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

Uenoyama Ritsuka | Given

[uenosama]

1. Caravan

[Uenoyama sneezed loudly as his familiar, an older looking woman with hair neatly braided up and caught in a bun on top of her head, with a harp on her back, helped him put on the coat. There's a lot of cursing as he's ushered inside of the carriage, not really seeing if there's anyone in it, too worried about the guitar case that's now resting in his lap. Hell, he's afraid to open it and confirm if there's any damage on his precious instrument.

He sneezes again, and crosses his hands, sulking in his seat, looking completely miserable. The Muse, his familiar, nudges a warm drink (hot chocolate) in his hands but if the person looks worse off than himself he'll offer it.]

Here.

2. Trial and Icy errors

[Uenoyama is a summer child, through and through, but he can appreciate winter being beautiful when the snow falls. True, the prismatic looking one is fake but it's still nice. Muse was leading the way down the street, playing a note or two on her harp every two steps. She had convinced him to go to the pile of prismatic snow to practice his magic.

The Muse stands by his side as he forms the snowballs and then focuses on them, scowling a bit. It's weird to think he has magic, but after a few moments, it works!

Two of them fly in the direction he sends them- both of them exploding into a snow shower, the third one does a U-turn and slams right back into his face. There's a loud yelp as he tries to rub the snow off his face, now extremely red in his cheeks.]

What in the actual-! [Muse lifts her hands to cover her mouth in amused shock as Uenoyama's agitation just launches a bunch of other snowballs right at him.]

3. Quest: Snow Villas

[Wanting to distance himself from magic for a while, Uenoyama reads up a fairly normal request on the board, dresses up for winter and leaves the Inn. He's seen piles of snows near the edge of the city, a bit pulled into the nearby forest.]

A [ He spots a person nearby making a snow building and he walks over- it will be faster if they do it together right?] Need any help?

B [ Uenoyama finds a decent spot and sets on making his own building. A standard snow castle with a weird hole in the middle (the request said that). What's more distracting is that Muse is making some intricate, detailed snow sculpture of a willow tree with hanging leaves on thin icicles, right behind it, making his work pale in comparison. She looks pleased with herself, Uenoyama looks annoyed.]

4. Network

Are we going to forever stay in this Inn? Or are they going to tell us to leave soon?

I don't get it- I don't want anyone dropping by in the middle of the night and toss me out of my bed.

1

[cameprepared]

[Claire does look absolutely, positively miserable but not from the cold. She's covered in grime and sweat-stains that run through it, along with scrapes and scratches that are evident pretty much everywhere you look, but the cold doesn't appear to be a huge issue. She's leaning up against the coach's wall, with a huge black dog's head resting in her lap. Her own familiar snorts as the young man enters, and she offers a soft smile before rejecting the cup.]

No, you drink it. I don't think I could keep anything down right now. But thanks.

[There's so much going on...food? drink? low priority.]

'Sides, you look soaked through.

[uenosama]

[She definitively looks like she needs the drink more than himself. His familiar was giving her a worried look but wasn't moving from his side. A bit awkwardly, he pulls back the offered drink, slumping in the seat a little.]

So do you. We all took a dip in that freezing lake.

[And not only that, she looks seriously bruised up.]

A-Are you alright? It looks like you have some wounds, maybe we should ask for the doctor-

[-the carriage is already moving so they can't ask for it NOW, but when they arrive, maybe... Sadly he doesn't have healing magic.]

[cameprepared]

[She looks up, shaking her head again. Her hands run along her familiar's shaggy black ruff, and the creature wheezes out a small sigh.]

I'll be fine, yeah. Just some scrapes and bruises.

[Blowing out a breath, she finally focuses more fully on him, breaking out of whatever thoughts she'd been having. Mostly that this was a step up, and replaying the last 24 hours in her head.]

Seriously, I'll be alright. Place I came from was just a little bit rough, and it was a loooong night last night, but this is a whole lot better. I just need a shower and a good long sleep.

[Managing a smile isn't hard, so she flashes a quick one.]

Thanks for asking, though. [Leaning forward, she offers a hand.] I'm Claire, by the way.

[uenosama]

[Uenoyama nods, reassured a bit. She would know the best, after all. He does glance at the dog who seems quite comfortable where he is, then takes a sip of the drink. It briefly warms him up, leaving him craving for it again, so he continues sipping. It doesn't really help with his damp clothes though.

