TEST DRIVE MEME #8

[abraxasmods]

TEST DRIVE MEME

Welcome to the eighth test drive meme for Abraxas! This meme is run a little bit differently than most in that you'll be asked to choose one of the three different arrival scenarios below for your character to take. If you have any questions about this mechanic or anything else related to the TDM, please take a look at the questions below or ask one of your own under the Questions header below. For general game questions please still use the FAQ.

Our Setting pages are full of information on the world of Abraxas, and an overview of the story so far can be found on our Game History page! Anything on that page - including information about the Horizon and the Singularity - can be assumed to be told to newcomers after they arrive, no matter which faction they are received in. For more information on Ambrose and the apprentice mages, Marlo, and Rowan, please see our NPCs page.

You can also find answers to questions asked on previous TDMs in their respective questions threads.

NOTED CURRENT EVENTS
◎ Rumor has it that two emissaries - a werewolf and a vampire - visited from Nocwich in early July. With them came some wares distributed to shops throughout each faction. A few sparse items may remain for purchase, such as glowing flowers or fine ales, but much of it has now been sold.

◎ New arrivals in THE FREE CITIES may hear a bit of chatter around Cadens about art, politics, and recent performances involving its sister city, Libertas. It's all standard fare - the kind of topics spoken about over a beer or in line at the market - but there's a small stir in the air.

◎ Lately, locals in SOLVUNN have begun to approach the Summoned with a sort of awe and respect. New arrivals will find themselves treated much the same way and may be asked for advice or given gifts that seem like offerings such as wine, harvest bounties, or some delicious goat cheese. Your character is free to turn these down and should they turn down enough people, they will not be bothered further as no one wishes to offend them.

Arrival

You awaken suspended in the abyss, silent darkness stretching out in all directions. If you try to yell, you'll find that the sound doesn't carry. If you try to move, you'll find it's impossible to tell whether or not you're actually getting anywhere. If you reach for an item you were carrying last time you remember being awake, your hand will only touch bare skin.

You're naked and floating helplessly through the void, and what little air you have in your lungs is running out.

There's a pinprick of light that almost looks like a faraway star but as it grows it becomes clear that it's actually quite close. Through the opening you can see a bright room, but it's hard to make out any individual objects, as if you're looking from beneath rippling water.

Scenario One: Welcome to Thorne

A hand plunges through and you realize water is just what it is. Whether you take hold of the hand or not it will grab you and yank you up through the surface, lifting you out until you're sprawled on solid ground. Once you catch your breath, you can get a better look at the surroundings: tall trees and even taller stone pillars surround the platform you're laying on. Behind you is an ornate fountain, the base of which is so deep and so dark you might be compelled to scramble away from it lest it suck you back in to that endless abyss. Ahead of you are the walls of a large castle with several tall towers reaching up towards the sky.

If you had any powers, they feel unusually weak. Attempts to use magic or enhanced strength or powers of any sort fizzle out without any effect, but they don't feel completely gone, either.

Set into an indent on a marble slab behind the fountain is a card bearing the image of one of the arcana.

An apprentice mage - the one whose hand lifted you out of the fountain - brushes the water off on their robes and runs back to join a group of three others, who all stare intently at a mage with highly decorated robes and a large, heavy book. He peers up at you for a moment and starts flipping through the book.

"One moment," he says, not bothering to look up from the tome. He looks tired. "I am Ambrose Rhett, the High Mage of the Kingdom of Thorne. We’ll explain everything in a moment, but for now, please calm down. You’re completely fine."

Regardless of your response, he keeps flipping through the pages, until he stops on one specific passage, stares at it for a moment, and then sighs with relief:

"Finally!"

Ambrose's expression brightens, relief visible across his features. He waves one of the apprentices over with a fine silk tunic, pants, and some basic sandals and with a wave of his hand they reshape to fit you perfectly.

"Oh, thank heavens," he says, closing the book and approaching you with a sort of worn-out relief. “I was beginning to believe we’d never get it exactly right.”

Now that he's not hunching over the book, he doesn't seem quite so stuffy and inapproachable. The apprentices all seem to visibly relax, and the one that handed you the tunic stops to take the tarot card down from the marble slab. If you show any curiosity about the card, they'll let you take a longer look, but won't let you touch it.

"Please, come with me," he says, motioning for you to follow him towards the castle. "As promised, my pupils will explain your current situation. And, ah - if you had any magic of your own, or other special abilities you can't access right now, fear not, they'll return within the week. The summoning takes a lot out of you."

One of the apprentices steps forward and rattles on and on about the castle, Thorne itself, the names of a bunch of royals and nobles, and of course, your reason for being here. The Kingdom and the world itself is in great peril, and tales of your exploits have reached far and wide across universes. If asked about these exploits, the apprentice will simply smile and shrug. The High Mage was happy to see you and that's good enough.

Once inside the castle you're taken to the North Wing, which has been set up as living quarters for you and your fellow newcomers. There are four people to a room, but each generously-sized bed has opaque curtains that can be drawn around it. You can meet your roommates here and discuss your shared situation (those who were previously brought in may have a great deal of information to tell you), or you can wander around and meet the others.

There's also a dining hall stocked with a rotating 24/7 buffet in celebration of the new honored guests. Somehow, your very favorite food is part of the rotation (or at least an attempted recreation of it given the limited technology available to the Thorneans). The town surrounding the castle is all abuzz as well, with most shops and services willing to give free samples of their wares to the new arrivals.

You may also notice that your sign is embroidered on your tunic: the same image you saw on the card from before with the name of the sign itself beneath it. If you ask the castle residents, they'll tell you a little bit about your sign (and will mostly stick to the positives, although some might point out the negatives).

Last (and, if you ask anyone else in the castle, least) there is a worn stone staircase leading underground to the dungeon. You can go there, if you wish, but all powers are restricted in the dungeons and most of the cells stand empty.

Scenario Two: Welcome to the Free Cities

You find yourself pulled from the water by a pair of strong hands. Dry warmth hits you at once as you're set on a warm hard floor. As your senses return you realize you're on dull ruddy stone and surrounded by strangers. Men and women in unfamiliar uniforms of brown and red leather stand in a semi-circle around a small pool of water. The very pool you were just pulled from. The water is still now, rimmed in pale gold tiles with odd symbols etched into them. Across it on the far side is a raised pedestal with a card propped on it. The card bears an arcana symbol.

You feel weak. Drained. Any abilities or magical powers you have seem far away and impossible to access. You're in what looks like a cave lit by dozens and dozens of torches set into the wall. There's no furniture or decoration to be seen besides the pool. It's almost uncomfortably warm and there's the sound of rushing wind somewhere in the distance. Flickering shadows obscure the faces of the guards. A robed woman stands off to the side, looking at you anxiously and then to the authoritative woman standing before you. She's grinning, dressed in a fancier uniform than the others. There's a sword at her hip. A guard covers you with a blanket and returns to their place in the semi-circle.

The woman with the sword gives a nod of approval and smiles warmly.

"Sorry about the circumstances."

She gives you a good hard look before standing again.

"Take a minute, catch your breath, you've had quite a shock. Take it nice and easy. I'm Prime Minister Marlo Reiner and you're in The Free Cities. That nice lady over there will explain everything to you and get you settled." A nod to the robed woman off to the side.

Marlo Reiner steps back and the robed mage approaches to help you up.

"Come with me, please." She brings you out of the cave through a corridor that angles upwards until you emerge in what looks like some kind of storage facility. Shelves of wooden boxes and cloth bags line them, unidentifiable parts of what might be machines are tucked into corners and propped against shelving units. "This is one of the Free Cities' outposts," the mage explains as she leads you. "We're honored to have you with us, I'm sure you have many questions but please save them. You need to recover!"

