October 2022 Test Drive Meme

[folkie]

OCTOBER 2022 TDM

INTRODUCTION

[ TDM Questions ★ Jump to Comments ★ Full Navigation ]
Welcome to Folkmore's monthly Test Drive Meme! Please feel free to test drive any and all characters regardless of your intent to apply or whether you have an invite or not.

All TDMs are game canon. You can choose to have your TDM thread be your introduction thread upon acceptance or start fresh. Each TDM will provide a scenario for how characters arrive in-game that particular month.

Playing TDMs will allow characters to immediately obtain canon items from homes especially weapons or other things they may have had on their person when they were pulled from their worlds! There will always be a prompt that provides some sort of "reward" to characters who complete certain tasks.

Current players are allowed to have in-game characters react to TDMs via the Network or make a log with the prompts. Current players are always encouraged to tag new people on the TDM!

TDM threads can be used for spoon spending at any time by characters accepted into the game.

[ Prompt One ★ Prompt Two]

SHINING

Content Warnings: Possible insanity via freezing. Temporary nullification of abilities.

COLD AS YOU

You were falling...

The world snaps into place all at once; you are laying on the ground, surrounded on all sides by towering bushes that stretch up towards a beautiful sunset sky. The bushes were clearly flowered at one point, but now the flowers have died and all that remains are browning leaves that are beginning to fall. On the chill air you can sometimes hear the sound of music, too faint to completely determine.

As you stand, you are filled with an intense desire to find someone. You might have an idea of who, but chances are you do not - you just know that somewhere ahead of you is someone that you need to reach. Whether they are friend or lover or enemy remains to be seen.

You wander the maze. If you're the impatient type and you have the ability, you might try to fly out but you will simply be vaulted right back down if you do. Something clearly expects you to play by rules which were never actually explained. As you move through the twisting passages of nature, you will notice that there is a frost creeping along the branches on either side of you. This frost brings a deep chill with it, and it encourages you to move faster, to find that nameless person now now now! If you take a very long time to wander the maze you may very well be on the verge of freezing and half mad with the desire to find someone. If you try to force your way through the bushes, the frost will crawl over your limbs and inspire both the freezing and near madness at once.

When you find your Person, the cold evaporates. The air suddenly feels merely crisp, and the leaves on the bushes seem more vibrant. The two of you now can focus on finding the way out - so much easier now - but any sense of urgency will have passed and you may just walk for hours, talking and sharing things about yourselves.

It is possible to solve the maze alone, but it is much easier (and more pleasant!) with someone else.

KEEP YOUR BRITTLE HEART WARM

When you exit the hedge maze you will find a stunning display of lights: hundreds of candles and lanterns decorate the ground and hang from trees, illuminating a clear path over a gently sloping hill. When you crest the hill you can look down and see a beautiful hot spring sprawled out below. It too is lit up by hundreds of lights, all of them glowing under the late autumn sky as it darkens towards night. There are changing rooms where you can stash your clothes (yes, there are bathing suits for the very shy) and bathing stations to ensure that you are clean before entering.

The water of the springs soothes madness and heals physical injuries or any frostbite that may have been sustained in the maze. It also relaxes you, making you perhaps more likely to open up to anybody else present.

The hot spring is staffed by many mice. They don't speak, but they squeak to one another in such a way that it sounds like they are singing - high lilting chants that seem to promise that everything will be okay. They are happy enough to band together to bring you towels or hot tea. The spring is open 24/7, always with lights to fight the cold and darkness of winter.

HIGH STRANGENESS

Content Warnings: Monster sighting, optional violence.

GLITCH

Folkmore has trains and of course the cat bus, but it also has roads, mostly utilized by horses and bicycles. Maybe you're looking for the convivence store, or maybe you just like walking. However it happens, you find yourself on a lonely road at dusk. It is unusually quiet, almost as if the world is holding its breath.

Suddenly you hear the sound of wings. A man-sized creature soars above you, something with huge red glowing eyes. It drops something at your feet: a walkie-talkie. The creature lands some distance away, staring at you, and a thought arises unbidden in your mind:

Help them.

The walkie crackles and you can hear someone speaking, asking if anyone is there. It is another Star Child, brought into this trial as well. They are in danger somewhere nearby; maybe stuck on the edge of a cliff, or trapped on a rope bridge - whatever it is, they need someone else to help them get to safety. If they have any powers, they have been temporarily nullified, but if the rescuer has powers they remain intact. That's where you come in! Using the walkie you must communicate with one another so that the rescuer can reach the person in trouble in time!

But what if you don't make it in time? Or decide that you're not the hero type? Well. The rescue-ee will suffer a terrible fate... for a few seconds. Then the entire world fuzzes and resets, but this time the roles have been reversed. Both parties will remember what has already happened, so if you just ran off into the woods with no intent of helping the first time you miiiight get your just desserts! This process will repeat over and over, people switching sides every time, until someone is finally rescued or the sun rises. Whichever comes first!

If you do succeed at a rescue, you will hear the rustle of huge wings once more. This time you don't see the mysterious creature, but you will find a mystery trunk. Inside you will each find some of your canon clothes and a canon item. Looks like teamwork is rewarded! Nearby, there will also be some unenchanted weapons sticking out of the ground: basic swords, guns, shields, etc.

BAD OMEN

You don't necessarily have to have completed the rescue trial to get some goodies, though! Those aforementioned weapons are scattered all over Folkmore. But if you just go to grab any of them you'd better be prepared to fight; after all, nothing comes for free!

As soon as you have pulled a weapon out of the ground, a tall, man in a black suit and hat will appear from seemingly nowhere and attack you. He has no weapons but he is extremely strong. He's also just really creepy - his face looks like it might be fake, somehow. The only way he can be killed is with a wound to the heart - any other supposedly mortal injury will result in another man in black appearing. It is possible for someone with no combat training to beat these creatures, but they really might appreciate a little help from someone with more experience!

The good news is that they won't mess up your clothes any, as none of these creatures bleed. Because that is totally normal.

Good luck!

Comments

Questions, comments, concerns?

[folkie]

Right here!

jaskier | the witcher (netflix)

[bardicdisaster]

cold as you

[Jaskier begins the walk through the maze at a fairly leisurely pace. Although the air is certainly a crisper cold than where he'd been moments ago, it doesn't begin as enough to cut through his layers. If anything, he's content to take the time to consider this thought that's occurred to him about finding someone else. To some extent, it should be almost expected that he'd want someone along for something like this. Jaskier's never been one to do perfectly well on his own, preferring pleasant conversation greatly over merely mulling over his own thoughts. But even as he finds his own natural drive not to be alone carrying him forward, there's something curious about the thought all the same. Almost as if it were not his own, but rather the result of some unheard whisper...

Still, he finds no distress in that sensation and just mere curiosity. Why should he be troubled after all? It seems like a very odd dream he's having right now and there's never really any harm in odd dreams to be found.

But the thought becomes all the more distracting. Even as he observes the blossoming frost on the foliage around him, he can't really focus on the delicate spidering of ice along leaves or begin to start formulating some poetic way of framing the juxtaposition of preserving something in its final moments in such a transient manner. He can only really think that he needs to keep moving. He needs to find someone.

Especially once it begins to get cold enough that he needs to fold his arms tightly and then tuck his hands as much as he can beneath his arms and then all he can focus on is the way his teeth click incessantly together as his jaw chatters and fuck he is so cold. He is so, so, so cold. His doublet was not meant for this weather in the slightest and was far better suited to keeping him from succumbing to the heat in Posada. Jaskier needs to find someone and he needs to get out of this damned maze that's long since lost its appeal to him. He starts moving quickly as he can, trying his best to outrun the frost. There's the distant thought that he'd like to wake up now from this shit dream, but it's quickly superseded by the other.

He needs to find someone.]

Oh, fuck me!

[He's rounded yet another corner and come across yet another dead end it would seem. Jaskier's breath puffs shakily in the cold as he lets out a disappointed sigh. Part of him wants to do little more than act like a child and throw himself on the ground, and simply let the frost take him! But another part of him, a part that doesn't feel like himself completely, wants to keep going. He stands there in a moment of hesitation and indecision (although absolutely not stillness with how he's begun shivering) between these two urges before he stubbornly opts for a middle option.]

Hello!? Is anyone else walking in circles or is it just me!?

[One benefit of being a bard, one certainly knows how to project. Hopefully, even with as thick as foliage and frost are becoming, someone will still be able to hear him.]

glitch

Erm, well. Not that I'm opposed to helping—I am quite the charitable sort, you'll find—but what exactly am I meant to do about that?

[Jaskier winces a little. He's not certain how the other will likely take it, but he genuinely doesn't mean to necessarily pass off responsibility. It's just more an acknowledgment that Jaskier has been on one (1) adventure thus far in his life that involved any true semblance of danger and wasn't some game of make-believe as children are often wont to play. When it comes to his skillset, Jaskier is quite confident in his knowledge and application of it. This particular situation does not fall within that purview in the slightest as far as he's concerned and he's never had such delusions of grandeur to even consider otherwise.]

I don't mean to worry you unnecessarily, but if you're truly relying upon me for a rescue, you are well and truly fucked.

[Sing them a beautiful song? Tell them a wonderful story? Witty conversation and banter? Jaskier could dazzle them with very little effort. Rescuing from mortal peril? Yes, well. As he said: well and truly fucked.]

wildcard
((feel free to riff on any of these prompts or toss one of the other ones at me! any questions or something you wanna run by me first? hmu via pm or on plurk [rebreather]. also for point of reference, taking jaskier at his babiest and fresh off his first episode in season one!))

cold as you

[demonicbeauty]

[At this point, Ariadne's started getting used to finding herself in completely foreign surroundings. It can be a little scary, but her faith in Thirteen has only grown, over the course of these trials. She's genuinely starting to believe that everything happens for a reason. It's simply her task to discover what that reason is. Fortunately, this goes well with her aggressive optimism. And her intense believe that there is a perfect possible future. It just needs to be found.

Of course, that isn't to say she's beyond irritation. And seeing as she grew up in the rainforest of Deleo, far away from kingdoms with winters...well. She doesn't much care for the cold. And it happens that she was wandering in her leathers, without anything to cover her head, and certainly without a coat.

Rubbing her hands together, she winds her way through the maze, certain she'll find the way out, but rather wishing it's sooner than later. The intense need to find...someone is to be expected, she supposes. Alastrians are pack animals, social creatures. She's always done fine on her own, but never exactly enjoyed it.

Something else that Thirteen has helped her to realize.

Turning corner after corner is getting her nowhere. So her heart leaps up in excitement when she picks out the sound of another person's heartbeat, followed almost immediately by some remark about...fornication?

Well, no matter.]

Hello!

[She has a gentle voice. Bright as a bell.]

Yes! I'm here! I've been...walking about for a bit.

[It's a little embarrassing to be a spy who's gotten lost...]

Shikanoin Heizou ❖ Genshin Impact

[shikanoinheizou]

((ooc: Heizou is coming along to the TDM with about a month of CRAU from Jigoku, purely for the fact that a previous nugget of CR might be apping too. This won't affect his personality at all, but might be the source of a couple of odd comments here and there if the conversation goes that way.))

---

i. Cold as You

Oof--!

