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voidtreckerexpress2022-07-01 05:46 am
voidtreckermods) wrote in voidtreckerexpress2022-07-01 05:46 am
A New Platform [Intro Post July]
PLATFORM STOP: MONTH 19
(SYMPHONY)
(SYMPHONY)
BEFORE ARRIVAL
The voice of the Voidtrecker Express welcomes passengers at the same time as always, sometime after breakfast. With points updated, everyone can spend the morning shopping. Most people will be expecting the second announcement that comes a few hours later, as the colours of the void outside the windows blur more and more.
A lurch and a jolt, and the windows fill with the fog that means they are at a platform.
ON THE PLATFORM
1. THE ARRIVAL
At first, all your character can see is steam billowing around them as they come to their senses. But as their eyes adjust, they find themselves on a platform. It is a small platform, a dusty strip of concrete next to the tracks. The barrier is at the far end, housed in a brick shelter. The sky is dark with clouds and the air is damp. A fine drizzle falls, not heavy at all but they will find their clothes quickly become damp.
They stand in clothes not their own, in a style they might not even recognise. They're carrying a rucksack on their person, and for a moment it seems to just be them, alone on this platform. Before the fog starts to subside, and they'll see they are alone: facing the tracks.
But then there's a roaring sound to get their attention, and out from the fog arrives a train. A sleek black, it reads The Voidtrecker Express in gold lettering on the side. Every one of the doors hiss as they open automatically, and out pours a strange assortment of people. Some are human, some less so, with a majority wearing the same hoodie of four colours as they do, though some sport outfits in a variety of styles.
The train doors close behind them, and the vehicle is cloaked in the same fog that hides the world beyond the platform. A group of people head towards the gates of the platform, their expressions blank and unaffected by their surroundings. Altair Kallig, Aya Brea, Darth Nox, Eli Vanto, Elizabeth, Shen Qingqiu, Soma Cruz, Thrawn. They disappear through the barriers, but no one else can - all people can do is wait until the train re-emerges, finishing whatever changes it's making.
They stand in clothes not their own, in a style they might not even recognise. They're carrying a rucksack on their person, and for a moment it seems to just be them, alone on this platform. Before the fog starts to subside, and they'll see they are alone: facing the tracks.
But then there's a roaring sound to get their attention, and out from the fog arrives a train. A sleek black, it reads The Voidtrecker Express in gold lettering on the side. Every one of the doors hiss as they open automatically, and out pours a strange assortment of people. Some are human, some less so, with a majority wearing the same hoodie of four colours as they do, though some sport outfits in a variety of styles.
The train doors close behind them, and the vehicle is cloaked in the same fog that hides the world beyond the platform. A group of people head towards the gates of the platform, their expressions blank and unaffected by their surroundings. Altair Kallig, Aya Brea, Darth Nox, Eli Vanto, Elizabeth, Shen Qingqiu, Soma Cruz, Thrawn. They disappear through the barriers, but no one else can - all people can do is wait until the train re-emerges, finishing whatever changes it's making.
2. BOARDING THE TRAIN
After a short time, about ten minutes or so, the fog clears and the doors hiss open again. Everyone will feel a pull when they do, a need to board, and those from the train may encourage new arrivals to board. This feeling grows into one of apprehension and turns worse the longer they stay off-board.
For those that do board, they may find themselves in a few different carriages, but most likely the standard coach. A row of seats sit available, with a few tables between each. More likely than not, some cookies have been set out with jugs of drink, and cups available for pouring.
For those that don't, however, they're likely to attract attention if they're spotted. And if that fails... an unfortunate end will await them.
For those that do board, they may find themselves in a few different carriages, but most likely the standard coach. A row of seats sit available, with a few tables between each. More likely than not, some cookies have been set out with jugs of drink, and cups available for pouring.
