abraxasooc | TEST DRIVE MEME #5

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!test drive

TEST DRIVE MEME #5

TEST DRIVE MEME

Welcome to the fifth 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— 1, 2, 3, and 4.

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 Cadens

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. 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?
Currently, there are 23 slots open for new players. We will process activity check before opening applications, so we will have a better idea of the exact count 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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

CADENS - BARRACKS or CITY

[ the second time around does not get any easier.

it all comes back through a mind numbing blur - he’s out of the water and on warm stone ground one second, and the next? the memories surface and he scrambles up, trips, blanket gripped too-tight and it’s like he’d never left. except he had, doesn’t remember how and there’s panic setting in, accompanied by the realization his senses are far too dull. people are talking to him and he’s only half listening, mind blanching with what he remembers or doesn’t. new york is still an ever-present blur, broken universes mended and villains helped and mj safe and aunt may, oh no —

he nods politely to what is said, half there but mostly not, mind still piecing too many things together — does dr strange’s spell extend universes? does he exist here or doesn’t he? does it matter, if this world - and his, and everyone else’s - is in some grave danger, still? always?

it’s not something that’s answered in this awkward semi-circle of a welcoming committee though and he’s out of there as soon as he can be and is quickly left to his own devices wondering around in the barracks or the the training ground. neither inspires much confidence, and he spends most of his time peering into faces of strangers, trying to see anyone he might know.

in the end, peter parker cannot sit still. he cannot listen to the instruction of staying close to the barracks for more than one day and so one (uncomfortable) wagon ride later, peter is hopping out and into the big city.

his senses are still duller than he'd like but better than they were. still ringing ears and tingling in his hands numb rather than sensory. he’s not even sticky, not quite yet. it feels strange, heartbeat in his throat. he wants to climb something high and up. he wants to see if sam is still here. dr strange. it seems like a daunting task to find two people in a big city that doesn't have the technology that would make it easier.

he tries to be patient, but patience isn’t in the particular vernacular of his habit, not of an eighteen year old vigilante who hasn’t stopped being thrown into - or throwing himself into - impossible scenarios.

but in the absence of all of his strength, he can still play it smart. he can still!! talk to people! be social! ]

Hi — [ he’s coming up to the side of someone who’s wearing something similarly emblazoned with a tarot sign (his own bares the symbol for strength). the first person he sees, really. ] — Sorry, hi there! Have you been here long?

THORNE; TOWER - LIBRARY

[ he’s been here before. it isn’t exactly easier second time around but the panic is tamped down in exchange for exhaustion. acceptance, too — he leaves behind a new york that’s still his but where he is more a stranger than ever. at the very least, being back here gives him a new sort of resolve. this world needs help, and in doing so, he’ll be able to make sure his world is safe too, right? that’s how the whole multiverse thing worked, a newfound intimate familiarity of how fast things can go absolutely pear-shaped when magic and different dimensions were concerned.

so, he might as well pick up where he left off, and he picks out a book from the library — more confidently than the first time, reaching for a magical topic — grabs an apple from the dining hall, and goes through the halls to find access to a balcony and —

— and starts scaling the exterior wall instead of using the perfectly good stairs. the spider stickiness holds onto the fine stone similarly to the last time, and he can be caught climbing by an open balcony, climbing up, up up because there’s normalcy in heights. normalcy in looking at something from above and being removed from everything for a while once again. a stranger at home as much as a stranger here, even if, when he spots someone inside, there’s a hope for a familiar face. the next guest his eyes land on, he offers a small wave, propped along the bannister and considerable height below him ignored. definitely not awkward. ] — um, hello! The views are pretty cool, huh?

SOLVUNN; MAIN ROADS

[ this was all very rural, rustic, something really straight out of some fantasy book. okay, most of this entire place had felt like that but solvunn especially. there's a lot more talk of gods, and weary warnings passed on to travelers and peter's restlessness reaches its peak in the countryside roads of solvunn.

he isn't particularly helpful when it comes to herding livestock, nearly gets chomped on the ass by an unhappy donkey.
it isn't all too surprisings that he instead finds himself by the roads leading out of town, arms crossed and sorely missing the feeling of his senses being fully there, fully on and with him. the next passerby he sees
he'll try his best to catch the eye of, curiosity getting the very best of him. ] So — what sort of monsters? They said there’s monsters to watch out for. Do you know?

MISC;

[ hi! peter here is from end of nwh so there’s some soft spoilers, but lmk if you’d prefer me to avoid anything! otherwise, he’s also been here before! starters are open ended, and please feel free to wildcard any sort of meeting of running into him in any of the cities! i’ll likely go with cadens for the final arrival, but I’m greedy and didn’t want to limit him just yet! feel free to shoot me a pm for bespoke starters if preferred ! ]

Hm? What's that?