[It's that sensation of falling right as you're trying to fall asleep, and Heizou shoots up into a sitting position with a few leaves and twigs stuck in his hair, looking wildly around himself for a few moments before he quietly subsides.]

... Well. [He murmurs.] That was discombobulating.

[And he sits there for a minute, puzzled. He pinches himself. He picks up one of the dead flowers on the ground nearby and peers at it, then looks around himself some more. Looks like Hell isn't that difficult to escape after all, but he isn't sure he's keen on the new location either.

Eventually the detective pushes himself up to his feet to investigate these new surroundings, brushing leaves out of his hair as he goes, and though his desire to find someone is entirely genuine at first it does slowly begin to build to a level of urgency that even he realises is out of character. The chill moves in and he pulls the fabric of his haori tight around him as goosebumps race along his skin.]

Not good...

[Ahh, it's cold, it's cold--... He needs to find...

Who?]

ii. Keep Your Brittle Heart Warm

[It's difficult to turn down a hot spring, especially when you've just spent far too much time feeling like you're about to freeze to death, so Heizou stashes his clothes and doesn't waste any time in stowing his clothes away and dipping himself straight into the warm water.

No bathing suit required.

As the dull aching from the damage the frost had wreaked on his body eases, Heizou feels himself relaxing by degrees. He puffs out a breath and sinks in deeply enough that only his nose and eyes are visible above the water, along with his half-damp red-purple hair, then quickly ducks his head under entirely before coming up to rest at the edge of the spring.]

I could probably get used to this. [He muses out loud. It's relaxing for the moment, though it's only a matter of time before the detective's keen mind is going to start itching for something to investigate.

Heizou stretches his arms out and taps with his fingers, then worries his lower lip as a flicker of anxiety darts across the back of his mind.

Hmm.]

iii. Glitch
(a)

[Heizou does enjoy walking, and as someone with expertise in both Anemo manipulation and martial arts he has no concerns about walking alone. He almost considers this stance as a large shadow falls over him, a vortex beginning to form in his palm that immediately dissipates as the walkie-talkie drops to the ground in front of him. He picks it up, turning it over in his hands, and his expression lights up as he hears a voice coming from it.]

I'm on the case. [He assures the person on the other end of the device, keeping it close to his ear as he starts to hunt for them. They're nearby, so there must be evidence of their passing - footprints, a broken branch, a torn scrap of fabric, a few strands of hair caught on a hedge - and Heizou is just the kind of person to find that evidence.

The young man speaks into the walkie-talkie again, his voice firm and commanding.]

Shout up, let's see if I can hear you. We'll have you out of trouble in no time.

(B)

[Or maybe it's Heizou's voice you hear coming from the walkie-talkie? He sounds fairly calm, if somewhat breathless as he requests assistance from the person on the other end.

When they find him he'll be a couple of metres down the side of a cliff, clinging to the rock with a white-knuckled grip with no handholds available above him to pull himself up the rest of the way. Heizou is a strong young man and usually more than capable of rescuing himself even without any abilities, but he can't climb up smooth rock!

As soon as he spies someone peering at him over the cliff he looks up, puffing out a sharp breath.]

Ah-- Be a pal and find me a rope, would you?

iv. Bad Omen

[The 5'4" detective probably doesn't look like he's up to much of a fight, unless you look closely enough to see that his frame is almost entirely solid muscle. As soon as he has the jitte in his hand the attack comes, and Heizou darts out of the way of the first strike as if the wind itself is carrying him.]

What the--?!

[What the heck?!

Heizou prefers not to fight as a general rule, but the martial arts that his father made him learn as a child do come in handy at times like this. He clenches his fist tightly around the jitte, and the aqua-coloured Vision peeking out of his clothing begins to glow faintly.]

You don't wanna do this--... [He says levelly.] But if you insist...

[A quick look is shot to the person currently with him.]

Can you defend yourself?

v. Wildcard

[Nothing here catch your eye? Shoot me a DM or hit me up at hardtostarboard and we can work something else out!]

Glitch - B

[foundpurpose]

Nope, I’ve got something better. [He stuffs the walkie talkie into his belt. The jet black wings of his armor snap out and he leaps from the cliff.

He dives down and his wings beat to slow him once he reaches Heizou.] Come on, let’s get out of here.

[He’s a tall man with jet black hair, partly pointed ears, and wearing dark leather armor covered in scroll work. And looks rather calm all things considered.] I can hold you and fly just fine.

kaedahara kazuha 🍁 genshin impact

[mapleleaves]

|| cold as you.

( upon arriving, Kazuha opened his eyes to see a curtain of autumn leaves towering over him where he lay. being greeted by a colourful visual of nature immediately soothes any concern he may have: for if the trees and wind are here, he can listen to them. Kazuha pulls himself into a seating position before closing his eyes to try and regain his senses. the elements are beckoning him to rise and follow the maze, as he detects. once he spots it, he can't help but take a moment to survey his surroundings, seemingly far more interested in the foliage than the maze itself. in his palm, he gazes at some of the greenery, truly fascinated ... but as a result of this, he receives a harsh bite of the frost on his hand which makes him retract it. all right, nature, he's listening. )

You really are quite eager for me to find someone. ( yes, he's talking to the leaves. this is just standard Kazuha, honestly. ) Very well. I will listen to you.

( it's a harmless request, after all. calmly, the young samurai heads through the maze, a few paces ahead of the frost that is herding him in the direction of another person. he is lucky to have escaped the brunt of its bite, but he will tend to anyone who needs it. anyone who he comes across ...

... right now! )

|| keep your brittle heart warm.

( a hot spring certainly seems like the most perfect remedy for soothing the autumn chill. Kazuha is used to the elements - both on land and at sea, rendering him mostly undisturbed by frost or bitterness. even still, the opportunity is something he certainly can't turn down. while surveying the spring, he is reminded of Inazuma for a passing moment. although Inazuma didn't have singing, squeaking mice, that's for certain. he finds himself immediately charmed.

ever traditional, after removing his clothing he fixes a towel around his waist, rinsing off before he sinks into the incredible warmth. for a moment, he asks himself why he doesn't do this more often. natural bodies of water are well and good to bathe in, but this warms him straight down to his bones. it even makes him smile, sighing in content while his eyes fan shut. )

... My time as a wanderer has brought me across many sights and experiences. ( a chittering of squeaking interrupts him, which makes him push out a soft laugh. ah, yes, the mice. that's not an everyday sighting. ) But nothing quite like this.

|| glitch. ( i )

( there is no hesitation what-so-ever from Kazuha when he is granted the desire to help another. he leans down and picks the walkie talkie off the floor, delivering a calm introduction as to not panic the person in trouble. )

Do not worry - I am here to help you. ( he surveys his surroundings, trying to memorise any landmarks or places of notice. ) What can you see right now?

|| glitch. ( ii )

( in this instance, Kazuha is the one in need of rescue. and despite everything, he sounds ... calm. surprisingly calm, actually. he is stuck on a cliff ledge, lacking his Vision and therefore rendering him incapable of gliding down. the rocks are too slippery to climb, as well ... but the view is pretty outstanding. he leans back on the grassy ledge, speaking calmly into the walkie talkie. )

My current placement is on the ledge of a cliff ... there is grass beneath my feet. I can see across a ravine so gorgeous, it is an unmistakable symphony of autumn ... the red trees are blazing intensely with a scarlet so passionate, you would think they are on fire ... ( a pause. ) But they aren't on fire. Do not worry. ( Kazuha you can't get inspired to recite poetry in the middle of a rescue!!! )

|| wildcard.

(( ooc: feel free to do something else if nothing grabs you! ))

cold as you (😳)

[descender]

[It feels not so long ago he was solving a puzzle with Kaeya and now he ends up in another one? At least his wings work here, so he extends them out, flying high enough to pass over it when suddenly an invisible and strong force smacks back and into the ground. He is not prepared for that happening at all and loses his cordination.

He crashes right in front of Kazuha, dropping rather hard onto the ground. The impact makes his wings retract as he lies on his back. The leaves that are on the ground are kicked up, flying in the air due to his impact.

Talk about finding a shooting (or is it fallen?) star, Kazuha. Did you make a wish?]

Hngh...

Lady Alcina Demitrescu | Resident Evil VIII : Village

[sanguinarydelight]

Cold As You

Alcina has always considered herself the sort of person who hit the ground running. Even in the days before Miranda, before her glory and splendor, when her own body ravaged itself, Alcina had been confident (Arrogant, some may argue, but she never much concerned herself with the bleating of sheep).

So in this moment, after reforming in a burst of light, and leaving a seven yard trail on impact, Alcina takes a moment to breathe and let the most recent events sink in.

She was dead. Or rather, she had died. She was a little uncertain what her current status was besides 'conscious' (and even that was a gamble; for all she knew she was within the hivemind of the mutamycete).

Back then she'd fallen too, dragging that wretched Ethan Winters down with her. Miranda and her plans had meant nothing, nothing in the face of what he'd done to her daughters.

She hoped he died too. Let him suffer the same as she did, the vile little toadstool that he was.

Those had been her final sentiments as Alcina knew her body was failing her, her flesh calcifying and crumbling. And then there had been the fox and a promise of a second chance.

Oh, what the hell, she had thought. What's the worst that could happen...?

Gradually, she picks herself up, brushing herself off. Flakes of frost scatter in a glittering cloud, and she takes in her surroundings. Some manner labyrinth.

"Oh, how quaint."

There had also been a story, popular in the region she was from, of a little girl who got away from her mother in a tangled forest and the poor lost dear encountered all manner of creatures, and then a witch. Alcina wondered what role she'd play in these twisting corridors...

"Let's see what we have here, then."

She steps inside, the crackle of spreading frost not far behind.

Glitch

Alcina has long since developed a high tolerance for ...peculiarities. When your beloved daughters are three separate hives of flesh-eating insects forming the simulacrum of human women, you do learn to take certain things in stride.

A strange shadowy creature dropping a walkie-talkie into her lap while she's trying to have a nice smoke warrants, at the very least, an imperious and perplexed lift of her brow.

Someone is calling for help, it seems.

"Do be a dear," she says, sounding quite put-upon as she takes a last long drag of her cigarette before snubbing it out, "and tell me where you are. And be quick about it."

She curls her lip into a contemptuous smile at the strange creature.

"Time is of the essence, after all."

Cold As You

[reborneve]

Everything is so cold. Eve is used to the could, very used to it, and yet touching one of the walls of plants near her gives her a momentary bit of surprise. She might have followed the fox from a cold enough place but she had expected to end up in another such place as well.

She remembers in a misty sort of way that she once read a book about labyrinths and mazes. Keep one hand on a wall, follow it -- something like that? Yes, that seemed right. Follow one wall and you're bound to find an exit. Was it an exit she was supposed to look for though? Eve pauses to pull the hood of her cloak up over her head to ward off some of the gathering chill.

What she expects to find in the maze she doesn't know. Is this what the fox meant when she spoke of potential? Would she find whatever mystical potential she seemed to have in here? She hadn't formed an idea of what that potential might look like but she certainly knew it wasn't the woman she eventually runs into, one even she must look at to even before she's come close to her.

Idris Serrano | Original

[lightemup]

[ooc: I'll also match prose <3]

i. Cold As You

[Of all the weird shit that'd happened to Idris, waking up on the ground in the middle of who-knew-where was a new one. Sitting up, he brushed some leaves out of his hair and off the back of his shirt. He wasn't a loner, but he wasn't exactly a social butterfly, either, so when he was overcome with the desire to find someone, he knew something else weird was happening.

