Welcome to Ryslig's test drive meme! If you're considering apping here, this is where you can try your characters out in the game's setting. A few things to note:
Lots of people have asked good questions on the FAQ, so do take a look.
You can only app ONE character per round so choose wisely.
Test drive meme threads can be used for your roleplay sample!
NEW! Players with characters already in the game can earn up to a maximum of 3 coins by replying to potential character threads! You will need to have your normal 20 comment AC in the game. You cannot use this to go over the bonus 10 coins per month total, but you can use it if you are missing some threads to reach that coin total. Same rules as normal bonuses apply.
Sample scenarios:
SCENARIO ONE: So you've just arrived, fresh out of the hospital, and already the natives are trying to get on your good side. Offers of food, shelter and other luxuries in return for hoping you don't eat them. They even have some helpful pamphlets to share with you. "How To Deal With Changes", "Alternatives to Human Flesh", "What to Expect When You're Expecting (to turn into a monster)" are all great pamphlets. There's even some detailing certain monsters, and the changes they go through.
Among these however, are some... not so helpful ones. "Bunnyipyips And You", "Axe Thief Axehounds," and "So you're becoming a Fur Bearing Trout" among others.
SCENARIO TWO: You've become hopelessly lost in Lager Woods. Paths don't seem to lead where you remember them leading, and you feel as if you're going around in circles. Childlike giggling can be heard from no direction in particular. Suddenly, you stumble upon another character, who seems to be just as lost as you! Perhaps you can find a way out together.
SCENARIO THREE: You've heard about the fog, but you've never seen it before. Now, the mist surrounds you. Barely able to see before you, you need to get home - and fast. It's far too dangerous in this situation.
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? NOTE: Feel free to pick any monster type for this prompt, but note that you may not get the same one in game.
[ONE] [If Fuu had ever bothered to make a list of things she expected to happen to her, this probably wouldn't be on it. How could it be? This is completely absurd, and she says so to one of the doctors who gives her the go-ahead to leave the hospital. She asks if he's sure it's okay, since she must have hit her head, that's why everything is so strange. He tells her he doesn't have the time to waste on examining her head. "Well excuse me," she mutters as she leaves the room. Jeez, he didn't even examine her that closely.
But the outside world, it's-- it's way different from what she expects. It's noisy and crowded and full of people shoving fliers at her! Within minutes, she's got a whole handful of them, and she can barely get a word in to ask a question.]
Fur-bearing--? What? Trout don't even have fur! And what's this about-- [...Yeah, no one's listening. She huffs and starts trying to shove through the crowd.] Ugh-- you guys are completely useless! Just let me go already!
[She pushes her way through and that's when she spots YOU, random helpful-looking stranger. Fuu runs toward whatever poor passer-by she happens to have spotted, waving a little wildly, fliers still in hand.]
...Excuse me! Can I just ask you something?
[TWO] [Okay, so there are a few really staggering problems about Fuu's particular predicament. It's dark, for one, and getting colder. (Not to mention, she's getting hungry...) That's not going to end well. She's also heard there are --of all the crazy stories-- monsters in this area. (monsters, really?) And on top of that, she's lost. (Fine, fine, lesson learned: don't go wandering about in a place you don't know.) But by far the worst thing, the most annoying part of it all...
Is. That. Laughing!
She likes to think she's a patient young lady, really, but after a while of tripping over the same twigs, spotting the same rocks, and frowning at the same mushroom she has had enough. She whips around in the direction where the laugh sounds like it's coming from.]
Are you just going to laugh like that, or could you try helping a little?!
[There's a muffled rumble that could be a growl from a sturdier tree branch a bit above where she just turned to point; the creature perched in the tree has a haphazardly skinned rabbit in its jaws, and is looking down with a headtilt, before snapping its jaws back to finish swallowing the rabbit mostly-hole with a few unpleasant crunching noises.]
[The voice that comes out of it's male, rumbling, and definitely not childish. On the bright side, he sounds almost boredly calm.]
I don't know what's with the spirits out here. They probably thing it's a grand prank.
[She can't see very well in the dark like this --of course not, what human could?-- but she has the moon to help her out. At first, she jumps at the sounds, growling, rumbling...but she's so relieved to hear a human voice that it doesn't even matter. But, where's it coming from? Someone in the tree...?