[ Monsters, is it?

The individual Peter has gotten the attention of, (unfortunately), is a petite woman with very prominent horns sticking out of her head. She sits atop a boulder near the main roads; she had just been idly sitting by observing the people of Solvunn and trying to see if she can spot anyone who was of the same circumstances as her.

Shuten-Douji's thoughts are interrupted when Peter presents the question and a grin spreads across her face as she taps her cheek playfully. ]

Oh, aren't you curious little boy? How cute!

[ There's a heavy sweetness to her voice as if her words are purposely slurred, the result of having lots to drink; whatever and whoever she is, she's definitely not human. She casts her gaze to the main roads, humming thoughtfully while resting her cheeks in her palms. ]

That is a good question though. None of the settlers or the people who greeted me were too disturbed by my appearance so I think it might be a gooood guess that whatever's out there probably doesn't look like me.

[ Shuten glances at Peter smiling cheekily. ]

Are you thinking about venturing out there yourself? It could be worth our while.

[ curious little boy?? he supposes he was curious, though the smile that he gives her is uncertain and fleeting. he was young, yeah, but little boy? come on!

she certainly doesn’t look human though so maybe thats the clue, but — well, that doesn’t exactly worry him. he’s met aliens before. and he just got (re)dragged back into a world full of magic and hell knows what else.

still, his senses - still groggy, still hazy, still coming back - tingle, just a little. that subtle awareness that lives in the back of his mind. sorry, is she drunk?? ] Well — that’s good. That no one was disturbed, I mean. That’d be kind of rude of them.

[ he tosses another look out the road, considering her question. ] And I'd like to head out, yeah. It’s a good idea [ its probably not ] — just to see what’s out there. But I — don’t have a weapon. [ because you’ll need something to fight monsters with, won’t you!! and his otherwise enhanced physiology isn’t really all where it needs to be at the moment...] You know, just in case, I guess.

[ Shuten would be one to talk wouldn't she? She herself appears dainty and petite, significantly shorter than Peter even. But by the way, she carries herself, she doesn't act young, that's for certain.

She mockingly puts a hand over her heart.

If they had been rude, I'd be aghast! After they take allll this trouble to summon me away from my universe? I don't know if my sensitive and maidenly heart would take it well.

[ Sensitive and maidenly... Right.

Encouraged by his reply, she pushes herself off of the boulder with her hands clasped behind her back. ]

I've no weapon on my person either, unfortunately. Buuuuut... [ She draws out her words and glances sideways at the boy. ]

Though I don't nearly have enough drink in me, I'm feeling emboldened young man. If you escort me down the road, I think the lack of weaponry won't be too much of an issue. I can be quite the helpful oni with just my bare hands you see.

[ sam has learned to keep going.

it's not an entirely new skill. he'd been very good at doing the same thing when he'd been home - after riley, after his parents, after steve, after the blip and the war and tony stark's funeral. after the shield. sam knows how to pick himself back up and keep surviving, keep going through the day, because there's not going to be anyone else there but yourself to make you do it. and that's what sam does. he gets back up, he cleans out the apartment, he goes through a few hellish months (thanks witcher family) and he finds his footing again. a routine.

(he misses them, of course. they'd barely had any time in this city before mal and peter, and then alina, had all disappeared. but sam still misses them, when he lets himself slow down too far. if he's alone in that apartment at just the right time.)

sam's got his errands, his people he needs to check up on. magpie has him out picking up some groceries, too, because it just makes sense and with how much he takes over her kitchen she deserves a little extra stock...and that's where he is, when he hears it. the voice, a voice- sam just barely catches it, while he'd been packing up the rest of his food to head back home. he knows it's unlikely. knows it's so, so impossible, and yet when he decides to entertain his curiosity, sam feels his entire body still. ]

Peter? [ distantly, sam remembers something geralt had mentioned to him. about seeing mal, back in thorne, but how he'd been different. how it'd been off, not the same. about after all the searching, all the investigating, how there'd been nothing. and yet...

he reminds himself of the multiverse, and steels his chest. he can't expect anything, he can't, and so sam begins to settle into the understanding that he's going to have to start this over again. the explaining. the world. tony- oh. oh god tony stark is here and sam's not sure how he's supposed to explain that, either. but first - ]

Peter Parker?

[ peter is in the middle of a conversation — much as he’d been the very first time sam had found him — trying to understand directions in a place he still hasn’t quite gotten used to. his time too short to be of actual benefit, and the fact remains that he only feels a touch less off-kilter than when he first arrived. the conversation cuts off in near comical abruptness as peter freezes.

head snaps quickly in the direction of the voice, familiar, oh my god familiar! and peter turns to face him, slowly, like he can’t believe it. ] Sam?