He doesn't know what happened to her, but her tone gives a feeling she doesn't want to talk about it. Right now, at least.]

They said there are rooms at some Inn waiting for people that arrived.

[His hand is a mix of cold from outside and warmth of the cup as he accepts the handshake. Not something he always does but her name says she's not Japanese.]

Uenoyama. Uenoyama Ritsuka.

[cameprepared]

[Surviving a zombie apocalypse is generally not easy to talk about, no.

Her hand is firm and strong, catching his and giving it a quick pump before falling back to rubbing at the big dog.]

Nice to meet you then. I'll probably screw up your name at least once, but Uenoyama Ritsuka? I should address you as Uenoyama, yeah?

[Her pronunciation is pretty American, and she manages an apologetic smile.]

Japanese? Or...am I off base there? I haven't left the States before.

[uenosama]

[Yeah, that would be a tricky one. Not something he'd believe it is happening if he were back home.

But here? After all of this? Everything seems plausible.]

Uenoyama is just fine, [he nods. The older woman sitting next to him plucks a few strings on her harp.]

Yeah. It's pretty far away from Japan so it's normal. I've never been to America either.

[He has a whirlwind of memories and things he was supposed to be doing, or done, brief flashes of the stage performance. It all feels so woozy; he rubs his temples and tries to focus properly on their conversation.]

[cameprepared]

Not missing too much. Unless you like burgers and stuff.

[She chuckles, nodding towards the woman with the harp.]

Who's your friend? Or...familiar? I guess.

[Feels weird to call it that, but, hey. That's what these seem to be named.]

[uenosama]

I am not opposed to them.

[He looks over as well and opens mouth to answer but she beats him to it-]

I am Muse. Pleased to make your acquaintince, [-she answers, her voice a melodic concoction of several female voices, blended into one.]

Y-Yeah. She's my familiar. It's- it's a weird... situation.

[Weird. Strange. Dangerous. All of it at once.]

1

[starshaper]

Huh?

[Usagi stares at the hot chocolate for a moment. Why would anyone give away their hot chocolate? That seems like the best drink ever right now after that soaking arrival and everything else...

Did she accidentally let herself look as bad as she's feeling? Because oh boy, she's feeling absolutely miserable right now but she'll get over it. No powers, no Mamoru, this isn't Prismatica, people she met there won't possibly recognize her here if more of them even happen to be here, but also arriving here by being dropped into the ocean... and so on, the list goes on, but surely people have bigger problems than that. She has a tiny problem with that hot chocolate but since he is offering it to her...]

But that's yours, I could never--! [She's taking it anyway, wow! But food and drinks suitable for teens are a sure way to this girl's heart. She smiles without even taking a good look at her helper just yet.] Thank you very much, I'll make this up to you sometime, okay?

[uenosama]

[Uenoyama shakes his head,] It's fine. You look cold.

[Besides, his familiar is already fumbling around other drinks, making him a tea. The carriage gives a soft lurch and he grips onto his guitar case so it doesn't slide off of his lap. There's a sinking feeling in his chest as he does so, a line of memories coming to him that he tries hard not to focus on right now.

He does give her a curious look.]

I feel like I've met you before, somewhere. [He frowns in thought (or maybe that's just Uenoyama's face all the time), trying to place where he saw her face. She's pretty striking so it feels weird that he would forget about her. IF he met her.]

Snow Villas

[rippingu]

[Kaji is a little old for snowball fights, he did find it amusing to watch for a while. But he also knows he needs to do something, find a way to keep busy, and make what he can to survive here. So a quick look over the quest board and he is headed ot to try his hand at a Snow Villa, of all the tasks, he feels most comfortable with it.

The pink dolphin appears almost translucent as it floats there beside him, he has not really tried speaking to it much, it's still too weird to him.

Sorry Ue, the first he notices is the muse's creation and it brings him closer, that is when he sees a very determined Ue-sama, hunkered in the snow making his own structure.]

Ue-sama? [Ah, a soft breath, that is one of the boys here in good shape, he'll take it.]

Want some help?

