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seasonsgreetings2025-04-18 03:32 pm
seasonshelpers) wrote in seasonsgreetings2025-04-18 03:32 pm
Entry tags:
Test Drive Meme #14
Test Drive Meme #14
LOGS | NETWORK | OOC | MEMES | NAVIGATION
You arrive in an unknown space, dressed in white clothes (player choice what kind of clothes, as long as they cover everything). Whatever was happening to you before no longer happens. It's like everything was put on a pause and you were transferred away from the situation without you realizing it happened.
The space that you find yourself in is one of these four options:
An empty landscape filled with snow and ice, almost like a blank canvas.
A field with cherry blossom trees and spring flowers.
A sunny beach near an ocean that seems never ending.
A quiet forest with falling autumn leaves.
All of the spaces seem to continue endlessly. No matter where or how far you walk it almost seems like you're not moving at all. There are no animals here - just those who happened to wake up there at the same time, in the same place. Everyone is wearing the same kind of plain, white clothes.
Despite the possible rollercoaster of emotions you might be feeling, the place somehow feels familiar. Like somehow you belong there.
And it looks like you're not alone.
After half an hour has passed the surroundings change as everyone is teleported into a room with all the other new arrivals, no matter what space they woke up in. It's a large place with plenty of seats to sit in and beverages to enjoy. Medical attention is offered to those who need it and the doctors here are very prepared for any challenging situations.
Here, in this room, everyone gets an answer to where they are and why. A hologram of a man appears at the center of the room, waiting to be heard. He brings a message on behalf of the leaders of Ellipsa. The staff nearby tells them that the message has finally been properly updated from the original one that can still be found from the records.
The Message [ Click to Expand ]
Hello, my name is Olwen. I'm one of the leaders of Ellipsa as it currently is. I'm also one of the four who summoned you here.
Our world is in trouble and we need your help. I apologize for tearing you away from your world and forcing you to come here but I hope you understand. The magic we used doesn't let us ask in advance, nor does it let us choose who we bring here. We wouldn't have resorted to it if we weren't desperate. Our world has lost the majority of power holders who kept the balance in our world and dealt with the dangers of the Segments. Just having one power holder for each Season isn't enough. That's why we have summoned you to become the new Seasonal Power Holders.
This world is composed of four Seasonal Segments. All of them represent one of the seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. They were the places we used to get our resources from, but now they're dangerous places no one should go into unless they have the power to fight back. All of them have their own sets of powerful monsters and natural catastrophes. We have recently managed to regain some footing in the segments and made them safer, but there is still a lot of work to be done. The Darkness still plagues our world, but we are constantly finding ways to fight back.
Otherworlders like you have already made great differences to the world. They have managed to find and free the dragons who in turn helped us expand the area we live in. They also managed to find the Fairy Queen and even the Mermaids and Sirens of the Great Ocean Lake are at peace due to the efforts of a few otherworlders. All of these things we couldn't have accomplished with just four power holders.
My sincere wish is that you would join us in working towards saving this world. We promise to send you home afterwards, or enable a way to travel to your world and back, as a compensation for your efforts here. You're even free to stay here, if that suits you better. This world can also be yours.
I know we're asking you a lot and that it might be hard to trust someone who just talks as a hologram, but you are always free to approach us at our guilds to talk in person.
The hologram can be viewed in private in a separate room later, should someone wish to look at it again. For now, the staff of the Research Center hands everyone their new smartphones with their small flower lucky charms (the flower is anything the player decides). They're also told that the building next door is where everyone can find a room assigned to them with some of their belongings there and possibly even any animal companions. Those concerned about their mount-sized companions are welcomed to the stables downstairs to see if their friends are there. The mounts are allowed to stay there until you find a place more suitable for them.
In the arrival's hall there are also several stands with information pamphlets.
First type of stand is for the local Guilds and about the benefits of joining one.
Second type of stand is for the Welcome Center that aim to show otherworlders what the world is like and help guide people in the beginning of the journey and helps in getting settled into the new world. They even have people to help if you're unfamiliar with the new phones.
Third type of a stand has various pamphlets about businesses opened by otherworlders.
Once you get your smartphone and necessary information, you're urged to go out and find your apartment. After that whatever you want to do is up to you.
