June 2023 Test Drive Meme

[folkie]

June 2023 TDM

Introduction

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This Test Drive meme is open to all.
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 and work like "mini-events". For new players and characters, you can choose to have your TDM thread be your introduction thread upon acceptance or start fresh. Current players are allowed to have in-game characters react to TDMs via the Network or make a Log with the prompts they want to participate in.

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

Playing and interacting with the 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 always encouraged to tag new people on the TDM!


🦊 New Star Children meet the Fox still in their worlds, and she brings them into the new realm of Folkmore. As you follow her, your body begins to change and new characteristics emerge. These may stay for a while, or perhaps they will hide away after. And during all of this, the Fox explains to you where you will be going: to Folkmore.

and then... you fall like a shooting star, falling to the land in a burst of starlight.


🦊 Experienced Star Children are already familiar with this time of the month. There are shooting stars all across the sky, and some fall to the land, which means the Fox has brought new arrivals. These newly arrived Star Children will face some tests, but Thirteen wants the more seasoned residents to participate as well.

Perhaps you follow the falling stars on your own, or perhaps the Fox simply teleports you there, but it appears you too will be part of this.

[ Prompt One ★ Prompt Two ]

Right Where You Left Me . ★

Content Warnings: Alternate Universe, Memory alteration/altered sense of self, Exhibition

If This Was a Movie

You forget everything the fox told you on your way over. You forget your own history. You remember a completely new one, one that matches whatever story you're now in. It could be a story from your world—a folk tale, a novel, a movie, a telenovella—or one you've never heard of. Whatever it is, this is your life now. Your memories match as though you've lived here your whole life. The tone may match your world, or it may drastically differ.

And you're not alone.

Whatever scene you're in features at least one other Star Child in the same situation you are. They might also be a new arrival, or they may be someone Thirteen has plucked up out of Folkmore and brought here to join you. Whether you've known each other your whole previous life or never met before, you know each other as the people in the story—whatever relationship that is. You don't remember being placed here. It's your life! It always has been.

The two (or more) of you pick up at whatever point in the story it is. Perhaps it'll go the same way as the original story. Perhaps not. You still are you—memories redacted—after all. This story is yours to write together!

The outfits, the setting, the NPCs (played by Spirits going along with things), etc. all perfectly match the story and adapt with you as you create your own retelling.

Big Red Button

As it turns out, you aren't only in an entertainment, you are an entertainment. Across Folkmore, large screens showing these stories appear: in every school, in public squares, before a large meadow, in the middle of the desert, you name it. It's also streaming on everyone's relics. Everyone has the chance to see your story play out.

That's not all, Star Children are your key out of the story and into Folkmore itself. Along with these screens, there are big red buttons. Digitally, a big red button appears on people's relics when they watch these stories. It's pretty simple. Someone presses the big red button and you're free! The reason doesn't matter—boredom, pity, recognition, the irresistibility of buttons. These are the only way out, so when you get out is completely up to your fellow Star Children.

Once the button is pushed, an invisible wall between your story and Folkmore falls away. With it, you regain all your memories from home and from the walk to Folkmore with the fox. All you have to do is step out of the story and into the school of Baba Yaga. The school of magic. Thirteen isn't there personally, but you may feel her spirit around you. Baba Yaga—Thirteen—is the school itself.

A small chest is also there as soon as you leave the story containing an item from your homeworld. This may even be a weapon or magical item.

Small bat spirits have a couple stations set up within the school near where Star Children exit their stories. If you're injured or need to rest, they are ready to help treat you or provide you as many pillows and blankets as you wish. If you're hungry or thirsty, the other station has food and drink for all. Steaming tea, freshly baked bread, and all sorts of warm comforting foods. You'd be forgiven for thinking it might be autumn. They want you to be at your best when you leave Baba Yaga and enter the rest of Folkmore via Exile.

No Body, No Crime . ★

Content Warnings: Optional mind/body split, Possible invasion of privacy, Possible monster/creature violence

Eyes Open

When you leave Baba Yaga, you're somewhere in Exile. Not even the Spirits or experienced Star Children can tell you where exactly you are. The school walks around on its chicken legs. Unless someone leaves at the same time as you, you'll start in different places. You'll have to find your own way out.

