TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY—

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 Wednesday, January 25 and Applications (Canon | OC) open Wednesday, January 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: Over two years ago, the ill fated Red String of Fate toy made its debut. At the time it seemed like a solid idea, but as it turned out… it didn’t exactly work as advertised. People found themselves tied together with entirely incompatible people instead of the proclaimed “emotionally compatible” and to top it off, personal, influential and private telepathic communication came out drenched in sap and overly lovey-dovey overtones. It was, without a doubt, one of the company’s least successful product launches ever. And you would think that they would have learned. However, they decided to try again, and… well. It wasn’t exactly all that well thought out the second time around. But third time’s the charm, right? Wrong. Even if this time, it’s in the form of rings that will draw two people together in a “matched pair” rather than a string.

1. There’s not really anything wrong with believing in true love, but trying to formulate a product that can detect someone’s ideal mate is innately flawed. Which only means that no matter how many times the product is adjusted, it’s just not going to work. Those who wind up with the product shoved onto their fingers (by a sales rep or through actually purchasing the product) will find themselves, once again, pulled by an unseen force to the nearest person they are “compatible with”. Same height, same hair color, whatever. It’s not exactly discriminatory. …Unfortunately as poor a match as they may be, the two cannot be separated until they share a meaningful embrace. So settle in, you might be together for a while.


2. In certain pairs, normal conversation is often unintentionally made amorous, simply from inflection in voice, or perhaps a heightened affectionate emotion. Or, on the flip side, anger and aggression is increased ten fold, but it’s kind of 50-50 as to what effect will take place, all dependant on which hand they wear the ring. Left, romance, Right? Anger.

• Prompt E: The inexplicably cavernous sewers of Verens are no place for a sane individual, but here you are anyway—dropped there by some horrible emotional shift that made an entire section of street vanish and then reappear above your heads as if nothing had happened. You and the poor fool you’ve been dumped down here with need to find your way to the access tunnels and climb out, or perhaps go the other way and swim out through the Lake Niras outflow. Or just smash your way out, if you’re feeling destructive. But your own emotions will work against you, as you struggle against the terrible scent, the darkness, and the entirely-justified questioning of why your life has taken this horrible turn.

1. There’s something odd about the way the water and sewage is sloshing around your ankles, almost as if it’s rising. But wait, that can’t possibly be a pair of eyes you see under the oil slick surface… could it? You’ve heard rumors about all sorts of beasties down here but surely your mind is just playing tricks on you.


2. Remember that part about emotions turning against you? Maybe you’ve been trapped down here way too long with someone who’s just not living up to your expectations, or you’ve got something else on your minds—but the smell around you certainly seems to be growing thicker, the scent growing harder and harder to ignore. The water and grossness at your feet also seems to be growing thicker almost as though it’s curing like cement. The cause? Negative emotions. But are they yours or the person you’re stuck here with? Perhaps you should work through those post haste…


3. Escape! You’ve made it out, but not without a great amount of effort on both you and your partner’s parts. Did you manage to find a way out through the access tunnels? Or perhaps you really did travel through all that much to the Lake Niras outflow… whatever it is, You’re certainly stinky, and possibly tired and cranky too.

• Prompt F: Some bandits went and stole another airship, only this time the Enforcers are prepared with a few of their own. Join in for some intense air battles. Just don't make the ship explode—they'd like it back in one piece please. Unless you're actually on the bandit team, in which case you probably want to blow up the Enforcer ship.

1. What's an airship fight without some on deck action? Either the bandits are swinging over to the ship you're on, or maybe you're swinging over there. Whatever the case, it's a full on brawl. Just watch out—those bandits are well-armed with some interesting firearms and weapons. If hit, one of the following emotions will start to take over your senses: unquestionable rage, debilitating fear and panic, and sleepiness. Needless to say, these effects will hinder one's ability to fight.


2. Can you fly or are you okay with climbing up the full height of your airship? Then grab a few sleep and apathy grenades and throw them at the bandits. Just be careful not to accidentally hit your allies. Otherwise they will be the ones feeling sleepy and want to give up. Also watch out for flying nets and bullets. Those bandits will definitely try to bring you down.


3. While the enforcers are trying to maintain the integrity of the stolen ship, the bandits feel no such need to hold back and are freely unloading their weapons onto the Enforcer's ships, forcing them to defend themselves. Other than decapacitating the bandit behind the weapon, it's also possible to overload it with intense emotions. Explode it with rage or clog it with happy, loving flowers.

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include bubblegum and/or toadstools.

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!

Comments

[used_realtears]

Prompt B-Wilhelm

Ooh, look! [Nobita has just grabbed someone's sleeve and is dragging them to look at the board.] This guy is giving away free candy! Come on, we should go get some! [Sparkles are floating around his head, as well as phantom images of candy.]


Prompt D

[Nobita is happily skipping along, following the directions of his ring. Hearts are floating around him, and there's the sound of birds singing in the background somehow. He's not really paying attention to where he's going right now, so it's pretty likely he's going to bump into you, whether or not you're the one who's "compatible" with him. He's also singing a little song.]

I'm~going~to find~my one~true~looooooove

[Hey, no one said it was a good song.]


Prompt F-1

[Nobita was just supposed to be helping keep things running, and maybe catch a few cool glimpses of the battle on deck! But somehow a few of the bandits have made their way belowdecks, and now he's desperately trying to hold them off, trying his best to channel whatever feelings he can think of. Brief bursts of love, anger, fear-nothing concrete, nothing that can stick. He's somehow managed to avoid being hit, but he's already panicking quite well on his own.]

H-h-help! Someone help!

F

[psikid]

[ness isn't here to fight either, he let slip to someone involved that he has healing powers and they asked him along for first aid purposes. but, since there's trouble on the ship...well, he's got a baseball bat, doesn't he? he gives the bandit hassling nobita a nice firm BASH with his bat from behind, conveniently landing the blow right on the back of the guy's knees. as that bandit crumples, the others turn to ness. he doesn't look that intimidating, except for the guy at his feet yelling about how much pain he's in and that he don't want no trouble, honest.

ness himself doesn't seem bothered, instead he turns his attention to nobita.]

Are you okay? I felt your signal.

[...emotions. he means he felt nobita broadcasting a bunch of crazy emotions.]

