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bopbay2025-11-10 10:43 am
bayhelpers) wrote in bopbay2025-11-10 10:43 am
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006 ⟡ NOVEMBER TEST DRIVE
⋆✩ test drive 06 ✩⋆
The day begins like any other.
Routines, eventful scenes, and boring errands — no matter what you were in the middle of, there's a moment where everything begins to feel wrong. A searing pain tears through your body, so intense that it feels like every nerve has been struck at once. Muscles spasm, joints scream in protest, and as you double over, you find yourself clawing or clinging at anything within your reach. As your attempts to maintain composure fail you, your bones begin to twist with an agonizing force, the pain rising in a crescendo until it becomes unbearable to even breathe. Then, as quickly as it began, everything stops.
For a single, terrifying moment, there's nothing. No sight, no sound, no touch, no taste, no smell — just the weight of nothingness swallowing you whole. The absence of sensation might even be worse than the pain, leaving you adrift in a void you can't escape. Hopelessness threatens every fiber of your existence, and try as you might to fight it, your darkest thoughts begin to surface, flooding your mind in an onslaught of suffocating feelings and ideas.
In the darkness, you hear a voice.
It's faint, a gentle flashing of something warm along the edges of your mind, like sunlight itself. It's a voice, but you can't identify who or what it comes from, how it sounds, or what it means — still, you know it's directed at you. Something tugs at your heart, a powerful ache that throbs once and ripples outwards. You can feel the aches again, like fresh sores throughout your body. You feel off, like something isn't quite right, like you're not where you should be, or who you should be. But the voice continues, whispered just beyond your understanding. The sound is warm like hope, and it wraps around you, distant yet intent, before you wake up.
i. arrivals
OUT OF THE FRYING TUBES…
The first thing you notice is the heat. It’s dry and sweltering, a pressuring thing that surrounds you in darkness. Opening your eyes reveals that it’s not just the temperature doing this however - no, all around you is a near total darkness, broken only by the soft glow of red gold that creeps in from distant cracks.
And perhaps, in some circumstances, yourself.
The tunnels here appear to be lava tubes, long faded from primary use by the caldera nearby. While the occasional pool of hot molten rock can be spotted throughout this impressive maze, it never seems difficult to avoid. In fact, the deeper you go, the more evidence you find that someone - or at least, something - even lived here!
Staying here is probably not going to feel comfortable however. Not unless you’re Fire or Ground type. Escaping the tunnels is only half the battle, too, as the exits lead to a desolate plain of ash and dust. The caldera of Furnace Mountain is hot indeed, and it seems that’s precisely where you wound up! But perhaps, another kind Pokemon will appear to help lead you to somewhere safer?
And perhaps, in some circumstances, yourself.
The tunnels here appear to be lava tubes, long faded from primary use by the caldera nearby. While the occasional pool of hot molten rock can be spotted throughout this impressive maze, it never seems difficult to avoid. In fact, the deeper you go, the more evidence you find that someone - or at least, something - even lived here!
Staying here is probably not going to feel comfortable however. Not unless you’re Fire or Ground type. Escaping the tunnels is only half the battle, too, as the exits lead to a desolate plain of ash and dust. The caldera of Furnace Mountain is hot indeed, and it seems that’s precisely where you wound up! But perhaps, another kind Pokemon will appear to help lead you to somewhere safer?
ii. BRISK BREEZES
KNOCK ON SUDOWOODO
For the most part Pokemon are encouraged to return to Bottlecap Bay as quickly as possible - rather, to be brought there for the first time. The Guilds are all located there after all, and it will be far easier to settle Pokemon into their new homes if the Leaders are able to meet them in person. With the winter season right around the corner, everyone is trying to avoid travelling unnecessarily; they held that mayoral vote for a reason after all!
While much of the food stores have been prepared, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do either. In addition to putting together warm materials for beds, or cutting and preserving the last of the autumn harvest, a good number of Pokemon have started their own efforts to prepare the guilds, and gladly accept extra help from these newcomers! In Cheri Guild, everyone gathers to build stronger, more weather resistant rooftops for the otherwise open tree houses, with some even gathering large leaves to make curtain walls - the more that the wind can be kept out, the warmer they will be, and starting a fire in these buildings is ill advised.
