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Entry tags:
test drive meme.
 Once upon a time, in a land far, far away... 
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Loki smiles, hesitant but still there all /the same. "Sigyn," she echoes, tasting the word on her tongue. It feels familiar, like something she's said a thousand times, except there's no memory behind it, no thoughts to accompany the name other than the ones she's forming at this moment.
"I suppose you already know who I am." There's guilt in her tone and she doesn't' meet tSigyn's eyes as she speaks. "I 'm sorry," she adds after a moment. "I--I don't remember much of anything. I couldn't keep what I had."
Loki's not the only one evaluating things and trying not to look like he's evaluating things. Oh, it's not that he's giving anything away; it's more that that's exactly what Bucky's doing, so he naturally assumes the other man is as well.
Handshakes are easy. Handshakes are ultimately harmless, especially to someone who can crush a normal man's hand in his grip. Bucky's not trying to do that though, simply offering a firm yet brief clasp of their hands before taking his own hand back to himself. And he's thankful, not for the first time, that it's typical convention to shake with the right hand; it just makes his life easier right now.
"Barnes." Does he need to offer more than that? He'd rather not, even though he's not sure why. Still, he'll keep his silence unless the other man presses. "Sorry I'm not the man with the answers."
That's a thing, right? Commiseration over a common occurrence? Shared confusion? He's pretty sure it's a thing, and pretty sure it's something with which he can play along. Bucky rolls his shoulders, adjusting the strap of his bag across his back, all idle movements that mean very little.
But, looking on the bright side, at least it's not raining.
Handshakes are easy. Handshakes are ultimately harmless, especially to someone who can crush a normal man's hand in his grip. Bucky's not trying to do that though, simply offering a firm yet brief clasp of their hands before taking his own hand back to himself. And he's thankful, not for the first time, that it's typical convention to shake with the right hand; it just makes his life easier right now.
"Barnes." Does he need to offer more than that? He'd rather not, even though he's not sure why. Still, he'll keep his silence unless the other man presses. "Sorry I'm not the man with the answers."
That's a thing, right? Commiseration over a common occurrence? Shared confusion? He's pretty sure it's a thing, and pretty sure it's something with which he can play along. Bucky rolls his shoulders, adjusting the strap of his bag across his back, all idle movements that mean very little.
But, looking on the bright side, at least it's not raining.
It doesn't take Bucky long to decide to follow the tracks. It's clear to him that it can't be the same beast that left the claw marks — unless there's some size changing happening here and frankly, this place seems weird enough that he doesn't wish to think about that possibility just yet — but it's really the only clue he has. He does so both silently and with an economy of motion long since trained into him.
Animals aren't the only predators in this strange place.
He becomes aware that he's being watched as he nears the trees, and it slows his steps. As far as he can tell it's only the one figure, but that really doesn't mean much; a single person can still be very much a threat. But threats rarely hide the way it looks like this figure is hiding. Bucky figures it's either a very elaborate facade or there really is no threat. He decides to gamble for the latter; if it turns out it's the former, well, it's not like he's unarmed.
"Who's there?" His voice is neutral enough, curiosity mixed with caution and carefully so. "Why are you hiding?"
Animals aren't the only predators in this strange place.
He becomes aware that he's being watched as he nears the trees, and it slows his steps. As far as he can tell it's only the one figure, but that really doesn't mean much; a single person can still be very much a threat. But threats rarely hide the way it looks like this figure is hiding. Bucky figures it's either a very elaborate facade or there really is no threat. He decides to gamble for the latter; if it turns out it's the former, well, it's not like he's unarmed.
"Who's there?" His voice is neutral enough, curiosity mixed with caution and carefully so. "Why are you hiding?"
Yeah, Mordred hasn't put that much thought into it. She doesn't care why it's doing it, just that it's doing it and it ticks her off. She's not the type to really give it much deeper thought than that. Which would by why she's not sure what to do with this, confusion being clear in her voice even if her puzzled expression isn't visible.
“There's better ways to send a message than scratching shit up and leaving bloody scraps of...”
You know what, she's not going to finish that sentence.
“The hell kind of message does that send anyways?”
