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Seasons Mods ([personal profile] seasonsmods) wrote in [community profile] seasonsgreetings2023-12-15 12:08 am
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Test Drive Meme #6


Test Drive Meme #6
LOGS | NETWORK | OOC | MEMES | NAVIGATION



Arrival



Part 1


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.


Part 2


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 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.

This world is composed of four Seasonal Segments. All of them represent one of the seasons. 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 used to have plenty of people here who could control the powers of the four Seasons. We called them Seasonal Power Holders. Unfortunately, due to a tragedy you can read about later, we lost almost all of them. Now only four of us remain and the world is in chaos. We have done our best to protect the world, but we need more power holders to do that.

That's where you come in.

All of you have been assigned to one of the seasons. Whatever space you were in just now is what season you represent. You will learn different skills based on the season and those skills are going to help you save this world.

These powers don't interfere with your own natural powers. They use a new energy that has formed inside of you. It's harmless to your health, but it's vital to your seasonal powers. Your own powers should still work, even if the dark energy outside the city might interfere with them.

Unfortunately bringing you here wasn't as simple as it sounds. We couldn't do anything about how to keep you anchored to this world other than making a simple spell that helps with it. That is, you need to touch someone else who is not from this world ideally at least once a day. It will help you stay in control of your powers and boost your magical energy. If you don't, the consequences aren't very good. But as long as you hold someone's hand or give someone a handshake, you should be fine.

That's all I have to say about the situation. The staff of the Research Center will give you more information about housing and other necessary things. I will, however, promise that you will be sent home once the situation becomes better. That's the least we can do.


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-sizes 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 or joining one.

Second type of stands 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 the stands is for The In Touch Support Group that is led by the Otherwordly Ambassador, Kamisato Ayato. The pamphlets have contact information for businesses looking to help Otherworlders. They also focus more on the lore of the World and what they have discovered so far, as well as a guide on what to think about when preparing to venture out to the Segments.

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.

Part 3


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 your own room if you ask them. But maybe having a roommate isn't all that bad?





We Wish You a Merry Kissmas




Part 1


The whole city of Nightwake has completely gotten into holiday season. Christmas exists in Ellipsa, but it's just a celebration of winter spirits and a chance to exchange presents with your loved ones. Things like Santa Claus do exist, but they're not as important in Ellipsa traditions. The most important thing about Christmas, for Ellipsa natives, is being together with someone you truly care about and watching the Christmas lights.

Due to the holiday spirit, some of the cleaning related machines have started cleaning on their own, especially in the Starter Apartment Building. It's not weird to see a roomba entering an apartment through someone's dog door or a vacuum cleaner to knock on the door to enter. Natives will tell anyone wondering what's going on that this is perfectly normal and they should just let them do their job.

Some machines are, however, a little too eager and will try to clean even people, unless they've been to the shower that day.

Any items lost during the cleaning frenzy can be found from the Lost and Found of the Research Center - or they're potentially returned to the wrong apartment completely.

Part 2


Along with holiday decorations different sized and shaped mistletoes have appeared all around the city. A good part of them are actually just normal mistletoes that you can just ignore and continue, but some of them are magical plants.

Mistletoes will use various methods to trap someone under them. Some grow vines to grab the person (magically infused, very difficult to break), some form a barrier around them that allows another to walk in but no one to walk out. There are even methods still unknown (make your own)! So it's definitely recommended that people use caution when passing a mistletoe.

The regular way of getting out of a mistletoe's hold is to kiss someone. Even platonic kisses count, so there's no need to force oneself to do mouth to mouth action. Another less known method - that the natives will tell people about - is to dance a little dance for the mistletoe; there's usually enough room inside a barrier, or the vines are loose enough, to let someone dance!

Another type of mistletoe is a roaming mistletoe that stubbornly follows someone who very much wants to kiss someone, but for some reason won't. The mistletoe will be waiting for them when they walk outside or appear out of nowhere when the person is talking to someone. It can only be chased away by actually kissing the person they want to, so even kissing a random person doesn't help this one.

Part 3
CW/TW: Hanahaki Disease


Some of the mistletoes have a less pleasant effect (they're extremely rare). Those caught under one of them and who have something they need to confess to someone (may it be romantic or platonic) will be inflicted with the Hanahaki disease. They will be coughing up flowers that have started to grow inside them due to the secrets they're hiding. It's a painfully slow process.