Jefferson | Once Upon a Time

[nevar]

[ A ]

[ Even after you've been in a place for a while and have slowly begun to resign yourself to your lot in life, have you ever been so consumed by the unfairness of your current situation that it renders you immobile? The wound of separation that cannot be healed by an infinite amount of time? The cruelness of a helpless feeling with so much gravity that the ground might open up and consume you whole?

Jefferson had paced this street countless times since he'd been brought here, and his despair has only grown with every footstep. It seems as though small cracks form beneath his feet, a direct response to his troubled mind.

With hunched shoulders and a distracted expression, he appears calm except for the minor emotional vandalism that marks his trail which is slowly growing in intensity. If he bumps into someone, they'll receive a sincere but distracted apology. He's too caught up in his own head unless someone can snap him out of it. Who knows how bad the cracks can get if he's left alone to his jumbled memories? ]


[ E1/E2 ]

[ It's like being in the weirdness of Wonderland again. Feeling that the earth will swallow you whole? Done. ]

You don't have to be so literal! [ He shouts at the reformed ceiling above his head.

His head. Their heads. His unfortunate emotional shift had not only punished himself with a sewer water as high as his knees, but it had taken someone else with him.

Jefferson doesn't know many people here. He hadn't gone out of his way to make friends. Normally, he might turn on the charm and try to repair the distress he's caused for this other person, but his negative emotional loop shifts from despair to frustration. He's not in a friendly mood right now.

The best he can manage is: ] Are you all right?


[ F ]

[ There's only so much moping around that a man can do before he needs to seek out distraction. In desperation, Jefferson has fallen back on his old skill set and taken up with a handful of bandits. As a thief, Jefferson hadn't been much of a team player, but distraction is distraction, and he'd needed someone who knew the area.

He hadn't exactly planned on being part of an airship heist, and yet here he is.

From a perch far away from the action on deck, Jefferson signals his ill-fated "companions" with a falsely cheerful thumbs up. ]

You're doing great!

[ He has no intention of joining in on the fighting, and he'll claim the smaller offense of stowing away on the vessel and planned to deny any participation in the actual crime. ...if he's caught, that is. Even without his magic hat, Jefferson is still quite skilled at making his escape undetected.

For now, he fidgets with a charged apathy grenade in his pocket. The bandits had given it to him to assist, but releasing it would mean forfeiting his criminal defense. And there's really no honor among thieves after all. ]

E

[sobored]

Probably going to have to write this outfit off as a loss, but other than that, I think I'm okay.

[No worse for wear, which is...a shame. Really, you'd think she could be worse off after that. This is a total disappointment.

But of course, she doesn't voice that, instead opting to sound slightly shaken up about the whole thing, but for the most part, okay.]

What about you?

Jaeha | Akatsuki no Yona

[soaringleg]

Prompt E2

[To be dropped down somewhere when you were usually more used to be able to soar freely through the skies was certainly annoying. Of course it hadn't always been that way, but perhaps that was why it was upsetting him more than it should. That or that he wasn't here because of his own choice.

On the outside, he tried to stay light-hearted, occasionally kicking a wall here and there in an attempt to break through the walls, but of course this wasn't the place where emotions stayed hidden very well.

Though the foul stench was something Jaeha didn't want to relate to himself, he could tell the more upset he became with the situation, the stronger it got. Hopefully, this wasn't anything his companion realized, too... overplaying it might be the best choice, right?]

To think they want to keep trapping someone as beautiful as me here.. suuch tragedy!



Prompt F2

[Dealing with the bandits here did remind Jaeha of his time with the pirates, even though a ship in the air felt kind of different than the one on sea. At least he couldn't say that he didn't like it, it had something quite refreshing. And while explosives weren't his usual style of fighting, he could see why they were necessary in this world.

With a big jump Jaeha landed on the deck of the airship, a small wink appearing on his face.]

Hello, I brought a small present for you guys.

[And with that Jaeha tossed the grenades at the bandits - hopefully not (almost) hitting an ally with it accidentally!]



Prompt G

[Wildcard me!]

E2

[lifetooshort]

[Being trapped was a little scary for Kaya, she didn't like the idea of being stuck anywhere herself. She much rather be somewhere sunny than dark like this. So she tries to keep herself calm for the moment, the man with her seems to be upset but it's hard for her to tell...Though the smell is starting to hit her some more.]

It...can be a little weird sometimes here.

Barriss Offee | Star Wars

[failinglight]

A: There’s No One Around

[Confused and confounded by the situation, Barriss Offee was decidedly not at her best today.  She tried looking on the bright side of things, to remain calm, to remember Master Unduli’s teachings, to trust in the Force, but this was not Drongar.  She’d just stepped out of a surgery and into someplace totally different, a primitive seeming place that looked like a fantasy. This city was definitely not anywhere near Drongar, or anywhere else she could think of and that simply shouldn’t have been possible.  

And to make matters more complicated, it was cold.

Very, very cold.  Going from a jungle with temperatures just on the cusp of boiling to a sudden temperate winter not unlike Mirial wasn’t an unwelcome shift, but she was decidedly unprepared for it.  Walking down the streets in her thin robes, Barriss shivered and looked around for places to go, but nothing stood out to her save the humans milling about.  Humans that were staring at her, no less, commenting very obviously on the state of her dress and her skin, and try as she might she couldn’t keep from scowling.  Who were these people, and why were they acting like she had three heads?  These questions and more swirled through her thoughts, clouding her mind, having effects she hadn’t even considered. 

Each step came more slowly, each footfall on the cobblestones making a heavier thunk, but that was just the cold slowing her.  Wasn’t it?  Barriss continued on, until one step came down less like a boot touching down and more like stone grinding on stone.  Looking down to inspect her foot, what little thread of calm she had left evaporated, leaving only stark horror.  The sudden burst of fear chilled the air even further, sucking in all the warmth around her and turning her words into a breathless cry for help.]

This…this cannot be happening!  This has got to be a dream.

E 1: Dianoga Surprise!

[As if the day couldn’t get any better, Barriss was falling.  Or rather, landing with a splash in some murky, dimly lit water that was…like the rest of this place, freezing cold.  Whether that was from her own frosty demeanor or the winter she wasn’t sure, but what was done was done.  Scrabbling to her feet, she looked around and spotted another person, offering them a hand up.

Only as she reached down, something brushed past her leg and made her stiffen.  An uncomfortable silence followed, a stillness that often preceded danger settling over the tunnel.  Uh-oh.]

Get up.  Quickly.  There’s something else down here. 