You'll learn you're in the Cadens Desert Outpost 003, a military outpost on the outskirts of Cadens city. You're brought to a room in the barracks that's been prepared. Each barracks room is rather sparse and utilitarian. Six simple beds set against the wall, three on each side of the room, each with a trunk at the foot of it. You're told the world is in a delicate and dangerous times and you're needed to help. You're important, you're told, and they're very grateful you're here.

You're asked to stay close for the time being, but to make yourself at home. The outpost is more a proper military base than the name implies, with full facilities. The barracks have a communal bathing room at the end of the hall, with curtains that can be pulled around the individual raised round tubs for privacy. There's a mess hall that has food available from sun up till a few hours after sundown. You're even encouraged to make use of the training grounds, if you'd like, with non-lethal training weapons available for use and obstacle courses set up. And the city of Cadens is only a couple of hours away by wagon - though you're asked initially to please be back at the outpost within a few hours of the sun going down.

For your own safety.

Scenario Three: Welcome to Solvunn

The feeling of floating is the first sense that comes to you as the edges of unconsciousness start to ebb. Sunlight filters through the rippling water as you open your eyes, making you squint. Before you have the chance to panic and inhale, firm hands grasp your arms and pull you to the surface of the water. Moments later, soft warmth is wrapped around your shoulders as you're guided on unsteady legs out of a pool of water. You're lowered to the soft grass. Men and women in simple garments with lavish embroidery stand by, waiting with bated breath, glancing seriously at an old man in an ornate robe. He holds an old leather-bound book in one hand and in the other is a card bearing an arcana symbol. His eyes move quickly over the page, and he mumbles idly to himself.

Any strength you may have possessed feels as though it has slipped through your fingers. Any abilities or magical powers you have don't come to the surface no matter how hard you try. You're in a grassy clearing in the midst of a circle of large stone slabs stacked to look like doorways. In the middle is the same glimmering pool you were just pulled from. A gentle breeze blows through, carrying the scent of flowers and herbs from an ornately decorated altar set off in front of one of the stone doorways. The mage closes his book and steps out of the water, addressing a matronly old woman. Behind her are two younger people, a rough-looking man, and a meek young girl, both of whom are also watching the mage.

“I detect no ill will from the gods, it seems we've been blessed with success.” Those that had gathered all breathe a sigh of relief and now seem pleased.

The old woman smiles and steps forward, offering to take your hands and help you stand. “Any gift the gods give us is one we will happily take. I'm certain you have many questions, and they will all be answered in time. For now, rest and know you will be taken care of.”

She pats the top of your hand and steps away with a serene smile, letting one of the others come forward with some clothes that seem to fit you perfectly. Once you're dressed, someone approaches to drape a delicate-looking charm depicting a long-horned creature with large wings on a thin chain over your neck. Ask around later, and you may find that it is a symbol of Vielehauffe, the God of the Herd.

The rough-looking man from before steps forward once you're decent and motions with his head outside of the stone circle. His speech is informal, his consonants harsh.

“Hold your horses, I can see all those questions coming about! Rowan March, at your service. I'm one of the council members of Solvunn. There's a lot to discuss, but it's best talked about over a hot meal.” He leads you to a horse-drawn carriage and helps you up into the back. He talks the entire ride to the settlement.

You find out you are in the Primary Settlement, the first of three that make up Solvunn's great territory. The settlement is situated between two lakes and is humming with life. You're brought to the center of town and escorted to an apartment above one of the establishments in town. Rowan explains that the living conditions are temporary if you'd like them to be, that local families would also be happy to host you in their home. That there are others like you who have also taken up residence within the three settlements. You're told that the world hangs upon the brink of disaster and that there are those in this world that are happy to see it fall to ruin with their meddling.

You're important. The gods have graced them with your presence. They're delighted you're here. Welcome to Solvunn.

Everything you need has been provided in this humble apartment, and if it hasn't, there are shops that line the streets and a marketplace in the center of town. Owners of some establishments or stalls are more than happy to give out samples or barter with your time for their goods. Babysitting can be a very lucrative business. You're told of the other settlements, that they'd like you to stay here for now, but if you can find a family to host you, the secondary and tertiary settlements are best to get to with an escort.

There are tales of travelers visiting the secondary settlement without invitation disappearing without a trace. The gods are as hungry as they are protective, young traveler.

You’ll find that there are more than enough activities to throw yourself into to better settle into your new life in Solvunn. Work is done in the first part of the day so that families can spend the rest of it together in leisure and work on their crafts - whatever those may be. For those children who are not of school age, they need nannies or storytellers, and there’s always a gaggle of them running about unsupervised. Families with livestock can always take a spare hand, especially since farms are so spread out, they have a tendency to wander. Whatever skills you may possess can always be of use to the community or to honor the gods.

If any of these options are no good for your lifestyle, the main roads between settlements can always use a bit of monster clean-up… just make sure you don’t go alone.

---

Questions

How many slots are open?
Please check the Taken page for how many player, franchise, and canon slots are available. Activity check will be processed before applications open, so the count may change between now and then. Existing players can apply for a second character without restriction.

How do I choose a scenario for my character?
Pick whichever situation appeals to you most. Which faction your character is drawn into has nothing to do with their personal morality, beliefs, or how highly they regard themselves and their own accomplishments. Anyone can be put into any one of the situations.

Can I try out more than one scenario?
You can! But please keep in mind that only the one you eventually choose can be game canon, if you decide to keep any of your TDM threads.

What happens if my character refuses to comply with the NPCs?
They will be forgiven for their moment of panic or anger if they have one, and the faction leaders will try to calm them and persuade them further. If they put up too much of a fight and/or start actively attacking anyone, they will be warned once that everyone is willing to put them back in the well where they came from (see below), and if they continue to fight they will make good on that promise.

My character intends on causing a lot of trouble (destroying parts of the cities, murdering the NPCs, etc.), what would happen to them?
Characters who make too much trouble for the mages and other NPCs would be thrown back in the well (which will mean drowning in the void, not returning home). Brawling with other PCs and causing minor damage is fine and will be greeted with a cranky attitude and intervention from various NPC guards, and there will be plenty of opportunity for destruction and murder later, but for now the Abraxans have no desire to keep huge liabilities around.

I want to wildcard a prompt or use one of the prompts from an earlier TDM that isn't on this one (eg. the library), can I do that?
Yes, in terms of the settings. As Thorne is no longer imprisoning any newcomers, that option is no longer applicable.

Is the power loss for characters permanent?
No, but it does take a week or so for their powers to be back in full, and certain powers (determined on a case-by-case basis) may require nerfs. If your character has world-breaking powers, please discuss with the mods what modifications may be necessary.

Can my character leave the bounds of the faction?
In Thorne, characters can leave the castle but not the city. In Cadens, they can take a trip from the outpost to the city. In Solvunn, they can explore the entirety of the Primary Settlement.

Can my character eventually change factions?
Yes. While the faction borders are currently closed, there will opportunities in the future for characters to relocate. For the time being, they are stuck where they are.

How much will my choice of scenario affect my character's plot later on?
This choice will determine where your character initially lives as well as the bias of the information they receive from NPCs (although other PCs can and most likely will give it to them a bit more straight). This decision - and every other major decision you make in game! - will also be used to flavor some mod surprises that will be coming down the line.

Don't get too anxious about this choice, though; this is just one choice you'll get to make in a game that has a lot of them, and every character in every scenario can work their way towards many, many individual goals and outcomes. You're not locking yourself out of anything in the future via the choice you made on the TDM. It will primarily impact the immediate future with the far-reaching effects being up to each player.

