❪ introlog: #6 ❫ city of secrets

[natha]

You've spent the last few days on Thesa Station, taking in the knowledge that your world is no more. Now, the time to put all your survival training into practice has arrived: El Nysa needs you, and you're here to help the planet thrive. Are you ready? THE DESCENT     All refugees on the station are called to the hangar, where a large-scale teleporter awaits. Simply step onto the space between the arrays and wait; everyone will be sent down to the planet together. Before they depart, all refugees will be given a cold weather survival kit with warm clothing, rations, and bedding. The arrays build into a brilliant wash of light, creating a column that travels all the way from Thesa Station to the surface of El Nysa, teleporting the refugees to the planet on an aurora. Once on the planet's surface, refugees receive one last message from Darma. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet we must ask you to brave further peril. Within Nadril are the secrets to how poor Ysverai's revival was hidden from our sight and how this disaster has come to our star. Find the first refugee from beyond this planet, a man named Magda. He will not speak to us, for much has come between us, but to you… If you prove yourselves, he may be willing to answer your questions. We beseech you, for there is a veil over Nadril that hides all within from us. There may yet be more untold dangers waiting to befall this planet. For the good of all who make this world home, we ask you to lend us your aid. There is yet one more favor we would ask of you. In warding off the Storm's encroachment, the physical aspect of ourselves that you call Thesa Station was damaged. We must remain to continue repairs to El Nysa and to deal with Ysverai, but there should be suitable technology within Nadril that could be used for spare parts. If you have the chance to find it and can return it to us, it would hasten— Darma's message crackles with static, another image overlaying hers — her broadcast is cut off and replaced with another. A more sullen and alien voice takes Darma’s place, overlapping on itself in an ominous reveal. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet you’ve only just arrived here. To say I’m not disappointed in your… generation would be to lie, and I am nothing if not an honest creature. But I suppose these have been unusual circumstances. You must ask yourself this — are you only here as Darma's lapdogs? I can assure you, it's not worth being on the Natha's leash. With time, that will be something you'll have to learn for yourself. If you're so determined to come find Nadril, then follow the path north, and you'll find the border. What awaits you is revelation, if you're up to the challenge. A FROZEN LAND     The refugees land on a literally frozen world, both in temperature and time. Curls of icy wind hold swirls of snow aloft and an uncanny silence is broken only by the crunch of hoarfrost underfoot. Only Darma's protection allows the refugees to move through this frozen world — and movement is very necessary. Bitter cold sneaks through even the thickest clothing and without warning, a snowstorm rises: unnaturally quickly, a wall of white howls directly in the refugee's path. Bizarrely, the way back is perfectly calm; it's obvious that this storm is no product of nature. Magda's challenge becomes clear: the only way to Nadril lies through this storm. Visibility within the storm is near zero, the whiteout hiding any landmarks from view and making navigation near impossible. The only guidance refugees have is a sporadic path of faint, greenish lights, easily lost in the raging storm. Refugees need all the survival skills they practiced on Thesa Station to survive, for getting lost alone is a death sentence. Luckily, those separated from the group can happen upon guiding lights Magda has planted throughout the tundra. These blue-white sparks cause frostbite if handled recklessly, but they also serve as directional anchors, turning into ghostly flames that lead lost souls back to the path to Nadril. The trek through the storm will be no mean feat and will last for the better part of three days. By the time the refugees reach Nadril's gate, most will find themselves exhausted and running on fumes. As the snowstorm dies away and a gap in the glittering forcefield around the city opens to usher the refugees inside, it's clear that Nadril is a different beast. A WARM(?) WELCOME     I. Despite the unforgiving journey, entering Nadril is painless. Once inside, characters will be greeted by their predecessors: the original refugees who made this advanced city. They'll immediately be offered medical attention, as well as warm cider and blankets. But it's obvious that the Nadril citizens prefer higher tech to fend off the weather: they also offer wristlets and ear cuffs that that double as mittens and earmuffs by creating warm bubbles of air. The earrings also feature a few quality of life programs, such as timed alarms and thought-to-speech messaging. However, both programs are in beta stages so it's not unusual for a stray thought to accidentally slip through or an alarm to accidentally ring at an inopportune time. II. Refugees are offered free lodging in a large, crystalline building crafted from ice. Despite the coarse building material, the ice is unmelting and surprisingly well-insulated, and the beds are as warm and cozy. The rooms