Wildcard:

[This is where you throw something at me and I roll with it.  If you want to plot something specific then please hit me via pm or plurk at axiomaticgrue. As a note her canon point is during the Medstar books, early in the Clone Wars.]

E

[yourotherleft]

Eh?

[out of instinct Zoro is rubbing his head even though it doesn't hurt at all. If anything, it would be his ass since that was what cushioned his fall, but pain is for the weak.]

What do you mean, something else?

Geddoe | Suikoden III | open

[trueltning_fury]

B

[there's an extremely tall man with an eyepatch, clad in leather and really looking mercenary-like, perusing the offerings from the various hunting guilds. Relocating wayward bears, or hunting mist creatures? There's some good choices here. How to narrow it down? Ask the nearest passerby.]

Excuse me. This hunting guild - they do mean hunting, right? They're not going to get touchy if anyone actually kills these beasts...

[because sometimes it's hard to hold yourself back from overkill. Also, look at those bounty prices...]

D...ish

[There's a spectacle going on here where the new rings are being sold and tested. A sales rep has swept in looking for a very easy target, but didn't notice until already into his pitch that the guy is wearing thick, leather gloves. So no matter how hard he tries, he just cannot get a ring onto any fingers. Geddoe is really not helping the matter at all by, you know, taking off a glove. He just stands there stoically, staring at the enthusiastic sales rep like he can't believe this guy.

And then, the rep tries to pull off one of his gloves.

Geddoe yanks his hand back as if scalded, and his expression goes distinctly dark and angry]

I said to leave it alone. If you try that again I won't be responsible for what happens.

[come laugh at him while he endures the attempted sales pitch, or see what happens when a man with secrets gets upset.]

G/wildcard

[Nothing beats an exploratory stroll along the edges of the woods and lake. Out and about? You might see the burly black-clad figure of a man crouched to pick toadstools, taking a moment to inspect each one - sniffing it, looking at the underside of the cap - before stuffing it in a bag. Is it for personal consumption or a job? It's hard to say. But if he hears approach, he stands up quickly, almost like he's trying to cover what he was actually doing just now.]

Say...I don't suppose you're familiar with the local flora and fauna?

Wooow, Geddoe! B

[brightlyshines]

[And.... well, Estelle probably didn't look like much next to Geddoe, but she's got a bo staff in hand and seems to be taking notes in a little notebook of hers. She's also here for the jobs, it seems, and when Geddoe asks she nods and offers a bright smile.]

Yep! Well, most of them. Depends on what the client's asking for, but a lot of these are requests to eliminate nuisance monsters.

Elizabeth | Persona 3 FES through that silly fighting game

[elevatoravatar]

Prompt E

So Elizabeth has crashed with you into the sewers, instead of being distracted, disgusted, disgruntled, or some other "di" word she simply looks at it like a kid in a candy store.

"So this is the Tarterus of this world? Is it full of shadows to vanquish and trials to test one's wits and mettle?"

With that she draws her persona compendium out and moves to slosh off, "Let's go! Perhaps we can find something truly dangerous!"

Prompt F

Chasing down the enemy. Challenging them to air to air combat. A duel, one to the death. No Elizabeth, NOT to the death, they don't want you to go crazy go nuts, but looking at her eyes, there is the obvious look of someone who has been swept up in the thrill of combat as she runs to the prow of the airship.

"Quickly! Make haste above them so that we may engage them in mortal combat and dispatch them!"

E

[gathersnomoss]

"I am pretty sure it is a sewer. It's full of the things people dump down the toilet." That didn't exclude monsters; Zelgadis knew a lot of sorcerers who didn't really care about 'I am in the middle of a city, and should be cautious about disposing of failed experiments', or things that just wanted to lurk near easy food sources. But those weren't a design feature of the area.

But, Zelgadis also knew better than wandering darkened tunnels alone if you had a choice. "Let's settle for finding an exit." He drew his sword and sighed. The scabbard hadn't prevented it from accumulating some muck. "Then a bathhouse, clean clothing and possibly a place to burn what we have on now."

Gilles de Rais | Makai Ouji: Devils and Realist

[raisdiant]

C. La Pucelle d'Orléans
Jeanne...

[No one ever said that Gilles wasn't predictable. His amulet transmission, then, is just what anyone who knows Gilles would expect.]

If they summoned me in all my glory, they could summon you too! Are you here? Answer me—!

[He's keeping this a voice-only transmission, so he can (sort of) plausibly deny making it later, if necessary.]

D. Anneau au portrait de Jeanne sans Peur
[Gilles didn't need to be prompted to put on the ring. He'd scoffed at its alleged power, thinking it no match for the strength of such a mighty nephilim. ANd honestly, he hadn't paid that much attention to the spiel. He had been interested in the concept of new jewelry, however, which is why he slips a delicate golden braid onto his finger. He has no intention of buying it, but he might steal it. He likes shiny things, and it will go with his earrings—

—or so he's thinking, when he feels a strange, unprecedented tug on his finger. Leading him toward something...]

Stop it at once. I have no intention of going anywhere with you!

[He's addressing the ring, which he of course has not paid for, even as he starts to (unwillingly) walk off with it.]

E. Musée des égouts de Paris
[In the dark depths of the sewer, something stirs. Is it one of those rumored monsters? Whatever it is, it's approaching steadily. There are faint splashes in the water, and the air in the passageway grows heavier, as with dread. Or some heavy, negative feeling that's weighing everything down.

Suddenly, there's a dazzling blue light, and the source of the noise is revealed: a man with lavender hair, dressed in purple. So—still possibly a monster.]

What's this? A lost little lamb, perhaps?

F. La bataille d'Azincourt
[He's a demon, so it's probably not that surprising that he ended up on the side of the bandits rather than the Enforcers. He doesn't even need an airship. He was just bored and looking for a fight. So in addition to the bandit crew, there's a flying man in a purple hat striking the Enforcer ship with a wave of pure ill-will.

(He may switch sides, if he feels like it.)]

D

[saintofstoic]

[For him it's choice. For Joan it's an insistent sales representative and only a slight concept of what goes into trying to push a purchase that ends with Joan and the very plain band on her finger.

The rings really do push people to move though. From behind her the sales rep yells something about unintended side effects but Joan's already being tugged in a direction. It's insistent on what it wants and Joan doesn't really put up the fight that others might. Maybe this is just what rings did, how should she know.