Are TDM threads mandatory for my application?
No, you may use other samples, but we encourage you to post to the TDM and get a feel for this game and its mechanics before you join. If you do not have a TDM thread you will still need to choose one of the three scenarios on your application.

What if I haven't settled on a sign yet?
You can ignore sign-related prompts if you're undecided (or try out different signs in different threads).

Can my character go to the Horizon?
First time visitors to the Horizon must be taken there by other characters, through either shared meditation or a physical journey to the Singularity, and all first-timers experience memory loss. For the purposes of the TDM, we suggest against using the Horizon.

What about making use of the network?
Much like Horizon they would need to be introduced to it by another PC, as no NPCs would be aware of the network or be able to access it. Because of this we would advise against using this mechanic for TDM top-levels.

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[abraxasmods]

Kaz Brekker | Grishaverse | The Chariot | Free Cities

[bealufull]

1. Arrival/Barracks (cw for mention of a corpse and its state)

For a moment the last seven years or so are nothing but a distant memory. All there is for Kaz in that moment is water and memories. A bloated body beneath his own worn and weak body, clinging tightly to his brother’s corpse within only one thought in mind. Surviving.

Cold water numbed his extremities, too weak to make it, the lights of Ketterdam growing sharper, growing brighter even as he sinks further beneath the water, not sure he’s going to make it.

He breaks the surface of the water, realizing someone is clutching at his hands, his arms, hauling him out of the water. The stadwatch goes through his mind, wondering what they’ll do with him, how he’ll explain it all… even as reality comes racing back to him.

Jordie’s dead. Long dead and gone. He is Kaz Brekker. Bastard of the Barrel. Dirtyhands.

And he’s naked.

Scrambling backwards over the dry stones, ignoring the scrape and grind of it against his skin as he moves as best he can until his back hits a wall. Feeling as weak as he had that night when he was ten, still sick with firepox and fighting for his life, and he wonders if that’s what he’s doing here as well and just doesn’t know it yet.

“Don’t! Just don’t!”

Voice fairly quavering as he warns back the guard who absolutely does and settles a blanket about his shoulders. Kaz glares as he gathers it about himself. Taking it all in with a dark glower, looking as angry as he can muster and in his condition looking a bit like an indignant wet cat even as the stifling air already begins to dry the dark hairs over his brow.

He follows, though suspicious not only of this so-called prime minister but of the others around him in blankets and various stages of dryness. Staying close to the back, moving with carefully measured steps. The stones may be worn for bare feet, but moving without his cane is not the easiest for him, especially in trying to hide his limp… and knowing he’s failing despite that.

“Kidnapping people for conscription seems a bit much,” he mutters, taking in the building where they’ve found themselves.

Kidnapping is definitely how it feels, and he wastes no time going through what he’s giving once in the barracks, dressing with sharp, precise movements. Clothes are a start, even if he finds himself clutching and releasing his hands, as uncomfortable with their bareness as he is with his uneven gait as he moves through the outpost.

He explores what they have from the mess hall to the even the training grounds though he doesn’t participate. Kaz Brekker was never military material. Not this kind of military, at least and he makes that clear when asked though it supports what he had suspected upon being hauled from the water.

Being unwilling to join them doesn’t stop him from seeking answers in a careful and methodical way. There isn’t a door he won’t try, a book he won’t flip through, and if he’s found checking behind curtains and generally finding himself looking into every nook and cranny he can.

Even if the room is occupied, or he’s not the first one there looking for answers.

2. Cadens

Taking a day or two to explore the outpost and get his bearings, Kaz takes advantage of the wagon to the city of Cadens itself. Getting about isn’t easy as he explores the center of the city as best he can on foot and without his cane. It’s frustrating as it should be humbling, doing his best to disguise the damage.

Which means often being found in the shadows of a building, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed as he draws sharp breaths to work through the pain. In those moments, despite his need for answers, seemingly trying to avoid others. Even if he’s pale with pain that he ignores as if that will make it go away.

That pain doesn’t stop him from plying his oldest trade, easily unburdening others of coin or anything else they might have on them of interest. It’s been years since he’s had to use this on the streets like a common urchin, but it’s where he began and he’s good at it. Even if he hates how close it brings him to others, unable to find gloves thin enough to do him any good on the streets.

He finds himself exploring the taverns and bars most. People are more likely to talk when they have drink in them, whether in good spirits or bad. So he situates himself close to others, listening while staring moodily ahead. Not that he entirely hides his reaction to something he’s heard, frowning heavily as he glances at someone nearby. He shifts where he sits, offering what might be an attempt at a smile.

"So... Libertas? How far is that? Only had Cadens mentioned to me." Which might reveal how new he is to this place, which is harder to avoid than he'd like.

It isn’t as if he isn’t used to pushing on through adversity though, unwilling to let it slow him down as he tries to get a sense of this place that reminds him of home, oddly enough. If all of Ketterdam and Ravka and even the Little Palace itself were all shoved into the same city and just about as crowded. He misses the Barrel where the locals parted to let him through and even tourists didn’t often stand in his way.

So when he finds his way blocked, Kaz reacts like… well, himself, huffing a breath as his dark glare settles on someone in his way.

“Would it be too much to ask you not block the sidewalk? I’m sure the building is no different than ones you have back home. Bricks. Beams. Supports.”

Please, correct him on this. Even if it’s a lie.

Eventually he finds himself in a tavern called The Sarstina Inn that reminds him of home, even if he’s acutely missing the sounds and scents of the Crow Club. The Barrel is in his blood, and he could do with a bit of assurance he’ll find it again. Or make it his own here.

It’s getting late, or perhaps it's early on another day, but he settles in a chair watching the door, dark eyes taking it all in even when he’s not looking directly at something. Using coin that he obtained from someone - whether they knew it or not - he orders a drink and forces himself to sip it rather than drowning his pain in liquor.


3. Wildcard

(Open to any interactions around the outpost or in Cadens. Kaz is a very good pickpocket and a master of sleight of hand though he’s not used to metahumans beyond the Grisha and those with extra sensory powers though he will do his best to talk himself out of confrontations. Also I will match brackets or prose though I tend to default to prose.)

Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi | Star Wars (Disney Canon) | Probably Temperance

[tawltales]

[Ben is coming in from just after the end of the Obi-Wan Kenobi TV show. LMK if you're comfortable with spoilers or not, I'll do my best to avoid them anyway.]

Solvunn-Arrival

Ben's not sure what to think about his present circumstances, but he takes the meal that's offered, and listens to what they have to say; they wouldn't have expended all this power just to bring him here just to poison him at the first opportunity. And if they wanted to capture him, it would have been easy to do so after he'd been pulled out of the pool.

More troubling is that he cannot feel the Force, not outside of a muted, barely-there connection weaker than even when he was at his lowest during his exile on Tatooine. They assure him his abilities will return in a week.

Regardless, they've been plenty generous with their meal. More than Ben needs. Finishing up, and wiping at his face with a napkin, he gestures at his plate to whomever is next to him. "I'm finished, but if you'd like to take what's left, be my guest. I think I may go explore a bit."

The Primary Settlement

Solvunn reminds him very much of some of the smaller rural Outer Rim communities he visited as a Padawan with Qui-Gon, before the Clone Wars and the rise of the Empire. People working, going about their daily lives without living in fear of an attack, or being visited by stone-faced authorities in uniforms. Though he's careful to remind himself that's at least the image being presented to him; he must be mindful of his surroundings, especially while his ability to commune with the Force is gone.

