peak of the hill. The last obstacle in his path. Before he cleared the summit, he prepared himself. Left hand released its grip and reached up to grasp the tie looped around his collar, tugging it down until it loosened enough that the lazy wind pushed it back against the right side of his chest, most likely over his shoulder if he were to pedal any faster. His hand then travelled further up, removing the blue beret he so disliked and holding it before him. He half considered tossing it aside before considering the cost to create the article of clothing, and instead sandwiched it between his palm and the bike's handlebars as he rode. No sense discarding a perfectly good hat, though the beret soon faded from his mind. He crested the hill, and the sight that greeted him left his face as blank as ever.

Far too much green.

His fingers tightened on the brakes as he made his way down the hill, making sure to keep a regular pace. One could never foresee when a hidden rock would catch their wheel when racing down a hill, wind sparking tears in their eyes. Otto was pragmatic. Overly cautious, some would say. He just considered all the other students that had raced ahead of him immature. Especially as they screamed down the hill. Why did humans seek entertainment through speed and potential death? It just confused Otto. Maybe they saw something in the act that he simply couldn't. Not that he'd ever ask them about it.

Once he'd finally reached the bottom, he smoothly slid off the bike's seat and began walking. Keeping to the perimeter, close to the trees that marked the beginning of the forest, he walked until he considered himself far away enough from other human life to do his work uninterrupted. He stopped and kicked his bike's stand out, draping his beret over the edge of the handlebar before straightening and adjusting the cuffs of his blazer. Then he approached the closest Husk. A massive behemoth smothered in green, kneeling as though in supplication. He paused before it and stared up, as though his seemingly uninterested eyes could pierce the veil of vines.

His hand reached behind his back, grasping the handle of his plain white modeller's knife that always protruded out of his back pocket. He drew it out, using his thumb to remove the safety cap and spinning it between his fingers until it rested in a ready position. Approaching the massive foot of the Husk, he crouched down and rested his hand against it, brushing away plants and vines to expose the surface beneath.

Face blank, Otto began carving.

 

[The One Eyed Bandit]

For every spoke on his wheels, for every wisp of cloud in the piercingly blue sky, for every Husk that lay dead and forgotten in the valley below, it seemed like one of the other children was breaking away on their own. If he was a more poetic soul, he might have compared it to an expression of their blooming independence; But he wasn't.

And he knew better.

It'd been fifteen years since the lot of them came kicking and screaming into the world, and in those fifteen years, he'd well and truly learned that he'd 'been born into the wrong generation', or something along those lines. That wasn't to say he'd given up on coaxing the overtly glum teens he called peers into the arm and lovely arms of friendship, but he wasn't going to get upset about their respective vanishings.

Though the flight of one of his few fellow socialites in Alex did sting a little, Vic had at least pulled through. Pulled ahead, too, but the track team ensured his ability to keep up with even her reckless abandon.

His trail behind her was loose but consistent, his eyes flicking between her back and the countryside that rolled out beside them. Freedom where ever he looked, it seemed, nothing like the usual contrast the girl struck against the regimented walls of the colony.

But then there was the Husks. If the colony was Order, and the countryside was Freedom, then the Husks were probably...

Fear?

He knew of their popularity amongst some of his classmates, but personally, he'd always found them eerie. Both in the history books, and now that they sat looming over him. Those great, towering symbols of power that now sat as nothing more than dead reminders of an ancient past. If those things could end up in such a state, what did it say about all of them?

Ah, gosh, he was going to start looking as gloomy as the rest of the kids if he entertained thoughts like that. This was the day he started walking down the street called 'Future', and if he was staring at his fears all the while, they were going to become his destination. Contemplative thought like that was best left for later in life, as his family had always told him.

Now, where exactly were they? Vic's bike had slowed to a stop, and he slid in neatly behind it. Unsurprisingly, she'd picked both the biggest attraction and the tallest thing to climb as her first stop. He'd never caught her spider monkey bug, despite all the years gone by but it was easy enough to spot a target when he saw one. What sort of view would there be up there? How much of a challenge would the climb be? What would be the best plan of attack? It was his shame as a young man that those thoughts were probably running through her head instead of his, but that was just how things were. Regardless of how many times the older sister made fun of him for it.

