pluviooc | TEST DRIVE 02

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*tdm

TEST DRIVE 02

TEST DRIVE

Hello, and welcome to the second Pluviosa Test Drive!

This Test Drive corresponds to Days 4-12 in the ship calendar, and will run until around the game's next major event. You can get a better idea what's going on in the most recent Game Update which covers Days 5-8. Currently, character IC housing is not in operation yet; it is expected to open on Day 9 (part of the way through the Test Drive period). Otherwise, the ship is largely in the state described on the Setting page and in other game information.

Test Drive threads involving characters who are accepted are considered canon to the events of the game unless otherwise agreed by players/mods. Pluviosa does not do welcome mingle logs nor does it have any kind of in-character welcome information, making your test drive threads your character's arrival to the game setting. That said, mod-run interactions such as formal exploration and/or interactions with the Ship as an NPC are not available on the Test Drive.

It is advised that potential players familiarize themselves with the Premise page, the Rules/Session Zero page, and at least the first few paragraphs of the Setting page. As Pluviosa is a horror game, we especially encourage players to be aware of the content warnings that will be major themes of the game. If you have any further questions, you can ask them on the QUESTIONS header in the comments!

If you're test driving a character, you're welcome to join the game Discord and hang out and meet your fellow players!

ARRIVAL - LIKE THE RAIN

You wake up. You remember waking up, right? In another place, another time...

There's blood running down your fingers. Outside, the rain isn't pounding, yet, just a gentle patter...

Or is it?

As characters gain fuller awareness of their surroundings, they will realize that there is, in fact, no blood on their hands (save any that might have already been there). It feels as though they lost focus for a moment and hallucinated, but the hallucination ended with them somewhere else entirely.

There is not actually the sound of rain. If characters are near enough to a window, balcony, or even a hole in the ceiling, they will find that it is cloudless, beaming sunlight outside. The emptiness in the distance rolls on and on, completely absent any signs of life.

That being, of course, because the signs of life are all in here. Characters might wake up on any of the decks on the upper side of the ship - anywhere that isn't the cafeteria or lounge where previous arrivals spend most of their time is free game. This also means, of course, that they have the jungle of plants to contend with...

LIGHTS ON, SHOW START

Most areas in the ship are dark when characters arrive. That doesn't mean that they stay dark. Occasionally, lights overhead flicker on and off for a few minutes at a time.

The problem with this isn't the lights themselves (cool white and kind of industrial). It's the reaction that the addition of the extra light causes the plants in the dark areas of the ship that's cause for alarm. To describe the growth as explosive isn't an understatement - vines, saplings, and even thicker branches surge with growth, pushing outwards towards the distant sunlight and upwards towards the flickering bulbs.

The growth is sudden enough to take all but the most aware characters by surprise, and if they're in the wrong corner of the room, it's very easy to get tangled up, wedged in by a tree trunk, or otherwise trapped against some corner or wall. If you're lucky and skilled, you might be able to cut yourself out from there (or break down the wall you're shoved up against), but otherwise, there's only one solution left.

Yell like your life depends on it, and hope somebody out there can hear you. And that whoever hears is someone who is inclined to help, rather than leaving you there. Or worse.

Oh, and the lights flicker back off after a few minutes, of course. Hopefully you're not waiting for rescue in the dark (with the smell of mold and the general faint dampness of the forest) for too long.

TILT-A-WORLD

Occasionally, the whole ship tilts.

This is not simply the side to side motion of a ship on the water (or the equivalent motion brought on by the way this particular ship moves); it's an extremely forward or backward tilt that sends things sliding across the floor if they aren't secured by roots or something else. Unlike storm-tossed ships, the tilt is somewhat prolonged - rather than everything sliding back and forth a couple times a minute, the tilt lasts for five, ten, maybe as much as twenty minutes.

Although it's not enough to knock a well-balanced character off their feet, it's quite likely that new arrivals will not be particularly on-balance. And attempting to traverse the ship with the tilt is a tall order... especially when the ship's angle does unexpectedly change... to the exact opposite direction. All that goes up the mountain must go back down, and a glance out the windows reveals that that's exactly what's going on, as the ship progresses across a mountainous landscape without real regard for the concept of mountain passes.

And for characters who have managed to make their way to the "civilized" parts of the ship, namely the cafeteria and the lounge above it... None of the furniture in these areas is secured. The cafeteria carts under the direct control of the Ship don't seem as inclined to go anywhere, but the tables and chairs in the cafeteria and the couches and armchairs upstairs... Well, it's a good thing both spaces are surrounded by railings. Large chunks of tree trunk also still littler the lounge, sliding back and forth and occasionally rolling with great force across the floor.

Better hold on tight.

SOMETHING WHISTLING

While wandering around the ship's interior, characters might occasionally hear a person whistling.

The sound always seems to be coming from just around the corner, but it sounds alive in a way that other sounds don't. Maybe more alive, even, than the rustle of leaves, the occasional drip of water, and the sounds of things sliding back and forth across the grimy, leaf-covered floors. The whistler, whoever they are, doesn't actively respond if called out to - but the whistling does pause, as though indicating that the call was heard, before starting up again.

