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April-May 2024 Test Drive Meme
April-May 2024 TDM
Introduction
Welcome to Folkmore's monthly Test Drive Meme! Please feel free to test drive any and all characters regardless of your intent to apply or whether you have an invite or not.
All TDMs are game canon and work like "mini-events". For new players and characters, you can choose to have your TDM thread be your introduction thread upon acceptance or start fresh. Current players are also allowed to have in-game characters post to the TDM so long as they mark their top levels ‘Current Character.’
TDM threads can be used for spoon spending at any time by characters accepted into the game.
Playing and interacting with the TDMs will allow characters to immediately obtain canon items from homes especially weapons or other things they may have had on their person when they were pulled from their worlds! There will always be a prompt that provides some sort of "reward" to characters who complete certain tasks.
🦊 New Star Children meet the Fox still in their worlds, and she brings them into the new realm of Folkmore. As you follow her, your body begins to change and new characteristics emerge. These may stay for a while, or perhaps they will hide away after. And during all of this, the Fox explains to you where you will be going: to Folkmore.
and then... you fall like a shooting star, falling to the land in a burst of starlight.
🦊 Experienced Star Children are already familiar with this time of the month. There are shooting stars all across the sky, and some fall to the land, which means the Fox has brought new arrivals. These newly arrived Star Children will face some tests, but Thirteen wants the more seasoned residents to participate as well.
Perhaps you follow the falling stars on your own, or perhaps the Fox simply teleports you there, but it appears you too will be part of this.
Content Warnings: Forced Relocation, Forced Sharing, Potential Violence & Harm
New Star Children arrive in Wintermute. Not at the hot springs, the school, or anywhere else near civilization. They arrive in the middle of white, snowy nowhere. The good news is that Wintermute is no longer dark twenty-four seven. There is enough light to avoid crevasses, blocked up wells, and other dangerous features of the landscape. Further, no one is expected to figure out how to get out of there on their own.
Usually Thoth finds the lost travelers in the cold expanse of Wintermute. However, she's busy exploring the multiverse for new and interesting ideas for technology. Not to fret! She hasn't abandoned ye who've entered here. There's a new emergency lost and found network:
The Wandering Dog food carts are now open twenty-four seven! The dogs work in shifts, but the food remains as delicious as ever. When a Star Child gets lost in Wintermute, another Star Child will happen to be buying food from a Wandering Dog somewhere in Folkmore. One such lucky unlucky Star Child gets transported to the School of Thoth. Specifically, to where the mechanical sled dogs hang out. They receive a warm winter coat over whatever they were wearing and another one on hand for whoever they are rescuing. Then it's off across the snow! Don't worry, non-mushing experts, the dogs know what they're doing and lead the sled right to the designated lost Star Child.
The rescuee gets to lay in the sled for the ride back, wrapped up warm and cozy in their new winter coat (it may be spring, but it's always cold in Wintermute). The sled dogs bring Star Children back to the hot springs, so that they can warm up even more. Alternatively, Star Children can explore the Cutting Edge, the School of Thoth, or something else in Wintermute. However, the Star Children cannot part ways or leave Wintermute immediately.
The sled dogs, yes the whole team, will stay with the pair to enforce this. They may surround the pair like a pack, cuddle pile on top of them, or lay around the edges of a hot spring. No matter how long it takes to realize the dogs are doing this and that there's a reason for it, Star Children will eventually find instructions in one of the dogs' collars: Share something that other people have refused to listen to you about. Everyone ought to be listened to.
Only once both Star Children have shared something with each other will the dogs let them part ways and see, perhaps, the rest of Folkmore.
On the walk to Akhlut Station, Star Children will see plain weapons sticking out of the snow: swords, guns, knives. These are simple, non-magical practical weapons. Experienced Star Children may know to suspect such free offerings, but nothing immediately happens upon picking one up. However, once on the train, the train will be attacked by frost spirits. These icy spirits must either be hacked to pieces until they can no longer reform or melted with fire. Innocent passengers who didn't pick up a weapon may be forced to get involved, but the frost spirits will be most focused on those who picked up weapons.
