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ABRAXAS MODS ([personal profile] abraxasmods) wrote in [community profile] abraxasooc2023-03-20 12:24 pm
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TEST DRIVE MEME #11

Test Drive Meme
Welcome to the 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.

Below are some links to information you may find useful. Our Setting pages have information about the world itself as well as current events for each nation, while our Game History page outlines the game's story so far.

Setting | Game History | NPCs | Arcana

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

Reminder that the TDM is forward-dated to when the summonings occur in-game, at the start of April. For current players, this means all of the Summoned will have been rescued and recently returned home to their respective factions.

For prospective players, there's no need to familiarize yourself with the recent event, but prompts in the TDM may reflect the aftermath.

Summoning
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. It's hard to make out any individual objects, as if you're looking from beneath rippling water.

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 - still unclothed.
Arrival
You'll find yourself summoned to one of the following three major nations: the extravagant and magical Kingdom of Thorne, the bustling and advanced Free Cities, or the tightknit and faith-driven rural community of the Solvunn Commune.

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. After a week or so, your abilities will return.

When you gather your bearings at last, you look up into a series of unfamiliar faces...and equally unfamiliar surroundings.
Welcome to Thorne
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 another mage with highly decorated robes and a large, heavy book. The man 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 nods, satisfied. "Excellent." He motions for one of the young apprentice mages over. "Settle our guest in, please. I don't have all day."

The apprentice hurries forward with a fine silk tunic, pants, and some basic sandals. With a wave of their hand, the clothes reshape to fit you perfectly. Once you're dressed, the apprentice leads you into the hallways of Castle Thorne, prattling on about the kingdom, names of royals and nobles, and, of course, the reason why you're here: 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.
◎ Surroundings
Castle Thorne is where not only royals and members of the court reside, but includes the surrounding city itself. Now in spring, the weather mild and cool. In the distance, you can see snow-covered mountain peaks that are beginning to melt, and the gardens are in bloom. The castle is enchanted to be at a comfortable temperature.

As you walk or look around, you take in some of what's going on around you:
  • The North Wing, devoted to housing the Summoned, is tightly guarded against outsiders. As one of the Summoned, you're free to come and go. The guards aren't keeping anyone prisoner. They're there to protect you, and they take their jobs seriously.

  • Apprentices, kitchen staff, guards - everyone seems to be bustling and busy. The air is tense, and you hear chatter of abductions and mutated victims who were only just recovered a week ago.

  • The infirmary is full. Healers are in high demand. Normally, Thorne's staff put effort into welcoming new arrivals. This time, they're focused on what seems to be an influx of the wounded - including other Summoned who arrived before you.

  • Despite the troubles, life in the Castle is beginning to resume. Still, you can sense that a major crisis has only just been resolved, and much of the fallout remains.
◎ Exploring
Despite the troubles that plague the land, Castle Thorne and its surrounding city have much for you to indulge in.
Care Packages
Castle staff are putting together care packages consisting of flowers, hot meals, and draughts to manage pain. Gather flowers from one of Thorne's many beautiful gardens. The gardeners will direct you if you ask, though you're welcome to gather anything that catches your eye. There's no magic in the flowers beyond their ability to brighten up someone's day.

You can put together the bouquets and care packages with a partner, as well as deliver them yourself to one of the older resting Summoned. They might be in the infirmary or in their rooms depending on their injuries. Why not stay and chat? Though you've only just met, they've evidently been through something terrible. Perhaps they could use a friend.

Magic Lessons
Regular magic lessons are held by apprentice mages as part of their training, usually involving learning to cast a small spell. These classes are for the natives of Thorne, but you're welcome to join if you wish. The spell they will be teaching is conjuring a modest defensive light shield that can protect against a single magical blow. The spell relies on Academic Magic which involves a few words said correctly. You'll likely need a few lessons to grasp it unless you're well-versed in magic already. In the meantime, the class of fresh-faced students means there's a constant bright explosion of light coming from the practice room as the spells fail. It isn't dangerous, but it can be annoying.

Forest Growth
Patches of woods in the city of Castle Thorne have suffered from dead flora. It appears to be related to some heavy magical corruption from the past several weeks. Though Thorne's deemed it too dangerous to go directly into the woods, you can help plant new saplings in square crates filled with soil and pack them onto wagons. Make sure they're secured and kept upright. These trees will be taken out into the woods later by mages to replace the withered plantlife in the forests.

Nocwich
Nocwich, which is shrouded in an eternal darkness and is home to the werewolves and the vampires, opens on the first weekend of every month for a total of 3 days. Shortly after arriving, you'll be given a pendant that allows you to travel to and from the portal. In Castle Thorne, the portal is a short walk around the back of the castle. While Nocwich is normally thriving, no shops are open in Oleuni Square. Nocwich citizens explain that unforeseen circumstances prevent the market from opening as usual and request you return next month to explore. However, you can stay to help. Tents, tables, and medical supplies around the Square need to be taken down and packed up. You can guess that this was once a site for heavy rescue operations and emergency treatment.
◎ Settling In
When you're ready to rest, you're shown 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).

