Test Drive Meme #2

[staymods]

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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Comments

[ghoulserrand]

[He sits up once more.]

Oh, come on...! It'll be fun...! You said... that you can just... dry off clothes... by magic. Well?

[He starts to climb up to his feet, careful to avoid the book.]

No one's here... to judge... no one cares...! Come on... come on... At least watch me... make a fool of myself... Then we can... actually read after...

[relictus]

...You really are determined to be a fool.

[Despite his annoyance, there's subtler emotions mixed in- something more sad and nostalgic.]

I'll watch, but only to make sure you don't do anything too reckless. I doubt I can heal you in this state if you hurt yourself.

[ghoulserrand]

[He throws his hands up.]

YEA--!

[And promptly breaks into a coughing fit for his attempt to shout. But it's fine! He's only doubled over for a moment. Then he lifts back up, gives two thumbs up, and moves for the door, opening it wide to a gust of torrential wind and rain. He glances back at Faust, then out at the rain, hesitating only a moment. Then, he leaps into it.

The wind seems to take him back, causing him to vanish a moment from the view of the door. But then, in a second, he's trudge back, deliberately stomping and kicking puddles in the grass and mud. His laughter is nearly drowned by the storm.]

[relictus]

[And he immediately does something ill-advised, of course. Faust might be concerned for a moment. Maybe. But Teo recovers quickly enough, so he just sighs as he follows him over to the door.]

[He moves closer after Teo briefly disappears outside, holding the door open to make sure the wind doesn't cause it to swing shut. Then he just watches, feeling a little foolish even if he's not the one trudging around playing in puddles in the pouring rain. It would be more sensible to stop him, to not have allowed this in the first place- but with someone like Teo... it probably wouldn't have done any good anyway. The most he can do is just keep an eye on him. Keep him safe if he gets into trouble.]

[He hates how it makes him nostalgic. Once upon a time he'd have let himself be dragged out into the rain by his old friend for pointless fun, and he'd have enjoyed it.]

[But that was a long time ago.]

[He doesn't know how Teo can find joy in simple things so easily when he's already dead... and yet right now, he looks completely alive.]

[ghoulserrand]

[When Faust arrives, he flashes another thumbs up in lieu of a grin. He holds his hands out, trying to catch the rain, to cup it until it's full enough to throw back at himself.

It's not quite as effective as he'd like. So, after a glance around, (and finding no one, who else would be out in the rain? It's just him and Faust watching at the door) he reaches up and throws his hood back. The goggles stay on and, as much as he wants to tug it down, the gaiter stays up too. But, it's enough that he can really feel it, the water, the sting, the chill. He spreads his arms wide.

He laughs, turning about, when his boots suddenly slip upon the grass. Down he goes with a muted thump. He laughs again and his gaiter slips a little, revealing that grin spread wide enough the torn half of his face almost seems normal. He's quick to pull it back up, but still, he waves at Faust.]

You sure... you won't come out...? Just for... a second...!

[relictus]

[He's making even more foolish choices, it seems... at least this is some relatively harmless fun-]

[He barely holds himself from rushing out into the rain when he falls. That would be an especially foolish thing to do. But that slip of his gaiter signals to him that it's time he stop this. Slipping and falling because he's romping around in the rain is one thing, but having his face come uncovered in the middle of town is much more dangerous.]

[So when he sighs and takes Teo's invitation, it's not for fun; he trudges right over to him. His shoulders hunch as the water first hits his face and quickly drenches him, and he has to take his sunglasses off as they're quickly obscured by droplets. He holds out his hand for Teo to take.]

That's enough. Come back inside.

[ghoulserrand]

[His own goggles are fairly obscured. It's hard to make out any expression or even hear tone well through the rain. But he makes out the shape and color of Faust through his darkened vision. He can make out Faust's voice.

He reaches out for Faust's hand and takes it, using it to help him rise back to his feet (rather than tugging Faust to the ground like he's tempted). But he doesn't walk right inside.]

Wait.

[He looks up to the sky.]

Please just... close your eyes... a second... you gotta... feel that...

[relictus]

[If you tugged him to the ground you'd be in lots of trouble young man-]

[He releases Teo's hand once he's back on his feet and pauses when he tells him to wait, and sighs. Playing in it aside, he's no stranger to spending time in rain and storms, though he's more likely to spend them inside. Alone, as usual.]

