[OPEN] The sleeper has awakened

[bufudine]

Who: Serph and YOU!
Where: Near the Forest Quadrant (or on the island, by the beach)
When: The entire curse week
Style: [Brackets] preferred!
Status: WIDE OPEN

[Serph had been put to sleep for nearly a month.

In that time, Sera and Gale had left Vatheon, the coral had been broken and fixed, and the resultant water damage had wrecked the garden that he and many friends had cultivated together. Most of the flowers died from being submerged in salt water for so long, and even the saplings and rose bushes are looking worse for wear. And many of the gifts from his friends have either been washed away or heavily damaged by the water.

Serph's first instinct had been to tear a local apart (he had been hungry), but he'd held himself back, remembering what he'd told Ky. But the killing of locals stops now. He doesn't need to eat people. Not any more.

All week, Serph will either near the Forest Quadrant, picking through the garden surrounding his Tribe's base to see what can be salvaged, or up on the island in his demon form as he returns to the shore after hunting in the sea. He's always happy to talk with people, new and old, though people who know him may find him slightly more forthcoming than usual. But only slightly.]

Comments

[beauchevalier]

[Going up to the island and admiring the water, Angelo breathes in a soft sigh before his eyes immediately see a familiar form. He lets out a light gasp with widened eyes too, mouth hanging slightly open. It was Serph and he was awake at long last. Instead of focusing on his misery, he quickly rushes towards Serph's form and doesn't even care that it's his demon one. He was missing Serph for so long, he wants to see him again no matter how he looks.]

Serph!

[bufudine]

[Though Serph certainly can't see Angelo like this, he certainly can hear him. He doesn't need to turn to 'see' Angelo, but he does anyway, shaking off stray droplets of water from his fins before transforming back to his human form.

He gives Angelo a nod in greeting.]

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo gives Serph a warm smile before staring down at his form. He admits Serph's demon form is a bit unusual, but he's grown accustom to it. He then sits down on the sand near where Serph is.]

About time you woke up, I've missed you.

NULL SLEEP + COMA = ???

[rainbowarch]

[Falling asleep for an extended period of time was common in Vatheon, but that doesn't stop Cielo from worrying every single time it happens to one of his comrades. Even with, or perhaps especially because of the recent happenings with the bubble he was always concerned for his leader during the long sleep.

But seeing Serph up and about calmed all his worries in an instant.]

Sheesh, what a mess.

[Don't mind him, leader, he's just bringing in what he found of the scattered remains of the various mugged potted plants that got tossed around by the water.]

INVINCIBILITY

[bufudine]

[Serph nods in agreement. He almost doesn't know where to start. A lot of the bogged soil probably needs to be removed and replaced.]

It seems I've missed much in my sleep.

[Now that Gale's gone, does this mean it's Cielo's job to exposition explain?]

[rainbowarch]

You sure did!

[HUFF SERPH LEAVING US WHEN THE WORLD ITSELF IS IN CRISIS. AGAIN. AT LEAST IT WAS ONLY SLEEPING THIS TIME.]

You can probably figure out the basic idea by yourself, but if you want specifics, ask and I'll tell you what you need to know, ja?

[Gale may be the one who loves to talk, but a good scout can always effectively relay information.]

[teradine]

[Despite the bad news that awaits him about their comrades who've left, Argilla is glad to find her leader awake again. It had been far too long for her liking -- even if she did manage to salvage a few plants here or there while he was out.

It's a lot faster with him helping -- but it's time to look forward.

She holds a couple packets of seeds in her hands, for starters.]

Shall we try and plant the new ones?

[bufudine]

[Serph considers that, before shaking his head.]

The soil needs replacing.

[The soil's less boggy than it was when he first woke and looked outside, but...]

The salt from the sea water will stunt their growth.

[There's probably a few flecks of salt crystals where the water has evaporated and left the salt behind.]

[teradine]

[. . . Oh, right. At that, she glances at the soil and gives it a critical look over. And then she nods, agreeing with his assessment.]

I'll go get a new bag.

[Of new soil, that is. Or two, or three.]

[tsundyne]

[Yukari's been busy, between moving into a new building and helping out around the city where she can. You'd think she'd be sick of the island too, after all the time everyone spent up there, and yet here she is. It's still as peaceful and relaxing as ever, and it's a nice place to take a break, too.

That is, until she sees Varna appear out of the waves. That, she wasn't expecting -- and it takes her a moment, but eventually it clicks.]

. . . Serph!

[bufudine]

[Ah. Yukari. Serph recognises her voice. He turns, walking towards her, shifting back to his human form as he does so. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, wiping away the little fish blood that remained, before giving her a nod in greeting.]

[tsundyne]

[Long time no see, sleepyhead! Luckily, the transformation isn't anything she's not familiar with by now. Man, she had no idea you were even awake again . . . jeez, why doesn't anyone tell her these things?]

Enjoying the fish cuisine?

[Her voice teases, but she is definitely glad to see him.]

[asea]

[Walter is walking along the edge of the island shore when Serph returns from the hunt. It's by chance that he catches a glimpse while his gaze wanders, and for a moment he's reminded of Dyaus (if memory serves correctly, that was the name).

