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TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 11
![]() Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary ⚔️️ Top-Levels Only ⚔️️ ![]()
A ⦿ Soaking in Your Arrival
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 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 still chilly, but not enough that you can't manage on your own. The Lady of the Lake is swimming around under the water, helping to rescue any wayward travelers who look like they're struggling in the water. This month's helpers are Atlantian Saury. Similar to Pacific Saury, these small fish don't have much lift power on their own... but contrary to their saltwater counterparts, Atlantian Saury are known for forming schools of thousands thick enough to lift a person right out of the water... as long as they aren't scared of a few fish flip-flopping out of the water and slapping them in the face with their tails. Animal mages will find they're very chatty, and very fast talkers, and very sensitive to each others' feelings. Insult one of them, and the whole school will start screaming and crying together. If anyone tries to ask the Lady of the Lake for directions, she will direct you to Archimedes at the Rent-a-Ride. 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. (Though.. given how hot and muggy the weather is this first week, maybe you might want to ask him to toss you right back into the lake where the waters are still cool.) *Reminder: Your character's familiar may or may not be with your character in their initial plunge. If the familiar isn't partial to water, it may meet your character on the beach or sit atop their head while they swim. Or if they are, they might splash about and swim alongside your character. Familiars have different personalities and body specs and we leave those up to the players. B ⦿ The Caravan to Camelot
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. In a deal with Camelot's farms, the drinks are honey-based-- mead, tea and honey, even healthy ginger shots with a dash of honey to take the edge off. (Naturally, virgin editions are available of any cocktails like the Bee's Knees for the underaged.) Characters can use their smartphones to connect to Camelot's internet service, ![]() C ⦿ The Red Spring
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. ![]()
With the dangerous battle apparently waging on in the waters just off the coast of the island's west peninsula, the attempt to travel through Dinas Emrys is temporarily delayed. With Arthur back on his feet after a month of recovery, Merlin is working in the background on finding a way to get the travel party back on track. It's fine, since the autumn equinox is on the horizon anyway and there are a lot of preparations to be made.
At the bar, there are large tables with mideval-looking devices filled with vials of colorful liquids. The liquids are labeled with different flavors, like baked potato or bubblegum or something called gn'ooOOoo, which is reminisicent of the way that bumbleberry pie smells when you bake it but somehow doesn't taste like bumbleberry or pie. (It's a special kind of dwarven flavor.) It's no drug, don't worry-- it's magic. From the bottom of these wonderful flavors comes a tube and a replaceable mouthpiece (the traders will provide a disposable one for each person) and you're to take a deep breath in to feel the flavor overtake your whole being, then for about an hour afterward (you can refill as needed), you'll find yourself breathing out bubbles.. and flying. Have fun for a little while with this fizzy lifting bubble and get any hiccups (literal or figurative, as flavors can sometime change into something much weirder before changing back or can sometimes have the side effect of making you blurt out truths to the person you're talking to. The side effects will fade in time, even after multiple stops at the bar. B ⦿ Stars in Your Eyes
Don't worry, they won't be harmed in the process! The Elphame Traders will explain they're kind of like magic batteries that have the ability to pass through veil and guide the dead from the underworld through Avalon and on to other worlds from the autumn equinox through the month of October. The variation in travel times is why so many cultures end up with their days of the dead passing near the world at similar, but not the exact same times. What they will emphasize is that there's a big gold prize for the person who catches the most of them.. so don't be lax in trying to compete to catch more than your neighbor! ..Just be careful not to catch them in your eyes, as they like to magically hide in reflective surfaces and can only be gotten out by telling a lie to someone you like.. a repulsive act that will scare them out of your eyes and make you a bit less, well, starry-eyed. C ⦿ Minor Side Quest
And that happens to have woken up giant bats the size of people that have been flying around and scooping up pets and small children and taking them up into the rocks. While you've got that gift of flight, why don't you take a look around for some of the misplaced children and pets. The people of Lestari didn't even know those bats were up there, and they seem pretty primitive... even animal mages might find them speaking caveman-style and focused on nothing but base animal instincts. Oh, and they have 6-inch fangs and even bigger claws. Take a partner so you can fend off their captors while one of you takes care of the captive! ![]()
Those close to Camelot will not be without preparations to make, whether they took the trip to Lestari and came back later or stayed the whole time. There are a couple of tasks that will take.. well, quite a few types of badasses. The first preparation involves the binding of ash to mages to create spirit guardians for the dead. While the fairy coins act like batteries for the magic that lets the dead pass through the veil, spirit guardians are needed to direct them to the correct worlds.. or in this case, to welcome them to Avalon and direct them back to the underworld safely. The universe outside of this is frozen in time and space, there's nowhere for them to go, and that means things could get dangerous when the solstice rolls by if things don't go as planned. Which means they need as many mages as possible to volunteer for this.. somewhat painful process.