"I really hope you're not planning to climb that thing, Vic." Now that he was standing in front of it, the sheer massiveness of the Husk was only doubly intimidating. Covered in vines like it was, it wasn't like the thing was lacking in footholds, but jeez, could you imagine falling off of the thing?

His expression began to tinge with concern. 'Splat' was probably a bit dramatic, but it definitely wouldn't end well.

"How about we go and round up some of the others? Might be able to get a round of Husks and Robots going if we nag them enough." God, he hadn't played that in years. But what better time to give it a grand return than the last day of their childhood?

It'd be about one hundred times safer than playing mountaineer, too.

 

[Inactive User 002]

Today was interesting day for Hexa as she had received her bike from her parents earlier. Which she actually thanked them for as it was her mother's old bike. It almost brought tears to her eyes though she didn't want to let them see her cry. Of course with the bike having belonged to her mechanically minded mother it was in top shape. Peddling her bike to the Bicycle Ceremony she felt closer to her mother than she had in years. Lost in a trail of pleasant thoughts nothing could ruin this peaceful moment solitude. Not even the itchy and ghastly uniform she had to wear. Well the beret was ok as she had stitched a skull onto it but everything else sucked.

Finally arriving at the top of the hill she looked down towards the overgrown vegetation. Looking carefully she could see little pieces of Husks peaking through. Wonder filled her eyes thinking over how they would work. It also made her think of a quote that those who do not acknowledge or learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. It would make the adults look like real idiots if it was true Hexa thought to herself and snickered a little bit. Looking around she tried to see if her friends were around though she couldn't see them. Probably looking at the Husks already she thought to herself. However Hexa would have to find them later as a lot of the other kids were trying to pressure her into an apology. Wanting Hexa to say sorry for the way she has talked to them for the past few years. Usually it was pointless trying to get her to apologise but, Hexa was in a hurry to see the Husks. So she made them an offer race her to the bottom of the hill and the winner gets whatever they want.

Racing down the the hill with wind whipping her face as hair flew about uncontrollably Hexa felt giddy. Her mother's bike was so well kept it was easy to take an early lead. Turning her head back half way down to give a cocky look she only just caught a glimpse of a boy overtake. Mortified she tried to peddle harder but it was to late to catch up to him. Though she did have a little bit of satisfaction as he slammed on the brakes to late and ended up in a tree. To bad it wasn't enough to wipe the smirk of his face Hexa thought to herself. It was so humiliating having to say sorry to each and everyone of them as the price for loosing.

After that was all done with a fuming and annoyed Hexa stormed off into the forest. Getting out her slingshot she took shots at Husks, trees, buildings and other things enjoying the individual sounds made when the rock hit its target. Why the hell did people always take her words to heart, I mean all she did was be honest about what she thought. Looking at the Husks Hexa wondered what they looked like on the inside, but she wanted to keep looking for her friends for now.

 

[Soviet Panda]

Connor was proud of his bike, no matter how simple it was. It has been his mother's, but when she had gotten it out a few days prior it was a rusted mess. Stanley would have none of that. And by the time of the ceremony, the man, with the help of a few members of the gym, had repainted it the bike, got it a new chain, replaced the seat and tires, and tightened down any and all loose nuts and bolts. He had even put a small strap just under the seat so it'd be easier to carry. So there Connor was, standing up to give him that extra bit of power to get up the hill.

Once he neared the top, he sat down, rolled over the crest, and made his way back down. He wasn't in any hurry either. The forest wouldn't get up and leave, and neither would the Husks. He had all the time in the world. And it wasn't like everyone didn't know where they were going. This little trip was perhaps the worst kept secret in the whole Colony. Yes, they weren't supposed to go, but they had been for generations. So all of the adults turned a blind eye, if only for today.

He did not stop off to one side to admire a Husk, once he reached the bottom of the hill. He didn't really feel like spending all of his time at just one. Well, he thought about it when he saw what few friends he had gathering around one, but he decided to press on and only gave them a wave as he passed them by.