Her relief is short-lived. She looks up, sees the creature that's devouring a bloody mess of SOMETHING...
I'm sorry, Kain, but her first reaction is to let out a loud, high-pitched SHRIEK of terror.]
[Lesson learned? Yeah, right. Don't make him laugh. It was just like her to wander straight into danger the second she found herself in a strange place, wasn't it? Same girl, same idiot brain. Same Fuu.
That's not what he'd thought when he'd first started following her, though. All he saw was a potential meal. With those scrawny legs, he couldn't count on her to be worth much sport, but she smelled good and had such white, white flesh that looked soft and easy to eat; the lack of muscle only meant she'd be tender, after all. That changes when he gets a glimpse of her from the front. It's then that he instead finds himself growling about how fucked she'd be if it had been someone other than him on her tail.
Still, he watches for a while to make sure she's real. Real, and not another trick being played on him by one of those bastard gods digging around in his head. The last of his doubts curl up and die the very second that high-pitched little voice of hers sounds, making his blood curdle in a way that it hasn't in a long time.
Like hell was he going to let her down easy for this.] I ain't the one laughin' at you, girly.
[His own voice floats down from the canopy, as disembodied as that laughter in the dark. To give her a point of reference, he flashes a full-fanged grin that's more likely to pierce through it.] But I might join in, if you squeak like that again.
[Don't you even start, at least she knows what a lesson IS.
A growl from the trees. Fuu stops, trying to convince herself that it was nothing. That she shouldn't be afraid. That when she's out here by herself, she can't be afraid. Her heart is pounding, though, and her breathing quickens. Suddenly what was once an annoyance, she can perceive as something threatening. Every sound of the forest becomes magnified as the sound of something deadly advancing upon her.
The sound of a voice makes her jump nearly a foot in the air, sucking in a sharp breath. Despite the shock, she's relieved -- so she was fretting over nothing! At least she knows now that she's not alone. That voice though...]
It can't be... Mugen? Is that you?
[She looks around for that familiar red coat, the stupid tangle of hair everywhere. All she sees is something glinting through the trees, something that looks an awful lot like the sharp fangs of an animal. (A thought crosses her mind that maybe he IS the animal, but-- no. No way. That would be insane.)
His teasing makes her frown, losing a little patience. It's to be expected, really; she didn't have much of it to begin with.] Stop teasing and come out here!
[About half of a year to be exact, a whole winter. Yet it doesn't look or sound as if she's grown up much at all since they parted. He laughs puckishly at her, as promised. Ordering him to do something in that kind of tone was the fastest way to make him abandon any and all thoughts of doing said something. Girl was just going to have to squirm for now. Not like she could try and whack him from all the way down there.]
I'd ask if you've spilled tea on anybody lately, but you've still got all your fingers.
[He refuses her demand by creeping along the boughs. The grin sets off on the move in a gleaming crescent, the shadow behind it giving the vague impression of gangly limbs supporting a body on all fours. It's probably all very eerie looking from the ground; he's counting on it.
Except, another step and the branch begins to cave under his palm-- wait. no. not just the front bit, the whole damn thing is buckling.] Shit!
[And it snaps at the base, depositing Mugen straight down onto the forest floor in a whoosh of dead leaves.]
A while? What are you talking about? We were together until a few days ago!
[And it's hard to believe it had even been that long. It had taken a while for their wounds to heal, his and Jin's. After that they had parted ways, and she started walking. She didn't even know where she was going, did she? It was probably a stupid move, really. Not having a plan. Even letting them go, too...but she couldn't stay there, and she needed a little time alone.
Now, however? So not alone. That laugh is irritating, especially when it seems like it's directed at her. Frowning, Fuu crosses her arms, defensively.]
Somehow it seems like I've managed to avoid more trouble than you, at least.
[...And then, like a self-fulfilling prophecy, the branch buckles with a crack!, sending her former bodyguard falling through the underbrush. Fuu gasps; these trees are fairly tall, and it's a long way down, even for this guy.]
