JANUARY TEST DRIVE MEME!

[reddosmod]

JANUARY 2023 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: Bloody Candles]
[Image Two: Anatomically Correct Chocolate Hearts in a Coffin]

Prompt Two
[Image One: Woman in restaurant, dressed in pink, surrounded by mannequins.]
[Image Two: Creepy looking mannequin staring]

Prompt Three
[Image One: Hands touching and holding at sunset]
[Image Two: Girl Screaming with her Mouth Fused Shut.]

[NAVIGATION]

TDM Questions • Reserves • Taken • Applications • Full Navigation

[Jump to Comments]

A TYPICAL ARRIVAL WITH A SWEET TWIST

WHEN: Last Week of January through all February

WHERE: The Shores, Boardwalk and throughout Trench

CONTENT WARNINGS: Mild Body horror for arrival, additional warnings for Blood Bonds and the Chocolatier:
* Blood Bonds: Blood ceremony, bodily ceremony, telepathic/empathetic connections, possible forced/coerced relationships.
* Choclatier: Themes of temptation (non-sexual and/or sexual), addiction, blood sacrifice, severely warped personality/reality including temporary amnesia, inability to use body, paranoia, vomiting organs, homicidal feelings, mild body horror.

---

For those who are arriving, they are fortunate. The worst of the ice and chill of the Season of Bone is fading. Any ice flows are breaking up and it is safe for little squidlings to come to shore, wakers present to help them with cups of hot cocoa and heavy robes to ward off of the cold. Nothing, however, removes the almost bleak and dreary state of the world. All of the beach seems washed with a sort of white that remindes the mind of bleached bone. Transformation from squid to the sleeper's natural form is slower, because of the cold, but does not pose any real difficulty.

Warm Food is prepared in the form of stews, complemented by bread that tastes heavily of mushroom. Unlike prior years, no roses are given to the new sleepers, though there are roses found throughout the city of trench. All of them, however, are black as midnight and there is an ominous sense to them should a sleeper think to reach out and pluck the blooms. Should someone do so, they will feel an increased paranoia about their relationships for the next few days and the natives of Trench will give them a wide berth, refusing to sell them anything at the shops and shooing them away, though there is no outward sign of anything being amiss. Whispers in town hint that the Doorway is in a poor mood this year.

Nevertheless, the patron pthumerian of the month can be seen around Trench. Bonding Rituals remain very popular this month and many seek to curry her presence during their rites. She shows no outward sign of discomfort or disapproval, yet there seems to be more blood than usual on her ivory blade as she stands in silent vigil wherever a ritual is performed.

Anyone who yearns for a bit of sweetness that they might associate with the waning chill of winter will find themselves meeting a sudden and disturbing fellow (CW: Some Blood/Disturbing Content in some chocolates. Please check warnings in prompt). The chocolatier, who was seen in past years, still wanders about and appears to any who yearn for a happier time in the otherwise gloom of the month. His offer is simple. A little bit of blood, for a little bit of sweet. What is the harm in it? Why his sweets even have mystical properties to make life interesting!

FAQ:
* The Chocolatier option remains identical to what happened in 2023, and is available throughout the last week of January and into February. The chocolates offered have not changed this year.
* Blood Bonds are available all year round, and the method of getting one is easily learned from any local in Trench, or from a Sleeper. While they can be performed every year, they are more powerful if performed in this month (Player discretion) and the Doorway is more likely to be present to bless them personally.

