staysilentooc | Test Drive Meme #2

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test drive meme

Test Drive Meme #2

Meet and Greet

Summertime has brought more visitors to the island than usual. Instead of the typical 'one visit a week' from the supply dropoff, small passenger boats have been coming by a couple times a week. Mind, Settlement #5 isn't the only stop for these boats. But they always do bring something new to the settlement. 'Something', meaning new Otherworlders.

After several dropoffs, the resident NPC Mauri has decided to arrange a little get-together. He's not the best cook, but there's plenty of grilled fish and grilled vegetables to eat, and enough space to relax and chat for a bit. Why not take a break and say hello? This is the perfect chance to introduce yourself to someone you might not have seen before.

Natural Protection

Even for newcomers, life in Settlement #5 is largely peaceful. It takes a lot of hard work to keep the settlement running, but usually nothing unexpected ever pops up. Cooking, washing, repairing, all of those actions become familiar and everyday quickly enough. It's so ordinary that it's almost easy to forget that this world is hiding some pretty glaring secrets.

But sometimes, especially on warm summer days, whispers can be heard from the forest across the waterway. If you stop and listen, you'll hear quiet murmurs cross the calm waters and dig right into your brain.

"Hello?"

"Is anybody out there?"

"I'm so scared, please..."

But when you hear those voices, the hairs on your neck start to stand up, and you'll find it difficult to speak. It's like your very body is trying to warn you away from answering.

And if you happen to be near someone experiencing that reaction, you might see a flash of some kind of light near that person, somewhere between them and the direction the voices are coming from. It looks almost...animal-shaped? But as soon as you see it, it's gone. How strange.

Incoming Storm

It starts with a rumbling in the distance. A swell of dark clouds, a roll of thunder. The particularly observant might notice the local feral cat population scurrying off to shelter too. Even the noises of the land beyond the safety of the islands grows still.

The clouds roll in, blotting out the sunlight.

And then, all at once, the sky opens up and unleashes a torrential downpour on the islands.

Heavy rain like this is the perfect time to find out just how leaky all the buildings are too. While some of the buildings are inhabitable, that in no way means they're perfectly watertight. Time to find ways to stop the drips from making everything inside the buildings wet too!

As a note: threads from the TDM can be made canon if all parties involved app into the game/are already members of the game.

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Meet and Greet

[As happy as he is to finally be around people, nothing could make it clearer that he can't truly be a part of them more than something like this. They mingle and feast and he knows the more he draws attention to himself or the fact that he's not eating, the more likely he's going to find trouble.

Mauri is especially dangerous, as someone actually from this world and more attuned to things like him. He can't approach, even if some stupid part of him wants to join in. Still, he can't help muttering to himself.]

... Do you think... spices still... exist?

Natural Protection

[He's setting out to hunt when he hears the voice. It makes him stop. It makes him go entirely still. He finds two different horrors intertwining in that moment, and he runs back toward the town until he finds someone, anyone.]

Did you... hear that...? There's someone... out there...!

Incoming Storm

[He finds himself, again, ridiculously grateful for Faust's protective spell over his letter. The moment he sees those clouds roll in, he knows that even with the shelter of the town hall, any hope of staying dry is about to be dashed.]

Grab... the books...

[He's shuffling out of his leather jacket. He hates to give up more cover for himself, but these definitely deserve protection. Maybe, if they're wrapped well enough, they'll stay preserved.]

What are you doing?

[He's barely entered the town hall- after seeing the approaching weather it happened to be the most conveniently located shelter- when he sees Teo taking off his jacket and is immediately suspicious. He's also wearing his training clothes today.]

[He pauses, turning to find Faust and blinking behind his goggles. Did this guy manage to bring a full fancy wizard wardrobe with him?

He gestures at the books.]

We've got to... keep them dry... I thought... this would help.

[It leaves him down to the hoodie, but surely that's fine...]

[He finishes making his way over and glances at the books. And sighs.]

I would hope this place doesn't leak that badly... but if you're concerned, covering the shared books with your jacket isn't the best idea, is it?

[Zombie cooties aside, when was the last time he cleaned that thing-]

[He glances from the books, down to his jacket, and again. Slowly, he draws his jacket back, slipping his arms once more into the sleeves.]

It seemed like... a good idea... in the moment...

I'm sure it did.

[Dryly. But he relents a little.]

Wanting to protect the books isn't a bad thing, but try to think your ideas through a little further in the future before acting on them.

[He steps up to the bookcase, rearranging the books so that they're lying stacked flat on top of each other rather than sitting upright. Then he takes off his robe (which he only had draped over his shoulders anyway) and drapes it carefully over the top of the bookcase itself. Obviously it's not a perfect solution, but it should help keep any minor leaks away from the books themselves.]