are, however, small. The sleeping quarters house two people, and are some cross between an igloo and a capsule hotel. Though built for efficiency over comfort, all rooms are also outfitted with the latest Nadril AI, RoboAlfred, or Ralf for short. This helpful program is installed in practically all the furnishings: the closet tells guests to bundle up, the bathroom sink reminds them to brush their teeth, and the mirror offers helpful fashion tips. Ralf's personality matrix still needs polish, though: it may very well insult your clothes and passively-aggressively question your lifestyle choices for the entire stay. III. Though not as advanced as Thesa Station, the colony has technology far beyond the rest of the continent, such as rudimentary AIs and mechanical transportation. Nadril's skyline is a point of pride — refugees can take a (literal) lightrail that gives an aerial view of the colony, which is hewn almost entirely from ice and rock. Despite its tech, Nadril is much more sparsely populated than Olympia and Wyver, and its residents stay near a central hub: a Natha refugee drop ship, Central, which has crashed and long embedded itself into the earth. Central is similar to an older, smaller, grounded model of Thesa Station, in functional order with round-the-clock solar power. Within Central are lounges similar to ones on the Station, though many of the damaged areas have been converted. They include repair stations, different wings dedicated to science, botany, astrology, and mechanics, and a research and history facility, which has a smattering of technology from planets beyond El Nysa — including your own. The staff here don't mind if anything is sampled and studied, but objects cannot be taken from the labs. IV. On the outskirts of the central hub, many will find several curious looking bots with insect-like wings perched about high traffic walkways. Simply passing the bots will cause a dizzying flash before a series of photos print out. Upon closer inspection, people will find that these images reflect stills taken from their home worlds as they remember it. Unfortunately, these photos only last a couple of hours at best. At that time, they will revert back to regular pictures of the refugees. People will be encouraged to share these images of their worlds. The residents of Nadril comprehend the value of remembering one's origins, and will be pleased to see that people still hold memories of old homes close to them. RECREATION IN NADRIL     I. Small, mechanical creatures scampering through the city are a common sight. Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that they come from a shop called Paws About Town. They’re very useful, as companions, gophers, and couriers (though the more mischievous will note that they’re just small enough to keep tabs on people without being noticed). Premade robotic pets are available on display inside the shop. They come in all shapes, but small sizes; one may be able to find robots that even look like miniature creatures from their homeworld. These are a part of a new, highly customizable line with programmable personalities. Customers have the chance to take pets for a one-day trial run. Those who don’t know how to program may want to enlist more knowledgeable aid, but the pets come with instructional pamphlets for basic personality traits such as obedience, helpfulness, playfulness, and bloodthirst. For returns, the switch to wipe the robot's personality to a blank slate is on the back of its neck, right between a switch to invert all traits, and a switch to have them learn by observing. Try not to press the wrong switch — you might wind up with a pet with a mind of its own! II. A. The Frosty Tap Cantina is a thriving hub of activity, but one of the major draws is the self-service bar: molecular mixology is wildly popular here. Playing with drink compositions can be a game in and of itself, and newcomers to the cantina will find that the bartender — a cheerful woman with lilac skin and three eyes — is always happy to give them a few tips on how to use the wide array of tools within reach of the barstools. All manner of drinks are possible — from glowing, layered cocktails, to clear drinks with colored, spherical bubbles and vividly-colored shots that give off their own smoke. There's a nightly contest in the cantina for the most creative drink created by a team — this may be as good a time as any to partner up with someone and see what can you come up with. Winner gets all their drinks for the night free! And, hey, even if you don't win, you get to drink whatever you make. The well-lubricated patrons of the bar are eager to challenge anyone nearby to a different sort of drinking game… Just how well can you hold your liquor? B. Holo-screens in the cantina are nearly always broadcasting some match or another of a game that looks very much like hockey, albeit played with sticks that light up and a puck that changes shape from time to time. Colonists here merely refer to the game as "the sport," and one of their favored pastimes is betting. However, they don't use currency — they wager dares. Nadril colonists are a tough, weathered lot, and they prefer to speak with actions over silver. Colonists will urge the refugees to take part as well. Common dares range from the ridiculous (lead a sing-a-long, attempt to make someone with a poker face smile) to the suggestive (kiss the person in the cantina you find most attractive, strip