Both researchers separately sketched and annotated their visual sketches with details and personal insights. After gathering sufficient information, they began creating fabulations. Each sketch prompted a unique set of responses and plot twists, resulting in two distinct worlds.
The stories were iteratively shared and refined to convey positive, uplifting versions of the worlds they created. One narrative depicts a scenario in which both natural and human elements fall into the sea, while the other depicts a cooperative relationship in which humans and plants support each other to maintain balance above the water. Both narratives lead to new ecosystems where humans and other beings coexist and thrive together.
Figure 1: The house and the palms collapse into the sea.
FABULATION 1.New ecosystems for MtH cohabitation
The humans initially felt scared and sad about losing something they had built and owned — their shelter. From the house's perspective, we cannot determine whether it was happy or sad enough to accept its new status under the sea. We don't know if the house fell in voluntarily or simply collapsed. However, one day it tumbled into the ocean, creating new coral reefs that became home to many plants and species.
The palm trees, on the other hand, did jump willingly into the sea. They adapted to their underwater environment, developing new ways to move and survive, and became part of the vibrant coral reef ecosystem.
As time passed, the humans began to visit this new underwater world, rich with life, and they felt both proud and welcome. They started spending more time there and eventually developed technologies that allowed them to coexist with the underwater species.
FABULATION
Figure 2: Handwritten fabulation.
After years of living near the little house, the palm tree became familiar with the humans who resided there. In the summer, they would arrive with children and animals, bringing food, laughter, and joy, as well as diversity and water. However, after many winter storms and dry summers, the earth beneath the little house began to erode, exposing the palm's roots and the house's basement. The palm became increasingly vulnerable, leaning toward the void and the sea. With its roots exposed and dried out, it found it harder to absorb water and nourishment.
The humans decided to help: they trimmed the palm's leaves and watered its base. In return, the palm wrapped its roots around the exposed basement of the house, creating a strong partnership with the humans and the earth. This relationship helped both the humans and the palm flourish together.
The humans tended to the palm's roots, caressing them and providing water and nutrients to help them grow stronger. In return, the roots reinforced the house's foundation. The palm produced sweet dates and provided shade for the humans to rest under, while they ensured the plant remained hydrated. Thus, the humans and the palm developed a kinship that sustained them all.
Figure 5: Loose transcript from the handwritten fabulation:
Humans and plants form a nurturing symbiotic relationship. People begin by watering and caring for the plants' roots, developing a bond with them. In exchange, the palm tree extends its roots, reaching out to the houses and intertwining with their structures. This connection not only supports the palm but also helps protect humans from falling into the sea, ensuring their safety and closeness to one another.