October 2022 Test Drive Meme

[folkie]

OCTOBER 2022 TDM

INTRODUCTION

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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

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.

(cw: mention of missing limb/blood)

[toomuchinfo]

She kind of tilts her head at him and observes what he's doing before intervening. Quite frankly, she's not any better at the relic than he is, but she's pretty sure hers is no longer taking pictures at five minute intervals (and who the fuck would set up anything like that? what's the point?).

And she does. Because most of the time, that's how it worked. Sarajane Hawke or Hawke or SJ to the rescue, the object of her rescuing expresses their gratitude and so on. And she doesn't know him from Maferath, but she takes a good look at the blood and missing hand..."You okay? Obviously not, but the whole hand-taking thing. Was that done by someone here and if so, where are they? I'll kick their ass.

I'm gonna worry 'cause you're missing a hand. Shit, shit, shit, lemme try to remember some healing magic, just enough to close the wound...healing was never my strong spot, that's why we had Anders. Arsehole. Anders, not you! You're lovely!"

Ehhh, she's still going to wonder how to fix the aforementioned problem: a missing hand and some blood.

((OOC: sorry for the delay, RL intervened!))

no worries!! lol same hat over here

[lenivyous]

When she steps in and offers healing magic, he instinctively offers his left arm. "No one here, no. Happened back home. Like maybe a couple hours before getting here? I mean, he wrapped it pretty well...and I'm hopped up on a ton of painkillers. So I'm good to go, but if you wanna--"

And then it hits him belatedly.

"Wait. Did you just saying magic? Like you touch my hand, a bright light is gonna happen, and it makes everything better? Could....could that Anders guy actually heal my hand? Because like, having no hand beats being a werewolf but like having two hands again would be pretty great."

It would make the texting a whole lot easier. It would make the whole everything a whole lot easier. Dylan still has yet to adjust to this being his new normal.

here's hoping RL calms down for both of us!

[toomuchinfo]

That sure is a missing body part. And she seriously thinks that it's a dick move for Thirteen to bring him here without healing him. "Okay, that's a small relief. But your world must be as crazy as mine, most people don't go around missing parts without being healed."

"No, uh, nothing that intense? More like healing magic is cast and the wound itself heals, like cauterizing the wound. Without the whole burning and pain thing, though it does kind of tingle. And, he could've done that." Unfortunately, her friend was now dead. Died at her hands for something she couldn't forgive. "And, wait, werewolf? You were going to turn into a werewolf?"

There were werewolves in Thedas, especially in Ferelden. She didn't know what made Ferelden such a magnet for awful. But she was on her way back to Starkhaven, damnit, where Seb would be waiting with open arms.

[lenivyous]

"Bummer he's not here. I mean, not that I'm not glad you're here. And doing this. I appreciate it, really." And he means that genuinely, offering her a smile. She doesn't have to help, but she stepped in to help him immediately. And that must mean she's good people. A great person to find in this weird maze in this weird world.

Dylan is quiet for a moment which is a miracle for him. He just loves to talk. But for this, there's a gravity that comes with it. A weight of processing what exactly happened back home. "I mean, I don't know for sure I was gonna turn. I got bit by something that I didn't know at the time was a werewolf. And I could feel the infection spreading. So, I begged the guy I was with to cut it off. It seemed like the only option at the time, but..."

His looks down at his hand solemnly. Or rather, where his hand used to be. "It's just. It's gonna take a lot of getting used to. That's all."

He flashes her a faint smile because the last thing he wants to do is be a mood killer. "But hey. I don't mean to make this all about me. Because we're trapped here together, so hi. I'm Dylan. And I am totally in your debt for the healing thing."

(CW: murder)

[toomuchinfo]

"Yeah. A pretty big bummer. And hey, helping people is kind of what I do. One of them, anyway." The other is killing lots of bandits and Qunari and templars. She'd honestly hoped that the bandits would have eventually learned to run away from her instead of right at her, but that seemed to be asking too much.