WAIT FOR ME

WHEN: Anytime in February

WHERE: Anywhere in Trench

CONTENT WARNINGS: Body Horror, Loneliness, Depression elements, Being Trapped in One's Own Body, Psychological Horror

---

Sleepers have been working to put an end to the strange plague afflicting pthumerians. Still, while there has been success, something seems off this month nevertheless. Even if she is not ill, the Doorway appears to be in a foul mood and it is felt by many. There is a moody, brooding sense that permeates the whole of the city, as if something were supposed to happen that did not. It's the awful sense that one gets when they expect to meet up with someone for something important and, without warning, that person does not show and there's no explanation. That light gnawing at the pit of the stomach when worry or irritation sets in grows steadily worse. Is this about someone specific, or a general malaise? It's hard to tell what sets it off. For some, it comes waiting by the coast in the hopes a loved one arrives this month. For others, maybe someone was just busy and ended up late for lunch. It might not even have a visible cause.

Whatever happens, the dreadful reality settles in almost immediately. As they wait, the person begins to feel their body stiffen. It does not feel like the lockjoint disease, but rather a sudden and whole-body hardening of the person. Within seconds, they feel their body solidifying into a state almost like a mannequin. Unable to move, they can feel a dread cold leeching into their heart as they are forced to watch, to wait for whoever was supposed to be there. Why aren't they here? The longer that they are there, the colder that they feel, and if they are in a secluded place it could feel quite perilous. However, no monsters can seem to harm the person, their body nigh indestructible. The frigid state, however, denies them the ability to sleep or even blink, forced to watch the world as a prisoner in their own mind.

Palebloods are somewhat fortunate in this state. All palebloods trapped this way find themselves able to telepathically communicate with loved ones or people close, regardless of distance. Their voices, however, are always in a state like the wail of a ghost regardless of their mental state. For anyone else, they can manage to mentally connect through the network to plead for help using an omni on their person, though only in Text form until they are released. So, at least they are not trapped without escape, unless by chance they forgot their omni, but you wouldn't be so foolish as to leave home without your phone would you?

HOW TO CURE THE CONDITION:
Several options exist. Anyone with a "Blade of Mercy" (a gift given last February) could use it to sever whatever connection caused the person to feel like they are waiting, though that might very well sever the emotional connection entirely! The very person that they are waiting for could arrive, in which case a kiss (on the cheek, on the lips, gallantly on one knee to the back of the hand. Whatever works for you!) or an apology for tardiness should suffice to warm the heart. If there is no source, or if that person cannot arrive (or chooses not to), any friend or even new acquaintance can try to help the person not feel quite as alone in their waiting through some reasonable means. Any cure-all for corruption will also help with this condition.

The locales do not have any idea officially how to cure the condition, but they may suggest some of the above simply because it seems helpful at the time. At the worst, the condition does eventually fade with time.

FAQ:
* This can happen in a public location, or entirely remote, wherever you wish.
* The above "Cures" are not exhaustive. Any reasonable act that establishes or re-establishes empathy for the person trapped will cure them.
* Paleblood Telepathy is not limited by distance. However, non-palebloods must have their omni on their person in order to mentally link to it.
* This condition does not lead to death, but if allowed to persist is a reasonable source of higher corruption.
* If untreated, it will usually clear up in a couple days, or at most a week. If a player wishes to use this as a form of hiatus in February, they may, in which case it can last all month.

YOU TAKE MY BREATH AWAY

WHEN: The First Week of February

WHERE: Anywhere in Trench

CONTENT WARNINGS: Choking, Asphyxiation, Body Horror, Dependency, Possible Death

---

Self-reliance is a powerful tool in the city of Trench. You have to be able to take care of yourself, lest the dangerous elements on the fringe of the city overtake you and claim you in the night. Right?

The Doorway could not disagree more. To her, people depend upon each other. Corruption is only cleansed through the presence of others and conversation, connection. Cures and potions are, in her thought, unreliable. Even going to the Blood Ministers is more of a last-ditch effort when all else fails as she sees it. Sometimes? People need a little gentle reminder, a push to get them to rely upon each other more. Unfortunately, what a Pthumerian considers a gentle push to be tends not to be so gentle.

