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Deer Country Mod ([personal profile] reddosmod) wrote in [community profile] countryclub2022-09-25 09:57 pm
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SEPTEMBER TEST DRIVE MEME!

SEPTEMBER 2022 TDM
Another month, another test drive meme! Our test drive memes are open to anyone interested - regardless of whether or not you join our game!

All Test Drive Memes are game canon. Players can choose to keep their TDM threads canon or not. TDM threads can be used for AC and can be used as your writing sample for your application.

Our TDMs serve as a way to build into the actual lore and worldbuilding of Deer Country and we strongly encourage everyone to enjoy and participate! Current players are always welcome to pull prompts from the TDM to reference on the Network or bring into logs as well as tag out to new characters top-leveling on the TDM itself.

Characters will always be able to actively die during TDMs as this is an extremely dangerous world. You can still have this be game canon! Check out how character death in Deer Country works here.

If you have any questions about the TDM, please ask down below!

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Prompt One
[Image One: Bread Cornucopia filled with fruits and veggies]
[Image Two: Creepy glass eye embedded in sand]

Prompt Two
[Image One: A Lone Lighthouse by night]
[Image Two: Ghost Ship in dilapidated condition]

Prompt Three
[Image One: Wasps, Wasp Nest made from human Mask screaming terror, swirling eddies in wasp Nest]
[Image Two: Horribly mutilated Cenobite in Latex gear with exposed teeth]

STANDARD ARRIVAL
WHEN: First Week of September
WHERE: The Farther Shores/The Boardwalk, Koz's Orphanage
CONTENT WARNINGS: Creepy Prosthetics buried in the sand


On some level, you are one of the fortunate ones. The storms of August are now a distant memory. It is the waning of the Blood Moon and the tempestuous state of the Beast Moon this year is fading finally while the harvest is being collected. Sleepers arriving find no particular difficulty in actually reaching the shores for the most part, and transformations back into their natural state of being are relatively easy. They are met by happy Trenchies and fellow Sleepers with robes of white and their bags as normal, and motioned towards the waiting tents set up along the

What is strange, however, is that when Sleepers arrive, they may find their eyes drawn to something disturbing amongst the sand. Water washes with the waves and tide, and reveals a body part! They are always prosthetics of some variety, and many are glass eyes that eerily stare at the person. They can be retrieved with some ease, though they're in bad need of cleaning. Perhaps they belong to someone in town? If not, however, asking around will get a suggestion to bring those to Koz's Orphange in Crenshaw. They have a Lost and Found there, and it is the season of finding what and who is lost. If they do, they might catch a glimpse of Koz floating mournfully through the area, and one of the children will gratefully take the item, saying that they will add it to the rest of the Lost and Found, before coming back with a photo in hand. "Here, I found this, and I think it might be yours?" The photo is, indeed, of the giver and someone from their past. Perhaps it is an actual photo taken, or one they cannot remember having been taken. Regardless, it is offered to them in a cheap wooden frame. How it got there, the orphan does not know. It was probably there when they arrived.

SEASONAL DETAILS ON THE BOARDWALK

The Boardwalk is quite the spectacle this time of year, and those who were here the prior year will remember many of the decorations and festivities. Pumpkins have been stacked on spikes lining the Boardwalk with grotesquely realistic carvings of faces decorated on them. Massive white linen has been hung in the air to look like ghosts floating back and forth against the ocean wind.

Delicious smells waft from the Boardwalk as fresh donuts, candied apples, and hot apple cider are sold at every other booth, along with complementary cornucopias given to each new Sleeper made out of bread that has fruits of all varieties but always seems to have a small jar of the favorite fruit, seed, vegetable (or even meat) of the person receiving it. If asked where it is from, the Sleepers shrug and say "The Orphans took up a collection to give a welcoming gift to new arrivals." If what is in the jar is eaten by the person given it, it will help to ease their mind and give them a calm that can last up to a week as they acclimate.