Although you can leave the castle, you can't leave its surrounding city with the exception of entering Nott via portal in order to assist with rebuilding or visiting Nocwich. Borders are especially well-guarded right now due to the recent attacks. Besides, Castle Thorne gives you everything you need: fine clothes, great food and wine, massive libraries, and all the magic and knowledge you could want. Isn't that plenty? You won't be given money as you're provided for, so if you want to do some personal spending later, you'll have to find a job in the city on your own.
Welcome to the Free Cities
Dry warmth hits you at once as you're set on a hard floor of dull ruddy stone. 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 is a raised pedestal with a card bearing an Arcana symbol.

A guard covers you with a simple robe and returns to their place in the semi-circle. Before you stands another woman, dressed in a more elaborate and decorated uniform than the others. A sword rests at her hip. She carries an air of authority as she approaches you with a nod and a warm smile. "Sorry about the circumstances. Take a minute, catch your breath. 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 robed mage off to the side approaches to help you up. 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. You'll learn you're in the Cadens Desert Outpost 003, a military base on the outskirts of the major city of Cadens. You're told the world is in delicate and dangerous times, and you're needed to help. You're important and they're very grateful you're here.
◎ Surroundings
While you're currently at the outpost just outside of the city proper, Cadens on the whole is a large bustling city. Temperatures are rising, and the climate is hot and dry, though still pleasant - during the day, at least. At night, they'll cool rapidly. Desert blooms dot the landscape for the spring. Look to the west and you'll see a long stretch of desert wasteland. This is the infamous Badlands. The soldiers don't recommend going out there unprepared - you're likely to face a slow death to the elements or be eaten. Reaching Cadens is possible by wagon, a trip of about 2 hours each way. You're asked to return by sundown for your own safety... but no one will chase after you if you don't.

You'll be given a military style uniform with your Arcana stitched on it where a formal rank would normally be. As you walk or look around, you take in some of what's going on around you:
  • Libertas shows signs of having suffered a devastating attack, but a good portion of it is rebuilt including a new garden park memorial that commemorates the lives lost. Chatter has shifted from the fire attacks to the abductions and failed experiments recovered only a week ago.

  • From Cadens to Aquila to Libertas, the streets are heavily guarded. Soldiers patrol all areas, especially those typically occupied by the Summoned. This includes a particular inn and tavern in the heart of Cadens - The Sarstina - where the Summoned like you are often found...though it may not be as busy and thriving as it normally is.

  • Instead, many of the older Summoned are either resting in their homes or recovering in Cadens' largest hospital. Doctors are busy, and the hospital is heavily guarded, too.

  • Despite the troubles, life around the Free Cities is beginning to resume. Still, you can sense that a major crisis has only just been resolved, and much of the fallout remains.
◎ Exploring
Despite the troubles that plague the land, the barracks and Cadens have much for you to indulge in.
Training Grounds
Non-lethal training weapons and obstacle courses are set up for anyone to use. The soldiers will be watching, and if you catch their attention they might approach you and encourage you to enlist. You're free to invite other new arrivals to spar, but be sure to keep things friendly and avoid trouble. Discipline is key in the barracks. If you're especially competitive, the soldiers will sometimes hold impromptu obstacle races with informal wagers made. They'll be happy to race against even the most unlikely of opponents, and you'll be judged more on your spirit rather than your skill. If you really impress them, they'll even buy you a drink.

Supply Delivery
The Summoned are important to the Free Cities. The government means to take care of them through their recovery, and have instructed the military to assist. Soldiers are packing rations, medicine, and other supplies into crates to be delivered to the hospital in Cadens. You can help pack or make the deliveries yourself by hopping on the wagon. Though you aren't supposed to wander around the hospital, as one of the Summoned you have a bit more freedom than the average citizen. Maybe you could visit one of the rooms while you're there? Or you might run into a Summoned in the halls arriving to check on a friend.

Furry Friends
Researchers in Cadens have been studying the positive effects of animal companions on those who recently went through traumatic experiences. They've settled on the catlike Leosylph, a popular domestic breed, as the best choice. You can help bring these animals to anyone who would like one in the hospitals, or you can simply play with them and make sure they're fed while they're awaiting their assignments. They enjoy chasing mechanical mice powered by New Magic and purr when happy.

