Former and FOREVER King of Bugaria

Get outa there!!!!

(Vines hurtle past the two Ants, plunging toward the Zombee and Zombeetle with the aim of holding them back. A large Yellowjacket clothed in leaves steps forward, the vines originating from his body. Leaves cover his spiracles; he'd seen the tendrils of cordyceps near the entrance, and he wasn't about to take chances.)

*Gen yelled in pain and clutched their chest, looking around in confusion while Eri held them close in the panic, staring at the fallen zombies and looking to the Yellowjacket in fear*

Who am I? I'm the one holding back your assailants! Get your partner the help they need, we'll talk later!

OH- RIGHT! Ok!

(His vines ease as the numbing takes effect.)

Ah, the archaeologist is here. Remember me?

The Queen decides it, hm? Just like the Queen of the Yellowjackets decided to take crystals from the Lair? Because Bugaria, the land famously protected from winter and Dead Landers by crystals, doesn't have enough crystals.

So, good and bad news- good news! I can help you out in snakemouths den some- uh- bad news-… just…

Ch...eck?

On top of the Den?! You think roots go above ground?! Have you learned nothing of being a plant?!

So, good and bad news- good news! I can help you out in snakemouths den some- uh- bad news-… just…

Ch...eck?

Hello again, my friend. Still got that affliction that causes you to follow others' orders?

Wait, my crown?!

*Cough cough*

...What?!

It was so cool… wait- that means it’s safe to wear the fake one? We have been wanting to like- wear it forever but have chosen not to because like- it’s the crown that mind controls people-

(He snarls, flexing the stinger that came with his new form; it's longer and more curved than a typical Yellowjacket's.)

(He stills.)

Hello again, my friend. Still got that affliction that causes you to follow others' orders?

Wait, my crown?!

*Cough cough*

...What?!

It was so cool… wait- that means it’s safe to wear the fake one? We have been wanting to like- wear it forever but have chosen not to because like- it’s the crown that mind controls people-

(He snarls, flexing the stinger that came with his new form; it's longer and more curved than a typical Yellowjacket's.)

Hello again, my friend. Still got that affliction that causes you to follow others' orders?

Wait, my crown?!

*Cough cough*

...What?!

Hello again, my friend. Still got that affliction that causes you to follow others' orders?

Wait, my crown?!

Hello again, my friend. Still got that affliction that causes you to follow others' orders?

Have you seen the ant queen and bee queen engage in romantic acts with each other?

What a glorious day for blackmail!

(He clears his throat.)

Ah...that would explain why there's SO MANY CORDYCEPS ZOMBIES DOWN HERE THAT WE'RE FIGHTING—WOULD'VE BEEN USEFUL INFORMATION—

(Roots coil up through the soil toward Muse's own roots. They communicate not in the way that bugs do, but in the way that plants send messages to each other; the wording, if there were words, is clear.)

Ah, sorry about that. I'm so used to my smaller roots being severed by now, I don't even notice. The silver lining is that once I send up some nutrients, your body will be able to handle those severances.

Certainly is; at least you have the time and space to adjust to it.

They turned Leif into a plush and then had to go get mended and is probably stuck with zasp- vi is currently- split in 5 and running around the kingdoms being a bit chaotic and Kabbu headed out right before this in order to get supplies for his garden.

...That's all very ridiculous.

I've got the opposite problem. Being a Fly slowed the world down quite a lot, and now that I'm a Wasp, everything is happening so much faster all at once!!!

Oh, I'm sure Venus deals with a lot worst than you. Critters gnawing at her roots, other plants crowding for space, and the fucking mint. Makes me furious just thinking about it!!

True. Just know that what you do, you can undo.

Ugh, I didn't sign up to be a mother tree...

(The requested supplies do come slowly, and bit by bit. The hose outside isn't difficult to find or transport, but it's quite a while before a pair of vines drags in a large clay pot and an industrial bag of fertilizer.)

Hehe, yes—'see' you around!

Never knew you very well, but...I think you're the type to bring along your current fiber crafts project wherever you go. I think you'd show up to Leif's card tournaments with a half-finished blanket sprawled over your lap, or work on your little granny squares while waiting for a meeting to start at the Ant Palace.

You'd...really?

(Roots coil up through the soil toward Muse's own roots. They communicate not in the way that bugs do, but in the way that plants send messages to each other; the wording, if there were words, is clear.)

Ah, sorry about that. I'm so used to my smaller roots being severed by now, I don't even notice. The silver lining is that once I send up some nutrients, your body will be able to handle those severances.

Certainly is; at least you have the time and space to adjust to it.

They turned Leif into a plush and then had to go get mended and is probably stuck with zasp- vi is currently- split in 5 and running around the kingdoms being a bit chaotic and Kabbu headed out right before this in order to get supplies for his garden.

...That's all very ridiculous.

I've got the opposite problem. Being a Fly slowed the world down quite a lot, and now that I'm a Wasp, everything is happening so much faster all at once!!!

Oh, I'm sure Venus deals with a lot worst than you. Critters gnawing at her roots, other plants crowding for space, and the fucking mint. Makes me furious just thinking about it!!

True. Just know that what you do, you can undo.

Ugh, I didn't sign up to be a mother tree...

(The requested supplies do come slowly, and bit by bit. The hose outside isn't difficult to find or transport, but it's quite a while before a pair of vines drags in a large clay pot and an industrial bag of fertilizer.)