The first ingredient needed to raise spirit guardians is the ashes of the dead. Since they can't wait around for current ashes, a group of people will be sent out to the Land of Rot for monster-slaying. Capture an undead creature and bring back its remains to the giant cauldron roiling away all month in Camelot's town square. Be careful- undead creatures tend to pop back up even after you slay them more than once, and the trip takes more than a day, so you may have to spend all night waking up to make sure that your skeleton hasn't started crawling out of your backpack to gnaw on your arm. The remains will have to be burned in Camelot's crematorium until it turns to ash and can be placed in the cauldron, so you've got an arduous and tedious journey ahead of you. B ⦿ The Pain-Tolerant Badass
The next part of the preparation involves the removal of what appear to be pitch-black eggs that glow hot like coals from within the cauldron after it stirs in the ashes of the dead. Volunteers will be asked to act as hosts for the spirit guardians. Volunteers can lie face-down on special obsidian slabs that have been laid out around the cauldron. Others who are less brave are welcomed to use iron tongs to remove the eggs from the cauldron and place them on the backs of those who lay on the obsidian, then cast whatever magic they have on the eggs. This will cause them to crack and their insides to ooze out and sear a tattoo into the backs of the person they are placed upon. The designs are representative of some facet of the person they have bonded with. Though the process itself stings like only a burning hot tattoo can, after a couple of days, those who volunteered will find themselves immune to pain until the autumn equinox. C ⦿ The Caring Badass
The other two badasses have been through a lot, and no one can deny that the kind of person who can see someone go through things like that and be willing to be a shoulder to lean on is their own special level of badass. Anyone who isn't bearing a tattoo can volunteer to be a caretaker-- a special spellbound servant who is required to fulfill any need, like a personal genie, for a person with a tattoo for the duration of their shift (one day per person)! Those who take on this role are given special privileges for the rest of the month and can essentially get free meals from any restaurant in town for their sacrifice. It is voluntary to be spellbound for this position and none of the special priests around town are unclear about the terms-- anything needed means anything. Absolute refusal will result in the spell being broken to prevent non-consensual practices, but will unfortunately result in the person you are caretaking for losing their bond with the spirit guardian, resulting in return of pain reception and yield no reward in the equinox. This makes it important that guardian hosts don't push it to anything too abhorrent to their caretaker. Though you may not know each other to start, you'll undoubtedly come to trust each other by the end of the day and assure the spirit guardian it is in a place it belongs. 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 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. |
Gaius Baelsar | FFXIV (Noctium CRAU) | Light/Siphon
[Well. Wherever he was now, Gaius can at least say for certain that it's definitely not home.]
[It feels like he's being shocked awake from a deep sleep, the way he only seems to regain awareness when he hits the water, the world around him suddenly wet and cold as he's submerged in the bay. But it's only a few seconds before he surfaces again, sputtering and quietly cursing, and even a brief look at his surroundings is enough to tell Gaius that he's no longer in Sumarlok, but he's also still not home.]
[He can't be, because he still remembers everything of the previous world, and that's...concerning, to say the least.]
[Little time to think on that, though, as he pulls himself to shore and shoves the wet hair from his face, soaked through and disgruntled but not entirely surprised by the situation. There's some little wolf pup, barking happily at him even as he ignores it. His bandages are soaked through, needing replacing, and he removes his waterlogged coat to lay it out to dry on the sand.]
[Because other people are having a harder time swimming their way out than he did, and he's quick to make his way back out into the bay, reaching out to the closest person he can aid.]
