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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
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?
no subject
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."
no subject
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."
no subject
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."
no subject
But the simple fact that he's treating it as a mission speaks volumes. Missions are temporary. They have set goals. They can be accomplished or failed, then Maine can move on.
This isn't like that. And truthfully, Maine has no idea how to handle it. So again, he defaults to what he knows: missions.
Then there's the matter of magic, and Maine's relative powerlessness next to it. A feeling he does not like. (A feeling Sigma preyed on.)
Then there's the fact that this world, too, is under siege. So Maine will be fighting another war. Because of course he'll fight. What else can he do?
Then there's the matter of Wash and Carolina being from the future, and Wash having lived here for a significant time.
It's a lot. All of it. But Maine doesn't know how to say, I'm overwhelmed. He only knows how to soldier on.
So, after a little pause, he says, "Wanna meet them."
Since they're important to Wash, and that's the right thing to do. A thing Maine wants to do, even though he's hungry, has been held at gunpoint by a friend, and doesn't know what the fuck he's doing.
no subject
He hopes it will help. He knows Maine and he knows Carolina. They will push through anything, will soldier on until they literally can't anymore. It's not the healthiest way to be, even if it's a necessary thing at times.
So he can make the breaks. Maine can meet the zoo in a few days. He'll have Wash and Carolina. And depending where Carolina is in the timeline, she'll have them too.
The Reds and Blues help with adjusting to uttef insanity, but if she's closer to Maine's time than Wash's, the struggle could be a long harder.
"And I'll let Mac know he doesn't need to be so protective. Sometimes the cynical thought can be wrong," he said with a shrug.
And he's dealing with a lot.
Wash can offer up one good thing.
"We won the war, by the way. A few years ago. Humanity won."
Project Freelancer wasn't the silver bullet, but at least humans got there.
no subject
The comment about Mac gets a little shrug, a wave of the hand: Don't worry about it. Maine gets it: he's protective, too. It was just the fact that Mac thought he needed to protect Wash from Maine that hurt.
Then Wash gives that bright, beautiful bit of news. Gives it as a "by the way," which is so damn Wash it hurts.
Maine turns to look at Wash, dark eyes raking over is face. Searching for any hint that it could be a really, really bad joke. He finds nothing but sincerity—and slowly his face splits into a wide, bright smile.
"Fuck yeah."
no subject
Why Wash has just one more thing in common with Wukong. Unfortunately, life sometimes forces you to kill your friends despite what you want. It wasn't a conversation he wanted with Macaque. One of those things that might actually change his opinion on Wash, but he knows he can't skirt around it now.
But that was a later problem.
At least he could give some good news.
Wash smiles, something more tired and relieved, the kind of look given after finally knowing the danger has passed and everyone gets to go home.
He wonders if the Meta got to feel that relief.
Maine does now. "Fuck yeah," he said in agreement.
no subject
So he keeps right on smiling until Wash's order is called. Only then, once Wash has all those desserts in hand, does he think to ask another question.
"Magic bullet?"
He assumes there was one, even if it wasn't Project Freelancer.
no subject
"Spartans. Masterchief and Cortana specifically. He found out why the Covenant refused to accept compromise and then the actual truth under the religious belief they were following. Apparently ancient zombie super parasite threat and real fucked up containment protocols left by the Forerunners. It ended up Elites were fighting on our side by the end," he said, opening up the cheesecake to get a slice out and grabs one of the parfaits for himself.
no subject
Ancient zombie super parasite threat gets a look to see if Wash is joking. It sounds like a joke. The fact that it isn't almost makes Maine want to laugh, very bitterly. To think that a whole war could be caused by bad containment protocols…
But he doesn't laugh, instead accepting the cheesecake and taking a seat with Wash beneath the canopy. The chair is too small for him, of course, but most chairs are. He scoots around a little until he's comfortable, which is probably a familiar sort of wiggle.
(Except that after he got Sigma, Maine started to sit down and not move in chairs. No adjustments to make his big frame more comfortable.)
