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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
They're automatic, often unnecessary mental exercises, but they serve Maine well on occasion. Especially when he has to drive a Warthog off a building and catch two people plummeting from the sky.
Wash appears, just like—well, magic. He calls for Carolina; Maine looks around until he realizes Wash doesn't mean that boss.
Slightly disappointed at the lack of Carolina, Maine nonetheless follows Wash inside. The place seems more like a spaceship than a house. Huge, and apparently (as Wash puts it) kitted out.
"Pretty advanced," Maine says, half surprised to find such familiar tech in Ellipsa.
no subject
Because really, why would anyone leave them in the suit while on the run, unless they really COULDN'T get rid of them? Probably hardwired into something important.
"He can do a lot with very little, but Ellipsa has a lot, so he's been kind of letting loose. Speaking of, we'll need to take a minute to get a biometric scan. I got through his laser grid once and he's made it a lot more challenging in response. You're safe with a resident, but if you're visiting often, better to have it sooner than later."
no subject
(The fact that he has an ODST tattoo slapped in the middle of his back says enough about how little he minds that.)
"Recovery beacon," he says, then tilts his head in question. "Why disable here?"
He'd understand if it was because Wash wanted to avoid the Project back home. That only made sense, especially if he actually kept his armor. (Which, from the sound of it, he did.) But why disable the beacons here? Couldn't they be useful if Wash ended up in a jam?
no subject
"More an idle challenge," Wash said. "I didn't have him disable it, but I asked him if he could, since it was the first time he really got to see tech from our time. I knew he was brilliant for his, but five centuries is a long time. He did install a code phrase if I did want to disable it though. Don't really need that these days, but hey, you never know when things will blow up in your face and you want to disappear off the grid entirely, but still stay in your universe."
He reaches the main house and the doors open and Maine is going to have a treat.
Because the house is designed for a thirteen foot wingspan, twelve foot long snekwolf, and nearly seven foot tall turtle who has an even taller brother. The place is absolutely rated for Maine to not feel crowded OR need to duck door frames!
The inside isn't pretentious, despite the Big. The walls are wood and warm, and there's pictures hanging, some for the aesthetic, others with the residents in them. There's almost definitely a pet toy around and likely some half done project. Not a mess, but the place is lived in.
The floor also has a slight echo and there's the faint sound of running water. Retractable floors that cover up the water ways that move throughout the house.
Also a very vibrant courtyard with yet more water.
Eventually Maine will probably see the Very Tol turtle in one of those pictures that will probably explain that.
Wash turn to the right to head to the kitchen. Which is absolutely kitted out with all the bells and whistles because Food Is Important to too many people in birdtile life.
no subject
After the Project fell to pieces, did Maine himself decide to drop off the grid? Did he leave "Maine" behind, just as he did his previous identity before?
They step into a room in which Maine fits. And Maine stops in the middle of it, the bakery boxes still held in hand. Just … staring around. Taking it all in. Absorbing the sensation that most people take for granted: that of fitting in a space.
This place is lived in. Not Maine's place, that's for sure. But it's still built for someone tall and broad, and that's something Maine has experienced very rarely in his life.
It's also really, really fancy. Makes Maine feel out of place in his combat boots and t-shirt, his frugal background and near-empty wallet. Not for the first time, he thinks that he needs to find a job here. Find something to do. Some way to pay for himself.
Coming out of his brief (but notable) reverie, he follows Wash into the kitchen, still looking a little like a bull who wandered into a china shop and doesn't want to break anything.
no subject
He glances back.
Ah.
"You can sit down. Donnie, Choco, Mac, and I are all in the 'could accidentally crush a doorknob if not paying attention' club, so stuff is rated to not be fragile. Including the chairs," he said.
There are, in fact, an assortment of chair sizes.
And Donnie is still hopeful his brothers might arrive, which means there are some Especially Large seats because that boy will NOT have Raph waiting for a chair.
Wash turns to the fridge, sorting through things to make room for the desserts. "And even if you do break something, we can fix or replace it easily enough. Quests are a good way to rack up a lot of Mooncoins."
no subject
So the fact that Maine hesitates when Wash offers him food is telling. It speaks to how long a day Maine has had. How he's teetering toward exhaustion, mentally if not physically.
