TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 2

[avalonmods]

{ QUICK NAV } Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary A ⦿ Soaking in Your Arrival KERPLUNK, SPLASH! Regardless of what you were in the middle of, you and your familiar have been magically pulled into the world of Avalon just above the Bay's chilly waters. After a brief plunge into the Bay, the rush of water filling your ears and soaking up into every creak and crevice of your body, you may need to cough to clear your airways when you rise above the surface. It's paralyzingly cold for a few seconds before you're approached by the Lady of the Lake beneath the water's surface. She puts a vial of a vibrant, glowing red Everwarm* potion to your character's lips. The icy water doesn't feel so icy once consumed and you'll be able to move your limbs enough to swim to shore on your own. She can't stick around to explain, she's got to get this to all the new arrivals! Many of which you'll see plopping in around you. If you can't swim, a handful of helpful ice turtles will scoop you up from beneath and drop you off at the shore. When not helping people, the turtles are going around and hitting the ice that keeps forming on the surface with their shells to keep the surface open for the falling arrivals or pushing personal items to the beach near the new arrivals they smell like (belong to). If anyone tries to ask the Lady of the Lake for directions, she will direct you to Archimedes at the Rent-a-Ride. If anyone with Animal Magic asks the turtles, they will give the full spiel, but very slowly, and they like to get off topic and gossip about other turtles you've never heard of. The shores themselves are littered with new arrivals complaining their way up a staircase carved into the walls of the White Cliffs. There is no railing, so be careful, but if you do fall, be prepared for a mysterious sand hand to reach out of the side of the cliffs to catch you. The hand will pat you atop the head twice before retreating back into the wall. This is the Cliff Beast; despite the name, he is quite friendly. B ⦿ The Caravan to Camelot Once everyone is wrangled up to the top of the White Cliffs, the handsome owner of the Rent-a-Ride, Archimedes, will distribute smart phones, a pair of earbuds, and a winter cloak** to everyone before getting them settled in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and give them a basic explanation of why and how they've been brought to Avalon: The universe is frozen in time and your character has been brought here by a familiar that was able to bond with them. They'll have to learn magic to help save their own world from destruction, but first they've got to get them to Camelot. It is here that you have the first opportunity to decide who they will be in their new home. You'll have about an hour to wander around here, meet and greet, and pet the horses before it's time to go. These carriages use fae technology that combats weight, so your character will be able to get in regardless of whether they're light as a feather or weigh two tons. The carts have air conditioning when it's hot, heating when it's cold, and a mystical shield to protect from bugs. There is also a mini-bar that pops out of the console with nip bottles. Characters can use their smartphones to connect to Camelot's internet service, avalononline (AOL), to chat with other characters, watch dumb videos, learn about the world, contact Camelot Support (they'll answer any questions they can for you, from how to use a smart phone to where to find quests and resources to learn more about your magic). Be careful if you decide to use your phones while in the caravan-- if you don't use those earbuds and start forcing everyone to listen to your nonsense, Archimedes may make you walk. C ⦿ The Red Spring The journey from the White Cliffs to the City of Camelot is a long one, and the first evening you arrive you'll end up spending at the Red Spring, a booming resort town. Because of the volume of new arrivals and vacationers, inn rooms are assigned two-to-a-room. The rooms have two twin beds, a bathroom, a mini-fridge and microwave, and a TV equipped with a couple of entertaining video games and a few free movies. If you don't want to relax in the room, try taking a dip in the spring for another chance to meet your fellow travelers. The waters have restorative properties that help horses and travelers recover quickly when drunk. It is known to relieve stress, improve energy levels, and mildly accelerate healing. It may be a little chilly when you get out though, so make sure you don't slip rushing back indoors when you get out! The springs are also home to a large training grounds just outside town limits, where there are teachers who will teach basic magic safety and help you discover what kind of magic you have together with other new arrivals. Try target practice, obstacle courses, meditation circles, and other ways to try to figure out just what you can do... if you didn't already have an accidental discovery on the ride there. A ⦿ Trial and Icy Errors Winter has arrived in Avalon, and with it has come to a