[uenosama]

[Uenoyama has gotten into a snowball fight earlier, but not of his own volition. He's still blaming his familiar for it, as it was her that convinced him to "practice magic on magical snow". He should've known better (he really couldn't though, he's never used magic before).

Muse is the one that notices Akihiko approaching and she alerts Uenoyama with a gentle strum on the strings of her harp. Or, well, tries to alert him. He's very into trying to make some kind of couch with snow, biting into his tongue while trying to concentrate.

But the nickname certainly gets his attention and his head whips around at the familiar voice that accompanies it.]

Kaji-san! [He fumbles up onto his feet (legs tingling from all the crouching) and dusts off the snow-] When did you get here!? I didn't see you around! [The offer to help him kind of flew over his head. For now?]

[rippingu]

[At his age, Kaji probably would have, hech had he ran into Ue, Haruki or Mafuyu during that snowball fight he might have even participated. It's jut, only certain people bring out that playful side of him.


His mouth twists into a smile, even in the middle of the snow Uenoyama was so serious. He was going to grow into an admirable man Kaji is sure of it.]

First day here in the actual village, landed on the water about a day and a half ago. You?

[It's okay the villa can wait, never mind the shimmering dolphin who has decided he's going to go turn into a man, at least he decided to use a loin cloth this time and slide on over by Ue's familiar as if he can flirt her up.]

[uenosama]

[Uenoyama wasn't feeling playful at all. He has no information about Mafuyu and that dampens his mood a lot. But Muse told him to practice his magic on snowballs and it... escalated to the point he didn't know what to do.

He had taken the task given to him to heart! He doesn't want to be tossed out of the inn or anything. This seemed peaceful and easy enough to get some coin to pay for his stay. Uenoyama rubs the back of his neck, holding back a sigh.]

Same. There was some carriage that brought us over here. You- Have you seen Mafuyu? Or heard of him? [Kaji knows about them so he doesn't hold back from asking. He can tease him later.

The Muse regards the shapeshifting dolphin with a raised eyebrow; she looks like a woman mid-forties, but without a single blemish on her skin, hair tied neatly and in a long, silky toga, harp in her hands. She seems to respond back teasingly, her voice a symphony of multiple gentle female voices, melded into one ("Pink is not your color").]

[rippingu]

[It is good for him, rather Uenoyama thinks so or not, especially if there is no word on Mafuyu, of course, a little distraction like a magic snowball fight would be good.

He takes all his tasks to heart, it's why in truth he is the best out of all of them. He might admire Kaji and the man surely has his shit together better now than he did, but Ue is a respectable, admirable young man in his own right.]

Me too. Nope, Haruki either. I checked at the desk at the inn and asked that guy at the Rent-A-Ride. [He won't tease, not about this, he's missing a certain bassist and worried about him as well, he can relate to how Uenoyama feels at the moment.

The Encantado presents himself as a young man, probably mid-twenties, he goes for the classically, chiseled attractive look, this time, he likes to play around with it Kaji has learned. His voice this time is like smooth bourbon, sultry, and with a lilting accent. ("Oh and what color would the lady prefer me in?")

The drummer shakes his head, side-eyeing the familiar. This guy.]

[uenosama]

[Well, he has great adults to look up to (both good and bad shit they do so he can make sure he doesn't fuck up badly). But whether Kaji remained his old self or no, Uenoyama will never forget the support he got from him when it comes to liking guys. That's just the fact.

He's very happy that he did decide to turn his life around, however. Doesn't stop Uenoyama from teasing him about it.]

Haruki-san? I think he was in one of the carriages. He said he'll be at the residence they gave us. [Had Kaji not seen Haruki-san around? Then again, Ue didn't know Kaji was here at all, so he couldn't tell him earlier.] I'm worried about Mafuyu because I didn't hear anything about him. [And he asked.

While that serious chat is going on, Muse is just eying the guy with disinterest, as if she's seen this song and dance too many times before (seeing Eros flirt with everything that moves makes you numb). But she ends up entertaining him with small chit-chat. You know, she's not rude.]

[rippingu]

[Kaji would appreciate that, in the end he just did what he thought was right and what Uenoyama needed at the time. Including in his little pushes in getting the boys together, looking at the end result, he is happy he gave a few nudges and let them come to their natural conclusion.