Best way to cure the disease is to confess whatever it is they have on their heart. After that the flowers will start to disappear and everything can return to normal.

Other methods are getting a spring power holder to lift the disease off them, make a potion out of the hanahaki flowers and flaming ginger roots (found from the Summer Segment, near the Temple of Life) or surgically removing the source. All of these methods, however, will make the person lose all of their emotions for the next 24 hours.




And a Colorful New Year




Part 1

During the winter holidays there's plenty to do in the city. Various workshops have been set up in every district. The goal of these workshops is to make all districts look as close to Christmas as possible, even the ones that are in the middle of summer. They're looking for creative ways to celebrate the festival and are always looking for help to make their wishes come true.

All the districts also have an ice rink built to them. They're magical, so even the heat of Solarpeak won't melt them. Skating in one of these ice rinks will make different colors appear around the skater. All the colors are somehow related to the skater and make beautiful art in the air (e.g. rainbows, whirlpools, flowers, animals). These colors don't have any other magical properties and will fade away after a while.

Those who skate together will find their colors mixing together. The more balanced the color mix is, the better relationship they have. This works even if there are more than two skaters having fun together. Those who are in love with each other will find their colors intertwining together into different kind of lines and ribbons.

It's a common rumor that if the colors turn into gold, silver or platinum instead of just mixing together, the couple skating is destined to be together.

If a relationship is rocky or either one of them has doubts about the other, the colors may completely disappear when they're close together in the rink. The colors will return again once some distance has been taken.

Part 2


Christmas is largely a holiday for families and couples. That's why all the natives are excited to hear that there will be a Wedding for two otherworlders soon. That's why a lot of shops are doing promotions for any couples that enter them (even sometimes mistaken two friends as a couple). They're also excitedly making different wedding themed charms that will make the person dream about their dream wedding when it's put under a pillow (or if they don't have a dream wedding, they will dream otherwise pleasant dreams).

It's a great tradition to kiss under a Christmas tree. Those who do this will find a present appearing next to them. This present will have a pair of lockets that have pictures of each other in them. The locket will vibrate and the pictures will change its expression any time the person has an emotional crisis.

Those who are loners, or just don't have anyone to call their own, will be able to enjoy the holidays in their own special cabins filled with familiar scents and colors, located on any districts. They are, of course, welcome to invite friends over to enjoy it as well - and if one thing leads to another, that's a very good bonus.

Part 3


Another important day to celebrate is the start of the New year. These celebrations, as well as the winter holiday ones, tend to continue far into January, as the natives find the atmosphere soothing and a great way to start an entirely new year.

Most important new year tradition is the Fireworks show. Booths have been set up for people to create their own fireworks. These fireworks will explode in the skies with the chosen colors and shapes (a picture, some text, anything really). All the person has to do is create the design they want and choose their colors. These fireworks will be sent to the skies on midnight when the year changes.

Those who create fireworks will receive a blessing for the new year that will let them regain one item from home/a previous world (works like a normal, non-magical regain would). Those who don't know what they want will be able to receive a random item that has been in their possession at any point. This item will appear near wherever they happen to be when the fireworks are set off, so after midnight in the new year.

Of course, there's plenty of food and drinks to go around everywhere, and most of them are even free. Some may even find their favorite dish among the various dishes available.




OOC TIPS


- Mistletoes (at least a good chunk of them) and all the Ice Rinks will be available until the end of January. Mistletoes are hard to control so not all of them can be taken down easily - and the ice rinks are just fun to have around. Some other traditions can also be still done during January, even if they might not be as powerful after New Year.

- Sawyer, the Autumn Guild Leader, is still missing, so the atmosphere around the Autumn Guild is a less cheerful one, unfortunately.

- Ask your questions related to the TDM 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.



code bases by tricklet
rustyhonesty: Ever dreamed of (You're only everything I ever dreamed)

merry crisis

[personal profile] rustyhonesty 2023-12-15 11:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[This wasn't Jean's first Christmas, so walking around the streets with all the festivities and cheer feels normal. Even Jean's cheerful himself, walking in the most casual jeans and green hoodie combination.

He's definitely taller than before (at late canon height) but otherwise he looks very much the same as he did during trainee days, even if a little older.

At first, he thinks he just sees someone who looks like Annie. But Annie doesn't care about something like doughnuts, right...? She's never seem like the type to like them, at least.

But then she talks. And that's definitely Annie's voice. Recognizable even after all these years.

