empatheias_ooc | TEST DRIVE: NOVEMBER

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!mod,
*test drive

TEST DRIVE: NOVEMBER

— TEST DRIVE: NOVEMBER —

Welcome to

empatheias' test drive meme. This test drive is to help interested players test their characters in the game's environment. We've included a few prompts that incorporate specific elements of the game, though you'll find all of them have a lot of leeway for players to get as creative as necessary. Before diving in, here are a few things we'd like to remind everyone about the game in general:

Date reminders. Reserves open Tuesday, October 25 and Applications (Canon | OC) open Tuesday, November 1st.
OC Reminder! Just a quick reminder that original characters are allowed. Those interested can also use the test drive. OCs do not need to be reserved.
Emotions are key! Empatheias' premise focuses on how anyone's emotions can affect their environment, be it big or small. While not every emotion will cause a reaction, significant ones definitely will. How much effect a character will have will ultimately be up to you, the player. Also, while we're giving a lot of leeway for the test drive, keep in mind that there will be some limits in the actual game.
Everyone has an amulet. All characters have a unique amulet that is specialized for them. It will contain all of their emotion drops and it serves as the network device. Remember, communication is telepathic. Otherwise, it works basically the same.
Assume the character is already in the game. Because "OMG WHERE AM I IS THIS REAL LIFE" threads aren't going to be very helpful in this test drive! Plus those are going to happen in-game, anyway. So to make things easier, just assume that they've been around at least a week or so. Still learning the ropes, but not a complete "first day" experience.
First or third person allowed. Your threads can be in either first or third, but we'd advise being flexible about it. Remember, these threads can also be used in your application for samples! Reminder: We only require one sample and it can be done in either format. We have also made a change to our sample requirements, so look over the Applications page!

Now with that out of the way, here are some prompts you guys can work from!

PROMPTS

• Prompt A: How about giving the emotions a try?

• Prompt B: Refer to the Task Board and choose a task your character may be interested in taking up. For this prompt, you could have your character ask for help, already be in the middle of the job, or react to it in some way. Perhaps they were an unfortunate victim or want to create a job countering an existing one. You could even have a prompt making a job request. Creating jobs for the purpose of the test drive is absolutely doable.

• Prompt C: How about giving the amulets a go? Start a telepathic conversation and see how it works. Remember, the amulets are sending out the owner's thoughts so might want to be careful about how the stream of consciousness goes...

• Prompt D: The Boreas Harvest Festival is fast approaching, and the farmers are trying hard to work through the bleak weather conditions to get their crops in before they go bad from all the apathy. All hands on deck—but there may be too many unwanted hands roaming around.

Scarecrows. The scarecrows that have been set up as a festive reminder of the time of year have unfortunately come under the influence of some errant strong emotions from the farm hands that work in the fields. Unfortunately that includes trying to ward off anyone who enters the fields with pitchforks and is one of them carrying a torch? Maybe if they can be convinced that you are trustworthy they will calm down.
Invading rabbits. There are ton of rabbits ravaging the carrot patches. They're easily frightened, but some are more tenacious than others. Beware of the white rabbit with red eyes.
Save the crops! Several batches are already starting to spoil! The only thing that can save them is dumping as much positive emotions into them. Joy of good food, hope for a bountiful meal, love of eating—whatever will work. Just be careful. Too much and those things might grow and explode…

• Prompt E: Aiada, the Arehtei of appreciation and jealousy, has sent a personal request for those who are interested. There is a small island just beneath Empatheias that she has been cultivating over the many centuries. She wishes to contribute to the Harvest Festival with some seeds and spores. However, the recent atmosphere has also reached down there, and now it's all a mess! Giant mushrooms replaced the trees and there's slime and mold everywhere. The cure? Aside from getting a lot of heavy duty cleaners and pushing it off, appreciation will go a long way to help.

Goop brigade. Grab that bucket and shovel and clear the goop out! Just be careful not to have too much get on you—jealousy might take over.
Appreciation balls. To help hasten the effort, Aiada has given several tubs filled with light, green orbs. Once channeled with enough appreciation, they can be used as mini-grenades to help explode and wash the area with more positive energy. Those caught in the blast won't be harmed. If anything, they'll just be very thankful.
Watch the ledges. Careful, it's a fairly small island and the goop and slime has made things slick. If you fall… That's not a good way to go, let's just say that.