Unfortunately, he finds it difficult to reconnoiter without a well-meaning townsperson arriving with another gift. He politely refuses the wine, but did take some of the cheese, fruits and vegetables from the harvest, just enough to keep him going a few days.

"No, please. Thank you, this is very generous, but this is your harvest. I'm well-looked after, I assure you." His words aren't unkind, and he means what he says; villages like this live or die on their harvests, he won't take more from these people than he absolutely has to.

When he's invited to join the harvesting however, he decides to take them up on that offer. There's a farm on the outskirts that needs help with an apple harvest, so Ben once again finds himself sitting with others on their way out of town. But this is a traditional wagon, the kind of animal-driven vehicle the galaxy by and large abandoned a long, long time ago, and these people aren't the poor and desperate of Anchorhead.

One of those little talismans, the same kind that Ben was offered and now wears around his neck, falls to the ground of the wagon, landing by his feet. Ben reaches down and picks the small trinket up. "Someone lose something?" He asks, holding it up to the crowd.

As the workday draws to a close, much earlier than usual, Ben relaxes by a fenced field, drinking from a cup of water that was provided for him after a few hours of work, when something from behind noses him gently in the back. Turning, he finds he's attracted the attention of a fine-looking steed, who seems to have taken a personal interest in the man.

"Well. Hello, there." He offers, gently raising a hand to stroke the horse's mane and neck. "You're a rather friendly fellow, aren't you? Yes, hello." The animal seems pleased by the contact, and Ben seems in no rush to head back just set.

As dusk begins to fall over the Settlement, Ben finds a quiet, out-of-the-way place to settle down and meditate. While he would like to take his hosts at their word about his powers coming back, he'd be remiss if he didn't try to stir some connection with the Force himself through the old practices of meditation and stillness.

Sitting cross-legged, Ben closes his eyes and empties his mind, attempting to reach out, find some sort of connection. One connection in particular, one he had just finally become ready for in particular.

For a long few moments he feels or hears nothing but the wind, but for a moment, maybe there's...there's something.

"Master?" His voice is barely above a whisper. "Are you there?"

Abraxas Legends/Non-Canon: Thorne

For someone who's lived on his own for so long, the communal apartments offered to Ben and the other new arrivals are something he has not experienced in a long time, a long time. The accommodations seem fine enough, at least. Better than a sleeping roll in a desert cave, at least.

He hears the door open. Another roommate already, it seems. "Ah, hello there." He nods over his shoulder, absent-mindedly. "I'm afraid one bed's already been claimed but I believe the rest are still available." Not that he has much with which to claim said bed. "Please, make yourself at home." He'll be stepping out anyway before too long, try to get the lay of this place.

Ben spends some time in the library, looking for books of history primarily, on Thorne and Abraxas in general. Anything related to this "Singularity" that is apparently central to why he's been brought here too.

Later on, closer to the evening, he roams the gardens. Thorne has a general air and ostentation that puts him on edge; the pomp and circumstance seeming more like Serenno than the somewhat more egalitarian Nubian or Alderaanian nobilities Ben tends to prefer though he knows first impressions can be deceiving. And the gardens are lovely, and peaceful, removed from the hubbub and crowds of the castle. While he'd like to take his hosts' word that his connection to the Force will return in time, Ben would be remiss if he doesn't try himself first. The gardens seem like a good place to try via the old arts of meditation.

He hopes, perhaps, that someone unintended might have come along with him, and that by reaching out, Ben might be able to restore the connection he'd only just become ready to see.

The Inn;

[shadowthief]

Inej works the bar at Mag's Inn most nights. She may never have worked at the Crow Club in that way, but learning to sling a drink or two was easy enough and she'd made her way here with this and running errands for Mag in the daytime– it meant less running around for her, and Inej didn't mind the legwork.

She hears the familiar scrape of someone pulling up at the bar, the soft clink of coin on the bartop, but... the voice is what trips her up. She freezes on a dime, breath silent but caught sharply between her ribs. It's a brief moment, blink and you miss it and she prays he does, as she moves to pour the drink he'd asked for.

"I thought I was supposed to be the sneaky one," she quips, setting the glass in front of him, hands braced against the bar as she finally turns to face him. Her voice is steady, sharp but not mean, and her eyes lock on him intently to judge every inch of his reaction.

[bealufull]

He had looked for the others as they pulled him from the water and sought signs of them in the barracks after he had found a bed and clothing. Perhaps he should have asked around, sought signs of them outside of the outpost but, the truth was, he had assumed as in so much, he might proceed them. Though if he had seen a game going on, he most certainly would have looked for Jesper amongst those playing.

Certainly he would not have looked for his Wraith behind a bar. If he was in his right mind at seeing her, he would wonder why he's off in this place that he hadn't sensed her the moment he crossed the threshold but he certainly was not going to let that happen again.

But in that moment his only thought was her. The entire world pinpointed on her for a moment. The lilt of her voice, the graceful way she moves as she sets the glass before him. None of the noises from the other reaches him in that moment, even if all another might see is a tensing in his shoulders and the widening of his eyes. Yet he knows what she might read in that, even as his hand moves not for the glass but across the bar top, stopping as it lay there on the wood, pale and bare.

"I thought you might make your presence known the moment they dragged me from that awful pool," he says, words tight and clipped but an easy taunt in the way things can be between them, acting as if nothing's changed when they're standing in an entirely new world.

kimiko miyashiro | the boys | free cities

[pse]

ʙᴀʀʀᴀᴄᴋs.

[ Having changed into clean garb - a pair of breeches that she needs to roll up at the ankle, and a loose short sleeved shirt - Kimiko wanders the military base and does her best to tease any potential knots out of her damp hair. She feels drained and sluggish about the feet, power having sieved its way out of her and left somewhere at the pit of the well. Keeping a keen eye open for anyone she recognises, she studies face after face, and offers no explanation should anyone catch her brief stares.

In the mess hall, she attempts to recoup her energy by helping herself to three or four of everything and going at it with a surprisingly tidy fervor. The contents of her tray disappear quickly and gladly, but no one will ever see a spilled crumb on the table or splotch of sauce on her face.

In the training grounds, she's capable enough; although it looks like she's getting the gauge of her current state of weakness more than anything. She runs until she's doubled over, wheezing. She attempts to punch a wooden training dummy right where its jaw may or may not be, only to end up cradling red and split knuckles with an oddly impish little smile. And she attempts to interrupt a companionable game of frisbee by attempting to jump up and pluck the disc out of the air, only to miss it by several inches and collapse into a heap. At least she's laughing about that last bit, if silently, with hands covering her face while her shoulders tremble.

At one point, she is able to get her hands on a map of the region. Being unable to make heads or tails of it, however, she doesn't hesitate to tap the nearest person on the shoulder and try to get their help. This will involve some miming. ]

ᴡᴀɢᴏɴ.

[ Having finally decided to check out the city of Cadens, Kimiko is sandwiched between the far wall of the wagon and a very gregarious young soldier(?). ]

— so that's when I decided I had to leave home. Da didn't take too well to it but Mum, well - 'make your fortune, Squiffy,' she said to me, and I —

[ The moment she leans her head against the interior of the wagon or her eyes seem to glaze over, he notices. ]

— oh, I'm going on again. What did you say your name was?

[ Kimiko blinks and says nothing. ]

Anne? That's a lovely name. So, Anne, I said to Mum, 'Squiffy' - that's me - 'Squiffy will be a name that rises through the ranks of the military!' Seven years later, I'm still in sanitation, but —

[ At some point, she finds herself eyeing the ground moving steadily under the wagon, and wondering if it wouldn't be worth it to hurl herself bodily out the side. ]

ᴡɪʟᴅᴄᴀʀᴅ.

