A cozy log cabin... [Game #12 Closed!]

[CSMintCat]

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You notice that Carter seems oddly subdued today. The two of you were carefully sanding down some wooden boards when you caught him sighing to himself for what seemed like the umpteenth time since you arrived at his cabin. It was pretty unusual to see him act like this; he was usually peppy even when he wasn't in the greatest mood. It worried you. Hesitantly, you put a hand on his shoulder -causing him to stop sanding- and ask him what was wrong.

"Y'know, I've always wanted to be a cartographer and explore the world outside Kalokairi. But there's always so much t'do around here that I hardly have any time for myself, let alone leave for such long periods of time..."

He sighed again, turning to look at you with the saddest face you've ever seen him make. You feel your stomach drop.

"I've lived here all my life, how could I leave everyone I know behind?"

Oh.

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Poor Carter...
You knew that he had a lot to do on the island, but you never
realized that he had such dreams of travelling abroad.
You've been friends with him for so long; I'm sure he'd appreciate some advice from you!

Code: Select all

[b]Big boy, big dreams.[/b]
[b]Username:[/b]
[b]Link to sign-up post:[/b]
[b]Prompt response:[/b]


[Guidelines:]
All writing must be a minimum of 200 words.
All drawings must be at least a recognizable, clean sketch or a lined piece.
Please only post finished forms! (NO RESERVATIONS OR WIPS!)

[End date:]
Monday, July 29th, 2019 at 6pm EST.
Two hours before rollover.


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[suds]

Big boy, big dreams. | prompt #5



user: suds, hi! / sign-up: here / kal: saki / team: octopi

[ThatPinkThing]

Big boy, big dreams.
Username: ThatPinkThing
Link to sign-up post: here
Prompt response: (311 words)

Eleanor nods, looking down at the wood boards before she puts her tools down and hops up on that old tree stump once more. "First time we talked, you asked me what it was like where I was from. And while I'm technically 'from' the big city, I told you my little town on the lake is home now." She pauses, not sure how to phrase what she wants to say. After toying with a pile of sawdust at her feet for a few moments, she looks back at Carter.

"Leaving everything is really hard. I won't lie to you." She gives a weak smile. No point in sugar coating it, she figures. "You're gonna miss people, and you're gonna miss the culture and the food and the beach. But if this is what your heart is really after, it's gonna find so much more to love." Eleanor spreads out her arms, gesturing to some far-off, unseen land. "The tastes and sights and feelings of the world... some of them are so unique you can't even imagine them. Festivals and traditions and gorgeous landmarks that you could stare in awe at for hours. Pictures online don't do them justice. If your heart wants to see the world and be someone who can help others see it to by doing cartography... nothing will compare to it. And you won't know until you try."

She rises again and begins to resume her work on the boards. She glances up at him with a slightly indiscernible look. Some sort of conflict or excitement or memory stirs in her, but she doesn't share it. "Kalokairi will always be here for you, too, Carter. You have friends and family here who support you. They'll support you if you go, and they'll love you no matter what you decide. My best advice is to take the risk."

[moondust405]

Big boy, big dreams.
Username: moondust405
Link to sign-up post: boop
Prompt response:
“It’s not a bad thing, missing where you come from. It’s how I feel every time I leave my home, but it’s more for the experience. If you never leave, you’ll never see things beyond this island.” Caleb paused, trying not to make it sound too blunt. “Kalokairi is gorgeous, but imagine what else you could see. Bustling cities, soaring mountains- not that they exist, that’s absurd- meet people who will make giant impacts on your life. Besides, you don’t have to leave forever- you can always come back in between trips. You could even do a video call with the folks on the island.. maybe not Shark, he doesn’t seem like he’d give up his contact info, but that’s besides the point!” Caleb fiddled with a few buttons on his camera. “You should try, and I could see if I could find a way for you to visit my town? It’s not like anything you’ve ever seen, and there’s not a pond or lake for miles. Just an ocean of golden white sand, interesting townsfolk, and Klarissa and I would be happy to show you around.” This was getting long winded. “You should follow your dreams, Carter. I’m pretty sure Kalokairi will always be here, but the experiences you can make won’t be.” Caleb gave Carter a sheepish smile, chucking awkwardly. “Didn’t mean to talk for that long, but you get it. Don’t hold yourself back.” [237]

[hellb0und]

Big boy, big dreams.
Username: inferno.
Link to sign-up post: Here.
Prompt response:
By now, Katniss was far too accustomed to providing advice for the Kalon, even if it felt as useless as ever.
He kept coming to her, so whatever she was saying was working. Perhaps not in her favor... but certainly in
his. "Even if you leave, you can always come back. I mean, it's traveling for a reason, isn't it? It doesn't last
forever. You'll have to go out of your comfort zone eventually, and you may as well do it now, while you've
got time. Gather some friends up and see if they'll take care of the chores while you're gone." She understood
where he was coming from, though Katniss had learned to adapt to new environments easily. Perhaps she could
help him do the same. "You only live once, after all. It's about time you go fulfill those dreams of yours before
your time runs out! You should go see new places for once and enjoy yourself." She smiled gently, hoping her
words, which perhaps weren't exactly "advice" and more encouragement, would spark something in the male.
"What do ya say we even go find some friends to help out while you're gone right now? I mean, it's one step in
the right direction, after all! Maybe seeing some other supportive faces will help."

