ohmyarceus | NOVEMBER - DECEMBER TEST DRIVE MEME

"Beau," she replies, dropping the ear back on top of the rest of the costume before reaching over to shake his hand. Her grip is strong, and her hands are ridged with calluses, nails clipped brutally short. She studies him closely, eyes slightly narrowed. "Beta - that makes you, what, third in command of this facility? Give or take the inevitable seniority bullshit."

She may not be particularly interested in the prospect of advancing up the chain of command. That doesn't mean she didn't pay attention when the training touched on rank.

[ She's absolutely mortified--is time travel possible in this place? She's never wished so desperately to redo a meeting, but at least he doesn't... seem mad. There's that, at least. ]

M-maybe so. I think she's still young, so... [ She clears her throat. ] At least she won't bother you again. I... really am sorry. Is there any way I can make it up to you?

That is not a dog. That is...she has absolutely no idea what that is. Some sort of weird lizard thing that screams like an alarm bell. No chance at all that anyone within hearing range hasn't been alerted to something being wrong now, and while she's used to plans devolving into absolute chaos, this is...

This is a little embarrassing, really.

"Shut up," she hisses, and takes another swing at the poor lanky bastard she's assaulting, this time aiming for the solar plexus. Between his yelling and that of the...lizard creature, her priorities have shifted abruptly from 'capture for questioning' to 'make sure he can't come up behind her while she's making an escape'.

There was only one way down the mountain. So long as you stayed on the path and fell in with the dwarves, you would have been fine.

[He had gotten along well enough with Yarpen and his gang-- that is to say, they seemed to have no outright objection to Jaskier's presence. And they were in good moods from their success on the dragon hunt, Jaskier could have easily gone along with them and gotten the tale out of them. Safe passage and stories, what more could he need?]

[And Jaskier isn't exaggerating much, here-- he did travel alone, ostensibly, before he met Geralt at the tender age of eighteen. Not long, perhaps, but long enough to find the shittiest tavern in Posada. And, of course, there were the times that he left the bard on the road between Oxenfurt and Novigrad, when they separated for the winter and Jaskier returned to the comforts of his alma mater. A few short weeks in spring, when he was on his way south from Kaer Morhen to meet the bard somewhere along the way.]

[He has spent much of the past few decades in Jaskier's company, come to think of it.]

I nie będzie spierdalaj.

[Jaskier isn't the only one who knows a little Elder, even if Geralt's knowledge of the language has far less depth.]

It's winter, Jaskier. [Something that he didn't think he'd have to inform the bard of, but apparently he does.] When was the last time that you spent a winter on the road without me?

"I'm not the only Beta on base," Steven says. "And right now, the highest ranked conscripts are all Betas like me--but something like that."

His own grip is firm, without being crushing. His hands are somewhat less calloused than hers, but not completely soft. His own nails are clean and well cared for. He's studying her too during the handshake.

"Have you met any of our fellow conscripts?" he asks.

Oh, you don't need to worry about that. [Though, now that he's got the water out of his eyes, he's able to get an even better look at the woman. It's likely the shock talking, but the impromptu shower almost seems worth it.

Maybe he can work this whole thing to his advantage.]

Though I wouldn't say no to something like lunch. If you are offering.

The glare Beau shoots him is less due to his suggestion (tempting) or his tardiness (she can respect that level of not giving a shit) than it is sheer principle. That principle being that if she's in a bad mood, everyone gets to know about it.

"Because they'll probably piss themselves if they take one good hit, and I'm not cleaning that up."

Just lunch?

[ ... It's pretty clear she isn't reading much into this, beyond the surface level. Besides, it's no big issue for her--she's got quite a bit of money from scrappy kids trying to fight her pets. ]

I don't mind. Though, ah... I'm not really familiar with this place, since I've just gotten here. [ And then she remembers-- ] I'm Mira, by the way.

For now, at least. [He suppresses the urge to wink -- he's had enough women asking him if his face was broken for a lifetime, thank you. Instead, he smiles as saccharine as possible. Who could say no to that face.]

I know of a few places, if you would like some recommendations. Any preferences, though? The lady ought to choose -- it is only polite.

[Claude certainly doesn't object to being on such friendly terms with Jaskier already. His grin simply widens a bit more. They're both obviously having fun; what could be better than this?] Ah, I'm a little jealous~. I mean, I've had more opportunity to travel than some nobles, certainly, but I can't say I haven't had my own shackles of obligation. I'm still not free of them even now. So it's even nicer to wind up in a place like this, free to explore without the need to make any excuses for just wandering off and doing my own thing, investigating whatever catches my interest...

