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Post by Button on Nov 29, 2022 19:47:03 GMT -5
The grizzly bear plodded along shakily, walking between the megafungi of the Giant Mushroom Field. A black liquid drooled from their mouth as they walked, staring ahead blankly as if in a trance. The beast's fur fell out in clumps onto the grass. They made no sound as they walked, no growls, grunts, or breathing. They just walked in silence. Small red mushrooms with white spots occasionally broke through the fur in places and slowly bloomed.
After a while, the beast's pace slowed and their steps grew shakier. Suddenly their legs gave out beneath them and they collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud. The mushrooms growing on the creature's body suddenly grew more rapidly until it looked like nothing but a mound of fungus beneath the shade of the trees.
One of the little red mushrooms, this one larger than the others, moved. It hopped off of the bear's back and onto the ground beside it. Button looked on at their latest friend that had suddenly collapsed. They weren't surprised. Their friends never did seem to last long. The little mushroom patted the bear on the back a few times.
"Goobye fren." they said in their small, childlike voice and walked away. They continued their travels to wherever they lead. Perhaps they might even encounter a new friend.
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Post by Ijin on Nov 30, 2022 10:35:36 GMT -5
Ijin was a child of the earth domain in this world. He had once upon a time known great magics that revolved around the deities of the very earth beneath his feet, granted that time had long since passed and now he was simply a simple lizard capable of speech. He could feel the magic coursing through him, but to achieve utilization of it was not something he had managed yet. This did not mean that the lizard wasn't still a student of magic deep in his heart of hearts, so watching what had occurred with the bear was an absolute treasure to him. This magic was unlike any he could recall seeing resulting in what he thought was the birth of a new life form, granted, it could've been simpler than that. A parasitic creature simply doing as it did. The later idea should've been problematic to Ijin and encouraged a sense of concern, but instead, he found himself a bit enthralled by it.
Perhaps he had imagined it, but he swore he had heard the fungus speak. The lizard chose to throw caution to the wind and approach the mushroom creature. He had no real way to defend himself other than battering the creature with his tail, but that wasn't what he wanted things to come to. He was absolutely fascinated by such a curious creature. He would observe it from a decent enough distance at first, but make it a point not to hide himself, not to allow himself to seem threatening or threatened in any way. After a few moments, when he finally managed to deconstruct the caution within his mind that had gotten him this far in this world, he would approach the mushroom, though slowly.
"My oh my, tell me. Were you just born from that creature? Was that magic? Are you itself magic? You're absolutely amazing. I haven't seen anything like that in all my time and my time has been long and expansive." Ijin, though a salamander, carried himself with dignity, keeping his head slightly higher than that of any other salamander certainly. He was all in all quite a bit smaller than the mushroom creature as well, which perhaps should've also brought worry, but it didn't. What Ijin saw here was an opportunity to learn something he had yet to learn before. "A thousand pardons for my rudeness, inquiring about the very nature of your existence without so much as a name. You may refer to me as Ijin. Do you have a name?"
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Post by Button on Nov 30, 2022 15:56:17 GMT -5
Button watched the lizard slowly approach with curiosity. Is this a new friend? They bent down as it approached. They'd never seen a lizard like this one before. They were surprised when it suddenly started talking to them, but they also became more curious about it. They tilted their cap slightly and stared as it spoke.
They looked back at the mushroom covered corpse of the bear. Been born from it? No, they didn't understand what the little lizard meant by that. They were born years ago. That bear was their friend, not their parent. Button didn't think they were magic. They just found the bear lying somewhere in the mushroom field, and then it stood up and was their friend. Was friendship magic? A thousand pardons seemed like too many. Button couldn't even count that high, but they silently accepted the apology even though they didn't understand what it was for.
"Ijin..." they repeated the name and stood up again before pointing at themself. "Button! Noice ta meechu!" they replied excitedly, extending their hand out to shake, not thinking about the fact that Ijin had no hands, just four legs. "Ijin fren?"
