TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 8

[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 ⚔️️ SUMMARY: New arrivals drop into the lake and have to climb up a cliff to the Rent a Ride, where they are given their device and some headphones and can retrieve their personal materials. They travel to Camelot, which is a multiple day journey, so they stop at the Red Springs along the way and stay at an inn there. 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, helping to rescue any wayward travelers who look like they're struggling in the water. This month's helpers are giant pillow jellies, a species of jellyfish that is capable of ballooning itself at the surface to create bouncy pads for characters to hop across to the shore, should they choose or not be able to swim. They come in a variety of bioluminescent colors, but do not seem to be very talkative even to animal magic users. Those who try may find themselves being ignored, even if they hear the jellies talking amongst themselves about this and that. If anyone tries to ask the Lady of the Lake for directions, she will direct you to Archimedes at the Rent-a-Ride. 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. (Though.. given how hot and muggy the weather is this first week, maybe you might want to ask him to toss you right back into the lake where the waters are still cool.) *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 ear buds (the supplier was out of the regular ones) 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. SUMMARY: Merlin has a Plan B in case Camelot failed the trials: raise a sunken ship and offer it to the Elphame Traders on their way out in exchange for permission to travel their waters. Characters prepare for ritual magic to raise a sunken ship and travel underwater at the empty Camelot docks to gather ritual ingredients for it. After they've done all they can, Merlin sets up a little beach party with a bit of master magic for anyone who came along for the trip. After arriving, people may have heard about recent events-- the people of Camelot voted against war and to instead accept the trials of the people of Celliwig. The trials are now concluded, and a good number of people are emotionally exhausted and taking time to recover. Word from Celliwig has not yet arrived, but across multiple social media platforms, including AOL, there are clips of Merlin's cryptic addendum to Arthur's announcement along with notes that the meeting date was delayed a couple of days due to the awful weather and a need to rest after how bleak the trials were to some people. With people down and out, it won't hurt to have the new arrivals pitch in and learn a thing or two. "Lucky me, we've got a decent group. Celliwig's out of our hands now, but what isn't is a back-up plan. Vote was close enough I figured we'd have enough people to get a head start. Celliwig is closer and much less dangerous to deal with, we'd be able to communicate much faster with the faeries' queendom. They're not big on internet. Big followers of the Old Ways. T-L-D-R, we can't just text the queen and ask if drop-bys are on the table. We'd never make it past the leviathans without permission, so here's the plan: There is a... fixer-upper of a vessel sunken about a hundred yards from shore tossed out from Bermuda. We tried to build docks here forever ago, but you can guess the Bermuda triangle spitting out stuff in the lake all the time didn't go great. We just keep it up for visitors now, but there's plenty to explore in the immediate area that we can magic back into business." A ⦿ Shipwreckers He goes on to explain that the fairies value items that were once lost and refound, so step one is exploring the shipwreck with fellow magic users to find what amounts to a scavenger hunt list of items from the ship. He sets everyone off with a quick spell that essentially transforms their clothing into swimsuits that best fit their preferences and personality-- that means no one's going to get a swimsuit that makes them horribly uncomfortable, he's not harassing anyone. After that, magicians will be directed to use their magic to get down to the ship. It's not as convenient as underwater breathing and not as easily sustainable, but there's definitely different ways to go about it. Light magic users will find they can create a forcefield above the surface of the water and go under the water, though they may run out of oxygen quickly. Elemental users can find they can create a similar bubble by pushing water out of the way, though may run into the same diminishing air without a more advanced elemental user already in the game who can pull oxygen out of the water or an alchemist who can create chemical reactions to generate oxygen. Animal mages may be able to convince local lake life to help push bubbles along, and healers will be instrumental in healing oxygen deprivation if anyone stays under too long! (Note: If two characters can't create a bubble, you can put in a third NPC to do the bubble while your characters handle other roles during the search.) No matter what, make sure you bring someone who can watch your back. Rumors have it that the Fuath are harassing anything that comes near the area. Fuath are intangible spirits that may present as giant humanoids at about 8-9 feet each, but with the mane and tail of a yellow horse, with no noses and keen eyes. They hold grudges against anyone who takes advantage of their surroundings, even if not their own, and will come to attempt to throw those who try to take from the ships and flying through the air to land somewhere else in the water. Be very cautious about using names around the Fuath, as though they do not speak in human tongue, they have a particular ability to draw people and animals in using names that makes them very difficult to escape once you've been found. They've been known to turn familiars against their partners. They can be deterred, dissipated through attack to buy you time, but they'll keep coming so get in and out of the ship as fast as you can and definitely stick to more combat-heavy magics like dark and cognitive mages! *Note: These magics are all examples of ways to use primary magic, but feel free to get creative with your character's magic if you think of something else! B ⦿ Hoist the Flags Once all the ingredients are gathered, the ritual is underway! With the mementos from the ship, swim to a protective circle formed at the top of the water by Merlin that will keep the Fuath out. There, you need to take whatever item you gathered from the ship and try to find someone with a similar item. This "sister" item will allow you to pull the essence of the item up from the ship. It takes a load of people to raise a whole ship, but pouring your