February 2024 Test Drive Meme

[singmod]

FEBRUARY 2024 TDM

PROMPT ONE — ARRIVAL: METHUSELAH'S FEAST: Yet another new group of arrivals find themselves lost in the frozen wilds and vulnerable to the dangers of nature. With luck, they make it to the town of Milton, and to a friendly face offering food, warmth and shelter — not to mention the fact they are not the first to come here.

PROMPT TWO — OF FAIR FORTUNE: After spell of bad luck, finally, the Interlopers find A Very Good (albeit slightly spooky) Boy.

PROMPT THREE — BAD PICKINGS: An error is made when foraging for mushrooms that have been altered by the Aurora makes for some interesting situations for the Interlopers.

ARRIVAL: METHUSELAH'S FEAST

WHEN: Mid-month.
WHERE: Milton, Milton Outskirts.
CONTENT WARNINGS: potential animal attacks, potential injuries, potential cold injuries/hyperthermia risk.

'You are the Interloper. You are not part of nature’s design.'

It’s the last thing you hear. A dark, deep voice. Impossibly ancient. You feel afraid. Maybe you’re dreaming, maybe you’re wide awake. You saw the lights, and then your world went dark. But you hear it in the blackness, you won’t forget those words.

You awaken. You are not where you were before. It’s different for everyone, there doesn’t seem to be much of a pattern in where you find yourself. You may open your eyes to find yourself in a cold, dim and dank cabin. The air is stale, dust hangs in the rays of weak sunlight that shine through the tiny windows. Someone lived here once, but they aren’t to be found. You look around, it seems like no one has been here in several weeks, maybe longer. The fire is stone cold, the dishes in the sink are mouldy — it's possible the place has been ransacked, as if they've gone through the drawers and cupboards looking for something. It is quiet. The wood creaks around you. Or perhaps you may awaken to find yourself shivering in the yawning maw of a cave, the freezing stone below you. Or maybe you’re unfortunate enough to sit up to find yourself lying in the snow, in the middle of the wilderness. Snow lies thick around you. It’s freezing out. You haven’t felt a cold like this before in your entire life. Cruel and biting. You have no idea where you are, and what’s worse — you are completely alone.

You may feel different, too. Any powers or magics you may have feel... absent. Disconnected. Things that may not have affected you previously now do. Something in you has changed.

You know you can’t stay where you are. You’ll need to move, try to work out where you are and how you came to be here. So you walk, head out into the unknown, in hope of finding a trail or a road. Interlopers who arrive during the month of February will find themselves especially likely of falling foul to accidental injuries and the like. It's as if the bad luck of finding yourself in this place only gets much worse. Maybe you get yourself horrendously more lost than you mean to, maybe you end up with a sprained wrist or ankle after a fall, torn clothing from fighting through the thicker parts of the wilderness.

But soon enough, you'll be able to find a path to town. A little more worse for wear, but alive. It’s here you may find someone else in the same boat as yourself, equally freezing and confused — battered from the journey. You’ll both need to keep going. It won’t be easy. You hear howls of wolves around you, and the terrain is difficult: slips and falls are likely. You’re completely vulnerable out here in the open.

Or it’s possible you may come across someone else here. Someone who looks far better prepared to deal with the freezing cold and frozen landscape, out hunting or gathering. They’ll likely offer help and get you into town. However, for the unlucky ones who don’t come across anyone, you’ll carry on until you see it: the lazy trail of smoke rising in the air. Fire. Not just one, but several. Civilization...?

Follow it, and soon enough the way you’ve taken will certainly become a path or road. Unfolding before you in the mountainous forests, you’ll see the most welcome of sights: a small mining town tucked up in the valley. Battered, rusted road signs will direct to “MILTON, POP. 947”. You’re almost there, you keep going, and it looks like other people have had the same idea as you. In fact, you’ll hear the muffled sounds of life. People! In the town!