The building next door is where everyone can find their new apartments. As you enter, you're told by a friendly native that for the first two months you can live anywhere rent-free and five meals a day are paid for you. After that they get a monthly payment that helps with some of their living expenses, but otherwise they have to have a job to support themselves.
All of the apartments are comfortable, two bedroom apartments with all necessary utilities. They are also completely soundproof. Sometimes the magic system, however, does glitch and you might find yourself rooming with a stranger. This is not the intention and the staff will immediately prepare you a room of your own. But maybe having a roommate isn't all that bad?
Part 3
The locals have taken upon themselves to advertise the Welcome Center that is run mostly by otherworlders. Newcomers are encouraged to visit it, but sometimes the people might think someone who has been a while is new.
Inside one finds a modern Japanese style lobby with plenty of sofas, soft seats and cushions to sit on. Anyone is welcome to just sit around and eat some home-made snacks. There are also computers for searching information and practicing technology skills. There's usually someone behind the front desk, but if no one seems to be there they might be in the kitchen behind the front desk area.
Upstairs there are many rooms that can be into familiar places for characters (not exactly the same, but similar) with futuristic technology. It's set up to help fight any homesickness and provide a quiet place to relax.
One bonus the Welcome Center provides is a gift basket with some treats, basic ingredients for making meals and some gift cards for the Underground Mall, to possibly shop for new clothes or other necessary items. All of these have been donated by volunteers to help newcomers settle in.
Of course the people working here are always looking for new volunteers to help around! There are plenty of things to do, all in the name of making otherworlders' arrival to a new world more comfortable.
In the arrival's hall there are also several stands with information pamphlets.
First type of stand is for the local Guilds and about the benefits of joining one.
Second type of stand is for the Welcome Center that aim to show otherworlders what the world is like and help guide people in the beginning of the journey and helps in getting settled into the new world. They even have people to help if you're unfamiliar with the new phones.
Third type of a stand has various pamphlets about businesses opened by otherworlders.
Once you get your smartphone and necessary information, you're urged to go out and find your apartment. After that whatever you want to do is up to you.
The building next door is where everyone can find their new apartments. As you enter, you're told by a friendly native that for the first two months you can live anywhere rent-free and five meals a day are paid for you. After that they get a monthly payment that helps with some of their living expenses, but otherwise they have to have a job to support themselves.
All of the apartments are comfortable, two bedroom apartments with all necessary utilities. They are also completely soundproof. Sometimes the magic system, however, does glitch and you might find yourself rooming with a stranger. This is not the intention and the staff will immediately prepare you a room of your own. But maybe having a roommate isn't all that bad?
The locals have taken upon themselves to advertise the Welcome Center that is run mostly by otherworlders. Newcomers are encouraged to visit it, but sometimes the people might think someone who has been a while is new.
Inside one finds a modern Japanese style lobby with plenty of sofas, soft seats and cushions to sit on. Anyone is welcome to just sit around and eat some home-made snacks. There are also computers for searching information and practicing technology skills. There's usually someone behind the front desk, but if no one seems to be there they might be in the kitchen behind the front desk area.
Upstairs there are many rooms that can be into familiar places for characters (not exactly the same, but similar) with futuristic technology. It's set up to help fight any homesickness and provide a quiet place to relax.
One bonus the Welcome Center provides is a gift basket with some treats, basic ingredients for making meals and some gift cards for the Underground Mall, to possibly shop for new clothes or other necessary items. All of these have been donated by volunteers to help newcomers settle in.
Of course the people working here are always looking for new volunteers to help around! There are plenty of things to do, all in the name of making otherworlders' arrival to a new world more comfortable.
The months of April and May are the time for a strange weather effect that affects all of the districts, except the one in the middle and Frostreign. It's not weird that it rains, but it's what the rain does that has earned it the title of the Rain of Affection. It's raining very often until the end of May at different times in the affected districts.
Anyone who stands in the rain will feel the need to get close to someone. It starts with a need to gently touch someone, but can escalate into needing a hug. The ultimate craving is kissing in the rain, but that's the most it can make happen. It's a very Safe For Work Rain Effect.
After a successful kiss in the rain, the cravings slowly become less urgent, but the effect can start all over again at any given time. Once someone is completely dry, they will be safe from effects restarting again.
