archishellago | Test Drive Meme #006

KHU IODUAN; TEST DRIVE MEME #006

I. AROUND AIFARAN - Getting The Perfect Shot!

This month in Aifaran, there's a contest being held on the popular social site Xa Xa, which Earth-based Dreamfolk may recognize as vaguely Instagram-like -- it's all about the pretty pictures! With a top (and substantial) prize of 500 hhinn per category, lots of people are getting into the game. Prizes will be handed out for awards like Best Composition, Most Creative Angle, Best Use of Lighting, etc, and this means that it won't be uncommon to see people in unusual places (even some risky ones) trying to score the perfect shot. Maybe they're bumping accidentally into you on the street, or slipping off the edge of a rooftop, or not paying attention to that train heading their way??

II. TALENT IS A MISNOMER - You Didn't Need That Wall Right?

There are a lot of Dreamfolk in the city, and all of them are dealing with their own newly gifted Talents in their own ways. Some, especially those who are used to extraordinary abilities from their own worlds, have some idea of how to train on them safely, learning the ins and outs of their new gift. And then you have some whose only exposure to "magic" is through stories, fairy tales, or really entertaining TV, and pointing a finger-gun at a target and saying "boom!" has never actually worked... until now.

"Uh," the other Dreamfolk says, staring dumbly at the car-sized hole in the wall, and then glances at you who just happened to be the closest person. "That's... new. Yikes. Should we run? Wait, I've got a better idea--" Cue loud voice and frantic pointing in your direction. "IT WAS THIS ONE! THEY DID IT!"

III. WE HAVE REGULATIONS ABOUT THIS - Munga on the Loose!

Munga are ill-tempered, rat-sized spiky lizards with a gift for camouflage, and whose venom in their spines and teeth is also highly hallucinogenic. And... they're on the loose. Fortunately, keeping them is highly regulated, and pretty much everyone in Aifaran knows about them, but loose Munga are uncommon enough that the reaction is more likely to be startled flailing at a hint of spines and skittering. Today someone's exotic pet has slipped out of their hands, and it's trailing a harness and lead as it zigzags away, prickling and hissing and going for the ankles. It's given a wide berth, except by those who don't notice until it's too late or those too preoccupied by something else. Hopefully the proper authorities have been notified to catch and return the creature, but maybe someone helpful can keep it from getting too far away?

IV. A SURPRISE WINDFALL - Officer, This Isn't Mine...

There was a loud thud as someone tosses a heavy bag from the window of a dilapidated building. Five seconds later there’s smoke pouring out the windows and your holding what seems to be someone else’s luggage. Opening it, you find carefully wrapped bricks of some very illegal drugs, and someone down the side alley is pointing at you and yelling. A mounted Sentry officer is giving you a rather peculiar look as well while he calls in the fire brigade. And among the people fleeing the building, there are five Kin’nal looking at you, wide-eyed, as it suddenly dawns on them that they messed up. Take your new prize and split before reinforcements arrive? Try to explain the mistake? Take note that the building is still on fire?

V. KNOWLEDGE IS PRECIOUS - Accosted By Monks

The Tariken monks are out in full force today, their orange and green robes making them easy to spot in a crowd, and there's a high chance you might be approached by one. Their sect values knowledge above everything else, so recording information from Dreamfolk, who are transient to Konryu, is something they see as imperative. Some of the questions are standard ("what's the name of your world? is it anything like Konryu? do have have any special position there?") but sometimes they move into stranger territory, like what's your favourite bath soap scent and how many times you wear your socks before washing them -- all of which are asked with the most studious attentiveness, just in case your answer holds the secret to the multiverse.

VI. WILDCARD - Because You're Not The Boss Of Me

Anything else that doesn't fit the above prompts is welcome, just keep it within the game setting please!

Applications • Reservations • Taken List • Game Navigation

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's quite unnecessary, don't you think?

[It's close enough to the shore for Ventricosus to have retained their form onto land, and their tentacles grip and press at the ground as they make their way over to investigate the ridiculous situation. They don't know Antarcticite, but they can tell immediately what it is they are, and their tentacles extend to one side slightly to form a barrier of sorts between Antarc and the batons.

The Sentry seem a little perturbed at the appearance of a large, fleshy sea-dweller, and Ventricosus bends down, pressing their flesh bags together with their arms to make them look more appealing.]

Can we call this a misunderstanding and move on?

[The Bresilykian and a few of the other Sentry are suitably distracted by appealing display put on by the interloper. Another Sentry gives his eyes a roll. Antarcticite, meanwhile, is regarding Ventricosus with very large, nearly colourless eyes, jaw slack. They were clearly not anticipating rescue by such a strange-looking person, particularly not one that nevertheless bears some resemblance to the other gems of the Land.

After a pause, the Bresilykian at the fore appears to return to her senses, clearing her throat.] There's, ah, there's still the matter of the damage to public property, [she points out, gesturing to the large hole in the side of a nearby building. No one appears to have been injured by the accident, though there are still flames coming out of one of the windows.]