change in the weather. Puffs of breath precede sentences when outside, small fires fill braziers to allow people to stop and get warm for a moment between where they come from and where they are going. Snow has begun to fall; at first, it is the same, fluffy, white flakes many adventurers will have seen. However, as the day progresses, the snow begins to shimmer; it’s like a prismatic effect, a magical light catching against every little crystal and illuminating sparkling flakes, so vibrant it’s clear someone has enchanted the snow. Shortly after the change, there will be a text alert to all devices: Tired of the same old routine with your magic? Ready for a little something new? Come on out and have an old fashioned snowball fight with a magical twist. Be sure to practice your new powers and have fun! 😉 -Merlin Those who come outside to find the rainbow snow already being packed into neat balls by Camelot's citizens; go ahead and grab a basket full but remember, don’t just toss them. Let’s get magic with it! Different types of magic will have different effects on the enchanted snow: Use kinetic magic to toss three at once. Nevermind if they suddenly balloon inside and burst into a snow shower over your opponent, throw a couple more; some are bound to hit, right? Throw a little animal magic in there and morph a few into a bear or some other animal of your intent; sorry about his random dance attack, at least your opponent will be laughing too hard to throw a snowball at you. Try hiding them in a shield or cast an illusion with some light magic; better apologize when that goes sideways and the snow hardens, bursting into rainbow crystals at your opponent's feet. Team up with someone who has cognitive magic; they can telegraph you the plan without your opponents being any the wiser... except the snow seems to be picking up on it and sending those thoughts right to your opponent! Perhaps use this as an opportunity to learn control! Maybe you want to try using a little wind magic if you’re of the elemental class; watch out for the rainbow snow squall your perfectly lobbed snowballs will become. Healing magic is one you might not see coming-- enchanting a snowball with healing magic can result in positive mood enhancements. Give your enemies a blast of zen to lower their guard and make them an easy target! A dark magic user might think to add a little hex to their snowball; give themselves an edge... too bad, without practice, that hex might be a little too heavy and burst over the maker before it even leaves their hand! Hope you know how to fix it. Alchemists are welcome to change the shape of those snowballs. Maybe try and craft them into something a little more stealthy or projectile. Too bad that snow seems to want to turn into a batch of butterflies and be free... magic sure is tricky! But hey, they sure are pretty. In the end, it seems while adventurers will be able to get plenty of practice in, some of that practice is going to come from trying to stop the side effects of mixing their powers with the magic snow; welcome to your first lesson in control. If one is going to use magic in conjunction with already magically imbued things, they ought to know the right amount, seems Merlin wants you all to learn in a trial by snowball error. Those who practice their magic and participate in the snowball fight will be given hot chocolate, warm soup, fresh baked goods, or other treats to warm them up after their training is done. But don’t slack off! You’re like to find your hot chocolate spiced with pickle flavor, that warm treat suddenly turns to ice cream in your mouth. Avalonians want that practice to happen, and are willing to add some incentive... whether that means the carrot or the icicle. All throughout the City of Camelot is a buzz of excitement about the oncoming winter solstice on the 21st. Citizens will tell you of the winter solstice's importance in cleansing the flow of Avalon's magic each year and absorbing sunlight to increase its potency. In other words, the winter solstice generates a significant amount of magic if the proper ritual is followed, so the visitors from other worlds really should head on over to Albion's White Cliffs. A ⦿ The Darkness in the White Cliffs The first task that you'll experience during the ritual is asking the Cliff Beast's permission to enter the cliffs. Though they look wholly solid on the outside, these cliffs contain a veritable labyrinth of magical caves that weave in and out of the chalky cliffs. As there is danger within these walls, it is recommended no one go alone. The Cliff Beast will only open a door to the caves for parties of two or more who present him with a gift. The gift doesn't need to be something significant, just a show of courtesy-- a lovely rock or a seashell will do, placed at the base of the cliff. The only gifts he will outright reject are precious gems and metals. Honestly, they make him a little nauseous-- and you don't want to see a cliff beast nauseous. In fact, if you try it, the Cliff Beast will suddenly burst into a rockslide right near where the gem was left. Watch out! Once you gain entrance, you