If you have been exiled before, you'll have an easier time navigating the land. It'll help guide you toward where you want to go. If you have never been exiled before, you'll have a harder time navigating this section of Folkmore. The trees may try to push you back. Perhaps nothing happens, exactly, but the aura is one that doesn't want you. Regardless, there's enough fog that it's difficult to see where you're going. Attention certainly seems to be on you. Are the trees watching? Is the water listening? Those are simply stories Spirits share to scare new Star Children isn't it?

Suddenly, you may appear to be in another part of Folkmore! It could be anywhere. It could be a public area, a business, someone's home… Wherever it is, if you try to touch something, you realize you cannot. Instead you pass right through solid objects. You cannot open a door, but you can walk right through it. You may surprise someone with your sudden appearance, or perhaps you reach out to people you see for help. Perhaps you simply explore this new area where you were.

Take all the time you want. Hopefully nothing bad is happening back with your body still in Exile… On second thought, perhaps you don't want to spend too long away from your body. You can use your own skills or get help returning to your body or find yourself suddenly back in it. Time to take stock and maybe find your way back to the rest of Folkmore body included.

Cowboy Like Me

On your way through Exile, you may come across weapons sticking out of the ground. Swords, axes, shields, bows, guns… All manner of non-magical weapons. They're simply there, scattered here and there, free for the taking. It looks like someone had a bad time trying to get out of Exile. Whoever the weapons belonged to, they don't need them now.

A word of warning to those who grab the weapons, as soon as you do, one of the dangerous creatures in Exile will find you. These creatures don't only have sharp claws or fangs, poison or sharp senses, they are intelligent. You'll need not only the weapon(s) you grabbed but your wits to defeat them or the luck of someone else coming along to help you out.

Comments

Ezra Bridger | Star Wars: Rebels + CRAU | Familiar

[ezra_of_lothal]

I. If This Were a Movie (AKA the MASH AU cw: for aftermath of violence, non graphic, so far)

There are no wizards with tide-turning powers on what's left of this battlefield, no knights with shining swords - not even a wise cracking doctor present, at the moment. Just a lot of mud, and blood, and a Jewish kid from the Lower East Side doing his best as a field medic. Ok, so sometimes he does make a quip here or there, but often he seems anxious, wincing at the laugh track (that others may or may not hear). His hands, though, are always steady.

His gaze flickers towards the sky. "If we don't make it to the unit by the time the storm breaks, we're screwed."

(Feel free to go wildcard with the general 'verse on this one!)

II. Big Red Button

Ezra just blinks as memories settle more properly into place. "Oh. That sort of thing."

Not his first 'other life' rodeo. He pats himself down, relieved to find his hair is back to longer than what had, a moment ago, been regulation, and he's no longer in a uniform.

Well, not a uniform by many points of view. Some might have familiarity with the combination of a cloak plus a particular style of tunics, and tabards although his current set are burnt orange tabards with yellow stitched detailing, over deep blue underlayers. His belt looks like it has many clips and small pockets for useful things. Too bad they're all not in use at the moment.

Then he sighs heavily. "I'm new. Where are we now?"

III. Cowboy Like Me

He doesn't have his lightsaber, or any other weapon he'd call his, and he's spent too much of his life in settings he's needed to be able to fight at the drop of hat to be perfectly comfortable with that aspect of the situation. Still, he eyes the weapons strewn around warily.

"I don't think touching them is a good idea."

IV. Wildcard (And of course general wild card. Feel free to hit me up at skipthedemon on discord or skipthedemon for plotting!)

now pressing the button in the CORRECT spot ;;

[unapprovedtrash]

Cal hasn't had all that many experiences with the trials Thirteen throws at people in this place yet. He hasn't been here that long himself. This one was by far the most annoying out of the few he's played part of. He doesn't even want to talk about what he went through. He's fairly certain he was living one of Skoova Stev's big fish tales. The less said about it the better.

He has decided to hang around Baba Yaga for a bit since he's here. Seems like that's where most people are popping out after their 'Experiences'. A few are a bit disorientated so he figured he should stick around a while to help before heading off to.. do something? Yeah, something.