In Oran in the meantime, an enterprising Tinkaton has started work on a bilge pump system - an incredibly relieved Mightyena is happily telling everyone who will listen that if they’re lucky, they won’t have to worry about flooding until the seasons warm up again.
Even the Lum Berry Guild has their hands on something, even if it isn’t anything quite as impressive; given the weather preparations they haven’t had time to put together any special escape rooms this time, but they’re at least willing to send out less busy members to give tours of the town.
Though of course, the quality of the tours vary, and it’s hardly as if the new Pokemon can offer to help tour themselves!
…Right?
While much of the food stores have been prepared, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do either. In addition to putting together warm materials for beds, or cutting and preserving the last of the autumn harvest, a good number of Pokemon have started their own efforts to prepare the guilds, and gladly accept extra help from these newcomers! In Cheri Guild, everyone gathers to build stronger, more weather resistant rooftops for the otherwise open tree houses, with some even gathering large leaves to make curtain walls - the more that the wind can be kept out, the warmer they will be, and starting a fire in these buildings is ill advised.
In Oran in the meantime, an enterprising Tinkaton has started work on a bilge pump system - an incredibly relieved Mightyena is happily telling everyone who will listen that if they’re lucky, they won’t have to worry about flooding until the seasons warm up again.
Even the Lum Berry Guild has their hands on something, even if it isn’t anything quite as impressive; given the weather preparations they haven’t had time to put together any special escape rooms this time, but they’re at least willing to send out less busy members to give tours of the town.
Though of course, the quality of the tours vary, and it’s hardly as if the new Pokemon can offer to help tour themselves!
…Right?
iii. FREEZE THE DAY
WINTER HAS COME
It happens without warning. A sudden chilled wind from the coast - a darkening of the skies that would normally entail thunder, and rainshowers. Rather than the anticipated storm however, weather experts at Lum are quick to sound the alarm: a blizzard is here!
With just moments to spare, all Pokemon residents - and even some visiting wild Pokemon, who are confused but grateful all the same - are herded into the nearest shelter. Houses, Guilds, even storefronts become temporary homes as the snow blasts through the streets, freezing anything in its path. While some Pokemon might find the conditions tolerable, the leaders of each region are enacting a No Exceptions policy to the rule, even making use of Pokemon abilities to locate anyone who might be in danger.
With the snow storm in full force, it’s on the various guilds to find methods to pass the time. The winter storm can’t last forever, but if it does they’ve fortunately prepared. At this point in the year, there was very little food that would need to be sourced from outside each building - each and every location has at least a small connection to the storage tunnels below, and the Oran berries even have access to sheltered portions of the ocean. Even the newly planted Winter Gardens are well protected, with one of Lurantis’ first orders of business being to put enough fencework up that they could roof things in if need be.
Entertainment will be the true struggle, and each Guild Leader has their own method at the problem - as does Lurantis, back in Skull Town. And fortunately for those with Grumpig Pearls, it’s possible to make your own fun as well!
Unless you actually enjoy the ice breakers, of course.
With just moments to spare, all Pokemon residents - and even some visiting wild Pokemon, who are confused but grateful all the same - are herded into the nearest shelter. Houses, Guilds, even storefronts become temporary homes as the snow blasts through the streets, freezing anything in its path. While some Pokemon might find the conditions tolerable, the leaders of each region are enacting a No Exceptions policy to the rule, even making use of Pokemon abilities to locate anyone who might be in danger.
With the snow storm in full force, it’s on the various guilds to find methods to pass the time. The winter storm can’t last forever, but if it does they’ve fortunately prepared. At this point in the year, there was very little food that would need to be sourced from outside each building - each and every location has at least a small connection to the storage tunnels below, and the Oran berries even have access to sheltered portions of the ocean. Even the newly planted Winter Gardens are well protected, with one of Lurantis’ first orders of business being to put enough fencework up that they could roof things in if need be.
