avalaughs | TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 3

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TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 3

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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 rest of 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.

Everyone needs a little fun from time to time; the locals have put together the annual Snow Games. As with all things Avalonians plan, magic plays a part in the competition. There will be three separate tiers for characters to enter. Each Tier will have its predetermined track or ring, set up and ready to go.

A ⦿ Foot Races

three-legged race

B ⦿ Sled Races

magically driven sleds

C ⦿ Snow Chicken

Snow Chicken, Magic Vs Yeti Style... This competition will differ from the previous two; it is not a race to the finish line but instead a competition to be the last team standing! Participants will pair off and one person will climb on the shoulders of the other and try to wrestle their opponents off without getting knocked off themselves. The field is full of snow, with more coming from the sky. Your opponents will be Yeti. Try to stay on, Yeti are no slouches so teams will have to work together using their magic not only to stay put but to knock your big-footed opponents to the ground.

Just... be wary, these friendly yeti are surprisingly big on hugging as a form of congratulations. It's much more challenging to escape from a yeti's embrace than it is to knock one over.

Trumpets hail an announcement by the town crier in front of the castle. More than a few people pull out their phones to record it and post it to the AOL network for all to see.

"Hear ye, hear ye! Our noblest of lords, King Arthur of Camelot, will host a tournament on this January the 20th on castle grounds. All are welcome to participate in competitions to determine those most skilled in both the physical and magical arts. In preparation for the upcoming tournament, we are sending envoys to Celliwig. In Celliwig lies the Magic Mirror of the South, gifted to Camelot by the Fae, and a means to communicate with their royal court at will. It is a vastly important task in your journey to become magicians and to show your good will toward the fairies. Parts of the mirror's frame have been damaged. We will need those brave of soul and pure of heart to retrieve the crystals needed to repair the mirror. Those interested, the party leaves at dawn."

A ⦿ Brave of Soul

The first stop on the trip to restore Celliwig's Mirror is to a cave just north of Albion's White Cliffs. No longer a part of the cliffs themselves, this outcropping goes underground and to a dank, dark cave. It is the only place which a special prismatic crystal grows. The crystal itself is hidden deep in the cave, which can only be passed by passing into a zone in which magic cannot be used. Characters will enter the cave and must face an illusion of one of their greatest fears. Those frozen in fear will pass out and wake up outside of the cave with no crystal. Those who run will find themselves turned out of the cave as well. Only those who recognize and face that fear deep in their soul will find the path forward. The fear will turn into a small light spirit, which will smile and reveal to them the crystals they seek.

B ⦿ Pure of Heart

The second stop is past a shanty town and at the bridge north of it. The bridge itself is broken, only the ends in existence. The water itself is impassible, white rapids sweeping away anything that steps into it. Silver crystals are on the other side of the bridge, visible in an outcropping from where they are, but it appears there is no way around as magic does not work on the bridge. The only clue as to how to get across is a plaque in the dirt before the bridge.

"The pure of heart will form the bridge with a leap of faith."

Since everyone has gone as a group, it will be possible to see others walking over the water once one person figures it out. Though the clue may seem challenging, it is quite straight-forward. Characters who are pure of heart will find that if they believe in themselves, they will be able to step off the bridge and hardlight will form beneath their feet to allow them to step over the water. Those with ill intentions or those who are willing to harm others to get their way will slip into the rapid waters and may need to be saved by other characters. At least you're off the bridge, so magic will work to that end.

C ⦿ Celliwig, the Splendored Court

As the travelers leave the bridge, they turn toward the shanty town-- wood shacks and failing farms. Not a place anyone would want to visit. Those who try to run ahead will find that it disappears as if an illusion, and they will find nothing. Those who stick with the party will wait a fair distance away until the sun sets. Once the sun begins to fall beyond the horizon, the small town will begin to shimmer brilliant whites and colors-- a glamour hiding its true glory, a city made solely of crystals and glass: Celliwig, the Splendored Court. Though smaller than Camelot, every part of the city is beautiful and glistening. The population is small and it's very quiet and serene for a city. The people of the city don't seem keen on speaking to outsiders, and will typically scatter before anyone can really engage them. They seem humanoid in nature, but not entirely human. Even the animals around the city seem to be ethereal in nature, gliding more than walking.

