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td005

Test Drive 005

WELCOME TO ATERAT

Here is our Fifth Test Drive Meme! There are a lot of areas of the city to explore, so please have a look around! In case you need a little help getting started, I've included a few prompts below, or feel free to start your own! Exploration and player initiative are the names of the game here!

Helpful Links to Get Started

Arrival & General Information | Setting & Bestiary | Locales & Businesses | Residences & Housing Info | Rules & FAQ (ask questions here!)

I. Crash Into Me

Not exactly, but close enough. You have just arrived and received a strange satchel from a tiny, strange little man and are left more or less to your own devices (more information on what to expect upon arrival can be found here)! Follow directions to the north and check out the housing, or maybe have a look around the Historium and try to get some information from that giant glowing ball, see what you can waste your meager starter coin on in the Market District, or maybe just meet the neighbors.

II. What Goes Bump in the Night

It looks like Aterat proper has a spirit problem. Maybe you're seeing specters, hearing disembodied voices, your windows rattle when there's no breeze outside. Maybe there are cold spots in your place of business (or your apartment, which is so much worse). Either way, you're 100% convinced you're haunted. Hopefully, someone else believes you, or maybe you're used to feeling crazy.

III. A Mean, Green Mother from where now?

There's a pollen problem in the city, and by that we mean it's everywhere. Yellowish green pollen seems to be caked-on everything with the misfortune of being outside, whether it's windows, banisters, carts, you name it. If it's outside for a duration of time, it's a free game to have a layer of dust settled upon it, and it plays havoc on anyone who breathes it in. Allergic to pollen? Your allergies are horrible. Not allergic, well, you might just have the sniffles anyway, and another problem. You seem to be completely unable to tell a lie. Not only that, but you feel the overwhelming need to tell people things you'd usually keep to yourself. Maybe you like to put cream in your coca-cola (you monster) or maybe you've done something terrible and you really need to get it off your chest either in person or over the network.

IV. Try the Network

The Tell-Phone allows for text, video, and audio transmissions to everyone else who has one. Give it a whirl!

V. Wildcard

The above prompts are all options, and there's much more to the setting than what they provide. Do your best (or your worst)!

Navigation

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah, Nida's definitely impressed by the amount of muscle layered on Jacob now. Those were definitely not there when he was training the kid. Part of his mind chuckled to itself, imagining how speechless Yuki would be if he saw Jacob.

"Hey yourself. And while it may have been a 'short period of time' for you, it's been almost eight months since I saw you last. Come on, stand up. There's a small guard station near here, and I need to take a break and check on Hibiscus anyway. We'll get you situated and I'll see if I can pay a kid I know to send an order for a shirt to a tailor."

No doubt Mono would be happy for the money and it wasn't like the tailor shop would deny a request. Even if it went on a brief tab, the shop knew the Scientias were good for it.

"Eight months?" He didn't know what to do except restate the obvious.

It had been a decent chunk of time since he had last walked through this city but so much has happened. Time had passed in the blink of an eye. If he recounted the time he'd been living on the West Coast to the sudden adventures that took his sister back to New York and then the attacks.

Jacob's gaze dropped down to his bloodied shirt and he fingered the large gaping hole thoughtfully. "It felt longer to me." He couldn't really remember how long it had been. Once the war really started, everything blended together, and being human hadn't kept him out of the fight.

He exhaled and rose to his feet. "That sounds better than sitting out here." It also helped that Nida was someone that he trusted. "I really liked this shirt." It was a benign comment but nonetheless true.

"Quite the echo that the fountain is developing," Nida observed lightly. But then he placed a careful hand on Jacob's shoulder. He hoped it was comforting. "Likely, for you, it was longer. Last world that had me? Sent me home once. For years. I'd been gone from there for days. It's never easy, when a world like this sends you away and then brings you back."

Honestly, had he still comfortable things in his apartment, he'd take Jacob there, but with the move he hadn't really seen a reason to keep things in the building. Maybe that was a change he should bring up to Ignis later.

"We'll get you a new shirt. There's a really great store with a talented worker now, helped do a number of things for the wedding, even took my uniform in a bit to fit better, though I'm thinking now I should have left it a bit loose to better fit you."

