TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 15

[avalonmods]

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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. It's a fast process, though they do take their time as they need to go around hitting the ice that keeps forming on the surface with their shells to keep the surface open for the falling arrivals. 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.

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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 and a pair of ear buds and tell them to "Check the Shit Box." The "Shit Box" refers to wardrobe more formally known as the Wardrobe of Finding, a hammerspace-like wardrobe that opens to each person's items and pets when the person touches the handle. It was recently enchanted by Merlin to prevent people from having to fish their waterlogged possessions and pets out of the water with them. From there, Archimedes directs everyone to settle in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and gives 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 a special feature for warm winter drinks like hot apple toddy and butter beer. 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.

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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. Newcomers get free inn rooms for their one night stay on the way to Camelot, containing two twin beds, a bathroom, a mini-fridge and microwave, and a TV equipped with a couple of entertaining video games and movies.   Don't want to relax in the room? Take a dip in the communal hot spring. The waters have restorative properties that help horses and travelers recover quickly. 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.

 

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Last month, players were invited into the fae territories in Elphame for the first time for the Winter Solstice celebrations while King Arthur and Queen Elphame enter talks regarding the next steps toward saving the multiverse. In the meantime, a special camp hosted King Arthur's knights has been created on the riverbank just inside of the Forest of the Felled to act as a midway point for travelers going between the two points.

 

A ⦿ Snow More Cold
	The Forest Camp is quite a stunning outpost for Camelot. Given the snowy, cold weather, the campsites have been built with the knowledge of some of the snowier fae in mind and have resulted in what some are referring to as "Igloo Glamping." Artfully carved out group rooms, dining halls, and storage for supplies, and more have been carved out of snow to create a surprisingly warm solution to keeping safe as a Forest halfway point. Admittedly, it's not the your standard glamp-- but there are TVs, board games, and long fur-lined beds to keep you and four other people warm cuddled up together at night! There's also a snow port-a-potty that you probably don't want to face, but sometimes we face challenges in life. There are also a number of planned activities to keep people out of trouble while they stay.
...Or if they do get themselves into trouble, they can also end up in snow jail, a special igloo built with extremely tough ice stalagmites that will be hard to break out of until authorities can come pick you up and take you back to Camelot.

 

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B ⦿ The Great Avalon Bake-Off
One of these activities is inspired by a surprising store of buried baking supplies like flour, sugar, butter, yeast, and eggs that was found in the forest. It's been there a long while, but it seems to have been protected through magical preservation, so there's really only one thing to do about it: a bake-off! It's a little tricky out in the snow, so outside of the igloos, a trench has been dug and all contestants have been given a campfire. Alchemists have helped by creating clay ovens in the snow for contestants to bake their culinary creations in. The most impressive confections (not just the top scorer) will earn a copy of (Spell) Thirst. This spell can make someone feel thirsty, even if they aren't.

 

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C ⦿ Ingredient Hunt 2022
	The real trick is finding ingredients to make your confection something to stand out and come up on top of the contest, which you may need to wander into the Forest of the Felled to look for. There are a variety of winter berries able to be found, herbs and flowers buried under the snow if you can find them, and most importantly, a couple of truffle bushes from which chocolate and vanilla truffles can be harvested. There are quite a few tasty flavors to be found throughout the forest, and since it hasn't been repopulated yet due to the harsh winter, it's relatively safe to wander around no matter who you are. If you feel like you need protection though, maybe ask around camp to find someone who can fight for you.
Just be wary as there are a few ingredients you can find in the forest that may cause a few unintended side-effects to your taste-testers: Cider Berries: These berries appear to have a fiery glow coming from within. That is because they will temporary cause anyone who consumes them to breathe fire when they exhale for about 10 minutes straight... definitely a problem when you're living in an igloo. They have a great apple-y smell though! Strangler Figs: These fig trees grow around other plants and strangling them as if they were anacondas around prey. They produce the most brilliant looking and tasting figs, even in the winter time. Unfortunately, having been in Avalon long enough, they have absorbed magic into their roots and are now able to defend their fruit by creeping up anyone who touches them and trapping them in their grip. They cannot move while you are looking at them, so don't blink and hope you can outrun them. Little Leeks: These are very, very small leaks that seem to be hanging out in small vials found about an inch beneath the surface of the snow. They all seem to have different faces painted on the front of the vials, though the vials do seem to be a part of their body. The simple faces match the effect you'll get-- a crying face will result in your character having an uncontrollable sob fest, a happy face may make it seem like nothing phases them, some angry eyebrows on a frown could result in your character wanting to fight everyone in a fit of anger, and so on. The most tragic part is that these will continue effecting you until they are fully digested-- so it could take hours to stop bawling.

