Sol Raveh Test Drive #5 - Life Taught You How to Fly

[solravehmods]

What wakes you first?

Is it the creak-creak-creaaaaak of wood moving against wood, a clearly large mechanism working with slow and laborious turns? Or perhaps it's the scent of the sea, salty and cold against your face with the whistle of the wind barely louder than the crash of distant waves. Closer still, a lapping of even softer liquid contained in a much smaller area. The sun, beating upon your skin? Clouds rolling overhead, choosing without care to block and reveal the light of day at their leisure?

Whatever the case may be, it is very clear upon your conscious mind returning that this is not where you were last. The view from the cliff face over the sea is lovely. The old burdened windmill with it's cloth-covered blades rotating slowly in the wind is a sight to behold. The grass beneath you is soft, lush and lively, white birds flutter about, and a pond of clear nearly still water sits beneath the windmill built firmly in the center of this little outlet set against the massive, looming structure that is very clearly an old castle.

But there's a problem. A door back inside is blocked by a darkness that leaves you ill at ease and frightened to approach. There is the possibility of another way inside, but it sits across a gap between the windmill's "island" and a broken down set of ledges, too far to make a leap all on one's own. Even if you have the courtesy of some sort of power that could make it across without falling to your death, something tells you deep down that it might not be worth trying.

There is always the option of going up, though. Atop the windmill that seems to have no access to it's inner quarters... ?

The choice is yours.

Make it wisely.

(Mod Rin note: I found this beautiful artwork of the windmill area in a random article, but sadly tinyeye was only able to search so far back for the source. Here is the full version on Safebooru if anyone wants to see it!)

Comments

Yashiro Isana | K : Return of Kings

[parasolspinning]

["I can't accompany you beyond this, but good luck, Shiro-san."

"Right. Thank you, Kusanagi-san."

Goodbyes, however temporary or permanent they might have been, were always the sort of thing that left a heavy feeling in his heart. Be it as Adolf or Yashiro, there was always something about the uncertain future when it came to parting ways with someone that made him worry if he really would ever see them again.

But they had a job to do, and right at that moment it had been the furthest thing from his mind. Kuroh had expressed his thanks to Kusanagi as well, and Neko... in her own way had done the same. Fire launched down a stairwell to keep any of JUNGLE's ill informed followers from stopping them, and they had begun taking steps towards the stairwell to the next level--

And that was the last thing he remembered. One step, two steps... darkness. Floating in a sea of darkness. He had absolutely no idea how he could have ever fallen in to unconsciousness right at that moment, and upon waking he was only left more confused than ever.

His hand was cold from where he lay, in grass but right at the edge of the gentle pond, fingers dipped inside the clear water until he stirred. His head felt unnaturally heavy, and though the wind coming from the nearby sea was bitter sun was still beating down upon his face. The sounds of fighting Reds and groaning, defeated Greens had been replaced by the creak of wood and the call of birds in the distance.

This was definitely not where he had been a moment ago...

His other hand shifted outward as he sat up, fingers touching the familiarity that was his paper parasol. He instantly latched on to it, using it to leverage himself to his feet with a groan. For the first time in his very long existence he actually felt his true age, and it was not a feeling he was a fan of.

Amber eyes squinted through the sun, out to the sea that seemed to stretch on for eternity. A turn, and the windmill came in to view. Beyond that, the walls of a castle, tall and wide and foreboding. His heart thudded nervously against his chest, and he dared to call out.]

Neko?! Kusanagi-san?! ... Kuroh?!

[justribbing]

Heya.

[ Somebody came. Just not who was being called, a low and lazy rumble greeting Yashiro from some point just out of sight. A look back toward the windmill will find a figure standing halfway in its deep shadow -- was nobody there before? can you trust your eyes? -- a stout, short figure, hands buried into the pockets of a roomy blue hoodie, in dark track shorts and... pink, fuzzy slippers standing out bright against the green, soft grass.

There are people who would take one look at a parasol in a man's hand and immediately underestimate them. But, hey, that's a person who probably never saw innocuous objects like ballet slippers and toy knives used as deadly weapons.