For those that don't, however, they're likely to attract attention if they're spotted. And if that fails... an unfortunate end will await them.
a. New arrivals will notice a screen and console in every carriage sharing the same message, and a stack of leaflets in holders by them offering further information to the curious (see 'Publications'). There are lavatories available on each carriage on one end, with another console with a deposit box under it at the other. This is the train shop.
b. It'll take some time for newbies to figure out the layout, even if there's only two directions to go in. Go one end, and you'll find the food stores and washing utilities. This month's key ingredient is broccoli, and you're sure to bump into others curious about what's in the stock.
c. Go to the other end, and you'll find the sleeper cabins. Plaques sit on the wall by each door with the names of their occupants, and one of these will be yours - hopefully, they'll figure out that swiping their ticket against the doorpad will open it up to them. In most rooms, the occupied beds are obvious, leaving the spotless, empty spaces for the newcomers. Room is tight, but there are storage cubbies at the head of each bed, beds fold up and, the bottom bunks double as benches for the small table. There is storage under those benches full of spare blankets and pillows.
d. At the farthest end in this direction is the luggage carriage, where passengers who have bought items from the train shop will find their purchases. These are scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags, but there's also a small fridge and kettle here with bottled water, for those who want a quiet drink. For those curious about the reward for Purple Team they will find it here
b. It'll take some time for newbies to figure out the layout, even if there's only two directions to go in. Go one end, and you'll find the food stores and washing utilities. This month's key ingredient is broccoli, and you're sure to bump into others curious about what's in the stock.
c. Go to the other end, and you'll find the sleeper cabins. Plaques sit on the wall by each door with the names of their occupants, and one of these will be yours - hopefully, they'll figure out that swiping their ticket against the doorpad will open it up to them. In most rooms, the occupied beds are obvious, leaving the spotless, empty spaces for the newcomers. Room is tight, but there are storage cubbies at the head of each bed, beds fold up and, the bottom bunks double as benches for the small table. There is storage under those benches full of spare blankets and pillows.
d. At the farthest end in this direction is the luggage carriage, where passengers who have bought items from the train shop will find their purchases. These are scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags, but there's also a small fridge and kettle here with bottled water, for those who want a quiet drink. For those curious about the reward for Purple Team they will find it here
SOME MISCHIEF
Those exploring the train will find that some passengers have been busy in the kitchens. Three bowls of hard candies are out for display, each labelled with a placard. All are free for the taking.
Energise! Provides an extra boost of energy.
Refresh! Like dipping tired feet into a cool spring.
Calm! Allowing you to start relaxing, like a prelude to meditation.
Energise is a red coloured candy that tastes faintly sweet. When eaten it provides about five hours worth of extra energy. This may lead to characters bouncing off walls, being easily distracted, being extra curious, or blurting out whatever comes to mind, including their feelings for other Voidtreckers. When combined with the Calm candy, a character's focus is increased, though they may feel more inclined to try new things or take new risks or chances.
Refresh is a green coloured candy that tastes faintly salty. With rivigourating divine energy within the candy, those who take it will feel mildly euphoric and floaty, bubbling, or otherwise happier. Literal floating of under a metre off the ground is possible while traveling the void, as well as having characters turn into small eastern styled dragons for about an hour. When combined with the Energise candy, characters may find they're capable of limited flight in the void. They may also find themselves as a tiny dragon with an obsessive focus on something small or silly, lasting as long as their dragon transformation, so about an hour.
Calm is a blue coloured candy that tastes faintly floral. This candy aids with rest and slowing down an overbusy mind. There's a side effect of grogginess after it wears off that grows proportionate to how many candies are consumed. Combined with Refresh candy, characters will find themselves more inclined toward open discussions, forgiveness and letting go, or engaging with people in ways they'd usually inhibit themselves from. So yes, a bit like being gently buzzed, with no hangovers.