off a piece of clothing), to the outright reckless (venture out into the snow for a certain amount of time, and no one will judge if you find some company to keep warm). The colonists are unfazed by even the most insane or tawdry of dares — but you'll certainly be called a killjoy for refusing too often! Why not grab a friend and give it a whirl, or challenge a rival to a dare yourself? THE MISSION     I. On the outskirts of Nadril is the communications tower of the old refugees. This is where Magda resides, monitoring Nadril's technological protections, the extent of the Natha’s influence, and running his own personal projects for El Nysa’s technological advancement. It is isolated, filled with research labs and relics of the past refugees who have come to El Nysa — a living mausoleum of worlds swallowed up by the Storm whose peoples have refused to forget where they came from. Crew photos line the walls of the tower: pictures of alien families and friends, the refugees who came to Nadril before you. Each group of photos gradually becomes smaller in number, and the most recent of the pictures are from half a century ago. Magda's picture can be found among the first group of refugees, an unusually small cluster of photos dating back centuries in El Nysa's past. I have been on this planet for nearly two centuries. Life has come, evolved, and collided in an ever expanding culture. But Darma fears interference, and made this place a prison, with she our warden, stifling the growth of the creatures native to this world rather than encouraging them to flourish. She sent you here for answers in her stead because she knows I'll spurn her, and after seeing what that fool Raysc has wrought, I'll give you them — not for Darma's sake, but because I trust after all the Natha have done to you, you'll understand my decision. Mistakes were made, and I won't hide them. You've made it here so there's some mettle to you, and unlike the Orbiters, I'm not interested in hiding the secrets of the dangers we face. I gave Raysc what he needed to keep his actions hidden from Darma's eyes — what he needed to advance the primitive magics the Natha had doomed him to. It was old Natha tech, Darma's very own used against her. Hilarious, isn't it? Raysc learned of Nadril, and like you, braved the snow to find his way here. He proved his worth and his determination, and he spoke of a brighter future, El Nysa coming into its own, its people realizing their true potential, unhindered by the shackles that had been put upon them. I believed him. He had vision — or so I thought. In truth, he was a fool. A madman. He wasted the opportunity I gave him on his petty vengeance. But not everyone on this planet is such an idiot. Surely you lot aren't. The Natha are hiding things from us — about the Storm, about everything. And here in Nadril, we're going to find all those secrets. What's it going to be? Will you help us, or are you going to stay obedient dogs on Darma's leash? Magda isn't too talkative yet; after all, the new flock of refugees may just be here as eyes and ears for the Orbiters. But what he has said leaves you with plenty to talk about, and if you can earn his trust by helping out around Nadril, he doubtless has a great deal more to reveal. II. Central isn't the only Natha ship that made its way to El Nysa — another, crashed just outside Nadril's borders, is little more than a junk heap. It's here that you'll find the spare parts Darma asked you to retrieve for Thesa Station. What remains of the ship's hull serves as a windbreak, and snow has built up against it, turning the piles of old Natha tech inside into something of a snowy morass. Holes in the deck offer would-be scavengers passage to the ship's innards, barely illuminated with flickering lights — the tech is old, but hardy enough to withstand a crash landing, the severe weather, and the passage of centuries. Deep in the wreck are the remains of living quarters, research labs, VR arenas, mecha bays, cafeterias, and a host of other rooms, many of which may seem familiar from Thesa Station, albeit with a decidedly older feel to what remains of the smooth curves and sleek surfaces of the Natha architecture. Most of the ship's systems are damaged and the technology is nonfunctional, but that just means there's plenty of spare parts to be found. The wreck isn't in the best shape, its structural integrity damaged, and the drifting snow threatens to block off exit routes. Be careful while exploring and be sure to bring a partner. As it turns out, Darma isn't the only one interested in the wreck — Magda is also eager to get his hands on Natha technology. In his own way of taking some responsibility for Raysc, he's asking scavengers to bring him parts, muttering about seeing what he can do about Ysverai's curse. Bring him anything that looks useful, and he may have a chance to succeed, though whether he'll be more effective than the Natha Orbiters is up for debate... FINAL OOC NOTES     An AC-eligible thread with a new character as a participant for 2 NADRIL REP POINTS may be submitted from this log. SUBMIT THE THREAD HERE BY AUGUST 5TH, 11:59 PM EST. As always, feel free to create your own prompts and explore the Nadril location page! There are a variety of activities made available, including fishing and cave exploration! Please direct questions to the questions thread below! Thank you! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