"Andraste's tits. That's awful. I figure being a werewolf isn't a fun time, at least the ones from home aren't, but the ones from your home most be really scary to go with the, the chopping your hand off method." Actually, werewolves were some of the only things she hadn't fought, but she'd heard stories about them. Very much not fun.

"I...can't imagine. 'Cause I have all my limbs. Was the one you cut off your dominant hand? That's going to be tricky, getting used to the other one." Granted, that wasn't exactly helpful, but it was something which would need to be addressed at some point, right? And she sounded sympathetic, right?

She smiles back a little awkwardly. "No, it's okay. Given the circumstances, it's fair to say that it really is all about you. We need to get you outta here. And, hey. I'm Hawke. Sarajane Hawke. And it's the least I could do, I mean I'm still kind of annoyed at the fox for not helping you first. I wonder if she's always annoying?"

[lenivyous]

"I mean. I guess neither of us really know. Maybe being a werewolf is a party we're missing out on. Maybe we just don't get it because we're not in the werewolf club," he says with a faint laugh, trying to make light of it. The joke definitely isn't his best humor, but he's trying -- trying with every effort he has because if he thinks about any of this too much, he might feel less of an urge to keep going in this maze and more of an urge to sink down in the hollow of that tree to his left and wallow.

But at her question, he shakes his head. "Nah. Small mercies, it wasn't my dominant hand. I'm a rightie. Not saying my left didn't get love and all, but I'll at least have an easier time making my left the hook hand. That'd be kinda badass, right?"

Dylan cracks a playful grin. "It is cool meeting you, Sarajane Hawke...helper extraordinaire. Kind of a mouthful, though. Can I call you SJ?"

[toomuchinfo]

"Oh, wow, when you put it that way, it sounds kinda tempting. Like, what goes on in this secret society of werewolves? But then I think that I'd probably have to eat a ton of raw meat and you never knew what that would involve, so it's probably for the best to stay as we are." And she's using humor in the same way. It's how she's coped with things for years. As long as she acts like she's doing fine, as far as everyone knows? She's fine.

"Absolutely badass. I'll have to introduce you to a friend of mine, Isabela. With a hook hand, you'll probably have a bright future ahead of you as a pirate. I hope you know some sea shanties?"

And she grins back broadly. "I'm very glad to meet you, too. And what can I say, I'm a giver! And SJ is fine. So is Hawke. I've even been known to respond to 'hey, you' on occasion."

keep your brittle heart warm

[maserannas]

Ellana is likewise nude and uncaring about the fact, slipping into the heat of the water and appreciating how it chased out the cold from the stupid maze. She's been in Wintermute by choice, at their springs, and this is not there, but it has an element of it regardless. Also a more annoying means of arriving at, gifted no doubt by Thirteen growing bored with the nightly balls and occasional house entrapments.

"They might sing in their own way back at you, but you can always ask. They'll either bring you alcohol, or they'll bring you tea."

She settles into the water with a grateful sigh, adding, "I saw several of them carrying a teacup on a saucer when walking out."

[toomuchinfo]

Sarajane Hawke tilts her head well enough to get a good look at Ellana. City elf? But it would be rude to assume. Besides, a world like this, there have to be all kinds of different elves to choose from. So, uh...disregarding the Theodosian clothing...SJ can't really make up her mind.

"Really? That's so cute! I've never been sung to by a mouse, now I need to ask for something just to hear if they sing at me. Hello~~? Little mousies? Bourbon shots for me and my friend, okay? With apple juice chasers!" And, to Ellana "Varric taught me that trick, I used to just guzzle down whatever I could find, but even the Hanged Man has some standards."

And Hawke looks like she's about to die of adorable. "Really? How do these---these thingies work," she asked while gesturing to the device. "Carver's never gonna believe this. I need some kind of record to throw in his face."

[maserannas]

That second name is familiar, but in a distant sense. Carver was what... a warden, she remembers, from the Free Marches. Related to Hawke, wasn't he? She heard of another one who worked in the kitchens, son of a butcher, though he baked at Skyhold. Varric is immediate and arresting, and that has her full attention.

