TEST DRIVE ∞ May 2025

[thediadem]

Test Drive ∞ May 2025

The First Collision

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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

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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

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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

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©

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.

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Comments

❧ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʟᴏᴄᴋꜱ

[stonethrow]

Maelle!

( it's been a few hours, and gustave's general sense of being at peace in this place is nowhere to be found. he's constantly found in and around the blocks, calling out a couple of names, in intervals—maelle, lune, sciel—as if expecting to find someone. in fact, he needs to find them, and this 'maelle' with more insistence still. he knocks on doors of the different motels, annoyingly so, his left arm a dull metal echo against the furnishings of the place, until he's forcibly asked to please leave, he's disturbing others.

can one really be too mean to this desperate, sad-looking man? )

Merde...

( he grunts, as a sudden electric-sounding boom gives way to a power outage.

tiredly, he walks down the rest of the outer stairs down as tenants of the motel poke their heads out of their rooms and complain about the current state of affairs. the bile threatening to expel out of him upon his arrival feels like a constant in the pit of his stomach now, and he's sweating plenty under his expeditioner's coat. )

—hey, man. Nice arm.

( raising his gaze as he reaches the landing, a trio of hooligans approach him, eyeing his prosthetic arm. no such issues in lumiere, but here — well, it's not the first time someone has made a comment about his arm; some impressed, others interested in a way that he does not appreciate.

he grumbles, )

I don't have the time for this.

( or the emotional energy to respond accordingly. some help might be welcome, as gustave tries to assess the threat level of the trio. )

[unsunder]

Really? Are we going to do this here?

[ He just wanted to get out of the building for a bit, since it seems to be plunged into darkness for the foreseeable future. And now there’s a fight brewing, and it’s in his way, and he just absolutely does not want to deal with this.

At first glance, Emet-Selch does not look like he’ll be of much help, dressed in robes like he just stepped out of a theater performance… or a cult meeting. Or both. But he is here, and two against three is better than the alternative. ]

If you three have even an iota of care for your continued existence, I would suggest you leave.

[stonethrow]

( gustave can't help but squint at the man, a not-so-vague threat delivered with ease and without any seeming remorse. since arriving here, gustave may also be doing a little bit of gawking at anyone who seems any bit older than their 30s. it is certainly a new world. )

...isn't that a bit too much?

( he half mutters to himself, even as the trio turn towards emet-selch.

not that he isn't grateful for the unexpected aid! he just doesn't want to be caught into an unexpected fight, spurred into a bigger conflict because of incendiary words. genuinely, he's not picking sides, except his own. )

Iota? Whazzat?

( ah, alright. genuine idiots looking for an easy target. the trio, or at least two of them, feel a little uncertain now that there's a second person who stands straighter and with more confidence than the one they initially targeted. )

Just ignore them. They're already thinking of leaving.

( he hopes... )

[unsunder]

[ Oh buddy, if you only knew how waaaay over 30 he really is.

Anyway, he heard that, and he shoots Gustave a look that clearly says he doesn’t care if it was overkill or not. He’s having a bad day. Week. Life. Anyone getting in his way and being stupid about it is going to have to bear the brunt of it. ]

Oh, wonderful. Naught but Panorama’s best and brightest for us.

[ So they’re annoying and stupid, what a red letter day this is. While two of them seem to be wise enough to start doubting their odds, the head goon in charge looks ready to double down. A little persuasion is in order.

With a sigh to end all sighs, Emet-Selch raises a hand, snaps his fingers, and the landing is suddenly awash with purple light as a wall of glowing, circular portals appears before three men. In each portal there sits poised spears of purple light, aimed and ready to fly free. ]

Yes. [ Dry. ] I rather think you’re right.

[ That does it – and is admittedly just as overkill, so let it never be said that Emet-Selch does anything halfway. The three turn tail and flee, and Emet-Selch waves away the magic with a flippant gesture, like he’s shooing an insect. It all dissipates as if it had never been. ]

You are unharmed, I trust.