So Jean's now stopped close and is staring at her.]


...

[What do you even say? He isn't about to start this encounter hostile. But he's not sure if he should be friendly, either. So he settles for a very neutral and rather awkward--]

Hi?
feminae: (Default)

[personal profile] feminae 2023-12-15 11:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Annie had resigned herself to just waiting in the hopes that the vines would let her go, so the stranger that walks up to her catches her off guard. She looks her up and down suspiciously, especially when kissing comes into the conversation. As if the whole you have to touch people to function thing wasn’t bad enough. Besides, she really doesn’t love the idea of a total stranger leaning in that close to her, teeth by her face. ]

A kiss? Why a kiss?

[ Because that’s the biggest problem here, clearly. ]
abnormalizes: neutral (she's all right she's all right)

[personal profile] abnormalizes 2023-12-15 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[Evangeline has at least two things going for her: she's not visibly armed, and she's 5'2" and doesn't look particularly strong.]

Christmas tradition apparently. At least it doesn't have to be on the mouth, I half expected that to be a requirement.
abnormalizes: positive (but it is only a matter of my fix)

[personal profile] abnormalizes 2023-12-15 11:50 pm (UTC)(link)
You sound like you're close.

[That's sweet to hear. She's a little jealous, as an only child.]

I'll let you know the moment I spot him, but I can't guarantee he came here with you.
feminae: (pic#16724196)

[personal profile] feminae 2023-12-15 11:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh, great. Mikasa’s here too. She might have the advantage of having been to two different worlds beyond this one and their own, but Annie has only just woken up from years within that crystal she’d trapped herself in. Her last memory of Mikasa is of blades slicing through her fingers, keeping her from making it over the Wall — and from the freedom beyond. Annie isn’t bitter, necessarily. But she’s not exactly Mikasa’s number one fan, either.

The look she gives Mikasa is cautious, wary, her eyes narrow. She’s a little surprised that she hasn’t been attacked yet, but hey. There’s still time for that.

She looks from Mikasa to the doughnut, which is sitting there tantalizingly. Unfortunately, the possible threat takes precedence. Goodbye, doughnut. ]


Not long. [ She shrugs, casual, like the fact that she’s been transported to a strange world in some kind of alternate dimension isn’t a big deal. ] A few days at most.

[ She falls silent, uncomfortable. This isn’t a conversation she had ever expected to have. ]
mayoninofukucho: (Well-Rested for Once)

Toshirou Hijikata | Gintama (Prismatica & Isle of Avalon CRAU) | Summer

[personal profile] mayoninofukucho 2023-12-16 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
A) We Wish You a Merry Kissmas

Part I


[Being a summer power holder and a meathead, Hijikata spends a lot of time in the warmer districts, especially in the Grand Collosseum in Dayrise, and he finds it positively bewildering to see Christmas decorations spring up all over the unchangingly warm and sunny scenery. He may never get used to seasonal celebrations still happening in a place where the seasons never change!]

I don't think I can get in the holiday mood this year.

[Maybe he should simply spend time in the more wintery districts, then... but somehow, he doesn't feel in the mood for that either. After all, who'd want to be cold when there are beaches and sunlit arenas to spend time at?]

Part II

[Of course, Hijikata got himself entangled in mistletoe vines. Of course. And since he struggled, the goddamn plant tied him up so thoroughly that he looks like he got shibari'd. When he catches the glance of a passerby, he responds in a monotone voice and with a deadpan expression.]

Don't just watch. Give me a hand, will you?

Part III

[Hijikata didn't catch the hanahaki disease, but he's ready to help - by heading out into the Jungle of Judgement in the Summer Segment and getting some flaming ginger roots.]

Do you want to come along? With the teleport stone in place we can be there in no time.


B) And a Colorful New Year

Part I


[Today, Hijikata is people-watching while on break from his police work. As he devours a hot snack drowned in mayonnaise, he observes a nasty falling-out between a couple at the ice rink: The magical swirls over their heads never took on any hues other than shades of grey.]

Oh, wow. Let's hope they weren't married yet.

[How is it any of his business? Clearly, the police has nothing better to do!]

Part II

[Hijikata's not going to get married, ever, and he isn't in the mood to attempt anything romantic on the whole (not even getting a discount by merely pretending to be a couple; that'd be penniless behaviour!), so instead he tries out one of the magical cabins for a change of scenery (and to be closer to the Grand Collosseum and the public baths for a weekend while his mentee and housemate is away on a quest).