[Antarcticite folds their arms over their chest and juts out their chin stubbornly.] Damage that was not inflicted by me, [they insist crossly.] If you Sentry paid any attention at all to what was going on around you, you'd know that your culprit fled that way-- [helpfully, they point in the appropriate direction,]--after implicating me!

[From the sidelines, someone else chimes in blithely,] It's true, that other guy did it.

[to which Antarcticite can only scowl, further exasperated.] See?

[Suitably sheepish, the Sentry now shift awkwardly where they stand. One eventually peels off from the rest of the group to go trotting haplessly after the other Dreamfolk who had so quickly fled the scene.]

[Ventricosus seems a little bit amused by the proceedings, though she is wondering a little how exactly to work their way out of it until Antarc speaks up in their own defense again. At least they're paying attention now, and Ventricosus straightens up, folding one arm under her flesh bags this time. The other one's been trying to grow back, but it's still only really a small nub just long enough to pull off her earlier showy gesture with.]

And if we're all in understanding, then that means we can be on our way, right? Surely more than one of you should be pursuing the culprit considering how many of you clustered here to question this cute little one...

[She gestures to Antarc somewhat carelessly with her tentacles. There's no real personal investment there but what she feels she probably still owes Phos for what happened between them, but Antarc is still pretty cute, like most of the creatures of bone seem to be.]

[Antarcticite's vindication over being proven right is short-lived--cute little one?! They blush involuntarily, embarrassed, and look furiously to the side until the remaining Sentry members decide to follow Ventricosus' advice and hurry after their recently departed comrade.]

Thank you for interrupting. [Their words are a little stiff and stilted, but they're nevertheless aware that things could have gone quite badly for them without her timely interruption. Antarcticite fidgets where they stand a moment longer, frowning.] I don't understand how they can possibly protect this place from outside threats when they're this incompetent.

[Well, that's a pretty cute reaction. Ventricosus places a hand on their cheek as if observing a small animal doing something adorable as Antarc blushes and tries to move their face out of sight.

They drop it a little at the thanks, though.] Perhaps they've never faced a threat of any meaning. Things of flesh have very different experiences to the creatures of bone like yourself.

[Creatures of bone? Something about the phrase is unexpectedly familiar, and it catches them off-guard--more off-guard than they presently are, leaving them wearing a look of rather naive curiosity as they look back at Ventricosus.]

You mean, [they begin somewhat stiltedly,] you have seen things like me before?

[For a moment, Ventricosus wonders if Phos ever spoke of what their journey into the sea entailed. But for all it's a risk, they did vow to be more considerate of their actions since then, and hiding it would run rather counter to that.]

I met the one called Phosphophyllite once when I was trapped ashore in my smaller form. And saw many others of your kind while I was there, though Phosphophyllite was the only one who knew I had a mind of my own.

[They pause briefly, looking over Antarc once more.] I don't remember seeing you then, though. I'm sure I would have remembered a cute face like yours.

You met Phos...?

[That revelation is enough to make them momentarily immune to the effects of Ventricosus' bizarre flirtation--living things seem especially prone to those displays, they've discovered. They stare back at them with wide eyes, parsing what they've just heard; if they've met Phos, then that must mean--

They point one slim finger at Ventricosus and say, awed,] Then you're from our world, too.

[It only occurs to them a moment later that they still owe an explanation for their absence from the school.] Ah, I looked after the winter duties. During the summer months, I would... [turn into a puddle? no,] ...hibernate.

Indeed. [She doesn't deny it, but Antarcticite's explanation certainly makes sense as to why they've never met. Even considering admirabilis and gems rarely encounter each other, that would make it all the harder.]

I am Ventricosus, king of the Admirabilis. My people live in the sea, so it's rare that we encounter your kind, but it happens. Someone like you, only awake when the sea is frozen over, would most likely never meet us.

[Phos, honestly, shouldn't have met them either, but that had been Ventricosus' fault as much as hers. Phos had had aspirations aplenty that had been all to easy to take advantage of.]

The Admirabilis, [Antarcticite repeats her words aloud, searching their memory for any mention of them during the countless long winters they spent clearing ice floes and looking after the school at Sensei's side. But there is none, and they frown, unsettled.

[And it's been so long since they last met someone they didn't already know--or someone new at all, truthfully, that it takes them another long moment to realize that this is the point at which they are supposed to say their name as well.] Oh, [comes out of them, a little startled, before they square their narrow shoulders and gesture at themselves,] I am Antarcticite.

[a beat, and then, inquisitive,] How did you meet Phos? I hope they were not too much of a bother.

[It's a difficult story to recount for more reasons than one, and Ventricosus seems to consider the question at length before moving to speak on it.]

The majority of my people had been taken by those that live on the moon. Through their machinations, I ended up returning to the land where you creatures of bone live, but in a monstrous form and with little awareness of myself. I believe I lashed out in that form, but once I had the chance to recover to a different, weaker form, I encountered Phosphophyllite. For some reason, they were the only one of your kind who could understand me, so we conversed for a time while I recovered strength.

[It's only really the beginning of the tale, but she figures if Antarcticite wants to hear more, they'll ask.]

Test Drive Meme #006

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