Between the Roots and Branches [Open to All]

[applesaucemod]

Don't worry, dreamers of Manhattan. There will be no humiliating episodes of sudden-onset-clumsiness tonight - at least, nothing more severe than what you might experience naturally. Your physical and mental faculties will be left perfectly intact. What a treat! And what luck, because if you do lose your footing, it's a long way down to the forest floor.

But hey, who wants to be on the boring old ground when there are so many wonderful treehouses to explore? There are dozens of them spread throughout the surrounding forest, connected by a series of bridges and catwalks (some, admittedly, a bit more stable than others). It's easy to forget - or fail to notice - that there really is no easy or conventional way down to the ground when you're surrounded by such splendor.

The houses' styles range from charming and rustic to modern and sleek, with many falling somewhere in between. There are viewing platforms for bird-watching or simply taking in the scenery (trees, mostly, though if you venture high enough, you'll be treated the sight of the forest canopy stretched across a valley far below). But the insides of the treehouses are comfortably furnished to varying degrees as well, so there's no need to immerse yourself in nature if you'd really rather not. Some are complete houses in their own right, with all the amenities of a Manhattan apartment and then some.

Go for a climb, or kick back and relax. The only enemies you'll find here are other dreamers... and, potentially, gravity.

Comments

[johnny_truant]

"Jesus," mutters Johnny, rubbing his hands over his face. He had no idea that had happened, fucking great. "Fuck, I'm sorry. It's not your fault at all. He shouldn't have acted like it was."

He doubts Gabe still thinks that, he was probably just hurt. Which means Seth having been put in that position is also Johnny's fault. Great.

"I just wasn't... ready to hear that," he says vaguely. "I mean, I'm still not, I get by most day by pretending it didn't happen, not thinking about it, I don't know." He shakes his head, frustrated. "I don't want to talk about that. That's my problem. It's good he told me, and it probably would have happened with or without your advice, so."

He sighs and leans down, holding his head, bracing his elbows on his knees.

"I was a fucking child and I ran, and I'm back now, and we're figuring things out." He lifts his head enough to look back out over the treetops. "That's about it."

[powerdealer]

Seth shakes his head a little at the apology, as if to say, don't worry about it. Seth didn't really think it was his fault, or rather he assumed it was one small piece of a larger issue that would've still been an issue without his involvement. The fact Gabe blamed him enough to tell him so was what hurt, really.

He listens quietly to Johnny's explanation, though he straightens up a little at Johnny saying he's back, presumably at the house, not just with Gabe. Seth didn't know that, but then, Johnny probably didn't want visitors anyway, so it wouldn't have made much difference.

"Well, I don't blame ya. It's a scary thing to deal with," he answers finally. Even more scary when the other person in question is a literal archangel. Seth is having problem enough not feeling inadequate next to Daniel, and he's at least human. And Seth doesn't know if Johnny's ever been in a serious relationship with anyone, human or celestial, though he's got the impression he hasn't.

"And hey, if you do want to talk," he adds, reaching out to rest his hand on Johnny's shoulder for a moment. "Or get drunk. Or, yanno, whatever you need."

[johnny_truant]

Johnny makes a slumping gesture halfway between a nod and a shrug, sinking down to rest his elbows on his knees. He breathes out slowly.

"Drunk sounds good," he says. "Yeah, sorry I haven't... been by. When I left I just kinda wanted to stay away from everyone, and now... I'm like, easing back in, or whatever."

He picks at a loose thread from the seam of his jeans, eventually plucking it out, balling it up and rolling it idly between his fingers. He lets it drop, watches into the branches below.

"You should talk to Daniel," he says after an extended moment. It's abrupt, and uncalled for, really, but after very nearly fucking up so much with Gabe he's not going to just sit and let Seth blow this. Possibly talking to Daniel would be blowing it, but - apparently talking is what healthy people do. What are they if not comrades in climbing that ladder out of their respective pits?