TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 5

[avalonmods]

✨ Greet new players on the OOC intro while apps are processed HERE! ✨

{ QUICK NAV } Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary ⚔️️ Top-Levels Only ⚔️️ 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 slightly chilled waters. After a brief plunge into the Bay, the rush of water filling your ears and soaking up into every creak and crevice of your body, you may need to cough to clear your airways when you rise above the surface. It's still chilly, but not enough that you can't manage on your own. The Lady of the Lake is swimming around under the water, but seems to be focusing on coordinating a band of chia manatees to help rescue any wayward new arrivals. Chia manatees are a special Avalonian manatee that is green in color and has what appears to be a patches of grass or other short plantlife growing on its back. While some are fully green, others sport small flower blossoms that haven't yet grown in or various types of mushrooms. 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 manatees, 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. *Reminder: Your character's familiar may or may not be with your character in their initial plunge. If the familiar isn't partial to water, it may meet your character on the beach or sit atop their head while they swim. Or if they are, they might splash about and swim alongside your character. Familiars have different personalities and body specs and we leave those up to the players. B ⦿ The Caravan to Camelot 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 earbuds 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 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. The Isle of Avalon is abuzz with excitement for the upcoming Spring Equinox (though some of the more posh citizens will insist it's the Vernal Equinox, tut tut). Unlike the very specific rituals of the Winter Solstice that require much preparation, the Spring is welcomed throughout the month through a variety of small rituals to help the world along as it renews itself, growing new plants and allowing nature to make new life. A ⦿ The Lesser Banishing of Frost Fairies Throughout February, the Frost Fairies were running amok and keeping things chilly, even awarding those who gave them treats last month. These fairies create ice crystals on contact and can be spotted by the beautiful ice crystal patterns that form in their trail. They cause frost bite if you physically touch them, so capture isn't recommended. They seem to be sticking around a little too long this month, as they're normally supposed to leave at the end of February. No one seems alarmed, as it seems that this happens from time to time. It's easy enough to deal with-- and so, people throughout town are being asked to perform a ritual called the Lesser Banishing of Frost Fairies. It's perfectly safe, and lets these invisible little creatures be sent on their way until the next winter. The first step: create bait. Fill a planter with dusty miller and silver sage, with a night-blooming flower at the center. The silvery-white leaves pique the curiosity of the Frost Fairies because they look snowy, yet when they see the flower bloom, they know it cannot be. The plants won't be damaged at all in the ritual, so you'll get a moon garden out of it, which can be incidentally draw adorable little moon rabbit kits in to play inside your home while the moon is out. They're friendly, though they do tend to enjoy pack-sized snuggles-- you may find yourself stuck with no fewer than 15 rabbits attempting to climb on you for attention and need someone's help to pull them off. You may need to get them under control before you continue with the ritual. Once you've assembled your miniature moon garden, you'll need to find a stranger to perform the ritual. You need to bring a new energy into your home in order to let the Frost Fairies know that it's time to meet something new. Take hands with the new person and dance in circles around the miniature moon garden. The plants will start to glow and the Frost Fairies will become visible-- short, fat, all-white penguin with flamingo-length legs and icicle crowns. They will immediately challenge you and your summoning partner to a duel! Though, you can pick what kind of challenge it is as their culture dictates. They're pretty overconfident, just remember not to pick something that involves touching them unless you want to end up needing a healer. B ⦿ The Language of Flowers Once the Frost Fairies are properly banished, flowers are starting to crop up all around Camelot, the Broceliande, the fields in between, and those who come back to the White Cliffs after arrival will even find the Cliff Beast in a pleasant mood from all the lovely little flowers hanging off of his clifftop. (No one's quite