TDM: January

[moustre]

Test Drive: January

Welcome to aefenglom's test drive! All threads can be considered game canon, should you choose to do so; regardless of if you pick specific threads to remain canon to the game, the prompts and test drive itself will be. This will be touched on later in-game, so it's fairly important to note! Aside from that, here are some quick reminders:



• Reserves Open Today! If you're interested in securing a spot, put one in! We accept applications without reserves too, of course. Reserves will expire three days before the end of the application period, on the 28th.
• Applications Open The 24th! These will last until the end of the month, the 31st, with the intro log going up on February 1st. The application page can be found here. As a reminder, this will be our last uncapped application round!
• If you have any questions about the game or the world, please refer to the FAQ page; if you still have questions, feel free to ask them! For questions specific to the test drive, please ask them on the appropriate thread.
• For the purposes of the test drive, your character will have access to all magics taught by the Coven if they're a Witch, and as much of their shifted form as you'd like if they're a Monster. Feel free to play around and experiment with each!
• Test drive threads can be used as samples for your applications!



With that taken care of...

You feel like you're floating. Around you, colors and sounds and smells swirl as if trapped in a whirlpool, vibrancy and hue ever shifting. The more you watch them, the less solid they are; they only become clear out of the corner of your eye. The area around you begins to feel more solid as well, until your feet are on the ground, the wind brushes playfully against your face -

and you know one thing, and one thing alone: this is a dream, and an incredibly realistic one at that.

The Prehistoric Wilde

Thick summer heat hangs heavy over the uninfected landscape like a damp blanket, smothering. The jungle around you is thick and wet, full of the sounds of chittering animals and the high-pitched drone of insects. The flora and fauna are like nothing you've ever seen before, large and alien in colors and shapes, though they bear no signs of the Cwyld. Flowers the size of a man's head and brightly colored in rainbow hues curl their tendrils invitingly, and giant mosquitoes buzz through the air seeking a meal. You can barely see the glow of the twin moons through the thick canopy above. There are no signs of civilization - at least, not the civilization most will be used to; only the distant sound of the river, compelling you to follow its winding path. But will you go forward, or will you go back?

Rumble in the Jungle Making headway through the jungle at night is a chore. The foliage grows thick and the humid heat is oppressive for even those who enjoy the warmth. There are no clear paths here, no easy way through. The canopy of the ancient trees far, far over your head is just as dense, but the faintest moonlight filters through the holes left by the huge leaves in stippling patterns across the musty forest floor. 'Large' seems to be the theme - lining whatever path you pick your way through, there are pitcher plants massive enough to swallow a grown man, with small animals and giant insects being digested down inside the sticky liquid that fills them. The flowers are as big as a man's head, and come in a rainbow of colors, their venomous tendrils curling toward signs of life. The trunks of some of the trees are as thick as houses, and shade the ground beneath them with leaves like umbrellas. The hand-sized mosquitoes thrive in the sticky heat and if not killed first, can make off with a full pint of blood from an unsuspecting person. At some point in your journey, the ground begins to rumble beneath your feet. The farther you go, the longer you walk, the more signs of life become visible: thick, winding trails of crushed foliage, huge, animalistic footprints in the mud. Luckily, to this world, you are small and insignificant, and may escape the notice of the local Monsters - the massive, prehistoric ancestors of today's Monsters. They seem like giants, colossal Titanoboa Nagas with hollow fangs like swords, towering Fauns with the lower halves of mammoths, sabertooth Turnskins, pterodactyl Harpies with leathery wings. Even the parts of them that resemble humans (and they have far fewer human-like parts than their modern counterparts) are larger than any actual human being. They operate primarily on instinct, made even stronger by the full moons above, and perceive the strange new creatures as threats - or food. Sticking to the river seems safest - at least until you run into megalodon Merrow, singing an alien, but alluring, song to draw in prey, or the apex predator of this prehistoric world - Dragons, bigger and scalier than the ones Mirrorbound may know, stopped to drink at the river. All other Monsters flee from the huge reptiles, lest they become food themselves. Luckily you can defend yourself with your new abilities, or your neat changes - you're small, but not totally helpless. Interesting to note... while all other Monster types are represented, there are no Fae or Chimeras in the Wilde here, and the Vampires are more like huge bat-monsters that traverse the jungle on all fours than humanoid bloodsuckers.