New Star Children arrive in Wintermute. Not at the hot springs, the school, or anywhere else near civilization. They arrive in the middle of white, snowy nowhere. The good news is that Wintermute is no longer dark twenty-four seven. There is enough light to avoid crevasses, blocked up wells, and other dangerous features of the landscape. Further, no one is expected to figure out how to get out of there on their own.
Usually Thoth finds the lost travelers in the cold expanse of Wintermute. However, she's busy exploring the multiverse for new and interesting ideas for technology. Not to fret! She hasn't abandoned ye who've entered here. There's a new emergency lost and found network:
The Wandering Dog food carts are now open twenty-four seven! The dogs work in shifts, but the food remains as delicious as ever. When a Star Child gets lost in Wintermute, another Star Child will happen to be buying food from a Wandering Dog somewhere in Folkmore. One such lucky unlucky Star Child gets transported to the School of Thoth. Specifically, to where the mechanical sled dogs hang out. They receive a warm winter coat over whatever they were wearing and another one on hand for whoever they are rescuing. Then it's off across the snow! Don't worry, non-mushing experts, the dogs know what they're doing and lead the sled right to the designated lost Star Child.
The rescuee gets to lay in the sled for the ride back, wrapped up warm and cozy in their new winter coat (it may be spring, but it's always cold in Wintermute). The sled dogs bring Star Children back to the hot springs, so that they can warm up even more. Alternatively, Star Children can explore the Cutting Edge, the School of Thoth, or something else in Wintermute. However, the Star Children cannot part ways or leave Wintermute immediately.
The sled dogs, yes the whole team, will stay with the pair to enforce this. They may surround the pair like a pack, cuddle pile on top of them, or lay around the edges of a hot spring. No matter how long it takes to realize the dogs are doing this and that there's a reason for it, Star Children will eventually find instructions in one of the dogs' collars: Share something that other people have refused to listen to you about. Everyone ought to be listened to.
Only once both Star Children have shared something with each other will the dogs let them part ways and see, perhaps, the rest of Folkmore.
On the walk to Akhlut Station, Star Children will see plain weapons sticking out of the snow: swords, guns, knives. These are simple, non-magical practical weapons. Experienced Star Children may know to suspect such free offerings, but nothing immediately happens upon picking one up. However, once on the train, the train will be attacked by frost spirits. These icy spirits must either be hacked to pieces until they can no longer reform or melted with fire. Innocent passengers who didn't pick up a weapon may be forced to get involved, but the frost spirits will be most focused on those who picked up weapons.
- New Star Children arrive in remote areas of Wintermute.
- Star Children buying food from The Wandering Dog get teleported to the School of Thoth to rescue people with a team of sled dogs.
- Star Children get amazing new winter coats!
- Star Children cannot part ways until they share something others have refused to listen to! The dogs enforce this.
- Simple, non-magical weapons stick out of the snow on the way to the train station.
- Anyone who picks up one of those weapons will see their train get attacked by frost spirits.
Content Warnings: Potential Forced Participation, Potential Harm
Thoth has been listening to any and all ideas people have had around science in the last few months. Whether they were shower thoughts or a discussion between scientific colleagues or anywhere in between, she's made her list and built every one as an experiment. On a human scale. A human test subject scale. Because every idea has merit. That's right: Thoth believes in you.
Posters saying Thoth Needs You! go up around Folkmore. They offer a reward for participating in an experiment. Simply tear off a piece of paper from the bottom of the poster, and at some point in the future, you're in. Now, there might be a little hiccup here or there. These posters are experimental too! So some Star Children who don't tear off a slip might get pulled into an experiment as well. (Who said Thirteen ought to recruit for her trials? Thoth listened… or she tried.) Oh well, at least it's all in the name of science!
Perhaps Star Children need to sing Baby It's Cold Outside to convince the other to stay (it really will be cold outside). Perhaps they have a choice of spinners, buttons, levers, or other devices to interact with. Perhaps they make their way through a maze. Perhaps they try a new contraption. Perhaps they even recognize their own idea come to life! There's a multitude of new tech to try, and it has not been safety tested.
Nothing will explode. Probably. Maybe. Okay, some experiments are definitely going to have explosions. How about pressing that button anyway and finding out if it's this one?