If characters choose to follow the whistling, they're inevitably led to the same place - somewhere overlooking the great gap down the middle of the ship, whether an internal suite's balcony, one of the bridges crossing between the two halves, or one of the hallways that runs alongside it. Once they're there, there's no whistler in sight; however, characters will be filled with the overwhelming urge to look over the edge of the railing and down into the lower parts of the ship.

Exactly what they experience after looking down varies. Some will hallucinate that they've fallen over the side, feeling their balance go haywire and seeing the floor rushing up to them right up until the moment of "impact," at which everything returns to normal. Some will feel a stranger's hands on their shoulders, threatening to push them over with a great shove that goes through them with incorporeal fingers. Some will just hear unidentifiable laughter right up close to their ears, and experience the distinct sensation that there's someone laughing at them, in a haha-made-you-look kind of way.

But whatever happens, when they look up, there's no one there - or at least not anyone that physically close to them. The one good thing about being drawn to the middle section of the ship by whatever prankster this is is that it makes it a lot easier to run into people if you're all drawn to the same, highly visible place.

And at least the other person is flesh and blood, right? Probably.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Arrival / Tilt-A-Whirl
(OOC: For clarity, Kaeya's Canon point is game time aka after Archon Quest Prologue, but hallucination references another point in time.)

It’s like being trapped in an impossible dream. Like being stuck in two places at once.

Kaeya can hear the light pattering of rain surrounding him, outpacing his own heartbeat. The small river of blood gently cascading down the right side of his face. He instinctively presses his hand against the wound, tainting the palm of his hand a deep red.

His other hand clasps another impossibility, a large light blue gem surrounded by an elegant gold casing; a vision. Its chill still ebbs, flexing its strength like he is still in combat. It brings a sort of grounding into his mind, as if trying to prove it is really real. To many, it would be a positive sign even from the most dire circumstances, for Kaeya.... that answer was much more complicated.

All he can do is force himself to move, forcing one foot in front of the other as quickly as he can. The expanse of the hills of Mondstadt feel like an endless void of dull, dark green. The beauty of the landscape being muddled by the oncoming rain. Even in with all the rolling hills, it feels like there’s there is only one path to take left.

Perhaps he hit his head as well because the world is shifting and rocking for some reason.

Air catches in his throat, possibly from the exertion of everything that had happened. The Cavalry Captain slows to a stop, leaning against a tree to stop the feeling of the world shifting. He pulled his hand away from his face seeing the coat of red. He freezes seeing the fingerless gloves on his hand. Had he been wearing those that night? When did-?

Confusion lapses into his mind, as if his brain was trying to keep pace with whatever was happening.

His mind tries to claw for something to make purchase in his memories, something to make it make sense. His heart lurches at the possibilities, particularly concerning a decision that had been rattling in his mind for many years.

The world seems to continue to tilt and send him stumbling as he pushes off the tree and further forward with no real sense of where he is even going.

What day was it? Everything felt like nightmare spinning around and round like a pinwheel, at the mercy of the wind to finally cease its spinning.

Until the world lurches harshly to the side.

He doesn’t even have time to cry out before he finds himself crashing into a wall. He grips onto what he can find, a large vine, to steady himself. He notices the lack of blood on his hands that certainly places more questions than answers. The juxtaposition throws his mind in disarray as he glanced around.

His mind is whirling at the look of a strange hallway he has never seen in his life. Plants and roots cling to the sides, almost like the plants are hanging onto the walls just as hard as he is to the root.

He grits his teeth from the dizzying feeling still lurking in his mind from whatever happened a few minutes ago. There was no time to worry about whatever that was. Despite it being quite the concern, the first question he would like answered was where he exactly was.

Vegetation littered the floor, snaking across the hallway to threaten to trip him up. Kaeya is at least able to adjust slightly to the strange terrain, gritting his teeth as he finds himself stumbling much more than he’d like to. He manages to at least stay on his feet and make his way down the hallway.

He takes a moment to find his footing and pushes off the root. He tries to make his way to the end of the hallway. Was he on some Fontainian ship? The distant squealing of metal on metal would be fantastic evidence on his point if not for the fact the ship hadn’t righted itself like it should.

Maybe there was a particularly big wave? When did he get on a boat of all things?

Suddenly, the entire structure shifted up and down like some kind of domain platform. The entire motion threw Kaeya to the ground. He tries to grip onto the roots on the floor to quickly get back on his feet. This thing could turn upside down for all he knows-

Then the world tilts forwards. Where he was heading.

He sucks in breath and prepares for the ride. The root, he learns quickly, aren’t as tightly rooted as he’d like them to be. He slides right alongside the roots, gripping on tightly as he’s thrown forwards. Another jostle wrenches his hand free of the vine, sending him down the hallway with reckless abandon.

He crashes into the other side of the wall with a yelp and a groan.

His back prickles from the rough landing but forces himself to push upright.

He catches a glimpse of the window. All theories shattered in his mind seeing a literal mountainside. It was easy to see it wasn’t Dragonspine. Did Fontaine have a rocky patch of islands?

Just where in Teyvat was he?