[At Jaskier's question, he laughs.] Honestly, I haven't had much of a chance to start yet! So it might be kinda early to ask that sort of question. I have to say, though, this device is definitely the most intriguing thing I've found so far. It feels like it's got so many functions and things to learn about it, never mind how it does all these amazing things...I mean, I don't know where you are right now, but where I'm from communicating with someone from a distance like this would have to be done in writing, not face to face. [He winks.] And that'd be such a loss for both of us, wouldn't it...?

School, huh? How old are you? [Judging by appearances, Malleus is somewhere in the late teenage/young adult range, but Claude's curious as to what level of schooling he's from.]

[Okay, no seriously, what the ever loving shit?]

[Jack comes around the corner and just stops. He opens his mouth to say something and promptly closes it again. This...this is not right.
He's looking at himself but not? Seeing himself wouldn't be that weird, there are two people who look like him in existence. He'd spent a significant portion of his savings on making that happen, but Jack Number 2 AKA the Lawrence guy looks just like him. This is some old dude in a really weird Jack mask kind of cowering behind the wall and he just doesn't know what to do with this.]

So...there's a reasonable explanation for this, right? You can lie and just say 'yes' if there's not, I'll accept that right now.

"Uh...what now? Who the hell are you?"

This is weird. Why is everything so weird here? He's still got the headache he'd woken up here with - high stress situations and being shot at and punched and thrown around like a pinball will do that to a guy. And this is still a pretty stressful situation. Displaced, no answers, no idea where he is or how the hell to get home...

And now this.

This Cherrygrove place better not be lying about that spa.

Oh what fresh bullshit is this? Jack is tired. He's had a really rough week or two and he just wants to go back to his dinky little hotel room and take a hot shower and sleep while he's still got a buzz on. Maybe complain to his bug a little more - it can't talk back but it seems like it listens. Maybe.

"Yeah, no, look I'm...I'm sorry, but I'm not doing that. It sounds dumb and look at this thing." He lifts his pack to display his quivering crab-bug. "Challenging this thing is like kicking a three legged puppy that's on fire."

He doesn't know who the hell this scrawny, pointy dude is but he understands the whole magic alien dog fight thing and he's just not up for it right now.

"I'm sure there's plenty of other idiots you can throw your pet alien at but I'm not even from here. Um. I mean idiots in general. I'm not an idiot."

[Jaskier has never been good at the whole "cold shoulder" thing. He's too emotional, too easily riled up. His best strategy today has been trying to get away to avoid said railing-up, but Geralt keeps following him, and there aren't many chances to lose him on the way when there's only one viable road out of town.

There's only so much he can take - he's dropped references to what happened on the mountain over and over, letting Geralt know he's got the message and now they can carry on with their lives separately... but the witcher keeps ignoring them, keeps insisting on staying by his side for some fucking reasons. Probably trying to play hero as always, with a touch of guilt.

He's trapped, that's pretty much it. Trapped, in a new realm where he's supposed to be getting freedom from the expectations put on the witcher's bard. So can he not explode?]

THAT'S YOUR TAKEAWAY?! [Yep, here comes the angry gesturing to match the fury in his eyes and the twist of his mouth.] I'M CONFESSING YOU MADE ME FEEL LIKE A BLOODY OLD DOG AND YOUR BEST ANSWER IS TO SEND ME TO THE FUCKING DWARVES?! SOME NERVE YOU HAVE, WITCHER, TO-

[Consumed by anger, Jaskier's mind is too distracted to remember he has things on his lap. So when he suddenly stands up for better dramatics, Dahlia and the Pokégear fall on the wet wood of the docks. The gear is fine, just stays there like the machine it is, but Dahlia... well, Igglybuff are known for their soft, bouncy body for a reason. She bounces off the wood and falls into the water with an indignant cry that makes Jaskier let out a string of curses as he falls on all his fours to check on his Pokémon...

Who is whimpering in fear, but otherwise fine. That bouncy body is also good at staying afloat.

Jaskier hurries to get her out, now getting the sleeves of his chemise wet as well, and proceeds to dry her up with the towel that isn't protecting his doublet while whispering apologies and comforting words to her. It isn't until she's wrapped in the towel and cradled against his chest that he turns to Geralt again, glaring.]

I hadn't spent any winters on the road with you either, and I'm not about to start now. [His hands tremble as he pets the bundle in his arms. Because of the fright he just got, but also because it hurts to say that aloud. If you had asked him just a week enough, he would've jumped on the idea of a winter with Geralt.] You asked for a blessing, and I gave it to you! And now I have a chance to start over after-- [He gulps.] After two decades of wasting my time in a friendship that was in my head after all. [His stomach twists at the admission and Jaskier thinks this proves the power of words, because his own heart is hurting because of his own words.] You had your blessing, Geralt of Rivia, now let me keep mine: a chance to start over in a new realm. For the last time: fuck off.