At least she doesn't quite run Gilles over. Instead it's more like she simply meets up with him, finally finding the insistent tug and her footsteps drawing to a close. She peers at her hand curiously.]

I'm not sure I understand.

[What exactly did you want her to find here, ring?]

zaveid | tales of zestiria

[zadeya]

prompt b

[ zaveid will just be scratching his chin as he studies the task he's confronted with. ] A panty thief? Why not just steal the heart of the one wearing it? Might prove easier and generally more pleasurable for all concerned.

[ is this a human thing. this is a human thing, isn't it. where's a human who can explain this thing to him. or maybe he can get the culprit to explain the rationale behind this crime... because of course there must be some degree of logic in this. and zaveid is all about the logic. ]

prompt e,1

[ zaveid watches the water carefully, knowing that somehow it's watching him back. its acrid scent is something that will haunt him for weeks, but nothing a few wind artes can hopefully fix. but the odd movements in the water has him on edge.

he takes out his pendulum and swishes it about, not yet casting - although he does know moves that don't require it. ] I'll be careful if I were you. We don't want you to get hurt now, do we?

prompt g

[ whatever tickles your bubblegum fancy, sweetcheeks ]

B! for the lulz

[shivmeabreak]

[Rose had been going to look for another job to help repay some money borrowed from her own personal seraph sugar daddy Dezel, when she catches sight of a very distinctive backside. She doesn't even know the other wind seraph very well at the point she's from, but there's still no mistaking that leek hair. And his voice.]

[So without much ado, she waltzes up and jabs Zaveid square in the small of his back. ...why? Why not?]

Here I would've thought that'd be right up your alley.

Kisa Sohma | Fruits Basket

[rarimatiger]

Prompt A

[Suddenly arriving in a completely new world is beyond stressful for Kisa. One moment she was at the main house and the next she’s here. Kisa had just gotten on better terms with her mother and was going home…this was the worst thing that could happen.

Standing alone she grips at the hem of her dress, looking nervous of most people near her and almost to the point of tears. What Kisa doesn’t notice is the small formation of clouds above her head. She feels confused and lost and the worries that she might lose her mother begin to build up and small drops of rain begin to hit her head much to her surprise.]

H-Huh?

Prompt B

[Eyes scanning over the board, some of the request are…interesting. Some seem normal but others she’s never heard of before. It’s confusing enough that she reaches out to speak to the person near her.

With a meek voice she looks at them before letting herself speak.]

Um…what are all of these for?

[She was being serious in the question…were they all real jobs?]

Prompt E-1

[Worse than being in a strange new world is being stuck in a sewer in a strange new world. Kisa tries her best to not let the panic set in but with the way she is clinging to the walls trying to not sink further into the sewage, it’s easy to see she is losing that fight.

Looking to the stranger with her she tries to not get too close to them until she notices the pair of eyes. Letting out a small squeak she grips the wall tighter. ]

W-What is that??

[She holds the wall the best she can, trying to move away from the eyes.]

[WildCard!]

((Feel free to throw anything at me!))

B

[moarcowbell]

Ah... fairies sure have a weird sense of humor, don't you think Kisa?

[ Haru noticed Kisa from far away, and there's no way he would mistake anyone else for her, it's just not possible. Well, not in his mind anyway. He gives her a look which was followed by a very small smile. ]

cordelia chase | angel

[cordials]

prompt c

[ so she's been in this place for a few days now. big whoop. now that the whole 'ohmygodwhereIamwhereiseveryoneIcan'tleaveWHAT' phase has lapsed, now there's just this big feeling of now what? ]

What do you guys even do here for fun?

[ is there even a mall here? can her strong yearning for a mall actually summon one?

...are malls even summon-y? ]

prompt f, 1

[ okay, so her fighting prowess isn't all prowess-y, but she can fight! somewhat. except that line of thought is derailed by the fact that she's hit.

crap, crap, crappity-crap. and now cordelia will just wallow in the fact that she's been hit, she's going to die, oh my god--

and naturally she responds to this like the rational person that she is.

she screams. ]

F1

[failinglight]

[Okay. Well She isn't exactly going to die. At least, not if Barriss has anything to say about it. The sound of someone screaming draws her attention, her head jerking towards the noise and feet moving across the deck on reflex. A hand reaches out, taking Cordelia by the shoulder and hauls her gently backwards, away from the lines of fire.]

Hey! Hey! I've got you, you'll be alright!

[Hopefully the sight of a green teenager with facial tattoos isn't too freaky. Hopefully? Maybe...?]

Seira J. Loyard | Noblesse

[soulscythe]

[D]
[One would think being tugged along by some magical ring would be an experience that would annoy a person just a little more. That's not the case with Seira though. Instead the woman is walking along serenely, somewhat like she was being lead along by a very friendly and calm dog rather than a ring.

Once she eventually comes up to what she feels is her destination though she greets the person not with words but a long stare. Does she look curious? Sort of.]

[F]
[Seira is doing fairly well in this fight and doing it all with the calmest of expressions for the most part. It's worth noting that even as she dodges the bandits' attacks quicker than one would expect, none of the bandits themselves are being killed. Oh she's punching them and knocking them out definitely but she's more or less just sort of collecting this pile of passed out bandits to one side.

... At least she's clearing the deck?]

D

[gathersnomoss]

[Well, he had been out shopping for groceries. Now he was being stared at by a stranger. Zelgadis took a step back, assessing the woman as a threat.]

Can I help you?

Winter Quertis | OC

[softariel]

[Cish]

[ It's not deliberate, not precisely; it's just that sometimes, one spends one's entire life where telepathy is a completely fictional thing -- it's barely even utilized in stories -- and a few days of having to deal with it is not enough to undo a whole lifetime's worth of running your mental mouth. Winter certainly isn't used to it yet. ]

It's awfully crowded today, isn't it? I wonder if there's something in particular going on; I wish people would be a little more considerate about -- oh, hello, please be more careful; there is more than enough room on this sidewalk, thank you -- I wonder what they're off to in such a hurry? Maybe there is something going on. I should have been paying more attention. I should have been -- where does one even get the news in such a place? I wonder if there's a paper. Would they have something like that, in a place where magic even exists? Oh -- oh, wait, magic--

[ You might catch, under that rambling, there's a faint ringing noise. It's small and it's irritatingly persistent, exactly the sort of thing where once you notice it, it's hard to ignore. Winter's expression, however, is completely neutral as he ducks his way down a crowded sidewalk. Surely all of that isn't from one small rabbit of a boy, right? ]


[E1]

[ As a child, Winter's nurse had liked to tell stories about monsters that lurked under the bed, or in the dark spaces under the stairs. They'll come and they'll gobble up naughty children, young master, you'd best be careful.

