test drive meme #17

[hadrielmods]

Welcome to Hadriel's test drive, and thank you again for your interest in the game! As always, our reserves page is here, and our applications page is here! Reserves open February 22nd, and apps are open March 1st. Please remember that there is an app cap of 20 apps.

Two quick points here as well:

1. Any thread made in Hadriel's test drive will be accepted as the sole Action Log sample in the application.
2. All threads made in the test drive can be considered game canon, either through handwaving or through a shared mental experience while coming through the Door!

Test drives will be broken up into specific god mini-events, during which your characters can see how well they fare under the watchful eye of one of the gods. Choose wisely or just simply pick 'em all, and have fun!

F E A R

SCENARIO ONE: SHOOTING HOOPS
[The Door brings in all that is chaotic and evil in the world. This may include you, may include the person next to you... and may include the monster behind you.

There you are, calmly exploring this super cool cave city, when all of a sudden you see something roll toward you. What could that possibly be? Why, it seems the Door has brought in some hoop snakes, which are definitely real.

Hoop snakes are poisonous and aggressive reptiles, able to pursue fleeing prey by grasping their tail in their jaws and rolling after them like a wheel. Wow, so efficient! Hard to get away from, though, and kind of... terrifying? If you want to get away, you better be a fast runner. Or maybe you should climb something. Good luck!]

S O R R O W

SCENARIO TWO: YOU GOT THE BLUES
[You woke up this morning on the wrong side of the bed. Not the angry side - the sad side. Somehow, everything just seems to be going wrong, and you don't know why. You were out of milk for your cereal, the fruit you picked just yesterday is already going bad, and instead of getting frustrated all you want to do is feel sorry for yourself.

Even the good things aren't going too well. Maybe your friend just told you your hair looks nice today - doesn't that mean it looks bad the rest of the time? Probably. They've just been too nice to tell you. And your crush smiled at you - that probably means they know about your feelings and are getting ready to let you down easy. That's the only explanation.

No matter what happens, your mind is giving you the worst, most depressing interpretation. You can try to fight it and be aggressively upbeat - or maybe you just want to cry on somebody's shoulder. Yeah. That sounds good right about now.]

D E L I G H T

SCENARIO THREE: PUCKER UP
[For once, Hadriel looks rather lovely, all covered in snow and seasonal! Sure, it's not quite the right season anymore, but who really knows what month it is? Not the residents, and certainly not the gods. But for whatever reason, Delight has decided there should be snow on the ground and ugly sweaters in the shops.

And, of course, mistletoe. On your wanderings around the city, you may find yourself under the mistletoe with a friend or a stranger or even an enemy. Regardless of who they are and how you really feel about them, the mistletoe will give you a gentle compulsion to plant a kiss right on those appealing lips of theirs. You can resist if you want - it won't force you - but don't you kind of want to go for it?

This is a mini version of our Kissmas event this month!]

Comments

Toby Daye | October Daye Series

[errantdetective]

Fear

[Toby's a hero. She's faced some extremely weird shit during her time. And she has to say, on the scale of weird shit she's faced, hoop snakes rank about... middle.

Really, she's surprised she hasn't come across something like them before, honestly.

The trouble is, while she's armed and ready to fight any snake that wants to mess, hooped or not, she's also disguised as a human, and humans don't usually carry as many knives as she does. Sure, it seems a little silly to keep up the charade around here, but the Fae haven't remained a secret for as long as they have by being careless. She'll keep her disguise on around humans for as long as it takes to feel like it's not a terrible mistake.

So she runs, trying to either get away or better, get herself and the snake somewhere where she can turn around and fight without fear of someone seeing her.]

Sorrow

[Things that are not unusual: Toby ruining her clothes by getting blood all over them. It's kind of a hazard of the job and a constant fact in her life. Normally, it's an annoyance, but today, even as the should-have-been-fatal stomach wound she received has healed up faster than ever before, her shirt will never recover. Sure, the battle is won, sure everyone's safer now than they were and she is, as always, a hero, but why does being a hero mean she can only have favorite shirts if they're dark enough to hide stains? Why can't she, just once, where a white shirt and not end up with a red shirt?

She sits down next to the monster she's slain and puts her head down in her lap and sobs bitterly, too distraught to even care that she hasn't bothered to put her disguise back in place, and the pointed tips of her ears are poking up through her hair.]

Fear

[deceiving_is_believing]

[Colour Shuuya surprised when he sees a pretty lady running toward him, being chased by what appears to be a hula-hoop with teeth. Looks like she could use some assistance, actually. Sort of. Oddly enough, she seems to be running with more purpose than just trying not to be dinner. He's kind of curious as to what that purpose is. With a shrug, he takes off at a run in her direction, doing his best to keep pace with her to be able to hold a conversation, taking careful note of her details.]

Hey! [He has a broad smile.] I couldn't help but notice you seem to be in trouble. Perhaps I can help you with that.

[He nods his head over his shoulder to indicate the rolling snake problem. This will actually be a cinch as long as she speaks. The rest of the information? He's already got it all.]

Maybe we can go out for dinner when this is over. [He's still grinning like a Cheshire Cat, making passes at this lovely lady while they're in the midst of danger.]

Shuuya Kano | Kagerou Daze

[deceiving_is_believing]

[Three]

Oh, man, Shuuya is totally digging this. Snowmen and angels, starting snowball fights, and ugly sweaters! This place is totally the best. Nevermind that he's away from home and everyone he cares about. He'll play it cool (or as close to cool as Shuuya gets. He's mostly just a prankster). He's found a particular gem of an ironic sweater to wear. And he can't stop laughing at himself about it.

Undoubtedly, he'll be heading around town to harass the populace. Either he's throwing snowballs at you, laughing at your misfortune, or perhaps he's caught you under the mistletoe. He's enjoying being a tease way too much to turn down the mistletoe's effects. So, hey, you can bet he's leaning in to kiss you. He doesn't care what you are.

"Hey, hey, cutie, pucker up. You're Prince Charming is here~"

oh my god that sweater

[unfollowing]

Here Emily is, just minding her business in one of the shops, poking around for stuff to use in her sewing projects, when she turns around to see this rando leaning in to kiss her.

Look, it doesn't matter who you are, and it doesn't matter that there's mistletoe. Mabe she happens to be immune, or maybe her grief over Matt leaving overpowers it. The point is, Shuuya is not Matt, so Emily wants nothing to do with kissing him.

"Ew, fuck off!"

And she aims his shoulders, hoping to shove him back hard.

dylan blake. open heart.

[dylinquent]

( one | fear | i don't feel fear any more, but i can't risk getting mauled )
( Life may have gotten hella freaking weird in recent months, but there's hella freaking weird and then there's- )

What the hell?!

( The giant cartwheeling snake that's heading her way. Dylan scrambles to her feet without hesitation, shifts to one side with the kind of agility simple human adrenaline grants a person - aka, nothing particularly refined, but enough to just escape the rolling jaws of death - and immediately starts looking around.

She doesn't even bother to think twice when she sees a wall that appears climb-able. Is climbable a word? Who knows. She can pull herself up that wall, deal with the grazed hands that come when she misjudges her movements, and worry about the English language later. )

HEY! ( Yeah, you, passer-by who she happens to spot while looking for more altitude. Where's some scaffolding when you need it? That'd make getting away from this thing so much easier. ) CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON?