But after a pause, he nods. Sure, he'll have leftovers. Sure, he'll keep trucking along.
He takes a seat after depositing his share of the packages, trusting Wash when he says Maine is unlikely to break it. Scoots around to make himself comfortable, which is easier than normal in such a large chair.
"You like quests?" he asks, leaning forward against the counter, his arms loosely folded.
no subject
He'll pull out the stir fried rice. Lots of filling food there and easy enough to heat up. He can offer Maine a port back to his apartment or stay the night after. He can at least make sure he's fed first.
"Some of them," he said. "They can be weird, but fun. Its amazing how much absurd you can deal with after doing this four times. And honestly, just being with my team. They are a very odd group of people," he said with some fondness.
"Some quests means doing those strange rituals. Trying to pacify animals by sharing friendship stories, or stuff like that. Some I do just because I'm good at it, monsters causing trouble, civilians need protection. There's a lot of strong people here, but crisis management is a different skillset and I'm pretty good at that," he said.
Then he shrugged. "And sometimes I'm having a bad day and I just want to kill something and monsters are pretty easy targets."
no subject
Will he have to expand his skillset to include story time?
Having a bad day and wanting to kill something makes more sense to Maine. He hums, thinking about the mission he was just on. The enemies he slaughtered his way through after getting separated from the bulk of his team. Some people would feel bad for those Innie bastards; Maine doesn't.
He doesn't miss the fondness in Wash's voice at that mention of his team. So he asks, "Who's your team here?"
no subject
Monsters? Not so complicated and a lot easier to just let loose.
"The absurd team is the sim troopers," Wash clarified. "Not that the people here aren't absurd from my perspective, but they're a little more normal for their worlds, for the most part," he said. "And most of their silliness is kind of prompted by the fact they're teenagers and the teenagers are dragging us adults along."
"Those who are here and in this house are Choco, Macaque, Donnie, Eve, and Lott. For the extended and common allies, Lucifer, Red Son, MK, Kantera, Cole, and Evangeline. Though I really need to talk to Evangeline more than in passing, but she's pretty solid with everyone else. Also maybe Wukong? Wukong is kind of a hermit, but he has always been here when asked."
"I got pictures. Of both groups," he said. "If you want to see?"
no subject
Maine memorizes each name, eyebrows rising slightly at "Lucifer." He assumes it's just a name, not the literal capital-d Devil, but how should he know? Things are weird here. Wash is dating a monkey.
"Met Kantera," he says. "Doctor."
Not that Maine had needed a doctor, precisely. But they'd talked long enough for Maine to discover that information. Talked long enough to hug, too, when Maine first found himself stumbling into someone in that damn rain.
He nods: sure, he'd like to see pictures. "To go with names," he says, wanting to memorize faces.
no subject
He also keeps hitting on Wash and is also dating Macaque, but he figures he'll wait on the overly overcomplicated polycule nonsense.
"Yeah. He's helped with a few of our injuries in the past," Wash said. So Kantera has that stamp of approval, at least. "Eve's working in the same clinic under him."
Wash makes sure the stir fry is on stove and warming up. He can leave it for a minute. "BOSS, something with a screen please?" He said and after a moment, a hand extends from the wall, holding out a tablet. "Thanks," he said as he took it and moved to the counter. "Display current residents and common visitors?"
The screen lights up, the display starting to scroll through a mix of candid and staged picture. Some are nice and sweet.
Some are absolutely pranks being done.
There is definitely one where Wash is being treated like a jungle gym by people and cats.
"This is Donnie, our resident genius and almost as tall as you. This is Eve when she's more human, and this is one where she's this snake wolf creature. If she ever gives you the 'fuck off' vibes, just give her space. It goes a long way in getting her to be cool with you. You've already seen Mac. That's Lott, he's also a winter user," he said. And absolutely the youngest, that is an Actual Elf???? Child.