To the surprise of no one who knows him, the place takes on an overwhelming smell of cigarettes and mayonnaise in no time, and the walls and furniture adopt bright and friendly colours like in his mayonnaise factory delusion. Anyone who follows his invitation to come over for some drinks (or who just happens to run into him at the doorstep) will find that out as soon as they step over the threshold.]


Nice, isn't it? Don't influence my decor, though.

[As if his visitor could help it!]

Part III

[A free regain?! Count Hijikata in! He decisively sets to work, devising a golden firework that incorporates flame-like explosions. As it lights up the sky, he enjoys the sight so much that he nearly overlooks the strange necklace that appears in a suspicious cloud of smoke on the ground near him. The pendant is a large horizontal sickle moon shape, with two black cats sitting on top. A few amethysts in front and at the bottom of the moon round out the esotheric, almost gaudy style. It doesn't look like something he'd wear under any circumstances.]

Ah! There it is!

[Regardless, he sure looks happy as he picks it up!]
feminae: (pic#16740549)

cw for aot-typical mentions of gore, also possible cw for emetophobia

[personal profile] feminae 2023-12-16 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
[ Someone comes up to her, and she’s definitely a little embarrassed at being caught here, which translates outwardly to irritation. She’s opening her mouth to say something snarky, because really, are you stuck, no shit she’s stuck, and then that voice registers.

But that’s impossible.

She had killed Marco, had taken his gear and left him for dead, had watched as he’d been lifted up and shoved into a Titan’s mouth, and even if she hadn’t dealt the final blow he’d died at her hands. (The Titan’s teeth had closed down on his face. She was too far away to hear the wet crack of his skull caving in, but she’s imagined it so many times that it’s solidified as part of the memory.) His death shouldn’t have been as devastating as it was, not when he was only one of a countless number that she and Reiner and Bertholdt had killed, and he was no more or less innocent than that member of Levi’s squad whom she had stepped on. She hadn’t even touched him as he died. But somehow his death had felt different, somehow more tragic.

She still sees his face when she closes her eyes, sometimes. ]


You’re dead. [ The words leave her mouth in a whisper, and then what she’s seeing really hits her, and she thrashes against the vines in a desperate, panicked motion. He’s saying something else, that he’s not mad, but he’s dead and she’d killed him and now he’s here.

She wants to throw up. ]
callyourname: (And their threats are like knives)

[personal profile] callyourname 2023-12-16 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
[That day and the moment when she last saw Annie back in Titan Hell is running through her mind on endless repeat right now. She wonders if the blonde is still in her crystal back home. She hasn't asked from Eren or anyone, not yet. Mikasa's last memories from home are from the end of another fight against Titan Shifters, she hasn't even seen what is in the basement or seen Armin waking up after all of that...

Attacking her right now? Tempting but Mikasa HAS made the non-aggression pact here and a lot of thinking even before arriving into this world. Though sure, saying she won't attack or anything is much easier said than done...

Mikasa looks at her, staying calm even if her voice is pretty cold despite there being no emotions on her face. She nods after Annie's answer(s).]


Welcome. [... not sure how genuine that is but on the other hand, this place is better for everyone.] First time in another world?

[Just checking, not that she expects the answer to be anything else than yes in most cases even if this wasn't Eren's first world hopping experience either.]

You should eat that. [Food is important!] And the same goes for whatever else they are offering for food and drinks if you see anything else interesting.

[Mikasa never expected to have this or any conversation with her either. And talking about food just makes her salty, that they get so many from their world here but she still hasn't seen Sasha in years in all of these worlds, where her best girlfriend could have eaten in all the all you can eat buffets and everywhere else too.]
feminae: (pic#16723753)

[personal profile] feminae 2023-12-16 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
[ If there’s one voice Annie will always recognize, it’s Armin Arlet’s. He had managed to make his way past every defense she had, back when they were cadets, and then even when everything had gone wrong and she’d trapped herself for four years inside a prison of her own making he’d still spent time with her, as though she were any other person and not a monster wearing a girl’s skin. He’d made her feel normal. Human, even.

She’d thought about what she might say to Armin, when she was on horseback with Hitch. She’d thank him, maybe. Apologize. It had all seemed very easy at the time. But here he is, actually here, and for the first time in four years she can respond to him, and she doesn’t know what to say. Her throat closes and she can barely breathe, let alone form words.