The party is led to a hall at the center of the city-- the hall of mirrors. Those who have succeeded in obtaining crystals need to bring them and set them on a table placed before a mirror at the end of the hall, which appears to have a number of empty settings. It's unclear what happened to the mirror previously, but now it's necessary to restore it to garner the favor of the fae.

Once crystals have been delivered, people will be free to explore the quiet city, but it seems most of the city is closing shop while the visitors are around. There is a restaurant that will serve visitors food, though all of the dishes are of the molecular gastronomy variety. Alcoholic drinks seem to come in vapor form and flashes of light if ordered, but seem effective nonetheless. The local general store seems to be willing to sell supplies to weary travelers as well, but that's about it.

...That said the inn doesn't seem particularly keen on allowing visitors in strangely, so you're either going to be sleeping on the iridescent streets or camping just outside the city if you prefer the soft grass and the darkness of night. Just be aware, if you leave, you won't be able to get back into this mysterious city so easily.

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.
• Note that the third prompt in this TDM will have consequences on the game's progression. After the application round, a poll will be put up to see how many characters who are in the game, both new and old, are able to obtain the crystals from the Brave of Soul and Pure of Heart prompts.
• 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Soaking in Your Arrival
Ew, swimming. Fully dressed, no less, everything was going to be godsdamned soaked. At least he could say one thing about this though: he wasn't going to be the only miserable one here, if the splashing and shouting of others being unceremoniously tossed into a lake wasn't indication enough of that. Good. There's questions of course, oh he has questions right off the bat, as soon as he has a potion in him and his limbs start working correctly, and wonder of wonders he was even able to ask said potion profferer without being a complete tool about it.

Which was what led him to slogging his slushy, chilly, cranky way up that stairway, making it a point at that moment to utterly ignore the tiny little pitch black coeurl kitten bouncing along beside him, none the worse for the wear despite it's harrowing dip, unlike it's brand new cantankerous master. No, someone else was going to get harassed instead, that nasty mood had to go somewhere, and he wasn't one for stoically stewing. That would be much too convenient for everyone else.

"You'd think they'd be able to put a bloody lift out here or something. It's uncomfortable enough to get tossed in a frozen lake, now we're expected to drag our freezing carcasses up stairs." And trust him, he'd caught sight of that sandy hand extending from the wall to catch up anyone clumsy enough to nearly take a tumble off the side. "Let alone one riddled with code violations." Because that clearly matters, specifically now that he's being inconvenienced.

The Red Spring

Magic, sure, okay. He'd just watch for a time on the sidelines, apparently none too interested in trying out his own magic. At least not immediately, chances were pretty good he didn't actually believe anything he'd been told about being able to do magic. He didn't seem the least bit surprised to see everyone else around him casting spells, of course, it's not like he didn't think magic exists, that wasn't the issue. Instead he seemed content to vent the circumstances of that issue at the noisy kitten doing figure eights around his legs, occasionally trying to bound out into the training arena as if trying to coax him to follow along with it.

“Don't look at me like that, what do you expect me to do, hm? If you wanted a mage, you should have summoned a mage- I said stop it.” He'd awkwardly step around the little beast, gesturing sharply with one hand. “I can't use magic, that's physically imposs-” BANG.

And just like that, for the briefest moment, a brilliant blue bolt of lightning fired from his fingertips, grounding out in a little black pit. That seemed to snap him out of whatever tirade he was about to go on, yanking his smoking hand back down to stare at it for a long... long moment.

A shame no one here might know his face, but that smile starting to creep across it might just seem recklessly discomforting to a complete stranger as well. “... Well now.”