It's been enough of a day that she has to squint at the human female, wondering what thingy she intended. "Oh, is that—the relic? You press twice here, then it brings up... yes, that new information. Then you slide here to go between making a still photograph or a moving photograph." Demonstrating, she then indicates the central tab on the lower portion of the relic. "Press this to take a still, or to start a moving. Press it again to end a moving photograph. Also, wait, you know Varric? Are you from Kirkwall?"

To have been taught much by Varric, it's her presumption. He'd been busy in his time with the Inquisition, then gone once Corypheus was destroyed, as made sense. The Hanged Man even sounded familiar... some bar? In Kirkwall, right, she'd read that in one of Varric's novels in the Hard in Hightown series.

[toomuchinfo]

He sure was a Warden! All grown up and seemingly...happy as one.

She'd still told him to get as far away from Corypheus as she possibly could, though. Stroud had told her that the Wardens were being fucked with and if there was one thing she hated, it was the only family she had left being fucked with.

And Hawke is waving the relic around as though it somehow was wind-powered. But then she listens intently to the instructions. "Ooooh. It's like magic, without the Templars! Okay, I need a picture of me from the shoulders up with the mice all with me. Shoulders up only, I wanna really get one over on Carver, not scar him for life. And of course I know Varric, he's a good buddy of mine. Wrote a book about me and everything. I've heard it was very popular!"

Because she herself was ridiculously popular with people who weren't Templars, high dragons, or random mooks on the Wounded Coast. Or Qunari. Or random bandits who all seemed to have a death wish. Yes, let's run towards the bitchy mage and her friends, all of whom were armed to the teeth! Brilliant plan!

But, wait..."How do you know Varric? And Kirkwall?"

[maserannas]

As a mage who has practised magic most her life without the threat of Templars immediately breathing down her neck, she snorts in a softer manner, but doesn't contend it. It is magic of a sort: technology and magic needn't be very far apart, after all.

Varric being an irrepresible writer about the lives of many of his friends, and even herself in some near future, might not be an immediate clue, but the bombastic nature is inclining her toward certain thoughts.

Right before she's surprised into raised eyebrows and a short laugh. "Kirkwall is one of the major city-states of the Free Marches, and a recovered trade capitol under Varric's rebuilding. I'd be more surprised to run into even Ferelden's not familiar with the name and less than pleasant reputation from the last two decades or so, it's only begun recovering in the last handful of years."

As far as Varric, she leans back, signaling toward a group of mice as they cavort back from wherever they'd delivered some unidentified object or another. In their multitudes of colours, they come prancing closer, eyes dark and knowing in a way no mouse truly looked unless demonically possessed.

Thank everything that's not the case here, by and large. Spirit Folk weren't quite the spirits she knew, and not quite the demons either, though they might have aspects of either one in their own manners.

"Varric and I shared imprisonment at the same hands at one point, then ended up working for them for a while." Glory be to recalling exactly how the 'Herald of Andraste' had been brought into what would become the Inquisition, and why Cassandra, harsh and a hopeful, dear believer in her Maker and just causes, could manage to find the strength to do as she did.

[toomuchinfo]

Like Bianca! No one could ever deny that Bianca was a marvelous invention. Although, she's pretty sure Seb annoyed Varric (again) when he offered to check Bianca's cocking ring and she's also well aware of how dirty that sounded when taken out of context. Maker's balls, even in context it sounded dirty.

Laughing to hide real pain! That was generally how she lived her life, she'd screwed up so many times that if she actually stopped to think about the entire list, she'd be scarred for life. Beyond what she already was. But she'd loved her friends, all of them. Including Anders, which was probably why he tricked her so easily.

"Okay, so clearly you're from Thedas. Cool, I thought I might be the only one and that would be shitty 'cause no one would get how weird everything always was. And it kills in a good way that Varric's the Viscount now, responsibility other than holding court at The Hanged Man! Though, I wouldn't be surprised if he stayed there and made people come to him. But he's smart, probably the smartest person I've ever met, I'm glad to hear he's doing a good job. Though, I wonder if he's going to keep ignoring Sebastian's letters. Maybe if I send mine along with his, Varric will be stuck having to open the letters." Because it's upsetting that her best friend doesn't like her fiancé so much. But too bad for Varric, she was still insisting that he stand in for her as family since she couldn't be sure Carver would make it.