"And that's my very adorable little sister who may or may not recognize you, I can't remember if she ever got to see you without the armor," he said, humming thoughtfully. "She knows the most stories, years together does that, especially with weird magic. She'll probably be really excited to meet you too."
As long as he gets to her first and establish he's MAINE and not the Meta.
no subject
He looks at the pictures on the screen, smiling as he spots the one of Wash being climbed on by people and cats. For all that things are strange to Maine, it's still good to see Wash so happy. Good that Wash is happy, period.
Maine knows by now that that wasn't always the case.
He memorizes each face as it appears, some earning more curious looks than others. It'll be easy to give people space if they need it; that's Maine's go-to, anyway. Hell, unless these people approach Maine directly, he's unlikely to exchange more than a few words with them.
—Normally, that is. But he remembers what Wash said about making friends. So he'll try to be more … sociable.
(He might have to find a good headache remedy.)
It's apparent that Wash cares a lot about his adopted little sister. Maine spends more time looking at those pictures, studying her features. Making sure he'll be able to recognize and protect her in a crisis.
"Good stories?" he asks, looking over at Wash. Or should he expect another overprotective sort?
no subject
Things are complicated, whatever went down.
So very complicated.
"After four dimensional kidnappings, I've only ever seen five people from home."
And two of them were North and Theta and another two were Epsilon and Alpha, SO. "I didn't feel there was a worry to dig into old pains and regrets."
He lets a few more pictures of Choco scan through. There are a lot of candid ones of her and Eve. (Donnie likes pictures of his datemates.) "Choco knows...most things about me. It'd probably be harder to find something she has no clue about then not. She knows the nuances and complications and how much...how much I wish I could have seen you again. Things just didn't work out. Being technically AWOL and then stranded on a planet makes it really hard to touch base with people again."
Also when the person was dead.
But technically none of that is wrong, it is kind of why he hasn't tried contacting his family.
no subject
Or maybe the real rarity is bringing people from the same times. Maine certainly isn't from the same time as Wash or Carolina. And Wash has been away from home for so long… Can anyone be said to be from the same time as him?
He watches the pictures, then watches Wash's face. Studying it as Wash speaks of missing him. It's still so strange; they were together not twenty-four hours ago. But for Wash, it's been years and years. Longer than they've even know each other.
Maine wets his lips. Parts them to speak, then seals them shut again. Unsure if he should voice his theories as to where he was when Wash went AWOL. Maybe it'd be better not to dig into a future he knows nothing about, especially when it seems so painful.
If nothing else, he can wait for another time. Some day when he's not so exhausted that he suspects he could fall asleep upright, if Wash gave him a few minutes of silence.
Instead, he reaches out to touch Wash's arm again. Aiming to give it a little squeeze this time, reassuring. I'm here now. I'm solid.
no subject
Freelancer has been so long ago, but it had been so much. The loss of his friends a big part of it. He had spent three years, focused only on repairing his fractured mind, and get revenge on those who put him and his friends in this situation. It had been a foundation to try and build himself up again, to create Recovery One.
Maine had been the last Freelancer he'd seen alive besides Carolina and it's been so long now.
He doesn't think he could ever forget them, not with how important they had been in him figuring out how to even try to be him again.
Just like the Reds and Blues and Choco.
Some people just become a part of you, for better or worse.
Wash looked to Maine and he smiles. Something fond and melancholic at once. Putting his hand over Maine's and squeezing it. I know.
Pulling away after a moment to go check on the food. Really don't want that to burn.
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The SPARTAN Program may be the magic bullet. But there's no way the war was one by a single man, solo. Not even Master Chief.
So for Maine, Project Freelancer is not a scar. It's not even an open wound. It's just something a little off. Something a little dangerous.
And maybe there's something fucked up in Maine's head, too many years in high-adrenaline situations having switched something in his brain. But what can he say? He likes danger.
Wash steps away to check the food. Maine scrolls through a few more of the photos, smiling when he hits ones where Wash looks particularly silly. He makes sure that when Wash returns, the screen shows one of the silliest.
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That they could all come home.
But it missed the key thing that made soldiers strong and that was having their fellow soldiers to watch their back, to make up their shortcomings. By making them so individualistic, he had made them weaker.