“There's better ways to send a message than scratching shit up and leaving bloody scraps of...”
You know what, she's not going to finish that sentence.
“The hell kind of message does that send anyways?”
Tsume pauses, looking her over as if he's deciding whether to give her a sarcastic answer or an honest one. He finally goes wit the latter. "Well, it might be trying to be helpful in its own way," he counters. "That's what I'd do if it was me."
Granted, he hadn't been at all fond when the wolf had brought him Toboe's blood-stained bracelets, but if he'd at all thought that the wolf had hurt the small runt of a wolf that Tsume had opened his hear to, everyone else here would have had to be content with getting a piece of whatever was leftover when he was done. But Tsume refuses to believe the wolf has done anything so terrible as that.
Granted, he hadn't been at all fond when the wolf had brought him Toboe's blood-stained bracelets, but if he'd at all thought that the wolf had hurt the small runt of a wolf that Tsume had opened his hear to, everyone else here would have had to be content with getting a piece of whatever was leftover when he was done. But Tsume refuses to believe the wolf has done anything so terrible as that.
He watches as Bucky comes closer. He smells a great deal of metal on this man, but there's no visible weapons. Curious. "I don't trust people," Tsume says as he finally comes out from behind the tree where he's been hiding. He looks young, seventeen or eighteen at the most, with gold eyes and silver-white hair. He's dressed a little oddly for their surroundings, though the amount of leather he's wearing wouldn't look too out of place in any major city on Earth.
He's been watching Bucky for a while now. A lone wolf doesn't get far in any world. Better to find people he can turn to, even if they are only humans. At least he knows how to deal with people. Keep them at arm's length and he never has to worry about getting hurt.
He's been watching Bucky for a while now. A lone wolf doesn't get far in any world. Better to find people he can turn to, even if they are only humans. At least he knows how to deal with people. Keep them at arm's length and he never has to worry about getting hurt.
What comes through the bushes is apparently a seventeen year old who looks like he has a leather fetish. He blinks in surprise at the sight of a little girl all on her own out in these woods, taking a step back to reorient himself to the sight. His hands come up, showing he's unarmed. "I'm not going to hurt you," Tsume says reassuringly and with far more kindness then he's shown anyone else thus far.
He's got a soft spot for those smaller and weaker than him. This girl definitely seems to fall into that category. "Did you just wake up here too?"
He's got a soft spot for those smaller and weaker than him. This girl definitely seems to fall into that category. "Did you just wake up here too?"
The triangular looking face that peeks out from the bushes is furry and golden-eyed. This is either a humongous dog or a wolf. Once he spots that Cabal is holding a weapon, he ducks down until only his eyes and ears are peeking out over the top of the leaves, watching him warily.
He doesn't like that gun. From the way his eyes are trained on it, it's clear that the wolf knows exactly what that is and what it does. He snarls softly, ears flattened back. He's not coming out until he puts that thing away. Tsume's gotten shot at too many times in his life to trust human beings that point guns at him.
He doesn't like that gun. From the way his eyes are trained on it, it's clear that the wolf knows exactly what that is and what it does. He snarls softly, ears flattened back. He's not coming out until he puts that thing away. Tsume's gotten shot at too many times in his life to trust human beings that point guns at him.
There's a teen who comes out from behind the trees, perhaps around Abigail's own age. Aside from the unusual coloring of golden eyes and silver-white hair, the most obvious thing about Tsume is the X-shaped scar on his chest. It's only one of many he has covering him, though the rest aren't easily seen unless someone is right up close to him. Wherever he came from, he's survived some shit.
He looks Abigail over as if deciding whether she's a threat or not. It seems like he doesn't trust as he doesn't come any closer, but neither does he disappear back into the treeline. "Did you just wake up here too?" He says in a deep voice that doesn't quite fit his pretty boy looks.
He looks Abigail over as if deciding whether she's a threat or not. It seems like he doesn't trust as he doesn't come any closer, but neither does he disappear back into the treeline. "Did you just wake up here too?" He says in a deep voice that doesn't quite fit his pretty boy looks.
