TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 6

[avalonmods]

Check out the OOC intro meme for this month to say hi to new players/characters!

{ 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 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 mossatees to help rescue any wayward new arrivals. Mossatees are a special Avalonian manatee that is green in color and has what appears to be a patches of grass or other short plant life growing on its back. While some are fully green, many sport blooming flowers or fairy circles 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, a pair of earbuds, and animal-themed ponchos 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. Which given the fact that it's pouring down rain in April? Not ideal. You were only given ponchos, not rain boots. 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. Unfortunately, due to a bee infestation and massive amounts of rain, the hot springs of the Red Springs are not available this month! Instead, an underground salt cave is offered as a way to relax and unwind. Gather around in the rejuvenating, dimly lit caves and breathe in the relaxing effects of salt crystals. Feel the sand between your toes, or if you don't like sand, try one of the many pools with tiny garra rufa for a fish pedicure. Or, lie down in a recliner and stare up at the "stars"-- magic sparkles in the ceiling that move to spell out single-word concepts you may be experiencing. (Maybe you're relaxed? You might get something like "Chill." Find your relaxation buddy hot? Just be careful to look away before the stars spell "Thirsty" to the whole room.) 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. As it turns out, a mythical land that's been around for a few centuries has a few things in common with many modern worlds. It's got the internet, and games have evolved a little bit past hoop trundling and draughts. April, being the traditional month of mirth and games and lots of rain making it hard to have fun outdoors, is the time for Camelot City Gaming Convention, affectionately shortened to CameCon. Come into the large convention center located in the south part of town, get dry, and check out some of the awesome things to do. A ⦿ Couchless Co-Op Without the massive audiences required to really run MMORPGs, Avalon is much more a fan of couch co-op style gaming. Though most games are available on mobile devices throughout Avalon when they are released, there's nothing quite like coming to CameCon to utilize the gaming stages for everyone's favorite fighting games. Multiple players at a time can plug in their phones and connect their accounts to a light magic-based illusion stage (powered by multiple light mages at a time, once a year only!) roughly the size of a basketball court. Fighting games can be played tournament-style on the phone next to your opponent for some awesome trash talk during your battle. Race through space with this year's popular NASTAR Racing Game (National Association for Space Travel Auto Racing) game and fight off space pirates in an epic Mario Kart-esque racing and item battle adventure with your choice of star ship. Or plug your phone into the stage podium and get away from the humdrum fantasy life by joining in a live-movement game that combines synchronous kinetic and light magic. Move your body in the vortex illusion of your favorite rhythm dance game with a buddy! Or maybe you're more into the free-style gaming of Grand Theft Automation with both friends and strangers-- step onto the illusionary stage itself to explore crawling cityscapes and live the life of crime you always dreamed of... at least the cops won't really arrest you if you do it here. Just make sure if you use magic you remember you're on a stage and don't accidentally send some flying off at a poor convention go-er just past the illusion stage. B ⦿ Arthurian RP in your Arthurian RP None can forget one of the most important of game types: the roleplaying game. There's a huge historical set game going on right now where characters can LARP as their favorite Knight of the Round Table. There may be a couple of arguments if two Lancelots end up in the same game, but don't worry, there's a fair way of determining who gets the part for this game if you don't want to wait for the next storyline: rock-paper-scissors-magic. Instead of the traditional version of RPS, you shake your fists and open up to whatever hand-held spell you can make with your particular brand of magic. If it's something that can overcome the other kind in less than three seconds, you're the winner. (And yes, even healers can play-- some protective magic to block a dark magic pain curse is definitely going to win out, for example!) Either way, once your role is decided, put your acting skills to the test! ...and if you don't have any, well, they have costumes that will help you get into the mood with a little dress-up and props that will magically give you sword skills... though only while using the dull-edged plastic props. Or you can just sit on the sidelines and have a picnic on the concrete floor of the center with a potential new pal and watch other people play-- there's a lovely little buffet table with pastries, coffee, and juice in the corner. C ⦿ It Figures... A convention isn't a convention without a little shopping. Come check out what cool games are upcoming in the exhibit hall, buy figurines of your favorite game characters (or.. new ones you've never heard of since this is a new world, but are still cute and/or kick-ass), and most importantly, check out the cool magic you can apply to them. A spell available for purchase in the convention hall that's popular this year is Recipe: Figure Anima, which makes your figures move in place and say popular lines as if they're an actual, miniature version of the character. It's recommended you practice while you're in the convention hall though so figure experts can help if things go.. awry. People have been known to have their own emotions influence the spell, and sometimes toys have started taking on the attitude of the caster. There's nothing quite as tragic as your favorite angelic game character telling you they're gonna kick your ass because you were in a fighting mood. So OOC. Maybe you can find someone who's a little better at magic to fix the problem? Of course, when the rain breaks through and floods the exhibition room, there's a lot of mass hysteria as people scream and climb up onto tables, trying to protect their merch above all else. Hurry, help someone else up onto your table before their ent dakimakura they just purchased gets wet! Only you can save the gamers from water! ..Or that's what you thought, until a second later the electricity goes out and you're left in a total electricity blackout in the convention hall. It may be a good idea to use some magic to try to light the way and find a way out of the flooded hall... A ⦿ Keep Your Vines to Yourselves With magic blossoming left and right because of the bountiful spring equinox rituals, things have been getting a little stranger around the Broceliande. Though it's always been known for being a little odd, there is an overgrowth of prehensile, very friendly vines populating the forest now. The vines seem to have minds of their own, sometimes grabbing people, pulling them up into trees, or generally wrapping around them as if trying to get a warm hug. Ultimately, they seem relatively harmless.. except when you can't get down from them. Hopefully, you've got some kind of destructive magic that can help you fight off the overly friendly vines as you head into the forest to investigate the strange reports citizens have been making of their friends and family disappearing in the generally friendly, if odd