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.

---

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

[sandinmyhair]

[On the one hand, it's a thing Bruno's used to--his sisters' kids were just as excitable, if not moreso, and it's kind of charming.

On the other hand, he really is here to relax and trying to use any kind of magic is not high on his list of things to do at the moment. He gives a slightly indulgent grin.]

Woah, kid--I'd love to find out, but let's take it one thing at a time, huh? Let an old man get his bearings and learn what this place is all about, first, okay?

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto raises an eyebrow, looking suddenly unimpressed. Kids will be kids... ]

...Fine. Ask me anything, then. I'm an expert.

[ ...H-He's not. He's fourteen. And still writes his E's backwards. But! He has been here for half a year. He does know at least some things... and he likes helping people. That's the main point, in subtext. ]

[sandinmyhair]

[Kids are kids no matter where you find them or where they're from, it seems.]

Anything, huh? Okay. Serious question, then--do they have any plans to send us back home after we're, uh... done saving the world?

[prontissimo]

Yes. Eventually. That or you'll just randomly disappear someday, anyway.

[ As far as he's heard... Not a convincing or a comforting answer, how he delivers it, though. ]

Next question?

[ ghrjsnfkd he's not interviewing you, Alberto, calm down ]

[sandinmyhair]

'Disappear?'

[Well, that's... not... good.]

Disappear where?

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto shrugs, humming as if to say “I’unno,” scratching idly at his face as he talks. ]

Home, I guess? Or, uh, I guess another world. Cuz, y’know, obviously there are, like, a gazillion… Orrr you could end up here for years. I know a guy like that.

[ …which is also… not… good…? Alberto should not be allowed to welcome anyone to Avalon ever again. ]

[sandinmyhair]

[No, he really shouldn't, especially if the look of growing horror on Bruno's face is anything to go by.]

Wow, I.... Wow. I feel like I should be a lot more afraid of this than I am....

[prontissimo]

No, no, no, no, no! Don't be scared! Life here's great! I mean, apart from, y'know, everything that happened with all the refugees and the dragon and all that a while ago, but— everyone here helped out, so they're fiiine now, everyone's fine~ ...More or less. I mean— except the dragon, I guess. He's not fine. He's dead.

[ grhuiadjkn A-Alberto, stop. Please. ]

But other than that, life's great here! The humans are all super nice— well, most of them. Nine out of ten, eheh. Ma, no, don't worry, you'll make friends, eh, Signor~!

[ He's... trying to be more comforting. But making friends is not the concern here, unfortunately. And even if it were... ...he's still not very comforting. Yeesh. ]

[sandinmyhair]

[He blinks slowly.]

A dragon.

[After a beat, something goes twing in his brain and he laughs.]

Why not a dragon? This place has no shortage of weird.

[prontissimo]

[ That's... for whatever reason, the right reaction? This is a weird grown-up. Alberto meets the weirdest grown-ups in this place. Here, Bruno's taken by the weirdness of dragons, and Alberto's taken by the weirdness of Bruno. It's a good weird, though. Alberto's a good weird, himself, he fancies. So it works. ]

Yeah, that's not even the half of it...! There are also fairies that'll steal your name, cranky sea monsters who’ll curse you to stay underwater, and I dunno— ghosts, I guess, and pumpkins that attack you, and drawings that jump out at you... Little paper Bruno monsters that come to life and grow giant and carry you away! ...Crazy stuff. And that was just, like— one holiday...!

[ Alberto's really, really selling this place, man. ]

[sandinmyhair]

[That's a lot. Some of it kinda tracks, what with this place being run by faerie beings. And yet what sticks is this:]

Woah, woah, wait, giant paper what?

[He knows Bruno isn't exactly a rare name, but to hear it in such a context is, well, a bit startling.]

1/3 cuz i like icons and alberto's too expressive lol

[prontissimo]

A Bruno.