That was a lot for Jacob to process. "Uh, yeah. I kept training though it was ironically more intense than our sessions." He hoped to keep training but he'd had to find a way to merge his habits from home and with the city. It was going to take some adjusting.

"Wait." He paused and looked back at Nida, his brows furrowing slightly. "Wedding?" He remembers a bit but his memories were coming back slowly. He had first met Nida when talking about rings, there was someone he'd forgotten or left behind. He didn't remember a wedding. "Who's wedding?"

This felt like an important question and it was one that could be answered as they walked towards their destination.

"You weren't fighting for your life here as much," Nida pointed out.

Yes, he had seen that blood, and he lets the concern be quite obvious in his voice. Months had made him far more open with his emotions after all. Though the question made him smile. He raised his hand to wiggle his finger, displaying the ring he wore.

"Ignis and myself. I'm officially Mister Scientia now. We weren't exactly flaunting the relationship all the time before that, but we became engaged after you left. A lot has happened since then. But that's less important than gushing about Ignis, truly."

Because he doesn't want to burden Jacob with all that happened. Instead he walked them forward toward the markets and a small guard station near there.

"It was beautiful, all outdoors. The weather agreed with us, and Ignis even talked Halycon into a carriage pulled by actual horses to take us to our new home. The style was fall and stars of course. Oh, and Ignis is now head chef at the Hunter's Lodge, which makes him very happy. Me, I'm still busy with guard work, and raising my chicobo, and training Yuki of course."

That was a lot to absorb but Jacob was used to these kinds of things and took it all in stride. "Nice." It was a short answer but he was happy for Nida and his expression showed it. The last time he'd been in the city he'd been new to his own affections but now he felt more comfortable in his own skin.

It was easier now.

He was snapped from his thoughts when Nida mentioned Yuki.

Jacob's mouth dried as he licked his lips. "Yuki..." He whispered softly, feeling an odd mix of emotions. "He's still here?" Jacob didn't know if he was happy or sad. The last time he had been in the city he'd finally asked Yuki out on a date but had disappeared before he could show up.

Had Yuki waited for him?

Oh, there were emotions. Nida pulled them over to a door and opened it up, where he was met by the excited warbling of a red chicobo. She was tied, by a harness and leash, to a table, and the other guard in there looked a bit annoyed by her.

"I'll take my lunch now," Nida said, and the man bounced to his feet and slipped out, not even commenting on Jacob. Once the door was closed again Nida pulled both chairs out at the table and moved to a basket by the corner to take the food out to reheat by the fire. Jacob could join him for lunch.

He was getting pretty good at ignoring the way the chicobo pecked at his boots too. She was nearly tall enough to reach his knees, but she was still focusing only on his boots.

"Jacob, this is Hibiscus. Hibiscus, this is Jacob. And he's asking about Yuki."

The bird must have recognized the name and warbled in delight.

"Yes, he's most definitely still here."

Jacob watched the other man escape from the guardhouse with a little smirk lifting the corner of his mouth. The guy was a little too eager and it made him wonder why he was in such a rush. It didn't look like anything particularly exciting was happening in the city, though he knew that looks could be deceiving.

He escaped from the cold though was careful when approaching the chick. He grew up in an area that had quite a few chicken houses and various farm-themed pets but he has never had a great relationship with birds. Animals weren't really his thing though the red chicken was cute and it looked happy to see Nida.

A low warm chuckle filled the space before Jacob even realized he was laughing. "Yuki would be good with animals." He had a gentle soul and animals were receptive to that kind of thing. Jacob on the other hand felt as if he was clumsy when it came to animals. He was always afraid to hurt them.

"So um..." Jacob walked until he found the warmest spot in the room and then stopped. "Yuki... did he? I'm not being nosy but-" His voice trailed off briefly before he signed and decided that it was best to just tell Nida. "Is he seeing anyone?" Jacob hadn't planned to disappear and days before he had asked Yuki on a date. A date that he never showed up for.

It made him feel an odd mix of guilt and heartache.

