#inds fluff

zayne

flinches when you get hit. apologizes, either verbally or mentally, each time

vows to protect you the first time you die in-game

chronic overhealer 

has a shielder and healer on his team in boss fights. just in case. 

his damage suffers as a result. he either wins with seconds to spare or has to do multiple attempts

he’s actually underestimating his skills. if he weren’t so cautious trying to keep you safe, he’d clear all content with ease

does not care too much for outfits or skins—no, his weakness is animals. has to own any cute pet or animal companion the game offers. is not above the occasional credit card swipe 

sylus

whales on you

he gets you and your weapon maxed out. keeps pulling for you even after that to show off

has millions of the rarest currency in the game that nobody else ever has because of this

obliterates everything because he’s spent so much money. never loses 

half of the game’s community has him blocked because they’re tired of seeing him win

keeps posting his highlight reels anyway

if there’s a housing feature, you have a mansion

he’s actually really invested in the game’s lore and likes to experience the story you

rafayel

whales on your outfits/skins

doesn’t care too much about damage, fights based on aesthetics. what weapon looks best on you, what team members look best with you, etc. yes his main team is 4 single-target dpses

only really tries when you have a new upgrade coming out and he has to speedrun all the content he hasn’t cleared

sometimes logs on just to teleport you to pretty locations and take in-game pictures

uses the pictures he takes as references for paintings

defends your design with his life. doesn’t care how detailed the newest character is, they have nothing on you. you hear him? nothing. 

always logs out near the water and greets you there each day

caleb

self-destructive play style

torn between his love for you and his thrill-seeking nature 

will forego a healer or shielder if it gives him an edge in combat

you’re on 1 hp more times than he can count. he makes it up to you by farming endlessly for the best gear

you are the only character he has everything maxed out for. everybody else has a mid build

addicted to seeing the damage numbers pop up and doing all the little gear calculations and comparisons (“ohoho, if i use this instead, i’ll get a two percent damage boost”)

yes it’s that serious. 

valko

sylus as rainbow dash

daredevils by nature

masters of snarky, sarcastic wit

act like they're too cool for stuff, then happily engage in it anyway

both have lofty ambitions & do whatever it takes to meet their goals, even if it means putting their bodies on the line

can sometimes tease too much and make others upset. guilt eats them alive afterwards

can be awkward or naive in delicate social situations due to inexperience

confident on the outside, vulnerable on the inside. neither pays their own feelings the attention they deserve

sylus would totally have a pet turtle

xavier as fluttershy 

soft-spoken, but stern when necessary. when they’re mad, duck

under tense circumstances, might momentarily morph into an all-powerful being

they get discounted for their quiet, unassuming exteriors, but are both admirable leaders underneath

both nature and animal lovers. disney princess levels of random animal encounters, and they tuck their plants in every night before bed

both always get roped into helping people with their problems (too polite to say no)

jeremiah is angel bunny

valko as pinkie pie

sweet tooth, frequently to the point of sickness

incredibly friendly and caring. often try to make others comfortable at the expense of their own dignity

can get very anxious and a little unhinged if they feel like someone they love is mad at them/has replaced them

so down to earth, people almost forget how intelligent and perceptive they are—until they call someone’s bluff right to their face with a smile

their actions raise eyebrows sometimes. what are they doing, why are they doing it. but that’s just the way they are! eccentricities and all

while i personally do not believe this is the case, i believe that valko is someone who believes that he could have a pet alligator and everything would be fine

rafayel as rarity

creatives with supreme attention to detail

extremely passionate about their crafts

misunderstood to be haughty or pompous; in truth, they care more than anyone 

doctorates in theatrics, sharp tongues for days

never afraid to stand up for what they think is right. more than willing to make a scene—especially if it means protecting their loved ones 

their studios are their sacred spaces. do not disrupt the peace  

i know rarity has a cat. pretend it’s a fish

zayne as twilight sparkle

well-read with a thirst for knowledge 

both sacrifice their health for their obligations (despite people urging them otherwise)

every day is a lesson and chance to improve themselves 

both longtime loners who, at first, think they’re better off that way. they don’t realize the value of friends until they have them

hold themselves to impossibly high standards! could always benefit from a break

that one friend who get along with everybody

sylus, with his greedy self, hogs the water bottle and drinks more than his share. he’s used to people being mad at him, so he doesn’t react much to everyone’s outrage. valko, however, is the only one agitated to the point of altercation; he nearly starts a fistfight over their limited resources, and it’s the most entertained sylus has been all day.

when the water runs out, he sprawls out in the corner and tsks. “well, i guess we’ll just have to eat him for sustenance, then,” he says, except he doesn’t specify which “him” he’s referring to. everyone backs away from him and keeps an eye on him at all times.

he secretly has an extra bottle of water in his bag the whole time. when questioned on why he never said anything, he answers, “you never asked.” 

zayne is the only thing holding the group together. ever the mediator, he selflessly demands that rafayel get the largest share of water since, biologically, he needs it the most. because he tends to run cold, he alternates placing his palms on valko’s forehead since his hair/fur is so thick and insulating. sometimes when he shifts positions, it feels like he's petting him, and valko’s wolf ears pop up. they both ignore it. sylus stares amusedly from the corner. 

when sylus and valko are at each other’s throats, zayne bravely puts himself between them, with a loopy rafayel chanting lemurian mantras to himself in the background. caleb just stares in disappointment.

in the chaos, caleb is dead set on finding a solution. he fiddles with the door and windows trying to finesse his way out, and he refuses his ration of water, to his own detriment. rafayel is grateful for the extra share, but sylus thinks he’s dumb—altruism doesn’t ensure survival.

since they have no cell service, he tries to fiddle with the rv’s radio to make contact—anything he can think of, really. when that doesn’t work, he tries to preserve his energy. it’s an endless war at this point; he has no idea how long he’ll be stuck in here. 

eventually, after redoubling his efforts and tinkering endlessly with the door, he finally manages to work it open and set everyone free

xavier was supposed to join the others in the rv, but he slept in and they left without him. instead, he took the bus to the beach and got there an hour later. through the window, the others spot him walking around in confusion and bang on the glass to get his attention; they yell for him to find help, and he accepts the mission. three minutes later, he gets roped into handing out recruitment flyers for a youth volleyball team. 

once they’re free, the others track him down. he’s licking a blue ice cream cone, surrounded by squealing, sandy children. “oh,” he says. “i’m glad you guys didn’t need my help.”

their first venture into the ocean that afternoon is the five of them chasing him into the water.