Nocwich
Nocwich, which is shrouded in an eternal darkness and is home to the werewolves and the vampires, opens on the first weekend of every month for a total of 3 days. Shortly after arriving, you'll be given a pendant that allows you to travel to and from the portal. In Cadens, the portal is a short walk away from the center of the city. While Nocwich is normally thriving, no shops are open in Oleuni Square. Nocwich citizens explain that unforeseen circumstances prevent the market from opening as usual and request you return next month to explore. However, you can stay to help. Tents, tables, and medical supplies around the Square need to be taken down and packed up. You can guess that this was once a site for heavy rescue operations and emergency treatment.
◎ Settling In
When you're ready to turn in, the barracks are waiting for you. They 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. Each barracks room is rather sparse. Six simple beds set against the wall, three on each side of the room, each with a trunk at the foot of it. You can greet your roommates here, most of whom will be new arrivals, as well.

If you plan on making use of your assigned quarters, you'll have your basic needs met: uniforms, a roof, bland food from the mess hall, and access to the training grounds. You won't be paid unless you formally enlist with the army. The longer you take advantage of the barracks, the greater the pressure to enlist. Some soldiers will start to see you as a freeloader if you refuse to join them yet continue to use their resources. If you're set on not enlisting, you can always strike out on your own in Cadens - but you won't be provided for and handouts are rare. You'll have to work to earn every copper and loaf of bread. Whether that's honest work is up to you.
Welcome to Solvunn
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. An elderly mage stands before an ornate altar. He holds an old leather-bound book in one hand and in the other is a card bearing an arcana symbol. "I detect no ill will from the gods," he says. "It seems we've been blessed with success."

Those that had gathered all breathe a sigh of relief and now seem pleased. One offers you some clothes of leather and knitted wool that seem to fit you perfectly. A rough-looking man steps forward once you're dressed 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 center of the Primary Settlement. 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.
◎ Surroundings
The Primary Settlement is full of greenery, blessed with the fresh ocean breeze. Winds are pleasantly cool with the occasional heavy spring rains that soak the farmlands. The scent of wildflowers fills the air. The shops, farms, and homes around you are all modest and unassuming. You get the sense that the people here prefer to blend in with their neighbors than stand out.

As you walk or look around, you'll be greeted warmly, even eagerly...though there's an edge of awestruck nervousness to some. Though the settlement is often quiet and calm, there's still plenty to take in:
  • Shops and stalls in Solvunn are temporarily closed. Many of Solvunn's residents have instead dedicated their time to helping the rescued Summoned. They're reluctant to speak of the recent abductions, stating that what happened was blasphemous to the Old Gods.

  • Solvunn Elders will accompany anyone who strays too far from the Settlements, and will give you protective charms to make sure you're safe. You're advised to stay close to the commune where possible.

  • Shrines around the settlements are overflowing with offerings. It seems something has happened recently that's made the locals especially dedicated to showing their devotion.

  • You're free to venture towards the ocean if you like, though heed the warnings of leviathans. These beasts do not stir near the shores, but if you look closely in the far distance - at night in particular - you'll see the water's surface bubble and roil beneath the moonlight.
◎ Exploring
Despite the troubles that plague the commune, the commune and its settlements have much for you to indulge in.
Warding Homes
In order to aid recovery, commune Elders have asked for your help to ward the doors of homes occupied by the Summoned. Many of these homes are in housing provided by the Council or with host families in the settlement. You can hang bone wreathes on the doors to request blessings of protection and healing from the Old Gods. You can also bring hot meals and herbal medicine to the Summoned while you're there. Host families are friendly, and will welcome you in as long as the Summoned inside are willing to receive you, as well.

Shrine Offerings
As a new arrival, you'll be encouraged to perform your first offering. This can be anything that feels right to you: fruit, wine, flowers, even an animal you've hunted. Whatever you choose, it must be retrieved by your own hand meaning you must pick the fruit, cut the flowers, or pour the wine yourself. You can travel to the shrine by yourself or with a companion. Once there, lay your offering and ask for a blessing through Solvunn's tradition of High Magic. Blessings are often made for the commune overall such as abundant crops or good weather. You will not see the effects right away, but you may find over the next day or so that the sun has cut through the rain. Of course, you're free to dismiss this as the nature of how weather works...but don't be too loud about it. Solvunn takes its beliefs very seriously.

Goat Herding
Due to the circumstances, Solvunn's traditional chaotic goat races will not be happening this month. This means the goats are filled with pent-up energy. Ornery and mischievous, they'll headbutt anything that moves, chew fence posts and clothes, and generally make a nuisance of themselves - some even escaping their pens. Exasperated farmers and herders are struggling. You can help retrieve escaped goats, repair broken fences, and do your best to contain the animals.