1

[song_of_ice]

[He's seen this cold before. It doesn't take him back to Winterfell but during the darker moments beyond the Wall. He could feel the same gnawing fear, the looming certainty of death and emptiness. It was so familiar to him now, more of a friend than anyone else had been.

Set against the backdrop, Theon seems even more haggard and hideous, if that's possible. Winterfell couldn't have been any better for him. The cold had to ache his bones and remind him of another bastard named 'Snow.']

Winter seems to find us. Lord Stark warned us.

[mollymocked]

I'm absolutely jealous. Being cold-blooded does no one any favors in this kind of weather. [He glances over his shoulder at the tapestry, and stands, one hand clutching at the edge and the other around his cider as he gives a little flourishing twirl.]

This? Oh no, no. It's a personal heirloom. Even if the Platinum Dragon has no reach here, I feel far more comfortable knowing he's got my back in some way.

[Get it. Because the tapestry is literally on his back- yeah, whatever it's a bit.]

[mollymocked]

[Molly winks and gestures him closer with a finger, the nail of which is sharped to a claw-like point. It'd be intimidating if Molly didn't look like a purple peacock with horns.] Never had one done before, have you? You're in luck- I'm feeling very generous since it's our first day in a new town.

[planetary_bonds]

They're warmer, for one thing.

[Rude, Yusei.]

Olympia is a large city, with lots of steam and magic technology...it's honestly a huge bustling center of activity. And Wyver is a city built in the woods, more wild...they're starkly different from each other in their own ways.

[judicia]

Magda's definitely hiding something. There's no way he couldn't have known how much of a nutcase Raysc was when he gave him that tech.

( Magda says it was an error in judgment, but Anders isn't quite so sure if he buys that. He couldn't be that big of an idiot, could he? )

I'm sorry about DD.

( He say, changing the subject and looking over at Ocelot, his voice and posture becoming a little more calm. Anders may not be much of a dog person, but he likes DD. He's always been good and well-behaved every time Anders has come over to visit. )

My cat is out there somewhere, too. She ran away not too long after Ysverai started attacking Olympia.

[mollymocked]

Oracles are miserable. [He pulls a face.] I wouldn't want to be one.

[He slaps the cards on the table.] How about a simple read to start with- say... Three cards? Just to test the legitimacy of my claim. I'd hate to give you a grand show of it, only to find you're bored out of your mind.

[planetary_bonds]

Those are...

[Yusei hesitates to identify them. It's like naming them gives them power, but that's ridiculous, isn't it? Weren't they destroyed with the rest of his home? They must have been.]

Earthbound Gods. [His mouth presses into a thin line, trying to hold back his distaste.] They're supposed to be the embodiment of humanity's rage and inner darkness.

B

[daemonized]

[It’s a flash that shines at the edges of his vision, not directed at him. It’s with luck and precisely timed walking that Ardyn has mangled to avoid the photo-snapping bots thus far. He has no need of memories of Eos spilling out from them, to land at his feet. No need to unearth that particular line of bitterness that continually slept dormant within him.

