Test Drive Meme #1

[staymods]

Crash Course

It happened in an instant. One moment you were in your own world, doing your own thing. The next, you were standing on a small wooden dock. Or on a grassy hill surrounded by sheep. Or on a rocky outcropping near a lake. Or, if you were particularly unlucky, in the lake itself.

Regardless of your exact arrival spot, you were quickly scooped up by some gruff men and women in uniform who said you would get answers so long as you cooperated. The answers they had to provide, however, were sparse. You had ended up in the Saimaa lake system in Finland in Year 99, and nobody knew the 'how' or 'why'. All they had beyond that was a promise of a safe place to stay, so long as you followed the rules and didn't cause trouble. Some fought, some argued, but those who listened were eventually taken to "Otherworlder Settlement #5". A new home for the foreseeable future, until more answers can be discovered.

The Finnish government promised that this settlement was safe to stay in, but that doesn't mean it's easy living. Food and basic supplies are provided, but there is very limited electricity and not much in terms of modern commodities. Do you know how to use a canoe? Do you know how to cook over an open fire? Can you stand taking a bath in a lake? The first few days of life on this island are going to be a crash course in surviving without most modern conveniences, and for some it might be more of an adjustment than others.

But hey, at least there are others around to help you learn, right? Maybe your new neighbor is willing to swap skills with you.

Cats! Cats! Cats!

As you settle in to life on this chain of islands, a few things are going to become quickly evident. Firstly, life here is slow. With strict warnings to not leave the safety of the sea nets and communications from the outside world only coming once a week, there's a lot of time to explore and think.

Secondly, while there is an abundance of birds, fish, and insects, mammal life on these islands is rather sparse. You may see a small land mammal here or there- rabbits, mice, maybe a fox or two- there isn't the level of biodiversity you might expect of a backwater forest. It certainly is strange, and you'll need to investigate the islands further to see just what there is to offer.

The sole exception to this lack of mammals? Cats. Nearly every island- excepting only Snake Island- has at least one colony of semi-feral cats living on it. While these cats are out outright hostile, they do seem a bit aloof. It will take time and effort to win their affections, if you are inclined to gaining a feline companion. Or food, if you don't mind sharing. The cats do seem motivated by food.

If asked, the local NPCs who drop off supplies once a week will tell the Otherworlders that all cats are helpful for detecting threats, but that if you can find young kittens of around 3 months old that they can be more easily acclimated to being around people. The NPCs also warn the Otherworlders that if all the cats suddenly poof up and start hissing while staring in the same direction that you need to leave that area immediately and radio for help. The ominous message isn't explained further.

Ruins of Yesteryear

Not much information is given about "Otherworlder Settlement #5" upon arrival. The Otherworlders are told that the settlement used to be home to a small village that was destroyed 20 years ago, but that it has since been cleansed and is safe for resettlement. The government assures everyone that such practices are normal, and that with limited 'safe spaces' they have to cleanse and rebuild where possible.

That may not be much of a comfort, though, when you have to face the charred remains of houses on a daily basis.

While there are a few buildings still usable, the majority of the buildings on Rabbit Island have been partially or completely burned to the point of being unusable. They will eventually need to be cleared for new houses and facilities to be built, but for now they have been left standing due to a lack of manpower to do the demolition. They stand as a grim reminder that while the island is supposedly safe now, it wasn't so in the recent past.

Remnants of the past can be found in the charred ruins, though. Bits of metal in the form of silverware, tools, and jewelry are the most abundant, having weathered the hot flames all those years ago. In some lucky places with less fire damage, partially-burned blankets and books remain. Dishware, cooking utensils, small pots for indoor herbs. Traces of those who used to live here can be found here and there. But will you go looking, or will you leave those trinkets where they lay?

Deep Dreaming

It might not happen the first night, or the night after. But at some point early into your stay on the islands, you will fall into a deep sleep, one so deep that you cannot easily awaken. You feel as though you are drifting down slowly, like a leaf falling from the sky, until you find yourself laying on the ground.

When you open your eyes, the area around you will seem familiar and safe. It could be your childhood home, or a city you live in now. Regardless, it is far away from the islands you have settled on, and for a moment it might look like you've made it home. That thought will be quickly dashed by two important details: there are no other people in this dream, and the dream only takes up a space of about 50 square meters before it abruptly ends.