It happens at random, though it seems to happen most of all when it involves people who might not want to be close. You come into contact with a person, and just as you start to speak, you feel your throat throttle. It is like there is an invisible noose around your neck. No visible rope exists, but the air is cut off. You double over, gasping for air that will not come. Even if you don't or can't breathe you find yourself choking like a flopping goldfish out of water! As you reach out for help, you can see to your horror that the person you are trying to meet is choking too! What do you do? There is only one cure to this situation. You have to get to the other person quickly. There's still time. Maybe you can find some sort of solution if you get there. Deep down, you know you just need to be closer.

The moment that the two choking sleepers make contact, they will be able to breathe. The relief of oxygen entering the lungs comes instantly, though there is a problem. Any time you break contact, you begin to choke again. So long as you are able to stay in contact, you're safe but any attempt to break that contact is potentially life threatening. There is no solution other than to hold onto each other, hold hands, whatever it takes to maintain contact. For how long you ask? Oh, for at least an hour. But it's not like anyone's actually going to give you a timer on this. Will you just put up with it, or will you keep experimenting only to be choked repeatedly.

FAQ:
* Anyone can be affected by this, no matter physiology. It defies magical powers, biology and even blood powers.
* The effects last no more than 6 hours at the absolute max and most of the time it will end within 1 hour.
* Effects will cease when the two participants go to sleep (No accidental chokings). As a result, the effect will always start at least an hour before you might normally go to sleep.
* Yes, you can choke to death if you want.
* There is no knowledge of the effect amongst the locals and no warning about it, so there is no real warning on how to "cure" this other than the compulsion to get close to the other choking person and trial and error. Or Patience!
* No, the Doorway isn't sorry.

CODING

Comments

[ex_sink985]

[ Xuan is a good actor when he has motivation and a script. Like this, washed up and changed and hungry, he doesn't bother, and it's still getting him two more bowls. His eyes brighten, and he takes a seat, radiating his best behaviour. ]

Thank you.

[ Much more sincere this time, or much better at seeming so. He doesn't ask for anything else, knows better than to push his luck — though honestly, anybody willing to help a stranger in need is unexpected to him. In his experience people didn't generally care about anybody but themselves. ]

[ex_sink985]

It's his liver, the gallbladder an olive sac that has split a little and splashed yellow to mix with the moontouched silver and fleshy puce of the organ. If the loss of such a necessary component is affecting him, he doesn't show it. Instead he just bends down and lifts it, making a carrier pouch of the black fabric of his robes. The kidney joins it there, an unpleasantly squishy bundle that leaks through the fabric to his skin. He bears it unflinching.

"Perhaps," he says finally, roughly, because he can feel that this has disrupted him in some way that isn't a physical wound. He rubs a gory hand over his abdomen, pressing thoughtfully as if to see if he can feel a new-formed space inside him, or if more organs are already growing and ready to move into his stomach and then his throat. All his focus is on his own body for a moment, trying to tell if there is some harmful energy vibrating into him. Absently he admits, "Feels more like I need a cultivator than a doctor." Though he wouldn't trust a cultivator not to just try and banish or bind him, and that sounds like a hassle. He sighs.

[lstr]

[ their wakers are helpful in sending them in the right direction, pointing them to the bags and giving a basic overview of their contents, and the path towards the city is straightforward enough. the details of most of her memories are still clouded—not a new feeling—but ariane is already a grounding presence for reminding her of the shape and impact of the things that matter.

elster pauses, at last, rummaging through her welcoming bag with her free hand. there are definitely more than six items in here... still, the journal is there, as they had said. the map, good, that will be invaluable. her eyes almost seem to flash for a moment as she commits the map of the city to her nav system's memory. ]

No risk of us getting lost. Small favors. They suggested Sanguine Station while we found our bearings, so from here... [ one of those telltale pauses as she looks inwards, and then— ] All right.