This latest Star Child that's been released from the 'Experience' though. He can't bring himself to answer him right off the bat. He feels something thick in his throat, a lump he has to force to swallow. He's familiar with that style of tunic, that cut of tabard. The colors aren't quite the most traditional but. Yeah. He wore them himself until he was thirteen and then, well. Stuff happened. He probably could if he wanted to. He doesn't keep it quiet about who he is anymore. Openly 'flaunts' his lightsaber and all. But he's never tried to wear the robes again. He-

-Is staring a bit. Come on Kestis don't have an existential crisis over wardrobe. It probably doesn't even mean anything. Cosmic coincidence or something.

"Oh hey, sorry, just spacing out a little," he gives him an awkward but friendly little wave. He is totally a normal well adjusted person, "This is Folkmore. Or specifically if you want it Baba Yaga. You know you seem pretty blasé about all this."

\0/

[ezra_of_lothal]

To be fair, once Ezra’s attention moves to Cal, he's looking pretty intently back. His expression doesn't shift much, but he's not really hiding, in the Force, a flare of recognition shifting to a flicker of concern.

If this guy really is Cal - and he looks a little older, but Ezra'd bet, oh, a hot meal that this is Cal Kestis - guessing that it may have been a while since Cal seen another Jedi, or at least someone openly presenting as one, isn't hard.

Cal's question could be a way of checking Ezra's identity and memories, he supposes, but he doubts it. Cal, this Cal, has probably never met him before.

Ezra clears his throat. "I remember the Fox. Not my first time for journeys across planes of reality, or even memory altering bubbles like that."

Heck, this 'whole other life' seems to have borrowed a few things from the last set of memories of living a life on Earth that got dumped into his head, which he sort of appreciates. Easier to grapple with, that way. He can't help but be less thrilled this instance involved being in a warzone, though.

[unapprovedtrash]

No... no he's seen his fair share of Jedi. Fair share still being little more then a handful but it's still a lot considering the state of the galaxy. He still sometimes thinks to himself it would have been better if he'd never crossed paths with any of them. He certainly won't be able to again.

"I'd say it's great that you're an expert on it, but being an expert on entering mind-altering bubbles doesn't sound like a real fun time. Not a party I'd RSVP to again," he shudders a little. He doesn't care to repeat the experience himself. It's too close to how psychometry feels and just different enough to be extra disconcerting no thank you.

He catches something. His natural empathic abilities as a Jedi mixed with the similar but slightly different senses he's obtained in his role as a 'Legend' often leave him a little muddled in ways he wasn't before. It's a whiff though of... recognition? familiarity? That or he's allergic to something around here.

Maybe he knows another redhead. You see one ginger you've seen them all. It at does remind him that he probably should at the very least introduce himself.

"Cal by the way," he sticks out a hand, "Cal Kestis."

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ezra blooms into a genuinely warm smile. "It's not all bad. I got a brother out of it, the first time." Not to mention the slightly fuzzy education and cultural context of a 21st century American teenager with a mixed heritage - incredibly useful for an orphan of limited formal schooling, and helpful in communicating with people from a range of other worlds. On the other hand, embracing all those things has led to an identity crisis or two.

He shakes Cal hand, firmly. He's no true psychometric, aside from occasional vague emotional impressions, and a more vivid flash or two from items from his own past, but even untrained he was empathic enough he's made a habit of wearing gloves for a very long time. He'd had no idea, back when he'd been a child on his own, why everything seemed a little less overwhelming, just that he'd felt a little better being around people, with them on.

"Ezra Bridger. Have you been here - out of the galaxy - long?"

[unapprovedtrash]

"A brother sounds nice," he smiles, bit weakly though it's fleeting. He's made a few connections here and there so far in his stay, but it's kind of a frightening thought to let anyone that close to him, not after well. Not after Jetpack.

"Nah, been here about a month now. Haven't even really figured out permanent residence or anything yet," he says 'permanent residence' like it leaves a bad taste in his mouth. He's too antsy to settle down anywhere. Realistically he knows he should, he doesn't have the Mantis to live out of here but these past few years he's felt too on edge to stay anywhere long term, hard to break habit. He rubs the back of his neck after releasing Ezra's hand, "So you've got a bit of an inexperienced welcome wagon."

