TEST DRIVE MEME (JAN 23')

[myddvaimods]

TEST DRIVE MEME
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Arc Introduction, Month 0


The Pull

Falling asleep, closing one's eyes to die, or simply walking through a doorway... it only takes the slightest lapse of consciousness for the magic to take hold. That sudden feeling of falling within a dream overtakes the senses, lasting far longer than it should. If lucky or nimble, feet will hit the floor rather than spine or face.

Characters find themselves pulled into a new world without warning, and they are now in the spotlight. Literally. From their new vantage point from center stage in a cabaret, they can just barely make out the strange, sprawling figures that form their audience. Hulking animal shapes sit at tables and lean against walls, defining the edges of the dark space. The floorboards glow with untold power, etched with countless runes and scripts, radiating power and… a strangely pleasant smell of vanilla and cinnamon fills the air.

"Charming," says a seemingly disembodied voice, tone bored despite the compliment, "Let this one stay, I'm intrigued by them."

"Suboptimal," responds another voice, this time clearly to the right and behind. Looking over a shoulder, the two speaking stand on opposite sides from one another.


The last to speak, a seven-foot tall goat man, is holding a broken shepherd's staff. The whole of the item is glowing with power and strands of magic wind outward like thread or like marionette strings, as they trail to the new arrivals body at all their joints. The goat man sighs and lowers the staff, dispelling the magic and the strands like extinguishing a flame. Colorful sparks and embers erupt and rise all around the stage, before cooling and disappearing into thin air.

"Welcome, you're one of the Pulled. Now, get off the stage," says that first voice again, from the other figure. They are a slim person of ambiguous gender and seemingly timeless age. They crack a smirk, "we have more of your kind to summon, the good Secretary Theodore will explain further,"

With that, it's time to explore what this strange place and experience holds, because there's seemingly no going back now.



Theodore is not his name...

Whether going willingly or getting kicked off, the most recent Pulled is moved into the off-stage area. A man waits, looking uneasy and stressed but doing his best to project some air of competency. He'll shake hands with anybody who'd like to but doesn't seem surprised or offended if they don't take his hand.

"Good to meet you. I'm Ted, Ydris' secretary," he has an overall exhausted air to him, as he pushes up his glasses.

Every Pulled gets the same, rehearsed explanation of what's going on.

First, a welcome to Myddvai, the name of the world they now find themselves pulled into. Myddvai is the vast World Tree, floating pleasantly through space. It is a highly magical place and thus not always the easiest to explain. He heeds that Pulled might want to curve any... expectations of perfect consistency. This world is highly unpredictable.

In the most basic terms, Myddvai is controlled by forces of Chaos and Order. All magic falls between these two extremes and is, curiously, denoted by flavor. The curious scent of cinnamon and vanilla is caused by the magic at work, summoning in the various Pulled. Ted introduces the two on the stage as Ydris and Ives, who are currently the two most powerful beings active on Myddvai. He urges that getting on either of their bad sides would be unwise.

The two on stage have devised this ritual summoning because the whole of Myddvai is in trouble. Ydris is one of five Dragon Deities, the living gods that oversee the natural order and chaotic forces throughout Myddvai.

Due to "a mishap," the other four Dragons are all unconscious. Many groups are scrambling to find their own solutions or, more concerningly, using this opportunity to seize various forms of control.

Ydris is aligned to Order and cannot allow such grabs at power on their, suddenly very solo, watch. Ives, who is a being with wisdom more ancient than even the gods of this world, has enlisted himself to help with this. The two agree they need outsiders with no biases on the politics of this world, and no motivation outside of what Ydris and Ives can offer them all. The prize for cooperation is a simple choice:

"Pulled are welcome to remain in the world and live out their mortal lives in luxury, heroes that will be favored by all the gods... or, be returned to your homes with new life and power. Even if you aren't interested in going home, there are others who are." Ted glances away for a moment, before his gaze returns to the Pulled, "The choice will be each of yours to make... provided you cooperate. If you're not interested in helping, you can be a normal citizen of the world. That's always an option."

Beyond that overwhelming lore dump, Ted can only answer so many further questions, but feel free to inquire with Ted. He's mostly around to field each Pulled as they're directed off stage to meet him. Other Pulled who have already heard the script can hang around in his space longer, but they'll probably get tired of the same speech over and over. Ted looks like he would love to stop...

Join the Audience

"You can join the rest of the audience. Mingle as much as you'd like," Ted urges to those done with their orientation.

There is only a curtain blocking the backstage from the seating area. Joining the audience reveals that the figures watching this ritual are animal, insect, and arachnid people. Dog, rat, bat, snake... all manner of heads sit expressively upon more human bodies, all dressed in sharp suits, gowns, or mixtures thereof. This appears to be quite the fancy affair!

These are Springtide Vampires, the aristocratic leaders of this particular culture. They eagerly invite Pulled in pairs to sit and socialize with them.

While a few lick their chops at the new arrivals, they insist they are not out for off-world blood. No, what they want is connections to the Pulled. Springtide Families are all headed by a Vampire, and those who grant resources to this endeavor are being promised great favors or riches by Ydris. So, they are hungry for clout more than anything. A few Vampires are interested in making conversation about themselves, but most prefer to simply eavesdrop on any Pulled sitting at their tables and speaking with one another.

Pulled who are especially interesting or social will be slipped a calling card with a family crest: Rat, Dog, Raven, Moth, Cat, or Spider. The Vampire granting the card will instruct Pulled that this will be valuable soon. So, hold onto it for later and guard it against thieves. Pulled can only acquire one of these cards each, so choose carefully. If Pulled decide to trade among themselves, that may come with future consequences.

((Note: Vampires will be NPCs available for interaction below, but players are free to handwave basic interactions, as described above. Receiving one of the calling cards can also be done at player discretion.))

The bar is open to a new you


At the far end of the cabaret is a long bar leading to a kitchen. Mysteriously, the cabaret has no discernable exit. There is a row of seats facing the bartenders and another facing the stage. Both rows are exclusive for Pulled, set aside from the Vampires. Everybody who was pulled in arrived wearing whatever they last had on. If an outfit was too revealing, damaged, or just not comfortable, then Pulled are offered a silken robe and slippers to wear instead.

Whether a waitress or bartender addresses a Pulled, they refer to them as their Myddvai Breed. "What would you like to drink, Elf?" "You look like a hungry Rahuth! How about something from the kitchen?" and so on. All Pulled take on recognizable characteristics native to Myddvai, features determined by the Pull of the universe. Any who ask are told that features are likely to continue to manifest the longer they're on Myddvai. Some Pulled might also experience their form shifting wildly between different breeds and are assured that will settle down eventually. This kind of transformation isn't painful, only strange to experience. Pulled can get told all the basic information available on Myddvai breeds at this time.

Pulled have plenty of time to chat just among themselves at the bar. If endless, freely provided alcohol isn't enough to loosen the tongue, then perhaps sharing a meal will? Pulled are required to order food as pairs or parties, individual requests won't be served. The menu is distinctly lacking in grains, dairy, and red meat, exclusively having vegetable dishes and various seafood on offer. It's all very flavorful and filling, seasoned well, and delivered warm.

If you're facing the stage, there's plenty more being pulled in... and come to find out, not everybody is allowed to stay.

The Ice Storm

Watch and it becomes clear that the ritual doesn't always result in worthwhile Pulled.

The room swells as the pair of powerful beings do each half of the summons. Ives steadies his staff and draws in the smoke generated by Ydris, who looks entirely different. Their human illusion is dropped during a summoning, showing their true form as a fantastical, wax-bodied being of fire and metal. Flames all swirl intensely, creating a smoke that is wound into concentrated magical strings of energy. These lines are what pull people out from their worlds, causing a void in reality from which they arrive through. The tear is quickly stitched back together by those same thread, weaving the space back together again behind the new arrival.

If a Pulled is deemed unworthy, Ives points the staff at them. A flash of light overtakes the entire room. The Vampires appear to all know just the time to duck or hide their eyes when this happens. Except a certain Sir Goodpoint the flash is his favorite part.