[ Dealer's choice! ]

[shadowthief]

Inej would not let the rest of the world dissolve simply because a Barrel boy was in front of her. She refused to be that blind to her surroundings, even if for the most part she could trust the patrons here. Most of them were fellow Summoned, and people she's grown attached to in varying degrees.

She sees those tiny things– that tension in his shoulders, the widening of his eyes as he sets them on her– and it eases something tight in her chest. Those nearly impossible to notice signs that, under all the rest, he is still human as anyone else.

"Had I been at the outpost, I would have," she admits, recalling her own moment in the pool in Solvunn. Anything else she might have wanted to say is lost when she sees his hand on the bartop. "You're practically naked without gloves," she says, snapping her eyes back up to his face. "I'll get you some. I have coin saved, and so does Jesper." Is that how she lets him know his lieutenant is here? Well. Yes. But it's easier to let her own hand slide from the edge of the bar to rest just lightly against his. No outright holding, here, just the barest brush of skin.

Without armor or not at all.

Billy Kaplan | Marvel Comics | Solvunn | The Hanged Man

[actualwizard]

1. Arrival

[ On a scale of the weirdest things to ever happen to him, this is somewhere between electrocuting the school bully with his new powers and being worshiped by tiny fuzzy green aliens. It's disorienting at first and he’s not entirely sure he's not dreaming until he’s kneeling on grass and still trembling. He reaches for his magic and it's not there- not gone but unreachable. That alone causes him to start to panic. It's always there, simmering under the surface, and not being able to access it is like being cut off from air.

He’s trying not to have a panic attack when the old woman approaches him and helps him up. She seems harmless but Billy knows that doesn’t mean anything. She’s talking about gods and then he’s being draped in clothes and a pendant and he’s really hoping he didn’t land himself in another universe that worships him. He would be a terrible disappointment. It’s telling how out of sorts he is that it's only then that he starts to ask the question, ‘Where’s Teddy?’.

Right, so, he’s been kidnapped to another universe by their gods to try and save their world. He would have been happy to help, but really they could have just asked. He would have brought some backup too. He has a feeling asking to go home is out of the question. He’s a little relieved when they all leave him and let him explore on his own.

He wanders through the marketplace, going in and out of shops. The locals approached him to give him food and good and he took them up on it at first but once he realized they weren’t going to stop he started to decline their offers. There was only so much he could eat and carry. ]

2. The Primary Settlement

[ He doesn’t really have a craft to hone unless he counts magic but he can’t access his power yet. However, he is an older brother to two rambunctious boys, he knows how to corral kids and keep them entertained. He finds himself taking on the job of storyteller; who knew his own adventures would be so entertaining. He tells them about his gods, Thor and Loki, and superheroes, about the Avengers and his team and his family, his husband, his twin brother, and his mother The Scarlet Witch.

He tries his hand at helping out with farmwork, but Billy wasn’t really built for manual labor. He thought he was in pretty good shape for a mage who also needs to know self-defense, but it doesn’t take long before he’s being shooed off before he collapses, taking a seat against a fence and drinking some much-needed water. This would be much easier if he had his magic. ]

kyle | the rifter series | the hanged man

[ushiri]

thorne option a; the dining hall

[ Later, the circumstances of his arrival will remind him faintly of his passage between Basawar and Nayeshi, the pool of water that he would twist his sword into like a keyhole. The Gate. This memory, the feeling of it passes through him like deja vu. He shrugs it off. For two years since finding himself under Alidas' care has his mind been attempting to string together a coherent history out of a life that no longer fits into history.

He barely feels any shock when they tell him he's arrived in another world, shows even less to the man who explains this to him. Why should it shock him at this point? He would laugh, except that he doesn't want to appear mad right off the bat. So he nods, follows instructions. Listens to what questions others are asking before formulating his own. There are only two things that truly disturb him right away. The first is that Alidas might think he's run off after all the kindness the captain has shown him these past two years. The second is that his access to the Gray Space has been cut off.

Deep down, the first thought bothers him more.

His stomach gnaws at itself painfully. The food on display in the dining hall is an extravagant spread even compared to what he's seen in Nayeshi. His gaze fixes on deep red, a bowl of strawberries. He pulls a few into his hand, feeling indulgent but not particularly guilty. He takes small bites, relishing in the burst of flavor on his tongue. He remembers a diner, sitting next to a man (John). He remembers the people at the table teasing him for how slowly he ate, and something in his chest pulls, but then his gaze falls on the nearest stranger. He takes another bite, swallows and nods at the strawberries in their bowl. ]

They taste the same as the ones from Earth. [ He remarks with eyebrows raised in honest faint surprise, offering the information of his origins freely to see how the stranger might respond. ]

thorne option b; the market

[ The next day, having explored all he can in the castle, he can be found walking around town. In Basawar free samples were unheard of, he'd never experienced such a thing until he followed John and his mother into a Costco one day. The memory feels real and unreal. He shakes away the feeling.

A woman hands him some pickled vegetable in wax paper, which he stupidly puts in his mouth right in front of her. He has to turn around quickly to hide when he spits it right back out into the paper as his eyes begin to water and he scans the street quickly for some actual water.

The shopkeeper selling daggers and knives has no free samples, sadly. Kyle balances the blade in his hand, giving the man a dubious look about the price. ]

cadens option a; city streets

[ The city reminds him a bit of Nurjima. He walks with careful grace through the crowds in an attempt to blend in with the locals, mapping the streets as he goes. From across the street he watches as a belligerent man nearly trips on a small child running ahead of his harried looking mother. With his access to the Gray Space returned he uses his talents to steal a few coins while the man is distracted, preparing to step in if the fellow tries anything more than yelling. Thankfully he doesn't, and when Kyle crosses the street he stops to show the boy a sleight of hand trick in front of onlookers, slipping a coin into his small palm with a wink.

The coins buy him a pint of something at a tavern, though he doesn't quite feel like drinking. He nurses the drink at the corner of the bar, his back to a wall and slow to notice the long, superficial cut on his hand from his use of the Gray Space. With an annoyed frown he glances around for a napkin or cloth. ]

Mind if I...? [ he's already reaching toward the edge of the shared space between him and the other person as he asks his question, eyeing the clean cloth. ]

[bealufull]

"That's an understatement." He feels utterly revealed like this, just that bit of skin open and seen by others, but he will not let it possess him. He's been through worse, and he'll get through this. Though her offer begets as many questions as it offers solutions.

"I would appreciate that. How is it..." The words die on his tongue, chin jerking up as he looks around as if expecting to spy him then and there. "Jesper as well. Who else?"

Unarmed as if that stops him. Bared in ways he's not comfortable with. Finding himself without the knowledge he should have, the information he would often have known before anyone else. It leaves him feeling weak and naked in ways his bare hand doesn't.

Add to that being caught staring like a schoolboy at Inej - at least in his own mind - and he is feeling as off kilter as Kaz Brekker ever have. To others it might not show but he fairly bristles with the indignity of it all. He has a million questions, answers he feels he needs here and now, but two things hold his tongue.

"When are you done behind that bar?"

That was the easy one.

The other is so much harder. Everything had changed in what seemed one breath to the next in finding himself in this world but as her fingers touched his, he realized there was one thing he couldn't let change. Not to revert back to how they had been, to hiding behind that armor with the one person that demanded all of him. Not just what he was willing to give but all of him. He hadn't thought he was capable of giving her what she wanted, what she even deserved, and he'll be damned if he takes back what he has already offered her out of his need for what they could have. To not lose her to the trade winds and the shipping lanes and the merchers and the traders.

Who knows where all of that is but he has one choice here and now.

His pinky moves, slightly, just barely coming to rest over hers.