[stonethrow]

( for a couple of terrifying minutes, gustave worries that the other man (whom he is grateful has taken away from his time to help him—not that gustave couldn't have helped himself) would attack the trio of annoying-and-stupid and kill them. he doesn't really know anyone here, nor their nature; how could he expect good in any and all of them?

then, beyond the terror, there is wonder.

magic, alike but different to what lune and sciel can cast on their own, a beautiful purple, elegant in their summoning.

thankfully — the trio flee, and gustave breathes a little sigh of relief. )

Oui, yes, my friend.

( gustave has always been a gentle soul, and while he hasn't met many new people back in his world, he is never without his politeness, without his want to foster kindness with others.

he approaches the other man, a little hesitant, as he surmises the situation. )

Thank you for your help.

MY BOY (I am being so vague in this tag okok bc canon points)

[foretells]

[ She's almost certain she was hearing someone calling her name. But that can't be right, because it sounds like...

No. Got to be imagining it. She's come this far with her little car and hasn't run into a single one of her friends - no flags, no recording logs, nothing. As much as Sciel holds on, holds on so tightly for tomorrow, the absence is something she's also all-too-familiar with, and while she doesn't choose to embrace it, she shoulders it like an old bag and keeps moving. Has to, really.

Sciel is no stranger to the dark and, frankly, doesn't fear it - and doesn't fear what may lurk within it. Not anymore. That's not true of anyone else, though, and she ducks down the hall, calling out, Hey, you okay?, to anyone close by, checking rooms. Some people respond; others don't. It is what it is. She's heading back out and onto the (rickety) fire escape through her window just to see if she can get a better vantage point of what's what...and wouldn't you know it, something's happening below.

Something's happening to someone very familiar.

She doesn't know what overtakes her first, even as she's clomping down the fire escape to the beat of her thundering heart, eyes wide. And on the last set of steps? ]

Yoohoo, bonjour, mon ami. [ Not to Gustave but to the three closing in. Her smile is a crooked, funny thing. ] It's a bit rude to bother my friend.

MON AMIE

[stonethrow]

( gustave's heart thunders, too, upon hearing a most familiar and welcome voice, but for exactly the opposite reason to sciel's own. relief floods his veins, shoulders relax, and there's a visible shift in how he carries himself, feeling lighter. )

I would say it is very rude and not just a bit.

( he grins up at her as she makes a truly sciel-like entrance.

one would never imagine what she's been through, and that's something that gustave earnestly respects, earnestly admires. how proud he is of his dear friend, of someone so close to his heart.

his bravado is back now, at least, and his relaxed stance eases into just seconds away from summoning his sword of choice. the trio seems a little more reticent now to do as planned, glancing between the two, like they're involved in an inside joke that they want nothing to do with.

very importantly, gustave adds, almost laughing, )

Bonjour, mon amie. You're a sight for sore eyes.

I pull up the english to french part of google lmao

[foretells]

And you as well.

[ She's finally down on the ground now, striding up towards Gustave. Her heart hitches in her chest as she goes, fluttering terribly with relief. It's almost enough to distract her from the moment and from the real threat of danger, but her gaze flicks from Gustave to their new acquaintances with something edging into intrigue. And worry. ]

Ooh, but maybe they were just trying to help. It might be a simple misunderstanding.

[ Sciel hadn't been a teacher for overly long but that tone is there, like a parent trying to offer a child an out. The three of them could walk away now and there won't be repercussions. But if they want to press a bit further, there will be trouble.

They're not going to touch him if she has any say about it.

One of them looks like maybe he wants to back off. But the first one just gives her an incredulous look. 'What is wrong with you?' he asks, and he's pulling out what looks to be a long blade, made from scrap and sharpened to a deadly point.

Sciel smiles. ]

Maybe not, then. That's okay.

[ She's up for a beatdown. ]

all of us fr lmao

[stonethrow]

( the thing about sciel is her charm. even in the worst of situations, she will always bear a smile and humor, others first, and then her own well-being. it's probably because of that why—for as long as he's known her—gustave has always kept close to her, as best as he could, especially after what had happened.

so, given this, he lets her lead, and finds the expected response.

amused, he meets her green eyes. )

I don't think they like you or I very much.