After this light dissipates, the person is gone. Seemingly returned home. One would... hope. The next ritual begins again, people stay or go. There seems to be a completely unknown ranking system at play. The Vampires casually mention how many Stars someone is worth in passing. Not everybody chosen has a high rank by this measure, so that doesn't seem to be the deciding factor.

A semi-regular occurrence is the Ice Storm. This is when an unwanted character is Pulled multiple times and everybody in attendance has gotten just so fed up with seeing them. One of the front-row Vampires seems to have started a trend, that of plucking an ice cube from their drink and throwing it at the offending Pulled. Basically, everybody in the audience takes this as a great opportunity to pelt the unwanted Pulled until Ives makes them go away, jeering and booing are optional.

All Pulled in the audience are given cups of ice, wordlessly encouraged to participate. Nobody subjected to the Ice Storm is allowed to remain. Any who stand to object to this will get the Ice Storm directed at themselves, instead. It won't get a Pulled who was already chosen sent back home, but they will get a good pelting for their trouble.

It also makes for a progressively funnier show as new Pulled appear and slip on the remains of the previous Ice Storm. Glad that wasn't you, right? Or maybe it was and now you understand why...


OOC Notes

Welcome to the Test Drive Meme for Myddvai's First Season!

This post is Open To All for play, both those with and without invites to our game are welcome to play in this space.

Players are allowed to play around with their character as any of the available breeds while on the TDM. TDM breed choice does not need to match an application. All threads from the TDM can remain canon even if breed is changed later when applying to game. The lore reason for this would be instability of a character's form when first pulled in. Breed choice cannot currently be changed once within the game, so choose wisely when applying!

As a reminder, TDM participation is a required part of our Application to join. Both top leveling your characters and tagging around is encouraged!

For those without Invites who are interested in applying, feel free to join our discord and inquire about potentially receiving an invite.

All Mod Invited Players are allowed to extend unlimited invites to those they wish.

For those with invitations, Reservations are open along with this TDM! Please put in a Reservation if you are intending to join the game.

Applications open on the 1st of February and priority will be given to Reserved players. The first round of acceptances to the game will go out Feb. 4th along with an IC Introduction Event.

Not sure what Breed you want to pick for your character? Head over to our Design Workshop! Moderation and other potential players would be happy to help brainstorm.

code bases by tricklet

Comments

Ted 🐿️ NPC

[secretarial]

[ He's standing here for questions and harassment. ]

[saltsplash]

[He was doing his best to be patient for all of this information. He really, really, really was. Despite the foot tapping anxiously and the leering and the intense silent urgency to get to the point, he managed to let Ted through the spiel.

But at the end of it? He stomps a foot forward, and immediately starts talking over Ted's oh so helpful 'any questions?' line.]

Are you telling me that we're being strong-armed into this weird LARPing by those two,

[He points to Ydris and Ives, of course,]

and we're just expected to put up and shut up when we've been abducted?? Some promise of special powers or whatever doesn't make up for the fact that we've gotten taken from our homes! You all have no idea if there are people dependent on us being there or not, people could be in serious trouble or worse! That's irresponsible!

Goodpoint and the other Vampires | NPCs

[familynames]

[Open to all prospective players, though mod responses may be limited. The vampires in attendance are rat, dog, raven, moth, cat, and spider. They graciously allow the Pulled to approach and introduce themselves.]

[enthraller]

[Fuck it, he'll play ball. Schmoozing with potentially useful people is standard practice for Saralegui. He selects the raven to approach based on little more than vibes and appreciation of that regal, exotic coloring.]

Are you all very important here? You seem to be the only locals that were invited to watch this.

Hector | Castlevania | Giant

[petcromancer]

The Pull

[Hector arrives dressed in blue and black, with a bandage across his left hand where his ring finger ends in a stump. He blinks rapidly at the sudden light in his eyes.]

What the fuck.

[There's surprise, but also resignation in his voice. Welp, at least there's some interesting magic going on. That's a silver lining.]

Booze Please

What'll it be, Giant?

Wine. Red. You should probably just leave the bottle. [It's been one of those days. There are horns starting to grow out of Hector's head, and he needs to be way more drunk than he is to deal with this.

And he should probably get some food inside of him, too, but since the waiter refuses to serve him anything solid until he's got another diner with him, he's going to keep chugging wine until he finds another person to wave over so they can finally get some service.]

Ice Storm

[Look, nobody ever accused Hector of being a saint. Far, far from it. So when he gets handed a glass full of ice, he shrugs.]

When in Rome.... [He picks up an ice chunk and throws it hard at the figure currently being booed out of the realm. It's... kind of cathartic, after a stressful day.]

booze

[voidbound]

[ well, if daybit is being confused for a server, then there's not much that he can (or wants) to do. or maybe he wants to get food?

hm, the only way that he can find out is by going over. ]

What is it.

Shi Qingxuan | Heaven Official's Blessing | Rahuth

[ladywindmaster]

The Pull

[Shi Qingxuan, in his male form at the moment, dressed in long white cultivator's robes, looks around, confused.]

Wait, who did the Distant Shortening Array?

[He definitely didn't remember anyone setting one up. He looks around, spots Ydris, and smiles at them.]

Cute cloak! But, um, why am I here?

[He turns as the other mage pronounces judgement, frowning, then flushing a little as he sees how unclothed Ives' whole torso is. Indecent!

The two seem unwilling to answer Shi Qingxuan, though, so before long, he hops off of the stage to find the aforementioned Theodore for answers.]

Ice Ice Baby

Hey, wait, what did he do?

[When Shi Qingxuan sees an injustice happening, he immediately speaks up. That's not fair, this guy didn't choose to be yanked into this world repeatly. Seems like that's the fault of the distance array caster, not the teleportee.

... of course, when the ice starts hurtling his way, he squeaks and ducks his head, covering himself with his arms.]

W-wait, stop! I didn't mean to do me!

[Help! Where is his brother, or Ming-xiong, or the crown prince when he needs them!]

Ice Ice Baby

[unshurety]

[a winged girl who's huddled herself back into the darkest corner available was one of the ice throwers. it wasn't the biggest piece, but she smiles at him sweetly over the rim of her glass when he looks up at her before casting her eyes down in a show of modesty.]

Oh, but if you're so ready to defend someone, that should mean you're ready to take all of their suffering on your shoulders! It just lacks... backbone, otherwise, wouldn't you say?

[Shu Keigetsu is feeling very bruised over here in her corner. she'd sat up and paid attention when this Pulled mentioned arrays -- with his robes and his white lotus atmosphere, the question Is he a Daoist? Can he help me? couldn't help but cross her mind. she was ready to cling to his leg on the spot!

but when she realized that despite her panicked hopes, he was as much of a disappointment as anyone else here... well, she can't be blamed for taking out a little of her frustration. right?]

Scorponok || Transformers (IDW) || Lobster Mermaid

[eugenesis]

The Pull

[The scent means nothing to a Cybertronian - these are organic plants, something that is pleasant to the human senses. Why is he remembering this as he lays dying? Where is the pain of a body torn apart by a chainsaw? He rests his hands on his wound-

-and finds soft flesh. Scorponok lifts his head, and yup, it's skin. There's no blood, and no injury.] What happened?

[But before he can get answers, he's ushered off the stage. The large man wrapped only in a simple purple robe leaves the perimeter of the stage, but any questions are put aside for self-analysis. He pokes an prods at his fleshy body, muttering things like "fascinating" and "but how?". His grin grows with each passing second, and it gleams when he lifts up the cloth covering his lower half for a peak.]

The Audience

And you are...? And you are...? [Being alive is great! Turning into a different species is awesome! And here are plenty of live specimens to talk to!] So this "mermaid" I am - why must I wear this eyepatch? Does it improve my night vision? What are your mores on physical modesty? How often do you eat? How often do you sleep?

[And all sorts of invasive questions.]

Audience

[housewolf]

[His wolf ears perk up for a moment, when he's addressed, but he really doesn't have any idea what to answer. This is much more rapid fire than the questions he usually gets.]