"Tell me what I need to know."

Farm

[tawltales]

After awhile, Ben breaks off from the work, approaching Billy. "Here. Some more water, if you need it." He offers a cup in his hand.

"How are you feeling?"

robin | fire emblem awakening | death | free cities

[grimaoire]

📖 o1. WELCOME TO THE FREE CITIES.

[ This is... a lot to take in. Sure, it isn't Robin's first time waking up in a new place (new to her), but it never gets easier. Like when she was found by Chrom, Frederick and Lissa, the tactician follows after Ambrose, not completely unlike a duckling waddling behind their mother. This is different from the forests of Ylisse—much, much different. Surrounded by stone on all sides, her heart still drumming in her ears after being pulled from the watery void, she only looks up from her sputtering after a blanket is thrown over her shoulders. It's a lot to take in all at once.

[ As they are ushered through the cave toward the Outpost, she feels a bit more grounded to what is going on around her. Even moreso once they make their way into the warehouse, and the fog of panic finally melts away, replaced by an odd sense of nostalgia. It's a bit more permanent than anything she was used to; until just recently, she was living out of camps, temporary headquarters erected as they put out fires in an effort to defend Ylisse and her people.

The details slowly start to solidify, and with each item the tactician finds herself... increasingly concerned? They were spirited away from their home worlds (worlds? wild!) in a seemingly widespread call for aid. That they were somehow important. It feels bit excessive, and that piece in particular makes Robin squirm a little. Yes, she has a record for helping others, but the fact that other worlds that she only just learned today exist required her assistance.

Ah, well... ]

I wonder if they realize that asking us to hold our questions will only raise more questions.

[ Hello new friend walking beside her. The silver haired girl leans in before whispering behind their benefactors' backs. She can't be the only one eager for more information, right? ]

📖 o2. A HOME AWAY FROM HOME.

[ After the brief orientation, Robin is more than happy to be left for a while to collect herself; and, more importantly, explore the grounds. She knows that she has a place in the barracks and roommates to deal with, but those feel like Future Robin things to focus on, and surprisingly she isn't tired enough yet to pack it in. She would much rather hear from the people who were summoned here, they would have the best gauge on what is truly going on at their level. And so, with the intent to uncover as much as she can before she is ushered back to her room, Robin will wander.

Her first stop? The mess hall, because she truly understands the power of food to bring people together. It's the most likely place for people to congregate and chat, and she is getting a little hungry with all of the... well, everything going on. She doesn't hesitate to grab this and that, piling anything that looks interesting on her tray. And yes, that does mean everything, even the weird foods that others seem to be turning their noses up to. Sliding toward one of the tables, she smiles down pleasantly at whoever is sitting there. ]

Is this seat taken? Do you mind if I sit here?

📖 oX. WILDCARD.

[ Nothing jumping out at you? Have another idea for a prompt! Feel free to PM me here or via Plurk (impearls)! ]

Sylvain Gautier | Fire Emblem Three Houses | Free Cities | The Sun

[philancer]

A. Cadens Desert Outpost 003

A1. Arrival
I'm telling you there's been some sort of mistake! Hey! Are you even listening to me?

[ Considering the unfamiliar mage woman had just left him standing in a barracks room with only a blanket clutched around him, he's pretty sure the answer to that is a resounding 'no'. Which is annoying in itself. He hates being ignored. Especially when it's by a woman. He could have told her that catching his breath wasn't going to ease any of his shock, but some answers might have.

Clothes wouldn't hurt either, for that matter.

Muttering under his breath, he frees one arm from his blanket to rake fingers through his red hair in agitation before turning to survey the rest of the room. And realize he's not the only person in here. Brown eyes narrow slightly as he turns to face the other occupant. ]

Let me guess. You're either as confused as I am, or standing here to spout more about how honored you are and don't ask any more questions. But at least you have clothes on. Please tell me there's more in here somewhere?

A2. Around the Outpost
[ Sylvain's not one to sit still for long, not when everything and everyone around him is an unknown. But at least having a little time to freshen up and find actual clothes have done wonders for his mood, despite his complaints towards the mage earlier. Not that he could be considered 'happy' by any stretch of the imagination, but he seems to be making the best of it and to anyone who doesn't know him well, he seems to be taking this abrupt relocation in stride, cheerful smile and flirtatious demeanor out in full force.

He can be found poking around the barracks, seeing who else is here and who else he might pester for information on this place. He lingers in the mess hall after offering a few invitations to nearby ladies to see if they'd like to get a bite to eat or a cup of tea with him - although those he approaches seems to be more a habit than anything and he'll not turn away anyone who looks intriguing to approach for a bit of conversation and companionship.

And while he can be seen lurking around the edges of the training grounds, he doesn't make any effort on his own to join in practice or sparring there, his attention far more intently locked on those making use of the weapons. While his posture might be casual and relaxed, his searching gaze is intent and focused, although he's quick to disguise that, should he catch anyone watching him too closely, offering up an easy grin and a laugh to hopefully dismiss himself from notice. ]

That looks exhausting, don't you think?

B. Cadens

[ After learning there's a large city not far from the barracks, Sylvain is quick to set out to explore it. The barracks are.... decent enough, he guesses. Rugged and spartan, for sure - not that he's unused to that, of late. But there's not much to do there and he'd prefer to have a broader group of people to elicit information from. So, arriving in the city, he can be found for the first several hours exploring various streets and shops, even though he doesn't have any of the local currency to spend yet. The weather here is much dryer and hotter than he's comfortable with, but as he's currently lacking his armor, at least the clothes he'd been given upon his arrival are decently suited to the climate.

Should he find anyone willing to spot him a drink or a meal, he might make himself comfortable in one of the taverns or bars, listening in on conversations or just soaking in the atmosphere of these places. Getting a feel for the city itself and those who inhabit it. He's long since learned you can discover a lot about a place and it's people in spots like this.

He's surprisingly fairly subdued early on, although after a few hours he starts to loosen up - and liven up, approaching strangers with a wide smile, a flirtatious wink and, in some cases, an outrageous pickup line. ]

Well hello there. I do believe I'm very lost.

C. Wildcard

(( Leave me a prompt of your own! I'm open to anything where Sylvain might encounter your character. I'm also more than happy to match brackets or prose. ))

[shadowthief]

"I know most of the shopkeeps around here, I can get you a decent pair for a decent price," she assures him. "Just the three of us. I got here first, Jesper was only a couple of months behind me. You, however, are incredibly late. Far beyond any good dramatic entrance, it's just simply late now." She tsks at him, a disingenuous scolding.

She shrugs one shoulder at the question. "Soon, why?" she lets one corner of her mouth lift in a smirk. "Going to walk me home, Brekker?" It's doubly comical because he has no idea she actually lives in the inn, just upstairs, in a double room with Jesper. Hmm. How will that go over, she wonders? It makes that smirk slip up just a little more.

She doesn't let her gaze drop to their fingers, as much as she wants to. The less attention drawn to it, the better, she thinks, so instead she just hooks her pinky around his like some silly schoolyard promise.

"It's a lot," but she won't bother asking if he wants a halfway decent night's sleep before he gets it all. She knows him better than that. She doesn't hold anything back, from the war-ravaged countries to the magic in the place that they are all gifted with, the Singularity and the Horizon, the tiring politics between Thorne and Cadens especially. "...war is definitely coming, but it's hard to say if it's going to be soon or just an eventuality. The factions had a sham of a Peace Summit a few months back– it's when I moved from Solvunn to here, to be with Jesper. Better together than separated."

give me the boy (A2)

[grimaoire]

[ While Sylvain has managed to proposition most of the women here in the mess hall, there's one that he has somehow managed to miss. Perhaps because he was focused on different groups at the time, or because Robin has spent more than her fair share of time helping herself to small portions of everything she can. It's really hard to say.

