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folkmore mod ([personal profile] folkie) wrote in [community profile] folkooc2022-06-23 12:57 pm
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June 2022 Test Drive Meme

JUNE 2022 TDM
INTRODUCTION

[ TDM QuestionsJump to CommentsFull 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 OnePrompt Two]

1989
Content Warnings: Potentially traumatic memories.

GOT THIS MUSIC IN MY MIND
Consciousness returns all at once, bringing with it the sound of water, the scent of wet wood, and the feeling of warm summer air. You are laying in a lounge chair near the head of a long wooden dock, one of many scattered along a small and pebbly beach. Other people rest on some of these chairs, dozing or waking up themselves.

In front of you a lake spreads like ink as the sun sets in the distance, turning the horizon into a riot of pinks and oranges. The water is still and dark, perfect for a little swimming, even if you don't have a suit. You can wade in, or walk down the dock and dive. If you're a little worried about going alone, you could see if anybody else is willing to take the plunge with you.

At the head of the dock where it rejoins the land, someone has placed a pastel boombox. It's playing a steady stream of synth music that really goes with the whole neon sky thing happening - it's like you woke up in a vapourwave wet dream! If only you had a saxophone!

The current song fades out and the DJ speaks up. Her voice sounds an awful lot like that of the fox that brought you here.

"Our next song goes out to a very special someone--" and to your surprise she says your name. What then plays is a song that is extremely special to you, whether positive or negative. Maybe it's from your first dance. Maybe it's the song that played on the radio when you said goodbye to someone you knew you'd never see again. Whatever it is, it cuts right to the center of you - you hear every note or feel every beat.

And it follows. The song will play on loop, growing louder and louder as it does. If you try to walk away, it somehow still plays - run into the woods to escape and you will still hear it echoing through the branches. Throw the boombox in the lake and another just reappears in its place. Plug your ears and you'll just hear it in your head, over and over.

How do you get rid of an earworm? Sing it aloud? Find another song? The DJ breaks in with a clue: "What an absolute banger! You'll want to share this one, folks!"

Yes, the only way is to get this song out of your head is to tell someone else about the memory associated with the song. The second you do, the song will stop looping, both externally and mentally


I KEEP CRUISIN'
If you get sick of the lake, a short walk down a path will take you to a little park. There are food stalls set up serving tacos, smoothies, yakitori, hot dogs, ice cream, somen, shaved ice... summer fare. All of the stalls are manned by humanoids with animal heads - at first you might mistake them for masks. But no, they really are animal people: roosters, chameleons, owls, panthers. They don't speak, and they're all very laid back, serving you in their own sweet time.

There are benches you can sit on. If the sun finally sinks behind the horizon while you're here, a number of soft lights in blues, purples, and pinks will turn on and keep the place illuminated.

Good thing, too, since the centre of the space is taken up by a skatepark. A kiosk nearby is renting out rollerblades and skateboards; if you're so inclined you can show off any skills you might have. Or maybe you'll just wobble along the pavement. The animal people will encourage you to skate in pairs if you're just learning, so you might meet some new people that way.

The vibe is chill, and even if you were upset when you first arrived you will find the longer you hang out the less anxious you feel.


I STILL KNOW
Content Warnings:Stalking, horror movie type villain, optional violence, shadow monsters.

YOU SAY IT'S IN THE PAST

You've been awake for some time. Maybe you're getting something to eat, maybe you're exploring Willow and Euphoria. Whatever you're doing, some part of your body brushes up against an envelope. Really, it's like it jumps out at you. Written on the front is your name.

Inside is a piece of paper upon which is written a single statement: I know what you did last summer!

Well, that's confusing. And a little concerning, especially if you happen to have a lot of skeletons in your closet. Equally confusing is that someone nearby has found an identical letter, only addressed to them.

What's going on here? And could it have anything to do with that mysterious figure dressed like a fisherman hiding poorly behind a nearby object? Whoever that is, it seems doubtful that their intentions are friendly - you can see that in one hand they've got one hell of a big sharp hook.

The fisherman will stalk you and the other person who has received a letter, hiding quite a bit like a child; they duck behind skinny trees, crouch behind garbage bins, occasionally just place their hands in front of their already obscured face. Trying to approach the figure results in them raising their hook menacingly before running away. But they always come back. And although they may be inept, they do have a weapon. It may only be a matter of time before they catch you off guard.