( Sure. No time like trying to escape creepy impossible snakes to ask about details, right? )

( two | sorrow | as far as the ear can hear, the wave is coming loud and clear )
( It should be easy to live on your own, right? What teenager hasn't wanted to be free of rules and restraints at one point or another, to be independent of all the niggling things that come from parents?

But when your shower breaks and you have no idea how to fix it, that sucks. No shower, then. Just a ponytail. But breakfast, you can't go wrong with toast.

... Apart from the bit where you can burn it.

So, no breakfast, either. And Dylan's mood has kind of sucked since she opened her eyes, weighing heavy like it's the day before her period even though she's pretty sure it isn't. (Ugh, she hopes not. That'd just be the cherry on top of a really crappy cake.) But there's no time to waste on thinking too much, right? A girl has things to do and places to go. Clues to sniff out, because she'll be damned if she's gone through all that work investigating to be stuck in a cave with no resolution to it all.

It's one of the shops that does it, when she finds a notebook filled with coloured paper, sky-blue tearable pages that maybe just seem like nothing but-

They'd be perfect origami bases. )

... Dad.

( And. Well, fuck. She's crying now. In the middle of a shop. Great.

Sorry if she shoves you out of the way to go sob in peace, and sorry if she drops the notebook on your foot when the tears keep coming and making everything shakier. )

( three | delight | so try your best and think about it later )
That... should not be happening.

( Because it's an underground cave. And there shouldn't be snow in an underground cave. While the layers she's wearing keep her sort of warm, Dylan would really appreciate something more thermal than a hoodie right now.

So. Shopping it is.

Well. Shopping. Smash and grabs? Would be so pointless here. Man, Teddy would flip here. You can't really commit a crime if there's no real structure that means law and order. She supposes borrowing someone's house for a party might still count, but does it really if there's no rent or mortgage, no financial transactions to speak of?

Whatever. It's time to find a very fetching jumper. )

Oh my god.

( Yeah, she's gonna need a giggle at this, and to try it on. For irony's sake. You'd so not wear this for real, would you?

... Except for that bit where it's ungodly warm, cosy as anything. )

... Oh my god.

( Okay, so maybe she will wear it.

And maybe she'll also, finally, notice the mistletoe. )

Is it Christmas?

( She's pretty sure it wasn't Christmas back home, but who even knows what calendar this place subscribes to. )

2

[unheeled]

[Dylan got Rita's attention before she started crying, before she dropped the notebook on her foot in her haste to get out of the shop. Dad. What's it like to have a father who cares about you, who you miss so much that the thought of him makes you want to run away so you can sob until you can't anymore?

Picking up the notebook, Rita heads outside to see if she can find this kid.

She does, luckily. (Because maybe Sorrow wants to facilitate Dylan's suffering by guiding Rita and that notebook right to her.) So Rita wlaks right up to her and speaks through the tightness in her throat. She's as surprised as anyone that she doesn't sound as torn up inside as she feels.]

You dropped this.

the TARDIS | Doctor Who

[theoldgirl]

There is an old-fashioned blue police box tucked away in an alley between two shops. It sits there for quite some time, gathering a beautiful cover of crisp snow on its roof and dusted over its illuminated windows. A few improbable icicles hang off the edges of the square roof to complete the look. At some point, the box has also acquired a twig of mistletoe above its doors.

Eventually, the doors open with a creak of old age and a young girl steps out, briefly regarding the mistletoe with a considering look. The TARDIS takes note of the low-level psychic field emanating from it, but decides to leave it up after a moment. She does like a spot of decoration now and then, and it's a perfectly harmless suggestion. If people are going to be affectionate in front of her doors, that makes no difference to her.

She herself is out here for the snow. Previous experience has taught her to pick a cozy, thick woolen dress and coat from her wardrobe room against the cold, and she takes a few steps out into the open street before dropping to her knees and digging her bare hands into the cold substance. She begins to meticulously form perfectly round snow balls, running her hands over the fascinating texture over and over again before placing them in a neat pile. The serious expression of concentration on her young face suggests this is far more a science than fun to her. She'll move on to a snowman eventually.

[antitimelord]

It's such a shame that snow is impossible to walk quietly on, Zagreus thinks to himself when he spies yet another fantastic paint-by-numbers scene he is surely about to ruin. Maybe a running start? The idea threatens to send him into hysterics he should probably examine a little more closely, though a double-handful of snow is no pond, but he discards the notion anyway. She probably already knows. Snow isn't that fascinating, is it?

Well, if she isn't aware, she will be soon, and he means to make sure the realisation is of his own choosing. The snowball lobbed at the back of her head is much less scientifically formed than any of the ones in the neat pile by her side, he notes, with a triumphant grin, but then he'd been in a hurry. His hands are cold and raw, but that was still worth it. Is this what people generally feel about this kind of wintery...whatever? He'd always found it pretty well detestable in most ways, but this is fine; hands aside, he feels something better than warmth. He shrugs, mentally, unwilling to question it further, and unaware there might be any reason to.

Terezi Pyrope | Homestuck

[drubbings]

>SHOOTING HOOPS

[ Terezi has perched herself on top of a rock cropping watching the weird snake things roll around chasing other people. She seems to be in an observing mood, rather than a helpful mood. If she wanted to risk her skin getting into a fight with what was essentially a less cool looking lizard she'd need some sort of incentive. For now she watches, throwing a rock up and down and catching it every time. ]

Psst, I will give you this cool rock I found if you're willing to try and get it trough the slitherbeast's middle.

>YOU GOT THE BLUES

[ This was shit. She could not remember ever feeling this despondent. Not after her eyes healed, not after Gamzee. This was truly a down moment. She had wandered blankly through the city without really watching where she was going. She finally arrived at one of the burnt temples and sadly looked it over. ]

Well, jerks do get their just rewards.

[ Usually she'd be gleeful at someone who deserved the gallows hanging from them, but right now all she felt was sad. ]

>PUCKER UP

[ She doesn't get the reference. But that's okay. It's truly the ugliest thing she could ever imagine. Just the fact that Dave would probably be moved to tears seeing it was enough for her. She caught someone staring and let out a hair raising cackle. ]

Look, it lights up.

[ She pressed a button on her cuff and the lamp does in fact light up. It was ugly and she was very proud. ]

Zagreus | Doctor Who, Big Finish Audios

[antitimelord]

Fear

It is a very interesting dark cave city, and Zagreus is as buoyed by the prospect of exploring it as someone else might be by a peaceful and beautifully tended garden. It's chilly and alien and bracing, nothing but the ring of his footsteps on hard ground and a sort of aura of entropy. Why be stealthy when he seems to be alone? Not that he's always committed to avoiding notice anyway.