Nevertheless, the silver-haired woman approaches his table, her tray filled with just a little bit of everything, all piled on top of each other. It isn't all for her (well, mostly not for her), since any wise tactician knows to value the bonds forged through war—or through food. ]

Do you mind if I sit here?

[ No pressure, but she runs the risk of something toppling over if she doesn't find somewhere to set her plate down soon. ]

petra macneary | fire emblem: three houses | strength | free cities

[warfed]

i. arrival/barracks

[She does not lift her hand from where it remains poised over the handle of the hunting knife at her belt— or where it's uspposed to be— for the better part of the 'explanation' that is offered her. Only once she is assured that they are honored to have her here and is certain that these hosts show no sign of hostility does she relax, though she frowns as she finds herself ushered through the first steps of becoming acquainted with this place. Nothing here feels right.]

You are prepared to be welcoming people from afar— this is not unusual?

[Her arrival, it would appear, is hardly an isolated incident. The shock is slow to wear off, even as she is lead to the barracks, the sight of which is familiar enough to help her feel a bit more at ease, carefully holding onto the blanket draped around her. Some things are universal, regardless of where you are.]

... thank you. I will take some time to become settled, then become familiar with the outpost. You have been most helpful. Are there others who are newly arrived?

[If you happen to be in the same boat, feel free to cut in and answer that for her!]

ii. training grounds

[The outpost has many facilities that are worth investigating, but after a self-given tour, Petra finds herself drawn to the training grounds. While the weapons provided are non-lethal and the training swords offered are not quite like the blades she's used to, they'll certainly get the job done— though it's only once she's hefted one to test the weight that she's reminded of how drained she'd been feeling after being pulled out of the water. She's certainly not at full strength.]

I did not expect this to feel so heavy!

[Her remark carries both surprise and disapproval, and she gives the sword an experimental swing. It's certainly not bad, but a blade should feel like an extension of oneself. That is something she's used to feeling regardless of what weapon she chooses, and so she is willing to admit that the problem is not the sword, but her.]

My strength is lacking... this is not making any sense.

[She will look towards whoever happens to be closest, pointing at them with the training sword.]

You! I would like to test myself.

iii. mess hall

[Training has helped her to work up quite an appetite, and eventually, she finds her way to the mess hall. She takes what's provided without complaint, though she is certainly curious as she sits herself down with her meal and studies it more closely.]

This is... not boar, I do not think, but something similar. I do not recognize it, but it is smelling very delicious! These vegetables are also not quite like those I have seen before, but seem to have been expertly prepared.

[Sampling new dishes had been one of the things she'd liked best about her years living in Fodlan, and seems as though it may be a highlight here, as well.]

A1 for reasons that will be ABUNDANTLY clear in short order

[sapphirecontess]

[ Musse makes a show of looking Sylvain up and down before smirking impishly ]

Nope. Fresh out of clothes, I'm afraid~

[actualwizard]

Billy smiles up at him gratefully taking the offered cup. "Thanks, this stuff is harder than it looks. I'm fine, though."

He takes a long drink before letting out a satisfied 'ah'.

"They told me my powers should come back soon, that will make this easier."

A1

[warfed]

Sylvain?

[Petra has found herself in a very similar situation, carefully covered by a blanket she is holding closed in front of her chest, looking mildly perplexed but determined to handle this practically, if it is at all possible.]

I believe we are encouraged to help ourselves to the supplies kept here. I was told there were some clothes to be found among them— are you alright? We are both having quite a shock, I think.

Claire Novak | Supernatural | Free Cities | The Hanged Man

[waywardsister]

❖ Free Cities - Cadens Desert Outpost 003, Arrival/Barracks

[ Claire Novak is, as a general rule, someone who likes to kick up a fight and ask questions later. Well, that's not entirely fair. But she's high on grief on adrenaline when she sprints towards the closing portal to escape back home, feeling like someone cleaved her in two and carved out everything she allowed herself so foolishly to feel for another person yet again. Perhaps it comes as little surprise, then, that when she is pulled from the pool of water, her flight or fight instinct kicks hard towards fight. There's an undignified scuffle by the side of that pool, one she's fated to lose, all her strength bled out of her.

As a result, when she is led out of the cavern and into harsh daylight, clothed with long damp hair drying fast in the desert heat, it's flanked by two of the soldiers, each holding one of her arms in firm grasps. It must look ridiculous - Claire is a short, lean thing, and between her heavily bruised and scraped face and the way her ribs are clearly tender coupled with the typical arrival fatigue, she looks like she would keel over at a stiff breeze. Yet still, her blue eyes are those of someone debating poor life choices, like she would take a swing at the entire world if someone let her, like the fight has left her by a long shot, lips curled into a sneer when she's told about the 'honor' of her forced presence in this world - but while she still looks about three seconds from kneeing someone's groin, she visibly thinks better of it, raising her hands in a placating gesture when she's let go. As much as her first instinct is to fight her way to answers, it's clear that she's in no condition to even make the attempt. Peace, then. For now at least. Although she flips the guards off the moment they turn their back and mutters and emphatic: ]

Bite me, Sir Vigilancealot.

[ Okay, her insults might need a little work right now - so sue her. ]

---

❖ Free Cities - Cadens Desert Outpost 003, Around the Outpost & Wagon to Cadens

[ Claire spends some time around the outpost, familiarizing herself with the layout. She moves through the structure like someone assessing hostile territory, wary of the soldiers, wary of all strangers. For as drained as she looks, this is a young woman in survival mode, frustration only mounting when the realization begins to sink in that not only is there no way out for her here - it's the desert in one direction, and hours towards a city in the other - but in her current state, she is quite dependent on local hospitality. This, of course, does nothing to quell her foul mood.

Still, she makes what she can of the chance to roam around unhindered. Tests the weight and heft of a few weapons at the training ground - the way she hefts a wooden sword suggests some basic familiarity with bladed weapons, even if she winces against the tenderness of her ribs. Claire doesn't actually intend to use the training weapons on anything except the dummies - but if anyone wants to take her demeanor as invitation to spar, she doesn't look prone to holding back - despite her condition.

Additionally, she's going to try to catch a ride on the wagon to Cadens at some point. And while she refuses the hand offered to her by one of the nearby guards to get on the wagon, opting to pull herself up, she almost immediately pales and has to drop back down before pulling herself up, reaching up a hand towards her ribcage. She's not too seriously hurt - but judging by the bruising on her face and the scrapes on her hands, she looks like she's had a run in with something nasty or other. Embarrassment immediately turns into stubborn, angry overcompensation, though, and she tries to pull herself up onto the wagon a second time. She might be more inclined to accept a helping hand if one is offered, though. If none is offered, she soldiers through the moment of pain to heft herself up and take a seat, jaw clenched and unwilling to seem weak. ]

---

❖ Free Cities - Cadens, Marketplace, Daytime

[ Having taken the first chance she got to leave the Outpost, Claire moves through the city as if she's never been anywhere else, as if she knows every nook and cranny, but casual air is an affectation to the practiced eye. She's pulled her hair from her face, hard blue eyes tracking movements around her and the curve of streets with the air of someone always looking for a way out, always expecting the other shoe to drop. Her heart is heavy, but she keeps pushing it down, keeps tucking something lost and vulernable and broken underneath a veneer of confidence and rage at the world at large. Volatile emotions have not always come more easily to her than anything gentle, but then, the growing up has shaped her harshly.

