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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.
Main Navigation ::: ⇅
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shhhh it's fine
Silently it's his way of telling her it's okay. She was going to be okay. He was here. They were in no immediate danger and it was okay to let her guard down because he would be here to watch out for her. Rain comes down in torrents around the awning they've taken shelter under and the flickering lights from the building don't make it feel particularly safe. But as he's learned from experience, the environment doesn't always matter so long as you've got someone there who feels like a safe place or someone to rely on.
And while he occasionally doubts how safe of a person he is, he can be that person for her at least for now in this moment. Others she might have been more familiar with may have scolded her or questioned her reason for being here in the first place when she may appear woefully unequipped. But he doesn't know her like that. And that's frankly, the very last thing she probably needs.
After a moment he pulls back but not away, brow furrowed in concern as he examines her more closely not that they're outside. ]
Did you injure yourself? I have a first aid kit in my car.
[ Leave it to him to ignore the fact that he's somehow managed to cut himself. ]
no subject
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?
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But it's also, almost always, bent in the face of others who are hurting. Who are passionate and compassionate. And how can he turn a blind eye to that when he understands so intimately what it's like to feel adrift and alone and lost? It's almost enough to make him reach out to help wipe some of those telltale tears. He's only stopped because he comes to his own senses and because she simply moves to do it herself. ]
What?
[ In confusion he glances down at his hand. Blood curls around his hand like a red ribbon and it occurs to him that he doesn't remember how or when. In fact, that entire experience swims, slipping through his mind as he tries to recall it. He gives his head a shake trying to clear his head, his vision before nodding and motioning for her to stay here.
When he returns he's more wet than before but seems unfazed by the fact as he uncovers a blanket from beneath his jacket and drapes it a little awkwardly over one of her shoulders. ]
It's no towel but it's something to keep you warm.
no subject
karen frowns, concerned. she opens her mouth to ask after it when he motions for her to stay there, and he himself rushes off. she steps after him, suddenly realizing she's alone and the rain is still coming down. she wraps her arms around herself, looking the other way down the road, towards more buildings, more lights in the dark. she can't help how her mind drifts back to the room, to the darkness there, to whatever it was that was pulling the water up to the ceiling, the feeling that it'd left behind.
he returns just a few moments later, drowned by the rain, and she turns back to him - eyes widening when he takes the blanket out from his jacket and pulls it around her shoulders, a bit awkwardly. she grips on to it, pulling it tight around her, not having realized she'd started to tremble just a bit. ]
Thank you. [ a beat, a small smile. and then her brow furrows a little. ] Did you get the kit? [ she asks, adjusting the blacket a bit. ] For your hand. You're still bleeding.
no subject
This woman was safe. That was the priority. Not him. Hence handing her the blanket first. It doesn't escape his notice that she had begun to tremble; whether it was out of fear or the cold is hard to say (and maybe it's both), but it occurs to him that maybe they shouldn't be standing out in the cold like this while they're also soaked to the bone. At her prompt however he extracts that from his jacket too. ]
Here.
[ He nods towards their cars parked not too far away. ]
I probably should have suggested we move to the car so we could run the heater. You're shivering.
no subject
thank blanket is a huge help, and she's appreciative of it. that's when he does take the kit out of his jacket, and Karen smiles a little as she takes it from him, starts to open it up and search inside when he mentions the car. her eyes go over to the vehicle, not that far away at all, and then back to him.
the idea of a heater is honestly... really nice. she lets out a breath, almost a sigh, but she does keep shaking just a bit even as she grips the blanket and the kit. ] I'm okay, really. [ a beat, where she considers it. then she lets out another breath, something like a sigh. ] But actually...yeah. That's- yeah. Only if that's okay? Mine's on the other side, around the corner. [ a beat, and then she tucks the kit under the blanket, and looks to him. ]
no subject
Despite her being a stranger he does care. It's impossible to kill the part of him that does no matter how hard the Empire may try or on his lowest days. But they're here in an unknown planet together and that has to count for some ounce of care - right? That, and caring for another makes it infinitely easier for Cassian not to think about how he can't quite remember how he got injured and why thinking too long about it only stirs a deep sense of unease in him. ]
Yours then.