Demonically possessed mice wouldn't be the strangest thing she'd ever encountered. Not by half. "Hey. Mousies. If I ask for a drink, would you promise to not poison it?"

Having no demons would be the greatest thing Hawke could imagine. That, and no stupid bandits.

It doesn't take long to put the pieces together. "So you're the Inquisitor? Or a Inquisitor from a Thedas? Out of curiosity, how many of us are there here? You know. Those from Thedas. I'm Hawke. Sarajane Hawke."

[maserannas]

"Oh, no, don't worry, there's... well, you make a full handful of us, I think. Maybe more? It's not as if I've met all the Star Children who've been pulled here, or asked about Thedas on the relic."

She's not inclined to, either, beyond her one curiosity regarding races on other worlds. No one from Thedas responded there, that she recalls.

"I'm Inquisitor Lavellan. There's two of us here," she says, because that's become an entirely reasonable thing to say. "And while I've never met a Sarajane Hawke, I'm going to bet you're the eldest Hawke sibling."

Because she doesn't think the younger sister was ever described, even when alive, as acting remotely like this. Instead, it reads as much more... well, Marian Hawke. Much like with her and Elera, however, different persons of different worlds, different chances for who each had been.

"The Champion of Kirkwall?"

The mice, who stared at Sarajane with wide, dark eyes, eventually chime musically, then dart off in an excited tumble. If they bring a drink, it probably will still end up being tea, but they do seem excited about not poisoning Sarajane!

[toomuchinfo]

"A full handful? Of great and important people in Thedas? Though, seriously, I'm okay with a peaceful life, assuming I don't fuck that up, too. I know there are still people in Starkhaven who really don't want their prince to marry a lifelong apostate. And it might not hurt to ask, we could all get together and have--does this place have a bar? It better have a bar."

Hawke wanted to know as much as she possibly could, in an attempt to never be duped again.

And she tilted her head to one side slightly. "Two Inquisitor Lavellans? How does that work? Are the two of you cousins or sisters?" Weird quirks of fate, sure, but nothing really explained the why of it. "...sure am. Are there two of me, too?"

Maybe in some other world, some other her had managed to save both Carver and Bethany. She'll never forget not being able to save Bethany herself. Could never figure out a way where she could have done it, not after that ogre. Her mom and Carver didn't have to blame her for Bethany's death, she did enough of that all by herself.

"No one's except Varric's called me that in a long time. Not without at least a little sarcasm in there somewhere. But, uh...I'm not sure how to bring this up, but the Inquisitor I dealt with was Trevelyan. Lila. Nice kid. Sooo, I guess I'll just charge head-first into the weird," she said with a shrug.

And she pointed at the retreating mice. "That was cute. Wasn't that cute? I mean, normally I think of mice, I think of Uncle Galmen's place, but these ones aren't like his at all. His were kinda dumb, they never went after the giant cheese wheel which was just sitting there."

KEEP YOUR BRITTLE HEART WARM

[mysterieuse]

Fran had taken a bikini as a small bit of cover during her foray into the hot springs. Somehow what the mice had given her left even less to the imagination than her usual armor. Perhaps she would have been served just as well had she chosen to decline clothing altogether. A part of her was hesitant to leave behind her weapon and her protection but she needed to rid herself of the cold that still seemed to linger deep in her bones. The cold might have lessened once she had found her partner but it had not completely faded. Nor had the unpleasant memories of her dulled senses.

Most unpleasant. All of that had been a most unpleasant experience.

She let out a heavy sigh as she relaxed herself down into the water near a hume whose eyes had been closed until that moment.

"They would say nothing at all. It seems their language is to sing," her accent was thick and difficult to put a location on. "They make offers of hot tea."