magic into the item and chanting the spell will cause the ship to resurface and restore itself to its original state before the crash, using residual memories from all the different items on the ship. Of course, finding a partner with a matching item while swimming around could be a challenge, especially if you don't get along-- it may take a while for everyone to get on the same page. It certainly won't clean up all the algae and kelp and wayward flopping fish, it brings the ship back to a livable state.. and a much cooler, more explorable one. Get a quick exploration of the ship and help clean up some of the lake slime before Merlin flags over the traders. Or goof around until then, and learn a sick free spell called (Recipe) Cool Firework: create a rocket firework from your fingertips. Make sure you're aiming it into the sky when you cast this spell, or Merlin will set off a Camelot totem right beneath your feet. No sinking the ship when they just got it up. The fireworks will attract the Elphame Traders, who are leaving the day after they close up shop to head back to Elphame, before the set out to leave. Merlin negotiates offering the ship to them as an offering for Queen Elphame to give them permission to travel in the Elphame territory. At that point, the ship is pulled into the docks and Camelot citizens are ushered out for the fae traders to take over the ship. C ⦿ Beach Episode Once everything's said and done it.. really only took a couple of hours, so the whole group is done around 4pm. There's plenty of time left for dinner and a good time at the beach a short walk away from the docks and the sun doesn't go down until around 9pm. Before Merlin leaves everyone to themselves, he conjures up a buffet-style table with loads of fresh food and drink, watermelons and bats for smashing. The swimsuits provided earlier wear off at midnight, though you'll probably want to leave before then since it still gets chilly in the evening, especially if you're all wet from playing with the chest full of waterguns or the beach balls distributed around the beach. The docks are nearby, so feel free to call your friends over to come hang out with you, even if they didn't help. It's a beach party, enjoy it! SUMMARY: Unseelie faeries and unseemly humans have teamed up to kidnap a small number of otherworlders in the chaos of the trials to fight in an underground fight ring. Play as a victim or be part of the squad to put an end to it if you're more good-leaning, or villains can choose to participate as audience and pay for "gifts" to be given to their favorite fighters during matches. CW: These prompts contain kidnapping, illegal and forced fighting, and inhumane treatment of fighters. Just because people are tired doesn't mean that the world stops for them... crime certainly doesn't. Throughout the start of the month, people are going missing. Exactly what's happening.. well, finding the truth out about that is going to depend on your perspective. A ⦿ Cursed Kidnapees Kidnapping victims will find themselves suddenly blinded by a spell, and then chloroformed by a floating cloth pressed against their face. (Smart kidnappers don't touch their victims if they have magic, you know!) When they wake up, they'll find themselves in a dungeon with at least a dozen other people. There's definitely not room to lay down, and sitting down as you had been propped up immediately starts you with a potentially uncomfortable view. Don't worry, someone's peeks in from a window at the top of the room-- an extremely handsome-looking man with long, wavy hair and pupils slitted like a cat's. "Let's see.. You two, you'll be the first fight of the night. Winner gets dinner, gyahaha!" It's a fighting ring. You've been kidnapped into a fighting ring and there's no obvious escape! Fight against fellow captives and monsters for your dinner and to buy time to figure out what you're going to do... At least you start hand to hand, so there's nothing lethal... right? (See Audience for more details.) B ⦿ Audacious Audience Maybe you're a less scrupulous sort and saw an invitation to this event hidden on the dark web, or got invited by a particularly sketchy friend. Either way, you've got cage-side seats close enough to chat with either fellow audience members or interact with the cage fighters. As a bonus point, audience members can spend some of their G on betting or on purchasing "boons" for their favorite fighters, such as weapons or enhancement spells. They can also bid against other audience members for special sabotages that make it harder to fight-- foot weights, strange masks, roller skates, hinderance hexes.. get creative with it! It's the biggest fight show that you can interact with your wallet... newbies may find it's a very lucrative way to make a pretty penny very fast. (As always, remember to communicate with anyone you're helping/sabotaging so you don't go past anyone's OOC comfort level.) C ⦿ Roaring Rescuers Thankfully, the fae who want nothing more than to sow discord and the greedy humans who joined in their venture are a bit disorganized. Even the beginning-level heroes among us will be able to track them down and topple them with a little bar hopping to gather information from the locals. Eventually, one of them will give up having overheard some "scary looking fellows" talking about which of the patrons of the bar looked like they'd be good in a fight before getting extra hush-hush. Follow all the leads, and you'll find yourself at an outlying, smaller-scale castle with a dungeon tower and an underground fighting ring built beneath its floors. Sneak in and unlock individual fighter dungeon doors while the fights are providing a wealth of distraction. Maybe you'll find a grateful Fogueria who casts a temporary fire-immunity spell on you to allow you to do ride them into battle to bust up the fight going on right now. There's definitely gratitude going on, regardless of moral compass, and you may find gifts of food and drink (non-alcoholic if you're not old enough) placed at your door over the next week for your deeds. 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. • We are testing out formats for key points displays, to be voted on for player preference based on what seems to work best for the most people. The other options were used here (end of post summary format) and here (start of post preview format). The format featured on this post is the last option, which will provide small summaries under the banner of each prompt set. A poll will be put up before the next event to see which format will be used going forward, so please keep in the back of your mind which seems most comfortable/makes the content more easily accessible. •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