sure how a cliff seems happy, but that's the sense everyone gets.) Wherever you may be, there are flowers starting to crop up. Normally, this would be when people would start gathering decorations to cover the buildings and make flower altars, but a lot of the wild flowers normally accessible... well... It looks like a brood of dragons hatched a little early and, upon seeing all the flowers start to crop up, decided that these flowers are the treasures that they want to hoard. The baby dragons didn't fly too far down from their mountain, but once one of them flew past the Lands of Rot and found the fields of flowers, it got its siblings. Now there are a handful of baby dragons claiming different areas as their hoard and making it impossible to get around without being attacked by an admittedly cute fire-breathing menace. No one wants the baby dragons slain, but the baby dragons need to be brought back to their mother's cave in the Ash Mountains. The safest way is through the half-dead area between the Dusklight Woods and the Lands of Rot. The dragons will attack anyone who comes into their area but seem to be friendly toward anyone wearing a flower crown, as they seem to accept them as a part of their hoard if the flowers send the right message. Use the language of flowers to communicate with the dragons and try to get them to follow you by wearing a flower crown that matches one you offer to the dragon. A flower crown that says sympathy and sadness might not be as effective as something that says virtue and bravery. Just be careful not to woo them the wrong impression with something that says eternal love and devotion, or you might have a different kind of dragon problem... Regardless, since the dragons are guarding the flowers you need to make the crowns out of, you'll need to find a way to get past their attacks to gather flowers to begin with to find the flowers you want to make your crown with. Flower crowns need at least two types of flowers to communicate with the dragons, so it's recommended you work together with others to try to gather as many flowers as you can to find the flowers you need. Thankfully, since dragons are sacred, most of the Dusklight Woods creatures will leave you alone, so it's best to hug that side of the mixed path. You and whoever you're working with only have to worry about fighting alongside the baby dragons to fight off the Land of Rot creatures that hang around the edge: Skeleton warriors that can only be scattered but not killed, Fogueria (a lion made of fire that likes to play with its food in sadistic ways), and rattlesnakes. Once you're at the foot of the Ash Mountains, the baby dragons will fly back up to their cave on their own. With the baby dragons returned to their nest, you can head home, and the townsfolk can start decorating for the Spring Equinox. C ⦿ Spiritual Cleansing The frost is gone, the flowers are free, and rabbits are running around town like they own the place. All of the physical and symbolic spring equinox preparations are made, now it's time to look within. As the season of renewal and rebirth, a huge part of that is personal reflection and growth. As such, outdoor meditation and yoga flash parties are all the rage right now. Get caught it one and you and anyone around you will be stuck in a barrier until you complete at least 5 yoga poses and hold them for 30 seconds each. Some of them are a little challenging.. thankfully, no one is going to stop you from getting help holding them from someone else who's stuck with you. A plague of smoothie hockers has also cropped up around town, which means portable carts offering different magical smoothies is going around selling their fruity and flowery spring flavors for a refreshing boost of your spirit. No, really boost it. The magical effects are in small text underneath the flavors, so they may be easy to miss. Hibiscus-Berry: Vanity Spirit (person may become temporarily obsessed with appearance, finding cute clothes, getting their hair and nails done, needing to be their ideal of attractive) Strawberry-Rose: Romantic Spirit (flirtiness, desire to be romantic with someone) Jasmine-Peach: Friendship Spirit (go out of your way to make new friends, make grand friendship gestures to people you've already befriended or have known for five minutes and want to befriend) Lavender-Mulberry: Distrusting Spirit (paranoid, may start fights because they think someone is out to get them) Butterfly Pea-Lemon Tea: Meditative Spirit (fall asleep easily, peaceful/relaxed about alarming things, sudden penchant for Big Thoughts about the universe) Dandelion-Apple-Banana: Surivival Spirit (sudden desire to do everything yourself, whether that's hunting/gathering food, getting really into DIY projects like making your own soap or building your own chicken hutch because you're going to get your own