[ He says like it's the most obvious thing. He shifts where he sits, getting more comfortable, settling in-like, and leaning forward toward Bruno as he speaks, gesturing as he talks, ever-animated and emphatic. ]

Y'know that little voice inside your head? Sometimes it's quiet, but sometimes it's loud, and says all the stuff you don't wanna hear? That's when you've got a Bruno in your head. Like, maybe he lies and says, y'know, heavy stuff, the stuff that keeps you up at night when you're alone — "You're not good enough~ You ruin everything~ Everyone's better off without you~" Bla bla bla~

[ He says these, indeed, heavy sentiments, far too dark for a kid his age, in a lighthearted, singsongy voice, waving his hand dismissively with a sarcastic roll of his eyes. But he continues, all rather matter-of-factly within his charismatic and energetic and (maybe inappropriately?) humorous delivery. ]

Or, he just tells you things that make you scared to do fun stuff you wanna do. Especially if it's dangerous...! "Alberto, you can't. Alberto, you shouldn't. Alberto, you're gonna die...! Aha-Alberto, don't put that in your mouth~!" Eheh...

[ The same singsongy lilt and accompanying sarcastic gestures, this time even more keyed up than the first. He laces a wry laughter through the last bit, a sheepish yet smug smile spreading on his face in spite of himself, letting his hand go limp pointing at the man, as if to prove a point, as his face suddenly goes more serious, brows raised, and his voice goes a little more pointed. ]

2/3

[prontissimo]

That's Bruno talking. You don't listen to Bruno. So when you hear that voice, you should just say, "Silenzio, Bruno~!" and shut 'im up!

[ He pinches his fingers together in both hands — Italian-style, naturally — gesticulating with much more passion and even more volume as he repeats this personal mantra, evidently: "Silenzio, Bruno...!" ]

Uuuusually that works. More or less. Anyway. [ gruihsjknfd "anyway," right, there's a story here ]

On Halloween, there was this magic paper, and basically the people at the place told you to write down all the things that your Bruno says... Or, y'know, whatever you call him. I thought it'd be, I dunno— freeing, or something...? But then it just turned into a weird little monster-thing on its own, and it came alive and grew giant and picked me up and carried me off!

[ Okay, so some slight panic enters his delivery there, waving his arms entirely, all for dramatics' sake. But again, sarcastically goes flat. ]

So. That [ another, gentler pinch of the fingers in emphasis, pointed at Bruno's face ] was not my favorite "spooky-magical moment" here.

3/3

[prontissimo]

[ In the breath of silence he lets settle for a slight moment, letting that heightened energy fade out a little, this gregarious, slightly bizarre child at least tries to read the expression on Bruno's face at this bewildering exposition, and quickly continues without too much lapse, grasping for a more positive conclusion, tagging on a few more words of encouragement about being spirited away here with a compassionate, awkward smile, but again with passionate, animated gestures: ]

Buuut... otherwise, for the most part, except for all the crazy things like that, it's pretty great here. A-And I know it's scary, especially if you're new and don't know anyone... So, uh, if you start getting scared and worried about being here, heh— just say "Silenzio, Bruno!" like I said! Eheh...

[ He means well. He really means well. He's just trying to tell it like it is. And maybe that last bit of transparent nervousness and sympathy at once, shows that he's not so unfamiliar with Bruno's own present position. It may be bemusing and even disconcerting "advice" (i-is it even advice? a warning? an unintentionally awful pep talk?), but it's clearly an attempt at coming from a good place, just judging by something in that lopsided smile on the boy's face... Something realer than the cocky boasting he'd put on til now, something quietly earnest. ]

[sandinmyhair]

...

[He's honestly not sure whether to laugh or agree or--or what.

The interplay of emotions on his face is just as expressive as Alberto's. His eyes are pretty wide most of the time, eyebrows pulling in various directions. At a couple points he opens his mouth to speak but each time, Alberto just plows right on ahead and he shuts it again.

Eventually the torrent of words stops and Bruno chooses his own carefully... or, well, tries to, anyway.]

That's... that's really good advice, and I mean it. A lot of people would do a lot better if they told that inner voice to be quiet. Me, included. But, ah... my name's Bruno.