He surveyed the sky, the ground, the bushes around him, trying to determine the best way through them. Lifting a hand, he focused on pulling up the flames within him. Fire sputtered around his fingers and then went out. He narrowed his eyes. Of all the times for something fucky to be going on with his powers, of course it had to be now. Right. He was just going to have to do this the old fashioned way, then.

Time seemed to be of the essence with the cold creeping along his skin, so he moved quickly, finding multiple dead ends that forced him to backtrack. Patience wasn't his strong suit, so after a few minutes of what felt like making no progress what-so-ever, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted-]

Hey! Is anyone out there?

ii. Keep Your Brittle Heart Warm

[A hot spring staffed by mice was another new one. Idris had changed into a pair of swim trunks, showered, and climbed into the spring before ever seeing a mouse. Now that he had seen them, he was enamored by them. They were pretty cute as far as mice went and when a couple of them paused nearby, like they were seeing if he needed anything, he gently petted their little heads. The mice squeaked happily before scampering off and Idris couldn't help but smile.

The next thing he knew, a small army of mice were bringing over a cup of hot tea.]

Oh, I'm not-

[Tea wasn't really his thing, but mid-sentence he realized the tea might have been thanks for being kind. So he shut his mouth and nodded, accepting the cup from the mice, who seemed to be beaming as much as a mouse could beam.]

Thanks.

iii. Glitch

[He was two seconds away from attempting to burn the creature to a crisp when he realized there was a voice coming from the walkie-talkie. He still stared right back at the creature for a long moment, wondering if it was some sort of cryptid--mothman?--before stooping to pick up the walkie-talkie.]

Hey, could you say that again? I was a little distracted.

[He was still a little distracted staring down the creature. He had a feeling if he looked away it would be gone and he wasn't sure if that would be a good thing or not right now.]

iv. Bad Omen

[Idris wasn't much of a gun guy, so he passed over a few of those in favor of picking up the wicked looking hunting knife sticking out of the ground. He had about a single second to admire the blade before he was attacked. He made an embarrassing noise and dropped the knife in favor of shooting flames out of his hands.

The fire quickly consumed the man attacking him, but as the stranger was flailing around, another man emerged from nowhere and charged at Idris.]

What the fuck. What the fuck!

[He'd actually felt bad for a second about instinctively lighting the first man on fire, but he was quickly realizing he wasn't dealing with humans here. He also could use some help, because apparently his fire was only getting him so far.]

i. Cold As You

[ferrokinetically]

[ It felt like Lorna had been wandering around this maze for hours. It'd actually been closer to twenty minutes, but the cold seemed to drag each minute out. Everything about this situation was testing her patience in the worst ways. She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her studded leather jacket and for the first time she wished she had a heavier coat. Then again it wasn't like she'd expected to wake up and be dropped into an ice maze. Who would have ever thought she'd miss predictability.

Leaves crunched loudly under her steel toed boots as she made another turn around another corridor in what seemed like a damn circle at this point. The thudding in her heart seemed to slow down when she heard a voice. She couldn't see them yet but she picked up her pace to try to close the distance. ]

Yeah! Damn it's nice to hear someone finally. [ She'd started to worry she'd just freeze out here. ] Keep talking we can't be too far

Grog Strongjaw | Critical Role

[dedoink]

SHINING ❗

I. COLD

[ Grog knows right away he's in a maze. He knows this because, after walking for a minute or two, he's become horribly, helplessly lost. Lost enough that he cries out a great, gutteral yell of rage and frustration over having gotten so lost. ]

WAAAAURRRGGHHH!!!!!!

[ What makes matters worse, is that he feels a deep, intrinsic need to find someone and not be alone in this maze. He starts calling out the names of all his friends. Sure, they've been apart for the better part of a year, but who knows? Maybe they're here somewhere and will know a way out of the maze. ]

Pike...? Vex? Percy...?

[ He goes through their names, one by one... Vax, Keyleth, even Tary. And finally, a desperate hope: ] ...Scanlan?

[ Standing around, calling out for his friends is only serving to make the cold settle into his bones, and he shivers with a deep, teeth-rattling chill. ]

Ohhh, enough o' this!

[ Giving up on trying to find his way out through the twisting corridors of the maze, Grog turns 90° to the right and starts RIPPING, BASHING, and TEARING his way through the maze's walls by hand. Rolling a NAT 20 Constitution saving throw means he can stave off the worst effects of the frostbite for a while, but eventually, even he succumbs to the freezing cold, and is left standing in the middle of a busted row of the maze, shivering and nearly frozen solid. ]

II. WARM

CANNONBALL!!!

[ ...Comes the sound of an 8'7" goliath running and jumping into the hot springs.

He may or may not be buck ass naked.

Hope you weren't trying to stay dry! ]

STRANGE‼️

III. GLITCH

[ Grog doesn't know what a walkie talkie is. So when one appears before him on the road, dropped off by a large bird-thing, with a VOICE coming out of it... He doesn't quite know how to react. ]

...Hullo? Are you there, tiny box person?

IV. BAD

[ Having successfully saved the walkie talkie person and recovered his Titanstone Knuckles, Grog decides to help himself to a random great axe that he finds sticking out of the ground nearby. Of course, doing so summons a creepy, tall man in a creepy, black suit, who then attacks him. ]

Heh... [ He says, knocking his gauntleted fists together and casting Enlarge on himself. ] You ain't so big an' scary!

[ As he doubles in size, Grog hefts the great axe and charges at his foe! ]

WILD ⁉️

[ Want something else? HMU @ millennialfalcon! Will match prose/brackets. Canon point for reference is during the year-long time skip. Please no spoilers for anything past episode 98. Note: Grog has a beard, even though most of his icons show him without one. ]

1

[foundpurpose]

[And that is when Vax finds him. He slips out of the shadows and doesn't bother to glance around for traps or trouble. Grog needs help fast. He skids to a stop in front of him and stares at the destruction behind him.] Welcome to folk, Big guy. Come on, let's get out of here.

I know bar that you'd like that probably isn't far. [Now that they've found each other the cold is broken. Heat floods in as if they're standing in a spring day. He blinks and shakes his head a little.]

Damn place is a lot like the fae wild. Tell you on the way out.

Dorian Storm | Critical Role

[makingmyway]

I. Cold as You

[ Dorian eyes snap open with a start and a gasp, like suddenly waking from a dream. He stares at the sky for a moment, trying to process the strange events and conversation that took place what feels like a lifetime ago, but most likely was only just a few minutes. Eventually he slowly sits up, brushing stray leaves from his hair as he glances up at the towering bushes.

Something isn't right. There's an ache in his chest, and the fact that he's alone somehow just isn't right.. His feet seem to move forward on their own, and as he starts along the path before him he just knows that he has to find...someone.

It isn't easy, though, the longer he finds himself wandering what he soon realizes is a maze. His first instinct is to lift up into the sky, but as soon as he rises over the hedges he finds himself thrown back down to the ground. But walking doesn't really seem to be getting him anywhere either, expect probably even more lost. And the chill that seems to be following him, pushing him further on is certainly not helping his nerves.

But even as he starts walking quicker, he picks up the faint notes of music on the wind. It's a small comfort amidst the urgency of finding someone else, but he holds onto it anyway, and follows the music as best as he's able to.

Music has never steered him wrong before. ]

II. Keep Your Brittle Heart Warm

[ The bright display of lights are such a welcome contrast after the icy ordeal of the maze, and the hot springs in particular are so inviting that Dorian immediately heads for it. Honestly, he probably would have taken a dip in the springs anyway, but after nearly freezing in the maze he's even more eager to just sit and relax in the warm waters.

And after pulling his hair up into a messy bun on the top of his head and cleaning up a little (and finding a sufficient suit - he's a bit shy, but not shy enough that he isn't showing some skin at least), he steps into the nearest pool and immediately seems to melts into the warmth of it. ]

Now this is perfect.

III. Glitch

[ Dorian can't help hesitating for a moment, keeping his eyes on the creature before him even as he slowly bends down to retrieve the walkie talkie at his feet. The thought passes through his mind, but even as he holds the device in his hand he can't help wondering for a moment if this was some sort of trick or a trap. It could be possible that this creature was trying to lead him somewhere dangerous for some nefarious purpose, couldn't it?

But the voice on the other end...could he really take the chance and not help them? ]

...Hold on. I'm on my way.

IV. Bad Omen

[ He had an axe now, at least, but he did miss having his sword. So he doesn't think much of grabbing one of the swords that seem to be laying around town. But as soon as he does he catches sight of the suited man, and just barely avoids as the figure rushes at him. ]

Oh, come on! Really?

[ He looks like he'd probably be okay in a fight, but he wouldn't turn down some help. ]

V. Wildcard

(( Feel like something else? Go for it, or hit me up at usamichan13 to plot something! I'll match prose or brackets, whatever you prefer. Canon point for Dorian is just at the end of ExU: Kymal ))

doriaaaaaan

[keepcalmtaryon]

[Oh, this is perfect. Just grand. A daring rescue over a pit of spikes was on his list of things to do.

....

Except he was supposed to be doing the rescuing, not the other way around!! So Taryon is wriggling, nervous, and utterly confused as he wakes to find himself suspended over said pit, with a talking box tied to his bound hands.]

Er, yes please! Whoever you are, if you could hurry, I'd appreciate getting down...!

Jayce Talis | Arcane |

[defenderoftomorrow]

⚒ ↠ COLD AS YOU | CW: anxiety and light paranoid thoughts.

[ There are a lot of unanswered questions swirling through Jayce's mind, about the world he finds himself in, about the kind of magic that brought him here, and about the people he's left behind. All those anxious, racing thoughts take a backseat when the pull of the maze claims him, and all he can focus on is the pressing need to find another soul and the creeping chill.

Jayce isn't very fond of snow, not since that day in his childhood when his mother and he ended up trapped in a storm and only survived thanks to a passing mage teleporting them to safety. The low temperatures had still claimed two of his mother's fingers, lost to frostbite, and Jayce had always resented cold weather. He would have already tried to escape the frost even if it were the normal kind, and not this ever-present chill, seemingly hunting him.

He tries to memorize the turns he takes, and how long it's been since he entered the maze. Time and time again, he finds himself lost, his thoughts jumbled, and the desperation to find another person the only thing close to a coherent goal. Jayce makes the mistake of leaning against the bushes to catch his breath, and then the frost viciously forms over his right shoulder, almost as if it's a living creature. It makes his deep-seated hatred for the cold spike and the uneasiness feel almost suffocating.

He jerks away from the leaves so fast that he stumbles and falls through a nearby opening...and collides with someone. Jayce, being nearly 6'3 and built like a tank, it's not light nor small. And so there's a big chance that the meeting ends with them both on the ground. Which doesn't seem to be a big concern to Jayce at the moment, because the anxiety gripping his chest seems to finally ease. ]

OH! There you are. Hi, I've been looking for you.

⚒ ↠ KEEP YOUR BRITTLE HEART WARM

[ There were hot springs in his word, especially in Ionia, but it was not something common in Piltover, and Jayce has never visited one. However, the promise of some proper warmth and cleanliness after the upsetting experience in the maze was too tempting to ignore. Maybe if he has a moment to himself, he would be able to focus properly and think of a way to go back home.