A sinking feeling slithers into the pit of his stomach. He feels he may have a theory or two at least partially the answer to that question.

Edited 2024-05-16 20:21 (UTC)

Aventurine hums softly as he walks through the ship's corridors, cautious and tired yes, but pretty content all things considered. He can't manage to sleep without nightmares lately, which is frustrating, but the idea of going to get food picks up his spirits. Shang said it was okay to take. Aventurine is hungry, and for once it's just. Food is just available. So while he still doesn't fully understand how it works, it's a good bet to try out, a good goal to pursue instead of the ever elusive rest. So he makes his way to the cafeteria, stepping carefully where needed.

Except he must have taken a wrong turn, because he's in the darker hallways again. His eyes help him see fine, but he's pretty sure this isn't the right way...

The room tilts, furniture and wreckage rolling down past him. He braces himself.

"Going up again, Ship...?" he mutters. He'll hold on to a ridge on the wall or something; the plants aren't as reliable-

There's a thump, a yelp and a groan in the room up ahead. His eyes widen. Maybe this is why he took a wrong turn...his luck liked to put him in the right place at the right time after all.

"Hello? Is someone up there? Are you alright?" The halls creak and groan. He gives a wry smirk. "I'd go to check on you myself, but as I'm sure you're aware, traversing steep floors like this is....difficult. Give it a moment, it'll even out. It's just the ship climbing a mountain."

The ship is what?

That very nonchalantly put sentence from the person in the next room over certain caused Kaeya to freeze in his tracks for a moment.

Well that solves one question because he was pretty sure Fontaine hadn’t made something like that.

However.... It seemed this person at least had some more information on the location than he did. Any information at this point is valuable information.

Kaeya groaned and shifted uncomfortably, trying not to put much pressure on any sore points from his inelegant tumble down the hallway.

He called out to the voice, “Yes and I’m quite alright, more or less.” He holds onto the ledge enough to allow for him not to take yet another tumble. He glanced to the side to see the landscape tilt as the mountain seemed to reach the peak, biding his time.

Kaeya waited until the boat managed to even out mostly, much like how the other person predicted, before letting go and daring to walk into the next section of the boat. He spots the pair of violet-blue eyes in the darkened hallway. The sight of them certainly is eye-catching, to say the least.

The man is clinging to the side, which is rather understandable as the ship oh so kindly demonstrate to Kaeya earlier by tossing him around. Kaeya doesn’t make that same mistake and holds onto a ledge just in case.

“It’s quite the machine, if I do say so myself,” Kaeya points out. He could explain more about where he is from, but would rather keep that information to himself. “Any idea where it might be going?”

He heads closer to the blonde in flashy clothing, minding the roots and foliage. His vision hanging from his belt provides a tiny bit of light, but he’d much rather get a better look at the one he ran into. However he would keep his distance, in case the man is a threat.

Edited 2024-05-16 21:33 (UTC)

"Good, well that's a relief," Aventurine calls back. He's...not at the energy level to muster true concern, but if the other person is talking back, then they really must be alright on some level. Even if they sound a little pained.

As he said, the floors right themselves, and a man he'd never seen before comes around the doorway towards him. Aventurine blinks, standing up straighter. The man is. Tall. About Ratio's height, but with a countenance sharper and more calculated than the good doctor ever seemed to bother with. While Ratio wouldn't care what people thought of him, this man seemed composed in a way that....reminded him of...himself. It was a bit intimidating, if he was being honest. It's a familiar feeling at least.

The man looks injured with how he carries himself, too, which is...common around here. Aventurine smiles disarmingly, putting forward his best 'not a threat' look. It's...pretty easy, with how tired and achey he's been feeling lately. "It's impressive, for sure! A great ship on legs, traversing a vast wasteland. The destination? I'm not so sure. I've been told that the planet we're on is called "Matye"?" He hums, tilting his head in thought. "Not sure if that'd mean anything to you. Still, it's worth repeating." ...Normally he'd hold onto this information more jealously, but he finds he can't really seem to be bothered to right now.

Kaeya, upon getting closer, you can probably see this guy's eyes are unusually bright. A little bit glazed even. Possibly drunk? But if you note the dark bags under his eyes and his pale complexion, that's where he stops looking like a common drunkard from Mondstadt. Man looks a bit unwell, and of the disposition of doing what he can to cover it up with flashy well kept clothes and carefully styled hair. Do with that what you will.

Aventurine's eyes flick to the stone clipped to the other's hip, curiosity flitting across his expression. He seems to rein it in, however.

He chuckles, offering his hand. "Sorry, I know that's alot up front. Did you just get here? Name's Aventurine. And who might you be?"

Kaeya tries to straighten up to his full height, despite the lurching of this impossible boat. There’s a slight wonder if he had somehow was dreaming. The bruises, however, proved it was much too real to reach for such a foolish conclusion.

Kaeya reminds himself to wear his own mask, a small smile creeping forward as if to relax a little bit. Inwardly he keeps up his guard and watches the man, keeping an eye on his movements. Inwardly he focuses on the information he just acquired, along with certain terms.