forest when they've gone to fetch herbs or other supplies, gone on walks, or who knows what else from the forest. It seems like the best way to get the vines to let go without magic is to tickle the person the vines have captured, so you really better hope you're ticklish... and there's someone willing to really go in on it. It takes a lot of laughter to get these vines to leave you alone! B ⦿ Selfies with Selkies Those who continue on with their investigation after avoiding or escaping the vines will find a very, very large flower that seems to have taken route in a sink hole in the middle of the forest. Hundreds of vines seem to be coming from it, and it seems like this flower may be the source of all of the vines throughout the forest. It won't attack unless you attack it first and it seems to almost immediately regrow any vines that are destroyed. If the flower itself is attacked, it will rise up and attempt to eat your character with thousands of tiny shark-like teeth that lie where the pollen of its flower should be. Those who try to fight will find it seems virtually unkillable and immovable. It is neither plant nor animal and seems to have a thousand minds and souls held within it that somehow feel incomplete, so it's largely incommunicable even with cognitive or death magic. It's definitely a strange find, and it could be easy enough to assume the missing people tried aggression as their first tactic and got gobbled up... Take a trip up to the Archivist will lead them to find a book that includes information on the species: The Cereus de Anima. This giant flower rapidly grows when a seed from the Land of Rot transfers via someone's clothing to an appropriate forest environment and is known to absorb a piece of a person's essence from anyone it touches with its vines. People often seem to go missing for a short period of time when one of these appears, then come back behaving a little differently but ultimately don't seem to be in distress. No one is quite sure what the cause of this is. There doesn't seem to be any record of there being lasting damage, however questionable the plant is... The Archivist, upon seeing you researching the plant, says that he's heard some of the lake's residents just off of the Silent Shore have some experience with one. He hands you a couple baskets of some specially anti-rust enchanted parts and tells you he was supposed to deliver them to a Selkie man living in the lake for a project he's working on. You and a partner can make the delivery and ask your questions from him. The Selkie isn't going to be particularly friendly to fellow men, not trusting human men farther than he can throw them, but will decidedly try to seduce women as Selkie men are known to be extremely handsome and flirtatious with human women. Non-humans he will be neutral toward. It's best to go in pairs so you don't end up on a whirlwind candlelit beach picnic with a shirtless selkie in exchange for information about how to uproot a Cereus de Anima. (At the very least, the selkie will want you to take a selfie with him before you leave so that you have something to remember him by, and you'll always be welcome back if you change your mind.) Regardless of how much of a challenge it is for you to get to that point, as long as he gets the delivery from the Archivist, he'll eventually tell you and your traveling partner about how he heard that there used to be a village at the edge of the Dusklight Woods that was overrun with one of them, and that there's only one survivor who moved to in a cottage on the other side of the Pure of Heart Bridge.. Those familiar, yes, it is the old man that Morganna tried to kill and save in a quest a couple of months ago! Time to travel all the way back to the Pure of Heart bridge and make your way over to the cottage and talk to the man and it sure seems like this quest is long and tedious and you may be wondering if someone will have noticed you're gone... C ⦿ The Answer is No Back in Camelot City, it seems that anyone who's been touched by the vines has been replaced by a doppelganger in their lives. They're just barely off from the original- they have all the memories, but may be slightly more skilled at things they didn't used to be, or may seem to make less ethical choices than they might otherwise. There's just something slightly off. But when people start using AOL to contact their friends and let them know they've been gone.. well, it may seem like the jig is up, or at least in question. Those who find out they've been replaced may want to return to Camelot quickly to try to reclaim their lives. Doppelgangers will attempt to kill their original if they come into contact with them when they aren't around other people, so you may need to flee for your life if you haven't gotten good enough at magic to defend yourself yet. Around other people, the doppelgangers will do their best to try to prove themselves the real person and since they were made from the original, will have the same memories as the original character so asking questions that "only ___ would know" may not work. Eventually it will come out that the doppelgangers have occasionally wriggling vines instead of spines underneath their clothing, if you're willing to check that to see who's real, but that won't be common knowledge. What can be found out from the old man at the Pure of Heart bridge if you choose to leave your doppelganger alone is that Cereus de anima doppelgangers can only live for a month without killing their original and absorbing the rest of their essence. However, if the original plant isn't taken care of with a special venom you can only obtain from certain creatures in the Forest of the Fisher King, the problem will just keep happening over and over until the city is overrun and becomes nothing but a breeding ground for the flower and its replicas. 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. • You can have any animal-style poncho you want! They are themed, not made from actual animals. No animals have been harmed in the making of these ponchos!! • TIMELINE: The resolution to the third prompt will be in April's event! The first two prompt sets will be during the first week of the month. The doppelganger problem and obnoxious traveling and research will be occurring for the second and third weeks of the month. • People with green magic may be able to fill something off about the doppelgangers, but may not be able to identify what it is right away. Blood mages will be able to feel that their blood feels the same as the original as they are essentially copies. Cognitive people will be able to use their magic normally except for hypnotic suggestion- the doppelgangers are immune to it, so while you may be able to find other ways to out them, hypnotizing people to tell the truth won't work this time. Doppelgangers are made from the essence of the person, so they will be able to access their phones and accounts. Note that the Cereus de Anima and doppelgangers are not fairies and cannot be contracted with. If a Death Mage attempts to possess a doppelganger, it will technically come in contact with the doppelganger's vine and may end up with more than one doppelganger depending on how many times they try it. Siphon magic can be used to destroy a doppelganger easily, however, the essence that was stolen from the original's soul may be destroyed in the process so it is not recommended as the original may start to feel as though they are no longer a whole person. • 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. Make sure to read the Red Spring section on this month's even if you're normally familiar-- the springs are closed this month, check out the alternate prompts! • 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