The Natives Going backward, away from the distant sounds of the sea and against the current of the river, leads you through dense jungle. How long have you traversed the landscape? Hours? Days? Time passes funny in dreams. Eventually the trees thin out, grow taller and less leafy, and the air becomes drier. Instead of loamy soil beneath your feet, you start to feel rocky, harder earth, and spot outcroppings of stone. The sun begins to rise, which makes it easier to spot people on the horizon, a little settlement coming to life in the morning, nestled where the river forks into two. They're much hardier than the familiar people of Aefenglom, sunburned and dressed in natural, rough fabrics. Their homes, if one can call them that, are shoddy little structures made of sticks and leaves and mud, pressed up against the sturdiness of the stone formations. And, when they spot strangers approaching their village, they scramble for their weapons - crude clubs, stone axes, even just large rocks snatched up off the ground. The translation magic works on them, thankfully. Their speech is halted and simple, but they get their point across. Tell them who you are, or they'll beat your brains in. Monsters might get their brains beat in anyway if they aren't careful, even though they're much smaller than the Monsters these humans are used to. And Witches? May the gods help you if you use magic in front of these terrified, unevolved people, lest they mistake you for a Fae (the word is whispered with fear and revulsion in their voices) and swarm you with simple iron tools. If you're an actual Fae, an obvious Fae? They'll whisk their children into their huts protectively and then run you right out of the village. Violently. The truly observant, or those who can see through illusions, among you may notice something strange, though. Some Fae actually seem to live among them, heavily cloaked in natural illusions, with the primitive humans none the wiser. There are just a few, but all of them look young, twelve or thirteen at the oldest, and they are all scared of their secret coming to light. Fae who get caught tend to be burned at the stake around here.

The Invaders Perhaps you chose to go forward, with the current and toward the distant sound of ocean waves, where the river pours into the sea. More long-time residents of Aefenglom may notice that the shoreline is familiarly-shaped, but wider, bigger, not yet worn down by thousands of years of erosion. There is no bustling Harbor, only the waves crashing on the rocks, small islands dotting the water near the shore. There is no Bright Wall - there is no city, even, only an expanse of beach transitioning gently into an idyllic grove dotted with gauzy, pointed tents, and a beautiful, gilded ship half sunk into the sandy earth. It seems safer than the jungle, at first - until you notice all the Fae. They're more insectoid than the ones many are familiar with, with big, glittering eyes and either bright, jewel-toned wings like dragonflies or butterflies, or delicate, leafy wings in greens and browns. They're also taller than modern, lesser Fae, though not by much, and they're thin and angular, standing on spindly limbs that barely seem able to hold them. Characters receive a warmer welcome here, by the band of true Fae that have made their camp in the grove, though the alien-looking beings have a tendency to treat them like toys, children, or both, cooing over their sizes and their magic. "Look at the little Monsters! Aren't they cute!" "We should make some of our own! And oh, the little humans have magic! Delightful!" It's hard to have a conversation with one - they're condescending at best, and at worst, flit off to another entertainment out of boredom while you're mid-sentence. And entertainments abound in their camp. They're served and tended to like emperors by collared humans - adults and young adults do the heavy labor, including pulling grand little chariots for transportation, though there are some highly-supervised human children running about fetching drinks and fanning their Fae masters with palm leaves. Farther out, a large, deep pit has been dug out of the earth, ringed by a waist-high barrier of logs, a few Fae gathering at the barrier and leaning over, talking in conversational, happy voices. Down below, Chimera gladiators fight for their amusement, while the Fae keep up running commentary, discussing each warrior's chances, new breeding prospects, interesting crossbreeds their fellows have come up with ("She's trying an Arachne and a Turnskin together, how delightful!"). Trying to disrupt the proceedings will only result in the Fae turning their magic on you - illusions and curses, nasty little tricks. Sit down, silly little ones! The fight is just getting good! Or maybe... Maybe they'll toss you into the pit to see what your chances are in battle.