Nocwich
Nocwich, which is shrouded in an eternal darkness and is home to the werewolves and the vampires, opens on the first weekend of every month for a total of 3 days. Shortly after arriving, you'll be given a pendant that allows you to travel to and from the portal. In Solvunn, the portal is a short walk away. While Nocwich is normally thriving, no shops are open in Oleuni Square. Nocwich citizens explain that unforeseen circumstances prevent the market from opening as usual and request you return next month to explore. However, you can stay to help. Tents, tables, and medical supplies around the Square need to be taken down and packed up. You can guess that this was once a site for heavy rescue operations and emergency treatment.
◎ Settling In
When you're ready for your bed, you're brought to the center of town and escorted to an apartment above one of the establishments in town. The living conditions are temporary if you'd like them to be: the local families would also be happy to host you in their home. In return, you'll be expected to contribute to their household, taking upon daily chores and repairs. While money has its uses, many establishments and craftsmen are happy to barter with your time or skill for their goods. You'll find your willingness to trade and your friendliness with the natives more valuable than gold.

You can even leave for the other two settlements if you like, but you're encouraged to remain in the Primary Settlement. Just be sure you have an invitation to the Secondary Settlement. There are tales of travelers visiting the secondary settlement without invitation disappearing without a trace. The gods are as hungry as they are protective.
Questions and Answers

If after reading these you're still unsure about anything, or your question wasn't covered, please feel free to hit up our Questions thread below!

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.
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.
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 nation?
In Thorne, characters can leave the castle but not the city. In the Free Cities, they can take a trip from the outpost to the nearest main city, Cadens. In Solvunn, they can explore the entirety of the Primary Settlement.
Can my character eventually change nations or kingdoms?
Yes, but tensions between the major nations are at an all-time high. Doing so is possible, but will require some plotting and discussion with the mods once you're in-game!
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). It will also affect your character's day-to-day life and development. Characters who seek technological advancements or combat will find more of it in the Free Cities while those keen on court politics and learning magic will have the most access to it in Thorne. Anyone who wishes to uncover the secrets of the Old Gods and forest mysteries will best do so in Solvunn.

This is not to say characters can't do these things from another faction - with effort and the help of friends, anything is possible! Don't get too anxious about your choice. This is just one of many, and every character in each scenario can work their way towards many individual goals and outcomes. Additionally, once in-game the Horizon will provide characters with a way to easily find cross-faction CR.
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?
Your Arcana sign won't have an immediate impact on your character beyond them seeing it on themselves or being told what it is by the locals. You're welcome to disregard those aspects in your prompts or try out different signs.
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.

If you're interested in threading with characters outside your borders on the TDM, you can utilize the Nocwich prompt which will allow all characters to meet in person regardless of arrival scenario.
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.
Can I try out more than one arrival scenario on the same TDM?
Yes, although only threads taking place in the arrival scenario you formally choose upon applying can count as canon. However, you're welcome to try out as many as you like on the TDM.


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brandingproblem: (Default)

clint barton | mcu | strength

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-03-20 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
solvunn
[So. As Bruce has said, this is all terrible. Not a huge fan of the randomly finding himself in places he doesn't know and isn't supposed to be. Pretty sure he doesn't know anyone that is a fan. But he doesn't have a lot to go on, so he has to mostly just nod along and ask questions and not feel weird about a bunch of magical cultists tugging his skinnydipping self out of a pond. Apparently!

It's a cute place, honestly. And in spite of the lack of technology, it feels homey. He can work with this, with farms and working with his hands and a simpler life. But also, where's the tv and the fridge and internet? How does he get out of here? No, he does not have any interest in magic. No thank you, he is also not interested in making offerings to whatever might be out there. He does not...lean that way.

Clint tries to keep his head down. Do some work. Fix fences and other little sundry carpentry things. He can go out hunting, too, and clean some critters. And leave bones for people to make their weird little wreaths. He can help with the goats and is quick enough to not get a butting head to the nethers. (For the most part. They're sneaky demons sometimes.) He can do household chores for the family that's taken him in, even if the way people in the house and beyond look at him is far too reminiscent of his small amount of fame back home to feel comfortable. He can do this while gathering whatever intel he can.

It doesn't mean he has to like this. He might have to strike out for the other settlements (or literally anything beyond) before the cozy farm life gets to be too much.]


nocwich
[God, and this place that's at least apart from everything else isn't even really open? What sort of shitty D&D bullshit did he fall into?