[cribunni]

Big boy, big dreams
|| l i i l y • sign up • 803 words ||

Carter’s somber tone reverberated in his skull, a familiar voice sounding nearly those exact words. Prince can still faintly remember a tall, angry man slamming his hands on the table.
-
“You can’t just walk out on family. Again!” The man — Prince’s elusive father, who had just turned up after 3 years under the radar — sighed deeply, rubbing a hand up and down his nape. “I don’t know what you want me to say.” His mother seethed across the kitchen bar, hands fisted. “I want you to say you’ll stay. I NEED you to say you’ll stay. It’s not even for me, anymore! It’s for your son. Or have you forgotten him so quickly.” She spat each word at her ex-husband, eyes glassy and red. “You know I love him. I always will. But you know I can’t stay here. I can’t just, abandon my dreams, my hopes. And I wish I could take you with me. But sometimes you gotta leave the things you love behind to get to where you’re goin’. It hurts. I know.” Prince’s mother opened and closed her maw, eyes cast to a framed picture on the table. She brought her hands to her eyes as they began to pool with a sadness that comes with the inevitable. Prince — no older than 7 — peeks around the staircase railing to watch his father wrap his arms around her. They spoke for a little longer, before he broke away, slinging a bag over his shoulder and walking away. Prince watched as the man he can’t even remember open the door, looking back to wave. As the door closed, Prince ran up the stairs to look out of his window, to catch one last look at the man. But when he got there, he was met with an empty street.
-
Prince blinked back into reality as Carter shook him gently, a worried arch to his eyebrows. Those words from so long ago rang heavy in his ears as he looked to Carter. A small smile stretched his maw then, his face looking aged, almost wiser. “Sometimes.. you have to leave the things you love behind.. to get where you’re going.” The familiarity in the statement bit at the man’s heart, but an odd fondness hid there. “I know these people are your friends. Your family. But you have to think about your own life, too. I know you love them, and they love you too; so they’ll understand when you leave.” Carter’s wide eyes were tear filled, and a small laugh bubbled up his tightening throat. Without warning, he lurched forward, wrapping Prince in a hug.
-
The small boy sighed as he dejectedly walked back down the stairs. He poked his head around the railing, expecting to see his crying mother. He was met with a surprise. The woman stood alone, clutching the picture frame. She smiled, happiness seeping into the somber atmosphere. Prince cautiously padded into the kitchen, his mother lifting her gaze to grin at her son. She motioned for him to follow her to the living room, where she sat him down on the couch. The woman dug through a large chest they used as a table, pulling out a large, dust-covered book. She wiped it off, coming to sit by Prince. As she opened it, several pictures fell from its first page. Prince gathered them for her, eyes traveling across each. They all showed a young woman and man together. They were in different scenes in each one; a movie theatre, a beach, a chapel. His mother began flipping through the pages, joy filling her eyes as she pointed out pictures. Time flew by as they flipped through, finally landing on Prince’s baby pictures. The biggest one — showcased on a page of its own — was his father, holding the infant in strong hands. There was love there. Under the picture, in messy handwriting that did not match his mother’s, was a message: ‘My son, I know I may be gone when you read this. I’m sorry I can’t be there. But your dad has big dreams. Your mama knows. I will always love you, and be next to you, even if I’m not there. Dream big, son. Don’t be afraid.’ Tears filled the young boy’s eyes as he looked to his mother. She laughed quietly, petting his wild curls. “It hurts that he had to leave. But we love him. How could we keep him away from something that can complete him?”
-
Prince laughed tearfully as the big man sniffled, patting him on the shoulder. “Come on, let’s get you packed. Your dreams are waiting out there.” As he lifted himself up, he strayed behind Carter. For a moment, he looked exactly like someone he used to know.

[Lepid]

Big boy, big dreams.
Username: DoubleInfiniti
Link to sign-up post: Here
Prompt response:

Fawkes's heart shattered when Carter opened up his heart to him because it hit too close to home for Fawkes's comfort. For someone who had left his own planet to go to Earth knowing full well that he'd be banished was hard on him, but he did it because he needed human interaction. His planet only had 2 intelligent beings including himself on there and he loves Earth now and has been thriving in it. Carter reminded him of the scenario though and he sighed.