No, it was more that Hibiscus was a pest who was possessive of her father. Nida sighed at her antics and wasn' shocked when, once he sat, the chicobo was immediately trying to climb into his lap. He unclasped her leash and let her do so.

"Yuki has a blue chicobo called Haru. They spend time together when we're training. I don't know why he has one, but as my chocobo assigned by the guard decided to attack me a lot, the suggestion was made that I should raise one as my steed and partner. And thus Hibiscus here. She doesn't try and eat me anymore. Or kill me. I think. My brother's chicobo wasn't so kind."

BUt that was before here, and Nida had mothered Hibiscus since she was barely hatched, so it was working out. Helped that Nida knew how to comfort her now, his finger stroking lightly over her feathers to straighten them, and the bird cooed happily at him.

"You're definitely being nosy, and no, that's fine to ask. He's single. I think he's still missing you. He came to me to learn to fight because he wanted to protect people, but also to live up to the example you were setting. I've taken the sword up once more, just to teach him."

Still, he finds himself compelled to ask.

"Do you intend to break my apprentice's heart? Because I wouldn't take that lightly."

Edited 2021-11-19 23:27 (UTC)

Jacob finally took a seat adjacent to Nida. Forever had passed but he felt the same comfort that he had cultivated over the months he'd lived in the city before his disappearance. It wouldn't be the same but it was nice to have someone with who he could talk openly.

Even if that open conversation hurt.

"Of course not." He dropped his head into his palms as if the motion was one he'd done a thousand times. "I had everything planned out but..." He had taken a chance and it'd hurt someone he cared about. "I didn't want that. I still don't." Jacob hadn't been in the city long enough to consider everything but Yuki had been at the forefront of his mind. He didn't want someone he cared about to feel the heartache of someone disappearing.

Jacob knew how painful that could be.

"Maybe seeing me won't help him. If he's doing better and happy." That was always his first priority, other people's happiness.

Really? Nida rolled his eyes, his foot slipping under the table to find the leg of Jacob's chair and nudge it. Don't be like that, man. Don't ever be like that.

"Do not suggest he's better and happy. Yuki is sad, and driven and refusing to let himself be lonely. And I want my student happy. So, what you're going to do is you're going to go to Aerith's flower shop, you're going to find a small evergreen plant, and you're going to give it to him as an opening gift. He's been working with some really tall blue lady to make a greenhouse to help orphans and the like in the city. Clearly the two are interested in plants. You're going to get a table somewhere nice and take him to dinner. And you're not going to pull any of this 'I'm not interested in men' bullshit, right?"

Because his student doesn't deserve that wishy washy approach. Nida cared for Yuki deeply. His student was so good to him, and patient with the fact that Nida wasn't a good person, not fully.

But hell, if he was older, he might have seen Yuki as a younger brother. But he doesn't know how to be a good big brother. Protecting people, though, that was something he was prone to. Nida moved Hibiscus to the floor and the chicobo went to her basket by the heater.

"You both deserve to smile, Jacob. Though my final rule is this: you don't stay out too late. I don't need Yuki getting hurt protecting you when you get jumped in the street. Again. Seriously, man, he will try and protect you, and seeing as I've given him a new sword recently, I'm hoping he doesn't have to blood it so soon."

Jacob grunted as a sharp toe found its way into his shin. "Come on! Was that really called for?" He sat up a little straighter, if only so that Nida would have to work harader to kick him again.

His hazel eyes darkened, tinting a dark blue around his irises. "Number 1." He held up a finger to make sure he captured his old friend's attention. "I've changed since then okay and I had asked Yuki out before I disappeared. I was already over it." His voice was harsher than he meant for it to be. His temper was a more recent addition to his personality and this topic hit too close to home for Jacob. Yuki wasn't the only one who had experienced heartache.

"Number 2." His voice lightened slightly. "I'll pick a better plant." Only because he wanted to find something that he picked because that made those kinds of gestures more special. "Number 3." Another finger went up. "I'm not as weak as I was before. I'm not going to let anyone hurt me or Yuki." There was definitely a fierceness in Jacob's attitude that wasn't there before but he was betting that Nida would make him put his money where his mouth is.