As you head into the outskirts and then further into town, you’ll find it’s a little easier to walk but the cold has gripped you hard. You’ll find the buildings, both shops and homes, some are dark and lifeless, some of them are boarded up, some of them are occupied. People are going about their business, or stood watching from their tiny porches of their small, timber homes. For a town this big, there doesn’t seem to be many people. Several dozen at most, but no more. Some of them will direct you to the Community Hall, tell you to head there — you've been expected.

There is a sombre mood to the town. Although you can't quite place why, maybe you should ask?

Towards the center of town, you’ll find the building from which the biggest of the smoke trail rises: a community hall, by the looks of it. You’ll find more and more people all drawn to this place, each and every one of them in the same position as yourself (and your companion, if you’ve found one). Some are in worse states than others: some are bloodied, nursing bite wounds or cuts; others might have some other kind of injury sustained in the journey here from falls. Others may look as if they could faint from the cold at any second.

The door opens, and you’re greeted by the gnarled, wizened face of an elderly man, dressed in thick furs. He has a kind face, but looks sad. He smiles warmly despite the sadness in him, and with pity, ushering you in with haste.

“Another batch of poor souls from the wilds.” he nods gravely. No, this is not the first time that this has happened. “I am Methuselah. I welcome you Newcomer, although I’m sorry for how you’ve come to find yourself here. The lights are changing things, bringing more of you here. Come, we must get you warm and fed. Mother Nature has not been kind.”

The room is dim, lit only by natural daylight through the windows. A roaring fire sits at one end of the huge hall. It crackles, bright and cheerful... and warm. Even as big as this place is, the room is pleasantly warm. You’ll also find basic cots set up down one side of the hall, and while it seems there's a few people already living here, there's enough space for those in need of them. There's places to rest for a moment and get your bearings, or just trying to recover from the cold. Down the other side are tables and chairs, and long tables laden with food, drinks and bottled water similar to one might find at a soup kitchen. Once again, Methuselah offers a feast, aided by some of the other Interlopers.

There are canisters with hot herbal teas and perhaps a rare canister of coffee, along with soup and stew and trays of charred deer and rabbit meats, plus some grilled fish, instant mashed potatoes, and tinned vegetables. It’s very basic, but it’s hot and filling. A feast. The old man has been busy. And Methuselah will continue to busy himself, still; there is plenty to do. He will fetch blankets, tend to wounds, serve food and drinks. He does not have much time to talk. More and more people seem to be coming in from the cold. He will not stop to sit and rest until everyone is seen to, taking up a place by the fire to gaze silently into its flames. He is very troubled, thoughtful. Much has been happening. The others from town will eventually trail in too, to eat and warm themselves, and search among the new faces.

He will encourage newcomers to get warm and eat, and when they are ready to — they can explore the town and find one of the many empty homes to call their own. He will not speak much, his mood is... low, mournful. but perhaps you might be able to get some answers from those fellow arrivals who’ve been in this place for some time now.

This time, if he is approached, particularly by those who have been in Milton for some time, he will frown in thought. He is… considering something. Finally, he will speak:

“I had hoped that the secret cache I and your fellow Newcomers had found two months past would be enough until the spring comes.” He hesitates for a moment, his gaze moving to one of the many windows of the Community Hall. “If she ever arrives, that is.”

He doesn’t believe it will.

“More and more of you come. Life will continue to get harder with the numbers rising.” Methuselah explains. “Milton is but one town, and the way out to the south is blocked.”

He means the road out — the one that follows out of town, past the gas station and through the mountains. The tunneled road ends there, caved in with snow and stone. There is no way out that way. Methuselah is quiet for a few moments.

“... There must be another way out. For all of our sakes. It must be found."

OF FAIR FORTUNE

WHEN: The month of February.
WHERE: Milton Outskirts, Milton area.
CONTENT WARNINGS: otherworldly animal;

The Interlopers have discovered that it is not best to trust the canines in this world. The wolves and volatile, aggressive — prone to attacking the town, people. There has even been an instance of a dog leading Interlopers off the beaten track some months ago, into trips and falls and all sorts of mischief. To come across any sort of dog these days would draw suspicion, perhaps even aggression from Interlopers.

And certainly, coming across this particular dog is enough to turn plenty around and start heading in the opposite direction.

