Plantsss are Friendsss!

@mar-in-space Mar holding a familial looking plushie

Collab with @mar-in-space. They did the sketch and I did the rest

Mar beamed to the Outpost, making sure to sit down quickly at one of the tables near the shops. He was near a heated conversation between a Protectorate and a Penguin, but only hearing the occasional word.

He had come to ask for some help with the Matter Manipulator (the tool bar setting had locked somehow), and he’d rather talk to anyone but Esther. If only from habit.He stood up and went to see if the Protectorate might have an answer.

Mar held the manipulator tight, glad to have it back. He flipped through it for just a second, checking to make sure things were still in place. The secondary slots were still organized how they had been since that day.

“You like to modify machinesss? Floran knowss another floran that likesss to tinker.” He didn’t put the matter manipulator away, “Floran learned machinesss while at home and then a lot while near the aca…demy….”

Near the academy huh? That gave Titabec pause. So Mar hadn’t been a protector, but he’d known someone who was. And that someone wasn’t around anymore…that painted a grim picture. Could that be the friend Mar had said would trust them?

They felt a pang of sympathy, almost reaching for Mar’s shoulder, but they stop short. ‘Not without the gloves!’ their body protests. It doesn’t seem like Mar noticed, enraptured as he is by the little animation. Titabec smiles, sadness and fondness mixing on their face. They don’t usually show people the smaller things they make, even Vlarion doesn’t know about this one

He gave a thumbs up when Titabec announced the news of the bike still being in working order

They accelerate more slowly than they normally would in an attempt to not make Mar panic, but they pick up speed soon enough

An actual road really does feel better than the wilderness, hoverbikes naturally drive smoothly but they still react to any debris or bumps taller than a few inches. This is very flat, with a lack of resistance that nearly reminds them of spaceflight. But they can’t feel the wind in their petals in space

They don’t know how long they’ve been going, there are no clearly marked blocks or road signs to mark their progress out here, it’s freeing and disorienting all at once

“Floran loved it! Sssso fasst!” Driving fast was the only ‘exciting’ thing he ever did on purpose. And being a passengr was so different. It was nice.

He bowed his head after he was standing on his own two feet, “Floran enjoyed today, you are good company to have! Floran’sss glad to have met you, Titabec.” He looked up and smiled again. Smiling in such a way, his eyes squinted a bit.

Mar beamed to the Outpost, making sure to sit down quickly at one of the tables near the shops. He was near a heated conversation between a Protectorate and a Penguin, but only hearing the occasional word.

He had come to ask for some help with the Matter Manipulator (the tool bar setting had locked somehow), and he’d rather talk to anyone but Esther. If only from habit.He stood up and went to see if the Protectorate might have an answer.

Mar held the manipulator tight, glad to have it back. He flipped through it for just a second, checking to make sure things were still in place. The secondary slots were still organized how they had been since that day.

“You like to modify machinesss? Floran knowss another floran that likesss to tinker.” He didn’t put the matter manipulator away, “Floran learned machinesss while at home and then a lot while near the aca…demy….”

Near the academy huh? That gave Titabec pause. So Mar hadn’t been a protector, but he’d known someone who was. And that someone wasn’t around anymore…that painted a grim picture. Could that be the friend Mar had said would trust them?

They felt a pang of sympathy, almost reaching for Mar’s shoulder, but they stop short. ‘Not without the gloves!’ their body protests. It doesn’t seem like Mar noticed, enraptured as he is by the little animation. Titabec smiles, sadness and fondness mixing on their face. They don’t usually show people the smaller things they make, even Vlarion doesn’t know about this one

He gave a thumbs up when Titabec announced the news of the bike still being in working order

They accelerate more slowly than they normally would in an attempt to not make Mar panic, but they pick up speed soon enough

An actual road really does feel better than the wilderness, hoverbikes naturally drive smoothly but they still react to any debris or bumps taller than a few inches. This is very flat, with a lack of resistance that nearly reminds them of spaceflight. But they can’t feel the wind in their petals in space

They don’t know how long they’ve been going, there are no clearly marked blocks or road signs to mark their progress out here, it’s freeing and disorienting all at once

"Floran loved it! Sssso fasst!" Driving fast was the only 'exciting' thing he ever did on purpose. And being a passengr was so different. It was nice.

Mar beamed to the Outpost, making sure to sit down quickly at one of the tables near the shops. He was near a heated conversation between a Protectorate and a Penguin, but only hearing the occasional word.

He had come to ask for some help with the Matter Manipulator (the tool bar setting had locked somehow), and he’d rather talk to anyone but Esther. If only from habit.He stood up and went to see if the Protectorate might have an answer.

Mar held the manipulator tight, glad to have it back. He flipped through it for just a second, checking to make sure things were still in place. The secondary slots were still organized how they had been since that day.

“You like to modify machinesss? Floran knowss another floran that likesss to tinker.” He didn’t put the matter manipulator away, “Floran learned machinesss while at home and then a lot while near the aca…demy….”

