The Best Thing About Not Being Home is Missing You

[preuxchevalier]

There are people back home that your character hates. Or maybe they love them, but they're terrible people/influences. Here's your chance to talk or play out that special someone turning up in the Meadous. Are they so far out of their element that they're now defanged tigers? Do they lead right in with their wicked ways? What is your character's CR even going to think when they meet this person?
 

Post with your own character or the person they most/least want to see again who's a bad thing for them. Feel free to play out encounters in the snow between this character and your regular character's CR, or talk it out with if you're not sure you've got the voice down.
 

Fun for all ages! And by fun, we mean misery!

Comments

[theghast]

Without looking in the direction the voice is coming from, Raimut rolls his eyes and calls out, "Zimin. Do keep your voice down. You're making a frightful racket," in a tone of voice that suggests he's both bored and exasperated. "You are no toddler. Exercise due control over your vocal cords."

It does occur to him that the language "Jay" seems to be speaking is certainly strange and there don't seem to be enough endearments in the snatches he's heard, but he chooses not to dwell on it. Jay's mask has been known to slip and he could be speaking another godforsaken dialect he picked up in some slum or other. That'd be just like the boy, to adopt such affectations.

[defrostedpride]

"I'm not Jay," Even replies, sounding at least as exasperated. "Honestly, we sound nothing a-who are you?"

He stomps toward Raimut, a man in a lab coat who is very clearly not Jay Zimin on multiple counts. Also, there is a strange sheep-like creature trotting at his heels.

"Well?"

[theghast]

Raimut ignores the sheep-like creature (clearly some sort of lesser spirit) and instead focuses on Even. He has to look up only slightly to meet his gaze.

No, he looks nothing like Jay, but he certainly sounds almost exactly like him, down to the cockiness, the shrillness and the blatant disrespect for anything unfamiliar.

He inclines his head, briefly, the very slightest bow required for politeness's sake and says, "I am Raimut Hellewege. I am ... a naturalist. How do you know my ... pupil?"

[defrostedpride]

Even's eyes narrow. He hasn't discussed Raimut with Jay in anything like detail, but he has an excellent memory for what has been mentioned. And none of it was flattering.

"So it's you." He doesn't bow, not least because he doesn't feel like being polite. "And don't give me that bull about being a 'naturalist'. I've seen your notes, you know."

misgendering

[theghast]

Raimut laughs, without much genuine humour and shakes his head.

"I see my reputation precedes me! What has the harpy told you about me, then?" he says, grinning. It's a grimace of intimidation more than anything and he puts special contempt into the word "harpy". "What led her to showing you my notes? Where did she even get those?"

[defrostedpride]

"She? I have no idea who you're - No. No! I am not doing this again!" Even flings his hands in the air in frustration. "I'm not going to stand here and explain gender, again, to someone who should definitely know better, again! No!" He doesn't have his charts with him. He worked on those charts.

He looks down at Aspirin. "You aren't going to do something helpful like attack him and save me from this stupidity, are you?" No. No she is not. She's going to sniff around his feet instead.

[theghast]

Raimut ignores Aspirin and focuses on Even instead. He's grinning now, very definitely amused. So his old pupil got himself some allies. Interesting. Very interesting.

Especially interesting is that at least this ally sounds almost identical to Jay. How very curious.

"I see," he says and chuckles. "Looks like Jay Zimin made friends. Tell me, did he seduce you? He does ... get around."

[defrostedpride]

Even just stares at Raimut for a long beat before starting to sputter. "Jay? Seduce me? Have you met - well, obviously you haven't met me, but really! What kind of assumption is that?! Oh, gods, you're one of those people, aren't you? Why am I not surprised?"

Aspirin squeaks and bounces on Raimut's feet. Look, if she let Even's mood determine when to hit people up for pets, she'd never get any.

[theghast]

Raimut ignores Aspirin. He's not so sure she's as innocent as she looks and anyway, Even is so much more interesting. He sounds so much like Jay, down to how his voice sways when he gets angry.

He smiles at Even, his eyes remaining cold and cruel.

"Those people? Do enlighten me," he says. "And if you've known Jay Zimin for any amount of time, you would know what he's like. It's not an unfair assumption that he's been ... loose."

[defrostedpride]

"Those people who persist in believing that everyone is as fixated on sexual relationships as they are!" Even snaps. "Good grief! I know Jay Zimin is like many things, but I have no idea which of those things leads you to the assumption that he would try to seduce me, much less succeed." He pauses. "That time with his legs does not count!"

Aspirin is just going to get bouncier and more friendly until she gets petted. Even could tell Raimut so, if he were in a mood to be helpful.

[theghast]

Raimut finally pays attention to Aspirin -- he not so much pets her as feels her head to make sure she's corporeal. Really, now that he looks at her properly, it's clear that she's a very unusual kind of spirit. Curious.

"Legs?" he says, looking up at Even with what seems to be genuine confusion. "Pray tell, what do his legs have to do with anything?"