TDM: JUNE/JULY

[ryslighelpers]

TDM: JUNE/JULY

Welcome to the Ryslig Test Drive Meme! Below are a few prompts to get you started, but you may make up any prompt you desire! Please take a look at the navigation page for rules, setting information, and links to reserves and apps. Have fun!

SCENARIO ONE

You awaken in a small room, shelves full of cleaning supplies lining the walls. A bucket stands in the corner with a mop balanced carefully inside. How you came to be in this broom closet of sorts, you have no idea. You sure feel sore and hungry, though. Disoriented, you stagger to your feet and reach for the door handle. It responds perfectly to your touch and a second later, you take your steps into freedom.

If you didn’t know better, you’d think you’d walked into 1980s America: neon clothing and chunky plastic jewelry flash eye-searingly in one display window, an advertisement for “The Invention that Broke the Sound Barrier: The All-New Walkman Portable Cassette Player!” fills another. Shops all around peddle fashion from the 1950s to the 1980s, along with electronics and toys. In the food court, with its cheap plastic seating, one will find fries, sodas and even festival-type goods like homemade pastries. Hotdog weenies roll smoothly on a grill. That food sure looks good right now, doesn't it? Unfortunately, the shopkeepers expect you to pay in a strange currency called “solars”. Will you pull an Aladdin and steal a loaf of bread, or will you attempt to appeal to the proprietors' pity?

Take care not to draw attention to yourself, though! Mannequins wearing a variety of 80s fashion patrol the hallways with twitchy, stiff movements. To those from more tech-savvy worlds, they may appear to be androids. Every so often, a very tinny, flat voice can be heard emitting from them–"SAFETY FIRST!" As you hurry away, their heads swivel around completely to continue tracking you, despite their lack of eyes.

And if you opted to steal? A good dozen of them will turn on you in an instant, hunting you down across the mall with far more speed than anyone would've expected them to employ. Maybe you can hide in that ballpit. Or the fountain. Or up the escalators, go go go!

SCENARIO TWO

You've stumbled your way into a city, and you're promptly besieged by the overwhelming sights and sounds. Cars honk at you to get out of the street, and strangers try not to look in your direction for too long. They see your lost expression and your clothes- so different from their own- and pretend to busy themselves with something else. Rarely, a look of pity is cast your way.

But some people try to reach out. Enterprising citizens and those that hope to curry favor with the newcomers pass out new clothes and bundles of food, asking if you have a place to stay the night, wondering about the details of the world you came from. A hefty laptop may be handed to you, with words of a ‘network’ used for communication. Wonder what that’s about? Then there’s the very confusing pamphlet stuffed within: "What To Expect When You're Expecting (To Turn Into A Monster)”. They may direct you to an organisation known as the Lighthouse, their members most prominently found at the 38-8 apartments and the Lighthouse Church. Or perhaps, if you're injured, they'll refer you to the Crowe Clinic instead. Unfortunately, the directions you're given are so very complicated that you lose your way in the streets after two left turns, a right and a left at the soup kitchen.

Take care when asking for more help. There are the people who aren't happy to see you at all. Glares and silent, judging stares if you're lucky, torches and pitchforks attempting to drive you out of the town if you're not. You may need a friend to help you.

SCENARIO THREE

Now that you've found a moment of peace, you open up the mysterious device that's been handed to you. Perhaps you'll recognize it as some sort of laptop, albeit an old and clunky one. Or perhaps you'll be astounded by this curious feat of technology, which is unlike anything you've ever seen before. Regardless, the moment the lid is propped open to reveal the screen and the keyboard within, you gain your first glimpse of the network.

Perhaps you'll want to choose a username and write your very first message, posing the pressing question that's on your mind at this very moment. The lettered buttons click and clack awkwardly beneath your fingertips as you type.

However, you may instead want to respond to today's most popular message.

WELCOME TO RSDOS. PRESS F1 TO COMPOSE POST. *** TODAY’S TOP POST *** 018.07.154.55 <JUSTSOMEGUY> Which is the better pet, a fur-bearing trout or a Kulen parasite? Or a timeloop groundhog? Ooh or maybe one of those fish with the big saw blades? C'mon, we've got so many cool animals here! Discuss!

SCENARIO FOUR

The time has come and you've found yourself becoming a monster. Is the change instant, or gradual? Are you familiar enough with monsters to know what's happening, or is it a complete shock? Does it fit you, or does it feel incongruous with your nature? Feel free to pick any monster type for this prompt, but note that you may not get the same one in game.

