TEST DRIVE ∞ May 2025

[thediadem]

Test Drive ∞ May 2025

The First Collision

©

Jump ⇅ :: Arrival — Panorama — Fringes — Invite Request

The Diadem is an invite-only panfandom game set in a retro-futuristic world where uprooted souls find themselves deep within an eerie wasteland of roads and highways frequently assailed by cosmic storms. Three united strongholds keep the population. Its capital is Panorama, a large metropolis at the planet's center.

Soon, you realize you aren't alone. Calling themselves fluxdrifts, the "locals" have similar stories to you, either for themselves or their ancestry. You speak to an old woman who claims she hailed from another star. You meet a young man who says his great-great-grandfather knew a strange language everybody spoke "back home." As you explore, you stumble across a coin you recognize or your sister's locket. How did it get here? What does this mean? That's for you to discover.

But first, you need to find a ride.

No invites needed to play on the TDM. Everyone's welcome! Use the Invite Request thread below to request an invite from another player.

∞ Summary ∞

IC-wise, arrivals are scattered throughout the month. Events described on the TDM are also ongoing throughout the month. If you'd rather jump right into the action, you're free to begin in media res with your character having already been on the planet for several days.

Post-impact, characters will wake up in a med tent by the Scrapyard. From there, they must accept a vehicle on loan and make the 2-hour drive to the nearest city, Panorama. If they refuse the car because they don't want the loan, they'll be in debt for medical bills instead...so just take the car. It'll come in handy.

Some things to keep in mind when bringing in your character:

• Pick an injury. At minimum, they got knocked out; at most, whatever they can recover from. Medicine is decently advanced so they'll heal faster if not painlessly.
• Decide items kept. Reasonable items on their person only: photos, keys, clothes, costumes. No pets or animal companions. Wildly out-of-place tech and personal cell phones will be damaged beyond repair.
• Select a weapon. Do this only if eligible. Guidelines about weapons and powers are on the FAQ.
• Choose a vehicle. Decide whether your character gets 2-3 options or if they're stuck with something they hate. Players can pick directly from our collection or source their own images. Anything under a similar aesthetic will work. If your character needs accommodations for driving, they can have them. Ask us for details.
• Get a phone. Characters have to obtain a phone (and a SIM card) themselves. If they've got one from home, it's damaged beyond repair. Phones are cheap. It'll only take a couple of weeks to afford one. You need to know the number before you text or call anyone. Read about phones and the Forum before you hop on it.

TDM threads can be canon if characters are accepted. Top-levels made to the TDM should be open to all.

TDM Questions? Here — Game Questions? FAQ

Setting — Taken — Reserves — Applications ::: ⇅ Top

Fluxdrift

Arrival & Introduction

Date: Throughout May

You've tumbled over a cliff. You were fighting for your life. You're on the cusp of death. You slipped in the shower. Whatever the catalyst, you struggle to cling to consciousness. As darkness overtakes you, a swirling vortex warps light and shadow in a way that defies all physics. A dark wail etches into your very bones. You couldn't describe it if you tried. You can barely comprehend what it is.

Then you open your eyes.

Through the figure's mask ©, you swear the face is grinning down at you. The tent you're in smells of antiseptic, and scratchy blankets line your cot. Injuries you've sustained have been bandaged. In the corner, you spot a MedBot that's fixed you up. Depending on the extent of your injuries, the doctor on duty might give you some painkillers before you go. Thankfully, your belongings are by the exit. Sorry if anything's damaged. Your landing was pretty rough.

You follow the figure outside. They are Yom Crook, here to lend a hand to fellow fluxdrifts like yourself. Their car's parked beside them. Actually, there are lots of cars around, but Yom Crook's stands out with its painted shark mouth. They explain they found you, unconscious, in a diffusion zone and brought you here. The nearest city is a 2-hour drive northeast. Forget about walking. You'll never make it. Also, you owe the doctor a lot of money for patching you up. But you're in luck: they've got some wheels for you and if you accept the vehicle on loan, Yom Crook will cover your medical bills. That's a good deal, right? It's not the shiniest car or motorcycle, but it'll do. If fortune favors, you'll get to choose between two or three options. Plus, if you need accommodations to drive—like adjustments to your seat height or modified controls—you'll receive all that for free.

Take the vehicle. (And the loan.) Yom Crook assures you that you'll have six months before collectors come around. Any time you're ready to pay a part of it down, return here to the Scrapyard. You'll get a receipt and everything. Paying off the loan in six months isn't impossible, but it will take a lot of work. Just don't get too lax. There's a good chance you'll be juggling multiple loans as you try to get by.

You either know how to drive, or you'll have a bare-bones manual to get you started. Road rules are more a suggestion than enforced, so just hit the pedal and go. The car has some basic features. The built-in compass will help you navigate.