will find there is no light within the caves and the door seems to close behind you. Non-magical lights won't illuminate anything within these caves, so you will need to either navigate through the darkness or find a magical means to light your path. Be wary-- traveling in the dark will be a much safer journey if you can find your way through the caves and keep track of your companions. The reason there is no light are the bat-like creatures that eat energy like fire and electricity. With the magical light attracting them and nothing to consume, they'll be very aggressive and swarm anything emitting heat.. like an unsuspecting traveler. Make too much noise, and the Cliff Beast will spit you out back onto the sand and you'll have to start over. B ⦿ "For a greedy man, even his tomb is too small." Those who persist within the caves will eventually come upon a room whose ceiling glistens with bioluminiscent microbes that are too small for the bats to eat. These little glowing creatures create reflections in the room that show just what it contains-- glimmerings of precious gems, gold, and other treasure cover the walls and floor, save for a large flat stone altar in the center. There are many hand-crafted clay cups filled with what appears to be water. The side of the alter has a very simple message: "TAKE ONE CUP TO THE SPRING, LEAVE THE REST. SPILL NO DROP." Sure enough, this matches with the instructions you were given about the ritual: Take a cup of waters harvested by the Asrai, a fairy that lives within the walls of the cliffs that cultivates it every year to bring to the Red Springs for the Winter Solstice. There is no clear warning about what will happen if you take anything besides your one cup. However, characters who disobey this instruction and take any of the riches within the cave will initially experience severe symptoms such as magical blockage, an endless common cold, and food turning to ash in their mouth. They will experience dreams in which they are urged to return the treasure and a day later, advanced symptoms if it goes on for too long have been known to result in vomiting frogs and snakes, insomnia, speaking in tongues despite the translation spell, bleeding from the ears, and eventually death. C ⦿ Drink Up Those who listen and take the Asrai's cups to the Red Springs will notice while carrying the cups, all creatures and threats will leave you in peace. Neither rain nor snow will touch you, parting from your path in both the sky and on the ground. The effects will only last as long as you don't spill a single drop. The ritual can still be completed, but the protections only work if you don't spill-- otherwise you'll be fighting off weather, creatures, other people, and whatever else you encounter as the effects of a spilled cup will cause those around you to try to steal your cup without thought for your safety, even if they might not even think to do normally. Upon arriving at the Red Springs, a party of people there to guide those who have made the ritual's journey to a particular pool within the vicinity of the springs. Characters will be directed to take a sip, then pour the rest into the Spring alongside your peers, finally throwing the clay cup itself into the spring. Throughout the day, you will begin to feel strangely giddy, but it will pass. Nothing much will seem like it happens otherwise, but the guides assure you that you will understand on the night of the winter solstice when the ritual is complete and your body becomes a conduit to purify and rejuvenate Avalon's magic. For now, as thanks, the guides offer you one of the celebratory gifts they have to offer-- free drinks (this time of the age-appropriate alcoholic or sugary variety), a free night's stay at the Red Springs, a yule log, an escort, a Recipe: Snow Dance. (Effect: Snow Dance will cause small flurries to pick up where the spell is cast, resulting in decreased visibility. Only works if snow is already present, as it cannot generate elements.) The choice is yours. Pick one. MOD NOTES: • All test drive prompts are open to anyone in the game at any time to create your own logs with, but this post should have top-levels by potential new characters only. Current characters may reply to any threads, but should not top-level comment on this post. • If your application is accepted, you may accept TDM threads as game canon as long as both players consent. Characters may begin threading as soon as their journal is accepted to the communities. • If nothing here tickles your fancy, try one of this month's Quests for your TDM prompt. • The first "Arrival" prompts are present on every TDM, but may contain seasonal tweaks for flavor. All other prompts will change monthly. • Questions about this TDM's content? Comment here! If you have a question about the game at-large, please head over to the FAQ. *This Everwarm does not count toward your potion collection for those who wish to take up potion brewing. You must obtain Everwarm from the Elphame Trader's to count. **Jackets come in a variety of neutral colors, enchanted with a fit-adjustment spell that will adjust to your character's size.

