TDM #4

[fabulists]

fable test drive meme #4

// away with the fairies

In your land, there may be stories of the Fae taking people away. Perhaps you haven't heard of the Fae at all, or perhaps you are more familiar with them than others. No matter how well acquainted you are with the Fae, everyone around you has experienced the same fate tonight: Being taken by them. Partially, at least. For they did not want to kidnap anyone from their home and take them away from the life they knew. In a small jar of fairy dust, part of your soul was taken in the night and brought to a magical village by the name of Fable.

On arrival, the Fae release you from the jar before waving their magic wands, and materialise this taken little part of you into a brand new you. From here onwards, your new life begins, shared among all sorts of magical creatures. Here, you will be allowed to grow, thrive and enjoy the bounties provided to you by these mysterious and wonderful creatures. In exchange, they ask for a share of the magical fruit that you grow in your garden, donated to their dragon overseer in exchange for rewards. After a briefing on your new life, you understand things as best as you possibly can. Now, it's time to settle into a brand new cottagecore life.

Welcome to Fable.

// arrival

Now that you are a resident of Fable, you have a brand new cottage, a garden, and a few tools to use! There's not an awful lot in your cottage, though: Just a cardboard box, a lamp, a cassette tape and a single bed. Fear not, though! By participating in friendly tasks, your cottage will look great in no time.

Something sparkly catches your attention before you realise it's a message board, advertising an array of tasks for bonus fruit. Did this thing appear out of nowhere just now? That must be the case, since you can swear it wasn't there a second ago. The board may inspire you to go out there and mingle. It seems that the monthly tasks are geared towards friendliness to welcome this new season!

april showers & pretty flowers

// treacherous thunderstorm

Around this time of year, the weather in Fable can certainly get hectic. While magic can only do so much to tidy the remaining fallen leaves off the ground, there's nothing like a doozy of a downpour to really sweep everything fresh and new. With all of the new flowers that have been growing in Fable, a lot of rainwater is certainly needed to give them all a drink. The dragons and storm spirits have been brewing up a torrential downpour scheduled to fall all over Fable and beyond - along with some strong winds. Are you prepared for the occasion?

From cottage to cottage, roof tiles rattle and leaves are swept away. It is advised to not go outside during this storm period, and if you're caught in the rain, to take shelter immediately! If you can't reach your cottage in time, there are other village landmarks to take shelter beneath. The thunder is very loud and the wind is strong enough to knock someone off their feet. It might be best to keep close to people in this weather - going out alone could be very dangerous. And if you're cooped up inside with a friend or a stranger, why not get to know them to pass the time?

It is important to be wary of the lightning. If someone gets struck by lightning, they will not die - but they will experience an injury and a magical feedback loop which swaps their personality! The cure for this problem is rainwater tea - a remedy which is advertised throughout the town's message boards as a precaution for any unlucky residents. The affected person will be lightning charged, causing them to receive an electric shock every time their hands are near water, which will make brewing tea impossible. Someone who has struck will need to rely on another person to brew the tea for them. A lightning-shaped scar will mark the person who got struck wherever they were affected.

After the storm ceases, there may be property damage such as collapsed gates, fallen fences, missing roof tiles and even an injury or two! Oh no! As compensation for enduring such a hearty storm - the realm's overseer, Prism, provides brand new repairing tools to those who had taken damage.

// flowers of kanshi

After enduring such a horrendous downpour, you definitely feel the urge to get out of town. The residents of Fable gossip endlessly about how stunning the cherry blossoms are in Kanshi this time of year, and the fairies practically insist that you go.

Upon arrival, you can see that Kanshi has received quite a beating from the storm. The winds and rain have blown cherry blossom petals all over the place - in the streets, rivers, and they're covering the buildings. You can see all sorts of tiny magical creatures making their best efforts to clean up, part of you wonders why they aren't using magic.

You feel a tap on the shoulder, and realise that it's a tiny sakura dragon sitting perched on you.

"Hi," they say, "I hope it's not too much to ask, but ... could you help us out here?"

