ohmyarceus | NOVEMBER - DECEMBER TEST DRIVE MEME

[It's a pleasant affirmation that she doesn't need to sugarcoat anything, or worry about breaking some poor human's mind- not that the ears left much room for doubt to begin with.]

It could easily be both, let's be real... Nothing a little hex shouldn't be able to break though.

[With that, Jinx... wait. It shouldn't take effort to call forth her magic. It was always there, just bubbling under the surface of her skin, and now it feels hollow. For a moment she stares at her hand- normally by now it would be crackling with pink lighting, and misfortune would befall whoever was behind this.

There's no hiding the horror in her eyes, how for a brief moment she seems even paler. But with her hand clenched in a first, the twist in her brow and the beginnings of a snarl, there's not much hiding the sheer fury, either.]

My magic's gone. There's no illusion in the world that could hide that from me.

[Or so she hoped.]

Whoever did that had better pick a god and pray before I find them.

With very few exceptions, near everyone I have seen pass by has had an animal of some kind accompanying them. I imagine you shall have no shortage of advice, should you ask them, at least.

[ How much of it will apply specifically to such a small colorful horned horse may vary, but one can hope. ]

And it is very different from where I am accustomed to finding myself, yes. For one thing, I've been very dead for the past - well, who knows how long? And yet, here I draw breath once more. It is something of an adjustment, as is seeing sunlight, and feeling the breeze upon my skin.

[ He sighs. From the sound of it, his emotions on the subject are a bit mixed, though he doesn't see fit to explain why just yet. ]

[Oh she knows. But she's tough because she caaaaaares]

Good. That's not too much to ask for, I'm sure.

[Is that a bit of a tease to her voice? Yes. Yes it is.]

Well, you look great for a dead guy. Glad to hear something nice is happening for at least one of us here.

[She's being completely sincere, I promise. And that's all she's going to say on the matter as well. After a moment more, she sits down on the ground cross-legged beside the man, idly playing with the little unicorn's mane. The creature delights in the attention, the warmth of the sun and the background music. ... God, that was weird.]

From what I can tell, this isn't... too different- but I'm from a big city, not... this. I don't think I've ever been someplace so... storybook-y.

Edited 2020-12-28 17:22 (UTC)

With brooms. Though I don't need them to fly, it is the more known method.

[He hums.]

Trasfiguration is the magic of changing things.

[The girl on the screen is obviously a child, and obviously not especially good at this, because her thumb is in the frame the whole time. She's smiling very brightly, though, and when the camera moves around (which it keeps doing, like she's fidgeting with it or otherwise can't decide how it ought to be held) it's possible to see the giant Drampa who has curled up around her where she sits in comfortable familiarity.]

Um, I don't know about a...help desk, [she says it like it's the first time she's heard the phrase] but you don't have to do it alone, either! Lots of people like to help if you ask. I got help, too! I can help you, if you want!

[Even besides the less obvious fact that this girl is also quite new, it is immediately apparent that she has absolutely no business answering anyone's questions.]

[Oh. Oh no. Oh GOD no. If there's one thing Jinx definitely doesn't have the patience for right now, it's a kid... however well-meaning they may be. Her only relief is that it's immediately apparent that the little girl is absolutely nothing like Gizmo. She doesn't hide her lack of enthusiasm, though after a moment her tiny unicorn leans on her with all the weight of it's two-foot tall body as if it's telling her to be nice.]

... Sure, why not.

[You'll notice the distinct lack of asking anything.

[no. no she will not notice it.]

Okeydokey! So! When you got here, you got an animal friend. It's called a Pok-é-mon! I like yours, it's really cute! I named mine Drampy. What's yours's name?

[Ah, the sweet distractability of a child.]

[Oh, oh right. Names. Uhhhh... Okay, well, there was one thing that'd she'd been thinking, but what if someone recognizes it?]

Uh- ... A-Amalthea?

[It's definitely supposed to be a statement and not a question, but you'll have to forgive her for the sudden insecurity. Despite her favorite book, her love of unicorns was not something she was actually permitted by most others.]

