abraxasmods: (Default)
ABRAXAS MODS ([personal profile] abraxasmods) wrote in [community profile] abraxasooc2021-05-20 09:20 pm
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TEST DRIVE MEME #1

TEST DRIVE MEME
Welcome to the very first 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 two 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 here. For general game questions please still use the FAQ.

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.

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 baring 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.

"I beg your pardon," he says, so absorbed in the pages of the book that he doesn't bother to look up, "I am Ambrose Rhett, the High Mage of the Kingdom of Thorne. One of my apprentices will explain everything in a moment, but please refrain from yelling and thrashing about until then. You're quite alright, and screaming gives me a hell of a headache."

Regardless of your response, he keeps flipping through the heavy tome, until he stops on one specific page, stares at it for a moment, and then exclaims:

"Aha!"

Scenario One: Welcome to Thorne

Ambrose's expression brightens, eyes twinkling with delight. 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.

"Success! It's a success!" he exclaims, slamming the book shut and scurrying towards you.

Now that he's not hunching over the book, he doesn't seem quite so stuffy and inapproachable. The apprentices all seem quite relieved at his jovial outburst, 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, you're an honored guest here," 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 (everyone appears to have arrived within the last few days), or you can wander around and meet the others.

There's also a dining hall stocked with all sorts of fancy food to meet every possible dietary need, and a library filled with epic tales and legends and the history of Thorne. Given that this is the Thorne library, it may be a biased account that makes the Kingdom look a fair bit better than the rest of the world sees them. Last but not least, there's a study hall where a few junior mages (younger and less experienced than the apprentices from earlier) might be willing to teach you some simple elemental magic. Think holding a small flame in the palm of your hand, or blowing a door shut with a gust of wind.

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 spending too much time with the prisoners will lead to some suspicion being cast upon you. If you ask anyone why the prisoners are being held there, you'll be told that they pose a great threat to the Kingdom (and, by extension, the entire world).

Scenario Two: Imprisoned

The High Mage scowls, grinding his teeth as he slams the book shut. "Another failure!" he barks at the apprentices, "You lot wouldn't know your ass from a hole in the ground, would you?"

All four of them lower their heads, and two of them mumble an apology that Ambrose either doesn't hear or refuses to acknowledge. "Well, don't just stand there," he says, waving a hand in the air, "We've put all this effort into getting this wretched creature, we may as well put it to good use."

One of the apprentices drops a baggy, rough-feeling tunic, a pair of pants, and some worn sandals in your lap and glares down at you until you put them on (if you refuse, they'll tell you they can kick you back down that well if you don't want to cooperate). They're glaring at the High Mage as much as they're glaring at you (when they're sure he isn't looking, anyway). You might catch one of them long enough to ask them why they're so upset with you, but all they'll say is that the High Mage knows something they don't, and he's awfully upset about it.

Once you're fully clothed, another apprentice clamps some heavy iron shackles around your wrists and leads you on. The High Mage is far ahead of you already, muttering some long string of Thornean curses before he stands up straight and pauses, spinning to face you.

"One more thing," he says, holding one hand in the air and chanting something under his breath, "Can't have you getting too troublesome."

If you had powers, the slight connection you still had to them slips away completely and you're left with nothing as the four apprentices drag you towards the castle. They may answer a few of your questions (with some insults and curses peppered in), but they won't tell you anything important.

Once you arrive at the castle you're brought to the dungeons and thrown into a locked cell. There are four people to a cell, and two sets of bunk beds with a thin and lumpy straw mattress. If you're over six feet tall, these beds are going to be awfully uncomfortable. You might as well meet your roommates. Once per day you're dragged out to an enclosed courtyard for one hour of recreation (with some crude weights, benches, and balls lying around but not much else), where you can meet the rest of the prisoners, but you can also talk to your immediate neighbors in the cells on either side and across the hallway. Just don't yell too much or the guards will snap at you to be quiet.

Everyone in the dungeon is fed one meal a day, and for a prison meal it's decent: a bit of meat, a bun, and a salad. It would seem that the Thornean chefs take too much pride in their craft to send bad food to the dungeons. The meals are all served in equal portions, though, so the smaller prisoners may be overfed and the larger ones may be getting hungry. Feel free to fight for food or share with your cellmates.