[ And it's more of a confirmation than sounding like someone who's been turned down. He motions for her to lead the way but before stepping out from the awning, he shrugs his coat off, propping it up over them like a makeshift cover.
It's only once they're seated in her car and he's slid into the passenger seat that he realizes belatedly they'd had no time at all for introductions. ]
I'm Cassian, by the way.
no subject
yours then.
she nods, yes. okay. they turn to the rain, towards where her car is parked, and right when she glances back to him he is already halfway out of his coat and propping it up over them as a makeshift umbrella. she smiles a thanks to him and steps in close - to make sure they both stay under the cover, of course.
once they make it to her pickup, she slides into the drivers seat, rubbing her hands together for a moment before turning the keys in the ignition, listening to make sure everything sounds right as the car comes to life. it's only once the engine turns over that she exhales, relaxes, and then pulls out the first aid kit he brought with him - looking through its contents as he introduces himself.
she stills, realizing she hadn't known his name before then, and then smiles at him. ] Karen. [ there's a moment where she just sort of sees him, where the events of the last half hour or so actually settle, before she pulls out some antiseptic and bandages, holding out one of her hands, palm up. ]
Here- let me see your hand.
no subject
The exchange of their names earns the slightest lift of his lips from him before seeming to recall - yet again - that part of the reason they're here is to patch up his hand. This time however she receives no resistance or protest. Tugging up the sleeve of his coat he extends his arm out towards her with the blood still mysteriously bleeding despite it having long past the time when it should have stopped.
The sight makes his lips thin some but he doesn't dwell on it aloud. Instead, casually he offers - ]
You look like you've done this before.
no subject
he doesn't fight her when she asks for his hand this time, and she's glad it doesn't have to turn into an argument (though she'd been prepared for it to, just in case). as soon as his hand is close enough, she leans over to get a closer look. it isn't bad, or at least isn't dire, but it hasn't stopped bleeding either, and she can't help the way she frowns a little when she notices that.
not that it matters - she gets to work, wiping it off and cleaning it with fairly gentle, semi-practiced hands. his words get a flicker of her eyes towards him, and a hint of a smile. ]
A couple of times, maybe. [ more often than she likes to admit, but that's another story or another day. ] I'm not a doctor, though. You'll want to get this checked out, but this should be okay until you can. [ with one hand still holding up his wrist, she rifles through the first aid kit, focusing for the next few minutes on cleaning the wound and then wrapping it, tearing the tape with her teeth and then gently wrapping it around his hand. ] There. How does it feel?
no subject
But the sting of the alcohol wipe against his skin draws him away from that and back to the present. It doesn't hurt so much as it draws a minor reaction from him in the twitch of his lips.
From what she says and how she says it, it occurs to him that there's probably more to her than meets the eye. But who didn't have some kind of story to tell? ]
A doctor here might actually cost me my arm.
[ But she isn't wrong. He probably should. Will he though? Unlikely. Especially if he can monitor it himself and hopes that it will just heal on its own. It isn't the first time he's wished that he had bacta gel in this world. ]
Secure. Cleaner. I should just come to you for this kind of thing. [ He pauses, looking back at her, the faintest ghost of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. ] Thank you.
no subject
karen snorts, briefly, at the mention of a doctor here. it makes her think of the reason they all came here, or at least she assumes they came here, glancing out her window to the now dark building before letting out a sigh. she's disappointed in herself, but also in this whole trip - how this waste of time very nearly cost her her life.
( she doesn't know yet there's a bottle of medicine in her coat pocket. ) ]
Maybe- but only cuts and scapes, okay? Maybe even stitches, if I have to, but that's about it. [ a beat, and then her attention turns back to him, away from the window. she resettles, starting to feel the heat fill the cab of the car. his comment about coming to her has her shaking her head, exhaling, though there's a kind of acceptance in it. like she knew this was a place she would always end up being, in the end. ] You do this kind of thing often?
no subject
Absently he continues to flex his hand, trying to figure out if the strange numbing sensation is all in his mind or actually something he needs to worry about.