1/2

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto's face falls, almost blanches, staring at Bruno with wide eyes, raised brows, pursed lips — a look of pure incredulity and shock. What... Wh-What is he supposed to say to that. At last, the boy's speechless for a moment. ]

2/2

[prontissimo]

[ But after a beat, he props himself up by his elbow on his knee, resting his chin casually in the palm of his hand, giving an airy wave with his other, as a wide, lazy-lidded grin spreads over his face, a thick, sarcastic, feigned debonaire smoothness in his voice. ]

Well. This is awkward~

[sandinmyhair]

[Wee bit.]

[Bruno sighs, shaking his head and smiling.]

Well, I guess I'll just have to remember that when I hear 'Silenzio Bruno,' that hopefully it's not directed at me.

[Yeah, good luck with that, me, he tells himself. Just his luck after a lifetime of his words being taken wrongly and ten years of silence he goes to a new place and someone's catchphrase is essentially 'Shut up, Bruno?' What are the odds?

No, seriously. He's gonna have to sit down and figure out just what the odds of this even are.

The contemplative look on his face might appear a bit sad, but really, he's just lost in thought.]

[prontissimo]

[ The sad, ruminative look on his face is not lost on Alberto, across the unknown gap of worlds, silence, age, everything... One who's felt that look, well— even if not exactly— can still recognize that look... Alberto offers a weak, halfhearted smile of his own back at Bruno's smile, but instead of shaking his head to match or waving his hand sarcastically again, just rests his chin in both his hands together, all innocent and childish and charmed-like, perhaps a bit more becoming of his age, than, well... all of that that he'd just described, ahem... ]

Uhh... Eheh. I mean— You can call your voice whatever you want, y'know. Ahah, uh— Y-You wanna call him Alberto...? Hah...

[ A nervous chuckle embroidered through his tone like a natural decoration, obvious he leans on humor in uncomfortable situations, trying his best to smooth over this very unusual social glitch. It's a wry joke, but, well... one made in empathy. The kid's not so bad, maybe, albeit more than a tad bit odd. All just, yeah, wow, indeed— some... kismet misunderstanding, some cosmic joke on the both of them. What are the chances, really? ]

[sandinmyhair]

Hm? [He really had been pondering the literal statistical likelihood. But he gives up on it easily enough--he hasn't got a pen and paper and while he's not dim by any stretch of the imagination, doing statistical maths in his head isn't exactly a hobby of his.

Besides, there's someone right there who's floundering with the situation in a way he's all too familiar with, having done the same, himself, more times than he'd care to admit.]

[He gives a quiet laugh.] Heh. I might, but then that'd probably make things confusing, what with all the silenzio Bruno and callarse Alberto.... 'Ay, I give up!' they'd say.

[prontissimo]

[ That draws another quiet laugh from Alberto in turn, relaxing a little, his form loosening up too, smile becoming less nervous, more genuine. ]

Hah! Then that's it! If it's so confusing those voices'll give up, then that still shuts 'em up, hah. And, aha, it's kinda funny, eh? Sooo— it'd distract us, at least~

[ Apart from, y'know, the bizarre coincidence at hand here, Alberto's a little surprised with how readily Bruno grasps this concept of personifying that inner voice... Whenever Alberto's told his friends about his Bruno — which, granted, hasn't been too many people, just Luca, Asriel, Izuku, but even Signora Della — he's only gotten majorly side-eyed and probably worried people, at worst, confused them at best.

But all this guy's told him is that it's legitimately good advice and cracked some funny jokes. In fact, he doesn't know any other adults who crack jokes, period. Every grown man in his life has mostly been concerned with rules, usually rules Alberto's breaking; he's only known stern, serious, sensible men. The only adult he knows who'll joke around and laugh and play with him is Della, and she can't cook, acts like a kid half the time, and spent ten years alone on the moon, so, like... does she count as a grown-up, even if she's an adult? Just that Bruno has a sense of humor at all is intriguing Alberto, beyond these most unusual circumstances that bring it out. ]

[sandinmyhair]

[Bruno's already well on the way to having personified his courage as Hernando, but Jorge is... a product of boredom, let's be real. There is absolutely no psychological advantage to having a bucket on one's head whilst mixing spackle.