Everyone has an off day, no matter how good they are. They need someone to step in.
Oh, there is definitely plenty of silly pictures. Hijinks abound in birdtile house. For some reason, Wash was half covered in sparkly orange glitter and feathers, and was attempting to spread some of it onto Choco, mid air after seemingly running on top of furniture and about to go crashing into the lazy river in the courtyard. They did seem to be enjoying themselves despite the impending wet landing.
Wash brings over a plate piled high with the fried rice, looking at the picture and chuckling. "Ah yes. Security system test day. I don't know who decided to put glitter in the thing versus just the feathers, but they were evil."
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It certainly came easily in the picture on the tablet, Wash's joy plain for all to see.
Maine's eyebrows rise. "Security test?" he asks, a little disbelieving.
How in the world was that considered a security test?
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How successful he was was highly questionable, but an effort was made. But he was certainly more laid back than most of the others. Mostly because he never really bought into the competition thing.
But he was also pulling HARD on David right now. As much as he can. Because David is as close as Maine is used to. His gears are too jammed up to shift anywhere else and keep it consistent.
"The feathers are temporary ammo. If I get hit, then they get upgraded into lasers," he said.
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It's not just the competition aspect, though that's admittedly part of it. Maine is proud and stubborn, a potentially deadly combination when thrown into a competitive environment. It's also because he wants to win the war. If winning the war means establishing the most elite team possible—which is what he believes they're doing—then come hell or high water, he's going to be on that team.
Maine has always been like that. Ruthless in the pursuit of his goals, barreling through any obstacle in his path, and utterly merciless to his enemies. Even before he was "Agent Maine," he was like that.
It's no wonder Project Freelancer recruited him.
All that said, the use of feathers in any sort of exercise is rather bewildering to Maine. It's unlike anything he's ever heard of. Doesn't mesh with his mental image of … well, anything aside from birds. And maybe kinky sex.
He shakes his head, not understanding. "Training?"
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If he wasn't, then the better person was in place to win the war. All that mattered at the time was it ended. Wash wanted to help. He could be anywhere in that set up as long as it ended.
It was probably why he was so consistent in his spot. He just did his best. It wasn't about proving he was the best.
"His systems," Wash said. "We do have the gym for training. But Donnie wants to make sure this place," he knocks on the bar. "Is safe. He's used to being unsafe his entire life, so he wants to make sure things are as covered as possible. He can't control the world outside, but he can make sure people regret ever trying to break in here."
"So he's constantly improving it. And to make sure its good, he'll do tests. He'll ask me to break in, because I'm the best at it without using shadow magic and anything that challenges me, he keeps. But also, he doesn't want me shot up with lasers. So we get dummy ammo. Like feathers. He wasn't the glitter. He hates how long it takes to clean."
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He's grateful Wash remembers those gestures. Their way of speaking without words. Even after all this time, Wash remembers.
The thoughts bring something fond to Maine's eyes. Then he snorts a little in amusement and gives Wash a small smile.
"Safe place."
He's starting to see what Wash meant earlier.
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There's very little he can truly forget these days. Though at least he doesn't have to dissociate for these memories. Its easy to fall into it.
It helps that he's gotten to practice it again. Between nonverbal episodes and frankly garbage communicators, watching for what's not said is an important skill to have.
He nods. "A very safe place. Though I get still wanting to meet the kids first. Also the cats. And dog. And Pokemon," he said.
They have a lot of space and also there is definitely some shelving near the top of the wall that might be for cat exploration.
He's been building a hell of a catio.
"Oh, but speaking of. BOSS, biometric scan. Classified close personal friend of Wash," he said.
There is the beeping and several metal arms extend from the walls and ceiling, scanning over Maine.
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Biometric scan. Right.
Damn, he really is tired if he'd already half-forgotten about that.
"Got a Pokémon," Maine says as he looks back to Wash, a bit of pride creeping into his voice. Pleased both by the Pokémon itself, and by the fact that he knows what Wash is talking about.
With a completely straight face, he gives its name. "Blue-chan."
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