( a familiar swathe of chroma broils on his right hand, his sword appearing; a long blade for a long blade, but gustave is personally quite fond of the reach of sciel's scythe. )

Ne les tuons pas, ( let's not kill them ) we don't want this to be an unnecessary problem for us later.

( he will follow her lead, as it were, for the appearance of gustave's sword and a different language spoken has made the trio a little more alarmed and frantic, so it's best to catch their intentions first than go in blind. )

🚨🚨🚨clair obscur spoilers🚨🚨🚨

[reverso]

[There's never a good time for a blackout, is there? And yet the fortune of good timing is on Verso's side in one way since he's heard the voice of a man calling out for rather familiar names. It's made his stomach clench, the thoughts of the impossibility of this world and his existence in it once more dredged up in his mind. Feeling as though they might choke him.

He moves his feet. Through the darkened halls into the part of the building that remains at least dimly lit for now, pushed by a strange tension coiling inside of him, only to find the source of what he's looking for. A man dressed in an Expeditioner's uniform. A man he's seen before.

Gustave.]

...What?

[It would be more helpful to do more than gawk, and of course Verso might shake himself out of this surreal and jarring revelation in a moment or two, but surely these hooligans will be kind enough to give him that much before he decides to properly step in?

Probably not.]

[stonethrow]

( verso just about makes it outside enough to fall into the line of sight of one of the trio, who elbows the leader of the group, pointing at him. their attention shifts from gustave, in front of them, to verso, to their right. they grin and snicker to themselves, a plan forming in their minds.

maybe verso looks like an easier target, or one they can take on? it should be insulting.

—or at least that's what gustave figures. )

No, no, ( he says in a tiny burst of air, stepping closer; oh, verso will hate this, how gustave steps in for his sake— ) leave him out of this. You want my arm, don't you?

[reverso]

[He absolutely hates it. His very soul rails against it, and not because he is indignant or prideful or because he doesn't think he requires the aid of anyone else. It is because it is Gustave; the man he could have saved but chose not to, or the man he condemned to a permanent death by damning the Canvas to its ultimate fate. Gustave should not be helping him like this, despite his seemingly kind nature. His selflessness is a cruelty, he just doesn't know it.

And perhaps that is its own brand of indignity, just enough to tear Verso out of his reverie, and he immediately steps forward before either party can continue.]

No.

[Without warning, one of his blades is summoned — the largest of his sword, as the smaller weapon is now missing in this world. But it appears with the usual smoky flare of chroma, materializing in its hand, and he immediately grips it by the hilt and lifts it to point the steel towards the troublemaking group.]

Leave him be. Or you'll find yourself in more trouble than you can handle, I promise you that.

[And if that's a bold declaration, not knowing what the residents of this world are capable of, well. He's stared down scarier.]

[stonethrow]

( this is a little unusual.

(just a little?)

the flare of chroma the blade appears in is all too familiar, and that much forces gustave to react, doing the exact same. in a swathe of gold light, a similar sword appears in his hand, and he is not as bold as pointing it towards the offenders between them, though it remains steady at his side—ready.

he has many questions, but they can wait—for after. right now, he tries to reason with the trio before this actually escalates. )

You are not well-equipped for this fight. Go, and we ( WE!! ) won't follow.

( that only seems to enrage the leader, who spits out a command to the other two, and gustave catches flashes of metal from under their coats; they, too, have weapons of some kind. it's but a matter of seconds, really— )

Fais attention, they have guns!

( which can prove, to them, a disadvantage, with just their swords. he curses not having his own gun at hand since arriving here; gustave quickly lunges forward, the hilt of his sword slamming against a moving arm, hitting the elbow, with enough force to dislocate it. a second tries to catch onto gustave by his shirt, topple him over; the third—the leader—aims for verso, instants from pulling the trigger. )

[vilebled]

[ The explosion was...sudden. This place has been full of surprises since her timely arrival and she's still getting used to the stark differences in available technology. But the aura of the world--something about it is hauntingly familiar in ways she does not want to explore. (No, she's been there already...down that dark road of discovery.)