OPTIONAL PROMPTS: a flat tire; a body on the road (is it a trap?); a fender bender

⇅ Top

Panorama

Explore & Settle In

Conditions: Warm spring temperatures, light showers

After 2 hours on the road, you find civilization. The largest of the strongholds, Panorama is where the economy thrives. Massive power plants glowing red make it visible from a distance. The city is divided into three districts. For now, you can access the Pavilion and the Blocks. Don't worry about the Sanctum; they're not letting you in.

You only need to know two things about Panorama: 1) it's big, the size of a modern metropolis, and you'll need your car to get around; 2) anything goes as long as you don't pick a fight with the wrong person. Street smarts will get you far. Despite its geographical size, the population isn't huge. With roughly a million people in a city designed for over twice that number, Panorama is far from deserted, but nor is it overcrowded. It's a good thing. Resources are limited as it is.

The Pavilion: Free Samples

©

Like any large city, Panorama features a couple of supermarkets. The stock's not as consistent as a proper supermarket. On occasion, shelves can remain cleaned out for a week or two. Regardless, the long tradition of free samples remains. If you're not already shopping, you'll notice the crowded parking lot and clusters of lines inside.

Try samples, push through the crowds as you shop, or give yourself a five-finger discount. If you're cautious, you can pocket a few small items without consequences. The Pavillion doesn't have the infrastructure for surveillance; unless someone sees you, you won't be caught. Steal from the store or pilfer someone's wallet. Maybe you even make a new friend if you bump into another fluxdrift. Or, start a fight with somebody who cut you off in the cheese line. Don't make too much of a ruckus, or you'll be thrown out.

As you look around, you'll see posters advertising temporary positions for the cash register or graveyard shifts in the warehouse. Seems they might've lost several employees recently (how'd that happen?), which is good for you! It's just a 6-week position, but it'll get you on your feet. The city has temporary positions like this all over. Permanent ones are harder to come by when you're new.

Samples include: steamed cabbage dumplings, synthetic cherry juice, cheddar cheese, and chocolate-covered alien eggs (it's crunchy and weirdly tasty). They're served in the usual throwaway paper cups with little toothpicks.

The Blocks: Power Outage

©

Power's finicky in Panorama, especially in the Blocks. Saint Margery's Hospital, located in the same area, has priority for power so the first to go are the motels. Maybe you've been in your room for a couple of weeks, maybe you just got here—and by the way, every motel desk is happy to put the fee on your tab if you don't have the money upfront—but all the motels on the east side are in a blackout, leaving only the west side motels up and running.

What do you do? You have three choices:

• Risk leaving your room and head to the other side where there's power. Knock on some doors and negotiate with another to share the room. They might shut the door in your face, ask for a favor in return, or be nice enough to help you with no strings attached. There's no guarantee your unattended room will be untouched, though, and you'll be on the hook for any damages an intruder causes.
• Sit in the dark and deal. It's not the worst idea, but the TV's down, the vending machines are powered down, and with the entire place plunged into darkness, you risk getting robbed. If you struggle with defending yourself, you might want to find some trustworthy company. You can also sneak out of there and let them take your leftover pizza. It's not like you've got a ton of valuables, right? Plus, clobbering someone in the face with a frying pan sounds great until you realize you've gotta do something with the body. And what if this person's got a friend waiting?
• Get in your car and drive (or grab a friend for a road trip). If you scroll the Forum, you might notice reports on diffusion zones southward. Besides, these motels are hardly your forever home. The city can only provide so much. Why not go for a ride and see what you can find out there?

OPTIONAL PROMPTS: clean up on aisle 3 (what is that goo?); a knock at your door but no one's there; you hear screaming or a commotion down the hall

⇅ Top

©

The Fringes

Quad 3: Lockdown

Conditions: Stormy, with flooding roads

Felix Bjurstrom
> Date: 125-05-17
> Time: 02:15:57

> Emergency road lights have been reported in Quadrant 3! Please, can someone go see what's there? When last we chasers investigated emergency lights, a whole truck filled with sour candy had tipped over. Our stores were stocked for weeks! Oh, be careful - reception looks bad in that zone.

Whether you end up here on your own or you were following a tip on the Forum, the outcome is the same: you come to a stop in front of a 2-story office building that's flooded several inches deep. Emergency lights from a roadblock flicker through the stormy night. Stepping out of your car, you're soaked within seconds. When you check your phone, you don't have any bars. No calls in or out.

Through the open windows, a computer awakens and displays a cheerful smile. The lights inside switch on.

Pick your scenario role below. Your thread partner doesn't need to take the opposite role! They can join you in the same scenario (i.e. trapped together). Players are also free to create a generic NPC for the other side to facilitate the thread.

After characters escape, they'll find one bottle of antibiotics in their pocket or car, whether they remember taking it or not.