eggs, or really wanting to live outside for a while) The effects only last for an hour or two, so it's unlikely any real damage can be done (hopefully) but it'll certainly give you a new outlook on life! Spring is in the air, the Equinox is coming, and prep is underway. But all work and no play can get a little boring, right? Avalonians have come together and set up a few activities for Adventurers. While all of these activities can be completed and enjoyed without using magic, participants will be encouraged do to so, don’t worry if it goes a little haywire. There are magical force fields around the play zones to contain any mishaps. A ⦿ Keep it Rollin' Rollin' The first area set up for fun and games is a barrel rolling contest. Participants are split into pairs to compete against each other to see who can roll their partner inside the barrel down the hill and across the finish line the fastest. Springtime is when geysers start bursting around the bottom of the hill though, so you'll have to watch out for those and any boulders to make sure your barrel doesn't burst before you reach the bottom! To make things a little more interesting, the planners had a bit of mischief with the barrels... As barrels reach a quarter of a way down the hill, the outside will burst into flames. Surprise! While they are enchanted so that the flames aren't actually hot, participants are not aware of this. Sorry, the guys running this game aren’t that big on explaining; after all, it’s just rolling a fire barrel down the hill; what’s so complicated? Fire makes it look like it's going faster and is way more exciting to watch! B ⦿ Hop Skip and a Jump Everyone loves hopscotch, right? Well, whether you do or don’t, that next zone is all about the hop, the skip, and the jump. Two hopscotch boards about the size of a basketball court each are laid out side by side for participants. The object again, to see who can complete the task that fastest. If you reach a spot with a magic symbol, you have to cast a spell at your opponent or you can't proceed. This is combat hopscotch! Of course, once more, the folks running the show forgot to mention one tiny thing, a quarter of the way into the board, random spots will drop away as you go, leaving holes in the ground! Yikes, better take that leap! Don’t worry, if you miss, the bottom of the hole is filled with marshmallow fluff in bright pink, yellow, and pastel purple. (Kind of reminds you of something, huh...?) Down in the hole are rungs and footholds to get yourself back out, but boy, will that put you behind the other guy if they didn’t fall. Well, guess victory will have to be a little sweeter than you planned! C ⦿ Gettin' Brewy With It Now, this activity probably seems a little safer. Welcome to the “Brew” tent. Participants will be given ingredients, space, and set up in pairs to brew up a tasty drink! A variety of ingredients are available and with it, participants will be taught the Recipe: Brewery. This spell can be used to accelerate brewing and distilling processes for alcoholic drinks. Of course, if someone who is too young to drink according to their world's rules, any alcohol in the drink will evaporate, so it's really only a spell that's useful for adults... but everyone can participate in making drinks. You can pick any ingredients you want, but all participants are instructed that a sprinkle of that magic at just the right time will make it perfect. When asked what the right time is, all they will be told is they’ll know when. Some may get it right, depending on instinct. Others might sprinkle too much and cause the drink to burst all over them and their partner, and their workstation or have some other silly side effect, like make them hiccup uncontrollably or catch a case of the giggles. Or maybe they cast for too long or too short a time and the drink turns sour, turns to ash, grows wings on the cup, and flies away. Brewery magic can be fickle, so there's lots that can go wrong.. but get it right, and you can have one heck of a drink to enjoy! MOD NOTES: • All test drive prompts are open to anyone in the game at any time to create your own logs with, but this post should have top-levels by potential new characters only. Current characters may reply to any threads, but should not top-level comment on this post. • If your application is accepted, you may accept TDM threads as game canon as long as both players consent. Characters may begin threading as soon as their journal is accepted to the communities. • If nothing here tickles your fancy, try one of this month's Quests for your TDM prompt. • The first "Arrival" prompts are present on every TDM, but contain seasonal tweaks for flavor. All other prompts will change monthly. • Questions about this TDM's content? Comment here! If you have a question about the game at-large, please head over to the FAQ.