Comments

kris pulaski | we sold our souls

[bluedoorsky]

i. are you on the square

[The closet is one thing. She's woken up way worse places than this closet. It's practically cushy.]

[The problem is what's outside the closet.]

[The 80s were a weird time for her. Big highs, big lows. The kind of shit she's looking at right now, these were lows. The colors make her wince, turning her head back towards the closet instinctively as though she's seriously considering going back in there and shutting the door. It's not not tempting. If she doesn't see neon ever again, it'll be too soon.]

[But one cannot live in a mall closet for fear of the neon outside. So, ultimately, she lets go of the doorknob and steps out into the wilds of the mall.]

[It doesn't take long to get the feel of the place. She doesn't bother asking for food for free. Instead, she walks the perimeter, getting a feel for what stores are available, who looks friendly versus not so much. There's this one place that looks more promising starting on her second lap around the mall: it's shift change, and the girl with a jaw set like rock in pure minimum-wage resentment is replaced by a kid who probably isn't legal working age, but what does she know about the rules in weird robot 80s throwback mall land, anyway? Doesn't matter. What matters is, he doesn't look fucking broken yet.]

[So Kris wanders into the toy store. Strolls up to the counter. Points at the pint-size guitar hanging on the wall behind the kid. Makes a proposition.]

I can't pay for that now. But if you let me borrow it for an hour, I'll get you double asking price. I won't leave your line of sight, even. Right outside there. [She thumbs over her shoulder.] C'mon, you know nothing else interesting is gonna happen today.

[And that's how Kris Pulaski ends up leaned against a glass display window, a teeny-tiny crap-ass guitar with a tinny ten-watt amp tucked against her. Before she taps the amp on, she tests and finds, inexplicably, that it's in tune. So, you know. Life is weird sometimes.]

[A few moments later, a power chord cuts the air, and the neutral mall music is summarily drowned out. Her leather jacket's scrunched up by her feet, waiting patiently. Toss a coin, why don't you?]

ii. are you on the level

[As it turns out, the mall was better than whatever's going on out here. Not the information overload, although it is ridiculously overwhelming. No, it's the looks that start getting to her almost immediately. There's an edge to them she can't put her finger on. She's used to living on the fringes, but this is something else entirely, and she hates not understanding. It's dangerous.]

[Somebody's a busybody, though, bustling up to her with an armful of pamphlets, and that relaxes her. There's always one person who wants to help-slash-wants a front-row seat to your problems.]

[With moderate grace, she takes the pamphlets one at a time, scanning them relatively quickly before tucking them under her arm. The longer she looks, the more puzzled her expression.]

Kind of improbable that none of these have an extra head, huh?

[This seems to stop the helpful citizen in their tracks. Noticing the silence after a moment, Kris looks up, blinking.]

. . . Well, it kind of is, isn't it? All this variety and only ever one head?

[ok lmao]

iii. are you ready to swear right here, right now—

[She probably shouldn't even bother. But sometimes, she's the one who just has to know. Sometimes she's the dipshit.]

<< doropesch >> saw blade fish? come on. know when to quit.

Sorbet Shark | Cookie Run: Kingdom | OTA!

[mershark]

1. This isn't the ship... -

[ Waking up in a broom closet is, as it turns out, entirely normal behaviour for Sorbet Shark. He's fallen asleep in the cleaning closet several times, much to the chagrin of Pirate cookie.

He takes a breath in. And that's when he panics. A strange pulse races through his chest, air fills his lungs on instinct. Hands pat along his body, over a silly little pirate costume with brown leggings and a loose white top and brown jacket, tied together with a bright red sash. It looks like it's straight out of a Peter Pan stage wardrobe. ]

OoOooooOOoOoOoo!?

[ Another micro-panic. He still can't talk, does that mean the curse is still on him? He looks down immediately, and he still has legs?! That's good! Those outside can likely hear the clattering of buckets and mops, loud crashing and sometimes a bubbly scream escaping from inside one of the closets. ]

- Or a bit later -

[ He's a pirate, pirates take what food they want! And look at all this treasure?! Wherever he is, he's sure pirate cookie would reward him plenty if he brought some of this back!

Cue a wobbly shark-like man running down the hall. He's so unsteady on his feet it's a wonder he hasn't been caught yet, a few of those plastic oversized jewelry stuffed into his shirt pockets and a delighted little grin on his face as he sliiiides along the floor and dives into the ballpit around the corner.

