Character Meet and Greet

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"You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality."

I. Exploring Main Street! Take a trip through a little town taken straight from 1890's America. Visit the shops, dine at the restaurants- but don't forget you are here on a mission. As an Apprentice, you will need to gather some supplies. A weapon, or tool for producing magic.

But we understand if that corn dog cart on Market Street is your first stop.

II. Apprentice Class 101! Practice your spell casting and weaponship on the open commons behind the Firehouse. Sparring, casting or just general confusion abound here. Try not to hit anything or...anyone, the paint on the infirmary is still drying.

III. Look out! A level 2 corroded monster has managed to get onto Main Street! Protect the citizens and defeat the cur, and please watch the damage, the paint is still wet!

IV. One Little Spark! Go ahead, show us the strength of your imagination and come up with your own scenarios. Just, stay out of the Corroded Lands...if possible.

Comments

[cometophobic]

The answer wasn't outside the realm of reason, she'd observed the phenomenon of free samples before, never partaken though.

"They must be confident in their abilities to make the offer."

Not knowing what else she could have said to that, and wanting to appear as if she had any knowledge about commerce on the whole. It would be quite strange to other humanoid species if she didn't. She bought it alright, as evidenced by her smile. Still, she didn't immediately reach for one.

"New?" A light chuckle to that. "To this town maybe, but I've been traveling for a while." Said not realizing that main street was about as far as you could go in this dimension. Unable to pass up such an offer though she was loathe to admit it, she would need to know more about the terrain and customs here. Marisol did mildly wonder why he did not grab the basket himself, but sure. She reached over casually and grabbed a basket that still had it's contents steaming in it. They were fresh from the oven and smelled more delicious than they should have. She started to make for the door.

[serpentinthegarden]

"They have been in business for years."

Another lie as he had no idea how long they had been here. In fact he couldn't tell the girl a thing about the place at all as he had avoided speaking to Merlin. What he could do is place a arm across the young girl's shoulders and hurry her on out the door... just in time for the owner to catch sight of them and scream.

"STOP! THIEVES!"

[cometophobic]

Marisol looked briefly to the hand now on her shoulder, this person sure didn't have any qualms getting familiar with her so early. It was curious, but also comforting in a way. Perhaps it wouldn't be as difficult as she thought it might be to fit in. They had nearly made their get-away when the shop keep called them out. Her tail bristled, fur standing on end as the man startled her. Rather than do the logical thing and turn to address the issue, she bolted. Right out the door and for the nearest cover, just wishing to get away from the booming voice.

"I think they had a limit of one per person," She swiftly told her current companion recalling that a 1 had followed the "$". Still- shouldn't he have known that already? Wasn't he used to living here?

[serpentinthegarden]

He didn't usually run off to hide in the bushes but he did this time. With no demonic powers to quiet the owner and with that lovely basket of additional breakfast treats making off without him, there hadn't been much else to do. Crowley peered out of the bush, leaf tangled in his hair, and quietly agreed.

"Yeaaa, just one."

That wasn't it at all, but if that was what the girl thought it worked out best for him.

"They must be having a sugar shortage... or he got up on the wrong side of the oven... something."

They weren't being followed. Good, would have sucked to have been captured over a juvenile prank like stealing a few pastries. Crowley sighed and took a seat on the ground inside the bush they were hidden away in.

"I wouldn't worry about it. What's done is done. Just enjoy them."

And share ok, cause all I have is this boring bagel.

[cometophobic]

That made two of them, but there were a lot of things Marisol had never done before that she was going to have to get used to. The regeneration process practically demanded it of her, but at least as some consolation she'd been allowed to choose her own form. Perhaps the furry appendages were a bit much, but she'd always had an affinity for the small woodland creatures. Of course now that she had them, she was stuck with them so hopefully no one found it too peculiar.

