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sexyspace2018-11-25 10:05 am
zhautasmods) wrote in sexyspace2018-11-25 10:05 am
Entry tags:
TEST DRIVE MEME #7
Awakening
The multiverse is sick. It’s dying. And it’s up to you to save it. Or, at least, that’s what the Zenith Corporation had told you when they announced their search for a cure across the multiverse. They hand-picked individuals to be "volunteers" for the next stage of experimentation. Maybe they made it sound dire, maybe you already had your mind set on helping, or maybe the exact specifications of how you could help were vague. Considering the alternative was wasting away on your home planet with no promise of when this cure might actually come to fruition, it ultimately wasn’t much of a choice either way.
Everything comes to life the more awake that you start to feel. "Good morning, volunteer," sounds a synthetic, feminine voice in your ear. That must be one of the fancy features they advertised about the chip that was injected just beneath your skin. A projected HUD above your torso displays and scrolls through several readings about the state of your being. "A scan of your vital signs show that everything is functioning as normal." There’s a small pause. "Wait-" The spike of alarm that should follow that single, distressed-sounding word is accompanied by a light chime. "Emotional responses are still accurate, too. Thank you for your cooperation!" Without any further explanation or allowing for protest, she continues on. "I hope you enjoyed your nap! We’ll be descending to planet #05031941 - common name designated as Zhautas - in approximately three hours. There will be a brief orientation for all volunteers shortly after landing. Due to potential muscular atrophy upon awakening from stasis, I suggest hitting the osbtacle course for a bit of nonconventional exercise!"
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. My name is R.O.S.I.E. and on behalf of all of us at the Zenith Corporation, we’re happy to have you aboard.
Obstacles Ahead
- While the staff are helpful, many of them seem to be on high alert. There's an unmistakable tension in the air. If anyone tries to ask, they reassure volunteers that everything is fine. Still, the moment that anything goes wrong or they can't exactly answer a question it's clear that they grow even more troubled. Just what's going on around here?
They won't say. Maybe one or two might eventually let it slip that the Zenith Corporation isn't especially happy lately with a wanted criminal still at large on Zhautas that seems to be terrorizing the volunteer program. Her name is Hoshiko and she's a pirate that seems to be somehow escaping every attempt Zenith has made to apprehend her. The only picture they have of her is one where she appears to have posed for the camera, flashing as much cleavage as possible and winking. She doesn't look very threatening, really, but they assure volunteers that they need to be on the lookout for this woman once they get to Zhautas. Still, try not to worry about it too much. Oh, and, don't tell their boss that they let you know this. They technically weren't supposed to. - As you draw closer to the obstacle course, some intense music begins to play through the halls. It's supposed to get volunteers pumped for the challenge they're about to face! They can thank the Nevrione Guard for installing the course. They wanted to give people visiting a taste of just a little of what they do to train to join The Guard's ranks.
"Are you ready, volunteers?" asks R.O.S.I.E. as a group gathers at a pair of closed doors. An LED countdown displays above the doors, numbers in blue that read 5...4...3...2...1... Go! A loud chime ding, ding, dings as the screen is replaced with !!! only that's flashing rapidly. The doors swish open quickly, revealing a large park-sized obstacle course to explore. It has artificial sunlight, plenty of trees and nature, and even mossy ponds beneath some of the obstacles that you could very well fall into if you're not careful.
Don't worry, they'll have a change of clothes for you in the case of this happening. It just might take a little bit to deliver them so hope you don't mind hanging out in your underthings for a little bit. You likely won't be the only one, if it helps the shame of failure any.
If the main obstacles prove to be a little too difficult, not to worry! There are easy sections. Originally, they were designed for the children of Nevrione who wanted to feel like they had a chance at joining The Guard from a young age. But they work just as well for volunteers fresh out of stasis with potentially noodly feeling legs! Step across wooden cogs placed closer together or walk up a flight of stairs instead of trying to get tangled up in a net on the way up. There's something to do for just about anyone!
There's even a bench you can sit on, right over there, in case you simply want to watch fellow volunteers eat dirt or get drenched for your amusement. See! Something for everyone.
- After all that exertion, it's important to remember that you were asleep for a while and likely need to help your muscles recuperate proprerly. A cooldown workout is the best option in case you went just a little too hard without meaning to. Stretch those muscles still, just- Gently. For that reason, they have a yoga class that's available anytime. One of the locals from Nevrione has offered to host these sessions, a lovely ison lady who is, uh. Wow. She's impressively bendy.