Mayte? Planet? Sure, it answers his question.... in a strange way. He doesn’t let his expression drop, instead choosing to smile through the confusion and state, “I see, I certainly think it’s helpful enough.”

He lets his mind go over the possibilities, thinking over exactly how to pry a few extra bits of information on the terms. He can still feel the dull pains from his tumble prickling him at various angles. Then it hits him, and he keeps up the conversation with a new lie, “My apologies, I might have gotten a bit disoriented from the rather... unique circumstance of this boat and it tossing me around. Remind me exactly what a planet is?”

The term rolls so easily off of the other man’s tongue that it must be something normal for him. Perhaps... he was like another very strange individual Mondstadt had deemed their “honorary knight.” They both were quite strange in appearance, at the very least; espeically with the unusual name.

The other man’s outwards appearance is flashy, not unlike his own, but its the little details that Kaeya hones in on. Clothing has a wonderful way of acting as a way of presentation, another mask to be displayed. The only thing that lets him relax a little bit is mostly the dark circles outlining those strange multi-coloured eyes. The man’s eyes are like looking at a cathedral’s window, bright and glassy.

It begged to question exactly what had been done to put this man in such a condition.

“It’s quite alright, I am the one asking the questions.” Kaeya adds. He takes a moment to get an idea exactly what he wants to say but decides to slip just a bit of information about himself, “I’ve been around... It’s nice to meet a friendly face, Aventurine. You can call me Kaeya.”

Kaeya decides to try to draw out a little bit of information, “Did you also manage to take a stumble or two? You look a little... tired. The boat surely doesn’t make it easy to move around.”

At least that wasn’t a lie.

Edited 2024-05-17 21:03 (UTC)

Aventurine tracks the man's movements. Some of it is the understandable shifting of weight as the ship moves, but...the calculated relaxed posture, like a predator waiting for prey to let its guard down. It gets his own hackles up, just a bit.

Aventurine...knows he's not in the best state. This could go badly. He's not sure quite what this guy is really after, but he will figure it out, with time. He gives an appeasing grin, "Glad to help, then."

He raises an eyebrow at being asked what a planet is, however. Huh. That's a new one. Did the guy hit his head? He doesn't see an obvious head injury, but then again he had alot of pretty hair. Ah well. He might just be from a world like the Iudex's, secluded from its neighbors in the cosmos...

"Forgive my assumptions, sir. My occupation takes me to many different planets and worlds regularly, I tend to assume everyone knows..." he says, absently stifling a cough as he thinks it through. "A planet is. Well..." he gets a chip out. "Like this coin here. The emptiness around it is outer space. There are other chips, or planets, in this space somewhere too...but since we're so small in comparison, we don't really see the rock we live on..." He sways a bit in place, catching himself on the wall. Ugh. Where's Ratio when you need him? He can explain this so much better...

"Anyway. Yeah. Walking ship. On a rather empty planet, with mountains. Speaking of, you might want to hold onto something again, the ship will eventually go down-" just as he says it, the floor starts tilting. "Ah. There it is. Kaeya you said?" He's not familiar with the sound, but it's simple enough. He gestures for Kaeya to follow as he makes himself settle on the other end of what might have been a bar counter, which should support them both when the ship tilts the other way.

"It's good to meet you. Sorry for the...unsteady setting," he says with some amusement, shrugging. "You can, of course, find another place to stay for this, but you look pretty banged up already..." Concern is disarming, right? He offers his hand out again for good measure; to help the man stay steady if he comes to follow, and a discreet second offer for another handshake now that tensions are hopefully a bit lower.

((Kaeya, if you shake Aventurine's hand, it's rather warm. You're both wearing gloves, and you probably run cold, but it's still maybe a bit too warm to probably be normal. Maybe. It's not as bad as, say, Diluc, who is a Pyro vision user who runs hot, but it's a near thing...))

Except the guy turns concern back on him. Aventurine blinks, eyes bleary. He gives a lazy looking smile. He should have tried to use more makeup if even a total stranger can see his fatigue. Well. Nothing for it now. "Something like that..." Aventurine hums, stifling an unfortunately timed cough. Losing a fight with the Nameless, getting "killed" by Acheron and drowning in the sea of Nihility could technically count as a tumble...not to mention the ghost encounters. Ha.

"This ship is...eventful, to say the least. It's normal to take a tumble or two around here. Or get attacked by plants, that happens sometimes too," he laughs. He waves a hand around listlessly, clearly losing energy as he talks. "It's an older problem for me, though. Couldn't sleep, so I went out to get some food instead. You can come with if you want, cafeteria's not too far from here..."

Edited (made the hand offer more obvious, and also broke up some longer paragraphs because yea I'd get lost in the sauce too lol) 2024-05-18 22:47 (UTC)

This Aventurine fellow was... interesting the say the least. The smiles almost reminded Kaeya back in Angel’s Share, chattering away with dandelion wine. Almost like they were all friends for a time, with the reality being much more harsher than that.

It brings a familiarity that is welcome to Kaeya, making him feel a little more in his element at the very least. Even if Aventurine has a lot more information than he seems to have. That reminds him of the evenings of Angel’s Share more, prying little tidbits of information from people.