It was a beautiful place, and Jayce took a moment to admire the lights and colors before getting changed and showered. He might do forge work shirtless but Jayce's sense of decorum was still too high to go into a hot spring fully naked, so he is requesting one of the offered bathing suits. And since there's no one else, he finds himself asking...the mice.

He has to give the little creatures credit, they are very serviceable and very cute. The problem is that they also have questionable taste in fashion. Two of them are holding up folded shorts that not only leave little to the imagination but it's also extremely gold. ]

Yes, thank you, that's what I need but... Do you perhaps have something a little less...flashy?

[ The mice stare at him, then chitter at each other softly. One of them disappears into another room, then it comes back a couple of minutes later with a different kind of swimsuit. This one is, thankfully, a discreet navy color. It's also a thong and Jayce feels all the blood rush to his face. ]

Actually, I think I'll take the gold one. Thank you.

[ No one saw that, right? Right. He might die of embarrassment.

A change of clothes and a quick shower later and Jayce is finally getting into the warm water of the hot springs, gold swimsuit and all, and trying not to meet anyone's eye. ]

⚒ ↠ GLITCH

[ The winged person is a little ominous-looking, but Jayce is used to seeing all sorts of unusual creatures in Runeterra. Frankly, to him, while strange, they simply look like a Vastaya. If anything, the walkie-talkie is more confusing, he's never seen this sort of technology before. But it doesn't take more than a second to understand what it is for, nor does Jayce plan on wasting much time.

It might be a trap, but it seems too convoluted. Surely that winged creature could have jumped on him before Jayce could react instead of asking for help. Which means someone's probably really in danger. Picking up the walkie-talkie, Jayce speaks as he looks around, trying to see if there are others nearby. ]

Hello? Ey, can you hear me? Are you injured? Or trapped somewhere? I might be close.

𝄞 ↠ WILDCARD

[ If you'd like to do anything specific, please feel free to send me a PM, contact me on Lylith, or hit me up with a starter of your own. Brackets or prose are both fine, I'll adapt to the format o7]

COLD AS YOU

[ferrokinetically]

[ Alright, at this point Lorna was getting moderately sick of getting tossed into some maze somewhere and left to fend for herself. First it was the house and now it was this frozen land of ice. It was hard to tell which was worse, especially as the paranoia started mounting. She already teetered on the edge of paranoia on a good day. As she moved through the twists and turns she found herself wondering when a monster would come out or when the leaves would come alive and attack. She wouldn't put it past this place to make even leaves dangerous.

She made vague attempts to pull the studded leather jacket closer around herself as if that would somehow block out this cold. It wasn't working. Lorna had started to get how this place worked by now. The only thing that would work would be finding that Person she was so desperate to locate. There was a fear that she wouldn't find them and that the cold would finally catch up with her. That fear was mounting with each icy step until she collided directly with another. He was large enough to cause her to stumble back landing flat on her ass much to her chagrin. She winced but a pleasant calm began to wash over her. ]

Yeah...[ she took a breath now that she could finally feel the anxiety leaving and looked over at the person she'd evidently been searching for. ] Didn't think we'd end up crashing into each other but beggars can't be choosers can we?

Malleus Draconia | Twisted Wonderland

[hornton]

[Cold as You]

[The trial Malleus was now facing was the first which his raw power alone couldn't solve. In his centuries of living, nothing had the audacity to test him so, and honestly he didn't quite know how to react at first.

After flying didn't work, he took his true form and tried to simply charge through the hedges. Only to get a face-full of unpleasant cold. He did not like The Cold.

Between that and this uneasy feeling forced upon him, he did what any respectable Fae would do in the face of such a rude welcome! Throw a tantrum. So there would be a large dragon barrelling through the maze, his oncoming presence easy to notice beforehand due to the roaring and smoke.

He will awkwardly freeze upon being made aware of another's presence once he notices them.]

[Keep Your Brittle Heart Warm]

A.[The largest pool at the spring may seem a bit lumpy and shallow in spots, with some odd rock with a pair of holes in the middle.

After his cold spell, Malleus decided the best course of action was to sulk in the warm water, basking in it like the lizard he is. However he's completely submerged himself, save for the tip of his nose, so the unobservant may mistake him for a rock.

Sit with the dragon?]

B.[In the same nature as above, but in his humanoid form. He is still pouting and broody, but content to bask in the warmth of the spring.]

[Glitch]

[The voice that comes over the walkie-talkie is almost eerily calm, carrying a hint of amusement over the whole situation.]

Before I come to your rescue, you must first make me a promise.

[Bad Omen]

[Ah, weapons on the ground generally implied a battlefield- with these weapons seeming fresh... well, who was he to turn down such an invitation? He will cast a look at the company next to him with a grin.]

You had best take a weapon. I suspect we are not alone.

Glitch

[servicenyan]

[Son of a... does this look like the time to be striking deals to save his skin.

But still. He can't just agree. For all he knows, this guy is someone under Dark Blue that wants to kidnap Anzu.

So with a struggling grunt to try and get a better grip, he pushes the button and asks:]

What kind of promise?

[Trying not to sound nervous about falling to his death. Where on Earth are his powers? Why can't he transform?]

Laura Kinney | Marvel 616

[anesthesia]

♟ I. Cold As You

[ This was not right. One moment she was falling and the next she was sprawled unceremoniously on the ground. Pain shot up from her rear to her upper back and her expression twisted in what could only be described as disgust. Pain was not something she felt. Not for this long. Something was wrong. For some reason the chill of the air actually made her skin prickle. That should not happen. The cold should not bother her. The unfamiliarity of this maze should not bother her. She should have been able to track her way through it with ease.

But she could not.

Something was wrong.

Even more wrong was this feeling gnawing at her insides urging her to find another. There was a Person she needed to find. The need was almost bordering on desperation. Why did she feel this? It was unfamiliar to her. She needed to move faster. In the back of her mind frustration mounted both at the loss of her powers and at this feeling of need. Want. Something else entirely unfamiliar (desire?). Then she heard a sound. The sound of someone trampling through the brown leaves on the ground. ]

Who are you? [ Her voice is cold. Precise. It is not precisely a demand but it drifts close to it. Strangely though a part of her feels strangely exhilarated at the idea she may have found that Person.]

♟ II. Keep Your Brittle Heart Warm

[ While others may seem eager to relax in the water, Laura stands off in a corner of her own. Her arms are folded across her chest as she watches others like a hawk. It might even seem like this 5'1" little girl is cataloguing every person that comes out of the changing room and every person that relaxes themselves down into the water. The outfit she has on might even make one think she went into the changing rooms herself. She did not. The sports bra and leather pants had simply been what she had been wearing. It was a uniform. A perfectly practical one.

In addition to watching the patrons of this hot spring Laura's also keeping an eye on the mice. An eye also like a hawk. Not that it seems to bother the mice in the slightest. No, they keep singing their happy little chants about everything being okay. One of them even has the gall to bounce up to her to offer a towel and some hot tea to her. ]

Go away. [ Though she does...take both the towel and the tea.... maybe she's warming up to it. ]

♟ III. Bad Omen
CW: Violence, a lot of violence.

[ Wolverine had a well known quote, "I'm the best there is at what I do. But what I do best isn't very nice." That quote was just as accurate for his daughter as it was for him. Laura was the best there was at what she did, but what she did was the opposite of nice. The weapons were not something Laura needed but they were suspicious. One resembled a katana similar enough to a blade Wolverine held that it drew her eye. If it had been any other blade she would have ignored it but this one...

Well, mistakes were made too late to stop them. As soon as the blade was released the man appeared and attacked. Laura dodged his attack with something that could only be seen as a supernatural quickness. Her first instinct was to go for the jugular vein. A claw came out of her foot as she kicked up, severing it in a precise and fluid motion. Only for another man to appear. At the same time her heightened senses picked up the appearance of another. ]

Do not come closer. [ Whether or not the person who had arrived could fight mattered little to her. She could handle it alone. She balled her hands into fists and two claws popped out of each hand as she prepared to fight. ]

Cold as You. Also excuse the icons. I haven't had this account paid in ages.

[ninetieskid]

[Jubilee was frustrated. Frustrated and annoyed. The cold was bone-deep, and she shouldn't even be able to feel it anymore, yet here it was. It was strange, feeling something that was just a part of you, something you'd come to accept as a piece of yourself...and having it stripped away. Not ever feeling cold was one of the few perks of being a vampire, after all. The lack of her enhanced senses was probably more pressing, but nobody ever said her priorities were good.

You should be used to this by now though, Jubes she told herself, trying not to think about the last two times something like this had happened.

There was something else, too. A lack of a someone, a bit of emptiness she knew she had to fill. The sound of boots crunching on gravel and leaves up ahead drew her onward, the frustration shifting to gradual excitement as she followed the sounds. The excitement bubbled into an actual smile when she realized who she'd stumbled across.

Putting a hand on her hip, Jubilee smirked.]

Just the coolest chick you know.

James Moriarty (Ruler) | Fate/GO

[divisors]

(ooc: Moriarty is coming with around a month of CRAU from Jigoku, no major changes, but he may reference some things that happened there.)

A. COLD AS YOU

[Someone is stamping through the maze, ever impatient - he's quite a sight for eyes. Not sore eyes, though - the appearance of this young man is ostentatious, to say the least, what with his vivid blue eye makeup surrounding abnormally dark eyes, military-style outfit complete with long blue cloak and shoulder pauldron. His face is pinched, obviously displeased, and with a sweep of his hand, he turns a corner, and points directly at whoever he sees.]

You!

[He is ignoring the sudden change in temperature, his voice still curt, authoritative.]

Come with me posthaste. I won't spend a single moment in this place any longer.

[Follow the....clown man?]

B. HEAL YOUR BRITTLE HEART

[The man known as James Moriarty is...not getting into the hot springs. In fact, he's staying a good few feet away from it, arms folded.]

...This could be a trap.

[He seems dubious, though he keeps casting a glance towards the others inside, in a way that almost seems a little shy.]

It seems too good to be true, yes...?

C. GLITCH

Look. Look. I'm not one you call to help in these circumstances, exactly...

[Says the young man, British accent clear and curt as ever as it crackles through the walkie talkie. Hi.]

But I am one to put my mind forward when needed, so-! Well. Wouldn't happen to have any math equations around there to solve, would you? Most likely not. But seriously...what's going on?

[He is NOT used to playing hero, so....stay with him.]

[Orrr....maybe you're the one calling him? If so, a certain glam rock nerd is reacting with a hissed and very irritable:]

What IS it? Who are you?

WILDCARD

[You can DM me at this journal or hit me up on plurk @ vampirize! Throw any starter you want at this nerd! Also, if you do NOT want Lostbelt 6.5 Traum spoilers, please let me know! Moriarty will likely not talk about what happened there, but just to be safe if you want to avoid all references to it!]

glitch

[maserannas]

( The relic has been hard enough to get her mind wrapped around, and now there's... whatever that is, hand sized sort of? Crackling and dur-ruurping and with a voice speaking through. She presses her back flat against the cliff behind her, stretching out a foot to drag the whatever-it-is, the voice box, the communication crystal that looks nothing like the ones she knows, closer. Pressing buttons with her toes, and she won't recommend that as a way to go about this, she manages to eventually get one that makes a light appear, which means what he first hears is: )

... no explanations for how any of this technology works, just some stupid assumption we're going to understand it in time? Fen'Harel's knobby kneecaps, how is that supposed to help anything?!

