spellgrinders | ( TDM

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!tdm

( TDM | #2 )

IMPORTANT: This TDM takes place on the current world the coven is part of. Please read the linked Google Doc about the world AND be aware that the world is high-frequency, meaning canon magic and powers can be used.

TDMs can be used for anyone interested in the game and/or testing out a new muse.

Test Drive samples are encouraged to be used for your application sample, though they are NOT a requirement.

Feel free to use one prompt, multiple prompts or make up your own!

These threads can be considered game canon upon game opening if you so choose.

Telepathy and magic can be used at any point in time on the TDM, from Prompt A to your wildcard prompt. A specific prompt exists, however, that makes sure all characters have an equal chance to use this mechanic within the TDM. You're encouraged to have characters use telepathy and their magic accidentally or even purposefully on any TDM prompt.

If you aren't set on your character's power yet or want to try out a few, you're still able to use the test drive. Maybe your character is a late bloomer and hasn't fully unlocked their intuitive drive yet. In the case of multiple powers, only prompts that contain the power you choose for your application will count as potential game canon threads.

While only one character can be apped or reserved during a cycle, feel free to post with more than one character if you like! This is for those who are uncertain of their first choice or who would like to try out different characters within the setting.

WORLD ONE: AIMINTAS

You blink and that's all it takes. At first the picture doesn't come in clear, like you're waiting for a screen to fully load -- more aptly, it's like you're waiting for a camera to focus so you can find image clarity. Before you happened to rapidly close your eyes and open them, your life was normal...well, normal for you, anyway. Fighting an alien, making a quesadilla, dying. And then that blurry picture suddenly takes over...

Some of you might open your eyes to find yourself wandering around a sandy area, outside of a large stone house. There's a large glimmering caravan floating around outside, which might intrigue you. There's also a lot of supplies, food, clothing...all just laying around outside. It's worth investigating, right?

Other new potential coven members will find themselves in a completely different part of town. These lucky individuals will have suddenly appeared in the marketplace area of Aimintas, surrounded by walking lizard beings that suddenly turn and take an immediate interest in this stranger.

The setting found in Aimintas is pretty expansive, so you have a lot of room to wander around. Here are a few things that might catch your eye if you're really committed to wandering around.

GAME NAVIGATION

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ The sack does carry weight, causing the branch to droop. Most unfortunately for the both of them, it ends up snapping a few moments later, loosing its cargo in a freefall and hopefully not out of Lenka's reach.

It also has the effect of making Julius sit up, though the motion is restricted by the fact that he's become tangled in the shrub. ]

Excuse me...?

[ Both at Lenka and also at the fact that plants are trying to consume him. ]

Gah...!

[That's probably the dumbest noise Lenka's made since he arrived, and that's counting the time a lady with horns climbed into his bed and then he got sideswiped by a dragon. Anyway, he's not expecting either the shrub or the convenient lawn ornament to start talking to him, with the net result that he falls neatly on his ass backing away.

On the bright side, there's nothing breakable in his sack; it's mostly basic supplies and some needless ones he probably didn't have to bring; but he doesn't have a lot of possessions here. Keeping them on hand is second nature.

The bag rolls a little on the ground as Lenka stares at the Julius-plant with wide eyes. After a moment, he cocks his head, thoughtfully.]

You're... Are you another species from here?

[What else is he supposed to guess.]

[ What kind of a question is this?

Well, he can't tell the truth, but he can't tell a lie either. There's a frown taking over his expression as he ponders how to go about answering the youth's query... but then his eyes fall on Lenka's armlet. ]

You are... a God Eater?

[ Or 神機使い since he can speak Japanese ]

[It's a perfectly normal question when you're surrounded by strange froggy lizard people that are being visited by warmongering merpeople and also, the members of the group you've gotten stuck with aren't much less strange, even if most of them are human-shaped. Lenka hasn't seen an Aragami in longer than he can ever remember having a respite and it's... it's weird.

Which is why Julius' query, also out of left field, makes him stiffen in surprise -- he'd more or less resigned himself to the slim chance that he'd ever meet someone who knew anything about where he came from in the near future.

