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avalaughs2022-02-28 08:54 pm
TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 17
| QUICK NAV: |
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A ⦿ Soaking in Your Arrival
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If anyone tries to ask the Lady of the Lake for directions, she will direct you to Archimedes at the Rent-a-Ride. Those with animal magic may get their info from the mossatees, though may notice that they're really overly friendly and have zero concept of personal boundaries. Everyone may notice they have no concept of personal space, as they will happily run right into someone's belly for a snoot squishing. 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
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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. 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! |
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When everyone arrives it seems like during the siege on Camelot the training grounds were absolutely trashed! |
A ⦿ gArBo HuNgErS | |
| With everyone focusing on recovering Camelot main and the bulk of the resort facilities at the Red Springs, the training grounds at the Red Springs have gone a little neglected.. at least enough to be taken over by a band of local decay sprites. |
What's more, they grow in size each time they eat something new, so some of them are already big enough to swallow an orc! Don't worry, the trash goes into a hammerspace to decay over a long period of time, so if you get swallowed, there's still a chance for someone to get you out... which they can do by fighting the decay sprite. Decay sprites can suck things up similarly to Kirby, though they do not gain your powers, so finding a way to keep your feet on the ground with magic should be your first step. Beware though, defeated sprites will spin in a circle and fall over, and everything they've eaten will spill out onto the ground... so you're going to have to clean it up yourself. | |
B ⦿ Slightly Shabby | |
The state of Camelot isn't exactly great when everyone arrives. It's been ravaged by siege. Things are broken, scattered, and though many of the buildings are still standing, most people are focused on things like taking care of kids, rebuilding, or rerouting the new arrivals since the inn is not available right now. The castle rooms are already pretty full of people whose homes got trampled during the siege, so new arrivals are going to have to find their own place to live. |
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kinda clingy feelings toward anyone who lets you out. Though acting on it can be fought with strong enough willpower, it's certainly going to get you and a stranger much closer than you planned a lot faster. It looks like you may have gotten caught up in some kind of dark web experimental product... oops. | |
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The start of the month begins with the usual March rituals like the Lesser Banishing of Frost Fairies before flowers start to bloom throughout Avalon. Once things start to get cleaned up, some Camelot citizens think of ways to get Camelot back to its normal glory.
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A ⦿ Running of the Moon Rabbits | |
Doing the Lesser Banishing of Frost Fairies often attracts Moon Rabbit kits. These friendly small rabbits do eat a lot though, and it's important right now that the youngin's are nourished without depleting Camelot's food stores. |
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B ⦿ Eggxacting | |
| With the streets clearer and Camelot finally starting to look more like its former self (albeit a little sparser) a culinary wizard has taken to trying his hand at a kind of magic that should help to quickly decorate the city and encourage floral growth. Using a wild combination of animal magic and green magic, the wizard created a special brand of eggs he's calling Oeufs de fleurs. He's selling them for a low price (hey, he does need to bring in some income to afford his expenses) for everyone and new arrivals get half a dozen OdF eggs for free! Just make sure that you follow the directions and there won't be a problem! 1. Blue eggs should only be thrown at night. More information is available on the chef's Instagram page, of course, but that's all that's included. The further information lets you know that blue eggs are |
photosensitive and will turn into bear firs if thrown during the day, but if used correctly will blossom into moonflowers at night. The white eggs react to the moon and will grow into 60 foot tall trees if you throw them at night... but if you're throwing them during the day, they will become beautiful morning glories that only blossom during the light. | |
• 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. |
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It's really me, Aigis. [ she shifts one of her arms around, resting her hand on her cheek, thumb stroking the synthetic skin. tears begin falling more steadily again. ]
It's... part of how this place is. After... after the roof... [ her heart aches at the mention of it. ] I ended up here. Like you did. But I...
[ she clenches her eyes closed for a moment, swallowing a lump in her throat. ]
I wanted to stay. I wanted to be with you... with the others. You know that, right?
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[ It's really her.This place... god, she understands enough about the situation after everything she's been told, but it's still incredible...
It's letting her see Kotone again, after all.
She continues to choke out tearless sobs. It's strange... even though she's a machine, she can feel Kotone's hand rubbing her back, stroking her cheek. ]
Of course I know...