There is something…. Otherworldly about this dog. In terms of breed, one might recognise it to look a great deal like an Old English Sheepdog — but far bigger and hardier. It almost looks as if moss and vines are matted in its long fur, which seems ridiculous — but it’s true enough. The dog does not bark, but instead will stop and look at you silently when you come across one another. If approached, it will not run off, but it does not want to be petted and prefers to keep a respectable distance between you and it.

Then, it will turn to look in one direction and begin heading that way. It looks as if it wants to take you somewhere, but it won’t run off for you to catch up. It keeps to your side, silent and steady as you head through the snow, the woods. Wherever you’re going, there seems to be no rush in getting there.

It’s a little unnerving: where did this dog come from? Why does it look so… strange? Where is it going? Where is it taking you? But even with these questions, it doesn’t seem like you’ll find much in terms of answers, not at first.

Soon enough, you’ll find it. It’s different for everyone, but it seems like it all has some recurring theme. Perhaps out in the cold wilds of the Northern Territories, you’re in desperate need of shelter or warmth — you and the dog will find yourselves facing an abandoned cabin, a place of safety from the cold, perhaps with warmer clothing within. Or perhaps the dog may lead you to some secret stash: a metal cache half-hidden in the snow, a small stone cairn — with vital loot hidden within: matches, flares, maybe even food. It may even lead you to foragable foods: mushrooms, berries or of the like — all safe to consume.

Whatever the strange dog leads you to, it is a fortune. A small one, but a fortune nonetheless. It seems as if it wanted to bring you to something to aid you in your time here. Upon finding whatever it is the dog leads you to, the dog disappears — never to be seen again.

BAD PICKINGS

WHEN: Mid-month onwards for a few weeks.
WHERE: The entirety of the Milton area.
CONTENT WARNINGS: altered food/foraged foods; drugs/hallucinogens / negative hallucinogenic trips; severely altered/warped moods; temporary amnesia; personality switches; loss of senses

The Northern Territories may be harsh, difficult conditions to survive in, but certainly not impossible. There is an abundance of wildlife, hardy enough to withstand the weather — even in the extreme, unpredictable times such as these. Foraging will soon come to be a staple for those stuck here in this world, and is just as important as hunting down any deer or rabbit. Flora is not only useful in terms of sustenance, but in its use in medicines and tinctures.

Mushrooms can be found here and there in particular areas: taking advantage of the wet, rotten wood of downed trees, or nestled in the sheltered undergrowth of the more densely wooded areas where it’s a little more suitable for fungi to grow. But not even the flora of this world is safe following the recent Auroras. The world is changing, and for the next few weeks — foraged mushrooms will have some… interesting effects, when consumed.

Interlopers that come across these mushrooms in the wilds will find themselves compelled to pick and eat these mushrooms right away. They're perfectly fine to eat raw, just more enjoyable to eat once cooked.

The effects of the mushrooms will last between eight hours to a full day, depending on how much was consumed. Nothing can be done to alleviate symptoms. You will feel incredibly hungover the day after the effects have subsided, and feel completely fine after that. The Aurora’s influence on mushrooms is only temporary, and the mushrooms will cease their effects after a few weeks.

Reishi mushrooms This mushroom will temporarily take away one of your five senses: sight, touch, smell, taste or hearing. You may find yourself feeling completely numb to touch; or unable to hear or see anything.

Oyster mushrooms Eating one of these mushrooms will give you temporary amnesia. You may forget yourself, things about your life, even your own name. Or maybe you will forget those around you. Or perhaps both.

Black Morel Eating this mushroom will seem to switch your personality to its complete opposite. Introverted sorts will become extroverted, those prone to anger will become more calm and chilled out, cheerful sorts will become more morose — and vice-versa.

Chanterelles Your mood is lifted and you become more cheerful and affectionate with those around you. You may even become more enamoured with the next person you happen to meet, regardless of your feelings towards them previously or your own orientation/attractions.

Amethyst Laccaria There is nothing supernatural or strange that happens when this mushroom is consumed. You just have a super bad hallucinogenic trip of your own horrible making. This mushroom is literally a nightmare. Sorry about that.