Comments

Mikasa Ackerman | Attack on Titan | Fae

[stopfen]

[...Again? Or it seems that way at first when the heavy footsteps of the colossal titans' fades. Except this time it isn't still. There isn't the white sands or starry sky. Armin isn't there, Eren's voice isn't echoing around them and most importantly. It doesn't shatter and leave her on the rooftop this time.

But she sees the trees. Those have always been the best place for her gear to be used. Even if this stifling heat made the straps uncomfortable. Her casual uniform wasn't as thick as her combat one, but even that might be a blessing here.]

Rumble in the Jungle
A. In we go [The bugs are easy enough to handle. She's quick enough to stomp a heavy boot on them with a grunt. Or swing a blade if she needed to. The boot was actually working better. While she could force the blade through, they quickly grew blunt from the exoskeletons. She doesn't bother swapping them out. It'd be a waste and she'd rather have sharp ones if she needed them.

So she's not all surprised when the tip of one snaps off flying into the bush...She shrugs that off watching it go.]

Try not to waste too much energy on these. [She's not even bothered.]

B. Bad news bears? [But then she hears a much more familiar noise. Something larger. Her body tenses for a moment. Then she's up in a tree, her gear securing her to a branch. If there's someone else there she'll grab them. It's an instinct at this point. Or they're too far and have the climb, or jump into a bush, just not be there. Something about the footsteps didn't sound like a titan, even if they were heavy enough.

But then a... bear? A bear with long teeth? ...She wasn't sure what it was. But it was large. Large enough to knock down the smaller trees and gouge chunks from the larger ones. Then there's another and they're both sniffing, tracking. Making strange calls. She doesn't say anything, barely takes her eyes of them. Only enough to give the other wanders a warning glance.]

The Natives
[Once the initial and very awkward introductions are out of the way. Mikasa isn't really sure what to do with herself. It doesn't take her long to check her equipment. Wincing when her hand touches the handle. She waves it, looking at the scald before rubbing it with her other hand.]

Do you think we'll be staying here long? I don't think we're welcome...

[An understatement. Said completely seriously. But then a child catches her eye. The girl had been staring for a while. But Mikasa hadn't paid it no mind, she'd gotten used to it with Louise. It was harmless. But this girl seemed afraid. Her pupils expanding until her eyes are entirely black. Then she bolts, running from the guests. The air around her wavering.]

What just happened?

The Invaders - probably going with this for game cannon
a. We're the petting zoo attraction [Mikasa wasn't sure what to make of the tall, lanky beings. Jerking her head away when one reaches for her. Aww, look at it's cute little ears~ It makes Mikasa pause and actually reach for them. They mostly felt normal, until she got to the top, where they tampered off into a point. It only earns more cooing from the Fae and a small growl from Mikasa when she grits her teeth. Then it's reaching for her again and she's reaching for a blade.]

B. My child now [The True Fae might have found that more amusing than anything. Because they just titter and keep bothering the travelers, grabbing at them, ignoring when they're shoved away. But all that laughter made them thirsty, and soon a servant is called to bring drinks.

It's a young boy. Pale and shaking. And Mikasa sees red. He screams when she charges at him, grabbing him, tucking his head into her shoulder as she picks him up. Most of the Fae seemed to find that just as funny as the rest of their guests' actions, but one, the one that took the child. They're pissed. Approaching her and the rest of the group spreading their wings. Hissing. That was their's! Not that it has any effect other than making Mikasa clutch the boy closer to her. Responding with her own strange chirps.]


Wildcard
[If you got a prompt you want to play with me or just want to mess with the monster roulette. ]

Invader a

[foundfamilies]

[Leslie is no more fond of being poked at than anyone else, but she's a little more aware than Mikasa seems to be that there are sure a lot of them. Also just in general being annoying isn't worth being killed for??

So as soon as she notices Mikasa preparing to draw a sword (which, honestly, probably gave Mikasa enough time to reach the hilt), Leslie panics slightly. She could try to stop her with magic, but she's too thrown off by her usual shadow magic not working that she doesn't reach for the dream magic when she's panicked.