[ she rubs at ariane's arm, keeping her close as she starts to walk again. ]

How do you feel?

cw: references to canon-typical xue yang body horror

[poorlittlesange]

(Oh, yes, he recognizes the gallbladder. Chengmei had a peculiar fondness for making extended eye contact through the bars of his enclosure in Jinlintai while popping them between his fingers. "Don't make that face," he'd said once, "you don't know what you're missing. Actually that's a good point--why don't you give it a try? I've got one leftover from He-zongzhu, he's clearly not using it anymore--here, catch!" God. Fucking delinquent.)

So, these are the calibre of thoughts currently percolating through his mind as he watches Xuan gathering up his own internal organs with his bare hands. It's almost a relief when Xuan makes that observation out loud, because addressing it will ground Jin Guangyao back in the present moment. And however grisly and gruesome the present is, honestly, it can't hold a candle to even five minutes spent chaperoning Xue Yang.

He smiles again, all solicitous generosity. "Then gongzi is fortunate indeed," he says and performs a short, precise bow. "This Jin Guangyao is a cultivator." He drops his gaze to the organs cradled in the makeshift basket of Xuan's robes and grimaces. "I may be able to help stabilize your qi, but forgive me, gongzi, this one is not a surgeon."

cw: suicide

[toteninsel]

[ Ariane's head is supported by a hand, and not by suspension liquid in a cryogenic pod. She can feel the ground beneath her feet, and the warmth of another's body. The stranger makes a promise, and even though it's not the same as what she had with Elster, it's another anchor for Ariane to hold fast to.

The stranger asks that final, most awful question, and the understanding is a balm. That was what she wanted, once. But the stranger was closer to correct the first time. Ariane wants to be free.

The thaw starts in her hands and arms, and Ariane brings them up to hold fast to the other woman. It spreads to her knees, feet, toes. Her heart warms last, and the vision begins to melt away, until the two are back in Trench, and the only sounds are the liveliness of the city. ]

Not anymore. [ That's not quite right. ] Not again.

Thank you.

[toguchi]

[ As Chozen gently anchors Daniel's hand, he contemplates when the last time he touched another person's hand this way was, and cannot remember exactly when it had been. It should be uncomfortable, giving the briefness of their reunion, and the facts of their history. His hands have done Daniel more harm than good.

Perhaps that is precisely why it does not feel awkward to maintain the slight, warm contact as Daniel visibly trembles at the precipice of some as yet unnamed fear. Chozen's hands owe him a debt. This is one small gesture towards repaying it. ]

No more than I did sleeping on your old couch.

[ His smile softens, kindliness mellowing out his otherwise stern features. He does not know what has Daniel in such a state, and it does not matter in the moment. What is important is demonstrating to him that all is well. ]

Only a little stiff. It is 'no big deal'.

[ He shrugs, illustrating the fluidity of his joints. They are a little stiff, actually, but that is still a much lower priority to worry about than Daniel's distress. He pitches his voice low, as if the people preoccupied with their own concerns enough to ignore Daniel's calls for help would bother to listen in on his question and Daniel's eventual answer. ]

Are you all right, Daniel-san?

[hauntedsavior]

[a familiar world fades in around them, and there is the touch of another on anna's skin, and she lets go of a breath she had been holding voluntarily. the woman, the stranger who had spoken without speaking, almost feels frail, but there is a flutter inside anna when she suddenly finds herself being held close. she doesn't want to let go; if she does, more bad things will happen, she's sure.]

Bitte.

[she wants to maintain this small level of intimacy between their shared language, but isn't sure if she needs to, and she can tell that this woman is... well. she can tell this woman can understand a lot of things, and in ways that are far above anna's head.]

What can I do to help you now? [she's done something to help already, at least. with the horrors passed, at least for now, she feels slightly more comfortable pressing her hand more definitively against the back of this woman's head. pressing the smaller woman to her chest in a way that nestles her enough to make anna's heart ache. holding her in a proper hug. there is intimacy in intimacy itself, as it turns out.] Do you need to... go to that island you were showing me? Or something?

