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

[whosaysdajare]

[ Don't just blame it on Sasara's noisiness. Still, grabbing his face like that will do the trick for a moment; Rosho could do with saying what he thinks too. A compliment never hurt his ego, ya know? The opposite, really, though that might be the trouble with it. ]

A-ah... well, I don't just go up in smoke, ya see–!

[ He's a little self-aware, after all.

Even more of other things, though. Sasara noticed only a few hours earlier, just the night before, that touching no longer feels like anything. Eh, maybe rather, it feels normal. It doesn't feel like he's spent a year in some alien world, even memories from home seem fresh. There's something he better not forget about it, though. ]

What d'ya mean by that?

[ That sorta question... It forces Sasara to face up to the idea, the question, of whether Rosho's the same, different, whichever, much earlier than he'd planned to after waking up.

It puzzles him in a way that invites doubt too quickly, but he can still chase it back out. This honesty they've both taken the long road to get to, even if this moment threatens it all and Sasara has to wonder too; touch hasn't become any less meaningful, just between them, right?

He leans over, looms over his partner on his back. ]

Accidentally...? [ Rosho didn't kick him right out of bed for it. It's only because of that creature! ] Don't say we never said anything, Rosho.

[glossophobia]

[ Rosho tries to think about anything other than this feeling, the feeling of waiting for Sasara's answer and wondering if he's going to have to start over from square one, the feeling that maybe things might be better off this way, without him having to say a thing, and they can continue being partners, and he can enjoy the memories he has. It's not all bad, he wants to think, because he's apparently here with lots of people he recognizes, a few of the other division members, and even Rei is here, and it'll be a lot easier to work as a cohesive team to figure out how to get by in this new world. There's no more moonlacing or Chroma to have to hassle with, no moonblessings, no disasters every month. No Sasara putting his cold hands under his shirt in the middle of the night. No Sasara sneaking pudding on his days off while Rosho's at work. No more Sasara ignoring the dishes and not folding the laundry and leaving his candy wrappers on the kitchen table.

No more, of any of those things. Rosho stiffens as Sasara looms over him. He wants to kick him away but really he just wants him to kiss him so he knows it's okay. He didn't forget, he didn't forget... did he?

He lets out the breath he'd been holding. The stinging behind his eyes disappears, the lump in his throat.

Say something sooner. Stupid, idiot, moron. Asshole.

Don't ever make him feel like that ever again. ]

Of course not. [ Rosho says in a whisper as he looks up at Sasara, warmth on his face. ] That's somethin' I don't ever wanna joke about.

[ They didn't make it home, unfortunately, but at least they're still together. ]

Now come and hold me again, stupid. I was really scared for a second that ya forgot everything.

[whosaysdajare]

Teh–! That sorta material, I wouldn't bring it up on stage either, ya know.

[ Sasara's hand hits the pillow next to his partner, laughing at his own answer. That partner of his... telling him how rude it is to make assumptions and yet he does just that! They both haven't quite stopped, Sasara's on the side of optimism. That Rosho remembers it, the serious talk breaking through a front of jokes and puns, the fear and doubts overcome by just some chance. A relationship that was tugged, pulled on and strained all different ways, but never snapped in the middle or tore off either end. A bout of honesty, that didn't matter where it came from, only that it did. He'd do it over again, if that was it.

However, Sasara doesn't even get to thinking that. Rosho doesn't have to tell any sorta joke to make him smile. ]

Let's stay in. This place, it's cold out and you look hot!

[ Is that about the color on Rosho's face or something else. It doesn't match his hair but Sasara can get a little red too... Barring that fox-forsaken experience, they should go at the rest of the morning quietly. His fingers bump the ear of his partner's glasses and Sasara leans down for a kiss. ]

[glossophobia]

[ Suppose they can agree on one thing for once, that this is no laughing matter, and yet Sasara still has it in him to sneak in a joke before he's dipping in for a kiss. Where exactly in his request was that mentioned, Rosho thinks idly, even as he gladly meets him without a single complaint about that embarrassing comment. He offers his partner an inch and he gladly takes a mile,. But cold or hot, he's perfectly comfortable here like this, arms wrapping around Sasara's shoulders to pull him in closer. Nice to not be wading through icy waters and walking through pitch black caves. For a moment at least, things can be sort of normal.