Crudely embroidered on the back of every prison tunic is the same image that was on your card and the name of the sign beneath it. A guard may explain a bit about the sign, and tell you some negative stereotypes they hold about yours.

You may be blessed with a visit from one of the more welcomed newcomers, and they may sneak you some extra food or a small book to read or they may share some of the information they've gathered. However, rumors travel fast and some people believe the honored guests in the castle above are somehow responsible for the lot of the prisoners below. And although you may hope for kindness, there's nothing stopping them from being cruel to you if they wish. The guards will certainly turn a blind eye if one of them wishes to take out their frustrations on you.




Questions


How do I choose a scenario for my character?
Pick whichever situation appeals to you most. Whether your character is honored or imprisoned has nothing to do with their personal morality, or how highly they regard themselves and their own accomplishments. Anyone can be put into either situation.

Can I try out both scenarios?
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 Ambrose?
Prisoners will be dragged against their will. Honored guests will be forgiven for their moment of panic or anger if they have one, and Ambrose and the apprentice mages will try to calm them and persuade them further. If they put up too much of a fight and/or start actively attacking anyone, Ambrose will warn them once that he's willing to put them back in the well where they came from (see below), and if they continue to fight he will make good on that promise.

My character intends on causing a lot of trouble (destroying parts of the castle, murdering the castle staff, etc.), what would happen to them?
Characters who make too much trouble for the mages and other staff 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 (if they are an honored guest) or a punishment like denial of food or temporary solitary confinement (if they are a prisoner), and there will be plenty of opportunity for destruction and murder later, but for now the Thorneans have no desire to keep huge liabilities around.

Ambrose will take it especially personally, as this experiment was his idea and too much trouble would risk the summoning spell being scrapped and potentially result in him being demoted. Rest assured it does not take much for him to throw someone back in the well at this point in time.

Is the power loss for the prisoners permanent?
No, although honored guests will regain their powers first due to the lack of interference from Ambrose, the prisoners will be able to regain theirs soon enough as well.

Can the prisoners talk about anything private, or will they be overheard at all times?
There are guards patrolling the dungeon, but they aren't always within earshot. Most of the attention is being focused on the new guests, so the prisoners will have some opportunities for privacy.

Can my character leave the castle?
For now they will be prevented from leaving the castle, even if they are an honored guest. A bit of a gilded cage, isn't it? They'll also find that any powers they regain cease to work outside of the castle walls (this is also a temporary effect) so flying outside is not an option.

Can my character eventually side against Thorne if I choose to make them an honored guest/can they side with Thorne if I choose to imprison them?
Yes, characters in Scenario 1 will be able to betray Thorne, and characters in Scenario 2 can work themselves into Thorne's good graces.

How much will my choice of scenario affect my character's plot later on?
This choice will have a major impact on gameplay throughout the first few months of the game, and potentially a bit beyond that depending on where our players guide the plot. 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 both scenarios 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 two 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 a put a character on the TDM if their canon is less than 30 days old?
Yes. For this app round, anything that's at least 30 days old when the game opens on June 12th can be applied from.

Do the apprentice mages have names?
Their names are Jeffrey, Grigory, Noelle, and Jolene.


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theonlyrealthing: (Default)

Jack Benjamin | Kings | The Devil

[personal profile] theonlyrealthing 2021-05-21 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
I. Welcome Fit for a Prince

Maybe if this had happened a week ago, Jack would have protested, shouted that he is a prince and demand to see the leadership of this quaint, backwards kingdom. But a week ago, he hadn't spent the past five days locked in a very fancy prison with the one person most unbearable to his sight. He hadn't been rejected by family and God and kingdom.

Even being naked in a well is an improvement. The silk tunic and the welcome is a bigger improvement.

So he takes the silk tunic, takes the explanation, files it all away to ponder over. He smiles his best princely smile and goes where he is led. For now. Ushered in to join the rest, he starts looking for friendly faces, as charming as he can be. "So, were you hauled out of a well, too?" he asks. His hair is a mess, curling up terribly since he hasn't had a chance to comb it out, but maybe that will make him look rakishly handsome? (Who is he kidding, he's just about always rakishly handsome.)


II. Study Hall

"Magic, huh?" He watches with interest. He doesn't disbelieve, exactly, but he's skeptical, looking for the trick to it, not quite ready to actually believe. Actually believing would mean accepting magic that doesn't come from Gilboa's God.