"Elites fighting with us," he says, shaking his head in disbelief. In other words, "Covenant split."
no subject
It's good to see the adjustment. In retrospect, the red flags had been there. How much Sigma spoke, the difference in body language, the headaches. Something had been wrong.
But sometimes Belief in something being worth it really was blinding. Right up until the truth smacks you in the face.
He nods. "The Great Schism. The truth was being spread around their forces and the Prophets ordered the Sangheili be exterminated since that made up biggest source of information and because of their influence. Brutes largely sided with the Prophets and then everything just split down the middle, but it certainly made a difference in getting the rest taken down and manage the Flood. The parasites," he said. "And now we're even letting Sangheili try to integrate in peace efforts. I have a friend whose son is on Human-Elite basketball team."
The son is the Sangheili but explaining Junior would give anyone a headache on the best of days.
no subject
It's easier to process things once he's eating. Makes everything feel a little more real. More manageable. Even the thought of a Human-Elite basketball team.
Maine shakes his head. "They play basketball?" He didn't know they did that. It must be a new thing, picked up after peace was established. Some kind of good will gesture, or something.
no subject
"And Grifball," he said. "The basketball team were kids so dunno how good they could be, but young Sangheili do get tall faster, so the team did pretty well." Tucker absolutely bragged about him being a star player.
"The kids still contact Junior. The Sangheili. He has to do diplomatic missions between seasons, but it's going surprisingly well. I imagine Chorus will help more too. The planet has a ton of Sangheili ruins and we figured out how to actually work the things, they were pretty excited at the news," he said. "It's weird, but like a way better weird than most stuff?"
It can be difficult to not see an Elite and not think about how terrifying they were on the battlefield. But hearing Tucker talk about Junior has helped him and even if it's weird, it's going towards something more peaceful.
no subject
He swallows his current bite. "Peace is weird," he says. "Different. Nothing we've experienced." But, "Doesn't sound bad."
Although he can't help but wonder where it leaves soldiers like them.
no subject
"It isn't bad....but it is...I wouldn't say hard is the word, but it is difficult. Once you slow down, you have to deal with all the injuries left behind. The physical and..." He taps his temple. "It's like when the adrenaline leaves your body. Without having that next goal in mind, it all catches up and you gotta do something about it. It's easy to get caught in the trap of trying to find that next goal. Keep working. Keep training. Keep finding the next threat. It's hard to shut off."
There is a bit of a breathless laugh. "I thought I had a hard time, but then I saw Carolina trying to figure it out. You know how she is, she had to ask our laziest friend for lessons and it was pretty disastrous. Funny to watch though and she did kind of get somewhere."
"It helps. Having other people around. To remind you to slow down. That it's okay to take time to heal." He shrugs. "Aaaand if worst comes to worst, you would be surprised how many gangs try to set up protection rackets and the local bakery needs someone to scare them off."
no subject
Keep working. Keep training. Keep finding the next threat. How is that a trap?
It doesn't make sense to Maine. It shows on his face, in the way he takes his time chewing and swallowing. Stealing a few seconds to put his thoughts into words.
"Not injured," he says first. There's a stubborn note to his voice. A hint that if Wash tries to press the issue, Maine will dig his heels in and double down.
Because it doesn't matter what sorts of thoughts and feelings nip at Maine's heels when he lies awake at night. If he doesn't drag them into the light, then they can stay buried where they belong.
He presses his lips together, then makes a quick sign: I don't understand.
"World's under siege. Darkness and shit. Right?"
How can Wash talk about slowing down when there's an enemy in this world, too?
no subject
He can wait. There are other things to focus on.
"There is, but it's not the pace we're used to. Go into Darkness's territory? You're going to die. They do like.... existential damage. Stuff will fuck you up in a way you can't just strong arm through. We're in a siege situation. The Darkness struggles to get through the walls, and we struggle to get out of them. Buuuut we also have all the resources we need for survival, so the Darkness can't starve us out," he said, taking a pointed bite of his food.