Here, the shore's not too far-
B ⦿ The Red Spring
[By the time the caravan makes it to the nearest town, Gaius is slightly less soaked, still very disgruntled, and exhausted, far more so than he'd already been. Being dropped into new worlds never gets any easier it seems, and while he did his best to take in all important information as it was given, it's hard to focus through the ache that buries itself down into his bones, and the awful, ever present worry that plagues his thoughts. The little pup from the lake (his familiar, he has to remind himself, for all the meaning that the word holds for him) followed him dutifully all the way to the Red Spring, and continues to follow him even now, as if to make sure that he makes it to his room at the inn with as little trouble as possible.]
[He only hopes he doesn't look as ragged as he feels when he carefully shoulders open the door, pale eyes taking in the room as he enters.]
[He'd been told about the "two to a room", yes, but that doesn't mean he can't hope to have it all to himself.]
C ⦿ The Fighting Badass
[He doesn't like it, the thought of desecrating the dead for some sort of ritual he doesn't fully understand.]
[Of course, he likes it even less that the dead here aren't quite such, shambling around and bringing harm to those that have the misfortune of crossing their path, and since he can't say that this ritual won't somehow bring them a little closer to fixing things to allow them to go back home, well.]
[He thought to go it alone. Not the greatest idea, perhaps, but even he's capable of handling a corpse or two on his own, no matter his injuries or age. And though he should have expected to run into others out trying to collect remains as well, it's still a bit of a surprise to find someone else fighting a pair of undead, alone, as if he hadn't just been doing the same.]
[Still, he's quick enough to make his way to the stranger, unsheathing his gunblade to cut down a skeleton that had been coming at them from behind and-]
Watch your back.
D ⦿ WILDCARD
(If you have another scenario in mind you'd like to do, post away!! You can also hit me up through PM or at
B. Sadly, not the same one he knows...
And meeting new people, if she can't find anyone familiar, is always a plus, isn't it?
That's what she thinks of when she hears the door open, and her ears lift in surprise when she sees...
( ... Is that a Garlean? )
The sight of his third eye is unmistakeable, and she squints for a moment, a vague memory of all the friends- and closer, that she'd made from among the land that was otherwise an enemy of the lands she was born in. There's a light bit of tension there, but seeing as she could even be somewhat hospitable to Zenos yae Galvus of all people, this is hardly something beyond her ability.
And so, she turns, grabbing one of the rolled up towels nearby as she comes into view properly, her own long hair brushed back after being dried and she gives a low whistle as she holds out the towel to him- ears flicking up curiously. ]
Long day already, is it? Won't be sleeping, already got my winks in, so go ahead and take that weight off those nice shoulders, aye?
[ Unlike the woman he'd come to know in the other world, this one isn't the same in that- she's not a Warrior of Light, nor is she of any importance to anyone that knows them.
And she has no idea who she's talking to, aside from him being Garlean. ]
Spare robes that way, don't want to catch a cold, now!
heartbreak in 3...
[Gaius is barely halfway through the door when that voice makes every muscle in him freeze up, his heart suddenly lodging itself firmly in his throat as that voice cuts sharply through his thoughts, and his pale gaze frantically searches for-]
[Megumi. Standing there, smiling at him, as if it were no big shock to find themselves in this world at all.]
[It had been too much to hope for, he'd thought. When he crawled out of the bay and found no other familiar faces, he'd been prepared to accept the distressing realization that he'd been brought here alone. Perhaps if he wasn't so tired, he'd question seemingly distant quality in her normally warm voice, hidden under the casual teasing she addresses him with. Maybe if he was willing to pay a bit more attention, he'd notice that she looks ever so slightly younger, as if she no longer holds the weight of worlds on her shoulders.]
[If Gaius felt anything other than the potent, overwhelming relief to see her-]
[Unlike their previous reunion, he doesn't wait for her to come to him. Her offered towel goes ignored. His coat and weapon both are practically dropped to the floor as he quickly crosses the small room, sweeping the young woman off her feet and into his arms as he pulls her into a tight, if slightly damp hug, burying his face into her soft hair as he holds her as close as he can without crushing her.]
