It's not as much fun for a Darkling to be out during the day, but it's more safe to take a noob (and Levi is a noob) into the Hedge during the day. Besides, they were talking in the morning, so... yeah. They find a hedge gate out by a rocky overlook in the real world, and lead Levi through it. They step through into a cave in the Gnarlwood, damp and with the sharp tang of minerals. "You already know how to open a gate, I assume. Be careful with blood -- it can accidentally open gates."
"Um. I don't, really," admits Levi. She's wearing what -she- considers to be field gear- but in her case, it's just jean shorts and a tanktop over a sports bra, with a rucksack added slung over her shoulder for carrying any extra berries or such out of the Hedge. "So you can use blood- how else would you do it?" She's fascinated by the Gnarlwood's strange, primeval woodiness, glancing around enthusiastically without leaving Teagan's side.
"You can get in through... basically any opening big enough for you to fit through. Established gates are best," explains Teagan, adding, "because you have no guarantee that it's going to do anything other than dump you into the Hedge, and you want to be on a Trod -- like this. A path." Their machete is in their hand easy as breathing, and they spin it absently. "But. Opening a door. Blood is good for humans, but for us, it's glamour. That's basically our ... magical blood, anyway. You know? So you, like, ask to be let in somehow. Knock, say 'let me in,' something like that. 'Speak friend and enter.'" Another literary reference. Guess Teagan likes movies.
"Oh, okay. So. You're talking about that... man. I don't know how to describe it but I think I know what you mean. It's that bit I flex to get big, or- yeah. I know what you mean. So there's gates I can just... flex at, and share some of that energy, and it'll let me come here? To this forest, this trail?" Levi isn't carrying any weapons, nor wearing any armor. But then, by her account, she doesn't have much use for either of those things. She's sticking close to Teagan and watching everything.
"Yeah. And you can feel it coming back to you when there are people around you, and they feel things? Like, the air tastes a certain way? And you might like some a little more than another? That's why I go pick barfights. That energy. You just use a bit of it. And it won't necessarily be this forest, or this trail. It's... just. It's the border between Arcadia and the so-called 'real' world. I know you know what the Thorns are." A gesture with one hand toward the edges of the Trod as Teagan moves out into the forest, casually swinging the sword with one hand. "Fuck, I hate sunshine." They flip their hood up over their head, scowling, and drop their Mask. The shadows come back, pooling around their feet, their Mantle pops back into being with a screech of radio static. "The Thorns are what you pushed your way out through when you got out. Go off a Trod, off a path, get lost in the Thorns. You can technically make it out through the Thorns, there are some who are better at it than others? But. Stay on the fucking Trods. They'll rip your brain out. They're literally what ripped all your memories out."
Levi pales, the faint color in the stone of her face leaking out as Teagan explains what cost her those memories. It takes her a little while to recover, thinking about what she DID remember, realizing she'd had no choice but to wade through. ".. I- see. Okay. That's... frightening. That slipping off the path could cost memories, or- everything. I'll stay on the paths, when I'm here." The tone suggests she hopes to make sure that those times are few and far between.
"Yea, I have, a little. The customers in the store. The ones going for the quieter bands, the ones with dark themes, usually make me feel a little better about everything. It's energizing. I thought- I thought it was just getting to help them that made me feel that way." Levi twitches and stares into the brush for a long moment before slowly straightening. "... my imagination."
Stopping for a minute, Teagan reaches out a hand and rests it on Levi's cheek. "The memories come back with time. Sometimes whether you want them to or not. Definitely whether you want them to or not." They lean and kiss her forehead. "It's all terrifying. And it should be. If you're scared, you're more careful." Less scared, more death-wish-y, one would be like Teagan, after all. Another pat to her cheek. "Don't come in here alone if you can help it, either."
"There are safer places here, places people make. Hollows."
They turn and start heading off further into the woods, but making sure Levi can stay close. "Nah. You'll find what feels best to you. Usually connected to your Court, you know? That's ... part... of why I start bar fights. I looooove people's anger and frustration. Most of the time. It's ... delicious. Fear's pretty good, Desire, like that, Disgust, tastes awful, Despair, ugh, don't get me started. Despair is like a mouthful of mothballs for the soul."
"Is that how it feels for you?" Levi sounds positively puzzled. "It's like ice water to me. Not just water with ice in it, but like... spring water frozen naturally and melting down my throat. I've felt a couple angry people, but it's like... chugging the nastiest energy drink too fast to breathe. It's a rush, but it's scary. I don't really like it. There's not much disgust or fear in a record shop, though." Levi pauses as Teagan comes close, and for the few moments they're touching her cheek, kissing her forehead, she relaxes, attention fully on them. A small nod follows the explanation on memories.
