NEWCOMER MINGLE
The breeze across the waters is cold, Norrhamn glowing like a bonfire with the reds and oranges of the trees. Autumn has truly arrived and Olivia, the administrator, has foregone summer dresses for warmer clothes. The ferry lands soft as always, letting off the small group of newcomers. Welcome to Norrhamn.
As is tradition, a welcome party is planned for later that night. A small fire pit has been set up in the community center garden and Ingvar is present to liven up the night with his accordion. The fika for the night is apple cake and hot chocolate — and if you know who to ask, you may be able to spike that chocolate with something stronger.
HOUSE GNOME MAYHEM
You're sure you had it a minute ago. The book you borrowed from the library, that trinket you brought from home, your favourite shirt, maybe even the keys to your cabin — whatever it is, it was there and now it's gone without a trace. Weird, huh? To make matters worse, whoever manned the community center kitchen has also disappeared, leaving the guests to fend for themselves with whatever they can find in the fridge.
Those who investigate this odd string of thefts - if that's what they are - may hear footsteps, see movement out of the corner of their eye, smell tobacco smoke or hear a faint, gruff chuckle without being able to place where it's coming from. Stranger and stranger...
[Nothing grows where she lives. Buddy would explain it if asked, but right now. The smell of grass is almost too much. Let her go back to her usual wary carefulness.]
A Forest? I thought that was a thing in a book.
[She doesn't mean to sound comically naive, but it really is true for her.]
[ Hanako finds nothing comical or stupid in the way the other girl said that. She values others' pain more than one would think, and trusts them on that principle. ]
It d-does exist. [ A bit of her usual stutter before she continues. ] I could lead you there sometime. And there's also a-... a farm, too. With crops and plants all over.
[ Can't say no to that desperation. Even if she's not doing much, and she still thinks she's worthless, if she even can bring a bit of happiness to this person... ]
Follow me, p-please.
[ She will lead the way, off the ferry station, into the town, through the common area and the gardens. If the girl wants to stop and look at the greenery, Hanako will patiently wait for her. ]
[It's painfully naive, painfully gullible and that sort of thing would get her killed or worse in Olathe. But still, she wants- no NEEDS to see this. There's a growing part of her that wants to take one of the plants with her, a small one back home.
She follows the woman, too distracted by the plants to even ask why she is still alive.]
[ After a while of silent walking, made less awkward by the stranger being absorbed by the island's plants, Hanako stops by Norrhamn's resident forest. A path that divides two vast patches of earth hosting tall and healthy trees that are still lightly dealing with the weariness of fall season.
She turns to the girl, sheepish. ]
... This is the place. S-So long as you follow the path, you won't get lost.
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no subject
A Forest? I thought that was a thing in a book.
[She doesn't mean to sound comically naive, but it really is true for her.]
no subject
It d-does exist. [ A bit of her usual stutter before she continues. ] I could lead you there sometime. And there's also a-... a farm, too. With crops and plants all over.
no subject
[She sounds more desperate than she should be but her desire to see it is real.]
no subject
[ Can't say no to that desperation. Even if she's not doing much, and she still thinks she's worthless, if she even can bring a bit of happiness to this person... ]
Follow me, p-please.
[ She will lead the way, off the ferry station, into the town, through the common area and the gardens. If the girl wants to stop and look at the greenery, Hanako will patiently wait for her. ]
no subject
She follows the woman, too distracted by the plants to even ask why she is still alive.]
no subject
She turns to the girl, sheepish. ]
... This is the place. S-So long as you follow the path, you won't get lost.
no subject
It's... it's so beautiful.
[She looks at the girl that showed her the to the forest.]</small? What's your name?