While you don't have to follow the same moves she's doing exactly (you didn't even know someone could twist their body into that shape!), she does encourage volunteers to try their best. It's likely you're more pliable than even you think! If not, it is something you can work up to. If that lady can fold both of her pairs of legs, then your one pair shouldn't be that difficult to work with!
She is very motivating and does her best to accommodate volunteers at every turn. Just don't get too twisted up now. At some point, she segways into movements where you will need a partner to help you with some of them. It's friend yoga and can be a lot of fun. While some of the poses are more difficult, it's meant to foster trust with the other person you're working with! Since everyone is so new, it seems like a good idea to try and get started with the right foot... by having it be held up by someone else, apparently!
Orientation
Shortly after landing, an announcement is made to everyone aboard the ship. It’s time to find your way to the amphitheater for orientation. If anyone gripes, they are reminded that it has mandatory safety information that the Zenith Corporation is legally required to cover. In fact, there's even a quiz at the end to make sure you understand all the technical ins and outs! The Zenith Corporation only has your best interests at heart. They also can’t afford another lawsuit or PR nightmare but who can, really? It’s only a half an hour long and R.O.S.I.E. reassures everyone that it will go by faster than they think.
- Are you way too cool for school? If you try to play hooky, the crew members of the spaceship are already on guard. You're not the first one to try this and they doubt you'll be the last. Try as you might to super sleuth your way around, there’ll be someone at apparently every single twist and turn.
It’s also very likely that in scrambling to find a place to hide, you’ll run into someone else breaking the rules! Perhaps great minds think alike and you decide to try to defy the system together. Or maybe they’re totally just getting in your way and you decide instead to throw them to the wolves to give yourself a better chance at escaping the certain boredom that is an informational seminar. The choice is yours, volunteer! - Whether you come to the orientation willingly or are dragged in by one of the staff, you’ll quickly realize just how bad R.O.S.I.E. lied. A half an hour feels almost like ten hours instead. The last time you checked your watch, it was somehow later than when you check it now. Is time going backward? It sure seems like it the longer you listen to the monotone voice read over colored flavor text clearly meant to engage but missing its mark stupendously. Even the motivation of a quiz at the end that needs to be passed in order to disembark seems to do little to nothing for your dwindling attention span.
Finally, there’s a break in the bureaucratic monotony. The faceless, droning voice announces an additional seminar from R.O.S.I.E.! Do you all remember that voice speaking to you when you first awoke? If so, this digitally projected blond's soothing tone should sound familiar. She smiles wide for the "camera," clearly excited to be interacting with potential volunteers in a new way. The topic of today will be safe, sane, and consensual. Considering the location that volunteers will be arriving at has a heavy emphasis on BDSM, it seems very apt!
When the video starts, she's all professionalism. Okay, so- Mostly professionalism. Compared to most of the other lecturers of the past, this woman manages to touch on the core concepts of the topic while still adding appropriate humor to keep things interesting. Of course, her topic is a very serious one and she doesn't take it lightly despite trying to lighten things up for the code. "Make sure," she emphasizes, "that you always have an enthusiastic 'yes' from your partner and that both your boundaries are clearly set! Communication is key in these types of situations. So long as you talk and are honest, well- Everything should be a kinky good time!"
"Thank you, R.O.S.I.E.," the voice says, charmed themselves even by the entertaining seminar. "Wasn't that fun! Volunteers, what do you think about the topic of safe, sane, and consensual? Discuss amongst yourselves!" - Hopefully, you didn't forget about the quiz! The staff certainly didn't. After the pre-recorded seminar is run, papers are handed out. A quiet shuffle carries through the room as people pass them to and fro down the aisles. It all seems rather arbitrary and tedious but remember! You have to pass in order to disembark.
It isn't too hard. Or maybe it is. Perhaps it's just the pressure that you only have fifteen minutes to complete it. What was the professor's first name again? How many research facilities are there on the planet? Staff are scrutinizing your every move now, it feels like. Do you take the risk and try to whisper for help to the person next to you? Pass notes? Do what you must to succeed! ...Or you can just shamefully take the quiz again and again and again until they're legally obligated to let you off board.
Welcome to Zhautas
- Volunteers will be dropped off at the outskirts of the city of Heawood. The market is bustling, the streets are full, and most homes have their doors and windows open to peer out at passerbys. For the most part, everything seems fairly busy throughout. Volunteers will be directed by staff to the Nevrione Inn. It has a dining hall and bar, fireplaces to cozy up to, and plenty of places to tuck away if you want to gossip about what's going on with Zenith staff. Though perhaps you just want a moment or two to yourself instead.