"Yeah?" Neither do I, it's there on the tip of his tongue but he bites it back. This guy's a kid and while that doesn't mean a ton to Bucky it's still important, still matters to most of the world. At least, from what he's observed it does.
Looking around — no obvious ambush points, nothing hostile that he can detect — Bucky folds himself into a seated position on the ground. He's more than aware of his own physical size; taking steps to minimize it just makes life easier sometimes. Looking relaxed while being on alert is something he's long since perfected.
"Well, I'm just going to sit right here then, and you can decide if you want to come over. What are you doing out here?" And especially this early in the morning, when few people are even awake.
Looking around — no obvious ambush points, nothing hostile that he can detect — Bucky folds himself into a seated position on the ground. He's more than aware of his own physical size; taking steps to minimize it just makes life easier sometimes. Looking relaxed while being on alert is something he's long since perfected.
"Well, I'm just going to sit right here then, and you can decide if you want to come over. What are you doing out here?" And especially this early in the morning, when few people are even awake.
Edited (omg punctuation what am I even doing) 2018-10-03 17:33 (UTC)
Considering the many beasts, monsters and other unholy abominations Cabal had faced before, one wolf shouldn't be anything to write home about. Then again, he was once thrawted by an overly friendly dog (and he wouldn't write home about THAT incident either, mostly because it was embarrassing), and one wolf can cause plenty of harm.
It also might be more than just a wolf. Its hostile wariness may simply be the mark of a clever animal, but Cabal has just been spirited away somewhere, so he's not about to rule out any options.
"I would hate to shoot you," he says sincerely, if dryly. He detests unnecessary killing and besides, he doesn't have extra rounds. "However, I'd hate even more to have my arm bitten off."
Cabal takes a slow step back, eyes still on Tsume, and while he doesn't put the gun away he does retract his arm experimently, until the barrel points upwards rather than at the wolf.
It also might be more than just a wolf. Its hostile wariness may simply be the mark of a clever animal, but Cabal has just been spirited away somewhere, so he's not about to rule out any options.
"I would hate to shoot you," he says sincerely, if dryly. He detests unnecessary killing and besides, he doesn't have extra rounds. "However, I'd hate even more to have my arm bitten off."
Cabal takes a slow step back, eyes still on Tsume, and while he doesn't put the gun away he does retract his arm experimently, until the barrel points upwards rather than at the wolf.
Tsume's expression seemed to warn, 'don't come too close,' and Zelda was obliged to obey. She left several meters between herself and the silver haired man, but she was too curious about him to leave completely alone. His confidence that the wolf would not attack him did not come from a place of bravado, as she would have normally expected from someone threatened by a beast.
"How are you so certain?" she asked, her gaze moving from Tsume to the treeline where the large wolf had vanished. "It feels to me like the wolf is the one trying to threaten us.:
"How are you so certain?" she asked, her gaze moving from Tsume to the treeline where the large wolf had vanished. "It feels to me like the wolf is the one trying to threaten us.:
“How is that being helpful?”
She's still at a loss here and she's really tempted to just snap at him. None of that seems to be helping anything or anyone from what she can tell. But she doesn't know everything. In fact, she doesn't know a lot, so maybe she should hear him out. Maybe. She's not very patient, so hopefully he's got a good answer here. It's also why she's not asking about doing the same thing because she's just going to hope he means trying to be helpful and not that he'd do exactly what the wolf's been doing. That'd be a whole other mess to try and address.
She's still at a loss here and she's really tempted to just snap at him. None of that seems to be helping anything or anyone from what she can tell. But she doesn't know everything. In fact, she doesn't know a lot, so maybe she should hear him out. Maybe. She's not very patient, so hopefully he's got a good answer here. It's also why she's not asking about doing the same thing because she's just going to hope he means trying to be helpful and not that he'd do exactly what the wolf's been doing. That'd be a whole other mess to try and address.
"It must be. There isn't anything else nearby that would be a well. Although..."
Monika looked at the arched rocks, studying them closely. "This wasn't really what I was expecting when they said wishing well. I guess that must be part of what makes it magical!"
She had her doubts, though.
"Don't you think it's a little strange, though? That it can supposedly grant wishes?"
When was it ever that easy?
"Ahaha, sorry. I guess I'm just kind of skeptical."