Near the academy huh? That gave Titabec pause. So Mar hadn’t been a protector, but he’d known someone who was. And that someone wasn’t around anymore…that painted a grim picture. Could that be the friend Mar had said would trust them?

They felt a pang of sympathy, almost reaching for Mar’s shoulder, but they stop short. ‘Not without the gloves!’ their body protests. It doesn’t seem like Mar noticed, enraptured as he is by the little animation. Titabec smiles, sadness and fondness mixing on their face. They don’t usually show people the smaller things they make, even Vlarion doesn’t know about this one

He gave a thumbs up when Titabec announced the news of the bike still being in working order

Mar beamed to the Outpost, making sure to sit down quickly at one of the tables near the shops. He was near a heated conversation between a Protectorate and a Penguin, but only hearing the occasional word.

He had come to ask for some help with the Matter Manipulator (the tool bar setting had locked somehow), and he’d rather talk to anyone but Esther. If only from habit.He stood up and went to see if the Protectorate might have an answer.

Mar held the manipulator tight, glad to have it back. He flipped through it for just a second, checking to make sure things were still in place. The secondary slots were still organized how they had been since that day.

“You like to modify machinesss? Floran knowss another floran that likesss to tinker.” He didn’t put the matter manipulator away, “Floran learned machinesss while at home and then a lot while near the aca...demy....”

Mar beamed to the Outpost, making sure to sit down quickly at one of the tables near the shops. He was near a heated conversation between a Protectorate and a Penguin, but only hearing the occasional word.

He had come to ask for some help with the Matter Manipulator (the tool bar setting had locked somehow), and he’d rather talk to anyone but Esther. If only from habit.He stood up and went to see if the Protectorate might have an answer.

Mar often had to speed up his steps to catch up if he flagged behind even a tad, Titabec was quick. This was better then the desert though, the air had a feel to it, and the heat carried some moisture.

Not much, but a bit.

“Floran… Isss good for now, but thank you. Might need sssome later. Floran made a well thisss way too. Water ssshouldn’t be a problem. Floran hasss worked on thisss planet a long time.” He was starting to get chatty again as he walked. It killed time. “Floran’sss friend, Grapevine, sssaid ssshe could get sssomething to terraform thisss place with? Floran thinksss that sssoundss dangerousss.“

….he trailed off. Maybe he shouldn’t be talking about his pirate friends. Titabec was a protectorate.

Best to focus on what the task at hand. “Not much farther floran thinkss.” They’re a ways out by now, nothing but empty unyielding ground as far as the eye can see

They squint at the horizon, looks like they’re coming up on a clifftop. This could work! They run over, peering over the edge to make sure there’s nothing important at the bottom. The plateau juts out a good bit too, they should be able to get rid of a sizeable chunk with minimal consequences

Finally in a good spot.

“Oh! Thissss isss Invissible Cliff Ssside! Alssso known assss ‘AAH!’” Mar laughed as he went to peek over the edge, going past Titabec, “Floran found it while walking here the firssst time. Went right off the edge.” 

They take the manipulator from Mar and shake their head. “Will not break, floran done thiss before. Thisss area however will not be sso lucky.” They indicate the ground within a three foot radius of themselves

They squeeze the trigger down as far as it’ll go

CRACK

Solid rock is reduced to dust in less than a second. The manipulator’s lights flicker and fade a second after, dropping the dust out of sight

“That did it.” Titabec gives a lopsided smile, hands shaking, heart pulsing. They turn the manipulator around in their hands. “Should be back to normal in half hour or le-”

They stop mid-sentence. They hear a faint rumble over the ringing in their ears. A tremor runs up through their legs from the ground beneath. They must have misjudged the angle of the cliffside, how do they keep messing this up?

He didn’t struggle. That would make things worse. He struggled to keep his thoughts clear and pin point. Panic wouldn’t help. Panic wouldn’t help. His chest felt tight with the panicked feeling, but he didn’t let it out yet.

They trip and fall, tossing Mar a couple feet ahead of them on the way down so he won’t be crushed, and so he’s farther from the crumbling cliffside

They pitch face first into the dirt, arms outstretched. They know they won’t be able to scramble away in time if gravity decides to take them too. Their left ankle flexes as the ground beneath their foot gives way. They pull away instinctively, but…nothing else happens. The artificially induced rockslide has come to an end

That was way too close

Lots of worry, “Floran isss fine. Are you? How are you? That wasss loud, Floran isss sssorry, probably ssshould have checked the cliff before you did that…” He should have checked things first. How many times had he been told as a sprout to check his surroundings. 

He was giving Titabec a look over from where he stood. To make sure they were actually ok… and not just bluffing.

They don’t like the way Mar’s eyeing them. They cross their arms defensively

He was walking, mostly thinking as he did. Only paying mind to his thoughts and to Titabec. Not wanting to lose the other Floran in the sand and grit. He hoped this whole… problem with the cliff hadn’t hurt Titabec. 