"Then why did you say to take the whole basket?" Peering oer at him and keeping her voice to a whisper. She pressed her back to the bush, not daring to turn around to look through it herself. If they were being followed, then surely she could handle it with a little geological modification. She may no longer be able to cleave mountains into canyons but she could still give a decent account of her abilities. Or so she thought. If she had attempted it she would have swiftly learned her error.

When the man settled back against the ground, Marisol assumed they were in the clear. "They would just go to waste if we didn't." Rationalizing the issue away and setting the basket down between them. She scooped up a pastry with icing on top, tilting it to the side to examine it before trying to consume it. "This reminds me of the time that there was some mix up at the palace."

"A courier arrived in order to accept an important parcel for delivery but he got confused and took the wrong bundle. Instead of delivering a package of rations he gave the army a pile of dirty laundry." covering her mouth to giggle at that. Also, what palace Marisol? What army? None of these things truly happened with you involved.

[serpentinthegarden]

It wasn't too unusual for a theme park, or fun faire, whatever this crazy world he had found himself in was meant to be. The ears were animatronic, had to be, and the tail was just one of those stuffed replicas of the kind people at Renaissance Faires liked to wear on belts. That was the current theory. It fit the facts better than most of the other options.

"Usually the baskets aren't off limits. You can take one basket after all," And off he went lying again, "It must have been a misunderstanding."

He settled in to eat his bagel but there were little bonus packages of jam in that gift basket and he decided to borrow one to liven this breakfast up. His reward for a temptation well done!

Now while Crowley, being a demon, was a very proficient liar he was not always the best at being able to tell when some one was lying to him. The girl's story was easily believable, after all there was a castle right over there on the horizon and he hadn't really been here long enough to know who lived there or how difficult it was to travel beyond Main Street.

"That must have gone over well. What did the soldiers end up eating dirty socks?"

[cometophobic]

That was true enough. A stroke of luck on her part, after a cataclysmic bout of bad luck. Not that she was well acquainted with theme parks herself since the civilizations she was familiar with never got to that stage of development. Fun faires, sure.

The answer seemed to suffice as she didn't question it again. The man was taking it all in stride and calmly so what reason was there to really find doubt in his words?

Tentatively she drew the pastry to her lips, taking a bite. The sugary topping melted in her mouth and triggered a sensation that was foreign to her, her taste buds seeming to spark at the substance that now coated them. "Wow- these are good." In another instant she crinkled her nose trying to decide if she really liked it, or thought it was too sweet. It was almost overpowering in a way. Then Marisol looked to what he was holding which looked more appetizing after the jam was added.

"No- but that poor delivery boy got more than he asked for." Quickly trying to embellish the story to make it more interesting. "They hung him upside down by his ankles on the nearest tree, after dunking him in the river. They didn't cut him down until his superior corrected the mistake."

[serpentinthegarden]

"Are they?"

He was in! This was more than reason enough to set half eaten bagel aside and collect one of those basket treats for himself. They were sweet! Melt in your mouth sweet with a rich buttery flavor tinged with just the right amount of cinnamon. Azriaphale would have loved them.

"Mm, love the change he's made to the cinnamon!"

He has never eaten one of these before.

"It was way too strong before the recipe change."

As if he would know.

Meanwhile the girl's story was getting wilder but it was nothing of the sort humans hadn't done in the past. They could be brutal to each other.

"Wha-... all that? Just because he brought the wrong package? Rough neighborhood. You... don't actually live near here do you?"

Because the first inklings of having made a mistake and pissing off the wrong people were beginning to spark to life in his mind now that his stomach wasn't trying to eat him from the inside out.

[cometophobic]

"Try one and see for yourself." Giving the basket a nudge towards him. Despite their recent theft, she felt pleased with outcome. The baker could just make more, right? It's not as if they'd stolen his ability to combine flour and eggs, they just took a few pieces. It never seemed to take much to rile humans though.

The exclamation made Marisol smile brighter as if she had personally made the pastries herself. She was unsure which of the spices was supposed to be cinnamon, but it had a nice ring to it.

"I wouldn't think someone so belligerent could make something that needs such a delicate touch with the spices."