Really, he never even believed in that kind of magic. So this, magic that comes from a person, that comes when called, is... too tempting. He can't believe yet.

He leans aside to whatever companion followed him in here, or maybe who he followed in here. "So is this familiar to you, or are you as lost as I am when it comes to this-- magic thing?"


III. Dungeon

"Since I have no powers," Jack assures the dungeon guards, "besides my dashing good looks and brilliant political mind, I won't be missing much down there, I promise. Besides maybe the comfort of breathing properly."

So they let him down, and he's... kind of quietly appalled behind his lofty expression and military bearing. Not even the worst prisons in Gilboa are like this. Not even the one they threw David in was like this. Thorne really is a backwards country, good God.

Jack comes up to the bars of one of the cells. "Hey. What did they throw you in here for?" he asks whoever's inside.
therichremember: (tight-lipped)

III

[personal profile] therichremember 2021-05-21 04:59 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm not entirely sure. Being a mistake, I think."

Jean's expression is a bit of a tight smile. Almost-smile. It might have been intended to be one at one point, but sort of failed to manifest any actual humor. Jack's demeanor is familiar for someone who's spent time in noble courts from time to time (usually with the intent of robbing them blind), but he's not going to bank on being able to capitalize on that in any way yet.

"The mage and his apprentices, they found some flaw in me. And I am a man of many flaws, but I've committed no crime since arriving."
theonlyrealthing: (suspicious)

[personal profile] theonlyrealthing 2021-05-21 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
"Wait, you came from the well, too?" Jack asks, surprised and unhappy at the idea. If it's just flaws, well, Jack's got his own fair share of those. He's pretty sure nobody here actually knows of his "exploits" back in Gilboa. "They threw a bunch of us in some really fancy dorms. Successes, they said."
therichremember: (profile)

[personal profile] therichremember 2021-05-21 05:40 am (UTC)(link)
"Congratulations on having been judged a success." Jean frowns, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Yes, I came from the well. I've dealt with mages before, but never had an experience quite like this. The Bondsmagi prefer hard leverage over...whatever we're calling this."
theonlyrealthing: (hiding)

[personal profile] theonlyrealthing 2021-05-21 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
"We don't have mages where I come from. Or magic that is anything more than a sign from God," Jack says slowly, "so all of this is new to me. I don't know what it is that deems one of us a success and one a failure. Did they say anything to you about why?"
therichremember: (concern)

[personal profile] therichremember 2021-05-21 06:30 am (UTC)(link)
"No mages? You're lucky. All of them who I've met have relished the power they hold over others, viewing the rest of us as entertaining animals at best and pawns on a game board none of us can see. As for what they said? The High Mage had some sort of issue with me from the moment he pulled me out of the well."

He strokes his chin, thinking. "The apprentices, they were reacting to him--whatever he saw, I'm not sure they perceived the same flaw. But what the master declared was clearly law in their eyes."

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baltimores: (088; an eye out)

dungeon

[personal profile] baltimores 2021-05-21 09:42 am (UTC)(link)
Amos looks up at the question and snorts.

"Who knows," he says, voice flat. "Didn't even get a chance to do anything before they threw me in here."

He's definitely done plenty he could have been arrested for over the course of his life. This is a first for him, though, and it's safe to say he's really, really not a fan. Under the sarcasm there's a hint of tension, a stiffness in his shoulders.

He gives the newcomer a once-over. Kind of looks like the sort of guy who could do something. "Why? You looking to get people out?"
Edited 2021-05-21 09:42 (UTC)
theonlyrealthing: (serious)

[personal profile] theonlyrealthing 2021-05-21 08:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't think I've got that kind of power here," Jack says, not quite apologetically, but not not apologetically, either. It could be taken either way. "Right now, I'm still trying to learn what the hell is going on. Why things are the way they are."

Maybe if he knows more, he can figure out how to help the people in here. "Nobody said anything about what you did? Why you deserve a jail cell?"
baltimores: (017; (what I’m doing here))

[personal profile] baltimores 2021-05-22 10:02 am (UTC)(link)
So someone who can come down and visit them, without supervision, but can't do anything meaningful. And who doesn't know what's going on, either. Huh.