Of course, there are individuals who don't get too affected by the rain (at all or not as badly) and it only works if it directly hits someone. So staying in a shelter or being in the unaffected districts is definitely a way to avoid this whole phenomenon. Even purchasing and using an umbrella helps. The shops around every district are very aware of the need for umbrellas, so there's definitely a variety of them being sold. Some of the umbrellas have a variety of harmless magical effects, like changing the color depending on the users' mood.
Traditionally, the Frostreign district has been too cold for rain, and so serves as a refuge from the Rain of Affection. For the beginnings of this year's rainy season, this rings true, but a few days in, TV and network broadcasts are hijacked with static leading into a video feed of a dimly lit storage room packed with boxes and random garbage. Three shadowed figures stand in front of a yellow banner with a teacup painted on it in cheap acrylic.
The Broadcast [ Click to Expand ]
"Attention, citizens!" One of the figures, the one in the centre, speaks up. "This is a message from the famous Cups Gang!"
The one on the left raises their hand. "Uh, are we really famous? Ain't no one heard of us, 'cept that time we tried scammin' people by openin' a zoo and painted a dog up as a Chimera Bear."
The one on the right pipes up. "And the time we stole city hall! ...Well, we stuck our name on it, that's kinda like stealing it."
"Hey," the first one snaps. "Are you givin' the speech or am I? I say we're famous, we become famous. It's one'a them manifesting things."
"If you say so." The one on the left shifts.
"Anyway." Centre speaks again. "Youse guys in the city think you're so great, hidin' in the snow so you don't gotta get all smoochy-faced in public, eh? Well, you didn't count on us!"
"Yeah!" The gangster on the right pumps their fist. "You're gonna get soaked too! And no one's ever gonna laugh at us again!"
Centre points at the screen. "You got that? Anyone hidin' out in Frostreign, from today on, you're gonna remember the Cups!"
The video cuts off.
True to form, people outside will start spotting hot-air balloons flying from Coldreach and Stormreach into Frostreign with rain barrels, dumping buckets of rainwater onto unsuspecting pedestrians.
What the Cups Gang didn't seem to take into account is that... water freezes. Most of the time, the falling bucketfuls of rainwater will start freezing over, so the unlucky souls underneath will be soaked in Slush of Affection -- just as cuddly as if they'd been rained on in the other districts, but also cold. The slush also quickly freezes with the weather outside, suspending the effect, but if characters go inside or use seasonal powers to warm up, the affection effect reactivates with the melting slush until they either freeze again or dry off.
It's not constantly raining, though, and whenever there's a break in the Rain of Affection, rainbows appear. The citizens claim that the rainbows left by the Rain of Affection can grant wishes; those who have been in Ellipsa long enough may remember the year that the rainbows gave them anything from good luck to a gift card to a free regain from home. What could the rainbows have in store this year?
Anyone who holds hands looking at a rainbow will find that their truest, deepest wish is now clear in their mind. Even if they were in denial over it, worried as to what it would mean, or couldn't name what they wanted most before. Maybe the rainbows wanted to help people make their own dreams come true this year.
Of course, holding hands for longer will increase the magic, and characters might feel compelled to say what they want the most. For some, the sudden emotional honesty might be exactly what they need. For others, being honest, or honest with the specific person they're with at the time, might cause a problem. Might want to be careful out there... but then, do you really know what the people around you want the most?
A new portal has opened up near the Pokémon Vending Machine in the Underground Mall - and it's going to be hard to miss. Right outside of it, there's an archway that's made to look like a very recognizable mascot Pokémon. Early exploration of the new dimension has led them to realize that this place houses a massive array of Pokémon, and as expansive as it is - it’s going to need a lot of people willing to explore it to get the full scope of landmarks and Pokémon that can be found throughout it.
There’s a sign outside of the portal with a list of a few of the things that they’re interested in having information on:
There’s a lot left to be explored, and though there’s no big announcement about the portal, word travels back and everyone is bound to hear about the portal in a short time!
Stepping into the domain is like stepping into another world. Right inside of it, there’s an array of things for getting started on exploration.
There’s a vending machine with simple food and drink items that are going to be easy to store and travel with when venturing further into the domain. There’s also a small machine with camping items - just in case anyone forgot to grab their own before setting out into the domain. Any items bought are yours to keep - and it seems these vending machines were set up just after the domain was opened up.