[toteninsel]

[ Ariane does not look inside her welcome bag. She's too preoccupied with Elster, with the weak winter sun on her face and the wind in her hair. Besides, she already knows what's in there. They could get lost together, and that might even be fun. It's been so long since she's been lost, and not in the horrible, metaphysical way.

How Ariane feels, however, is a complicated question. It's her turn to look inward, although Elster might be able to guess, based on her slow pace and tendency to lean upon the other. ]

...Strange. [ That's not helpful. Ariane pauses, then tries again. She's out of practice in more ways than one, apparently. ] I don't feel sick anymore. It doesn't hurt the same. [ But it feels like she should be. It would be easier, in a way, for her to hurt again. Her body remembers how. All Ariane would have to do is lie down, and let it happen, and then - ]

I don't want to wake up. I just can't wake up. [ Everything will be fine, as long as she stays like this. As long as she stays in the dream. ]

[lstr]

[ ariane's better, then. healed, if not yet healthy. it's more than she'd ever hoped for, at least. ]

... I think we may have already woken up. And even if we haven't... [ where did dreams end and reality begin, over all those centuries? it was an endless dream about dreaming, folding reality over and over itself, splitting it apart at the seams and knitting it back together at the wrong angles. ]

Even if this is some shared delusion, it doesn't change anything.

[ elster takes a slow breath, pressing a kiss to the top of ariane's head. ]

Tell me if you start to get tired. I can carry you. [ all that occupies elster now is getting ariane somewhere where the two of them can begin to reorient themselves. ] Once we... understand this a little more, I think we should get you to a doctor.

[toteninsel]

I think... I think I need to sit down.

[ Now that the danger has passed. Ariane's body is still out of practice with things like standing and moving, and the last thing she wants after all that is to make that obvious. This stranger has learned a lot, in a relatively short time, and Ariane would feel embarrassed if she wasn't already well past that.

The hug is nice, though. Soothing, which reminds her of --

-- Elster. She's probably worried sick. Ariane should be home by now. She pulls away, taking a seat on some nearby steps. ]

No. No, that's just a painting I like. [ And that's just a good enough explanation for that! ] I need to get back to Elster.

[ Smoke forms around Ariane's heart, and it coalesces into a white-feathered, red-eyed magpie. Tell her I'm safe, Ariane whispers, and the bird flies away without a word. ]

[toteninsel]

[ If they're awake, then it doesn't make any sense that Ariane is no longer sick. If they're asleep, then Ariane might wake up again, and be back in hell. But if this is a delusion -- a dream -- then Ariane is safe. ]

It's perfect. [ This place. This dream. Ariane reaches a hand up to Elster's cheek. ] You're perfect.

[ Elster's plan is a sound one, although Ariane can't help but smile at the idea of seeing a doctor. There's something so quaint about it. That's where people go when they're sick. They're not sent out in space to die, or placed in cryo, or have to beg their loved ones to kill them. ]

I'll go anywhere. [ With you, Ariane means. But she thinks Elster will know that from the warmth of her voice. ] After the doctor... what do you want to see first?

[ Elster deserves it. She kept the promise. She deserves thousands of worlds, a hundred times over. ]

[hauntedsavior]

[anna's quiet, taking that in. yes. right. this isn't rose, she just looks like her. looks like her the way she looks now, instead of in anna's memories of her. it's not her and she can't treat her like she is. when the woman pulls away, anna waits for her breath to stop, but it never happens. she can breathe normally, devoid of contact from another—and it, too, makes her heart hurt. in silence, she walks over to the steps and sits down next to this stranger.]

[she feels like she's overstepped, now that the realization is starting to hit her. she'd gotten lost within her own thoughts, her own desires. a small, yet no less false reality of her own weaving. she thinks the words mein Rosenherz without meaning to as she turns her head, blue eyes settling on the woman who can never be that.]