Amos tilts his head. "Nope. Some guy in fancy robes just started yelling. Dunno what his deal was, just next thing I know, I'm handcuffed and in here."

He pauses, then offers a blank, meaningless smile. Like the whole thing's a shitty joke. "You find out what's what, wouldn't hurt to tell everyone else. It'd be nice to actually get an answer." What he'll do with said answer... Well, that, he doesn't know yet. Probably not a whole lot, considering how outmatched he is here, but hey, if just being here is possible, who knows what else is.
theonlyrealthing: (Default)

[personal profile] theonlyrealthing 2021-05-22 07:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well. Apparently we're here to save the universe. And apparently the old man with the book thinks only some of us that got brought here fit the bill for being able to do that," Jack says, folding his arms over his chest and settling back on his heels. "Did they even tell you that much?"
baltimores: (038; it’s about Charles)

[personal profile] baltimores 2021-05-23 04:09 am (UTC)(link)
That gets a soft, humourless huff from Amos.

"Nope," he says, letting the last syllable pop, casual. "Just something about failures and putting me to good use. Which, kinda hard to see how I'm of any use, sitting here locked up like this."

And not exactly like he'd be willing to be useful. Not after being ripped into this world, and certainly not after being thrown in here.

Although, the whole saving the universe thing is an interesting note. Amos cocks his head. "Not that I'm the saving type, but I know people who are. Guess maybe they did fuck up when they got me. Still, you know," and he sighs, "not like I asked to be here to begin with."

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jealousbitch: (lloyd1)

I;;

[personal profile] jealousbitch 2021-05-21 02:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Rakishly handsome, indeed. Lloyd offers him a friendly smile, waving at him in greeting as Jack approaches.

"Not the shittiest place I've been hauled out of, definitely the weirdest."

Maybe the circumstances of his life are strange to people from other places, and he doesn't have a damn clue where everybody came from, but certainly nobody he's ever seen in New Vegas before. Hell, he's finding out magic is real and it's good that he's here. The list of people that were glad to see him could probably be counted on just a few fingers. Still, he plans to lap it up here while he can.

"They tell you anything about..anything?"
theonlyrealthing: (eyeroll)

[personal profile] theonlyrealthing 2021-05-21 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, I got a whole story about this kingdom and the royal family and a lot of the nobles," Jack drawls in answer. "And that there's magic and how we're supposed to save the universe somehow. Also--" He plucks his tunic, next to the embroidered sign. "--apparently I'm under the sign of the Devil." Which is just great for the prince roundly rejected by his God. Of course his sign is the Devil.
jealousbitch: (lloyd81)

[personal profile] jealousbitch 2021-05-27 10:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't really get why they think us fighting their war's gonna do it for 'em. I sure as shit don't have the power to do much."

He offers a shrug and brushes at his own, looking rather unimpressed. "Hell, at least the Devil's kinda badass. Pretty sure they got mine wrong. Lovers wouldn't be how most people would describe ol' Lloyd."
sanc: (I'd throw my heart away.)

Dungeon

[personal profile] sanc 2021-05-21 02:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Relena is hellbent to gain as much information as possible. She is used to being in tune with her world and its political climate given her position, so being totally in the dark doesn't sit well in her. The people wandering down now and again are the best chance she has to get anything useful. The guards don't offer much, so her only resource is relying on the generosity of those peeking in on the zoo huddled together down here.

When Jack speaks to her - or at least at her cell - she takes the opportunity to chat immediately, getting up from her spot on the floor.

"Your guess is as good as mine... I suppose they weren't looking for a diplomat. They probably have enough of those here already."
theonlyrealthing: (thinking)

[personal profile] theonlyrealthing 2021-05-21 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
"A diplomat seems more useful than some of the people who got deemed a success." But that sounds like she's here for the same reason he is: "You were summoned, too? Naked in some spooky well and then judged by a really smug old guy?"
sanc: (Think about the blood that's pumping)

[personal profile] sanc 2021-05-21 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"I was," Relena replies with a sigh, looking down at her scratchy tunic. "The well and all. And he was very smug and very angry that it was me sitting there shivering."