It's an incongruous level of something suspiciously like good cheer, which is why it should surprise no one, Zagreus least of all, that something immediately happens to upset the balance. Something bizarre and as yet unidentifiable is zipping towards him, and that wasn't the kind of notice he'd been open to drawing at all. The fast-moving URO (unidentified rolling object) is revealed to be...a kind of ouroboros? Well that's plainly nonsensical, and Zagreus is offended, as well as running away. How didn't he notice the underlying crackle of extrinsic fear, before? It's so much something he should be sensitive to, which really just adds to his disgruntlement and doesn't subtract from his nervy trepidation one bit. If the thing would just stop rolling, maybe he could try to reason it out of its nonsensical existence, but since it seems disinclined, he'll have to find some other more tenable means of escape.

woop woop

[skelebro]

Being chased down by a sentient ouroboros? Yeah, not Sans's idea of a good time. Weirdly relevant to his life on top of everything else, so he sticks to lounging on rooftops, safely outta the way of most of these...thingummies.

(That's the scientific term, mind.)

He catches a human-lookin' fellow scrambling to get himself outta the way of one of said perpetual loops, and he's gonna blame Papyrus for rubbing off on him, for the instinct that has him blipping into space just a ways away.

"You doin' all right there, pal?"

He's suspectin' the answer is "no," but it never pays to make assumptions.

ned wynert | assassin's creed syndicate

[trainspotter]

one. snakes
[Was the "underground cave city" thing not strange enough without loopy snakes? Honestly, there is nothing quite like minding your own business poking around and doing some cave sightseeing when suddenly a vague prickling fear starts to spread from... somewhere. Ned looks up, first; he's never been in a cave before but he's heard they sometimes collapse, so if anything is fear-worthy it's probably that.

But no, it's—it's snake wheels. He doesn't actually register them as snake wheels until one with bad aim whizzes past him, and alright, it's time to get the hell out of here. There's a lumpy cave bit worth climbing on, and so he's going to climb it.

Problem: he's short. He can't climb because he can't reach. Spare him, snake wheels.] —Goddamn it!

[Ask for help?? That would make sense, wouldn't it. And yet.]


three. something something holiday spirit
[Ned likes Christmas, he does—or whatever this is supposed to be, since it's Christmas-y but off just enough to be decidedly not Christmas. Not a problem; he's still wearing an appropriately ugly sweater, which he thinks is absolutely incredible, and he's having a decent day until the kissing compulsions start coming on.

Kissing strangers is way beyond his pay grade—so the obvious solution is to start bargaining every time a kiss seems imminent. He holds up both hands in a gesture for the other person to wait and let him explain the terms and conditions.]

Let's make it worth everyone's while, shall we? One kiss, one favor, owed by you to yours truly. I'm open to suggestions, but the favor is non-negotiable.

[Or they can just stand here and awkwardly resist, that's cool too. That's an option.]

3

[owllergies]

[Being a person of hideous sensibilities, Onni kinda digs the sweater, even if it's a dangerous-ass train. Not so much the words he's hearing. He could really do without that, if the way his nose wrinkles is any indication.]

You're making a joke. I've never met you -- [his kisses are worth more than owing someone else a favor] -- and you must be eighteen!

Jacob Frye | Assassin's Creed: Syndicate

[queensberry]

TWO | Top Hat Trouble

[Jacob Frye was probably the least sad person one could meet on the surface. He's the kind of guy that would see you frown once and take you out for breakfast, lunch and dinner. He'd break a man's face for even remotely inconveniencing you. He'd give a hug. He gives great hugs.

But when Jacob wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, he's just not up to doing any of those things. His hair did not look nice today, and he's covered in a pretty sweet top hat. The problem? He's even began to doubt his fashion choices.

And he's abruptly grabbing your arm in a vice grip over it. Why you? Why not literally anyone else surrounding you two? You're left to suffer his very Important question.] Top hats are still... in, aren't they?

THREE | Ho Ho Hoe

[And where Jacob should question his fashion choices, he's much too smug. Adorned in the most obnoxiously cheesy sweater, ribbon shining bright in the lamplight. He's unintentionally stopped below mistletoe and found himself making eyes at passersby, winking when he catches eyes. He's winked at you about three times.

He's not the best at wooing. Or jokes, as you might find.] Would you like an order of Jacob Fryes? I'm at your service. Anything you like, on me.

WILDCARD

[Be gentle. He's a sensitive assassin.]

[sweartoyou]

[Oh, we're being pulled around. It's one of those days... Ray looks up at Jacob, mouth set in a pout but eyes remaining just as dead as ever -- not even this overwhelming sorrow can turn them baleful. Which is really just a depressing cherry on top.]

Top hats...? I don't think so. [Sorry, bro.] I don't think most people wear hats at all. I wonder why they stopped...

[Hmn, her arm is going to bruise. That's probably fine.]

Ryan Atwood | The OC

[angstfree]

FEAR; why did it have to be heights?

[ There’s been more than one time in Ryan’s life where running fast has come in handy, but murderous snakes...that’s a new one. Assuming he ever gets home, he’ll never skip another soccer drill again. He gets lucky and finds an easily climbable section up to a study rock ledge, well above the snakes. At least, it’s lucky until he makes it all the way up and realizes just how high it is. ]

Shit. [ He pushes himself away from the edge and looks over to whoever was here first. ] Any idea how long we’ll be stuck here?

[ He doesn't sound too freaked out, but his voice is notably rougher from strain and fear. ]

DELIGHT; a very merry...kiss-mukkah?

[ Delight isn't the first feeling that comes to mind at the display. Annoyance? That's more accurate. Needless to say, there's no ugly sweater or other holiday-appropriate attire to be found in Ryan's wardrobe. He wouldn't bother going out at all if he had a choice. But, a man's got to eat. Even the novelty of snow wears off quickly. By the time he gets to the store, he's cold and grumpier than he can remember being in a long time.

Which makes it the perfect time for that compulsion to hit. He hasn't quite noticed the mistletoe itself, yet, but he's certainly paying attention to whoever is next to him. ]

Hey.

WILDCARD

[ Open for anything! ]

Delight

[deceiving_is_believing]

[Shuuya's been minding his own business. ...Mostly. ...Okay, not at all. But he happens to be enjoying this snowy weather. He's leaning against a wall, admiring the scenery as he gives the other residents a break from his harassment. He looks at the other man upon the hey.

...Really? Is this guy for real? It's taking Shuuya everything he has not to bust out laughing. Okay, sure, he'll bite back. He puts on the most decent smile he can manage.]

Well, hey yourself. What's a good-looking stranger like you doing in a place like this?

Xavier Martez | Original Character

[somekidyouknow]

i. FEAR

[What had compelled Xavier to explore a cave of all things (city or not) is beyond him. But, there he had been, walking around in the darkness, and the moistness - gross. Nothing any more out of the ordinary than usual, he'd noticed. Of course, that was until a bunch of sentient hula hoops started barreling toward him.

[But, wait a minute. Are those fucking snakes. Really fast fucking snakes. Suddenly he is scrambling, spinning around on his heel and booking it on some latent instinct he didn't know he had. Then again, he had never been chased by pretty much anything before, let alone...these things.

[Luckily, there happens to be a ledge not too far away, and with upper body strength that is truly shocking to him, he manages to hoist himself onto it and scramble as far back as he can, just barely avoiding a bite on the ankle from one of the serpents.