At the time, they'd never particularly bothered him; even at a very young age, he'd been entirely practical, much to the old woman's dismay. Monsters only existed when people misused magic, and therefore the idea of them in his own home had been laughable. And even as he'd aged, stories about ghosts and other terrible things in the dark had never particularly bothered him.

Now, though... Oh, his nurse would laugh to see him jumping at small sounds, walking with his shoulder practically dragging against the wall. His fine jacket is going to be ruined, but that's something to worry about later. Right now, he's creeping along, with a icy cold trailing in his wake. His own breath is steaming faintly. And there, up ahead, what was-- ]

Wh-- is someone there?!

[ Please, let it be someone friendly. ]


[G]

[ A bookstore! Thank the Holy Mother, something familiar and comfortable. Everything else around him might be strange and awkward and take some getting used to, but some things are thankfully universal. And Winter's always happiest when he's surrounded by books.

Though there's a slight hitch in this case, because he's staring at the top shelf in one aisle, which is sadly out of reach when you barely top five feet. He does make a few gestures to get up onto his toes, though he never quite brings himself to reach out -- and then he looks around hopefully. Spotting someone nearby, he clears his throat politely. ]

I -- um, I beg your pardon, but could I trouble you for some help...?

G

[circumstellar]

Uh... okay?

[ Hei is pretty unassuming the vast majority of the time, when he's out and about. A bookstore is the last possible place he'd expected to be called out, even so innocently, a couple of books in hand; one is about the history of this place, and one is something he thinks Yin might like, some kind of romance thing. ]

What is it?

Harold Krebs | Soldier's Home

[lifewithnoconsequence]

[Prompt A]

Krebs probably wasn't the best person to be talking about emotions with; in fact he's probably the last person you would want to have power your world with positivity. Try as he might, he just couldn't really bring himself to care much about this world's problems, how it works or what was required of him.

It was all just noise to him. Noise that he blocked out as he sat on a bench; smoking a cigarette and looking lost in thought. As in really deep in thought, and whatever was going on inside that head of his was no good.

The light around him seemed to be swallowed whole, while the area around him just seemed to shrivel and crack. Closing his eyes, he took a deep drag from his cancer stick before blowing out a puff of smoke.

It seemed to calm him down some, as a bit of the suffocating pressure around him eased slightly though it was still there. Do you approach?

[Prompt B]

Knowing that work is easy to find here is a bit of a relief to Krebs; granted that he would rather not work at all, but even he has to eat. He wasn't too picky either; all work is honorable, his mother and father would say. Though thinking about them brought a pang to his chest.

A feeling that he quickly let go and tried to hide. Now wasn't the time to bring emotions into this. Not when he was doing something particularly silly. Finding a panty thief based on a rather vague description wasn't exactly how he wants to spend his time.

Though it's a decent enough cause, he supposes. "Excuse me, have you happened to see anyone suspicious looking? Happens to have a very noticeable cowlick and might be caring around lady's smallclothes?"

Though perhaps his parent's saying has their limits....

[Prompt C]

{Voice}

Talking to a mystery voice in my head. Well I really must be shellshocked. [He stops for a moment.] Well, does this mystery voice have a name?

[May as well be civil about it.]

[Prompt G]

Do whatever you want!

Rommath || Warcraft

[captainnoshirt]

[Prompt D:1]

[Rommath had little time to react when he was accosted by some desperate salesman's pitch, try and he might to recoil and pull away the merchant kept a tight grip on his arm, and before he could so much as tell the pathetic little man just where he could take his tacky little ring, the object had been forced on his finger. Next thing he knew he was face-to-face with some stranger. A look of pure disdain and contempt crossed over his face, and the look only intensified when it was explained that said stranger was "compatible" with him. He immediately held his hand out to the merchant, completely ignoring his supposed future partner.]

Remove this immediately.

D, giving you this one instead of Rei.

[failinglight]

[Oftentimes, Barriss wondered exactly how she got herself into these situations. She wasn't reckless, even if she was prone to impulsiveness from time to time. The ring was probably one of the more impulsive things she'd done lately, though. She couldn't rationally believe that a ring would pull her towards someone, find a 'soulmate' for her or whatever, but when she felt the tug towards the stranger, she began to think differently.

It was impossible to miss the disdain and sheer contempt in his expression, but she didn't return it. Nor did she take offense.]

Yes. Please. I'd appreciate that as well.

[The shopkeeper waves his hands, explaining that it must be fate, destiny, and he could not interfere! Which earns him a scowl.]

There must be some way...

Padmé Amidala | Star Wars

[nabooangel]

Prompt A.

[Emotions were a funny thing when one was a politician. Back home she always had to hold back on her emotions on some instances. Especially in her case where her marriage had to be hidden from the rest of the world. While others she could easily show. But this wasn't back home, this was a world that she was still trying to grow accustomed to. And yet as the Senator touched her amulet she couldn't help but feel confused and lost as the skies above her turned grey the signs of an early rain were slowly starting to rear its head.]

[actualhumandisaster]

[ Seeing Padmé here, in Verens, was difficult, to say the least.

It was a painful reminder of the promise he made her and the oath he had sworn to himself - That he would save her, no matter what. But here, in Verens, he had learned that his approach of doing so ultimately would lead to her very death.

In the weeks Anakin has been in the city, he has been able to distance himself from what has been going on back in their own galaxy.

But now, seeing her here, he wants to tumble right back. Wanted to latch onto the false promises made by an elderly man he partially still wants to consider his friend, but at the same time feels utterly betrayed by.

It takes him a moment to compose himself again before he steps forward, his eyes darting up to the sky and the forming clouds above before setting back onto Padmé. ]

You... Might want to try dunamis.

