flowers gleam and grow (open mingle)

[superseding]

[ Throughout the month, there will be a lot of searching, salvaging, and planting of flowers! Rapunzel and Hotaru want to make a beautiful flower field or garden on the new island part of the base!

Inside, there will be some planters with flowers potted to be transferred outside once they're considered stroong enough. Outside, wherever it's been cleared for them to plant, expect to see buds and flowers. Do you want to be a Disney princess? Do you want to help out? Are you escorting while seeds and flowers are being collected? Do you want to encourage or admire the flowers? Do you want to make friends with Snap Dragons? There are as many options as there are types of flowers!

Come and frolic! Turn the island into the backdrop of a Disney movie. ]

Comments

[thatsthespirit]

No. Not at all.

[she says with conviction. she's speaking from personal experience, after all]

As long as you don't lose sight of what's in front of you at the moment, that is. You're here for a reason, are you not? You have your own duties and goals to tend to.

Put your all into achieving those goals, and trust that your path and your friend's path in life with merge once again.

[superseding]

I thought I was here by chance when I first got here, but that memory isn't right... I don't know why I'm here, but I did decide to do what I can while I'm here. I want to help people.

[ She clasps her hands together. She's gaining her own conviction. ]

I believe we'll meet again. Thank you. Are you... You sound like this has happened to you.

[thatsthespirit]

[another do-gooder. . . Sorey was right when he said the base was filled with them]

That's the spirit. After all, whether our memories are false or not doesn't change what we can do right here, right now.

[she pauses after saying that, letting out a thoughtful "hn" as she does so]

. . . and yes, you could say I've gone through something similar. It is of no consequence, though.

[superseding]

Right! What we do in the present matters because that's what we can affect.

[ Hotaru has made many leaps in not falling into the trap that is dwelling in the past. She's not quite able to jump over all her hurdles, but she's getting there.

She frowns, puzzled at Milla's last words. ]

Why is what happened to you of no consequence?

[thatsthespirit]

Because I consciously made the choice to leave those I care about behind in order to fulfill a greater purpose.

[she stands with one hand on her hip, her demeanor confident. prideful, almost]

And I am proud of that choice. I have no regrets.

[superseding]

[ It's amazing that Milla can be so confident about that choice because it's one that Hotaru would have a hard time doing. ]

Isn't that lonely?

[thatsthespirit]

Hm. . . no. It isn't lonely. I'm not entirely alone, after all. I still have my bickering in-laws and. . . sister to keep me company.

[she says jokingly, of course. though she stumbles on the word "sister."]

I do miss my friends. But if we are fated to meet again, then I trust we will.

[superseding]

[ She tilts her head to the side. She's sure she's missing some pieces to this story, but she's glad to know it's not that sad. ]

I'm happy you have some people you care about with you. [ Because Hotaru thinks loneliness is one of the hardest enemies to beat. ] What is your greater purpose? [ A small pause. ] If you can tell me. You don't have to if you don't want to.

[thatsthespirit]

[it isn't her fault; Milla has only told snippets of it, after all]

And I'm happy you have people who care deeply about you, too.

[she folds her arms and tilts her head back, expression turning thoughtful]

It isn't a secret, so don't worry about that.

[a deep breath]

I am Maxwell-- the Lord of the Spirits. And where I come from, that means it is my duty to watch over humans and spirits to ensure they remain protected from any forces that seek to harm them.

[superseding]

[ Hotaru's mouth forms a small 'o.' Out of all the things she was imagining, somehow this wasn't it. It's outside of her scope. ]

I didn't know I was in the presence of someone so important. Wow. I'm sorry. Is there a proper way to address you?

[thatsthespirit]

Just Milla is okay, honestly. Or Maxwell. I'll allow you to choose.

[she scrunches up her face a bit]

Especially since I'm not sure my title means much of anything on this planet.

[superseding]

Milla.

[ She nods and then bows. ]

I'm Hotaru. I don't know if you'd have a title here, but I want to be respectful. It doesn't change that you have a great responsibility.