Despite having no mouth, the little mushroom's smile was evident from their eyes. They were clearly happy to meet Ijin
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Post by Ijin on Nov 30, 2022 16:40:00 GMT -5
Ijin, out of habit and excitement far rather than intention, extended his tongue out for the hand shake entirely due to the fact that he lacked anything else outside of his tail and tongue had come to mind first. He did not particularly consider the creature may not be appeased by the idea that it was just effectively licked, nor did the idea particularly stay in his mind for more than a nanosecond. "Certainly Button. Tell me, where are you from?" Ijin felt that perhaps due to the creature's lack of answering his previous questions, perhaps one at a time would work better.
He too offered the creature nothing outside of a smile in his own right. He did have a bit of a time managing it, but it was notable none the less. He looked the creature up and down. It was bipedal, a mushroom, had measurable intelligence, could speak back to him. There was magic in everything in this world and he was certain his new friend was no exception.
"Are you perhaps looking for company? It is always better to travel with another I have come to find."
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Post by Button on Nov 30, 2022 17:34:30 GMT -5
Button looked at their slightly moist hand that Ijin had just licked and giggled for a few seconds before their attention was pulled back by Ijin asking them where they were from. Button happily answered Ijin's question to the best of their ability, which was to say, not much. They turned and pointed back the way they had come, past the dead bear and deeper into the Giant Mushroom Fields.
"From home!" they replied excitedly, looking back to Ijin with their mouthless smile. Where Button's voice came from without a mouth was hard to say, but it seemed to be from about where a mouth would have been, just a bit below the eyes.
Ijin spoke a lot of funny words that Button didn't understand. Their cap tilted to the side again as they listened to him speak. What was a come-Penny? Maybe it was a flower. The other Myconids in their colony always called flowers by funny names like that, like Chris-and-the-mum, or pee-a-knee. Button wasn't really looking for flowers right now.
They did understand what travel with another meant, though. They looked positively giddy as they nodded enthusiastically.
"Travel wif fren!" they cheered and reached out their hand to pat Ijin on the head.
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Post by Ijin on Dec 1, 2022 20:00:58 GMT -5
Ijin smiled once again the gentle soft smile he was sparsely capable of and accepted the head pat nuzzling into it slightly as any friendly creature ought to. He then nodded and spoke again. "So you came from home? Where are you going?" He would walk alongside the other walking no faster than necessary to keep pace. He appreciated the creature though he was starting to realize perhaps he would have to temper down his words. He hadn't really considered the creature not understanding him clearly, but perhaps that is what caused the lack of answers. How to approach this subject with the creature would be challenging. He didn't have any baseline for the intelligence of something akin to a mushroom. He was well aware that fungi neuro connections for outnumbered those of humans, but to understand how that could translate, or if it even did translate to intelligence was an idea that overwhelmed even him.
As they trotted about along their merry way, Ijin would watch carefully how Button connected themselves. This would perhaps give some insight, though Ijin was only truly brilliant when it came to magic. He was no grand researcher, and by no means any sort of super genius. Just being able to witness this creature in it's marvel was fantastic to him. He didn't need to worry himself so much over the process and origin more of over enjoying even being able to be on the same plane as such a fantastic being. This thought brought Ijin an odd sense of airy satisfaction, however fleeting it may be.
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Post by Button on Dec 1, 2022 21:37:36 GMT -5
Button walked through the forest of mushroom stalks beneath the canopy of colorful caps that blotted out the sun. The little Myconid hummed to themself happily as they plodded along, swinging a twig around like it was a staff in their hand. The area was mostly mushrooms, but there was some foliage mixed among the fungi.
As they walked, Button often looked back at Ijin, but didn't say or do anything except smile a little more brightly. It was like they were just happy to see Ijin was still walking along beside them, as if they expected them not to be any moment now.
They thought for a few seconds about how to respond to Ijin's question, tilting their head from side to side and staring into space as they walked. "Uhhhhhhh.... places!" Button replied with all the enthusiasm of a child doing something they knew they shouldn't be doing, but were enjoying greatly.