• Prompt F: Various parties are interested in the emotion shards scattered all over Thera. But this time around, the focus is on the medical laboratory as the equipment and potential research there is also of interest. For three days those who volunteer are sent back to try and gather as much as possible—but of course this won't be easy.

Skeletal Scientists. The remains of the scientists who once worked in these rooms are still lurking, ready to protect their work. Fortunately they're relatively weak nerds, so not too difficult to dispatch. Just be careful.
Flying equipment. The various medical equipment has also taken life, scalpels and needles flying everywhere and stethoscopes ready to strangle.
Questionable liquid. Most of the easy shards have already been taken, leaving the more difficult to retrieve ones left. In particular they're found in strange, dark pink liquid. It's mostly harmless—except that upon contact intense waves of grief and suffering will course through. The longer the exposure, the worse it is. So hopefully a bucket full of it doesn't fall on you…

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include feathers and/or confetti.

For your threads, put the Character Name and the Canon in the subject line to help readily identify them. You're also welcome to use more than one prompt for respondents to choose from. If you have any questions or want to brush up on the game information, refer to the Game Information entry. Otherwise, tag around and have fun!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Apollo... [Nahyuta always tries to remain detached, practical, but he can feel his resolve to do so crumbling when he sees Apollo like this. Apollo would much rather push him away and pretend everything's fine, and yet, Nahyuta knows full well that potion simply brought feelings to the surface that were already there.

What would Dhurke do? Crack a joke to cheer Apollo up with that big, booming laugh of his, probably. Nahyuta might not be much use at that, but perhaps he can comfort him in his own way.]

I... have heard a saying in your homeland. "A burden shared is a burden halved." [He steps over to Apollo again.] If you would allow me...

[This time, he pulls Apollo into a gentle embrace. Consequences be damned -- at least now, if Apollo needs someone to cry on, he can.]

It's fine, really, Nahyuta, it'll pass-- (but he doesn't know when that will be, if it'll be all at once, a gradual fade away. will he even be able to pull himself together after this? the memories and emotions rush back like he just dealt with every single loss freshly, and at the same time.

it makes it near impossible to protest the embrace he finds himself in. when was the last time someone even showed him affection like this? a good number of months since clay died, that's for sure. his arms raise slowly to wrap around his friend, but he hugs back fiercely. he can allow himself this one moment of weakness, can't he? tears flow slowly, his face buried in nahyuta's shoulder to hide them.) ... I miss him. So much.

(he doesn't name anyone. he knows that nahyuta has been feeling the same ever since that trial, the one they were both so deeply wounded by. he trusts nahyuta will know who apollo is speaking of without having to say his name. as though that will make things so much worse.)

[Nahyuta doesn't immediately respond. He grows rigid, his fingers curling into Apollo's clothes in an unconscious gesture: being in close proximity to Apollo means he's feeling some of the side effects of that mysterious liquid as well. But there are few people who have been intimately connected with their own suffering than him, and with such practice at keeping it controlled, he manages to stop it from being overwhelming.

That doesn't stop it from hurting any less, like a dull ache of grief, but he reminds himself that this is for Apollo. For someone he cares for, anything is tolerable.]

... As do I.

[His voice is quiet, hoarse, and he forces himself to relax so he isn't gripping onto Apollo so tightly. Otherwise, he remains still, allowing Apollo the space to grieve as much as he needs to.]

(he feels awful. hell, he feels an imposing sense of guilt for what he's doing. it's back enough he's acting this way in front of nahyuta, but now he's dragging him down into a depressive episode with him. he could feel those fingers looking to grip something, just barely, but he knew he was making nahyuta suffer this way.

and yet, he can't stop himself. he can't just shove these emotions down and chant "i'm fine" and make the problem vanish like one of trucy's magic tricks. this is something he's stuck with, something he hast to deal with in the here and now. he kinda hoped "now" would've come much later.

he trembles, his body only just quivering, as he holds back sobs he's not ready for the world to hear yet. not until he's in a better state of mind, one he hasn't been forced into by some strange world. he can't make himself look up at nahyuta, not like that.) I'm so sorry, Nahyuta. I'm so sorry.

(for the case, for the trial, for not being there, for trying to shove everything about khura'in from his memory, for not helping sooner.)

[Nahyuta is content to hold him for as long as he needs, and starts to rub his back in small, soothing circles. Even if it hurts him, too, at least Apollo isn't suffering alone. Such is the sense of duty he feels towards his family -- and that includes Apollo.]