She shakes her head. "I have to wonder who he was trying to get."
theonlyrealthing: (Default)

[personal profile] theonlyrealthing 2021-05-22 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
Jack leans on the bars of the cell, arms on one of the cross-bars and elbows poking through to her side. "I've been wondering the same thing, given he got me. And some of the weird people upstairs. Where are you from?"

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justicereigns: (*facepalm*)

II

[personal profile] justicereigns 2021-05-21 04:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Smoker just snorts in response. Is he lost? No. But he's definitely not familiar with magic either. Callused hands rub between a scarred eye and the other. "Definitely not familiar," he grunted. "Kind of annoyed," to put it mildly, "That I don't have my jeans or jitte or any cigars." The last part is clearly already getting to him.

"What about you, was magic all fictional for you or--?"

It probably doesn't help that Smoker is wearing his tunic backwards so that the heirophant symbol is on the back, and that way he could tear open a bunch of the back for comfort.
theonlyrealthing: (smirk)

[personal profile] theonlyrealthing 2021-05-21 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"Magic is a sign from God," Jack shrugs. "Not something any one person can control or direct, not unless they're favored. And even then favor can be taken away." He looks Smoker up and down, sidelong. "You could probably ask for cigars. Or a pipe or something. I doubt there's any kingdom anywhere that doesn't have something to smoke."
justicereigns: (Default)

[personal profile] justicereigns 2021-05-21 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
A side glance. "Okay, and does God actually talk or anything?" He ran a hand through his hair. "I don't really consider the superstitions around devil fruits true, but on my world, powers are from the devil. You eat a cursed fruit, and you're granted one of his abilities, but in exchange, you can't swim. I ate the smoke plume devil fruit," a shrug, and he held a hand up. "Normally I could turn into smoke but... I guess, if magic is from god, it would conflict with powers from the devil."

As for cigars... "They didn't even have pants. I get the impression they were either desperate, or didn't actually think the main summoning magician would succeed." A pipe though... Smoker just massaged between his eyes and said a silent prayer for cigars.
theonlyrealthing: (Default)

[personal profile] theonlyrealthing 2021-05-22 12:06 am (UTC)(link)
"If God talks, it's not to me," Jack says, managing to keep the bitterness out of his voice through sheer willpower. "And I don't think magic works like that here, anyway. Remember what the wizard said? If you have powers, they're supposed to come back eventually." Jack hadn't paid a ton of attention to the timeframe, because clearly, no powers here. Mostly he'd just been kind of reeling at the idea of powers in general and trying to keep his princely smile on his face in the wake of all the confusion.

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theotherfirefox: (Default)

Huojin Chi | Original/Dungeons & Dragons | The Hermit | III

[personal profile] theotherfirefox 2021-05-25 06:35 am (UTC)(link)
Huojin was stewing in indignation that he not only was ripped from his home, but also that some cantrip or the like was uttered to, what he could only assume, stifle any arcana he honed naturally. No matter what situation he had found himself in, the few spells he knew were almost always enough to get him out of it. Even something as simple as shifting into his fox form was something he depended on quite a bit.

Could he shift still? He had no idea, but he couldn't risk it, just in case the wrong people were watching.

He pushed his tongue against his cheek and shook his head as he heard the question posed to him. "Couldn't tell you. Though, just existing seems to be enough to throw me in a cage in most areas I find myself," he grumbled lowly. His eyes flickered across the hard floor he sat on as if searching for some semblance of an answer before he finally turned his attention fully towards the newcomer, eyes surveying him for a moment before meeting his gaze. "How about you? Any clue what's gotten you in a lovely place like this?"
theonlyrealthing: (light)

[personal profile] theonlyrealthing 2021-05-25 09:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Jack leans on the bars to Huojin's cell door, giving him a "poor bastard" kind of look, not quite pity or sympathy but definitely not unfriendly. "Apparently a book. I don't know if it has my name in it or my picture or if it was just a prop the old mage used as an excuse because he liked the look of me for some reason."
theotherfirefox: (pic#14911969)

[personal profile] theotherfirefox 2021-05-26 01:26 pm (UTC)(link)
The faintest quirk of the corner of his lips made itself present, dimpling his cheek ever so slightly as he heard the stranger's thoughts of what brought him there. "Yeah, you're not too bad on the eyes," he responded matter-of-factly before leaning back against the stone wall. "Let's hope we're not here for superficial reasons, though. Almost seems worse if that's the case."