She waves back at him, the movement feeling stilted and awkward, and then she’s walking towards him. Meeting him halfway. Her voice starts working again, but she can’t say anything more than: ]


Hey.
rollcharisma: (37)

[personal profile] rollcharisma 2023-12-16 12:58 am (UTC)(link)
Hey…

[Gosh, she’s beautiful in person. Always has been, even when she was locked away. Armin’s smile is breathless and genuine; it’s been a long time since he’s smiled like this.]

Gosh…

It’s really good to see you, Annie. Really good.
dokkans: (♥ stayin' up and prowlin' at night)

02! i am here to help you tdm

[personal profile] dokkans 2023-12-16 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
[ Before Yoshiya, a young lady applauds! Cheerfully laughing along, even if the person in front of her's collapsed. She's been thoroughly entertained! ]

Oh, oh! What can I ask you to do for an encore?
wrotetheworld: (Advisor to the North)

Shang Qinghua | Scum Villain Self Saving System | Winter | New player!

[personal profile] wrotetheworld 2023-12-16 01:02 am (UTC)(link)

Arrival


One
[Okay, so Shang Qinghua was used to wide, snowy planes. They tended to happen when you spent time with an icy demon king with little respect for schedules. But even the Northern Desert had landmarks!

At least the robes someone had stuck him in were the same type that he tended to wear in the north, warmer than his usual sect robes. He would just have to ignore the fact that it looked like he was dressed for a winter funeral.

Pulling his cloak tight around his shoulders, he tried to shake that familiar feeling as he headed for the next nearest person.]


Do you have any idea what's going on?

Two
[Okay, he was a little tired of being teleported around without warning! Didn't he deal with that often enough at home?

Whatever this place was, however, earned a little bit of credit for one very simple reason. They had coffee. Shang Qinghua hadn't had coffee in decades. (Oh why hadn't he written coffee into PIDW?) So if his knuckles were white from gripping the biggest mug that he could get his hands on, it was because he wasn't going to let anyone pry it away from him as they all sat through the hologram message.

If he was a little twitchy by the time he was on his third cup, he waas going to blame it on the fact that this body wasn't nearly as used to caffeine as his original one. It absolutely wasn't nerves.]


Oh, my king is going to be so mad...

Three
[It seemed a little unfair that he got kidnapped into a while other world and was still expected to get a job. Hadn't he had enough jobs to do in the last world? Any more hats and he'd have had to hunt down a hare and a mouse to have a tea party with!

Shang Qinghua pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering as he tried to find his assigned apartment.]


Least it's just one job. One job can't be too hard. Maybe it can be like a vacation. A forced vacation that I have no say in, but what else is new?

Mistletoe


[Shang Qinghua was pretty sure that the roomba that’d invaded his new apartment didn’t like him. It kept following at his heels as tried to get changed out of the white robes, as though it took offense to them. So he left it to its work and quickly ducked out to explore.

Which might have been a mistake, because ten minutes out he got snagged by a surprise vine walking under a doorway.

If he’d been home, he would have avoided the hung up mistletoe at all costs, but this was a new world, right? So why did its plants act like something he’d have written?!]


Aw come on, all this and they've got this shit here too?

[Dammit, he should have brought his sword. But no, he'd left it right on the table.]

Fireworks


[Now this was something he could get behind! Big flashy explosions that weren't aimed at him? Sign him up!

The author set himself up at one of the booths, carefully crafting, of all things, the design of a blue and teal airplane.]


Hm... does it need anything else?

Wildcard!

sunspotted: that way i could take it off sometimes so i wouldn't get into these situations (i wish my penis was detachable)

[personal profile] sunspotted 2023-12-16 01:08 am (UTC)(link)
[ She's panicked and there's something gutwrenching, about seeing normally unflappable Annie terrified yet again. Marco keeps his hands up, and he tries keeping his voice even as he creeps closer. He is, however, smart enough not to get within theoretical kicking distance yet. ]

It's okay, Annie. I - I am, I did die.

[ He swallows a little. ]

I ended up here. You're safe here.

[ He notices the vines tightening around her, and though they won't strangle, he still worries for her all the same. ]

Stop wiggling for a second, it's all right.
Edited 2023-12-16 01:09 (UTC)
feminae: (Default)

[personal profile] feminae 2023-12-16 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
[ Annie had never been close with Jean. Well, okay, she’d never been close with any of the 104th, except for Armin and maybe, maybe Hitch, but quite frankly, Jean was always just kind of there, and all she really knew about him was that he was constantly arguing with Eren (and also that he looked kind of like a horse).