[committing]

[ Blake's out of her recliner with Gambol Shroud in hand the second she hears that shriek, though she just about drops her weapon (and her grip on her towel) when she sees Weiss sprawled on the floor. ]

Weiss! I -- are you okay? Here, let me help you up...

[ Blake stashes the weapon in its sheath at her back and extends a hand. Could Weiss have gotten spooked by her familiar (who is, last Blake checked, standing, creepily human-shaped, in a nearby corner)? Or, the far more likely explanation... ]

... Guess you didn't see my message on the network, [ Blake says with a small smile. ]

( note: yes, she's slung gambol shroud over her spa outfit. i'm so stoked for this, lmao. for the sake of continuity, i'm going to say that this particular thread's set after the above two, and that blake's still staying at the red spring. )

[schmisse]

No! No!

[ At first, she looks and sounds frantic. Picking herself up to actually sit down, she begins to slowly giggle to herself. She's happy Ruby and Yang are here; the two arrived after months of Weiss being alone. It was nice having her teammates around! They weren't complete, though. Until now, anyway. ]

I'm... I'm so glad to see you, Blake.

[ Don't point it out, but she's beginning to tear up. ]

[committing]

[ In spite of herself, Blake chuckles, too -- the tension of the moment fading with the ever fainter echoes of their laughter against the rock face. It's a good thing the salt caves are so large, or they might have been ushered out of the space by resort personnel for ruining the vibe. (Come to think of it, shouldn't they have turned Blake back for trying to enter the caves carrying a weapon... ? Man, she loves lax security.)