( ... Hello, Moriarity, you may wish to let her know you can hear her now. )

xiao ( genshin impact )

[quellen]

COLD AS YOU
[ the cold, the pervasive desire for companionship, the drive to find someone-- none of it should bother him. he's a yaksha. he's the yaksha. and yet he can't escape this maze, and he certainly can't deny the detrimental effect the cold and isolation are having.

so when he turns a corner to find someone else there, his hand shoots out before he has a chance to stop it, fingers curling around the other figure's wrist. a heartbeat passes, and he inhales sharply and jerks his hand back once more as if burned, stepping swiftly back. ]

I.. apologize. [ if he looks like a ruffled bird, well, he's not accustomed to much physical contact. ] I don't know why I did that.


YOUR BRITTLE HEART
a.
[ just because someone talked or bullied xiao into descending into the sprawl of the springs doesn't mean he's indulging in them. he's still fully-dressed, arms crossed and expression closed-off, looking as if he's one wrong move away from teleporting away entirely. ]

There are too many people, [ he decides, shifting on his feet, but then a mouse is practically shoving a robe into his arms, and xiao fumbles to keep from dropping it, looking uncharacteristically baffled. he's not exactly accustomed to being treated so.. casually. ]


b.
[ evidently he was finally talked into the springs, or else the humidity had enough of an influence on him to convince him to risk it. either way, there's a slim little figure in one of the most distant pools, mostly obscured in the water. he doesn't quite look relaxed, because he's xiao, but he doesn't seem too disturbed when another figure appears, apparently intent on joining him.

he does straighten slightly, though, already beginning to reach for the edge of the pool. ] I will allow you your privacy. [ mostly, he doesn't want to risk harming anyone that remains in close contact with him for too long. ]


[ ooc; voicetesting!! idk what i'm doing and it's.. fine. feel free to prompt with something else if these don't work. ]

COLD AS YOU

[descender]

[So, Aether's first attempt at getting through the maze is simply flying over it. That was a bad idea as he just got launched to the beginning and fell in a huge pile of leaves to break his fall. So now he's doing the maze the old fashioned way. It's cold, and there's this growing desperation to find someone; a feeling he's familiar with as he's felt it with his sister.

It's getting colder, and Aether wishes he had a friendly pyro slime to hug or something. The cold is making it harder to focus. His thoughts are racing as he turns the corner, and that's when he feels something warm grab his wrist.

He goes to turn to see who or what it is and he sees someone he knows very well. He's actually avoided saying his name out loud if by chance somehow it were to bring him here.]

Xiao? What are you-[He shakes his head at the apology and takes a step forward.] It's fine, you don't need to apologize. [Finding Xiao, that anxious feeling of needing to find a person fades away so suddenly. Did Thirteen do this intentionally? Most likely. Such a coincidence seems unlikely.] Let's get out of here. There's strange magic and forces here so we should try to find a way out as quickly as we can.

Aoi Shibuya | Tokyo Mew Mew Au Lait | Legend

[servicenyan]

..::|| Cold As You ||::..

He remembered collapsing to the ground, being greeted by rain on their return from the desert, and... Yoyogi's kiss, that might have been a little too passionate for good measure. His cheeks grow red as he tries to shake off the thought. But it's not rainy here, and it... doesn't quite look like the same ground he was on before this mess. As he looks at the sleeping bushes around him, and up to the sky. Is that... music? What weird place did he get stuck, now? He peeks to one side, then the other.

No signs of his friends.

He really hopes this isn't some illusion cast by Chai again... He doesn't have the will to deal with that twice in one day. He brushes his fingers on the bush as he picks a direction to start wandering in, and then... He feels a weird ping, like he needs to seek something out. Maybe the Mew Aqua? No, it seems he needs to find another person. Maybe it'll be one of his friends. All he knows is that he has to follow that feeling.

He notices frost growing where his fingers were just seconds before, and he feels himself shiver for a moment. Shoot, this is going to be harder than the desert, isn't it? He hugs his arms around himself tightly. Now would have been a great time for Hiroo to be of assistance. Turns out Iriomote Cat genes don't like the cold after all. So, with what stamina he can muster, he starts running through the passages, fast as he can, but it never takes him long to have to stop and catch his breath again.

What a time to not be athletic. If this is one of Chai's illusions, he's going to be so mad.

He tries to keep walking, occassionally regaining a small burst of energy to start running again, and he bolts around a corner to crash... into you!

With his stamina spent as much as it was, he falls to the ground with a very audible oof!

"Sh-shoot! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean too!"


..::|| Keep Your Brittle Heart Warm ||::..

....

He doesn't know what he was expecting at the end of the maze, but a hotspring was not it. Especially not one run by mice. (And for a moment, he silently, frantically prays that the Iriomote Cat genes in him don't get tempted to eat the little guys. And thankful that no such urge responds.)

Despite how bizarre the place and circumstances may be, he finds himself all too willing to get into the hotspring. Oh, and how blissfully warm it is.

He turns himself to rest on the edge of the bath, watching the little mice run too and fro to provide services for everyone. A handful of them manage to bring him some tea.

"This is... really cute," he says, not to anyone in particular. But as they squeak to each other, he does turn your direction.

"Any idea what they might be saying?"

Look, he doesn't speak mouse. And it might be wild to think someone else does. But you can't just make assumptions of normality in a world as strange as this.


..::|| Glitch ||::..

It's dusk, in a place he's not familiar with, without anyone from his homeworld....

Yea, he'd call this a pretty bad set of circumstances. Sigh.

Although, he supposes it could be worse. But he probably should get home. Or... to shelter? He's not quite sure how he feels about claiming this place as "home" yet. Either way, if it gets too dark, he might not be able to find his way back. So he turns on his heel to start heading back the way he came. Only to be startled by a creature with wings that flows by him. He blinks, wide-eyed. Maybe it's Ayato? With the sound of wings. But those glowing red eyes dash those hopes much too quickly. Maybe it's an Anima? Though it's not as big as the ones back home...

He has no idea. But the walkie-talkie that falls at his feet starts to speak, asking for help.

Can't go one day without being a hero, huh? Extra sigh.

He looks back at the monster.... err, thing. ...Person? that flew by. At least it doesn't seem intent on attacking him. He can't help but stare at the walkie-talkie, knowing he probably shouldn't abandon it. Even if this isn't his homeworld. Against his internal struggle to just go home, he resigns to what comes next, barely glancing around to see if anyone else is watching. (And trying to ignore the flying creature).

"Mew..." he hates this so much, and he has to fight back another sigh. "Mew Mew Metamorphose!"

And in a flash, he transforms, as ready to do this as he ever will be.

"Passionately, grandly, I'm boiling over! In full gratitude, I'll be of service, nyan!" he says devotedly, posing like a cat.

And this is why he makes sure not to do this in front of anyone. This is so embarrassing... But he figures powers might be helpful, whatever the scenario.

Right away, he grabs the walkie-talkie and pushes the button. He hopes they didn't hear his embarrassing catch phrase (maybe the walkie talkies malfunction or something? He doesn't know.)

"I'm here; I can help. Where do I need to go?"

eda ¤ owl house ¤ ota

[harageous]

Cold As You

( talk about a rough landing.

eda had hit the ground hard enough to leave a sizeable divot in the dirt, almost deep enough to swallow her whole. in just about any other situation, she would have found it impressive and admirable. well, no. that's a lie. she still thinks it to be impressive. she's fallen from the sky enough times to know a good hole when she sees one.

but this is no time for admiring holes. that could come later.

she's more concerned with the sharp tugging in her chest, an insistent need to find . . . someone. she couldn't say who, not for the life of her, but she knows that she needs to find that person and she needs to find them right now. they're nearby, she's sure of it. she's sure, she's sure, she's sure. except—

eda doesn't find anyone. not until the chill has already started racing up her limbs, the cold sinking into her very bones. it's only then, after she's dashed around the maze for far too long, that she finally runs directly into someone else. she hits them hard enough to send them both reeling. )

Is it you-?!

( she demands as she stumbles, although not entirely sure what she's asking. )

Keep Your Brittle Heart Warm

( here's the thing: eda doesn't really understand human culture. especially not mimicry of human culture as performed by overly organised wildlife. while she thinks that a bathhouse run by mice is nothing short of adorable and fabulous, she's also cold.

incredibly cold. she can barely feel her fingers beyond piercing pain kind of cold.

the mice squeak in protest, following after eda's heels as she proceeds to ignore every single bit of protocol or signage. what she does she need to do any of that for? what does it matter?

it doesn't.

as such, eda marches right up to one of the hot spring pools and immediately drops to the ground. she dips her hands in first, ignoring the way she's getting her sleeves wet. )

Ahhhhh. This is the life, isn't it?

( she sighs, already starting to feel better. )

You Didn't See Anything

CW: MOUSE EATING MENTION

( ugh.

not that it is anyone's business, but sometimes eda has to make concessions for the owl beast that lives within her. it's a bit of a give and take thing. a push and pull. it's nothing pretty, but it could be worse. eda has been starting to get used to it well enough.

which is really just a roundabout way to address the fact that eda had eaten one of the mice employed at the bathhouse. she thought that she could get away with it, but she'd been seen.

one of the mice squeaks furiously, hitting eda in the leg with a stick. )

What? No! How could you accuse me of such a thing?

( she lifts her hands defensively.

then gestures towards herself. )

Look at my face. Does this look like the face of someone who'd do something like that?

Wildcard

( you're welcome to hit me up with your own prompt if none of these work for you. or just admire hole. )

Cold as you

[servicenyan]

[A maze isn't ideally Aoi's idea of a good time on a normal day. But it sure would feel a lot more pleasant if he didn't feel like it was another of Chai's illusions. (He still can't be sure it isn't; conversations with the fox be damned. Everything feels wrong.)

Still, he too has to follow what tells him to find another. He's trying desperately hard not to think if the other Mew Mews back home can stop Chai, Mocha, and Latte from eliminating humans, or keep Anzu away from their grips. He's not thinking about it, he's not thinking about it. Nope. Why can't he stop thinking about it?

He hopes the other person will be a way home.

And then he's crashed into, knocking him over and onto the ground. He can't decide whether to sigh or say ow. But looking up at this lady... huh. She definitely looks weird. And not RDA-genetics weird.]

Uh... Maybe? [Or maybe he should disagree. She might be accusing him of starting this mess.] I'm stuck here just as much as you.

[There, that should clarify.]

Technical Boy | American Gods

[twatter]

A.) Cold As You

What the fuck.

[ It's uttered under his breath -- breath that escapes in a visible clouded huff. Tech Boy is averse to nature on a good day, but this isn't a good day and as he stares at the sunset sky, an overwhelming sense of confusion and awe grips him. He never thought he would see another sunset. And yet there it is -- clear and so seemingly real, something he had taken for granted throughout what he could remember of his life. It staves off the cold temporarily as his hand lifts to trace the line of colored clouds. ]

Fuck.

[ His hand drops and he sits up suddenly as another realization dawns. Sunset means evening is about to hit. And without a flashlight or GPS or the ability to rip a hole right through time and space to get where he wants, he'll be completely and utterly boned in the dark. Who knew what sort of creatures came out at night in this weird ass place.