 

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Back in Camelot and Elphame, trouble is brewing of a different variety.

 

A ⦿ Calls You Daddy
Strange eggs with even stranger tiny legs have started wandering into the city and making their way into peoples' homes. Inn rooms, houses, apartments, tents, tree trunks, igloos, even townships have found residents waking up with a tiny little egg snuggled up to their side to keep warm in the morning.  These eggs act just like babies too-- they cry when they need to be fed (they'll roll around in the food to absorb it), are extremely picky about their food (and each egg has its own unique palette), need to be cleaned after eating, and they need to be kept warm or they will perish.
One touch of an egg to direct skin will result in a parental instinct being imprinted upon whoever touches them, so you may find yourself wanting to care for this egg as much as it wants you to care for it. Eggs come in a variety of colors and designs and will seek out at least two parents, so you may find yourself in an unlikely relationship for the next week or so until they hatch...

 

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B ⦿ Aurora Bearealis
	After about a week, the eggs all seem to be antsier than before. Many of their legs disappear and their colors start to glow gently at night, as if some kind of strange nightlight. Eventually, the top of the egg will burst open and out of it will hatch a slightly oddly shaped bear creature, which looks almost like a living teddy bear. The bears themselves have strange glowing markings that match the outside of the egg that they used to be in, and when they step out, a mysterious flow of light comes out of them- like an aurora borealis. At this point, there are two real problems that have started: Touching the aurora borealis lights will also make you glow with aurora borealis lights for 48 hours. They are bears and they act like bears and they get into everything and fight everyone like bears, except their perceived parents.

 

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C ⦿ Go on, Git. CW: Mentions of poaching, beheading in last paragraph.
	These fierce little aurora bears are causing destruction and pain in both Elphame and Camelot alike, so a decision has to be made: the bears need to be led by their parents and some fighters out to the nearest forest and set free to live in the wild, as they probably were intended to. Those in Camelot who release their bears there will find a heart-wrenching goodbye interrupted by a rather dramatic battle. The natural predator of aurora bears, the flaming lions known as Fogueria, have come out of the Land of Rot to hunt them down. I hope you brought someone with you to help save both you and your beary good friend from this flaming enemy. Fogueria cannot be defeated without using magic, so you've got your battle set out for you!
For those who have taken to Elphame, they are not faring much better. As it turns out, these little eggs have made quite the impression on some goblin poachers released from prison last month. These goblins are hunting down the newly released bears for capture to sell them as circus side-shows, food, and more to more devilish creatures. They love gold much more than they love anything else, except perhaps the fierce beast that accompanies their party to help them devour anyone who would try to stop them: a gashadokuro, a fierce skeletal demon formed of the bones of fallen travelers. It is known to bite off the heads of travelers and drinks blood. You'll have to defeat the whole party to ensure your newly released bears remain safe.

 

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• All test drive prompts are open to anyone in the game at any time to create your own logs with, as the events within are considered game canon. • This post should have top-levels by potential new characters only. Current characters may reply to any threads and may start their own logs off-post, 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 usually 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.

 

Comments

Chrome Dokuro | Katekyo Hitman REBORN! | Animal (or Cognitive ???) & Siphon

[illusionaryskirt]

Training Grounds
[Chrome enters the training grounds to get more clarity. She's been wondering something ever since she's arrived. She touches her stomach and realizes she has organs there. Her right eye is still gone, but her organs are present and functioning without her illusory powers. She wasn't able to produce any illusions either. So she wonders what sort of magic did she have now?