He shuffles a step forward, lets the curtain of warm sunlight fall over him, gleaming over bleached bone. It's brighter than the little points of light in his eye sockets and just makes them seem deep and hollow, but the skeletal grin?

Somehow, it seems... friendly. Carefree. ]

Not in the same place you were before, right? Yeah... been there. Your expression says it all, pal.

[scary_music]

[And here comes a dorky musician, drawn by-]

Neko?! Neko-chan?! There's a meow nya nya cat here?!

Where?!

[-the promise of kitties]

[placetobelong]

Shiroooooo!

[Well, Neko definitely heard him, but she isn't wearing what she'd been wearing a moment ago when Shiro last saw her. Instead she's wearing...the Ashinaka High School uniform?

That's definitely the Ashinaka uniform.

She runs up to him on the grass, stopping just a moment from launching herself at him in a hug because she finally got a really good look at him and--]

Shiro is back in the Shiro body? But we... [destroyed the Slate and he went back into his original body somehow, right? He'd been teaching at the school and Kurosuke was cooking for them and she'd just gotten him to tell her that she looked nice in her uniform this morning and this was not the face that said it.]

[mirrorsword]

[...It's a strange place, for sure. Perhaps it's another test.]

[Is that the objective, to get inside? ...perhaps. But she's not feeling any real urge to. There's nothing wrong with staying outside for right now, right? (And if that changes - perhaps the test, too. To see if she'll adjust.]

[So what Lenka does is... simply sit down, and look out over the cliff toward the sea. If there is a change meant to spur her to action, it'll come eventually.]

[justribbing]

[ Something small and gray sails through the air far over her head, drops soundlessly into the brine below, a minute plip of a stone sinking into the sea drowned by its salty churn against the stones and sandy shores of this solitary relic of a castle.

Sans lazily tosses another bit of broken masonry. ]

Geez.

[ He might have seemed at home in the dead of night, under the pale light of the moon or during a particularly gloomy evening, but sunlight shines brilliantly off white bone. That sure is a skeleton hanging out in broad daylight, moving and talking under his own power. ]

Can't skip stones in a real sea, huh?

Just drop one in the middle of water that just can't keep still, all it does is sink. Too bad stones aren't too great at swimming.

Misaki Yata | K : Return of Kings

[homravanguard]

[ This wasn't right. This wasn't Bar Homra. Where was he?

Waking up to the site of the sea might be nice for some but for Yata it was not what he had ever expected. Last he remembered he had been talking to the rest of the guys back at the bar. So where the hell was he now!? ]

Mr. Kusanagi!? Eric!? Rikio!!?? GUYS WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!?!

[ Standing and looking around Yata is at least glad to find not only his skateboard but the staff he had been using since Anna had been nabbed.

Well, time to look for clues huh? ]

[parasolspinning]

[Not the bar, not the underground hide out of JUNGLE, not anywhere in Tokyo.

Just a lonely castle on an island in the sea...

Shiro had taken to walking around after waking in this strange place, but had found a small pile of stones to stand upon. It was there he had stopped and was staring at the lever sitting on the precarious ledges across the gap with a scowl when he heard a familiar voice crying out as he had been earlier.

Well, with more vulgarity.]

Yata-san?

[preciousmemories]

[Someone who definitely didn't expect to "wake up" again, no longer in his version of Bar Homra, is even more confused to see Yata than Yata might be to see him, not that he'll really show it.

Yata definitely isn't talking like he died, after all. At least there isn't a bloody hole in Tatara's shirt?]

Ah, so you don't know either, Yata. [Please don't breakdown on him...]

[satanslash]

I don't think the birds are gonna answer you...

[There's a voice that shares a similar lazy drawl to Yata (when he's not screaming, that is) coming from near the blackened doorway.

Rin had been staring in to it, trying to discern just how dangerous it really was compared to what he had already been through in this place, but he couldn't shake the feeling even his strength wouldn't get him through.