The Husks where everywhere, and as varied as people. Some large, some small. Some as thin as telephone poles, others as wide as a hill. They stood defiantly on their own two feet, or were crumpled on the ground. Most were covered in overgrowth, moss, vines, etc., but a few spots shone through on the larger ones. He thought about stopping to look at those uncovered spots, but couldn't make up his mind before he passed them. So on he went, going deeper and deeper into the forest. When the sun started to go down, that was when he would turn back. But not a moment before.

 

[Cosmos]

Hachi wasn't sure exactly what had been going through her twin sisters head when she rushed off halfway through the ceremony, a part of her having hoped the other would have stayed to complete it, to stand with her at the end as they were congratulated, stay together like they always were so long ago. Then again another part of her knew the girls stubborn nature and opinion on the 'stupid hats' she'd been going on about for so long last night, admittedly she couldn't help but let a small smile cross her lips at the thought.

When she'd been handed her bike she was happy to find it's pink colour oppose to her sisters black that would inevitably be covered in yellow stripes soon enough. Sure the lighter colour meant more cleaning if she got it muddy but the girl didn't really care, she'd been waiting for this day for so long, maybe it was an excuse in her mind to finally venture out their, to rebel like her sister had done. Even if she had stayed behind a little later to help the adults with the clean up, watching the others ride off quickly to the meeting point that everyone silently acknowledged, none would even notice she hadn't caught up, they liked her and she couldn't say she had any enemies, but at the same time she couldn't exactly say she had many close friends besides her sister if she were to tell the truth.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Pushing off down the hill had been a more thrilling experience than the girl could say she'd had in ages, her expression widening into a huge childlike smile as the wind hit her face and blew back her short blonde hair. The only strands kept in place being those underneath that of the pink flower hair clip, beret atop her head and slightly itchy sweater pushed tightly against her chest, standing up slightly on the peddles with a wobble she began to laugh eagerly at the sensation, closing her eyes briefly and taking in a breath of the fast approaching wind before opening them just in time to not crash completely, sitting down on the seat she half stumbled off the bike as she didn't quite brake properly, the bike falling to the ground as she awkwardly caught herself but inches from a face plant.

A small bead of sweat on her forehead and a quiet and awkward giggle escaping her mouth as she froze and slowly turned back to glance at fallen bike in embarrassment and panic a having possibly broken it, rushing over she checked it rapidly before letting out a sigh of relief at not even a scratch appearing on the metal frame. Standing with the bike she began to walk forwards through the longer grass glancing with a small smile at the small groups forming or those wandering off as individuals, continuing to stroll through the plant life under the slowly setting orange hues of the sun above.

It wasn't long till she found herself a short distance from the main gathering and looking up at one of the Husks in wonder, eyes practically glimmering briefly as they laid upon the sight, widening with truly what could be called innocent and pure curiosity, reaching a hand out slowly her fingers gently caressed the overgrown exterior of the metal giant. It was one of the smaller ones overall but still large compared to certain ones, an gigantic compared to any mere human.

Slowly her eyes ran over the creation with every aspect and attention to detail, each small blooming bud appearing from it's chest an the soft green moss covering a patch of it's chest like a medal of honour. Sitting slowly with folded legs beneath her and shirt tucked politely beneath she looked up with a pleased expression, "An what's your name mr. husk?~…." she asked quietly in a childish tone, almost as though geniuernley expecting an answer from the machine as her hands locked together and rested in her lap. Eyes reopening a few moments later with a more saddened expression as she looked further up to where she assumed the head of the form to be, "I suppose you must be lonely out here all by yourself…. Everyone else went for the bigger ones I guess, but don't worry I'm far more interested in you, I think you're really special~ After all how else could you grow such pretty flowers?" she continued with a cheerful giggle, trying to brighten her mood up as she glanced at he buds of the breathtaking small plantlike all but ready to bloom when given the chance, the few ahead of the crowd stunning in their colours.