Refresh is a green coloured candy that tastes faintly salty. With rivigourating divine energy within the candy, those who take it will feel mildly euphoric and floaty, bubbling, or otherwise happier. Literal floating of under a metre off the ground is possible while traveling the void, as well as having characters turn into small eastern styled dragons for about an hour. When combined with the Energise candy, characters may find they're capable of limited flight in the void. They may also find themselves as a tiny dragon with an obsessive focus on something small or silly, lasting as long as their dragon transformation, so about an hour.
Calm is a blue coloured candy that tastes faintly floral. This candy aids with rest and slowing down an overbusy mind. There's a side effect of grogginess after it wears off that grows proportionate to how many candies are consumed. Combined with Refresh candy, characters will find themselves more inclined toward open discussions, forgiveness and letting go, or engaging with people in ways they'd usually inhibit themselves from. So yes, a bit like being gently buzzed, with no hangovers.
DEPARTURE
The train begins to rumble with activity, and the platform starts to disappear into a fog as the voidcraft moves. A female-coded artificial voice echoes throughout the train.
"Welcome aboard, passengers of the Voidtrecker Express. Please take the time to read the passenger information displayed on the Information and Communication points, and familiarise yourself with the layout and emergency exits."
The train begins to tilt, leaving the ground and rising up into the fog-filled sky.
"Entrance into Voidspace imminent. New passengers are advised to remain seated. Entry into Voidspace in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."
A shudder, a jolt, a lurch to the left. A flash of light, colourful and blinding. As quick as it happens it is done. The train seems to steady itself. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours.
NAVIGATION ~ GAMEPLAY ~ SETTING ~ CHARACTER INITIATIVES ~ QUESTIONS
Thank you to Rakel (player of Lan Jingyi) for the enchanted candy mischief. Any questions about those should be directed to them.
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Snapper's even more emotional, apparently! She coos and crawls over to Esteban, gently rubbing against him. He's gonna smell like apple pie too if she has her way. Her dragon friends! This is the best day ever.
Soon enough they're safely back in the warm car, and Seto guides Snapper over to a little safe spot for her to sit. She loves the warm atmosphere and stretches her little legs as far as they'll go, cooing happily. Seto's tail swishes once again as he watches this, and then he dives into the water.
He loves the heat so much more as a dragon. He surfaces and starts twisting through the water...ah, this must almost be what it's like to fly. He feels so much more graceful than he ever did as a human swimmer, and eagerly waves Esteban over. Again, he sounds..lighter.
"Come on! We might not have much time left."
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"Surprise attack!"
Grinning with all teeth bared, the red dragon leaps into the water, aiming a deliberate and childish wave at his silver companion. The fan of his tail could create waves surely as tall as they are, but first Esteban tries with his tiny little forelimbs, short and scrawny and not much help at all. He's still grinning through and twists on himself-- a long noodle with too much flexibility-- and dips under the water, fins and fangs soaking in the warmth.
When he breaks the surface again, it's with a heavy, delighted breath, and his wings spread out in a giant blanket of leather, nearly as long now as they are in his other form. He crawls across the seats to settle himself, still fully at ease, even though he quickly glances at Kaiba, to make sure there aren't any ruffled feathers between them.
"What'd you like to do in the lab car?" A little out of nowhere, maybe, but it gets Esteban curious; he's not one to spend much time in there personally, and his greedy nature is taking shards of his friend where he can find them. "Are y' lookin' into somethin'?"
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Kaiba flails a little at the sudden splashing, but it doesn't take long for him to swish around and shake it off. He flicks his tail once as a playful warning before he resumes his swim, relishing the warmth on his scales and the easy flow of the water.
"...Defense, mostly. There's likely a big battle coming up, and there aren't many of us left to fight it. I want to deploy personal shields, smoke bombs...anything that can keep us safe in the fight longer. There aren't enough guards to go around, so we'll have to be in harm's way. There's no avoiding it."