You did come here to relax, so you may be a little bit hesitant at first. Still, you'll allow the dragon to continue.

"Kanshi normally has a dusting of petals here and there, but this is just too much for us to deal with on our own. If you help us gather petals, we'll offer you free access to our hot springs and restaurants. We'll even use the petals to craft furniture for you."

That's not a bad suggestion. Besides, it would be difficult to enjoy a trip here with petals covering the place. Once you agree to the dragon's request, you are given a fishing net to catch petals on the ground, in the water and in the air.

// sakura springs

Finally! It's time to relax. The sakura dragons were true to their word - in addition to the furniture gifted in exchange for the petals you collected, you have access to all of Kanshi's most favoured attractions!

There are incredible restaurants with shiba inu chefs ready to tailor to your every desire! The dining can be enjoyed in outdoor cafés surrounded by flowers, evening restaurants - and even an izakaya (alcohol & food bar) with food and drink available all night. It seems that the residents of Kanshi are very grateful for all the effort taken to clean up their home. If you want to spend the night here, even, the owners of the ryokan (traditional inns) will be glad to accommodate any guests. There are many beautiful wonders all across Kanshi, but one of the most renowned attractions are the hot springs. These incredible buildings feature indoor pools, outdoor waterways and rivers to bathe in which rejuvenates and uplifts anyone who steps in these waters. It's no wonder that creatures travel from all over just to bathe in them!

For every thread you write, you will receive cherry blossom furniture for your cottage! Feel free to leave a comment here to redeem these once you've written 5 tags in your thread! Since our TDMs are considered game canon, if you choose to app, these rewards will cross over with you when you join the game!

Let's see what the attractions of Kanshi have in store!

The Flower Cafés are sooooo cute! Situated outside, these charming cafés offer spectacular views of Kanshi's flower fields. All of the food and drinks arrive in incredibly charming pastel colours! (Even the savoury stuff!) Enjoying time in the café while surrounded by all of this pollen will cause a flower to bloom in your hair every time you smile! When they sprout, it's a very ticklish sensation - which might make you smile a lot. This ticklish pollen can be treated with a swim. Good thing there's a hot spring nearby!

The Restaurants have no shortage of incredible food! Whether you would like to order off the set menu, a conveyor belt or destroy all-you-can eat, every option is available. The more food you consume, the more you will feel the urge to open up and talk about yourself. Even things you might not normally be so inclined to tell strangers...!

The Izakaya Bars are the perfect spots for any adults who love good food and good alcohol. There are no innocuous effects from the food and drink ... apart from the house special - cherry plum sake! It is everyone's favourite drink in Kanshi and all-time best seller. Consuming the sake will cause any of the following effects: giggles, excessive compliments, tingly sensations, increased stamina and the urge to overshare your thoughts.

The Hot Springs are beloved by all of Kanshi's locals and beyond. These huge, towering buildings are crafted with wood and feature private indoor pools, outdoor waterfall pools and smaller pools which are connected by streams. In order to allow guests to bathe in peace, the mythological & animal villagers of Kanshi have granted their guests from Fable to have an area all to themselves. They have also provided care packages to the guests! They contain a variety of scented bath salts to choose from. Each salt type has an (undisclosed) effect once in use. The Rose Scented Salts will make someone feel warm, friendly and affectionate. The Vanilla Bean Salts will make someone feel confident and talkative. Their mood will also be enhanced - whether it's a happy kind or melancholic kind. And the Warming Lavender Salts, surprisingly, will give someone the tail and ears of an animal!

over the rainbow

// a rainsplosion

You were likely more than aware of the intense storm that happened earlier. Just when you figure that everything is settled, you are interrupted by a group of frantic fairies flittering through Fable's village.

"Quick! Quick! Come with us! You've gotta see it!"

See what, exactly? Once you have the opportunity, you ask these excitable fae why they're in such a hurry.

"There's gonna be an explosion! A magic explosion!" ... Is that even safe?