He flashes a smile and loosens up with newfound familiarity.

“Ah right... thanks for the reminder,” Kaeya nods a little in understanding. It’s.... admittedly a little hard to get his mind wrapped around the idea of the concept. However, considering everything going on now, it’s not impossible that they are on... whatever exactly a planet is. If its anything like the sky... then at least he could get some idea of what he was talking about. Loosely.

The semantics don’t matter as much.

“Unless you built this thing, then it’s... fine,” he replies. He states it sarcastically, but there is the wonder if he knows anything more about this strange contraption they are on.

The boat seems to have other plans when it comes to their chattering, seemingly not wanting to give Kaeya a moment of peace. The tilting begins to occur again. Some of the furniture is starting to roll that direction.

“Yes?” Kaeya responds to his name as the man gestures. Following him wasn’t exactly something he’d consider the safest bet, but it was better than standing there and taking a second tumble. He had more than enough of being treated like a drink in a tumbler, thank you very much.

Kaeya finds himself settling beside Aventurine, gripping onto the side of the bar counter just in case the boat tilted even further.

Kaeya forces himself not to flinch upon seeing a glimmer of gold, but finds out quickly it is simply the jewellery around the man’s wrist. He could almost laugh at how on edge he is, thinking it was something like a weapon.

Kaeya takes a deep breath and takes Aventurine’s hand to shake it. The handshake and warmth is at least... pleasant. This is a person, future enemy or ally. The idea of even something that simple is at least something Kaeya can take some solace in.

When you aren’t given very much, its the simple things that mattered.

He does take notice of the warmth of his hand and lets a bit of confusion cross his features. Was the man a pyro user? No... it’s too cold for that conclusion. He straightens up at the cough and the man’s rattling on.

“Glad at least my appearance isn’t out of the ordinary,” Kaeya chuckles. “Good to know about the plants as well.” Were they some kind of regisvine perhaps? He can’t imagine a plant-like entity being any bigger than that, especially since Mondstadt has to deal with a cryo one.
If there was any guess that Aventurine was unwell, it was pretty much obvious now. He listened to the man talk, not commenting on his condition further. It was clear he wanted to brush it aside and, for now, Kaeya will give him that.

Kaeya feels his chest tighten when he mentions losing sleep at night. He could understand that feeling of restlessness. The thought of that ancient plot turned in his mind again, Kaeya swatting it away for now. It wasn’t the time for that.

He didn’t need to relate to this man so quickly. This wasn’t the time to be talking about their problems. He did need this man around to at least figure out more about what’s going on, he reasons with himself. Out of a sign of good faith, perhaps to maybe get a potential ally, he puts a hand on Aventurine’s shoulder to at least keep him upright. He just hopes they won’t both be tumbling down.

“Food sounds like a great idea,” he agrees. Knowing where to get food is something useful at the very least and hopefully his “tour guide” won’t pass out or something before that.

Edited (adding in a minor detail: repetition (sorry)) 2024-05-19 07:40 (UTC)

"Sure. Sorry, I wish I could...remind you more clearly. I have a friend around here somewhere that'd be able to explain better." Probably. Seems like this guy doesn't have alot to go off of on the topic of planets.

"Do I look like an engineer? Me? A gambler? Now that's a thought," he laughs, which...devolves into a coughing fit he has to hunch over for to contain. Oh the risks he could take on building construction. Ratio would kill him probably. Topaz definitely would. "Besides, it's kind of...sentient? The ship, I mean. It can speak for itself when we get to the lounge or something," he breathes.

The guy looks uneasy at the offered handshake. Maybe it's a hangup of his--but then Kaeya takes it. Proper, firm handshake, nothing strange about it. Huh. Maybe he was just imagining things...the guy's hand is nice and cool, too. They release hands, a possible good alliance in store. The guy looks a little less tense, which is good.

The hall tilts more and more, making it...difficult to maintain his footing, even with the support of the bar and the wall. He ends up stumbling and bumping into Kaeya's side accidentally, and does what he can to pull away but ugh. Gravity. It's a bit too warm in here, anyway, and the guy seems to be giving off a cool aura not unlike pathstriders who commanded ice as their element. It was...interesting. Not unpleasant. Just probably a bit awkward since they just met, but what can you do when the boat you're on just keeps tilting?

"Sorry about this. It'll even out eventually, it always does," Aventurine rasps, running low on energy trying to just right his balance. Not good. Not good at all.

"Yeah...there are a bunch of people showing up here and there. I'm newer...but I can still help find them..." he mutters, eyes closing for a moment. "We have some people from my galaxy I think...and from. Teyvat? The Iudex said he was from Teyvat....Fontaine?" He hums in response about the plants. "Yeah they're a bit strange. If they catch some sunlight they can grow insanely fast to reach it. Which is....fine unless you're in the way. So heads up about that--"

He stiffens when a hand lands on his shoulder, eyes snapping open- since when did they stay closed??, realizing that he'd kind of...flopped against Kaeya's side again, supported by him and the metal wall, and now his hand on his shoulder. Shields flicker into being, and he quickly forces them down, his head aching from the effort.