Pure of Heart

Pure of what? Forget it, he knows what leap of faith means. He'd seen plenty of people already make this jump. Well... as far as he was concerned, plenty enough people. Looked like they just stepped right the hell out onto the raging rapids. No, he might not know the precise design nor make of this odd bridge (and a shame for it, he'd much rather spend his time learning what made the invisible walkway work than cross it for a crystal), but he'd seen things much alike to it in Eorzea, didn't seem that complicated. He wasn't just going to stand here all damn day though and watch a bunch of other idiots wander across the invisible bridge. Pure of heart had to be a relative term, what was purity anyway, right?

… Well no, apparently it wasn't relative and there were actually hard and fast rules to heart purity who could have guessed not him, because he had straight up stepped off into the void and was now desperately clinging to the rocks in the rapids, cursing a blue streak as the coeurl kitten darted frantically about the rocks, howling it's little lungs out. Oops, not as kekaku.

Sokka sympathizes with the guy. That's exactly what he thought. He can't control any element because he was born without the ability to bend. Yet he made fire out of thing air. And this guy looked to be elemental magic user like him.

"It's a lot to take in, isn't it? Suddenly being able to do something like that."

He cast an eye towards Sokka, already trying to make the lightning do the thing again with a few fruitless snaps of his fingers. Damn.

"'A lot to take in' is a phrase for it, yes. I'd be able to take it in a little better if I could repeat that little trick." He gestured (lightly, he didn't actually want to accidentally fry anyone) at Sokka.

"I don't suppose you know how it works." He could claim to be an expert on a lot of things, magic was not one of them.

Sokka looked thoughtful for a moment.

"I might. I also have elemental magic. See-" He makes a fireball appear and it sort of floats above his palm. "I imagined a ball would appear and here it is. I haven't been able to do lightning though."

He looks incredulous, glancing from the fireball, back to Sokka, and then back to the fireball again, clearly not entirely convinced.

"And all you have to do is just... imagine that energy being there? Seems like it should be a bit more complicated than that, or else anyone would be a mage." The other races had whole schools for this, didn't they? Entire guilds even, it couldn't be that simple.

... Well... couldn't be that simple in Eorzea, at least. But this wasn't Eorzea, now was it?

"That's what I thought, but then I tried it and it usually works. Though I'm still learning quite a bit. I'm sure there will be even more ways to make it happen."

Honestly, "pure of heart" had to be a relative term, if only because there was really, truly no way Sid could say that his heart was anything resembling pure. Not in the way things like this always seemed to need it to matter, at any rate.

That he could walk across the river was proof enough of that. It was unnerving at first, to step out onto empty air and not fall through, but the strange hardlight beneath his feet held firm with each step. Inching his way from the bridge eventually became easier, and he was about to continue the rest of the way across normally...

Had he not heard the person immediately behind him cry out and splash immediately into the water below. Oops indeed, what happened here.

"Ah, give me just-" The little gaelikitten he'd arrived with fluttered from its perch atop his head with a discontented noise as Sid turned around, and, after making sure he wouldn't suddenly fall through, knelt down to the man struggling to cling to the rocks below him, because he couldn't just leave someone there. First he reached out to save the man's familiar, the poor coeurl kitten beside itself, before he reached down a gauntlet clad hand to the absolutely miserable looking blond.

"I don't think you were supposed to do that. Come on."

Edited 2021-01-03 23:09 (UTC)

The little black kitten wasn't exactly keen on heading back for land either, stubbornly taking up a spot right upon Sid's shoulder instead. The poor au ra would be subject to yet more noise from there, as the little animal switched between frantic purring and even more frantic meowing, until it's master was pulled safely from the water.

And Nero wasn't about to argue with help getting out of the drink, no shame in trying not to drown. He grabbed the extended hand, holding on tight as he searched for a foothold in the surging rapids so he could grant the other man a little more damn leverage.

The comment got a bitter snort from him. "We can have a brainstorming session on dry land."