Instead she just bodily throws herself at Mikasa and grabs Mikasa's sword-drawing hand with both of her own. ...Since Leslie is smaller than the average 10-year-old despite being 12, Mikasa probably could still draw her sword with a bit more effort than usual.]

Wait wait wait! Even if this is a dream, that's really dangerous!

[stopfen]

[It was something more irritating for Mikasa. Something that made her stomach churn. Being talked about like an object, a cute creature. It reminds her enough of those men who wanted to sell her to make her forehead furrow as the headache builds.

She's delayed from drawing the one blade she'd reached for before the girl even makes it. It really was warm wasn't it? The parts that were covered in rubber were fine to touch, but the metal stings. Not enough to make her let go, but it really was heating up.

Then Leslie crashes into her. It hardly moves her, in fact only her head moves to look down. Her hand clenches, knuckles turning white. But then it slackens, and she lets it drift wherever Leslie is pulling it.]

...They're getting more rowdy.

[It was going to get more dangerous the longer they didn't listen.]

[foundfamilies]

[Leslie keeps a hold on the hand with both of hers, trying to keep it by Mikasa's side for now.]

I don't like them, either, but...with a sword?

[stopfen]

[It was only one sword, she had two. Not serious at all...]

It worked last time I dealt with people like this.

[Even if she'd had to knock two of them out first.]

B My Child

[weirdnecro]

[Well, this went from annoying to possibly deadly in a heart beat. She knew this was a dream, if one that she hadn't had in awhile- that of the past, future, maybe present? But she was trying to just go along with everything.

She hated seeing the children, but she had tried to steel herself against it. Mikasa couldn't. Well, everyone had their tipping point.

Sokie sighed, pushing herself up and onto her feet, a hand coming up and fingers spreading as she murmured a word-and the air, that had been so tangible before, grew hardened as she made a shield spell, cutting off the fae from the humans.

Well. Human and fae.]

He's scared. You should put him down.

[stopfen]

[Her mouth closes, cutting off the strange chirps. But she doesn't look back. She was more busy glaring at the immediate threat. The words are enough to make her glance at the child, whose trembling.

And slowly, but surely. She crouches, just enough for the boy's feet to be able to reach the floor. Enough for him to start struggling to get away. Still, if it weren't for Mikasa letting him go then he wouldn't have managed to break free. But she does. It only earns more laughter from the Fae as the boy takes a step back, looking at the angry fae that had claimed him, then he grabs his tray and runs.

Even then the air's still tense. The fae might have been appeased slightly by being listened to, but not completely. They were still thinking of a creative punishment for the offense.]

[weirdnecro]

Thank you. Sorry for being curt, I'm a little tense.

[Really, Mikasa had all the reason to flip her off for telling her what to do. But the boy had been absolutely upset and scared, and who could blame him? The pair of them waded in and flipped things into a new order.]

I'm Sokie by the way. Mind if you come a little closer? It'll be easier to shield you from whatever magic they can use.

[Modern face use illusions, but these? She has no idea.]

[stopfen]

[She's still. Barely even moving. But then the fae turns away hissing and murmuring, following their servant. Still thinking. So Mikasa relaxes slightly, taking a step back even if she's still scowling in the direction they went.]

That's curt? [Maybe she was too used to captain runt, because that seemed polite to her.]

Mikasa. [A small shrug, it wasn't important at the moment, was it?] You can use magic too?