Nearby, there’s a vending machine featuring things that are needed for any Pokémon Trainer - Poké Balls! All Poké Balls (except Master) are able to be obtained in this vending machine. And, if someone gets lucky it will drop a shiny charm or other useful items in your adventure (think things like Potions, Repels, Lures).
Throughout the domain, there’s several different biomes - mountains, fields, forests, water, ice, caves, etc. They are typically found in biomes appropriate to them (Zubats in Caves, Rattatas in tall grass, Magikarp in bodies of water - for example). Most Pokémon can be found if you search the right spots. There are no Legendary or Mythical Pokémon, and the Pseudo-Legendary are extremely rare.
Other locations that can be found throughout domain are:
They can’t wait to hear what you find on your travels! Stay safe, catch Pokémon, and be sure to share your findings!
Summary of the prompts [ Click to Expand ]
Arrival• Characters appear in one of the four seasonal spaces, depending on what season they are
• After half an hour they are teleported to the Research Center lobby and given information
• Hologram of Olwen (Winter Guild Leader) plays, explaining the situation
• They're given their smartphone-like device and told about the Starter Apartments next door
• Possibility of finding a roommate!
• Welcome Center welcomes newcomers and those who have been here for a while alike
Blame It On the Weatherman
• Rain of Affection, a yearly weather pattern that makes people want to kiss, is happening throughout the city except the Nightwake and Frostreign districts
• Umbrellas are for sale that may have harmless magical effects
• The Cups, a very stupid gang, hijack the airwaves to announce their plan and start dumping Rain of Affection on people who went to Frostreign to escape the rain effect
• During a break in the rain, holding hands looking at a rainbow will make characters realize what they want most, and may make them say it out loud
2.B.A. Master
• A new dimension has opened up near the Pokemon Vending Machine in the Underground Mall.
• Everyone is invited to explore, catch Pokemon, and check out the new landscapes.
• There are a variety of biomes and the full array of Pokemon. Pokemon are found in biomes appropriate to them - except Legendary or Mythical Pokemon, and the Pseudo-Legendary are extremely rare.
• There's several landmarks to visit throughout the Domain.
• There's bicycle and scooter stations to make travel easier.
• Unmanned Pokemon centers and Pokemon Staffed Pokemon centers are scatters.
• Vending Machines with necessary items, Observation Towers, and Campgrounds.
- Ask your questions related to the TDM here.
- List of Pokémon can be found from here or here. Remember to check that a Pokémon that catches your eyes is not legendary or a mythical Pokémon.
- Pokémon guidelines for the game can be found here.
- The TDM is available only to friends of the mods and their friends. If you want to play in the TDM, please leave a note here to inform us who invited you over. We will get to you as soon as possible.
- Test Drive is open for current characters to make a top level as well. New characters can add TDM on their subject line to indicate they're new!
- Current characters cannot access the starting area again to meet new arrivals. They can, however, be at the Research Center when the newbies are teleported in.
- The TDM is game canon so anything in the TDM can happen for your character(s) in the game as well.
- Smut is not allowed on the TDM. You can play situations leading to it, but if the thread is turning into smut, please move it to a private space such a post in your character's journal, or a locked post in the game's log community if you decide to app!
- Check Locations: City to find more areas to explore inside the city. Every place in the districts are open.
- Similarly, Locations: Segments is useful for outdoors adventures.
- You can find monsters to encounter on Beastiary.
- FAQ has information on characters' smartphones as well as general things about the world that might be handy.
no subject
But he had wanted to end the war, and he had trusted Connie, for all she was doing something shady. So he had left it alone when he should have been looking too.
He huffed with a bit of amusement. "You thought the same thing when you were out of the hospital too." That wasn't telling too much. Any neck injury worth noting probably meant a trip to it. And as terrifying as that memory had also been, waiting in the hospital, at least Maine still took it in the same kind of stride.
"Unfortunately those guys are awfully persistent. Obsessively so," he said with a rather bitter grimace. Over a decade later, and Hargrove hadn't been able to let it go. "Caught up on the Highway. Texas got involved. Everyone made it back, but there were injuries and certainly bruised egos."
no subject
"Shitshow," he declares. Because that's what it sounds like to him. A massive shitshow.