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Esteban's grin widens as he notices this, relaxing again in the silver dragon's presence. He hadn't been stiff when around his sterner friend, but he had avoided goofing around before, worried that it might be a bit too much. But it didn't seem like so. While he wouldn't go running to prank Kaiba from hereon, it was still nice to know that he could afford to be a bit more mischievous than he previously thought.
But the mention of shields and smoke bombs have him perk up, his strangely finned ears flicking to focus onto Kaiba's voice as he straightens-- as much as his body can with this many vertebrae-- blinking wide, round eyes.
"Need a tester for these?" He offers readily, because he might as well. His knowledge of science and technology are limited; but Esteban will always strive to help out the friends he's made. Plus, it's Kaiba's attempt to keep people safe-- and his half-elf friend can respect that. He can't do much to help, but he can help test them out. Or something.
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Then he hears Esteban's offer and quickly makes his way over.
"I think I need to gather a few more parts...but I can show you what I have, and you might have an idea for me. You can stop by any time," he offers with a...pleased swish of his tail.
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"Wanna have her in the water with us?" he suggest quite easily, his grin showing all of his needle-sharp teeth as he offers.
The little red dragon shuffles, backs up a bit in the water, and lays a wing out on the rim, hook catching securely in the tiles surrounding the tub-- though he is careful not to scratch them. He stretches it out, a layer of leather that dips just underneath the surface, gives them just a thumb-depth of water. It's not as stable as he likes, so he surges out of the tub himself, his wing-talon stretching over a quarter of the pool, but being far more safely anchored when he sets down on the tiles.
"Tadah~ Baby pool." Look, look! He's so proud to have done this much for his friend! Even with all four stubby paws on the ground, Esteban's neck is more than long enough to bask in the water himself, and his tail comes to inch a sunlight closer, so that he can enjoy that warmth atop his spread wings.
"How 'bout it?" he asks again, because though it's a cute attempt, there's no way to put a fence against Snapper falling in the deeper end. Esteban would be quick to fetch her out if she fell in, but that's still not his decision to make.
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"I think that's up to her," Seto says, making his way over to Snapper and jumping up beside her. He gently pads onto the wing, does a little turn and splash, then crawls back off.
"Do you want to go? It's okay, we're here," he promises. Snapper seems to think about this for a moment, then stamps her feet and growls! She's a tough little dragon. So she crawls out and settles in the shallows, cooing happily.
It's a relief that it seems to work. Seto settles next to them in the water just in case, poking his head over the edge so his baby can see him.
"She really loves the warmth. When we were at the beach, I had to make sure she didn't bake too badly in the sun." He settles his front paws on the ledge and sighs, slumping tiredly into the water. It's been a pretty busy day.
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The sun-lamp is finally placed well enough that Esteban can stop his careful tugging-pulling, and he lowers his thin snout to the pool, dipping his head in until the mane surrounding it is soaked in the warm water. It trickles down the length of his scales keeping him a little more comfortable as he basks, watching the little rolly-poly critter settle on his wing-- she's so light, he can hardly sense her. At least Kaiba he'd felt, knowing just when he'd pulled himself up, and dropped down.
She needs to be fed more.
All teeth bared again, Kaiba's words catch his attention, and his finned ear flicks in his direction, still carefully watching over the baby dragon. There's something intriguing in the way she holds her eyes so wide, like she is perpetually startled, and somehow, that makes it more intimidating than it has any rights to be.
"She-- bakes in the sun?" Oh! She does look reptilian. He hadn't taken a close enough look, but he'd bet that her body was scaled, and wouldn't cool down easily.
"So, not a fire dragon, then." Wide blue eyes blink, curiously. "Is she going to grow wings? She looks like a hookling, but she doesn't have hooks." More than a little distracted, Esteban is nuzzling at the little dragon now, watching the way her limbs are folded, her round little body compact, and yet so light, he's not sure what to make of her.
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"Eva says she's a grass dragon. Her species evolves differently depending on if they're male or female. Apparently she's going to grow into something called an Appletun. They can't fly, but she'll be a little taller than my knee and she'll be a towering apple pie."