Instead of trying her hand at target practice or an obstacle course, she instead takes to mediation. Partly, she was hoping to reach someone from her world, or at least feel Mukuro's presence that has always brought her comfort in uncertainty. Yet, she feels nothing. Though she tries to concentrate, honing in on whatever abilities she might have here. She then starts to hear voices, tiny unfamiliar whispers. She opens her eyes in shock, looking around to where she might have heard the voice.]

D-did someone just speak?

[ She's quickly hushed by the other mages in the room, and Chrome falls into silence. But she knows what she heard! She surveys the room, before spotting a mouse staring back at her. Maybe that's who she heard?]

Ingredient Hunt 2022
A.[ Chrome doesn't mind going to the forest alone. Even if she's still getting accustomed to her magic and this new environment, she feels she can handle this on her own. Plus she has her cat familiar to keep her company. Though, if another mage is to cross paths with her, then she won't discourage the company.

She finally comes across the area with the special ingredients. Her purple eyes wander over to a few bushes with bits of chocolate for the picking. It's not one of the ingredients she's looking for, but she can't deny her sweet tooth.]

...are these okay to eat?

[She's speaking to no one in particular, and her familiar doesn't seem alarmed, so it must be okay. If you come across the young girl, you'll catch her in the middle of enjoying some delicious chocolate. Won't you have some?]

B. [Once she has her fill, she starts looking into the other special ingredients she needs for the bake-off. She wanders over to the cider berries attracted to their vibrant color and picks them unbeknownst to the side effects they might have. Then she comes across the stranger fig-trees, she doesn't pick up how the trees seem to dominate the other surrounding flora, but she keeps her large eyes towards the fruit. She moves towards the tree to pick them. However, she looks away for a moment to secure her footing, and that activates the tree to defend its fruit. The root stretches toward her, wrapping around her leg and yanking her violently off her feet.]

AH!

[ Chrome tries to kick the root around her leg free, but the tree is too strong. She tries to use her staff to pry the wood loose, but to no avail! Someone help!]

Bake off
[After that scare in the forest, it's a wonder how she has the will to bake anything, but Chrome wanted to do this. She works diligently to make her confection. She decides to make a toffee pudding with the stranger figs being the main focus and the cider berries being a colorful garnish. The toffee pudding comes together nicely and it smells pretty good too.

She allows her taste-tester to try it, toying with her fingers anxiously to see if they will like it. Unfortunately, they will both get a shock since the cider berries will make the taster breathe fire. Oops!]

Aurora Bearealis
[After nurturing the egg for a week or so, it finally cracks to reveal...a bear? If that wasn't strange enough, the bear starts to glow a prismatic light. Chrome doesn't touch it, because she's apprehensive of what could happen.

However, when she does take the bear out for some fresh air, she doesn't expect the hatchling to pick a fight with anyone that comes near! Hearing the bear's thought, she someone how gets a heads up of who it intends to attack before it happens. So it's enough time to warn anyone who might get too close. Sadly, you're the unlucky one!]

W-watch out!

[Chrome tries to hold the bear to her chest as it fights to get loose. Suddenly it launches itself out of the young girl's arm and lunges for you.]

Ingredient Hunt B.

[bakudan_bambino]

Hang on-!

[There’s a familiar voice as Gokudera hears a yell, recognizing it as a sound of distress. He hasn’t sampled any of the ingredients he’s been gathering, but… he’s been picked up by trees before during faerie trials, and tentacles, and by some strange enemies here and there.

Cutting that branch apart with a swift combination electric-light saw-blade is easy work and he isn’t fully caught off-guard until he notices just who the sorry sap is that-

-Holy fuck when did Chrome get here?!

Oh!

Gotta catch her or something!

But Gokudera isn’t the one doing that. Nope. Instead there will be a large bubble appearing beneath her to cushion the fall, and she can slide right off if she wants. Who ever made that bubble is very much not Gokudera. He looks just as stunned as she probably feels.]