Comments

trial and icy errors bc i'm a basic bitch

[radianceflux]

[ Eruca's head snaps in the woman's direction when she slides next to her behind the wall. It's only a game, a treat for the newcomers to leave behind some of the worry they all doubtless have after being pulled from their homes. She should be generous, try to make allies with the woman with pink hair.

But when the woman issues that statement, that challenge, Eruca accepts with a devious grin. ]

You're right.

[ She grabs a handful of snow and flings it at her, hoping to cast something bright enough to distract the woman and make an escape. Instead, the little chunks of snow act like miniature fireworks, bursting upon contact or in midair, and turning into harmless sparks of light.

Still, Eruca takes her chance and leaps back and goes around the wall. Perhaps the woman will think she's fled farther away. In the meantime, she prepares a snowball, for another attack. ]

[arf]

Aren't we supposed to get frequent flyer miles for this level of travel?

[ Two different planets, neither their own... ]

sasara nurude 🎋 hypmic

[whosaysdajare]

caravan — rv there yet?
[ Sure, the seasons are rolling around to that time of year, but even Sasara'd call this sorta joke a little extreme. That is, when his teeth have stopped chattering and he's on that ride it's like himself to consider it humorous, interesting. There's one person he's lost sight of and the cloak isn't really his style, ya see, but his expression doesn't betray any of his worries. Only one thing: that
odd cat (although, it looks ordinary enough as it lays there) has stayed right on his tail! Conversation between it and Sasara just doesn't seem to flow; this fella's in a cat-atonic state.

These are the sorts 'a jokes he laughs at to himself, ya see! And he'll share them around with anyone willing or un- who got on the same ride, generously providing entertainment ... Will Archimedes make him walk because of that? ]

Ah, how about this one: why'd the old cat have trouble seeing? [ ( Heeh...! ) ] Because it had cat-aracts!

snow and tell — what's the difference between snow-men and snow-women?
[ His alignment reveals itself with the first snowball he throws, bursting from multiple into icy dust mid-air. Ah, it doesn't meet its target, but the falling snow is pretty at least.

Was he aiming at you? Lucky! Now all you have to figure out is who would have tossed a snowball right at your head.
Or are you the competitive sort, looking to win whatever's on the table for this fight, needing an ally? He may not look it, but Sasara has an ambitious streak. ]

drink up — on the rocks
[ Even if just a drop's lost? It certainly felt like he tripped on a small rock or caught another hiker's elbow. Whatever spills over the rim of the cup is immediately lost to the ground, soaked up. Faster than he can put his one hand up to the side of the vessel, the trail of a single bead runs over his fingers, wrapped around. ]

O-oi, careful! [ Whoever bumped into him first or the next person about to gets that warning. ]

wildcard / ooc
( Sasara is selective CRAU from Prismatica 🤗 PM me or hmu on nyaruhodo if you'd like to discuss about that! OR just wanna thread out something else😇 )

[irritated]

no way. it's always the same. most times the bad guy just turns out to be god and you have to kill god as some stupid metaphor. the battle system is always the same and repetitive.

and roleplay is embarrassing anyway.

kain highwind ( final fantasy iv )

[helms]

soaking in your arrival.