Entertainment will be the true struggle, and each Guild Leader has their own method at the problem - as does Lurantis, back in Skull Town. And fortunately for those with Grumpig Pearls, it’s possible to make your own fun as well!
Unless you actually enjoy the ice breakers, of course.
IT’S SNOW MUCH FUN!
When the winds and snows of the blizzard settle down, Bottlecap Bay and Skull Town wake to a beautifully sunny landscape covered in white. It’s just warm enough during the day that snows start to melt, and trees drip water and handfuls of snow onto everyone’s heads. (Sometimes entire heaps come sliding off at once - if you’re a smaller Pokemon, careful you don’t get buried!) The ground cover is far too deep to disappear completely, though, so the first order of business everywhere is digging walkways through the snow.
Once that’s done and everyone’s had a breath of fresh air, though, Pokemon find ways to take out all the pent up energy of being snowed in! It’s very easy to find a snowball fight, or join in on building a fort - or both! Or if all that’s a bit too frivolous for you… there’s rumors going around of a giant snowbeast that’s been glimpsed around the borders of Bottlecap Bay, ducking in and out of forest. Descriptions aren’t consistent, so it might just be gossip that’s been blown out of proportion, but maybe it’s worth investigating?
Over in Skull Town, Lurantis flits to and fro frantically, visibly stressed. The harvest was practically done, so very little has actually gone wrong. However, it’s very early in the year for such a bad snowstorm, and she has terrible feelings about what it might mean for this winter. Pokemon who don’t seem busy with something else might get pointed toward collecting more firewood, or better insulating Skull Town buildings, or other winter preparation tasks.
On one particular day, one of the mountains around Crowncork Valley experiences an avalanche - snow shears off near the top and tumbles down in a giant sheet, piling up at the bottom and invading the very edge of the valley. It’s an impressive sight - nearly all Pokemon in town pause and watch in awe before returning to their tasks. Good thing that wasn’t closer! Hopefully no one was out there…
✩ OOC NOTES.
⟡ TDM CWS: Skeletal Remains, Hard Wintering conditions, Pokemon Typical Violence
⟡ TDMs are game canon and act as events for the month they are posted.
⟡ New characters can link to their top level beneath the NEWBIE DIRECTORY
⟡ All new arrivals are not assigned to any one guild. However, they may assume themselves to share rooms within any one of them during the course of the TDM.
⟡ Remember that at least one thread for your application must come from the TDM! There is no comment minimum, but we will be looking for engagement, as well as for players and characters who take the time to delve into things like character thoughts, emotions, morality, and other deep themes. Take this time to engage with the setting as you would in game!
⟡ As a reminder, reserves and applications are permanently opened. Please see their respective pages for details on processing time.
⟡ Rough Timing on the prompts are as follows: the Blizzard will begin on November 20th, and lasts until the 23rd for a full three days. The avalanche in Crowncork occurs on November 27th. Thank goodness it didn’t happen to the town somehow right?
⟡ Have any questions related to the TDM? Ask here! If your question is more general for the game, please make sure to direct it to the FAQ page instead. Thank you, and happy threading!
⟡ TDMs are game canon and act as events for the month they are posted.
⟡ New characters can link to their top level beneath the NEWBIE DIRECTORY
⟡ All new arrivals are not assigned to any one guild. However, they may assume themselves to share rooms within any one of them during the course of the TDM.
⟡ Remember that at least one thread for your application must come from the TDM! There is no comment minimum, but we will be looking for engagement, as well as for players and characters who take the time to delve into things like character thoughts, emotions, morality, and other deep themes. Take this time to engage with the setting as you would in game!
⟡ As a reminder, reserves and applications are permanently opened. Please see their respective pages for details on processing time.
⟡ Rough Timing on the prompts are as follows: the Blizzard will begin on November 20th, and lasts until the 23rd for a full three days. The avalanche in Crowncork occurs on November 27th. Thank goodness it didn’t happen to the town somehow right?