I'm just as new as you are, so I'm afraid I can't answer most of these. I can answer some of those, if it's one at a time though.

Shu Keigetsu | Though I Am an Inept Villainess | Rahuth

[unshurety]

[one particular girl -- delicate, clearly bird-boned even before the Pulling process and dressed in a lovely set of yellow silk robes that's now slightly the worse for the wear from the wings on her back and the nervous sleeve-plucking of her clawed fingers -- stands out among the crowd. it's not for good reasons. the round-shouldered, nervously hunched posture she adopts whenever she doesn't remember to correct it emphasizes her gaudy new wings and feathers in an awkward way, making the potentially-elegant sweep of her crest from her skull down the back of her neck look like something deformed.

she's also notable for seemingly being unable to decide what her vibe is since she got here. she started out on stage raising her voice to an almost shrieky pitch to demand an explanation of Ydris and Ives, turned about six different colors and dropped her voice to an urgent hiss when speaking to Ted, then abruptly switched tacks and staggered theatrically, letting herself be helped to a seat. now she seems to be veering wildly between the previously described panicked slouch and an attempt at sitting up, pasting a smile on her face, and looking as elegant and serene as possible. if she's expecting to convince anyone, well...

...it's hard to fault her in these circumstances, but it may be that her acting skills weren't immediately up to such a completely unexpected situation.]


The Audience

[it's been a few minutes since Keigetsu established herself at a previously unoccupied table. she'd passionately hoped this would buy her time to recollect herself and figure out any kind of plan, but she should have known better -- she can see clearly that Kou Reirin's ethereal, fragile beauty and inconvenient but somehow appealing physical weakness are predictably betraying her once again. Ha! It's great to be admired, sure, but no wonder that girl feels so smothered all the time...

of course, that must be why these monsters, or vampires, or whatever, started swarming her as soon as she sat down. it figured that being in Kou Reirin's body meant that even predators thought she looked more delicious -- but even so, she's committed herself to trying to making polite conversation with them until she sees a good escape route. she'd been shocked on the stage, but now it was time to get with the program and act friendly to anyone who looked likely to fall for it.

Keep it together, Keigetsu. You can't let even a scratch get on this body, or it'll fall over like a kicked dog, and then where will you or Reirin be?

she just needed to act like a good girl until... until something that she's definitely going to think of soon. she's sure of it.

it's probably a good thing she made that resolution, because not two minutes later, a grinning vampire passes her a card with a rat on it. Keigetsu's already-sickly smile develops a full-blown case of influenza on the spot.]

Oh. I see. You've got to be kidding m--... aha, no, what am I saying?

[Once the sewer rat of the Maiden Court, always a sewer rat, huh? is the bitter thought she might have later. right now she just has Kill Bill sirens going in her head as she holds the card up to the light so that everyone can see the picture more clearly.]

I'm... so very grateful.

The Bar

[once the vampires lose interest, Shu Keigetsu shrinks back further into the corner of her table, looking terribly awkward and slightly pathetic despite her pretty face. she keeps trying to flag down someone to serve her, but without anyone else at her table, she's being thoroughly ignored -- and trying her best not to get visibly upset about it.]

How d-- um, sir, please, if you could look this way--!

[she'll start to raise her voice, but modulate it down to a breathy, gentle murmur before she gets more than a word or two out. a couple servers glance her way, but they don't seem to be moved by either approach.

they're going to have to polish the scratches out of the wood of the table later at this rate.]

The Ice Storm

[as she watches the ritual, the girl in yellow grows genuinely absorbed -- staring with an oddly singleminded focus at the weaving patterns of force and fire that fill the air. a few times, she murmurs something under her breath or absentmindedly traces a pattern on the table with one finger, but nothing seems to happen despite the intensity in her eyes...

when the cup of ice gets pressed into her hand, she jolts back to reality. her eyes go first to it, then to the hapless Pulled onstage, then to the jeering crowd. her face goes white, then she flushes, biting her lip. she even takes the first cube out of her drink to cool her wrists and under her jaw instead of using it as ammunition.

however, it doesn't take more than one or two more rounds before she gets caught up in the atmosphere and throws a big chunk with the rest of the crowd, a condescending smile on her face. to her credit or discredit (take your pick), it looks like it hurts her teeth. ]

...my, my. Why're you showing your face here again, huh...?

The Bar

[fridrich]

[Banri doesn't normally go out of his way to approach people, but Keigetsu's struggle is kind of hard to watch. Surely there's some Rahuth-to-Rahuth connection drawing him to her, too.

He slides into a seat at her table without so much as a greeting - just a shout in the direction of the nearest server.] OIII! Over here.

daybit sem void | fate/grand order | rahuth (possible lostbelt 7 spoilers)

[voidbound]

1. pulled in

[ daybit is... pretty certain that this is not part of the pilgrimage. considering the last thing he remembers, waking up in a stage in a club doesn't seem right in the least.

and yet, aside from a few moments of blinking, he doesn't seem otherwise shaken up by this sudden change in direction. they want him to get off the stage? then get off the stage he will, without much decorum or fuss. he moves to stand at the side of the stage, arms crossed and...

staring at anyone and everyone in silence. ]

2. open bar (unless you're a loner)

[ deeming his observation done, daybit decides that it's better to do what he does best: explore. this, of course, doesn't take him very far, but the bar is a nice place to start. he's not particularly hungry, but he figures it'll be a good way to get a hang of this society if he's to stay for an extended period of time.

he takes a note of the name that they call him: rahuth. idly, he notices the new appendages on his head and from his back, but again, there's no comment. neither does he comment upon seeing the menu-- it's no good to be a picky eater while traveling.

the only real comment, is when he tries to order, and-- ]

No individual requests?

[ this, actually, seems to make him hesitate, looking back at the crowd. he knows better than to criticize a culture that isn't his own but... ]

That's a rather strange business decision. Is this a dating spot?

3. ice "storm"

[ well, the ice pelting is definitely something that's strange to see. but, then again, there's been countless movies of throwing tomatoes at bad stand up comedians, so maybe it's not so strange.

still, daybit quietly holds his cup of ice cubes, standing by the side as they pelt another pulled. perhaps, staring directly at the poor victim with his piercing violet eyes, waiting to see what the other does. ]

2.

[hard_decisions]

[Wesley isn't exactly faring much better, though, to be fair, he also doesn't seem to be focusing on getting food or drink.

When he hears the question from over his shoulder, he leans over and quietly murmurs to Daybit.]

They seem to be trying to force social networking.

[He doesn't sound terribly amused by the idea.]

Ives | NPC | OTA

[brokenroots]

The bar is open?

You must be joking.

[Ives looms over the waitress who is honestly not having it. She pokes at his stomach with the notepad she has for taking orders, since his chest is too far up for her. Feistily, she barks back at him, "You said to not serve anybody unless in pairs! Anybody includes you! That's the rules!" He doesn't have long to spend arguing about this. Ydris was taking a break from summoning to speak with Ted and he only had a small window to get some food in him. The living fire didn't need to eat, so if Ives lingered too long, he'd get an ear full. That's best avoid, for his sanity.

The Giant looks irritated, but ultimately grumbles and looks to each side of him. He sees some Pull sitting alone and grabs the seat beside them, sitting himself into it. glaring to the waitress,]

Happy? I want a vegetable stir-fry with peanut sauce, no meat. [He looks to the Pulled after,]

And whatever you'd like. We're eating together. [a statement, not a question... unless that Pulled simple gets up and walks off from him, not willing to indulge. Then it will simply become musical chairs of Ives sitting next to whoever is around to claim as his meal partner]

[voidbound]

[ ....?

....

well, daybit sure was getting ignored on his own. this could, in fact, be beneficial. he sits down next to ives, but doesn't give any thanks. ]

Is this the custom in this place?

[ no eating alone, that is.

his ears flicker. anyways. ]

I'll have what you recommend. Do you know if my food habits have to change due to my biological changes?