Sheesh! Be more careful, would you? Are you alright? [She won't fuss over him, she knows he doesn't need it. But if he gives an answer, she won't be paying attention to it: she's staring at the large, dark shapes that seem to be...coming out of his back. When she speaks again, her voice is cautious and tentative, like she doesn't believe what she's seeing, like she's not sure she wants an answer to her question.] Mugen...what are those...?
[All of a sudden 'those' belatedly stretch all the way out above him and give a great shudder, like a parachute deploying after the skydiver has already hit the ground dead. Although Mugen is merely addled and decidedly not dead, nor even close.
Flight muscles. Still new. Not very cooperative. Figures that now, of all times, supplying a flap or two to break his fall was apparently beyond them, friggin' pieces of crap. Fortunately, it took a lot more than that to break his bones; the cat body that's been forced upon him was good for landings, at least.]
What are you talkin' about? I haven't seen you in months.
[Rising, wings slowly beginning to furl after their useless encore, he groans. Though, as he collects himself, he steals a quick glance at the look on Fuu's face, and it's as baffled as he expects.
He wouldn't say he looked awful. But different. Different, that's for sure.]
Was wonderin' when they were gonna fish up one of you two. 'Specially you, since you've got that knack for getting yourself into deep shit.
[...Speechless. She's downright speechless. It's dark, and that makes the full extent of his changes hard to gauge, but those-- those things? Who could miss those? Fuu stares for a moment, mouth agape; no, he doesn't look bad, just...rough. Strange. Different, yeah, but "different" just doesn't seem extreme enough.
Her first thought, one that scares her more than she's willing to admit, is that the things people have been telling her aren't an exaggeration at all. So she doesn't react to that beyond her moment of wide-eyed silence, instead going for something easier.]
Months? [She snorts lightly; taking a dismissive tone is easy. As for everything else -- she'll have to work that out when the shock wears off. Still, her eyes don't move from the wings, trying to take them in.] Are you sure you didn't hit your head? I just saw you a--!
[She groans, shaking her head. No, okay, that's just not important, especially not if he's gonna insult her like that. How annoying can one guy get?!]
...Ugh-- never mind! And don't talk to me about trouble, just look at you! What happened?!
[Yes. Months, and Mugen is sure he caught himself just fine. That landing hadn't been a perfect 10, but it was still upright and on all fours. (Just like a you know what.) His knees feel a bit raw, but his head? In perfect working order.]
Those guys in white didn't tell you? [Assuming she'd arrived the same way and everything. His irritation is apparent in his frown and the prickly tone he takes.] Any stuff you've heard about monsters and a curse turnin' people into 'em - Sorry, but it's all for real.
[Please tell him she at least asked around before deciding that a frolic through the woods was an awesome idea. Please don't make him have to explain further. As real as it is, it also sounds fucking stupid out loud.
Climbing back to his feet, he steps closer, for however much good that's going to do her human eyes - human, because that's a term he has to consider now. His nails are dark and curved, and not just because he hasn't clipped them. Messy, thick fur lines his neck that no amount of shaving is gonna fix. And the cat ears? Okay. Good luck trying to think of a logical explanation for those.]
Take a look. [He invites, with a small sigh of resignation.]
Of course they told me. [She frowns a little, stubbornly.] But who would believe something like that?!
[It's not that she's in denial about it, exactly, it's just so...so out there that she could never imagine any of that being real. Those guys must not have known what they were talking about, or they were trying to scare her, or-- ... Okay, fine. So maybe she's a little in denial.
That doesn't last though, not with Mugen serving as living proof.
She looks him over quietly for a few minutes, observing his changes. Her human eyes don't catch everything, of course, how could they in this light? But some things you just can't miss. The wings. The-- the fur. The ears. After a moment, she reaches out, very, very hesitantly...and tugs gently on one of those ears. Immediately she pulls her hand back, surprised.]
[When her hand leaves her side and it becomes apparent what she's going to do, Mugen has to curb the urge to weasel away from it. He'd said look, damnit. Not -
...
But if this is what it takes to fast forward through this whole convincing part, then fine. His scowl deepens to the point of jutting though, and the ear itself still draws back reflexively as she brushes the hairs around it.
Duh, they're real. And very sensitive; it snaps against his skull as though burned the second it gets released. What'd she think was gonna happen? That it was just gonna fall off like part of a costume? He doesn't play dress up.] Toldya.