A: Sealed In
As you peer through the windows, you see crates of medicine floating around. Antibiotics in the diadem are valuable. Hospitals and doctors are always buying. You can keep it for yourself or make a quick buck. Or maybe you're compelled to help somebody back in the city who's in need. Whatever the reason, you decide to take the risk and step inside.

Water splashes around your ankles. The lock buzzes behind you. If you try to break the windows, you discover they're unnaturally resistant to shattering. With the whole place locked tight, the water begins to churn. Then the computer lights up again.

Warning, it flashes in large, bold text. Quarantine in progress. Release code required for exit.

• To find the code, you'll have to search. Duck under the water, go through sopping envelopes and sticky notes or pick the locks on the filing cabinets and desk drawers. You can also try hacking the computers. Use your computer knowledge or fall back on the age-old trick of seeing who wrote down their password.
• The files, notepads, and emails start innocuous, but as you look through them, disturbing phrases jump out at you—a dark thought you've had or a cruel taunt from someone in your past. The longer you're fixed on the terrible words, the higher the water begins to rise. Only another can break you out of your trance.
• With the rising water comes fear. And the more you're afraid, the more the water also rises. You begin to see faces in the water, bobbing like balloon heads. Do you recognize them? If you move to take a closer look, they will sink back beneath the surface as if never there.
• If you manage to swallow your panic, you can eventually find a triple-laminated binder with the release code and instructions. Bad news: you need someone on the outside to punch in the 6 strange symbols in order. The instructions explain that the code panel is located at the back of the building.

Let's hope a friendly face comes along.

B: Set Free
As you peer through the windows, you see not just the crates of medicine but someone trapped inside. They look like they might be in trouble, and from your vantage point, you notice that the water is bubbling strangely. It's definitely not normal rainwater. As you watch, the water rises unnaturally, stopping and starting. It's as if the water level is responding to an external stimulus.

• The glass is soundproof. You can't hear what the person inside is saying, so you'll have to communicate with each other another way. Try charades, typing on your phone, or whatever you think of. Eventually, you determine that they're stuck and that you need to enter some sort of code onto a pad located—according to your trapped partner—at the back of the building.
• Around the back, shadows swallow your surroundings. The panel must be pried open, but a slippery substance makes it hard to get a good grip. Each time the substance touches you, you grow uneasy. You swear you see eyes watching you, though when you turn around, nothing's there.
• You can't seem to keep the instructions in your mind. And those symbols...they burn into your retinas. Through them, you glimpse an incomprehensibly massive figure unfurling in the darkness, pulsing as if in a deep sleep. When you snap back to reality, you realize you've injured yourself, slicing your hand on a sharp edge or a bruise you can't remember getting.
• Once you manage to release the doors, the water inside the office drains upward into the sky as though sucked out by a giant hose. The darkness spreads. Get out of there fast before the shadows drag you or your partner into the void.

Of course, you don't have to help anyone. You can leave the individual there, make a deal, or outright extort them. But remember, you're not the only person on these roads. You might want to play your cards carefully, even if altruism isn't your first instinct.

Main Navigation ::: ⇅ Top

Comments

[pagings]

[ part of her expects a nothing answer. not because logan has given her any reason to believe he would be anything but honest, but because she knows - in a way - she's broaching a subject they haven't really touched on yet. and it's not necessarily that there hasn't been time - this is their, what? second actual conversation? why would something about home, or histories, or where they've come from come up before now?

but logan strikes her as someone who doesn't go into those unless pressed. who doesn't always see the need for it. she gets the distance, gets the avoidance - it's easier to keep moving if you never leave that part open in the first place - and maybe that's why she gives him the out. an easy answer that he doesn't take.

there was a war. she looks back to him, frowning briefly - not in apology, necessarily, but in a way that shows she's processing this new information. taking that in for how she views him. the kind that's on your doorstep. it does make her think a bit of home, of everything she left behind. she doesn't know how she'd frame it, if asked, or if it's even important. the idea that any of this could be quiet is hard to wrap her head around, but at the same time...

her eyes don't really leave him, curious. ]

What's going to happen to the war if you're here?

[longtooth]

[ A sharp pop? Fern had missed that, but it seems to be a matter of being further away from the source of this problem, whatever that might be. In which case it's lucky that she ran into this stranger, since he did happen to be situated close enough to hear it.

As much as going toward the source of some mysterious blackout could very well mean walking into a trap, it's true that Fern is more comfortable in the dark than most. Her bestial eyes and nature are to thank for that, as her vision hasn't been hampered nearly as much as the average human.

She can't be certain that's the case for this man, though, given that he only has one eye to see out of — oddly colored as it might be. ]

We may still run into them, and that desperation could lead to violence. Let me take the lead. [ Is he even armed? She doesn't immediately notice any weapon on his person. And, no offense, but he doesn't look like the sort of person who would jump into the fray if a fight were to break out. His constitution seems closer to the mages she knows.