FAQs

ARRIVAL: METHUSELAH'S FEAST

1. Arrival threads can be treated as game canon.

2. Items characters have brought from home can be found either strewn around them when they awaken, or in the community hall — as if someone left them out for them to collect. Methuselah will not know how they got there, and will be quite bemused by the happenings.

3. Reminder that all characters are now depowered upon arrival. They can choose not to notice it at first, or can immediately sense something is different about them.

4. If asked any personal questions, Methuselah will smile and say "Oh, you don't want to know about an old man like me. But I have lived all over in these parts for all my life." He will be more concerned with trying to help Newcomers, and is genuinely concerned for them and their well-being. Other Interlopers will say much of the same — there's little to know about him.

5. More information about Milton can be found here.

OF FAIR FORTUNE

1. Please Do Not Pet That Dog.

BAD PICKINGS

1. Interlopers that pick a variety of the mushrooms and cook them together to eat will suffer the effects of whichever mushroom was in the largest quantity.

2. The mushrooms are fine to eat raw, and characters will feel compelled to eat them raw.

TALES FROM THE NORTHERN TERRITORIES NEWSLETTER

Comments

— the path

[chuju]

[ How long has she been walking, exactly? It feels like hours, though Daisy's fairly certain it can't have been that long since she's not frozen completely through yet. But things are starting to go numb enough to be worrisome, so she concentrates on putting one foot in front of the other, heading in a random direction until a sign presents itself to tell her otherwise.

She's so focused on the simple act of survival that it takes her a moment to realize someone is coming toward her. Turning, she stares at the man like he's a ghost — she can't feel him, so he might as well be. With that haunted look in her eyes, she studies him, taking in the torn and dirty clothes and the cut on his forehead. Nevermind that she has her collection of cuts and scrapes, not to mention the way she's struggling to stay on her feet — other people come first, always. The combination of shock, cold, and exhaustion keeps her from saying anything just yet, the words stuck in her throat as she wonders distantly if, instead of some messed up afterlife, this might be the Framework. It would be her luck to end up trapped in an artificial reality as a reward for sacrificing herself to save the world. ]

[itio]

[ The motivation to help others might be there, but she looks like she can barely stand on her own two feet right now. Not that Jim isn't tired, but he hasn't been walking so long that it's getting to him that bad, and he's still able to think fast enough to make his way over to her. Preferably, before she stumbles over her own feet. ]

Hey. [ He lands a hand on her arm, not a firm hold but rather a steadying touch. ] You're not looking so good. Let's find you somewhere to sit for a little while, how does that sound?

[chuju]

[ That touch helps, the pressure on her arm reminding her that she can still feel something more than the deep, aching cold. He knows what he's doing — the way he's approached the situation speaks to experience working with others, and she would have done much the same if she'd been in her right mind.

Her jaw shakes slightly with the shiver that runs through her, which really should be much worse than it is. Is her suit absorbing her shaking without her realizing, or is she just getting too cold? The latter is definitely the more concerning possibility. ]

I'm okay. [ She's obviously not, but her voice somehow comes out strong enough to give a good shot at faking it.] Are you? You're bleeding. [ He's still upright though, so: ] We need to get somewhere warm and make sure it's not worse than it seems.

[itio]

Just a little scrape. Nothing broken, nothing out of place. Promise.

[ He means it, too. Granted, the injuries don't exactly make it easier for him to walk, but it's nothing so debilitating that even slows him down. At least, not for the time being. ]

I agree, we do need to get somewhere warm. But there's a good chance that you're gonna pass out on me if you don't sit down and take a break for a little while. And I'm not as strong as I look, [ He offers with a disarming smile. ] Not sure I could just carry you the rest of the way.

[ He could and would find a way, to be fair. Or just find shelter until she could walk again. But the whole point here is trying to convince her to stop for a bit, so. ]

Just five minutes, alright? Then we keep going, together.

[chuju]

[ Nothing broken. Daisy supposes she should count herself lucky that she can somehow probably say the same, given the circumstances. Granted, she's become so accustomed to the discomfort of hairline fractures that she could have a few dozen of those and not notice through the cold. It's not like she can feel the difference in her bones right now...