Can't ever just take my word for anything, can you? [The only thing missing from that statement is a childish huff.]
Now c'mon, let's get a move on. This ain't the place to chat.
[Mugen jerks his head, indicating the direction they need to go in, and just starts walking. What he'd come out here looking for, well... That could be put on hold for the time being. Not like she had a chance of finding her own way out with that horse bastard's magic screwing with her head, as if he could trust her to be able to, anyway.]
[ Guila had been pondering things like 'jackelopes' that just seemed a little inconsistent with what she knew of the natural world, but then again what did she know? Either way, some of these pamphlets were at the very least better written than others. It all added up to 'you're trapped here and the people and kingdom you care about are inaccessible' though, so while she had her usual, indecipherable smile on the outside, in this case it wasn't a matter of being calm and collected, but putting up a front.
One that seemed to have made her look helpful, maybe, judging by the girl running up to her. ]
Ah. Greetings, miss. By all means, I'll answer as best I can.
[To be honest, Fuu is slightly disappointed to find someone else holding the same kinds of papers she is. Sure, it means she's not alone in all of this...but isn't that just worse?! How many people were these guys planning to kidnap, anyway?!
What's even more disturbing is the content of the fliers themselves. "Mythical creatures and how to tell which one you're turning into?" "The consequences of eating your landlord?!" Seriously?! ...Still, it's...it's also a relief to know she's run into someone in the same predicament as she is. It helps, right? Maybe they --and anyone else in their situation-- can figure out what's going on with all of this. She offers a sheepish little smile, holding up her share of pamphlets.]
Sorry, sorry -- it looks like we're both in the same situation! [A thoughtful pause.] Say, what do you think of this stuff, anyway? Can you believe any of these? They're so...bizarre!
[ 'Planning' to 'kidnap' seems unlikely here - not by those handing out the pamphlets. This seems more like a reaction to a natural disaster, one that's well-known and planned for.
Gods, perhaps, could very well be the culprits of such a thing, although offending the entire city's religious sensibilities doesn't sound like a good idea. Guila isn't terribly shocked by the content - once you've seen a friend turn into a demon, it's harder to be surprised by that - but she really does hope she won't be turning into any monsters. ]
It does. My apologies for being less help than I could be, as I've only just arrived as well... it certainly seems plausible, if unlikely, that everyone who shows up like this is at risk of just becoming a... creature.
[Fuu has seen some strange things in her fairly short life, it's true. But no matter how supernatural things seem, no matter how weird, there is always an explanation. That's just how the world works. Things like dragons and demons -- those aren't real, at least in the sense that these pamphlets seem to imply.
She's a little incredulous about Guila's willingness to accept all of this. How can she be so calm about it?]
But-- things like this...they only exist in fairy tales, right? I mean...they're not real. [...] Unless...have you seen anyone like this? Spider-people and giant fish and things like that?
Ah, not those specifically, depending on what you consider 'giant' by fish standards.
[ Although she's sure she's heard rumors of spider people, it could just be that. Certainly, she can believe they exist, when she's from a world of demons and faeries and giants and self-proclaimed zombies. ]
I've seen demons, certainly, and fought them as well. Some places must be much more peaceful if you've never encountered such a thing.
Human-sized, I mean. [...Wait, that sounds bad.] Or...humans that turned into fish...that is.
[She's not going to admit it, but there's a part of her that's starting to panic. No matter what exactly is going on, it seems clear that something is actually...well, going on. Maybe not actually turning into something, but if they have some kind of disease...then what if she has it too? What if she was exposed to something just by being here?! Argh. Maybe she should've found a way to keep those two bodyguards with her. At least then, she might not have gotten herself kidnapped.]
Well...Japan has some real thugs, so I'm not sure how peaceful it is. Demons, though? Things like that just-- ...they aren't real, you know?
[Though, when Guila sounds so sure that they are...she sounds a slight bit doubtful.]
[ Ah right. That would be a little strange, turning into a fish, of all things. You don't even breathe the same way! She'd take being a bear or wolf over that, not that she wants to transform at all.