Sort of. ]

Don't be lazy. We've gotta figure out what it is we should be doing now, in this place. [ Another distracted kiss before he turns his head and lets his gaze wander through the room. ]

'least find out where Rei is.

[whosaysdajare]

[ It's a bonus item, no extra charges, so Rosho should just take it. With or without changed touch, this is the moment Sasara's last sliver of doubt—at least, of getting tossed between Prismatica and this place—slips away. After the kiss his head falls next to his partner's, face buried in the pillow, on top of him and only rolling off some ways aside to settle into the comfort of a slow day. Sorta...

Rosho, who only eve complains about the old man...! Why do that sense of team spirit, and with it worry, have to set in right now? ]

Eh? [ Despite his imminent complaint with getting out and around, Sasara lifts his head again right away, torn away from all those complacent imaginings of just staying in. Like the day after of his birthday trip, without needing to be packed up by noon— If Rosho looks back, he'll just be faced with a look of overwhelming complacency, touched by an undertone of disappointment. ]

That old man... Even though we sat and talked, I'm sure he went off on his own way again, ya know! He oughta stick close, I told him, so it ain't that he'll get himself lost like a little kid!

[ This is the vehement defense of his position: comfortably in bed, with Rosho. ]

[glossophobia]

[ He can get as comfortable as he wants but Rosho's gears are still turning, slowly, sluggishly. Even as he turns his head to press a kiss into that upturned chin, there's a very unconvinced look to his eyes, yet Rosho doesn't budge an inch from trying to get any of that extra weight off of him or those lazy limbs off of his body. Maybe if he hadn't gotten so carried away with drinking the night before he'd be a lot more pushy about the subject. ]

I know I've got no reason to worry, least of all in regards to someone like him.

[ But the unspoken part of that excuse is that, of course, he's still going to worry. That's just Rosho's nature. Kindness or gullibility, however you want to look at it. But in Sasara's eyes it probably seems too meddlesome at the moment. Let the old man explore and have his fun, figure this all out on his own pace then return with his findings. It was generous enough of him to pick apart those phones they were given and offer a run-down of their reliability. "Come to me if you need anything important said."

That's the first time he's ever seen Rei as what he actually is: an adult.

So maybe... Sasara's right, for now. And he needs to not treat Rei like a child. ]

I think ya just don't wanna do anything about it because you're here with me.

[ Sasara on the other hand? An actual child. ]

Keep that up and I'll get used to monopolizing all your time, leader.

[whosaysdajare]

[ That look of his, it's terribly troublesome! Sasara knows what his partner's thinking-face looks like, what's sorta grimace he pulls when won't just unwind and let go of bothersome thoughts like where his missing pudding went, the 500 yen he's owed— Rei being off somewhere.

A trio oughta be able to take time of and go back to duo-ing, once in a while! ]

W-what, is that so bad!?

[ Shamelessly straight forward, still Sasara sighs, even though he isn't being met with any sort of resistance; even if Rosho says something like that to convince himself. That exhale turns into a groan, and while Sasara's weight stays on top with a conviction to stay in comfortably, he pushes himself up on his hands. Taking that face of his into consideration, he's got a serious look on. How meddlesome, of course!

But he can't flag his partner for that without trapping himself. ]

Fine, we'll take a look around for the old man! I'll say so as the leader! [ Pah—! However, just a moment later there's a curiosity more earnestly peaked. ] Say, Rosho, 'd he say much of anything to ya?