If you go to the edge of the dream, however, you will be able to see the space between dreams, an endless expanse of water and starry sky. Be careful stepping outside of the safety of the dream, though! Those who wander too far will feel uneasy, like something dangerous is watching them.

Your dream isn't the only thing there besides the space between, though! You will find yourself about 2 meters away from the boundary of another person's dream. And while you won't be able to step in of your own accord, you might be able to knock on the barrier of the person next to you to say hello. Or maybe they're already there, awake and waiting to say hello. Or maybe they're knocking on the boundary of your dream, waiting for you to let them in. Regardless, it should be okay. While the space between feels dangerous, the dreams themselves are safe.

Do be courteous, though. Those who see the dreams will remember what happens when they wake up.

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Sebastian Michaelis | Black Butler

[qualite]

⛧Crash Course.

While Sebastian had no need for food, sleep, or basic human needs he could appreciate the finer things. While this place was lacking what most would certainly call 'comfortable', none of that particularly mattered to a demon. His initial minutes are used to survey the area (which found him not an awful lot, truthfully), while the remaining moments were set aside to locating his young master.

Upon failing that he lets out a sigh... and decides to head toward a poor human that seemed to be struggling with something as basic as cooking over a flame or perhaps about to drink water that has not been properly boiled for safety. Maybe struggling with lighting a simple fire in the first place? My, humans were such silly little things, weren't they?

Whoever he stumbles upon will find a rather perfectly postured butler looming over their shoulder. Brown-red hazel eyes critiquing their attempt at 'survival' even as he offers a polite smile. "Excuse me, are you perhaps in need of assistance?"

Perhaps he could find them useful for something.

⛧Cats.

Perhaps this place was not so bad after all! While the general establishment was wholly unfinished, disheveled and broken he could at least appreciate the rather fine wildlife. Minimal pesky birds, hardly a vole or mole in sight, and he had yet to see a disgusting dog... but a plethora of delightful felines that seemed far too willing to examine and watch himself and the other humans attempting to survive around them.

Since the butler has no need for food himself, he has taken to feeding the strays almost immediately. One could easily find him among a sea of cats with one splayed out across his thighs with his gloved hand gently petting the fur of its stomach as the opposite hand oh so carefully squeezes the delightfully pink pads of its paws.

"Ah... Your coat is so luxurious, if you don't mind my saying so." Another pet and the cat meows as its paw is squeezed softly with a thumb, forcing its claws to extend and then retract upon release. "The shape of your eyes is quite enrapturing... I am surprised no fool as swept you up for themselves already."

⛧Ruins of Yesteryear.

Humans fed and cats pet, Sebastian takes again to exploring this new and inconvenient place that he appears to be trapped in. The decaying, rotting buildings are hardly interesting enough to hold his attention but due to the circumstances he decides to pay them their dues today. Gloved fingers brush along a broken down beam before rubbing together as he examines the residue that he quickly wipes away without a second thought.

His meal playing master was not currently here, he was a bit disappointed--it was a rare opportunity for an acute, special kind of suffering that almost specifically targeted his young master's weaknesses. A well-polished shoe toes away some rubble as he shakes his head. "Truly a waste."

⛧OOC.
While I prefer prose, please feel free to use brackets if that is what is comfortable for you. I'll happily change or we can both just play in the style that most suits us. I don't mind at all! If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a PM.

crash course

[suddenlybees]

"Huh? Um..." The boy in question looks up a beat too slow, as if not realizing he was being spoken to and having to hitch a smile onto his face as an afterthought. The handful of grass in his hands is given a little shake to rid the dirt clinging to the ends, ripped off in the amateur way of somebody who doesn't know to pull weeds out by the roots.

Kano is not weeding.

He holds the fistful of grass out to Sebastian and asks him, "Hey, do you think these are edible? They're green." Criteria for vegetables: green, found in nature, he's seen sheep eat this stuff and not die so people will also maybe not die eating it.

[qualite]

Ah, he really does pity humans sometimes. Understanding their own world seems like such a basic concept that they continuously surprise him with their utter ignorance.