Mewtwo | Pokemon anime/movieverse | human

[humantwo]

[Backstage]

A half-naked human man sits with his head in his hands on a small crate in the corner. After his initial outburst at Ted, Mewtwo has fallen into a deep silence, ignoring all of the hubbub about him. Those who were...”pulled in” at around the same time as him may have heard his exchange with Ted; he does not care if they did or not. This body is not his own and it feels wrong. His balance is off, due to the lack of a tail; the air feels strange against bare skin and the longer hair on his head keeps falling into his eyes; and he's fairly certain that he is shorter than he normally is. Nothing is right.

And, to add insult to injury, it is a human body. He has matured enough to understand that not every single human is horrible, but he still counts the good ones in the minority. To be forced to take the shape of one feels like an attack on his very self.

So he sits, in brooding silence, trying to will himself away from this place.

[Bar's open]

As first, he petulantly refuses to partake in the food and drink. His true body is able to better store energy than a typical human, so he tends not to eat as much anyway; and while he's smart enough to realize that this body likely won't be so efficient, he plans on being stubborn about it.

After some time, however, he notices a few plates that look almost like sashimi. They don't seem to have many rice-based dishes here (does rice not exist on this world? Or perhaps the weather is too dry?), but the fish and seaweed remind him of home enough that he eventually decides to try and order. He's been given a robe to wear (though he doesn't personally see the point), along with slippers – though those have been abandoned backstage.

He overhears the “ordering in pairs” requirement, and sits in a cloud of grump and uncertainty for several minutes, before gathering up his extremely limited social skills and addressing the nearest person without a plate in front of them.

“Would you like to order something?” There. That will...suffice. Probably.

[Ice Storm]

When he and another Pulled are invited to the table of one of the Vampires, Mewtwo cautiously accepts. Despite himself, he is a bit intrigued by the Vampires, and does notice that many of the crowd seem similarly nonhuman. (Just his luck to be turned into one of them, then – but regardless.) He stays fairly quiet for now, listening in to whatever the Vampires and his fellow Pulled talk about, taking stock of the situation.

The display of power by Ives and Ydris is impressive, though when the first unworthy person is sent back the flash of light nearly blinds him and further sours his mood. The jeering and ice-throwing feels childish, and while he does not consider himself an empathetic person in any way, he finds himself growing annoyed at the ire directed towards the unworthy. Were they not just that - unworthy of their time or attention? Should they not all be directing projectiles at those who brought them here?

So when his fellow Pulled reaches into their cup for a cube, he grabs their wrist to stop them.

The Vampires they are with instantly notice, eyeing him with suspicion; and, hating himself for acquiescing instead of fighting, he reluctantly lets go.

bar's open

[reirintogo]

[Reirin had been slightly at a loss herself, as someone had been kind enough to lift her and her whole-ass new mermaid tail onto a barstool, but hadn't helped her order before rushing off to assist with a different Pulled. so she lights up when Mewtwo comes up to ask -- she couldn't get up and go to anyone else, after all!]

Oh--yes, please, of course! My thanks! One rather works up an appetite in situations like this, don't you think?

Azhar | Original | Rahuth

[kabedont]

1. An Unlikely Arrival

[Really, he's taken the news about his circumstance in stride. Extremely well, even. To the point that the man leaves the stage without a word of complaint.

But then, he dismissed the thought of explanation immediately when someone else mentioned another someone who would explain. As soon as that was established, what was the point in demanding answers now? He may as well ask a hunter the answer to a question about growing crops. And so, perhaps to the disappointment of the audience as a whole, the man takes himself right off the stage.

There, he pauses to orient himself, gaze turning over the Pulled milling about much like himself. He's not tall, maybe 5'4, but he seems to have the everpresent aura of something like... a wall...? Maybe it's the stoicism or the calm nature. Either way, he doesn't seem unapproachable - just a little strange.]

2. An Audience of Some

[As a man who had little interest in small talk, Azhar seems to be an immediate disappointment for the vampires. He doesn't seem bothered by this fact though; the bear man simply sits sentinel, eyes alert and arms over his chest, while whoever he was dragged into this with fields most of the attention from them.

If they seem to be getting too... insistent, then he'll raise a hand in a halting motion, gaze suddenly less absent and more protective. If there's no need, he just sits quietly until he's addressed.]

3. An Absence of Sustenance

[As soon as it's revealed that they're to be served in pairs, the black-haired man turns his attention to the crowd. He's not that hungry, in truth, but the intent is obvious.

After all, he can still remember the teachings - one well never find one's purpose if one never converses. The circumstances are different, but he can reason that the intent is the same. So, anyone who seems to be having trouble getting an order alone may be approached by this little Rahuth, his expression unreadable.]

... This should suffice, yes? I am not hungry, so do what you like.

[His voice is... monotonous. Strangely, it doesn't seem like he's bored - he's alert and aware, and compact as he is there's no sense of hesitation even when others are much bigger. It's more like someone never taught him what emotion was, or at least he lesson never stuck. A little weird, but harmless. Probably.]

3

[reirintogo]

[Reirin smiles gratefully at him from her barstool; under normal circumstances she'd simply approach other people herself, but 'normal circumstances' and 'legs replaced by a mermaid tail, in another world' are simply two circles that do not overlap into a Venn diagram.]

Well -- I am hungry, but it simply won't do to order something you dislike, even if you only wish to eat a little, yes? Is there any food you might have a preference for?

[part of her hopes he says potatoes! another part of her hopes he says something totally unfamiliar. her sense of adventure is smoldering, and that very much extends to trying new cuisine!]

jyoti victoria meltanthios | original | mermaid

[twofacedlight]

A ✿ join the audience.

[ This isn't the first time Jyoti's been pulled to some strange new world and told that the fate of everyone rests in her hands, or some equally melodramatic bullshit. She's done that song and dance too many times for her liking, thanks. But it's new and refreshing (loaded with sarcasm) to be told she needs to cover her eyes lest her alluring gaze becomes literally alluring, like in the magical and hypnotic sense.

She'll play along, though, if only to not rock the boat immediately. Best not to cause trouble when she doesn't even fully know the power she's been warned against using. So with one eye already covered by a cloth, she approaches with a saccharine ] Excuse me. Would you mind helping me tie this? [ "This" being the two ends of the cloth held in her hands. ]

B ✿ the bar is open to a new you.

[ The sight's normal enough - a girl sitting by herself at the bar, drink in hand she's yet to indulge in - but the thoughts running through her head are less so. Because in truth, she's still figuring out how she feels about this whole mess. The prize at the end of it all is tempting enough, she supposes, and she's thrown her proverbial hat in the ring for causes she personally gave no shits about because it guaranteed her survival, but still. Maybe it's just suspicion-fueled paranoia talking, but that's kept her going through multiple lives at this point, right? And she knows first-hand just how untrustworthy others can be, from both sides of the equation.

So she's solo instead of mingling, watching instead of drinking or trying (and failing due to the aforementioned solo-ness) to order food... but perhaps she just needs the right person to join her? After all, it's not like she looks unapproachable... ]

( ooc: feel free to hit me up privately if you'd like a variant of one of the above, or want to explore something different! )

a.

[reirintogo]

[in this case, the girl she's approaching is a mermaid who is not nearly as adjusted to Weird Bullshit^TM as Jyoti is; she seems a little shellshocked, and while she's sitting up straight where she's been placed on the ground, it's in the middle of a pool of ornate red robes and her own brand-new lionfish tail. no, she has not figured out how to regain legs yet, though she's wearing an improvised blindfold of her own, of translucent red silk.

still, when she's asked, she does seem to snap back to reality, her attention turning to Jyoti. it's a good thing someone made her cover her transformed eyes, because she meets gazes exactly the way a mermaid probably shouldn't: directly, full-on and fearless.]

My, of course! Come, come, you'll have to sit for me to reach, but we'll have this taken care of right away.

Wesley Wyndam-Pryce | Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel | Human

[hard_decisions]

I. Pulled

[He remembers staring into Fred's face, as she whispered lovingly to him and kissed him. He remembers thinking that Illyria was a convincing actor after all. He remembers the pain fading, the light dimming, the dull cold in his fingers. He remembers-

A bright spotlight in his eyes.