You and the other letter recipient will have to work together to get out of this. The fisherman seems to think you were both in on something, so you should get to work figuring out if you have any experiences in common.

For some people this will be extremely easy. For others who may be from a different time period or planet, it may be a little more difficult. Still, there's bound to be something, whether profound or stupid. The moment you find some commonality in your past, you'll suddenly notice a box addressed to the both of you. How did it get there? Who cares!

Open in and you'll discover some canon items from home. It's especially likely that you'll find any weapons you may have owned, which is handy since the fisherman is now going to be after you in earnest!

After discovering what you have in common, it's possible that when you next see the fisherman they will be revealed to be someone from one of your stories. For example, if you both spent a year in Mathletes, the fisherman can be revealed as that nerdy kid you totally beat at the regional championships. Or maybe the fisherman's face remains obscured.

Regardless of who lurks behind that dirty raincoat and hat, you have to deal with him! This can be accomplished in a few ways: by revealing his identity if he has one, by knocking him out and turning him over to a couple of bumbling cops who seem to exist solely for this little drama, or by killing him.

Harsh.

If you find a commonality and receive a weapon from home, it will work flawlessly. One hit and that fisherman goes down! At least it wasn't hard!

But what if you just cannot or will not find common ground with someone?

Well. You still have to take care of the fisherman, but it's going to take a while. He's very stubborn and just doesn't seem to stay dead or injured for very long. It will take at least three attempts to keep him down long enough that you can turn him over to the police or throw him in the lake or whatever it is you choose to do.


IT'S ALL GOOD

If you had not previously received an item from home, with the disposal of the fisherman you will now discover the box addressed to you and your companion. Inside you will find some canon clothes and items for each of you, although they will not be weapons. As it turns out, you do not need to have completed the you say it's in the past prompt in order to find one of these boxes as they are dotted around Folkmore and may be found simply by wandering around. It's most likely that you'll have found yourself in Epiphany or Willow, which means that you'll also be able to find yourself things to eat and drink with ease. Euphoria especially might be the place for a pick-me-up since the convenience store has slushies! Awesome!

Less common that the addressed boxes, and more likely to be in the rural areas, are unenchanted weapons sticking out of the ground. Swords, guns, shields, maybe some nunchuks... They're not magical, but they're useable. After all you've been through you might want to pick one of these up. But be warned: the second you take one of these weapons, you'll have to use it.

From the shadows cast on the ground, inky black heads suddenly rise. Just heads. On insanely long necks that twist and turn as the heads come for you, gnashing teeth as dark as night. They’re pretty easy to defeat - cut off the head, or destroy the shadows they originate from. You can also run away, but you better be fast! That’ll teach you to assume you can get anything for free!

If you did encounter the fisherman or one of those nasty snake creatures, you may be a little worse for wear. Never fear - wander around a little bit and you'll encounter some more of those mysterious animal-headed people, who will point you towards a first-aid station. You can be patched up there by a woman with the head of a fennec fox. She manages to look unamused, somehow. Still, you can hang out in the recovery area as long as you need to. It's likely that you'll find yourself resting near other people, and you won't be told to shush if you strike up a conversation.

pursuitofcappiness: (um let's not)

[personal profile] pursuitofcappiness 2022-06-25 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
Well usually when I get a box, I know what to expect inside.

[ And if it's some sort of bomb or something, it'll be good that America's standing behind him. But if it's some sort of chemical weapon, he'll look around for the exits and braces himself. He whacks it open and uh.

Well, it looks harmless. In fact, as the sides open, it seems like they're just some of his things.
]

I think some of these belong to you.
springgirl: (Default)

Cora Pearce | original | legend

[personal profile] springgirl 2022-06-25 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
1989

Got This Music In My Mind.

[It feels like she's waking up from a long dream (nightmare?), but the sound of music and the waves bring her back to consciousness. For a brief moment Cora might even believe that she's safe, on a beach trip with her friends. But the shore is small and unfamiliar, and more than that... it is the sight of a lake that greets her. Fear seizes her with a vice like grip, and with effort she scrambles up and out of the lounge chair. Heart beating wildly in her chest like a caged bird, threatening to break free as her gaze moves over her surroundings.