But there’s an exclamation he hears, that familiar intonation of a voice that he knows well. That he’s heard here on more than one occasion, and his eyes immediately move to the figure on the walkway.

His back is turned to him, of course. But Ardyn recognizes it as easily as he would his own shadow, and he knows that this Noctis is not the same in age nor experiences; not as he had spoken to him several times before.]

Well, then.

[It’s hard, exactly, how to quantify how he feels. Like an anxious predator, approaching steadily, footsteps drawing nearer. Confirmation, first, before questions.]

Noctis! Turn around, why don’t you?

[mollymocked]

[He lays a hand on the top of the deck and pulls a card without looking at it, gesturing for her to do the same.] I'll be gentle to start with, don't worry. If you could be anything in the world with nothing stopping you, what would you be?

[/WAVES HANDS AND DOES THIS THE WAY TAL AND MARISHA DID IT. I got a 12.]

he's doing his best

[enfeeble]

[ Admittedly, in a frigid wasteland, there isn't much around in the way of grabability. All Might's left floundering for a moment, astounded at the sheer helplessness he's found himself in five seconds into determining that he can't rely on his bigger form.

Surely he's more resilient than this? What right did he have to lecture Midoriya when he himself could barely survive without relying on All for One's power? ]

It's okay!

[ He shouts back, for Daisy's sake at least. She doesn't need to worry too much just because All Might is being pushed around by a bit of wind.

Eventually, for a lack of a better option, he just tosses himself into the snow, the wind howling past his ears but otherwise unable to push him along anymore. ]

Well, this is off to an exciting start!

[mollymocked]

Was it really that obvious? [He grins cheekily.] I gotta say- cold aside, I already like this much more than that... What do they call it?

[He points upwards, which feels sort of weird. He's not used to there being something beyond the stars.]

[mollymocked]

Excellent. [He sticks his tongue between his teeth and cuts the deck, twisting the cards around.] Three cards. Not really the proper atmosphere for a full reading, and that I'd have to have a little bit of silver for. Consider it a preview.

[He gives the deck one more shuffle and then slaps it down with a flourish. He draws the first card- Three of Cups Reversed]

In the recent past, you've reached a sense of true harmony within your group or community. You've celebrated many successes. You're all probably very different, but you share a common ground, and that is very important. But, since it's a reversed card, perhaps you've taken your physical enjoyment to an excessive amount.

[Molly grins wider, almost flirtatiously.] Nothing wrong with that.

[He draws his second card- The Moon.] In the present, you're learning a valuable lesson that things in the light don't look quite so safe in the dark, and not everything is as it seems. You may be wandering, uncertain of your path. It's a journey you have to make alone with nothing to guide you but your own senses. But stay true to yourself and have faith and no hesitation or you may never see the light again. Trust your intuition.

[He draws the last card- The Emperor Reversed] And finally, near future... Now the Emperor is a very interesting card. The father figure, as it were, and like any father figure he believes in managing his emotions and using his brain, but... with it reversed like this, there's a chance that on this path you're on, you may be tempted to lose your self-control. Be mindful, but if your intuition is guiding you towards a slight loss of control, it might not necessarily be a bad thing.

[almaredemptoris]

[Jean Valjean is largely a self-educated man, having first learned to read from the friars in prison, and later, as he recreated himself, increasing the breadth of his knowledge as would befit his higher station. He is familiar with the Latinized Alexander and the Greek Alexandros, but not the Persian equivalent, and so the weight of this name is lost on him.

Not so the significance that this man claims a kingdom for himself. Jean Valjean scarcely would have guessed from his casual manner of dress and intercourse. Appropriately, a hint of his surprise shows in his countenance.]

And over what kingdom did you rule, Sire?

[mollymocked]

You say that like I'm capable of doing anything without it. [Molly bows while seated, wrist flicking with a little flourish.] Sit, sit. You wouldn't believe how many people I've met this way. Lovely conversation piece, these cards. Haven't failed me yet.