[It was not a graceful entry, plunged to the depths of a ceaselessly cold bay, the weight of his dragoon armor dragging him into the darkness until he was pulled forward by a retinue of bafflingly helpful turtles. It is not a particularly graceful exit, either, to find his bearings on the shore and standing to his full height, a man looking as though he is ready to go to war, dripping with water and disgruntled in demeanor.

He removes his helmet, fashioned in the shape of a dragon’s facade, from his head with a wet squelch. Long strands of blond hair, equally soaked, stick in tangled across his cheekbones, his forehead. He looks confused; more over, he looks displeased.

The cut of his gaze is sharp, and lands upon the nearest sight: a very familiar spear, washed up on shore, laying askew. And some thoughtless, oblivious soul who draws close to it in curiosity.]

Halt. [He moves in long strides towards this stranger.] That is not yours to wield.

the caravan to camelot.

[He keeps to himself on the ride over, never one for idle blather or attempts to form new acquaintances at the drop of a hat. And so, this means Kain busies himself with the smartphone in his hand, or a string of ear buds in the other, looking as equally suspicious of both.

The ear buds, they go into the shell of their ears, do they not? And one end connects to the device in his hand? The idea is simple, but the practice is foreign, and so he looks to others for guidance without actually taking the time to ask them.

So, if you’re someone who’s plugged into their phone, well. It’s more than likely you’re earning an assessing stare from your local dragoon nearby.]

the red spring.

You are the other assigned to this room, are you not?

[Comes Kain’s query on the heels of his entry, eyes landing squarely on his new roommate. He looks serious, like the sort of man who sees no need in hiding his assessment.]

Do you intend to stay in here or will you be exploring the town?

[Hi, hello, nice to meet you.]

wildcard.

(( ooc; I’m open to just about anything! Surprise me. ))

[irritated]

[Hikaru's taken aback by how Taichi hugs him again but he's happy. Happy to know that apparently, Taichi was this happy to see him. That what happened back in Prismatica hadn't ruined their friendship at the very least. His face crumples up and he has to fight back tears. Taichi is his friend, he cared about him, and they were here. Together. They hadn't lost each other because Hikaru's thought about it. How they were clearly from different Japans and if Hikaru went home, there probably wouldn't be a Taichi there.

He doesn't want to think about that. He'd rather avoid that thought entirely and instead enjoy this moment with him. Hikaru grabs onto him, tightly, and hides his face in Taichi's shoulder.]

Hey. [It's unlike Hikaru to be this small and quiet but his grip on Taichi says everything.]

One more question! (Geography, this time!)

[angel_of_death]

Hello! Sorry. ‘Tis me again.

I noticed in the locations description that the island was located within the Lake of Avalon. Thinking of a lake as a freshwater body, I wrote with that in mind for my TDM prompts… but I wonder after having seen your last event description, which mentioned an ocean and typical sea things — is the lake a saltwater lake? A sea?

Training area

[helms]

[Kain is no stranger to the tiring nature of training, which includes suffering under the weight of specialized armor. The years of diligence required to become a dragoon, and the ceaseless commitment that followed it, made certain that he was familiar with the sensation of worn muscles, of a bone-deep exhaustion after a long day’s exertion.

And so, despite his often aloof and standoffish nature, sympathy of a sort coils around his chest when he spies a woman practically crumpling to the ground. The dragon, too, is of interest, and hardly secondary; a few strides forward, and Kain stands over them both, looking down and casting a long shadow.

He reaches out with a hand, an offer to pull her back up to her feet.]

Stand. You will find it harder to go on the longer you sit.

[Only when one is well and truly done with training should they give themselves respite; besides that, best that she gets out of the way of the others finishing the course.]

C

[radianceflux]

[ The drink soothes Eruca, and even lifts her spirits. It's as if Camelot knows that she needs help setting aside the weight of her destiny and responsibilities to all of Vainqueur. She smiles, and it feels strange but lovely.