[ what does that mean? that dr strange’s spell doesn’t extend to whatever multiverse this is?

it shouldn’t be such a damn relief, to simply be remembered. but the nights spent in his old apartment too quiet without aunt may, too big, the mornings passed by the donut shop to see mj and know she doesn’t know him make for a lonelier heart that he thought.

it had been the right decision. the only one. but he never even thought about how viscerally lonely that decision made it. but here’s sam, in this different world so far removed from their own, calling him by his name and peter didn’t even notice the steps he took towards him. ] Yeah — yeah. That’s me —

You mean, you remember me? [ internally, a wince because yeah that’s definitely a normal question to ask. his eyes sting when he blinks but he's going to pretend they don't. tries to smooth the absurdity of the question over, ] I just — got back a few days ago, that's all. [ that's not all. ]

[ it's the look that does it - the way his head snaps but his body turns. how he calls him sam, instead of whatever it was he used to get so hung up on. it's the fact there is something more when he says it that hangs in the kid's expression, something painfully sad and hesitant and complicated. it comes out in the way he says yeah, yeah, that's me and sam doesn't quite realize he's walking towards him until he's suddenly there, meeting him halfway.

and then he's hugging him - whether or not peter is in the middle of his explanation or not. he doesn't think about it, doesn't question it, doesn't even care once he notices he's done it. instead, sam just closes the distance and wraps his arms around peter's shoulders and pulls him into a tight hug. peter's real, not that sam really thought he'd be an illusion. still, sam takes the second to hold him tight. because you know what? yeah. he's been worried about this kid since the first time they spoke in castle. and now he's here. ]

Remember you? [ sam huffs something of a laugh, pulling himself out of the hug but setting his hands on each of peter's shoulders. this kid is not getting far (and yes, he did set the food down first, thank you.) ] What kind of question is that? I should be asking you that - you're the one who disappeared.

[ sam, with peter this close and unable to escape, gives him a once over. checks all of him, as if he might of just come back from another war, another fight. he hadn't even lived through the blip, last they spoke. but he seems so much older. ]

You woke up out in the barracks, right?

[ the motions are secondary, through the swiftly rising ringing in pete's ears. his question had ended up muffled by sam's shoulder, a quick and steadfast movement and he'd be embarrassed to say how tightly he holds on to someone he's only known for a few weeks. how much it takes for him to not burst into tears because it's been some very, very long weeks and sam's openness makes this better and worse.

when he pulls away, straightens up and tries to take another step back - instinctual and polite maybe - hands land on his shoulders and he remains rooted. peter takes a deep breath, peering up. his heart is hammering, and he'd think it's his spidey-sense screaming something if not for the fact that they're still too groggy to be doing anything but tingling belatedly.

sam is the observant type, peter's learned that quick. so when sam looks at him like he's doing inventory, it's impossible not to wonder what he's seeing. he's certainly changed since the last time. he's older, the bags under his eyes a bit more static, face sharper, posture straighter, boyish softness replaced just a little bit more, by age and loss and fight. he's not a good liar, never has been, eyes cast down. suddenly, the groceries set on the ground are very, very interesting. ] Just a question, I guess? I don't know —

[ a short nod, hands curled into loose fists at his side. focus, peter. ] Yeah, yeah I woke up there this time around. There was a whole weird, um, welcoming committee.

[ throat cleared. productive conversation, right. ] How long has it been, since I was here?

[ sam feels something in the way peter hugs him back that worries him. a kind of clinging, a kind of tremble. something happened to this kid between when he disappeared and showing back up. part of sam isn't surprised - ever since he'd signed up for this life, sam's life has been nothing if not eventful. he can only imagine it's the same for peter, even at his age. but there's something else, something more complicated, and sam just nearly doesn't pull away. he's glad for the hands on his shoulders, glad for a way to keep him settled if only for a few more moments, the chance to look him over.

thank god he's fine - at least physically. that doesn't exactly settle his worry, but it's a start, as sam's eyes go back to peter's, a frown still tugging at him. ]

You've been gone for almost three months, kid. [ sam almost looks apologetic when he says it, his brows turning up gently. ] What happened to you? Did you go home? Somewhere else? Here- [ sam keeps one hand on peter's shoulder, a paranoid part of him somehow worried that if he lets go of him for any period of time, he'll just disappear (again) and the other reaching down for the groceries. the food. ]

We're going back to Magpie's. And you're going to tell me everything.

[ no, peter does not get the chance to argue. sam is going to start leading them off whether he wants to go or not. ]

peter parker | mcu (nwh spoilers!) | strength

SOLVUNN; MAIN ROADS

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busts in on this like big bird through the front door

screams what are u doing in my house

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thorne!! yells hi

hello hi!!!

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thorne; peter parkerino!

ahh wanda!! hello!!

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thorne

solvunn. :)

:') uh oh

rip my heart

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SOLVUNN

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Thorne, Balcony