[It was a dream, yes. But she still doubted it. This dream was getting more and more wild.]

the invaders, b for bae, i can’t believe i failed

[usurpers]

[ the abundant presence of fae has sent eren into a twisting downward spiral of sensations, starting with mixed feelings. the estranged beings saw themselves at the very top of the pyramid, here, where those beneath them were nothing short of toy dogs designed to fit into designer bags. who could god damn blame them? they thought they were everything they said they were, and there was no comparing them to humanity when they were aliens. it’s like comparing yourself to an animal— they wouldn’t, and neither could you (though let’s forget for a moment that eren has constantly done that with livestock). yet, eren can’t help but feel poorly when he sees their servants left and right. children, because they were cute. what else would happen to them down the line? dreams don’t always feel like dreams, but like reality gone wrong. the dragon in him breathes to life, and finds one more thought blooming as he sifted calmly through their sandy grounds and to an agitated group, where a scream sounded and hisses were adorned around a single smaller fae shielding a child:

he wanted to take them. he wanted to take them and imprison them and keep them all dangling above the earthy ceilings of his hoard for what they’ve done, and he’s too seized by the tumbling instinct to feel revulsion for himself. he’d never— but he would, because he w̴̠̼̫͑͋͘a̸̟̝͇̒͊̕s̴̢̫͚͊̓̚ f̴̘̺̓͌͆͜r̵̡͍̪͒̾e̵͓̙̠̐̽̕e̸̢͙͍̽̽͆, and he would not be above taking theirs for his to be conquering. that’s simply how freedom works.

a tremendous dragon rises from behind the mantis fae in danger and puts a halt to the true fae’s magical sparks at the ready, his leather collar scorched free of its binds and bringing the smell of burnt sheepskin and sulfur to each smoky exhale. his forked tongue smells fae dust, and he can’t distinguish them all— a heavy blindfold weaves around his crystal-textured horns and shields his eyes, and any amount of flailing and clawing hadn’t made it possible to dislodge. it was a curse, for disrupting a chimera battle at the dome earlier while trying to question them. you don’t want to watch? asked the fae with a huff, before bestowing him with it. fine! maybe you don’t even need your eyes!

the true fae ask: who was watching the little one? he’s left his nest again, how sweet— for eren hadn’t been the largest dragon in talam; compared to the mighty beasts in the jungle of the primal wilde, the wyvern was an elephant sized babe of cinder colored scales, brightly highlighted membranes of red-orange lined with the ink of runes, and meshes of deep indigo that only reflected off the proper angle of light. a babe, that, the fae have taken pride in “caring for”.

one fae flitters over, sets her hand on his snout and casts auditory illusions, where his tongue flicks and tickles all over her legs as a crutch to guide himself with. we’re right in the middle of something, you see? oh— stop that, don’t you want to make yourself useful? or go bother someone else—

and then he eats her. snapping, quick, and leaving all but broken wings sticking out from his exposed fangs up to the end of his maxilla. it’s safe to say that some fae scatter— others gasp, and a hefty group actually have a grand old laugh. oh dear, he’s hungry! there’s too much fae to smell, but— there’s human in the mix, the ones closest to him. ]

You have your chance now. [ says a deep, rumbling, nearly guttural voice that forces between some cracks of exoskeleton, and a single swallow. once the fae regroup, it’s certain they’re ready to forcibly take the child from mikasa, but— they’re a little more careful, of course. don’t want to get too close to those teeth. he’s hearing things that aren’t truly there, but he’s refraining. one fae speaks of the possibility of sending them both to the fighting dome when they’ve wrapped things up. what a sight that would be, hm?

he has no idea what’s actually in front of him, just a scuffle, but he’s had enough of it. he didn’t have any prisons for the fae, but . . . perhaps his belly would do.

illusions could always get to him, though. ] Where are they?

[stopfen]

[Of all the things she'd expected to happen. That was not one of them. Holding the boy closer to her, even as he wiggles in her grasp. And her free hand is going to draw a blade. Not that she thinks it'll help. They were made for unarmored flesh, most the things here were too tough for them to slice. It cuts off everything.

And then it talks.

A first for the creatures here. Not including the True Fae. Is she supposed to say something to that? Where? Everywhere.

And something in the dream shifts in response. She still smelled like a combination of fae and human. But there's something else, similar to the fae scent. Something that gets more cooing and giggles from the True Fae. Because while Mikasa couldn't feel any pain from it, or even see it, she can feel the sensation. One of her pointed ears starts to grow and round out. Long enough that it flops under it's own weight as dark fur rapidly covers it.