⟡ Have any questions related to the TDM? Ask here! If your question is more general for the game, please make sure to direct it to the FAQ page instead. Thank you, and happy threading!
4? 5? noelle can do what she wants
Even if they do like the Holidays.
... they should be happier than this. Above all else, they should just be happy that she's alive and safe. But instead they can only feel dread, knowing how little control they have. They can look away, dig in their heels, clamp their jaws so tight their teeth start to ache, but their will isn't strong enough to resist it forever. Sooner or later something has to give.
They manage to last a couple weeks before they find themselves trudging through the snow towards a familiar peppermint scent. They stare at the ground, will themselves to stop, but their jaw is sore and their feet numbed with cold. They're already behind her, already opening their mouth to speak.]
Hey.
no subject
There's a lot she wants to say. "Is that it?" "Decided to finally speak to me for once?" "What's wrong with you lately?" and, notably, "I missed you."
She doesn't manage to say any of that. After a long moment, all that comes out is a single word in response.]
... Hi.
no subject
How are you feeling?
[They don't mean to, but it still comes out sounding like a bitter laugh at the end. Are they serious right now??? God, this sucks. They hate being here. Their dumbass Soul wants them to talk and it can't even read the damn room? Does it want them to just pretend everything is fine?]
Sorry. Stupid question. [but it's not a stupid question. It's just not something they'd bother to ask, normally. They regret saying it at all, admitting that they wouldn't've asked if they weren't being forced to.
Did they ever actually care? Do they even care now?]
... Sorry. Glad you're okay.
[They mutter into the snow, so shaky and quiet they're not sure if she hears it at all. Maybe it's better if she doesn't.]
1/2 (EDIT: major deltarune weird route spoilers for this entire thread btw. sorry threadreaders)
That stings. Would Kris have ever spoken to her if they hadn't wound up in the Cyber City together? ... is it bad she kind of liked getting so much attention from them, even though it was scary?
Anger wells up in her. They must think she's some toy that they can break and ignore as their interest waxes and wanes. But... if they really didn't care, why would they lead that big rescue effort to find her? What about the pre-bitten apple she found amongst her piles of gifts? That only could have been them.
(But when she thinks about their 'gifts', she aches so badly from where they jammed the thorn back in--)]
... Kris.
2/2
(When she turns around, she feels so cold.)]
... Your apologies don't mean anything to me.
[Her eyes look so tired.]
It's just... If I say that 'I forgive you', will you go back to pretending everything's fine? Or will you go back to the other Kris? The one who...
[...]
... there's something going on with you. Unless you want to talk about it, then we... don't have anything to discuss.
[There was a time where admitting to herself that she and Kris would never have that friendship again would have made her break down crying. It feels like so long ago, now.]
1/2
If they ever truly cared about her, they'll let her go. Now that they've finally heard it confirmed, maybe it can let go, too.
... they can feel it picking through their thoughts, weighing each word like it might understand the importance of this decision. Like always, their choices don't matter here. All they can do is wait.]
2/2
Okay, let's talk—
[Haha what the fuck?? They snap their jaws shut, ignoring the strain it puts on their entire body.
Somehow, they didn't expect this. Maybe they should've after more people started finding out. It's getting way too comfortable, too bold.
Their knees start to wobble, still feeling the pressure of it trying to make them act. God. How the hell are they going to deal with this? And with Noelle. She already knows something's up and now they're pulling this—all they've done is confirm her suspicions. She's going to figure them out, and then what? She'll ask questions, she'll realize what they've been doing, she'll find out everything...
If she hated them now, what will she think once she knows?
They writhe in their own skin, fighting for their life with every ounce of strength they have left... but they don't have enough control to stop themselves from sitting down in front of her. Stuck here, having a conversation, if it can be called that when they refuse to look at her or unclench their teeth or even breathe. Maybe if they're stubborn enough they'll pass out.]
no subject
[She doesn't hide at all that she was not expecting them to actually choose to talk about it-- it's almost more surprising to her than the way they just shut down after. It's like they're fighting something.