Preparations are in order for this year's Black Parade. An annual celebration, it is promoted among the excited locals as something that people can participate in. Face Painting booths and costumes are available to those who wish them, with the statement by the Trenchies, "We do it to disguise ourselves from roaming spirits and hungry beasts."
A FADED MEMORY
WHEN: Mid October
WHERE: In Swimming distance (Barely) of the Farther Shores
CONTENT WARNINGS: Ghostly Ship & Lighthouse, Threat of Corruption, Remains of Ghastly Murder and Dismembered Corpse


It is by accident that your eyes chance to look towards the Farther Shores. There, you happen to see a lighthouse, but you know for certain that it cannot be the lighthouse that is normally there and manned by the fishermen. You can't usually see that from this angle. The moment that you see it, a feeling of mounting dread falls upon you, and you realize that there is no light in the lighthouse. Though the compulsion to investigate can be resisted, there is an almost overwhelming urge to go, to investigate, to re-ignite the flame before it is too late!

The question is getting out there. The fishermen, when the lighthouse is mentioned, will make warding gestures and look terrified. All will resolutely refuse to sail out, muttering incomprehensible curses and lashing their boats securely to the shore. There will be no fishing tonight. The lighthouse, from the docks and shores, is out in the water on a rocky outcrop that nobody remembers being there, though any Trenchy asked will pale at the mention. The only way to get out there is to swim. It is a hard, dangerous swim, but the tide is coming in, rather than going out, so the riptide is not pulling down. It can be done, or a raft can be hastily made. When clambering up the stone steps to the lone lighthouse, it is apparent its door is ajar. And within? Horror awaits.

The insides of the tower are caked in viscuous, green blood. The Lighthouse itself is barely standing. It looks as if a thunderous, colossal fist has battered it repeatedly, the building nearly collapsing at every step. It does not actually break apart, but those who ascend the steps find themselves fighting not to slip on old, caked and thick blood that smells of roses. The contact with the blood isn't doing anything good to the person's sanity and hallucinations of the screams of the dying can be heard, along with shrieks of "What is it?" at the top of someone's voice. An increase in corruption is possible here, though not required. The more one contacts the blood, the greater the risk is. In the top of the lighthouse, dismembered, skeletal remains lay in gobs of what may once have been flesh. One of them holds desperately a torch in their hand, and there is a lighter present. One look out into the night will see a great vessel approaching, broken, its sails tattered and ruined. there is little time, and hopefully the lighter works!

The moment the torch lights the lamp in the lighthouse, the ship veers away from a collision course that would have destroyed the lighthouse and likely the flimsy rock outcropping on which it stood. Shades of dead sailors stare in horror at those who man the lighthouse today, the ship sailing away into the night. All are pointing beyond, and if you look over your shoulder, you can barely see a collosal figure in shadow walking into the town beyond, seemingly confused and wailing. Nothing further happens, and when the people in the lighthouse reach shore again, they will find upon turning back that it is gone, as is the outcropping, though a close inspection does see the remains of a shallow of stone there where the island once stood.

Note: The Ghost ship cannot be interacted with. If someone has the ability to reach it, they will pass through it only to realize it is nothing more than a memory in the land. Fragments of rotted wood and broken masonry can be found in the water below, covered in countless barnacles. Nothing within them shows any proof of what once transpired. There is a risk of corruption from blood exposure, though this is very much up to the players if they wish to incorporate it.

No Trenchy will willingly speak of what transpired, though a careful investigation at the Pale Sanctuary may find a tome among the sacred texts associated with Cloverfield. Reading from it, one might find a forgotten marking that the first sighting of Cloverfield, long ago, saw the collapse of the original lighthouse. No Disciple recalls the incident, and none will speak of it.

FRIEND OR FOE
WHEN: Anytime in October
WHERE: At the frindges of the main districts
CONTENT WARNINGS: demonic bugs, Bug Horror, Grotesque death, Self mutilation, Bug Infestation


The first thing that alerts you to the danger is the screams. They are agonizing, gut-wrenching and full of naked horror. When traveling near the edge of any of the districts, particularly the Crenshaw district, it is possible at times to witness a truly horrifying sight. The screams, if investigated, come upon the grisly attack of a horde of not exactly wasps but closer to demonic insects swarming over a person. They shriek, their whole form shrouded by the terrible creatures as they're being stun and the things seem to be extruding some sort of substance to cocoon them while still alive to one of the trees. There is no cry for help, as the person is clearly unaware of who is there, but do you reach out to save them?