Excellent, they'll never find him here. Never mind that he may have landed on top of someone else, or just beside them. Shhhhh. ]

2. Fish out of Water -

[ What a big town! So many friendly people... Sorbet is only barely listening to the instructions, he's bee lining his way away from the ocean as fast as he can. Which isn't very fast. He walks like walking is entirely new to him, wobbling this way and that, unsteady given all the clothes and food that have been shoved into his hands. ]

OooOoooOOOOoooo... (Over here looks fun.)

[ He's heading to the divey part of town with a bright smile. Look at all the stuff he's got after all? What could go wrong. Even as shadows in the streets start to follow him, the occasional flash of weapons. The oblivious shark-man continues forwards, meeting glares with smiles, looking for a bar or pub that seems lively. He's never been this far in on land! What an adventure!

Please help him.]

3. Wildcard! -

[ Want a different scene? Go for it here! Or contact me through DM or hantale to plot something. I can even give out my discord if you ask for it! ]

((OOC Note: Worth noting I couldn't decide if sorbet should or shouldn't have his voice back, and decided to play it safe with him not being able to speak! A few people in cookie canon can understand him anyway; if you'd like, your character can be one of them! Perhaps merfolk can understand the song of the water, or you just have a very keen ear for listening? Feel free to make something up!))

Cid Kagenou | The Eminence in Shadow | ota! will match format (former fourthwaller)

[livingalarp]

[A] [cw: reference to cannibalism]
[ The first thing Cid notices is his magic's gone - again? still? He can't tell how much his overall location has or hasn't changed yet. The second thing he notices is that he seems to be otherwise normal. No strange transformations here! Huh. It's only a distant third in details worth noting that he appears to be inside a broom closet. Well. That's new, at least.

So a black-haired teen in a military-esque uniform exits a broom closet, stopping short as he takes in the sights around him. The technology here... too ancient for Japan, too modern for Midgar... and too... 80s-specifically for that weird monster city he'd been in before. Where's he ended up now? Then his stomach growls and, remembering what happened the last time he put off eating, Cid follows his nose to the food court.

That's where he can be found, having a bit of back and forth with one of the vendors. ]

"Solars"? But that's... that's the currency of that place - don't people transform and eat each other here? Alright, look at it this way - isn't me eating something that isn't still alive (or you) what's really important here?

[ It seems he's somehow still in the monster-city, but specifically the part where hot dog vendors care more about coinage than their own survival. Not that Cid is aiming for "threatening" so much as "being reasonable" but that doesn't seem to matter to the vender really, not nearly as much as the fact that zeni aren't solars. ]


[B]
[ After an attempted dine and dash that, given circumstances, Cid feels is really very justified, he's found himself surrounded by the safety mannequins. He's managed to trash a few with his fists so far, but their numbers aren't exactly diminishing... Still, Cid seems more of an even mix of bored and mildly aggrieved than truly concerned.

Inwardly, Cid is reluctantly admitting that he shouldn't have let himself get surrounded. It's not that he doubts his fighting ability, it's that he’s in "background character"-mode still - he doesn’t want to let on that he can handle this. ...And then there's the fact that he's apparently grown to rely on his magic enough that these things were able to surround him, that's no good. It's sloppy of him, is what it is!

He frowns, finally looking a little troubled as he considers how to break free of the circling mannequins without making too much of a show... jump over their heads? Hm, no, not possible without at least a little magic, they're too tall for an unpowered leap... Maybe he could grab one's outstretched arms and leverage them to do a handstand, flipping over their heads, that's a little more non-magical speed. But is that too showy? Mmmm... kinda?? Ugh, what a mess. ]


[C]
[ Having finally escaped the mall and its mannequins, Cid resolves to do a bit of scouting. The first time around, this place caught him off-guard, so he'd better do a little information gathering this time around. And now that he's not steadfastly avoiding them, Cid has managed to accumulate a good number of pamphlets!

If the notes jotted on some of these pamphlets are to be believed, the information seems to mostly serve comedic purposes. ...Perhaps he hadn't been wrong to ignore all this the first time. ]

"Fur bearing trout" is a real mouthful... why not call them "woolly trout"?

[ Cid sighs slightly. Maybe he'd do better to ask around instead of relying on the pamphlets. The locals had been eager to explain when he'd first arrived in town... he can't locate any of those weirdos with confetti and the white-bug-eyed costumes now though. So who to ask...?