[ He speaks with a little hesitation, but reaches up with his still human hand, attempting to touch hers. ]

I bet you're better at controlling them than I will ever be.

amara sigatar khura'in | aa : soj

[benignantly]

c — the disney princess life

[ it is the first time she tries to truly address everyone through this remarkable telepathy, and yet the voice that reaches you flows as naturally as a river, with no discomfort or misplaced words. ]

I turn to you, good people of Verens, with a plea for assistance. It would seem I have gathered a following of our animal friends, but many of them are not at home in the city, and are scaring the fine citizens. I would wish for them to be returned to their natural habitat peacefully, but for I am only one person, I cannot help them alone. [ for a moment, it seems that is the entire message... but no, there is more. ]

Those who should try to harm these innocent creatures, be warned, the Holy Mother does not look kindly upon those with malice in their hearts, and Her retribution shall be swift and unforgiving.

[ read: don't even think of hurting the animals. seriously, don't do it.

anyone who comes to investigate will find Amara in the town square, surrounded by what seems to be an entire zoo... ]

d;1 — the holy mother frowns upon blind dating

[ she had no intention of purchasing the ring the salesman was so eager to praise in his speech; perhaps for this reason, he forgoes the entire idea of gaining money and quite simply sticks the ring on her finger.

such insolence, she won't stand for it — though after the salesman has been scared away by what seems to be a lightning-strike from a clear sky, illuminating her in a completely different light for that second (but that is long enough, the salesman seems to think, running away while pleading for mercy), Amara is... stuck with the ring, it seems.

moreover, she is stuck with something even stranger: her feet walking fast towards someone in the crowd, without a single command from her mind to even start walking. ]

You shall cease this at once! [ she commands, but her feet ignore her and keep on walking. finally they stop, and Amara tries to see who it is she has been brought to — in the crowd, with people moving back and forth, it is hard to see who this accursed ring has decided as her so-called perfect match.

at least she can get this over with politely. ]

It is my unfortunate duty to impart this information to you... but I most certainly am not looking for a "matched pair". I shall pray the Holy Mother grants you Her blessings so that you may find one better matched to you than my humble self. [ because obviously whoever she is talking to has gotten into this out of their own free will... ]

g — wildcard

[ hmu with whatever floats your boat! also maybe... don't look here if you want to avoid spoilers from aa:soj, just saying. ]

yells!!!! also c

[ephemerous]

[Nahyuta is no stranger to being followed around by animals, most typically when he meditates, or when he attracts Khura'inese butterflies to him. Even he hasn't had quite the affinity for animals that his mother does, though; something no doubt attributable to her enormous spiritual power.

Still, perhaps he may be able to assist in his own way. When he offers a reply, it's with a mixture of bemusement and concern.]

Are you all right, Mother? I can aid you in guiding them from the city and back to their homes, if you tell me where you are at present.

Kenjirou Minami | Yuri!!! On Ice

[kenjirou]

B.)

[ "Don't take candy from strangers" is quickly disregarded when Kenjirou is offered a piece of shiny, red candy? It matches his hair color, so it must be delicious? Except... when he does put it in his mouth and suck on it for a while, he finds himself on the verge of tears? In fact, he's busy wiping them away from his eyes as he continues to possibly enjoy the candy, even if his pitiful sobs start to grow louder.

Maybe he just needs a hug? ]


G.)

[ Someone must have also invented some kind of incredibly sticky gum, because Kenjirou is getting absolutely frustrated by the fact he can't move. Every time he pulls away and the gum looks like it's about to give, he's immediately flung right back into the same spot, standing up straight. Whatever kind of candy this is, it's keeping him grounded. Grumbling, he keeps yanking at it over and over and over. No doubt he's been working on escaping for a while, because he doesn't hide his panting or exertion of energy.

He could use some help. ]

B

[rarimatiger]

[Kisa wasn't someone that did good with stranger usually but when she sees the boy...who looks close to her age, she approaches him. He was crying so loudly, was he okay?

With a meek voice she taps his shoulder.]

U-Um...are you okay?

Donald Duck | Kingdom Hearts

[quackmage]

[D (1 or 2)]

[Well, this is certainly the predicament, isn't it? One minute some pushy salesman is ignoring all of Donald's protests (He doesn't need to find his true love, he already has one!) and shoving some ring onto one of his fingers.

The next minute he's being compelled to walk in some random direction, making a determined b-line towards something. All the while, Donald is quacking angrily in protest.

Let's hope whatever poor sap ends up colliding with him is prepared to handle an angry little duck]

[WILD CARD]

[Have another idea for a run in with Donald? Go nuts!]

D1

[princesswhatshername]

[Minnie had been minding her own business, taking Figaro out on a walk, when she hears some very angry quacking.

... Is it her imagination, or is that noise familiar?]

Figaro, do you know what that is?

[Figaro - not the adorable black and white kitten from Pinocchio but the slightly less adorable black wyvern - growls. This person is moving too fast! They might hurt Mama! The wyvern growls, crouching in front of Minnie, ready to open his mouth and fire... well, fire.]

Eek! Figaro, no, bad boy!

Malfurion || Warcraft

[malfurion]

[Prompt B]

[The old elf stood at the task board, looking between a map and the missions, trying to figure out where to go. There's only one minuscule problem. He's holding the map upside down. Where was his wife when he needs her? She was better at this than he was.

So he's standing there, muttering to himself, and looking around in an attempt to get himself situated. Eventually, he caves in and pulls the nearest passerby in.]

Excuse me, might I bother you for some assistance?

[faithfulflame]

[Tall men with strange hair and adornments are one thing, but tall men with green beards and antlers are another. Rei blinks when she feels him tap on her shoulder and steps out of the crowd to address him.]

Of course. What seems to be the trouble, sir?

Kristoph Gavin | Ace Attorney

[defaming]

A. Sympathy for the Devil
[Kristoph's interested in honing his dunamis to the extent of his abilities. It doesn't hurt to be prepared to defend oneself. After all, the world is a dangerous place. He's intrigued by some of the effects of dunamis he's seen that he hasn't yet been able to replicate.

For instance, growing things. Which is why Kristoph has been spending some time in the park, quite patiently, staring at the ground.

At long last, finally, slowly, a tiny shoot springs forth. Kristoph focuses, trying to feel as positive as possible, thinking of his well-behaved dog and his victories in court. The tiny plant unfurls leaves, forms a bud, and then blooms—into a withered, black flower with odd white markings that look just a little like a death's head. Kristoph sighs. Look, he tried.]

B. The Devil Is a Busy Man (GT0109)
[Kristoph could use some extra income, and although this job doesn't pay particularly well, he finds a frost easy to maintain. A simple matter! That is, unless something disturbs his practiced composure...