She almost doesn’t recognize him, because he’s definitely older than he was last time she saw him, but then his face and voice click, and — ]


Jean Kirstein?

[ She’s instantly on her guard, because whatever Jean is, he’s not an ally. But the siren song of the doughnut is calling her, and without breaking eye contact, she reaches over and grabs it, ignoring the vendor’s protestations. ]
feminae: (pic#16860406)

[personal profile] feminae 2023-12-16 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
[ That smile is blinding, Armin, you’re hurting her eyes. She can breathe again, suddenly, and it’s like coming up for air after a lifetime underwater. This is Armin. He’s here, with her. If her eyes become a little red, that’s nobody else’s business. ]

I’m glad you think so. [ The truth. She’d always found it hard to be anything but honest with him. ]

How long have you been here for?
fishfearme: (small smile)

[personal profile] fishfearme 2023-12-16 01:33 am (UTC)(link)
[Byleth, of course, got a little sidetracked.

No matter how many times Byleth had visited Nightwake, he was always taken aback and swept away by how overwhelming it could be, with his dense suburbs and how intense the inhabitants got whenever a festival was around the corner. Nightwake had been transformed practically overnight into a winter wonderland, glittering lights and tinsel strung up between lamposts and coiling up evergreen trees, snow dusting the ground and making the pavements glitter with non-slippery frost.

Ice rinks had been set up too, along with the food stalls to peddle to those like him: wide-eyed, entranced tourists. By the time he had reached the central plaza, bouncing between various stalls and having his ear bent by chatty, charismatic peddlers, he had a bag of freshly fried 'doughnuts' sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar in one hand, and a bag of spiced sweetcorn in the other. Even through his thick leather gloves, he could feel the heat of the treats seeping through.

The central plaza was bustling, couples arm-in-arm with each other, and groups of friends gathering with cheerful cries and greetings. Byleth paused to drink it all in, a small, barely there smile flitting across his face. It was rare for him to witness such unabashed happiness and peace - if only Fodlan could be like this, instead of being mired in war...

As that thought crossed his mind, his gaze finally settled on Shez waiting by the largest tree in the plaza. His friend had his head tilted upwards, smiling at the overhead lights with an expression that... made Byleth feel a little odd, briefly, like a fluttering in his belly. It left him breathless for a moment, staring at Shez...

...

...and frowning as he stared down at the bags of treats in his hand.

Maybe the smell was making him hungry?

Nodding decisively to himself, he beelined for Shez, weaving around people until he was close enough to comfortably call over to his friend without needing to raise his voice much.]


Shez, I'm here - with food.
feminae: (pic#16724363)

we’re part of a batshit fandom, it’s all good

[personal profile] feminae 2023-12-16 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
[ Eren Jaeger. Now this is a surprise.

She looks at the pasty he’s referring to, but doesn’t make any motion to take it. Not when her last memory of him is of his voice moments before she’d come to on that basement floor. She’d heard bits and pieces of what had happened to him, thanks to Hitch and Armin, but she’d still found it almost impossible to reconcile the Eren Jaeger she’d known with the Eren Jaeger that wants to destroy humanity. There is blood on his teeth, red against the white, and she isn’t sure if she’s making it up. Maybe she’s finally lost it.

Just in case, because she knows what an injury can mean for people like them, she flicks open the blade on her ring, ready to cut into the skin of her hand. She can’t beat the Founding Titan, but she isn’t going to go down without putting up a fight. ]


I’m surprised you have time to worry about things like doughnuts, what with all the genocide you’ve been busy with.

[ Her voice is characteristically flat, but there’s a bite to the words that’s entirely new. If he got his way, her father would be dead. She kind of wants to kill him instead. ]
deathblossom: i could think of at the time: I HATE MOTHS (Default)

[personal profile] deathblossom 2023-12-16 02:07 am (UTC)(link)
( Right over her head. Bless you, Botan.

He took her hand and raised it to his lips, setting a soft kiss upon her knuckles and releasing her as he rose again. )
dreamsofwings: (29)

[personal profile] dreamsofwings 2023-12-16 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
[ He doesn't flinch or even move. Self-defence, he tells himself. Only fight out of self-defence. It's a tall order for someone like him, primed for violence, destruction in his blood and body and memory.