She may not have a choice, the way people are talking. ]
I've seen demons myself, so I'm quite sure that they're real.
[Fuu is having a similar thought -- of all the things to turn into, fish would definitely not be her first choice! ...Though to be honest, she doesn't want to turn into any of them. What's so wrong with being human, anyway? Why can't they just leave her out of all this?
Well-- despite the skin-crawliness of this place so far, she's here. Might as well make the best of it, and right now, that means talking to people.]
Demons? You've really seen them? [She's still skeptical, but that makes her curious.] ...What do they look like?
[It takes a moment for Lucy to realize she's being addressed, but when she does she's quick to turn around, earfins giving a slight flick. Despite her best efforts, she can't seem to stop those things from trying to fan out at the slightest provocation - anything that startles her, upsets her, whatever. It's pretty annoying.
Even besides the fins, as the gap between them closes, it may get a little easier to make out the tiny, silvery scales covering Lucy's skin and the gill-slits along her neck - not to mention the needle-sharp teeth, when she opens her mouth to speak.] Oh, uh, sure; what is it?
[...wow she recognizes some of those flyers. Those things are still circulating? Really?]
[Oh, thank goodness, someone who's willing to talk to her! For one, glorious moment, Fuu is quite relieved.
That...that changes fast, as soon as Lucy turns around, because she's blue. Fuu stares at her for a moment, despite herself, honestly at a loss for words. She's blue...and she has very sharp-looking teeth. Just what in the world is going on here?!]
I...I-- [Wow Fuu come on, it's rude to stare.] Um. Sorry, it's just...
[She shakes her head. Let's just start over; she offers an apologetic smile.] Are you...from this place? Do you live here? I just have a few questions.
[Lucy cringes a little bit at the staring - she hasn't quite gotten used to it, even if it's sort of expected from newbies, in particular. Her fins fan out, just a little, before she gets them to relax again. Come on, the fact that she's sort of uncomfortable doesn't mean there's a threat, wow.]
Well, I... sort of. I've been here for a few months, but I'm not from here... originally. But, uh, I can try and answer the best I can. [She's guessing this girl's questions are likely to be pretty similar to the ones she had when she first arrived, honestly.]
You can kind of see a wave of fear wash over Fuu's features; it's not directed at Lucy, but her words. because that sounds an awful lot like what people at the hospital were saying. "You people show up, and then you change," the doctor had said brusquely. At the time, she didn't think much of it, but between the fliers and this? Yeah, now she's thinking about it.]
So... [Oh my god, how do you even phrase a question like that??] These...these newsletters. Are they-- they can't be serious, can they?
[She doesn't sound so sure of that. Lucy herself might just be proof of how serious they are.]
[Lucy gives an uncomfortable little hum, fiddling with the hem of her shirt, which may sort of give Fuu her answer.] Well, they're... they're not necessarily very accurate.
Fuu | Samurai Champloo
[If Fuu had ever bothered to make a list of things she expected to happen to her, this probably wouldn't be on it. How could it be? This is completely absurd, and she says so to one of the doctors who gives her the go-ahead to leave the hospital. She asks if he's sure it's okay, since she must have hit her head, that's why everything is so strange. He tells her he doesn't have the time to waste on examining her head. "Well excuse me," she mutters as she leaves the room. Jeez, he didn't even examine her that closely.
But the outside world, it's-- it's way different from what she expects. It's noisy and crowded and full of people shoving fliers at her! Within minutes, she's got a whole handful of them, and she can barely get a word in to ask a question.]
Fur-bearing--? What? Trout don't even have fur! And what's this about-- [...Yeah, no one's listening. She huffs and starts trying to shove through the crowd.] Ugh-- you guys are completely useless! Just let me go already!
[She pushes her way through and that's when she spots YOU, random helpful-looking stranger. Fuu runs toward whatever poor passer-by she happens to have spotted, waving a little wildly, fliers still in hand.]
...Excuse me! Can I just ask you something?
[TWO]
[Okay, so there are a few really staggering problems about Fuu's particular predicament. It's dark, for one, and getting colder. (Not to mention, she's getting hungry...) That's not going to end well. She's also heard there are --of all the crazy stories-- monsters in this area. (monsters, really?) And on top of that, she's lost. (Fine, fine, lesson learned: don't go wandering about in a place you don't know.) But by far the worst thing, the most annoying part of it all...