And so when the woman with a braid asks her something, Eruca's frown is not as deep as it would be in normal circumstances. ]

No, I don't think so. We were told our task is to cultivate magic, strengthen the land, and aid this world in saving all others. It would take up too much of our time if we were forced to find work at brothels to earn our keep.

[ That line of work is far removed from the her life. Only as a member of the rebellion did she need to traverse the shadows of Granorg. Bold strangers teased her— a princess among them! what an honor— but she earned their trust, sincere in her wish to take back her country.

But beyond that? She's not sure where she'd start if that were the only kind of work allowed them. ]

Drink up

[helms]

[He strides to the inn, as well, caring not for the dusting of snow that falls from the sky in the same manner — it settles on his blond hair, on the plates of his deep purple armor, on the scales of the small dragon familiar of azure hue, having draped itself across Kain’s shoulders for a nap. It shimmers and melts into a glossy sheen, but his focus is ever steady and fixed forward, caring only for reaching the indoors.

But he gives pause when the woman he passes speaks, and for a moment he cannot be sure whether she speaks to him or to no one in particular — if he would be able to get away with saying nothing in return, or if a reply is expected, warranted.

His glance lays upon the sabertooth tiger nearby, and Kain frowns. Eventually, though, he speaks.]

Enjoy the novelty of snowfall while it is fresh. Experience this weather in excess, and it will soon lose all its wonder.

[schmisse]

[ The white blur is no longer a blur now, at least! It's turned into a frantic-looking young lady, both her skin and her hair as white as snow. Her eyes are a deep blue hue, like the ocean, shining brightly in the light.

Said white blur has also conveniently used Jean as a perch of sorts. Crashing into him and making him stumble backwards, she's landed on him, and her fall's definitely less painful now. ]

I thought I could control it, sorry.

[ She still hasn't gotten off him. ]

inn

[mysophobic]

[ Shigeru sure was going to take a break and go into his room to rest and relax a little. He definitely remembered booking himself a secluded room for himself, given his phobia and all, so to say it's a surprise when he finds Rosho lying on his bed is an understatement?! He might let out a soft gasp as he moves forward.

Oh my god?! Is he...dead?! No! He's not. Thank god! Shigeru might fidget in place before looking towards his familiar who will just give a gruff laugh before spreading its wings and fly off towards the balcony. Ah! This bird!! No help whatsoever!

Shigeru will let out a small huff before he frowns and lightly touches Rosho's shoulder with a gloved hand. It's brief before he jerks his hand away with a flinch, but hopefully, it's enough to wake the other man up?? ]

[schmisse]

[ Oh, thank the gods. A familiar face. They can a little more about the situation later. It's just important not to freeze out here in the cold, first! ]

It... feels different.

[ Weiss looks at their hands, now. It feels warm, but not the same kind of warmth that moonlacing provides. It's more... she can feel Ren, as a human being? It's different. Far different from the flow of Chroma.

It should be familiar, but after being in a place where you had to hold hands to feel good and make money for over a year? The normalcy of regular handholding'a disappeared. ]

[schmisse]

Brothels? I— That wasn't what I meant.

[ But now she realises how ridiculous she might have sounded! Her pale skin becomes tainted with red as blood rushes to her cheeks. How embarrassing...

Rather than explain, however, she shakes her head and waves a hand dismissively. ]

Please ignore me. I think I had a weird dream, that's all.

[ Oh, she knows that wasn't a dream... ]

[excalibeam]

[ Yelling her own battle cry, Saber puts her arm out and fires a gust of wind at Iskandar's snowball. It's too large to change directions, but it does burst and scatter into quite the snow-squall.

Saber, meanwhile, dashes through the squall and throws a snowball at Iskandar from close range. ]

[betweentheseconds]

Zenos had been content enough to sit there motionless and silent, for the warmth was the first remotely enjoyable thing that he's managed to experience in this place. That too-familiar nigh-growling of his name is something of shock, enough for him to open his eyes and snap his head forward. This man knows him? Knows him enough to think that this is all something personal.