Comments

they’re so dumb XD

[bloodandlife]

I know that now.

[But how was he supposed to know it was still true then, when it seemed like so much had happened since last they saw each other? ...well, he could have asked Nyx. She probably would have told him so, in her cryptic way. He was just so fed up with everything, so desperate to leave, to find his mother. He felt like if he waited another second he would explode.

But his tone softens, then.]

And thank you for that. I’ll admit, my pride took a hit knowing that you thought I needed help, but...it means a lot to have you alongside me out there.

ugh I hate it (I love it)

[inevitablerest]

Yes, well. I think you have enough obstacles in your way as it is, don't you?

[Between the shades, the witches, the Bone Hydra, Meg, that intolerable Theseus and his companion and the ever shifting rooms of the underworld, Zagreus has more than enough set against him.

He shifts, moving his legs back and pushing himself up to his feet.]

They should be getting ready to set off. You can see the horses before we go.

[He's sure that Zagreus will like that.]

[bloodandlife]

Oh, come on, Than. What's the fun if it's too easy?

[His smirk makes it clear that this is sarcasm, though. He'd certainly love it if the so-called Champion of Elysium, at the very least, would stay out of his way.

It's still weird to see Thanatos--well, sitting down at all, much less getting to his feet in such a way. Zagreus hops up too, picking up the blanket and folding it up again. Now that he's dried off from his dip in the water (other than his damp hair), it's not quite as cold. He holds it out to give it back.]

I think I'll be all right, now.

[Then Thanatos says horses and Zag's face lights up.]

Then what are we waiting for?

[Without waiting for an answer, he runs over toward the carriages to meet and pet the horses. They are, all of them, good boys and girls, of course. And he has to tell every single one of them, individually, so no one feels left out. And they all need nose pats, definitely.]

[inevitablerest]

[Thanatos is sure that Zagreus would have found some small amusement in how he had struggled with such things to begin with. Even walking had been a challenge, while he'd battled with the cold and being soaked and suddenly being stripped of all of his power. To say he had felt unwell would be an understatement.

And naturally he would be excited about horses. Thanatos follows behind with his familiar on his heels, keeping to his earlier implications that he doesn't plan to leave the other god alone at any point.

Then he watches, his arms folded loosely and a very, very faint smile softening the edges of his stoic expression. It may not even be there at all for someone who didn't know how to look for it. It's...

It's nice. To be able to spend time like this.]

[bloodandlife]

[Zagreus stays to pet and investigate the horses until the carriages are ready to leave or until Archimedes shoos him away, whichever comes first. When he's done, he rejoins Thanatos, grinning like a fool.]

They're so different from dogs. Just one head, rock-hard paws, flat teeth...

[Zagreus has no idea just how many different kinds of animals there are. He's probably going to be this excited about all of them. At least, until he becomes familiar with mosquitoes.]

Anyway, how long does it take to get to this city? Camelot, was it?

[inevitablerest]

A while. They'll take you to the Red Springs first.

[Not an entirely unpleasant place, in fairness. Thanatos held no animosity towards it in any case, despite it being the source of some embarrassment on his part. He folds the blanket over his arm and lightly ushers Zagreus towards one of the carriages, not intending to be left behind here. It's a very long way to walk.]

You can spend the night there with the rest of the newcomers. They can assist you with your new magic.

[Come to think of it, he doesn't know what kind of magic that is, does he.]

I don't think anyone will complain should I stay there with you. If you'd prefer that.

[bloodandlife]

[Zagreus allows himself to be ushered, climbing into the carriage with blatant curiosity.]

Oh, it's warm inside! ...I would prefer that, yes.

[He can't help smiling. When was the last time he got to spend not just enough time with Thanatos for a conversation, but hours and hours? He can still feel it like a faint itch, the expectation that at any moment, Than might just vanish. He keeps having to tell himself that's not going to happen here.

Once seated, he's not sure where to put his eyes first. Or his...stuff, actually. The weapons and the lyre are pretty big for an enclosed space like this, so he just tries to tuck them under his seat as best he can. Huh, this really is a small space, isn't it.]

New magic, that's pretty exciting. I guess it'll be a bit like training with Achilles again. Although I can't imagine they have anyone here who can hold a candle to him. Still, I'm looking forward to it.

[inevitablerest]

[Another strange thing, and one that Thanatos, perhaps, had found harder to adjust to than many gods might has been the freedom of choice that he now has. He has so much time and it does occur to him as well that he could spend hours in Zagreus' company if he wished to.