Whether or not he agrees, she'll move past him toward the stairwell, easing open the door and then pausing for a moment to listen at the top landing. She doesn't pick up on any distant footsteps or voices, so she's going to assume they're safe for now. All the same, she's on high alert, and shoots another glance back to her temporary companion in this task. ]

Stay close behind me.

[pagings]

[ people do seem to arrive here in groups. they don't have to be here long to notice - how some of the locals don't seem to be locals at all, how there is this knowing they have when they see someone stumbling through. it's nice, because it didn't take either of them very long to (seemingly) land on their feet. but it also feels... off.

they continue to work, almost robotically. boxes onto shelves, read the label, find the new spot.

the question has a brief smile from Karen. ]

Yep. [ which may or may not be a bit of an imitation of wanda's overly American accent from before. ] New York. You?

[godjr]

I killed his mother.

[ Jack has his soul back so the crushing weight of that reality is firmly on his shoulders. He won't hide from the terrible action he took and what it meant for all of them. She was the only mother he knew, she loved Jack, she took care of him too. He doesn't know if he would forgive himself in Dean's shoes (he would, he always forgives). That is why he can't hold it against Dean either, even if it hurt more than he could say. Dean said a long time ago that people deserve to be saved, and that Jack didn't. At the time, they were new to each other, but maybe he'll always think that. ]

I thought if I could just stop Chuck, I could prove to him that I'm worthy again. I can't do that as long as I'm here.

[ He can't kill Chuck and save the world from here, or at least, he thinks he can't. Honestly, Jack wouldn't be surprised if Chuck showed up just to talk at him some, he seems to really like to talk. If he does, then he'll have a chance. He realizes that saying that much puts Rowena in a place between him and Dean, which wasn't his intention. If anything he's saying how much Dean means to him, what he's willing to do to earn his love again. ]

We're both capable of opening portals to other worlds. I feel like if anyone can make it happen, it would be us, Rowena.

[ She held one open for them, Jack created it in the first place. They have more capability than most people, even the Winchesters, who relied on their skills to get it done the last time. So surely together they can make something happen. He glances over at her and smiles shyly. ]

We don't usually get to talk so much. I like this.

[ She's so smart and powerful, he could definitely learn important things from her, and Jack is a sponge, he loves to learn. He doesn't get to have extended conversations with most people outside of his family. He was dead by the time Rowena spent her last time alive. The idea that they could bond a little bit while they wait to go back, that sounds like an upside of the situation. He could use a positive note. ]

We need to stay together. We'll protect each other.

[longtooth]

[ Fern does in fact notice that the girl takes a careful peek before picking a cup (Perception: 27), though she doesn't comment on it. She takes it to mean that she's a bit of a picky eater and doesn't want to grab something at random.

The dumplings are not a bad choice.

And thankfully, cup mountain appears to be undisturbed. Fern is nothing if not dexterous. She shrugs at the question, unbothered. ] They might eventually run out. But I also don't want to wait around here all day for them to restock, either.

[ In truth, she's never seen a market quite like this. The concept of free samples is new to her, too, at least in this quantity and variety. ] ... And I thought I should at least try one of each, to learn more about the food on offer here.

[potentialman]

That could be it, then. This seems too important to just be something on the desktop next to Microsoft Word or...whatever.

[ Security systems and lockdowns generally don't get handled from the same machines that are being used for very mundane secretarial duties, and the amount of files and minutiae he's finding on the desks here very much scream "mundune secretarial duties."

Still, there are odd things, here and there. Amidst what looks like the minutes of a board meeting -- ]

I'm taking this brat hostage.

[ Megumi freezes in the middle of the next line of text, his gaze going back up to the words before, his mind's ear automatically hearing them in Sukuna's gravelly voice. His heartbeat is pounding in his ears.

His heart...or maybe just the memory of Yuji's heart, still twitching in Sukuna's hand.

He doesn't even notice the water rising above his ankles, inching closer to his knees. ]

[pagings]

[ it could be considered a bit selfish, the fact she barely even notices the way he doesn't wrap his arms around her nearly as fast, but karen also karen is just. trying to ground herself to the spot. the rain is loud around them, echoing off the awning, and Karen just sort of holds on. for a few moments, for maybe a bit more than that, but it's all she really needs - exactly what he's thinking - a moment to feel not alone. to feel safe. and it works- he might be a stranger, she might not even know his name, but for just a few moments karen isn't alone. she isn't about to drown, surrounded by floating faces of her past mistakes. she isn't about to die, days into a new city, into a new place, without a single person to know what happened.

she pulls back just about the same moment he does, turning away briefly just to wipe at her eyes (which should be answer enough, if he'd been wondering) and shakes her head at his question. ]

No- no I'm okay. I'm okay. Just- [ and he doesn't have to worry, because where he doesn't notice that he's cut, she will - immediately frowning as her eyes go to him and then his hand and back. ] You are, though. You have a first aid kit?