He looks at her fondly, slipping down into the water a little more. It's funny, he's so tired all of a sudden....and he lets out a low yawn.
"It's been a busy day," he murmurs, head drooping. He's still holding his head above the water, but not by much.
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"A grass dragon?" he asks aloud, dipping into the pool quickly before he shifts and rustles his head, water falling down into a heavy rain of warm droplets all around the little 'mon. He's quick to follow it up with another little wave.
"Never heard of one. She's quite a special little bean~" his voice rises in his amusement, before Esteban turns to consider his friend, the way his eyes are shut and his body slumping on the edge of the pool. He's going to drown that way. A long nose comes to nudge lightly at the silver dragon's frame, neck lingering nearby in a free offer for a lift.
"Come on. There's some more room on my wing. It's very comfortable, and there's a sun-lamp aimed right at it~" he tempts further, not above a little bribery when Kaiba seems like he could use the peace of mind.
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"I've lost track of time. I might change back soon...I'll throw myself off if I feel anything off."
But he'd very much like to curl up near Snapper for a little bit. She seems to agree, crawling over to growl an invitation to him. They're dragon buddies now, come on! Over here!
He'll let himself be lifted and briefly curl around Esteban's neck. "All good?"
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"My bones aren't hollow. And you'd have a hard time to break a dragon's wings anyways; they're magic-woven." He adds, without much thought. "They need them to support their weight since they sometimes get bigger than Remembrance Trees." There's a brief pause when he manages to settle Kaiba in a way that he feels is secure.
His wing is so large that it somewhat dwarfs all three dragons-- even including himself, who looks very odd with his mismatched limbs. But it helps it serve its purpose here, strong and steady under the combined weight of the two dragons, plus Esteban's own chin, coming to rest near his talon. He nudges Snapper to come up next to her trainer, fully intending to surround the young critter between them both as they rest.
"Comfortable?" he asks, just in case, checking in with everyone.
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It's nice. Seto settles his paw over one of hers, and relaxes in place. It's nice....maybe he can relax after all. His tail swishes gently, content to rest here under the warm lamp with his baby and his friend. "Yeah...we're all right. Thanks for all this."
He gently pats the wing beneath him and settles down for a nap. Mm...yeah, he could definitely use it. And it's a nice, peaceful nap!
...at least until he wakes up to a sharp pain in his spine. In moments it's all over, he's writhing and squirming like a madman. There's a large splash as he flops over the edge and into the water, but he's just conscious enough to push Snapper back to safety on Esteban's wing as he falls.
The surface of the water bubbles angrily for a few moments, and a very human Seto surfaces, flailing toward the tub's edge as he gasps for air. Okay, okay...he just. Needs a moment to remember how to use his human body.
"That hurt," he grouches. "Might want to brace yourself."
Once his arms stop shaking, he'll reach for Snapper. He definitely wants her clear of any more transformations.
no subject
Time drifts in that inconsequential way, like dust glittering in warm sunbeams. Something so simple and normal, and still so lovely in its own way. A yawn stretches his mouth far more widely than Esteban ever thought possible-- and his nose turns, head leaning against the little apple-dragon next to him. Dozing, dreaming, sleeping.
Until Kaiba leaps, spine twisting in odd directions, his voice caught in his throat. Esteban barely has the time to catch a glimpse that he falls off, off the wing and off the safety of his limbs and off into the water, and Esteban screams out his name before Snapper--
Snapper has to stay, and he pulls the wing out of the water, tucking her close, neck and mane pressing against her in half-comfort and half-holding her back. He calls again, tail thrashing behind him and knocking the lamp over, but it hardly matters, only that he doesn't know what-- a wing settles between Snapper and the tub again, a desperate attempt to hold her still while he darts, curving near the rim and--
Kaiba's human hand splashes onto the tiles, just before he heaves at the surface, water beading across his hair and face and Esteban's breath catches up with him in a big gasp that mirrors Kaiba's own.
