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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
"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.
no subject
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?
no subject
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?"
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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."
no subject
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.
no subject
When Maine spars with people, he holds back. Period. It's not a reflection of their skill: it's because he doesn't want to break their fucking ribs if he lands a solid punch. (He's done that before. It wasn't pleasant.)
It's different when both people are wearing armor. Then, Maine can let loose—at least, mostly. He let loose entirely against Texas, and look what happened then?
(He heard Wash shout "manic" at him; he has no interest in hearing it again if he goes all out against Mac.)
So, Maine doesn't plan on fighting Mac with no holds barred. But he hums anyway, because he might agree to spar. Maybe.
"Very fancy," Maine agrees as he looks at the necklace. "Got it here?"
no subject
Then he learned better and it made a lot more sense. Loyalty was sometimes a double edged sword.
"Nah, Kyriakos. That's where I met Choco. Korone to people who aren't close to her." Better to establish that before Choco got blindsided. "Place kind of like here. Got recruited for a peacekeeping group and the necklaces helped put our people on even footing with everyone else. Mostly focused on disabling and weakening, though with a few buffs and healing. So even if someone without any powers or special training ended up in our numbers, they could do something about some guy who could blow shit up with his mind, that sort of thing," he said.
And he was good with the peacekeeper and helper role.
Right up until their boss got ousted by an evil witch.
"This is the fifth place I've been too, so some of my age isn't because of time passing home, I just keep getting interdimensionally kidnapped. Its also why I am used to all the bullshit."
no subject
Maybe video games reflect life more than he realized. Maybe they just reflect different dimensions. Or something.
Five places… That gives Maine pause. Makes that odd feeling surface yet again, 'Wash has lived a whole life' repeating like a mantra in his head. After five places like this, it's a small wonder Wash recognizes him at all. Or maybe that Wash himself is recognizable.
But he is still Wash. Undeniably so. What does that say of Wash's resilience?
Five places, though… If Wash is that susceptible to this crap, does that mean he's more likely to get whisked away somewhere else?
Maine promptly shoves that thought down. But it shows in his eyes: a brief flash of worry.
"Tell me more bullshit?" he offers instead.
no subject
It had taken time for some of the old him to come back. He had the Reds and Blues to thank for starting on the journey. And then he started getting kidnapped and despite all the brand new traumas...
There were a lot more people there to catch him. Keep him on the path, albiet with some heavy detours along the way.
Choco was one of the best people for that. A regular blue, that girl, keeping him back towards David.
Admittedly, the amnesia helps in a weird way. A brief time without all the burdens, so people know what he's like without the damage.
"Don't worry. I am used to it at this point," he said. "So far, I always go back to the time I was taken, so it works out, and usually with new perks."
"Like I have the ability to hop dimensions. Places like these, they interfere with the signals, but when I go home, I can visit other people's worlds. Sometimes these places at the end finds a way to maintain the connections, but barring that, Choco and I know a few people who can track people down for us to establish some bridges," he said. "And pretty used to magic now. Pendant's always been stable for me, but teleporting is now on the table from the Temple, and who knows, I might be able to keep the Summer powers. Some stuff keeps, other stuff breaks when you leave the world."
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Them being in a different dimension right now is a lot all on its own.
But Wash continues, talking about different people he's met, different powers he's gained. Maine's mind drifts briefly to the Winter powers he's heard about, wondering what would be nice to keep when he goes home. Because he does intend to go home, but Wash…
… It almost sounds like Wash prefers jumping between dimensions. Building bridges and heading off to worlds not their own.
Unsure if he has the right impression, Maine cocks his head questioningly. "Enjoy it? Hopping dimensions?"
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But then he sees the question.
"For trips," he said. "I like seeing the friends I've made and seeing cool stuff in other places." And he does. He's made a lot of friends and there's a lot of cool worlds.
"And it helps. Some people are from places where they can't get a happy life. Sometimes its just their lives. Sometimes their worlds are in even more dire straights than the war. I've helped people relocate to places that were welcoming of new people and let them have a fresh lease on life," he adds.
It comes up.
A lot.