"You know the storm? The huge storm? Well - a lot of it was magic, you know! The storm spirits created something magnificent to tidy up winter and blow everything away. And then the dragons and unicorns got involved, and they all started playing in the clouds and had a magic fight! This one cloud is so full of magic - it's going to explode! You've got to come and see it! Nothing bad will happen ... we think! But if it does, we'll fix the problem right up with our magic! Promise!"

Can you really trust the fairies to keep their promise...? But a magical explosion does sound pretty cool. Perhaps against your better judgement, you agree to go.

On the mountainside, you see it - a huge looming storm cloud flickering with rainbow colours and streaks of lightning. There are a few dragons flying nearby, with a heavy layer of anticipation in the air. You can hear laughter from the creatures, which might reassure you that you aren't in any real danger. And then--

The cloud EXPLODES with a fantastic BOOM!

You have to admit - it does look pretty incredible! Just as you take a moment to admire the rainbow explosion, the magical shockwaves blast out and phase through you which causes an immediate effect...! Uh oh?!

Depending on which colour of the magical rainbow blast hits you, a different effect will occur:

Being hit with the colour Red will cause you to kiss the person you see next! Oh, my!

Being hit with the colour Orange will transform you into a merperson! Which is great, except ... you can't see any water around here! Maybe someone can carry you to water.

Being hit with the colour Yellow will give you an animal ears and tail of your choice. So cute! But you also feel the urge to follow the instincts and behaviours of said animal to some degree, too.

Being hit with the colour Green will summon enemies for you to fight! Yikes! From the shadows, monsters manifested out of your worst fears will come to life before trying to attack you - you've been given a weapon to defend yourself, but it would be better if you battled them with another person!

Being hit with the colour Blue will make you spontaneously burst into tears. It seems like nothing can stop you from crying, either - but comfort from another will ease the pain.

Being hit with the colour Purple will cause all of your inner thoughts to hover above your head in a thought bubble. Let's hope you aren't thinking of anything too strange at the moment ...

In a standard fairytale way, all effects end at midnight. Those cheeky fairies didn't keep their promise after all!

Welcome to Fable's fourth TDM!
We're excited to have you here, and hope you enjoy the prompts!
To familiarise yourself with the setting, please take a look at the arrivals & premise page!
We would also appreciate it if you could have a look at the rules as well.
As a general note, the TDMs are considered game canon!
Which means all rewards for fruit & furniture can be used in the game if you apply!

New arrivals have a cottage, a network device, the clothes on their back and a single item from home.
To view the locations, NPCs and more information about the game, please visit our full navigation!

If you have any questions that you have not seen answered in the FAQ, please ask in the FAQ post. Thank you!

(CODE)

Comments

TDM QUESTIONS

[fabulists]

For questions concerning this test drive meme, reply here!
For general questions about the game, leave a comment on the FAQ section. Thank you!

CHERRY BLOSSOM REWARDS

[fabulists]

Congratulations on enjoying some cherry blossom threads!
You can request any cherry blossom furniture of your choosing as a reward!
Please note, since the TDM is game canon, all rewards will be carried over to the game if you decide to app! Yay!

Lalli Hotakainen | Stand Still Stay Silent

[silentscout]

1

[Well. For someone who uses the old magic in his daily life, being taken by a faerie is downright terrifying! So much so that, instead of inspecting his new house or looking around the little town, he immediately climbs a tree and hides in between the branches.

Anybody who walks by might feel the sensation of being watched, and if they look around they might be able to spy a pair of icy blue eyes peering out at them from the leaves.]



2

[A thunderstorm has already started, and some unfortunate soul must have gotten caught under a village landmark while trying to avoid the rain. That poor soul isn't Lalli, though. No, Lalli shows up a few moments later, hood up (left) and clearly looking for a place to stay. Strange though, you might expect to hear the 'tap tap tap' of his feet on the path, but somehow he manages to move without making a sound.

Soon he'll join whoever is under the overhang, scooting in wherever he can fit without asking the other person to move.

Then he shakes his body with a mighty shake, not unlike what a cat or a dog might do when they're wet, flinging water all over the place. Including at whoever is standing nearby. Whoops.]



