🍇 what strange things grow from little seeds 🍇

[graftage]

WHO: Steinbeck and....YOU!
WHAT: Random effects time! And random Steinbeck prompt times! (IF YOU WANT A PERSONAL STARTER PLEASE ASK/DM!)
WHEN: Summer mid to Summer end
WHERE: Everywhere
WARNINGS: some attempted superpower self harm in one prompt but otherwise nothing else (will update as needed)



1. "Everything you touch ends up with glitter on it, and every time you sneeze, confetti comes out"

ACHOO-!

[Whoah there, that's a whole sneeze and a half. If you're walking by Steinbeck's farm, you may notice him walking up, looking a bit miserable as he wipes his nose, which...looks glittery. Actually, a lot of him looks glittery.]

Ugh, what is this...some kinda cold... [He's murmuring, looking up as he sees someone and waves.] Hey, are you feeling sick at all? I keep just...s...s-sn...

[Oh no.]

ACHHOOOO-!

[And now you're covered in confetti. Whoops.]


2. "A sports announcer voice narrates every significant event in your interaction with others."

[Later after that whole nonsense (and still a little glittery) Steinbeck can be found at the grocery store, poring over the wares. He's grabbed a few things for cooking, looking over a couple of packs of cookies, and he turns to whoever is nearby with a smile-]

[Except he doesn't speak. Because what speaks is a very loud and eager announcement, booming as if its coming over some intercom that clearly is not there.]

AND HERE WE GOOOO-!!! JOHN STEINBECK HAS MET THE EYES OF A HANDSOME AND BEAUTIFUL INDIVIDUAL ACROSS THE AISLE. NOW BRAD, ALTHOUGH HE'S GOT THAT WHOLE TRACK RECORD FROM LAST YEAR ON HIS PLATE, FORTUNES MAY TURN FOR HIM YET! LET'S SEE WHAT HE DOES NEXT-!

[Steinbeck. Freezes like a deer in headlights. (WHO'S BRAD?)]


3. and better things will sprout, won't they? (tw: attempted self harm for superpower purposes)

[He's really trying hard to stay in the shadows here - if you happen to be out in the evening close to the woods, you may see Steinbeck trying to sneak in there with something in both hands. One of them happens to be a knife, the other, a small cloth bag.]

[He doesn't seem to think anyone is following him, even as he casts his gaze over his shoulder a couple times. Once he finds a clearing, he shifts open his collar with a finger, before he flicks open his knife.]

[He moves to raise it directly to his neck, as if he's going to jab it at his own skin.]

[Are you going to stop him, or are you going to watch-?]


4. WILDCARD

[get your personal starters here if you want!! Steinbeck is still open for scavenger hunt and mine shenanigans or whatever you want to do with him!]

Comments

[framestory]

[ Swallowing is more gruesome? Boy, you're just out here slicing your own neck. Ellis nods, but-- ]

I can only stop your blood from pouring out. The wound has to naturally close up on its own. I put gauze there just in case you wanted to leave when you woke up, because it'll start bleeding again if you're away from me.

[graftage]

[Oh, now that makes his attention snap to Ellis, pushing himself up in the bathtub to stare him down.]

What do you mean, "if you're away from me"?

[framestory]

[ He has the mental vibes of a 4' tiny man. It's fine, even though he's actually 5' 11". ]

My power has limited range.

[graftage]

What power.

[binch]

[framestory]

I'm stabilizing your blood flow so that it doesn't pour out. I'm waiting for your wound to naturally close enough so that you don't bleed out.

[ This is why Steinbeck's gauze and bandages have no trace of blood on them, but he probably won't be able to see it unless in front of a mirror, huh. ]

[graftage]

[A long pause.]

[And then he just leans back, exasperated.]

...

[Finally, he speaks.]

If you're wondering, I won't threaten you or anything. You did all this for me. I wouldn't repay a kind deed with violence. So thanks. [A low exhale.] But honestly, this is a pain and a half.

[framestory]

[ Agreed. Ellis also agrees that this is a pain and most certainly because he did not do this from the goodness of his heart.

But it is what it is. ]

If you want to leave, you can. I think you'll bleed a lot less than before if you do.

[graftage]

Hmmph.

[He opens an eye to look over at Ellis.]

...Funny. I'd expect you to be more curious. No more questions for me? Maybe I'm someone who just likes hurting himself.

[framestory]

1. You don't seem willing to answer questions. I can't force someone to answer things. I can't even fight.
2. You put grape seeds inside your neck. That last part is not it.

[ lol ]

[graftage]

Heyyyy. Maybe I'm just a freak.

[:)]

[framestory]

Welcome to Freaktown.

[ One of them. :) ]

I have a grape juice box in the fridge. You can take one on the way out. Homemade.

[ He's just really tired to move. Ellis would just sleep on the edge of the bathtub after Steinbeck leaves. ]

[graftage]

[He gives a halfhearted salute.]

Nice to be here, fellow freak.

[Now that makes him laugh.]

You really know irony, huh? [And a beat.] But I'll rest here a while. I don't want to take chances.

[He folds his arms over his chest.]

That ability of yours...you always had it?

[framestory]

[ At this point, Ellis's eyes are half-closed, but he's trying his best to stay awake. He's never did this for so long at once and wonders if he can increase stamina about using his powers like exercising. ]

I was made because of the ability.

[graftage]

[...........]

[His expression hardens.]

What do you mean, "made"?

[framestory]

[ Oh. Huh. Ellis looks at Steinbeck, intrigued by his response. ]

Why the long face?

[graftage]

...

[A long pause.]

Doesn't sit right with me. But explain.

[framestory]

[ Well, that's alright. Because this is something that happens every day somewhere in the omniverse of worlds. ]

I'm from a story. I was made since I'm a fictional character.

[graftage]

....?

[Huh?]

So what? You're...not real? Someone wrote you into existence?

[framestory]

[ Ellis nods. Yeah, this is a reaction that he expects. Don't worry, since he thinks everyone else is real but him. No fourth walling in that regard. ]

That's how characters come to be, isn't it? They get written and then they exist.

[graftage]

[........]

[A little huff.]

I guess it would be like if you pulled a guy out of one of Poe's stories. [A beat.] But you feel things, don't you? You breath and eat and walk like all of us, right?

[framestory]

A bug can do the same.

[ No, he won't be going into technicalities. ]

[graftage]

So what, are you a human-shaped bug?

[framestory]

A monstrous vermin.

[ But Ellis just laughs. ]

[graftage]

[He doesn't seem amused.]

Did your writer write you like this, then, too?

[framestory]

If you have any complaints, you can take it up to my maker. Though, I'd be much happier if he wasn't here.

[ So, yes. His maker wrote him like this. ]