By your Twelve, Megumi, I'm too old for these sorts of surprises.
2...
The way this man seems to recognize her, the relief that comes into his expression— he... definitely doesn't seem to be one who has traveled many worlds or surely he'd have hesitated.
Which means- the world he was formerly in, was a world where she existed for him, too.
All these thoughts and more swarm her as she suddenly finds herself swept into his arms, her own reflexively returning his hold but gripping the back of his shirt— he seems so relieved, and as she lets him embrace her, she begins to gather herself enough to realize that—
He's relieved.
And her heart begins to race, guilt creeping through her immediately at the thought that she has absolutely no idea who he is, or what he's experienced with her. Her ears droop and while she does hug him back, it definitely doesn't come with the same kind of closeness her other self gives him—
Where an embrace would be full-bodied, tail wrapped around him and face buried in his neck.
She has no idea, and she inhales softly, realizing the sooner she does this, the better, and once the hug has lasted long enough, she ends up giving him a slight pat over his back, drawing herself back just enough to look at him.
The confusion and apology is clear in her eyes, watching the man's (undoubtedly handsome) face, and she scans it as though trying to find some recognition.
(Maybe in Bozja? Did they meet there? Will they meet around there? ) ]
Don't look a day too old to me, if that matters any.
[ A sheepish look, though her expression falters, and she asks what she knows will make him upset now.
( I'm sorry... ) ]
... forgive me, but... how do we know each other? You're Garlean, but unless you've met me beyond mine memories or in another world, I... can't seem to place you.
[ She looks extremely apologetic. ]
Will you tell me who you are?
[ Better than saying "who are you?" And adding insult to injury by being too cold to him... ]
RIP gaius
[And it's in that embrace that he can feel something is wrong, in a way that's incredibly hard to miss. She hugs him back. There's no obvious sign that she's startled, not right away, and she returns the hug, but...]
[It's distant. The way she holds him without embracing him, not in how he's grown familiar with. And that startles him, even before she awkwardly pats his back and draws away to face him fully, alarm lighting through his mind as he allows her to pull back, pale amber eyes meeting bright blue.]
["Forgive me, but..."]
[Really, she doesn't even need to finish that sentence for him to catch on. Not when he can look down into her eyes and see...nothing. Confusion, guilt, but nothing to say he's recognized, though...he can see that she's trying to. In vain, he knows with increasing certainty, a cold sort of numbness overtaking his limbs and...]
You don't...
[And he stops himself short, mouth shutting with an audible click. He's not sure Megumi is cruel enough to make a joke like this, and...he's quick to let his arms fall away from her, stepping back with an apologetic look. Apologetic, even as something leaden settles heavily in his chest.]
No. I suppose you wouldn't, here. [At the very least, he can keep his voice steady. Quiet, and perhaps strained. But it's steady, as is the breath he takes as he steps back further, to give her a bit more space, though it's difficult.] My apologies, I'd thought...
I assumed too much, it seems.
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[ She can see the way his expression sinks, the way he seems to look shocked and... sad. She's gone through those stages of emotion herself, every time someone arrives from their world and they're not someone she knows, but did befriend in another place she was taken to.
Certainly not the kind of grief someone who actually knows these people goes through, though. How painful would it be to have someone you knew not recognize you, despite you going through the same journey as them? To no longer have the memories and closeness you once did?
She knows that hurt, though to see that this hurt is for her... she lifts her hand cautiously, then curls her fingers inwards, touching her chest as though to calm herself. ]
... I've been here for well nearly a full turn of the year, now. In a few moons, anyroad. I'd been to two other worlds before this one, as well. Did we meet in a place like that, or in our own world?
[ He must be so upset she can't recall- what was she to him, then? Why did he embrace her so easily? Were they friends, or more? All these questions come to mind, as her ears lower a bit. ]
You... you can take your time. Why don't you sit down, first?
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drowns in prae jokes
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B
He turns to see who is walking in, ah, right... these are communal springs he guesses.]
... pardon any assumptions, but, are you quite alright?
[HE can't even stop working when he's supposed to be taking a break. Ever a diligent doctor, if someone looks even a touch run-down he is bound to ask if there is anything he can do to help.]