It was almost like a child's tea party you could say, the way she sat their facing and talking with the Husk as though it were nothing more than a giant teddybear or person of which she was playing pretend, a somewhat lonely sight amongst the rest of the groups, and yet she seemed rather happy and satisfied from a distance where she was like that, how she'd love to have her sister here to see this with, for them both to explore the husks together! then it wouldn't just be her and mr. husk all alone.
​

[Open for interactions as of current times]

 

[GasMaskie]

Though, even as his eyes remained shut and he fruitlessly tried to reach the serenity of a nap, his mind continued to swirl about. It churned about and brought images to the surface - pages of books he had yet to actually read, a darkened room that smelled of old pages, a sterile and impersonal hospital room. He brought a gloved hand to his head and opened his eyes. The only times he could truly sleep were when he had tired himself out. It's perhaps because of this that he was able to achieve as much as he had up until now. Idle hands are the devil's workshop - or so he recalled.

He stood up and brushed off his clothing, the boy brought his gaze forward once more towards the destination he had in mind. It looked even further away than he had anticipated - the moment he began to think about how much further he had to walk, any and all of his willpower crumbled. There were people who were active and took to this sort of event like a fish to water. And then there were people like him; people who would rather stay at home. Though, doing so would have probably meant some sort of harassment from the usual bunch and then some.

Tracing his roundabout path back to the tree where he left the bicycle, the young man pulled it up with a grunt and began walking it back towards the hill. Naturally, his other hand gravitated to his backpack's straps. Perhaps he'd try again another day, perhaps when there were less people running around. A farewell required a sort of intimacy, didn't it? He bit his lip. True, there were never any specifications on when it needed to be done, but backing out now seemed like such a waste. Not that circumventing others was particularly new to the boy - his trade, after all, was only slightly legal. Not that he'd even admit to it if he was caught.

What happened next, happened simply because of a whim. Perhaps, if he gave it some time and reflected, the reasons for such would reveal themselves. But, he relented. Anything to stave off the monotony that a day like this failed to. The young man wasn't afflicted by any sort of social anxiety. He simply had no reason to talk with others. His thoughts lingered on a certain saying that his mother had chided him with. How did introductions go again?

"You. Your name, what is it?" It goes without saying, but he was blunt. He had approached the girl at the base of the hill, having no doubt just finished the obligatory downhill ride. Maybe, just maybe, even interacting with another person would have made today less of a waste. Though, he doubted that it'd be productive in the slightest. She didn't seem engaged with anyone - picking someone out of a group was simply a bad idea.

(Interactions: Coin )

 

[Coin]

Ida wasn't angry at her sister, but rather frustrated at herself. Through her tear-blinded eyes, she could just make out the silhouette of a Husk she had unintentionally wandered towards while hiding herself from others. Though she was several meters away from the hulking titan, its dominating presence certainly made Ida feel small -- even in the machine's state of disrepair. Try as she did, Ida could not shove thoughts of her sister away, memories clinging to her like tar.

"Wouldn't it be cool if we could drive them?" Ana had said. "The Husks, I mean. Even though no one here would tell us how, I'm sure we could figure out a way to start them up."

Ida's memory of Ana seemed as if it were projecting from the Husk itself, taunting her emotions to unravel. She desperately didn't want to hear what would come next, because she already knew what Ana would say next. No matter how much Ida tried to brush away the welling tears, her thoughts would not halt.

"You could be my wingman, Ida," Ana had offered. "You and I could finally leave this trash heap for good."

Ida, in her innocence would have jumped off a bridge if her sister thought it was cool.

From behind her shoulder, a new voice snapped her out of her misery. A boy's this time. The cold grasp of her ghostly memories ebbed away and Ida finally managed to find some reprieve. She hastily wiped away the last of her tears and sniffled before whirling around to meet who had confronted her. Ida recognized his voice and face, and only remembered his name after a few moments of thought.

"Oh, hi there. Sorry, I didn't hear you coming," Ida tried her best to disguise her croaked voice. "I'm Ida. Ida Sommers -- we're in the same class, I think."