Yes the band is important, but as the ring on his finger can attest, sometimes love is more important and when it's good when it's real as the boys are, as he and Haruki are, it does not have to threaten that, it can, in fact, strengthen it.]

He's here? [Kaji's face lights up, a smile explodes across it, nothing wolfish, teasing, playful about it, just genuine happiness to know that he can go find his love after this. Lucky for them, since the Encantado seems content to just entertain the small talk, flash flirty looks and otherwise make a fool of himself, Kaji almost wants to laugh, was this how he used to act? Really?]

[uenosama]

[He will repay Kaji one day for it. Somehow. He'll definitively work off his butt to get their band off the ground. But that's what all of them want. He's still not used to the fact how Kaji and Haruki got married though, or more like, he's confused? Because when did that happen? Was he there? His memory is pretty, pretty foggy. Uenoyama's memories from Lunatia mainly contain Mafuyu and their hanging out.

But if they are happy then Ue is happy for them. So long Kaji doesn't decide to go back to flirting with everyone like that familiar is. Then Ue will kick his ass even if he's younger than him.

He's a bit stunned at that sudden, bright smile but he can't help it and huff and smile back.]

Yeah. We talked I saw him around the carriages that brought us here. He's probably staying at the Inn, like everyone else.

[Muse remains very polite to Encantado; whether flirting is working or no it's hard to see on her face. She does seem amused and in high spirits though.]

1

[baristabassist]

[Haruki was busy looking through the smartphone when his familiar, the cat, placed his paws on his hand. He continued to try to see what kind of apps they would provide when he looked at the mug offered to him.]

Hmm? Oh, thank you...wait Uecchi!! I'm so happy to see you! Are you alright? I don't have any tissues on me right now, but I could give you my cloak if you're really cold.

[uenosama]

[Uenoyama himself wasn't paying attention to who it was in the carriage with him. Maybe he should've had! He blames the woman, familiar with brown, braided hair in a bun on top of her hair with a harp, for it. Her music from the harp, that's now filling the small space like some elevator music, and a warm coat.]

Haruki-san? So you're here too. No, no, I'm fine. She, [he nods at Muse,] took care of most stuff. [He's wearing the coat that magically fitted to him once he put it on.] I didn't like the dip in the lake at all.

[baristabassist]

[It's fine! The muse does have his old hairstyle, Haruki wouldn't fault him for thinking it was him. He hadn't let him know he had cut his hair before they left the other world. Haruki rmessed with a strand of his short hair, a force of habit, as he looked over at the muse.]

I'm glad that she was around to help. I was able to find my way over here thanks to him. [Haruki reached down and rubbed his cat familiar's head.] Me either, that was more of a shock than I wanted. At least we were able to dry off, still I'm sure there could have been another way for us to come into this world. Have you run into anyone else from home?

[uenosama]

[Yeah, Haruki with short hair is something to get used to. But it is not a bad look on him at all.]

Yeah... when they said 'familiars' and 'magic' I was a bit wary. It's weird and all, [his eyes land on the cat Haruki's petting and sighs.] I suppose as long as they don't hurt us...

[Uenoyama shakes his head and his expression visibly falls,] No. No, I haven't. [He was walking up and down the beach of the lake, looking for Mafuyu, until Muse dragged him over to the carriages before he gets hypothermia.]

[baristabassist]

[Haruki was happy it looked good. He wanted to try something new and he's glad it worked out.]

Yeah I was nervous about it when I first arrived. I don't think they're going to hurt us, well, I hope they don't. Everything and everyone has been very friendly so far. If not, our familiars will let us know, they're pretty good at noticing things.

[Haruki chuckled when his cat leaned into his hand. It looked like his cat was getting on with him pretty well. Maybe since it was a magical cat? Either way he's glad that his familiar isn't trying to hiss at Uecchi.]

Hmm, I haven't either, I was thinking of looking after I got settled at the town they're taking us. What are you going to do?

[uenosama]

They are... I hope they are not pulling a long-con on us.

[Muse huffs offended for a moment, but she can't blame him for thinking that way. It is a weird place and people he knows are not with him and there's magic. Anyone would be wary of it.

The cat's cute...]

Same... look around for Mafuyu, see if he's here. Kaji-san too. Also to see what kind of place this is and how to go back. We should keep close though. I don't know anyone here...