Once Star Children survive the experiment—and they will, Thoth may be a loose cannon of a scientist, but she's ensured that much—they will emerge from one of the School of Thoth's laboratories. Togo, the grey wolf mascot, waits on the other side with an item for each test subject: an item from home. This may even be a weapon or magical item.
No one is left to the cold to fend for themselves. One of the nearby classrooms has been set up as a first aid center. Dog spirits of all sizes, from the smallest Maltipoo spirit to the largest Great Dane spirit, staff a healing clinic and will treat any injuries Star Children received in the experiments (or already sported). They offer hot lemonade—lemon juice, molasses, and hot water—to everyone to warm their soul. Injured Star Children can find a corner to rest by themselves or company with which to discuss their experiments.
Thoth has been listening to any and all ideas people have had around science in the last few months. Whether they were shower thoughts or a discussion between scientific colleagues or anywhere in between, she's made her list and built every one as an experiment. On a human scale. A human test subject scale. Because every idea has merit. That's right: Thoth believes in you.
Posters saying Thoth Needs You! go up around Folkmore. They offer a reward for participating in an experiment. Simply tear off a piece of paper from the bottom of the poster, and at some point in the future, you're in. Now, there might be a little hiccup here or there. These posters are experimental too! So some Star Children who don't tear off a slip might get pulled into an experiment as well. (Who said Thirteen ought to recruit for her trials? Thoth listened… or she tried.) Oh well, at least it's all in the name of science!
Perhaps Star Children need to sing Baby It's Cold Outside to convince the other to stay (it really will be cold outside). Perhaps they have a choice of spinners, buttons, levers, or other devices to interact with. Perhaps they make their way through a maze. Perhaps they try a new contraption. Perhaps they even recognize their own idea come to life! There's a multitude of new tech to try, and it has not been safety tested.
Nothing will explode. Probably. Maybe. Okay, some experiments are definitely going to have explosions. How about pressing that button anyway and finding out if it's this one?
Once Star Children survive the experiment—and they will, Thoth may be a loose cannon of a scientist, but she's ensured that much—they will emerge from one of the School of Thoth's laboratories. Togo, the grey wolf mascot, waits on the other side with an item for each test subject: an item from home. This may even be a weapon or magical item.
No one is left to the cold to fend for themselves. One of the nearby classrooms has been set up as a first aid center. Dog spirits of all sizes, from the smallest Maltipoo spirit to the largest Great Dane spirit, staff a healing clinic and will treat any injuries Star Children received in the experiments (or already sported). They offer hot lemonade—lemon juice, molasses, and hot water—to everyone to warm their soul. Injured Star Children can find a corner to rest by themselves or company with which to discuss their experiments.
- Thoth has built experiments to bring Star Children’s ideas to life.
- Pick a paper tab off a Thoth Needs You! poster to participate. Or don’t. A mishap may bring Star Children there regardless.
- Do science! Be a human experiment! Maybe experience explosions!
- Togo, the Thoth mascot, will have an item from home for every Star Child who participates.
- Dog spirits man (dog?) a first aid center in a nearby classroom.
no subject
This isn't the place to wonder about whether Nero's just as immortal as he. Can either of them truly die even if they are killed? That's a doubt he can't afford to let this adversary see. After all, they fought before and there is no doubt either would have struck the killing blow the moment the opportunity presented itself.
There was... so much Vincent never had a chance to uncover. Under what circumstances had Weiss died? The details of Deepground beyond a few scrap memos from investigative reports and partial files. Some of Shelke's recounting as they all hastily scrambled to put a stop to the Tsviets. Surely the WRO had uncovered more in the two weeks after Omega was defeated.
Yet he had not had the opportunity to seek more answers even if he had decided he wanted to. Plucked from the path down to meet his friends after they'd finally caught up to him again and only a few hours later placed in the middle of climate as unforgiving as any in the Northern Continent, he did not have much context. Ragnarok was unknown. Restrictors... possibly in passing and at least defined by the context Nero gives.
Vincent's answer needs none of this however. ]
Hrmph. More like a monster that knows another.
[ Not a Restrictor, nor a survivor of an ill-fated unit. Vincent's gaze stares unflinchingly at Nero and without so much as a whisper of a hint at body movement while the Tsviet leans less than an inch away from touching him.