Once you're done getting settled in, why not stop and explore a little bit? The locals certainly don't seem to mind the company.
- Suddenly, R.O.S.I.E. turns on one of her newest features to help volunteers blend in a little better. Someone next to you might sprout cat or dog ears. Don’t mind if you get knocked in the face suddenly by someone’s new butterfly wings. It happens! It’s also possible they take on the long whiskers of a Coeurl or plumage of a Chocobo or other animals entirely unfamiliar to some. Either way, everyone just got a lot more animal-like. While it doesn’t look exactly like the natives, it does bring a smile to the faces of the locals and they seem a bit more generally receptive to the people waltzing into their homeland.
This feature is extremely customizable. Volunteers can toggle it off if they don’t want it at all. Additionally, they can have as many or as few animal features as they’d like. They can also change what creature they’d like to take after with just a thought! The only limitation seems to be that they can only appear as one animal at a time.
While all the add-ons seem to be mostly for aesthetic, it is a lot of fun to play around with! 
In Nevrione the current seasons is clearly Autumn. There’s orange, red, and yellows everywhere in varying shades and varieties. There are a lot more leaves missing from the trees than before as the season starts coming to a close. Everything starts to look a little more sparse as Winter creeps ever closer and the temperature grows increasingly colder.
If you head out and about, there's a marketplace to peruse and locals to mingle with. Volunteers shouldn't want for things to occupy their time here. They've landed just after the Harvest Festival and it seems to have been a fun time indeed. Some might ask for assistance in taking down decorations or cleaning up a bit from all the festivities. They've got to start gearing up for Winter now and figuring out their stores for the coming cold. You'll be compensated with a couple of bronze seedlings for your time, of course, and might even get some fun festival stories like-
Oh, uh. This story is really explicit. Did they say there was an orgy? And you missed it? Well, you might be glad that you did... Of course, just because there was an orgy doesn't mean that all the fun has been had. The natural growth enhanced by the Selva are still growing and especially at night, milky wafts of pollen might tickle your nose and cause a stirring in your nethers you don't quite expect. Maybe you're lucky and immune to these plant's effects but if not, don't worry! You'll likely find someone else feeling just as friendly as you are before long. Or maybe a kind soul will help alleviate this (sexually) tense situation you've found yourself in.
Network/Bangr
During all the goings-on, R.O.S.I.E. will prompt you to set up your presence on the network. Pick a username, a profile picture, and commence to shitposting immediately if you so desire! Additionally, if you want to get a headstart on your contribution to the volunteer program, why not set up your Bangr? R.O.S.I.E. even has an icebreaker question ready for you! They change every month. This month's question is:
(*Despite what you might actually put, know that R.O.S.I.E. is a little glitchy. What you wrote might not actually be what's displayed! I.E., you can totally use this as a misfire type deal in case your character wouldn't answer this question.)
bangr
Professor Quintalian | 35
I have already. Several times, in fact. Exhibitionism is such a fun kink, I think, and really allows for such a unique feeling of freedom.
| ✓ | ✕ |
| YES |
NO |
PLEASE NOTE: This BANGR code is the COMMENT-FRIENDLY version, there is a separate code for entries! If you're testing this code before posting it here please do so in a comment to an entry for accuracy!
Extra Notes
- Remember that all prompts are OTA! It can now be assumed that after the ship lands, current volunteers in-game were able to board and hang-out for a little bit before it leaves again! That means established volunteers can welcome new members, show them around parts of the ship they're familiar with, and explore new areas that weren't open during their own arrival! Only new volunteers will be taking the orientation quiz, but established volunteers are free to peek inside the room or try to help with the quiz!
- A reminder that the TDM can be considered game canon and timeline-wise the TDM takes place on the 8th when the arrival ship arrives, as shown on the calendar.
- Going into DECEMBER, we are continuing with an APPLICATION CAP of (40).
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He only ventured out of the inn to try and find a good jacket, but he’s immediately struck by the ever present scent of arousal in the air. There is a lanky man in full bondage gear in the middle of town square, and Derek’s eyes widen a bit when he spots the display. He isn’t a prude by any means, but this place is testing his limits. He knows why he’s here, but he still didn’t think it would be like this.
The man has his restraints tightened and Derek watches for as long as it takes for him to turn a very flattering shade of pink, and then averts his gaze as he tries to make his way past the crowd. The thought of being tied up like that while people watch makes his skin crawl a little, but perhaps that’s because he has been tied up like that. More than once, in fact, but for him it was far from any fun.