But it's become exceedingly clear that he just missed out on some intense shit going down. This was a site of a rescue operation. Wounds got treated and supplies stored. He can recognize the fallout of some heavy tragedy when he sees it. So, fine, fuck it, he does not have anything better to do than help take down and pack away tents. Maybe he can find out a little more about what, specifically, has been going on lately elsewhere in this weird world.]
carmesi: <user name="berks"> (Default)

no way ;w;

[personal profile] carmesi 2023-03-20 08:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[wanda's mind has been far too harried in the logistics of bringing back those that have been taken by josselyn and her crew of degenerates, but she can still be found putzing about in the different settlements—gathering information, talking to others. that is, when she's pulled herself away from the darker depths of the library and out of the vicinity of shrines in the forests.

everything is a humdrum of complicated right now, between the scrying ritual that's made her hungry for bones and forming a pact with an old god, that the very idea that a summoning ritual still taking place does not cross her mind at all.

she doesn't see clint first, as it were, but rather the collection of cleaned up bones in a basket from a recent hunt. something strikes her as familiar from the demeanor of the man doing said cleaning, and wanda's eyes widen, a surprised gasp in her throat.]


Clint!

[there are few people that wanda rushes to and initiates physical contact with, but amidst her anxieties and worries, he is a most familiar face. she walks faster towards him, positively just wraps her arms around him.

natasha will be so elated to know he's here.

she mutters against his borrowed solvunn clothes.]


You're here.
brandingproblem: (I know that)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-03-20 09:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[That someone recognizes him is--well, the very first split second feeling is alarming, but in the instant after that, it transforms easily into elation. Because, god, that means there are people here who know him, and at this rate, he'll even take a face that doesn't like him.

But it's Wanda. And that is a face he is absolutely thrilled to see. Even in spite of the things he'd heard about her since.

That will be a conversation, eventually, he's sure. But right here and right now, she's a sight for sore eyes, and he makes a little oof noise when she all but barrels into him. There's no threat of knocking him over without magic; he can take the weight of several kids tackling him without getting mowed over. But her enthusiasm is contagious.]


Hey! [He keeps his arms out and away from her, though sets down the knife he'd been using.] Sorry, don't want to get all kinds of fun viscera on you, or I'd hug the stuffing out of you. [A polite gentleman, sometimes.]

The hell are you doing here? Did you show up in this freaky kinda-Asgard buck naked with all kinds of weird shit babbled at you, too?
carmesi: <user name="berks"> (Default)

[personal profile] carmesi 2023-03-20 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[wanda pulls back, not at all minding any 'fun viscera' that might have gotten onto her clothes from her suddenly pushing into him. her hands keep at him for a moment before pulling back, looking him over.

he's okay. nothing messed up has happened to him since his arrival here other than — well, arriving.]


Yeah. We all did. [arrived buck naked, that is.] I've been here for over a year now. Others for longer.

[wanda can't keep her eyes off him, because it's certainly good to see a familiar face amidst all the dreadful things that have been happening. but—

first:]


Can I take some of the bones?
brandingproblem: (while Hawkeye seems cool)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-03-20 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
A year?

[No, that can't possibly be right. Is this some fucked up time shenanigans? Again? He is not equipped for all the weirdness his life has thrown at him, and yet somehow...

A small, bitter part of him that he's still working on suggests better just one year than five. He frowns to himself and grabs a towel to at least wipe the worst off his hands, trying to wonder if somehow Strange might be to blame for any of this. But then she mentions the bones.]


What? Yeah, go nuts. I don't have anything I'm gonna do with 'em unless I'm gonna get roped into making some bone broth.
carmesi: <user name="berks"> (Default)

[personal profile] carmesi 2023-03-20 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't look at time as a linear thing when it comes to this place and those who are being brought here.

[she says that lightly, though having caught glimpses of questions in his mind about it all. she'd agree about stephen being to blame for some of this, if this was any other time, just for the sake of it—

wanda leans down to look over at the basket, to pick out which bones look the most delicious. —ugh, this ritual after effect really sucks. it's not like it's comfortable to just eat bones.]


There are others here, too. From home. [she picks three bones. that'll do. standing up, she pockets them, looks at clint, careful as to who she can mention.] ...but they're in different factions. Thorne, the Free Cities.

You've been told about what's been happening, right?
brandingproblem: (Default)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-03-20 10:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, yeah, Banner tried real hard to explain how time works, and it's not like Back to the Future. Can't ever be simple.

[He watches her. Not with suspicion, because they're long over anything like that. He recognizes he's been more out of the loop of her life since everything got...well, since everything got. Assessing, though. What she's saying. What she isn't saying. Others from home but doesn't say who. That gives him...some guesses.]

Couple fantasy countries on some brink of disaster, bringing in sorry saps like us to help fight their wars and appease their gods.
carmesi: <user name="berks"> (Default)

[personal profile] carmesi 2023-03-20 11:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Figures they wouldn't talk about what happened.

[wanda sighs, grumbling the words out to herself. it's tedious to consider how certain things haven't changed, even with how so much has changed.

she turns her attention elsewhere for now, looking over at a gaggle of children that run down the path, playing with each other.]