A fact that she knew all too well herself. Humans could be so cruel to one another, when they had a mind to be.

"You bet! You'd be angry too if you had been surviving on bare bones rations and then were presented with a load of laundry." She nodded solemnly. In order to keep up with her own story she had to attest to being a traveler. "Oh no. The kingdom I'm from is much larger than this, and more scenic." Because of course it had to be the best. "They planned each block and street down to the last detail. It's gorgeous, a pity you can't visit it for yourself. The central courtyard boasts a fountain reaches a height thought unobtainable by most, and it cascades down into channels that form an ornate pattern between the cobblestones. Each street has an avenue of trees that only bloom only at night and when they do the blossoms shine with a pale light that outshines the night sky." Waving a hand towards the buildings around them. "These are... quaint but I've seen much much better."

"So...... what's it like where you're from?"

[serpentinthegarden]

Crowley sat there quietly enjoying his sweet roll and listening to her story. As it turned out it was the sort of story that fit this place. Her home sounded like Heaven which to him... made it sound more like Hell. It was no good when things were too perfect. Life became boring fast!

And then she asked what it was like where he was from. Did he tell her about Heaven and the endless hours of celestial harmonies he had been forced to listen to, or Hell and the deep pits of sulfur he had been tossed into, or the place he really felt more at home?

"It's Soho, in London. The whole city is a good deal more built up than this. Fewer trees, more fashion. Entertainment capital of the whole city. The night life there, gohl... They have the best bars, the best food, the best stage shows of anywhere in the entire country! It's nothing like this place at all. There not a thing about it that is perfect."

But it was home.

He looked to his companion with the odd fashion sense.

"You never said what your name was?"

[cometophobic]

Little did she realize that she made a misstep in her narrative. The story was by design to sound more fantastic and appealing to the listener but she didn't know enough about her current companion to know what he would prefer. The reality was that where she was from was as diverse as any other place it was neither perfect nor pristine. It also was not a place consumed by darkness and demons. Also she didn't really reside on it.. so much as she had been the world itself. Emphasis on past tense, not that she wanted to linger on that fact. She had failed her inhabitants in that sense and they could only live on in some sense through her exaggerated stories based in part on their lives.

Let her just pretend that she has any idea what London or Soho are. "Oh! Soho!" She beamed with recognition, smile broadening. "It's been some time since I've been there." You've never been there you pathological liar. "It's hard to get bored in a place like that." Marisol's long flowing robes would hardly be considered fashionable in the place he described. "Do you know? Is the Bottomless Tankard tavern still in operation?" Also, are taverns still a thing? Maybe she should have called it a bar. "If you like imperfection than the kingdom I described wouldn't be the place for you..... but the outskirts aren't that far off and they might be more to your liking".

"You didn't mention yours either.. but mine is Marisol." What are surnames.

[serpentinthegarden]

"You've been to London!"

Crowley beamed and drew back from her as if his smile might have been so wide it could have knocked her down. He never noticed the lies.

"Can't say I've ever been to the Bottomless Tankard tavern, not unless it shortened its name to just The Tankard. They do have a bottomless glass challenge. Huge tankard, bigger than anything you've seen, and if you can finish it you get a T-shirt. Never tried it myself but it is fun to watch other people fail at it."

Wasn't it a small world, or universe he supposed. Meeting some one who had actually been to London!

"Anthony J. Crowley."

Surnames are important, though seldom used... Anyway he had dreamed his name up and fully intended to use it.

"How do you mange it? I haven't been able to travel between worlds since I arrived here."

[cometophobic]

"Yeah, Of course! Who hasn't?!" Marisol beamed as she gave one swift wave of her hand.

She was feeling quite pleased with herself, to be pulling this off. The concept that the two of them might have had similar experiences was always a great conversational tool. It was a mutual beneficial situation so she saw 0 harm in it.

"That must be it!" Said with a snap of her fingers. "Gotta say I like the change. The old name was way too long." Pausing a moment as if to let the memories flood to the surface of her mind. "That would be a sight to see. Some people just can't handle their spirits."