(Apparently he hasn't noticed that he's received a bottle of medicine in his own coat pocket.)
His lips twitch slightly. ]
Help someone from locked room or injure myself?
no subject
her eyes flick over to how he's still flexing his hand, wondering if she's tied it too tight, if there's something else he's not saying, but if he doesn't offer an explanation she won't dig. yet.
his twitch of lips has her huffing out a kind of laugh. ]
Both? Either? [ there's a kind of sparkle in her eyes when she looks back to him - amused at his humor. ] I meant rushing into danger to save someone you didn't know, but I'll take an answer to any of those.
no subject
(Though both of them probably could have done without the near-drowning, strange eldritch-esque experiences they respectively encountered.) ]
Not before today [ But did a jail break count? ], more than I'd like, and probably.
[ Though with how he says it, she might very well get the impression that the 'probably' is more in line with 'definitely'.
But right at that moment he shifts in his seat, feeling the odd lump in one of his pockets. Lighthearted amusement turns to confusion as he reaches into his pocket, extracting the small bottle of medicine. The dim flickering light of the building illuminates just enough for him to read the label. ]
I don't remember taking this.
no subject
he says not before today and then more than I'd like and probably, and karen can't help the way her mouth curls up at the edges. yes, she is pretty sure she's seeing the real definition behind that probably, but she won't push him on it just yet. will let him live in that denial.
that's when he shifts, and then pauses. karen's smile falters a little, her brow furrowing into a brief, still moment before she decides if she needs to panic, or if it's something else. that's when he pulls out the small bottle of what looks like antibiotics, and the furrow in her brow immediately softens to surprise. she reaches over - all but taking it out of his fingers as she reaches up and turns on a (barely working) light above their head. ]
This is- this is the medicine they said was inside. [ a beat, and then she looks at him, excited and a little impressed. ] You don't- wait. [ she pauses, then reaches into her own pocket, pulling out a matching bottle. that look of confusion, and a little awe, crosses her eyes as she looks back to him. ]
I definitely didn't take this. I didn't even see inside the crates before the water started rising. But...how?
no subject
Karen's life had been at risk.
There's no resistance as she plucks the bottle from his hand to examine it further before realizing that she has one of her own too. Nerves on the back of his neck begin to prickle and his suspicions begin to rise before another voice tries to talk himself down. Karen is safe. They have the medicine. Why does it matter how they got it? ]
Neither of either of us had time to pick these up.
[ But the statement lingers there with no explanation to follow it because frankly...he doesn't have one. And as much as it kills him not to have that answer, he stops himself from going further down a rabbit hole that might very well lead to nowhere. When he looks from the medicine bottle back up to her his gaze holds steady. ]
Maybe that's our sign to leave it alone. We got what we came for, didn't we? And you're safe. That's more important.
no subject
her mind starts to spin, wondering if this is even safe, if they've been planted with something dangerous. was that the plan all along? to give them something- poison, maybe? send them back to the city with it? but if that was the case, then how would they even know they'd survive? karen was so close to not, so close to drowning until cassian showed up, and even then how would they know he would? how would they know they'd take it back to the city with them? it looks like medicine, sure, but-
his voice pulls her out of her thoughts, and she looks over to him at the comment. maybe that's our sign. he says you're safe so casually that karen almost doesn't apply that to her. yes, she almost died, yes, she almost drown, but-
no. he's right. she is only now safe, and for all that this might feel like something else, she needs to count her blessings. she exhales, tension flooding out of her with it, and she nods. ]
You're right. And we probably need to get it checked, anyway. Take it back to the city... [ have someone test it, before it's used. she unwinds herself from the blanket, now that the cab of the truck has warmed up, and pulls her seatbelt on. ] We should probably head back. I can drive you to your car?