"Finally. It's up to me and Yuki. I'll talk to him." Yuki had a choice. No matter what he might be feeling, Jacob wanted to respect that.

After a second of silence, Jacob stood up. He hated feeling like he wasn't being given a choice. That had happened too many times in his life.

He paced in a short circle, his palm coming to rest on the back of his neck, his thumb rubbing at a two-inch scar just below his shoulder. "And here, I was hoping you'd train me again." It felt like Nida had a student and it wasn't him anymore. It didn't bother him but he felt like Nida was making a joke out of him. He'd been so stupid the last time he'd been in the city but he hadn't had to think of that version of himself for over a year. He really wished he had a cigarette.

Well now that was some fire, and Nida met it all with a smile, unshaken by it. Something told him that if he delved into whatever magic is in Jacob, he'd fine fire spells, like with his own husband. And that made him glad.

Yuki deserved fire and passion.

"I was suggesting an evergreen because it's coming up on winter and the plant will survive the winter better, but do what you will. Including telling off anyone who would question you. Me especially."

With that he rose, tucking his hands behind his back in a posture that spoke only of military attention. And he was smiling.

"I know it might not mean anything coming from me, Jacob, but I'm proud of who you've become. There's so much strength and confidence in you now that wasn't always there before. I remember a man who questioned himself in relation to his family and the strength and weight of them. And what I see now is a man that is confident in who he is."

Though he smiled and tilted his head to Jacob, clearly taking note of the greater build the man had, not even fitting in Nida's coat.

"Looks like someone's already taken to training you. I'm not sure if my help would hinder you or not. But if you want a sparring partner, or to learn a new weapon, I'd be honored to have you back with me. Though I'll say this: I'll probably discourage you and Yuki from training at the same time. I've taught young people in love before. Sometimes they hurt themselves trying to impress each other, or they get distracted. I can do better by you both if you two are willing to agree to that, at least until Yuki gets to the point of skill where I trust him against someone else while he's holding live steel."

Because his healing magic only went so far, and he didn't want people hurt because he couldn't keep discipline. And it wouldn't be their fault. It was easy to get distracted when you watched someone you card for getting that... intensely physical.

Jacob was taken off guard. He was ready to fight Nida or be annoyed at his presumptions but Nida didn't offer him the resistance that he was used to. It almost sounded like he was agreeing with him.

It was weird.

He relaxed his stance as much as he could but he was too on edge to relax completely. His training was informal compared to Nida's but it allowed him to not die when facing creatures and superhumans more powerful than he was. Running was a very special skill and Jacob had to learn to run before he could learn to fight.

"Sure. We can spar." His eyes dropped briefly to the ground before looking back up at Nida. "I get it. I don't mind. I don't think Yuki's been on a battlefield like that. It's different. It took me a while to get used to it." Jacob exhaled and shook his head. "I hope Yuki doesn't have to see that or know what it's like." It changed people and one of the things that he liked about Yuki was the young man's softness. A softness that disappeared after watching those you care about get hurt or die.

There was another brief pause before he smirked. "I honestly expected you to fight with me about this."

It's still weird.

Better that they didn't fight. Nida wouldn't want Hibiscus hurt by accident. But he definitely knows what Jacob means, and his face fell. Yeah, he understood. Oh god, Jacob got it now about the fighting and the horrors of it. And Nida's heart ached for him.

"I think I see part of why you've grown, and I grieve that you had to see that. I was raised for war. You fell into it. And we both agree Yuki should never have to deal with that. But I'll do whatever is needed to teach him to protect himself, and whatever you want to keep you capable of it as well. Have you learned any weapons?"

Fighting, no, it wasn't happening. Nida relaxed his stance and moved to the fire to lift up the pot pie and set it aside.

"If there's one thing I've learned over my years, it's the value of conviction. The strength of the heart, and fire."

His fingers moved lightly to his wrist, stroking it. He no longer wore all the bracelets. He'd tried to become more than that man, and he can see the way one reached to be more and be more alive.

"Convictions matter. Passion matters. Being alive rather than being a soldier matters. Why would I judge you for that?"