Oh, that earned a small wince as the kitten settled, though not because of any harm the creature did. Hard to complain about claws or the like with the armor he was wearing, but the purring, and the mewling, right there, directly next to one of his horns? The thrumming sensation that followed was an unpleasant one, and he made a vague gesture at the coeurl to try and shoo it elsewhere. He was trying to concentrate here so please-

"If you can make it to dry land." Good thing they aren't too terribly far from where the bridge had started, it would be nothing at all to shove the other man the foot or two needed to get back and try again, so Sid could actually continue. It was a reach, but the stranger - the Garlean, weirdly enough, and suddenly that made the whole "lacking a pure heart" ridiculousness make that much more sense - grabbed his arm, and Sid pulled.

"Stop yowling at me, cat, I got him-"

Edited 2021-01-05 01:29 (UTC)

It'd scamper then, back and forth from shoulder to shoulder in order to avoid Sid's hand, purr trilling the entire way. As for Nero, as he was pulled forward, he'd push off with the foot planted on the rock, clearing the gap onto land proper. God he hates it here, and he hates that bridge and whoever the hell put it there. Who needs to be pure of heart to grab a stupid crystal anyway.

"And here I am." A bit precariously balanced but nothing a few quick steps up couldn't fix. "On dry land." Don't you ever question him again. "Apparently, there's actual standards to having a pure heart, would have been nice if I was informed on what those standards are, and not in bloody riddle form." A pause, and then a quick, easy, light little diversion: "How fare you, with that riddle, by the way?"

Oh thank the gods, or whatever equated to them here, because the man was heavy, and Sid swore to himself as he helped the man reach solid ground again. Maybe if someone had tested his footing first before going all in on crossing the damn thing, then someone wouldn't be soaked right now, but somehow Sid managed to bite his tongue on that.

The second the man was mostly, probably safe, the Au Ra pulled his arm back, trying to not send his unfortunate new companion back into the rapids but not being especially gentle about it. At least the coeurl left the second its master was fine, without Sid having to urge it away. At least the noise was gone.

Until the man started talking, and well. That. That wasn't gratitude. That was a lot of very non-grateful complaining where the gratitude should've been, and it was difficult to keep the frustrated exasperation from his face as Sid pushed back to his feet, rolling his shoulder to relieve the ache in his arm.

"You're welcome. Wish I could help-" Do you really though Sid. "-but I don't understand a swivin' word of it. Whatever I did to make this happen is well beyond me."

This being punctuated with a brief gesture to the light glowing beneath his feet, keeping him very safe from a similarly wet fate. And a shrug followed, before he started to turn away from the man again.

"You could try not being Garlean. See if that helps you at all."

Edited 2021-01-05 06:56 (UTC)

(no subject)

nerological - 2021-01-05 16:46 (UTC) - Expand

Whilst patiently (tiredly) waiting his turn to cross the invisible bridge, Emet-Selch heard yet another splash and yelp as someone hit the cold waters.

Oh, he thought to himself, covering a yawn, another lacking in purity of heart. Whatsoever that may be.

He didn't think to approach and look over until he neared the rapids himself, even with the kitten's loud and incessant mewling. Glancing down, he would have walked on without a second thought had he not spotted something quite familiar with this particular man's face.

Stepping out of the line, he picked his careful way down the rocks with his gwiber's help and extended a hand towards the man.

"Would you like some help?" he asked blandly, raising his voice enough to be heard over the rushing water. Nero might not immediately realise he was looking at Garlemald's first emperor - especially not with the outfit Emet-Selch had taken to wearing. Fairly unremarkable by modern standards, but his face should still be well-known to any Garlean patriot.

He'd be kicking himself for his poor decision making if he were actually capable of it. As it were, right now he was preoccupied with not drowning, and no doubt when he was through being concerned about his life he'd probably write it all off as a completely necessary learning experience. So there was no shame at all in reaching out to grab the offered hand, doing so quickly and without question.