She almost panics -- almost, right until the familiar voice speaks. "Hounds of Love" by Kate Bush starts blasting on the boombox. It's enough to throw her off, and she wonders briefly if this is the dream. She takes a few moments to gather her thoughts and bearings, only realizing that she isn't alone after doing so. Sheepishness makes its way into her features, and she finds herself hoping they hadn't noticed her mini freak out upon waking up.]


...This may be a stupid question, but am I dreaming? Can you pinch me?

I Keep Cruisin'.
[Having decided that she didn't want to stick around the lake for too long, she'd found her way to the park and was currently wandering around. The ice cream is too tempting to pass up, and as she carefully eats it... it's the most relaxed she's felt in hours. The sight of the animals don't exactly disprove the theory that either she's dead or dreaming, but it's admittedly a nice one. Slowly, she stops in her tracks and watches strangers skate around.

As it strikes her that she's never really skated before (her pride would never allow it), one of the locals takes advantage of her letting her guard down. They take her by the hand, insistently tugging her towards the roller blades and some poor soul. Startled and very indignant, Cora very nearly drops her ice cream and looks down at the adorable animal.]


I don't skate. I don't know how, and you can't make me fall flat on my-- [Another insistent tug, and she gives the stranger an almost pleading look.] Are you dragging me into this too?

I Still Know

You Say It's In The Past.

a. [Before that disastrous Halloween party, Cora had been a very devoted horror movie fan. She had loved getting scared, the tension and adrenaline. They had solidified her love for acting, dreaming on being a star on the big screen. But now, she isn't sure if she can say the same. Nothing held the same thrill or charm, nor did she want to watch them alone. They felt empty now, like a cruel mockery. So maybe that's why when she receives the mysterious envelope, her first instinct is to freeze up and throw it away. It has to be someone's idea of a prank, but as she spots fisherman the -- ....it isn't. A moment of childish impulse drives her to very crudely flip him off before turning on her heel.

But she isn't stupid enough to think that's it. The box addressed to her brings the familiar glint of a dagger, one that she quickly retrieves. Cora grips it tightly in her hand -- just in time, it seems. A swing of a fist gets her in the back, and she just barely manages to keep her footing while scrambling away.]


Shit --

[She can feel her heart beating wildly again, as she turns to face the mysterious fisherman. A stranger nearby gets her attention, and she just barely manages to keep the shakiness out of her voice--]

Hey! A little help here?
starportal: (pic#15769157)

[personal profile] starportal 2022-06-25 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
[She has to laugh, because this is pretty much the most anticlimactic box opening she's ever been a part of. Moving past him, she goes back to the box and looks inside.]

Unless you're into band tees and jewelry...some of this is definitely teenage girl territory.

[Yeah, some of these things are definitely hers. She takes them out and can't wipe the surprised look off her face.]

I wonder how they got here.
pursuitofcappiness: (in my barbershop quartet)

[personal profile] pursuitofcappiness 2022-06-25 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
Probably the same way we did.

[ Or, he assumes she got here the same way he did. Once she's gotten her things, he looks at his. There's a book, an old compass, athletic clothes that most definitely wouldn't fit America, and a faded photograph of his mother that he thought had been lost when he'd gone into the ice.

He sticks it carefully in his wallet.
]

You know. After that whole thing with the guy in the raincoat, I think I could go for some pizza. What do you say?
dawn_is_breaking: (pretty)

[personal profile] dawn_is_breaking 2022-06-25 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
Some of the bitter quality in her voice leaves and she smiles, "Paris was as lovely as always. I was staying at the apartment my mother left me when she passed away."

"I assume you've been since you're asking about it?"
ironism: commissioned. dnt. (153.)

[personal profile] ironism 2022-06-25 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
At hearing what Steve has to say, he opens and closes his mouth a number of times at first, like he'd just lost the ability to form words; let alone be able to form a coherent sentence. It sounds like an impossibility that Steve's from some time ahead of him, two years in fact, but they're also in some kind of a weird pocket dimension where a dead kid is stalking them.

He just lets out a slight shake of his head, like he's not going to even try to make sense of it all right now and he grabs the handle of the shopping cart from Steve before heading down the aisle in search of the damn rope.