(A voice--)
Noelle has been carrying around a little satchel lately in addition to her scarf. She lifts up the flap with her nose and roots around in it, pulling out a gingerbread cookie she made. She had planned to give a few out to see how others liked them before making a bunch.
Wordlessly- partially because she can't speak- Noelle drops a pre-bitten cookie in front of them.
... You haven't been eating enough, have you? Eat this first. And, um. Breathe, maybe?
[She steps back tentatively after that. If Kris wants to speak but also doesn't want to, how is she supposed to proceed? This is all too complicated to figure out alone.]
no subject
Kris inhales sharply, cold air biting their lungs. It's a struggle to keep their breathing even, to create a semblance of calm while they're panicking on the inside. Somehow, they manage it. They tilt their head down, sniffing at the object placed in front of them.
... this feels especially unfair, considering they haven't eaten yet today. But giving up the jaws means they'll almost certainly be forced to say something. This cookie is a trap. They have to resist it, no matter what.
...
...
Just when it's starting to seem like they won't, Kris snaps up the cookie in two quick bites. They're going to savour this, and then they're going to go back to not talking about The Situation, and then they'll figure out how to leave somehow. The cookie will help fuel this plan. It's important. They'll make it work, because they have to.]
no subject
... you really want me to make the choice for you so bad? Then I will. You're going to tell me at least why you're acting so weird.
[Now she's back to a cold affect. She speaks without any 'umms' or stutters, staring them down.]
I'm going to say something and you're either going to nod your head yes or shake your head no. One of the two.
[Noelle takes a breath. She feels insane saying this out loud, but...]
You... there's something or someone else within you.
no subject
... this really isn't the time to be thinking of that, but.
Admittedly. It's a really good idea. If they were actually trying to communicate with her, getting around the Soul with yes or no gestures over words... this could work. It doesn't seem to have a grasp of their finer motor controls, and a simple nod or shake isn't something it can override. They feel a little stupid for not thinking of this sooner.
The problem is... Noelle seems to think it's the Soul keeping them from talking. In reality, it's the other way around.
They stare at the ground. They could just... lie. She'd have to believe them. Or they could refuse to respond at all, and maybe she'd give up? ... but would that really work? The more they think it over, every option seems bad. They've been backed into a corner, forced to talk by two opposing forces working in tandem. They don't know what to do about this.
They don't move at all, except for the quiet click of their teeth as their grip on the body finally falters. They open their mouth.]
Yes.
no subject
... it still hurts, though. Noelle composes herself, scowling.]
I-- I'm speaking to Kris right now!
[Deep breath, Noelle. (Little does she know it's the Soul who actually wants to talk.)]
Another... another question. And don't lie to me, or I'll...
[She can't find a way to end the threat.]
... yes or no. Do you remember making me freeze all the enemies in that Cyber City?
no subject
...
They thought they'd feel more about it, but... she did already have her suspicions. Maybe this wasn't as big of a deal as they thought, with how poorly they've been hiding it all this time. It still doesn't make them feel great. They wince at her harsh words, forgetting entirely that they're meant for someone else.
Their Soul doesn't try to answer again, though. Was the threat really that effective?
Kris hesitates. They're... trying not to think about that part. Her "dream". Because they also have some theories now, and... it's just a lot better for everyone if those theories aren't true. It could've been a nightmare all along, right? It doesn't have to be real. They don't have any proof one way or another.
They shake their head, quick but firm.]
no subject
...]
Do you remember making me kill Berdly?
[Maybe he was just in the hospital, unlikely to ever recover. But isn't it close enough? Didn't they both mean to?]
no subject
No, why would— [they cut themselves off, realizing a second too late that she'll probably think it's the Soul talking. It's... both, kinda? Sometimes? Too complicated to explain right now. They shut up, looking down again.
Kris shakes their head.]
spoiler warning once again this time up to chapter 4 of deltarune's weird route
... It wasn't a dream. I know it wasn't. You told me.