Why hide what's obvious? Whatever his familial connection, the association with the Shinra Company or merely their shared world of origin, Vincent is no less a product of cruel experiments than Nero himself. ]
no subject
[ it's mocking, but there's a terrible truth to it. while nero would protest most vehemently that all of shinra's experiments were monsters (his brother is surely not, that word should never be uttered in his direction) there is no denying that whatever he is inspires nothing but primordial fear.
that the man could reach out and touch him so easily - when others recoiled at his mere presence - was something of a wonder.
enough so that nero opts to step onto the sled regardless of warning, signalling an agreement... it's a farce, of course. the moment they get close enough to town, he fully intends to throw the man before him into the void and do as he pleases. while there was once a world where he may have been subdued, the years of binding and restriction have made him nothing if not spiteful.
but for now he'll be good. ]
no subject
He'll hear the man's low voice respond as the offer of the sled ride is taken. ]
Not really. Just stating a fact.
[ Yeah... not so much anymore. And it's a subtle part of his tone that he's being honest. Without all this, he'd be a dead man. Someone had been horrible to him. But... someone else had wanted him to live. He knows... and he can appreciate that now. ]
Hey, we're ready.
[ That's a little louder and obviously meant for the dogs who, while they act very much like real canines, are very mechanical and also able to act on their own. There will be no commands from Vincent that inspire them to start moving, making a wide turn and getting the sled back into position to return to civilization.
...If nothing more, it seems clear that Vincent is not needed for the return trip. Probably. And if it bothers Nero that he seems so disgustingly at peace (even if just a little) over what he is... ]
no subject
the sable is disturbingly docile for most of the trip. watching the landscape pass by with something perhaps bordering on interest. he's never been this far north. when shinra sent him on missions it was to whichever country they decided to war on in the warmer climates, too brief to take in the scenery and too much of a one-sided massacre to be memorable.
... but there is something to say about the endless white landscape, untouched by man or beast. so different from the dark hole he knows.
when that landscape starts to change and something resembling civilization appears on the horizon, nero sits up and takes attention. for a moment all he does is admire the tiny dot as it grows closer.
and then, deeming that his guide is no longer needed (if he ever was) the darkness howls into existence and swallows vincent whole.
( unfortunately the dogs do not seem pleased by this turn of events as the sled coasts to a stop. ) ]
no subject
Vincent showed no reaction, slipping down as if inertia could no longer affect his forward trajectory; only gravity itself, down and unaware of what actually just happened.
But that can't possibly be, can it? Something terrible, something odd that it comes from a man so capable of reacting to defend against Nero's attacks, to grab the Sable in a vice-like grip before. And now taken by surprise? One might have expected a futile struggle.
Vincent doesn't have to move, though as if it'd become habit- a good one to have around one such as the Tsviet- he cants his head to one side as if trying to discern that anything might need to be retrieved before departing. Unlikely; the middle of a field with no signs of others who had briefly abided before the misfortune of Nero the Sable was not the place to find victims. And the Fox did not seem to let anything other than what she brought in enter her realm.
Still, it was best to be sure.
And in a way, it's a new experience. Chaos no longer pulsed at the back of his mind, matching his heartbeat; held in check by will alone and later, only through the boon of the ancient materia still housed in his body. There was peace in the howling vortex of this darkness he'd not known before.
He shook his head, casting aside the moment's absurd conflict. Vincent doesn't have to move, but he does, searching for... something. Lifting an arm, he swept through the void before him as if it were a curtain to be pushed aside, walking back into the bitter chill of reality.
the Sable may feel the darkness stir at another's will and Vincent simply walks out again, looking no worse for wear. Despite the fact that the sled traveled several dozens of feet onward Vincent is still right next him. That's why he moved. ]
...Was wondering what was taking so long. You're more patient than I expected.
[ More patient than he last remembered. Vincent will make note of that. ]
...Going to behave?