There's a small silence as Lenka reconsiders the stranger. He doesn't recognize him at all, but Fenrir is a large organization with many branches. Somewhere, part of him wants to be relieved, but...]

I am. So you're... you come from the same place.

[No armlet, so for the moment he assumes Julius isn't a God Eater (the ironic thing is that the anime just goes with ゴッドイーター straight up here) despite his minor plant problem.]

[ The terms are used interchangeably in the game, sooo..... ]

It seems so. [ He'd recognize that armlet anywhere... which brings up questions. So many questions. ] Have you had injections here?

[ The most important thing to maintaining a God Eater's good health, really. ]

[The anime just needs to be maximum Engrish for maximum effect, okay, how else are you going to be stylish when your color palette is shit-brown bruise-black BLOOD-RED.

Speaking of problems staying alive, Julius' question brings Lenka up short, again -- he'd gotten into the routine of having his armlet (and himself) serviced back at Fenrir by now, and then some, but things have been so crazy here that more time had passed than he'd expected before he could blink. Of course he's at least checked on the state of the Oracle cells, visually speaking, but...

There hadn't been any notable changes, especially without his God Arc. He still hasn't figured out what to do about it, but it's question he can only partially answer.]

No, I-- I don't have my God Arc here. [he taps at his armlet, briefly] Somehow, I think things like that are deactivated.

[Which may not be the case in Aimintas, judging by everything he's been seeing in the coven since they've been here, but... that's something to deal with on the road.]

[ Get better clothes. Or a remake. ]

I see. [ It would also explain why he woke up without Volitional, though that may be fore the better. ] Please take care of yourself.

[ Lenka doesn't look ill, no. But just in case. ]

What's your name?

[Honestly before a remake we need a sequel, which will never happen, ergo anime fashion will continue to go out of style. Forever.]

Lenka. Utsugi Lenka of Unit 1. Far East Branch.

[He's quiet for a moment, unsure what to say in response to well-wishes, even if they're sincerely meant. It's not just what lives in his skin; but everything that's different here, in a way so fundamental that it's in the very air and every gesture the people make. At length:]

I'll be careful. [for everyone else's sake too, he knows] You know a lot, though. Who are you?

[ It's time to play GE2. ]

My name is Julius. [ He doesn't recognize Lenka's name, but he does recognize that branch and unit. ] I used to be a God Eater.

[ That much is safe to say. ]

Used to be...?

[Reflexively, he glances at Julius' bare wrist. He doesn't mean to pry, but the partial answer is a very strange thing to say, from what he knows. Even retired God Eaters still have their armlets, so... Has one of the other branches found some way beyond it?

It's more an item of surprise and curiosity than anything, but he's still intrigued.]

[ Aware of Lenka's gaze, Julius merely waves his right hand. ]

Don't worry about it.

[ Also, he's still stuck to the shrub, so he'll glance down. After a moment's pause, he'll work on breaking them one by one. If it hurts, he doesn't show it. ]

Were you going somewhere?

[Lenka lets it go; he's just met the guy, mistaken him for a statue, actually... and for now it's none of his business. Perhaps he'll know one day.

He looks on as Julius starts detaching himself from the shrub. It looks... unfortunate, but--]

Do you need help...? I wasn't really going anywhere. We're staying in the city, but Genette said there would be new members.

[So in the course of exploring the city, he'd kept an eye out for them. Though evidently not well enough.]

And, uh, sorry. About the bag.

[ Cellular disintegration and reorganization does things to a man. You'd understand his reluctance to speak of it at all. ]

It's alright.

[ For both the bag and the branches. The bark and wood dig into his skin, but it's not much compared to what he had endured before - merely pinpricks, or maybe a pinch here and there. It's fine. ]

I just arrived. Could you bring me around?

[It would be a bit of an awkward subject. Honestly, what is with their world and cell horror.

Lenka gives Julius a little time to prune himself, sheepishly going to retrieve his wayward bag and make sure nothing's fallen out in its little adventure. That settled, he nods to Julius once it seems like things are winding down on his end -- unless he means to keep going while he's walking. Might have to uproot the shrub, though.]