"I know you're not lying. Because I hadn't told you about Pepper and no one else knows except Rhodey and Happy, and I doubt you're on each other's speed dial." He grabs a few random things off the shelves, like he's looking to build something, and hey, maybe he is. He'll do whatever to stave off a possible panic attack. What's it been now? A year since he last had one of those? He tosses more things into the cart. Between the two of them, they've surely racked up enough credit in the past half hour alone.

"So, what happened to you? You didn't sign the Accords. Guess you turned your back on me too? Seems like a recurring theme in my life. I get it though. I'm a handful." He moves on to the next aisle before stopping, and finally turning around to look Steve in the eye. "You broke the team off, didn't you?" It's definitely an accusation directed at the guy, but it's what he's been worried would happen. That they wouldn't be able to come to an agreement, that they would split apart, and it would all go to hell. "Why?"
starportal: (pic#15769144)

[personal profile] starportal 2022-06-25 05:41 am (UTC)(link)
[She loves this guy. America puts her things back into the box and picks it up. She'll take the time to admire and put her things on later.]

I think if there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I will never turn down pizza.

[And with that, she's letting him lead the way off toward pizza. He's her new best friend.]

One universe I was just in, there was this guy called Pizza Poppa. He made the best pizza balls. Maybe they'll have something like it here.
starportal: (pic#15769167)

it's all good

[personal profile] starportal 2022-06-25 05:48 am (UTC)(link)
[America almost doesn't bother him. It looks like whatever he's experiencing is something personal. She understands exactly what it's like, since she had opened her own box and found personal things only about ten minutes ago. She's still holding the picture of her as a little girl with her mothers, unable to let it go even if it's just to tuck it into the pocket of her jacket.

But America can't just stumble across someone and not say a little something to them. Her generally cheerful nature won't allow her to turn away. Besides,
only looks to be about five years older than she is at most. He's still a teenager, she bets. And she knows what it's like to be young and alone in strange new places.
]

So you got things too, huh? [She's wearing a smile as she says it, and she holds up her picture to show that she found something too.] It almost feels too good to be true.
starportal: (pic#15769146)

2

[personal profile] starportal 2022-06-25 05:53 am (UTC)(link)
[Yeah, these skates are definitely from before her time. America's eyebrows arch up high as she tries not to laugh.]

Do you think I can help you just because I'm young?

[But you know what? That train of thought isn't half bad. She gives the guy credit for thinking that way, even if he hasn't confirmed that's why he asked her specifically for help. Which means of course she's smiling as she nods. to give an actual answer.]

Give me a minute to finish putting mine on. I've never done this before either. Sooooo, we'll figure it out together.
starportal: (pic#15769154)

cruisin

[personal profile] starportal 2022-06-25 05:57 am (UTC)(link)
Uh-huh.

[America isn't sure if she should be bothered or worried right now. This guy is definitely a little off. But maybe it's just because of his irritable bowels. That's not a problem she has, so she isn't sure how weird it makes you. But she casts him a sympathetic look anyway.]

Don't worry about it. It was only the best slice of pizza I've ever had.

[But the longer she stands there, the more off things feel. That thin smile of his is slightly unhinged.]

Are you okay?
pursuitofcappiness: (looking over right)

[personal profile] pursuitofcappiness 2022-06-25 06:17 am (UTC)(link)
"Not for a long time." He smiles, sadly, and then: "Hey, I think you're getting pretty good at keeping your balance. Do you wanna try pushing forward on your own? I'll be right behind."
dreamsofwings: (Default)

I keep cruising

[personal profile] dreamsofwings 2022-06-25 06:18 am (UTC)(link)
[ Eren, of course, has never seen skates or anything like them before. He's only had ice cream once (well…technically twice but it was the same day). He's also not getting much by way of information out of the animal people. What he is getting is an insistence that he try skating.

He's good at keeping up a blank mask most of the time; he's practised at it. But these people don’t buy it or they're immune to it or both, and here he is holding a skateboard.

He glances over at Kaeya.
]

I have no idea how this thing works.