Dokuro?! When did you get here?!

[illusionaryskirt]

[She really thought the tree is going to get her! It flings her up in the air with the intention to slam her down. However, in mid-air, something strikes the branch and severed it from her leg. Though she's still falling and she grabs at the air helplessly trying to grab a hold of something. Instead, she finds a bubble cushioning her fall. She bounces on it a few times, before coming to a complete stop. Huh?

She jolts at the familiar voice, turning around to confirm if it's really him. Oh, it's Gokudera, the Boss's right hand!]

Oh, Storm guy! ...maybe a week ago?

[It seems like it has been longer since she plummeted into that ice-cold lake. Though she's happy to see someone she knows although it doesn't translate to her face. She's still in shock from the attack. Speaking of which, she should probably get away from the tree. She gets up from the bubble and hobbles over.]

...Is anyone else here? How about, Boss?

[bakudan_bambino]

Storm guy…?

[The last Chrome Dokuro he met had been on a different world, and he isn’t sure if this one is… that same one. Probably not, but she doesn’t seem as panicked as he would expect.

Aside from the tree attack, of course.

Gokudera is moving up to meet her, and throwing up a shield over them, just to be extra cautious. He moves with her as if she’s wounded, not certain about what condition she’s in.]

You’ve already been here that long?

[He should have known that!

What a failure of a right-hand he’s been in this world.]

The Tenth is here as well. But it’s just the two of us- er, three so far. Why didn’t you reach out to us? Are you alright?

[He may seem very different than when she last saw him. If that was even much at all. Gokudera’s from a later canon-point, but also has been to many different worlds aside from Avalon. Once they’re a safe distance from the tree, he’s walking cautiously beside her, content to supervise if she wants to continue gathering ingredients.]

I’ll tell him now, just in case he doesn’t already know.

[He’s got his device out and is sending a message to his boss to let him know that Chrome has arrived. Gokudera will gracefully keep out the fact that she’s been in this world for a week without them knowing. It looks bad on him, since he should be the one pretty much bringing the other guardians together.]

[illusionaryskirt]

[Sorry, Gokudera. Chrome hasn't gotten to that comfortable place to call Tsuna's guardian by their name. So you get Storm guy for now.

As for why she hasn't reached out, she tried to use her mist abilities, but it didn't work. She just resigned herself to the idea that she was here alone, and didn't think to use some other mode of contact.]

...I'm fine.

[Somehow she feels a bit timid as he questions, she does feel a bit foolish now.]

I just assumed I was alone. I even tried to reach out to Mukuro-sama...but...nothing.

[ She almost sounds emotional as she utters that last part. Though she had reasoned she had to be strong on her own. She was no longer the official mist guardian since Mukuro holds the Vongola Gear of the Mist, so she really had to rely on her own power. Partially, she didn't want to be disappointed, looking through the contact list on her device and seeing a sea of names she didn't recognize. It's still not a good reason.

Though hearing that at least Tsuna and Gokudera are present does bring her some comfort. She smiles a little as Gokudera comes closer to supervise, but she can't really focus on the ingredients now.]

...How long have you been here?

[bakudan_bambino]

[He’s not complaining, but to him it’s just a little odd. It’s not like he’s ever had much of a one-on-one interaction with Chrome before. Usually, he’s going through all sorts of other trouble and doesn’t have time for her… or any of the girls.

Save for Bianchi, but he doesn’t make time for her.]

You should be more careful.

[Looking her up and down, she seems fine. He waves a hand in dismissal and the bubble that had caught her vanishes. In its place is a small sea monster, similar to a plesiosaurus, but with a lot less teeth, and looking a lot more goofy. Larry struggles and slides along the ground with all the grace of a seal on land as he approaches them.]

Good thing Larry caught you.

[The little monster gargle-sqwaks at Chrome. Gokudera stays on his device, tapping about, looking up if she’d even reached out on the network.]

A year or so… What were you doing before you showed up here?

[Now he just looks like he’s conducting a survey.]