[yankiisuwari]

Ugh...

[ Falling into this strange world was one thing, and as much as Izumi or Taichi could explain to him. Now he's pretty beat, safe to say. Juza thinks he can still keep going, but for how long? People are rarely that persistent with him. He knows not to drop his guard between punches, but when every other fighter's knocked out he puts his hands down too. He sways a little.

Despite that, his head whips around to Sakyo's voice. Not to compare himself... but even Settsu listens. The Godfather of their troupe really has a presence, he's a typical yakuza. It's just right to help out this typical delinquent. ]

...Sakyo-san. [ Of course, he's still surprised.

To see him commanding some monster-creature, on top of it all— Yeah, Juza is pretty done. After approaching with what looks like little hesitancy, he grabs fists full of the komainu's mane and gets on as he's told. ]

[revile]

[ Look at it this way Juza, if Banri ever shows up here you can leave him in the dust by saying you rode a komainu. You might hurt all over but that's a really impressive feat! Once the weight on its back seems settled the komainu hops back over the barrier. By now most of the spectators have left, either worried about getting attacked by the creature of having figured this round of fighting and gambling is a big ol' loss on their part. ]

It's almost a shame for you to be turning over a new leaf. You're still a brat, but the Ginsenkai would probably be impressed if they ever saw you in action.

[ They seem to like brats too. I mean, they brought Sakyo in, didn't they? He approaches the two of them in order to get a better look at Juza. ]

We should make a break for it now but I don't want you passing out on me. Any excessive pain? Anything feel like it could be broken?