[He pauses a moment, reaching under the hanging fabric to pull out one of the books before turning back to Teo.]

I suppose we'll find out shortly if that was a waste of time. Here.

[He holds out the cookbook.]

[It's little like this. He watches Faust, after scolding him, surrender his own cloak. The man insisted there wasn't anything good about him. Teo doesn't know how he can't see it.

He takes the book as Faust hands it to him.]

Uh... thanks...?

[He wasn't really planning to read right now but...]

[It about then that the sky decides to open up and the rain starts loudly crashing down outside and against the old roof of the building. He sighs sharply.]

...It's unlikely you'll be going anywhere for a while. You may as well take the chance to read through it, if you haven't already. But if you're not interested, I can put it back.

Edited 2021-07-17 02:49 (UTC)

[Storm drops upon them and any vague sense of a plan drops away with it. He draws the book close.]

No. No. Reading sounds... good.

[He goes to find himself a seat, only to pause.]

What about... you?

[He pauses, and glances back at the bookshelf.]

I wasn't planning to stop here, if not for the turn in the weather... I suppose I could read as well.

[He was just thinking about Teo first.]

I could... read aloud. [He suggests before his head catches up.] If... I spoke better... and... I wasn't reading a cookbook.... [He laughs faintly.] Stupid...

I'll go... grab some blankets. Can get comfortable... while we read...

[Faust will probably take the chair instead of the floor, but he did sacrifice his cloak thing and storms brought in cold real quick. Besides, they're not hard to find, given that everyone but Faust sleeps here.]

...

[He doesn't respond to that, but he doesn't seem annoyed. If anything his expression has softened a little.]

If you'd like.

[He's fine for now, but he shouldn't waste magic on keeping himself warm during a little rain. He turns back to the bookcase in the meantime; soon enough he comes away with the book of fairy tales.]

[He's off and back in no time. Wherever Faust elects to settle, he'll soon find a blanket draped over his legs. Teo, meanwhile, wears his draped over his head.]

Before I... found this sweater... wore some... torn sheet like this... for a while... not very useful at all...

[He pulls it off and it comes with him to the floor, where he proceeds to bundle it up under his head like a pillow. There. Comfy.]

[He'll sit at the desk since he's used to reading at a desk anyway, and he's a little surprised to have the blanket draped over his lap, but he just adjusts it a bit without comment. The rain is strong, but it's a calming and familiar background noise.]

[...Does Teo ever just sit in a chair like a normal person...]

Those are the only clothes you have, I take it?

[Normal? Questionable.

He kicks up a foot, showing a patchy pant-leg.]

These are... mine... I thought I would... be recognizable... if I kept them...

[Recognizable to people who knew him that is. He drops his foot down, bringing the boot to thump on the floor.]

I have some... shirts under... my sweater. Found the jacket... I thought it was... cool. That's it. No reason... for more... when I was travelling...

You're not traveling anymore, so you could stand to have a change of clothes... what if you'd gotten caught out in this rain?

[Not that he probably has to worry about things like catching a cold, but still.]

I would have... waited to dry...

[Gosh, Faust, isn't it obvious?]

I don't... own anything else...

[Pls...]

Maybe you can find something here, or...

[He could ask Mauri, or just find some fabric to make some clothes for him... Except he's not going to do any of that, there's no need for him to go that far out of his way-]

In any case, if that does happen you can come to me. I can dry your clothes out for you with magic.

[Well, he's not going to ask Mauri. Drawing the attention of one of the people actually from this world seems like the worst idea possible.]

Maybe.

[Unlikely... Though somehow Faust's offer is even less expected.]

Oh... cool... [Should he say thanks again? Faust seems to hate it.] ...You can do... a lot of things... with your magic...

[Don't you dare thank him-]

Magic can be used in any number of ways... removing water from a garment is simple enough.

Still amazing...

[Will magic ever be simple for him? Only time will tell.]

What else... can you do...? Or is it... a really big list?

[At least awe is mildly less irritating than fear...]

Magic is too complex and flexible to be explained so easily. But it can be broken down into different types and spells, and every wizard has different strengths and affinities.

In short, there are many things I can do, and some things that I can't, or may be more difficult for me that another wizard.

So more... variety of... skill... than just... magic. Like music... Something practiced...

[But at the same time, something he was born with, apparently.]

What is... harder?

Skill and learning is part of it, as well as where you're from.

[You know, the non-brainwashing spirits thing.]

Hm... it's not that I can't use it, so it's more a matter of preference, but I avoid overly flashy and powerful offensive magic... Northern wizards are more fond of that, and tend to seek power anyway...

[Non-brainwashing ghosts. He'd nod along if he weren't on the floor.]

Makes sense... Starting a fight... lots of attention... lots of trouble. Probably... even more effort... here.

Mateo | OC | OTA

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