At first, for just a few moments anyway, all he could really tell through the rushing of water and the panic of the situation was that whoever it was, they were Garlean... which put them a head and shoulders above literally anyone else he'd seen here. It was only when he'd planted his foot against a rock to stabilize himself, and to help in lifting himself up and out of the water did the features all properly coalesce.

And he almost slipped back into the fucking water again goddamnit no- He caught himself. Barely. Because as much as it didn't make any sense to see him, the initial knee jerk reaction here was, in fact, to not make himself look like a complete loser in front of Solus zos Galvus.

"How-" Oh never mind, questions could be asked when he wasn't almost drowning.

He raised an eyebrow. 'How are you alive?' - he assumes that was what would have been the intended finish. Yes, he got that question quite a lot. What can he say? Staying dead was always rather difficult for an Ascian (never mind that it was a state he would heartily prefer right now).

He dug his heels in and carefully hauled Nero out of the water and on to firmer ground. He didn't seem to care if he got wet himself.

"Trust a Garlean to step out on to an invisible bridge with every confidence his feet would find solid ground," he observed with some amusement.

Well yes. Yes 'how are you alive' was one of those questions, also 'how are you here', 'how is this possible' and in general 'how', and he's trying to think of a way to ask all of these at once without sounding either stupid, or openly disrespectful. It'd been a while, since he'd had to actually behave around someone, and rein in his bladed tongue.

Thankfully, he had something else to focus on: the preservation of his wounded ego. Two feet on dry land, his mind caught up with the amused quip, and thus forth came the ~~excuse~~ explanation: "After several substantial minutes of observation, there was ample proof that there was a stable platform to stand upon, purity of heart notwithstanding. I couldn't quite calculate what the standards for that particular parameter would be, Your Radiance." And yes, that last part just came out as easy as breathing, he didn't even have to think about it. The face before him was as recognizable as his own to him, it just went without saying.

He folded his arms loosely, looking rather amused by the man's attempt to save face. Whether they realised it or not, however, the response said something about them. Their character. He wouldn't expect that sort of talk from one of the legati but perhaps one of the engineers or scientists.

"Caught up as you were in observing the bridge itself, it seems you forgot to observe the people."

He half-turned back to look, watching as the invisible crossing continued to divide those waiting into 'pure of heart' and those without.

"Would you describe yourself as an ambitious man?"

(no subject)

nerological - 2021-01-05 17:04 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

emet_sulk - 2021-01-05 22:24 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

nerological - 2021-01-06 17:22 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

emet_sulk - 2021-01-07 02:38 (UTC) - Expand

Having been here for a while now, she's been letting herself travel around to greet newcomers and also find anyone that she might recognize. So far, things have been a mixed bag- some recognize their experiences, some don't.

She's wondering about the Nero she's witnessing discovering that he has magic (a shocking enough realization, she imagines, what with him being a Garlean and all)- and whether he's the same as she knew at all.

She only grimaces slightly at the blast, but having become familiar with a lot of his habits after being with him in Lunatia, she's hardly surprised he's enjoying this. First things first, however- she needs to find out if he's at all familiar with her, or even the charm she's wearing on the bracelet around her wrist. One crafted by his hand, no less.

Or one like him, she supposes. So, she speaks up, arms folded loosely before her- her dragonet familiar sitting on her shoulder and herself in her adventuring gear, an image of light blue and silvers, and her long hair partially tied back. She looks like any other miqo'te he might find on Eorzea, perhaps.

"Careful there, Scaeva. The last thing you want is to lose those useful fingers of yours."

Time to see how well that goes.

[ ooc note; Megumi here is CRAU from Prisma and she had a relationship with Nero there but she's fully aware of how these places function so she's going to recognize him but not expect anything more when she realizes he's unfamiliar with her!! ]

Oh yes, he was enjoying it, and currently trying to get it to do it again, whatever the hell it was. Mimicking the same hand motion, trying to dredge up the same feeling he'd had when the bolt first went off... a difficult thing to do considering he's a lot less annoyed now that he knows he can potentially throw lightning, than he was five seconds ago. The excitement will most certainly be replaced with annoyance inevitably though, he'll get there again.