As long as this man is enjoying himself, it isn’t any of Derek’s business.
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"Sorry," he says, beginning to protest his bonds, "I don't think I'm into this, can I just - "
"Oh, but we've barely even begun," says the ison, and the instructor seems to agree, for she tightens Barry's arms behind his back. "Just a few moments more," she says, and Barry frowns. He's not afraid, but he is annoyed - hadn't the first thing they'd told them been that this was only safe if it was consensual?
Without another word, he vibrates hard enough to phase from the harness, ignoring their shock when the empty leather straps fall to the ground. "How did you - " starts the ison, but Barry is already off the stage, blushing hotly and heading down the first path he sees out of the square. His eyes are down, and he startles as he walks directly into someone's back.
"Shit! Sorry," he says, rubbing his nose. Jesus, how is this person's back so hard?
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Derek makes the decision to turn around and help, make a scene if he has to, but before he can even put his plan into motion someone crashes hard into the back of him. A quick inhale confirms that it’s the same man who seconds ago was just trussed up in leather, and Derek turns around to look at him with confusion and concern.
“Are you alright?” Derek asks, letting his eyes scan the man’s bare torso before he flicks them back up to his face with a blush. “I was just about to come help you, but— that was all so fast.”
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"I don't really know much about bondage yet, I've never liked even a hint of it but once, and I don't think it was the leather so much as the person," he continues, and the words only stymy when he pauses for breath. It's enough time to consider what he's just divulged to a stranger, and Barry's flush deepens.
"So I left. I'm fast, and - you could hear that?"
They're all the way across the square.
"From here?"
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“Having a person who listens to you would be a good start, I think,” he offers. “But I don’t know much about it either.”
His wolf ears flicker at the question and he panics for a moment before he remembers where he is. Here, being a werewolf isn’t a great cause for alarm.
“Yeah, you’re fast, and I can hear really well,” Derek says, letting his gaze drop to the man’s bare chest again, focusing curiously on the area of his heart. “Very fast. I would offer you my jacket, but I don’t have one. That’s actually what I was headed out to find.”
An amused, almost teasing smile crosses his face, and he leans in a bit and holds his hand up next to his mouth. “A leather one, if you’re curious.”
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"Wolf ears, huh?" he asks. "I had a goat's for a while, but I couldn't hear anything. But if you're looking for a jacket, the best shop is over there. Do you need any seedlings?"
The nonsensical question is followed by Barry digging in his pockets, finally producing several bronze seedlings that he holds between them. "I have to buy a shirt," he says, because he is not going back to that stage. "I'm sure I'll have plenty left over for a jacket."
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The man's spot on guess takes Derek by surprise, but then he remembers the literal wolf ears he's currently sporting and he shakes his head with a laugh.
"No, I suppose these are a little on the nose," Derek says with a shy smile, reaching up to stroke one of the velvety ears. He debates with himself for a moment, and then shrugs. Here? Why not. "I'm a werewolf."
Derek watches the man so selflessly offer up his currency, and he's struck a little dumb by the gesture. It's been quite some time since anyone has done anything nice for him, and for a moment he doesn't know how to respond.
"Oh, um. I have some. I just got here and I've been trying to earn some where I can," Derek says, digging in his pockets to show off his own bronze pieces. "I'm not sure if this is enough."
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He smiles for the man's explanation, but it soon fades to slack astonishment as he realizes he's not kidding. "For real?" he breathes. He's met so many unusual people here, but never a werewolf. "What's it like?" he can't help asking, even as he pushes away the man's own seedlings.
"I've got too many already," he says in a rush, "Gold ones, too." Barry is a little closer now, as if he'll see evidence of a werewolf just by looking hard enough. "Do you really become a wolf when there's a full moon? And sorry - "
Barry pockets his seedlings so he can offer his hand. "I'm Barry."
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He's a little concerned about the man's reaction to Derek's bombshell, but he obviously didn't need to be. His open curiosity warms Derek, and he lets out a relieved breath as he smiles.
"Derek," he replies, putting his own seedlings away so he can take Barry's hand. The touch lingers for a moment, and he has to tell himself to pull his hand back. "No, really. It's okay. Usually people try to kill me when they find out, so your questions are a welcome change."
He smiles ruefully and feels his ears twitch excitedly. "I don't become a wolf, no. I don't lose control either. Everything just gets very... intense."