[ Or is Nero going to try again. Or is Vincent going to have to do more than words here?]
no subject
in the future he'll have months to unwind the mystery, pulling apart the thread that connects him with chaos and thus vincent valentine himself. in the present, all nero is that he was the only survivor of an experiment designed to imbue the human soul with the very rot of the planet itself.
this is nothing short of a miracle. this has never happened before. even the restrictors resorted to threatening weiss' life to reign nero in once he'd calmed from whatever dramatic escape attempt he'd pulled. no one was immune. no one.
not even weiss. ]
... Most impressive. Let's see you do it again. [ but whether that is mockery or genuine interest is hard to gauge. again the darkness surges, aiming to disappear him once more. ]
no subject
And out he steps. This time a little further away and walking to Nero and the sled. It's not just an immunity Vincent possesses; it's that he can move around and even find his way back. Could it be possible that he is able to mimic what the younger man is capable of?
In all honesty Vincent doesn't know the answer to that, nor if that would have left him with the departure of Chaos. He would be hard pressed to name anyone or anything to inflict that horror upon; not even Hojo. It is enough that he can at least still affect it enough to escape. Vincent doesn't need to find out if it's in his skill set.
Besides, Nero is just as immune as he. What would even be the point of trying if he could? ]
Satisfied?
no subject
but when vincent emerges, it's clear that nero's not entirely done with this game.
truthfully, nero is stronger now than he will be. be it the three long years cut off from the surface, or the fracturing of his already unstable mind from the grief of losing his brother - but his skillset dwindles between the moment of their freedom and final escape.
his fingers twist and rather than just absorbing vincent in the dark, it congeals and becomes a physical thing. winding around vincent's feet and arms like rope, yanking him up toward the sky. just to see if this, too, is something that he can break.
but there's oddly no malice in those eyes. his head inclines to the side and it's apparently at this point, nero is only curious. testing boundaries like a cat batting a mouse before it decides whether it's prey or plaything. ]
no subject
The same resource, but an unknown factor. Vincent finds this no tedious parlor trick and only his swiftness allows him any chance at a last minute effort to escape the bindings. He truly seems to dance although one by one his arms and legs become ensnared by the persistent tendrils.
The gunman is swiftly hoisted in the midst of testing these bonds, ruby eyes assessing tension and what leverage he still possesses. Even in this concentrated state, he feels no undue effects from the dark. In the end he need only to force his arms to cross, grab and pull.
It shatters, snaps like common vines to free his hands to reach and perform the same task for his legs. The upward momentum of Nero's efforts seems to be fighting against an opposing force, slowing everything visibly while the red cloak flares and seems to intentionally obstruct what's truly happening.
Suddenly it collapses again and Vincent is falling swiftly to the ground head first. His body twists and flips upright and completely slows to gently settle in absent denial of some of the most basic laws of gravity and physics.
Vincent's eyes open, staring at Nero. Just as swiftly as ever, the dark-haired man rushes at Nero, for the first time on the offensive. The rush and intent- not murderous, not deadly or malicious- just intent itself- suggests Nero better try something new.
Valentine learns too quickly. And currently he's seeking to catch the Sable by the throat. ]
no subject
it isn't often anyone would say the brothers look alike. weiss is the pinnacle of perfection, and nero his demented shadow. but the expression on his face is all too familiar, a near perfect mirror of the feral joy that had been written across weiss' during that final encounter. the joy any deepgrounder feels when finding an enemy worthy of a fight.
as vincent rushes forward, nero's wings burst into existence once more, grabbing at the hands reaching for his throat as a leg snaps up to try to kick the other man in the face. ]
no subject
In contrast to pure joy is Vincent's focused, silent, and utterly serious facade. A marksman by trade and specialty, he does not suffer from a lack of skill in close quarters combat nor from pure experience on the battlefield.
The bid for Nero's throat is deflected; but by the same token Vincent deftly rotates his wrist in a bid to keep his opponent from getting a lock. And then there is the way his body tilts back to narrowly miss being struck in the face. Inches; there'll be no easy counter and reversal this time.
Do not expect more than soft grunts, sounds of effort. Banter is absent; Vincent rarely indulges anyway and certainly not here. He twists his body to bring one hand to brace in the snow and lash out with a brutal kick of his own; this aimed toward the place between instep and shin. It would shatter a normal human's bone if it hit, particularly with the added hardness of the metal-clad boots.