But, for the moment, he was distracted from his attempts to replicate those initial results by... Well, yes, she did look like any other miqo'te he might find. He'd have not thought much at all of her appearance, had it not been for the fact that they were both so far flung from Eorzea, for one. For two: the charm. No, no he had no recollection of making it, but he knew his handiwork nevertheless, and the familiar way she addressed him indicated some sort of prior relationship. Where? How? Lightning throwing practice would have to be postponed in favor of answers.

"Have we met?" Well clearly, in some respect, but the question was more a prompt for a full explanation than a yes or a no.

[ooc: Man I was gonna put an OOC comment here and forgot. It's cool with me! He's definitely absolutely baffled]

Edited 2021-01-04 17:19 (UTC)

Ah. That's telling enough, though knowing Nero, she also wouldn't put it past him to pretend he didn't recognize her just to rile her up. The Nero she knew would often do things along those lines just to tease. It wasn't as though they were particularly different with each other in private, aside from the added intimacy that had formed over the course of their time together—

But she's always been a realist, even more so after the time she's spent with the resistance back home. Time can bring all the experience she needs, including not immediately showing the twinge of worry when he really doesn't seem to recognize her. Her ears, on the other hand, seem to betray her just a bit by lowering a touch, before flicking back upright again.

At his question, she lifts her hand and curls her fingers under her chin.

"That depends. Do the words "Lunatia" and "Moonblessed" seem familiar at all to you?"

She seems to be watching him with some sliver of hope rather than scrutiny, as though wanting him to say yes. The charm on her bracelet— though small and pretty, is stylized in the form of a flower around a unique weapon, and is definitely very Scaevan in both colour and presentation. She'd have expected him to notice that she'd kept it rather than get rid of it like she threatened to, but he'd have to be the same Nero to have known that.

"— because we have met there. I can't say much about anywhere else we've been pulled to."

Which is indicating that this— being drawn into a different world, has happened before.

He'd always prided himself not just on his incredible intelligence, but his, frankly, faultless memory. The names were said, and nothing came to mind, though he could certainly understand some basic meaning from them. Ah, yes, well maybe moons made sense, this was a Keeper of the Moon Miqo'te, right? Only made sense then, in that respect, that both those words would be related to the moon.

But they sparked no memory in him. Her insistence that they'd indeed met caused him to loft a brow, glancing again to the charm, obviously perplexed. "I've no memory of you, nor of those words, madam." Curt, but polite enough, not exactly looking to start any unnecessary upset, not on purpose anyway. There were other things that grabbed his attention, rather interested in getting to the bottom of them without driving her off.

"Have we? I'd surely remember something so fantastical as being transported to not just one, but two separate worlds altogether. Tell me, what was the manner of our relationship then? Business?"

Edited 2021-01-05 06:29 (UTC)

Ah... if that wasn't a confirmation, nothing would be. The Nero she'd known and met knew perfectly well to call her Matriarch when he was jesting, because she certainly wasn't a Madam of anything. Perhaps it's a good thing she didn't rush over to touch him or give him a hug—

Not that she would have without being certain of his memories and now she's more than sure about them.

The hurt will go in time— he's not to blame, nor is it his intention to cause it. It's unlikely they'd have even met at all without the machinations of these other worlds— she'd made peace with the possibilities a long time ago. For now, she focuses on what he asks, lowering her hand and folding her arms loosely in front of her chest.

"I misspoke. But we did meet in two different worlds, similar to this one, aye. The first was a place called Duplicity, and Lunatia the second— Lunatia was where all those that were called in were called "Moonblessed"." She explains, keeping her sharp blue gaze fixed on his face. She wears her confidence with calm, compared to the youthful competition she used to when she first came to a new world.

Her fingers idly move over her bracelet, before she exhales.