Though Kano doesn't get a look of judgement yet, but instead a slight raise of brows as a gloved hand comes up to rest against his own chin in thought before pointing at one of the plants this teenager has ripped out of the ground like a desperate goat. "That is a common weed, sir, however it is a dandelion which is technically edible in its entirety. That, however... is juvenile rhubarb. While the stalk is perfectly edible when the plant is fully grown, the leaves contain high levels of oxalic acid. Too much can decrease bone growth and lead to kidney stones, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions or even induce a coma."

[suddenlybees]

Who needs to understand plants when you can pick and choose from the grocery store and be reasonably sure they're okay to eat? Modern convenience at the expense of ignorance... Kano will take the former, pulling his hand back and squinting a little at the greens in his hands, no tell-tale yellow flower or puff ball or any easy way for him to either confirm or refute Sebastian's claim.

Nothing to do but take the guy's word for it, he supposes, shoving the fistful of dandelion greens into his pocket.

"Okay, but it's tasty, right?" he asks, shuffling over to the rhubarb Sebastian pointed out and digging his finger into the soil so he can see how far the roots go down. "Like, anything can kill a person if eaten in huge amounts, but at least it's, like, tasty while you eat yourself sick?"

I was moving house, sorry for the delay!

[qualite]

The demon was much more used to picking from a personal garden and greenhouse, but he'd done his fair share at farmers markets and the like. Despite having been hunters and gatherers in their more primitive times, humans certainly have grown comfortable in taking the easy way out now.

"That one is not quite mature yet, though their stalks can be quite delicious if prepared correctly. Most common is rhubarb pie, though I have prepared it in meat sautés, fritters and fools." He wasn't sure if the materials to make a custard properly were here, but he could only imagine that this young one would accidentally make scrambled eggs out of it even if they were. "... So long as you avoid the leaves of this particular plant and do not eat it in excess, you should be fine."

[suddenlybees]

Rhubarb pie is about the only use for the thing that he's aware of, even if he's never eaten it before and wouldn't know where to begin making something like that- dessert is lower priority than actual meals anyways, and he doesn't think he's very picky with food even if he has been somewhat spoiled for it over the past several years...

"Don't eat the leaves, alright, yeah," he says, nodding to himself as he carefully pulls the rhubarb out of the ground, shakes the dirt off, pinches the green leaves off the tips and stacks them in a neat little bundle that he then slides inside his jacket pocket. His now. "Are they any good raw? The stalks?"

[qualite]

This boy only half listens, doesn't he? My, what a difficult thing it must be to be a young human. He only looks a few years older than his own young master if he were to hazard a guess. But at least he took the butler's words about the leaves to heart... he couldn't imagine dealing with kidney failure in a place like this.

"It is technically edible raw, though I would recommend dipping the stalk in sugar, honey, a simple syrup or nectar to mellow the tartness a touch."

Though if Kano enjoyed tart or sour treats he may find some enjoyment from the fibrous stalk. Sebastian couldn't imagine honey would be impossible to find here even if one would likely have to fight off some bees for it.

[suddenlybees]

"Huh... then!" Kano hops up onto his feet and shoves the handful of rhubarb towards Sebastian's hands, pulling back quickly so that unless Sebastian grabs them, they're going to tumble down to the ground.

"I'll leave these in your care, mister Master Chef!"

[qualite]

... Did this child just try to force him into cooking for him? Or is he simply pushing off his trash? Either way, that simply won't do at all! He doesn't let the rhubarb all fall to the ground though as that would be needlessly wasteful.

"My apologies, sir, is there something you wished for me to do with these?"

[suddenlybees]

Oh, he caught them. Kano grins, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets as a way of saying no take backs.

"Did you not get the memo? You're supposed to do, like, your master chef thing? It's your job!"

[qualite]

To think that he, a demon, would be standing here holding a bunch of badly pruned rhubarb stalks.

He smiles down at Kano though despite it all. His face a pristine, perfect photograph--almost too perfect in features to be real. "I do hope you do not think harshly of me, while I am able to cook I am hardly a master chef." One hell of one? Yes. His master would accept nothing less! "Besides, what would I receive in return for treating you? Hardly much of a benefit for me."

[suddenlybees]

Even if he were a regular chef, that would've been enough for Kano who can't boast anything better- can't offer much in return in this place in which the most valuable "currency" would be skill to prolong survival. And Kano's greatest— only?— skill...