Sam and Steve are in the Free Cities. I guess someone thought two captains was better than one.
brandingproblem: (Default)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-03-20 11:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[So it's an ongoing, unsurprising thing, that newbies aren't told all the details. She is also, he notes, not telling him all the details in spite of her grumbling.

She's also got her accent back. He won't say anything about it, but she'd been mostly defaulting to her American accent for long enough that it's easy to forget that's not how she normally sounds.

She looks at children. He looks at his work. Poor bastard was mostly done as it is; Clint doesn't feel bad about leaving the rest for scrap. For the other critters, maybe. Or for someone's offering, he guesses, if they're that desperate. She's easing into this. The Captains America are here. And Steve, yeah, Steve's an interesting spot. A little sore, but Clint's never been one to hold a grudge or to decide not to understand where someone's coming from. Steve saw an opportunity, and he took it. Can't fault him for that. It's the not saying anything after that doesn't feel great. Though he's also pretty sure when he sees Steve, he's not going to be a frail-looking old man.

And Sam's a good man. Makes sense. Wanda makes sense, powerful magic user. Steve makes sense, in his prime. Clint is less certain the choice of himself makes too much sense, but he's not going to argue about it just yet. None of the names are enough to warrant an overabundance of caution.

He chucks the rest of the bones in one bucket, the rest of the offal in another with the parts he can't find use for.]
I'm gonna wash up, and then you're gonna tell me whatever it is you're afraid to tell me. [A glance at her to catch her eye.] And we'll catch up, too. Sound like a deal?
carmesi: <user name="berks"> (Default)

[personal profile] carmesi 2023-03-21 12:05 am (UTC)(link)
—it doesn't sound like I have a say on that.

[wanda's quiet, but she knows about clint being quiet. he observes, analyses, looks over the situation with a careful eye. it's what he does, isn't it? looking for the best shot amidst all the chaos. the details. (she wonders how his hearing is doing.) he's also a dad, and while wanda is much older than any of his kids currently are, he still—and has—always treated her like one of his own brood.

especially throughout and after sokovia.

she knows what he's like, which is why her words are not said with an imbalance of disgruntlement; it's almost playful.

and so, wanda nods, and points out further down the path to something of a clearing.]


There's a farm just down that road. That's where I'm staying. [shrugging one shoulder, she offers him a sideways smile.] We'll catch up.

[and she will be waiting for him, just by the gate of the fenced-in farm, twirling a twig with growing blossoms between her fingers, all while leaning against the fence.]
brandingproblem: (Default)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-03-21 12:48 am (UTC)(link)
[As far as Clint's concerned, if Wanda ever had some desire to take on his family's name, she's welcome to it. The joke has long since gone around that he might as well have signed adoption papers after Sokovia. He would never even joke as much to her face, if only because she's a grown-ass adult.

But then, Kate's also technically a grown-ass adult, and to him, that's a kid in need of adopting, too. (Helps that her dad's dead and her mom's in jail which, hm, almost makes her an orphan, huh?)

But Wanda is absolutely not unlike a daughter nonetheless. One who can make her own decisions. One who's grown in confidence and power, and is a kind shoulder to cry on and a force of nature, equal parts in turn. She has suffered immeasurable loss. The kind that can't be fixed with a snap of fingers. Her life has been a comedy of errors, a Greek tragedy. She deserves better.

Frankly, she deserves better than him. But don't they all.

It doesn't take him long to set things where they need to go, wash up, change his top. Like a proper butcher. Lila's got an interest in archery now, but none of the kids have expressed any interest in hunting, which he supposes he can't fault them for. (Growing up in the middle of god's nowhere before the advent of the internet as a disaffected little shithead with more bravado than sense and the keenest eye anyone had ever seen--yeah, he hunted. What the fuck else was there to do?) Doing these little tasks, these needed chores, it feels left of center. It feels like home to do them, but obviously it just makes him miss home all the more. These people are strangers, and while it's been said that it isn't the case, he's still convinced his staying around and not getting kicked to the nearest wasteland is contingent on him being useful.

But there's so much he doesn't know. And a familiar face that does know is his best bet. Of course her place is quaint and cute. It's very her.]


More than a year, huh? Seems like you're pretty well-established now.
carmesi: <user name="berks"> (Default)

[personal profile] carmesi 2023-03-21 01:04 am (UTC)(link)
Missed my birthday by about two months now.

[she looks up at him, tosses that over to him as a small kind of jab—nothing serious. she pushes off the fence, hands over the blossoming twig to him as if to invite him to step through. it's not much, gardsbruk farm, but it's been a haven to her during her time here; goats and sheep graze its pasture, along with a cow and several unlikely monitor lizards who seem to patrol around the barn area.

sure, it's quaint and cute, but it's also full of an amalgamation of too-many-people living in it.

the least she can do, though, is show him around, as they walk up the path towards the farmhouse itself.]