"Akane Tendo?" she says, frowning a bit. "Um, I was Connie's girlfriend? Connie who worked for you? And was sort of like a niece to you? You don't remember either of us?"

She didn't talk to Mr Jack very often and she knew he was busy and didn't always remember everyone's names unless he was reminded of them, but they'd met before! She'd called to wish him happy birthday!

Edited (tenses) 2020-12-10 00:39 (UTC)

"Kid I woke up here like three days ago, I have no clue what you're talking about and it's starting to freak me out, so....I'm gonna go with I'm not who you think I am."

None of these names mean anything to him and the last thing he wants right now is any more weirdness he doesn't understand. A man only has so much capacity for crazy bullshit and his was already getting tested before he ended up here. He highly doubts Pickles' real name is 'Connie' and that's the only kid that's ever worked for him in any capacity. He also highly doubts Pickles could get a girlfriend.

"But hey, if you could point me to the spa that's supposedly around here, that'd be really helpful and make up for weirding me out!"

[Welp. Dog creatures chasing him. That right there and the smile were all the confirmation she needed. Don't mind her looking very slightly amused while also just. Exasperated because Wei Wuxian.]

I've been travelling with a young lion cub, myself.

[And Litleo pops out of her pokeball, stretching out and shaking her fur out.]

[Wen Qing have some heart! He's terrified of those creatures, they're frightening, and some breathe fire.

Her exasperation isn't lost on him, but his smile remains all the same, and his eyes sparkle at the cute Litleo popping out of the Pokéball.]

It's an adorable creature! So cute, like Lan Zhan's bunnies! This sword isn't as cute but it's strong, I've come to call it Suibian.

[Because of course he would, what better to name it than after his sword?]

He definitely sounds like Mr Jack, even if he doesn't have the mask and has a tiny little triangle beard instead. On the other hand, Mr Jack's been here for a lot longer than three days. She knows that much.

"I guess I can. Oh, but you need to be careful. There's sneaky quagsire that sometimes break into your hotel room and try to steal your things. It happened when I first got here, nine months ago. Anyway, follow me?"

And she'll start leading him towards the spa, thinking hard about it as she does.

"Maybe he's your relative," she says finally. "Uh, Mr Jack I mean. Just because he does kind of look like you, but he's older and he wears a mask. I think his first name is 'Handsome?'"

(She's not entirely sure, though.)

"One I don't have any male relatives, two...you ever heard the phrase 'read the room'? Might wanna try it, kid."

He doesn't know what a 'quagsir' or whatever is and he doesn't have anything worth stealing anyway so he's not gonna concern himself with that. Honestly he doesn't want to think about much of anything he's learned today. Or possibly the past few days, he's not sure yet. Okay, he'll have to deal with it at some point but he's hoping after he can relax and find a bar.

"I'm not trying to be an asshole or anything I just got a lot going on, got a lot on my mind, lot to deal with."

JW quietly wonders if his brain is doing something stupid...but Jack's voice. The way he talks. No doubt this is the festival guy. But different. Either way he doesn't have those scary dogs with him and that gives JW confidence.

"Ah-ah!" JW shakes a scolding finger. "It doesn't matter if we're locals or not, when in Rome!"

"Yeah, I'm not fighting you. Look, I've been having a really tough week - just batshit nuts! - and I just don't want to do this whole thing. That's my right, I'm a grown ass adult and 'no' is a whole sentence. I don't even have any money, all you're gonna win is a granola bar and a coupon for free pretzels with your next pitcher at what passes for the local watering hole around here."

Jack's money just got liquidated, he's got nothing to offer up as far as winnings go. Maybe if he had another Pokemon or something, but it just feels like it'd be really depressing to stand here while he loses his buzz, watching his dumb bug get its ass kicked.

"You want the coupon that bad you can have it, but in the interest of not going hungry tomorrow, you'll pry my granola bar outta my cold dead hands."

JW thought about his options. He did like granola bars. But he didn't drink. So the pretzel coupon would be useless to him unless he tried to trade up somewhere.

He also had the opportunity here to be a Good Guy and let this reborn newbie pass without hassle. A memory, like a bolt from the heavens, suddenly struck him straight through the chest. His primary memory with this man--the festival. His fortune. His fortune that repeated over and over and over.

There is still time.

JW lowers his hand from where it had been hovering over the poke'balls on his belt.

"Forget about it."

Oh thank fuck. Jack really didn't know if this guy was gonna push it or not, he's seen how seriously people take this Pokemon thing around here. He visibly relaxes, holding up his hands.

"Thank you! Seriously, I didn't know I what I was gonna do if you started chucking angry animals at me anyway. I've literally been running away from the ones on the road, I dunno if there was a mixup or something but I didn't exactly get a useful funky animal friend."

He pulls his trembling Wimpod out and holds it in front of him to emphasize the point.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER TEST DRIVE MEME

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