Eeny, meeny, miney - you. ]

Hey, are there non-joke versions of these things somewhere?

[ He holds up a pamphlet detailing fur bearing trout, his expression bland. ]


[D]
[ Some time later, Cid sits on a park bench with his old-timey laptop and a pile of useless pamphlets sitting beside him, lost in thought as he ponders this situation he's in. He still doesn't know how he got here, but if this isn't just a very vivid dream... well, obviously his first priority needs to be getting back to Midgar.

Hm. No, that's wrong. His first priority needs to be getting back his magic. He can work on figuring out what kind of portal he must have stumbled into after he can at least sense magic again... this place absolutely has magic, he's seen it in action all over the place. But for some reason his once keenly-attuned senses can't pick up any magical energy fields, only the bare basics of visible flames or people standing sideways on walls, physical effects that any rando could see with mundane senses. The energy itself... he can't see it, he can't feel it, he can't detect it in any way. And that's a definite handicap, one he can't see his way around...

Wait. Maybe he's somehow become magic-blind? Rather than not having his magic, he simply can't sense that it's still there to be used... hm! This angle has potential.

He decides to give it a try, attempting to focus his magic, willing it to life despite his inability to feel the power. He stares intensely at his hand, flexing it slightly. After a good few minutes of nothing happening, he scowls and intensifies his focus. He glares into the palm of his twitching hand as if he's trying to bore through it with his eyes alone. ]


[E]
[ Ultimately there's only so much he can do in background character mode. He's finally gotten some less ostentatious clothing from that Lighthouse place... which means it's time to switch gears a little. He can't do magic for the moment, so his usual costume and feats are out of reach, but he can at least return to being a fancy hoodlum slayer for a bit. ...Only, he's not sure where to find hoodlums here. His previous experience tells him that outside of the cannibalism, there's surprisingly little crime to be stopped in this place... which he supposes is reasonable. When one has to worry about being eaten in response, one would likely hesitate to mug strangers.

But that means there's an open niche. It's time to play the bad guy for a little bit. And he knows one place that lacks normal policing to boot... he could even show off a bit now that he has a disguise!

Which is how there came to be a distinctly average young man pulling his hoodie low over his face in a mall sporting goods store, just before picking up a golf club and giving it a few experimental swings... and then he goes up to the cashier and adopts a menacing stance. ]

Gimme cash, now.

[ His voice is unusually deep and cold, not at all how he normally speaks.

The cashier is taken aback. Nobody... robs the mall stores... indeed, there are already a few distant tinny cries of "safety first!" from mannequins coming to address this issue. Beneath his lowered hood, Cid grins. Good, good! Lets see how you fare against the Golf Club Bandit, mannequins! But first...

He readies his golf club, prepared to take a vicious swing at the cashier that would definitely hit before any of the inbound mannequins could intervene. ]

Now!

[ The cashier, startled out of his initial disbelief, finally hastens to comply, no doubt counting on the mannequins to retrieve whatever he hands over. ]


[wildcard!]
[ Have a different idea you want to run by me? Feel free to poke me at MomeMordrid! ]

iii thank you square hammer will be in my head all day now

[redtapes]

un: mindblown

There is an obsession with odd fauna here. Can't say I'm familiar with the saw blade fish but there's definitely an obsession with the possibility of a furred trout.

[oleaeuropaea]

1. Petty Crimes

[On some distant planet, the sight of one lanky, baby-faced schmuck running from a crowd that's way too big would probably not be out of place. By the way he beckons a loud "Sorry" even as he twirls like a ballerina to avoid the outstretched hands of an android, he certainly seems to have practice with this sort of thing. Sure, he does struggle on the up escalator, sprinting in place rather cartoonishly before he figures out what's going on and adjusts his stride, but for the most part dodging an angry crowd seems to be what he does best.

Maybe he's even having fun with it.

Eventually, though, he seems to grow out of breath. It's only then that he manages to swiftly dip around one corner, then into a rack of clothing within another shop. He stays there until the crowd passes by, then finally stretches out, acting as if he hadn't just dodged a group of law-abiding robots.

Yes, he does have a hotdog sticking out of his mouth. And if he spots you looking at him, he'll grin around it and fish another from a pocket.]

I'll pay them back double once I get my bearings, don't worry!