What?

"Charming."

What?

His hands feel over his chest and torso. His black turtleneck was torn and bloodied, but the skin underneath was whole. As afterlives go, this was... not what he expected. He only numbly listens to what Ydris and Ives say, shuffling off the stage obediently when he's told, still in a confused daze.]

II. Audience.

[Unlike many of the other Pulled, Wesley seems to attract little attention from the Vampires- apparently, he's not interesting enough to warrant it. He'll probably either sit or stand awkwardly on his own like a giant freaking dweeb, unless a fellow Pulled takes pity on him and invites him to a group instead.]

III. Bar.

[At the bar, Wesley doesn't seem terribly preoccupied with getting an order put in. No, he's currently keenly observing the others around him, taking in as much information as he can about the locals and the other Pulled. When he's finally asked about his order, he seems to snap out of it.]

What?

[Right, orders only in groups, he's picked up on that much already.]

Oh- oh, yes. Another of whatever you're getting will be fine.

IV. Ice.

[Wesley is continuing to keep a fairly quiet presence as the unwanted potential Pulled are repeatedly pelted with ice, but it's obviously making him fairly uncomfortable, and he's not very good at hiding it. Fortunately, whatever pragmatism is keeping him from making a scene seems to be holding.]

II. Audience

[brokenroots]

[During a break from the summoning ritual, Ives enters the crowd to head towards the bar. The rat vampire stops him and they briefly chat, but it seems tense at best. Hostile, maybe. When Ives steps past the vampire, he catches Wesley sitting alone at a table. Call it herd instincts, but he feels compelled to sit and join him just from that.]

I wouldn't want to sit with any of these blood suckers, either. Even if you should.

smokey | alchemy stars | rahuth

[disowning]

i. freshly pulled

[ smokey almost looks dazed at all of this, an expression at odds with her typically standoffish demeanor. after a moment, having stepped off the stage, she seems to come to her senses; she peers upward from her hands to lock eyes with the nearest fellow pulled. while she has to keep a slight quiver from affecting her voice, her gaze has turned sharp again. one of her rounded ears twitch, her tufted tail twitching at the tip. ]

[ she extends her own hand, clawed but bare. ]

Hey. Give me your hand. No gloves.

[ paw, tentacle, whatever. ]

ii. vampyric sponsorship

[ smokey can be seen peering down at her given card. she may not be particularly social, but she had been interesting enough, she guesses. once she’s parted ways from that vampire, she’s speaking up again with a tone of distaste (she may or may not hope that she’s overheard by everyone else, too -) ]

A dumb dog? Ew.

[ she stops in front of someone that’s also been given a card. ]

Trade with me.

iii. the choice is yours

[ she doesn’t have a drink, nor has she touched much of the food on her plate, but she is looking at the pulled that’s unfortunately found themselves seated near to her with intent. ]

[ she’s daintily folded her hands beneath her chin. ]

I’m thinking of helping... This could be entertaining. [ she flicks a silver twintail over her shoulder, her smile fangy with a lioness’ canines. ] What do you think?

iv. wildcard
( ooc: hit me with whatever, and feel free to dm me for plotting! )

fresh meat

[stopfen]

[Mikasa didn't have much in the way of changes. Not yet anyway. But it was happening, rahuth, the word was so foreign to her that she had no idea what to expect. It was hard to miss the dark fur growing at her wrist though, even if it was covered by her cardigan's pink sleeve.


The demand got a frown. Even if Mikasa raised a hand to offer it. Still normal, just calloused and covered in small scars. ]

Aren't you supposed to say please?

[Not that she particularly cared. She wouldn't have gone along with it if she did.]

Mikasa Ackerman | Attack on Titan | OTA - possible spoilers

[stopfen]

Audience
[Well, whichever Vampire that had nabbed her to talk to was suffering. Because Mikasa was the type to silently look around. Narrowed eyes scanning everything, she wasn't here for gossip.

Sorry other person who got dragged to this table. Because she's not being helpful at all. Mikasa was busy processing all this, the animal people, the person who kept turning into a candle, the opulance. She's just sat here in her ankle-length skirt and a pink cardigan.]

Bar
[She wasn't much of a drinker, nor did she have much money. But she was hungry, the odd name got a frown. Followed by her arms itching as her head stood on end and the description that came after, changes? She'd turn into an animal person too?

Oh and she can't order some bread. For a second she just stood there. Then she turned looking around the room, her gaze settling on another loner. Then she walked over, briefly, her hand reached out like she was going to grab, then she thought better of it.]

They only serve tables of two.

[This wasn't the barracks. She couldn't just grab someone and ragdoll them around like she did her friends.]

Ice
[Like when they'd visited Marley, there was a lot of little things that were fascinating. In this case, just being handed ice. It'd been a rare commodity back home in the northern parts of Pardis. She was preoccupied with looking her perfectly shaped cubes.

... Maybe she tries to eat one as well. Wincing as her cheeks puffed up. She wouldn't spit it out, but ice cream was 100% the better frozen item.

Then the jeering and throwing starts. Mikasa gritted her teeth, fist clenching around the glass as she started to rise...It wasn't the unwanted Pulled's fault. This was wrong.]

Wildcard/Plotting?
[I'm open to doing other things, just let me know. Undecided between a deer/sheep Giant or a wolf Rahuth. So I'll be vague or just mix it up depending on the thread. Also kinda voicetesting, because not played this character in nearly two years.]

ice

[sceptred]

[ it is a little offputting, isn't it? it's not as if people are hurling rocks, but they may as well be equivalent at some point, and he feels dread at the idea of the situation worsening. as they tended to do, so he's witnessed, much less without encouragement. ]

[ pittman looks sideways at her, pointedly, his brows furrowed. his feathered wings, that of an empyrean, remain unfurled at his back. ]

We can't just let this happen.

[ well, he's already made a decision to intervene. but mikasa looked uncertain enough - angry, even - that it seems that he hopes that she would join him in likewise taking a figurative stand. ]

helaena targaryen | hotd (vague spoilers in the form of non-coherent rambling)

[dragondreamers]

( the pull )

[Dragon dreams, they call them where she's from. Helaena regularly walks between them, reality sometimes blurring between what she sees and what is real. The fact she gets pulled to this place between dreaming and being awake rattles her more. She knows they're talking to her, one finding her interesting while the other is dismissive.

The silver-haired girl shakes her head at them both.] No, no. It doesn't happen like this. They come in the night to take me.

[But that's what has happened, isn't it? One moment she is in her children's nursery, and now she is here on this stage. She blinks, but her dreams don't work like that either. They try and shoo her off the stage, but none of this makes any sense. Where is her mother? Where is her brother, her husband?]

No. No, this doesn't happen. They come in the middle of the night. [She says more firm, pulling herself back as they try and get her off the stage once again. She shakes her head, not letting them touch her, she bucks when someone tries to grab her arm.]

( bar )
[She seems to have calmed down now, though she understands it even less. The thinness between reality still weighs on her, but no matter what happens, she isn't back in King's Landing. It's this strange place. Helaena soon becomes distracted particularly with the arachnid people. She lists off the names, the way they are sorted in Westeros, based off the traits she sees.

She knows them by heart of course.

This should seem strange. It likely would to anyone else that may arrived here, but the things she sees in those waking dreams she has, this almost seems normal to her save for how very different it feels.]

Black spider. Dark, robust spider. The female grows larger than the male, like most spiders.

( ice storm )
[It's a cruelty she isn't expecting. Maybe she should. No place is free from cruelty. She doesn't know the being that just disappeared, but she finds herself bending over to pick up one of the pieces of ice on the floor, examining it. It's cold on the tips of her fingers, a feeling she doesn't expect. It grounds her for the moment, reminding her that this is the place she has been brought to.

Helaena looks up, too kind for most places-- her world, this one.]