Grabbing a fist full of crisp leaves, Tech Boy crunches them in his hand and starts to leave a trail behind him as he wanders. No sense of what he's looking for. No clues as to where he is. All he can rely on is his technological abilities. He reaches out for any device, any electronic, hell even any AI -- pinging anything he can find. It's frustrating that the radius seems limited -- like he can only sense what is extremely close when typically he can sense an entire country's worth of technology. But it's better than nothing, and it helps him to navigate to another person. Which is the point, isn't it? Finding someone else. Breathing a sigh of relief, he approaches. ]

Thank fuck I found you. Hey, you have any idea where we're even supposed to go?


B.) Keep Your Brittle Heart Warm (cw: reference to drug use)

I don't...

[ The words die on his tongue as Tech Boy isn't even sure what he's about to protest. Bathing with strangers? Accepting whatever aid the sentient mice are offering? Because they are sentient, right? They might not be talking full on words, but they might as well be with how they seem to know exactly what people are asking. Frigid fingers swipe over his face as though he can rub reality back to some semblance of normalcy. But no. The sentient, singing mice are still here -- still offering a towel with their little mice hands. ]

Damn. Whatever I'm on right now is real fucking strong.

[ He wanders woodenly toward the changing area -- and yes, he will take a swim suit thank you very much. The only reason he's doing this at all is because his balls feel like they're about to freeze off if he doesn't warm up quick after all that wandering in the maze. Full of suspicion and paranoia (and maybe a degree of shyness), Tech Boy takes up a corner furthest away from anyone else -- sinking down in the water. The spring itself seems to wash away his worries and after a moment, he's feeling slightly less suspicious of his company. ]

Hey. So. What's the deal with the fox?


C.) Glitch

[ Technical Boy might be a god, but a hero he is not. When the walkie talkie drops to his feet, he stares at it for a moment or two. Eyes drift back to the figure then down to the device then back again. Eventually, though, he picks it up and answers the call -- leading him to another person in an extremely precarious situation. Maybe something like having fallen into a pit and hanging on for dear life before they hit the spikes below. His eyebrow raises and there's faint amusement on his face. ]

You gonna honestly tell me you didn't see this thing before you went and fell in? Uh, maybe open your eyes a little when you walk.

[ A hero he is not, but. After taking a moment to mock the poor individual -- he does extend his hand to help try and pull them out. A good deed done can mean a favor owed. And favors could be very fortuitous in a place like this. ]


D.) Wildcard

[ Choose your own adventure!! Also on an OOC note, Tech Boy will be Penance CRAU. ]

C.) Glitch (CW: implied terrorism/death)

[toomuchinfo]

[the jury was still out on whether or not Sarajane Hawke was a hero or not. true, she'd beaten the Arishok in single combat with only her magic to assist her, thus saving Kirkwall.

but then again, she'd sided with the mages when Anders (why did he do that, how did he think she'd react? there was no other way) blew the Chantry all the way to the Fade, so that didn't exactly win her any favors. so, hiding out in Starkhaven with her--boyfriend sounded too juvenile, lover didn't work because they weren't having sex (damn!), significant other made him sound like an alien.

anyway. she'd hidden out in Starkhaven with Sebastian, the one place she was most likely to flee to and as a result, the one no one ever bothered to check.

and now she's getting attitude which would put Carver to shame]

It wasn't there when I stepped there! C'mon, sometimes I have bandits falling in out of nowhere, give me a break. It's like they want me to kill them. So, help? Now?

denji 》chainsaw man

[nutkick]

⇛ KEEP YOUR BRITTLE HEART WARM


[ he should question this odd hospitality as denji grew up understanding nothing comes for free in this miserable world, so the fact no one dropped a heavy number on him is suspicious on its own. is he really supposed to walk in and enjoy this luxury without paying anything? it felt like a nasty trap, but- ... despite all those warning signs; he's more than happy to tag along. the stunning display of illuminations lured him in; the sight of the hot spring alone eased down any sense of tension he carried on his shoulders; taming all the self-doubts into utter silence.

he disregards his battered clothes, tossing them aside and not really bothered by their fate, nor is he reserved about his immodest state. with all the formalities done with, denji is now in the zone— a content sigh brushed through his lips, sinking low enough for the water to reach his chin; eyes closed. he honestly can't remember the last time he felt so ... relaxed.

a peasant who is living it up like a king now. ]


⇛ GLITCH

[ he really doesn’t want to do this shit. denji sighs miserably as he regards the offered walkie-talkie, not sure what is that weird creature and why is being assigned jobs he didn’t agree to. there is an urge to bitch about it, maybe toss the device away in retaliation, but—

as soon as he heard whoever was in the other line crying for help, maybe that was enough to soften his devilish heart a bit. regardless, his tone of voice failed to reflect any sense of urgency, even when denji is taking this situation seriously now. it’s lazy with a hint of a grin behind it. ]

This is the famous Chainsaw man! I’ll be your savior for the day.

[ maybe he’s not taking it as seriously— ]


[ ooc; or, you can hit me up with your own prompt ♥ ]

Glitch

[mactirebeag]

[The voice Denji gets on the other end sounds like it belongs to a little girl with a strong Irish brogue, and one who sounds like she's trying very hard to hold on to something and not fall to her death.]

I dunno what a Chainsaw Man is! Just get over here! [Mebh is trying to be brave about this, but her voice still wavers.]

Maki Zenin || Jujutsu Kaisen

[cursed_tools]

Cold as You

Maki's eyes snapped open and she sat up, looking around. A slight frown appeared on her face as she stood up. This wasn't where she had been fighting the Cursed Spirit that Naoya had become. She remembered seeing a fox...then she feel here. Was Naoya also here? She didn't know but she wasn't about to stay in one place to find out. It was also getting colder so she needed to find some better clothing. She began to make her way through the maze, keeping her guard up. The last thing she needed was some cursed spirit to sneak up on her.

As the chill seemed to get worse, she quickened her pace. She was rather quick and as she rounded a corner she slid to a stop. There was someone else there. So she wasn't the only one in the maze.

"Hey," she called out, unsure if this person was a friend or not. Better to be cautious.


Keep Your Brittle Heart Warm

The last thing Maki expected was hot springs. She just stood in shock for a moment before moving to get changed and making sure any leftover blood was washed away before wrapping a towel around herself and moving into the water. She could feel her body relaxing as she enjoyed the water. She hadn't felt this good since everything happened in Shibuya.

She sighed, wondering how she was going to tell the others about what she had done with the rest of her clan. She would deal with that if it ever came up. For now, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the hot water. Hearing footsteps, she opened her eyes and looked up at the approaching person. "Hello."


Bad Omen

Maki's eyes went wide as she noticed the hilt of a certain sword sticking out of the ground. She was just trying to get some snacks when she spotted it. There was only one Split Soul Katana and she wasn't going to be letting anyone else use it.

She wasn't expecting to be attacked when she pulled the sword out of the ground. She was ready for it though. She had been through harder fights, and this thing wasn't that hard to beat. She ducked and weaved between incoming blows, just getting a feeling for how this thing fought.

Care to watch? Critique her technique? Join her? Attack her as well? Bring it.

bad omen.

[heavenchained]

( Toji notices Maki and the katana she wields before he says anything; it's a couple beats until then. Her form is perfect. What would be the point in saying anything?

Well.

He has a hunch. )

You use that thing like you know it.

( There's some amusement in his voice. And honestly ... )

Do you?

Ash Trine | The God Eaters | Legend

[bulletwithmyname]

Cold as You [locked to Kieran]

[ for a moment, ash is completely overwhelmed by cold, the smell of autumn, and the fact that he woke up here instead of the middle of the dead city in the desert where he'd fallen asleep.

then the compulsion kicks in in the most technical sense, because it's already built into his very marrow i need to find kai. he stumbles to his feet, reaching out with all his senses, heart pounding. ]

Kieran? Kai, my Kai, kii aveh, where are you?

[ he hasn't noticed the physical cold yet--the internal chill of being in yet another situation where they're separated has eclipsed anything his physical body feels for the moment. ]

Keep Your Brittle Heart Warm

[ from this point forward, please assume that all interaction with ash happens while kieran is nearby. this means that he has a tall, dark, beautiful but menacing shadow of a lover close by at all times, even if they're not directly interacting with each other.

the sight of the candles and hot spring leave ash staring wide-eyed. he's never seen anything like this before, not in ladygate and certainly not in iaviah, where water is a precious commodity.

in the changing rooms/bathhouse he strips out of his clothes with a minimum of fuss. hot water and soap far eclipse any desire for modesty. ash is far too thin, bones prominent through pale, freckled skin. his hair is a wild tangle of bright ginger curls mixed with some tangled but bright vines over vivid blue eyes that almost seem to glow and a beaky sort of nose whose size is not at all helped by the sharpness of his cheekbones and the hollows of hunger beneath his eyes. there's a silvery-pale scar in the middle of his chest, clearly the starburst of a well-healed bullet wound.

in fact, there's sort of a golden glow about him in a general sense, an almost otherworldly sort of look about him that he doesn't seem to realize. he washes first with vigor, and then with pleasure, clearly relishing being properly clean. he's not very kind or gentle to the plants, which get scrubbed as thoughly as everything else. but they don't seem to mind.

once he's finished his scrubbing, he sinks into the hot spring with a happy sigh, resting back as though easing a very aching body. ]

Oh, hello. Do you know where exactly we are?

[ his voice is a smooth and cultured tenor, though there's nothing particularly assuming about him beyond that odd glow and the plants in his hair. ]

Bad Omen

[ please assume that all interaction with ash happens while kieran is nearby. this means that he has a tall, dark, beautiful but menacing shadow of a lover close by at all times, even if they're not directly interacting with each other.

this situation is way, way too familiar. he'd picked up a pistol, a small revolver with a helpful box of ammunition alongside it, and then the man dressed all in black and looming toward him.

ash extends a hand and...seemingly nothing happens, but those who can sense magic would be able to see that he's built quite a powerful shield around himself to keep the man away while he loads the gun. it's completely invisible to anyone who cannot sense magic or see the structure of it ]

Seriously? We've just been through this. Why? Kieran!

Cold As You

[felttheburn]

[ For fuck's sake. Kieran has had enough of both being cold and being separated from Ash to last him the rest of his potentially immortal life. Besides the chill making his bones ache as he stands up he does feel that tug of longing, but doesn't find it so odd. There's only one person in existence that Kieran thinks (or feels, or believes) is worth seeking out, so even though the urge doesn't come with a specific person attached, he assigns Ash to it.

This could well be a dream, between the climate and the foliage and the fact that he doubts there's another God powerful enough to drag them both elsewhere, except that he does sense Ash's presence near. And then hears him calling out with his mind, scared but safe. That's a relief. ]

I'm here, Ashes. I'll find you. Don't I always find you?

[ Kieran chooses a direction at random and starts moving forward just to coax some warmth back into his limbs, his expression twisting into a scowl when he realizes he can't tell which way he should be going. Normally the magic embedded in the bullet around his neck acts like a compass, but now even though he can feel that Ash is here, he's got no idea of where. So he stops, blows into his cold hands, and tries to send his gaze up into the clouds to see the entirety of the maze... only to feel like he's hitting an invisible wall and bouncing back down into his body.

