Entry tags:
TEST DRIVE ∞ May 2025
Test Drive ∞ May 2025
The First Collision
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.
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:
TDM threads can be canon if characters are accepted. Top-levels made to the TDM should be open to all.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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:
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
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.
> 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.
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.
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.
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.
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no subject
He can't think of how to voice aloud what he's feeling, because it's so faint and unfamiliar, a heaviness around him and on him, and all he can do is breathe through it, be with her in this moment and the next.
What he's seen here already — glimpses of his past — are enough to rattle him, but also to turn him swiftly to action. In another situation, it would be enough for him to want to take those feelings out on something, someone, but it — settles him. That she's here. It's what she says, too, that makes that even truer. Start to see things you've never told anyone. ]
Yeah, that — [ With his left hand, he briefly rubs at the back of his neck, spares a glance at her. Is that why his neck felt hot? Like something burning him? This feeling like something hurt, but he didn't know why, and he might have gotten lost in it, too, but she was about to go...somewhere. He might not have been able to pull her back. And he figured he needed to try and grab her from whatever had a hold on her. What she's saying doesn't sound crazy, though. Not even close. ]
Both of us. [ This, he decides, is enough said for now. They get it. And this place is more than it seems. He starts rifling through every drawer he can find for something that would have a code of any kind. That water's still creeping, sloshing, but he has less of a feeling like they might drown here, like it's...settled down a little maybe? Just another fucked thing about this place. His fingers touch something, though, a binder of some kind, and he pulls it out, brings it close so she can see. ]
Instructions — right, couldn't start with that.
[ Despite the flatness of his tone, there is a trace of sarcasm there. Of course, it will unfortunately become clear to both of them that, unsurprisingly, instructions and a code are only half the battle. ]
no subject
she doesn't really want to extract herself from him, the physical touch doing a lot to keep her grounded, but she can't be the reason either of them are slowed down. there is a way out of this, and a key part is that both of them need to be able to move. to search. and there's something in his eyes, in the things he doesn't say when she mentions you too, okay? settles that for her, too. it isn't just a hallucination, it isn't just her own regrets coming back to haunt her. there is something going on in this room, in this building, is happening to them both. and if anything she just heard about herself might be something he is seeing, dealing with...
him being here is what pulled her out of her trance. so, maybe, her being here can keep him from doing the same.
he rubs at the back of his neck, and Karen watches him, waits - patient - for him to come to some kind of decision. when he spares her a glance, she gives him a small smile- trying to be reassuring, trying to communicate even a fraction of how relieved she is not to be doing this alone. he says both of us and she nods. ]
Both of us.
[ that is when he starts off, and she does too - hands flitting through drawers and stacks of notes, papers that mean nothing and mean, maybe, a little too much. but she's able to keep herself steady this time, glancing back to see the span of his shoulders not too far off every now and then, as if to remind herself, to root herself back in this.
she's tossing another box - some kind of research notes, she thinks, but she can't be sure - over the edge of the desk to get it out of her way when he comes closer to her, drawing her attention to the binder in his hands. instructions he says, flatly, and karen's already reaching for the pages, not quite ripping them out of his hands but very much taking them, her eyes scanning over the words and symbols. instructions, yes, but also the code- the code. ]
This is it. [ she says, definitively, her eyes turning to him with a kind of overwhelming relief. ] You found it! [ and then, without any warning, Karen is tossing her arms over his shoulders in a tight hug. it's a second later that she pulls away, realizing she'd gotten swept up in it all, and she looks a little sheepish as she scans the pages again. ]
Okay- okay. [ her eyes go over to the window, the glass that separates them both from the outside. she looks at him and then makes her way towards it, assuming he'll follow. ] If the panel's outside, then we either need to find a way to it, or- [ when they make it to the glass, karen's looking out into the darkness, worrying at her lip. ].
Someone just needs to come by, and we can show them this. They'll go back and punch it in, and it should open the window.
[ it's a bit delayed, the heaviness of her realization. of the understanding he might have had a few minutes before. someone else has to complete this next step. someone else, hopefully, who isn't locked in here with them. she scans the darkness and the rain outside of the window before turning back to him, doing just about everything she can not to let that brief flash of hope slip through her fingers.
no subject
The feeling part of him is the part that he's less in touch with, not easily connected to, and if he was, maybe, his response would have been quicker, more immediate, more obvious. His logic and practicality, his mind (and less his heart) are what generally guide him, and that's enough to keep him there in the moment because she's hugging him and maybe it's something she needs to do and wants to do, and it doesn't upset him that it happens. Nothing important is lost because she hugs him. So — this is okay, he decides. Just as he gets to that point in his head, he starts to consider maybe he should respond, too. That it's the kind of thing people do, and he should try it. But she pulls back and he hasn't gotten to that part yet — to mimicking the motion of her arms, testing it, seeing if he gets it right and this is a thing he should repeat, wants to repeat.
That's fine, though, he reasons, because they need to get out of here.
Something he files away distantly in his mind is that she's the kind of person who hugs people freely, people she doesn't even know. Someone she's just met in this weird building. He's not going to go deep examining why she did it, other than just a feeling of relief, but she did it, is the thing. She hugs people and he trusts her for the length of time they're in this space together. That counts for something.
As she speaks, Amos listens, takes it all in, comes to the same conclusion. He's not the type to toss out words of comfort or positivity, though. Best he can do is — ]
That message got posted around — we ain't the only ones who saw it.