[ And he probably looks absurd to boot. ]
pursuitofcappiness: (Default)

[personal profile] pursuitofcappiness 2022-06-25 06:18 am (UTC)(link)
Well, that's a heavy accusation, and the worst of it is, Steve doesn't even deny it immediately. Instead, he looks like he'd been slapped in the face. "It wasn't like that," he says, finally. "Long story short, there was a man whose family died in the aftermath of Sokovia. He found out about Bucky, who's alive by the way, his brain's been scrambled into working for HYDRA. Not the point, he framed Bucky for blowing up the UN at the Accords signing.

"He did that, because he knew I'd get myself in trouble trying to prove that it was actually Zemo who blew up the UN. Which I did prove, to you, but only after we got the whole team in a big fight about it because Ross gave you twenty four hours to bring me in, and he didn't care that Bucky was framed. And then he put all our friends in shock collars in a jail in the middle of the ocean, without trial. Because it isn't about checks and balances, Tony. It's about total control." And anytime Steve hears oversight, all he can think about is Project Insight.

Yes, the UN wasn't the World Council, but when you took those titles away, how was it so different? Ross is only secretary for as long as Ellis is sitting president - Steve would be glad to rid of him anyway, he's sure Tony has similar sentiments, but who's to say they'll like the next one, or the one after that? If this had been 1945, Steve would've signed on the dotted line in a heartbeat, with FDR's pen. Their roles might have even been reversed.

Which is precisely why Steve thinks they should have all sat down to look at it, not signed anything until they carefully combed through it, thought out all the possible consequences. But he can't blame Tony for that, when he only found out about this what, yesterday?

They'd been friends again for a good twenty minutes while they walked around this hardware store, and that didn't even manage to last. He takes a breath, but he's not done. "We wanted to fix them. Together, we were going to make edits we could all live with, but they don't exactly let escaped felons write the laws."

Steve looks up again as their stalker has gotten closer still. "Look, there's more, but let's take care of this first."
dawn_is_breaking: (gorgeous)

[personal profile] dawn_is_breaking 2022-06-25 06:47 am (UTC)(link)
She almost didn't realize that she hasn't wobbled or fallen over in a bit so she smiles and nods, "Sure. Nothing ventured right?"

The first few push forwards are the worst, but knowing that a man twice her size is behind her and would probably catch her before she fell on her butt helps give her a bit of confidence and soon her wobbles smooth out and she's gliding along on her own.
ironism: commissioned. dnt. (169.)

[personal profile] ironism 2022-06-25 07:47 am (UTC)(link)
At hearing that Ross had put their friends behind bars, Tony presses his fingers to the bridge of his nose. It's starting to dawn on him that he probably shouldn't have been so willing to believe that the Accords would somehow work in their favor. He'd just been so racked with guilt that he'd been willing to concede and hand complete control over to a man he didn't fully trust, hoping that if they were able to stay as a team that they'd somehow be able to figure it out together. Sure, he'd had some reservations about Ross, but he also knew that collectively they'd made some major mistakes that had left more than a hundred people dead and however many more more injured, and that had to stop.

"Well, fuck."

He can't blame Steve for prioritizing Bucky. Not when he'd done the same with Pepper. He had thought that agreeing to sign the Accords would help smooth things over, make it a little easier for him to get her back someday; to prove to her that he's capable of change. It was naive and stupid, and it wasn't like he didn't know it, but he'd wanted to do it anyways. Anything would have been better than nothing, right? Wrong.

"Of course there's more." Two years. He's caught between not wanting to hear anything else from Steve and wanting to get all the juicy details about the future, even if he knows it's likely not going to be anything good -- judging by the fact Steve would rather deal with Charlie first than just spew it all out already.

Tony motions for the Cap to walk and they'll head over to the counter. What they're not going to do is make a mess of this place while they're trying to apprehend their stalker. He stays uncharacteristically silent for the remainder of that long walk. "I'll get it." Not that he's a billionaire here, but hey, force of habit. Tony gets his spoon out, sort of waves it in an abracadabra motion for payment like it's even necessary.

Once they're outside, he sticks his hand in his jacket pocket to remove a small box that's been addressed to him. He's not sure how it even got there, but he glances over at Steve before he rips the package open. Inside is what looks like a custom wrist watch, but it's really more of an Iron Man gauntlet.