Monika looked at the arched rocks, studying them closely. "This wasn't really what I was expecting when they said wishing well. I guess that must be part of what makes it magical!"
She had her doubts, though.
"Don't you think it's a little strange, though? That it can supposedly grant wishes?"
When was it ever that easy?
"Ahaha, sorry. I guess I'm just kind of skeptical."
Monika finally made her way through the bushes, clearing away any lingering twigs and leaves from her school uniform. Almost immediately, she noticed the girl in front of her.
"Sorry, sorry! I kind of just wanted to get out of there in a hurry and..."
Wait, was she crying?
"Oh gosh, I really am sorry. I didn't mean to startle you like that!"
"Sorry, sorry! I kind of just wanted to get out of there in a hurry and..."
Wait, was she crying?
"Oh gosh, I really am sorry. I didn't mean to startle you like that!"
"I'm drawing out whatever's out there."
He said simply, like it was a completely normal thing. Like trying to lure out an bloodthirsty otherworldly creature was just another Tuesday for Gohan. Granted, his aura calmed down a bit once Peter called out to him, almost as if he was subconsciously embarrassed for waking someone up.
But honestly? That wasn't what was at the forefront of his mind.
"I don't know what it is, but it's escalating. So I'm ending it."
He said simply, like it was a completely normal thing. Like trying to lure out an bloodthirsty otherworldly creature was just another Tuesday for Gohan. Granted, his aura calmed down a bit once Peter called out to him, almost as if he was subconsciously embarrassed for waking someone up.
But honestly? That wasn't what was at the forefront of his mind.
"I don't know what it is, but it's escalating. So I'm ending it."
Gohan blinked, more than a little stupefied. Not just from watching the man stumble over his words, but from the sheer confidence he radiated. It... wasn't what Gohan was expecting, that much he could admit. But even if it didn't fully get rid of Gohan's paranoia...
It did break the tension a bit.
He couldn't hold back the slight chuckle that slipped out. His hand reaching out to grab his own, and giving it a shake. "It's um... nice to meet you, Gowser? Or is it Howser?"
It did break the tension a bit.
He couldn't hold back the slight chuckle that slipped out. His hand reaching out to grab his own, and giving it a shake. "It's um... nice to meet you, Gowser? Or is it Howser?"
Gohan was focused, trying to seek out the beast's energy signature. Doing his best to stretch out his senses, to find out where it was... but always just barely managing to pin it down. It was almost like it was evading its senses, like it was purposefully messing with him.
And that just frustrated Gohan, given he already had monsters that liked to mess with him.
"I'll lure it out of the village," came Gohan's response, his eyes closed, as he continued trying to sense it. "It likes to come out at night. So this is the best chance to catch it."
And that just frustrated Gohan, given he already had monsters that liked to mess with him.
"I'll lure it out of the village," came Gohan's response, his eyes closed, as he continued trying to sense it. "It likes to come out at night. So this is the best chance to catch it."
His points were reasonable; she could not deny it. But they troubled her, as did his mannerisms. Though he spoke to her, it did not seem like Gohan was paying very much attention to Zelda. He stood still as she approached, as though he were listening for any sound that the beast was drawing near. The thought that the wolf was nearby made her want to run back to her cottage and hide.
"Alone?" Zelda asked warily as she reached him. This creature was surely more than a match for one person.
Though the moon and stars shed enough light for Zelda to find her way without tripping, she wished she had brought a candle with her. The treeline beyond the village loomed high above them, an inky black wall that veiled all manner of vicious threats. Even under her cloak, she felt a chill.
"Alone?" Zelda asked warily as she reached him. This creature was surely more than a match for one person.
Though the moon and stars shed enough light for Zelda to find her way without tripping, she wished she had brought a candle with her. The treeline beyond the village loomed high above them, an inky black wall that veiled all manner of vicious threats. Even under her cloak, she felt a chill.
As Monika spoke (voicing many of the same thoughts as Zelda, as a matter of fact), the young princess stepped closer to the well. Perhaps it needed another, less misleading name. The arch and the pool of water beneath it bore little resemblance to their namesake, except for the plethora of coins littering the bottom of the pool.