2. The Monster You Made Me

a
[In contrast to the mall — which he doesn't blame anyone for, honest! — the streets feel warm and welcoming in a way Vash isn't used to. It's hard to miss the vibrant red of his jacket, but he does his best to look inconspicuous all the same by pulling up its massive hood. Nevertheless, people clock him for what he is almost instantly — a stranger.

He tenses the moment he's approached, muscles coiling as he prepares to run once again. When they instead offer items instead, he's left looking... dumbfounded. He closes the fingers of his cybernetic limb — still functional, somehow, despite the damage it had taken on the Sand Streamer — around the proffered items, whether they be simple clothes, or technology, and smiles almost sadly.

If noticed, he'll give a wave and stretch that smile into something far more vibrant.]

Oh, don't mind me. [And then he'll hold out whatever's been offered to him.] But you look like you could use this more than me.

b
[There is one exception to this. Vash does keep the pamphlet, and even tucks himself aside to read it. He makes it only a few sentences in before his skin blanches. His eyes dart to the sky, while the pamphlet itself crumples within the fingers of his hand.

How else could he read this but a warning, after all. A message. The hairs on the back of his neck prickle, and he finds himself searching for — something. His eyes dart this way and that, looking for the glint of a knife or two. Or perhaps Millions of them, if we want to be more overt about it.

Anyone that attempts to put him at ease will quickly be urged away.]

Don't worry about me. Go. It's not safe.


3. Communication Error

[It takes some fiddling, to understand the laptop. It's so outdated in terms of Vash's own experience that he actually struggles. Before long, though, his name pops up on the network.]

needle noggin: are any of those birds?
needle noggin: honestly i'm starting to think i'm a little lost ⊙﹏⊙∥

4. Wildcard

[Hit me with something random, or send me a message on ashstriferous]

Robin Buckley | Stranger Things | OTA (former fourthwaller)

[grivences]

01. YOU SPIN ME RIGHT ROUND, BABY, RIGHT ROUND

[ The first thing Robin notices upon coming around to wakefulness is that she has the right number of legs again. Which is to say, two. This is such a euphoric development that it takes her a while to notice the second thing, which is that she's waking up in a closet again. ]

Oh, you have got to be kidding me. What is this, karma?

[ The Fog, or whoever is behind all this push and pull, sure has some sick sense of humor. But, whatever. She quickly takes stock of her situation, which is that she's back in her actual body, in a closet, presumably still in Ryslig? Because according to what everyone else told her, there's no actual way of leaving and going back to Hawkins. She certainly doesn't remember being back home. All she remembers is going to sleep as a weird wolf-centaur-thing, and then waking up back here. In a closet, human again.

Finally, she decides she's not going to get any answers by just staying in the closet, so out she goes. The first person she runs into, she stops and asks, ] Excuse me, sorry... What day is it?

03. SHE BOP, HE BOP, A-WE BOP

[ Finally, Robin gets herself situated with a laptop again, although this time she decides to use a different username than the one she came up with on the spot the first time she browsed the Ryslig intranet. ]

<malinovka> Hey, weird ice breaker questions about animals aside...

<malinovka> Does anyone know anything about people getting do-overs here?

<malinovka> As in, "I was a monster, but now I'm human again, what a great chance for a do-over!"

0X. SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THESE

[ Want something else? HMU with a wildcard! Or talk to me at millennialfalcon to plot something else. Will match prose or brackets. ]

<doropesch> i do not apologize

[bluedoorsky]

you'd think they'd be tired of weird animals by now but I guess people adapt to their situations in whatever way works

no idea how I'd react to living here my whole life. maybe I'd be making up animals with knives on them too

but I feel like if it really existed a lot of idiots would have them as pets and get their arms mangled. that's also very human

1

[gitanes]

[It's probably a mark of how long Lila's been here on and off that she barely reacts to the question. She was standing more or less within eyeshot of the closet anyway, which definitely helps; the movement caught her attention before Robin approached her.]

[So now, well. She just leans back slightly to glance at the closet again — still definitely just a closet, yeah — before raising an eyebrow at the other girl.]

If you have to ask, you probably won't like the answer. What day are you expecting it to be?

2

[polarvoid]

[The streets of Bavan are always very busy when newcomers arrive and- typically- Basil tries not to be on them when it happens. It's a little overwhelming, even moreso than the usual crowds, but this time...Basil has made himself come. Why? Well...because Sunny is here, that's why. And if Sunny came, then anyone else could. Kel, Hero...Aubrey.

