Spring shenanigans!

[betel_geuse]

It's spring and Betelgeuse, alas, has grown bored! What's a not-so-young poltergeist to do, when the weather turns warm? Wait! It just so happens the ghost with the most has a green thumb! Okay, technically, that's mold--kinda. He has no body for real mold to grow on, but never mind. The point is spring is a time for new growths...er, growth, growing things. FLOWERS!

Betelgeuse has decided that Genessia needed more foliage. It's spring after all! So, he magicked up all sorts of plants and flowers to grow all over the place, covering sidewalks and creeping up buildings. Some of the flowers appear normal and are quite beautiful. Others have eyeballs in the center or drip blood or something. You never can tell what that poltergeist will do. Some of the ones that appear normal hold surprises for anyone that gets too close. As per usual, Betelgeuse will be somewhere, watching people and having a good laugh!

Comments

Warnings: Kosihi eats everything.

[koishi_komeiji]

There were many passersby that were quite spooked by Betelgeuse's flowers, and their mental distress attracted the attention of a little green youkai. She was wearing her uniform. In one hand she held a small box wrapped in a cloth. It was a small bento box containing several riceballs.

Turning toward several particularly distressed humans, she drifted lazily through the air, focusing on a dense patch of flowers. She moved in for a closer inspection before jerking back a little with a start. In the center were a cluster of red flowers, each opening to reveal a large eyeball and skeletal fingers that rattled and clicked, wiggling in Koishi's direction. The youkai blinked, leaning in a bit, smelling one of them, not seeming to mind as the bones tapped at her forehead and cheeks. Her third eye drifted forward, hovering just out of reach, studying the plant both physically and psychically...

She paused for a long moment before promptly picking several of the flowers and sitting down next to the bed. It didn't have a psychic presence and it smelled quite good. And so, without further hesitation, she took a bite. Her sharp little teeth sheared through the bone with ease, the youkai happily crunching away, enjoying the texture and the marrow. She put the box on her lap, opening it with one hand and taking out a riceball. The perfect compliment! And to save the eyeballs for last...

Still, it's not really nice to eat another person's prank Koishi. Though she couldn't have known any better.

Betelgeuse respects that. :D

[betel_geuse]

Betelgeuse was almost rolling with laughter, before his young friend showed up. He watched with interest as she settled down to eat. He admired anyone with a strong stomach. Still chuckling, Betelgeuse floated over to her.

"I didn't think those would be on anyone's menu. They any good?" Betelgeuse asked.

[koishi_komeiji]

Koishi looked up from her meal, blinking at Betelgeuse, a petal sticking out of her mouth. She leaped to her feet after a moment, scampering over to the ghost and throwing her arms around him in a big hug. "Mister stripes! Hello!"

She squeezed him before letting go and drifting back a short ways. "I didn't know there was a menu. I just found delicious little flowers full of bones. I really like bones. They're crunchy and have a good center. The perfect compliment to rice." She brightened. "I've never seen flowers like them before. maybe I can find a way to plant them at home. Sis likes bones too but she wont ever admit it." A pause. "Though it tastes like human bones. And she doesn't like the taste of people..." The little satori actually looked deep in thought.

[betel_geuse]

Betelgeuse grinned, hugging back, before she let go.

"Hey, gal. How ya doin'?" Betelgeuse asked, though not as if expecting an answer. Oddly, people very rarely answered him, when he asked that. "I created them with my juice. I'm not sure if they'd grow like regular plants or not. Never hurts to try, I guess."

[koishi_komeiji]

"I'm really happy and crackly warm!" An unusual answer, but it certainly didn't seem bad. She drifted back and gestured him over, sitting back down in her spot. Some of the picked flowers tried to crawl away but she managed to catch them in time, biting off the flower part.