The carriages seem larger on the insides by his estimation but with the size of the weapons considered and the lyre - why does he have a lyre?? - it isn't likely anyone else is going to be joining them.

That's fine by Thanatos.]

You may find yourself surprised. [There are many people here for him to test his mettle against. Some of them might even overpower him in his new state. But Zagreus is nothing if not determined...]

But I'll stay then, if that's what you want. I have no pressing engagements elsewhere.

[bloodandlife]

Oh? Well, if this place has great warriors too, then I'll be glad to face them. Er, not to the death, though, of course. And...it is what I want. If you don't mind, that is.

[Maybe he can show off his new musical skills to Thanatos when they get somewhere that isn't so cramped. Well, 'skills,' such as they are. But the only way to improve is to practice, just like Orpheus says!

He pulls the little rectangle thing Archimedes gave him out of the folds of his chiton.]

So what is this thing? It doesn't seem to do much. Archimedes called it a...'phone'? I think?

[inevitablerest]

I don't mind.

[But even here he will always be beholden to the whims and desires of someone, it seems. That that person is Zagreus... well. He doesn't mind that either. That tiny smile touches the corners of his lips again and he pulls his own phone from his pocket.

He holds it a little awkwardly, but still with more ease than Zagreus does.]

You can use this to access information, and to contact others. My name will show as someone you can send a message to. Under that menu there.

[And he points without touching the screen.]

Try it.

zag, honey, no

[bloodandlife]

[Zagreus can't help smiling, himself. Getting a smile out of Thanatos, no matter how small, is a rare and precious thing. ...especially lately.

He watches closely and then tries to figure out what the other god means. He's...not very good at it. He clicks around, trying to make sense of these tiny words. Eventually, he finds Thanatos' name and clicks on it. And now there's a little...blinking thing? Well, in his experience, when magical objects are supposed to do something, you activate them by talking to them. Like the mirror, or the messages from Olympus. So he holds up the phone in front of his face.]

Hello, phone! I would like to send a message to Thanatos, please.

[...nothing happens. He frowns.]

It's not working.

[inevitablerest]

[He manages, just barely, to hide his amusement when Zagreus speaks to the phone like that. Admittedly he had done the same thing, but he doesn't say that. Instead, he rests his own device in his hand and slides his thumb across the screen to bring it to the same point as his companion's phone.]

They are primitive in that regard. You need to write the message using the letters on the screen. They call it 'texting'.

[And he sends a little message, which pops up on Zagreus' phone a moment later.

Hello.]

[bloodandlife]

Texting...

[He watches Thanatos select letters one by one, and brightens when the message arrives on his screen.]

Well, what do you know. Let's see, here...

[If anyone thought Zagreus would be anything but a hunt-and-peck one-finger typist, they would be very wrong. He wears an expression of concentration as he tries to find all the letters he wants. Eventually, Thanatos' phone receives a response:]

Hi than I'm texting this isn't so hard after all is it

Oh, look at that. It knows how to use punctuation and capital letters. Which is more than I know how to do. Cheers, phone!

[inevitablerest]

[Thanatos lets out a little chuckle. Zagreus' first text message. Something to be treasured, surely.

The carriage gives a little jolt as it begins to move, and he looks out of the window to see the entrance of the cliffside path drawing away from them.]

We're on our way, then. [He hums, watching the scenery move for a few moments more before he turns his attention back to Zagreus.] ... You are all right, aren't you? My own arrival here wasn't the most comfortable of experiences.

[bloodandlife]

[As soon as the carriage starts moving, Zagreus' eyes move to the window, too. Currently, what's out there is all the same stuff he's been seeing already so far, but if anything new comes into view, he wants to see it!

He turns back to Thanatos, though, at the question.]

Of course, I'm--...huh. Well, now that you mention it, my feet are very cold. And I think my stomach hurts? Not stabbed-in-the-gut hurts, more of a persistent and unpleasant jab from the inside. What was your arrival like?

[inevitablerest]

Cold. Painful. I breathed in a lot of salt water.