It's enough to catch the Faes' interest again, even with the danger. Look it doesn't know what it is. What else could it be? Then they charge. And Mikasa can sense it, she'd always been good at noticing these. But this time she's kicking, leaping several meters clear into the air and out of the way. Not even using the gear, her legs just...did that.

That poor boy is just stuck here for the ride.

The fae though? They weren't expecting that and can't stop their own momentum, crashing into the front of the dragon.]

[usurpers]

[ so much for second opinions, if they really mattered. things shift about quickly, even with the more human smelling thing leaping into the air (his tongue follows, briefly, and any thoughts were only mildly confirmed when the servant boy squeals as they’re launched. so the mystery person took “merchandise”.)

one after another, the flittering fae accumulate at the rise of the dragon’s belly to the snake of his neck traveling up for scent, all of them nearly distracted by the puca’s iron sword. yikes. goddamn blindfold wasn’t the only problem, he felt as if he couldn’t even trust the 3d imaging his senses give him— they could be entirely fabricated, and he could snap at the newcomers. or, he could miss the one mark he could’ve had, and all would be worse.

risks for risks, he’ll trust his senses. they’ve hardly ever truly failed him if he gambled on his own gut, but piecing one thing after another in rapid succession gives eren a better idea. the talk keeps buzzing ohhh, it’s getting away!! that’s mine!! and wait ‘till you see the curse i have in store for you! rings in his ears, and trying terribly hard not to snap at them— he strikes a bargain. it’s not the first time he’s interacted with true fae through dreams, and even if they’re fickle beings, he had to.

they needed them, to complete this puzzle, answer questions and go home. with the blood and splinters of bone still poking and oozing from some points of his teeth, the dragon trades the boy for his vision and grants the fae . . . safe passage. whispers and giggles amongst the group give him scoffs and chortles; look at him, giving orders! it’s cute, it’s cute— soon, an appeased answer after seconds of discussion, with the head fae snapping its elongated fingers. when it’s done, it’ll be undone, little one. you’re welcomed to fill yourself with the pest! while another intervenes: noooo don’t eat it! i want to pet it!. with his urge satiated, a heavy heart and a sharp hiss against them, eren turns tail, goes after the screaming child and whoever it was who took it.

this was a shit move, but some things simply had priority, and passion could not win over rational at times. it’s not long before the fae are following behind the beast at a comfortable distance for the show of a lifetime: this is much better than those battles we’ve been seeing! oh, i love hunting! one sings. will she cut him?! i want to see!. eren makes an irritable noise, like thunder rolling in the distance; this body hadn’t been made for running, or even walks— but he had stamina. it forces the dragon to waddle on his wings like a bat would skitter across the ground, but he attempts to drive the hare into a corner of some kind. with the child still screaming for help, frightened out of its skin— it was easier.

for a blindfolded reptile, he could pinpoint her taste, and hones in once further distance between them and the fae are made. there’s something cold, and even in his words as the dragon speaks up again: ]

Taking one back isn’t going to change this. [ there’s something about his tone that suggests a bigger picture. it wouldn’t change the past here, not when you have a hundred more servant children still there, and whether it was urged through instinct, since there was something still fae about the person, or a passionate gesture to save a child— it’s not well thought out in the slightest. there’re holes. eren’s certain now, they acted by heart.

though, eren also acted on impulse when he decided to consume the fae that touched him and ordered him. perhaps he was only lucky that one of the fae muttered: eeeeh, aranda was annoying anyway, all haughty-taughty and what-not! served her right!.

with a deep inhale that sounded like another faraway storm whispering its winds, he continues. ] Much less you. Let him go.

[stopfen]

[She was fast. Mikasa had always had been quick on her feet, but this was something else. Dodging through the underbush and over obstacles with ease. But she had no idea where she was going. Nothing beyond a strange feeling a dread that occurred whenever she thought of going back, to try and leave the jungle. So she moves deeper in. The trees and plants getting more overgrown.

But this place is dangerous. So, so dangerous and she can sense something in front of her. Something worse than the thing snapping and growling behind her. The noise and the screaming were starting to hurt her mismatched ear. It moves, so that it's flopped behind her. It can't get bitten if it's behind her... And she's not sure what that's her first thought. Nor is she sure why she's baring her teeth. They weren't fangs, not meant for piercing, they were meant for cutting. More hardy than fangs would be and capable of chewing through more, but slower.