There's something else in the WAY this guy asked that question that itches the back of his mind. Very few people refer to well basically back home as 'the galaxy'.

"You know I've only met a few people who refer to where they came from as the galaxy," he frowns, looking thoughtful, "Sorry- just trying to think of the least awkward way to ask you if you come from where I come from. I could start rattling off planet names..."

Cowboy like me

[foundlingfather]

Din hates how much being thrown around new areas of Folkmore, has become almost routine. These trials can be annoying, because one never quite knows what to expect.

But to Ezra, at least the sight of a Mandalorian is a familiar one. Even if his clan mark on his pauldron is unfamiliar. That, and his unpainted armor is probably an odd sight. He has his blaster pistol in it's holster on his right hip. However, hanging on the back of his left hip, is a lightsaber that Ezra is well acquainted for.

For now the only weapons that has Din's attention, are the ones scattered on the ground. Not the first time he's encountered this. But...something doesn't seem right this time. Nothing is actively attacking them. He rises from his crouch near one of them, as he turns to look at the other Star Child.

"Something's off." He says in agreement.

[ezra_of_lothal]

Certainly, a Mandalorian in full armor is a familiar sight. And there's only one Mando he knows who goes around with completely bare armor, and that sigil. A man who's name he's politely pretended not to know, and mostly called 'Grogu's dad'.

He doesn't sense Grogu here, though, and and he lets a wave of disappointment/worry for the youngling pass through him, so he can focus on the present.

On the flip side, can you clock a Jedi in mostly traditional robes when they don't have their lightsaber, Din?

"Yeah, this is bad feeling central, and I don't trust these weapons in an ambush."

He pauses and decides to take the plunge, "How good are you with that lightsaber? Because I have years of training with them."

[hasmuchtolearn]

They don’t have much time to ponder weapons further as a glowing ball of light and feathers suddenly comes crashing in. Obi-Wan, as much as he didn’t like it, was trying out having wings. It wasn’t going well. Trying to fly out of Exile apparently wasn’t the way to go. Especially when you hadn’t mastered flying yet.

He only narrowly missed landing on some of those weapons. Getting impaled by one would certainly make for a bad day. Instead he would have to settle for his dignity being bruised as he picked himself up. “Don’t mind me.”

[foundlingfather]

Yes, sadly, little Grogu is not with his dad, and part of Din misses him badly. Though right now, it's been pushed to the back of his mind, to focus on the here and now.

Din's never seen a Jedi in Jedi robes. So. No. He's definitely not recognizing Ezra as a Jedi right away. However, the asking about a lightsaber is enough to clue him in. Only Jedi carry the things...and him. But that's a whole another story.

"Are you a Jedi?" Comes his own question in return. Sorry Ezra, Luke and Ahsoka didn't wear robes, except for their cloaks. So the robes is a new thing to him. However, before he can answer about the darksaber. There's another person literally crashing their little party. Din's right hand moves instinctively to his holster, even if he doesn't draw. But then he's relaxing it. Another new face?

"You alright?"

[ezra_of_lothal]

Excuse Ezra, as he holds onto a mask of calm, while cycling through a gamut of emotions in three seconds flat.

That's Obi-Wan, he realizes in stunned elation.

...That's Obi-Wan really young, he clocks, next, with softer surprise, when he notices the long padawan braid, and on the heels of that comes a sort of grief. If all is as it appears, they will not be even close to on the same page.

Then, a steely determination, a choice. He will do this right, to the best of his ability. He really has no clear idea what that choice may entail in the long run, if they both stay in this realm for long, and he'll probably make mistakes. But he is a Jedi Knight. His emotions must not rule him. His love for Obi-wan Kenobi must not be attachment, but steady, clear eyed, with an open hand.

So, his gaze flicks to Mando, and he answers firmly, "Yes, I am."

Back to Obi-Wan, more softly, "Are you alright? I don't think we should linger here."

II. Big Red Button

[makesrocksfloat]

((OOC: this Rey comes from an AU where she took Kylo Ren's hand in exchange for him sparing the remaining shuttles of the Resistance fleet))

Rey stared at Ezra, hazel eyes wide and astonished. And more than a little ashamed.

"A Jedi Knight! Here? I mean, that's what you are, you're a Jedi Knight. I'm a--well, I was still in training."