Still, she has her composure. Maria descends the short stairs, pausing only part way as she sees some sort of brawl brewing amongst the other rattle residents. Icy eyes flit between a dark-haired man and a group of--what would she call them. Troublemakers? They walk with the sort of intent one has to cause damage--Maria makes her decision quick.

She steps down calmly so that she finds her space on the landing not far from him. She's tall for a woman in most worlds, standing well over six feet, and levels her gaze on the trio. Her voice is surprisingly soft despite her demeanor, quiet but commanding with a Slavic tinge. ]

It would be best for all of us to move on.

[stonethrow]

( gustave would be the first to say he is not expecting any kind of assistance whatsoever, not for himself, and especially not by others. so focused has he been on his very particular mission of finding his friends and companions, that he's barely even given it thought that others, here, would find the time and breath to give him aid.

she definitely stands tall and imposing, and while gustave's response is to just about tense up at the uncertainty (—at some vague familiarities—), the trio of (truth-be-told young) 'troublemakers' glance at the approaching woman with slightly more worry. )

I assure you that I can look after myself—

( he says as much, when one of the trio lunges forward, throwing a stray punch towards him. he blocks it, just in time, with his left arm. gustave feels nothing, but the attacker does, wincing in pain and holding onto his hand.

gustave shakes his head. )

Please, leave now.

( the trio is already mostly cowering, and they haven't done much of anything... suppose an intimidatingly tall woman does wonders to ones street cred. )

[vilebled]

[ Maria spares a quick glance to the arm, noting that it's a prosthetic of some sort, but fully functional in movement. Curious is the first feeling she has, but quickly averts her attention back to the issue at hand. She has little reaction to the youth hurting himself on the other man's arm.

If anything, her calm might seem unwarranted. In reality, she's...tired. Tired and doesn't need nor want to see ceaseless violence. (She's caused enough of that herself.) ]

What is it you want?

[ She addresses the youths. ]

If it is food or supplies...you had best look elsewhere.

[ Maria bows her head slightly, letting the shadow of her brows fall across her eyes. ]

If it's trouble, then you would do well to leave, as he said.

[virtuose]

[If hearing her name being called out in the streets wasn't enough to make her stand at attention, the voice behind it certainly does the job.]

It can't be. Gustave?

[Stopping her in her tracks, she twirls as she tries to pinpoint the source. Her heart thunders in her chest, in both surprise and disbelief. There were already so many unanswered questions about this place, but to add something like this? Hearing his voice? Surely she was delusional, brought about by the back-to-back shock of the last couple of hours.

But upon hearing the voice again, this time calling out to Lune and Sciel, Maelle finds herself racing towards it, moving as fast as her legs can carry her. She didn't care if it was some kind of trick. For now, the least she could do was to see him with her own eyes, and, by the sound of it, he can't be that far.

When she finds Gustave, the trio close in on him, reaching for what she can only assume are weapons. Coming up from behind them, she brandishes her rapier, arm and blade extended towards the closest of the three.]

I can't leave you alone for a minute. [She looks towards Gustave, offering the quickest, faintest smile, before shifting her focus to the three.] How about we even the odds a little?

[stonethrow]

( to think that only until a few moments ago he had thought this day a wash, once again with no maelle (or lune or sciel) to be found, and now he sees the familiar fiery head of his most important person. her name comes out of him in a breath, relieved, and her words only serve to turn his frown onto a smile—a genuine one.

even with the possibility of being attacked. )

Don't switch roles now. I'm the adult here.

( gustave says, bemused, as she wields her rapier. without a thought, he summons, too, his sword, and stands ready, shoulder pulled back, sword at his waist.

the trio bunch up together, not having expected swords. )

—just knock them out, Maelle.

( he'll let her call go. )

[virtuose]

I guess I'll try not to rough them up too much.