Solvunn has its charm. [and she had wanted to carve a place for herself, of the person she had wanted to be perceived as.] You seem to be getting on fine. Hunting, huh?

[is she avoiding certain topics of conversation? maybe so.]
brandingproblem: (Default)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-03-21 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
Can't say I can fish worth a damn. But anyone that lets me have a bow for an hour is someone that's gonna have a tasty stew for a couple days.

[Smalltalk isn't his forte, but he lets it happen for now. If and when he wants to focus on the important details, he'll get there with laser focus. For now, let her take them where she will. The branch stays in his hands. The blooms are sweet.]

Sucks not having power tools around, but I can use a hammer and screw and wrench and crowbar and all else just fine if people need some construction. Could be I know a thing or two about farming. Maybe even three things.

[But at the end of the day, it can be as charming as it wants, they're still stuck. He presumes.]

I can't stay here. You know I can't.

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sorry for the delay!!

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widows_kiss: serious, curious (EG 028)

nocwich ;_;

[personal profile] widows_kiss 2023-03-21 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Natasha's here because at least doing something in Nocwich is something to keep her hands busy, her mind occupied. After weeks of being hypervigilant, of pouring over maps, logging clues and questions, information pouring in from so many sources she'd lost count... it hadn't been so easy to just switch that part of her brain back off and go back to normal daily routines. She knows, from habit, that it's going to be a process. Easing back until she felt like she could breathe again. Remember that they got everyone home in one piece.

So she's here, helping tear down the emergency tents, packing up supplies, lending a hand to the Lunae to restore their town to what it should be after the Summoned had commandeered it for a few days. Dressed in a simple tunic and a set of leather breeches, her red hair gathered back off her face in a braid, she looks a little frazzled. And maybe like she'd be more at home in a LARP party than her typical appearance.

She'd straightened, glancing around for an empty crate, when a figure slips into the tent and her head comes up on instinct, ready to call out and ask for a hand from one of the werewolves she'd been working with, when her gaze latches onto the figure standing there instead. Someone she hadn't anticipated seeing here.

Natasha freezes in place, heartbeat hitching as her breath catches in her throat and she blinks at him, so caught off guard that for a moment, she's speechless. ]


...Clint?
brandingproblem: (but I know this can't be the end)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-03-21 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's one thing to hear about it. Quite another to deal with it head-on.

Funny thing is, he came in looking for an empty crate, or literally anything else, himself. And then she's just there. She simply is. Like she never left. Like she never was left splayed at the bottom of a long way down.

(And maybe she never was, in her memory.)

He can feel it again, that joy-panic, the fluttering bird that is his heart flapping up into his throat, like his head is full of ocean waves. And she's the shore.

Her voice cuts through the noise. Wanda had told him, and she has not been in the habit of lying to him, would not lie to him about something like this. But she's here. Alive. And part of him is so very afraid that this is a lie, that if he reaches out and touches, she might not really be there. Or that, if she is real, it can't last. His feet feel rooted, and his lungs burn from the way he's forgotten to breathe.

She is here. Alive. And this is not the Free Cities, but apparently a place where people from all over this fucking continent can show up freely, which now has made his self-appointed task of finding her that much easier.

He pulls at his roots, and once he moves, he can't stop until he's got his arms tight around her.]
widows_kiss: upset (BW 011)

[personal profile] widows_kiss 2023-03-21 07:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She moves the same moment he does, crossing the room in two strides to meet him in the middle and practically flinging herself at him. Arms going around his shoulders, clinging to him tightly, her face pressed into his shoulder. There's something so familiar in that that her next inhale is choked and ragged with emotion. Not letting him go.

In all her weeks here, if she could have picked one face she wanted to see again, his name would have been at the absolute top of the list. Especially because it had been the last face she'd seen, his expression seared into her memory as she forced him to let go of her.

She knew what her choice would have done to him, the cost of it. And she couldn't even tell him she was sorry, because she's not. Maybe for causing him pain, but the rest of it? She doesn't regret her choice, all it had accomplished. She would still make the same one all over again.

But she's well aware that her time here is her second chance, however long or brief it happens to last. So she's grateful for this, all the same. It has her finally pulling back after a long moment to cup warm hands to either side of his face, offering him a genuine - if tearful - smile. ]


Had to show up fashionably late to make a dramatic entrance, huh?
brandingproblem: (avengers unite)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-03-21 08:05 pm (UTC)(link)
[She's warm, and while she wears a different scent with his face tucked by her hair, she feels the same. Right down to the hands on his face, familiar, home. It hurts to smile, and he does it anyway, strained and yet meaning every motion of it.]

Yeah, well, not so dramatic. [His voice is thick, and it's punctuated with a sniff.] Apparently everyone shows up buck-ass naked and drowning. Here I thought I was special. Beat me to it, as always.