If you do not, the scene is horrific and grisly beyond reckoning. The wasps trap the hapless victim against a tree, grafting the extruded paper all over their screaming visage to form a new wasp nest before they ultimately begin crawling inside of them, devouring them from the inside out and implanting their eggs in the new 'home' created for them. It is at this time that the palpable danger may dawn upon you. The infernal bugs have not yet seen you, but they seem to be aware that there is other life around. Do you take this moment to try and beat a hasty retreat, or do you fight it out with the bugs? They can be destroyed, but only by means of abilities and powers that destroy multiples at once, such as great gouts of flame. Hopefully you have a coldblood present! Fleeing them is easier, but can you leave this person to their fate? Still, if instead you observe and take no action, eventually the bugs seem to notice you, and though they swarm near, as long as they are not attacked, they seem to do nothing.

Strange.

If, however, you try to save the victim, a very different scene plays out. The same rules apply to fight the swarm, and if you stop them short of killing their victim, you will see just who it is that you have saved. There, mutilated through self scarification and brutally altered in horrible ways that seem almost fetishistic, is one of the blood crazed zealots. Despite being weakened and badly injured, they lash out at you, their defender. The power that they wield with their blood is incredible, and they demonstrate an ability to wield it that is well documented. The only note is that no Cold-blooded Zealots are present, and so their powers are not represented this time. However, they are drained and though they pose a threat to your life, they can be killed here with a bit of care, can be resisted with great difficulty and certainly be escaped. Either way, there is no true reward for having killed them other than knowing that you have done so. Why are they here? Alone?

It is almost as if they were an advance scout, and the wasps were someone's defense against them, someone's early warning.

CODING
cloversandcranes: (The sky is crying with me.)

1/2 (CW: Mentions of deaths and Danganronpa Spoilers)

[personal profile] cloversandcranes 2022-10-05 04:22 am (UTC)(link)
[Makoto turned his head away from Ryouma to stare at the mess again. As he stared at the blood, his face slowly fell. His expression of resigned acceptance overtook his usually cheerful expression. He looked and felt so tired that even his usual need to hide his negative feelings felt like too much work.]

...This isn't anything new to me.

[Memories of all of the death he had seen flitted around in his head as he stared at the blood. Maizono crying in his arms, Kuwata's terrified face as he begged for someone to save him after the trial...The memories of his classmates' deaths mixed with the cries of despair he had heard on his missions. The expressions of fear that had shifted into awe as he approached, begging him to save them all.]
Edited (small edits! ...Again!) 2022-10-05 04:45 (UTC)
cloversandcranes: (I can't feel the rain)

2/2 (CW: Mentions of past deaths)

[personal profile] cloversandcranes 2022-10-05 04:49 am (UTC)(link)
[After a moment of silence, Makoto sighed and walked forward, carefully avoiding stepping into more blood than he needs to. He ignored the shiver of dread he felt as he silently continued towards the stairs.]

...We'll probably find out soon.

[With this much of a mess, there were bound to be clues left behind and Makoto had a feeling there was even more upstairs. As he started to go up the stairs, he stopped and looked behind at Ryouma.]

Watch your step. I'm still new to this life but I did hear that touching blood like this can have...side effects.

[He ignored the vision of a bloody Maizono smiling at him and starting walking up the stairs. He would deal with this manifestation of his guilt for his classmates' deaths later. Right now he was too drained and tired. He needed to focus on this mystery right now, for the people in the present.]
kaientai: (188)

water naps for everyone

[personal profile] kaientai 2022-10-05 05:44 am (UTC)(link)
Hmm..?

[ it's less a proper response than an acknowledgement. that... he's alive? that he'd heard? yes.

that ryouma has a proper voice is an interesting observation, which is a thought that lasts a few seconds longer before proper awareness starts to settle in again.

right, where was he? he's alive. he's a person, kinda — because he's not thinking about what a servant is after two seconds in the waking world — and ryouma sits up and wipes wet sand off his cheek with his arm. which also has wet sand on it, so the improvement is debatable, at best. ]


Oughta get that cough checked out.
kaientai: (169)

[personal profile] kaientai 2022-10-05 06:43 am (UTC)(link)
That so? Sorry to hear it.

[ while a certain level of experience will serve them well here, it's not exactly something anyone can be proud of.

for ryouma, this could be any number of times and any number of places. blink and the image changes, just a little. he's seen a lot more death than anyone should have to, but at least he can't blame himself for these.

his hand settles unconsciously on the sword at his side, unsure if he's being paranoid or if something actually moves in the shadows. ]


It's the smell that gets me, honestly.