Luckily, no longer being worried means Kieran can devote all his energy to being pissed the fuck off. :') He mutters to himself as he stalks through the maze, his anger surrounding him like a less-literal-than-usual storm cloud. ]

Somebody's gonna regret this... really picked the wrong bastard to fuck with...

Kieran Trevarde | The God Eaters

[felttheburn]

Keep Your Brittle Heart Warm

[ Okay, this is all just really fucking weird. Kieran moves towards the hot springs like a predator, quiet and stealthy despite his ridiculous height, eyes narrowed sharply as he takes everything in. He's never seen a hot spring before, but is aware enough they exist to not be thrown off by the location itself... it's the absurd amount of candles and lanterns burning that have him wondering where the fuck they've found themselves. He can think of a half dozen more practical ways to light the area than wasting all this wax and oil. Whomst the fuck would choose this setup?

It isn't until he gets down to the bottom of the hill that he realizes the spring's attendants are mice, their cheerful squeaking and chittering registering less as cute and more as bizarre to him. They use their mousey teamwork to offer him a towel when he approaches the bathing area, and you know what? No. Nope. ]

Fuck off--!

[ In Kieran's defense, he doesn't quite kick the mice away, but that was a very aggressive shooing he just did with a booted foot. He's not changing. Like hell is he getting naked just because some magical mice tell him to... but he won't stop Ash from doing what he wants. Kieran will simply stand guard as his lover strips, bathes, and sinks into the warm water.

The redhead is by far the more social of the pair. Kieran, in comparison, appears extremely unfriendly. He lingers with his back against the bathhouse wall, tall and lean and threatening, just watching the scene. Sizing up the people around, his sharp green eyes studying everyone in turn. Someone must be controlling the mice, right? Someone must be in charge here. Someone must have brought them to this place, and while Ash is going to ask around nicely, Kieran has other means.

What are you up to? ]



Glitch

[ Unfortunately for the person in need of help, Kieran has no clue what a walkie talkie is and no inclination to figure it out. He does kneel in front of the fallen device to try and identify what it might be, but when a crackly voice begging for help comes through it he frowns skeptically... then picks it up by the very tip of the antenna and flings it away off the path.

Surely the flying creature was just trying to lure him into some sort of a trap, right?

Wrong.

The next thing he knows he's not safely on the path but at the bottom of a deep chasm, with that strange boxy device crackling beside him. He's going to have to climb up a sheer cliff face to get out of here, and from his angle it's hard to tell where the best place to start might be. Someone up at the top would be able to guide him if he'd call for help himself, but besides his pride?

Kieran still has no idea how the fuck the walkie talkie works.

Help???

He'll just be down here cursing a very loud (seriously, you can hear him without the walkie) blue streak for the moment, trying to plot a course back to the top. ]



Bad Omen

[ The only possessions Kieran gives even half a shit about are weapons, more specifically firearms. So although he knows this is absolutely a trap and there's going to be either a consequence or price for grabbing one of the seemingly free for the taking items scattered around... it's just too tempting for him. Self control has never been his forte, and he figures he can handle whatever they throw at or charge him for the rifle he pulls out of the ground. He's already gotten his custom, but versatility is important.

Immediately, a man in a black suit and hat appears and leaps at him. Kieran sidesteps, a wicked grin curving his lips. ]

You're all they've got? [ He laughs, but it's a cruel sound. Low and unsettling, if not as outright creepy as his opponent's face. ] I'll make it quick, then.

[ Those observing who can sense magic might feel Kieran's essence reaching out, twisting around the enemy and drawing tight as if rigging a puppet up on strings-- and then there's a snap, whatever's animating the suited man abruptly severed from his physical form. He crumples to the ground, but is only down for a moment before getting back up and lunging again.

Kieran actually looks surprised as he continues to dart out of the way, movements quick and agile for someone his size. This has never happened before! But curious as he is about it, he's definitely not the type to sit and pick somebody apart to figure out how they work... and he hasn't missed that a second attacker appeared from nowhere when the first went down. He backs up, looking from one suited figure to the other, and scoffs. ]

More rules? Fine. No magic is more fun for me... but now this is gonna hurt. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Bad Omen

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

When I arrived it was a headless man on a horse who would just not die.

[The comment comes from the sword-wielding halfling who seems to have popped up out of nowhere. When one is as small and agile as he is, going unnoticed is a talent. He watched whatever this guy had done to the strange dark suited figure -- magic, definitely magic -- take it down only to be shrugged off in the next moment. And the oddly unsettling assailant now has matching back up.

Firearms aren't an entirely new concept to him, but he's not exactly used to fighting with someone wielding one. But he's versatile.]

...that turned out to be a test. But we aren't always so lucky.

[Maybe Kieran doesn't need help, but Orym's not the type to leave someone to fight on their own, especially when they've become outnumbered, so he turns his attention to the newly spawned adversary, sword raising for only a moment before he's in motion - all quick, lithe movements, like he's dancing more than fighting, though the blows he lands are strong and sure and... draw absolutely no blood despite the fact that he knows he struck deep.] That's weird.

Yang Xiao Long | RWBY

[goldilocksandloads]

[[V8 spoilers if anybody's still worried about those.]]

Chapter 1: Cold As You

[She was falling...

Yang sits up from the ground rather abruptly, only to immediately regret it because ow, everything still hurts. Fuck you, Neo.

Before too long though, she'll slowly pick herself up because the ground is sorta cold (and also she's probably getting dirt and leaves in her hair) and take a look at her surroundings.]

Oohh-kaaaay.

[Aaand she's in a hedge maze. Cool. Awesome.

Actually this isn't the worst thing ever. Patch used to have a big corn maze every harvest and she and Ruby usually did great at them when they were kids.

Ruby...

The thought of her beloved little sister coincides with the sudden intense desire to Find Someone. Some part of her would like to think she'd find Ruby here. ...Or Blake. Weiss, actually anybody really. Loneliness this strong was something she'd thought she'd seen the last of, although this time she really had nobody to blame but herself. Well, nobody else besides Neo, seriously, fuck her.

So without much hesitation, she'll start through the maze at a careful pace, checking around corners before she rounds them because she's still a monster hunter at heart and mazes are kinda legendary for having monsters in them. Occasionally, she'll call out in the hopes somebody else is nearby.]

Helloo-oo? Anybody out there?

[Of course, once she catches notice of that frost closing in, she'll up her pace to a brisk jog. In her current high-alert state it probably wouldn't be a good idea to sneak up on her or otherwise surprise her though because she is definitely not opposed to punching strangers in the face if they jump-scare startle her.]

Chapter 2: Keep Your Brittle Heart Warm (CW: missing limb)

[Singing mice. ...Okay. This place just gets stranger and stranger, but whatever, they are pretty cute.

Yang is extremely grateful for someplace she can finally take a bath in though. Never mind the hedge maze, even before that it had been at least 48 hours since she'd been able to have a good scrub and she really doesn't want to think about what kind of Grimm whale grime, Salem ichor or Gods know what else she still has sticking to her.

She's definitely elected to wear a bathing suit though, less because she's shy and more because she's extremely a little self-conscious at the moment, primarily because she's left her robotic arm safely stashed in the locker with her clothes. The prosthetic is water-resistant but she'd rather not fully submerge it until she completely knows what kind of maintenance tech she has access to. And besides, it'll give her shoulder a bit of a break.

As she enjoys a good long soak though, all her aches and pains from several hours of near non-stop fighting finally ease and the fact that she's currently down an arm bothers her less and less.

She also has a tendency to be chatty when she's relaxed so don't be surprised if she starts a conversation if somebody catches her eye.]

Chapter 3: Glitch

[This place is just too interesting not to explore and Yang spends the better part of the day just taking in the sights. Before she knows it, the sun is already going down although being out alone at dusk is hardly a concern to her.

Man-sized winged creatures with glowing red eyes are definitely a concern to her however, and she quickly squares the creature up once it lands, eyes darting warily to the walkie-talkie. The telepathy doesn't do a whole lot to put her at ease but she will eventually carefully pick up the walkie-talkie, not taking her eyes off the creature all the while.

Her attention is a little more divided once the communicator crackles to life and she hears somebody else on the end.]

Hello? ...Who is this? What's going on?

[If somebody is legitimately in need of help, she'll certainly do her best to help them.]

[[OOC: I'll also match prose if anybody prefers that.]]

keeping hearts warm, and arms half present

[maserannas]

Ellana appreciates the hot springs as a non-sulfur smelling delight that isn't also in the middle of the palace at Halamshiral. Vivienne was sweet in her own way, with spa day and the sounds of mischief going on all around them, but this? Hot water, steam rising in lazy patterns that have less substantial presence than the fog that still lingers across the realm, and the melodic chattering of the mice is...

... nice for here, albeit still odd in its own persistent way.

She's bathed and ready to soak when she joins Yang, less by deliberate choice and more happenstance of choosing the same pool. She didn't opt for the swimsuit, but she does have something as apparent as her casual nudity, and more visible after she's in the water, too: her left arm truncates above the elbow. Settling into the heat, she breathes out in a sigh, massaging at her left shoulder, where an impression of strapmarks can still be seen. There's matching ones down what there is of her left arm, all lingering from when she'd taken off her own prosthetic, glad for the break, and reminding herself once again she needs to find anyone who can help her find a more functional one.

A grappling hook launcher for a prosthetic has uses, and she wears it because of how often Things Happen here, but it's not helpful all the time.

"Did you see the mice carrying towels?"

Sarajane Hawke | Dragon Age II | Myth? Probably?

[toomuchinfo]

COLD AS YOU

Sarajane honestly couldn't tell you how it happened. she was on her way back from Weisshaupt to tell the Wardens that one of their leaders apparently fell out of the stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down (oh, let's consort with crazy Tevinter cultists and raise a demon army through blood magic! a brilliant plan, full charge ahead! idiots).

But then there was a fox, something something potential and now she was here.

And frankly, she'd just about had it. All she wanted to do was make it back to Starkhaven and Sebastian and maybe now after her latest bout of heroics, he'd finally (officially) propose and she could see what was behind that Andraste belt buckle. (please please please, she'd been waiting for literal years and he only got hotter as he aged, it wasn't fair).

Instead, now she was here. On her back in the frost-covered grass and she really wasn't dressed for this. Though, she couldn't think about that too much, all of a sudden she had a really strong impulse to find a certain someone. So she pulled herself to her feet and was on her way through the maze.

Who was that someone? She'd know them when she saw them. And when she finally did, she grinned and said, "Well, it's about time. I was beginning to think you'd never show up. But now you have and we can get out of this Maker-damned place. Sounds good?"

KEEP YOUR BRITTLE HEART WARM

Oh, this was nice. It's not like she'd ever had to worry about a nice soak in hot water before, part of the fun of being a mage was that she could just magic up some warm water, but this was like a ritual thing. Close enough, anyway.

Wash first, put your clothes and stuff (and where was her staff? she really wanted it. it had been her dad's and he'd made it himself and if she didn't get it back, she was gonna be pissed) in a cubby, then on to the spring.

Sarajane was as naked as the day she was born, but she was mostly made of angles and edges. And her boobs were really unimpressive, something she'd always envied--well, there was no point in it, Bethany was long dead and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it.