Okay. We can try to find them. What do—[and she closes her eyes and thinks back to the image that had not been the painting of the island.] Was that Elster, that you showed me? Who are they?

[toguchi]

[ There is a certain amount of popping that did not used to happen when Chozen comes to his feet, discreetly assisting the young Mackenzie as he does so. He knows how it is to be young and prideful as well as young and angry. It makes a person delicate in certain feelings. ]

I hope there is no cause to fight anything. We should stay where there are this many people - at least one of them is sure to know how to fight.

[ Having to do battle with strange people or creatures does seem in line with the sort of thing that is meant to happen in situations like this. Chozen does not discount his own skill, but having to fight while holding on to a defenceless boy would be challenging.

Better to avoid it. ]

It is good to meet you, Mackenzie. Were you in the middle of running an errand? I have a very open afternoon if you would like to continue.

[toguchi]

[ Chozen, on the other hand, does recognize the young Miss Nichols, champion of Cobra Kai. They did not part on the most amenable of terms, which was his only true regret from his time infiltrating Silver's dojo. He had liked her spirit, and it had been a shame to learn her in the hands of such an unscrupulous teacher.

The path of a young and angry person under the guidance of a teacher like that is not a good one.

These thoughts flit by swiftly, and have very little to do with anything in the moment except his recognition followed by surprise, followed by concern. She may not be his student, but he has reason to worry about the well-being of any young person whisked away from their home to a strange place -

But first. Yes. The odour. He had hoped a discreet scrub in the sea had diluted it, but it seems that he had only gotten used to the lingering smell. He smiles ruefully and offers her a slight bow of greeting. ]

That is a story with a long and a short telling.

[ Did she say six months? Stranger and stranger... ]

The short one is that someone in the course of a difficult time had an unfortunate accident, and it seems I am not so good at unexpected laundry.

[ That's the politest way to put it, at least. It has several elements of the truth, arranged in a slightly different order. ]

[toguchi]

You are one of Daniel-san's students!

[ That is incredible news, judging by the bright, beaming smile that takes over Chozen's face - good news only heightened by the knowledge Daniel has been talking about Chozen as a friend - as a karate cousin, no less. It is a high honour and an immensely charming concept all in one. ]

Yes - I am that Toguchi.

[ But his demeanour is a far cry from the aggressive, proud young man that he was once. The bitter edges have long since been sanded off, and he radiates more good-humour than menace. ]

And now I think this must have been our good luck to meet, instead of bad.

[ He can get around to introducing himself when he gets around to it. Chozen is in no hurry. ]

CW: the quest for Johnny's dignity and pants

[toguchi]

[ There's no point to explaining the 'statue' situation. For one thing, Chozen has no answers for it, and wouldn't know where to begin. For another, and far more importantly, Johnny is clearly in no state to understand even if Chozen did have any answers for him.

The man cannot even stay on his feet. Chozen does what he can to slow the force of his descent and winds up half-stooped over him with a wrench in his low back he will surely regret later. It takes a great deal of self-restraint not to curse, and more yet not to heave a irritated sigh. ]

Yes. It will be easier to get them back on from the ground.

[ No, it won't. But it may be less perilous. Chozen releases Johnny entirely and straightens up, hiding a grimace. ]

Do you remember where you came from?

[ It will be better if Chozen returns him there - or at least somewhere with a roof and walls. ]

[toguchi]

I do not.

[ But the idea is intriguing, and enviable. He has a vague impression that magical creatures are a fixture of this sort of scenario, usually styled to be suitable for mascots. ]

It is a pleasure to meet you...and I do not know if I believe you aren't that interesting. I have never met an artist who was not at least a little interesting.

[ Painters, actors, dancers. It takes a quality of spirit Chozen has never possessed, whatever artistry he possesses directed only towards the direct physical expression of martial arts. He appreciates it in others, though. ]

I have only just arrived, so there is nowhere in particular I must be. If you wish to continue your drawing, I can promise you - I am very good at being quiet.