Chorus even has a few. Its amazing how much having the gratitude of an entire planet makes it easy to get around things like paperwork and maybe they have a few extra appendages.
"But I have a team to get back too. Some Red and Blue sim troopers, if you can believe it. I might have more friends and family, but when I think of home, its them I think about." There is a pause. "I owe them my life. I'd have died years ago if they hadn't taken a chance on me."
Then a wry grin. "Carolina's there too. She found me with them. And depending where she's in the timeline, she'll back me up that despite all logic and reason, those guys do get under your skin and next thing you know, whoops, you're part of the team, no take backsies, they will fight an army to get you back and somehow they actually manage it."
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This is one of those last times.
Maine's eyes lower as he considers the implications of all Wash is saying. As he considers the idea of Wash rescuing people from universes even more fucked up than their own. As he tries to wrap his mind around the idea of Wash considering a bunch of Sim troopers his home. As he realizes that Carolina must feel the same, given his earlier conversation with her.
As he considers his role in that life—or lack thereof.
What is he doing in that future? While Wash and Carolina are palling around with Sims, becoming part of their team, where is Maine? Is he off fighting on another battlefield? Probably. He doesn't see why he wouldn't be.
It's an odd feeling. One he isn't sure how to name.
So he sits quietly for a long moment, finishing off the last of his cheesecake. Letting it all swirl and swirl in his mind, the waters so full of information that they've gone murky.
Finally, he puts down his fork. "Unexpected," he says. All of it.
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Can't, really.
Because at one point, Freelancer had felt like home too. Despite all the mindgames, Wash had only seen his friends. Like minded people who cared. Who cared deeply. Even at the end, he still woke up before the crash with people around him.
The house of glass had cracks through it, but it had still been one thing....right up until the moment it wasn't anymore.
When all the stress and strain and mindgames and Sigma caused it all to come crashing down, everyone having to choose their priorities and leaving behind everything else.
"A lot happened. I was in a pretty dark place after the Project. You wouldn't have even recognized me," he said, voice quieter. "Doing whatever I thought was necessary to do some good...and then to survive when the less savory things caught up to me. The sim troopers were on the tail end of the former and were dealing with what was essentially a feral animal trying to escape for the latter until I was ready to just let myself die to be free of it all."
He swirls the spoon in the cup, an idle motion with it being essentially empty. "They refused to let me. Kept me alive, got me away from the situation I had been trapped in, and just...kept being there. Eventually, it felt safe to try and be more myself again. I hadn't deserved their kindness, but I'll always be grateful for it anyway."
"It had surprised Carolina too, when she found me. She hadn't gotten why I cared about them so much, but she needed back up, and I was reliable so she went with it. Took time before she got it," he said. "So I get it its hard to believe."
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He cares about Wash too much to do something like that.
So he sits, and he listens, and he tries to understand. Really, he tries. But the more Wash talks, the more unbelievable it is that Maine wasn't there. Aren't they friends? What happened?
(Why did Wash pull a gun on him?)
The only conclusion Maine can come to is that he was on the other side of the universe. Maybe he was fighting a battle. Shit, maybe he'd been injured, or worse. Maybe that's why Wash couldn't rely on him.
How fucking irritating, that he apparently becomes unreliable. To Wash and to Carolina.
Well, he won't let that happen here. To hell with slowing down.
"Sorry," he says. He's sorry Wash went through that. And he's sorry for whatever he did or failed to do in that future.
It won't happen again.
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Its easier to say this stuff then it used to be. He's had to explain enough. Why people can't wake him with touch if he fell asleep alone. Why he'll zone out. Why despite how friendly he can be, he still has up to fifteen knives hidden somewhere on his person. (He has six today.)
He takes a deep breath and lets it out. "But I am glad you're here," he said, looking up to meet Maine's eyes properly. "I missed you. Out of everyone in the Project, I missed you the most." Connie might have had that spot, without the tragedy of the Meta, and the fact she choose to leave them behind.
As understandable as it was in hindsight. It was understandable for all of them who left him behind.
Doesn't mean it didn't hurt.
At least Maine never had a choice in the matter.
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