Now that Blake's met Weiss, she's made contact with her whole team -- and in less than 24 hours since she thought she'd been spirited away somewhere else all by herself. She hasn't smiled so much since hugging Penny, just a few days ago -- and while it's surreal to think that the timeline's effectively frozen in place there, from Blake's perspective, there's no immediate pressure (let alone the means!) to return, at least from the standpoint of pure physics. ]

I'm really happy to see you, too, Weiss, [ Blake finally says, taking a seat beside her. The lighting in the salt caves is dim, but the glow of the 'stars' along the walls is bright enough for Blake to just make out the glint in Weiss' eyes. She reaches out for Weiss' hand on impulse. In all their adventures, Blake's never had much time to reflect upon just how unlikely their friendship is -- an ex-revolutionary and the heir apparent to a company infamous for treating her people as if they're subhuman to the point of outright enslavement. When Blake had had the time, her thoughts had been too occupied with the regret of running out on her team. Perhaps here, she'll finally be able to sit with these other feelings and take stock of how she's changed.

After giving Weiss' hand a little squeeze, Blake lets go and continues: ] What have you gotten up to here? This world seems... much more peaceful than ours, despite its problems.

[schmisse]

What have I been getting into? You might just get stressed out if I tell you.

[ But, hah... she gives Blake's hand a squeeze before closing her eyes. It's nice to have the team back together. Sure, she has some friends from Lunatia here, and she has Cloud, but having her teammates around is a whole different feeling. They're a reminder of what she has, what she needs to do, and are just, well? Home. ]

We can actually take a break here without having to worry about Salem or General Ironwood. [ And for that? She's more than grateful.

There are a lot of things to worry about, but it's nice to forget sometimes. Some experiences here are things she missed out on because of what happened at Beacon, and she'll live it all now given the opportunity. ] Do I sound selfish for saying that?

[committing]

[ Blake knows a dodge when she sees one. She'll have to learn about Weiss' life here (and back in Lunatia -- !) bit by bit, over time. ]

Yeah, I think that's... actually starting to sink in, [ Blake says, standing up to pull her own recliner next to Weiss'. As she lays down, she continues, ] You don't sound selfish. At least, not any more selfish than I've begun feeling.

[ Blake watches the 'stars' shift from word to word on the caves' ceiling -- unavoidable; reprieve; liminal. ] When I first arrived and thought I was alone, I just wanted to go back and finish what we'd started. But when I learned you, Ruby, and Yang were already here, I... began to wonder what choice I would make, if it were physically possible to return. [ What choice we would make, together, Blake thinks. ]

[schmisse]

[ Weiss would say something, just to acknowledge the feeling of validation Blake provides about being selfish, but she's distracted when the Faunus looks up. The words make sense, she thinks, eyes slowly focusing back on Blake. ]

Honestly, with how much time I've spent here, as well as the time I've spent in another world altogether, [ Yeah, she's just dropping that bomb just like that! ] there's something I want to do. But I can't do it yet— I won't do it until I know that we saved Atlas and its people, and even all the other kingdoms.

[ It's difficult to say something about Salem now. She can't be killed, after all. What's most important is that the relics don't fall into her hands, and that the maidens end up on their side. ]

... I want to think we'll all make the same decision when the time does come.

[committing]

[ Blake startles when Weiss mentions the time she's spent -- in another other world? The 'stars' on the salt caves say it better than Blake could: Hang on, what the fu*- ]

You mean... besides Avalon, there's somewhere else outside of Remnant? [ Blake turns on her side to look at Weiss, an incredulous expression on her face. On the one hand, it checks out. The majority of the persons she's met don't look like they could be from Remnant, and all of these persons have (allegedly) been brought here to 'save the multiverse.' On the other hand, the fact that Weiss has been to multiple places outside of Remnant really drives the point home. ] Just how many 'worlds' like this are there? [ -- In a strange way, this is all starting to remind Blake of her Semblance. Could she, Weiss, and the others all be copies of some kind that have splintered from their original selves... ? Again, the salt caves say it best: Yikes. ]

[ Blake contemplates Weiss for a brief moment; and, somewhat on the heels of her last thought, asks: ] What is it that you want to do that has to wait until we've rescued Remnant?

[ It goes without saying that Blake hopes the rest of the team will make the same decision she would, should the opportunity to return home arise -- the right decision, in her eyes. But if their existences here amount to them being 'copies' -- almost as if they lived within a dream -- then... what kind of difference would choosing to go home really make, other than ending it? ]

[schmisse]

[ It's something she's never told anyone before. Not even Ruby. Then again, the two of them haven't had a chance to talk in this way.