[ Sakyo hasn't gotten a strong handle of his healing powers yet but if Juza's in overly bad shape he can at least try to alleviate some of the pain. ]

[yankiisuwari]

[ Yeah. He'll look forward to rubbing it in if Banri comes at him sideways. However, the leap it takes is a movement he's not used to, so Juza holds on a little tighter. Never having considered Sakyo a pet person, thinking about it quickly, this still suits him. About Izumi's lioness, in that case... hm. ]

Seems like it. [ Any sort of smug confidence in that? No, not with him. Even if acting doesn't turn out, it's not the path Juza is going to take. Sakyo will have to be satisfied with his bet paying out. ] You watched the fight?

[ Must've looked about as rough as it felt. He hasn't hopped off yet, but Juza gives himself a primitive once-over, looking down. He's definitely feeling something, maybe a cracked rib, lots of spots that'll bruise and color up in the next couple of hours. Though there's also the adrenaline still pumping, that's letting him shake his head. ]

I think I'm good.

[ Juza doesn't want to cause—what he thinks is—more trouble now. All in due time, maybe after Sakyo explains his own powers, and after they've made it out of the eye of the tiger. ]

[revile]

I watched by coincidence. You're lucky I was even here.

[ Why? No need to explain that.

Of course he has a feeling Juza is full of shit, because he took on quite a few guys and he looks like pulverized meat. He's been in enough fights to know when to take someone at their word and the kid is clearly not going to feel good once the adrenaline runs off, but he's not here to spend time fretting over him. As long as he's speaking and can hold on to his familiar, that's good enough.

Sakyo clicks his tongue in irritation. ]

Its like this every single time, I can't get a moment's peace. First it was the director, then it was Nanao, now you. I swear, if the rest of you autumn idiots end up in this place...

[ He acts as if it's annoying, but really, he doesn't need more of any of them arriving at his place. If this is the kind of thing any of them could get wrapped up in... it bothers him enough to have Izumi here. If it got a hold of Bon—

Sakyo gives his komainu a pat then starts to make his way through the bleachers to the exit. ]

Come on, we're out of here. Hyodo, try to stay awake so you don't fall off.

[yankiisuwari]

[ Juza kinda knows that that's all he'll get for now, so he won't bother digging. Maybe he'll mull it over in the sullen lull of nursing his injuries. Since Autumn Troupe put on Ginji the Wanderer, they can really have a talk between the two of them, but Juza still isn't one to leave his mouth hanging open. Sakyo busted him out of a fist-fight, looks like he's still on the defense about one thing, though. ]

The director isn't an idiot.

[ But he's dropping Taichi like hot coals. Sorry, man. ]

Her and Nanao, I bumped into them... Don't really know how I ended up here after that.

[ Besides looking confounded, Juza's concerns for being in this world little by little start to shine through, too. Muku would love the concept of this place but, gradually, if Juza thinks about his cousin and his little brother getting dunked into the lake like he was– ] ...'s. [ Muttered agreement isn't just subdued because the rush of the brawl is—already—leaving him in the dust after all. ]

Sakyo-san... [ It's fine. He'll manage to stay awake, but: ] This place is for real?

[revile]

[ That little dog loves your abs though, Juza, how could you betray him like this??

Sakyo could easily debate that Juza has no idea what the hell he's talking about but instead he lets out a huff and stays silent. They're all idiots in this company, really. It's why they're all so well suited for each other.

One the one hand as shitty as it is finding one of his own troupe down here in some secret fighting, at least it's not where he started off. If Taichi and the director aren't sure where he went after they met up momentarily, he at least knows not to get him out of his sight now

The quiet murmur has him turning his head toward Juza immediately. It's not a sentence, not even a word. He probably won't make it through most of the trip back to safety in full consciousness. ]

You're asking that now? [ He adjusts his glasses and keeps an eye on Juza for now. ]

Yeah, I guess it is. Seems ridiculous. Like some video game Chigasaki would play. But it's real. How, I don't know.

[yankiisuwari]

[ It's okay, even idiot little dog-boys can touch his abs. They already had a naked (re-)bonding moment, too.

He knows arguments aren't really to be won against Sakyo, and him saying nothing's as far as he'll get. For someone like Juza who isn't naturally argumentative—talking with his fists excluded—that's good enough.