He frowns deeply, all contentment now gone from him.

"And who are you, to presume yourself so worthy of my pursuit?" If there is any emotion in Zenos's tone, it is annoyance. Here he had briefly begun to entertain what it might be like to dwell somewhere where his reputation and status did not precede him, without a hint of baggage or history hanging over him... and here he is already needing to discard that half-formed hope.

[betweentheseconds]

[ That sudden turnabout-and-reveal has Zenos freezing as well. He'd been ready to snatch up another snowball, but is caught mid-grasp, fingers stilled with the surprise of it. Oh, he'd heard that an Ascian had been wandering around in the guise of his not-so-late great-grandfather, but to actually see such a thing is the slightest bit unnerving.

It's the lack of beard, he thinks, that's making it seem particularly wrong. ]

I would hope not.

[ But the old man's miserable attitude hasn't changed a bit. That's something. He follows through with his earlier intent of plucking another snowball. ]

But it seems it's not entirely impossible a thing to have happen, given your presence here.

[ He knows you're supposed to be dead, great-grandfather. Perhaps there will be an explanation? He's listening. ]

Chang Geng/Li Min | Sha Po Lang ((CW: self-harm in prompt 3)

[kiss_it_better]

i: The Cold is Bad For Your Health

[The cold is a shock so sudden he almost forgot to breathe for a second...but that might have been better because when he did take a breath he sucked in water.

When he surfaced he was coughing and instinctively grabbed at the first person near him. He's pretty tall so he's not exactly light, and his grip is pretty strong before he loosens it to something more reasonable.

Surprisingly, despite the way he arrived he seemed pretty calm.]

Ah. This is unexpected.

[Understatement of the century.]


ii: Earbuds Hadn't Been Invented In Steampunk China

[He was still feeling a little lost emotionally even if he understood everything logically. So he looked for a distraction. In this case, this new technology he'd been given.

It truly was fascinating. As he played around with it in the caravan a pixiu with a dragon's head and a lion's body with wings to match her mostly grey-white body and two antlers on her head was laying her head on his lap.

Then he accidentally opened a video and nearly jumped when sound came out of the phone suddenly. He quickly tried to make it stop but well...he may be the competent and learned Yan Bei Wang but earbuds and phones don't exist where he's from. Help?]


iii: Healer In-Training (( CW: self-harm! ))

[He had been a little stunned to learn that he had healing magic. Given his cursed nature he thought...

But his gaze had slid to the pixiu that was his familiar and he thought, if his magic was tied to an auspicious creature then perhaps that is why he had such magic.

It didn't take him long to attempt to practise and that's reasonable enough, right?

Except he's sitting in the training area with a small knife and one sleeve rolled up and trying to cut into the back of his arm, where there are fewer arteries and won't be any trouble if he couldn't heal it. His pixiu makes a sound of distress or disapproval. It's hard to tell without more familiarity.

Either way, if no one tries to stop him he'll cut deeply enough into his arm to make it bleed. Then attempt to heal it.

There's indication that this hasn't been the first time he cut it based on the blood on the cloth he'd been using to clean the knife. Anyone who's been watching might have noticed that he's been making increasingly deep cuts to see how deep he can cut before he can't heal it properly.]


iv: Carving a Gift

[They mentioned a small gift would be required but not exactly what counted as good enough to be a courtesy.

In the end he picks up a palm sized stone and started to carve gear patterns onto it. He sits somewhere out of the way to work on the stone with slow, careful strokes. Sitting at his side is his familiar who looks interested in what he's doing but gives everyone who comes near them the stink eye.

Interrupt him and he'll pause and look up with a mild smile, calm and not at all bothered to be interrupted and invite more conversation.

Or, if when he finishes the last stroke he may look up with that same smile and stand up.]

Ah, would you mind accompanying me to complete the ritual? I already have a gift prepared.