"Dead Guardians in a Ditch," he swears, colourfully, because little Snapper here shouldn't hear worse than that. "Are you okay?"
It's... Hard to do anything in his awkward body, limbs too short and claws too long, but Esteban grips at his friend as best he can, as gently as he can, with his wing talon on one of his shoulder, while his tiny little chicken legs take the other. It's very little, but it helps keep him above the water, even though it's a bit restrictive in its own way. His claws don't pierce the skin, but Kaiba can certainly feel them, pricking like needles.
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"I'm fine," he says softly, laying a hand over the talons in thanks. "I think the transformation feels a little more intense when you're expecting it."
He then turns to Snapper and smiles at her, reaching out a hand. "It's okay. I'm back, see?"
She sniffs...and headbutts his hand. Yup, perfectly normal. He'll gently take her, cuddling his little dragon against his chest with one hand. And he'll reach over and move the lamp back into place.
"I hope it goes better for you."
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"I'm already a shape-changer." Do humans-- does Kaiba's world have anything like he is? He doesn't like the uncertainty, but this isn't the first person he's told about this without being sure. So far, no one has gotten frightened of him for being what he is... but he knows it would only take one of them. He'd hate-- he'd loathe to scare any of them.
But... he's also bound to show it. One day. If there is a mission, if there is a need for his other shape around Kaiba. Isn't it better to have him in the know already. Doesn't he trust his friend?
Oh.
Yes. Yes he trusts him.
"I'm a half-elf on my father's side. But my mom is a dragon." His wings shift around him as he moves away from his friend, granting him a bit more space. "Not like Jingyi is. He looks so much more like my aunts than her; their element is water." A wing rolls with his comment, before he goes on.
"I think I can control the transformation a bit because of it." He's fairly sure he ate the candy quite some time ago after all, but he doesn't feel in any hurry to shift back, and though there's a bit of an itch down his spine-- it feels familiar. Like when his wings are tucked in and itching to grow out rather than being out and itching to fold back beneath his skin.
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But the trouble isn't the kind Kaiba is prepared for. The words make sense after a bit of thought, but the atmosphere...it feels heavier, somehow.
"Mm. I've seen Jingyi, and I've had a few other friends who change form. You're not alone there." He smiles a little at Esteban. "I'm glad I had help from an experienced dragon today...and I admit, I envy you a little. The closest I've ever been is flying in my dragon-shaped airplane."
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"I'm a half. My transformation isn't complete, so I can only glide. It's why I love the gravity-control unit so much. It lets me cheat a bit." But he's not saying that to be dismissive of Kaiba's words. "I used to dream of being able to fly on my own. So I get where you're coming from."
Another cheeky grin splits his mouth, teeth on display as he replies. "Dragon-shaped is best-shaped~" with an amused lilt. "Even with tiny little scrawny legs~!"
There's a pause before Esteban's eyes widen, wondering-- "How about you try it? The gravity-control?" It's... not the same, but-- "I like to use it in the Weather Carriage--"
Stone garden. He means the stone garden, and one day, he might remember that there is more to it than the weather control panel. But today is not that day.
"--and set the wind really high, so it sustains flight for a bit!" Eager, Esteban bounds up to his feet (short as they are) as he suggests this, tail flicking free of the water. There's a short, short break before he adds "I'll go get you a towel," trundling off and back in a few moments to give the promised cloth.
no subject
He leans forward curiously when the grav-con unit is discussed. Manipulating gravity to float...he's been carried before, but he's never controlled a power like that. It's probably nowhere near as strong as having a natural ability, but paired with dialing up the winds...it's certainly possible to try.