Is. That. Laughing!
She likes to think she's a patient young lady, really, but after a while of tripping over the same twigs, spotting the same rocks, and frowning at the same mushroom she has had enough. She whips around in the direction where the laugh sounds like it's coming from.]
Are you just going to laugh like that, or could you try helping a little?!
[Two]
[The voice that comes out of it's male, rumbling, and definitely not childish. On the bright side, he sounds almost boredly calm.]
I don't know what's with the spirits out here. They probably thing it's a grand prank.
no subject
Her relief is short-lived. She looks up, sees the creature that's devouring a bloody mess of SOMETHING...
I'm sorry, Kain, but her first reaction is to let out a loud, high-pitched SHRIEK of terror.]
Two
That's not what he'd thought when he'd first started following her, though. All he saw was a potential meal. With those scrawny legs, he couldn't count on her to be worth much sport, but she smelled good and had such white, white flesh that looked soft and easy to eat; the lack of muscle only meant she'd be tender, after all. That changes when he gets a glimpse of her from the front. It's then that he instead finds himself growling about how fucked she'd be if it had been someone other than him on her tail.
Still, he watches for a while to make sure she's real. Real, and not another trick being played on him by one of those bastard gods digging around in his head. The last of his doubts curl up and die the very second that high-pitched little voice of hers sounds, making his blood curdle in a way that it hasn't in a long time.
Like hell was he going to let her down easy for this.] I ain't the one laughin' at you, girly.
[His own voice floats down from the canopy, as disembodied as that laughter in the dark. To give her a point of reference, he flashes a full-fanged grin that's more likely to pierce through it.] But I might join in, if you squeak like that again.
no subject
A growl from the trees. Fuu stops, trying to convince herself that it was nothing. That she shouldn't be afraid. That when she's out here by herself, she can't be afraid. Her heart is pounding, though, and her breathing quickens. Suddenly what was once an annoyance, she can perceive as something threatening. Every sound of the forest becomes magnified as the sound of something deadly advancing upon her.
The sound of a voice makes her jump nearly a foot in the air, sucking in a sharp breath. Despite the shock, she's relieved -- so she was fretting over nothing! At least she knows now that she's not alone. That voice though...]
It can't be... Mugen? Is that you?
[She looks around for that familiar red coat, the stupid tangle of hair everywhere. All she sees is something glinting through the trees, something that looks an awful lot like the sharp fangs of an animal. (A thought crosses her mind that maybe he IS the animal, but-- no. No way. That would be insane.)
His teasing makes her frown, losing a little patience. It's to be expected, really; she didn't have much of it to begin with.] Stop teasing and come out here!
no subject
[About half of a year to be exact, a whole winter. Yet it doesn't look or sound as if she's grown up much at all since they parted. He laughs puckishly at her, as promised. Ordering him to do something in that kind of tone was the fastest way to make him abandon any and all thoughts of doing said something. Girl was just going to have to squirm for now. Not like she could try and whack him from all the way down there.]
I'd ask if you've spilled tea on anybody lately, but you've still got all your fingers.
[He refuses her demand by creeping along the boughs. The grin sets off on the move in a gleaming crescent, the shadow behind it giving the vague impression of gangly limbs supporting a body on all fours. It's probably all very eerie looking from the ground; he's counting on it.
Except, another step and the branch begins to cave under his palm-- wait. no. not just the front bit, the whole damn thing is buckling.] Shit!
[And it snaps at the base, depositing Mugen straight down onto the forest floor in a whoosh of dead leaves.]
no subject
[And it's hard to believe it had even been that long. It had taken a while for their wounds to heal, his and Jin's. After that they had parted ways, and she started walking. She didn't even know where she was going, did she? It was probably a stupid move, really. Not having a plan. Even letting them go, too...but she couldn't stay there, and she needed a little time alone.
Now, however? So not alone. That laugh is irritating, especially when it seems like it's directed at her. Frowning, Fuu crosses her arms, defensively.]
Somehow it seems like I've managed to avoid more trouble than you, at least.