[carcajous]

[ A snort. Humanity does that. Maybe them, too. The mutants. End of the day, where the hell did wasting their time fighting each other get them? But he knows just 'cause their survival depended on them working together, it doesn't mean they were suddenly pals. Never that simple.

Logan pushes off the car. ] No shit. [ He pauses. As much as he's got more questions, there's probably a better time and place for the rest. ] Listen—anything comes up, you know the Professor won't turn one of us away. And we could use an extra head in the time travel department.

[ 'Cause right now, there's a grand total of two of them who've done it, and Logan's...pretty much just that. He's done it. That's all he can say.

Anyway, take it or leave it—Logan's already making his way back to his bike. He doesn't ask a name, doesn't say how to find him or Charles. He figures a guy like that won't have too much trouble tracking down just about anybody. ]

[sadpoem]

[Do you think s̸̮̈́̽ỏ̶̤̙̊̿ṃ̷̢̔̈́̿e̸̢͕̞̐̏ṫ̴͎̲̐͌h̵̰͛͗̀i̶͙͍̰̊̓͆n̵͍̹̈́̿g̵̨͂̅̕ is still in there?

[Sunny blinks, and it lasts a second too long. By the time his eyes open again, his heart feels like it's beating right out of his mouth. His eyes are wide in Lu Feng, mouth open and silently stammering. He nods, already backing away from the door again. He wants to close his eyes, wants to sleep, but he can't bear to look away, simply leave Lu Feng to his terrible fate. It's Sunny who condemns him, this perfect stranger.

[But the truth is, there's nothing inside. The room is empty, save for its furniture and Sunny's one small bag of belongings, turned over on the ground. All it would take is flicking the lights on to see: There's nothing to be afraid of.

[Unfortunately, that isn't an option right now...]

[decussate]

[ Adrian's polite disapproval doesn't ruffle Arlecchino's feathers. She's aware that most people don't see violence as a first resort. Terribly inconvenient for them, but their problem to deal with, not hers.

She can't say she understands why anyone would bother to close the eyes of these particular ruffians, but Adrian can do as he pleases. In the meantime, she crosses her arms and simply watches him, nigh motionless. ]

I am The Knave. [ An unflattering alias, but one worn comfortably. ] Where there are people, there is brutality. It matters not whether it happens in dark and dingy alleyways or behind pretty doors. He who is brutal first often emerges the victor.

[ She speaks with a calm, cold confidence. This is a lesson she finds so simple that she would teach it to a child. ]

If you are a healer, I understand why you'd find such things distasteful. Worry not; I can handle the mess while you return to your quarters.

[yeahmagnets]

[ The words settle in his chest like warm rain on scorched concrete. Not fixing anything, not erasing what's been done, but soothing it a little. Softening the sharp edges. Jack's voice isn't full of divine thunder or a preacher's certainty. It’s just steady. Almost human if he can put the fact that the kid lifted a fuckin' van over his head out of his mind for a few minutes. Easier said than done.

Jesse doesn’t answer right away. The wheel's warm beneath his palms, worn from years of being guided by someone else's hands. The road snakes out ahead, endless and anonymous. One universe stacked on another like fragile bones. Somewhere in it all, there's a Heaven. Somewhere else, there's a Hell. Maybe in his world, both exist. Maybe not. But Jack believes in the space in between - the possibility of becoming more than the sum of your mistakes. Redemption is possible. Not a guarantee, but a possibility. Jesse isn't entirely sure he believes that, but the way Jack says it makes him want to. He's quiet for another mile. Two. Then, voice low: ]

Yeah, man. Being alive is hard. [ He huffs, a small breath like a laugh that didn't finish growing. ] Never heard anybody say it like that. Not without tryna sell me somethin' first, anyways.

[ His gaze flickers to Jack. No deflection this time. No joke. Just a look, open and honest. Raw around the edges. The van rolls on. The radio hums something wordless between stations. Jesse suddenly doesn't feel like he's trying to outrun anything. Not his past. Not the weight in his chest. Not the idea that maybe there's still time to build something better from what's left. He drums his fingers lightly against the wheel again, glancing over. ]

So...what about you, Jack? You talk like somebody who's seen a lot. What keeps you going? [ His tone is easy, but curious. Not prying so much as curious and inviting. ] I mean, if you're cool talking about it. We got road - time to kill.

[decussate]

[ A quaso....... He hates her dignity and flake-free clothing, clearly. If they were in a properly formal setting, she could take this as an act of aggression.

Instead, they're in a quaint little hole-in-the-wall having a "casual" chat. For now, she will give Wriothesley and his treacherous croissant some grace. She leaves the pastry alone for the moment, settling into her chair and elegantly crossing her legs. ]

You have my thanks.