Edited 2020-12-28 18:07 (UTC)

A-mal-the-a. [The way she sounds it out, it's clear Tiki's never heard the name before. Bullet dodged, Jinx. Still, after a moment of looking contemplative, Tiki beams.] I really like that! It's hard to say but it sounds pretty. So A-mal-the-a [with a deliberateness and determination to get it right on each syllable] is your friend, just like Drampy is mine! Sometimes they like to fight other Pokémon, but it's just for fun, like when knights do sparring. No one gets hurt for real, but the Pokémon get stronger and they get to play and the trainers get to meet each other and make new friends!

Millennial Tree Cookie doesn’t mean to attract attention - or block off the sidewalk, for that matter - but… it just kind of happens. After all, he’s kind of hard to miss, even in this new form: A handsome, questionably-middle-aged man, straight brown hair brushing the sidewalk despite his notable height and white brows and lashes standing out starkly against his dark skin, clad in a delicate, sleeveless robe entirely unsuited to the weather. He doesn’t seem unaffected by that weather, either, his arms held against his shivering form with his hands clasped over his shoulders, but it doesn’t seem to have occurred to him to… you know, do anything else about it.

The Mudbray by his side might have started to pose something of a foot traffic obstruction, as well, having begun to wander as his trainer stays in one place. That one place is, not coincidentally, directly in front of a bakery window. He’s staring down at a tray of gingerbread men, as he has been since stopping here, gentle concern marking his face.

He can see no sign that any of the products in this window are alive, of course - or used to be, for that matter. Which is the only reason he’s still standing here instead of taking… whatever action he could, in his present state.

But it’s still somewhat disturbing.

[a preemptive note: Clarisse has different starters in each top level (poochyena, houndour, shuppet) because I haven't decided on one yet lmao. if a prompt uses one starter but you want to use that prompt + a different starter of the three for whatever reason, feel free!]

a. new bark town
[Clarisse is mad.

In her defense—a phrase which cannot usually be said of Clarisse, who, you must understand, is the absolute worst—she's had one hell of a day. She shouldn't be here. By any logic, by even any stretch of the imagination, she shouldn't be here. She shouldn't be anywhere, or anything. But she's here.

And she's mad about it.

It starts as some furious banging on the door she's just been pushed through, and then an angry shout or two demanding to be let back in or for an explanation. Before anyone has the chance to intervene, Clarisse takes a few steps back, and while one might hope this means she's backing off, instead she takes the bag she'd been given on the way out and throws it as hard as she can against the door.

The contents scatter: the clothespins tumble about, the food spills into the dirt, the bottle of shampoo explodes and gets all over everything. The Poochyena that had been pacing uncertainly at Clarisse's heels startles, but doesn't back too far away from her. Clarisse doesn't notice. Breathing hard, she glances this way and that like a wild animal searching for danger. Then, she looks up.

It had been snowing before. It was cold. It's not, here. Someone else might call it pleasant. There's music coming from somewhere, light and bouncy. She doesn't relax so much as just slump, like she's given up, tilting her head back and looking up at the clear sky.]

What is this...?

b. some route or another
[Some time has passed—only some; enough to acclimate, just a little, but not enough to settle, even if Clarisse were capable of such a thing. She still wears the armor pieces she arrived in over her clothes; a chest plate strapped pointlessly over a t-shirt, arm guards over hands that don't have a bow to wield. If nothing else, she's gotten the hang of the whole Pokémon trainer thing.

Sort of. Almost.

When her Houndour comes bounding back to her after its wild opponent is left slightly singed and very fainted, she frowns (she's always frowning, but there's a deliberateness to it now) and folds her arms.]

No, go back.

[Not understanding, the Houndour, tongue lolling out like a loon, paws at her feet excitedly.]

No, this is the part where you kill it. [She takes a step back, and the Houndour jumps up on its hind legs to put its front paws against her knee. Clarisse scoffs and leans back, but doesn't push it away.] You're a hunter, and that's prey! You're not done yet, go rip its throat out! What's the matter with you?

[The thing that's the matter with the Houndour, apparently, is that instead of balking at any of its trainers commands it just seems happy to be here. The same cannot be said for Clarisse.]

c. dark cave
[The thing to understand about Clarisse—well, there's a whole lot that got us to the, uh, situation she's in now, just as far as who she is as a person, but the thing that establishes this scenario as well as much else about Clarisse's unfortunate personality is that she was raised in a pitch black church basement.