Old habits, it turns out, die hard. Claire is moving through the crowd of a marketplace, and perhaps it catches the eye of someone who knows what it is to be lost and overwhelmed. The way she glances, sly, at her surroundings. The way her hand seems to barely even move, yet absolutely darts out, grabs an apple from the display of a vendor - that's practiced ease, that's an old habit. She's good at it, too, for anyone able to make an assessment like that. Five paces later, and she's dodging out of the crowd, to the shade of a corner of the marketplace. Leans with her back against the wall and bites into the apple, unconcerned, the quick theft unnoticed. Her eyes still track over the crowd as Claire debates whether she wants to heed the warning to return to the Outpost for her own safety, or cleave her own path, unprotected, by vanishing into the city and beyond.

She turns her head when she notices being watched, and makes eye contact, one eyebrow cocked, as if daring the other person to comment - on the apple, on her bruises, on anything really. ]

What?

---

❖ Free Cities - Cadens Desert Outpost 003, Barracks, Night

[ Claire moves like someone used to slinking through the shadows and doging notice, weaving in and out of places whether she's meant to be there or not. But for all that years of running away from group homes, of becoming a pickpocket and menace to society, of learning how to infiltrate and take out monster nests have shaped her survival tactics, that by no means makes her impossible to notice or observe when she leaves her bed in the middle of the night, and slips not just from the room, but sneaks out of the barracks entirely.

It might not be entirely necessary to be so secretive - but if someone where to either follow her, or notice her outside, the reason for her slipping through the darkness like she's trying to disappear into the shadows might become obvious. Avoiding the soldiers and trying to avoid anyone else as well, Claire ends up in an isolated corner where she slumps to the ground.

Her hands are trembling badly as she clenches and unclenches them, eyes squeezed shut shut as her breathing turns ragged. Her shoulders slump, and she pulls her knees to her chest, wraps her arms around them and buries her head. Her shoulders are tense from trying not to shake under the weight of emotions slowly crushing her - from trying not to cry.

She thought she was used to being stranded and lost, thought she was used to loved ones dying, and yet life seems to have found a new way to screw her over and make her bleed from wounds as deep as trenches on her heart. What a damn novelty. What a damn tragedy.

And for once, her guard is down, and she gives no indication of being aware of company, should any be close by. ]

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❖ Wildcard

[ OOC: For anything else not here, feel free to hit me up via PM or on inkcharm, I'm easy!

If you prefer prose over brackets, feel free to tag in with prose. I'll match preferred format happily <3 ]

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A2. Surly boy is surly

[bloodnbattle]

[ Felix is in a sour mood, it can be argued that he's always in a sour mood, but he's been plucked from home and thrown into this place he thinks he has a good reason. And they won't even let him practice with a real sword. As if he would hurt himself or someone else. Which is preposterous. He's been training with a sword since he knew how to walk, he's probably better than everyone here.

He's grumbling to himself when he turns a corner and sees a familiar head of red hair. He would know that particular shade of red hair anywhere. He's known it all his life. And then he hears Sylvain open his mouth. Typical. ]

You wouldn't find it exhausting if you ever actually practiced!

[tawltales]

Ben hands the cup over with a smile. "Glad to hear it." So, this young man has powers too, does he? Ben doesn't share they have that in common, even here he knows he needs to be careful. After all, he's still new here. Who knows who might have preceded him? There are any number of faces Ben would not care to advertise his presence here too, not just yet.

"I'm sure it will. In the meantime, they could use some help with the apple picking in the orchard. Come on." Looks like break time's over, Billy, but at least you'll have company.

[sapphirecontess]

[ The young lady who had been daintily nibbling on a loaf of bread seems to absorb Robin's countenance with a glance before giving her a positively winning smile and sliding aside to make more room ]

Please, by all means~

Quintet | Nature of Nature's Art | The Lovers | Solvunn/The Horizon

[quintet]

i. Welcome
Quintet honestly isn't sure what they expected.

But whatever it was, a dripping wet cat, half-drowned, disoriented, complaining at first vaguely and then at increasing volume had clearly not been it. But she was a person, after all, and though her liscense was still provisional, a member of the Rationale. So she'd done what civilized people do, in situations like these: talked it through. It wasn't as if they were deaf, after all, just... weird. The whole place was weird, with a strangely artificial, almost manicured look to it, nothing like home.

What's more annoying is the way people keep staring at her, and cooing, like she's some kind of kitten, not yet out of her milkteeth. It's not as if it's the only time a cat's worn a mantle, after all, even if this one is pretty elaborate, with the embroidery and all.

Anyone watching will see just that: a housecat tagging along with the most recent group of newcomers, inexplicably dressed as one of them complete with the arcana stitched into her tunic. She rides along to the village, and wanders around, and if you draw close enough, she might even speak to you.

"Hey! Hey you," It's a sharp, almost nasal voice, of someone used to speaking to people both larger, and stupider, than she is— and she doesn't expect any better from you, "Listen, I need some help. Because either I'm losing my mind, or I'm going to have to come to terms with eating people, and I don't know which is worse."


ii. Educational Materials
And, if you aren't called out directly, then perhaps you just happen to notice the cat in the tunic sitting on a flat rock, convenient for sitting on, with both forepaws braced on a battered and somewhat soiled scrap of paper. She looks for all the world as if she were actually reading it, and if the lashing tail is any judge, not enjoying the read.

"...Weird deer?" She mutters, low but audible, "The dead rose up? Oh, you stupid cat, what did you get yourself into this time?"


iii. Monster Mash
"EE-mach!" The... thing, whatever it was, hit the side of the road, and bounced. Quintet's strike had carried tremendous force, enough to rebound her, and her own landing was more controlled, "Go on, had enough?"

People were resolute. They could think, plan, and fight back intelligently, with strategy. But would these creatures do the same? The monster cowers back from her, and Quintet readies her response again; it's got to be an odd sight from the outside, a thing like that cowering away from a little cat. The cat herself is pretty odd too, the way she's hunched over, front weight on the wrists and rump in the air.

She hisses, at the thing and for all its claws and teeth and too many limbs, it seems quite inclined to bolt.


iv. Horizon
To most, Quintet's corner of the Horizon will seem quite barren. There's little here but a patch of very smooth ground, packed hard, consisting of mixed soil and sand, an a bordering patch of grass that has been left to grow wild, easily tall enough to hide in, should one crouch down to do so. A wide-ish hole is the least natural thing there, but even this is just more soil, though the keen-eyes natural observer will wonder if an animal would really make an open so regularly arched, a floor so completely flat, or an entryway so open and visibly airy. Like a little house, rather than a bolt-hole or the entrance to a warren.

Oh, and there's also the cat, preoccupied with scratching in the dirt with one paw: drawing diagrams and writing notes in the dust.

v. Wildcard
Feel free to message me, or throw any scenario or ideas at me that you please

know that it was VERY hard not to pick the not-boar meat option (ii)

[grimaoire]

[ It's hard for Robin to not immediately attempt to see what (if any) of her magic might work here. But seeing so many others try only to have their spells fizzle, she begins to think that there may be some credence to the whole "try again later" thing that the Prime Minster and others had warned them about.

But it's fine. A tome is where she feels most comfortable, but she could likely make do with a short sword of some sort. Reaching for a training sword to test her luck with, she pauses as Petra makes a declaration in her general direction. Briefly surprised, that quickly falls away as the silver-haired woman smiles. ]

Ah, what a coincidence. I was just thinking the same thing.

[ Her tone cheerful, she pulls the training blade from its holder, shifting her arm a bit to gauge the weight and balance. This should work, even if it feels a bit heavier than she might normally be used to. ]

Are you ready, or do you need a moment?