3

[Magical explosions? Sure, Lalli will go see those. Even if it's coming from faeries and he's slightly distrustful of them. He's not the only one nearby though, so he'll say something to the person next to him.]

Be ready to run. They wouldn't have told us about this if they weren't up to something.

[Mind, the cloud explosion is indeed beautiful. But the shockwave coming their way? That's worrying.]

[(OOC: I'm going to RNG colors for what Lalli gets hit with. If you don't want a specific color, let me know and I'll exclude it from the RNG.

ALSO I forgot to specify at first, but anyone who can sense or feel magic will be able to tell that Lalli has magic too, and it is vaguely cat-shaped.)]

hector rhineskeep (the commander) / guild wars 2 / ota

[secondthoughts]

[ There's a moment after finding himself in this new...dream?world that Hector just stands there. Staring. At nothing. There are bags under his eyes, and his shoulders sag. Really? Really? He understands why he's been brought here. He gets it. It's why anyone wants him to do anything, really. He has little room to argue with the fairies.

But he probably could've used another week of sleep.

Sigh. ]

> taking shelter

[ Someone has a terrible habit of wandering around outside for extended periods of time, even when he shouldn't be. So Hector, unfortunately, isn't home when the storm descends upon Rhyme, and he's stuck outside. While he's found himself a little rocky overhang for shelter, that doesn't mean much when the wind is strong enough that the droplets are practically vertical.

Or strong enough to knock people over. The big stick he's found is stuck firmly into the ground, and he holds on tightly as he extends his free hand into the storm--towards whoever he sees stuck out there. ]

Hey! Over here! Get out of the storm!

[ He's got druid magic to help if need be, but... We'll see. ]

> storm cleanup

[ Hector literally just got here and now his little cottage is a mess. Please. He just wants a break.

Despite his fancy attire, he isn't actually all that opposed to hard work. He'll be quietly clearing the debris from his yard and repairing his fence. His work isn't professional, but it's workable. Regardless of his skill level, when he reaches a break in his concentration he'll glance up at his neighbor to see how they're doing, and he'll call out-- ]

Need a hand?

> adult juice

[ Where else to find the alcoholic, but at the izakaya?

The change of scenery hasn't really changed anything--made it worse, if anything. It's hard to tell how much of the cherry plump sake Hector has gone through at this point; when he sees someone new come into the bar, he turns and gestures to the empty seat beside him, sliding a second cup towards the spot. ]

C'mon, take a seat. Not often I get to sit beside someone so good looking.

[ He's also shameless, btw. ]

> wildcard

[ I'm not picky. Hector will absolutely be wandering around, probably snooping around in places he shouldn't be. Whatever wacky scenario you come up with, he could have reasonably found himself there. Surprise me! ]

taking shelter

[silentscout]

[The young man Hector calls out to seems prepared for the weather (left) at least? But he stops mid-step when Hector calls out to him, and glances in his direction. Staring, like he's considering something.

Then he trots on over, though his steps are silent as he places himself so he's standing next to Hector under the shelter.]

adult juice

[alcazarzaray]

( Does he really have such little self control to lose himself to such a shallow invitation (yes.) There's almost a hint of hesitation from Kaveh before he sits himself down beside the other man, accepting the cup of sake offered to him. )

Really? I must admit, I know how you feel. ( Kaveh can't even remember the last time he had the opportunity to shamelessly ogle a stranger. But with the chance presented to him on a silver platter, well ... )

It's a pleasure. My name is Kaveh. And yourself?

dorothea | fire emblem: three houses (verdant wind)

[backstreetbard]

1. take cover

[ No one ever plans to be caught out in a storm, and it wasn't as if Dorothea had intentionally ignored the warnings, but she had errands to run that afternoon and an overcast sky had never stopped her before. Of course, by the time she ducks under the shelter of the vine-covered bench swing, she's soaked to the skin and shivering. When she spots you out in the downpour, she waves you under the modest shelter. ]

Come on, get out of the rain. This isn't much, but it's better than nothing.