[glossophobia]

[ Absolutely not, Rosho would say, but it's always his responsibility to be the more reasonable of the two, Sasara's conscious, his complete opposite. Their roles as a duo aren't just boke and tsukkomi, unfortunately. Dating kind of assured that and there's no way of turning back. But at least Rosho knows he doesn't have to be in for much of a struggle, and even if he does, with Sasara whining and kicking up a fuss, he'll get his way. It's very evil, but that's what happens when they don't know how to say no to each other.

Fighting back a smile as Sasara firmly steps back up to that leader mantle (he always did like it a lot when he took control), he takes a moment to think back on the conversation he had with Rei, both before and after the drinking happened. ]

Yeah, he was investigating the phone they gave us, I guess to see if it was tapped or something? Ya know, Rei's actually really good with technology. He took it apart piece by piece. He couldn't find anything outwardly suspicious but he said there was some kinda magic going on. It's all over the place really, so I'm not surprised. Whoever or whatever brought us here gave us powers and all, like when we were in Prismatica. Rei's assessment was just to keep an eye on things, and that it'd be best for us to tell each other stuff in person and not rely too much on the phones. Safer that way, ya see?

[ Rosho sits up a bit himself, murmuring almost sheepishly. ]

He was real serious about telling me that... like he was actually wantin' to keep an eye out for us.

[ Like a team. Or, test subjects. Whatever the hell Rei thinks of them as. But regardless, he didn't have to tell him what he did. He doesn't have to look out for them, just like Rosho doesn't have to be worried about Rei.

Just because you don't have to do things doesn't mean you won't still want to do them anyway. ]

So like... maybe I just wanna make sure, he's doin okay now... just to check, yeah? [ Rosho can't control that bleeding heart of his sometimes. ] When we find him, then we can come back to the room, if ya want.

[whosaysdajare]

[ Taking that any of Sasara's effort to stay in bed with Rosho has already been thwarted by some sense of obligation to check on their third member, it's not too far to go from there. Letting Rei take centerstage in that conversation...! At least, the old man has stuck to his convictions between them. ]

Hmm, so he really thinks it's trouble. [ The thought of Rei getting technical is amusing, but nothing that doesn't fit the picture, Sasara would say. And that look on his partner's face, as suspicious as Rosho is of their teammate, it oughta mean he's giving it all just as much contemplation as Rei told him's good, despite it.

Naturally, he wants to call that out, jab his finger at it! Right along with Rosho sitting up a bit Sasara also does, sitting back on his heels and doing just that. ]

Aha! Rei said about that, it reads like a classic scam, ya see! And knowing you're the type to fall for the sorta stuff I bet he thought about that. S'ppose he's not himself, if you're not around to be tricked by him!

[ Just like Sasara isn't himself without his partner around to play the straight man. Speaking of that, and Prismatica for those first few months, he's wondered about the place. With the topic brought up but pushed back out of reach, suppose it's a topic for a different hour. At least, Rosho remembers too.

Now that he's basically up and out of bed, though, there isn't much in the way of a search for Rei. Even less, Sasara thinks, considering: ]

Just to check, ya say. Well, either way, he can't be too far off elsewhere! What he told me was, he left ya right here, in his room– [ And of course, more than anything, Sasara remembers the phrasing of that description. It was hilarious! ] –Drunk as a skunk, he said, ahahaha!! [ Ah, anyway, point being. ] So! I s'ppose he put his name down somewhere.

[glossophobia]

Why criticize me for fallin' for a scam we all fell for? It's just bullying at that point!

[ He's very sorely tempted to whack Sasara upside the head. This is a scam of huge proportions, if they want to go with an analogy like that. Don't just single him out! He did not wake up just to be attacked like this. And to make a pun about his drunkenness. He flushes red, and this time he does give Sasara a light swat at his chest. ]

Listen, after gettin' out of one world, wouldn't it make sense that we'd go back home? That's what I was suspecting, not to end up in a completely different other world. It's stressful.

[ Which led him to getting a little too drunk, a little too sleepy... at least he found someone he knew, so it's not like he made a terrible decision, right? Rosho reaches into his pocket where he finds the smartphone he'd been given when he got into that caravan, then starts looking for a contact listing. Maybe Rei left his phone number in there while he was knocked out? Rosho mumbles grumpily in the meantime. ]

It's so annoying... all the time we spent there in that city. I had a nice job, and a nice apartment of my own.