Sword in a blue case at his hip, dirty school uniform that's seen some shit, and...

a tail?

Yup. A tail. Have fun with that, Yata.]

[goldendream]

... Is yelling the red clan way nowadays?

[ Daikaku is mostly pacing by, but wow kid.

That language.

Giant grandpa disapproves. ]

'cuz somehow these two are gonna be friends

[timeninja]

[ You may not have found any clues, but you did find a girl who's over here covering her ears. You're very loud, mister, and she's already having a bit of a panic attack over her current state of existence. We both need to take a fucking chill pill, bruh. ]

Chen Stormstout | World of Warcraft

[stormearthfire]

[What wakes Chen first?

Absolutely nothing.

The windmill's groaning beams ease the pandaren further into slumber. The grass is cushy and serves as his bedding. The sun warms him like a large quilt, covering all but the face he protects with a straw hat. His hands clasp each other just above his gut. The two bottom clasps of his top are undone and reveal a line of fluffy white fur. How does one person get so fat? Ask and he'll tell you.

Suddenly he snores, a loud and long noise, giving a nearby gathering of birds a cause for alarm. They take to the sky with anxious calls. All they receive in return is a literally unconscious huff. Not even their petulant squawks can rouse the pandaren from his sleep.

To Chen's left lies a long bamboo staff. To his right sits a wide keg, too large for a human to even think of carrying. Those closest to the pandaren will notice a delightful odor of alcohol accompanies his loud snuffling. Is it any wonder he's sleeping through everything?]

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

[Things that Rob never expected to see: This. On reflection he really shouldn't be as thrown by this as he is - after all, he's met characters from Pokémon and Skyrim, and even has Pokémon of his own and knowledge of how to perform the alchemy from Skyrim - but somehow he never expected to see anyone from Warcraft in reality. Because whether that's Chen Stormstout or another Pandaren sleeping here, he's quite sure that he's just been shown proof that Warcraft is real somewhere, and now he's wondering if his hunter exists somewhere too and...

Deep breaths.

He heads over to Chen and lightly taps on his hat.]

Hey, um, you probably shouldn't sleep here. We don't know how safe this area is yet.

[If and when Chen wakes up he'll be treated to an intriguing sight. The man waking him is dressed in sandals and a kilt made of hides, with a wolf pelt worn as a cape. Red armor with spikes covers his lower legs and forearms, with the Horde emblem clearly displayed on his forearm guards. A small number of hunting trophies are visible, including a rabbit skull with a faint blue glow coming from its eyesockets on a necklace, and a leather satchel hangs from his belt (which looks eerily similar to the one Thrall carries with his shaman robes, right down to the wear and tear). His face and bare chest are scarred, he has a thick septum piercing, and he carries a two-handed axe. All in all, his outfit has the same general look as that of many orc warriors, although a little short on trophies.

The thing is, he's quite obviously a human, not an orc. Broad-shouldered, yes, but a human nonetheless.]

[scary_music]

W-whoa... it's...

...

It's a big fluffy pandaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

[She wants to bury herself into that fluffy belly so badly you have no idea but she manages to hold herself back... for now]

LMAO I can't believe I haven't responded to this with her

[timeninja]

[ HOLY SHIT IT'S A PANDAREN.

Max isn't sure whether to stare, fangirl, take a picture, or some combination of the three.

... Actually, taking a photo might not be a bad idea. Time to get her camera out ... and hope that the Pandaren doesn't notice the socially awkward nerd trying to take a pic. ]

Daikaku Kokujouji | K : Missing Kings

[goldendream]

[ .... How about no.

Its without a grunt of effort that Daikaku gets to his feet, and the man straightens to survey the land.

This isn't Japan. This isn't even Germany, which would be a little weirder but not much of a surprise yet. ]

.....

[ Well. There's no use shouting, and it really wasn't in his nature anyway. The nearly seven foot tall man makes a stately way toward the windmill.