[ that's a new feature. he's used to the sight, but the heavy, perfume-like odour adds another dimension to the horror of it all. ]

Something about this scares the locals so bad they won't talk about it. Heh, always gotta see for myself...

[ ryouma is half-talking to himself because it's a thing he can control. he knows his voice and what he's saying. it's one way to try and stave off a deep sense of uneasiness that wants to set in. ]
kaientai: (175)

[personal profile] kaientai 2022-10-05 05:09 pm (UTC)(link)
If Ryouma notices the momentary shift in Jin Guangyao's expression, he doesn't let on about it. It's fleeting and hardly the worst way anyone has ever looked at him, so it'd be easy to overlook.

"Well, no one'll take you over there themselves, but maybe they'll be a little more agreeable to just letting you borrow one of their boats instead..."

Nothing fancy, just a simple wooden rowboat would do just fine probably. Something someone would ideally not object to parting with too much; Ryouma considers himself a businessman, so the lack of money in this place is a little frustrating when he's back to bartering for favours like the old days.

"Wouldn't mind helpin' out since I'm heading there anyway myself. If you're worried about your power fizzling out on you partway there, the only thing for it is good ol' elbow grease!"

Ryouma grins and holds up his arm, giving his bicep a good smack or two for emphasis. He's fully prepared to do all the hard work by the look of things.
acidjail: rights to use paid by me; do not take (08)

[personal profile] acidjail 2022-10-05 06:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[ This man is disturbed. Woe has been in the presence of enough disturbed people - been the cause of enough disturbance herself - to recognize the signs. It could be a fleeting distress, or induced by the lighthouse he cannot help but make noticeable in how pointed he does not want to notice it, or a persistent condition. Distinguishing which it might be doesn't concern her overmuch. But she does note it, and for now, decides against more scolding about crabs. The point seems to have hit. ]

That's what we're here for, isn't it.

[ The words exist in a limbo between question, dismissal, and some third, secret thing, known only to herself. They're quiet, if nothing else, and drained of some of her previous astringent sting. ]

We may as well get on with it. [ She glances down at his feet again, lips thinned. ] But wrap those up, first. I won't be carrying you up or down stairs, thank you very much.

[ And she knows what blooms off the tower in a yet-lingering cloud, the radiant energy she used to stitch herself shut and hold herself together against the hunger that still gnaws greedily at her unruly marrow. She will not look at it either. She is certain that she has had more practice in the not-looking than this man.

(Green as glass, green as grass, green as the eyes of the third martyr.)

She shudders, and wraps her arms around herself as if cold. ]


What do you call yourself?
opheliac: ヽ(✿゚▽゚)ノ (In control)

[personal profile] opheliac 2022-10-05 07:11 pm (UTC)(link)
What makes you say that? The fact you got away again is really startin' to irritate me.

(jinx squeals just a bit as she cheerily takes the offer. and in no time flat, she crunches into the fruit like a barbarian -- humming and eyerolling as the sweetness hit her taste buds. and although she is chewing, jinx resumes on chatting with food in her mouth.)

You come around, buzz all around my head, I swat at ya, and then you fly away. And here you are RIGHT beside me and I could just... pinch those cheeks so hard it'll rip off.

(she gulps down the food and breathes out a satisfying sigh.)

Buuuut instead, I'm lettin' you perch here. So again, you win. The next game we play you won't be so lucky.
sleepinglyra: (slightly embarrased)

[personal profile] sleepinglyra 2022-10-05 07:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[Sheliak hesitantly glanced back at Ryouma with a small scowl. A hint of frost was reflected in his blue eyes.]

I'm fine.

[He didn't know where or even who he was but he refused to let his uncertainty show. He wasn't sure why he felt so strongly about it but he stubbornly clung to it anyway. It was the only thing that felt right.]
sleepinglyra: (sleeping beauty)

III. un: lyra

[personal profile] sleepinglyra 2022-10-05 08:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Your childish advertisement doesn't inspire much confidence.
kaientai: (056)

[personal profile] kaientai 2022-10-05 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ryouma's technically listening — as in, words were heard — but good luck getting this man to actually change his mind about doing something reckless once his mind's made up.

but!! okay. he'll wait. reigen's mention of "courses" just makes him tilt his head curiously a little like a dog. ]


What's the fee?