[ Strangely he misses it already, because it had started to feel familiar. Normal. A usual routine. The life he had back in Prismatica. With Sasara. He slows, then pauses. ]

You weren't with me when I showed up here, so... I mean, I ended up here, so I lost all that. Everything in Prismatica. I wasn't sure, if I lost you too. After telling you we'd always be together.

[whosaysdajare]

[ Ouch! Sasara rubs his chest, but his grin doesn't drop till Rosho slows down. He tries to avoid it, letting a frown tug on the corners of his mouth. Maybe that honeymoon phase following their big confession had pushed all that out of his head. Splitting up again, this way or even that, he'd rather not let the thought back into his mind at all. But even if it hasn't happened, Sasara can feel the sharp painful edge like a sliver of glass. ]

Ah... I guess, I thought so too.

[ That they'd end up back home. Not what would then be... Even if he forgot it all, losing his partner again is something Sasara can't fathom. He's short of saying something else, not wanting to let silence stretch itself, when Rosho does. They choose different words but have always meant the same thing, it's the reason their routines would flow... why Sasara thinks it won't matter what the place they're in is called. ]

Staying here, don't ya think it'll do?

[ For a little bit anyway. This next, strange world or even just this room—well, after they've found Rei. A moment long he still watches Rosho work his phone. ]

Rosho... [ Sasara puts his hand over the screen, wraps his fingers around his partner's wrist. ] Say, even if we went like that... I'm not the same without you, and it's all the same to me as long as you're there.

[glossophobia]

[ He's more than ready to speak up the moment Sasara's hand engulfs the screen of the phone. Is he still going to fight him on this decision? His lips part, but Rosho says nothing, not when Sasara's got his wrist in a gentle grip and he's doing that thing he hates the most: he makes him so unbearably, frustratingly happy, just by being here with him. That's the only difference he never wants to let go of, just as long as he has him by his side, as his friend, as his partner, because going back to life without him just... wouldn't be the same anymore. ]

You... honestly. [ His voice is soft as he exhales in exasperation. ]

How'd ya even manage without me for so long?

[ He's not particularly interested in hearing an answer though. After all, he's aware by now how difficult it'd really been for them to be apart, but it's mostly because he'd much rather lean in to kiss him. Sasara's done enough talking. Anymore and Rosho's face will burn brighter than a flame.

His partner's so honest, it's embarrassing. ]

[whosaysdajare]

[ More than not the same, the difference would mean a whole world again. Even if the sun still shines in that place, even if there's more than one moon. Sasara thinks about it a moment longer than Rosho might, even still as his partner gently sighs. ]

Ah, all that time...

[ He doesn't really know how the answer would have to go on and seconds pass before Sasara realizes it doesn't have to. Not just now, not for another while. Not as he leans in too until Rosho's lips touch his, warm and wanting—but not to hear him talk. Sasara's fingers squeeze a little tighter, pull his partner's hand closer.

Can't looking for Rei wait after all? ]

[glossophobia]

[ Something dark and heavy passes over Rosho's face for a flicker of a second.

All that time. Too much time. ]

For all the times the old man's been late... he can wait on us a while. This once.

[ Not that that makes any sense in this situation. Rei's not waiting up on them or anything. Aah, but whatever, that's his excuse and Rosho's going to stand by it so he doesn't look like too much of a hypocrite. If Sasara wants to point it out and complain, well then, that's less time they could be spending doing other things.

He lets the phone drop from his grip, a hand locking against the back of Sasara's neck, and with a persuasive pull he urges him to follow as he drops back against the bed. His mouth finds Sasara's again, one kiss after another, leading them further into this position that involves thinking about nothing but the two of them.

Rosho's hand squeezes Sasara's back then shifts, fingers lacing together. Yeah, Rei can wait. ]