"I think we'll try. Ah...thanks," he adds as Esteban returns with the towel, gently setting Snapper down on the ledge. He rises up on shaky legs, ties the towel in place, and scoops her up again. Luckily the lab is only a quick walk through the hire carriage from here, and as he walks, he'll ask:
"Does that mean you don't have to change back? Or should I carry a towel for you too?"
no subject
Esteban moves, rocking his head from side to side in a wave that travels all the way down from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail. His wings rustle with the movement, and he gets much dryer by the end of it. He bounces after his currently taller friend.
"A towel would be nice, just in case." He's not the most prudish of persons personally, but he doesn't want an accidental transformation to make everything awkward.
"Are you alright?" he asks after another moment, checking to see if he's getting steadier on his feet. Esteban's transformations are usually painless after all-- other than those damn boots that pinch his toes-- so he's quite worried after Kaiba, as he seems to be in pain.
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Thankfully, the pile of clothes is still intact. He puts on his locket and wedding ring first, his most important items...then gets himself back to looking decent. He leaves off the coat and extraneous belts, given the activity they're about to do...but now Snapper's crawling around in the coat and growling like a big tough dragon.
"You like that, don't you?" Seto teases gently as he picks her up, Esteban's towel draped over his other arm. He smiles and leads them to the nearest trans gate, not in the mood for a long walk right now. And Esteban seems to pick up on that...oh. Oh right. The question has him pause, one hand holding the outside of the gate.
"I'll be fine. It wasn't long...just feels strange, after being so small and low to the ground. I want to do this---so. Uh. Which car's the weather one?"
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"And we're about to go and play with gravity?" Esteban adds, the roll of his voice indicating that maybe he doesn't think it's the smartest idea right now... But also that he's amused at the thought of it. It'll be... an experience alright.
"The weather carriage is the weather carriage?" he replies in slight confusion, the fan of his tail swaying from side to side in a telling movement. He pauses when they reach the gate, and ponders the words, before he catches on-- right. Right it's not--
"It's one of the gardens-- um. Next to the greenhouse." He pauses. "The Statues Garden? Or the Mosaic Garden?" It's on the tip of his tongue. He just can't remember it, 'Dians.
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"I'll be fine. By the time you explain things to me it'll have passed," he says with a little smile. He's not missing out on this chance, and indeed he looks a little stronger as he sets the coordinates for the rock garden.
"Rock garden. Alright, got it. Let's go!"
He steps through the gate, heading over to the nearest bench to set Snapper down. She makes herself right at home. "So how do they work?"
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"It's not that complicated really. There's two buttons-- one to lower gravity, and one to heighten it. And a directional pad, like for video games!" An easy shrug rolls along both his wings as he taps-taps-taps-taps across to the stone carriage.
He's quick to spot his favourite haunt-- a stone lion with his chin settled on his forepaws, slumbering in a semi-circle that keeps just a small nook of an area discreetly out of sight. Between the half-moon of his paws, Esteban spots his clothes-- left there without much care or worry, and his talons delicately pick at his pockets to find the small tool.
Esteban holds it in a wing-talon while he totters on his way back, leaping on the bench with the grace of a cat, albeit a noodle-sort of cat. His wing is surprisingly flexible when he hands it over to his friend, and the device drops into his palm, buttons well-spaced, but discreet on the tiny device.
"If you don't touch the pad, it's just going to be up or down movement. If you jump in a direction, your momentum isn't lost, but if you want to go in that direction, you have to press both buttons. That's it!" Straightforwards enough. Mastering it is altogether another experience though-- and even Esteban, after months of toying with it, has only ever felt comfortable with up or down-- not directional yet.
(But, he is getting good with those simple commands! Landing as light as a feather when he wants.)
no subject
He lowers it...and just sort of drifts. A few button pushes have him moving a little more, and he ends up hanging upside down, shirt riding up. Yup, typical day.
"Siebren made this look so easy," he grumbles as he goes, but he does manage to right himself eventually. He drifts this way and that, and once he's tired himself, he manages a crash landing that isn't a total disaster.
...it's probably time he check on Esteban. His friend's transformation is likely to run out soon. "...hey, you all right there?"
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