Thinking about bruised egos brings South to mind. South, North, York, Wyoming…
"Carolina's here," he says, figuring it's better to tell Wash than to risk another gun-surprise. "Anyone else?"
no subject
But the egos just made all those cracks so much worse.
"Carolina?" He said, perking up, and there definitely is no fear response there. "She, uh, was one of the ones who didn't try to kill me. Took a little longer to get to the conclusion I did, but she understood why I did wanted out."
He shakes his head. "No one from home. Some people might recognize you from stories I've told, but no one knows what you look like, but they're people who I'm close to, not like...the public at large."
no subject
Probably stuck in the middle, taking bullets aimed at each other. Literally.
An eyebrow rises at that explanation. "Haven't published a memoir?" he teases.
It's easier to tease than to rehash what he already said about Macaque's protectiveness. How it leads Maine to believe that whatever stories Wash told couldn't have pained him in the most positive light.
He assumes one of them was about York's eye.
no subject
"Macaque knows some stuff. Lucifer knows a bit. Most anyone who knows me, if you say you're Agent Maine, they'll probably ask if you know me. At least if they're familiar with the United States, but most don't know much at all," he said.
"The one who does know a lot is Macaque's daughter. Choco Korone, my little sister," he said. Keeping his face completely straight as he said that.
Sometimes its the little joys in life you have to take advantage of.
no subject
(Somehow, he doubts it. Wash doesn't seem like he could stomach what Maine was ordered to do. At least, not as the rookie Maine knew.)
It's odd to Maine that so many people would be familiar with a single country on Earth. But odder still is the mention of a … little sister.
Maine blinks, brow furrowing. So … Wash is dating a guy. And that guy is a monkey. And that guy has a daughter. And that daughter is Wash's little sister. And that…
"What?"
no subject
Wash keeps a straight face. One moment. Two. Three.
Then he grins and laughs. "Sorry, I have to take advantage when I can make the introductions," he said. "Macaque and I met Choco Korone independently of each other. He saw her and thought she needed a father. When we met, she was actually an old hat in the situation we were in and it made for more equal footing as we bonded, so sibling was better. I've known her for years, Macaque met her last year."
no subject
And Wash does seem happy here, regardless of whatever he's been through. Maybe dating a monkey is helping. Maybe adopting a little sister is, too. Who can say?
An odd feeling twists in Maine's chest. Something vaguely akin to nostalgia. He puts it aside for now—but later, he'll recognize it for what it is.
(He feels like he's missed out on a lot of Wash's life. Like Wash went and built a whole life without him. Without any of them.)
"She a monkey?" Maine asks. Is that Wash's thing now? Does he have a whole monkey family?
no subject
Wash can feel it too. Being able to talk to Maine and see his exasperation to him being silly and looking pleased anyway. Being able to look at Maine and see his face and expression and know that...
That he's there.
Wash had always wished there had been a way to save his friends. He just never had the ability to. Not with how long he was Article 12. By the time he was out, he just didn't have the resources to find anyone in time.
Except Carolina.
"Pigeon, actually," he said and there's a beeping from his pocket. "Oh. That's the alarm," he said and going to push himself up. "The bakery has special they're doing for a dessert she and I both love. I want to pick it up. And we should probably dry off so we don't look like drowned rats."
Or cat, in his case.
"Plus hopefully when we dry off, the compulsion to want to touch people will wear off."
He holds out a hand to help Maine up.
no subject
Because why wouldn't there be a cat grandma in this place? It's weird enough!
Wash stands, extending a hand. Maine doesn't hesitate to take it, letting Wash help him to his feet. And then he's standing again, for the first time since Wash pulled a gun on him. Seven feet tall and built like an ox, looming even when doesn't mean to.
He doesn't make the first move. He stands purposefully still, waiting for Wash to start leading the way. Waiting, too, to see if Wash will freak out at him again.
no subject
Wash doesn't freak out. He does pause for a moment, looking down at their hands. "Hmmmm, yep, the rain is being annoying," he said with a sigh. "Come on, we need to get dried off. But hey, it'll top off your touch energy for five days," he said, turning to lead the way.
He'll hold Maine's hand, he's done more embarrassing things because of weird rain. And its making it real hard to just let go. What he gets for getting himself soaked, he supposed.