[ Ariane is taking it well. He is pleasantly impressed. It is an equanimity that belies her age. ]

Is Elster a friend of yours?

Arrival

[frogfear]

[There's something unusual about the heron when Willow lays her eyes on him that she can't quite place. It's easily dismissible at first, though - it's Trench, and often the local fauna isn't quite exactly what it seems. Probably a good enough reason to give the creature a wide berth, just in case the way it stares is actually intended to be a threat, or in case it might think that she may pose a danger to it instead.

She jumps when the bird speaks unexpectedly. It's not even the weirdest thing she's ever seen on the shores of Trench, not when some Sleepers can take the form of the elements and still maintain their ability to speak. Still, it's a little startling all the same.]

Oh! Uh. Yeah. There's usually people around giving out robes and stuff - and there's food back on the boardwalk. There's locals who have stalls there who give out things for free. You... just came to shore, I take it?

[toguchi]

[ Corruption. One of the friendly strangers had mentioned what sounded like some kind of local disease, although Chozen had not been quite sure what to make of it. He looks down at himself like he might be able to discern if that is the case from visual inspection, before he thinks better of it, and shakes his head as he brings it up. ]

I am not sure. I was looking out at the sea, and then, suddenly, I could not move.

[ He had been preoccupied by his concern over his own absent friend, but there is no need to bring that up to an already flustered young man who seems to have more than enough on his mind. ]

My name is Toguchi Chozen, and I owe you a debt. You were saying something about looking for your older brother?

[ He can worry about his own troubles later, when this more immediate problem has been grappled with. ]

[centile]

[it really is an incredible change from the teen who slide in from a rope and seemed pretty ready to kill a much younger daniel. it really is not unlike hanazawa, now that he thinks of it. the hanazawa that choked him out and the one he knows now who helps whenever he can, usually cheerfully.

the karate to anime pipeline. either way mob can immediately see why daniel didn't seem to hold a grudge. thank god age mellowed (??) chozen out instead of other adult karate men. haha.]

I am, I've been with Miyagi-do for a month. Learning wax on and also bonsai. [the important things here. he offers a small smile before realizing-] Oh, I'm Kageyama Shigeo. People call me Mob.

It's very nice to meet you. [a beat] Even with the choking. [typical trench.]

sevika / arcane / vileblood

[ascarylady]

ARRIVAL

[ This has been a lot to take in. A lot, a lot, and, frankly, as the whole happy and peaceful floaty mindset of being a squid faded and became Sevika's more typical pessimistic and chronically irritated attitude, there would have been a lot of demanding questions of the people who came down to the shore with robes and food for the new sleepers. She did take a robe, at least, but after that, she told them to fuck off, as per usual.

Sure, they were only trying to help out, but she usually doesn't want help.

So now Sevika sits on the black sand, robe pulled around her and one sleeve hangs empty. She recalls an arm, her chemtech one, but she also remembers it being ripped out and destroyed and here, it simply hasn't returned. That, however, was a problem she had long since accepted, long before now. It could be fixed... later.

But for now, she's staring out across the water and pondering the universe and— ]

...this place better have cigarettes.

[ Or maybe she's just wondering where she can get a smoke. Something to smoke and then a whole bottle of booze would be more appreciated than any stews or mushroom bread that those helpful citizens from before have on hand. ]

SHE DIDN'T WANT THESE CHOCOLATES, PART I

[ Sevika isn't sure she wants to know what that thing was nor why it's selling chocolates or even how it managed to convince her to buy some. She does not have a sweet tooth. She does not want to eat these and yet...

And yet, she does and now has to deal with the consequences.

The Peanut butter chocolate is not the worst possibility, as far as those chocolates went. Sevika can deal. She can deal with this. She can deal with the goat horns butting their way out of her upper forehead and curving back over her hair. Alongside that, some fluffy goat fur sideburns creeping down the sides of her face and thankfully that's it.