If you've been traveling with Clarisse, that's regrettable for you for a number of reasons, but the latest is that she's just forging on ahead through the cave with no light source, and no particular way to identify where she's gone (there are hardly even footsteps to follow; how does she walk so quietly all the time) except, perhaps, for the glow of her Shuppet's eyes when it turns to watch you (why does it do that, what does it want) or the occasional annoyed call over her shoulder of,] Keep up!

d. violet city
[To Clarisse's standards, this place is almost unbearably large—even Cherrygrove was almost too much for her, and this place is larger and busier yet. Goldenrod City may kill her instantly if she ever gets there.

For now, she's at the edge of the city, away from as much of the hubbub as she can manage. She leans against the edge of a fence, only half-sitting, looking up skywards, where the shapes of only semi-distant birds cut across the sky for the aerial show. There's a little wonder in her eyes, which can't quite decide which Pokémon to follow, and so they dart between the moving shapes. If one didn't know her better, they might even say she seems nearly relaxed.

Not that relaxed, though, because as soon as someone even begins to approach—she's got a good sense of people's presences—she scrambles to her feet, glaring at the intruder.]

What? [Why is she so mad?? Clarisse it's FINE you're ALLOWED TO WATCH AERIAL SHOWS] If I had my bow I could take those stupid things out of the sky like it's nothing. I'm just watching to keep my senses sharp! That's it!

[CLARISSE]

e. wildcard
[follow your heart, gimme a shout at

nidorina if you want!!]

Edited 2020-12-28 22:37 (UTC)

[ Meanwhile, where G'raha's coming from here is that under normal circumstances he is a cat person, but now he is bereft of his cat-like vision, hearing, or tail for balance. It suuuuuucks, dude. And his choice of travelling companion is not exactly helping right now, nor is his Buneary, but at least the latter is trying. He stumbles over some rocks and calls forward. ]

Ah, my apologies, but I fear I'm still adjusting to this new form. Could I trouble you to slow your pace some?

Oh, thank you, that's very kind of you to say.

[ He still kind of looks half dead actually, as gaunt and pallid as he is, but it's probably fine. He nods along as she explains her situation, and adds, ]

In my life I traveled over much of the land of my birth, and never before have I seen a place like this, either. I know not what you mean by 'storybook,' I am afraid, but the architecture is wholly unfamiliar to me, as are the clothes in which people garb themselves. And none of this to mention the animals and the intelligence and familiarity with which they treat their human companions, of course. So, I think, to better answer your earlier question, it is quite different from my home, yes.

[Amalthea herself perks up and seems to be bouncing on her hooves for a moment at the mere mention of battling- seems like someone's ready, buuut...]

I'm not letting you do any of that fighting stuff until you can walk two feet without tripping.

[Jinx's tone may be flat, but you can see her still petting the little thing- it's not out of any sort of negativity. Now for the other toddler-]

So... do you do anything like that...?

Edited (i keep forgetting the icons and i wanna be consistent whoops) 2020-12-29 00:24 (UTC)

She doesn't really reach out to others, but sometimes that little voice in the back of her head (the same one she usually ignored during Crimes ™) would chime very loudly You might be able to help. And... well, with Kid Flash, isn't that what she did? Granted, it wasn't entirely selfless either. ... That'd been a decent mix though?

If the man hadn't looked so concerned, she'd have thought it was just a worry about nutrition or diets, honestly.

"You okay there?" Jinx finally asks, Amalthea peering around her legs. ... What? She had a unicorn in her life. She wasn't about to leave it in some capsule.

[Jinx normally doesn't linger for long, especially in the cold, but Amalthea had wanted to go further out today, and... it turns out that if she can't come up with a better argument- even with something that can't argue back- she's bad at saying no. But what she sees makes her kinda wish she had- Amalthea didn't need this kinda fuckery in her life. With a sigh, Jinx pinches the bridge of her nose and prepares to call out.]