"You do want to keep on that, by the way. You start to turn to stone otherwise, its not a great time," he said. "Ever need help, just let me know."
no subject
Relief that Wash didn't cringe away from him again, seeing him as an enemy once he was standing. Embarrassment that he thought it might be a possibility.
Relief that Wash is holding his hand, thus alleviating the craving to make contact. Embarrassment that they're walking along holding hands, like… Well, not like anything they did while in PFL.
He snorts lightly in amusement at the thought of calling Wash up for physical contact. "Weird phone call," he says.
And wouldn't it be? He can just imagine calling in the middle of the night with the dire message, Gotta hold hands.
no subject
That might send him into another spiral.
Oh no, he's going to end up protective, isn't he? He can see it on the horizon. Anything to make sure the second chance goes better.
"Though you'll be happy to know the rain doesn't always compel you to touch. The locals seem aware of it, so its probably some seasonal thing. Still, something to watch for. So far, this place has been nice with the effects, usually its some level of touching, but its good to keep in mind. Makes things make a lot more sense," he said.
no subject
Maybe this place wants them here. Maybe it wants them to touch, and live, and win.
As if a place could want anything.
"Will call," Maine says. "Carolina, too."
In other words: he'll rely on both of them for contact. And he won't let Carolina turn into a statue, either.
"Sparring work?" For contact, he means. If so, keeping Carolina set will be easy.
no subject
"It does, as long as its without armor. The touch isn't as effective through clothes and I don't think anything is getting through the armor. At least not enough I've been able to notice," he said. "But yeah, sparring and fighting someone works as long as you make plenty of contact."
Some people just want violence more.
"The guild gyms aren't bad, since there's also magic training, but if you want something like what the Mother of Invention has, you can come to my place. Donnie's tricked it out. Kid is way too delighted to how easy he can access resources and is the smartest tech genius I've ever met. Like I'm pretty sure he could discover FTL travel in the early 2000s smart," he said. "Rated for super soldier and above intensity and everything. Also the reason why the whole house knows at least some sign language, though its a different dialect."
Having three fingers means some things have to be altered, but its pretty close to ASL.
no subject
Who knows? They might even help each other improve. A back to basics, of sorts.
"Been busy. Got a whole place," Maine says to the description of Donnie, that odd feeling resurfacing in his chest. This time, he recognizes it for what it is: a feeling that Wash has built an entire life for himself that Maine doesn't know.
Not that he blames Wash for it. It's just strange. Like reuniting after years and years, but for Maine, no time has passed at all.
no subject
Which probably said a lot about how much their population took a hit from the Darkness, but let's not think about that. Had enough of that at home!
"The birdtile house is basically part nature preserve at this point. Yes, most of the residents are partially animal in some way." He saw that curiosity before. "And some of them do need the space, there's a lot of appendages and instincts to account for. When I arrived, they already had a lazy river through the whole place, and now there's woods and a lake."
It helps that everyone is good at the harder quests. Its a good way to make mooncoin.
...plus the crimes.
Donnie does a lot of crimes.
"But its honestly probably one of the safest places in Ellipsa between Donnie's security system, the enhanced senses around, and most of them being very capable taking down threats," he said. Thus the gym. They all need a high stress gym.
He reaches the bakery and opens the door to lead them inside.
....it is incredibly cutesy.
But Wash doesn't care and they have REALLY GOOD strawberry shortcake.
no subject
Yeah. Wash found himself a home, all right.
Maine's expression shifts into something contemplative, thinking about all of that. Trying to process his own feelings on the matter. Both Wash and Carolina are from years ahead of him. But unlike Carolina, Wash already has a whole life here. It's strange, like walking into a theater midway through a movie, only the movie is one of your closest friend's lives.
Whatever's going on in Maine's chest, it's not something he's used to feeling. Hence him falling even quieter than usual as they enter the bakery.
At which point he's pulled from his thoughts as almost ever single person there starts to stare at him.
Maine stands still, staring right back. He knows he looks out of place, but fuck that. Wash wants something here; Maine is gonna back him up.
no subject
But it is hard to not pay attention to Maine.
But its fine. He's used to it. For all Maine sticks out, Donnie sticks out more. There's being tall and big. Then there's being tall and big and GREEN.
"Jessie! Tell me you didn't sell out immediately," Wash called, raising his voice to get immediate attention. He's used to ignoring weird looks.