2. kanshi

[ If you ask Dorothea to describe what a dragon ought to look like, she'll paint you a picture of words; they're immense, ferocious creatures with teeth like swords and slashing claws and great, leathery wings. The delicate little petal wings of the sakura dragons don't match that description at all, and she's immediately charmed.

If you happen to cross paths with her while she's helping them clean up all the excess cherry blossoms, you'll find her crouching beside a little pond, scooping up the petals with her net. When she spots you, she reaches out with a request. ]

Would you hold my hand a moment? If I lean out any farther I'll fall in, but there's a clump of petals there that I just can't reach.


3. orange you glad--

[ Dorothea is quickly learning that following fairies is a gamble. The little things had insisted, wanting her to see the fantastic explosion of magic, but her curiosity has not served her well in this case. Being bowled over by a powerful wave of energy is never fun, and especially when you can't get back up again on account of the lower half of you turning into a fish's tail. ]

Can someone help me? Please?

[ What is even happening? Why does she already feel like she's drying out? Why did she have to become part fish when she hates fish? All pressing questions. Even more pressing--will you help this girl get to the water? ]


4. wildcard

[ If none of the above prompts tickle your fancy, make something up and I'll play along. you can message me here or on discord at mochi#1888. ]

Kwon Dal ( Original )

[secretlives]

( A 💰 Treacherous Thunderstorm )

[ Dal is still not over the fact that he’s somehow in some grand magical hallucination. Did his plane to the States crash? At least Neon is here with him — even if this is all in his head.

Okay, he knows it’s not in his head but thinking like it is helps him process all the crazy things and the reality bending revelations that an experience like this brings.

That being said, Dal is left far from his cottage when the storm starts and at first he’s not too worried as he starts to head in the direction of his new home but then the wind really picks up. The thunder actually seems to vibrate through him and the lightning strikes have him catching his breath, hair almost standing on ends.

Being that he can barely stay upright against the wind he trudges to the closest cottage door and knocks loudly — just so it can be heard over the storm. ]

( B 💰 Sakura Springs )

( 1 - Flower Cafes )

[ Dal is more than happy to settle into one of the cafes and get himself some teas and pastries. Probably more than he should have. It smells nice and looks like something out of some game that he never really had time to play (or well, didn’t make time to play that is).

Before long he’s starting to feel ticklish sensations all over his head — he’s apt to smiling a lot to start with. He starts patting his head, his face scrunching up in confusion — at least he gets a small reprieve from more popping up, right? ]

( 2 - The Hot Springs + Lavender Salts )

[ The hot springs were also a temptation that Dal is happy to give into and he looks through the care package he’d been given, selecting the Lavender. He starts in a small area with the salt and after a few ducking under the water and relaxing the ticklish sensation and the petals are no longer an issue. He runs his fingers through his hair —

Well, the solution couldn’t just be simple could it? No, he’s now sporting fennec fox ears and a tail.

Maybe he’s not as bothered by this as he should be… hopefully he gets a chance to show a certain someone. In any case, he does make his way to one of the outdoor waterfall pools, to enjoy the sound along with a swim.

And maybe he’ll look weird but he definitely keeps rubbing his ears periodically. ]

( C 💰 A Rainsplosion - Green )
cw: mentions of homophobia, abuse by a parent definitely will come up.

[ At first, Dal is fascinated by the cloud that explodes and all the colors blasting out but they come closer and then a green patch shoots through Dal.

The enemies that soon form are all in the same shape of a regular man in a suit, sneering at Dal in disgust. Dal’s not even noticed the weapon he’s been given and he’s a bit paralyzed at the sight of the figure. ]

Dad…

( D 💰 Wildcard )

[ Open to anything else too! Willing to switch styles/tenses and the like. Feel free to hit me up on plurk poetanarchy or discord at poetanarchy#7331 ]

Taking Shelter

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya had ignored the signs of the oncoming storm, and now he was paying the price. Turned around, far from his cottage, and staggering against the wind, he attempts to shield his face against the debris.