Stop. [She shakes her head when another person appears on the stage as she once did. Other people are already throwing their ice up on the stage, and she moves to the edge, picking up some more of the pieces without a care to her own dignity or livelihood should they start pelting her next.]

ooc: adding tw for potential mentions of incest. it is very common in her canon as is tradition in her family. she's been married off to her oldest brother who is a terrible person ngl they are all kind of terrible. helaena also has visions called dragon dreams that are foretelling (the blood of the dragon is said to run in her veins-- this is how she is a dragonrider herself), but they don't make a lot of sense, and they're not necessarily reliable (although hers prove to be-- no one listens to her)

she's obviously not likely to know anything about other characters or this place, far more confused and focused on her own arrival here, but if anyone would like to plot with this, feel free to message me

bar

[perfectdistance]

[He's looking over the menu and just honestly baffled by the complete lack of grains. He could understand if there weren't any kinds of vegetation but this is just confusing.

Nero looks up when he hears the talk of spiders. There are certainly spider people, but is that actually what this woman is talking about?]

Deal with a lot of spiders back home?

Saralegui | Kyou Kara Maou! | Mermaid

[enthraller]

i. audience

[Saralegui spends his initial freakout seated, expression carefully neutral and hidden behind a hand or his hair whenever he feels the mask faltering. Mindfulness of appearances is so deeply ingrained that he hardly even has to think about it. And in an situation of baffling unknowns like this, he's appreciative of the habit.

So he sits quietly, eye-catching but unobtrusive, and listens. Absorbs every hint of explanation given and every stray detail anyone mentions. It's soothing. Better to focus on understanding and planning than on the body horror, tongue running over his teeth wondering if they felt just a slight bit sharper.

If he catches anyone glancing his way, though, he's quick to adopt a more uncertain expression. It highlights his delicate, youthful features, all pitiable and sympathetic.]

I don't suppose any of this is making sense to you...? I admit, I feel more than a bit lost.


ii. the bar

[Sitting at the bar is extremely informative. He can pick up plenty just from listening in on other conversations, and even more with his own carefully casual inquiries. Most of it is just filed away in the back of his mind – though comments about his glasses have him blinking, perplexed – but the strange customs in regards to ordering food can be put to use immediately. Saralegui turns to a stranger wearing a hesitant yet pleasant expression and gives them a self-deprecating little smile.]

I'm sorry to bother you, but are you hungry? It seems we're required to order food as a pair here.

[He's careful not to say anything outright critical about the custom – last thing he needs right now is to inadvertently offend the locals – but it's said with the manner of a politely but helplessly confused tourist.]


iii. the ice storm

[For all that he's confused and on edge in this mess, the show on the stage is fan-fucking-tastic.

It's not quite the spectacle, or the casual cruelty of the audience throwing ice cubes. No, it's the beings performing these "pulls" – he's never seen anything like them, not even Yuuri, but the display of power is awe-inspiring and thrilling. It's exciting. It sparks the possessiveness in him, hee wants to claim these people for himself somehow.

But that's not feasible right now. Pity. So he just watches with a barely-restrained grin, hiding the expression behind ice cubes pressed to his lips in a manner that would look more hesitant. After all, he's just so gentle and innocent, he couldn't possibly participate in all the ice throwing directly. Obviously.

And if he happens to catch anyone's attention, he leans in to whisper:]

I feel bad for them. It seems a little harsh, don't you think?


iv. wildcard

((ooc: Hit me with a starter of your own! Feel free to pester me on plurk @ tinybro or on discord @ orbynit#4811 if you want yo hash out any specific details or plan anything!))

audience

[unshurety]

[the girl he'd caught glancing his way is not quite as practiced as he is at keeping her face and body neutral and free of tells. she's been trying to sit up very straight, looking poised and above it all, but every so often her shoulders hunch in and her claws click across the table. the wild profusion of red and gold feathers through her hair and down her back, showing clearly through the wing holes in her somewhat forlorn yellow silk robe, only serve to make her betraying little movements more obvious.

when he speaks, the sharp tension on her face consciously smooths out, though the attempt doesn't quite make the jump to "angelic" and hits somewhere closer to "painful social smile."]

...I'm afraid it might be beyond me to understand such things...

Emet-Selch / FFXIV: Shadowbringers / ??? Undecided?

[lachtara]

The Pull

He lifts his head up to see bright stage lights. It takes a moment for his eyes to adjust enough to see the figures sitting in chairs down in the front. They say something, he's sure, but he's not aware enough to make out what it is.

Instead of trying to clarify what they say or engage with this at all, Emet-Selch turns and immediately heads for stage right to leave...whatever this is. He's not interested enough to find out.

There is someone backstage that waits just beyond the curtain. He looks at them, less than impressed. "And who are you?" He asks flatly.

The Bar is Open to a New You

The new surroundings are met with skepticism and observation. 'How' and 'Why' are the most prominent questions. Both of these may take some searching in order to find if their 'greeter' is any indication. Yes, there is the 'matter' of the world being in trouble but that would seem to require someone who is willing to play hero and save it.

For now, the regally dressed - much too overdressed to be in a tavern - Emet-Selch makes his way into the bar. He takes a seat at the barside on the stool next to your own (It's crowded. No choice.) and sighs. "Are there any worthwhile drinks?" He asks the person next to him.

The Ice Storm

The only reason he's come here is to see the new 'arrivals' and get a sense of their mannerisms. Perhaps get a sense of their abilities as well. If they are deemed 'worthwhile' then there must be a reason. So he sits in the theater seat, legs crossed, hands in his lap, looking on.

Although when he is given a cup of ice at his seat, he looks at it flatly before accepting it. Ice. To throw. Once the attendant has gone, he holds out the cup of ice to the person sitting at his side without so much as looking in their direction. "I'm sure you have more enthusiasm for this than I."  Let them take it.

Bar, hi crim I touch

[kabedont]

"... I'm not sure. I haven't tried any." The rahuth looks up at Emet-Selch upon his approach; it's hard to say if he's just not gotten a drink or if it's just because he's alone and can't. Well, he has water, anyway. "People seem to like everything they order." The vague monotone of his voice makes it calm and inoffensive.

Reigen Arataka | Mob Psycho 100 | Human

[saltsplash]

[After causing a huge scene at the stage with Ydris, there's not much for Reigen to do besides take a seat, and wait for a drink. He considers booze, but after a long-suffering sigh, decides to himself that it's better for him to stay clear-minded.]

Water, please. Or anything not alcoholic.

[He does fish in his pockets, though, and pull out a cigarette. Two, four, six... ahh, only seven, huh. He'd have to be careful not to blow through them. He took out and gave his crummy lighter a few flips to ignite it, before leaning back to try and relax in some manner with his smoke. And he starts talking, not to anyone in particular, but anyone that may be listening at least.]

A lot of people are getting weird transformations, huh... I haven't noticed anything going on with me, yet. Guess I should be considered lucky?

[freearcadia]

[A ghost of a smile flits across his face, as he ordered wine - though for now he is just tracing the rim of the glass with his fingertips]

Frankly, I'd prefer to not go under changes. Seems for some reason, this world doesn't like the idea of having too many humans.

Theseus | Hades | Human

[deltastrike]

1.
[Theseus' entrance to the world of Myddvai starts on the wrong foot. From the moment his figure materialized on the stage, during which he yanked the wires still attached to his body while snarling at his 'captivity'. After being shushed off into the audience his mood fails to improve; unable to do anything about the situation and with no ability to return to his homeworld, he does the only thing his amount of agency allows: voicing his grievances to any and all potential listeners. Which, given he was forced off the stage, is narrowed down to 'Theodore', or you.]

This is an outrage! Do you not know who I am?! When Lord Hades hears of this, his wrath will be mighty and terrible!

2.
[Sometime afterward Theseus seems to find his groove among the audience. It turns out being kissed up to and being treated as special does a lot to assuage him. He's at the center of a crowd of animal-headed people, entertaining them with endless stories that always involve himself. They are fanciful, almost beyond belief, but he speaks of them with such empathy and pride that one can feel for oneself the intensity of the emotions and experience as he lived them.

Theseus' mouth seems virtually tireless, but at one point there is break in his chatter, as a passerby catches his eye.]

Ohoh! You'll do nicely. Will you accept the honor of serving a King?