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[Thankfully, at least, his expression gives little of his disappointment away. Mostly because it's difficult to see much else through the exhaustion that lines his features, pale eyes tiredly looking over to the young man carefully braiding his hair.]
[He thinks nothing of how his pup bounces happily over to the wolf with energy he could only dream of having, and only gives the other man a light nod in greeting as he enters fully and shuts the door behind him, looking for where he can place his things.]
Quite. [Right, because he certainly sounds like it, with that weary tone of his.] The day has been overly long already, is all.
Nothing sleep won't cure, provided you're not opposed to the company.
[He can probably find elsewhere to bed down for the night if that ends up being the case. He doesn't want to, but surely it wouldn't be hard to.]
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He hums in thought, well, if the gentleman insists he is okay then there is not really much more he can do to convince him to get checked out.
Jakurai regards the puppy, reaching down to give his wolf a pat. Signaling it was fine to sniff carefully, but not be defensive.]
I am not opposed to the company, I am rather used to having company. If you are certain you are well, then perhaps we could go take a soak in the spring? I've heard it to be rather relaxing.
[As he is likely being forced to relax anyhow.]
I am Jakurai, pleased to make your acquaintance.
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[He doesn't voice it though, in the end, because even Gaius has to admit that after everything he's been through since arriving, and even before? A soak in a nice, warm spring sounds surprisingly welcome right now.]
[She'd want him to take care of himself, after all, even if she's not here with him.]
Gaius. [And he's just...going to set his blade on the bed that doesn't look like it's been claimed. Followed by his small pack, and shed his coat to place there with them, revealing the bandages that run the length of his arm and disappear beneath his shirt.] And I believe I will take you up on that, actually. It feels as though I still haven't properly warmed up from that sudden swim in the bay, so it couldn't hurt.
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Gaius-san, then. Follow me out to the springs then.
[Gaius has a story to tell, and he would tell it in his own time. Jakurai had that much of an inkling anyways.]
You and I can soak, and then I would like to offer you a place to stay for a while. If you are amenable.
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C, slightly tweaked
Oh, my thanks.
[His tone is light and pleasant, once again very far from that of someone in the middle of a battle. He tips his hat to Gaius in acknowledgement, then takes a leisurely step towards the skeleton the man had cut down - and suddenly thrusts his sword down, previously half-concealed among the folds of his cape. Though his expression is still mostly unaffected, there is a kind of brutality to his movements as he stabs through the skull and twists his blade roughly to crack it in two, his foot meanwhile stomping down on the neck of the undead creature to crush and scatter the vertebrae. Can't take any chances, eh?]
Pitiful creatures, do you not find?
[He looks up at Gaius and asks in a conversational tone as he withdraws his blade, then holds it up for inspection.]
Pitiful... and yet curious. What drives them, do you think?
ardyn <3
[But while it may look like laziness, there's some skill there in the way the man moves; any well trained soldier knows how to fight without expending more energy than is needed, after all. How quickly and thoroughly he finishes off the skeleton after Gaius had downed it speaks enough to that, and he watches as pieces of shattered bone clatter across the ground after the creature is crushed, lifting his gunblade to rest on his shoulder with tired satisfaction.]
[That was simple enough, surprisingly.]
Hunger, if you take the stories to heart. [Though his tone suggests he doesn't do so himself, and he shakes his head lightly as he unshoulders his pack, preparing to help the stranger bundle up some of the creature in order to bring it back.] Or perhaps misguided rage at the living, to hear others tell it.
Not that you appear to have much issue in dealing with them, whatever drives them. I fear you may not have needed my help after all.
[He'd certainly hate to be on the receiving end of such brutality...]
m'villain /tips hat
[His tone is still light, almost joking. Ardyn squats down by their shared kill and pokes it thoughtfully.]
Rather old bone. I suppose that should make burning it all the easier, hmm?
[He extracts his own bag from the folds of his clothes - really, he wears so many layers he could probably conceal just about anything in there, - and starts packing up his share of the skeleton, meticulously separating the bones from their joints to make them fit in the bag without making it too bulky.]