[He collapses onto his back in relief, chest heaving with partially panicked and partially exhausted breathing. He doesn't even notice someone sitting next to him on the ledge as he curses to himself.]

What the actual fuck was that?!

ii. SORROW

[There's no real reason for it - then again, there never really is. Xavier is no stranger to waking up on the wrong side of the bed - feeling drained, empty, cold, and lonely. It's a miserable feeling but, unfortunately, not an unfamiliar one. But today seems to be particularly bad. You can probably tell just by looking at him, slumped over on a bench with his elbows on his knees. He's been there for about half an hour now maybe. Not talking, not even looking up, and certainly not noticing anyone walking by.

[What a shitty day.]

iii. WILDCARD

((Ooc: Hit me up with anything!))

[sweartoyou]

[It isn't surprising that she goes unnoticed, with the state Xavier is in and how she's curled her knees up under her chin and hollowly watching the scene below. After a beat, she concludes,]

A snake that acts like a wheel.

[She's helping.]

ardyn izunia | ffxv

[daemonized]

ONE;

[Ardyn’s seen a lot in his time — objects and experiences both sorrowful and exhilarating, ridiculous and even terrifying. (Though less and less ever found themselves falling into the latter category these days.) These snakes, using their own bodies to roll furiously towards those unfortunate enough to stumble across them… well. Even the ex-Chancellor couldn’t quite decide what to think of them.

Fear certainly was not part of the equation at any rate. To a man with certain talents like his, they were easy enough to avoid, almost laughably so, and it’s with a disturbing amount of flippancy does he find respite on a ledge high above, with a spacious, even plateau for him to stand.

He hums in faint amusement, looking down at the the stubborn creature. It repeatedly runs into face of the ledge, only to bounce off, roll around in a wayward circle a few more times, then repeat the process. Unrelenting, maybe, but not awfully clever.

Anyone who happens to be below, probably having the worst timing in the world and thus stumbling across the snake, may or may not get some annoying commentary from the man. And anyone who happens to share this “safe zone” of a high ledge with him receives no conversation, not yet, not with Ardyn’s back turned to them for now.]

TWO;

[One might wonder if he can even feel anything akin to sorrow anymore. Another lifetime ago, perhaps, the emotion would have been sharper, more potent, more debilitating. Now? It’s a ghost of what it once was, the long years having turned sadness into resentment, self-pity into an endless reserve of sadism.

But today it threatens to creep into his mind, clawing at his skull, and Ardyn Izunia deals with it in the only way he knows how to, these days — with a sharp grin and a pinch of apathy, his exterior less faux amicable, instead laden with more dangerous edges, and a colder detachment from those around him.

He’s found the Armory today, you see, having already plucked a plain spear straight from the wall. Its weight and balance are similar to what he’s used to, though the differences are enough to not ignore; and yet, that’s not the reason why he’s taken it. Dramatics. It’s always about dramatics with this man.

The long end of the spear hits the ground, a resounding noise as he hears the footsteps of someone else approaching. He grins, though he hasn’t yet turned around to look at who it might be.]

What an extensive gallery of pain they have here. [If that’s not your clue to maybe rethink your life choices at this point and leave, then bravo, you headstrong soul.] This one seems particularly sharp, doesn’t it?

ONE

[mercurio]

[this is one time prompto will regret trying to put himself out there to help others. the snakes are a terrifying sudden plague, but he manages to go around them, guns in hand--only to find a ridiculous one attempting to climb atop a high ledge. it doesn't seem to be working out too well for it.]

[he's a fast runner, so he hasn't had to worry too much about them yet. this one, at least, seems to be way too focused on the prey it can't reach.]

[it's when he looks up to see who is fortunate enough to be considered its prey, that prompto feels his blood run cold.]

You--!

[his hands are shaking, but do give him credit: he raises his arms, guns pointing at the chancellor. prompto doesn't know if this is reality or fantasy, but he would rather not take any chances. (prompto knows he won't be able to pose any kind of threat to this man in his quite recent state of mind, but he just doesn't want the chancellor to get any close to him.)]

steve rogers | mcu

[starspangled]

delight:

[he used to really hate the snow. of course that was back when the cold didn't have much trouble sinking into his bones, even if he'd had a warmer coat and shoes that didn't have holes in the soles of them. now the sight of snow just brings back memories, some of 'em good, and some of them not so good.

the mistletoe is another matter entirely. steve recognizes the little sprig of it hanging above him, but he doesn't have any memories associated with it. these days people would probably have to tip-toe instead of bend down to kiss him, but is that really such a hardship?

for a moment he looks like a deer caught in the headlights, but then steve gives a lopsided smile.]

Looks like someone thought of everything. Maybe we should go caroling next.

fear:

[steve's not afraid of snakes, but it's the first time he's ever seen snakes like these. he does run when one comes rolling after him, but only until he spots a beam protruding from the corner of a building.

he jumps up, grabbing the board and flipping over so that he ends up behind the hoop snake after it rolls on through. steve makes a grab for it, the reptile snapping and almost getting him a couple of times before he manages to grip it by its tail and behind its head.]

Easy, pal, before someone decides to make a belt out of you.

[and that someone might be steve. but until then, he's looking around for something to put the thing in.]

Hey, can you grab that trash can for me?

[he nods in its direction, drawing his head back as the snake tries for another strike.]

wildcard:

[your scenario here!]

delight, lol

[wipedclean]

No.

[He's not caroling. You can't make him. But Bucky's teasing just as much as Steve is, before his smile fades a bit and he sighs.

Bucky has mixed feelings about Steve being back. On the one hand, he really appreciates having someone else around who really understands what Bucky went through and has his back. On the other, Bucky still feels like there's a crippling weight of expectations coming from Steve about who Bucky is supposed to be when he's not that person anymore and never will be again. And he's still figuring out who he is, so having Steve around, waiting to get his best friend back... it's not particularly helpful.

But running from it isn't generally helpful either. Bucky tried that already. Look where that got him.]

It's the wrong season anyway, not that the gods care.

emily kaldwin | dishonored 2

[honores]

fear

[ These beasts are not so different from the many others that plague their world. For years, she'd heard tales at Sokolov's side of the kinds of things found across the Ocean on the Far Continent, the kinds of things that made it impossible to colonize and which laid waste to anyone who dared tread on its grounds. Within their own borders there are deadly animals enough: rats and hagfish, river krusts and - now, apparently - blood flies. All vicious and with a taste for blood, with no mercy or regard for whoever might step unwittingly into their paths.

Comparatively, these serpents are... almost tame. When she first encountered them, the unseated Empress moved quickly - too quickly for the naked eye to see, standing one moment in the hoop snake's path, and crouching high above it on a ridge in the next second. Beneath the silk tied to her left hand, the mark of the Outsider pulsed faintly. Very faintly. Maybe this place is beyond even his reach. She watches the animal run its course, having missed its prey, and then she's upon it, slicing clean through from side to side.

Emily Kaldwin straightens up, wipes off her blade, and moves on. ]


delight

[ The traditions here are just as strange as everything else within Hadriel. Emily catches sight of the sweaters in shop windows as she passes through the city, head down, as always. Her boots flatten the snow with a crunch for every step. She tugs her coat around herself a little, made uncomfortable by the fact that she's been able to walk from one end of this place to the other without seeing a single poster bearing her face, name, and alleged crime... or having anyone shriek at the sight of her, alerting the guard, risking her life.