But he won't consider that possibility. Why should he? So he settles in for an ice-making session. He's brought his dog along, and she sits patiently at his feet. He also brought a book along. A mind such as his needs more to occupy it than just making ice. He makes a pretty picture for now, professionally playing it cool.]

D. The Devil's Right Hand
Absolutely not—!

[Kristoph loses his (famed) cool as the salesperson slips a ring onto his perfectly manicured finger without his consent. What use does he have for this impossibly tacky piece of jewelry? He always selects his accessories carefully, and he doesn't care to have them thrust upon them.]

I'd like to speak to your manager, please.

[He's about to attempt to remove the offending ring, when suddenly he feels something strange, like someone tugging on his ring. He frowns. If the situation escalates, he's going to be very unhappy.]

E. The Devil Went Down to Georgia
[Kristoph + sewers—it's just a bad equation, any way you look at it. He's already sodden and miserable, and the temperature around him is rising as he starts to lose his cool.

What kind of city is this? The infrastructure is a shambles! The street simply gave way under his feet. That's appalling. And how is he supposed to get out, now?]

Have they no concern for public safety? This is obviously grounds for a lawsuit.

A YOU GLORIOUS BASTARD

[magicpanchira]

[ Guess whose been watching over your shoulder, Kristoph? If you guessed Trucy, you'd be correct. She's been leering silently for some time -- as lame as his little creation is, he is getting better, much to her chagrin. Her eyes fall on the little flower, a brow raising, before she clears her throat. ]

Wow, Mr. Gavin! You just keep getting better at that every time you try!

[ Here it is, that bright, cheery smile that matches the false happiness that drips from her tone. They're out in public, yes, but right now they're alone. She has to remind herself she doesn't have to be nice if she doesn't want to. ]

Nicolas Brown | GANGSTA

[compensate]

a.

[ It's been an interesting week, getting used to his emotions being on open display. Nicolas has had some time to adjust, enough that it no longer actively surprises him when his environment shifts at every annoyance or irritation. The thing that perhaps is the strangest and hardest to get used to is his growing apathy and resignation to the situation, the bitterness of being displaced buried away - and the world around him reacting not because he feels something, but because he's doing his damnedest to focus on feeling nothing.

He's on his way to the Task Board when it happens, his every footstep seeming to sap the grass or street of color, leaving behind a gray and blurry spot on an otherwise colorful street. It takes him a second to notice, eyes focused intently on what's before him, not his feet, but when he notices, it's enough to get him to stop, and crouch down to examine the area.

Weird. ]

b.

[ Nicolas had always been something of a jack of all trades, especially when muscle work dried up back home. He'd never been above taking odd jobs as long as it put money in his pocket, or food on the table. Still, standing in front of the Task Board, he can't help but be a little baffled when he scans the list - spider collecting, catching a panty thief, testing potions?

He grunts his displeasure, tapping the balled up fist of his right hand against his forehead. ]

  This is stupid.  

c.

[ There's no sound attributed with this thought, no voice to accompany it - just letters in sloppy handwriting intruding into your stream of consciousness that disappear almost as quickly as they appear. ]

Is there a way to turn this off?

[ooc: Check out his permission post when you get a moment, and feel free to choose another prompt if you'd like!]

BODYSLAMS

[giniro]

[ Yuuri would consider himself still on the "newer" side of things even though he's been here for a month. He's seen a lot of things and quickly had to adjust to various different things that he would have only distantly dreamed about or seen in movies.

He had quickly learned the connection of his emotions and Empatheias was inevitable and that he was going to need to just accept that his emotions were just going to get the better of him sometimes. However, that aside, the lack of color and gray patches where there was obviously color gets his attention.

That...was new. Guess the guy crouching down also thought so too. ]

Do you know what happened here?

Saber (Nero) | Fate/Extra

[artistictyranny]

[ A ]

[ Nero knows well how powerful emotions can be, but to think she's been granted a creational kind of power with this little amulet! She never thought herself the type to be a Caster; only a Saber fits her liking. Nonetheless, this is a momentous occasion to try something new, and passers-by will see her outside a a lot designated to a tree nursery. In particular, she's eyeing a rosebush whose flowers she deems ill-fitting for their nature of being. Don't they know they're roses? They mustn't wilt! That would betray their potential beauty! ]

Huh...well, it seems I'll have to extend a magnanimous hand to these poor shrubs and restore their beauty. [ She chuckles to herself and gazes even more intently upon the roses, even holding the amulet tight in her grip, as she musters forth that emotional well of memories that's sure to bring up the proper power.

Thus far, a whole lot of nothing has happened, and when the rosebush does little except sway slightly in the breeze, she utters a groan of frustration. ]

...that should have worked. Thousands upon thousands of roses should have sprung forth! Was my elation of my own being not enough...?



[ F1/F3 ]

[ Having made it to the deck of one of the stolen airships, Nero is quick to hop in the midst of the action and swings her sword, Aestus Estus, down amidst the bandits to scatter them away from her. She catches one with it, but it's merely a scratch from what she can see. After being a Servant for so long and a Roman leader before that, Nero is more than happy to use force in situations such as these. Sometimes, that's the only way to get through to someone! Diplomacy has its place, but with the bandits advancing, she swiftly decides that that place is not here.

With a cocksure smile, she holds out her free hand, as the other still has her sword firmly in its grip. ]

If you feel inept in the fight for any reason, stay behind me where it's safe. I'll rout these rambunctious children and keep you safe all at once. [ It's a boast for sure, but it's said with such gumption that it might as well be fact. And to her, it might as well be, for there's no other outcome than for her to win and make good on her word. ] That said, if you can hold your own for the entirety of the battle, I shall commend you greatly.

A

[lifewithnoconsequence]

[Well this girl sure is colorful, to say the least. Though truthfully Krebs might've wander here for about the same reason as her. Well maybe not exactly the same reason, but the promise of a peaceful area covered in beautiful plants and potentially fruit trees (if there were any growing) is hard for anyone to ignore. Even someone like him can be calmed by a quiet place and colorful flower. Though he did feel a bit of mirth for what she was trying to accomplish.]

...You can't just force something to grow.

[He mentioned after a moment of silence. Normally he would have also just kept walking, but she caught him in a good mood.]

[itried]

[Prompt E]]

[While he was no stranger to impromptu visits to sewers, it didn't mean he liked it. Of course this sewer smelled far more repulsive than the Dalaran one he had the misfortune of visiting. Only time would tell if it shared the same number of undead and restless spirits.