She couldn't at all begin to think of why Morgan wanted to speak to her of all people, but at the very least, she appreciated the distraction. After all, today was supposed to be a happy day.

((Re: GasMaskie ))

 

[simj26]

CainCain did not respond, not initially. Glad as she was that Jeremy had chosen to accompany her, something caught her eye. She had seen something glinting just at the peak of the mountain that was the slumped over Husk. Perhaps her eyes were deceiving her, and perhaps she was just trying to find an excuse to get her hands on this challenge, but that sheen on metal seemed to look like a handle. She couldn't be sure just what it was, given by the weeds that surrounded it, but what she was sure about was that she was not going to leave this place without conquering this challenge. She took hold of one of the vines that intertwined themselves around the Husk’s leg, and gave it a solid tug. When it didn't give way, she gave a smirk of satisfaction, then turned to Jeremy. Placing both her hands on his cheeks, so that it was unlikely for him to even avert her gaze, her smile widened just slightly as she stared straight into his pretty, bright eyes.

“I can’t believe you would say that, Jerry. Safety last, is what I say.” She released him, then gave him an affectionate pat on his cheek. “C’mon, we can play Husks and Robots any time back home, but we’ll only be able to climb an actual Husk once in our lives!” She laughed, then turned back towards the Husk in front of her, and took a running leap onto the encroaching vines. With one, almost practiced motion, she extracted one piton from a pouch on her side, then buried it into the thickest vine available. When it held, she took another piton and, lifting herself up with one arm, she stuck yet another piton just further up. With these two initial holds established, she continued to lift herself up further, now utilising the natural handholds to continue climbing just a little bit further, before placing her feet on the pitons.

“You comin’, or are you just going to enjoy the view?” she dusted her uniform’s skirt, and laughed. She needn’t worry about the rhyme about Paris and France- anyone who knew her long enough would know she always wore spats underneath her skirts. “I’d think you’d find the view to be much better up over there.” She called, indicating where she had thought to have seen the metalpiece, before returning to her climb. Whether Jeremy chose to clamber after her, she continued up her arduous journey, her movements almost akin to a monkey’s as she searched for the most optimal path up, testing each vine, every foot and handhold, and leaping up gaps. She wasn’t as cruel as to leave her dearest Jeremy stranded though, leaving a path of fixed pitons leading up to her destination.

 

[QizPizza]

Kori "K.C." Chang
After maybe ten minutes of playing her game, Kori was bored. There was much more to do on this day. She could totally go around frolicking in the grass and roll around, getting her blouse dirtier. Hah!...No. She was too old for frolicking. That was something 8 year-old kids did. But still, she should probably do something other than just sit around and play videogames. She did that on a daily basis already, so there wasn't any point in wasting such a special day. The teenage girl stood up and brushed off all the grass and dirt she could from her outfit and took off her glasses. The world suddenly grew slightly blurrier, but it was manageable as long as she wasn't trying to do homework or something like that.

The teenage girl took to examining the Husk that she stood beneath. It was beautiful, especially with the coats of vines and foliage covering it's original form. The machine was on one knee, and should it have looked the way it did when it was first produced, it might have looked like a regal knight in armor standing in defense over the citizens of the colony. Kori just imagined what it would be like to see them in action, but then decided that whatever it might be like watching a Husk in action would not compare with actually piloting one. The power that must come with piloting such a beautiful machine and being able to see the entire world from all the way up there.

Kori took to walking out from under the Husk to get a better view at the machine as whole. As she got further away, she noticed a figure at the Husk's foot. She couldn't make it out who it was without her glasses, but was sure it was a boy. When she approached the figure, it was confirmed that it was male. His name was Otto-something. He was a bit a recluse like some of the other boys, but he stuck out like a sore thumb whether he wanted to or not, being the tallest guy in their age group. He was being weird as always and carving something into the leg of the Husk. "Hey, tall boy, what are you do? Being reclusive like always?"

Interacting: Hextremus

 

[CerpinTaxt]

His tie was much too restrictive on his neck.

And his shoes were oh so terrible to walk in. Much too tight and..well, it just wasn't a good experience.