Why can't she, though? Why can't she use her powers? How are they just gone? The last time this happened, she'd been drugged and able to very clearly feel those effects, but there's nothing like that now. ]

Okay. Five minutes. [ She's going to blame her relatively easy acquiescence on that smile. Stubbornness runs deep with her, but she also doesn't want to keel over in the snow, and he might actually be right about that possibility. ]

[itio]

[ Things could certainly be worse. That doesn't mean they're good, just that there are a number of circumstances that could make this so much more horrible, put them in a place where they would be that much closer to, you know, dying in the middle of these woods. ]

Good. [ That charming smile rarely ever fails him, so. He'll take all the blame, he doesn't mind. Looking around, he finds a smooth enough rock that she can sit on. ] There. What's your name, by the way? I'm Jim.

[chuju]

Daisy. [ She lowers herself onto the rock slowly, her body protesting the effort and then relaxing in relief as it no longer has to fight quite so hard against gravity. There's a sigh in her voice as she elaborates: ] Daisy Johnson.

[ Given the state of her new friend Jim, she's guessing he's probably in the same situation she is. He has some layers to help against the cold, at least, but they don't seem substantial enough to take a stroll through the frozen woods. But might as well ask. ] So, Jim. You live around here?

[itio]

Daisy. It's nice to meet you.

[ A slow, calm tone and a friendly smile are often great help in calming someone down. She's not freaking out at least (yet), but she's both exhausted and wired at the same time, not a great combination in an unknown situation like this.

Plus, it kind of stops him from freaking out when he just focuses his efforts on helping her instead. ]

Oh. Oh no, I'm... from very far away, [ He shakes his head, but doesn't further elaborate. There's too many unknowns, he doesn't even know if he's still on the same Earth or another version, but he can't risk breaking the timeline by oversharing. ] I was in Toronto recently? I think that's pretty close to where we are. But I have no idea how I got here.

[chuju]

[ It's impossible not to recognize the tactics he's using; she's used them herself countless times while dealing with civilians and newly transitioned Inhumans. A small part of her bristles at that calm tone he uses when it's so dissonant with their situation, but a much larger part acknowledges that protesting it would be childish and a waste of precious energy. Under better circumstances, she probably wouldn't even be bothered by it, but her mind is latching on to absolutely anything it can to keep from completely losing her shit over her powers being gone.

So she's grateful when he goes along with the shift in subject. Having a problem to solve has always done wonders for her focus in the past. ]

Neither do I. I wasn't anywhere near Canada before I woke up out here. [ Space is about as far from Canada as you can get. ]

[itio]

[ Panicking isn't going to help the situation in the least. And Jim's got that going for him, at least; he's more than used to high stress situations, and to him it's almost second nature to keep a calm, level-headed attitude. Giving into the worries and fears isn't going to help them figure out what's happening here. ]

Huh. Really.

[ He at least had been pretty close to where they are now. But the fact that she was nowhere nearby presents a new number of doubts and issues. Mainly, about where they are exactly, and how they were brought here. ]

Well, once we get going, let's follow the path and see where it leads. It's got to go somewhere. And hopefully we'll run into other people. We can't be the only two people here. [ He frowns slightly, then adds. ] You didn't run into anyone else so far, right?

[chuju]

No, you're the first person I've seen.

[ Sighing, she rests one arm on her knee and reaches up with the other hand to rub at her forehead. A wince follows almost immediately as she grazes one of the many scrapes there, but she's unconcerned by the sticky, drying blood that clings to her fingers, absently wiping it off on the leg of her suit. It's far from the first time she's ended up with that sort of injury from a fight. ]

This is gonna seem like a crazy question [ they usually do with her ] but what year is it?

[ It's a calculated risk, but if he starts questioning her sanity, she can blame it all on head trauma. She just hopes his answer isn't equally crazy — he doesn't look like this is decades before her time, but she has to be sure. If something happened during the explosion and knocked her back to the 1970s again... ]

[itio]

[ The answer is disappointing, but unsurprising. She'd have mentioned it by now if she'd seen others. So it looks like they're stuck together for the time being. Their chances are infinitely together that way.