"Your skepticism may not be wrong," Zelda offered, frowning in concentration at the well. She extended her right hand toward the arch, then down to the water, seeking the source of the magic she was feeling. But the magic was so strong, she couldn't tell; it was like staring directly into a bright light.
"Whatever this is, it is certainly magical," she said with confidence. "And it looks like there are coins at the bottom."
"Your skepticism may not be wrong," Zelda offered, frowning in concentration at the well. She extended her right hand toward the arch, then down to the water, seeking the source of the magic she was feeling. But the magic was so strong, she couldn't tell; it was like staring directly into a bright light.
"Whatever this is, it is certainly magical," she said with confidence. "And it looks like there are coins at the bottom."
It wasn't the monster this time. Tch, boring.
Still, if someone's willing to approach her with any measure of kindness... only makes sense to see what she can get out of it. B.B. takes a moment to place her hand over heart and take a deep breath, as if she's catching her breath, a look of relief crossed on her face.
"A-Ah... yes, I did. Sorry, I thought you were..."
She glances around, just to gauge whether or not there was still something out there... mostly to gauge if something other than Tsume out there, or if she'll have to start getting to the bottom of this through him.
Still, if someone's willing to approach her with any measure of kindness... only makes sense to see what she can get out of it. B.B. takes a moment to place her hand over heart and take a deep breath, as if she's catching her breath, a look of relief crossed on her face.
"A-Ah... yes, I did. Sorry, I thought you were..."
She glances around, just to gauge whether or not there was still something out there... mostly to gauge if something other than Tsume out there, or if she'll have to start getting to the bottom of this through him.
What an odd surprise! A normal looking school girl appears, and Bonnie's facade almost cracks for a second. Almost.
She wipes her tears just a bit, still hesitant in her actions. This girl doesn't seem to be a threat, but that'd be dismissing everything she knows about Dark Ones. Well, that and herself.
"Ah..." Deep breath. "A...Are you all alone too?"
She wipes her tears just a bit, still hesitant in her actions. This girl doesn't seem to be a threat, but that'd be dismissing everything she knows about Dark Ones. Well, that and herself.
"Ah..." Deep breath. "A...Are you all alone too?"
"That's right, it's just me. I'm a little confused with everything that's going on." And that was putting it lightly.
"But I promise I'm not here to hurt you or anything like that! I'm just trying to make my way around."
She doesn't need any problems right now. Well, more problems. Because she had plenty already.
"But I promise I'm not here to hurt you or anything like that! I'm just trying to make my way around."
She doesn't need any problems right now. Well, more problems. Because she had plenty already.
Monika was a bit more cautious on her end, choosing to just observe the well from a distance. She just wasn't really buying it, the idea that this was supposed to be a wishing well. And that said wishing well was supposed to be the real thing.
"You think so?" She could at least feel that the well wasn't ordinary.
"I don't really know much about magic, so I guess I'll just take your word for it!" Even if magic seemed like a silly way to describe it.
"I guess other people have come here already. I wonder what they wished for?"
"You think so?" She could at least feel that the well wasn't ordinary.
"I don't really know much about magic, so I guess I'll just take your word for it!" Even if magic seemed like a silly way to describe it.
"I guess other people have come here already. I wonder what they wished for?"
Tsume stays where he is at first, waiting to see what Bucky will do. When it appears he's not going to be getting up anytime soon, he takes a few steps forward, though still out of range for anyone to reach out and grab him. His hesitance seems to stem from wariness, something deeply ingrained in the teen.
In response to Bucky's question, all Tsume says is "Hunting." Which seems odd considering that he doesn't have any sort of weapons or equipment to trap animals with. But those are things for humans. Wolves need nothing to hunt with but their own fangs. Indeed, Tsume's been keeping well-fed the past couple of days. There's far more prey here than at home.
In response to Bucky's question, all Tsume says is "Hunting." Which seems odd considering that he doesn't have any sort of weapons or equipment to trap animals with. But those are things for humans. Wolves need nothing to hunt with but their own fangs. Indeed, Tsume's been keeping well-fed the past couple of days. There's far more prey here than at home.
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