[illusionaryskirt]

...I know.

[She made a careless mistake to think the forest was safe, and she should have brought someone along just in case. She was lucky that Gokudera happened to be in the area and heard her. Next time, she might not be so fortunate.

She then looks to Gokudera's familiar, so that's who caught her. Now she's staring at the dinosaur? Sea creature? Chrome's not sure, but despite his appearance, he doesn't seem scary at all. As Larry squawks at her, she bows and utters a " thank you" before turning toward the Storm Guardian. Her eyes widen at the length of time.]

...A year?! B-but I just saw you, Boss...and everyone?!

[Somehow whatever she was during within the week didn't seem to matter! She knows they were drawn here because of time freezing across the many universes, but it only feels like yesterday that she was in their world interacting with everyone like normal.]

Aurora Bearealis

[theskyaccepts]

[Well isn't that just Tsuna's life?

A lot happens in an instant. Tsuna hears the call and turns because he knows that voice, the way he knows all his Guardians. And seeing Chrome there as he turns comes as a surprise and a relief and a whole lot of other feelings that are hard to sort through in a short amount of time. But he wants to say something because she's here, his Mist is here, and when he had last seen her she had been lying in a hospital bed desperately recovering.

Unfortunately. Unfortunately, he does not get time to express any of that because suddenly he is aware of a bear practically flying at him and the only emotion that remains is panic as he throws his hands up in a pathetic sort of defence and stumbles backwards.]

Chromauggh!

[illusionaryskirt]

B-boss?

[ Of course, it would be Boss, who happens to walk by. She recognizes him a split-second later as the bear mauls him, latching onto his face!]

Boss!

[Chrome scrambles to get the bear off of the other teen. She tries to speak to the bear and let him know that this is a friend. Though since she doesn't have much mastery of her animal magic yet, this doesn't go so well!]

[theskyaccepts]

[Tsuna is also trying to push the bear off of him, and at least manages to pry the paws away from his face. There might be some scratches he'll have to take care of later. But despite the injuries he's smiling.]

Ch-Chrome...you're here, and okay!

[He's so relieved, and that is overtaking any other concerns he might have. He'd probably hug her if he wasn't so focused on the bear.]

[illusionaryskirt]

[This isn't the happy reunion any of them were hoping for. While Tsuna is able to pry off the small bear's paws, Chrome is able to pull the teddy's body away. Unfortunately, the bear still puts up a bit of a fight in her arms, but she tries to use her animal magic to calm the beast down.

Calm down, Kuma. Please Calm down. He's my friend. Calm down, please!

It manages to do the trick, Kuma's violence seems to subside, although he's still giving Tsuna some fierce eyes.]

I-I'm sorry, Boss! I don't know what came over him!

[She feels bad, especially seeing all those scratches on the teen's face, but she's also happy to see Tsuna. She heard from Gokudera that he was also here.]

And yes, I'm okay! I was a little confused in the beginning, but...I didn't really have much time to dwell on it.

[She blushes a little in embarrassment. Is this normal? She's been surprisingly busy since this world has a way of throwing you into the fray. She couldn't even focus on being in a foreign world before she had to take care of an egg.]

[theskyaccepts]

It's okay, really. I'm kinda used to it...

[He speaks like this isn't the first times it's happened. Poor Tsuna.]

D-did you just get here? This place can be a little confusing, even at the best of times.

[illusionaryskirt]

[Chrome still looks a little concerned. Even though this isn't the first time she's seen Tsuna all beaten up, but she's not normally the cause. She uses one hand to pull out a handkerchief from her skirt pocket and offers it to the teen. Just to help wipe the blood off.]

...hm? I think it's been a week or so.

[Somehow it feels longer, but confusing is an understatement.]

This world is strange, but...I'm getting used to things.

[She spares him a small smile.]

Training | can't app him because character limits, but I had to

[illusionistico]

[The mouse may home spoken to her, but instead of a clear answer a presence scares it away. A presence of a young man, approaching Chrome from further away.]

My my, what a situation we have landed into.

Yay!