Button had no specific place in mind to go. They were simply going, enjoying the journey, and seeing the world. Or at least that was the plan. They hadn't even left the Mushroom Fields yet, but when they did, they were sure it would be incredible!
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Post by Ijin on Dec 5, 2022 10:31:40 GMT -5
As they walked Ijin found himself looking at the mushroom fields in awe. He hadn't been far within this world yet. The journey here had been perhaps the longest trip he had taken so far. Walking about with Button was proving to be far more enjoyable than traveling alone would've been. It made him ache for companionship again for a moment, but he simply let the idea go with a sigh.
He noticed that Button would keep looking back at him, and he would simply continue to acknowledge button with his own gentle smile as they walked. Ijin couldn't even quite remember why he had come out this far in the first place. The thoughts were slipping from him as the longer they walked the brighter and more innocent the world seemed to be. After not too long Ijin would begin to hum an old bard's tale he had heard. It was a story of a king with a crown made of glass who was told his rule would end should the crown shatter.
The tune was rather cheerful and airy, but if he could recall properly, the lyrics were absolutely horrifying. Something to do with the king's people hitting him in the head with a hammer in an attempt to shatter the crown. He swore for a moment he could almost hear the bard singing the song. It caused him to stop a moment and look around, but everything seemed certainly fine, and he would simply catch up to button continuing to walk.
Not having a particular destination could be simply enjoyable as well he supposed.
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Post by Button on Dec 5, 2022 14:54:22 GMT -5
Button and Ijin continued this game, just walking along with Button looking happily at Ijin often. One thing became increasingly obvious as they passed very familiar scenery once again. Button was leading them in circles. The little Myconid hadn't gotten very far after leaving their home and this was the reason. They had practically zero sense of direction and were completely lost in the forest of mushroom stalks, simply walking whatever direction felt best with no destination in mind and often unknowingly circling around or backtracking.
Button payed no attention to the mound of mushrooms that used to be a bear as they marched past it for what must have been the sixth time. They just hummed to themself and smiled at Ijin.
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Post by Ijin on Dec 6, 2022 5:56:10 GMT -5
Ijin would most certainly not even realize they had been trekking in circles for Ziev knows how long. Ijin blinked a moment. "Ziev?" He said it aloud once more thereafter. "No no, what I was trying to think was Ginma." He felt an odd sensation when he tried to speak the name of something else and ended up saying the wrong name entirely. This caused him to slow his walking. Something had happened since he had been here. Something had most certainly changed on the fundamental level of magic if he couldn't even say her name.
It wasn't until this moment that Ijin realized they had been passing by the bear over and over. "Button... isn't that.. your friend?" He would point out the mound of mushrooms with his tail now. He had felt some sense of stupor ever since shaking button's hand and it seemed the fact that he couldn't pay heed to his matron deity's name has finally snapped him out of it. He shook his head a bit. How long had they even been walking in the first place? How long had he let go of himself? Had he actually seen the bard from a whole different land?
The world had lost its' mysterious luster it had gained after licking the mushroom. He came to realize something; Button was most certainly not a regular mushroom. He made a mental note to make sure that in the future he offered button his tail much over offering his tongue for a handshake. "We may need to try going.. That way." Ijin pointed out to the east from where they were, where one would eventually be able to see a break in the mushrooms however faint it may be off in the grand distance.
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Post by Button on Dec 6, 2022 22:42:25 GMT -5
Button had no idea of the effect they'd had on Ijin after the lizard had licked the toxic mushroom that was now walking around with them. They were completely oblivious to the effects they had on most things, really. It was just lucky that their toxins weren't quite as strong as some of the other Myconids in their colony yet, since they were still so young. Even as a small, weak little creature, it was no wonder nothing had tried to harm them as they walked about. Nothing was willing to eat them thanks to their bright red cap indicating the danger of eating them to all the native fauna.
Button's gaze followed the direction of Ijin's pointing tail to see the trees in the distance beyond the giant mushroom stems. From so far away, the difference wasn't very obvious, the mushroom stems and tree trunks blending in in the darkness, but now that it had been pointed out there was a noticeable change in scenery over there. Button had never left the Giant Mushroom Fields before and became super excited! That was a new place that they'd never been before!