And she'd be damned before she let Kylo Ren 'continue her training' as he obviously wanted to do. She'd stay shut up in his quarters forever before she'd allow him to do that (or any number of perverse things he might, might not, or she might not want him to do).

Finally, Rey settled on "You're new here. Aren't you?

got it!

[ezra_of_lothal]

He...knows that face. Although not that particular emotion on it. Well, he's never had a chance to get to know Rey well, in any time and place, has he?

"...aren't we all?" he tries, gamely. "Students of the Force, anyway." Then he shakes his head. "Really, I'm fresh out of apprenticeship. And you strike me as more a handshake than bowing person."

So he holds out a gloved hand. "Ezra Bridger."

I do love me some AUs!

[makesrocksfloat]

Shame. She was ashamed of what she'd done, both because she wanted to spare the Resistance fleet and because she wanted it.

When that awful redhead, Hux, had entered when she'd come to and Kylo Ren hadn't, she'd managed to pull herself up to her full height and inform him that Lord Ren had given the order to spare the remains of the Resistance, going to stand by Kylo Ren's prone form in an attempt to earn some...not respect. But fear. Rey had paid for their safety with her own self. Which earned her fear.

And she shook her head no. "Not all. There are two from our world who aren't Force-sensitive at all. Cal, though, he's a Jedi. And I'm one in training."

Rey grinned and ducked her head. "I'm definitely more the handshaking than bowing type. No one's ever bowed to me before, I don't think I'd know what to make of it. I'm Rey. Of Jakku. Pleased to meet you...?"

[ezra_of_lothal]

"But we're all part of the Force," he asserts, although his tone is mild. He's developed some Views, in his wanderings across realities.

More warmly, "Pleased to meet you, Rey of Jakku. Lothal boy, myself. And yeah, new to here. Have you been here long?"

[makesrocksfloat]

Rey flushed, feeling a bit admonished. She knew she still had much to learn and might have to teach herself. Maybe that was her potential. So she put on a more confident expression and nodded.

"Thank you. And, Lothal? Is that where Loth cats come from? As for how long I've been around, I've been here...three months, I think. Enough to get something of the lay of the land. And to realize that we're not gonna have much help in figuring out what's our potential. Which is frustrating," and she made a face.

Cowboy Like Me (because duh)

[heypartner]

"Kid, not touching them is just as likely to bring trouble." Cobb considers the weapons on the ground for another moment. Then he spots what he wants, a slug rifle. He grabs it from the dirt and looks it over, figuring out in about fifteen seconds how to reload and where the slug magazine is.

It's a single shot like Din's old amban rifle. Not Cobb's favorite type of weapon but he doesn't see anything like his carbine blaster in the dirt.

"Should get ready. The fox only gives us weapons when there's trouble." He offers the kid his handgun. "Unless you want one of those."

There was an eerie howl from the shadows and Cobb nodded. "Those like to travel in packs. Like anooba. Watch your flank."

He's been listening and watching the creatures that stalk the edges of Cruel Summer and Exile for awhile now. He's pretty familiar with a handful. The howl is one of the sounds he's gotten used to and recognizes.

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ah, yep, that sure is a shift in the Force, as soon as Cobb touched that rifle. Ezra sighs, deeply.

He glances at that offered handgun, torn, because he trusts a weapon Cobb's been carrying a while more than random ones laid out like bait. On the other hand, Ezra's a little rusty in his target practice, and has been practicing with a variety of blades.

Decision made, he shakes his head, then opens himself up more to the Force, to let it guide his hand to an unadorned longsword. He flips that around in his hands, getting a feel for the balance, before settling into a standard opening guard for the first lightsaber form. It's the one most closely based on swordplay before lightsabers fully developed, after all.

[heypartner]

The first beast comes from the shadows, sleek with long tusks and red eyes. Cobb has just enough time to put the handgun into his holster and then raise the rifle before the second comes from the left.

The gunshot seems deafening. Cobb's getting used to the more percussive sound of a slug thrower since that's all he's got but it's still not the reassuring hiss and sharp whine of a blaster.

But he makes his shot. It hits the first beast in the chest and it collapses to the ground. He ejects the slug and loads a second. He has no idea how many shots he has and how many beasts are coming.