He tries not to think about anyone else.

So the little Gargoyle has made the trip over, padding nervously from sidewalk to sidewalk, occasionally dipping into a corner store when the crowds become too much. He's been here long enough to know that despite how welcoming most monsters (and humans) can be, at least here, there is a portion of the population who isn't quite so nice. Normally they won't try to attack an unchanged monster unprompted, but they will treat them differently, ignoring them at best, and outright shunning them at worst. Basil, at least, toes a weird line between these two facts, because most humans find him too small and endearing to be afraid of. A select few are paranoid of everyone and everything, and know Basil for what he is.

A monster, whether he wants to be one or not.

He happens to overhear Vash as he whispers something hushed to a concerned passerby, his ears perking. It's not safe, he says with a sort of conviction that most newcomers don't have. Like yes, obviously it isn't safe in a world full of actual real monsters, but...there's something about his tone that speaks to a different matter entirely.

After a moment of nervous deliberation, thinking about approaching but then talking himself out of it, the issue is forced when someone surges past him and accidentally knocks him forward (not hard to do, he's so small), causing Basil to stumble right into Vash's side. He's quick to pull back, looking appropriately embarrassed and apologetic as he holds his hands in front of him, resisting the urge to just slap them over his face entirely.]

Ah! I'm sorry...are you okay?

[He asks after having bumped into him so lightly he may as well have been tickled by a feather.]

screams its THE BABY BOY, 2

[charmpagne]

[Fellow Cookies are equal parts easy and difficult to spot, when they do appear in Ryslig. It's easy because only certain people would arrive talking about Earthbread, and struggling to walk on feet they've never had before, among other things. It's harder when the forced humanization makes them more difficult to recognize, and Sparkling once again is out in the newcomer throngs to make sure he hasn't missed someone. He's extra paranoid this time, since he'd been asleep for so long the previous month...and apparently had missed more than one arrival, however short their stay had been.

He's in his bat form currently, flitting about above the heads of humans and monsters alike, taking advantage of the Fog shielding him from the sun so that he can actually be out safely. And, honestly, if the way poor Sorbet is wobbling about wasn't his first clue, his manner of speech would be.

For you see, this is the first Cookie in quite some time that Sparkling would actually have reason to recognize. He remembers that voice.

He dips down quickly, flapping his wings until he finds a nearby store awning to land on that Sorbet is approaching. He doesn't want to startle him, but he's not sure how best to go about this...he's not sure he'll be able to see him from where he is, with all of those clothes he's carrying. So, in the end, Sparkling decides to quickly dip into an alley so he can transform back to his normal form away from prying eyes, stepping out onto the sidewalk just as Sorbet begins to approach.]

Ah...excuse me! May I speak with you a moment?

OooOoooOoo!

[mershark]

[ Sorbet Shark is, thankfully, very similar in 'earth-bread' form to cookie. The same shark-fin hair, wobbly on his feat, laissez faire attitude. He's taking this whole feet and fingers and lungs thing really well? Ignoring whatever minor meltdown he had in the closet earlier. Shhhh- no one heard that, it was just a bunch of bubbles anyway. He looks a little beat up and worse for wear but, by ryslig standards, remarkably clean. Well, as much as one can tell in his pirate getup.

He's precariously stepping over some stones and curbs on the road, breathing a sigh of relief as he clears it before a spot of sparkling yellow appears over the pile of clothes and food in his arms. ]

OooooO?

[ He turns to one side so his head can twist over his shoulder to peek at him. Bright blonde hair, a friendly smile. Reminds him of someone. Though he can't quite put his finger on who... Though the shadows lurking nearby seem to have paused their approach. ]

OoOoOooooo! [ His head bobs with a lazy smile, that seems to be a yes.]

[charmpagne]

[The moment Sorbet speaks, Sparkling feels his chest tighten. Though the two of them don't know one another well, Sparkling very much remembers this Cookie from his time as a captive with the Durianeers. He knows that he himself must be near unrecognizable right now, yet...Sorbet seems to be in surprisingly high spirits. It's encouraging, and Sparkling wants to keep them as high as possible for as long as possible.

He smiles back, revealing twin fangs as he offers Sorbet the clawed tip of one of his wings.]

I may not look as I did before, but...my name is Sparkling Cookie. Do you remember me?

[mershark]

Oooooo... (Hmm....)