"Wow! Plants must really like your juice if you're able to grow such unusual ones. I guess I'll give it a try too back home. I think they're really good! Even if Sis probably won't eat them." She crunched it up, swallowing. She patted the spot next to her. "Mister Stripes. Come sit and have some rice. There is plenty here!"

[betel_geuse]

Betelgeuse obeyed, sitting next to her. He took one of the flowers and popped it into his mouth. He enjoyed the crunch and flavor of marrow.

"That is pretty good. Too bad most people won't appreciate them."

[koishi_komeiji]

"Mhmm!" She offered him a riceball to chase. It was wrapped in seaweed and had a few decorative seeds sprinkled on top. Probably sesame. "Yeah. But most humans can't eat bones so it's okay."

She popped another flower into her mouth, relishing the crunch. She remembered to finish chewing this time before speaking. "Oh! Mister Stripes! We should get some pasta cake soon! Or find out how to cook it so Sis can make it. I bet it will be really fun!"

[maybeitsmaybelline]

Roman squinted at the flowerbed in front of his hotel. He'd never been big on plants, but he'd tolerated them because up until now it had been tasteful greenery and a few elegant flowers. Today it was... not.

Technicolor flowers burst from every inch of the garden, and where they ran out of soil they had started to climb the pillars beside the front door. In case the tackiness wasn't bad enough, they also seemed to be humming a cheery tune as they swayed in the breeze. Upon closer inspection, he realized the flowers had tiny little mouths in their centers.

Right. So they really were humming. It's great to know he wasn't going crazy, but that really didn't make him feel any better about this situation. He scowled and went to pull up a fluorescent orange petunia, which promptly stopped humming and bit him.

"What the--!" He yanked his hand back but the petunia held on. There was a short tug of war before its tiny teeth ripped the finger off his glove and set him free.

That was it. First he was almost killed by a doll, and now a hideous sentient flower had ruined his best pair of gloves?! He wasn't going to stand for this indignity! He snarled and produced a small burn crystal from his pocket, hurled it in the middle of the flowerbed, and shot at it. The resulting explosion was most gratifying.

[betel_geuse]

Betelgeuse floated over to inspect the remains of the flower bed. He shook his head, smirking.

"What? You prefer begonias? I thought the humming was a nice touch."

Betelgeuse looked over at Roman and burst into laughter.

"Sorry about your gloves, really," he snickered.

[maybeitsmaybelline]

As soon as Roman heard the laughter he took a step back and began to raise his cane again, but he stopped when he recognized Betelgeuse. His glare turned to exasperation and he heaved a long-suffering sigh.

"I should've known. There's no one else here with your absurd aesthetic. You'll pay for the replacements, of course."

He peeled off his ruined gloves and stuffed them in a pocket.

"So, you got a client in here, or are you just touring the neighborhood?"

[betel_geuse]

Betelgeuse just snorted, still laughing.

"Yeah, of course, I will," he agreed, not very sincerely. "What's absurd? My pranks are wonderful...scary and hilarious!"

Betelgeuse looked around and shrugged.

"Nah. I'm bored and decided to have some fun. A pretty big part of the city is covered in stuff like this."

[maybeitsmaybelline]

Roman spread his palms and shook his head.

"You're 1/4 right on that, but I'm afraid the scariest thing about those flowers was their alarming color scheme."

He didn't sound particularly bothered. He can always get himself a new pair of gloves, and he always appreciates a little casual chaos.

"Any good reactions so far? I could use some entertainment."

[betel_geuse]

"Hey, that really bothers some folks!" Betelgeuse defended. "Though, actually, I was going more for disturbing and funny with those. Annoying people is good, too."

"Well, depends. Some screaming. My favorite reaction was Koishi. She and I ate some flowers that had finger bones for petals and eyes in the middle. Had 'em with rice balls. Very tasty."

Surprise her?

[swordprincess]

There sure were a lot of flowers blooming today, and Karla couldn't help but notice them on her walks. At first glance, they seemed to be normal, so she decided to stop and admire them.