But the rest of his day was going well. The ceremony was over, which left Luka to do as he liked. The sun reflected off the metal of his handle bars as he leaned his bike against a nearby tree, making the boy squint his eyes before turning away to face the vast forest that awaited him. If he was going to spend the day doing what he liked, he was certainly going to be comfortable doing it. His dress shoes were quickly removed, retrieving his regular shoes from his bag. The dress shoes took up residence in the bag, and his sneakers would be what he would wear for the rest of the day. Although in all honestly, Luka rather wished he was home right now.

"Dearie, this is a big day for you! Getting to ride your bike and having the whole day to yourself. This isn't something you get more than once. I don't expect you back home until it's nearly dark out. Understand?" He'd already played out what she would have said had he tried, her sweet voice never scolding or sound frustrated. Perhaps he'd try and make conversation with someone today. Or try to at least. Perhaps they wouldn't ignore him like they did usually.

Maybe he could find someone else who he could talk about books with.

Luka grabbed the handlebars of his bike, adjusting his bag and putting it back on his back before riding off down the long stretch of blacktop, his focus more on his thoughts than the ride he was partaking in. People still avoided him as he made his way down, seemingly eminating 'strange' even when he was doing something as simple as riding his bike. Excited shouts of joy from the children around him would turn to look of unease. Groups of friends either slowing down or moving faster to get away from him as he went as his leisurely pace

Luka said nothing of course. It would just make things worse.

Soon he found himself alone, riding past the large trees and towards the machine corpses of the Husks from ages ago. Perhaps he could read on one of them? His overly-tall body certainly should have given him the opportunity to climb them. He pondered just how he would even be able to get up one as he subconciously slowed down and came to a halt. His eyes couldn't help but catch the sight of something pink, something which stood out against the various greens and browns of nature. Carefully, Luka set the kickstand of his bike down, using it to rest the bike as he removed his pack. It seemed whoever had left their bike here was speaking, and hadn't noticed him as he began to get one of the various books from his bag.

"I suppose you must be lonely out here all by yourself…. Everyone else went for the bigger ones I guess, but don't worry I'm far more interested in you, I think you're really special~ After all how else could you grow such pretty flowers?"

She spoke so kindly to something that had no way of communicating back.

Should he approach them and try to talk to them? Or would he just ruin their day? He'd probably just ruin their day.

But he couldn't just stay and be lonely on a day like this.

Right?

Carefully he began to approach the blonde girl, book in hand. A sudden snap of a stick breaking under his foot ruining the silence. Slow, unsure movements changed to swift, scrambled ones as he hid behind one of the trees. His head peeking out from one of the sides. Hiding behind a tree was perhaps a bit of an extreme move to hide the fact his hands were shaking.

"Hello."

He felt terrified.

Cosmos

 

[Hextremus]

Otto had made it halfway through his carving when a girl's voice interrupted him. The modellers's knife stilled, blade buried just into the surface of the Husk's skin as he rotated his head to glance over his shoulder at whoever had approached him. She was somewhat familiar to him, but so were all the other students in his year group. Otto didn't particularly care for socialising, so either he never heard their names or they just swept over his head. This girl was slightly more noticeable to him, due to her yellow eyes. Quite fascinating.

He extracted the knife from the Husk and rose to his feet, turning around to face the girl. His face remained blank, but he nodded slowly in greeting and half raised his left hand in a very, very half hearted wave while his right hand began spinning the modeller's knife again.

"Good evening. If you wish to know, I am using my modeller's knife to carve my favourite symbol into this Husk. Being reclusive, perhaps. You may observe if you wish."

Once he'd finished greeting her he dropped back to one knee, mimicking the pose of the Husk as he continued his carving of a SATOR Square into the metal. What was strange was that he had greeted her with a 'good evening' despite it being clearly still early afternoon. He paused in his carving after a second and glanced back over his shoulder again.

"My name is Otto Render. However, I didn't get your name. Would you mind telling me?"