It's been a while since he's seen anything like it, and insisted upon by his awareness, its presence is reason enough for him to pause in his march. But he doesn't come closer; no, that's unnecessary, and he isn't some curious monkey.]

[bufudine]

[Serph already has a (dead) fish in his hand by the time he reaches shore. But it's hard not to notice the audience. And even though his demon's senses allow him to pinpoint exactly where Walter is, Serph can't quite figure out who he is.

...

...... Serph stuffs the fish into his mouth, chews, and swallows, before reverting to his human form and approaching Walter, giving him a nod in greeting.]

[asea]

[Did that seriously just happen?

. . . It's Serph. That was his name.

Whereas Serph nods at him, though, Walter doesn't do anything of the sort and stands rooted to the sand of the shore, his expression impassive. He could have walked away, but there was that nod – do you want something?]

( beach )

[pendragon]

[ Saber had taken to the beach on the island to think. Her last conversation with Ilya, even though text, ..it had just left a rotten taste in Saber's mouth all around. She was sure Ilya was not entirely at fault, but-

There's suddenly a creature coming out of the water, and she looks towards it. To the knight, it does give her the same type of feeling and impression Cielo did, so was this possibly one of Cielo's friends..? Cielo had wanted her to meet one in particular, a Serph. ]

Excuse me, [ the knight starts, walking closer towards the demon so it can hear her. She hadn't been afraid of Cielo's alternate form in the least, either, ] but do you know Cielo?

[bufudine]

[Serph can hear the stranger perfectly. He can 'see' her perfectly too, despite not facing her, and not having eyes.

...But he has a fish in his mouth.

He holds up a hand to indicate that he needs a moment, before shoving the rest of the fish into his mouth, chewing and swallowing, and turning, the demonic form shifting back into his human one. The blue glow to his tattoo lingers for a moment, then fades into its usual solid black, as he nods in greeting.]

Cielo is a member of my Tribe.

[He tilts his head.]

Are you a new friend?

[livingvessel]

[It's been a while since Ilya's been to the Forest Quadrant, the last time being that attempt to drag Duke back with her... which resulted in her own collapse a few days later. So the forest doesn't have the best memories for her.

But she also remembers that there's a house out here. And apparently a tribe of people. Including Serph. She hasn't seen Serph in a while, which is kind of what brings her here today. How is he?

The place looks like a wave went right through it - considering that the entire bubble was submerged in water for a time, this isn't terribly surprising... but it's still a strange sight. And even stranger is seeing a familiar figure digging through what looks like the remnants of a garden.]

Serph?

[bufudine]

[Serph turns his head at the sound of a familiar voice. By this time, some of the garden beds have had the soil replaced. This particular one is ready for some new seeds to be placed in it. Brushing dirt from his fingers, Serph stands and faces Ilya, giving her a nod in greeting.]

Would you like to join me?

[contemptibility]

[... Ah.

Tiir was waiting for Serph to awaken—and, unfortunately, see with the mess that remained in the present, including his friends' disappearance. It's because of this that he approaches the base, before pausing a distance away from Serph.]

Do you need any help?

[bufudine]

[Serph nods, moving aside so there's space for Tiir to join him by the garden bed with freshly turned soil, ready for the planting of new seeds. He always enjoys time spent with comrades. But Vatheon gives him too much time to think, especially lately. And he's been thinking too much of his decisions, their outcomes, his place in the world.

He waits for a moment, before speaking.]

What did you leave behind, when you returned?

[not_heavens_adam]

[Johnny hadn't been looking to run into anyone while he was out, there was still plenty to fix from the water damage. This week's project: his tavern which had been barely functional when he'd gotten to it.

However, he does catch the scent of someone he hadn't seen hide or hair of in a long time and that warranted putting aside his current search.

Serph might notice the swarm of bats approaching him but, if he doesn't, he'll shortly find a vampire shapped attachment in the form of a Johnny hug.

Hopefully you weren't all that attached to your personal space.]

Serph! You've been out forever. If it hadn't been for that list I'd have thought you'd left us.

[Which he was definitely glad wasn't the case, if not for his own sake, then for Cielo's; their conversation hadn't been the most cheerful.]

[bufudine]

[Personal space seems to be something he rarely has to himself these days. Serph gives out a quiet 'oof' when Johnny hugs him out of nowhere. But he allows it; Johnny has always been touchy-feely, and he knows Johnny would have missed him.

...At least there's no kiss this time.

Serph pats Johnny on the back.]

It's good to be awake.

[A pause. Johnny seems to be in good spirits, so his friends are likely to be alright.]

I heard the city was flooded. Has your home sustained much damage from the water?

[enfire]

( inside the base itself was some terrible banging and clanging. heat had been searching the rooms over and over, driven forward by not being able to find her.

sera... she'd left again.
at least it wasn't as public a meltdown as last time, but all the same, he obviously wasn't taking it well. bursting out into the open air, he scowled, whipping his head to each side quickly -- and finding serph. )

So you finally decided to wake up.

[bufudine]

[It's not unexpected that Heat is in an especially bad mood. With Sera's departure, Serph wouldn't expect anything less. Still, he's a little worried about Heat.

He nods, acknowledging Heat's statement.]

What have you done while I was asleep?