[...And then, like a self-fulfilling prophecy, the branch buckles with a crack!, sending her former bodyguard falling through the underbrush. Fuu gasps; these trees are fairly tall, and it's a long way down, even for this guy.]
Sheesh! Be more careful, would you? Are you alright? [She won't fuss over him, she knows he doesn't need it. But if he gives an answer, she won't be paying attention to it: she's staring at the large, dark shapes that seem to be...coming out of his back. When she speaks again, her voice is cautious and tentative, like she doesn't believe what she's seeing, like she's not sure she wants an answer to her question.] Mugen...what are those...?
no subject
Flight muscles. Still new. Not very cooperative. Figures that now, of all times, supplying a flap or two to break his fall was apparently beyond them, friggin' pieces of crap. Fortunately, it took a lot more than that to break his bones; the cat body that's been forced upon him was good for landings, at least.]
What are you talkin' about? I haven't seen you in months.
[Rising, wings slowly beginning to furl after their useless encore, he groans. Though, as he collects himself, he steals a quick glance at the look on Fuu's face, and it's as baffled as he expects.
He wouldn't say he looked awful. But different. Different, that's for sure.]
Was wonderin' when they were gonna fish up one of you two. 'Specially you, since you've got that knack for getting yourself into deep shit.
no subject
Her first thought, one that scares her more than she's willing to admit, is that the things people have been telling her aren't an exaggeration at all. So she doesn't react to that beyond her moment of wide-eyed silence, instead going for something easier.]
Months? [She snorts lightly; taking a dismissive tone is easy. As for everything else -- she'll have to work that out when the shock wears off. Still, her eyes don't move from the wings, trying to take them in.] Are you sure you didn't hit your head? I just saw you a--!
[She groans, shaking her head. No, okay, that's just not important, especially not if he's gonna insult her like that. How annoying can one guy get?!]
...Ugh-- never mind! And don't talk to me about trouble, just look at you! What happened?!
no subject
Those guys in white didn't tell you? [Assuming she'd arrived the same way and everything. His irritation is apparent in his frown and the prickly tone he takes.] Any stuff you've heard about monsters and a curse turnin' people into 'em - Sorry, but it's all for real.
[Please tell him she at least asked around before deciding that a frolic through the woods was an awesome idea. Please don't make him have to explain further. As real as it is, it also sounds fucking stupid out loud.
Climbing back to his feet, he steps closer, for however much good that's going to do her human eyes - human, because that's a term he has to consider now. His nails are dark and curved, and not just because he hasn't clipped them. Messy, thick fur lines his neck that no amount of shaving is gonna fix. And the cat ears? Okay. Good luck trying to think of a logical explanation for those.]
Take a look. [He invites, with a small sigh of resignation.]
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[It's not that she's in denial about it, exactly, it's just so...so out there that she could never imagine any of that being real. Those guys must not have known what they were talking about, or they were trying to scare her, or-- ... Okay, fine. So maybe she's a little in denial.
That doesn't last though, not with Mugen serving as living proof.
She looks him over quietly for a few minutes, observing his changes. Her human eyes don't catch everything, of course, how could they in this light? But some things you just can't miss. The wings. The-- the fur. The ears. After a moment, she reaches out, very, very hesitantly...and tugs gently on one of those ears. Immediately she pulls her hand back, surprised.]
Th-- they're real!
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...
But if this is what it takes to fast forward through this whole convincing part, then fine. His scowl deepens to the point of jutting though, and the ear itself still draws back reflexively as she brushes the hairs around it.
Duh, they're real. And very sensitive; it snaps against his skull as though burned the second it gets released. What'd she think was gonna happen? That it was just gonna fall off like part of a costume? He doesn't play dress up.] Toldya.
Can't ever just take my word for anything, can you? [The only thing missing from that statement is a childish huff.]
Now c'mon, let's get a move on. This ain't the place to chat.
[Mugen jerks his head, indicating the direction they need to go in, and just starts walking. What he'd come out here looking for, well... That could be put on hold for the time being. Not like she had a chance of finding her own way out with that horse bastard's magic screwing with her head, as if he could trust her to be able to, anyway.]
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One that seemed to have made her look helpful, maybe, judging by the girl running up to her. ]
Ah. Greetings, miss. By all means, I'll answer as best I can.