She's stopped by a store window that's particularly reflective and is prodding at the horns with a scowl and then moving on to tugging at the fur. Honestly? Not the worst look. The fur at least matches her hair color but she's still hoping this shit is temporary. ]

SHE DIDN'T WANT THESE CHOCOLATES, PART II

[ Worse yet, when she inevitably decides to track the creature down again to have some words — violent words involving a fist, preferably — she only comes away with more chocolate. This time it's Cherry and following eating that would be a few hours that she will refuse to acknowledge once they are finally over. ]

Hey there, sweetheart, I saw you looking.

[ Sevika can't stop it. She's feeling bright and bubbly and cheerful and it's official, she's really considering flinging herself back into the sea. Not only has she been unable to stop herself from smiling happily, actually smiling, not sneering or smirking, at everyone she happens to stroll on by, but she also hasn't been able to stop herself from stopping whenever someone catches her eye, giving them an appraising look, and then approaching to say exactly that to them.

A grin inevitably follows the words. There may have been a wink. Sevika doesn't want to think about it, she really doesn't. The smiles and grins and cheerfulness seem weird and that's clear even to those who have no idea who she is, too, with how awkward and unpracticed they are as she's never been a happy woman. ]

Got something on your mind?

[ If someone would stop her, she would appreciate it, appreciate it... so, so very much. ]

take my breath away

[ascarylady]

[ Unfortunately, no, those flailing hands do not land on Sevika's shoulders. She had turned towards the source of the distress she was hearing behind her at the last moment and instead, Sym's hands slap right down onto her chest and the reaction is immediate.

That is, she moves to shove him the hell off. ]

What the fuck do you think you're d—!

[ Well, she was going to ask him what he thought he was doing but his dilemma is quickly hers, too. This also saves him from whatever violence Sevika was immediately considering for those misplaced hands. That gets forgotten immediately when she feels her own throat tightening and suddenly finds herself without breath as well.

Her sole hand grabs at her throat as she begins to choke, doubling over as panic begins to creep in. Unlike him, she has no experience with shapeshifting. Suffocating to death is a terrifying thought, even to a tough lady like Sevika.

So much for a quiet, thoughtful stroll along the beach. ]

[lstr]

[ what does she want? it feels like an eternity—it feels like a cycle—since she's heard that question, in that same kind, anchoring voice. ]

... I want... [ elster hesitates, coming up blank. she takes a breath, speaking a little more certainly next. ] ... Let's take this one thing at a time. All I want right now for us is a moment to breathe, and to make sure you're safe.

[ it's a deflection. she's... not great at those, but she has no idea how to answer the question yet either. ]

Nothing else matters.

The man has his pants on. Still no dignity.

[strikefirster]

[Johnny appreciates the bit of help in stopping his descent- but he doesn't quite realize the toll it took on Chozen. Partially because he's bad at that on a normal day and partly because he's wasted.

He does however worm and struggle around on the ground to get his pants back on. It's... An effort and a sight to behold in just how long it takes but eventually he does gets them back on.]

Yeah- I got it, I got it...

[Okay. There's one victory. Johnny glances up at Chozen and it takes him a little to process what the question is. But he gives a nod.]

Yeah- I was just over at my dojo.

It's uh- Not way too far from here.

arrival!

[mehanizovati]

[the robes give new arrivals away like a beacon. useful, given anyone who comes by the boardwalk early in the new month is here to look for familiar faces or help, typically. viktor's similar, of course, though it's more idle curiosity these days than any hopes and dreams of old friends.

seeing jayce again would be appreciated, but frankly he isn't sure if this place would eat someone like jayce alive or not. sky, well- that's not a matter he'll allow himself to dwell on.

so sevika is easy enough to spot, welcome robe and all. he approaches, cane thumping, one gloved hand gripping it. what she has to say makes him snort.]

I can't say. I can confirm it has decent liquor though.