[Mostly trying to hold on to his scythe. It seemed that even the machinations of other worldly magic couldn't separate the god of death from his favoured weapon. The blanket he had been carrying earlier is currently on the seat beside him, and he leans down to tap the backs of Zagreus' heels then slide the soft fabric under his feet.

That should help.

When he straightens up again it takes him a moment to realise just what his friend is talking about. But... yes. That uncomfortable, hollow, gnawing sensation. Another wonderful perk of mortality. He doesn't know how they even live like this.]

You're hungry. Can't do much about it right now.

[Sorry, Zag, but he'll watch for any fruit trees as they travel.]

[bloodandlife]

[Zagreus winces in sympathy, even as he sort of marvels at the idea of Thanatos breathing at all. He lifts his feet when prompted--oh yes, that is better. In fact, he leans down to actually wrap his feet up entirely in the blanket.]

I wonder what everyone back home would think if they knew Death was alive. Impossible, yet true.

[Recognition dawns on his face, then.]

That's right, mortals need to eat to survive. And drink water, right? I've known quite a few shades who died of dehydration. How...often does this come up? Seems awfully inconvenient, all this bodily maintenance business.

[inevitablerest]

Hm.

[Another one of those muted, barely-there responses to a comment about his own current state of being. Never a topic that Thanatos has been all that comfortable - or very good at - talking about.

Mortality is awkward and inconvenient, and he hasn't really been enjoying it. Still, it does have its occasional good points.]

I don't want to spoil everything for you, Zagreus. Suffice to say various needs will require repeated attention over the course of each day.

[bloodandlife]

[Zagreus isn’t sure he knows how long a day actually is, but it sounds like the answer is ‘pretty often.’]

No wonder so many mortals die of starvation. I’m impressed so many of them don’t, actually. And it will feel like this whenever I need to eat?

[inevitablerest]

[Thanatos' expression flickers. More mortals are dying of starvation than ever since the war started on the surface. It isn't a pretty end.]

Not every time. At first. You'll get used to it and know when you ought to be eating something.

[We'll file this under 'conversations Thanatos never thought he'd be having with Zagreus'. He takes a moment to just... look at him. Just a moment. Part of him can't quite believe he's really there. The past few weeks had been peculiarly lonely, knowing he couldn't just drop in to visit.]

... You know... It is good to see you.

[bloodandlife]

Well, that's a relief, at least. I'm looking forward to a nice, pain-free existence while we're here.

[It's unfortunate, perhaps, that Zagreus is back to looking out the window by the time Thanatos takes his moment. He turns back in mild surprise, though, at those words. A warm smile spreads across his face.]

It's good to see you too, Than. I almost can't believe we really have all this time to just...talk. Whatever power it is that governs who gets pulled to this place, I'll have to thank them if I ever find them for bringing us both.

[inevitablerest]

[He lets out a soft huff of air through his nose and smiles. The expression lingers for long enough to smooth the usual sharp edges of his features then vanishes, but the warmth lingers in his eyes. He looks away, watching the world outside rolling by.]

I suppose that is one thing to be thankful for. [Thanatos murmurs.]

It's been difficult to know what to do with myself since I arrived. I don't remember when I last had so much free time.

[bloodandlife]

[Ah, Than's smiling again! For real this time. It's not weird to figuratively pat yourself on the back for coaxing out your best friend's smile, is it? Nah. Definitely totally normal.]

In a way, I know what you mean. I generally can't stand being idle. But now that I'm here, I'm sure we'll find plenty of trouble to get ourselves into to keep busy.

[inevitablerest]

I'm sure that you will find plenty of trouble. [Thanatos is swift enough to point out that only one of them has that particular knack, and it's the one who has been rampaging through his father's realm smashing up everything in his way.]

And that I will undoubtedly be swept up in pulling you out of it.

[As usual.]

[bloodandlife]

Not sure if I should be offended or pleased.

[He stretches a bit and shifts in his seat.]

So when you say it will take 'a while' to get there, how long is that, exactly?