[ It looks grim for a moment. He only spent a bit of time with the cookies he was tasked with locking up and even that he didn't do particularly well. There's a hint of confusion, blinking over him, up, then down, until his eyes settle on that shining blonde hair.

Everything else has changed but... He does remember a cookie with hair like gold. It alost seemed like a treasure he was meant to steal away with! A shame that ship went down. ]

OOooOOo oooOooOOoOOo! (The boat I pulled to the island!)

[ Suddenly his smile reappears, head bobbing vigorously. Yes! He was a cookie too! ]

[oleaeuropaea]

[On edge as Vash is, even the slightest bump has him quickly turning. The tails of his jacket whip at empty air, and he looks up, expecting the pale blue of his brother's gaze to stare back at him. It's only once he finds the brick wall of a building staring back to him that he thinks to look... down.

Oh.]

Oh! [Vash's hand lifts, scratching at the back of his head. He flashes a smile that's so warm and laidback that you'd be forgiven if you thought he'd never been on edge at all. This is, somehow, in spite of the fact that the person speaking to him is very obviously not human.

This isn't the first monster he's seen. Vash might have put on the guise of being aloof and inattentive, but he was keenly aware of his surroundings. He'd seen the less than human creatures lurking around corners, hiding in peripheries as if to avoid the human populace. At first, he'd written them off as failed experiments that had broken free of JuLai.

But no. The scientists there might have been as clever as they were sadistic, but going strictly based off of the plumage of the young... man? in front of him, he was quickly piecing together the fact that wherever he was, it was far from the planet he'd spent the last century calling home.

He doesn't dwell on that for now. Instead, he focuses in on the young man.]

No need to apologize! It's my fault for bumbling around, honestly! I didn't knock you in the head or anything, right?

Iggy Koopa | Mario Brothers

[bahahahaha]

1 - Awakening.

[ Iggy awakens with an audible groan, pushing himself to his knees. He adjusts his glasses and allows his vision to return to normal, blinking away the small amount of sleep or whatever that was away as he takes in his surroundings. This is definitely not a broom closet in the castle. He knows this, because he knows every crevice and crawl space and closet there is inside of Bowser's abode, and this ain't it. Even with all of the construction and clean up efforts... nah.

His suspicions are proven correct as he pushes the door open and blinks again -- yeah, this is all sorts of wrong. It's also all sorts of hilarious, which is why he throws caution to the wind and casually steps out into the open, laughing his head off. ]

Ahahaha! This is great! Did Roy actually manage to punch me into a new galaxy? Oh, man!

[ Except that's not what happened at all. As someone who has had his face punched in on more than one occasion by his hit headed brother, he'd definitely remember that. He'd also still be feeling it-- last he checked, they'd all been summoned into the throne room to speak with Bowser about the Skeletone D potion they'd worked so hard for.

Huh. ]

Welp! This is indeed a conundrum~ Whatever shall I do...

[ It's not a question, it's an extremely amused statement followed by a wicked, fang filled grin and another bout of slightly manic laughter as he makes his way in a random direction. Who knows who he might bump into! ]

2 - Into the Big City.

[ Wow. A lot of people sure seem friendly here-- he's not used to anyone other than the servants and minions at home asking him if he needs something or if they can do something for him. He's just sort of sliding off to the side with all of his goodies, dropping most of the clothing but using a shirt to make carrying the food things a little easier.

He ignores those who jeer, what with their pitchforks and the such. That is more or less the reactions he's used to, after all. He's more interested in the pamphlet though, so he saunters to a curb to sit down, staring at it for a long few moments. ]

Wow, seriously? And people call me crazy! Bahahaha!

[ Except... he shouldn't be laughing, or even surprised. Mostly because of all the weird shit that happens at home. He hums, using a single digit to flip through the pages, barely glancing at the words. ]

Hey. [ He's not looking up, but he's speaking to the unfortunate soul closest to him. ] Have you been here a while? Is any of this true?
[ He doesn't sound concerned-- if anything, he sounds stupidly excited. ]

Also, how long are we stuck all sorts of... [ He wiggles his fingers, still feeling weird about the whole thing. ] ...weird looking? No offense, but I make a way prettier Koopa.

[ Conpared to the weird green haired, spiked bracelet teenage punk whose sitting here now. Gross, man. ]

3 - Wildcard.