It's not going to, they don't work like regular animals. It was a friendly spar, not a hunter-pray battle.

[Just had to be a goddamn dog, too. Great.]

I meant more in nature than appearance- though the background music certainly helps. It's... small, and peaceful? If not weird, what with Mother dearest over there. Like the worst that could happen is some small, silly thing like a pie thief or something.

[There is absolutely disdain in her voice as she refers to their mutual not-mom, though it disappears just as quickly for neutrality- though maybe with her words one might detect a bit of fondness instead? She always loved fairy tales. Not that the girl would admit it- reputations and all that. Still, she listens to what the man has to say, and saves her musings for when he's done.]

I see. Maybe... this place is connected to different universes then? Or similar enough.

Uh-huh, sometimes! Drampy is really tough, and I used to fight sometimes, too, so I'm good at being helpful when he's battling.

[girl you're twelve???]

We're a good team! And I make lots of new friends this way!

[It's easy to hide her shock at the fact that this absolute toddler has battle experience- Gizmo was like, seven, after all, and she started early too. But there's definitely a simmering anger that shows itself in a pinched brow, white(r) knuckles, and thinned lips for just a moment, maybe even too quickly to register in the girl's joy. She settles back to 'bored' with just a breath.]

Right... So these guys are tiny little furry blood knights, got it. What do they eat?

[Please don't be one of those kids who'd give the dog ice cream if they thought they wouldn't get caught.]

[Sylvain's new Rockruff is multiplying. Or so it would appear, considering that there are now two of it. The unfamiliar one is very energetic, bouncing around and barking at both its doppelganger and Sylvain.

A young man who appears quite like a wild animal himself jogs up, not far behind the Pokemon. His brows arch high upon seeing double, and a pleasantly surprised smile crosses his face.]

Pup! Found another Geo pup? Good! Make friends!

[Uhhh... sorry, Sylvain, nobody care you. Only doggies now.]

[That gets a huff of amusement from Lanque, and a conceding nod.]

Can't argue with you there, dude. Glad to see there's more than fucking idiots in this joke of an organization.

[Not that the heelies did much to sell Hermes' professionalism. Honestly, he only gets a pass because trolls are so fucking weird on the regular that it doesn't even faze Lanque.]

Drampy eats berries! I think different ones like different things but Drampy likes any berry we can find.

[The Drampa is moving its big head to nudge against Tiki's as she says his name, and she reaches to pet it as best she can.]

We need lots of them to keep him full, though...

Oh, they're not blood knights, though! No one ever gets hurt that bad. It's all just for fun. And Drampy's not tiny, he's really big!

[She's trying to position the camera to show all nine feet of him. It's not working very well.]

I didn't mean literally. It's a phrase that just means someone who really enjoys fighting- though sometimes it can be pretty dark. I didn't mean it in a grim way.

[Wait. Oh. Oh wow that was a big ol' dragon. Okay. O k a y. Not gonna freak out. Instead, she's just... gonna go back to Amalthea and the whole, surviving in this world with a small animal dependent thing.]

I could see this lil' lady liking berries... and I don't think she'll need nearly as many as your old man over there. What happens if she gets hurt or sick?

Edited (forgot a wholeass sentence my b) 2020-12-29 04:36 (UTC)

Oh, yes, that. I have not, as of yet, been able to determine who or what is responsible for the strange music that has been playing here since my arrival, and likely for some time before that. It is delightful, though, is it not? I have never heard anything quite like it, either.

[ As for the whole woman claiming to be his mother thing, he'd... sort of been too disoriented by being alive again to really take note of it. Now that he thinks about it, it is very strange, though. He frowns, thinking. ]

Different universes? Why, I must say I had never considered the possibility, although, now that I am here, I suppose it must be one. A possibility, that is. Certainly I have never heard of a place such as this in all my travels, at least.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER TEST DRIVE MEME

tfw u still havent salvaged all ur icons so u gotta make do with what u got

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b, hi amity >:3c

hi courtney :3

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Millennial Tree Cookie | Cookie Run: Ovenbreak

Clarisse | Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem

C

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hi, i've heard good things about you!!

[B TIME, HI COURTNEY >:3]

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wildcard // boof boof

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