[He's been getting steadily drunker as the night progresses, but somehow sober enough to read the cards. That's talent. Also a high wisdom score.]

[mollymocked]

[Molly peers over the side of the bed to observe and waits... and waits. Maybe Caleb did break it. Maybe-

And then it starts in and Molly breaks out into a fit of boyish giggles.] Don't take it personally, Caleb. We already know it has shit taste. [He points to himself. Honestly, how could anyone say he's not a fashion icon? No respect.

He gets the words out, but then has to faceplant into the mattress to muffle more of his laughter.]

[dreamprotector]

[A smile tugs at Riku's lips as he crosses the distance between them and crouches down to be on about eye-height of the wolf (he's always been a bit of a dog-person, and a wolf isn't quite so different, are they?) Then he reaches out to offer his hand to be sniffed if she wants to.]

No, you are fine.

[Even if it was startling at first, her voice is like a warm light resonating in the air… soothing to some extend.]

You usually don't get to make your voice to be actually heard, huh?

[Which means it's really only natural for her to be excited.]

I'm Riku. What's your name?

[flask]

[Nott watches Caleb at the mirror expectantly, fully distracted from her little rat. She's about to be smug about it not caring about Caleb's appearance, when... it goes on a tirade. A very rude one.

She glares.]

Tell it off, Caleb! Or do you want me to break it!? I'll break it!!

[She gets up from the bed and marches over to the mirror, fists clenched. Instantly, it's offended by her additional presence.

Oh god, there's two of them. You know, I don't know if "Mummy Chic" will ever be in. Have you considered going to the dentist? Or washing your hair?

Nott lets out a battle cry and slashes at it with her claws. She's making do without her crossbow, okay.

It really just gets the thing a little scratched on the surface. She's no monk. It pauses, taking in the fact that it was just scratched up... and then it gets very offended about that, continuing to insult the both of them with renewed vigor.]

[dreamprotector]

[A shrug; Riku really isn't thinking about what the other refugees should do – because everyone is going to have to make their choice themselves about this.]

I think that by establishing at least some of us as middleman between the Natha and the Nadril, will more likely work in our favor than just choosing one side or the other. There is no one else in the position to do it, at least, and it's not like either side can claim to not have made mistakes.

[Darma and Magda have both admitted some at least, even if both still think they are in the right about their choices, Some outside perspective might do them real good, if they are actually starting to become willing to listen.]

Well, there is always the easy path, if difficult doesn't suit you.

[She can just choose one side and be done with it. As now-Keyblade Master, Riku can't claim that luxury for himself anymore. Much like he wants to follow Sora's example and live by his heart… he has to think about consequences that his actions have too.]

[icingonthecake]

Not heavy? He'll take his word for it, but when he casts it aside and it all but leaves a dent in the floor, Axel makes a mental note to never ever piss this guy off.

"Yeah, there's probably some little stuff inside," he says. "Big things can be useful, too, of course," he adds carefully, "but if we find little useful stuff, we can bring back a lot more of it in one go."

Axel's eyes go wide and he takes a cautious step back when Iskandar easily tears off the front panel and just tosses it over his shoulder. Sheesh, this guy would have given Lexaeus a run for his money.

"That helps a lot," he says with a chuckle, moving back to the panel and dropping to a crouch to look inside. Axel doesn't know a whole lot about the internal workings of computers, but he's seen enough of this stuff to have at least some idea of what's important and what's just filler. He pushes aside a wad of twisted wires to reveal what looks like a circuitboard. There are about two dozen small glass rods inserted into spaces in nice neat rows, and with a tentative tap of the back of his hand to make sure nothing is going to electrocute him, Axel grins at his companion. "Bingo," he says, wagging a finger. "These look like data drives of some sort, see how they're arranged in a specific order? Each one probably has information about the part of the ship they help run."

He slides the little bag he brought with him from his shoulder and opens it up, then carefully slides one of the rods out. It's definitely made of something like glass, and strangely pretty in a weird cyberpunk way. He glances at Iskandar. "You have anything we can wrap these in?" he asks. "A handkerchief, or any smallish bit of fabric would be okay, I think. Just something to kind of cushion them 'til we get back. It'd suck if a bunch of them broke on the way."

