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[seaboards]

TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE

There have been a lot of riftfarers arriving lately. It seems like there have been more arriving than usual. So many different kinds of people from different kinds of worlds with stories to tell and experiences to give.

A little game has appeared on the shellphone network in hopes of getting to know just a little more about these otherworlders. You might find it on your shellphone as you’re scrolling through one day.

Tell the world two truths and one lie about yourself. And let others try and decipher which of the three is your lie. If they can guess right, perhaps you’ve been able to make a new acquaintance. Or in the least learn more about someone from another walk of life.

Comments

[astudyinviolet]

I am unsure of its name, but it was formed of green ovals growing out from one another with singular pink flowers budding at the top. It was covered in long, sharp spines which were ivory at the tip and red at their base.

[beshackled]

You paint a striking picture.

Some species of flora, and the spined kind in particular, were created with irritating properties to compliment their spines. A defensive measure that the plant might protect itself from those wishing to feast upon it.

'Twould not surprise me if you suffered unexpectedly upon being pricked.

[astudyinviolet]

I did not get pricked. I noticed them before the any opportunity happened. No, I suspected the spines were laced with poison. It was only later that I saw the plant the spines came from.

[beshackled]

I wonder if the owner collected them.

Books do not do well with high humidity unprotected. A plant like that, tailored for an arid climate, would be able to coexist with the presence of books, so long as it received enough light.

Do you face danger often?

[astudyinviolet]

It was not for his own collection but purchased to secretly carry out his plan. This cactus was found next to potted roses at an outdoor flower stall across the bookshop. It was raining that day.

I am a detective. Danger comes with the job.

[beshackled]

It was found?

[An odd choice of wording, to be sure.]

Somehow, I am reminded of when my poppet was gifted to me. The giver did not appear. 'Twas left for me.

It sounds like you have an interesting life. 'Tis good you have friends you can count on.

[astudyinviolet]

Since you seem uninterested in the game, I shall tell it to you straight. The cactus was to be a love token symbolizing eternity to the woman running the flower stall. The spines were never poisoned and had been dropped onto my newspaper by her clumsy admirer.

It was never meant for me or my death at all, a matter my flatmate had questioned the entire time until I realized it had nothing to do with the pattern of crime I had been investigating.

He is a good friend.

[beshackled]

Flora have symbolic meaning upon your star?

I've little experience with the arts, but that's very interesting.

[astudyinviolet]

They do, and the same is true of this world. The type of flower, the color, its placement among other flowers can all dictate a meaning. A red rose might symbolize love, but when a full bloom is placed over two rose buds, the meaning changes to a secret. Together, it may symbolize a secret love. Meanwhile a withered rose means transience and a yellow rose means jealousy.

There are books listing these meanings. Most do not have every meaning memorized.

[beshackled]

I can imagine things like that becoming very popular with the Words of Altima. We have a number of flowers on our star, and new ones are created fairly frequently. There's even one now growing in Elpis that changes colors!

[astudyinviolet]

If new flowers are being crossbred into new varieties on the regular, then the world's floriography would need to regularly be updated as well. It would become quite complex.

A flower that changes color could either be seen as fickle or have a different meaning for each color if it can remain as one.

[beshackled]

It belongs to a newer class of creation we call entelechies. The flower is sensitive to dynamis, and will change color depending on the prevailing emotions in its proximity.

'Tis beautiful to behold.

[astudyinviolet]

That would make it more difficult to assign a meaning to it, but then again, your world does not have a language of flowers.

There are books in this world on the subject if it does strike your fancy. It is, essentially, a code despite it having such an appearance.

[beshackled]

A code? To talk to others with?

I have trouble enough conveying my intentions with simple words, but I do enjoy learning. If nothing else, 'twould give me a glimpse of what species grace the lands of other stars.

[astudyinviolet]

It may someday bear importance in this world. The symbolism still exists here, and flowers have played a role in many an event.

[beshackled]

They did?

Is there a book you recommend to start from when learning of these symbolisms?

[astudyinviolet]

[ Closer to when Sherlock first arrived in this world, Lyney had recommended him a book on flower language, featuring ones on Eltrut and other local specialties. He types the title of that book into his message. ]

That is one such title, and a bookstore own can likely direct you to more should you prove to have further interest in the matter.

[beshackled]

My thanks.

[He'll have to go look for it later.]