[They're going to have to talk about it, but they have to joke it out, first. It's just what they do. Slotting so easily back into place.]
widows_kiss: serious, curious (A1 026)

[personal profile] widows_kiss 2023-03-21 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm sure you still managed to make quite the impression.

[ Her lips quirk, but her voice is equally choked with emotion as she searches his face. Memorizes the changes she can see there in their time apart. Her thumb strokes against his cheekbone.

But she moves on to ask the next question that pops immediately to mind. ]
Who Summoned you?

[ An easier thing to ask than any of the million others she knows they'll have to tackle at some point. ]
Edited 2023-03-21 20:25 (UTC)
brandingproblem: (like a really nice guy)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-03-21 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[Right to business. Yeah, that's Natasha all right. He keeps his arms around her, loose enough not to feel confining, still tight enough to be a hold. He never wants to let go again.

God, maybe Wanda had it right. Maybe he should stay a while.]


You looking for a person, a place, or my star sign? [He'll be appropriately flippant about this whole kidnapping thing until he's not pissed about it.] I got pulled out of a puddle in Solvunn, and apparently the old gods are happy about that. Gotta see if I can meet these gods. They don't exactly scare me. [The gods he's met have all been perfectly punchable, after all.]</small.
widows_kiss: serious, curious (Team: Clint 05)

[personal profile] widows_kiss 2023-03-21 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She lets her hands drop away from his face, but only to keep her arms looped around his neck. Not moving away either, she's comfortable here for now. Not caring what it looks like, it's enough that she gets to stand here face to face with him again.

She grins a little at his flippant response, because she'd approached this whole thing in almost exactly the same way. ]
Solvunn. Good. Wanda's there. [ Even though she's a little disappointed that he's yet another friend kept at a distance from her. There's ways around that, at least. ]

I'm not sure I'd be in such a hurry to meet these ones. They seem way more along the lines of a Lovecraftian nightmares than Asgardian assholes. [ But just wait until you meet the devil. ] Although if you're gonna run into them, you're in the best Faction for it. They're real fond of them down there, from what I hear.
brandingproblem: (Default)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-03-21 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Wanda mentioned you were here. Thank her later that she prepared me a little for this.

[And it's good. This is good. He presses a kiss to her forehead, because he can. Because this is the only place he'll get to. Since she's far long gone back home.]

The people have their own little cult-y rituals about stuff. Gives me real Wicker Man vibes. I'm doing what I can, cuz what else am I gonna do, but if I end up being a pagan sacrifice, I won't be too surprised.
widows_kiss: fond (AoU 042)

[personal profile] widows_kiss 2023-03-21 09:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It gets a spurt of laughter from Natasha, her eyes sliding shut as his lips press to her forehead, leaning into the contact, her hold tightening for a moment. ]

Well, you'll probably be happier living in The Village than Camelot. They're kinda stuck up in Thorne. On the plus side, the food's pretty decent and I get to learn magic from the Sorcerer Supreme. Of course, the downside might be the royalty going all Queen of Hearts on us with no warning, so there is that.

[ She pulls back enough to glance up at him again, searching his face as her smile softens, turns more fond, if a little sad. ]

I've missed you.
brandingproblem: (things look dark)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-03-21 10:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't go losing your head. Or I'm gonna have to charge in there and do something stupid.

[He doesn't know what all the risks are, around here. It's all upside down, and Nat learning magic, and she's real and here and alive and-

He ducks his head.]


Me, too. [It's getting hard to breathe again. Has to force himself.] You get told about after? It worked. Everyone's back. Lost Stark in the process.

Met Yelena.
widows_kiss: hurt (EG 012)

[personal profile] widows_kiss 2023-03-22 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
[ They've got time, as odd as that feels to think. Time to catch up, time to fill him in.

He tells her some of it, most that she's heard from the others by now but she lets him talk, lets him tell her. She wants to hear it from his lips anyway. She's nodding at his words, lips parting to answer when he asks if she knows, about what happened, about Tony.

And then he drops that final name and it's enough to have her freeze all over again, because that's a consequence of her decision she's been trying not to think about too hard. Another jagged hole she's been carefully avoiding in a literal minefield of grief.

She lets her eyes slide closed, if only to spare him the depth of the ache she knows she can't quite hide in time, lets her head tip forward to rest her forehead against his shoulder. Takes a deep, shuddering breath. ]


Do I even want to ask how that went?
brandingproblem: (Default)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-03-22 12:18 am (UTC)(link)
[Yeah, that seems about right. Frankly, there's still a physical ache from the sound beating he'd gotten, but pain's an old old friend by now. He rubs a hand gently up and down her back, and an exhausted chuckle huffs out of him.]

Well, I'm still alive. So it could've gone worse.

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