[ as he considers himself a businessman, he'll never shy away from a fair trade! only... there's no money in this world, because he definitely asked, which is unfortunate since he was also told what never loses value around here. ]

Got into this whole blood business already? And what about what's inside it? What if there's a treasure or something?

[ there is absolutely no reason to assume there is anything remotely good out there, but treasure sure is a guess. ]
abornfighter: (controlled)

[personal profile] abornfighter 2022-10-05 08:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Based on the colour, it looks like your blood type might be vileblood. You could always ask on the network after you get settled in.

[She herself doesn't know much about it, but it could be why he's not in a worse state from the blood all over the lighthouse. If he's not immune, he's resistant to the effects.

When they arrive, she looks at the large mechanism. A big extinguished oil lamp, mirrors to reflect the light, and everything's moving slowly like clockwork - there's just no light to reflect out onto the water. She has to hunt around, standing on tiptoes to reach some parts. She flips open a door, although it's too high for her to properly see inside, and with the gas mask on, she can't tell for certain if that's oil.
]

I think this is the burner. Can you give me a boost up so I can light it?
chenqing_player: (contemplative)

Re: cw for descriptions of canon typical xue yang corpse desecration

[personal profile] chenqing_player 2022-10-05 09:19 pm (UTC)(link)
It wouldn't have done the other man any kind of good to even try to salvage any sort of dignity. After everything, there is very little respect left towards Jin Guangyao and Wei Wuxian is long removed from any of the normal courtesies of his home world. He keeps his attention on the eyeballs, slowly cleaning them and placing them inside a small sack. They belong to someone. He can tell they aren't actually real. So he needs to make sure he takes them someplace safer then the sands of the beach.

"Not in the way you are probably thinking. But it is its own version of it depending on the day."

And Wei Wuxian has experienced many of those days. He has seen this place in its worst moments and right now is a calm before a storm. The colder months can sometimes be the most dramatic. And it all starts in October. And that time is upon them.

"A different world...a different plane of existence. A dream...everyone describes it in their own way."
specialtechnique: (pic#15977674)

[personal profile] specialtechnique 2022-10-05 10:07 pm (UTC)(link)
There's absolutely nothing wrong with my advertisement. Don't worry, when you one day need our finest services in the business, I'll still hear your case!!
specialtechnique: (Default)

[personal profile] specialtechnique 2022-10-05 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[Hold on... blood business? Nobody told him there was blood business? What the hell does he need with blood!! That's gross!!!]

I don't do this for treasure! Neither should you! [Just putting food on the table is enough, what if his assistant starves... and also himself...] Anyone in this business to find treasure and squeeze you out of your last coin is the worst kind of exorcist— don't trust them!

[This is accompanied by a hand clasped firmly on this stranger's shoulder, for emphasis. Don't trust people who overcharge, they are slim of character!!! Reigen stares at him for a long beat very intently, to convey this belief...

And then his shoulders sag minutely and he waves a hand more dismissively at the lighthouse.]


So forget about that place already, come on... It's not like any of the boats will take you there, anyway. You'd have to swim.
icanhearscreams: (eh?)

[personal profile] icanhearscreams 2022-10-05 10:30 pm (UTC)(link)
It only makes sense in my world. There's multiple versions of Earth, but there's no ghosts or anything there.
saltyadam: (pic#12973120)

[personal profile] saltyadam 2022-10-05 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
As far as Adam was concerned he was definitely better off without powers. Why complicate life further? He already had to deal with his friends turning into mutants and his monster husband throwing him into dumpsters. He'd take as much normal as he could get, thank you.

"This place will definitely test that. It has a way of getting into your head." It somehow seemed to find the things you were the most afraid of and played them against you. Though whether this was something consciously done was still up for debate.

Adam shrugged. "Kind of like that? And I'm actually not sure about the internet. There's a network we can all use, but it's pretty closed circuit. And I'm sure someone's invented a TV by now."
specialtechnique: (pic#15977677)

[personal profile] specialtechnique 2022-10-05 10:50 pm (UTC)(link)
["multiple versions of earth"... hypocritically, he scoffs at this, but anyway,]

Ah, that's what I thought before I awakened my spiritual abilities... Do you know for certain that there aren't any ghosts? What about unexplained phenomena?
poorlittlesange: (side-eye)

[personal profile] poorlittlesange 2022-10-05 11:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[...so, it seems there is a lot going on here, and jin guangyao is only equipped to deal with a fraction of it.

he maintains his polite salute for an additional bemused moment while the stranger speaks about him, rather than to him, into that little device in his hands. he straightens carefully and considers mike in silence, before evidently determining that no, there was no offence intended. this man would probably address a sword held to his throat with the same emptiness in his eyes.

then the explanation comes, and as with most things in this place, where one answer appears, a multitude of new questions crop up to take its place.]