Weiss' eyes focus on the lights, the words above them, relaxing and calming. The word "happy" begins to form, and when it does? There's a small smile on Weiss' face.

She hopes she doesn't regret saying this. And so, fidgeting a little with her hands on her lap, she says: ]

There's another world I want to go to. It's the home of this person I met in a world called Prismatica.

[ Finally, she meets Blake's gaze, the decisiveness in her eyes isn't intense, but she does look happy saying it. Not excited— of course not. Because what she wants is to live there. When what she has to do in Remnant is done, and the Schnee family name has been given back its former glory? She wants to be elsewhere. ]

There are so many worlds out there, by the way, [ To answer Blake's question, and all. ] Thousands? Possibly even millions. To think we've just been living in such a small one because the truth's been hidden from us this whole time.

[committing]

[ Blake looks at Weiss... almost with wonder when Weiss shares what she'd like to do. She doesn't think she's ever seen Weiss with this kind of expression on her face. Blake knows better than to ask for details right now, given Weiss' hand-fidgeting and the word the 'stars' on the salt caves have spelled out as Weiss speaks, but she can't help but to smile and say, ] Well, I hope I get to meet this person someday.

[ Of course, Blake's not a mind reader. Because of her loyalty to her team and her figuring the rest of her teammates feel the same way she does, she doesn't think Weiss means she'd like to stay in this other world, versus simply visiting. Had Weiss specified she intends the move to be permanent, Blake would have been -- well, shocked; even uncomprehending. It's an open question what she'll feel if Weiss ever specifies and upsets Blake's assumptions sometime in the future. Hell, it's hardly clear to her they'd even be in a position to make that choice, should they be sent back home. Perhaps their memories of their time here would simply disappear. ]

Thousands... [ Blake repeats, turning to lie on her back again. She'd been too surprised by Weiss' mention that she'd lived in another world before this one to really specify what she'd meant with her questions, but she tries again: ] I get that there must be that many worlds -- and maybe countless more -- outside of Remnant, but to think there's more than one that can pull people from other worlds and universes into it... How different is Avalon from the other one you lived in?

[schmisse]

[ Oh, you will, Blake. You'll meet that person someday, for sure! Weiss says nothing about it, though, opting to let out a thoughtful hum instead. ]

In Prismatica, we actually still had our Aura. Not to mention, we were able to learn magic, alongside it. [ By "we", she means the other people from Remnant whom she met there, too. ] That world had many moons, and those who were brought there could make money just from physical contact.

[ Sounds weird, doesn't it? Weiss makes a face just thinking about it now... It's been months since she's last felt "Chroma", the energy in Prismatica that could also be used as currency. ]

And... there's one more thing. [ Though breaking the news to Blake might actually elicit a negative reaction. Still, she's never been secretive about anything. It's not like it's something to hide, either! ] When certain moons are out, we... transform and inherit animal traits.

tw: sex mention

[committing]

[ Blake blinks in disbelief as Weiss tells her about Prismatica's currency. She likes her fair share of fantasy novels, but she'd never come across a premise like this in any of Remnant's. Judging from the expression Weiss makes (and her own disinclination to have much physical contact with persons outside her inner circle) it couldn't have been comfortable, but if "contact" included physical training and fights, well -- it wouldn't be so different from Remnant, would it? (But would that increase violence? Hm...)

Blake's chain of thought's broken by what Weiss says next. ] You... became Faunus? [ Or something like it -- it's not exactly accurate to call persons with animal-like features and traits "Faunus" outside of Remnant. ]

[ She's not sure what to say. It makes Blake feel strange, to say the least, that something so normal for her might have given Weiss discomfort, or (even worse?) that Weiss might have enjoyed something that, back on Remnant, has given Blake so much grief. In the end, she simply sighs and deadpans, ] Let me guess: Weird sex thing?

[schmisse]

We were called "Moonblessed", since we were the only ones who could transform under the influence of the moon. The ones who actually lived in that world couldn't.

And... [ Weiss will neither confirm or deny that last bit? But she will say one thing: ] The more intimate the contact is, the more money you get.

[committing]

I see. [ A short pause, then: ] Why did that world pull you and the other "Moonblessed" into it? When you came here with some of the people you'd met there, was the transition... I don't know, as sudden as when you were pulled into Prismatica?