The contact doesn't hurt. It even feels kinda nice, with the cool temperatures of both supports. But he can't help his breathing speeding up a bit. His hand shakes, and he quickly shoves it behind his back.

This man could overpower him like this. Easily.

But if he scrambles away now, he risks using up all his energy, which could be used to escape at a better time if he needed to.

Might as well bet on...leaning into the wounded animal shtick for now. Decent people pity wounded animals. They usually don't hurt them, and the guy seemed. Decent enough. Probably. He can still salvage this. He remains rather stiff under Kaeya's hand, but doesn't work to shrug it off. The support is helping.

And Kaeya's interested in the prospect of food. Aventurine can use that. He still has...a winning chance... "Right then. Sorry about...your personal space," he says sheepishly, playing on the inherent awkwardness to offset possible danger. "The ship should even out soon, based on...how it's done....before. I'll take you to the cafeteria when it does. It's great, really," He has to stop for a brief coughing fit. Those are starting to sound a bit worse...great. "There's just...food. Available. It's pretty good too...lots of options." That you don't have to pay for. Finding lost souls in the halls helps settle that need for payment, however.

“Well... I can ask that friend of yours later. If you’d be so kind to introduce me... unless they come tumbling down the next hallway.” Kaeya mentally files away the fact that his man has friends on board. Something he certainly wished he had and was hopefully working to get at least one ally. Being the guy in question, beggers can’t be choosers.

“Well at least your well enough to stomach some humor,’ Kaeya adds. He does mean it, between the coughing and the unusual warmth, the fact this ‘gambler’ could actually probably converse right now was at least a good sign. He grimaces on the idea of a sentient boat, “That seems.... more unsettling than anything else.”

Kaeya finds the man bumping into him. He doesn’t comment on it for now, at first assuming its just thanks to the roots and vines at their feet. It reminds him during more peaceful times, just for a moment. Camping out on knight trips in tents, stuck close by just in case. Those times were... pleasant, and also not the thing to be focusing on.

He’s almost thankful for the apology out of the sole excuse to exit his mind. “It’s fine... It’s better than one of us finding ourselves in a completely different room... or a concussion,” Kaeya adds and lets Aventurine ramble on again. It’s a good habit when someone is letting their guard down.

He straightens immediately, eyes wide with alarm at the fact. There were others from Teyvat? Several thoughts go through his head, who exactly? Does he know any of them? Are they from Mondstadt too? He keeps his lips tight but he does retort, “We really have a bunch of people from all over, it seems.” He ignores the fact that galaxy is also not something he completely understands, is that bigger than ‘outer space’?

Kaeya glances at the plants, freezing as if to check. Upon closer inspection, the ones by the windows too tend to move. He thought it was just because of the fact the entire place was moving. “Good to know,” Kaeya pipes up, “Is there-”

He stops when he feels the man tense under his grasp, so much so Kaeya nearly pulls back completely. He makes his hand lighter, as if to draw it back the second it calls for it. Kaeya looks over Aventurine to realize exactly what is going on, the flickering of something causes him to tense up a little bit as well.

The more important thing is Aventurine seems too weak to actually pull anything at the moment. The man has been leaning on him intermittently and now his body seems fully committed to the bit.

He really can’t have Aventurine passing out or dying or... whatever is going on with him.

“You think you can stay awake long enough for that?” Kaeya asks. He thought about how tense the man still feels under his hold. “Speaking of personal space, if you need to save your energy, I can probably carry you.... as long as you can direct me once the ship evens out. You look.... pretty exhausted is all.”

The man seems small enough he can manage, of course it may put him in a bit of a spot with his arms full... but it may be worth it for the sake of securing an ally.

Edited 2024-05-19 23:00 (UTC)

In which Aven's constitutions saves remain hilariously average (13)

doomed_gambler - 2024-05-20 01:22 (UTC) - Expand

Kaeya can tell this mans is not doing so good...

frostwindknight - 2024-05-21 00:56 (UTC) - Expand

Sickie GPS is a GO

doomed_gambler - 2024-05-21 08:25 (UTC) - Expand

Hey google, anything else I need to know about this boat?

frostwindknight - 2024-05-21 21:56 (UTC) - Expand

Google maps says RUN

doomed_gambler - 2024-05-21 23:29 (UTC) - Expand

In which Aventurine's horribly average rolls become MY average rolls (11 and 12)

frostwindknight - 2024-05-23 06:30 (UTC) - Expand

Sorry he likes to win even in losing (nat 1 con save. 2)

doomed_gambler - 2024-05-23 21:52 (UTC) - Expand

Annnnnnd the GPS needs more batteries....

frostwindknight - 2024-05-24 20:33 (UTC) - Expand

Sorry your GPS is overheating and experiencing technical difficulties

doomed_gambler - 2024-05-24 22:59 (UTC) - Expand

I'll get the ice cubes

frostwindknight - 2024-05-26 06:41 (UTC) - Expand

Cooling systems starting up again, rebooting...