He arches an eyebrow at the question, but he doesn't look even mildly shocked by it. ]

Not as crazy as you'd think, [ he tells her with a small huff. Time travel could explain some of this situation, at least, and it wouldn't be his first time, so. ] It was 2259, where I'm originally from. But just before waking up here, it was somewhere early 21st century. Not sure what year it is here, though.

[chuju]

[ 2259. She can't help but stare at him as it sinks in. This isn't what she'd expected – the idea that he might have traveled in time too didn't even occur to her. For half a second, she weighs the likelihood of him telling the truth before she decides to go with her gut and believe him. She'd been the one to ask the question, after all, and he hadn't even hesitated with his answer. ]

Wow. 2259 is... [ If she looks overwhelmed at the idea, he hopefully won't call attention to it. ] I was in 2091 last year, and 1931 a few days ago, but that's the farthest I've gone in either direction.

[ Taking a deep breath, she lets it out slowly in a sigh. ] I was supposed to finally be back home in 2019.

[itio]

[ Jim has no frame of reference whatsoever, so he's ready for just about any date she offers in return. Well, tries to be ready anyway. Her speech and attire alone offer some frame of reference at least, so he knows he's not talking to someone from the Middle Ages.

What surprises him most is when she shares how she's traveled in time too. His brow arches slightly, and he nods. ]

To be fair, time travel wasn't all that commonplace to me. It only happened the one time, and it was— sort of an accident? [ He presses his lips and shrugs, not knowing how else to explain what's happened to him these last few days. ] You think this might be what's happened here? We time traveled again?

[chuju]

[ Yeah, he's taking this far too easily for it not to be real for him. And not only that but since he isn't panicked at all, he's clearly used to stressful or unusual situations. Of all the people she could have run into out here in the middle of who knows where he seems like the best option to have as a partner to figure things out. ]

Honestly? The science nerds on my team would say the sample size is too small and we can't possibly tell from just the two of us. [ She tilts her head back to look up at the tops of the trees looming over them. ] But if it's just a coincidence, it's a really unusually specific one. Though, if your time travel experience involved the Chronicoms, then yeah, I'd say that's it.

[itio]

[ That would be two for two, here. Whether or not it helps that he was in a similar situation just before he landed here, it remains to be seen. But at least the experience with time travel has been recent enough for it to be fresh on his mind.

Too fresh, in some aspects. He's purposefully compartmentalizing so he doesn't start worrying and overthinking about things he can't do anything about. ]

You're sounding like one of the science nerds. [ The attempt at humor is brief, and there's no recognition in his expression at that word. ] Can't say I've ever heard of it.

[chuju]

[ There's a little almost comical cringe at his accusation, though she can't dent its accuracy. After all these years, it's finally rubbing off on her. She'd seen it best a few days ago when Jemma rattled off an explanation to Sousa that Daisy easily understood while the man out of time's head spun. There might not be multiple PhDs in her portfolio, but she's still proud of being able to keep up even just sometimes. ]

The Chronicoms are... Well, they're basically alien robots. [ Yes, she is completely serious. ] Their homeworld was destroyed and they came to Earth looking for a new one. It's complicated, but that's the reason I ended up back in the '30s.

[ Is it more complicated than how she ended up in the future, though? It feels a bit like a draw in some ways, and she almost misses the early days when the biggest thing she had to worry about was Hydra finding some new weapon. Those times seem almost easy now, in retrospect. ]

[itio]

[ It's not really an accusation, more of a light tease. Besides, Jim may be no scientist, but he can't exactly claim not to be a bit of a nerd sometimes. It's not really a pejorative thing, in his time. ]

Well, I've met a few aliens, but never anything like that. [ But it offers some insight to the reality she's familiar with. A world which has seen some form of First Contact, but definitely not the same world as his. He's sure he'd have known that species if that was the case. ] So they're the ones who have time travel technology?