You have nothing to apologise for. [The correction is gentle, and he looks down at Apollo, even if the attorney can't meet his eye.] You were a victim in all this as much as anyone. And I-- [His voice catches in his throat, and he has to stop, take a few breaths, force himself back into calm. He can't become distressed when Apollo is the one hurting.] For everything, I feel nothing but boundless gratitude towards you.

[Nahyuta might not even be standing here alive today, if not for Apollo, and yet now he's free, along with his mother, sister, and the rest of the kingdom. And when given the choice, Apollo stayed behind to help rebuild. How can he possibly accept apologies from someone he holds in such high esteem?

He can't speak for their father, but he's sure Dhurke would have felt the same way.]

(he wishes the emotions hadn't been forced out the way they were, so then the comfort nahyuta was taking time to give would actually work. maybe then he wouldn't be stuck feeling the same pain apollo feels. why is it he's always left wishing he could have done more?

he pulls away from his shoulder, eyes red and still filled with tears, ones he's still trying to hold back, keep some semblance of control. he bites his lower lip, pained by all the suffering he's felt over the last two years alone.) I just wish I could've done more. More than just showing up too late after spending my life trying to forget everything about you and Dhurke and Khura'in.

(if he had, dhurke might still be here. they'd be a proper family again. dhurke could see his dream realized, be with the love of his life, his daughter. they could run the office together, the way it should have been.)

[Nahyuta loosens his hold on Apollo as he pulls away from his shoulder. Though his expression is distant, inscrutable, it does hurt -- more than it ordinarily would, even -- to hear that Apollo had tried to forget about him. But it isn't so surprising, not when Apollo was sent away with no explanation when he was still so young.]

You showed up when you were most needed. Had you arrived sooner... You saw what Ga'ran did to our family.

[Ga'ran would probably have used Apollo as a way to blackmail Dhurke, if she learned who he was. And if that failed, he'd be imprisoned, tortured, or worse, executed on the spot to teach Dhurke a lesson and keep Nahyuta in his place. What would that have accomplished?]

All those years, one thing that gave me joy was to know you were safe from the reach of tyranny. Father wished that for you, above anything.

(there are certain things apollo still isn't used to, even after the events in khura'in took place. one of those is accepting love and praise he rightly deserves, but for whatever reason... doesn't. is he really so deserving of everything nahyuta is giving him, if he couldn't even save the person most important to both of them? he understands now, how everything was done to keep him safe. he might've ended up in a situation similar to nahyuta's or worse.

that didn't make his feelings on his fourteen year long situation vanish, though, not by any means. he wishes it did, though.) I... I know.

(he knows, given the situation and circumstances, that things worked out for the best. that he did everything in his power to save his dear friend and family. that he's done more than most people could ever ask for.

that won't erase his seemingly irrational guilt. not for being unable to help their father when he needed it most.) I know it was for the best. I just wish things ended for the best for him, too. He deserved it more than anyone.

He did.

[Nahyuta won't argue that. Countless times he's thought bitterly about how he gains people in his life, only to lose them, over and over. He lost Apollo and gained a sister, was reunited with his mother. He lost them both, then had to betray his father to preserve them. Then he lost the father he betrayed, never able to reconcile with him, and Apollo returned. Now Amara will never be able to reconcile with him, either, and Rayfa will never know the heroic father who gave so much for her kingdom.

What cruel irony is that?]

Yet you have helped him more than any other, in twenty-three years. All of Khura'in knows his innocence, and now his soul has departed to everlasting peace. So please-- [Nahyuta has to stop again, feeling himself shaking, his raw grief surging up and up with each word. He turns away from Apollo, his plea taking on a note of desperation.] --I beg of you, do not torment yourself over this. I could not bear it.

[Perhaps it's the effects of this place, but that last part slips out before he can stop himself. It feels selfish to express such a personal sentiment. Yet everyone has suffered enough, without Apollo forever bearing guilt he doesn't deserve to carry.]