[almaredemptoris]

[He discerns her displeasure, and although their motives differ he can understand the urgency behind her desire to feel that she is accomplishing something tangible. As such, he produces another example of what he has collected: a length of lightweight metal casing meant to protect the circuitry.]

I have been gathering pieces of the metalwork too. The raw materials may prove salvageable.

[He then replaces the item in his sack and easily hoists it over his back.]

With your assistance I am sure we can move a greater volume of materials.

[enfeeble]

Aha! Sorry for the fright!

[ Well, he sort of is… dying. In the sense that everyone is dying, though All Might's condition is a little more overt than most people's. He can't really blame Kagari for his reaction, offering him a sheepish smile and a shake of his head. ]

That'd be a burden on you, wouldn't it? [ Not that All Might doesn't have a habit of burdening youngsters with more than they should be bearing. (Good luck, Midoriya.) ] No! But I'd be happy to take a handkerchief, if you have one.

[ Though he'll probably need some water to help get the blood on his face. He doesn't really offer any explanation as to why there's blood on his person either, hopefully it's not obvious enough that Kagari just thinks it's pomegranate juice. ]

[enfeeble]

[ Whoa! That's toasty!

In fact, that's so impressive, All Might's going to vocalize that bit of praise: ] Wow! That's toasty!

[ He hadn't been complaining about the cold (though he has to admit that he can feel down to his bones, exacerbating his old aches and pains), but admittedly it's a nice reprieve from the unforgiving weather. He looks down at the little pin in wonder, pressing a gloved hand to it. ]

This is impressive magic. Did you make this?

[mollymocked]

What a coincidence. Neither do I. [He's been flirting with the barmaid and offering his assistance to get these drinks. A few people even slid him over some for a reading. A carnie can get what he wants whenever he wants so long as he's willing to do a good turn to get it... Or do a bad turn to shitty people and take it.

Everyone here's been pretty nice though. He twists the cards, cuts the deck and shuffles them once more and then with a flourish lays down the first card- The Magician.] Auspicious start, my friend. You're ready to take action- you finally know how to use everything you've always had wisely in order to reach a goal or turn failure into success. Be confident, and everything will fall into place.

[He lays down another card- The Queen of Pentacles.] Whatever is about to happen relies on your generosity and kindness. Despite all that power you're about to gain, you need to be a person other people can trust. In fact, her appearance with the Magician suggests maybe you've got a little matter of the heart you need to reflect on and take control of. [Here, Molly gives a wink.]

[And finally, he lays down the King of Pentacles reversed. He gives a low whistle] Well, isn't that an unhappy pair? Despite your best efforts, despite the stars aligning, you might not ever reach the goal, and you can very easily lose control over the situation.

[Molly shrugs at the cards, sliding a hand over them to scoop them back up into the deck.] Well, that was a bit of a disappointing ending, wasn't it? Obviously, I can't promise a positive, cheerful reading every time.

[enfeeble]

[ Well, that's embarrassing. Had his plight been so obvious that a stranger would walk into the room to worry over him? Assuming that Law is worried, though he doesn't sounds particularly concerned over All Might's wellbeing.

Still, it warms his heart to know that such kindness and generosity exists around him. ]

Ah, young man. [ At least he's not groaning anymore, instead smiling warily at Law. ] Nothing so serious, just a bad back. Ha! I didn't think I was old enough to be rendered immobile so easily.

[ But he is. So tired. ]

[enfeeble]

[ That sure isn't concern. But on the other hand, it's kind of amusing to see such a wild reaction, and it gets a smile out of All Might as he rubs at the blood on his face. ]

Haha! Nothing so glamorous. [ That said, he doesn't offer any real explanation about what the cause was. ] Have you seen any rabid snow beasts around us? One more thing for the group to watch out.

[ He's also so touched that Henry thinks he could win a fight against a snow beast in his deflated form… ]