People mill past them, gazes lingering openly on Barry's pale chest, and Derek's tail flickers behind him. "Now that you know my secret, maybe you can tell me how you're so fast."
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He blinks as if to say, Still with me?
"I was in a coma for months, and when I woke up, I could move faster than light. That was two years ago," he adds, smiling a little. Barry's had so few claims to glory in his life, he will always revel in this one. "I'm much faster now. But," he says, looking intently at Derek.
"What does intense mean?"
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The question makes his smile turn into a bit of a smirk, and he ducks his head almost shyly as he tries to figure out how to answer the question.
"My senses are heightened all the time, but on the full moon it's just, I don't know. It's amazing. I feel everything. Some people struggle with the wolf, but not me. We're perfectly in sync." Derek realizes that he's actually been rambling, excited by the prospect of having someone who actually wants to hear him talk. His cheeks flush a delicate shade of pink and he huffs out another breath before looking at Barry curiously.
"I'm not usually such a talker," he says, feeling his ears flicker and flatten back against his head. They've become the most expressive part of him, and he doesn't quite know how to control them.
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"Come on, we'll get you a jacket and me a shirt," he says, resisting the urge to cover his chest as more curious eyes pass by. Honestly, there's so much exhibitionism in Nevrione, and one shirtless dude having a conversation draws attention? "I'll buy you a drink or a hot chocolate, and you can tell me what it's like to be in sync with the wolf. It's something that lives inside of you?"
Barry waves a hand. "Shut me up or I'll keep asking questions," he laughs. "C'mon." He touches Derek's shoulder, blushing for no reason at all. "Clothes."
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Someone walks by staring openly at Barry, and Derek catches a faint whiff of embarrassment. He leans in and gives a subtle sniff, smirking a bit.
"Oh, the guy who was up there in a harness is suddenly embarrassed?" Derek teases, biting his lip as Barry touches his shoulder. He lets Barry lead the way, and thinks to himself before continuing. "I was born a werewolf. It's something that's always been there."
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He begins walking in the direction of the clothing boutique, breathing in a sigh of relief to be among sweaters and coats and not more harnesses. "I missed the fall," he says as he rifles through cableknits. "Zenith's home base is actually on the beach, which is nice, too, I've just always liked autumn the best."
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They arrive at the boutique and Derek is grateful for the distraction, heading for a display of fall coats near Barry’s sweater. He picks up a black jacket made of buttery leather and checks the tag, but it’s not like he has any way of knowing if they’re overcharging or not.
“Autumn is my favorite too,” Derek offers, glad for the safer topic. “I run pretty hot, so I like it when it’s cooler.” He looks up at Barry as he pulls on the coat. “I do like spring. Everything smells so good. Like renewal. In the fall, there is so much decay.”
He talks so much around Barry, and they’ve only just met. Derek is surprised by himself, but he doesn’t hate it. Not at all.
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He comes closer when Derek pulls on the coat. The leather looks soft and smells amazing, further cementing Barry's associations with leather and Derek. It doesn't help that it looks incredible on him, but Barry's pretty sure a clown hat would somehow look sexy on a man like Derek.
"That's really nice," he says. "And - " Barry doesn't want to make Derek uncomfortable, but he already has, and he wants to fix it. "No one will do anything to you you don't want here. Seriously." Barry gives him a soft, hopefully reassuring smile. "You just arrived at a particularly wild time."
no subject
He turns away after that, giving himself a moment away from Barry’s expressive brown eyes under the guise of checking his reflection. The coat fits well, not too tight around his big shoulders, and he nods in approval.
Barry’s words make Derek pause where he’s fiddling with the cuffs, and he momentarily meets Barry’s gaze in the mirror. The memories come unbidden, Kate shocking him, taunting him. I don’t know whether to kill it or lick it. Being chained up with electrical wires shoved into his skin. Derek shudders and closes his eyes, reaching up to rub at his face.
“She didn’t seem willing to let you go,” he finally says, blowing out a breath before shrugging his shoulders. “Luckily I can put up a good fight if I need to.” Barry is trying so hard to be reassuring, so Derek finally turns to face him. “But hopefully you’re right.”
no subject
By the desire to follow the man he'd seen across the square, which is far too stalkery to admit to. Barry colors faintly, resisting the urge to lift his hand and sniff it. It smells good to Derek? That's odd - and really flattering. Barry almost smiles, but the shudder that has just passed through Derek is still on his mind.