[chuju]

[ In a galaxy increasingly full of technology and threats Daisy doesn't fully understand, she's grown to really appreciate all the scientists working at SHIELD — even the most annoying ones. They're all working toward the same goal of keeping Earth safe, so she can put up with a few infuriating individuals when the occasion demands.]

I've met a lot of aliens, and trust me, the Chronicoms are pretty unique. [ She can't say that's a bad thing, though, not when their technology is what helped give Coulson back to her. ] But yeah, they're the ones with the tech. We just kind of piggybacked off it to ride in their wake. Our ship went where they did, when they did.

[ Even if it meant leaving someone behind. Her heart aches at the memory of Enoch, and that conflict and sorrow flickers across her expression before she tamps it back down. It must have been five minutes by now, right? Time to get up. Her hands press against her knees as she leverages herself up, her sore muscles protesting stiffly the more she struggles against gravity. ]

[itio]

Pretty big risk.

[ He wants to ask to what end they would even do that, but he doesn't get the chance. It's probably not the ideal time for chatting anyway, and she isn't wrong— it probably has been a few minutes by now. ]

Hold on, let me help you.

[ He gets to his feet more easily, offering her a hand. ]

[chuju]

[ It's probably a good thing they don't get too into the weeds of things. Not everyone understands that it doesn't matter how big the risk is, SHIELD is willing to take it. She is willing to take it, even when no one else is. Her life is nothing when compared to protecting their entire planet.

Taking that offered hand is almost hard for Daisy to do, at least until she gets out of her own way. No, he isn't part of the little team she calls family, but that doesn't mean she can't let him see she's not invincible. He isn't looking to her a leader, so there's pretense that needs to be kept up. ]

Thanks. [ She only holds on as long as she needs to get herself steady. And even though she knows she doesn't need to explain herself to him, she still feels the need to. ] I was in a fight right before I woke up here.

[ Which is probably super obvious from all the scrapes on her face... Good job, Johnson. ]

[itio]

[ Oh, he is going to ask more about it, that's a given. Provided they get somewhere safe and warm, that is— he refuses to be a pessimist about that. And really, it's not like he can criticize her for taking risks. ]

It's no problem. [ He's not going to let his hold linger either; she may be injured but she seems to be able to handle herself to some degree, and he doesn't want to overstep. He's keeping an eye on her, though, just in case she's worse off than she seems and he has to intervene. ] I— uh, actually, was injured just before I woke up, too. But there isn't a trace of it on me.

[ He shrugs, frowning. He's been turning that over in his head for a while now. ]

[chuju]

[ They can talk about their entire life stories if they manage to get somewhere warm. It doesn't even have to be safe, for all she cares, she just really doesn't want to start losing body parts to frostbite.

His last words give her pause, though, and she stares at him for a moment with something between fear and concern creeping into her expression. Finally, with her words almost hesitantly slow, she gives voice to the thought that has been sinking its claws into her mind since she woke up. ]

I should be a lot worse off than this. I thought I was dying.

[itio]

[ For all his efforts to compartmentalize, to put away the trauma of his fairly recent experience for a time when he can actually deal with it, the way she says that swiftly cracks through whatever wall he's built there. His expression falls, face growing pale for a moment, lips pressed tensely.

He doesn't say anything. It feels like he might lose his composure, and what little control he has over the situation, if he does. It's a few good seconds and some deep breaths before he speaks again. ]

I can't explain it. Makes me think there's more to this than something as simple as having been transported here.

[chuju]

[ Something she's said triggers a change in him. It seems like more than just a sympathetic response to someone in distress — there's too much behind that shift in his expression, the change in his coloring. For just a moment, she expects him to break, the same way she expects herself to, the ground shifting beneath their feet and threatening to fall out from under them. But no, the moment passes and they're both still standing, physically intact if not emotionally. ]

You might be right. [ But now isn't the time to get into all of that. If they do break, it should be behind closed doors, preferably somewhere a whole lot warmer. ] But we can deal with all of that later. Right now, we need to focus on getting somewhere warm.

[ Before they freeze to death and the question of whether they should be alive at all becomes a moot point. ]