Mostly because he was always an unrepentant dork even before Freelancer.
"Hey Mister Washington! Not yet. Don't worry, wouldn't want to disappoint you and Miss Korone," the local says on the other side of the counter. "Just the one? Your friend looks like he has a big appetite."
"...good question," Wash said and looked at Maine. "What IS your opinion on strawberry shortcake?" He asked. Its not like they were getting that in space. The fruit was a pretty big luxury as it was.
no subject
It's unnecessary. Maine can handle people staring. He was a big kid who grew into an even bigger man. He's used to it. And besides, people are less inclined to stare when Maine stares right back.
So, it's unnecessary. But that doesn't mean Maine doesn't appreciate it.
There are no chairs around, so he scoots himself toward a wall. When Wash turns around, he'll find Maine leaning back against it, having automatically moved himself out of the main thoroughfare. Maine doesn't like people edging around him. Likes it even less when they brush against him, like they somehow didn't realize he's as big as he is. Moving to a wall makes it less annoying in the long run.
He tips his head to the side, thinking. "Like cheesecake?" he ventures.
Yeah, he's never had strawberry shortcake.
no subject
He looked back. "Two strawberry shortcakes, one black forest cake, three mango parfaits, and a cheesecake," he said. Jessie cheerfully took the order and payment and Wash moved over to Main as the order was put together. "We're gonna show you a lot more foods here. One of the best things about this place, its never hard to get food and a lot of it. Fresh too. Also know some really good cooks. Mac's got some people from home who are like master chefs or something. Family business is food types."
no subject
Shit, what will Maine do for a living?
While he has a minor existential crisis, Wash tells him about all the different foods around. Between Wash's description and the delicious smell of the bakery, Maine's stomach makes an executive decision. It growls. Loudly.
Maine grimaces. "… Haven't eaten lately."
Not since before he tromped into the Pokémon dimension, and who knows how much time passed while he was in there?
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Really, its probably why the crowd in the bakery isn't so large compared to how it was usually. The rain was enough to chase them away for a time. "The starter apartments do have a food stipend the first few months, and they're for five meals for the big eaters, but you're also welcome to my place. Lot of big appetites. Macaque doesn't like processed food much, so we grow a lot of fruits and veggies too."
"That is if you choose to live somewhere else. Kind of your call, that, but I think the others won't mind me extending the invitation to the birdtile house," he said. He just needs to make sure Choco is warned about Maine before she realizes he is Maine. And just have a talk with Macaque about timelines. "But it is a house with a bunch of teenagers and non-humans and that can be a lot when you're not used to...any of this stuff."
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He's about to ask what "alternative routes" Wash is talking about when Wash casually extends an invitation to live with him. It takes Maine visibly off-guard; for a moment, he's left trying to tramp down his surprise.
If he's honest, so many people and so much activity does sound like a lot. Nonhumans he'll get used to—he has to, so he will—but teenagers? That might be a bigger challenge.
And then there's the idea of moving into a place full of people he doesn't know. People who, from the sound of it, do know him through stories. It wouldn't be the first time Maine has met people who know him by reputation. He has never in his life been a small man, either in size or personality. But…
Well. It's a lot. And it likely feels like more given what a busy day Maine has had.
"Will consider," he answers honestly. "Gotta talk to Carolina."
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As unlikely as that sounds.
Doesn't hurt to be prepared.
Wash sees the surprise and its not unexpected. Wash knows its been a lot. Its pretty clear to him Maine has been thrown off by the whole day, not least of which is the time difference and Wash pulling a gun on him.
But Wash knows what Maine was like. He may need to strangle his instinctive reactions from time to time, but he knew Maine. Before Sigma, he trusted him with his life, and he knew he wouldn't do anything to the kids when they were all on the same side.
(Less clear on kids who were NOT on Maine's side, he knows Maine is capable of doing some truly terrible things if he saw a need to. But he's sure Maine wouldn't do it out of nowhere.)
(Loyalty was enough in these cases.)
He nods at the response. "I figure. Just wanted to throw it out there. If you change your mind in months and haven't somehow managed to get into a fight with everyone else beyond them seeing you as some challenge to take on, it'll still be on the table. Carolina too, once I talk to her. But I figured you'd want to see the place and meet someone of them first before any decisions."
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