doomed_gambler - 2024-05-28 20:43 (UTC) - Expand

Currently running a lot of processes on the CPU... maybe that's why it malfunctioned

frostwindknight - 2024-05-30 01:03 (UTC) - Expand

CPU requires more memory :V

doomed_gambler - 2024-05-31 20:09 (UTC) - Expand

Re: CPU requires more memory :V

frostwindknight - 2024-05-31 21:17 (UTC) - Expand

You GPS has rebooted and is now embarrassed!!!

doomed_gambler - 2024-06-02 06:52 (UTC) - Expand

Travel is a go~

frostwindknight - 2024-06-03 00:31 (UTC) - Expand

Enjoy more random information from your loopy GPS, Kaeya

doomed_gambler - 2024-06-06 07:00 (UTC) - Expand

Im checking the memory and relogging the information in the databanks of Google searches

frostwindknight - 2024-06-08 23:42 (UTC) - Expand

Your queries keep gps from going into sleep mode, good job

doomed_gambler - 2024-06-14 05:39 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Your queries keep gps from going into sleep mode, good job

frostwindknight - 2024-06-17 23:33 (UTC) - Expand

Sleepy yapper is yappin

doomed_gambler - 2024-06-22 00:41 (UTC) - Expand

Listen Hindsight is 20-2o as I play Kaeya knowing how future Kaeya is doing

frostwindknight - 2024-06-27 23:40 (UTC) - Expand

An apple a day...makes the Doctor less likely to kill you. Probably.

doomed_gambler - 2024-07-03 01:55 (UTC) - Expand

Buddy they say feed a fever

frostwindknight - 2024-07-09 23:06 (UTC) - Expand

But I'm not hungry (Says the guy who set out for a snack in the first place)

doomed_gambler - 2024-07-10 03:20 (UTC) - Expand

If I had a nickel for every time I needed the cafeteria meal list I'd have two nickels- its my curse

frostwindknight - 2024-07-12 05:42 (UTC) - Expand

It is an extensive menu, you gotta know the options!! (the end~)

doomed_gambler - 2024-07-12 22:58 (UTC) - Expand

Off to the doctor! (END)

frostwindknight - 2024-07-12 23:23 (UTC) - Expand

This ship was going to be the death of her.

Furina thinks the thought viciously, as if the words were knives with which she could stab. A physical sort of violence wholly beyond her--and yet, as she pulls herself back to her feet and tries to pull her composure and her clothes back together, indulging in her mind is a necessary component to soothing herself. She's learnt this well, over the years.

And then, as she's peering at her cuffs to gauge how dirty that tumble just got them, a yelp, just ahead--accompanied by a thud.

Well. That's a comfort too, she supposes--to know she is not the only one who just found herself barrelling towards what gravity had now dictated to be a brand new floor. She scoots ahead, shamefully curious to see just who had had the ground yanked out from under them, to see--

Someone she has never met. Someone she knows was not on this ship, before.

Someone she recognises, all the same.

Furina, you see--while she may not in fact be the Hydro Archon, she nevertheless holds the office, which means she has the power to do many things and command much knowledge. Like constellations, and when they sprout anew (what if one day someone comes to Fontaine with a Hydro Vision she's meant to know about! Better to know the very moment a new cluster of stars shines in the night sky); like those who hold positions of power in foreign nations, and what they look like.

Kaeya Alberich; Cavalry Captain of Mondstadt's Knights of Favonius. Cryo Vision.

She doesn't know anything about him beyond that, but...Furina's appearance isn't exactly a secret, and for one in Kaeya Alberich's position...yes, she expects he knows what even foreign Archons look like.

Which means he will, in all likelihood, recognise her on sight--which means she absolutely must not slip up in front of him; she must be Focalors, poised and perfect down to every divine inch of her.

"Ah, my good Captain," she calls, falling into her role, "you've taken quite the tumble, I see! Are you well?"

The title sends Kaeya reeling for a moment. It’s a voice he doesn’t at all recognize but the information is terribly accurate. Much too accurate for his own comfort. What other secrets were on this boat?

He turns to the side to see a young short woman dressed in blue. Streaks of blue peak out from the white hair. Monochromatic eyes, one a lighter shade than the other. The style is immediately familiar though as something from Fontaine.

The Hydro Archon herself, of all people?

Kaeya wasn’t sure if that was a stroke of good luck, or a sign of quite bad fortune. It seemed to be quite the coin toss as of late. He has to remind himself to shake off the shock and possible wariness, perhaps all the tumbling had shaken a memory or two, perhaps for some strange reason this has something to do with her nation.

He wonders for a split second if he was staring too long. He shakily stands up, grasping onto a ledge to try to get his feet under him. He looks back in a bit of astonishment.

“My my,” Kaeya mumbles, voice catching from both the ache of standing up and biting down surprise to see her. “It’s quite the honor to see the Hydro Archon herself...” He realizes his words and tries to make some good-natured pleasantries, “Despite the circumstances of course. This... contraption of your nation’s is quite interesting in its route but I’m alright.”

“But perhaps next time the captain should refrain from... getting too close to mountains,” he adds, trying to hide the bitterness of being jostled. If the archon is here, at least he’d be able to get some answers.