"I had this built about a week ago." He tosses the box in Steve's direction, freeing his hands so he can put the watch on. "Nothing fancy. Just your basic repulsors, flash beam, ultrosonic pulse, bulletproof construc--' Before he even manages to finish that sentence, Charlie quite literally pounces on him and he lands hard on the pavement, his left shoulder hitting the ground first and judging by that audible crack he's pretty sure he's just suffered a goddamn fracture. It doesn't stop him from releasing a sonic blast in Charlie's direction though, needing to get him off of him before that hook ends up carving a scar across his face.

"Sorry, kid. I'm just not big on the bear hugs. I don't think we're there yet." He winches as he tries to get up. God. He'd lost count of the number of injuries he's sustained on his left arm. Good thing he'd put the gauntlet on his right wrist.

Quite some distance away, Charlie's back on his feet again, like he hadn't just been tossed twenty feet up in the air. He's strong and fast and if the Cap thinks he can easily subdue him, he might be wrong about that.
solvabilities: (Forever fight as one)

[personal profile] solvabilities 2022-06-25 08:34 am (UTC)(link)
Uh, no. That was Hank's design. We collaborated a little, sure, but I never worked with Ultron's programming.

[ a pause as tony looks at steve, curiously. ]

Things are fine. I'm mostly retired these days. You took over as leader. I still support the team, but I needed the break.
rehandle: (296)

[personal profile] rehandle 2022-06-25 10:02 am (UTC)(link)
Good.

[ That makes things easier, as little as he may or may not believe her. Crossing the rest of the distance, Stephen's attention drops to the blade in question, frowning a little as he tries to get a read off of it.

No magic, but the whole scenario just doesn't seem right, like there's something at the edges of his peripheries he can't catch sight of. ]


Better that you don't. [ Finally, he glances up to pay attention to present company. ] Could you step back? Please.

[ He's not going to extricate it himself now, but some precautions need to be taken. He can't just leave it there for the next person to stumble across. ]
rehandle: (pic#12484745)

[personal profile] rehandle 2022-06-25 10:47 am (UTC)(link)
[ Number one rule of the multiverse: it could always be worse.

It takes a second. He's still patting himself down for his spoon when a benevolent bargoer starts to make him an offer, mind cast out in search of any self-created pockets in reality he doesn't remember stowing his stuff in, so it's not until it's too late and the drink is already bought that the voice lands and Stephen stops in an abrupt freeze. His gaze lifts. There's no helping the brief deer-in-headlights, you-look-like-you've-seen-a-ghost widening of his eyes when they land on none other than Tony Stark.

The barkeep helpfully chooses that moment to land his two-finger glass of mystery spirit down on the bar, and Stephen follows the motion to cut himself off from staring in what he hopes is something like decent enough time to shrug those past few seconds off like they didn't happen.

He wonders, not for the first time, how many Tony Starks live on in how many universes. And, for the first time, what the chances are that this one is any iteration of the man he marked for and sent to his grave.

He doesn't know him. And he looks - younger, at least than the very last time Stephen saw him. Which tells him nothing in the grand scheme of things, but is more information than none, and therefore something he can work with. ]


No offense, but I think I'm all out of merriment for the day. [ Still. He picks up the glass, raises it toward Tony in recognition of the gesture. ] Thanks.
ironism: commissioned. dnt. (064.)

[personal profile] ironism 2022-06-25 11:41 am (UTC)(link)
( hand on his cheek, elbow resting on the bar counter and he definitely caught that deer-in-headlights look, but he's not sober enough to really make anything out of it. he just smiles good-naturedly at the thank you, nodding once and waving his hand in a 'no big deal' gesture. )

Fine. I can do serious. All for it. Hit me with your best... serious business face. ( he chuckles a little at that. he then holds a finger up before putting on a straight face again. just give him a second here. come on. he's got his left arm wrapped in a sling, he's got a bruised eye and a cut on his cheek, and yet, he's crazily enough still in the mood to party. albeit, it's been a party for one for the past hour now. look, it's been a while since he let himself get this drunk. )

Sorry. I just found out some things about the future that I'm kind of working on processing. What do you think about that? ( he's not really expecting the guy to have an opinion about it. he knows it probably sounds crazy. he'll signal the bartender for another refill. )
simbiose: (pic#15768600)

[personal profile] simbiose 2022-06-25 11:57 am (UTC)(link)
I’m, I’m fine. Uh-huh.