So. Relaxation while naked. In a hot spring. She kept her eyes closed until she heard someone enter the water with her. "Isn't this the life? I kinda wonder if they serve drinks, too, ones with a lot of booze and one of those little paper cocktail umbrellas. What d'you think the mouse people would say if I asked?"

GLITCH

Sarajane had always been the hero type, much to her ability to get fucked over by people who asked for her help, Anders. Keep kids from picking on Bethany and Carver (even though Carver had always insisted that he could've handled it, in the future she should butt out), dueled the fucking Arishok to keep him from either running away with Isabela or taking over the entire city of Kirkwall, and the less said about Meredith the better.

So when she heard the cry for help over the weird noisy box thing, she had to go help. Or at least try.

So when she found her hapless rescuee in the middle of a rickety wood and rope bridge or in a hole or in some fuck-all situation, she had a good look at them. Them and the items surrounding them. Knives, swords, bows aplenty but no. Motherfucking. Mage Staves!

She blew out an exasperated breath and called out to her rescuee, "Don't worry, I've got this covered. Probably. What's your opinion on 'the Maker helps those who make themselves?' Though, that quote probably doesn't work for now, just pretend I never said that, okay?"

cold as you (cw: mention of missing limb/blood)

[lenivyous]

When Sarajane finds her way into the same clearing as Dylan, he's busy trying (and failing) to use the relic with one hand. What he wanted to find was some kind of map. Unfortunately, typing is just not happening. Not now. Maybe not ever. He sighs a frosted breath and jams the device into his pocket right as she announces her presence like they're bosom buds.

"....pardon?"

Are they supposed to know each other? Does she know him? She's certainly friendly enough. And he's lonely enough to let that question stand and go along with it. But the conundrum is...here Dylan is, minus one hand and covered in a great deal of blood. Most of it his own. Some of it not. It's been a weird night. But his weird night might seem even weirder for her who just happened upon him like this -- so he quickly adds:

"Oh. Uh. Don't worry. I'm not like a weird forest murderer or anything...so like, you know what way we're supposed to go?"

That seems totally normal, right? Nailed it.

Eve | Frankenstein OC | Familiar

[reborneve]

[I] COLD AS YOU;

[The jolt of waking up laid flat-out on the cold earth is as nostalgic as it is startling. The greenery towering around her is what rights her mind in an instant and drags her out of that lonely, cold cottage with the smell of brine and the pounding of the surf as her only company.

Soon she's standing and without bothering to pick leaves out of her hair or to adjust the twisted cloak over her shoulders Eve turns her steps forward. There's something prickling at her insistently, an urge and a calling to press on. Dimly she remembers what she's read on mazes in the past, how to keep one hand on a wall and follow it.

[A] One can find Eve like this, a light frost following behind her as she moves. Her hair is a mess and her cloak is still crooked but there's a look of determination about her, a hard edge that might be frightening to some if they round a corner and see this 6'5" tall woman looming over them. She looks grim and bears a tight posture like one straining against some force.

[B] After enough time though Eve proves to be every bit Victor's creation as his first creature was. She's been wandering the maze so long by now, looking for someone or something that that search is her single-minded focus. She's given up following the strict paths and now claws her way through the bushes themselves, bending them with a prodigious amount of strength, outright snapping them if she must.

In this state she makes an even more terrifying visage. Small cuts little her face and her hands amidst the white of the frost that has more than crawled over them. She looks to be half frozen from the way the frost tinges her cheeks and the wildness of her blonde hair. What is the most arresting is her eyes, the way they near glow a bright green and the savage, wild look to them when they lock onto you.

She's clearly been in the maze too long, half losing her mind in the pounding haste of her mission to find whoever it is her body cries out for. That certainly explains the ragged, strained whisper when she does spot you.]

You.

[II] KEEP YOUR BRITTLE HEART WARM;

[After her run through the bushes and the maze Eve definitely need this moment of warmth and relaxation. Or what comes close to it for her at least.

She sits in the corner of one of the hot springs, a very tall woman with her long golden hair gathered into a braid that trails down her back. She looks tired and perhaps gravely, ominously quiet -- at least until she hears someone enter the area. Then her eyes snap up to the new person suddenly, her expression still and neutral.]

Good evening.

[III] GLITCH;

[The walkie-talkie crackles to life in Eve's lap. She's been sitting here contemplating it for a moment or more. It's not the cellphones she's seen so many with when she ventures into town nowadays nor is it quite the computers she herself has only barely dabbled with in the past.

She carefully skims over the sides of the box with her fingers, reading what labels there are on what buttons before it springs to life once again with more crackling and a voice this time.]

Hello?

[IV] WILDCARD;

[Feel free to hit me up with any other prompts you like. Eve will likely seek out Baba Yaga's school once she hears of it, always the curious one. If you want to talk alchemy or mysticism or anything obscure and intriguing then she's your gal. PMs are open for plotting needs.]

[II] KEEP YOUR BRITTLE HEART WARM;

[toomuchinfo]

[when Sarajane was pointed to the door to the spring by the really helpful mice (what), she assumed she'd be going in alone. and you know what they say about assumptions.

so to see a tall, blonde, strikingly beautiful woman already in there kind of made her stop short for a moment. just to admire the view. (she'd been with Sebastian for a few years, yeah, but that didn't make her blind)

but apparently even staring makes noise, so. naked as the day she was born, Sarajane kind of waved] Hi. Kinda thought I'd be alone in here. But I'm not, you're here, and I grew up with two younger siblings. I know how to share. Works for you?

Vil Schoenheit | Twisted Wonderland

[callofbeauty]

[Keep your Brittle Heart Warm]

A.
[Well, after that ordeal in the maze, Vil was quite ready to have a good soak, but apparently his travel buddy is on the shy side. Normally, he tended to leave those he was not personally responsible for to their own, however seeing as his companion was looking chilled but hesitant, he declared himself the more responsible by default and starts gently nudging them towards the springs.]

Come on, there’s no need to be shy. There are numerous health benefits to hot springs…

[He looks the other up and down.]

And honestly, you look like you could use a detox and a cleanse.

[And probably some moisturizer, but he'll be nice and keep that to himself... for now.]

B.

[Alternatively, once he's in the spring, he'll see to getting a bottle of water and a glass from the mice- only to notice someone else join him in the spring. Well, he filled the glass, then offered the rest of the bottle to the new arrival.]

Here, it's important to stay hydrated, otherwise the hot water may make you dizzy.

[Because he's certain everyone was neglecting it due tot he cold.]

[Glitch]

[You know who really doesn't want to go rescue some stranger he doesn't even know? This boy. You know who is unnerved by the strange moth monster enough to entertain the idea? also this boy. But he sure doesn't sound thrilled about it as he comes over the walkie-talkie.]

I suppose I'm going to be made to rescue you, aren't I?

[Bad Omen]

[Being attacked by odd monsters wasn't unheard of where he came from, and being the arrogant young thing he was, he was more exasperated than surprised.]

Well, at least he chose to dress nice for the occasion. [A sigh.] Hold out your weapon, I'll cast a spell on it.

[Wildcard]

[Come up with your own prompt!]

bad omen

[maserannas]

( Ellana glances down at her arm with its grappling hook launcher, where most with an at-the-elbow amputation would probably have a more generally functional prosthetic, then back at the young human offering to... weaponise it. With a spell.

Her staff, presently in her right hand and working as a walking stick as much as anything else, gets pulled in front of her. Ellana tips it toward the suit monster with the human-but-subtly-wrong face. Possessed? )

Despite what it looks like, that's not usually a weapon. This is, but please, don't cast more magic on it than I'm already manipulating myself?

( She tips it forward again, and a bolt of spirit energy flies forth, slamming into the suited man. His limbs flail a little as he's knocked back, but then he sets his hat, and storms toward them both again. Ellana shifts subtly, and her staff temporarily flashing ice-blue as the suited man is suddenly coated in ice, making his suit brittle, and his hat tip sideways. For the moment, he's stuck flailing in place. )

Do you have any attack spells, or are you purely object or person effecting?

dave strider | homestuck

[chumpelstiltskin]

[sorry about all the false starts with this game but the truth is]

COLD AS YOU
[It is too fucking cold. As if being pre-disposed to living in warm environments wasn't enough, Dave is also wearing baggy pajama pants, a t-shirt and socks. His feet are already moist, which is a private hell he's enduring and being so brave.

As if he didn't already have a solid motive to get the fuck out of this cornless, subpar maze, he feels the strong impulse to find someone. His bestie. His good time guy. John. Even though they don't hang out as much lately and even if he doesn't always immediately like his chat messages. He just has a sense that he's somewhere in this maze and, if he is, maybe he can get them out of it.]

i.
[The obvious solution is to fly up and get a view over top of the maze to see if he can spot his friend. He'll stand out, since none of their friends really learned to dress subtly.

Dave kicks off the ground, finding height in the air quickly. As quickly as his elevated view of the maze appears, it disappears as he plummets down to the ground. The hedges of the maze thankfully cushion his fall. Thankfully, he hits every single crazy branch on the crazy bush as he descends.]

I'm fine. [He says, to no-one in particular, brushing himself off. His fingers feel numb.]

ii.
[Dave's death march through the maze proceeds in earnest, only slightly impeded by the fact that he's not fine and he'll never be fine again. His feet are really cold now and somehow, despite the adrenaline rush, he feels way colder after falling into the bush.

His searching becomes more frantic. He's lurching around corners, pushing past people, he's trying to look under the bush to see if maybe John is wedged under. He's muttering under his breath the whole time, it's barely audible and mostly nonsensical but that's actually not particularly unusual.

As his nerves peak, he starts to feel hindered by the winding paths around the maze.

Finally, he snaps, he takes a running leap into a bush and thrashes his arms wildly until his upper half is through the other side.]

WHERE'S JOHNNY?

KEEP YOUR BRITTLE HEART WARM
[Eventually, the maze ends. Dave is still a little paranoid and unwilling to strip out of his cold, soggy clothes. Eventually, he yields just a little and removes his socks.

With his pyjama pants hiked up to his knees, he sits and dangles his feet and ankles in the warm water. The warmth seems to creep up his body, aided by the warm, dry towel he has draped around his shoulders and the hot tea in his hands. The numbness and the paranoia wanes and he eases, leaning back a little as he watches the mice.]

Are you guys unionised? [He asks, seeming unperturbed by the lack of response.]

Do you have coffee or something, like, non-leafy?

GLITCH
[Dave is less disturbed by the strange creature in the sky and more horrified at the prospect of answering a strange phone. He reluctantly picks up the walkie-talkie, not waiting for the feedback to clear before he speaks into it with a monotonous voice.]

Dave's Crematorium. You kill 'em, we grill 'em. [He can't quite make out the response, but it sounds distressed. There's a small pause before he speaks again, with more sincerity.]

You okay over there?

Glitch

[heirlift]

Dave?!

[ John does not want to explain to anyone why he is stuck in a huge-ass tree. It's a long story, and he's a little embarrassed by it, and not only that but he is the Heir of Breath and should not get stuck in trees.

But this place has a way of both putting you in bizarrely contrived situations and also sapping your powers from you in the process so. That's where he's at.

He was starting to think it was penance for some crime he committed in the past month-- of which there were many-- but a familiar voice coming over the radio just seals the deal. ]

Dave Strider. Really? Say psyche right now, please.