He hums, making a show of digging into his hoodie pockets. "-—oh! How 'bout this?" He pulls out a rock, giving it a short toss up and catching it to show its heft and shape, nice and flat and smooth. "I got this to skip six time," he says, as if that there impressive, returning the rock to his pocket and pulling his hand out of the other one. "I can also offer you half these rhubarb leaves, or..."

That gets returned to his pocket too, both hands now hidden.

"I can grant you one wish. Upfront. I am very good at making things happen."

[qualite]

Anything the demon could cook would likely be leaps and bounds more than Kano was used to after three years of rigorous training and study, but was he deserving? Sebastian was not quite so sure. The rise of his brows at the 'offerings' on the teenager's part of the negotiation being a clear sign of that.

A useless rock, a few poisonous leaves that the teenager seemed to want to keep (which Sebastian would have to keep an eye on, not for his own health, but out of morbid curiosity), and then that curious little offer.

He manages not to laugh and he even keeps his smile perfectly in place. "A wish? How intriguing... and how exactly would you go about that when you cannot tell a weed from an edible plant?" Though to be fair the dandelion had been both.

[suddenlybees]

"Magic!" is his simple and flippant nonanswer, because he has no reason to explain hows as long as he can produce results. "...hard work, willpower, creativity... One can accomplish a lot in the world on those alone," he continues, leaning back on his heels.

"You're interested, aren'tcha? Whether or not I'm bullshitting. In that case, you don't have much if anything to lose by taking the offer, right?"

[qualite]

Something so vague as magic was hardly convincing, though not so off-putting that he was immediately off put. He was a bit magical himself, after all, so it wasn't impossible to say that this human lacked anything of the sort even if he smelled as normal as any other. Though his soul certainly had more suffering in it than a normal teenager's did...

While Sebastian can't place his finger on the cause exactly, he offers the rhubarb stalks right back to the other.

"I am afraid that simply shouting 'magic' is not enough to be convincing, young sir. What I have 'to lose' is my time which is incredibly valuable."

cats

[aono]

Another demon- well, half-demon technically- has also taken interest in the cats. Given that he is a vaguely cat-themed demon and that his Luonto has manifested as a cat, this might not be too surprising.

What actually is surprising is that the cats haven't quite warmed up to Rin in the way they have warmed up to Sebastian. Rin is near the outer edge of the sea of cats Sebastian is currently surrounded by, and he's trying to catch the attention of a couple of the outlying cats with some hushed calls. "Hey, here kitty kitty!"

The cats seem nonplussed by his presence and are even regarding him with that judgemental look that only cats can pull off. Who is this strange person and why is he intruding on their space? Eventually the cats he had been calling out to stand up, which makes Rin's face light up with excitement. But then they walk away from him, heading over towards Sebastian instead, and his face falls once more.

Then it's time for Rin to address Sebastian. "Man, how do you do it? They don't want anything to do with me!"

I was moving house, sorry for the delay!

[qualite]

Perhaps demons--even half--simply appreciated the divine beauty of felines.

Sebastian's eyes move from the white cat that has decided to bless his well-tailored pant leg with fur to Rin. Immediately he senses something different about him. Something not quite human... but as Rin doesn't seem to notice or address the older demon's own condition he chooses for now to keep that tucked into his breast pocket. A gloved hand strokes along the white cat's back.

"Cats respond well to bribes, sir, though perhaps you are simply trying too hard." Is he mocking him by giving the top of the black cat on his lap a scritch behind the ear? Possibly. "Strays are much more cautious of humans."

It's alright!

[aono]

Rin trying too hard is a good summary of all of Rin's attempts at friendship. He's nothing if not consistent in that.

But hearing that advice from someone else, even if it's a strange man who doesn't mind if his fancy suit gets cat hair on it. Which is weird because usually the well-dressed types hate messes. But Rin isn't one to judge, he knows another weirdo guy who dresses nice and then gets messes on it all the time. Interestingly, that man is also a demon, though Rin still hasn't made that connection yet.

"Right. I'd say cans of tuna, but I haven't seen any of that. Maybe catching a fish?" Rin probably shouldn't be saying that like he's an expert fisherman, he's just a city boy. But he's trying. He loves cats and he wants to pet all of them.