... well, stately, or he's slow because he's 97, and there's not much time for him left. Either is accurate. He's the Gold King, stately is just how he is. ]

[parasolspinning]

[Stately or not, you're still going to get stared at like this one has seen a ghost.

Because in all technicality that's exactly what's happening to him right now.

This man should be gone... not walking around quiet and regal as though nothing is bothering him in a place that is so far removed from their respective homes.]

... Lieutenant...

Hubert Oswell | Tales of Graces F

[painful_finish]

[Hubert wasn't sure where he was but he found the smell of the sea and the turning of the windmill oddly calming]

[There were many questions to ask and things to consider, but at the moment, he just wanted to take in the scenery]

Pascal | Tales of Graces F

[mysterious_groper]

Well, this place is creepy and weird!

Hey, Hu!

[Pascal waves a little. She just showed up too, apparently? Unusual. Also, that juxtaposition of sentences seems a bit odd...]

don't mind giant grandpa

[goldendream]

[ Daikaku doesn't say anything as he stops by the boy at first, so there's.. probably a general feeling of stately presence from next to him.

Yep. Nice view. ]

Sometimes quiet is good.

[ His voice sort of comes from.. up. He's like 7 feet tall and old. ]

Maxine "Max" Caulfield | Life is Strange

[timeninja]

[ The sight was beautiful, certainly, and was a very stark change from what she last remembered. Despite her confusion as to where she was at the moment, and, perhaps more importantly, where Chloe was, the artist inside of her couldn't help but take her camera out of her bag to snap a photograph of the beauty in this place.

She took the photo from her camera, shaking it a little to help with the development, then put both camera and photo into her bag for safekeeping.

Now that that was done ...

She could proceed to have a quiet panic attack over where she was.

Get a hold of yourself, Max, she berated herself, trying to force herself to stay focused.

You have to figure things out. You have to find Chloe. You didn't go through all of ... that just to lose her again.

Take a deep breath.

She did as she instructed herself to do.

It ... didn't help much. But it was enough.

Okay.

She began to look around for something, anything that would help. There was a door that seemed to lead toward the inside of a huge, old looking castle.

... Were there any castles in Oregon?

She couldn't think of any that they would have accidentally wound up in ...

.... So that door sure was something. She made her way toward it, but ... as soon as she approached, she felt ill. Very ill. More than she wanted to feel. There was some reeeeal bad juju coming from that door. She wasn't sure if she could actually bring herself to go through it.

Okay. She needed another plan of attack. Or ... something like that. ]

[bewarethefaeries]

Huh...is it just me or does that door seem...

[There was a pause as a man in a blue vest stepped up next to Max from behind, a hand on his chin as he gave the door shrouded in shadow a quizzical look.]

I dunno. I've seen a lotta things in my time that gave me the chills, but this door is just sending all the wrong signals. Kinda like when you stare at the corner of a dark room for too long and you start seeing things, you know?

[Says the man to the person he's never met, with the same level of nonchalance as one would give to an old acquaintance. Cause that wasn't offputting or anything.]

Laguna Loire | Final Fantasy VIII

[bewarethefaeries]

[Well...this was new. Well...almost. It wasn't the first time he'd woken up somewhere other than where he'd gone to sleep...but the last time had involved a lot more broken bones and water, so he was going to say that this was definitely the more positive experience.

Only by a small margin though.

With that thought in mind, he rose to his feet and stretched to get his bones all nice and aligned, then he put a hand to his forehead and started to get a bead on his location.]

Laguna...what have you gotten yourself thrown into this time...

[He mused to himself as he finally latched onto the sight of the castle and with a sigh, began to move towards it.]

Would it be too much to ask to like...wake up somewhere nice for once? Like a beach resort or something. Sheesh, you trap ONE witch in cryostasis and its like I broke a hundred mirrors all at the same time.

[timeninja]

[ And she thought she was the only one who ever talked to herself. Good to know she's not alone in that. Still, Max knew absolutely nothing about what was going on, either, so if she were to even approach him, she wouldn't be much help.