[Interaction w/ QizPizza ]

 

[GasMaskie]

It was only upon approaching the girl that he noticed her red eyes. Or perhaps, he had subconsciously noted it and approached her much as a hunter approaches wounded prey. Perhaps she had gotten into a fight with her friends. Or maybe she was trying to say goodbye too. As she spoke her name, the pale boy brought a gloved hand to his chin.

Naturally, her name drew a blank - he certainly remembered her face, however. He couldn't forget anyone's faces even if he had tried to forget them. Names were another matter entirely, but she certainly wasn't lying about being in the same class. He could place her to the right seat - at least circa the last time he had bothered to attend class. He closed his eyes for a moment and spoke.

"Ida. Ida Sommers..." He repeated those words as if they meant something or even drew up a memory in his mind. Others came to mind, along with the insults or words that he used to repel them when they came near. The admittance of uncertainty was enough to determine his next course of action.

"It doesn't ring a bell. I'm Morgan, Morgan Fairway and I sat two rows and three columns behind you about a month ago." He brought his violet gaze back on her. Re-introductions were in order - even if they were in the same class, their interaction up until this point approached zero. He turned his head slightly to gaze up at the Husk he had found her near. Kids gravitated to these simply because they were monolithic giants. At least, that's what he believed. There was a certain aesthetic value to be found with these Husks.

"Peaceful in death...?" He muttered out those words softly, unwittingly vocalizing his thoughts. There really wasn't any harm in doing so in the comfort of his own room after all. It seemed he remembered that he was attempting to engage someone in a conversation, however, and spoke once more.

"Nevermind that - what were you crying over?" Perhaps a more socially-inclined person would have chosen a different topic. But that would be a deception. Ignoring the elephant in the room. He had no reason to fan the flames, of course. But he desired to know simply for the sake of knowing.

(Re: Coin )

 

[Coin]

Contrary to the norm, Ida rather liked not being recognized. She'd take every clean slate when meeting others that she could, without the weight of unconscious bias. However, Morgan wasn't ever someone she imagined she'd talk to, considering his... strange mannerisms of conversation and apparent disinterest. It was certainly strange that he would approach her like this, and with the slightest hint of curiosity.

Ida considered at first to claim that she hadn't been crying her eyes out, but who would believe such a blatant lie? She was sure her eyes were puffy and red, her voice had already cracked in the first sentence of introduction and Ida was still sniffling. Still, it wasn't easy enough just to admit why she had been truly crying, especially to a stranger. No one needed to hear about her troubles in detail.

"Oh, it's nothing really," Ida decided to play it off like no big deal, forcing her lips to curl into a diminutive and disarming smile. "Some thoughts and memories from a long time ago caught me off guard. I'm fine -- actually, I'm sorry that you're seeing me like this. You must think I'm weird." For good measure, Ida gave an airy chuckle to cap off her alibi.

She took a moment to compose herself before continuing, adjusting her beret and straightening out her uniform. She looked back to Morgan after finally having found the words she wanted to say. Her forced smile had wavered slightly, but had yet to fade. "Pardon if I'm being rude, but is there something you needed help with?"

It wasn't that she wanted to dismiss the boy right away and go back to being miserable and alone, but she was just being cautious at best.

((Re: GasMaskie ))

 

[QizPizza]

Kori "K.C." Chang
"Good evening. If you wish to know, I am using my modeler's knife to carve my favourite symbol into this Husk. Being reclusive, perhaps. You may observe if you wish."

"Cool. Evening to you too." Kori sat down on the grass to watch the Otto begin to carve into Husk. She wanted to see what his "favourite symbol" was. A symbol of the past? Or something he made up himself? Kori normally didn't care about such a thing, but today, she was encouraged to socialize. When someone is this bored and desperate for something to do, anything has seem interesting. How wrong she was. As he began, he appeared to be carving some kind of crossword. She didn't hate puzzles, but creating puzzles for fun? That was just too much. But this was with Latin, that ancient language that some people once used. It was interesting how in the crossword, all of the five words read from top to bottom, could be read in so many different ways, such as backwards or using the letters in a single column.