Yeah, I can show you the way. I think that's what we're meant to do. It's not far.

[And by 'not far' he means a good amount of brisk walking, but at least it's not on the other side of the city, right? Eh, they can take it.]

[ It's easy enough to snap the branches in half, though what remains are still the stumps of those that did manage to root themselves in his skin. They're somehow tangled in amongst the cells, which is strange - but not as strange as the fact that he can discern this just by focusing. He may have to dig out the remainder later, it's hardly something to do on the road.

So he'll get up, retrieve his jacket, and hang it around his shoulders like a cape. ]

Thanks.

[ They wouldn't be living up to their job title if they can't take a short trek, eh? ]

What year was it when you left?

Edited 2017-07-27 11:19 (UTC)

[For a moment, it seems like Lenka is going to comment on Julius' winter shrubbery with cape scene, but then he closes his mouth and starts walking. There is a brief pause when Julius asks his question, though -- he tilts his head at him. What?]

2071, but... why?

[ That would sort of explain things. ]

I come from three years after you. It would partly explain why we have no knowledge of each other.

[ That, plus he's very sure there's no Lenka in the 1st unit. But the youth seems to have good conviction, so he'll try and puzzle it out later. ]

[Go figure it would be three years. Lenka is quiet for a long moment.

... Okay, but still, why is time travel a thing.]

Three years after? That can happen?

[Lenka, why are you asking the newbie.]

... I guess you wouldn't know either. But you're from the future.

[Damn.]

That's how it is.

[ This wouldn't explain how Lenka was just struck from the record, however. ]

I don't think it matters too much.

[He's just that sneaky. Or something.

Julius' dismissal makes Lenka's eyebrows fly up. It's a pretty impressive sight.]

But... you're from the future. [reiterated as though he feels Julius maybe didn't get it the first time] I think that matters.

[Look, he may have Seen Things both before and after he got here, but even Lenka's suspension of disbelief has limits.]

It doesn't matter. Here, we're all the same.

[ The more unknown he remains, the safer it is. But, in case Lenka had personal vested interest: ]

Did you want to know anything about your friends?

That's...

[Certainly, they're all at least in the same time here, strange as that is to consider. Still, he's not sure why it's so easy to dismiss. Time travel. Time travel! Look, he came from the apocalyptic boonies, he's easily impressed.

--But at least he's also easily distracted, because if this guy really is from the future (is he?) then he can... maybe he can tell him about the things he wouldn't see otherwise.]

My unit. [is what he blurts, but it tastes strange in his mouth -- he still doesn't consider himself a captain, it's literally been about 5 minutes back home] Unit 1. Are they doing okay?

[ It's not out of a lack of surprise at time travel that he dismisses it so quickly - rather, the imperative is to keep his head down and his reputation subtle. The less people know about him, the better. ]

... I know Lindow and Sakuya got married. That's the extent of it, though.

[ Say more and he risks complicating himself. ]

[Lenka stops dead.]

Lindow... Lindow's okay?

[It's mostly expressionless, a bit dazed, given that he hasn't even fully processed the information -- it's kind of difficult, when someone you just met five minutes ago drops that on you, and also you've got the perfectly reasonable we just held that funeral a few days ago, this stranger is making things up warring with the terribly hopeful it figures that damn guy escaped, it's him, after all all over your insides.

He takes one breath. Two. The few Palai out here continue to stare at them as they pass, Julius continues to be there and not a statue, the sky continues to be ocean for some reason, and... time flows again.

In fact, it slams into fast forward because suddenly there are way too many things he needs to know. Why. How. What -- there are so many things he needs to do, back home, but if this is one of them, then. Is it? He doesn't know.]

[ Julius doesn't know quite a lot about Lindow, considering that the man was always out with Cradle and had only came back after Julius went off the deep end. But this much he knows - and he too knows the pain of losing a comrade, so he'll reach out and put a hand on Lenka's (clothed) shoulder. ]

He's fine.

[ And that's all that matters, right? ]

smh

look, I had to?! he's a great lawn ornament

SHAKES MY HEAD ANYWAYS

PATS YOUR HEAD

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