38th ♫ | No time like the present! Let's set out on a quest!

[mytarget]

THE FANTASY SLICE OF LIFE AU MEME

"Okay, you know how every RPG has the grand heroes chosen by fate to become wonderful friends and stand up to the evil sorcerer/empire/corporation/monster and keep it from destroying the world? This game is not about them."

It's not always about saving the day. For every fate-changing hero running around and saving the world, there's a hundred perfectly ordinary people living out perfectly ordinary lives.

Well, for a given definition of "ordinary" anyway.

This meme is basically just an excuse to play out characters living their lives in a nice, relaxed JRPG setting along the lines of the Atelier or Etrian Odyssey series. There's no hard setting details other than "low fantasy JRPG aesthetic" so feel free to go nuts with the details!

Just drop a toplevel below with some AU details for your character (you can even pick out a character class if you're really into that), tag around and LET'S DO THIS

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[callbacks]

[There's a strange resistance only at the first tug--not his, he doesn't pull back, but it's as if something that was holding his feet in place gives way once Arturia seals his choice.

The tower fades all around them as they run, not into the dilapidated interior of the clocktower Arturia entered, but into darkness, and as they finally near the top of the stairs it's the boy who takes the lead, guiding Arturia's way as sure-footed as if it weren't dark at all. The patch of light that is the window is pale, the first stirrings of dawn and there's no glass in the way as the boy hops onto the sill and pulls Arturia through--]

Come on!

[And they're out.

It's day.

It's a short tumble to the ground--for all that, the window was on the first floor--and the boy lies in the dirt on his face, not even daring to breathe as the beginnings of sunlight touch his pale hair.

The sword makes its satisfaction known and then quiets, content, ready to come to Arturia's aid when she calls.]

[untilavalon]

[Arturia is surprised by the sudden lead but follows him confidently, until-- until they're in the air, and Arturia's sword seems much more happy about it than she is. Neither of them hit the ground with much grace, but Arturia is at the very least quick to (magically) sheath her sword and get on her hands and knees rather than, say, on her face. She looks to Dave and raises a brow, because, well--]

Are you alright?

[callbacks]

[It takes him a moment to gather himself enough to answer.]

Totally. Just. Making friends with the ground, here. I'm gonna acquaint the fuck out of myself with this fine, loamy soil. Gonna play patty-cakes with the earth and tell it all my deepest secrets. I'm down to get me the dirt on dirt.

[He's. Fine? Sure. He doesn't make any move to get up.]

[untilavalon]

I... See.

[She doesn't. But, uh, her magic teacher was similarly weird, so. he's probably fine? Maybe it's a crow thing.]

Are you... injured?

[Maybe that's a better question.]

[callbacks]

...Nah.

[He finally stirs, turning his head first, then making sure his feet still work. Slowly, he pushes himself up into a sitting position, face stunned blank. He looks back at the old clocktower, somehow smaller in his cloak and black clothes out in the blossoming light of day.]

...

I'm outside.

[untilavalon]

Have you never been before?

[Arturia asks, watching the way he moves. He is a bit birdlike in how he takes things in, isn't he? Fixing up her armor and cloak, Arturia continues to observe.]

[callbacks]

When I was a brainless corvid, yeah.

[Without further ceremony, he gets to his feet and shakes his cloak out, still staring at everything around him like he can't believe it's real. After a moment, he walks over to the tower wall and touches it, then jerks back when the rough stone proves solid.]

Hopy shit.

[untilavalon]

[As Arturia's mare worriedly trots up to her and gets a welcoming pat, Arturia gets to her feet and watches Dave.

...By the gods, is he strange. But it must be so for tower-locked guardians.]

Well, it is no longer limited to you. You are free to leave as you wish.

[She waits, though, patting the horse's neck.]

[callbacks]

[He glances quickly at her, as if startled, then slowly lets his hands fall to his sides once more.]

Guess there's not much worth wasting time on here, huh.

[untilavalon]

That's up to you.

[She mounts her horse then-- which, despite the grace of all her other movements, still seems somewhat awkward considering her small stature-- and takes its reigns, taking a few paces toward him. Her posture, though proper, is still somewhat relaxed, and she leads the horse to turn to the side so she can look at Dave properly.

Tell me-- what is your name?

[callbacks]

[He's not afraid of the horse, but he doesn't move towards it, just staying where he is with his unreadable face. His hand brushes the inside of his cloak, where the night sky lies hidden.]

Dave Strider.

[He answers quietly.]

That's what she named me.

[untilavalon]

[A nod.]

Then rise, Dave Strider, and if you wish, join me.

There is danger ahead no matter your choice.

[A solemn warning, but not a distinctly unkind one. She's a bit robotic, though...]

[callbacks]

[Blink. After a moment, he tilts his head.]

Join you and go. Where.

[I mean, speaking of robotic.]

[untilavalon]

I have many destinations, but my first is the nearest town.

[Listen. Knights get hungry.]

I intend to take up some work there for a time before I move on.

[Until destiny has its way with her, apparently.]

[callbacks]

The town where everyone thinks I'm a ghost or a devil thing.

[That town? Just checking.]