"Keep lookout for behind us," he barks, used to giving orders. Probably should be nicer to a stranger who's just landed in a weird place but they're fighting and there's no time to be polite.

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ezra is extending his senses into the Force already, thank you, Cobb. But he doesn't argue.

He reaches for the mind of the second beast, expecting maybe hunger, or fear, or anger, all of which he might be able to soothe enough to convince the creature to leave - and is startled by the level of determination, with cunning behind it.

Alone, he might press on in the attempt to end the fight more peacefully, try to communicate that he's not easy to kill, that they could agree to simply walk away. But right now he'd have to convince Cobb too, and that might just get them both killed in the process.

Balancing his right to protect his own life, and his duty to protect Cobb's, well, that trumps the more abstract principle of peace and respect for all life.

From the outside, this would look like Ezra going still for a moment, reaching out his empty hand...

And then, springing to action in a blur of speed, to thrust his sword in to the throat of the second beast.

[heypartner]

Cobb would've liked it better if the kid stayed back to back with him but apparently he's one of those heroic types that throws themselves into the middle of a fight. Stars, how does he keep finding these folks?

He compensates for the lack of coverage by taking a few steps towards Ezra. Cobb turns fast and fires into the darkness. He must have caught a glimpse of fang or some Myth sense kicked in because seconds after the shot there's the sound of a body hitting the ground.

Reloading somewhat distracts him and Cobb uses his whole right arm to take the brunt of a beast landing on him, tackling him to the ground. He growls right back at it and then slams his head forward using his krayt horns to daze the creature. Cobb kicks it off, sits up and shoots it right between the eyes with his handgun.

"Gonna have to buff out the scratches," he mutters to himself as he shakes out his prosthetic. No damage to the wiring, luckily.

"Move back," he says as he picks up his rifle. "They won't follow us out of Exile!"

MASH

[untitledshuos]

Jedao eyes the storm and returns his attention to the next soldier in his triage. Critical but able to be stabilized. "Don't talk," he tells the patient as he wraps the man's head. The helmet's cracked in pieces nearby. It may have saved his life. "Pray silently. God'll still here you." Jedao doesn't believe in God, but he believes in not making the injury worse.

Though he doesn't hear it, for some reason that gets a laugh.

"They called in for 'copters. All we can do is treat them and wait. We can't walk these guys back to the unit."

Which happens first, the storm or the transportation, is out of their hands.

[ezra_of_lothal]

Yeah, Ezra definitely grimaces faintly at that bit of offstage laughter.

"The 'copters probably can't carry everyone," he says, lowly, hoping none of their charges won't hear. Still, Jedao's right. They can't change the overall situation. Thye can only do the job in front of them.

Like packing this chest wound. Bullet must have glanced off the sternum or something like that, for this poor bastard to still be breathing.

"Try to stay flat, ok?" he encourages, although consciousness seems to be a dicey matter for this patient. "If you undo my work, I'll have to give you the big sad eyes."

Ok, that was a little funny, but not that funny, he thinks to himself in irritation.

CW: emergency medical descriptions

[untitledshuos]

Jedao nods. They can take the worst, and with so many fewer patients on their hands, he and Bridger can handle the rest. That's all there is too it. They can last that long. They have to. With effort, Jedao doesn't look at the skies or think about times copters came too late.

A nearby patient's breathing changes, thready and wrong. Jedao switches to that man and quickly realizes it's a pneumothorax. He pushes the man's uniform open and searches through his kit for a small bore chest tube. Too many supplies are out. "Fuck," Jedao swears lightly.

Already he takes apart his pen, removing the tip and the ink, until it's essentially a small tube. One small cut, and he pushes the body of the pen in to reach the pocket of air collapsing the man's lung. Air hisses out, and the soldier breathes.

"Got a spare pen?" Jedao asks. He still needs to fill out triage tags.

[ezra_of_lothal]

This is the sort of thing that Jedao's gotten a bit of a reputation for. How many other 'lowly' medics would have moved so quickly with an unorthodox move like that, much less have it work, as a stop gap measure?

Ezra's a studious notetaker, of course he has pens. He holds one out, eyes wide. "That was-"