All I'm saying is that I also wish that I had a local hangout that's a bunch of earthen tunnels populated with living plants that might tie you up when they get angry. Who doesn't want that? That's not something that everyone wants? Just me? Gosh, okay, whatever...

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October 3rd, Sometime After All The Other Nonsense

As they scheduled, Sam and Sajj stood outside the decrepit entryway of 'The Dungeon'. A series of tunnels and rooms supposedly hand-dug into the ground, the place, long abandoned, came to fruition thanks to a very ambitious hermit from the days of yore. Since it's architect's departure, the complex became a regular hangout for more troublesome youth, along with those not deterred by the rumors of supernatural happenings surrounding the site.

The rabbit and the deer, naturally, spent a lot of time hanging out here, neither particularly intimidated by the horror stories. Mostly thanks to their frequent run-ins with horrors much more frightening than what actually did lie in The Dungeon. Also, they did just enjoy the ambiance, if for different reasons. Sam liked hiding in earthen tunnels, and Sajj liked all the weird plants that popped up down there.

“What are we holding up for, again?”, Sam questioned, swinging his arms idly. Sajj had been standing by the open doorway for a few minutes now, eyes shut, with a single strand of ivy in their palm.

“Wanna see if they're less pissed.”, the deer replied.

“...Are they?”, Sam inquired further.

“Nah...”, Sajj finished with a hint of disappointment, letting the ivy drop back down against the wall. They brushed their empty palm against their kilt and took a breath, “Just gonna have to say 'fuck it', I guess...”

“ '3 2 1, fuck it?' ”, Sam confirmed, shoulders sagging just a little. He exhaled, echoing his friend's disappointment, “Well... guess I didn't have anything to do today, anyway...”

The pair moved to directly in front of the open doorway, Sajj dug into the ground with one cloven foot, taking another deep breath in preparation of what was to come. Sam lined up behind. Standing nearly a whole foot shorter, the size disparity would shield him from any debris or grabby things that might take exception to what they were about to do. Which is to trample and charge into a den full of angry plants.

At their standing start, it was up to Sam to give the signal. Based on absolutely nothing but good vibes and a propensity for good timing. He tugged on the back of the deer's ratty shirt, and they were off.

The larger of the two in front bulldozed through a criss-cross of vines, roots, and twigs that hung about every inch of the tunnel. They made successful headway, catching the plants off guard. But Sajj sensed immediately, just from that initial, cursory contact, that if the plants were pissed before, they were very pissed, now. Sam, meanwhile, sensed the same from a visual standpoint, noticing that the way in had closed behind them in seconds. A thickening tangle of vines replacing the formerly open door.

“Left here! Left here! Remember, left here!”, Sam called out over the rising rustle of the tunnel flora. Sajj muttered apology after apology under their breath as they stomped and pushed through more and more grasping vines. Most were far too skinny to hinder either of the pair, but one misstep would allow the swarm to descend, “We can apologize later! Tell them to get out of the way!”

Then, a clearing, as the tangle gave way to an open chamber. But anticipating more resistance, Sajj stumbled forward, falling to their knees. They muttered a curse as a half-dozen roots instantly sprung from the earth and lashed around their lower legs, punishing their mistake. But they both understood the mission at hand, and Sam hopped over his downed companion into the chamber proper. He scampered over to the center of the room, clear of the encroaching plants. He whipped his head around, searching frantically for their goal.

“Where is it?! Where'd it go?!”, Sam croaked out, turning desperately back to Sajj. The deer's legs, at this point, had been sufficiently lashed together with vine and root alike. More and more descended from the ceiling and approached from the nearby walls, making their way towards and around Sajj's body. They pointed a trembling finger towards the other end of the chamber just as a vine snaked its way around their wrist.

“The rock that looks like a... fat guy...”. Sajj strained as one arm was pinned to their side.

Sam's attention whipped to the rock pile they'd directed him to. He hopped over, scanning boulder after boulder for the most... corpulent one, he guessed. And sure enough, there it lay. Sandwiched between two otherwise unremarkable rocks, one that, if one were to squint, looked not unlike a six-hundred pound man passed out face first on the ground. And there, nestled between it and the neighboring boulder, lay Sajj's tarot deck.

Sam let out a delighted laugh at the successful discovery. Perhaps for a moment too long. He felt several roots spring up from the dirt and lash around his ankles, sending him stumbling forwards. As fortune would have it, he stumbled towards the deck of cards. With one hand, he caught himself, while with the other, he reached for the hand-sized, cardboard carton.

Acting on pure instinct and bad judgment, Sam snatched up the deck of cards and tossed it at Sajj. Who by that point, had been nearly overwhelmed by the swarm of vines descending on the both of them, now. Sajj's eyes went wide as they let out a surprised, panicked bleat. Tearing their less-secured arm from the tangle of vines, they snatched the cards up and wound their hand through the swarm of green into the pocket of their kilt. They breathed a sigh of relief and resignation and dropped their head into the dirt as their limbs were subsequently trussed tightly together. The mission, technically, was successful.

But now the wheel of fortune shifted, and the plants would, nay, needed to have their way. The pair surrendered entirely as vines, leaves and roots wound and wound about their bodies, binding them from neck to toe and pulling them to the center of the cavern. As the two drew closer to each other, the relentless swarm of tendrils fused them back to back, slowly suspending them higher in the air. They squirmed against the grasping vines, not as some attempt at escape, but rather some relief from discomfort. Getting out on their own was thoroughly out the window, at this point.

As they dangled from the roof of the chamber, their trappings circled and thickened around them, steadily forming a pillar that would serve as their prison. They both strained and groaned as their bindings became tighter, more rigid. The rustling and creaking of the plants began to taper as the pair were soon totally immobilized. No trace of panic in either of them, however. They knew all too well the plants that dwelt in The Dungeon had no desire to inflict harm. Well... not serious harm, anyway. Depending on their mood, the pair would find themselves outside in a few hours... maybe a day.

But a last finishing touch would conclude this successful, albeit unpleasant quest. Two thick, fibrous tendrils, tipped with pastel-pink, leathery flower buds descended from the ceiling, leveling with the two's faces. Sam crinkled his nose in anticipation, while Sajj only took a quick breath of the cave air. In an instant, the flowers opened, releasing a dense puff of orange powder.

No choice but to inhale the fumes, the pair's eyes immediately fell heavy, their heads drooping as they barely hung on to consciousness. Finally succumbing, their eyes shut, and the plants overtook their heads. All the same, they rested knowing they'd done what they came here to do. They'd be out soon enough.