"Okey doke!" Button exclaimed to Ijin and ran off in the direction of the forest's edge.
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Post by Ijin on Dec 9, 2022 22:11:29 GMT -5
Considering the fact that Button was a mushroom, Ijin made mental note that he was quite nimble. Ijin followed after as best he could, though perhaps his lanky form was a little slower because his skin was still obscenely dry due to the climate change. As they both ran, Ijin reflected on what the reason he couldn't say her name could possibly be. Perhaps there were other deities in this world who simply did not take kindly to the mention of one from another place. Maybe no rendition of her existed in this place at all. With the fog of the mushroom shaking away slowly, Ijin was realizing he still had problems he had to tackle in this world. This trip would certainly be one he would remember for quite some time, but he would have to continue on from here eventually. The thought led to the careful considering of once again giving the mushroom's hand a lick for the escape he so desperately wanted from the realization of his circumstances, but he sent it off to the back of his mind where thoughts like that should remain, never to manifest.
As they finally approached the forest's edge, Ijin found himself wondering where they would end up and what tales there would be ahead. Perhaps they would run into another creature the two of them could entangle into this journey to nowhere in particular. The idea entertained Ijin somewhat and brought forth a chuckle, even despite the lack of mushroom encouragement. "Button, we're almost out of the fields I think! Are you ready?"
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Post by Button on Dec 11, 2022 21:42:40 GMT -5
Button hummed happily as they trotted toward the trees peaking through between the giant mushroom stalks. The little mushroom was brimming with excitement about going somewhere new! They'd never actually made it out of the Mushroom Fields before, so this was incredible for them. They were so glad they'd met their new friend who had helped them find their way out.
"Yus! Am ready!" Button cheered, looking back at Ijin while running forward. This proved almost immediately to be a mistake, as they tripped over a tree branch and faceplanted on the ground with a thud. As soon as they hit the ground, a puff of spores spread from them and formed a cloud around them.
Button got up again as if nothing had happened and continued running forward, giggling. The cloud of spores stayed behind, tiny mushrooms starting to grow from the ground as the plants and insects that had been caught in it fell down and died from their exposure to the toxic spores.
Toxic Cloud
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Post by Ijin on Dec 14, 2022 20:07:32 GMT -5
Ijin was not quite quick enough to hold his breath or even manage to avoid the sudden cloud of spores that his mushroom companion had just released entirely on accident. He inhaled the spores and began to have his own coughing fit. His already dry skin began to burn a bit and he huffed before mad dashing out from the cloud and breathing in some of the fresher air. A few more hacks left the lizard and he spit a few times onto the ground ahead of him. His eyes were watery and irritated. He felt anger rise in him a bit, but he quickly pushed it aside. There was no need for heedless words to a young creature such as Button who didn't even seem to have any idea what he had done. He huffed hard hacking again. He looked around, but there was yet to be any sign of water.
Ijin resumed his normal pace though, this time, he stayed a bit behind the mushroom so that if he were to fall again the lizard wouldn't be dusted once more. Yet again did he hack and spit. This process would continue for a while, he could tell. "B-Button.. Please d-do t-try.." A few more coughs escaped him. "Not to fall again please." Finally the hacking was at least starting to space out a bit, but the burning and watery eyes remained and he was still secreting more than usual. He huffed hard again before coughing one last fit.
"Dear Ginma. Licking you wasn't that bad but inhaling that certainly was! I hope not to do that again."
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Post by Button on Dec 15, 2022 0:41:41 GMT -5
Button looked back as Ijin called out to them to see the lizard much farther away than before. They turned around and ran back to their friend they must have accidentally left behind in their excitement. When they reached him, they turned around again and began walking right next to the lizard so they could keep an eye on him and make sure he wasn't falling behind again.
"Ijin slow!" Button laughed and giggled.
Then Button noticed Ijin's red eyes and enflamed skin. They tilted their head and their eyes looked worried.
"Ijin no look good... "
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