The words make sense. Especially now the odd instinct was fading. That didn't mean she liked it, she knew there were more children, more people stuck in chains. That one person could only do so much.]

...What will happen to him?

[Taking one would only make the captors more guarded. And her ear twitches at the slight lisp the teeth was giving her. ]

The Natives

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot was a veteran to these dreams, even if this particular dreamscape was new to him. He's doing his best to be polite to the villagers, not doing anything to upset things. It's...really strange. If these were the ancestors of Aefenglom, why weren't any of them witches? ]

Usually it's as long as the dream wants us to be here.

[A non-helpful answer, he knows, but that's how it is. Sometimes it feels like an hour, sometimes it feels like days. Dreams are finnicky like that.

He doesn't catch sight of the girl's reaction to Mikasa, inspecting something else. But when she says something, he'll look back. He doesn't know Mikasa, but it's easy enough to tell she's another newcomer to the dreams]

Sorry, I missed it. What was it?

[stopfen]

[That hadn't been what she'd meant. Thinking more of the location than the dream as whole. But it raises another question, one she doesn't have time to ask.]

She was scared...Of us. I think she could do that magic stuff.

[The last bit is said quieter than the rest. She might not have understood it, but she could tell the locals didn't like it.]

[fiddlestick]

You think so?

[He looks a little surprised at that, glancing around. Yeah. with how anti-magic this place seems to be, that's not a surprise she'd be worried]

Do you think she was worried we'd notice that? They don't seem to like magic here...

rumble b

[crowsfeat]

[ Eileen had to admit, while her own perch in the tree was just as secure thanks to her... new abilities, she found herself impressed by the gear the other woman sported. The tools man could create in the interest of survival against forces beyond them always impressed. Her own loadout seemed downright primitive in comparison. Even so, she nodded at the glance, keeping her senses peeled.

The bears... saber-bears she might call them, were definitely looking for Eileen and her companion. They were new creatures in their territory, after all, and they needed to asses whether they were prey... or competition. She had her doubts these beasts could be convinced that their hunt were hunters themselves.

One of the saber-bears reared up, grunting loudly, sniffing at the air now instead of the ground. Eileen's grip on the tree tightened, ready to spring away... ]

[stopfen]

[The smaller of the two animals seemed to have caught them. Granted 'smaller' didn't mean a lot when it was still bigger than a bull. It was barring it's teeth, showing off smaller ones that weren't visible before. Then it's using a paw to prop it's self against a tree, not the one they're in. But then it's jumping up, climbing awkwardly in small hops an- Oh.

It falls. It's not hurt from the drop just stunned. Too heavy and it's claws sliced through the wood too much for it to keep it's grip. The older one wasn't even trying. Instead it crouches, preparing to leap.

Mikasa stays still. Waiting. The noise from the gear's cables would give her away, she needed the animal to pick a direction and move when it was stuck in it's own momentum.

But Eileen gets a nod back. Maybe two of them moving separately could confuse them.]

[crowsfeat]

[ Eileen's eyes were trained to the bear, but her hand quietly reached into the pouch at her side, pulling out the oldest and most reliable of a hunter's tools...

A pebble.

And as it made its leap, she used the crashing of the branches it brushed along to disguise the sound of her leap, hopping backwards to another tree, and letting the pebble fly into the distance at the same time, clattering loudly against another rock not far behind the two bears. ]

Invaders b.

[glitzandglamour]

[As soon as Mikasa grabs for the boy and his original captor hisses their threats, a furry metal tube snakes around the hostile Fae's neck after he's latched onto them with a running leap. They tip backwards with the sheer weight of their attacker, a combatant with tall Puca ears and golden eye bright with vindication. Mettaton grins wickedly from over its slender shoulder as he yanks them down into a headlock, where they writhe and scream thanks to the contact with Mettaton's heavy iron body. The rest of the Fae, who once laughed and jeered at Misaka like she was putting on a show for them, fan out their wings in disgust.