[ He spent his precious cucumber money... The Knave breathes the rich air of the cafe in before exhaling luxuriously. And then she levels her gaze on him once he's seated as well. ]

It's a pleasure to finally have our chat, Your Grace. [ The title is lightly sardonic on her lips. ] It's only a strange twist of fate that it had to take place so far from home.

[satanicpanics]

[ He really is a walking billboard for the best heavy metal and hard rock of the 70s and 80s. The large Dio patch on the back is the most obvious, but pins and patches also tout his love for Iron Maiden, Metallica, Motorhead, WASP, Mercyful Fate—between that and his hair, he’s either a young man who listened to Runnin' with the Devil once and decided to skinwalk as Eddie Van Halen, or he’s literally from the 80s.

Or, you know, both. ]

Jesus Christ. Ouch.

[ He laughs, though, after checking quite blatantly to be sure there are no loose bricks in the wall behind him. ]

Seriously, name some names. I can probably at least tell you if what I just gave you is anything close. Assuming you’re in the right timeframe, but uh—go on, try me.

[eyesite]

( it would probably shame or embarrass john by this point to think about how they recalled that selfsame moment so differently; hindsight afforded as much, even if one might try to justify that he, at the time, had had plenty else on his mind. having inherited what he saw as such a mountain of troubles from his predecessor, the small team of assistants that came with the position had been alternatingly a tacked-on consideration for later (when presented with the state of cacophonous chaos of the Archives at the time) and an active source of open anxiety for him (when he lapsed into near-debilitating bouts of impostor syndrome only further complicated by how very palpable the unsettling feeling that settled over him was when reading one of those “real” statements).

the tapes from those days were some of the hardest for him to listen to, partially because of how cringe-worthy his former pompousness and forced ignorance had been, but also because the voices were like those of ghosts reaching through time and space to haunt him. hell, sasha’s voice on all the tapes they had left wasn’t even hers. not really. and tim—well, there were far more grievous regrets that he’s accumulated over the years than those petty ones of how he’d acted, and listening to them had only kicked up those layers of sediment.

he couldn’t have anticipated how much, how deeply he would grow to care about any of them, each in their unique, sometimes challenging ways. it was a bit of a surprise for him, really; it’s not to say he was completely stoic, but he had always been sparing, even cautious, about such things. but they had all been thrown into a rather unique, intense crucible together.

anyways. ) I allowed it, but don’t push it, Martin. ( the tone he affects is severe, yes, but in the particular way that ends up twisting humorous; reminiscent, yes, of those earlier times, and as an offbeat echo to the impression that martin had just put on a few moments ago. )

Well—that’s alright. ( though it does make him happy, a flickering warmth locked in his chest against the sterile functionality of their surroundings, that the first thing either of them had done was look for the other. ) It just… means we’ll have to go and find out together.

( and, God help him, even before martin asks him how he’s feeling, he’s trying again to sit up, though, to john, this is experimentation, testing boundaries and limits. once, his body’s ability to recover had been so instantaneous and comprehensive that it’d been actively frustrating; he’d pushed a knife through his knuckle joint a half-dozen or more times, but rather than sever, the wound just sealed back up the moment the blade was removed. if he’s still alive after being stabbed in the heart, he has to imagine some manner of the same factor is at play—though, to what extent?

it still hurts. his chest burns, feeling strange and wrong in a way that’s hard to define, and his breathing is short and harsh—but he does get the sense that it doesn’t hurt quite as bad as it had moments before. he’s at the very least able to stay sitting up (even if it does kill). a faint sound of pain escapes him before he answers, ) I’ve certainly felt better, but—I, I think it’s improving. Slowly. ( the good thing would be that they might get to leave here moderately soon, though the poison in the tail would be that it didn’t bode particularly well for just how eldritchly-entangled he might be.

that, or the fact that… yes, lying back and talking through all of these details would be a nice, pleasant use of their time. but also: the whole world outside this tent, the surroundings and the people and the situation, it’s all just one immense unknown. it’s like a vacuum of space that draws him inexorably towards it, as hopelessly transfixed as a moth to flame.

so he remains sitting up, even as the question startles another laugh out of him; he lifts a hand to his temple, shaking his head. ) A what? ( talk about a switch in gears… ) I don’t know—seems rather presumptuous, really. Do we even know if they have dogs here yet?

( and, hmm… is he more of a cat person? he’d always thought himself neutral in that debate, though his time with the admiral had done much to place a finger (or a paw?) on the scale. )

[chuju]

[ He's half right with that feeling. She is worried about him, because in her world he's a beacon for good and they fight on the same side of keeping the world safe. But she's also worried for the people he might encounter along the way — that little display very clearly illustrated he's not entirely in control, and her experience with magic is limited enough that she doesn't have any real concept for how bad that might be.

For someone whose job it is to strategically weigh all the variables and make plans, not being able to do either is... frustrating, to say the least. As so many things are proving to be here.