[ These aren't words for the sake of them, and they feel real enough to be a possibility. He feels like he sees it, maybe. Something a person like her probably has at least — a little more than he does. That kind of thinking where you know shit is fucked, but you believe there's a chance it can work out. While Amos doesn't believe they're completely screwed, he's less about having hope or not. Something will happen or it won't, and he's not the type to get stuck holding onto one belief or the other. He just wants to know what he's dealing with.
But something happened to her before, and the situation they're in still isn't better. They're still stuck here. That trapped feeling is still like a heavy grip around him, but he's finding that the more he focuses on trying to distract her, the more that feeling eases. So, he'll keep her talking. Maybe it'll keep something going in her. That, at least, is one thing he can possibly semi-control in all of this.
At the same time, he's thinking through all of their options right now while they wait. He hates that, feeling like he can't do anything but wait. So he rummages around in his pocket, pulling out his car keys. It's raining so heavy outside, he figures it won't help much, if at all, but it's more than he was doing a moment ago. So he stays in front of the window, holding his keys up to it, trying to catch some kind of light maybe, to reflect off the keys when the lightning flashes. If anyone comes by, they could see it. So he rocks his keys back and forth near the glass, while he looks over at her, to keep her talking, keep her with him. ]
What'd you drive here in?
no subject
it's only one step, they're not out of the woods yet, but it's better than standing still.
but just as quickly as the relief and hope comes, the next hurdle makes itself clear. a hurdle that is officially, almost entirely, out of their control. maybe that's why the drop is so quick to come to her, a heaviness that she is usually much better about keeping out of her voice. after all this searching, after all of this work, all this luck, now... they have to wait.
the message got posted around he says, and Karen looks over to him. while he may not sound all that experienced in words of comfort, there is somehow something inherently calming about it. because he is right- the message did get posted around. and if he didn't actually believe they had a chance for someone to show up, she has a gut feeling he wouldn't have said anything at all. so that leaves them here, standing next to these windows, hoping to see movement, hoping to see someone else. were they back in new york, were she home, she wouldn't be worried - people are around every corner, down every hall, for better or for worse. here? here karen quite escape this feeling of emptiness, like they could be stuck here, in this room, and no one will know, or come for them.
it does not escape her that the only reason she doesn't spiral down into those thoughts is because he's here with her. that, at the very least, she's not alone as the water starts to rise, as she closes her eyes because there is that feeling again, of something watching. of something in the water, watching them just out of reach. the sound of the keys rattling catches her attention again, and when she looks, she notices him dangling the metal near the window, trying to catch light. smart. really smart. she exhales, not having realized she'd been holding her breath. ]
Hmm? Oh. [ he was asking her a question, and her eyes open a little further - her car. he's asking about her car. she points off a bit to the left, though because of the lighting and the rain, the most they can make out is a silhouette, about 70 years away. ] It's an old pickup with a truck cap, but I didn't recognize the make or model, but it looks like a F-250, older. Maybe '80s? [ it has been....some time since she's really thought about cars, but the knowledge comes back to her, unbidden. she never really considered herself a car person, either, but these kinds of things were important back in vermot, when your car (or, really, your mom or dad's car that you either got to use or 'borrowed') was your only means of transportation.
she takes a breath in, and then one out, steadying herself. realizing, in some distant part of her, that this is all they can really do right now. ] Yours?
no subject
They said it was, uh — [ He searches for the word, unfamiliar. A slight pause as he keeps a look out the window. ] — jeep. Jeep Commando. [ He leaves out the year — '70s or '80s, he can't remember, and those are centuries way behind him. He doesn't know much about any of these vehicles in this world, he's not used to cars like this, but pickup means a little something because he remembers looking close at one before he'd landed on the one he got. So while it's hard as hell to make out anything through the rain, he's squinting and trying to identify shapes, and what he sees out there that actually catches his attention isn't a pickup, isn't his own car. ]
I think I see something. Someone else. Hard to make out a fucking thing, but — it's not just me, right? You see it, too?
[ A vehicle...smaller? And a shape, a shadow, a...person? Moving towards them? He starts to bang on the glass with his free hand now, like there might be a chance it's not just him seeing the wrong kind of things in the dark. ]
no subject
[ to be fair to both of them, karen is also the type to wear everything on her face. she's an easy read, for anyone who is looking, which is a blessing as much as it is a curse. a blessing, in many ways, because sometimes all it does take is that catch of eyes, an affirmation that she's not alone, and he can see the barest hint of relaxing in her eyes. he might not have to say much, but she does appreciate it. she gets it.
and this is easy. they're talking about something normal. even if he seems to struggle a bit with the word. as if he was...what. unfamiliar? interesting.
she smiles a little and nods when he does answer. ] Jeeps are nice. A friend of mine had one in high school. They can flip if you get going too fast, but... yeah. [ she shrugs. she doesn't quite pick up on the why, but she has a feeling there's a little more to his tone that just being unfamiliar with car makes and models. something she might have to keep in the back of her mind as they keep talking.
that's when she notices the way he's looking out into the darkness, and she squints, pressing her face to the glass a bit like his. ]
Hey- [ it's quiet, more to each other, but then she sees it, something else moving in the rain. the urgency is back, surging up into her and breaking whatever tense quiet they'd be sharing as she bangs on the glass with her open palm, feeling the dull pain shoot up her arm. but it's fine- it's fine, because someone's out there. ] Hey! Hey- we're in here!
[ she hasn't figured out yet that it's soundproof. she will, soon enough, as long as the figures continues towards them like she thinks it is. ]
no subject
continued here if you like! ]