He shrugged and shoved his hands into his pockets. There was a lot that he didn't want to talk about, not because he couldn't but because they were painful topics and they didn't really need to be said.

"I learned swords but like rapiers and daggers. Not anything too big." It was easier for him to wield lighter weapons. "Guns too but they probably aren't as readily available." He didn't have any of his stuff since he'd dropped it before his arrival at the city. If he'd known he would have kept it on him. "I'm still horrible with staff's if you're up to help me with that." He'd probably have an easier time learning now.

Jacob almost laughed. "Yeah. I get it. Alright." It made sense to him and the conversation was now getting too mushy for him.

"Being alive is hard." But it didn't look like Jacob was as ready to blend into the background as he had been before.

"If you want daggers, you should butter up my husband. My sword work is with a long sword, it's what I'm teaching Yuki. So from me it's back to the tanbo or to the polearm. Maybe some hand to hand."

That said, he could spar against daggers. The advantages to hanging out with his husband after all.

Nida reached for some plates and cut into the pie to take slices out for himself and Jacob. Yes, he's being fed with warm food. Period. Take it because his husband had taught him a lot about hospitality.

"Being alive is one of the hardest things I choose every single day."

"Same." He commiserated the thought before taking the slice of pie. Jacob was many things but he wasn't rude and he never turned down free food.

"I might ask Ignis about daggers and maybe cooking lessons." He was a horrible cook and an old fashion part of him wanted to be able to make a homemade meal for Yuki. Not that he thought that things would go that well but his mind wasn't under his control and that's what it choose to think about.

"I know some hand to hand. Usually when I lose my weapon's I've been told to run. You know, werewolves aren't as easy to fight when it's claws against fists." Jacob was very realistic about his limitations.

"Good," Nida said. "He'd like more people to help with cooking. ANd he's been willing to help with your training before."

The whole sparring with Ignis in front of Jacob had been a thing. And Nida had enjoyed it. But the guy should learn from someone who understood.

"I'm not Zell, I can't teach you to punch hard enough to make even a dragon flinch. And I don't know what a werewolf is. But I'll do all I can. This place hasn't gotten fully better. Ignis helped hunt down a giant killer plant recently."

"Killer plant?" Jacob scrunched up his face in an attempt to imagine what that might look like. In the end, he could only picture a cartoon dandelion with a large mouth with pointy teeth. It was more comical than scary. "Not sure I want to know about that one."

Though he'd likely look into it later. He didn't have to know everything right away.

"I'll ask Ignis. Though I have a feeling he doesn't live in the same place if you guys are married. Maybe you could point it out to me?" He'd rather ask Ignis himself and also say hello. It's been a long time since he'd had a chance to talk to Ignis.

"You really don't want to. I was just glad my love came back to me whole," Nida answered with a shrug. Especially as their wedding occurred after that.

But he was definitely grinning at the other observation.

"We got a house, so you're right. We're not staying in each other's apartments now. I'll have to make a map. The lodge is a good place to find him too. And I'll let him know you're back."

Because Nida was happy when people he cared about were hanging out.

"Thanks. I'll make sure to find him." He paused and looked down at the jacket he was wearing. "After I get winter clothes." It'd be silly to continue going around shirtless or in Nida's jacket, which obviously didn't fit.

He also had to find Yuki.

"There's a lot to do." It was a little overwhelming but Jacob was good at taking things one at a time. "First. I'll finish this pie." Which was the next thing he was going to focus on.

Well Nida had to laugh at that observation. Yeah, Jacob needed that, a lot. Nida wished he could help.

"You better finish the pie, or I'm telling on you to Ignis. You don't want that. He has this look when people return a plate untouched. I'll be scared fo ryou."

The pie was finished before he was able to answer. It was really good so he hadn't been able to stop eating after taking his first bite.

"That sounds scarier than the plant monster." Ignis was a good guy but he was also quiet. You never wanted to get a quiet guy angry.

Good. Very good. Nida had a more leisurely pace to his eating. He was more used to his husband's masterful work. A task he hoped his lover took more pride and joy in these days.

"Oh, very much so. He can kick my ass sometimes. It's scary."

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