(apollo understands more than anything the suffering nahyuta's been holding inside. his life completely changed fourteen years ago, taken away from everyone he knows and loves, holding onto a false promise that he would come back someday. he lost a mentor he thought he could trust, his best friend to help him through the worst, and now his father after they'd finally reconnected.

after apollo finally wanted to be back in his life.

he wishes the effects of the liquid would dissipate, so he could handle this properly, have a talk with nahyuta where they both aren't just barely keeping it together. while apollo has been trying to forget his old life, nahyuta spent most of that time suffering, under someone else's control. he still hurts, apollo still wants to burst into tears and curse the world for everything it's done to him, but somehow, in the face of his friend, of his brother, falling apart like this.

his arms wrap about nahyuta tightly again, this time in an effort to offer him some peace he do rightly deserves. his voice is shaky, pained, ready to cry, but he speaks with conviction. his words will not be doubted.) He was always thinking of you, too. He wanted to help you more than anyone, and I know if he saw you now, he'd be so proud of you, Nahyuta. He'd be happier than all of us for you.

[A slight smile tugs at Nahyuta's lips despite himself, and he takes another deep, calming breath. Then, carefully, he reaches to return the hug. Here he was, intending to give Apollo some comfort, but it seems he was equally in need of it himself. Perhaps that was the real meaning of sharing one's burdens.]

... Thank you, Apollo. [He murmurs it barely above a whisper. It still hurts, but muted underneath all that raw grief being forced out of him, being close to Apollo like this reminds him of all those memories of their childhood together. He tries to hang onto that feeling -- onto Apollo -- to keep all this terrible sadness at bay.] I hope he watches over both of us, and all we accomplish together, with pride.

[Then he pulls back, just enough to rest his dragon-emblazoned hand on Apollo's shoulder, his expression growing more serious again.]

Just promise me one thing -- that you will not blame yourself for what happened.

[No one knows better than the Last Rites Prosecutor that guilt is a natural part of the grieving process. He feels his own fair share. But he does not want Apollo to have regrets forever, and he knows that's not what Dhurke ever wanted, either.]

(as it stands, they're the only two who can truly understand what the other has gone through, years lost and family lost. maybe this is how things were meant to be, for nahyuta and apollo to ease each other's sufferings, lift their burdens even if just a little.

he couldn't be there for nahyuta while his family was being torn apart, but he will be now. for as long as nahyuta needs apollo in his life, he'll stay. there's a quick twinge in his heart, nothing more than an effect of the liquid, but it makes him hold nahyuta just a little closer for a moment.) I hope so... I really hope so, too.

(would dhurke be proud of him? for taking over the office, rebuilding the legal system of his father's home? he knows dhurke would much rather be the one doing it, but would he accept apollo as the one to save khura'in? he'll never know. he can only continue on this path hoping it's one dhurke would approve of.

nahyuta's request is, at the same time, one he expected and didn't. don't blame yourself... easy words to say, as apollo's face contorts into pain once more, hunching tense and eyes narrowed in guilt. it's far easier said than done.) I... I don't know if it's the stuff, or just leftover from after the trial, but... I'm gonna feel that way for a while. I don't know if it'll ever go away, but I'll try not to.

(his gaze makes its way back up to nahyuta, staring straight on with a strong plea behind his eyes. his voice isn't as shaky anymore, firm, more set in his conviction to help his brother.) I want the same thing of you, okay? It wasn't your fault. None of it.

...

[Nahyuta looks at Apollo, and slowly shakes his head, lowering his arms from around the attorney. As much as that would be nice to believe...]

There are things I am guilty of. For many years, I followed Ga'ran's every command. Because of her, innocent men and women, brothers and sisters of the revolution, have been imprisoned -- even executed. [He's still trying to keep his voice calm, measured, but the undercurrent of grief is still plain to hear.] My work as a prosecutor hastened their swift journeys into the Twilight Realm.

[Rayfa was used, too. Though in her case, she was innocent of all wrongdoing, merely another tool to be toyed with by Ga'ran, to appease the people of Khura'in, her popularity ensuring the broken court system would remain firmly fixed in place with the Divination Seance at its core. But Nahyuta... He knew what he was doing was wrong, and yet he submitted to it nonetheless.]

You are kind, Apollo, but kindness alone will not absolve my soul of sin.