[ She shakily takes one hand away from Kotone's back to hold the hand on her cheek. She knows... they all know that if she would have stayed if there were any other way. But... ]
But I'm sorry... I'm so, so sorry... Kotone-san...!
[ It all spills out... what she's wanted to say to her, what she thought she would never be able to say to her ever again... spilling out as if making up for her lack of tears. ]
I-I swore to protect you... t-to always be b-by your side, and yet...! [ Her voice cracks as she lowers her head, pressing it against Kotone's chest. ] I let you shoulder such a burden on your own...!
[ Her trembling is renewed as she starts to tearlessly sob into Kotone's chest. Repeating the same thing, over and over again...
She's sorry. ]
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Hey...
[ kotone tightens the arm around aigis's back as well as she can, leaning down to press her lips to the crown of her head.
her heart beats steadily. ]
Aigis, hey, no. L-listen to me... okay? Don't be sorry, you were amazing. It... was always gonna end that way, and it was... it was my burden. Not any of yours. You made it easier.
[ she exhales in a sob, taking a shaky breath in a desperate effort to collect herself. another kiss into aigis's hair as she cradles her there on the ground. if aigis needs her to be her rock, for now, then that's exactly what she'll do. loving this girl has never been mere obligation, and her need to be there for her has been intensified. ]
There's... there's no one else I would've rather had at my side.
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She feels bad, making her do this. She's crying too... it must've been hard for her as well, and making her focus solely on comforting her...
But she can't help it. Each kiss to her head makes her feel warm... and she can feel the beating of her heart in her chest. A pulsing reminder of how somehow she was here... and she was alive. ]
Kotone-san...!
[ She looks up at her... at those tear-filled red eyes. To be perfectly honest, she still feels guilty. It was always going to end that way, Aigis was painfully aware of this fact. She knows what she did and why it had to be done... saw for herself what it is she had to do. The Answer she arrived at.
It still hurt. She'd accepted this pain already, but it was still more painful than anything else. Ultimate answer or not, Kotone deserves better... to at least have someone to share that weight. Aigis had promised to be that person. If nobody else could be at her side, she had made it her duty to be the one that does... and yet she wasn't.
But now she's here, cradling her in her arms. The more she sat there, the more Kotone's presence and existence was confirmed in her mind...
She looks up at the girl that meant everything to her and leans forwawrd... synthetic lips meeting real ones. It's abrupt and without warning, and she'll apologize for it later, but... ]
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at last, she breaks away. aigis may not need to breathe, but kotone very much does. ]
I love you, Aigis. [ she breathes that out and manages a little genuine smile, fingers weaving into that short blonde hair as she locks eyes with her. there had never been time for her to say it before, not in so many words. ]
... Come home with me?
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Still, she lets out a small gasp at Kotone's words. They both knew it already, somewhat bashfully dancing around the actual words themselves but understanding perfectly nonetheless. If Kotone looks closely, she'd be able to see how despite being a robot, her cheeks are flushed. ]
I-I... I love you too, Kotone-san...
[ She almost starts to cry again just saying it. She squeezes Kotone's hand tight... still as if she'll fade away, leaving her again if she doesn't keep hold. ]
Yes, of course...!
[ The Great Seal, Nyx, Erebus... she can't afford to think of any of that right now, nor does she want to. Kotone is here... and that's all that matters to her. ]
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The others are gonna be so happy to see you. It's not just us—Yukari, Mitsuru and Koromaru are with me. [ she huffs a breath, though. ] And we're... past the san, aren't we? But I don't mind.
[ there's a charm to it, even as overly informal as kotone herself might tend to be. very few people call her that, and never with the tenderness aigis does. ]
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Ah, so they are here as well...?
[ That's good, that means they've been able to see her again too... though ideally everyone would be here. ]
Eh, are we...? [ She had... never really considered that. Referring to everyone using -san just felt natural and normal to her. She did it for everyone. ] It just feels natural...
[ She squeezes her hand again... if Kotone really wanted her to, she could be more informal, but it just felt strange. ]
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Then keep doing it! It's okay. [ she starts walking, tugging aigis along with a grin. ] You just... don't have to. That's all.
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[ She goes along with her, her heart still soaring from being with her again.