Riding a komainu is nothing like riding his motorcycle, nor can Juza compare it to sitting on a horse, but it isn't bad either. Yeah, he'll definitely brag about this to Banri if it comes up. However, Sakyo's comment makes him wonder if he should be asking, wondering about the state of this place. Muku, Itaru, Citron... everyone who's into this fantasy stuff isn't even here.

After Izumi and Taichi, Sakyo's the third person to say so. It's time for Juza to believe it. ]

So, we're all ending up here, some point or another? [ That's what he got from previous explanations. ] Didn't feel like you, or Nanao, or director'd been missing, though.

[revile]

[ Just enjoy the ride and ignore your ouchies, Juza. Even though resting would be a great idea at this point. Sakyo's komainu is pretty large and fluffy so it'd make for an excellent pillow.

Sakyo's preoccupation is more on getting them around fast enough so they can get back to the main city. He'd ask if Juza finds the route familiar, but he has a feeling he wasn't brought down to that fighting arena willingly, so he probably won't recall any details.

Suddenly, Juza speaks up again. Sakyo raises an eyebrow. ]

You say it like it's inevitable. [ God, he hopes not. ]

When it comes down to it, it's a "suspension of reality" type situation. You've got to learn to not ask so many questions about the how or why. To be fair, I'm still trying to get used to that part.

[ He was pretty stubborn about not accepting any part of this thing, having a familiar follow him around included, but finding familiar people sort of help settle Sakyo into accepting this whole thing was real. And not only that, the perception of time, with what he'd come to learn about Taichi. ]

Nanao mentioned he's been here a while. We never noticed him gone, right? That proves the fact. But it's a good thing it doesn't effect anything back at the dorm. Having three of autumn's members suddenly gone and the director would send everyone into a panic.

[ ...........actually they'd likely be mostly panicked about Izumi being gone. ]

[yankiisuwari]

[ He'll know when Juza's lights go out since he snores.
Damn, thinks about the NPC that had to muscle him over there.

Oh, now he doesn't know if he should have said it like that... he hopes not, too. Juza's listening, trying rather hard to follow and make sense of Sakyo's explanation. Suspended reality...? He just so keeps himself from echoing and inquiring again, told not to ask so much. ]

Sorry... I'll try not to.

[ He can keep up with that about Taichi, though. Strange as that is, too, he's already heard it from Izumi and Taichi himself. ]

Uh-huh. He told me he's got his own place. [ Which makes Juza a little melancholic, honestly. It's a lot of noise and bustle at times, but living in a dorm with everyone; it's nice, having people around. To top it off, Taichi really has a presence. ]

Said he'd been gone for a while, but I didn't think he was missing. Sakyo-san or Director, either...

[ Somehow this is warping into Juza feeling bad for not missing them. If he ends up broadcasting that thought to Sakyo it's an unrefined effort, and an accident to begin with. ]

[revile]

[ Good luck at that attempt, Sakyo thinks, because as straight-forward as Juza can be he also likes to over think things sometimes and leap to assumptions. And wouldn't you know it, that's exactly what he ends up doing.

The thought that sneaks into his head is strange, mostly because he knows it's not his, it's not even in his own voice, the sort you always tend to hear in your thoughts. It'd startle Sakyo more if he wasn't aware about the degree of magic that exists in the city, but it does make him pause, wondering where it came from. Of course, there's only one source.

He stops walking, holds his hand out so his komainu pauses as well. He looks up at Juza's figure on top of the large creature. That usual stoic expression, but his voice is soft. ]

You haven't done anything wrong. None of us have. If you're not aware of a situation that's happening then what else are you supposed to do other than go about your life as usual?

[ It must not be his own ability, he knows what he can do by this point, and Taichi informed him that every seems to have at least two powers. Whatever this is, it must be Juza's. He feels like he should apologize for accidentally butting into his thoughts unexpectedly... but, maybe he can just pretend to be very, very intuitive. ]

Nanao's not the type to hold a grudge. Besides, he's got that annoying dog-like magnetism to himself. I'm sure he made good company during the time we weren't here with him.