A flash of lighting in the distance illuminates a figure under a rock. Yuya doesn't know who he is, but there's a call promising shelter and he doesn't think twice about it.]

I'm coming. [One heavy step in front of the other--and then the harsh surges, pushing him face-forward into the ground.]

adult juice

[flamekthunder]

[He mostly entered the izakaya in a mix of curiosity and to maybe wind down with a drink, still debating if he should head back or stay the night. The journey here wasn't that arduous, but with time having passed and daylight getting shorter... Hm.

For now he'll just enter and—

...

Going to just brusquely ignore and choose somewhere else to sit. ...Which is unfortunately not as far as he'd like, on the end of the corner so in line of sight and talking distance.]

alhaitham ♦ genshin impact

[admonition]

flower café

[ On his lookout for a quiet place to read, Alhaitham comes across one of the Flower Cafés and that's how his little quest comes to a satisfying end. The place reminds him of home just a little bit which doesn't really weigh on his decision, but it's somewhat comforting. Well, that's what he thought at first, but an half an hour in said café proves how wrong he was. The pollen doesn't seem to affect him, but other customers just keep smiling and laughing. It doesn't bother him too much when the burst of laughter is an occasional thing, but the rush hour makes a cacophony of laughter fill his ears and makes it impossible to focus.

He also happens to be the only person without flowers in his hair. So far, it's been impossible to discern whether laughing or smiling makes them bloom, and since this is quite an interesting effect, Alhaitham won't shy away from approaching someone nearby to investigate this matter. ]

Smile.

[ He's no longer asking. ]

izayaka bar

[ The primal urge to have a drink after everything that has unfolded so far is irresistible, so Alhaitham's next stop is the bar. This place, on the other hand, makes him think about what he read about the Inazuma region. The passing thought that it would be nice to have a drink with Kaveh, Cyno, and Tighnari here leaves him wincing just for a moment. They are loud, but they're good company. Not that he would tell them that directly in the first place.

Alhaitham's drink of choice is the house special, no less. After downing two cups of cherry plum sake and having some snacks, he just... starts to giggle all of a sudden. It's not the only effect that hits him and whoever is sitting close is going to learn quite soon what the other one is. ]

You have very good posture.

[ How was that an excessive compliment, it is a mystery. He'll get there! ]

rainsplosion

[ Alhaitham can't be the only one who didn't really plan being hit by a rainbow explosion today. There's little to be done now that he's covered in purple. At first, he doesn't realize that his thoughts are visible to everyone... and even when he does, it won't really bother him. Others might catch him thinking the following:

A. Just how many merpeople live in this land? I must find the nearest library.
B. I need to figure out where I can get some soup.
C. That person will have a hard time washing their clothes clean. Not my problem. ]

wildcard

[ Anything goes! Feel free to hit me up with a different prompt or I can write a custom starter!! PM this journal/PP me at koohii for plotting! ]

closed to kaveh

[admonition]

[ Is he surprised to see his housemate splayed on the table at an Izayaka Bar? Honestly, no. The rumors of a scrawny, yet handsome man giggling and oversharing his thoughts at one of the bars set Alhaitham on this journey to find him and ensure the identity of said man. His intuition tells him that it might be a famous architect from Sumeru. Actually seeing him, albeit in a miserable state, makes the scribe feel relieved and a ghost of a smile plays at his lips just for a moment. ]

Kaveh. [ He puts his hand on top of his shoulder and shakes him lightly. Could it be that he has finally run out of stamina? Considering how many drinks are on the table, that might be the case. ] You're so loud that people in other bars are talking about you.

[ There are no hints of mockery in his voice, Alhaitham is just stating a fact. ]

grogu | the mandalorian

[cooed]

arrival

[ One of the fairies is still in the middle of explaining things when this little green guy raises his arm. At first, nothing is happening... but just a few moments later the fairy is yanked left and right in the air and Grogu is making soft giggly sounds. If you think that fairy bullying is over, the next thing that comes will make it clear that it's, in fact, not the end of it. Grogu makes the fairy hover closer so he can grab it and...