Apparently so! Or.... so Marisol would have had him believe.

When he gave her his name, she wasn't entirely sure what to make of it. Was she meant to call him Anthony J Crowley every time she addressed him- or was he Anthony from Crowley..... or....seriously. What are surnames!? Well, for the time being she could just omit it, as she had been doing beforehand. "That's a nice name."

"Believe me it's not easy," Marisol replied quickly not missing a beat. "Someone or something has gone to an awful lot of trouble to try and contain us here."

[serpentinthegarden]

He might have noticed that she hadn't answered the question if he were the kind to notice things like that. There were occasions, like now, where lies were far too easy to believe.

"Well, have you figured it out yet?"

At the blank stare that was bound to provoke he clarified.

"This world's magic. Have you figured out how to harness it yet?"

[cometophobic]

Oh, yes. There was definitely a blank stare at that question. Marisol had thought she had cleverly sidestepped that subject but it was not to be. Giving a little yawn, she stretched her neck to one side.

"It's no-" She started to answer before her eyes trailed to the basket of baked goods. "-Oh look! This one has some kind of filling in it!"

It was another attempt to direct attention elsewhere. Things were going so well, she didn't want to have to admit that she was equally clueless about this as he was- nor did she want to make up a story on how she bent this world's magic to her whims because then Crowley would want her to help get him home.

[serpentinthegarden]

"Cream."

Crowley glanced at the sweet treat.

"Or raspberry... does it matter? We're meant to save the Kingdom here and some of us have problems or our own."

The Earth to save for one, or to abandon it as a lost cause, the details were still fuzzy in his mind really.

[cometophobic]

Whew. That was a close one. Looking fondly at the confectionery, she was about to bite into it when Crowley tacked on that heavier insinuation on the end. Suddenly, it didn't look half as appealing.

Then for the first time of the day, Marisol surprised even herself. Bowing her head she fessed up to it. "No." No what?

"No- I haven't figured out how to consistently harness the energy of this world." Okay, so she couldn't fully admit that she was as powerless as he was. Shouldn't the idea that inter-dimensional travel was possible to some degree give him some hope?

[serpentinthegarden]

That sombered the mood entirely. The girl didn't want to eat her treat and he found he didn't really want to talk so much anymore. What she thought had sounded hopeful became a little more , 'we are both trapped here,' to him.

Stupid... string of curse words... wizard!

Number 44 8/

[cometophobic]

Then it had sounded more like the truth but Marisol really didn't want to go there. They were both here, safe, and alive. Wasn't that something for be grateful for in itself? Cautiously she slipped the treat back into the basket, and decided to save it for when she got her appetite back. An awkward silence stretched between them and she didn't really like the heavy air... but what could she say?

"Are things that dire back at home...?" Yes this meant maintaining the serious tone she was growing weary of but it seemed important.

Re: Number 44 8/

[serpentinthegarden]

That did effectively break the silence. Crowley scowled, looking his most disagreeable. It wasn't aimed at the girl though but at the situation.

"End of the World style dire."

Re: Number 44 8/

[cometophobic]

It might not have been aimed at her, but well.. his answer hit uncomfortably close to home. After some nervous fidgeting she tried to rationalize this all away. I mean a lot of species would hypothesize over when the end of the world would be and usually it was an exaggeration on their parts. This sort of thing was hard to predict. Maybe this guy had misunderstood the signs.

One thing was certain, he definitely believed his world was in the end times.

Oddly defensively Marisol started babbling, "Don't you think you're underestimating your world? I mean.. sure... it's possible that.... it could be.... destroyed... but there's a balance to everything... the planet might just be letting off steam..."

:It's not like people never act irrationally either..." As if she wasn't one.

[serpentinthegarden]

"I don't see why you are getting so defensive!"

He drew back so he could watch the girl's fidgeting and rapid quick speak, frowning in a very confused way as he did so.

"It's not like you're a world hell bent on destroying yourself..."

That would be silly.