[toomuchinfo]

Hawke could related to the feeling of not wanting to leave protective armor and possessions back in a cubby. But since she was a mage, she figured she could use her magic just as well, even without her staff as focus. And she hadn't realized that somewhat clothed options were an option. Even if she had, she probably would've went nude anyway. And really, this hot spring thing hit the spot.

She was absolutely asking Seb if something like this was an option anywhere in Starkhaven.

"Singing. That's absolutely adorable. Maybe a little too adorable? First it's 'here, enjoy this hot spring,' then it's 'and we hope you don't mind that we move into your house and eat all of your cheese.' But I guess tea will work. Do you want any?"

[mysterieuse]

She gave a sidelong glance to the other woman in the springs with her. "A strangely specific concern to have." Though she would put little effort into trying to understand the reference behind it. Clearly there was something she had missed, but she doubted the knowledge would add anything too useful.

She hummed thoughtfully and then nodded, causing her ears to bounce slightly in the process. "I would not say no. It would go well with the mood." And her attempts at relaxing were not going quite as well as they could.

[toomuchinfo]

Hawke tilted her head to one side ever so slightly. "You never know with mice. I promised that I wouldn't get a housecat to deal with them in Kirkwall and the next thing I knew, they'd eaten all of my hard cheese and bread. But these ones seem all right. Don't you~~?"

The mice sang back their approval of her sentence, making her grin widely.

"See? Totally benevolent mice. So tea, booze, whatever. We can take from them 'cause they're not arseholes.

Anyway, I'm Hawke. Sarajane Hawke. What's yours?"

[mysterieuse]

"You made promises to mice?" What an interesting choice to make promises to creatures that probably understood none of it. Unless the mice Hawke spoke of were more akin to these. With less singing.

One of the mice deposited two mugs of tea down for them and then with a final song and a bow it was on it's way to help another. Fran wrapped a hand around the mug and breathed in the steam from the pleasant smelling liquid.

"Fran. Is your preference Hawke?"

[toomuchinfo]

"I did! They seem to be the ones in charge here, so I figure it was a good idea to play along." Because the mice seem to be friendly and outgoing and warm-hearted. That, by itself, is a reason to trust the mice.

Of course, she also thought the same of Anders. Arsehole. But she took the steaming mug of tea, bringing it close to her nose.

It smelled like green grass and mango and all kinds of other goods which were so rarely available to Ferelden. And Kirkwall.

"It's great to meet you, Fran! And, sure, Hawke works. Or Sarajane or SJ or I've even been known to respond to 'what the fuck, you mage bitch' on occasion. I wouldn't recommend the latter.

It's great to meet you Fran! Where're you from?"

[mysterieuse]

Her nose flicked as the steam from the drink swirled around and she took a slow sip. The flavors were somehow precisely what she had wanted despite not even realizing it. She leaned back as the relaxing waters combined with the tea finally started to take effect.

"You must make a strong impression." For the better or worse. Only one that left a wake would have experience with being called a mage bitch though. She shook her head, moving the water with the weight of her mountain of hair.

"I am no longer from anyplace." Her home had instead been discarded for freedom with few regrets. "What of you?"

[toomuchinfo]

She'd always been more of a whisky drinker than tea, but at the same time...the scent and taste of the tea reminded her of the good times with her mom.

She'd come in looking like a wreck after one night on the town turned into yet another brawl with the gangs, her mom would take one look at her, and sit her down for some tea. And for a little while, she felt like a normal person instead of an elf-blooded apostate who seemed to attract armed gangs of arseholes the way light attracted bugs.

"Sure, that's the nicest way of putting it. And I've heard all of the not so nice ways, too." And that particular epithet had been thrown her way after she fled Kirkwall to Starkhaven with Sebastian. Seb had nearly challenged the noble to a duel, but Hawke talked him out of it. The last thing he needed was something else to upset him after the Chantry and Elthina.

"Same here. I used to be from Ferelden, then went to Kirkwall to escape the Blight, then I had to run away from there to Starkhaven, where my--I hate giving him a label. Boyfriend is too cheesy, lover is technically not true, my, uh. Sebastian."