His other thought was wanting to have Ushi’s Matter Manipulator back… sure, it was better off in the hands of a Protectorate, but it and the ship was all he had of them… He coughed a bit, noticing how close they were to the house thing.

They should say something to Mar. He’d gone quiet, understandably so given what had just happened, but it had made them realize how hard it was to bear the silence out here. They look around, though there’s not much to see, wracking their brain for something, anything

Ah, they’d been walking too fast, the house was in sight already, they slow their pace so they and Mar are almost side by side. “Floran would like that.” They give a small smile, excited. They hadn’t driven on a proper road in ages, they didn’t encounter many of those outside of actual cities

"That'sss why Floran isss sso careful. To try and prevent accidentsss or have good waysss to fix them nearby." He shrugged, seeming tired at the thought of all the precautions.

"Floran doessn't want to causse trouble for othersss." He focused on Titabec, not on the protectorate uniform but their face and flower, "Floran... isss too often a problem."

Too depressing... don't sound sad.. Mar looked closer at what Titabec was doing. Cataloguing the process away for if this happened again. And... now to get off this subject..

Mar beamed to the Outpost, making sure to sit down quickly at one of the tables near the shops. He was near a heated conversation between a Protectorate and a Penguin, but only hearing the occasional word.

He had come to ask for some help with the Matter Manipulator (the tool bar setting had locked somehow), and he’d rather talk to anyone but Esther. If only from habit.He stood up and went to see if the Protectorate might have an answer.

Mar often had to speed up his steps to catch up if he flagged behind even a tad, Titabec was quick. This was better then the desert though, the air had a feel to it, and the heat carried some moisture.

Not much, but a bit.

“Floran… Isss good for now, but thank you. Might need sssome later. Floran made a well thisss way too. Water ssshouldn’t be a problem. Floran hasss worked on thisss planet a long time.” He was starting to get chatty again as he walked. It killed time. “Floran’sss friend, Grapevine, sssaid ssshe could get sssomething to terraform thisss place with? Floran thinksss that sssoundss dangerousss.“

….he trailed off. Maybe he shouldn’t be talking about his pirate friends. Titabec was a protectorate.

Best to focus on what the task at hand. “Not much farther floran thinkss.” They’re a ways out by now, nothing but empty unyielding ground as far as the eye can see

They squint at the horizon, looks like they’re coming up on a clifftop. This could work! They run over, peering over the edge to make sure there’s nothing important at the bottom. The plateau juts out a good bit too, they should be able to get rid of a sizeable chunk with minimal consequences

Finally in a good spot.

“Oh! Thissss isss Invissible Cliff Ssside! Alssso known assss ‘AAH!’” Mar laughed as he went to peek over the edge, going past Titabec, “Floran found it while walking here the firssst time. Went right off the edge.” 

They take the manipulator from Mar and shake their head. “Will not break, floran done thiss before. Thisss area however will not be sso lucky.” They indicate the ground within a three foot radius of themselves

They squeeze the trigger down as far as it’ll go

CRACK

Solid rock is reduced to dust in less than a second. The manipulator’s lights flicker and fade a second after, dropping the dust out of sight

“That did it.” Titabec gives a lopsided smile, hands shaking, heart pulsing. They turn the manipulator around in their hands. “Should be back to normal in half hour or le-”

They stop mid-sentence. They hear a faint rumble over the ringing in their ears. A tremor runs up through their legs from the ground beneath. They must have misjudged the angle of the cliffside, how do they keep messing this up?

He didn’t struggle. That would make things worse. He struggled to keep his thoughts clear and pin point. Panic wouldn’t help. Panic wouldn’t help. His chest felt tight with the panicked feeling, but he didn’t let it out yet.

They trip and fall, tossing Mar a couple feet ahead of them on the way down so he won’t be crushed, and so he’s farther from the crumbling cliffside

They pitch face first into the dirt, arms outstretched. They know they won’t be able to scramble away in time if gravity decides to take them too. Their left ankle flexes as the ground beneath their foot gives way. They pull away instinctively, but…nothing else happens. The artificially induced rockslide has come to an end

That was way too close

Lots of worry, “Floran isss fine. Are you? How are you? That wasss loud, Floran isss sssorry, probably ssshould have checked the cliff before you did that…” He should have checked things first. How many times had he been told as a sprout to check his surroundings. 

He was giving Titabec a look over from where he stood. To make sure they were actually ok… and not just bluffing.

They don’t like the way Mar’s eyeing them. They cross their arms defensively

He was walking, mostly thinking as he did. Only paying mind to his thoughts and to Titabec. Not wanting to lose the other Floran in the sand and grit. He hoped this whole... problem with the cliff hadn’t hurt Titabec. 

His other thought was wanting to have Ushi’s Matter Manipulator back... sure, it was better off in the hands of a Protectorate, but it and the ship was all he had of them... He coughed a bit, noticing how close they were to the house thing.