"Well it's not like you're being banished away forever, right?" Fawkes's face looked a little bit upset but he stayed as optimistic as he could, more for himself than for Carter at this point. "There's no harm in taking a break and coming back some day to return to your duties. If your heart yearns to go venture out into the world then you shouldn't let this island keep you bound. It'll be here when you are back and I'm sure the locals will give you a warm welcome back. It may also help you grow spiritually and maybe when you come back you'll realize that this island is your home and you never want to leave it again. Regardless, this island will be fine without you for awhile and I think that you should do what your heart is telling you to do."

(229)

[Snowlondon]

Big boy, big dreams.

Username: Snowlondon
Link to sign-up post: Here!
Prompt response: [224 words]

Vardan looked at Carter. They had spent so much time together in the past few days, and he considered Carter a good friend. And considering he wasn't normally a social kalon, that meant a lot. He hated to see the normally cheerful kalon sad, and wanted to help cheer him up. He wasn't great at making others smile, but he supposed that his advice wasn't half bad.

"You want to explore the world? Then you should explore the world. It's that simple."

Vardan paused for a minute, staring off into the distance, deep in thought.

"I can't image a life in which I'm not climbing. If I'm not doing what I love most, I don't know what I'd do."

He turned back to Carter, giving him a crooked smile.

"There will probably never be a perfect solution. You might have to leave some things behind. But that's okay. If it's your dream, then it's worth it. I promise."

Before he could change his mind, Vardan pulled Carter into an awkward hug. He was probably squeezing too tightly, or not tightly enough, or something. After all, he wasn't normally the hugging type. And yet... he felt like it was the right time. For all he knew, this was goodbye.

"You'll be a great cartographer - I just know it. I wish you the best of luck."

[deerbroken]

Big boy, big dreams.
Username: lavender towns
Link to sign-up post: :3
Prompt response:
Guinevere sighs, giving the poor kalon a sympathetic look.

How could he leave after all this time? I know I couldn't. I wouldn't. But... A dream... I've never really had one. Maybe...

He rubs the back of his neck, sitting on the empty stump near the entrance of the cabin. He pats the empty section of log next to him, and Carter joins him, though he's still clearly distraught by his dilemma.

"If it's your dream to explore the world," Guinevere starts, "Then you should follow it. I can't say I'd do the same... I travel around a lot, and I've never much liked it. But..." His ears fold downwards as Carter sighs, looking to the ground. Yikes, dude.

"But, I mean, you should give it a shot. If you don't, you'll spend the rest of your life wondering what might have been. You should live without regrets." He pauses, looking up at the night sky. The stars are so much clearer out here. It's nice to be able to see them for once.

"And hey! You can come back someday, when you're old and you've had all the adventures you can stomach. Besides, you're not the only person here who knows how to use an axe, right?" He rests one of his paws on Carter's shoulder, and the kalon looks up at him, a thin smile on his lips. "I'll give you some time to think on it. And whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best in doing it. It's been nice getting to know you, Carter."

[261 / 200 minimum]

[-pidge]

Big boy, big dreams.
Username: my.chai
Link to sign-up post: Forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=4123900&p=125986204&hilit=willow#p125986204
Prompt response:


Carter slumped back and shook his head. "I dunno Willow... maybe Kalokari is just too consistent for me to leave..." Willow bit her lip. Carter had a point, but it was no excuse, everyone needs to live there life a little.
"I'll tell you what," Willow stated."If you promise me you'll have an amazing time, I'll cover all your work shifts!" She beamed.
Casters mouth dropped. "You- would do that... for me? He said, getting all emotional.
"Yeah, of course! Pfft! How hard could that be." She shrugged. Caster opened his mouth to speak but thought better of it.
"Well... if you're sure..." He finally spoke, "Heres a list of my time table." He handed Willow a folded and torn piece of paper.
"Off you go!" Willow shooed him towards his Cabin "You've got some packing to do!"
"But where will I go-" Caster paused.
"There a whole world out there Caster!" Willow exclaimed, "I'm sure you will find somewhere!"
Caster thought for a moment and then nodded. This was all so sudden, he could barely comprehend what was happening.
"Ok..Ok...ok.." He trailed on, processing everything. Eventually, he wandered off to his cabin, whilst Willow chuckled at herself.
On he had entered his cabin, Willow opened the paper. Her eyes bulged out of her head. She knew Carter was busy, but 10 jobs a day seemed a bit too far. Sitting down and shaking her head, she knew although she had sold her vacation away, that she had done the right thing. She was going to have a long summer.

260/200 minimum