His little deflection is something she sees through immediately, of course, but she lets it slide as she follows him. They could both use a little distraction to get through this part. ]

Oh, it was pretty bad a few years ago. They'd been digging into the foundations of society since SHIELD was formed after World War II, taking out anyone who tried to sound the alarm and stop them. [ Like Sousa, the newest member of their team, freshly plucked out of time just before his assassination. ] It took a long time for us to root them all out after they revealed themselves and SHIELD fell, but we rebuilt from the ground up and used all our energy to track them down. If there are still any remnants out there, they're just a tiny pocket right now.

[frostfist]

[ They're plebs here? They may as well act like it. Sorry he isn't Furina and laying out a spread of the finest cakes and desserts known to Fontaine-kind. Speaking of their plebian nature— ]

Just Wriothesley is fine. [ It's a quick correction, said firmly but without malice. ] It's not as though our titles mean much here, after all.

[ And the less other people know about his prior history the better. As easy as it would be to brush off any titles as a joke, it'd be easier if he didn't have to brush them off at all. But that's a concern for the future. For now, he should take advantage of the opportunity he's been given. Even if it would have been nicer to have this meeting sooner, he's not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. (Gift Harbinger? Whatever.) ]

Indeed. But I suppose better late than never. Your children are quite protective of you. I've had more luck trying to schedule meetings with officials in the Palais Mermonia.

[opticular]

[ Scott listens intently in ever word Charles utters, taking note when necessary and nodding while continuing to fix the other's wheelchair. He doesn't think he'd take too long to get it fixed, or at least make it as less rickety as possible. All Scott wants for his esteemed teacher is for him to travel smoothly with it.

Hearing how Charles saw his future self, or the self Scott's familiar of, doesn't surprise him one bit. He knows just how potent his Professor is. In fact, if there's something that surprises him, it's that Charles hasn't done something similar to this sooner. Maybe he just hasn't heard of it in his own time. It's also not surprising that the Charles he knows still believes in his dream even when circumstances were dire. It's like finding a fork in the kitchen, admittedly.

So what actually surprises Scott, enough for him to glance briefly at Charles, is the mention of a sister. Because he's sure the Professor of his time hasn't mentioned any of the sort. ]

I didn't know you have a sister. [ His tone hints at both surprise and confusion, with a touch of matter-of-fact in it. Scott feels he knows everything about his Professor, so this is completely new territory to him. ]

[unsunder]

I would listen to her, were I you. Or mayhap you need a bit of motivation.

[ This, as Emet-Selch raises a hand, snapping his fingers in that way that is likely to become very familiar indeed. At once, the hall is awash in purple light, an array of luminous spears appearing to pepper the walls, the ceiling, all poised and ready to strike.

It’s overkill, for sure, but let it never be said that Emet-Selch does anything halfway.

Four terrified faces turn upward, perhaps finally realizing what they’re up against. ]

Go on now. Scurry. Scatter.

[godjr]

[ Jack truly believes what he says and the words hold that sort of gentle confidence because of it. He doesn't agree with Lucifer about the nature of humanity, he's seen too much good, even in his short and sheltered life. Being flawed doesn't make someone evil, otherwise every living being could be seen that way. You could say that his obsession has been the line between good and evil and where he falls on it, but he doesn't weigh the rest of the world the same way. He believes in others more than himself. ]

I've died and I can tell you from experience, being alive is much harder.

[ There is finality to death, although it didn't end completely for him. But coming back held so much weight, he felt that each time he got another chance, it underlined the question 'what now, Jack?' to him. How he could be better, how this time he would be the person he was meant to be. Death is not something that he is afraid of. He's gone from one to the next, it's a staple of his short existence.

He looks out into the long space in front of them and it's soothing in a way, he likes the space, the possibility of it. He rarely got to be in a city and they described it as so many people in one place, and he's interested in what that might be like. It was daunting before but it feels less so riding with someone else about to embark on the same challenge. ]

I'm seeking redemption too. [ He says gravely, quietly. ] I burned out my soul stopping my uncle from destroying the world. For a time afterward, I was unstable and confused. I did bad things that I regret.

[ Mary is the biggest one that comes to mind, given that she was his adopted mother and she died trying to get through to him. He killed someone he loved, but at the time he couldn't feel that love the same way. He felt only echoes of emotions outside of the absence of them. But it wasn't just her. He let the angels lead him to kill people, to "purify" the world, and he left a trail of destruction after him. Then he caused violence and riots in the street by commanding the world to do as he said. So, there is a lot in a short amount of time for him to make up for, if he ever can.

He takes it seriously. He thinks that weight needs to press down on his chest at all times for him to understand he is not above anyone. His father always thought he was better than everyone else. Jack will not be him. ]

I have my soul back now. What keeps me going is the hope that I can do enough good to make up for my mistakes. I can't go to Heaven regardless, angels go somewhere else when they die, but I can still do the right thing.