[It seems he has found his ticket to ordering from the bar.]

3.
[As the "Ice Storm" rages in earnest, Theseus grasps its conventions quickly. Far from a student, he practically becomes its master. Leisurely lying back in his seat with a cup of ice, eyes kept on the stage, Theseus appraises each new arrival to the stage, and provides his running commentary on each Pulled.]

An unimpressive sight, but perhaps there's more potential to this one?

[He's not the judge more so than anyone else in the audience, but he sounds very authoritative nonetheless.]

2

[enthraller]

[Saralegui pauses as he's called out, giving the buff man a very quick once-over. Plenty to be gathered just from a glance at this scene. His head tilts slightly, all open curiousity,]

Are kings meant to be served here?

[It sounds like an innocent question. I mean, just look at this sweet face! Surely it is incapable of snark.]

Evaline | Original

[cadaverisimilitude]

a. join the audience.

[ When Evaline fled from her home in search of adventure, freedom, new experiences, this is not what she'd had in mind. She thought she'd visit a few villages, perhaps get to know the people of the world, and return home to plead for forgiveness from her mother for worrying her, not all of this. This is, granted, not what her mother had warned her against, but it nonetheless seems more than suspect in nature.

For her part, Evaline remains utterly silent, plastered to any free wall space that she's able to find, hands clutching tightly to her cloak that casts her entire form in shadow. If you're able to get a better look, you'll see that something about her isn't quite... right. Her skin is pallid, nearly grey, eyes sunken in, lips pale. A glimpse from underneath the cloak may reveal lines of neat, tidy stitches around her body; a neat line attaching an ear, winding around an exposed wrist, a finger that's just slightly too long for her hand...

A hand that is seized by one of the vampires, only to have her yank it away, clearly panicked by even the friendliest of approaches, clutching her cloak to her so tightly she may well rip it off. ] No! No, no, please, I don't want to -- I'll just watch. I can watch.

[ A little help? ]

b. the bar.

[ Evaline had refused all food offered to her, no matter how kindly, no matter how often the servers had emphasized the new forms they were given and just how delicious their wares are. It doesn't taste of anything anyway, Evaline knows. It never has. But looking around at her fellow Pulled she begins to see what their hosts do: that everyone here is not quite recognizable in species, that people are touching their new animal ears with wonderment, that they have been changed.

Finally, she works up the courage to speak to another one of the Pulled, her voice high and piping, gentle, and terribly nervous. ] Pardon me! [ She clears her throat. ] Is it true what they say? That they're... changing us? How is this possible?

c. ice storm.

[ Stay out of sight, stay out of trouble. People will take the opportunity they're given to hurt you. That's what mother always said. They will dissect you, they will burn you at the stake, they will stone you to death, rip you limb from limb.

Having a bunch of ice cubes hurled at you seems mild by comparison. Despite the fact that Evaline doesn't believe this to be correct, she won't interfere either. After all, who knows what they'll do to her? But one question burns in her brain. ]

...how do they judge it? If someone is worthy. They don't even know them.

a

[bighorn]

She said, [snaps a man from a few feet away,] she'll just watch.

[Luckily for her, Eli's about as intimidating as any of the strange beings currently hovering around her: he's tall, built, and his scowling face is framed by a pair of thick, curled horns. He closes the gap between himself, Evaline, and the spider-headed vampire in just a few seconds. (Long strides and all.) He and the vampire stare each other down for a tense moments-- his brow furrowed low, the spider's mandibles clicking in irritation-- before the vampire relents, muttering grouchily to themselves. He watches them leave with a glower, then huffs out a breath through his nostrils.] Bastard.

[At last, Eli folds his arms over his chest and turns to the young woman. Yes, he has done a public service for another Pulled; no, he is not polite.]

And you: the hell're you doing, standing around like an idiot? You're a sitting duck. They're gonna mob you.

Mohinder Suresh | Heroes | Human

[strongnarrativevoice]

I. Arrival

[Mohinder's world is a place where congressmen can fly, cheerleaders can get dropped off ten-story buildings and still somersault back into position, and entire ill-advised story arcs are reversed by simply rinsing the character off with an overturned vat of Deus Ex Machina Juice. And still, this is all a bit much for him. No matter how loose the definition of "science" might be where he comes from, this does not qualify. This seems like the kind of bedtime story his ten-year-old ward would claim to be too old for (but then make him finish reading it anyway.)]

Suboptimal?

[He strains, in vain, mainly on the plain against the puppet strings. Magical as they are, his inability to do anything with them doesn't immediately tell him that his super strength is gone. And then they vanish anyway.]

I'll show you suboptimal.

II. The Bar Is Open

[It's not that Mohinder isn't listening to the bartender's friendly explanation of giant reincarnation and elven shrinkage and all of that. It's just that...no, yeah, he's absolutely not listening. Any information that would or should reassure him is going right over his head at the moment, because the hand that had been gripping his glass of water is rapidly forming into the claw of a reptilian Rahuth, and this time there is no Deus Ex Machina Juice in sight.]

No--no, not again--

[And just as quickly as they had manifested, before he can even really start panicking in earnest, the scales are gone again. (They are replaced, unbeknownst to him, with a majestic pair of fruit-bat ears.) Mohinder turns to gape at the person next to him, wondering if anyone else even witnessed this or if he's simply going crazy. Again.]

III. Ice Storm

[Having been deemed optimal enough to stay, and no longer subject to the trauma of losing his humanity, Mohinder could try to be magnanimous towards those who are less...fortunate, if "fortunate" is the word for people getting vaporized by the magic staff instead of sitting here surrounded by eldritch horrors impervious to scientific explanation. If the sub-suboptimal are indeed being tossed back where they came from, then they're more fortunate in Mohinder's estimation than the entire audience combined, but he is not at all going to assume that.

Throwing ice at them just seems like an unnecessary addition of insult to injury--one he might, were he in a better frame of mind, object to. But he is not in a better frame of mind, and when Mohinder is angry or exhausted or overwhelmed or any combination thereof, he's all about throwing things. Not usually at people, granted, but if everyone else is doing it, then he'll take the excuse.]

Can't you take a hint? Get off the stage!

[He wings an ice cube at the well-dressed man under the lights with considerably less force than most people are putting into the effort. The cube arcs gently through the air and lands on the floor between two audience seats, and it is at this point that Mohinder finally becomes aware that this place is not going to let him keep the super strength for which he suffered through weeks of scaly, insectoid madness.

The next ice cube he flings has enough force behind it to shatter against the wall at the back of the stage.]

IV. Wildcard

[Anything you like! Hit me up at annalizabeth#7549 on Discord or layonmacduff.]

2

[saltsplash]

T-there there...

[Reigen was just sitting and sipping at some water, but Mohinder's stress is definitely distracting!]

It's definitely intimidating, but you'll be okay. Just have to get through the initial body horror aspect, right?

[Easy to say for a guy who looks plain jane human still...]

"Fio" | oc | emperyean

[moonfeather]

❇ The Bar - So Many Poisons to Choose From

Emperyean! What'll it be?

[Fiorella wrinkles her nose at the label she has been given but it at least serves to explain the feathery wings growing on her hips. And yet she tries to protest.]

I'm Avian, not a—... [But to no avail; the bartender brushes it aside and asks again. Her stomach rumbles before she can give a proper answer. When she's told she needs to pair up instead of having an individual order, Fio will look for help, exasperated.]

Well, they're making this more difficult than need be. Shall we order together?

[She's trying to push down the wings on her hips, frowning down at them as if it'll make them disappear.]

❇ The Audience - Whose YOUR Spirit Animal?

[She's not as put off by the animals, insect, and arachnids. If anything, Fio seems relieved to see familiar beast faces in a sea of other humanoids and humans (she can only assume). Though her questions about whether they have seen another dragon (also two cats, a specific dog, rabbit, and two humans) result in negatives, at least she feels welcome.

The Vampires make her feel nervous but they seem to mean well enough. The calling cards interest her but now she seems to be agonizing over which one she should choose. One can find her sitting at a table muttering over the choices she's been given, narrowing it down to three. She can only choose one and she will return the others.]