[schmisse]

No one really knew why we found ourselves there. The scientists believe that it's because we can produce Chroma through physical contact, and that was giving the planet more life.

[ So basically, they were there to rebuild and save the planet. It's a little crazy to think about, but in the end, Weiss actually did help the city out, fought monsters, and even served as a knight. It wasn't "Home", but it became comfortable enough for her to find a sense of responsibility there. ]

It was definitely sudden, but after being there? Being here isn't all that weird anymore. [ A pause. She looks at Blake, making a face like "I'm not being weird, am I?" ] Is that bad?

[committing]

[ Blake sighs, glancing up at the salt caves' ceiling once more. ]

I don't think it's bad, or good -- it just is. The best we can do is keep doing our best here. Granted, it's... a lot easier for me to say this with you and the rest of the team around than it would be otherwise, but... well, those kinds of hypotheticals probably aren't that helpful, either.

[ Still, something's started gnawing at Blake as their conversation's continued -- a text message she'd received from one bitchy bandit leader before visiting the (aptly-named, if Raven's to be believed) salt caves. ]

There is... one more thing. [ It's strange, Blake thinks, that the prospect of asking about this should make her so nervous. Would she feel this way if Raven hadn't insinuated that she and Sun were...? ] Was I there with you? In Prismatica?

[schmisse]

Well... [ That's a tough question to answer, but she'll try not to freak Blake out with what she's about to say— ] You were, but at the same time, if you don't know about it, then you weren't?

[ That makes no sense. And Weiss frowns thinking about it now. ]

For some reason, being in another world can tamper with your memories. You could forget about your time in Prismatica but remember more things in Remnant. You could also be from the past, while I'm from your future.

[ That makes no sense either! Weiss just gives up and shrugs. ]

... what do you remember last, before arriving here, anyway?

[committing]

[ She was and she wasn't in Prismatica. It should make no sense, but it makes sense enough of all the facts available -- that Blake can't remember; that Weiss met her there; that people seem to possess different memories at different points in their world-hopping travels; that Raven knows Blake and Sun, but Blake doesn't know how. It's cleaner than Blake's splintered copies theory, if only because it doesn't involve there being, like, a seemingly infinite or indefinite number of versions of a single individual existing at any given time, but -- well, that could just be a more complex way of describing the same thing, in the end. Shit's weird, the 'stars' on the salt caves supply. ]

I'm not sure how much sense this will make to you, but Ruby had just come up with an incredible plan to save the people of Atlas and Mantle from General Ironwood's [ Blake frowns as she tries to find the right word ] cruelty. This is going to sound crazy, but he wanted to blow up the entire city just to manipulate us into doing what he wanted. It's the rare person that doesn't turn into a monster when they're given so much power and responsibility, I guess. [ She sighs, then continues, ] Ruby's plan involved a pocket dimension that could transport everyone safely to Vacuo. I'd just stepped through one of the portals leading to it when I wound up here instead.

[ It's probably a lot to take in, but Blake just needs to ask one more question... ]

Was Raven in Prismatica, too? [ She pauses before adding, ] I got suspicious when she texted me and mentioned Sun. She said I should ask you about it. Not that I want to know [ about her and Sun, that is ]; I'm just -- trying to put the logistical stuff together.

[schmisse]

What...? [ So much for relaxing. Weiss does not look relaxed at all. Atlas is, and will always be, her home. The military are people she's trusted ever since she was a child. General Ironwood was someone she considered part of the family...

There hasn't been a lot of time to process everything, given what they've been up against one after the other, but here in the now? Where time has stopped in Remnant and they can talk about all this? Weiss is stressed, worried, and all those thoughts the people she trusted wanting to hurt her and her friends, and Mantle? It's a little too much to bear. ]

... Maybe we should go someplace else.

[ Where they won't bother other people relaxing with their serious talk. Besides, the information seems a bit too private now to share out in the open.

Before signalling to get up, though, Weiss answers Blake's question. Rather coldly, to boot. Weiss has no interest to talk to Raven or talk about her. Even just thinking about her brings her mood down by a lot. Raven did help save her life once, and Weiss thanked her for it, but what gratitude Weiss has for the bandit has been spent. The niceties are gone. ]

She was. She'd caused nothing but trouble, and let someone very important to me almost die because of her carelessness and lack of compassion. [ Blunt, cold, and punctuated. Weiss has no interest in continuing on with this story. ] I really don't like her.