You were being blackmailed, Nahyuta. (apollo's own unpleasant emotions haven't completely subsided, his own grief still fresh in his heart. it's still there, bubbling and stewing as his memories float through, reminding him of all he's lost and suffered through.

but nahyuta's suffered, as well. silently and alone for years, torn away from and yet still close to his family. unable to say a word of truth to anyone. he was forced to shove down all of his emotions, play along like a puppet to ga'ran's cruel strings of control, completely change who he was. what part of that says anything about being a willing participant?

he won't believe it. he won't let anyone fault nahyuta for a single thing that's happened. he's one person, he couldn't have possibly taken on the royal family by himself.) Your family was held hostage right in front of you, what were you supposed to do about it? No one is ever going to blame you for what happened, all they see is a tormented man trying to protect what he has.

(his fists are clenched, trying to keep his emotions from running rampant. he grips nahyuta's arms, forcing him to look at apollo straight in the eyes. his trust in nahyuta remains as unwavering as ever.) You spent your time protecting what the kingdom really needed. And if anyone ever tries to place blame on you for that, I'll personally defend you as many times as I need to!

[Nahyuta's taken aback when Apollo grabs his arms, tensed, but he doesn't resist or try to pull away.]

T-this is not a matter of anyone casting blame! It is a matter of the purity of my soul. [He's not sure Apollo would understand, not being Khura'inist. Even if Apollo could defend him in this world, there's no protection from the ultimate fate of the afterlife. Particularly when all that he did was supposedly committed in the name of the Holy Mother, which now seems like the worst kind of blasphemy.]

That I knowingly committed grave sins is indisputable. Even if I was protecting the future of the kingdom, I did so built on the bodies of innocents. That is why I must strive hard for the rest of my life to make amends to my people.

[He hopes he can at least understand that much. This is a matter of faith, and not something Apollo can dissuade him from so easily.]

Your soul is fine! (apollo might not be khura'inst. hell, he knows next to nothing about the religion aside from the crash course he's gotten over the span of a couple trials. and he knows better than anyone that this isn't the sort of thing you can fix with words. it might not even help give nahyuta a bit of peace. but apollo will be damned if he doesn't at least try.

that's one thing he's learned over his years of seemingly impossible cases. he has to at least try. try to give someone a glimmer of hope, try to find the truth of the matter, try and do everything in his power to help.) You were in the ultimate no-win situation. If you refused, what would Ga'ran have done? She would've killed people, anyway, and even harmed your mother or Rayfa, or even worse. (if not for nahyuta, the rightful queen of khura'in might never have made it back to her throne. that's how apollo views it, and that will never change. nahyuta was protecting his kingdom in silent suffering for years.)

And if that Holy Mother doesn't understand that, then... then... (he stumbles over his words, trying to find a proper way to instill some level of confidence in his family.) I'll... I'll fight her in the Twilight Realm myself if I have to!

(somewhere in his mind, his grief bubbles back up at the thought that it should be dhurke. it should be dhurke trying to raise his son up again, to think better of himself after all that's happened. he wants to burst out into angry, grief stricken tears and just be weak for a moment longer. but he keeps himself tall and steady.)

...Apollo. There is no need to vow such a thing.

[He says it quietly, wanting to avoid getting Apollo even more worked up. The old Nahyuta would have given him a verbal lashing for even thinking of threatening the Holy Mother, but in truth, he isn't angry; he has far more patience for his old friend than that. Really, he's both touched and somehow unsurprised he'd be willing to go to such lengths to protect him once again.

Still, perhaps he shouldn't have said anything, that substance and getting caught up in the moment making him go too far in confiding his own pain. He had, after all, borne it alone these long years, he could continue to do so. But now he has, he feels obligated to explain.]

The Holy Mother's forgiveness is infinite, even to the lowliest of sinners. But it must be earned through action, not taken as a given. So, too, would it would be an insult to those I harmed to never acknowledge my responsibility to them.

[It's not as simple as saying his actions were justified and leaving it at that. Nor is it just a worry about his ultimate fate in the afterlife -- which was never at the forefront of his mind, otherwise he would never have put himself through all that in the first place. He goes on--]

As regent, I cannot be unaccountable like my predecessor. Instead, I must be an example of change and repentance to the people of Khura'in, so that the wounds of the past may be healed.