After so many introductions and encounters on this boat having no idea just who or what the Hydro Archon is throwing her off her rhythm, finding someone who recognises her on sight does actually boost her confidence in her act. This--this is familiar. This is safe.

Well. It's never safe, but she paradoxically feels less worried about messing up in front of someone who knows what to expect from her over someone who doesn't.

She feels a stab of sheer offense when he suggests that her beautiful, beloved Fontaine devised this monstrosity they're all trapped on; yes, okay, it's a deeply fascinating piece of workmanship, that doesn't mean she has to like it (or want her people associated with it); that offense fades away when she realises what the probing, leading insinuation means.

"Yes, an honour, to be sure," she says airily. "However, I'm afraid you've come to quite the incorrect conclusion, dear Captain. This ship is not of Fontainian make, nor have I any control over whatever force is driving it. We're all rather trapped here, you see."

And not trapped alone for long, either. If Kaeya Alberich is here, and he wasn't here before...

...whatever summoned all these people here is still bringing in more people.

There is a strange feeling about the archon that makes it... difficult. On one hand, a familiar figure is better than none at all. Diplomatic relations are usually handled by Jean, but being Quartermaster usually lead to himself joining in on matters. There’s a safety of ensuring diplomacy from their positions alone, or so he hopes.

However, old talks of Khaenri’ahns, certainly buzzed in the back of his brain. A strange dance he was both amazing familiar with and also set him off balance.

The entire ship beginning to tilt again slightly, only makes him frown just a bit more. “Well that is indeed a problem,” Kaeya pipes up, grabbing onto something before he finds himself back on the floor. “And my apologies for my incorrect conclusion, Mademoiselle Furina de Fontaine.... and quite deeply troubling given everything going on...”

He would gesture to her if it weren’t for the ship’s annoying movements. “If I may be so bold, do you have any idea what is going on here?”

It sadly rules out any hope that this entire thing was something else, an unfortunate final revelation that they are indeed in one of the worst case scenarios. However, any information would be lovely to have. Seeing as they recognize each other, and more importantly who they are and their positions in their own nations, there’s no point in playing the fool.

"Do I have any idea of what is going on...? Of course I do. This accursed ship is walking us up a mountain." Raising her hands with a sigh, Furina shakes her head. "But if you're asking if I know the whys regarding that question...I'm afraid you'll find that there's not much on offer. It's quite the conundrum!" And quite frustrating, ugh.

"I forgive you your presumption," she declares grandly. "Pay it no mind--it would not do to borrow enmity and resentment here. Right now, there is a significant cohort of those from Teyvat aboard...but there's also a significant scattering of those from completely different worlds." Should she mention Shang Qinghua, and his frankly alarming theory that they were all some manner of fiction made manifest? She eyes Kaeya Alberich. Probably not. She has not even figured out how to discuss the possibility with Neuvillette yet.

"It would be best," she says, as neutrally as possible, "for those of us the call the same land home to work together as well as we can to get back home. Don't you agree?"

Kaeya’s eyes are wide at the statement. Boats were supposed to float not go over mountains. Maybe it was like the Jade Palace apparently is like in Liyue? Either way, it’s a little hard to get his brain wrapped around that concept. “Well that’s...” he can’t help but being a little tongue tied with that one. “...interesting...”

Kaeya tries to straighten his mask and posture a little bit from the fumble. At least he lets his shoulders drop a little at the fact she wasn’t cross about the misunderstanding. If anything, her statements makes an eyebrow raise. He does keep an eye as the boat is starting to rock a little more, possibly going over another ridge in the mountain. He certainly doesn’t feel comfortable with its movements to cross his arms, instead keeps a hand on the ledge.

He nods as he goes over the information, “So there’s multiple worlds of people here? Interesting.”

Kaeya doesn’t hate the logic ion her theory, in fact it makes a lot of sense. Complicated feelings aside, having everyone from Teyvat to work together is a solid concept, and certainly one that Kaeya is willing to get behind. As long as everyone can work together, then it would be a masterful move. “I certainly can agree with that. Exactly who is here?”

"Hmm. With your arrival, my understanding of how many of us exactly are aboard is not as confident as I would like it to be, but to my knowledge, there is myself and Iudex Neuvillette, the Harbinger of Snezhnaya known as Tartaglia, and a nameless wandering scholar from Sumeru. For that last one, he wears quite the recognisable hat, at least, as a calling card. And that's Teyvat." She frowns. "There are a few others here that know one another, I believe, and thus must be from the same world...but not as in large a number as the cohort from Teyvat. And more still who came alone. So there's no pattern to be found there, alas."

She smiles at him. "Perhaps the good Captain will have better luck at figuring this out than I have. It's quite hard to put my skills into practice without a culprit to prosecute!"

Kaeya (Genshin Impact)| Arrival/Tilt-A-Whirl

Re: Kaeya (Genshin Impact)| Arrival/Tilt-A-Whirl

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Going back down...

Re: Going back down...

Aven does not believe this man ever knew what a planet is

It's not his fault his world's sky is fake. (He appreciates not being told Aven doesn't believe him)

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Arrival/Tilt-A-Whirl

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taking a few. liberties .

Shaking hands on taking some liberties