There are also those wings; a troubling extra problem. But maybe that's why Vincent's efforts seem clearly designed to cripple. When something has more than the normal amount of limbs to deal with... ]
no subject
this actually hurts.
one wrist is out of his grasp but that's no matter, nero moves as if to catch it withone of his flesh and blood hands, while the metal one forms a fist and goes for face. the other soft, meaty hand in the mix attempts to break an elbow. kicking off into the air and floating just as easily as Vincent had to take the pressure off of his leg, which while not shattered, is surely broken. ]
no subject
Vincent is good, but this is a match which shows what happens when two powers cancel each other out and supplementary arms and tactics are just not available. Speed, reflexes and strength put the two roughly on par with one another. Vincent is fresh and would arguably be likely to win this clash with experience and no recent battle weariness on his side.
But it wouldn't be without taking blows. Between concussion and broken bone, it's safe to say the latter was chosen when the red-cloaked man extends his arm to deflect the metal wings. There is a satisfying-sounding snap at the maneuver landing against the elbow Nero aims for. It earns a grunt of pain; but it does not offer a reprieve from Vincent's assault.
The capacity for serpentine contortions shouldn't be at all surprising among the two who void the affects of gravity on motion when it suits them. If Nero tries to reach for the cloak, he might find it seems as capable of slipping away from where it should be. Its owner is capable of shifting to a new position from near prone while continuing to push the attack. Kicks, locks and yes even the use of a supposedly broken limb as if he's simply ignoring the cost of further stress. Make no mistake it is broken and that is causing some problems with its use on a physical level; Vincent just seems to be able to lock away the sense of pain that might cause the human mind to instinctively protect it from further damage. Nero will discover that it's not just the left hand, the boots or thighs that have armor, but there are is also plating along Vincent's shoulders to deflect oncoming attacks.
There are plenty of fleshy bits as well. Bones to break, muscles to bruise. Joints to lock.
Vincent knows he can win against Nero, knows it was best this is happening here rather than inside the bounds of Wintermute's civilization. But before they cross that boundary, it must be an overwhelming one. Not this near match that leaves question as to which might be the strongest.
There is change in the atmosphere. Whatever combat senses the Sable possesses from countless years of surviving Deepground are likely to be struck by the sudden, utter sense of absolute danger. As if something ripped through every talent Vincent had in suppressing the extent of one's blood lust to minimize how easy their attacks are read.
Or what was just a ripple of deadly skill before has been suddenly replaced by quaking threat of an ocean's pressure about to crumple the sole thin barrier holding it back. And it is not a familiar echo of the dark, chaotic energy.
Metamorphosis rips through Vincent, whose face can't hide the effects of pain and feral and cathartic release that come with it... at least as long as his features are still recognizably human. The horned, massive beast that towers even more than fairly tall Vincent Valentine can be likened to the appearance of a behemoth, though its conformation suggests a bipedal creature. And some of the man's attire seems somehow merged or factored into its existence.
This is not Chaos. It's something else. And the change from man to beast doesn't seem to have done much to stall it from pressing the attack again. If anything, Vincent is more aggressive, seeking to bear down on his foe and beat him into the very ground.
The beast roars its challenge. Vincent sees no reason to hold that back, focused instead on riding the feral mind that he might see the end of this without the loss of life. So long as he leaves an inch... ]
no subject
he knows what a transformation looks like. seen it countless times in the pit, bodies breaking and reforming time and time again. often remaining stuck in whatever state their scientist had twisted them into.
but never has he witnessed this. nero shivers with delight at the sight of it - like azul, but more refined. natural. cohesive. immediately his mind turns with the question of whether this is the prototype they seek to recreate, or the perfected art.
and then the beast is on him.
nero laughs madly, losing himself in the joy of every laceration, every bruise, every internal injury. the fight he puts up is admirable, worthy of a tsviet - but vincent is older, stronger, and now entirely inhuman. and nero can eventually no longer stand it. his back hits the ground and the monster is upon him, ripping and tearing. ]
I taste it! Death!