"Well, the flowers sure are blooming nicely today..."

Absolutely! :D

[betel_geuse]

Betelgeuse never could control his more carnal impulses, when it came to women. As he watched Karla walk along, the flowers responded to his greedy admiration of her. Many of the flowers grew eyes, so they could look at her. Several grew tongues that drooped, panting and dripping saliva. Several grew lips and made wolf whistles at her. The eyes winked at her. Betelgeuse himself materialized close by.

"Ya like my work, babes? I gotta say, for flowers, they do have good taste!"

[swordprincess]

Needless to say, Karla was...quite startled when the flowers came to life in a rather predatory manner. She gasped as she stumbled backwards, wondering if the flowers would actually leap out and attack.

"Ah...um..." she stammered, too stunned to even scream.

When Betelgeuse revealed himself, she regained her composure and turned to him.

"Ah...you made these? Are they going to eat me?"

[betel_geuse]

"That would be me! I'm BJ, the ghost with the most!" Betelgeuse introduced himself. "Nah, they just think you're cute. Still, why take chances. You stand close to me and I'll protect you!"

Betelgeuse held an arm out to her, inviting her to stand very close.

[swordprincess]

"A ghost? Really?" she asked, more from a mild curiosity and fascination than actual fear.

She tilted her head at Betelgeuse's invitation though. "It's okay. I can protect myself." She put her hand on her sword hilt at her waist. "The flowers won't move, will they?"

[betel_geuse]

"Yep. I'm a genuine dead guy," Betelgeuse assured her. He shrugged at her declining his offer. "Nah. I didn't give them that much juice."

Tiptoe through the tulips

[youfool]

La la la, what a wonderful spring day, as Ted frolicked through fields of a frightful array of flowers. He then tripped, almost planting his chin into concrete. "Ow!"

He looked at the perpetrator: some flora that had become rather too affectionate, wrapped around his ankle. "Now now, little green one, it won't do to impose on people's time like that." The vines, completely ignorant of social niceties, replied by dragging him inward towards the center. Ted struggled, but it was no use, as he was slowly dragged into some unsuspecting lawn intent on revenge for years of unwanted shaves.

"Help..."

[betel_geuse]

Betelgeuse frowned. None of the plants were supposed to be truly violent. Betelgeuse wanted to frighten, okay terrify, people, not damage them! He clicked his fingers, sending a bit of magic to encourage the grasses to release Ted.

"Hang on, Ted! They're not dangerous...I think," Betelgeuse said, floating over.

[youfool]

Tug, tug, it gave! Hallelujah, Ted thought, as he wrenched his foot free and took in some air.

"Thank you, BJ. I'd had rather not see what the love nest of grass looked like. Must be some sort of aphrodisiac in the pollen."

[betel_geuse]

"Yeah. That or it wanted you for a snack," Betelgeuse said, grinning. "Nah, I'm kidding, really! I wouldn't hurt a fly...okay, I would. Flies are tasty. Never mind. Ya gotta admit, though, this is pretty funny! Look at all these people!"

[youfool]

"Yes, a striking possibility. Good thing you were there to tame the vine; I suppose they don't call you a bio-exorcist for nothing." Hmm, was Ted entirely wrong about the passionate pollen, permeating the air?

Not entirely.

"I say, BJ, you have quite the green thumb. And handsome, too! Has anyone ever told you just how nice you look in a pinstripe suit?"

[betel_geuse]

Betelgeuse stared dumbfounded at Ted. Of course, there were ghosts who found Betelgeuse attractive, but the living rarely did. Finally, he burst out laughing, reaching out to pat Ted on the shoulder.

"Thanks, pal, I like you too!" Betelgeuse said. "I think the pollen has done something to you, though. Here, sneeze!"

Betelgeuse handed Ted a huge handkerchief, saturated with magic. Hopefully it would clear things up for Ted.