He promised, though, and he's already on thin ice with Levi after accidentally slamming everyone into the Paths. No way will he get through any other slip ups so unscathed. Whether or not he wants to fight Annie doesn't matter.

He absolutely does not want to fight Levi, and not just because he'd lose. He's disappointed the captain enough times already, just in this city alone.
]

Annie. I haven't done that yet.

[ This is his endless refrain, the thing he has said repeatedly to everyone, so many times it probably doesn't mean shit. Technically it's not a lie; he has not walked through that hell. He purposefully left their world so he wouldn't have to.

Technically, it is a lie. Time stopped meaning anything to him so long ago. The Rumbling exists in his future, sure, but he knows it so well. He's already done that. There was never another way out.
]

It's been more than a year since I was back in the nightmare we lived in.

[ That, at least, is entirely true. ]
greedyvixen: ([manga] what did he just say??)

ii

[personal profile] greedyvixen 2023-12-16 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
[That voice. Sounds so familiar but no, it can't be him. There's no way. That's impossible after all this time. Rin hasn't seen Shirou in, what, two-ish years now between being in prismatica and here? Probably something like that.]

Oh, sure it's really easy--

[Maybe he's not even asking from Rin, but she answers with a friendly and happy tone anyway like she's about to have so much fun teasing someone with that answer!!

But once Rin spins around and really looks at who's asking that--

It's like everything stops for a moment. No way! Well, whatever, he's probably Sakura's boyfriend again, right? From before that arm thing happens to him, right?!! Why is she so fast with convincing herself about that? It's not even working as well as she thinks it should work.

She stares at him, surprised like a deer in the headlights or something like that.]


W-When did you arrive?
rollcharisma: (34)

[personal profile] rollcharisma 2023-12-16 03:57 am (UTC)(link)
A couple of months now. I'm assuming you just got here. [Considering the building she's just exited.]

It's strange, I know. More than strange.

But...this world isn't so bad. Compared to our own, the difference is...just unbelievable.
sheezit: (s8b)

[personal profile] sheezit 2023-12-16 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
[ Entranced by the Christmas lights as he is, Shez doesn't take notice of Byleth's arrival until he announces himself, eyes and a widening smile following after his voice. ]

Hey.

[ Not his most eloquent, but every now and then, he'd still get a bit speechless whenever they met up for these... dates? Yes, they were definitely dates, have been since that time they visited the tea house -- or... maybe before then? their timeline of events sure is one large pool of murky waters -- even if they don't call it that, even if Byleth doesn't really get it. For now, there's no need to complicate what works so well for them; it's enough that at least one of them understands the full scope of their relationship. ]

Is that why you're so late? [ A motion of his head towards the bags of whatever treats Byleth had been carrying. ] Usually I'm the one getting lost, you know.

[ For all that Byleth is great with directions, he can get up in his head and entirely lose track of time, huh? Guess that keeps them nicely balanced. ]

They do smell tasty, though... What do you have for us there?
ideel: (10)

Merry Kissmass-the fun one

[personal profile] ideel 2023-12-16 05:24 am (UTC)(link)
[Initially he'd been somewhat distraught when his own kissing affliction had been broken, as he had been greatly enjoying tormenting anyone that tried to help- he soon discovered it was even MORE fun to torment those in need of help.

So here he is, admiring the view.
]

Oh dear, I remember you, the peculiar boy from the beach. It would seem as though you've been caught up in quite the predicament.

Though I will say, it would make for quite the painting for those with an artistic eye.

[personal profile] peopledieifkilled 2023-12-16 07:32 am (UTC)(link)


Tohsaka?!

[ There he goes, turning into a complete tomato because the implications that sit here are making his heart beat too fast for comfort. ]

Ah, well... not too long ago?

heliobullied: (◤ follow me along the path ◢)

Kissmas

[personal profile] heliobullied 2023-12-16 07:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ There's something about this man's manner of speech, and not to mention those TEETH that has her swallowing heavily. He's polite but she feels almost like he might try to actually eat her or something ridiculous along those lines. ]

U-Um... I w-wouldn't want to leave you all alone there without a way to leave...

[ Ah she's feeling nervous again. Please say he's not going to actually do anything bad. For now Huohuo's still here and not backing off which for her is an improvement. ]

J-Just tell me what to do to help, okay?