"... we were lovers." She says simply. "Shocking, I know. Lunatia made it quite easy, actually, and I wasn't your only partner—" She attempts to play it off as more casual so as to not make him feel any sort of obligation towards any deeper feelings that formed between the other Nero and her. Even though they formed after quite a while- and many adventures.

Hells, he can assume like most miqo'te, her lovers were plenty too, and that wouldn't be incorrect. Most of their kind give equal affection to many partners after all.

The charm wasn't the only gift he gave her— but she continues, looking thoughtful as she calls upon the memories.

"Aside from running into each other often, we started off working together when I hired you to improve the technology at my apothecary and eventual clinic. You certainly didn't want Cid man Garlond doing it when he arrived there."

Her gaze seems to avert the more she speaks, but after some time, she shakes her head and looks back at him with a wry smile, even if there's a very small hint of well-concealed resignation in her eyes.

"Though this is- quite normal. We were quite ready for the possibility of forgetting our time there. It happens in places like these and you don't have to concern yourself with it if it brings you any discomfort. I'd been prepared for it. And you— well. This is new to you. I'll be happy to assist you if you'd like."

The dragonet on her shoulder puffs a little grumpy cloud of blue flame and smoke that disperses quickly, and she tickles it under the chin before adding—

"The name's Megumi. Matriarch of the Utakata Tribe. Keeper of the Moon— despite the eyes." She knows a lot of people mistake her for a Seeker because of them. Lowering her hand, she moves it to her waist.

"What do you last recall of our own world, then? What was happening before you got drawn here? It'd be good to figure out if our memories of home line up."

May as well focus on that, rather than going into feelings and thoughts that he has nothing to do with.

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nerological - 2021-01-06 17:36 (UTC) - Expand

tfw phone tagging makes typos. nan** not man!!

menphina - 2021-01-07 08:10 (UTC) - Expand

“I do believe you will find ‘magic’ operates on entirely different rules here,” comes an amused voice from nearby. “I am not surprised you can use it!”

G’raha is standing off to the side and wondering how to greet Nero after it’s been so very long. The man is not exactly someone he can describe as a friend, even with nostalgia goggles on, but he’s at least an ally G’raha can’t help but be pleased to see after so long and he can’t help sounding a little excited. When Nero spots him, he’ll offer a wave of greeting.

He paused in his efforts to generate another bolt, glancing over at the miqo'te. A familiar enough face, as he recalled from the crystal tower anyway, and a surprising one to see... as he recalled from the crystal tower. Surprising enough to get the quirk of a brow, the thoughts of throwing bolts of levin like a mage temporarily put on hold.

"G'raha, well. What a surprise to see you out and about again. Were you snatched from the tower, or did we meet our technology quota already?" That last part he doubted, he really did.

It's hardly surprising that Nero is unaware, with how recently G'raha 'woke up'. While he is aware Nero has been more involved with the Ironworks as of late, he's still not exactly in the loop. For a moment, he considers whether to give him all the details, but as that seems a bit too much information to be discussing at this precise moment in time he decides it's better to hold off and just offer Nero a grin.

"Oh, my rest was more than sufficient, though I ought to forewarn you that there are certain time discrepancies in lands such as this. For me, it has been quite some time since last we met." Even if he does look no older than the last time Nero would have seen him. "I trust you are well?"

'Quite some time'. "Time is a relative thing, 'quite some time' could be three months or a century, depending on who you are." The comment, paired with the grin on G'raha's face, suggested he might be missing some information here, and boy if that wasn't the most galling thing in the entire world.

What do you know that he doesn't.

"I'm fine, of course. Never better, couldn't imagine being in a better place, the only way it could possibly be improved is if I wasn't here." Though he'd concede... throwing lightning is a pretty good consolation prize. "But enough about me," which definitely meant there was something being plotted here, if he didn't want to talk about himself, "what of you? How was everything when you last departed?"

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crystalsfused - 2021-01-06 18:22 (UTC) - Expand

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