[godjr]

Jack is truly terrible at deception and he believes pretty much everything that he hears, so he's always in a bit of a struggle about that. He isn't thinking of a movie but he hopes that he lies better than he thought. Laszlo says right and he doesn't sound very convinced but maybe he is. Jack will hold onto the hope that he didn't make it worse, somehow, with too much random information. He doesn't think his experience in another world necessarily makes this one any easier.

"Jack Kline. It's very nice to meet you, Laszlo." His name really suits him and his fancy look. It sounds like something from a book. "Do you know where the other parts of your fingers are? Maybe they can sew them back on. I hear hospitals can do that."

[godjr]

[ Jack follows his movement with his eyes and then after a moment he reaches out and knocks his own knuckles against the wall. He has a tendency to mirror other people's natural behavior in a bid to seem like one of them, especially when it comes to customs or common phrases. He hopes that seemed authentic. He knows the term knock on wood, just not where someone would do it. ]

Yes!

[ Jack smiles, glad, over something that he should probably not be glad about. Monsters and alternate dimensions are not usually a good thing, but for him it's more about meeting someone who understands that kind of lifestyle right away. ]

I'm a monster hunter, from a family of them. Although obviously I'm being respectful of the space here, I think there are people in it who would ordinarily fall under that category who are just trying to exist.

[ The hunters in his world aren't always so understanding. They do try to focus on monsters who actively go out and hurt others, they do want that to be the reason for anyone to die, but Jack's pretty sure sometimes they've just killed someone regardless, in case it would happen later. They definitely never allow demons to live, and Jack isn't entirely sure they all deserve it. Rowena's Queen of Hell now, she wouldn't deserve it.

But if he comes across monsters who are trying to murder people, he will kill them, obviously. In that case, it's what he's supposed to do. ]

So you're used to that kind of thing?

[decussate]

[ Wriothesley it is. The Knave neglects to make a reciprocal offer — not because she'd be offended by a lack of title, but because obfuscation is ever her friend and habit.

She huffs lightly at his very inside joke and rests her hands neatly on one knee. She could talk at length about her children, but first things first. Her demeanor smooths, only her strange pupils cutting into her features. ]

Then allow me to make up for lost time. I already know quite a bit about you, Wriothesley, and I imagine you know quite a bit about me. Our organizations have stepped on each other's toes in the past, but we are now heads without limbs to entangle.

So let me be frank. I'd like to reach an accord — a partnership, if you will. I believe it would be to our mutual benefit.

don't worry about it ♥️

[heavymetals]

[ It probably would not be the best idea to keep trying, under normal circumstances, but the room itself seems as impervious as the glass doors, nothing budging despite the force of each hit. If the building collapsed, Erik is confident he could just lift it off and get out of here— but the whole point here is that he can't.

He glances back to the table she motions to, letting out a huff. The state of the room isn't exactly conducive to a decent search, but he's sorely lacking on options. He still wonders if he'll find anything, but maybe some kind of clue, instructions, a code— so Erik waddles over and starts going through the files, in a rather impatient rush as he feels the water rising higher on his legs. ]

[magike]

( the scream happened again, much louder and closer than before. it was a banshee: a ghost wouldn't make so much noise, not like this. and, horrifyingly, it's much easier to dispatch a banshee than a ghost in this situation )

Well, if I had some sage, it would be simpler.

( sage and a handful of other ingredients, though it would only banish the spirit rather than actually killing it. but killing it wasn't the only thing they needed: if the screams got into the room they'd end up killing themselves trying to end the sound of it from their heads.

so she acts without warning, casting a spell in gaelic to protect their ears from the screams: they'll still hear it but it won't get into their heads.

and then, looking at him again-- )

Do you have anything gold on you?

[godjr]

"New Atlantis. What's it like?" Jack wonders if there is one in his world too. It's possible. A lot of things are possible. If angels, demons, vampires, and ghosts are all real, there's no reason to think more places are impossible. But his fathers would probably have found it by now if it was easy to be found.

"The arcana, I've heard that term, it usually means magic." Arcana tarot cards, obviously, but the arcane itself, he's done magic. He knows a powerful witch who uses the arcane. So it sounds like his new friend might be a wizard or a mage, he doesn't know what term is more appropriate. Witch is the more common term for magic users that he knows.

"The ruling class. Are you a prince?" That would be exciting. He knows Princes of Hell, but that is the worst case in this situation. A royal is interesting to him, Jack loves fantasy novels that always have kings and queens in them.

Jack mirrors him and creates a ball of light in his own hand. It's more like a rippling ball of energy but it doubles as light. He creates fire in the other hand to show off. His eyes go golden again, glowing when he uses his gifts. He puts them both out by closing his fists. He's actually proud that he managed to control them so well when he's a little unstable at the moment.

"It's nice to meet someone who can do what I do. Even if we're different species!"