[ maybe this is his cue to stop smiling! okay. okay, just going to anxiously, hrm— yes. put his now tapping hands into his pockets. venom is angry from eddie’s buddy-zoning earlier, and also hiding him. YOU MADE ME FEEL LIKE A FOOL, EDDIE. SO I WILL MAKE YOU ACT LIKE ONE. he is jerkingly reaching for that pizza on the ground, to eddie’s horror, but he nervously chuckles as he does: ]

Oh, we don’t eat food off the ground, that’s— [ too late. he is slobbering that baby right down. ] Mm. Mm. That’s the best pizza I’ve had in my life. Mm-hm.

[ this is so embarrassing. that pizza is gone. he has eaten it. like an animal. YUMMY. ]

—Wow. Okay. I was really hungry. [ . . . ] I’m sorry about your pizza, kid. People shouldn’t just, [ pointedly: ] do that. Let’s— let’s get you a new one. We’re getting more pizza. On me.

[ NO!! ]

Yes. Because sharing is caring.
briarprincess: (01. Curious)

[personal profile] briarprincess 2022-06-25 12:45 pm (UTC)(link)
You too?

[Yor furrows her brow. Well that's just unacceptable.

Yor can handle someone bothering her. As threatening as the hook has been, most of what this stranger has done has just been annoying sneaking around. But harassing a teenage girl? No, she won't stand for that.
]

Would you like me to go talk to him? It's inappropriate for him to be following young women around like this.
rehandle: (094)

[personal profile] rehandle 2022-06-25 12:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Tony's surprising willingness to readjust to suit company gives Stephen an opening to look him over over-top the rim of his glass. He looks... bad. Not just finished vanquishing Thanos bad, but far from great. And if Stephen's estimation is anything to go by, he's at least a few drinks in.

All of this falls to secondary relevance as soon as he mentions the future.

Attention sharpening, a dog with a curious scent, Stephen takes a sip of his drink to mask his renewed laser-focus - little distracted glance down at the liquid, warming with a hint of honey - and then: ]


Happens to the best of us. I guess it wasn't good news?

[ Sooner or later acting like a total bystander is going to come back to bite him, but that's something to think about when he's no longer in the opening act of a Christmas Carol arc he never had the chance to sign off on. ]
briarprincess: (01. Curious)

[personal profile] briarprincess 2022-06-25 12:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"A joke?"

Yor looks back to the raincoated man in Steve's arms. She's not totally sure, but she might have broken his wrist when she disarmed him earlier - and even if she didn't, it clearly must have hurt.

"Seems awful far to go for a joke. You'd think he'd speak up if that were the case."
rehandle: (101)

[personal profile] rehandle 2022-06-25 01:03 pm (UTC)(link)
( ooc: that's totally fine on both counts! if you need any particular info to determine soul stuff lmk and I'll dish out some deets )

He's so wrapped up in his own mini tragedy (and it is a tragedy, to be this close to putting a cherry on top of the mess of his day only to have defeat rip him from the jaws of victory) that he doesn't sense anyone's approach until she's speaking to him, pulling focus.

Then there's a second spent deciding whether he has it in him to clamp down on the immediate urge to tell anyone witnessing the slow death of his dignity to simply go away... but he does, it turns out. Expression settling into something as close to neutral as he can muster (there's irritation in the slight pinch of his brow, defeat in the downturn of his mouth), Stephen nods.

"It's fine." Is it? Try again. "I can't find my— spoon."

He really, really doesn't enjoy having to say that out loud.
Edited 2022-06-25 13:05 (UTC)
simbiose: (pic#15761169)

[personal profile] simbiose 2022-06-25 01:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[ maybe he should sit. beau looks elegant and laidback enough that he might as well be either a tour guide or a native. eddie rubs the inner corner of his eye as he does find an empty seat to manage his scrambling thoughts. the music, man. the music. it’s good music. it starts getting tiring after the tenth time. 130 times, with an alien singing constantly? oh, boy. ]

Yeah— yeah, I like guitars. Just think I’d like some peace, and quiet now. For ten minutes.