"Most of the efforts is chipping away where the Darkness has influence, get more territory. Realm of fairies, mermaids, dragons, Pokemon. But we need to wait for that information of where to go, which can take months. There are monsters and smaller skirmishes, but it's more like territory disputes than all out war. Plus when it comes to Darkness, you need to know the magic of this place, and you're sometimes going to need to do weird rituals because we're not fighting solely on a physical level. Fact is, you're going to have a lot of down time and you WANT the downtime because bonding with people is actually vitally important for some of these rituals," he said.
"It's a lot of hurry up and wait. There are bursts where we can do a lot. Then a lot where we just kind of have to live," he said.
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But the fact is that Maine is currently in some magical land with darkness, elemental powers, and little fighting creatures called Pokémon. He's staring at a Wash who is several years older than he ought to be. He himself showed up in a place where he'd felt more peaceful in years—and if that isn't magic, he doesn't know what is.
Hurry up and wait is a familiar mantra. But still, Maine can't imagine using that downtime for anything other than training, improving, getting ready to tackle the next challenge. Maybe he's been in SpecOps for too long.
He can't help making a face when Wash mentions bonding with people, though. Maine has never been the most sociable person. Sure, he has people he loves, people he'd take bullets to protect, but those are few and far between.
"Already know you. Carolina."
He shrugs. Why does he need more than that? Throw in Wyoming, and that's the entirety of his PFL social life.
It's a childish complaint, he knows. Still, he hates the idea of being forced to bond with other people for some weird rituals. Why can't he just shoot shit instead?
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Ellipsa was his fifth time on this rodeo. He knows how quickly people can be gone. "End up back home. Usually. There is proof of that, our tether here is unstable or something of the like. Lucky for you, I appear to be fairly stable in these places. Make it to the end of the conflict, but it is still a risk." Which he knows has some implications, but it is true. Maybe when you almost caused the end of the universe, it doesn't want to drag you back so much.
And as nice as shooting things would be, Wash has been through these places enough to know how to work with their rules. Sometimes it's dumb. But what matters is it works.
"And shit happens. You might need to rescue Carolina and I one day and do you want to be doing it solo? Or would you rather know how to work well with people who can watch your back?"
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He has a team. Why would he want to be alone?
Maine is quick to tamp that down, swallowing past it. Listening as Wash continues, the talk of rescuing them lighting up something different in his eyes. Determination.
It was just today—or was it yesterday, now?—that he drove a Warthog off a building to save his falling teammates. He's always there to catch them, to watch their backs. Of course he'd save Wash and Carolina.
Of course he'd work with whoever he needed to make it happen.
He clicks his tongue, then nods. Sure, all right. Wash has a point.
"Will make friends," he says, like it's yet another mission.
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The tragic fate of him hurting and killing some of his allies and friends because he got hijacked by an AI and had to be murdered by one of his closest friends? Sure.
But not the shit everyone deals with here.
He smiles with some amusement. Mission, like always. "Good. And hey, it won't be so bad. There's people here who love fighting. And you'll have more goalposts than just Carolina here," he said. "If I think he can behave, you might want to actually fight Mac. Guy could bench press you."
He just needs to make sure Macaque doesn't give too HARD of a reality check that the Freelancers were midtier on the food chain here.
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But Carolina will remain at the top, right where she belongs. And Maine will continue striving to keep up with her. To prove he's capable. To give her a challenge she'll respect.
He hums, noncommittal. Then, teasingly, "Would have to pull punches. Can't hurt your boyfriend."
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Except maybe Caboose, but Caboose is an anomaly in many ways that is hard to define.
But he knew how strong Macaque was, so he's doing the math. He knows he couldn't punch Macaque hard enough to do actual damage, not without doing something extra about it. He thinks Maine might have a shot.
"Don't pull punches," he finally says. "You hold back, he's going to put you on the floor. And if you hurt him, I can heal him." And hopefully that will assure Maine enough he doesn't hold back because Macaque WILL put him on the floor otherwise and might be mean about it.
He hooks a finger under his hoody and pulls out a necklace with a golden jewel on it. "Fancy necklace with other spells on it. Limited use at the moment, and tied to me, but it has healing spells. Its like the Healing Unit on cocaine," he said.
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