[There's a teasing lilt to her voice as she knocks her head back, rolling her eyes. That, together with a quick nod at Gustave, is all the warning she gives before she moves to strike. Maelle moves swiftly, her sword an extension of her arm as she closes the gap between herself and one of the hoodlums, whipping at him instead of piercing towards him, Gustave's instruction fresh in her mind.

As if their surprise at seeing the weapons wasn't enough, the one that was struck lets out a yelp of pain—or shock, it was hard to differentiate in the heat of the moment—before falling into a heap on the ground. The remaining two glances at their fallen friend, then between Gustave and Maelle, reconsidering their next course of action.

Maelle, on the other hand, scoffs.]

I'd run if I were you. [She cocks her head behind them, towards Gustave.] Or he might show you exactly what his arm can do.

u know whereabouts i am re: spoilers

[diplomatiste]

[ Upon the joint commotion of the power going out and shouts being heard across the hall outside of the room he shares with his sister, Alphinaud takes it upon himself to do a little light investigating. There's a man a few doors down being harassed by a group of imposing thugs, and while he can't tell if the altercation will lead to violence, he does surmise that it's an unfair fight to begin with — three against one.

He would prefer not to act on impulse the way that Alisaie does, but sometimes a situation really does call for it. It's what the Warrior of Light would do too, and Alphinaud does think the world of them.

Well, here goes nothing.

He steps forward, a book in hand, and looks from the men to Gustave then back again. ]

I'm quite certain there's a better way to solve this problem, gentlemen.

*ahem* gentlemen

[stonethrow]

( gustave, as well as the trio facing him down, turn back to the newcomer. while gustave personally would rather others not get involved for his sake, the trio seems to find this incredibly funny—bursting into laughter at the sight of the teenager and his rather polite speech. )

Or else, what?

( snickering as they are, gustave just shakes his head. )

No problem at all. ( —please don't get involved; he motions with his hand. ) You can go back inside your room.

thuggy gentlemen!!!!

[diplomatiste]

[ Alphinaud, for his part, remains stone-faced as ever. Cajoling laughter fails to have any effect on him. He's been through worse; he's seen worse.

Entire worlds have been in jeopardy, and the monsters that served to wrest control over it were far more dangerous than a few men with delusions of power-play.

Pointedly: ]

Or else, you will simply have to learn what it means to be part of a society. It certainly isn't always easy, and it most definitely does not involve such antisocial behaviour. This man has done nothing to deserve your ire.

[ It might sound odd, even silly coming from a teenager no older than sixteen, but he's dead serious. ]

surely this is a fantastic idea

[littlemushroom]

[[This was not where An Zhe had meant to be. His room was in the other blocks, but he'd taken one too many wrong turns. Panorama was much more confusing than the Main City he was somewhat used to, so his grasp on directions was bare bones at best.

So was his grasp on driving, even on the sunniest of days. And at night? An Zhe did not drive at night.

Except for right now, when they were plunged into the darkest the city had been.

So it was actually entirely by accident that the world's smallest truck-kun was suddenly plowing straight into the trio.

haha oops]]

i was coming for an zhe's tl!!! ;w; here he is and LMAO

[stonethrow]

( —well, something like this was bound to happen some time, wasn't it? it's just a little bizarre to see it happening right in front of him.

gustave manages to step away just in time to avoid being part of the collision, and thankfully the driver in the smallest truck gustave's ever seen so far has managed to hit the brakes. the trio grumbles, curses loudly, a couple of what the fuuuuucks! before they scramble away, limping.

for his part, gustave hurries to the driver's side, hits the window with his human hand. )

Hey, are you okay?

SURPRISE

[littlemushroom]

[[aaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAA

He'd definitely managed to slam on the brakes before he went colliding with the actual building, but those were absolutely people scrambling away from his vehicle. Oh no. Oh man. An Zhe was normally an excessively calm person, but Oh No.

Gustave was met with a wide eyed look and a few wild blinks before An Zhe was frantically opening the door.]]

I didn't-- I didn't hit you did I??? [[PANIC]] Did I hit them??

[[Yes.]]