[But he can humor him this. He closes his eyes, if only for a couple of moments, letting his focus shift to the sound and feel of the rain hitting and dripping down his skin and soaking his hair. It's a little refreshing, but also a little melancholy- he can barely tell anyone is beside him like this. But that suits him just fine. Some of the tension ekes out of his shoulders.]

[But then his eyes are open again.]

Happy now? Come on.

[ghoulserrand]

[He might've been a little sad, to miss the way Faust eases in the rain. But he's also feeling it. And, yes, there's melancholy. But there's also sensation. So much of it, he's unmistakably here. Not just watching from a distance.]

Yes... I am...

[He follows Faust inside, hiking up his hood as he goes. That sends another wash of water over him, but it's fine. More important to be hidden.

Then it hits him.]

Oh...! Hang on... let me see... your hand... No scratches... right?

[relictus]

[Back inside they go. It feels much quieter once they're out of the rain, and now all that's left is the heavy feeling of cold water soaking his clothes and hair. Ugh. Maybe it wasn't all bad, but this part could be better.]

[At least he can make short work of that with magic. He turns to face Teo first, holding up his gloved hand at the question. It's a short glove that doesn't cover his wrist, but still.]

I'm fine. I wouldn't be so careless. Now, hold still. Satillquinart Mulcreed.

[Just like that, the water is wicked out of their clothes and hair- some of it pools around their feet, but the rest seems to simply evaporate, leaving them as dry as if they'd never stepped outside.]

[ghoulserrand]

Oh...

[There's clear relief in that. His shoulders ease down. (On top of that is the faint thrill that he touched someone's hand without hurting them.)

Faust works his magic and he has to look over himself with that ever-hidden but always-present awe. Not even a drop.]

Still cool... Hey. Why is your... magic word... always the same?

[relictus]

...

[He doesn't answer right away, frowning distractedly at some point in the floor without really seeing it.]

[But he seems to realize he's being asked a question and shakes himself out of it.]

That...? Since magic comes from the heart, we use a magic word or phrase that holds some personal significance to us. It's the same for our magic tools...

[He shuffles over to the desk as he speaks, sitting down a little heavily in the chair.]

[ghoulserrand]

Satill... quinart... Mulcreed...

[Good thing he's no wizard or he would've really failed pulling that off. He wonders what kind of significance that phrase could have. But, between the frowning and the way Faust seems to shuffle, worry creeps back.]

Hey... are you okay...?

[relictus]

[Congratulations, you're not a wizard. He glances up briefly before looking away.]

I'm fine... just a little tired.

...

[There's not much point in hiding it, though he also just doesn't want to talk about it...]

Something about this world seems to limit my magic... or just makes it more taxing to use. I've been careful to avoid overdoing it, but...

[Well, he's used to using magic as he pleases.]

[ghoulserrand]

Oh...

[Of course. He'd forgotten. Or, he'd just assumed it wasn't that bad. He'd seen Supergirl and Faust use their powers plenty. He hadn't seen the way it limited. If he'd realized, he wouldn't have been so careless.

He goes to his blanket, picking up the bundled mass off the floor. He folds it smaller, then sets it on the desk by Faust and his book of fairytales.]

If you need... to rest... you can. I'll wake you... if anyone comes over... Cross... my heart.

[relictus]

[He blinks at the folded blanket as he sets it on the desk- but at his suggestion he all but grimaces.]

Don't be absurd. I'm not going to sleep in a place like this. No one needs to see my dreams- that includes you.

It's not that bad, anyway... just don't go running out in the rain again unless you intend to stay soaked for a while.

[He opens the book instead, vaguely frustrated now. Not at Teo so much as at himself for not being more aware of his limits, even if these are new limitations to him. At least there hasn't been any urgent need for him to reserve his magic for less trivial uses, but he hates not being able to use it as freely as he's used to...]

[ghoulserrand]

[He stares a moment longer at Faust, then nods. It's fair.

He goes back to the floor, to his book. He opens up to actually read this time. But first-]

Thank you. I know it was... silly... and costly... but those little things... they mean... a lot to me.

[relictus]

...

[At least he's not rejecting his thanks this time-]

I don't know how you can still smile and laugh over little things like that... but it's been a while since I last ventured into a storm just to feel the rain. It was nice.

So, thank you.

[ghoulserrand]

[No rejection. He's surprised by much better than that.]

... I'm glad.

[If it made Faust even a little happy, that's worth even more.]