He's about to put them in his mouth. This definitely requires intervention. ]

petals

[ After giving that unforgettable first impression, Grogu finds himself waddling around Kanshi. When a tiny sakura dragon perches on top of his head, it might seem that they will get the fairy treatment. Actually, nothing disturbing happens and Grogu agrees to help out by making a cooing sound. He leaves the fishing net by—someone else might make a better use of it, anyway. Instead, he's going to try using the force to gather as many petals as possible.

It might look like he's doing absolutely nothing, considering he's just standing there with his tiny arm reaching out. After a few minutes, however, there's a large pile of cherry blossom petals right next to him. ]

restaurant

[ This might as well be heaven. Who would have thought that an eternal paradise awaits on a conveyor belt, no less? Grogu jumps up to take a seat next to it, but it takes just a few minutes for him to climb on top of the conveyor belt and have a ride of his life.

Hello. Was your order a little creature? He's cooing a lot, too—not even Grogu is immune to the effects of the delicious food. ]

rainsplosion

[ Grogu has never looked more offended in his life—he was green enough before the rainsplosion stained his robes with more green, no less. To make matters worse, two clone troopers appear. Grogu ignores the weapon—a lightsaber—and decides to focus on dodging for the time being. At least their aim is terrible, so he's doing great for the time being, but he could definitely use a little help here! ]

wildcard

[ If you'd rather do something else with Grogu, just hit me up with your own starter! I'd love to write custom starters, too! PM this journal/PP me at koohii for plotting! Probably not apping, but who knows...??? ]

[secondthoughts]

[ Hector watches, hand shielding his eyes from the wind and the rain to get a better look at the approaching figure who...doesn't really seem to mind the inclement weather. Like, at all.

He squints through the dark, watching as Lalli trots over without much issue. For all the power Hector has, he still can't walk through a storm like it's nothing. Huh.

For a moment, once Lalli joins him, Hector just looks at him. ]

You get storms like this where you're from, or?

[secondthoughts]

[ The compliment earns Kaveh a grin, and Hector raises his cup in a toasting motion. To two handsome men, then.

But just as he brings his cup to his lips, when Kaveh asks for his name, Hector bursts out laughing. There's a strange hollowness to his laughter, one that blends easily into the merriment of the rest of the establishment. He sets his cup down and leans forward to rest an elbow on the counter. ]

You know, I can't remember the last time someone asked me my name. May as well not have one.

[ He takes his cup again, throws the contents back. ]

But it's Hector. The pleasure's all mine.

[secondthoughts]

[ Hector squints through the rain, trying to get a better look at the figure that called back to him, and...

Is that a kid? ]

Shit.

[ Maybe the kid's got less of a chance getting blown away on the ground like that, but not in the rain, in the mud. Hector wrenches the stick from its spot in the earth and with a quick surge of magic, he becomes a bright, dense ball of light and rockets straight towards Yuya. There's another flash of light as he becomes human again by the boy's side (along with a rush of healing magic, if he needs that); he quickly stoops to pick him up off the ground and onto his feet, hold on him steady to keep him from falling over again. ]

Are you okay?!

[secondthoughts]

[ It's just funny, really, getting ignored outright like that. Hector's eyes stay on Eustace as the erune pointedly moves away from him. But not far enough away that Hector can't see him, or talk to him, or that Eustace can't see and hear Hector chuckle at the reaction. ]

So, no?

kanshi

[secondthoughts]

[ Whatever Hector was doing or wherever he was headed, he quickly forgets it all when Dorothea turns to him and asks him for help directly. Of course he'll help--if only he could go on with his life without all this altruism (mostly because it'll take him a moment to remember what he was doing, or where he was going).

So without a word, or much acknowledgement as to what she says--as far as he's concerned, she didn't really need to explain herself at all--Hector firmly wraps his hand around hers and lowers his center of gravity, making himself an anchor so she can lean as far out as she needs to. ]

Go on. I got you.

[silentscout]

[Lalli doesn't answer at first. He's considering the dampness of his cloak, which seems to have protected him from most of the rain.