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What's even more disturbing is the content of the fliers themselves. "Mythical creatures and how to tell which one you're turning into?" "The consequences of eating your landlord?!" Seriously?! ...Still, it's...it's also a relief to know she's run into someone in the same predicament as she is. It helps, right? Maybe they --and anyone else in their situation-- can figure out what's going on with all of this. She offers a sheepish little smile, holding up her share of pamphlets.]
Sorry, sorry -- it looks like we're both in the same situation! [A thoughtful pause.] Say, what do you think of this stuff, anyway? Can you believe any of these? They're so...bizarre!
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Gods, perhaps, could very well be the culprits of such a thing, although offending the entire city's religious sensibilities doesn't sound like a good idea. Guila isn't terribly shocked by the content - once you've seen a friend turn into a demon, it's harder to be surprised by that - but she really does hope she won't be turning into any monsters. ]
It does. My apologies for being less help than I could be, as I've only just arrived as well... it certainly seems plausible, if unlikely, that everyone who shows up like this is at risk of just becoming a... creature.
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She's a little incredulous about Guila's willingness to accept all of this. How can she be so calm about it?]
But-- things like this...they only exist in fairy tales, right? I mean...they're not real. [...] Unless...have you seen anyone like this? Spider-people and giant fish and things like that?
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[ Although she's sure she's heard rumors of spider people, it could just be that. Certainly, she can believe they exist, when she's from a world of demons and faeries and giants and self-proclaimed zombies. ]
I've seen demons, certainly, and fought them as well. Some places must be much more peaceful if you've never encountered such a thing.
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[She's not going to admit it, but there's a part of her that's starting to panic. No matter what exactly is going on, it seems clear that something is actually...well, going on. Maybe not actually turning into something, but if they have some kind of disease...then what if she has it too? What if she was exposed to something just by being here?! Argh. Maybe she should've found a way to keep those two bodyguards with her. At least then, she might not have gotten herself kidnapped.]
Well...Japan has some real thugs, so I'm not sure how peaceful it is. Demons, though? Things like that just-- ...they aren't real, you know?
[Though, when Guila sounds so sure that they are...she sounds a slight bit doubtful.]
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[ Ah right. That would be a little strange, turning into a fish, of all things. You don't even breathe the same way! She'd take being a bear or wolf over that, not that she wants to transform at all.
She may not have a choice, the way people are talking. ]
I've seen demons myself, so I'm quite sure that they're real.
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Well-- despite the skin-crawliness of this place so far, she's here. Might as well make the best of it, and right now, that means talking to people.]
Demons? You've really seen them? [She's still skeptical, but that makes her curious.] ...What do they look like?
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Even besides the fins, as the gap between them closes, it may get a little easier to make out the tiny, silvery scales covering Lucy's skin and the gill-slits along her neck - not to mention the needle-sharp teeth, when she opens her mouth to speak.] Oh, uh, sure; what is it?
[...wow she recognizes some of those flyers. Those things are still circulating? Really?]
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That...that changes fast, as soon as Lucy turns around, because she's blue. Fuu stares at her for a moment, despite herself, honestly at a loss for words. She's blue...and she has very sharp-looking teeth. Just what in the world is going on here?!]
I...I-- [Wow Fuu come on, it's rude to stare.] Um. Sorry, it's just...
[She shakes her head. Let's just start over; she offers an apologetic smile.] Are you...from this place? Do you live here? I just have a few questions.
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Well, I... sort of. I've been here for a few months, but I'm not from here... originally. But, uh, I can try and answer the best I can. [She's guessing this girl's questions are likely to be pretty similar to the ones she had when she first arrived, honestly.]
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You can kind of see a wave of fear wash over Fuu's features; it's not directed at Lucy, but her words. because that sounds an awful lot like what people at the hospital were saying. "You people show up, and then you change," the doctor had said brusquely. At the time, she didn't think much of it, but between the fliers and this? Yeah, now she's thinking about it.]
So... [Oh my god, how do you even phrase a question like that??] These...these newsletters. Are they-- they can't be serious, can they?
[She doesn't sound so sure of that. Lucy herself might just be proof of how serious they are.]
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