No. These days, things are snow and a quiet sort of peace. She almost smiles, reaching up to brush her fingers along the mistletoe that is hanging from above a doorway. Whatever its meaning is, it's... odd, but quaint.

She'd traveled to what she believed to be the edge of the world, but now, that world seems so much wider. ]

Hmm... [ Dark brows come together in a faint question as she stares, still, at the greenery above her. There's something about it, something... almost bewitching. Something suggestive, but - of what? Her tongue darts briefly across her lips as she considers it, entranced.

What in the world is this? ]

Delight

[surgent]

[ A pious man, though the Outsider knows there is no such thing as a truly pious man, would steer clear from the mistletoe, the words of the Abbeyman springing to mind, warnings of witches and curses and hexes. He would turn heel with wide eyes and then rush to inform the Abbey or the guard of such a suspicious sprig: a curse, he would tell them. Perhaps, even, he would blame the pox he'd gotten from the young woman on the street corner and no one would be the wiser that he was cheating on his wife and spending his money on a disease he will spread.

But that man is not here, only Emily Kaldwin, an empress whose throne was stolen from her.

He watches with dark eyes, legs crossed in the air. When some time has passed, when Emily has given the greenery as much attention as she can, does he finally speak. ]

A gift from a god, but a gift so few desire. [ He floats in the air a distance away, glossy eyes curious and knowledgeable all at once. Even from his distance, he can feel the sweet compulsion that accompanies the bright sprig. ] Get rid of it.

[ The words are more suggestion than demand. ]

Mikoto Suoh | K Project

[lionhearrt]

Fear

[ A wildfire appears and at its center stands Mikoto, hands casually tucked in his pockets as the swarm of hoop snakes continually attack him only to burn up on impact with the red aura leaving no blood, no ash, and no bone. ]


Delight

[ Mikoto is sleeping on a bench beneath a shady tree. He's been there for some time and quite content to stay there for longer until the sound of a nearby voice catches his attention. ]

..........

[ His eyes slowly open to catch sight of the stranger probably just figuring out their current predicament. ]

You're loud.

[ And some people are trying to nap their troubles away. ]

[Delight] -Yelling!-

[fracturedbeauty]

[Colour Yukari surprised to see the former Red King. From his time, Anna is the new Red King. Not that he's been around for months to notice. Still, seeing a dead man walking - Er... sleeping - is quite the surprise. Yukari's not certain he'll be recognised by him, either. Especially now that he wears an eyepatch over his missing right eye. But still, this could be worth the antagonisation values.]

Mikoto-chan, is that really you? [An airy chuckle.] Loud am I? So sorry for disturbing your peace, Former Red-King-chan~

[He's not sorry.]

Katniss Everdeen - Catching Fire

[whoiamnot]

Fear:
What the..?
She's watched the recording - and a strange, flat recording it was, rather than the holographs she was used to - and she'd digested it. A new world. Yeah right. Katniss didn't buy it for a minute. It had to be some sort of trick from the Game Makers, some sort of plan to lull them all into a false sense of security, before they unleashed some new horror.
Katniss had set off at once.
She needed to find Peeta and the others - Beetee and Finnick. Not Johanna. She needed to find out if the plan had worked. She set off - but she hadn't gone far when she heard a peculiar noise, a sort of shuffling soft slap. She didn't even look behind before she started to run, the occasional grunt escaping her lips as she moved as quickly as she could.

Poe Dameron | Star Wars

[gotyourselfapilot]

Fear Why did it have to be snakes?

[ The cave was really nice to explore. One of Poe’s many adventures lead him to the inside of a cave. That place certainly was interesting, the people there very religious over their egg. A small smile creeps across his lips as he recalls that particular mission. That mission alone was very long to complete but well worth it in the end. Poe glances around the cave look taking in the ledges, how deep they go in, or how tall they are. There seemed to be spots that could be climbable.

As he continues on, he notices something goes rolling past him while hissing. An eyebrow slowly lifts upward. Something in that matter generally doesn’t happen everyday. He hears another one coming and moves to the side. But he didn’t expect the next one to be coming faster. Poe glances behind him to see several of these hoops advancing on him.

The hissing sound was the concerning part along with how many of them. There was at least six all different speeds. Poe makes a break for it as he dodges one of them coming his way. The dodge isn’t the most graceful since he almost loses his footing. But he gains balance as he starts running. ]

What kind of monster is that?

[ He dodges another hissing hoop that rolls on by before starting up the side of the cave. Poe grabs hold of a rock and another trying to pull himself up. There’s a hissing hoop near, it’s getting closer and closer. He’s just inches away from pulling himself up onto the ledge. Maybe a little help would be appreciated? ]

Delight

[ The weather hadn’t been fun for Poe. He was used to a much warmer climate before showing up here. As much as the snow looked pretty Poe would rather stay warm. The clothing options that the stores had wasn’t what he thought he would be wearing. So, he would be dressed in an ugly sweater, but as plain as one could get. The only thing ugly about it would be the rough material followed by the zigzag big pattern design in the colors of black and brown. It probably looked awful from far away. But he would make due to continue staying warm outside.

Poe though couldn’t help himself to look upwards at the mysterious looking plant that’s hanging around places. What exactly is a mistletoe? He is underneath an overhang that he was passing under. There’s a press of his lips as something of an inward emotion springs up. Why was he suddenly thinking about kissing someone else? It is a bit strange at first but he can’t help but give a small hum in contemplative thought. ]

This city certainly full of surprises.

[therewillbeorder]

[What started as a relatively alright day was about to get so much worse for Hux. He was starting to recover from his miserable cold enough he could sufficiently enjoy Kylo's suffering and Anakin seemed to be on his best behavior so far.

But it was still early and he doubted that would last long. He had forgotten about the mistletoe for the moment, he had a list of household items that they needed that he wasn't going to entrust Kylo Ren or Anakin in finding.

The effect of the mistletoe hit him suddenly and he didn't have time to see who exactly he had gotten caught under the mistletoe until his lips met Poe's. Only then did he open his eyes to finally see that he was kissing the Resistance pilot.]

You..

[He couldn't even finish the thought as he turned to spit, trying to get the taste off his lips before he looked at Poe, furious. He was practically shaking with anger, the kiss was just another addition to the list of reasons he wanted to make Poe Dameron suffer.]

That was absolutely disgusting!

jonah | superstore

[minikin]

a. FEAR.

[ God, this cave city is definitely super cool. Super cool in a 'I can't believe I'm actually seeing this' sort of way, though, not in a 'I think I'll stay here forever this is AWESOME' kind of way. Still, Jonah appreciates the finer arts, and he also appreciates history and cool architectural stuff, so he's pretty jazzed as he pokes around, exposing himself to an unfamiliar world.

That is, until the snakes roll up.

Like, literally, roll up. ]

Uh. [ He works at a superstore. Or used to work at a superstore. He has literally no proper training as to what to do against rolling snakes (does anyone, though?). ] Uhhhhh.