"Are you okay?" he asks, taking the tag off Derek's coat and his sweater so he can quickly pay for them, suddenly desiring to get Derek further from the demonstrations in the square. "There's nothing freaky at the bar, I promise. Just hot chocolate and other drinks."
no subject
Barry blushes, which causes blood to rush to his cheeks and heighten his spicy sweet smell, and Derek is so distracted that he doesn’t even really notice Barry snatching the tag from his coat until he’s already at the register.
“You’ll have to let me pay for drinks,” he says instead of thank you, though he’s touched by the gesture. It’s probably not even a big deal to Barry, but it is to him. Derek tends to eat up scraps of kindness wherever he can find them.
“I don’t think it’s freaky,” he says, avoiding the question and shoving his hands into his pockets. He doesn’t want Barry thinking he’s some prude. Being tied up may not be Derek’s thing, for reasons obvious to only him, but he certainly doesn’t judge anyone who may enjoy it. “As long as everyone involved is into it, it’s fine.”
Barry is watching him with such open curiosity and concern that Derek finds himself continuing before he even realizes that he wants to. “I just— I’ve been tied up when I didn’t want it. Not for— sex,” he says, but he remembers Kate again, touching him and licking at his stomach while he wished with everything in him for her to stop. “Or— maybe it was. For them. I don’t know.”
He blinks, surprised by how much he’s just divulged to a stranger, and then turns and walks out the door. He doesn’t run, even if a part of him wants to, but instead waits out front and tips his head up towards the cool air as he blows out a breath.
no subject
"Hey," he says, almost touching Derek's shoulder but thinking better of it. "We don't have to talk about it if you don't want." Barry's terribly curious, but they don't know each other, and it's obviously hard for Derek. "Do you want to get that drink?" he asks, trying to brighten the mood.
"I can have us there in literal seconds."
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The offer has Derek quirking a brow, helping to clear his mind as he’s reminded that he’s in the company of someone with the makings of an actual superhero. “You can take other people with you? I mean, sure. Why not?”
Derek doesn’t make a habit of trusting people, but he still agrees knowing that Barry could take him anywhere. He just looks so earnest and honest, so terribly good, that Derek can’t help but to give in.
no subject
As he braces to run, Barry realizes he has a better idea than the bar. He takes off, heading not towards the inn but out of the city, up to the vista that overlooks the lake where they'd all released lanterns. It's a beautiful view, and what's more, the forest around them is full of selva.
"I didn't kidnap you," says Barry as he falls out of the speed force and sets Derek on his feet. There's only a gust of wind and the sudden appearance of two drinks in Barry's hands that shows he's moved again at all. "Drinks with a view, unless you hate it. And - " Barry hands Derek his hot chocolate, nodding at the gently glowing creatures all around them. "The selva have a natural calming effect." Already, Barry can feel them working on himself, chasing away the last of his embarrassment about the stage. "If you hate it, I can take us back."
no subject
There’s barely time to notice the strange twist in his belly before suddenly he’s in a completely different place, not even in the city at all. He quirks a brow at Barry’s comment, but before he can even blink there’s a cup of hot cocoa being pressing into his hands, and Derek can’t help but to laugh in astonishment.
“Amazing,” he murmurs, smiling in that unfamiliar, cheek-aching way before he looks around at the glowing orbs Barry gestures to. He’s never smelled anything like them before, and when he inhales deeply to get a better read on their scent, he blinks owlishly as his shoulders seem to relax from their normal bunched up position. He looks around in wonder, eyes wide before his gaze shifts back to Barry.
“No, no. This is... it’s amazing,” Derek replies genuinely, looking a little stunned. He had expected to go out and try to find a coat, to continue resisting advances until he thought more about how to handle them, but instead he’s here. It almost feels like a dream. “Thank you.”
no subject
"Here, there's a..." Barry points. "A rock we can sit on to look down at the water. About a week back, the locals led us through a lantern lighting ceremony. Everyone released lanterns for their loved ones across the water - the view from here was spectacular."
Barry leads him towards it, parting a little flock of selva as he moves and sighing in contentment as their warm light seems to sink beneath his skin. "I remember how overwhelming it was when I got here. I would have loved a place like this to come and breathe."
no subject
"I would have liked to have been a part of that," he admits with a wistful smile. They walk through a plume of the bobbing little lights and one of them sways in close to Derek, practically gliding along his cheek before floating away. He lets out another breath, feeling more relaxed than he has in a really, really long time.
"It is a lot," he says, taking a seat on the rock and looking over at Barry with a warm smile. "You'll have to show me how to actually get here."
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