[betweentheseconds]

Zenos certainly looks like he has washed up, that's for certain. He is waterlogged, and there is a silvery sea serpent of moderate size draped about his shoulders, and... are those bites on his face and hands? Felih is free to notice.

He is, however, beneath Zenos's notice at the moment. His eyes pass over him, certainly, as he scans the beach for lost items of his own... but they do not return to him. What's one more frightened and rattled and utterly unremarkable person to someone like him?

"Ah." Especially when he has spotted what looks to be Ame-no-Habakiri, laid out on the shore. He changes course and his steps quicken, coming closer and closer towards where Felih has found himself frozen. Mere coincidence, of course, but neither of them know that.

A.

[madcuriosity]

[Unfortunately for Hikaru, the person he happened to say it to was a seven-year-old girl and she had been fiddling with the device, having never encountered such technology before. So when it had begun talking, she had tried to figure out where to put what, not realizing it was likely annoying her carriage partner. Alice jumped when he spoke and then blushed, trying and failing to turn it off and getting more flustered the more she couldn't.]

I-I'm sorry. I just- I've never... [Finally she took the thing and just wrapped it up in her coat until it was muffled to a low din.]

I'm sorry, sir...

drink up- on the rocks. (I failed this TDM so bad but can't resist adding another of these >>)

[boutdatlife]

[Thing about being broke is, one goes along on quests and things they would rather not engage in. Like Winter Solstice rituals that have a person carrying a cup of magic water through a dark path and being bumped into by the person behind him, which makes a drop of his own cup almost spill as he quickly flicks a finger, catching the water and concentrating so hard he does not hear the voice immediately, it registers from behind the person who bumped him like a faint ringing. But until he has used his magic to save his water from spilling he is not going to recognize it. After a month here, he has a fair amount of control at least enough to manage one water droplet.]

Oi fucker, watch your shit! [He snaps, the person behind him stammering and sliding out of the way as they point to Sasara, clearly saying it was his fault.]

Tch, is this some kinda fuckin' joke? You tryin' to get me killed now, huh bastard?

[chriego]

[Misumi nods sagely in response to Taichi's explanation. It makes perfect sense to him!]

Hmmm~~ What have you tried? Oh, maybe you need more triangles to make it work~! That's how mine works!

[Ah, but... that last bit is confusing. Misumi tilts his head thoughtfully.]

Eeeh? But I've only been here... um... a couple of weeks?

[How is that months? ?? ???]

no worries!

[shiliu]

[ The fact that the boy is shouting at him is actually helpful, as he can hear more of what's being said to him (though it still doesn't make much sense). Besides, he's used to moody teenagers; well, a moody teenager, in particular.

A cloud passes over his brows, before he forces it away. ]

Who is arguing?

[ He grins. ]

Arguing with children, naturally I wouldn't bother with this.

[ Being so young and dying, of course the boy wouldn't accept it. Would he have accepted it, at that age? ]

Re: training

[blue_ice]

[ As much as his instinct is to complain...the enthusiasm softens his edge a little ]

I just don't want it to explode again. Unless I gain enough control to use that intentionally as a defensive move.

[ He flexes his fingers. ]

Have you found your ability yet?

[whosaysdajare]

[ Way too much. Stick to telling Sasara the real scary stories with ghosts, not just such conspiracies! ]

W-what, even if it's some con, ain't that twist on it a bit too sinister? They don't ask for much of anything yet, ya see. [ Ahem, suppose Rei is the expert though. ] S'ppose that's what it is, or either way, the one thing I'll trust after all is that you'll have your fingers in it some time. If that's the case, don't ya think Rosho and I'll see ya off on your own.

[ Although Sensei doesn't yet know he's part of this posse, too. ] If using that phone's off the table, ya oughta stick around close naturally. Even a type like you, ya hear?

[ Wagging his finger, maybe Sasara forgets his reservations about the bird too quickly already. But this is the leader rounding up his teammates. Because it's such, that he really hasn't anyone else from their world around. Well... ]