[ Best option? Climb. Climb, climb, climb. Jonah takes one wild look around before making a short sprint for the closest ledge he can find, scrambling to get up there and not even a little bit ashamed of the half-hysterical yelping as he climbs. It's only when he's safely up there (read: trapped) that he finally manages to catch his breath and start glancing around for something or someone hopefully not scaly and... hoop-y. ]

Ooookayyy, help? Anybody? Someone help? ... please?

b. SORROW.

[ Jonah resides on a bench, slumped. Slumped might be a bit of an understatement, actually, because his limbs are sprawled this way and that, and he's practically lying across the full length of the bench, soooort of like a homeless person. At the very least, he's an eyesore in a public space. At the worst, he's in the way of anybody who wants to sit down, perhaps being a public menace as well when he lets out a long, pathetic groan periodically.

He usually spends his time looking for the lighter, funner moments in life, but there's no doubt he'll be great at finding the negatives in everything, too. Just try him. ]

b

[unfollowing]

[Another negative approaches Jonah in the form of a wolf. He pads over and sniffs Jonah's hand, while Emily stands a few feet away. Scowling, arms crossed, she waits for Wolfie to complete his inspection before calling out to the guy on the bench.]

So are you dying or just being dramatic?

Eponine - Les Mis

[lutin]

1. Fear:

As a rule, she's not scared of anything. Not strange voices in the night. Not the clanging of metal on metal so indicative of prison, not stealing or begging or the sharp end of a knife.
But rules are meant to be broken, right?
Eponine's scared. She has no idea where she is, or why she's there. She has no concept of technology. And she's never seen a snake - let alone heard of a hoop snake. She runs and runs, panting as she goes, until she finds a wide set windowsill low enough to pull herself up on. She crouches on it, peering down at the creatures.

"Wake up, 'Ponine. It ain't real," she mutters.

3. Delight:

Hadriel is pretty. Eponine finds it a strangely pretty town anyway, but now, with the snow, it's almost like something out of a fairytale. Snow's always been magical.

She wanders through the town, almost in a daze, nodding amiably for a change at those who pass by.

The mistletoe makes her shy. When she finds herself beneath it, she ends up chewing her bottom lip, dirty hands hastily smoothing tangled hair.
"You don't have to kiss me, not if you don't want." But how she wants it. "Except, it's what's done, isn't it? You have to." She laughs nervously.

3. Delight

[shiftgotreal]

"Has anyone ever told you you send a lot of mixed signals?"

Not that Junpei doesn't wanna kiss her. Cute brunette, acting all shy about a kiss- she's just his type. Maybe a little grungy, but it's not like Junpei smells like roses right now either. If his funyarinpa-patterned sweater isn't scaring her off, he really shouldn't let this opportunity pass him by. He winks at her.

"It's a good thing I want to, isn't it?"

Kat | Original Character

[peopleater]

2.Sorrow

[Kat is not the sort to wallow in melancholy. Kat generally keeps a simple mood range based on how long it has been since he's eaten or slept. Kat lives a simple life with basic needs, and generally being sad or regretful is not in the cards.

And sometimes even after sleeping fourteen hours and eating his fill, Kat is still not satisfied with life and not motivated to go hunt down something to amuse himself with. So, instead, he is sitting lethargically against a wall, grabbing litter and leaves in reach to burn in the space of ground between his feet. He’s running out of pocket lint and things in easy burning distance. ]

Unless you have something that needs killing or burning, keep walking.


3. Delight

[Normally, Kat hates snow. Snow is evil and cold and ends up killing people more often than not. This is the nice, crystalline, non-deadly snow Kat secretly enjoys. He grew up in a desert, so snow has always been mythical to him. He until he was in his twenties he never saw more than a light dusting of it. It’s slightly intoxicating to wander through the crunching silence and feel just cold on exposed skin.]

[But Kat does not touch people, and no one touches Kat. When he feels the overwhelming urge to kiss the person beside him, something is not right. Never in his life has the urge to put his lips on another human being been anything but demon hunger. Kat lives and dies on his knowledge of folklore and mythology, so kissing urges under mistletoe? Pretty obvious enchantment. Kat throws a hand up at face level to block any attempts at affection coming his way.]

This is a really good way to lose your lips. Or your whole face.

2. Sorrow

[shiftgotreal]

[This lethargic arsonist, unfortunately, is the most interesting thing Junpei has seen all day. You could say the rest of the city doesn't hold a candle to him. Junpei has a burning desire to know more about him.

...or he's hanging around for more fire-related pun opportunities. Either/or. He digs through his jacket pocket and produces a couple of crumpled receipts from the liquor store and an old gum wrapper.]

Here you go. [He hands over his flammable offerings and takes a seat on the ground across from the guy. It's his trash, he figured he's allowed to watch it burn.]

Junpei Tenmyouji | Zero Escape

[shiftgotreal]

Fear

[Junpei’s running from the snakes, but not at full speed. He keeps turning to look back over his shoulder. It’s easy enough for him to mask fear as disbelief.]

Is that more efficient? [pant] It’s gotta cover the distance of its circumference… Does that make it faster or slower? [pant] Gah, I dunno! Freakin’ math!

[Akane would know of the top of her head, but Junpei’s had a rough day and math’s not his strong point. Seems like a shit way to move around, though.]

Can you even bite like that? [Not that he’s gonna stop and risk it. The way his luck runs, it’ll figure out a way.]

Sorrow

[The day finds Junpei sitting on the ground, curled up in on himself. He’d been walking through the city when the feeling of utter despair hit him. His knees are drawn in with an arm wrapped around him. It’s the closest thing to a hug he’s likely to get…ever. In his other hand, he’s fiddling with a ring.]

She’d never want something cheap like this. Something so flawed…it doesn’t have any place with a lady like her.

[He winds up like he’s gonna throw the ring as far as he could lob it, but stops partway through the motion and runs his hand through his hair instead.]

It’s like…what…for every two couples that get married, one gets divorced, right? Why does anyone even bother? We’re all gonna die alone. What’s the point?

[Oh, is that someone walking past? He looks up and points a finger at them.]

Hey, you. The world sucks. Why are you even trying?

[There’s all this space to just sit down and have an existential crisis. He’s just pointing that out.]

Delight

[Mistletoe seems to be hung in all sorts of weird places. Junpei finds a sprig hung from a lamp post hanging over one of the cracked-up roads. Turning to the person with him, without the slightest hesitation or shame, he whips out the dumbest pun he can think of.]

Good thing there aren’t any cars here, otherwise they might get mistle-towed.

[Yep, this is why he has no friends.]

sorrow

[trainspotter]

[Ned doesn't mean to eavesdrop on people's existential crises, not all the time—but when you're suddenly pointed out and called into one, that's different. He's excused! From... listening.

He still puts in the effort to point to himself and look back and forth, like he's not sure he's the one being spoken to. Who, him??]

Trying at what, exactly? [ha ha, no, okay-] Some of us like avoiding unpleasant surprises.

[Hmm—] Chin up, kid. That rock you've got there can't be completely worthless.

Silver the Hedgehog || Sonic

[futuretense]

SCENARIO ONE: F E A R

During his short stay in the underground, he hadn't been out exploring outside of the city. If he was to stay there for any period of time then suppose that he should get used to where things were at.