She won't let her go again. ]
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... I don't know how much time we've got. But... I want to be with you for as long as I can, Aigis. Every moment counts, right? [ and her expression turns a bit more thoughtful as she looks forward. ]
And I wanna make up for lost time. I've... been here for a long time already.
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She clings more tightly to Kotone in this position... ]
A long time... Kotone-san, how long have you been here...?
[ How much has she missed? ]
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A year. [ she says it quietly. ] I haven't really made the most of it.
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Those feelings were strong from the beginning, and they simply grew from there into the love she now feels today. ]
A... a year...?
[ A whole year... in a way, she's happy. That means that Kotone has had a whole year more of life...
But she feels a pain in her chest. A year of time where she wasn't at Kotone's side... a year's worth of missed time. ]
A year... I've missed so much...
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[ kotone stops walking and turns, cupping aigis's face in both hands. ]
It's not your fault. And we can make up for it, now. I don't know how long we have, but... we'll be together. Okay?
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[ Ahh, the gesture makes her feel all warm and fluttery... she brings up her own hands to cup Kotone's hands, and she can't help but smile. ]
Yes, of course...!
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something does occur to her, though, and she pulls back to hurriedly go through her pockets for her phone. there! what time is it—oh she didn't come home last night. okay.
that's gonna be an issue. she winces, scrolling past the texts and missed calls, before ringing up yukari on a voice call. she tenses up a little nervously, lips pressing into a line. ]
This is gonna be baaaad...
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the voice that greets kotone on the second ring is clipped and on the verge of several different emotions at once. ]
Kotone? Where are you?
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kotone's initial impulse to try to defuse this by going overly light gets forced down. that's a great way to get yukari even angrier. ]
Yukari, hey. I'm sorry for just disappearing—I think I'm in the park?—it's... I'm on my way home, I can explain when I get back. I didn't want to scare you guys like that.
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Why don't you give me the short version of what happened while you're on the way. [ it's phrased as a question, but the implication is very much not a request. ] And then we can hear the long version when you're here.
Because.... God, Kotone we were so worried about you, you.... [ another pause and this time her voice finally cracks under the pressure, ] You idiot.
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[ Aigis recogized the voice on the other end immediately, though she was waiting for a time to cut in. She's not sure if this is the best time, but...
Surprise? ]
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well, cat's out of the bag with aigis talking. kotone sighs, then turns on video. there she is, with aigis looking over her shoulder. with her free hand splayed towards her, in an awkward tone like she's not sure what comes next: ]
Um. Surpriiiise...?
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yukari flips on the camera and instead of anger, there's just utter bewilderment. frustration and relief are there, as well, but mostly just. oh my god. what the hell. ]
Aigis? When did you--How long have you--
[ there's movement on the other side of the camera as yukari walks through the house, pinching the bridge of her nose with her free hand. she thought migraines from stress were a myth, but nope! not only are those real, she is developing one at a very fast pace.
she opens a door and points the camera so that mitsuru is now visible on camera. ]
Mitsuru, please talk to them. [ with that, she hands off the phone to collapse on the nearest couch and bury her face into a pillow. ] Because if I do, I am going to lose it.
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[ Mitsuru sounds confused, glancing off-camera towards Yukari before her attention turns to the phone. ]
Is that Kotone?
[ Her voice, like Yukari's before, is riding the line between several emotions - chief among them hope, concern, and irritation. As she approaches the camera, it quickly becomes clear from the faint bags underneath her eyes that she's running on little sleep, if any. ]
Do you have any idea how worried we've been?
[ The world briefly blurs into indistinct shapes as Mitsuru accepts the phone from Yukari, turning it around to face her. ]
We've been attempting to contact you all night, where have you be--
[ Mitsuru stops. Worry and anger smooth out into plainfaced surprise and stupefaction as she finally sees the screen. ]
Aigis ...?
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[ So she says, leaning over Kotone's shoulder. ]
I have also reunited with Kotone-san. I found her in a ball that was being advertised as a form of miniature housing and pleasant sleep.
[ It really hasn't been long since Aigis last saw Mitsuru or Yukari... even if the same can't be said by them. In any case, it's clear they were—rather reasonably—worried about Kotone's whereabouts... so isn't it only right that she
completely rats Kotone outprovides a report? ]It appears however that those who enter cannot leave until released by another.
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