[ he's still laughing. right up until as galian beast strikes a particularly hard blow, knocking him senseless and leaving a hefty claw mark along his pale face. ]
cw: human experiments, blood, mention of torture
The beast sees prey, an enemy. Toying with it would not be an option. That is the way to lose a meal, another day at surviving. This 'pragmatic', wild approach suits Vincent's human intent today and give finer control. He is injured in kind, but former wounds seem to have rapidly healed during the metamorphosis; this is like fighting an entirely new, fresh enemy for the Sable. But now with claws and fangs and an added brute strength. The bipedal hybrid conformation doesn't sacrifice much in the way of agility.
Vincent is upon Nero the moment the Tsviet is on the ground, punching, clawing, biting but blessedly able to restrain the urge to drown it all in fiery retribution.
...It still takes a few precious seconds to discern the enemy no longer laughs and speaks, having been driven insensate by the sheer force of the assault and the brutal swipe of claw and heavy paw across the face. Vincent pulls himself back, thrashing and howling in half protest with having to stop, part a cry worthy of battle, even if it was an internal one.
Only slightly unsteady, Vincent straightens. Turning his head he spits to the side, trying to lessen the blood-taste that lingers in his mouth. A pity transformation does nothing clean away the blood; but it may explain his taste in fashion colors. Black and red will not show the bloodstains so readily.
Nero is watched with an assessing look. The dogs seem calm; they were always safe though as even when he had less control, Vincent was usually capable of the minimum discernment between ally and enemy. He shakes his head of such thoughts before reaching down and grabbing Nero by the collar of his suit to lift and carry back to the sled.
One might want to forgive if the handling is rough, one-handed and willing to drop the Tsviet if he so much as twitches in a suggestion of consciousness. But provided Nero doesn't regain consciousness, Vincent will go about securing the young man in the cargo bed of the sled.
A fortunate thing that the supplies have plenty of rope. Nominal first aid will be given; enough to staunch the blood. Practical or not, the coats are bundled around the Sable.
If nothing more, after the trouble of keeping him alive it would be really annoying if he died from the cold.
After finding the water supply and using some of that to wash more of the blood out of his mouth and off his face, Vincent gets the sled moving again. It won't be long; another ten or fifteen minutes would see them settled somewhere.
Somewhere warm and homey like; a bed that's technically near the local medics, but seems more like someone's borrowed single-room home than a hospital or a lab. Largely because it is. No machines, no monotonous beeping of monitors. No IVs or tubes.... and no drugs. Even the ropes are gone. Plenty of blankets and warmth; a glass of water still beaded with condensation and a pitcher of more.
Vincent has already chased away anyone who doesn't need to be around when Nero wakes up, though it's going to be clear someone's seen to the Sable's injuries enough to stabilize, if not fully heal. One of the mechanical dogs is snoozing by the door. And the red-cloaked man himself seems to be dozing in a chair. He probably isn't. And he no longer smells of blood.
Why he hasn't left is anyone's guess. ]
no subject
and like most things the planet deemed to be unworthy of its final embrace, healing materia did not work on him. he would heal quick, he would heal wrong, and he and weiss would need to break and reset whatever it didn't get right the first time.
but weiss isn't there to lightly slap his cheek and bring him around. and this sure as hell isn't deepground. even their childhood dorm hadn't been this... human. clinical beds and white walls had been all the brothers had known, and this was surely not that.
this is... new.
and... valentine was still there. now once again in his human form, seemingly dozing but he knows this man is not stupid enough to do such a thing in his presence. he moves gingerly at first, frowning when there is no ripple of pain from torn muscle or fresh cut as he sits upright. he's... mended.
and now vincent gets a suspicious stare. the far more calculating one that sharpens those doe-eyes into something dangerous. ]
no subject
And their magic or skills or talents were not of Gaia, so Vincent was not privy to the knowledge that some things simply did not work... right on the Sable. Make no mistake there might be some signs of their recent battle; perhaps some mild soreness that has not been discovered. But no more than one would expect would be gone within a day or two. Nothing like what should be. ]
It's not nice to stare.
[ Vincent didn't open his eyes when he started speaking. But by halfway through there's a glimmer of red and then they're completely open. There's been a change in them; a vestigial remainder of his transformation that will fade to the normal glowing pinpricks in his ruby gaze over time. His left seems unaffected. ]
What are you thinking about?