"Huh. Wonder where this tunnel goes." Silver said to no one in particular as he headed down one of the tunnels. Unfortunately, he was unaware of the small eyes of creatures that followed him at his heels..


SCENARIO TWO: S O R R O W
Living the world that he did--a world filled with such destruction and desolation--made getting too glum never a good idea. Going down the road of bad thoughts made doing anything more difficult, so Silver always tried to keep his thoughts optimistic in spite of his surroundings.

However, there were those days where one couldn't help but feel down. Today was one of those days.

To circumvent those feelings Silver found the nicest view in the underground and sat in the quiet to try and clear his thoughts. His legs were folded, his head rested on his chin, and he sighed out. It was a little overhang by a field of bioluminescent plants off in one of the tunnels. It wasn't bright, but it was pretty somehow.

"It's such a nice view." He said, the tone not the slightest bit convincing.

Dalboz of Gurth | Zork: Grand Inquisitor

[standardstuff]

01 FEAR

[Learning to stand again is an arduous process.

You can't expect to pick yourself back up immediately after 20 years without a body. It takes time to relearn all the right and wrongs ways to coordinate your physical being, to regain control of your flabby vessel before magic can lend a hand. You're forced to figure it out for yourself, not unlike an infant. All the involuntary processes you take for granted from your earliest memory are suddenly mysteries you helplessly grasp at remembering.

For the first few minutes, Dalboz feels almost as trapped in his own body as he did in the lantern. Confined. A heart beating incessantly in a ribcage, blood rushing through arteries. Thankfully becoming less overwhelmed by these sensations with each moment that passes.

He doesn't know how long he's spent staring, half-unseeing, at his surroundings. Time is of less import to one who's lived as long as he has. Eventually, he comes to his senses. He's standing alone in what looks to have once been an arena. He has the damn lantern in his hand; he woke up next to it. Probably doesn't work anymore. Not that he needs it right now, but he might later. He's not in a part of the Underground he recognizes, after all.

He closes his eyes.

We were at the top of the tower. MAXOV was cast. I said goodbye. Yannick fell.

Elation unlike any he's known rises from the core of his being.]

Oh, thank Yoruk.

[It exits him like a breath he's been holding for far too long. He could faint with relief. Everything is as it should be. Everyone who was totemized--person, creature, or otherwise--is free. The Empire is free. He's free. (He doesn't know how he landed back in his body, but there'll be time enough to work that out.)

The Grand Inquisitor is no more.

Dalboz takes a glance over his shoulder in search of a solid, crumbling piece of ruin on which he can sit and truly take in the indisputable knowledge that magic has been fully restored to the Empire. So absorbed is he that he doesn't notice the odd trail he leaves in his slow, careful footsteps, that of short blades of grass curling out from non-existent soil.

He's having trouble drawing on his powers. Usually they'd be at his fingertips, ready to spring forth. Clearly, something is awry, and he can't guess at what.

...Not immediately he doesn't. But as he sits there, his right hand fidgeting, it dawns on him why he's feeling naked. No, he's not actually naked--he thankfully retained his robe--but his staff is missing. So is the key to the Treasury and other artifacts that were on his person more often than not.

A slightly wry smile, then a nod of understanding. His reign as Dungeon Master has ended. But that doesn't explain his connection with the magic in the air, or the lack thereof; it's tenuous at best. He's in the process of adjusting to having a body again, though. He knows magic has been returned to Zork; don't ask him to explain it, he just knows, okay?

He detects something out of nowhere. A trusty sensation that has never failed him, to which he is very receptive because it's one he can't afford to ignore, for it warns him of something that can't be ignored: danger. He scrambles off the edge of the fallen pillar and tries to hurry toward higher ground; those stands ought to be safer. Once he's there, he reaches out again for magic, failing to make any meaningful contact with it.

Sure enough, there's movement nearby; a small, thin, circular-looking creature rolling this way. ...What is he looking at here? A snake?]

[ooc: For reference, Dalboz is a weird and wonderful hybrid of A and B, and has the appearance of a middle-aged man despite being 150 years old.]

Padmé Amidala | Star Wars

[democratically]

SCENARIO ONE - fear
[It is jarring, the juxtaposition between one moment and the next. Padmé can recall Polis Massa, Obi-Wan, Luke and Leia. And the darkness that had spread through her, until she had closed her eyes. That she had opened them again had been startling, enough to draw a gasp from the woman as she started to rise. Utter confusion is the reigning sentiment as she glanced around from her position on the dusty floor.

Where she is, she has no notion. It is unfamiliar to Padmé as she gingerly rises to her feet. The blue robes shift around her and she rains tiny white flowers upon the ground at her feet. It is for several seconds that she has stood, eyes closed in an attempt to ground herself, before her lashes have fluttered back, only to be greeted with a sweeping view of strangeness. It registers before anything else, the uncertainty of where she is now versus where she had been.

She has no explanation as to why or how this has happened- or even what has happened. Is this some afterlife? Yet- she could feel the steady beat of her heart against her chest, the blood pulsing through her veins. That her emotions are a jumble isn't surprising. Too much has happened, and the knowledge of everything presses up against her. She pauses, eyes closing again, wanting nothing more than to cry, but also knowing that crying isn't going to help her.

Yet, as her eyes sought to adjust to the lighting, she swallows, taking a few steps. These few steps are followed by a few more, before she is moving cautiously through the area. It seems to be a cavern of some sort, eerie in its own way, enough that her already frayed senses are even more heightened. A noise catches her attention, yet drawing her gaze over her shoulder, there is nothing. Padmé lingers for a moment, pausing, yet with a pursing of her lips, she continues down the walkway.

There is is again, and again she stops, looking back once more. Something nips at her, a sense of something there, something that makes the hairs on the back of her neck rise. She tries to gather herself, to calm herself, to find her centre, yet she hears it again. Her steps quicken even as her heart does, and she glances around, seeking for something, anything. Motion from her peripheral vision has her turning, and then she sees it. A creature, one she is not familiar with, rolling towards her, and some instinct kicks in, causing Padmé to turn on the dime. Generally mindful, she isn't, and she may well barrel in to anyone else on the street by accident as she starts trying to put distance between herself and the creature.]

SCENARIO TWO - sorrow
[It seems to be weighing down on her, pressing in from all sides, this sensation. She had woken, slowly, not wanting to rise, shaken from a dream about Luke and Leia, about Anakin and Obi-Wan, and that sense had lingered with her. She had banged her knee getting out of bed, and dropped her coffee pot upon the floor before her first cup of caf. Her dress seemed to have gotten a hole in it, and she could only find one sock.

By the time that had been settled, Padmé had felt like simply returning to bed, yet she had sought to push that sensation aside. It is how she has found herself outside, yet everything seems to remind her of what she has lost. A young couple kisses, so open in their affection, and seemingly so adoring with each other. They appear to be as carefree as they could be. It was never for you to have.