Then he shakes his entire body like a big dog or something, flinging the offending water everywhere. possibly on Hector too, if he doesn't have a way to block the water.

It's only after he does that display that he answers.]

Sometimes. It's tolerable if you're prepared.

Flower cafe

[silentscout]

[Up to this moment, Lalli had a rather neutral look on his face. Not exactly 'happy' or 'unhappy', just a relaxed face as he has some hot chocolate and watches over the fields of flowers.

But the exact moment Alhaitham tells him to smile, Lalli's face twists to a scowl. On purpose. Because he only listens to orders from his boss or his friends, not random strangers.]

No.

A

[silentscout]

[Lalli is tempted not to answer, because he's not expecting guests. But it is storming out, maybe whoever is knocking loudly at the door is a cat trying to escape the rain? Unlikely, but the possibility is not zero. So Lalli goes over and opens the door, peering out into the pouring rain.

Dal has about two seconds to run in before the door gets shut in his face. Go boy goooo!]

kanshi

[silentscout]

[When Dorothea makes that request, Lalli kind of just. Looks down at his noodle arms. Yeah, that's not going to be reliable.

Instead he gives out a huge sigh like he is being put upon so much by this request, but then he holds his hands out and mutters a few words in a language Dorothea likely doesn't know. A few moments later, glowing footsteps appear on the water. If she tries stepping on them, they will indeed support her weight.]

YELLS

[alcazarzaray]

( It's been a whirlwind of a few months. First, it started with the aurora ball, where Kaveh drank a cocktail which amplifies emotions and encourages the truth. In a blur of tears and wailed words, he told Alhaitham back then how glad he was to see him here in this place - that he missed him. Words that wouldn't normally come so easily, brought out only through alcohol and whatever strange elixir he had consumed.

And then Alhaitham vanished. He was gone. Completely up and left this place. Which, to Kaveh, is nothing short of a worst nightmare for him. To pacify himself, the blonde man turned to the only way he knew how to cope - which was to drink himself silly. And so he has been, for months, at every possible opportunity. It's likely worried Tighnari and Cyno to no end, which has caused him to isolate himself in his pitiful state - a state which was about to be discovered by the last person he expected to see.

There a glassy look of bewilderment present in Kaveh's eyes as he glances up and stares at his former housemate, almost wondering if he is an illusion. But then he touches his shoulder which immediately dissolves this idea. He's real. Archons, he's real, and he's back. The swell of emotions that bubbles up inside of Kaveh is hard to push down, his adam's apple bobs as he swallows hard. )

A-Alhaitham...? You ... ( He speaks, voice raspy and scratched. )

What are you doing here?! You-- You left! Are you back now? Gods, I--

( And here comes the truth-telling: )

I was ... I've been ... so worried. I thought I might've frightened you off. Being alone like this ... ( Didn't do me any favours, he thinks but does not say. It's obvious by looking at him that he's been a wreck. His hair is messy, there are bags under his eyes, and his physique is waifish and thin. He hasn't been eating and barely sleeping for months now. Distractions have only gone so far, but ultimately, his traumas concerning abandonment have resurfaced and taken hold. )

[admonition]

I left?

[ Considering Kaveh's current state, it should be difficult to assess if it's just a drunken man blabbering or if Kaveh is serious. However, there's something in the architect's voice that makes him lean towards the latter option, even if it's nothing more than intuition rather than something he can prove. They can continue this discussion later, hopefully, so Alhaitham can confirm what happened to leave Kaveh so miserable. ]

You aren't alone anymore. Can you stand? You've had enough.

[ From the sound of it, Kaveh's been through things he might not comprehend at the moment. While he's not trying to comfort him—once again, he's just stating facts—if these words bring Kaveh some peace, then so be it. ]

[admonition]

I see. Don't smile, then. You can stay silent, too.

[ He could admit that was blunt of him to just ask a stranger to smile, but Alhaitham doesn't feel the need to do that. Instead, he goes for reverse psychology. It probably won't work, but it's worth giving a shot anyway—it's not like he wants to move and ask people around to smile. ]