This was one of those times in which she would plug her earbuds in and tune the world out, usually, but right now she had to save her phone battery in the case that she did happen to find a signal. It was the smart thing to do.

Except there was no signal, and her battery was draining pretty quick anyway.

Ugh. ]

Chara | Undertale

[achievementhunter]

[⚹THE END.

⚹All around you, your friends wave their arms in celebration. Confetti rains from the sky. There is cake. You have a party. All is well in the world as the Game is completed for the final time, the ending to the story. No more SAVEs, no more LOADing, no more RESET.

What? That's not what happened?

The most obvious point in not being where they expect to be is simply the state of being. They wake up on the ground, and it's hard. Wind blows through their hair- their hair, if the way it curves neatly about their cheeks is any real indication. For some time, Chara simply sits there, looking. At their hands, at their shirt. They're taller. It gives an uncanny sense of inertia to standing and looking about, gaining their bearings.

New location it may be, but the premise is simple enough. Protagonist awakes with convenient blanks in their memory of how they came here or simply came to be; simplistic beginners groundings with clearly defined cut off points of where one could move. Rudimentary puzzle system for the keen eye to disassemble and proceed to overcome, allowing for a sense of adjustment to the Gameplay...

It's like home away from home.

They'll start on all that at the moment. As is, the Setting has agreeably provided Chara with the means to look at what they really want to see; near still water at the base of the windmill. Sauntering over, they crouch down, almost fixated by the way light ripples across it's surface mar their reflection.]

⚹Despite everything, it's still you.

[The irony is not lost on them in the slightest.]

[justribbing]

[ The Queen's been keeping busy.

That's what it is, isn't it? They've heard the stories, about how the ruler of this dusty old castle isn't above hooking her shadowy fingers into the tortured psyches of these meddling intruders to make them do or say things that drive a wedge between them and their allies.

Ozuma's chosen heroes haven't been resting easy, not since their dreams started taking a twisted turn, it's made people snappish with fatigue, made some interactions tense. The ones who don't technically need sleep for survival but do so for convenience have it lucky, and that might have counted Sans if he wasn't so tired to start with.

Turns out, sleep's not the refuge it was, and after that last one...

He's kinda done for a while.

So the skeleton's up here, sitting on the edge of a wall overlooking the little courtyard, not even half the height of the windmill, where the sunlight is a feeble warmth struggling through a brisk sea breeze. Waiting for the sounds of activity to tell him when it's safe to test a theory.

He could try sleeping when everyone else is awake. Could work. It's as he's covering the grin he's yawning through that he notices something's there that wasn't a moment ago.

Correction: someone. He watches them bend over the still pool, hears them speak and there's no mistaking it. He's heard that voice before, and the realization seeps into his marrow like icewater.

Although motionless, his proximity to the pool leaves his own blue and white reflection a rippling smudge above Chara's own. ]

Princess Hilda | A Link Between Worlds

[heroless]

[The distant sounds of music through trees, periodic laughter and chatter rising over it. Cool autumn night air, a faint breeze through skeletal trees, her dainty gloved hand in his rougher one as they walked away from the party that had been the one sole high point of their time in that awful, awful place. And then... Darkness. Silence. Nothing. For a time Hilda could only remember the numbness of... what? Non-existence? Was that it was? She couldn't recall anything else. Up until a point where she felt like she was toppling through time and space, similar to how Link had described the pathways between her world and his. Followed by a bright, blinding flash of light, the sensation of even colder air with a slight saltiness to it and crisp clean grass beneath a slightly ill fitting formal dress. It was here that Hilda startled in to consciousness so roughly that she wound up tumbling down the slightest of an incline... Right in to a pool of chilly water. Hilda shot out of the water, thrashing around violently until she was able to crawl out of and back on to dry land, coughing, sputtering and now sopping wet. Though she was still wheezing painfully from the water that had gotten in to her lungs, she cried out anyway.] R... Ravio?! Zelda?!

[scary_music]

Huh? Ravioli?

[That's Ibuki happening by]

You wanna nom on some ravioli?

... w-wait, more importantly, are you okay?