"It's back! Get it!!"

The true Fae finally have their chance to capture the awful iron dreamer in a nightmare of an illusion.]

You have your chance, darling! Save him!

[That's what he thinks this is about, anyway. He's sure of it. Wouldn't others feel it's unjust? Wouldn't the sight of collared humans who obey every whim and fancy of the true Fae cause other Mirrorbound to take action? He'll take an illusion for this. It couldn't be worse than what he's experiencing in reality.]

Finally, someone going along with her bad choices

[stopfen]

[Of all the things Mikasa had expected. This was not one of them. Nothing in life had prepared her for the fae's giggles to turn to screams or what appeared to be a armoured rabbit person crashing in. The term of endearment completely flies over her head.

She says nothing nodding in response to the grin. And theres a strange feeling on her back but she can't turn her eyes to check. But she hears the tear of her shirt, feels the sting of what should have been a cold buckle on her back. For once she's glad this dream is so strange and her newly grown wings flicker. They weren't big enough to carry her very high or far. Mikasa was far too heavy for that. But they were enough to give her a small boost of speed.

So she retreats. Heading back towards the human village, even with the boy squirming for freedom. The rabbit person seemed to know what he was doing. ]

(dubiously) saving a human? get to be dramatic? bad decisions? sign MTT tf UP

[glitzandglamour]

[Oh, the Fae are ticked. Most find the reappearance of this unnatural iron Puca insulting, but the captor is most incensed at Mikasa's getaway with their human. Mettaton tightens his grip on the Fae even as the lot of them prepare to glamour him, summoning their human lackeys to assist. Mettaton appreciates Mikasa's immediacy — it gives him a fighting chance at escape.

...

But it doesn't go without a hitch.

By the time that Mettaton catches up with (???) Mikasa in the lush woods that separate the Fae from the humans, she might hear him long before she sees him. Something in the woods keeps crashing at top speed into trees, causing them to tremble and for Mettaton to fall backwards in shock. All of that bravado from before is replaced by a dazzled, wide-eyed android who stares dumbfounded at trees, totally lost in an illusion.]

? Oh, yes. ...I can't get out. [He says this each time, and stares at the tree for longer. Then he examines his feet and asks the air,] Do you see any more chains? They keep tripping me. I can't run without use of my legs!

[oh, tripping chains? is that all? sure]

the natives

[guesser]

Oh, youch . . .

[ says one spotted hyena turnskin at the instant burn reddening around the girl’s palm. tendou’s smile is almost permanent, but at least the way his brows curve up show some concern in the awkward flash of pointed canines and more. his ears prick and turn at the sound of a little girl’s footsteps, ones that suddenly dash away at the sight of the two monsters.

he may not mean to, or maybe he does, but he starts to chuckle. ]

Think you spooked the cave girl!

[stopfen]

[She's still rubbing at the mark when he comments and starts... Giggling.

Mikasa turned. Taking him for a moment. The teeth and generally ragged appearance. The girl had definitely been looking more at her than him but-]

I think she saw you.

[Because normally, grinning with sharp and pointy teeth would be more a reason to run. ]

[guesser]

[ him! she saw him! tendou won't deny how much that happens, even nowadays— his lanky limbs swing, and he gives out a snort so loud it almost becomes a guffaw. almost! holding his clawed hand up in front of his mouth (to shield his words, of course, from who? we just don't know). ]

I'm honored, for real! But between you and me, this isn't even my final evolved form . . . I can't accept such a low bar in my monster name, y'know? It'll tarnish all my hard work since— [ a dramatic thought. ] Grade school. [ truth, but also. let him be the nerd he was meant to be. ] So I'll stay my humble hand until my time comes. It's yours. This time.

[ the award? it's a stick on the ground, but tendou picks it up (without having to bend his knees and long ass legs), and hands it over with a bow. ]

—Don't be shy! Second best is still a grand title!

[ when you're not second best, he thinks, and tries to hold back an explosive need to laugh at himself, ahh, you're so mean, tendou says tendou to himself. ]