She had ended up ordering a drink from a store, only to find that not only was it cold, but the milk seems to have curled in it. It has been dropped, and she settles instead for taking a seat on a bench, attempting to get herself under control. It is the laughter that echoes to where she sits that catches her attention, and she swallows, hard. You don't deserve happiness or love or compassion. It seems to drum through her body with every beat of her heart until she is tense, gasping for breath, her hand clutching that japor snippet around her neck as if it is a lifeline.]

SCENARIO THREE - delight
[The snow makes the world look pure and clean, as if everything has been swept away. It is beautiful, if slightly odd, but Padmé cannot help but find the beauty in it. A deep breath is taken when she first steps out, feeling the air burning in a pleasant way at her lungs. There is a cool crispness to the air that somehow manages to draw the softest of smiles from her lips. Naboo is far more moderate in its temperatures, and Padmé takes a few more steps outward, feeling the snow crunch beneath her feet.

She can see others out, and a warmth floods her as she watches people play joyfully. Snow balls are tossed, and Padmé cannot help the chime of laughter that does arise when a target is hit. Little balls of snow also seem to be rolled up, decorated with noses and clothing, and Padmé compliments those who have done so. Her own finger trails over a fence, feeling the nip of the cold against her fingertips, but liking how the flakes melt against her fingers. A little bit is grabbed, bunched together, yet she simply marvels at it in her hand.

Those that she meet on the streets are greeted with a smile. She feels lighter than she has since arriving here, since even before that. It is all so lovely and enchanting, that she cannot help but be drawn in by it.] It is beautiful, is it not?

fear!

[fulcra]

[ there's always more trouble here, so ahsoka's always on guard - whether she's actually patrolling for the city guard or not. the... are the snakes? whatever they are this week, they're pretty weak to lightsabers, so it's just a matter of getting to them before they can hurt anyone. especially the human she half-identifies as they turn.

but saving first, confirmation later - ahsoka has one lightsaber out, its blade narrow and white as she darts to one side, around the fleeing woman, then lashes out to slide her blade through the snake's midsection in the middle of its roll. she flicks her wrist, brings her saber through it a second time. it falls, twitches, stills. so ahsoka stands and straightens, turning to take in the woman she's just helped. her expression is half disbelief, half adoration. ]

You alright there, Senator?

papika | flip flappers

[purebarrier]

SCENARIO TWO: SORROW

[ It's no secret that she misses Cocona dearly. Ever since coming to this strange underground cave-- which she had mistaken for Pure Illusion, at first-- she hasn't been able to track Cocona's scent at all. After waking up on the wrong side of the ball pit this morning, she is plagued by feelings of defeat and loneliness, crushing and crippling, thanks to the realization that 1) this isn't Pure Illusion, and 2) She might not see Cocona again. Ergo, she has no idea how to handle this situation, especially when the powers that be are hellbent on rendering her a useless lump of sadness.

She hasn't stopped searching, oh no. She will never stop searching for her dear Cocona no matter where she winds up. However, today she's suffering from some pretty bad separation anxiety that has her uncharacteristically mopey, lethargic. Normally energetic and optimistic on a level that can only be described as inhuman, Papika is singing a much different tune today.

She can be found wandering about the city, pouting and just generally looking miserable. ]

Cocona...

SCENARIO THREE: DELIGHT

[ Snow! Papika loves the snow. It's cold and soft and white and a lot of fun to roll around in! She's been making snow angels, and has frozen clumps of snow clinging to her hair and eyelashes to show for it. The cold doesn't seem to bother her at all, despite not exactly being dressed for this kind of weather? Someone get the poor girl a coat.

At least she's in a much better mood today. She still misses Cocona, but the sadness isn't as crippling as it was the other day. She's simply enjoying the snow, laughing and playing in it regardless of whether or not she can get others to join her. And when she notices the mistletoe overhead... well, she has no idea what that's all about, but she sure does want to smooch you all of a sudden!

So she does. On the cheek. With a big dumb smile. ]

Hullo!

[ we've probably never even met but yes, here's a smooch! hi!! ]

Scenario Two

[kittycaterer]

[ Boy, does this seem like a repetitive state of being. Noctis hasn't been able to feel right since the moment he opened his eyes this morning. From the sudden mood drop simply from rolling over and looking at Lunafreya, to the daily gut-wrench of looking at his father. They're normal shifts, because it comes with their existence, but today it seems to bother him far more than normal. Given that he's been fighting to not fall back into complacency, Noctis decides that leaving the apartment for some fresh air is the only option. ]

[ But there's the fact that nothing in the fridge is promising, nothing in the pantry is promising, and Noctis is sorely reminded of the cushy lifestyle he had even on the road. Life without Ignis is far more terrible than he initially assumed. He can't cook, everything here tastes like garbage, his clothes are garbage. ]

[ It's hard being the prince. And future king. Boo hoo. ]

[ So he trails the streets, hoping to find something at least semi-decent that is already cooked or can be thrown in a microwave and made to be perfect. That's not realistic, but Ignis has been able to doctor up instant ramen before to taste decent. Worth a shot, maybe. ]

[ It's then that he's greeted by a bright flash of hair, belonging to a small girl that seems to be having just as terrible of a day as him. With the remnants of a grocery store not too far by, she's on the way. But Noctis is the type to stop and make sure others are okay, and she seems pretty down. He threads his fingers through the back of his hair, ruffling it when he realizes approaching people never gets easier. But he wants to. ]

Hey.

[ He pauses, lips pressing into a crooked line when his nose briefly wrinkles. ]

You lost?

Georgia Mason | Newsflesh Trilogy

[choosetruth]

Fear

[Georgia has been a journalist for long enough that her instincts are sharp and her draw speed is instantaneous: she has her trusty .40 out as soon as the snake appears. She stops, staring through her sunglasses.]

What. The. Fuck.

[She's dealt with zombies. She knows how they function. She has not dealt with fucking roller snakes. But most things, she's noticed, die with a good headshot, and while she's never been opposed to a strategic retreat, this seems like a good time to stand her ground. She aims carefully and shoots at the snake. It's moving too fast, and too unpredictably, and the shot goes wide. She curses and takes a few steps back, exhaling as she aims. She has enough bullets that she can try again a few times before it's too close and she has to make a break for it. Hopefully, it'll be enough.]

Delight

[Georgia's a smart woman. It didn't take her long to figure out what the fuck is going on with the mistletoe and she sure is not amused. She knows her own mind well enough that she will not be kissing anyone no matter what the mistletoe suggests. She stomps through the snow, glowering through her sunglasses at anyone who dares look her way, and looking, well, the opposite of delighted, really. She's not a very delightful person on a good day.

If she does get caught under mistletoe, she'll be doing her best to pull it down and crush it in the snow. It's all very well for people who enjoy that sort of thing, but Georgia is not interested. Certainly not romantically, and the idea of physically touching strangers even platonically is enough to give her hives. Approach at your own risk.]

delight

[unknowable]

[Kissing isn't on the table, but helping out strangers - well, it sort of is. Not that Adam would go to great lengths, but he was raised to be polite, and when he sees someone who is clearly already unhappy, it's his duty to at least say something.]

Hey - don't go around that corner. There's mistletoe all over the edge of the roof there. It's hard to avoid.

[Just a friendly tip to help someone avoid one of the many horrors of this place. She looks mad, but Adam is not particularly intimidated by angry people.]