After a few moments, the boy looked back at Kori, "My name is Otto Render. However, I didn't get your name. Would you mind telling me?"

"You don't know the tallest girl of our age group, tall boy? I'm Kori Chang. Like, Kori with a K. And an I. People call me K.C. cause my brother's name is also Corey, only spelled different. But...you can just call me 'Beautiful'." She laughed at the last part and really hoped that Otto didn't take her seriously. She liked to joke around at times, but some people, can't take a joke for their lives. Otto didn't exactly seem like the type to understand a joke, so her laugh soon became awkward chuckling when he didn't join in. From that point forward, she would act as the dumb girl, just because she was too embarrassed to admit that she made that joke in a perfectly same state of mind. "Anyways, you plan on doing anything other than carving some crossword into this big robot? I am so bored right now. Not that your little crossword isn't interesting or anything."

Interacting: Hextremus

 

[Cosmos]

Hachi couldn't help but continue to sit and watch in wonder of the husk even when a nearby noise interrupted the serenity of their exact spot, the clinking of a kickstand and rattling of a bikes chains. She didn't even bother to look however, a slightly saddened smile appearing on her face as she looked back up at the smaller husk, whoever it was probably intended to meet up with their group of friends, to run off together and laugh as they climbed around the Husks…. After all who would be interested in—

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted at a twig snapping barely a few feet from her and her head quickly went around to face the figure jumping up slightly onto her feet and half tripping half falling backward before catching herself - somewhat - on the back of the Husks foot, the metal letting out a slightly echoing sound as her body hit it with the back of her head, blushing timidly as she closed her eyes and rubbed the back of her head before stepping forward eyes still closed and flailing around, "I-I!? S-Sorry it's not that I found you scary or anything it's just that well I was kinda spaced out talking to mr. Husk- I-I mean the husk! An well I didn't think you were actually gonna come i my direction but then the twig snapped an I thought soemthing well um I dunno what I though so then!?-…." she was about to continued when she opened her eyes to the rather peculiar sight of a boy hiding behind a tree.

She wasn't sure what else to do but simply blinks few times in a blank and obvious manner, tilting her head to the side before awkwardly giggling and raising her hand to her mouth in a polite attempt to stop it, her cheeks blush fading to a gentle pinkness radiating naturally from her cheeks at the distraction from her otherwise somewhat down mood being interrupted by cheerfulness. Smiling widely and removing the hand she reached it out and took a step forward, "Hiya!~" she began, the setting suns glowing rays hitting the back of the overly itchy sweater and making a faint glow around her form.

"My names Hachi how about yours?~"

The words left her mouth with as much good intention and pleasant greeting as one could muster, there was one thing the girl never had to act for, an that was making new friends, that- that was always genuine, "Wanna be my friend?"​

CerpinTaxt
​

 

[dwif]

As he savored one of the cakes he had bought along with him Sebastian reflected on what he had been missing growing up, things he should try on today of all days. He looked around at his peers for some inspiration on what "normal" kids do in this sort of situation. Most were engaging in their hobbies, the closest thing that Seb had to a hobby was baking and it's not like he could do that here. His only other option was to follow the lead of some of the more socially fluent kids.

Stuffing the rest of his cake into his mouth and almost choking in the process, Seb stood up and looked around for anyone to approach. Deep down he knew he wasn't brave enough to enter a conversation already in progress, so he had to find someone alone. That's when the nerves took over.

What would we talk about?

How do I start the conversation?

What if I'm interrupting them from something important?

He took a deep breath to calm himself. He would go further into Husk Valley and find someone that had clearly been exploring for a while and get them to lead the conversation. Walking hesitantly through the trees he had to keep reminding himself that the worst thing that could happen is that the person could tell him that they wouldn't want to speak, after all today was supposed to be a day that makes everyone happy in some way.

After coming towards the end of the path Seb saw a bike leant up against a husk's face with one of the schools berets place on it. Clearing his throat to announce his presence Seb decided to play it safe.

"Hey, how's it going? If I'm bothering you just tell me to leave, but at least take a cake first".

Interaction - Entity.Eclypse