I take it from your tone you do not quite believe the stories about the undead, Master?..
[He looks up suddenly, clicking his tongue and flashing Gaius a smile.]
Oh, where are my manners? And after you've saved my life, too! Do forgive me, I do dislike being too bold about myself. Chancellor, at your service.
[That's a title, not a name, but Ardyn is rather intent on using it as one - for now. You don't spend a couple thousand years in exile and then a few decades plotting and manipulating an empire without learning to be a little paranoid.]
aksh and now i'm so sorry for the wait
I see. Then well met, Chancellor. [But then, who is he to question it? Not like he doesn't understand the want to hide behind a title when he feels its needed, but it's curious nonetheless. Especially after the display he just witnessed from the man.] I've nothing so grand to go by, but you may call me Gaius.
[Just a normal, common, gil-a-dozen Gaius, that can be found in every corner of Garlemald. Though really, given what he's learned from the previous world he was trapped in he can hardly expect the other man to be from his own star, now can he?]
And if I may be honest, 'tis hard to say what I believe. You don't see many creatures like these where I hail from, if they do actually exist.
After the few I've already had the displeasure of dealing with, I find myself quite grateful for that.
IT'S OK LIFE IS HELL
C/D-ish
What she is, back in her world, is an Oracle, and handling the dead among them with a certain amount of respect is something she's always had to look after- and here, it's not so different. It's why she's in an outfit of white and red accents- a beacon to the dead, in a way, and an apology for this ritual.
They just want the Ashes, right? She can at least handle that much, and it's a request she makes through her bargaining magic and accompanied by her familiar as well, that allows her to make this journey with some modicum of success for her task.
So far, the fairies that have accompanied her have done their job in being able to distract the dead, her familiar has done well in being able to aid in holding the dead back and so far, so good. She just wants to help, though she did foolishly come out here on her own-
Which is why when she suddenly hears the sharp sound of blade against air and the cracking of bones, she quickly jumps back, golden eyes wide as she covers her mouth with both her hands. Her familiar, a glowing phoenix, and her familiar from home- a little fox, quickly look on alert, and she looks shocked as she quickly motions to her familiar and calls out to the man- ]
Look out, sir!
[ Another skeleton approaching him this time, quieter, but not unnoticed- fortunately, only one other, and her phoenix is quick to bear down on it with a screech and smash the corpse's bones against a rock when it falls.
A relieved breath escapes her, before she quickly approaches the man, looking up worriedly at him. ]
Thank you... are you hurt? There shouldn't be any more around here...
[ Despite her rather brave front, though, she is trembling a bit. Not that she's scared of the dead, or monsters- she's a youkai to mortals, as it is. But the fact that this mortal was almost hurt because she was careless is unforgivable to her. ]
<3
[And by a little he means a lot.]
[Gaius barely has the first skeleton down before the glowing bird is practically on top of him, and- And diving at the skeleton that had been approaching from behind, the former legatus turning to follow the sight of the undead creature being dashed against the rocks, old and brittle bones shattering from the impact. And that's alright then, if the bird is on their side; the young woman's familiar, if he has to guess, though he's surprised to see one so fantastical in comparison to those others he's met so far.]
[From the look of the young girl he aided, though, perhaps fantastical and powerful is a good thing.]
No, no injuries to speak of. [It's not a lie. Not really. The only injuries he has are old, though he's careful to conceal even that fact as he turns back to the young girl before him, pale eyes taking her in for any sign of injury on her own person.] You were the one I was worried for, though I supposed I needn't have been.
[He can hardly be blamed for his concern. From a distance, she looked like she was barely more than a child, and now that he's closer...she still looks so young. Barely older than Milisandia, if he has to take a guess, and that she apparently has a very capable guardian in her phoenix doesn't assuage his concerns as much as it probably should.]
[Especially not when she's trembling as she is; it's not difficult for his keen eyes to notice, despite the brave face she puts up, and it's something of a reflex that he reaches out to place a gloved hand gently on her shoulder, squeezing lightly in reassurance.]
Thank you, by the way. I'm afraid that one escaped my notice.
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Demons are far trickier.