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[ nero says nothing for a long, long time. trying to discern the angle. why he is... free, after attacking someone. clearly he was brought to scientists or the surface equivalent to be mended... how still bothers him. either this is something deepground lacked or simply opted to withhold from him. ]
You possess the abilities of several Tsviets, but you are not of us... I am merely wondering if you are successor or precursor.
[ he doubts he will receive an answer. ]
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But the way Nero asks this question after being willing to... well speak so willingly on those thoughts of his? The red-cloaked man allows an answer. ]
Don't know exactly.
[ Whether he could be called a precursor in the traditional sense. That somehow what was done to him was then applied to the Tsviets. Or if it was simply a result of a similar line of research from the same origin. ]
But what happened to me was before what you're talking about.
[ At least, before Deepground became what it did. Anyway Vincent definitely sees no reason to hide what he is. ]
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again silence lapses. nero mulls over the question in his mind - they are not in deepground, and he is far from it, but if this is a fellow experiment then... ]
Do you resent what they have done to you?
[ there is the smallest sliver of hope that this one will not be as useless as project g. ]
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Hm.
[ The noise is... speculative. It's not immediate, not like a seething, burning hatred should prompt. And the truth is Vincent is weighing the value of answering honestly, and it's not entirely because he has an ulterior motive. ]
Shinra? It's hard for me to say I hate them. I knew what the company was capable of. Saw it firsthand.
[ He was a Turk. Even if the human experiments and trials were not at the level they would become, all the hallmarks were there. ]
I save my hate for the one who did this.
[ And even that copied, digital imprint of the man is gone now, to an ignominious ending that would have been wholly satisfying to watch for Vincent had it not been as the advent of a much more calamitous problem.
Briefly, focus from thoughts of distant and not so distant past returns to the present and his gaze flicks briefly to Nero. ]
What about your own resentment?
[ Vincent can guess and it'd probably be accurate. But the aim is to listen to Nero, not speculate on assumptions of what the Sable would say. ]
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It is the resentment of one who did not have the luxury of forewarning or choice.
[ but that is obvious. a sentiment shard among all of deepground - save perhaps azul, who came willingly at the promise of power and only rebelled when he found the door slammed shut behind him. ]
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Even seeing the signs doesn't mean there's forewarning. Or choice. We've that much in common.
[ He shakes his head. ]
I've had a long time to think about it. [ For a second his head shifts. The collar hides the way his lips press for a moment. ] And different circumstances.
[ Freedom at least on a level those imprisoned in Deepground never had. Vincent knows all too well the prison of his own guilt was nothing compared to what Nero and the other Tsviets suffered. What's more, unlike most of them, Vincent had known a normal life, once. ]
I wonder if there's any amount of time that could dull your hatred, Nero.
[ Part a question but so much more of the words approach rhetoric. He is welcome to respond to it like a query, or not. Vincent's tone seems to understand the question itself probably has no answer that could be fathomed. ]
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[ he does not care what happens to him, what he endures... it's what weiss endures that eats at him. nero is a monster, an abomination, but his brother has never deserved the life that a monster should live.
how his beloved brother has suffered, still suffers. how everyone, everyone has turned a blind eye to it. refusing to aid them. he still burns at genesis' refusal, how he loathes how sephiroth opted to destroy himself rather than destroy their makers. ]
How is it you know of me?
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But even though this tells Vincent that they've satisfied a certain requirement, he does not get up to leave just yet. Nero gets an answer though it's probably not the one he wants. ]
I can't tell you that right now.
[ But there's just a slight hint that Vincent gives Nero more credit for his intelligence than most through the next thing he says. ]
Though I think you'll figure it out on your own soon enough.
[ In this new place, this Folkmore, it shouldn't take too long to realize the manner in which the Fox's Star Children are pulled from various times.
And besides, it seems prudent to give Nero something to focus on. There is a solution that would be readily apparent of course; that Vincent knows more about Deepground than he's letting on. But his manner and tone do seem to suggest that's not... quite the case. That it's the too easy answer. ]
Like I said before, the Shinra Company isn't here. This isn't our world. What you end up making of all this is something you'll have to decide for yourself.
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