Raven...? No, perhaps... Well, Dog or Cat then?

The Audience

[familynames]

[Voice thoughts aloud is a bold move in a room this full of towering animal people. Raven, Dog, or Cat? Wright's ears perk up, the red spider lilies inside of them fluttering. He strides over, eight feet tall and wide shouldered, not caring who he might bump into.

Reaching Fio's table; he grabs a chair, pivots it around on one of its legs, flips his tailcoat out, then sits backwards, legs spread around the backrest. A real football coach looking move.

He smiles at her with all the lovable charm of a scottie dog. His voice is warm and tone jovial, but his teeth flash. Sharp.]

Anything I could help you with, my fine lady? I'm Sir Wright, I heard you're considering my House.

MK | Lego Monkie Kid | Rahuth

[noodleboi]

>The Pull

[MK thought everything was going okay. He thought everything was fine now. Well, maybe not fine but on the upward trend. The world was safe. He was trying to be happy. He just wanted things to stay the same forever. First he is just closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep, then he's on a stage. He jumps and looks down at himself. He's had this nightmare before. Nope. He isn't naked. Just in his red sleeping shorts and t-shirt. He looks at the two inspecting him.

MK tries to open his mouth but they cut him off. He's ushered off the stage. He takes a few steps and slips on an ice cube. He falls on his back with a loud thud. He groans as he rolls over and off the stage with yet another thud. Finally he gets up and heads for the area nearby he was told about.]

This is the weirdest dream I've ever had...

>Join the Audience

[MK wondered away from the confusing secretary and the stage, still rubbing his back. He'll take the robe and the slippers. They are quite comfy and soft. He hopes he gets to keep them. As he walks by the vampires his eyes quickly fall on the Spider and he goes still. His eyes widen, jaw slowly drops, and he stars to sweat. His monkey tail wraps itself around his own leg and he tries to run away as quick as he can.

Unfortunately for MK, he hits a table, trips himself on the bottom of the robe, and falls face first onto the floor. He quickly scrambles and crawls toward the nearest person to put them between him and the spider vampire.]

Aaaaaah! Noooo. Spider! Don't let it get me!

>The bar is open to a new you

[After the thrill of the stage and terror of meeting a giant spider vampire, MK finds himself at the bar. He sits in a stool, hands running through his hair and over his new monkey ears. He stares at the fur coming down his arms and sighs. This place is chaos. He hasn't found the order yet. Maybe the bar has some? He looks at the menu and realizes he can't even order noodles here.

He just puts his head down on the bar and sighs. He looks to the people sitting near him after a moment.]

I gotta order with someone. Anyone wanna order with me? We can share the veggie delight. I won't even eat it all, I promise.

>join the audience

[fivebooktrilogy]

[ Nod's new tufted squirrel ears flatten irritably as MK heads in his direction. He holds his attempting-to-twitch long black tail firmly in his lap and gives MK a scandalized look. A shocked, half-whispered reprimand: ]

That is a person, have you no manners?

[ Nod may be unused to nonhuman company, but he did grow up in a world where "if you should meet some weird spirit-thing RULE ONE: do not be rude! (you might get something cool instead of eaten)" is something worth teaching one's children. ...Also he's not afraid of spiders and is tragically unsympathetic to that particular plight. ]

Zadh'Ilai | Original | Giant

[vannerbond]

A. Join the Audience
[Things are different. It's like the time he had been accidentally caught up in a unintended curse by that elderly witch who had broken her glasses. He feels just wrong enough that he noticed the minute he was aware enough to. And yet it seems there are many people in this room who think nothing of the magic used and he is thankful of this Secretary Theodore.]

Hn. You have my gratitude. At least someone here can be polite in their directness.

[There was obviously vague details mixed in, but it was far more information than he might have expected. Magic so often comes with too many mysteries and not enough exposition. With that, he pushes past the curtain and into the room at large, eyes immediately assessing everyone around him.

The fact the room is designed with people like him in mind is surprising enough. It is rare to find establishments in his travels who consider larger patrons in their planning and architecture. Not that he needs chairs, but having a little more room to move easily and spaces to kneel or sit at a table is appreciated...despite the current situation.

He's tall, a bit disgruntled, and unsure exactly who he should be seeking out for information first, but he's going to find someone.]

Who would have thought randomized kidnapping would be such a social event.


The Bar
[Ilai is not much of a patron of stronger libations, but today seems like a day in which to indulge. What else is one to do? Seek out knowledge and divert themselves from the swell of negative emotions he would prefer to ignore. Drink and food, food and drink. Something will do the trick.

Unfortunately, the barkeep would not afford him food on his own. Why the food must be ordered in doubles is completely beyond him, but there it is. And so he must look to see who else has also been denied or has yet to put in a request.]

Have you ordered anything as of yet?

The bar

[kabedont]

[His new partner is... well, short. Stocky. Even sitting in the chair, he has to peer upward upon being addressed, but there's neither surprise nor hesitation in the way he inclines his head.]

I have, but they don't seem to mind if you order again. One of them mentioned that... consuming the magic of the world will help? [He thinks that was what Ives said. He can also still smell the lemon sometimes when he inhales...] You can order what you like since someone is nearby. I think they want us to meet each other, more than they don't want to serve us, maybe.

[one of the rahuth's round ears twitches and he reaches up to scratch it, pale gaze going back to their surroundings for a moment. Is he looking for confirmation? Getting distracted? It's a little hard to tell.]

Shadow the EDGEhog | Sonic games/IDW Comics | Night Elf

[chaoscontrol]

Wardrobe Malfunction

[Shadow huffs indignantly. He's put off by the whole situation — running off to save another world is something Sonic would do. Why should he care? This place had no bearing on his world, the one he had promised to protect. However, it seemed as thought this was a one way trip, for now, and Shadow found himself cut off from his version of chaos energy. He very much dislikes having his choices taken from him.]

This is utter nonsense. They had the fool's wisdom to separate me from my abilities. Hmph.

[as a Night Elf, Shadow has a petite 4'2" frame, and looks built for speed rather than stamina. His features give him the appearance of a humanoid hedgehog. He has very little skin showing and is mostly covered in black fur and quills with red accents. He's also buck naked except for a pair of gloves and some weird looking, chunky shoes, plus the offered robe, worn open. Golden bands adorn his wrists and ankles, fitted around his glove cuffs and the tops of his shoes. Someone may want to inform him that he's not wearing it that robe just right.

Oh well. At least the company is fine. Plenty of normal-looking animal folk, albeit a little stuffily dressed for his tastes.]

At The Bar

[Shadow raises his voice at the poor server, banging a fist on the bar.] What do you mean we have to order in groups?! I don't know any of these fools, and I don't want to! Fine. No food then. Just get me a whisky. And stop calling me "elf", I'm a hedgehog!

[he folds his arms and pouts as he waits for his beverage, looking quite bratty in this moment. He IS hungry… but not hungry enough to ask someone else to order with him. More pointless nonsense.

Ice Storm

[by the time Shadow notices (or rather, decides to pay attention to) the summoning process, he's quite toasty. Apparently this body had a lower tolerance than he was used to. Still, it was a pleasant and warm feeling and he takes the cup of offered ice.

But he doesn't throw the cubes, he's not that petty.

Instead he just loudly crunches them in his mouth and snickers when newcomers bust their butts.

He likes the cronch.]

Wildcard

[Shadow is around, being sober and grumpy and then tipsy and grumpy!! One day he will not be so grumpy. Maybe. If you'd like to plot please add me on plurk, DrFishbone]

Cronchy

[stopfen]

[She was from the southern districts of the walls. They didn't get snow, she'd not seen snow until she was ten and they'd all been taken north to 'be useful' and work on the farms there.

Ice was a rarity, used by rich folk who could get it moved across the country. Seeing ice cream and how Marley had stored food had been fascinating. While it'd lasted.

Ice cubes weren't as nice as ice cream though...

Mikasa's face fell as she tried not to spit it back into the glass. It tastes like sadness 0/10]