It doesn't make things any less unsettling, however. As much as she wants to be confident and unafraid of such things, it doesn't change their threat and how unsettling they are. Especially since she can't command them to just not attack.
And with little means to defend herself, of course she's going to be afraid for her safety- which is why, when Gaius approaches her, she feels a lot less frightened, especially when he squeezes her shoulder like that. Relief seems to flood through her form, and it makes her realize she has gone terribly long without any physical contact of the sort, which makes her heart feel heavy.
But she shakes her head, trying to give him a weak smile. ]
I- I ought to be thanking you. They're just skeletons... I shouldn't be afraid. I just didn't want you to be hurt because I was careless.
[ And he may have even seen the other if he hadn't been focused on her. ]
W-We should get out of here... I've set up camp nearby. The fairies have h-helped me with wards, so we ought to be safe. H-Have you collected what you need?
[ She's stammering, and she notices that- she usually doesn't, which- makes her realize she really must have been fearful. So she bows her head. ]
Forgive me. I-I'm a bit shaken... this sort of thing is new to me...
[ She ought to have asked someone to accompany her. ]
3
I don't need your--
[ Oh. ]
[ His words cut off there. It's impossible to take back the awkward pause which arises as he stares at the other man. It's also...difficult to know how to continue when the man whose face he wears ought to be very old and very dead in Baelsar's eyes.
...
He really hopes they aren't in a murderous mood. He isn't mentally prepared to deal with the man who has been killing off his kin right now. ]
no subject
[Gaius has just enough time to wrench Heirsbane's blade from the pile of crushed and splintered bone he'd cut into, the skeleton down and out for the time being, thank everything. Just enough time to pull back from that voice, pale eyes darting up to a face that's at once all too familiar and yet too wrong.]
[And he nearly drops his gunblade right there.]
[That's a face that should be some many decades older and very much dead, and for a moment...for a long, heavy moment, Gaius can only gape, pale eyes wide, and his own surly answer catching uncomfortably in his throat just as quickly as Solus' own protest had.]
[Solus zos Galvus, standing there in front of him, young and hale and alive. And it's the strangest sensation, how quickly and easily his body locks itself into standing at attention without any conscious thought to do so on his part, while his mind still struggles to process on how and why-]
Your Radiance?
no subject
A few moments to compose himself. Then-- ]
...What are you doing here, van Baelsar?
i am so sorry for the wait!!
[It's certainly less alarming than being addressed by name and title, both sounding...strange, coming from a visage that young. The commanding tone of his voice is the same as it ever was, alighting in Gaius a need to straighten, to show respect, ingrained through decades of loyal service. It doesn't sit right, that Solus still recognizes him as he is, but-]
[But there's an order in that question, and even now that's difficult to ignore.]
I suspect for the same reasons that you are. [Because whether Solus means here in this world or here kicking around aggressive old bones... There's a pause, then, uncertainty lingering as Gaius struggles with the dozens of questions, and to keep something that feels too much like accusation from his voice when he finds his words again.]
Though I admit I am...more than a little surprised to find you here.
[Alive. Very alive.]
[Members of the royal family coming back from the grave so far hasn't been a good thing.]
it's fine
(no subject)
(no subject)
I really tried to not put the prae joke in here, but...
It wasn't my intention to get thrown out here!
only cowards resist prae jokes
I should certainly hope not. I know you have more sense than that. [He would hope so, anyway. But at least it's not long before they reach the shore, and Gaius is happy enough to release him the moment their feet can touch sand again.]
[Though perhaps not without a few lingering, too critical looks at the younger man as they trudge their way out of the water, looking Cid over for any injuries he may have sustained in their graceless arrival to...where, now?]
I saw no one else, but then I admit that I also don't know the swimming capabilities of the rest of your men.
Are you alright?
a.
Thanks. Don't remember falling asleep anywhere on a boat nor being tossed off it. You didn't see a lady under the water spouting nonsense, did you? Tell me I was seeing things, and it was not the undercooked-
[ His eyes catch sight of the stranger once he's half-dragged on the shore, and his tongue dies in his mouth. No one he recognizes personally but definitely a Garlean, which sends him reeling back a few steps, fingers blindly moving for his gunblade. ]
...Oh, balls.