I see, [he lies politely, because he doesn't, but it doesn't matter. instead he notes the universally understood body language that communicates 'where's my napkin' and takes a few careful steps forward. then he extends his hand down to mike and offers him a napkin, because sometimes the simplest problem is the only one any of us are able to fix.]
icanhearscreams: ([Zearth])

[personal profile] icanhearscreams 2022-10-05 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Pretty damn sure. As for unexplained phenomena... giant robots. But that's part of a twisted 'game'.
specialtechnique: (pic#15977676)

[personal profile] specialtechnique 2022-10-05 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
That sounds pretty "explained" to me.

[But oh, kids in big robots, well, he's Read Manga and knows how that one goes, he thinks-?? This poor kid.]

You know, sometimes someone at my spiritual power level can get some false positives. Even a skeptic could be a good consultant, and you've been here longer than I have...
sleepinglyra: (confused)

I'm sorry he's like this orz

[personal profile] sleepinglyra 2022-10-05 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
The childlike drawings would suggest otherwise. Not to mention red is an awful color choice. It blends with the background and obscures your message.

What exactly is a spirit consultation?
specialtechnique: (pic#15977680)

never apologize

[personal profile] specialtechnique 2022-10-06 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
[Reigen takes a minute to scroll back up and look at his ad like, what? What's wrong with it? It's got the makings of a big hit just like his beloved website back home.]

There's no accounting for taste, I guess... You got the message, so it worked fine.

A spirit consultation with one of our highly trained espers will evaluate your spiritual and paranormal problems and come to a satisfying resolution! For a modest fee, depending on the course selected. In short: it's usually an exorcism.
poorlittlesange: (et tu er-ge? :C)

[personal profile] poorlittlesange 2022-10-06 12:48 am (UTC)(link)
They are both, for the moment, occupied with inspecting the parcels that have been gifted, and Jin Guangyao is nothing if not thoroughly observant. The silk brocade, for example, is less exquisite upon closer inspection than he'd initially guessed, as though this bag has journeyed a great distance just to end up in his hands. He absently strokes his thumb across the surface of a starkly white embroidered peony before he realizes what is under his touch, and blanches.

The contents of the bag themselves are all familiar to him, with the exception of the gold robe--which he quickly fishes out and drapes around himself--but what arrests him completely is the jade pass token. A number of different expressions flicker across his face in swift succession, each one somehow just as fraught with anguish while defying description as the last. He holds the little thing in his hand only for a moment before dropping it back into the silk bag and composing himself. The shadow of the most inoffensive, mildest of smiles is back at the corners of his mouth.

"It is of no importance, Lady Dimitrescu," he replies without meeting her eyes again. Instead he gestures towards the boardwalk. "Perhaps if we are after answers, others nearby may provide them." And while she's legitimately terrifying, Jin Guangyao would far rather be the helpful shadow of a terrifying person than the object of her scrutiny.
poorlittlesange: (weapons grade eyelash game)

[personal profile] poorlittlesange 2022-10-06 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
Something in the tone of Ryouma's response and cheeky grin seems to ease the polished tension out of Jin Guangyao's practiced expression, and the answering smile that he receives in return is a touch more authentic. He doesn't quite laugh, but it is a near thing. The bow he sketches this time is quicker, less formal, and friendlier for it.

"Then I will see if I can convince one of these gentlemen--" this said without derision or irony, "--to part with a boat for a short time. Please wait just a moment, gongzi, I won't be gone long." It seems that he intends to try the negotiating on his own, and the ill-ease and uncertainty in his demeanour from before has evaporated. This is his wheelhouse; even without gold or silver, there are so many different ways to strike a bargain. Someone always needs something.
sleepinglyra: (upset)

[personal profile] sleepinglyra 2022-10-06 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
[Well at least he didn't have to deal with that colorful monstrosity.]

I don't expect someone who is satisfied with a sloppy result to understand my excellent taste.

Do your highly trained espers understand this world well enough that their meddling will not cause more harm then good?

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