You followed me to the hospital. You were acting strange. You were wearing my watch.
[She doesn't seem to be asking them anymore.]
You showed up that night. You sounded like yourself. You told me it was all a stupid prank. You told me Berdly would be okay after all. You took out thorn you jammed in my finger. You told me not to mention it tomorrow. You told me that it would hear.
[The statements keep coming. Noelle has begun to inch closer with each one.]
You showed up to study with Susie. You agreed to talk with me privately. You suddenly looked like you were in pain. You changed. You told me it wasn't a dream. You told me it snowed. You took the thorn. You took my hand. You...
[It was freezing cold out before, but it's nearly intolerable now. She looks haunted. The flower on her head has lost its color.]
... You don't remember? You think you're above consequences?
[It's as if a horrible cutscene just ended. The world hangs on Kris's next response.]
no subject
... we didn't hurt anyone. I never— I wouldn't—
[... They did take her watch. They do still feel bad about that one.
They think of pixellated characters on a screen. A knight with a sword, killing indiscriminately because it's what the game demands. A white cloaked figure with ice magic. The forbidden path.
They think of their brother, dead, in a world where Kris was never born.
Dragon-types are weak to Ice. And yet, even as the cold buries itself deep in their bones, they can't be sure if that's the reason why they're shaking. They don't want to talk about this anymore.
They never had a choice. They have to.]
I thought... you were having fun... even if I...
Th- the ferris wheel? You and Susie... a-and Berdly, he helped fight Queen. We defeated her together, she... she's not even a bad person. We never talked at the study session, I just left you with Susie and screwed around on your piano until your mom—
None of that happened? You don't...?
[you don't remember?]
no subject
The piano is what breaks her. Her legs buckle. Her voice quavers.]
I... wish I could have heard you play piano again...
[All of it would have been so beautiful, but-- a concert just for her. She misses Kris so much it hurts. Noelle is shaking like she's crying... but no tears manage to fall.]
no subject
If it were just Cyber City, maybe they could get away with calling it a dream—a nightmare about something that almost could've happened, if the world were just a little more cruel. But a nightmare wouldn't change what happened in the real world. A nightmare wouldn't leave her like this.
They just don't understand why. Is this... because of it? Or were they...
They stop thinking about it.
... They really have no idea what to do about this.
Shakily, their legs begin to move again. They stand up, shuffling to her side, and... they can't exactly hug without arms, but the gist of it is the same. They settle their head over her shoulder, leaning into her. Her body feels like ice, but they don't mind if she saps the last of their own warmth at this point.]
Can't. No hands. [No pianos, either.]
no subject
She leans in, sniffling into their fur. With the two of them together like this, the cold is a little more bearable.]
Haha... Kris. I missed you. [Her voice is muffled. She still has so many questions, and she absolutely can't trust the other person possessing them. She has no idea how Kris could have forgotten, or what type of events they seem to remember that she doesn't. But for a moment, it seems like Kris is really back.]
no subject
They still don't trust it—especially not now, with so much being brought into question—but there's a bitter feeling of gratitude that settles in their chest. If it were up to Kris alone, they... wouldn't have spoken to her at all. They'd already given up years ago. No reason why they'd try to change now.
They don't deserve to feel this comfort, her breathy laughter against their neck. They didn't earn it. But her words are theirs, and theirs alone.
Kris buries their snout in her thin fur, trying to hide their own sniffling. Sorry for the dragon snot. Maybe they can get away with calling it a prank.]
I missed you, too.
[... maybe not, with the way their voice cracks like a dam about to break.]
1/2
2/2
I'll be watching you.
[A horrible chill in the air-- and the moment passes.]
no subject
...
There's no way to tell if it heard, but they don't feel a compulsion to respond. They enjoy the peace for a moment longer, breathing in the lingering scent of peppermint that fills them with the power of ominous threats.
Eventually Kris pulls away, face pointed down so she can't see if they were crying or not (she can't prove anything). They nod in agreeable silence.]