As to well-adjusted adults, Alberto's not going to do any better with Bruno than with Della. Bruno also can't cook... and is rather childlike... and spent ten years in isolation--spsghgyk IS THIS KID'S LIFE COMPRISED ENTIRELY OF COINCIDENCES?]

That'd be the real magic, wouldn't it? We come to this land, confuse our inner negativity, and it gives up. I'm all for it. In the meantime, distracting is good.

[After all, he's got a nephew whose entire remit of existence is distraction, soooo....]

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto's life is entirely comprised of coincidences. If it weren't for just a couple coincidences just a few weeks before finding himself spirited away, he'd have been coming here straight from his island, straight from years of isolation of his own, having never had a real friend or any scope of experience at all beyond being left to his own devices in the wild, which... produced a lot more dangerous creations borne from boredom than wearing a bucket on his head and talking in a funny voice. Alberto's lucky to be alive, let's be real; that's a serious coincidence! His "Bruno" has done well to keep him, well, maybe not safe, but safe enough, whether he's old enough to value that or not. The little voice is there for a reason. "You're gonna die" and "don't put that in your mouth" are worthwhile pieces of advice, even if "you ruin everything and everyone's better off without you" are not. The trick is differentiating, but... that lens comes with age, and a willingness to look inwards and listen — both of which Alberto lacks, so, for now, Silenzio, Bruno and Silencio, Alberto, it is.

He gives Bruno a wide, lopsided smile, something boyish and bright in his eyes at this mutual understanding, not the cocky, smarmy, overzealous shtick he'd worn til now. ]

Hah— benisssimo, hehe~ So it's settled: a "Silenzio, Alberto" and "Silenzio, Bruno" pact, hah!

[ In one fluid gesture with the same hand, he points at Bruno with his forefinger on the word "Alberto," points to himself with his thumb on the word "Bruno," and with a showy little snap of his fingers, ends with an enthusiastic thumbs up between the two of them, smile turning more smirkish once more as he regains his charm. ]

With plenty of distractions otherwise, that's for sure, heh. But, really, ragazzo, it's not that bad here... Just, eheh, a little crazy~ But crazy's better than boring, eh?

[ A more sympathetic smile. He doesn't know how to talk to grownups very well still, but it's been surprisingly easy with this guy, so even if he oscillates a bit between snark and sheepishness, trying to find his footing, there's a certain sincerity that still shines through. "Crazy's better than boring" is a telling enough sentiment on its own — and probably an operating motive on how Alberto lives his life... here, on his island, back home in Portorosso, anywhere he goes. Crazy's better than boring.

Full-circle back to how this conversation started, too, searching for a chronically-lost pet dinosaur in a pink coat with an elegant headscarf, "Crazy's better than boring" are probably rather elucidating words. ]

[sandinmyhair]

[He chuckles,] It's a deal!

[A long time ago, before things got... distant, Bruno was pretty good with kids. Well, sort of. He was the one who'd play Let's Pretend, who'd climb trees, who'd lead expeditions into the wilds outside of town and bring everyone back home with frogs and snakes and shiny rocks. He'd listen to secrets and not breathe a word of them (sometimes because he forgot what it was, but that was just as good, because they could tell him again,), and didn't talk down to anyone. But he wasn't the safest grown-up to be around, in that the usual things that happened with tree-climbing and stream-fording and whatnot would happen on his watch. He wasn't great at sheltering unless you were scared.

He's starting to dust the cobwebs off of those skills.]

I know what you mean--'boring' might be safer, but you're not really living, then, are you? 'Crazy' brings people and things into your life and leaves you with stories to tell.

[prontissimo]

[ That remark draws a wide, bright grin over Alberto's face, his enthusiastic agreement reaching his eyes. ]

Hah, yeah, exactly, you get it! If I didn't do half the crazy things I've ever done— I'd never have gotten anywhere...! "Crazy" makes things happen, hah~!

[ He's used to adults scolding him for doing crazy things — not encouraging it... This is great. What a weird guy. Weird's just as good as crazy. Same token. ]