(it's honestly a good thing for apollo that nahyuta remains so calm and collected. sure, there's the underlying sadness he knows is there, but it brings apollo back to the fact that they're going through the same thing.

this isn't something either of them can fix right away. it's the same as what he said earlier, there's a lot both of them have to deal with after the trial, nahyuta's burden is just a different form than apollo's. he can't impose his help on nahyuta, he can't yell at him to see a certain way.

he takes a deep, but shaky breath, trying to calm himself down, not explode over this. he doesn't have a right to argue nahyuta about this. it's something he has to move past on his own, though apollo will reach a hand out for help if his friend needs it.) I... I'm sorry. I got carried away. We're... both still dealing with a lot after the trial. You've got your reasons for what we're trying to accomplish, and I've got mine. Just... (he releases his grip on nahyuta, rubbing his own forearm, finding it just a tad difficult to make eye contact.) Promise me you're doing it because you want to. Not because you feel you owe everyone something.

I give you my word. [Nahyuta lowers his arms as Apollo lets go of him, relieved to see him calm down.] That I feel responsible for my deeds is only one part of what drives me. Ultimately... my motives have always been the same.

[Nahyuta won't even stop him from using his bracelet to check; this time, he has nothing to hide.]

I wish for everything I do to be for the good of the people, the laws that preserve them, and for the good of our family. That includes you, Apollo. [He deserves to be a part of this as much as any of them, whether he chooses Khura'in as his home or not. That was why Nahyuta had requested he stay a while longer, aside from the more pragmatic concerns of rebuilding.] Whatever challenges are raised against us, whether at home or in this world, know that you have my unconditional support.

[He's firm, resolute in that. Apollo doesn't have to feel like he needs to fix everyone's problems or shield them from harm, but neither does he need to carry around all that suffering on his own, either. If he takes nothing else away from this, he hopes he'll at least take that.]

(it reassures him beyond words to know that this was something nahyuta wanted to do, not just for his kingdom and home, but for himself. something more like a choice instead of what he considered to be his duty. he can't help but let a smile grow across his face, relieved to see nahyuta being the person he always knew he was.) That's all I can ask for.

(despite all of this, his emotions are most assuredly still there. they've subsided, for the time being, into more of a numbness than before, not the overwhelming flood he experienced earlier. he actually wonders if that little bit of numbness from after the trial ever left him. he decides not to think on it right now.

at the topic of family, and therefore including apollo in that category, leaves him a tad flustered. he's still not used to this, attention and love and praise. he's never been the kind of person who had such things showered on him, except from clay, and with him gone... well, it takes some period of adjustment.) Y-You don't have to go that far for me, Nahyuta, really.

[Nahyuta returns the smile, pleased to see Apollo's mood improve. He'd started to think he'd made things worse, intervening and accidentally dumping all those feelings on him like that, but the risk seems to have paid off.]

I do not have to, but I would like to.

[Apollo had been willing to risk everything for Nahyuta and Dhurke. Offering this much in return is the least he can do.]

(he wishes he could accept a helping hand better, not be so awkward about this. but he'll try, for nahyuta. for both of them.) Um. Thanks, Nahyuta. That... really means a lot.

(the liquid forcing this talk out of them aside, apollo is genuinely happy they could connect. they're far overdue for it, in much need of some sort of emotional bonding like this.) I'm extending the same offer to you. I'll always be here for you.

[Nahyuta doesn't mind the awkwardness at all. He'd resigned himself to never seeing Apollo again a long time ago, as he'd resigned himself to many things, never expecting that they'd be able to meet and talk again like this. Really, he doesn't remember the last time he was able to speak so frankly with someone like this at all, having been separated from Dhurke and the Defiant Dragons for so long, and with having no contact with the rest of his family...

But that's all in the past. Maybe it's the effects of how emotions are displayed in this place, but he's starting to glow a little with joy.]

Thank you, Apollo. I knew I was not mistaken to count on you.

(it's not easy, it's definitely going to be a rocky road at first, and not the good kind involving chocolate and marshmallows, but apollo will put in as much effort as he can to bring their relationship to at least partially what they had when they were children. the number of people in his life has been dwindling the past few years. he'd like to do whatever he can to prevent that number from dropping any more.

the light glow surrounding nahyuta is hard to miss in as dim a place as they are now. though the effects haven't worn off completely, he does smile back, however small it may be. followed by an awkward laugh as he rubs the back of his head.) Ahaha... don't let anyone from the agency hear you say that, they'll tell you stories that'll probably change your mind.

I'm sure I have plenty of stories of my own that they might find... illuminating. Would you not agree?

[The benefits of having a year up on Apollo: he can remember more embarrassing childhood things than Apollo would have. Fortunately, he's less likely than Dhurke to just share them with everyone. He's mostly just teasing to try and cheer him up.]

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