[illusionaryskirt]

M-Mukuro-sama!!

[She couldn't help but exclaim, but she clamps her hands over her mouth as she's once again hushed. She decides to get up from her spot and run over to the other illusionist.

She replies in a more hushed tone.]

B-but I tried to reach out to you...and I couldn't!

[illusionistico]

Neither could I reach you. I'm afraid it has to do with this place. None of my normal abilities work.

[Even his red eye is... well, a red eye.]

I am, however, glad to see you unharmed, Chrome.

[illusionaryskirt]

[ To know that Mukuro was worried about her makes her feel warm, and a smile creeps on her face. Though it seems he also has the same issue as her. So it's not only her.]

...even my organs. I don't have to worry about them here.

[ It seems like a lot of the newcomers here have similar findings. Losing their powers or ailments only to have newfound ones.]

They said we have to get accustomed to the new magic we have? Did you find out what you have yet, Mukuro-sama?

[illusionistico]

That is a relief. Even if they failed to heal your eye.

[He gently reaches for her face with his gloved hand... but doesn't quite touch her.

He's not 100% if his magic is what he thinks it is but he's rather not own it.]

I have yet to discover my new magic properly. How about you?

[illusionaryskirt]

[She blushes at that hand reaching towards her face, but when it falters, she doesn't look too disappointed. Instead, she runs her gentle fingers over the eye patch.]

Yeah...but I don't mind.

[It's a reminder of the life she left behind. The organs she needs to live, but her eye, she's already learned to live without it.]

I think...it's animal. I thought I heard that mouse earlier, but I can't be sure. It was still faint.

Training Grounds

[boku_wa_lambo]

[ Lambo is exploring and while everything is new, Chrome isn’t. She’s familiar and he is trying his best to sneak up on her. It’s easy enough to do when she’s meditating, but he freezes behind her as she spots a mouse from across the room.

He hasn’t exactly been caught, but he might as well give himself away.

So he slides up to her right side, army-crawling on the ground and tugs at the hem of her skirt. ]

This is boring! You should play with Lambo-san.

[illusionaryskirt]

[ Even with one eye, there's no way she can miss that head of fluff coming into her peripheral. She's a little surprised to see the Lightning Guardian here. And of course, he's very much acting his age, tugging on her skirt and demanding her attention.]

...L-lambo-san! What are you doing here?

[ The room is full of mages trying to mediate, so the irritated group shushes them both. Chrome knows from dealing with Lambo before that reception will probably rile up the young boy more. So she scoops the cow boy in her arms and starts heading out of the room.]

...Did you get here all by yourself?

[boku_wa_lambo]

[ He smiles proudly at because one, she's showing him the respect he deserves and two, because she's picking him up. ]

Bleh- [ the irritated mages get a tug of his lower eyelid and a tongue for their rudeness and then he's nestling comfortably in Chrome's arms, pleased to be carried out of the room and hopefully further. ]

Lambo-san arrived all by himself! He wasn't scared at all.

[illusionaryskirt]

[The other mages seem pretty stunned at this kid's nerve but is thankful that Chrome vacates the room with the brat.]

...You wasn't?

[Chrome thinks that's impressive because she was definitely afraid when she came here. She still kind of is, but somehow Lambo's confidence makes her feel a little at ease.]

...W-well I am. I'm glad that Lambo-san found me. Were you looking for someone to play with?

[ The training grounds isn't a place for a child, but maybe they can make the best of the situation. She wonders if this kid has found out his magic yet.]

[boku_wa_lambo]

Not even a little bit.

[ What he lacks in common sense and respect, he makes up for in confidence and audacity. ]

It's okay, Lambo-san will keep you safe if you play with him.

[ he gives her forearm a comforting pat. ]

[illusionaryskirt]

...Thank you.

[ She smiles a little at the pat on her arm, she appreciates it.

She doesn't know many children games, because she didn't have many friends growing up and Chrome's not sure if she'll be much fun, but she's willing to try.]

What game would you like to play? Um...Hide and Seek? Red light, green light? Or something else?