Tony's not one of the most fearsome beaters in the school for no reason. (ROLLED 8) Over and over, he smashes the flower, each blow hitting harder as Ms. Gunzenhauser raises up just long enough to sling an Engorgio charm that doubles its size while he's got it raised high.
The blossom swipes with a vine (ROLLED 6), and though it makes contact, it's hardly a bother for Peckenpaugh's Big Man, and soon, Wyborn Youngblood is at his side, ripping and tearing at the vines. "Not a'fuckin'gain!"
Audrey slices expertly (ROLLED 9 + 1) weeding the garden with her ink pot dagger. She can feel that cicada clip glowing warmth, a carpet of moss from her hair to her shoulder, down her arm. Help. Pocket had told her once that she could handle it all on her own, but here, it seems, she realizes just how little she could accomplish without her.
When the vines swipe back at her, it bounces away harmlessly, unable to make a dent in that soft, quick growing, squishy moss. (ROLLED 9)
Plant matter goes flying from just a single swing of Trudy's maul (ROLLED 7 + 1). She hammers away, turning plant to pulp.
The vines shunt her back (ROLLED 3) knocking her into Zed Crockett, kicking both of them off their feet, but they can't be kept down.
Students and staff, young and old, fight the fractal image of the plant horror. Flinging spells and swinging weapons magical and mundane, they cut down every version of the weed that tries to grow. It wilts, and wilts, and wilts, over and over, until the last plant slumps and withers.
The younger versions of Peckenpaugh's teachers all begin to celebrate the plant's demise, but there is no joy on the faces of the adults. This memory still has to play.
Young Zelda is holding Tinkerbell in her arms as she pumps her fist in victory.
Ms. Gunzenhauser, beside her, or half-overlapping, clutches Pocket, puts her hand over her face to shield her one red eye from what she is about to see.
El Qualls takes a step forward, a smile just starting to dawn on his features.
And then the dead plant shudders. Something erupts from the floral maw. A man — something like a man — a ghastly version of Burton Bland, purple flowers in place of eyes, green vines where his veins should be. A puppet. He lunges, wraps his hands around Lionel.
"Heart of land. Blood of man. The garden looks very nice today," Burton Bland whispers as he clasps his fingers over El's mouth.
"No!" both Pockets shout, leaping to their feet, but green growth is pushing everyone away. From the gash in the floor — the hole that will one day come to be called the seam — vines and plant matter explode, filling the room, shunting students and teaches away. Out into that long cement hall, the Somewhere Gray, or back up into the burning bowling alley.
Regardless of where the sudden growth pushes you, your vision blurs. You're back on the Sorting Path.
You have seen through the memory "The Garden Looks Very Nice Today".
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peckenpaugh2020-06-01 11:19 am
MEMOR(IES): The Garden Looks Very Nice Today - COMPLETE!
The blossom swipes with a vine (ROLLED 6), and though it makes contact, it's hardly a bother for Peckenpaugh's Big Man, and soon, Wyborn Youngblood is at his side, ripping and tearing at the vines. "Not a'fuckin'gain!"
Audrey slices expertly (ROLLED 9 + 1) weeding the garden with her ink pot dagger. She can feel that cicada clip glowing warmth, a carpet of moss from her hair to her shoulder, down her arm. Help. Pocket had told her once that she could handle it all on her own, but here, it seems, she realizes just how little she could accomplish without her.
When the vines swipe back at her, it bounces away harmlessly, unable to make a dent in that soft, quick growing, squishy moss. (ROLLED 9)
Plant matter goes flying from just a single swing of Trudy's maul (ROLLED 7 + 1). She hammers away, turning plant to pulp.
The vines shunt her back (ROLLED 3) knocking her into Zed Crockett, kicking both of them off their feet, but they can't be kept down.
Students and staff, young and old, fight the fractal image of the plant horror. Flinging spells and swinging weapons magical and mundane, they cut down every version of the weed that tries to grow. It wilts, and wilts, and wilts, over and over, until the last plant slumps and withers.
The younger versions of Peckenpaugh's teachers all begin to celebrate the plant's demise, but there is no joy on the faces of the adults. This memory still has to play.
Young Zelda is holding Tinkerbell in her arms as she pumps her fist in victory.
Ms. Gunzenhauser, beside her, or half-overlapping, clutches Pocket, puts her hand over her face to shield her one red eye from what she is about to see.
El Qualls takes a step forward, a smile just starting to dawn on his features.
And then the dead plant shudders. Something erupts from the floral maw. A man — something like a man — a ghastly version of Burton Bland, purple flowers in place of eyes, green vines where his veins should be. A puppet. He lunges, wraps his hands around Lionel.
"Heart of land. Blood of man. The garden looks very nice today," Burton Bland whispers as he clasps his fingers over El's mouth.
"No!" both Pockets shout, leaping to their feet, but green growth is pushing everyone away. From the gash in the floor — the hole that will one day come to be called the seam — vines and plant matter explode, filling the room, shunting students and teaches away. Out into that long cement hall, the Somewhere Gray, or back up into the burning bowling alley.
Regardless of where the sudden growth pushes you, your vision blurs. You're back on the Sorting Path.
You have seen through the memory "The Garden Looks Very Nice Today".