"Hollows... hm. If- and that is a big if- if I get more comfortable coming here... do you know some people with hollows I could visit? Just to see?"
"Is what how it feels for me?" And then Teagan listens, tipping their head a little to the side. "Oh, you'll learn to distinguish. I bet there's plenty disgust and fear in a record shop. 'Oh God that song is the worst' and 'what if he really meant what he said and we're gonna break up' or whatever." They gnaw their lower lip a moment. "Anger for me is like... eating a giant spicy bite of something. That sinus-clearing, head-full-of-heat, the burn on the back of your tongue in the best way. I mean, it can be too much, but... oh man. Wrath. Wrath is a gift. It makes people right wrongs, when they channel it right."
The Hedge subtly changes in Teagan's wake: the shadows around trees grow longer, water gathered on leaves after a recent rain refracts more light. The trees lean in or seem to, like they want to follow Teagan. It's as obvious as a footprint, which is probably why Teagan isn't paying much attention at the moment to the actual footprints they leave.
"Ask me that question again when we're not in the Hedge. That's not information I'd say where something could overhear us. And something -- in the Hedge? -- something is always listening. Count on it." Sniff. "So. There are things you can eat in the Hedge, and not just for food. But if you're really drained? Can't buff up? You can eat almost anything and it'll give you something. Just... it might also be poisonous or turn you into a mushroom."
All this is new and fascinating, and Levi pays strict attention to every word. She grimaces and shakes her head at the bit about wrath and spice and all, still struggling with that whole aspect. And knowing she could mush herself, if she ate the wrong snacks here? That drains her face white all over. "Oh. Ah. I- think I will just. Not risk it, then. And later is fine. Safe is good. You know best."
-> >> Teagan to Here << <-============================================
Rolled 2 Successes
< 3 4 5 5 6 9 10 >
================================-> >> Wits + Survival No Flags << <-
Reaching out, Teagan takes Levi's hand, a comfortable gesture, and one that keeps them in range. "Yeah, like I said. If you're desperate, it's sometimes worth the risk. Otherwise? Don't." Their fractured-mirror eyes scan the foliage, and their machete's pointed. "But that, actually? That's a good one to know. See the fruit?" Hanging from the shrub, the pink globes are slightly larger than cherries, five or six of them visible. "Blushberries. Basic healing fruit. Exactly what we came for, and good stuff. Don't rush in. If we found the delicious, something else might have too."
Levi grips Teagan's hand, and the comfort it provides, eagerly. She's not at all inclined to rush ahead, not with all the warnings she's gotten- this warning is just a little added info. She looks about, puzzled, and then back to Teagan, murmuring, "How do you know if it's safe, then?"
-> >> Teagan to Here << <-============================================
Rolled 1 Success
< 4 4 5 6 10 >
===================-> >> Intelligence + Investigation No Flags << <-
"You ... don't. You take a risk." Teagan lets go of Levi's hand, if only to pull aside a piece of the briary plant, the other hand swinging the machete up to the ready. "I mean, you can kinda look, but... " Shrug. "In the end? It's a risk you're gonna have to take."
They let out a small breath a second later. "There we go. These, we don't have any giant centipedes or mechanical briarwolves hiding under the leaves. So." A tip up of their chin toward the shrubbery. "Take three of 'em, babe."
Levi clenches her hands into taut claws while Teagan takes point and moves forward. It's only when they settle down and pronounce it safe and clear that she relaxes and takes a half-step forward to join them. Once directed, she moves in and peers at the plants, glancing back at Teagan. "Do I need to do anything special to take them? Turn around three times widdershins or- like- sing Yankee Doodle?"
"Not these, no. Just take 'em," Teagan answers, offering a lopsided smile. "It's a fair question. I'm sure there are plenty of rarer fruits that you need to do that sort of thing for, but... nah. Just take 'em. And then let's get the eff back out of here. Lingering is a bad idea, especially with all the bullshit that's going on right now. Worse than usual shit."
Levi nods after Teagan's explanation, collecting three of the berries and stepping back, doing her best to step back towards the trail of the trod, peering down the way while she gives Teagan time to snag the last three berries.
Teagan drives up the narrow driveway and stops in front of the old brick house.
The last three are snagged by Teagan, and tucked into the pocket of their hoodie. Teagan's machete stays at hand, while the other hand snags Levi's. "That's enough Hedge 101 and fruit-gathering for one day, Levs. Let's get the entire fuck out of this place."
"Please. I liked the lessons? But I am very ready to be someplace where all I have to worry about are hailstones and out of control Hondas." Levi slips her hand back into Teagan's and makes with the following, absolutely prepared to be back in reality.
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