[ Any prompts or random things you'd like to do with Iggy? Go for it! If you'd like to chat or plot or just have questions in general, feel free to message me on plurk at ukannotwin! ]

[grivences]

[ Oh, great. Robin laughs awkwardly, stumbling over her words in borderline manic fashion. ]

I-I-I-I don't know? Heh... I probably should've thought to pay attention to the local calendar before asking that question, huh?

[ Do they still use the same names for months and days of the week, here? She totally forgot to check.

Add that to the ever-growing list of things to ask Steve later. ]

All I know is, I was here for, like, a month? And I'd changed into a monster. But then, the next thing I know, I'm not a monster anymore? And I'm in— [ a frantic glance back towards the empty, mundane looking closet ] —there for some strange reason.

[ Hoo, boy. Deep breaths, Robin... Freaking out won't help anyone. ]

I'm sorry, it's all just... It's a lot.

2

[gourmandofthestars]

[The caterpillar naga who was passing by stops when he hears a voice call out and turns in Iggy’s direction.]

Huh? Are you talking to me?

[He blinks, looking around to confirm if there was anyone else he could have been talking to.]

[bahahahaha]

Yyyyyyep! Ahaha, you just answered my question, at least!

[ Well. At least one of them. ]

How long have you been here~? Sorry, I should probably read this crap but also, it's so much easier to get answers from real people, y'know?

[gourmandofthestars]

Oh! [He notices the pamphlet.] Did you just get here? Welcome~

I’ve been here for half a year, I think? Since January!

[bahahahaha]

Thanks, dude! It's been [ Stupid? Being a human is stupid. But also hilarious. He's torn, honestly. ] a literal out of body experience, ahaha!

Now that he takes a closer look at his current companion, he realizes just how much he reminds him of Lemmy. Somehow. ]

So, since you've been here a while, I gotta ask: were the onslaught of changes were fast for you? If one were to, I dunno, want to slow the process down, would there be a way~?

[ Iggy. Read the pamphlet-- ]

Oh. I'm Iggy, by the way.

[polarvoid]

[Basil shakes his head no a little, and for what it's worth, Vash could have deliberately punched Basil and he still would have been fine probably. Though his scales offer him no damage protection, he is still a monster. Resilient against his best efforts, perhaps.]

I'm okay...I...I wasn't looking where I was going.

[He pauses for a moment, taking the time to get a good look at Vash. He's obviously human, a newcomer in every way...yet Basil can't help the way his gaze lingers on his arm. He realizes he's staring a second too late and quickly looks away, his scales puffing out.]

U-um! I know it's...scary here, but the other monsters aren't going to hurt you.

[charmpagne]

[That...was not Sparkling's finest moment. He tries not to think about it too much, but at least now he can look back on it humorously. It's far, far from the worst thing that's happened to him at this point.

The recognition- and the fact he is able to understand Sorbet- is a relief, and Sparkling finds himself smiling for the first time since he woke up again.]

Yes! Yes, that was me, and my friends...ah. Not all of them are here, currently...

[In fact, none of the cookies on that particular expedition are. But that doesn't mean there aren't others.]

I know we've only just met again...but I would like to invite you to come with me to my bar, where I and the other cookies live. It's a few miles outside of this city, but it's beside the ocean. I can try to explain things to you along the way.

3 | <MADMAX>

[zoomingupthathill]

how does any of those sound like a bird

3. <malinovka>

[grivences]

Two of those are fish and one is a rodent.

Also, I need to know how you made that little face.

[mershark]

[ Oh?! He seems to understand him well enough. Those big bat ears perhaps... Very handy. Sorbet Shark nods a few more times, a casual smile on his face like several horrifying things haven't already happened. It's all fine! He rescued a few of the cookies that day, and knight cookie was very funny! Imagine, trying to arrest a shark. ]

Ooooo.... (Are they okay?)

[ The poachers? Hunters? Angry townsfolk? Whatever they are, they seem to have hidden away for now, waiting for a moment when the shark is less protected it seems. He blinks over sparkling bat cookie. At first a little less enthusiastic, suspicious even. A bar? That doesn't sound fun, cages are made of bars! And other cookies might recognize and try to arrest him!... a few miles away and... beside the ocean!? His head shakes. ]

OooOoOooOOOOoooO. OoO OoOOoOooo oo ooo ooOOoOOO! OooOoOOo. (No thank you. I don't want to be by the ocean! Unless there's a ship.)

[ He may need a better selling point. He doesn't even know that he won't grow his tail back yet. ]