Cats

[give_kitty_cake]

It was unusual to see one man pay so much attention to a group of cats. He had brought them food, attention, even worked a burr out of one cat's fur, but still Koma kept her distance from him. It was safer to watch from afar.

And none of the food he had brought looked like cake.

I was moving house, sorry for the delay!

[qualite]

It was true that none of the food he prepared was in any way cake-like. He'd focused his attention far more on things he knew were 'good' for cats. Plainly cooked bird, some fish he'd caught that he left raw as they seemed drawn to it... Avoiding nasty herbs that could cause problems to their sensitive internal systems.

They were a bit like humans in the way they could so easily get sick and yet at the same time they were so much more novel! Able to get away with so much by their faster digestive systems. Lovely. Truly perfect beings, cats.

His eyes do catch Koma keeping her distance and he is unoffended even as her beautiful almond shaped eyes so delightfully catch the light. "My, you have quite the well kept coat, don't you?" He speaks to her gently. "It is hard to believe that you could be a stray."

Oh nice! Hopefully it was a peaceful move

[give_kitty_cake]

This man was well acquainted with the capricious nature of cats. Her cautious distance from him wasn't an insult at all, turning and walking away might have been, but this was merely curiosity... wondering what he wanted with all those cats. She had never met anyone who was as much of a cat otaku as him before.

She padded just a little closer as even an aloof cat like her could appreciate a good compliment. Koma did keep her fur quite nice and shiny! Thank you for noticing. She might have spoken to ask why he was so primly dressed for feeding cats but she couldn't actually speak while in her cat form... It was the one downside of it.

It is over, that is what matters lol

[qualite]

Compliments won over everyone, he's found. Animals--or demon cats, unbeknownst to him--were far more adept than people often realized. Humans were so quick to throw insults or throw a fist or leg at a beast just because it displeased them or they misunderstood their subtle meanings. That being thought, Sebastian didn't actually care for animals other than cats. Especially the awful, dreadful and yippy messes that were dogs... but he didn't go out of his way to cause them harm if it wasn't necessary or convenient.

He eyes the dark one carefully even as he sits daintily on the rock he's perched himself on. More like he was sitting at a fancy restaurant than on the ground with a cat stretching out on his lap.

As she walks closer he stays silent--barely. He was positive that if he'd bothered to have a heart that day it would be pounding in his chest. Such delightful paws! And the way they step so carefully through the sand and leave perfectly shaped paw prints in their wake! Ah... Cats are sublime.

True!

[give_kitty_cake]

The cat in Sebastian's lap yawned as stretched out to its full length as it extended every toe, claw, and it's tail as far as it could go as one does when they are having a really good stretch. The little guy was having such a nice nap he just had to lounge out as far as he could to take full advantage of the attention.

Koma meanwhile began to grow, her dainty little paws turning into boots which crushed her previously adorable footprints underfoot until she was standing in her human form before the man and his cat entourage.

"Are you one of the locals? I have heard they have a great fondness for cats."

[qualite]

When the woman changes from her feline form, Sebastian watches carefully. What an interesting little thing... He had rarely experienced other beings with shapeshifting abilities similar to his own. It's only a bit of a shame that the cat shape is lost in favor of what he finds a less than superior body.

His own human form was viewed in an equal light of accepted but not preferred. Still, though... it was always important to know the capabilities of those around him.

"Not a local, no. I am simply a passerby." One of the many who were pulled into this frustrating deserted little island universe where escape was proving a touch more difficult than the demon realized it would be. His hand continues to pet the cat on his lap. "May I assume you are not a local as well, Miss?"

[give_kitty_cake]

A passerby, hm? Then he must have been one of them who had been pulled from their own world and dropped off here. Maybe everyone on these islands was. It was like they were being kept away from everyone else, caged even. Koma's impassive expression grew a little more tight.

"Koma."

The people who knew her best had often called her Koma-kun but Miss worked well enough too and she saw no reason to correct it.

"I was in Japan, a city called Miyoshi City in the Hiroshima Prefecture."

It might have been too much information but if this man was from another world all that might have meant nothing to him at all.

"Where were you brought from?"