Regardless he was going to spend the first few moments inspecting the damage to his robes, before addressing the other poor sod who fell down with him.]

Does this happen frequently in this city?

Lie Ren ❁ RWBY

[mutedlotus]

Prompt D, 1 & 2

This ring's practically calling your name!

[ No matter how many times Ren assures the salesman that no, that ring is most certainly not calling his name, the salesman won't have any of it. No. No thank you. I'm not interested. There wasn't much else he could do aside from ignore him, and so he does... until the salesman takes it upon himself to really drive his point home and grabs Ren's hand. Ren inhales deeply, letting the air out in a sharp exhale. ]

Just give it a try!

As I've said many times before, I'm sorry, but I'm just not interested in your access—

[ The salesman had already slipped the ring onto his left hand and before Ren can finish his sentence, the ring's already at work, pulling him along to who even knows where. This isn't what he wanted. HE HAS IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO WHY IS THIS HAPP—oh no, please move out of the way, person. ]

Look out!

Prompt E, 1

[ His training had prepared him for a lot of things—combat, surviving—but not for an entire section of ground disappearing long enough for people to fall into a sewer system in the blink of an eye. At least, not thanks to magic, or whatever the cause apparently was. The moment was brief and already the ground above him is back in place. How did... no, it doesn't matter how. It happened, and he's definitely not alone down here. It's something he'll just have to deal with. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he calls out to whoever it is. ]

Hello? Are you okay?

Prompt E, 2

[ Ren isn't the most talkative person. Especially not when he's trapped in such a dark, horrifically smelling place. On the bright side, he does seem remarkably calm given the current situation at hand. He knows it's important to keep calm and to focus on the situation, that panicking will only make things worse. Still, it feels like he's walking through wet cement that's desperately trying to harden. Either he's not as calm as he thinks he is or his persistent silence is incredibly unhelpful. ]

Is it just me or is it getting harder to walk through this...?

Prompt E, 3

[ Finally! Fresh air! Dirt! Absolutely relieved to be free of that place, he forces his legs to carry him a bit farther to the shore of Lake Niras. Ren immediately collapses onto his knees then leans forward, his fingers tightly clutching at the ground. Never. Again. ]

Please... tell me that this kind of thing doesn't happen often here.

[ He takes another deep breath, taking in the scent of the lake and the surrounding area. After being stuck in those sewers for what seemed like an eternity, the two of them have finally found freedom. ]

But more importantly... thank you.

[ For sticking with him til the end. ]

d because weiss would never go to the sewers... ah...

[schmisse]

[ weiss was trying to get away from another salesman, too. it proved to be more difficult than easy, and now a ring has been slipped onto her finger. and before she even knew it, she was being pulled to where the other salesman was. ]

Ren?! [ she can't even think about the ring on her finger right now. ] Don't tell me you're buying one of these things?

[ judge first, think later. typical weiss schnee. ]

Kyouka Izumi | Bungou Stray Dogs

[snowheretogo]

B

[It takes a bit of patience and a lot of concentration, but Kyouka manages to focus her emotions enough to start freezing the water core. It's... difficult, though, because she hasn't really been here long enough to be experienced with her Dunamis yet, but she still wants to do what she can to help. This world has been kind to her so far, and she feels obligated to return the favor in whatever way possible.

Kyouka also knows... if she really wanted to, she could speed up the process. Ice naturally forms around her as an emotional reaction, but that's... only if she becomes sad or grieved.

That's a last resort, though, and she'll continue putting all of her efforts into freezing the water core so ice can flow through it.]

No matter what... I won't fail.

D

[By this point Kyouka must have protested to having the offending object placed on her finger about five times, but the sales rep is not hearing it. At all. And that point gets proven even further when he unceremoniously shoves the ring on her finger with a, "You enjoy yourself, now!"]

Wait, no- Ah-!

[A flurry of icy hail falls around Kyouka, revealing her shock, as a mysterious force begins pulling her towards people. She digs in her heels and grabs at her wrist, tries to fight against it, but whatever strange magic this is seems to be a lot stronger than her own strength.

She doesn't want this, though! People being tied together by a red string of fate... Kyouka doesn't know if she believes in anything like that, and even if she did... There's only one person she's close enough with to even consider as a possibility. Surely she wouldn't be tied to them that way, though-

A gasp rips through her as she's finally dragged across the ground, and Kyouka struggles to force the ring off - but not in time to keep from bumping into someone.]

E

[Kyouka yelps the moment the ground disappears under her feet, not expecting it all - but her reflexes are too good from her time with the Mafia. She twists her body, quick as a cat catching itself, and lands in a shallow part of the water with little to no damage to herself. Her heart is pounding and the moment she sees the ground - ceiling? - reappear over her head as if nothing has happened, ice starts to form on the water's surface, and the smell instantly begins to worsen. Kyouka won't know that the latter is due to her, though she will think that she spots something moving-

But then she sees you, whether you be stranger or a familiar face, and Kyouka will just assume that she's imagining things.]

Are you... alright?

F-1

Hah!

[In one fluid motion, Kyouka dodges the punch aimed at her face and incapacitates the bandit striking out at her with one swift jab to the pressure point on his neck. She could've struck with her sword if she really wanted to. It would've been easy to take his life.

...Too easy.

Because at the end of the day, this is still what she's good at. What she's "born to do", if Kouyou's words are to be believed, but-

But Kyouka doesn't want that. She doesn't want that to be her life anymore. Because he showed her that her life doesn't have to be that way now - and here, in this world, she's going to start over new.]

I don't have to kill... But I will protect everyone's happiness...!

[But-

No, no, she got too distracted. She sees the movement out of the corner of her eye, another bandit- He's got something in his hand, and it looks like he's winding up to throw-

Kyouka yells to the person nearest to her.] Watch out!

Wildcard

[Got something else in mind? Feel free to throw it at me!]

D

[facepalms]

['What a bother...' are thoughts that this certain teenage male keeps to himself, completely unaware at first of the fact that he's about to find himself bumping into someone—]

Ah.

[He's taken aback as his eyes grow a little wide; she seems to be younger than him, although he honestly shouldn't be making that assumption, considering that there's Asahina-san, but... maybe he's not wrong. For once. Who knows.]

S-Sorry, I wasn't paying much attention. I didn't bump into you too hard, did I?

[At least, he hopes not.]