[yankiisuwari]

[ Oh, he screwed up whatever he said. Juza can guess that's why Sakyo stops them walking, but not exactly what part. The lurch of it's just gentle enough to not throw him off, even in his state, though. He easily lets Sakyo get away with being insightful, who always knows how to drill Autumn Troupe too anyway. Even more than Omi, he's the adult of the bunch and it shows to Juza. Likely getting hit in the head aside, he's just not really in on the concept of magics yet, either. He'll believe it. ]

...Yeah.

[ Juza can't say it even seemed like Taichi harbors any resentment, saying he was happy to have everyone—Sakyo included—show up. When he thinks he could've managed on his own, someone who much more social like Taichi couldn't have been in any trouble.

It's a conversation that's not as one-sided as Juza currently thinks it is, but just for Sakyo to go on and remind him, he's gotta say something out loud too. ]

Thanks for telling me that. You always got the right things to say, Sakyo-san, like a leader. Better 'n Settsu.

[ Guess who Juza is not gonna miss right away. But if they get back moving, he'll probably doze off, snoring, before he can get berated this time. ]

[revile]

[ What a simple response. Maybe it's his injuries acting up, making it hard to think, he must be exhausted too, but it's pretty amusing every time Juza's short on words to say about the most complex, heavy matters. And yet he never needs things repeated more than once. He's simple-minded, just like the rest of their troupe, but aside from matters where he ends up butting heads with Banri, Sakyo never has a problem getting through to him. With the others they make him sound like a know-it-all, an old man with too much wisdom, but with Juza it's so... straight-forward. Why the hell can't the rest of them be like this?

He's changed so much, and it feels like its been a short amount of time, but it's been so long. And he's proud. Even if he's never said it.

Out of all of these kids, especially in Autumn Troupe, its been Juza that reminds him the most of the type of person he used to be. And what he's like now. Just a little bit. ]

Throwing him under the bus as usual, huh? We already went through this. As qualified as I was, I had nothing to gain from leading this group of hooligans. Out of everyone else, it suited Settsu the most. It's not just about being leader, but accepting having others rely on you. I might give some good advice every once in a while, but being just another member, like a bystander... it helped me out too.

[ The moment Izumi made him realize he was holding himself back, because he couldn't let himself outshine these kids, but they were learning and growing at a rate he almost wouldn't be able to keep up with... that's when it changed. She could be an idiot, but that girl, she could be pretty smart too. He wonders if she knew the whole time, what being part of this company could do for him. ]

Like that saying goes, even an old dog can learn new tricks. 'sides, I got my hands full enough with wrangling the lot of you up on a regular basis.

[ He gives his komainu a pat at its big curly mane to let it know it can start walking again, but he continues to keep an eye on Juza. Wouldn't want the kid falling off, and if he dozes off, he hopes it's a good rest. ]

[yankiisuwari]

[ Call that a habit, getting his words out as few and quick as possible before the next fight. When Juza has the time though, like now, it's more like he doesn't rush to think about his answer, and at times less is more. Even if it makes him come across as dull and naive, Juza's counting on those people who've gotten to look past his demeanor and see him as more than O High's top-delinquent. Sakyo knows he's more than the grim look on his face. ]

Hmph. [ Even him and Banri are more than warring rivals at times. ] I know. [ Again, short but true; it's what Juza is thinking in as few words as he'll say out loud this moment. ]

You're more than a bystander, though. [ Everyone in Autumn Troupe, all of MANKAI, 's worth their part. It's Izumi's charm to make everybody aware and to never forget that, but Juza can do his bit too. ] There's plenty of old tricks you've taught us... me especially.

[ He won't soon forget how Sakyo talked about his past, what seeing the yakuza in that light had meant for himself. Yeah, this heartfelt talk is getting a little sloppy while Juza's whole trip to and around Avalon is catching up to him. ]

Sorry,... for making trouble. [ More than what he'd said before, this is about the fight Sakyo just pulled him out of. From all that, Juza's body is finally getting all heavy, though he holds onto the komainu's neck with unconscious effort. ...Zzz...

If Sakyo inquires about it back at the inn, he'll find out Juza never checked in there at all. And some time after that, he'll come around a little—a lot—more sore than he remembers feeling. ] Ngh......