Test Drive Meme #3

[hadrielmods]

Welcome to Hadriel's test drive, and thank you again for your interest in the game! As always, our reserves page is here, and our applications page is here! Reserves open November 24th, and apps are open December 1st.

Two quick points here as well:

1. Any thread made in Hadriel's test drive will be accepted as the sole Action Log sample in the application.
2. All threads made in the test drive can be considered game canon!

Test drives will be broken up into specific god mini-events, during which your characters can see how well they fare under the watchful eye of one of the gods. Choose wisely or just simply pick 'em all, and have fun!

F E A R

SCENARIO ONE: GIMME A HUG
[The Door brings in all that is chaotic and evil in the world. This may include you, may include the person next to you... and may include the monster behind you.

Watch out as you explore the streets of Hadriel, because you're not alone, and there's always something on the rooftops watching and waiting for the perfect opportunity to separate you from your group and tear you into pieces. This time, the Door has brought in a large slithering beast for you meet.

This Titanoboa is not the friendliest of snakes. Over fifty feet long, it requires quite a lot of meals in order to keep going, and it seems to be most interested in making you one of them. A giant anaconda, this is a constrictor rather than a venomous snake - but don't worry. It's got teeth, too, in case it needs to do a touch of nibbling. We're sure you'll get along just fine.]


SCENARIO TWO: THE DOCTOR IS IN
[You awaken on an operating table. How did you get here? What's going on? You don't remember checking into a hospital or seeing a doctor, and when you try to get up you quickly discover that your hands and legs are secured tightly to the table, the straps digging into your skin.

Next to the table is a tray of gleaming steel surgical instruments, their sharp blades glittering as the overhead light flickers. They seem to be the only clean thing in the room, as you begin to realize that the walls of this operating room are moldy and stained, and there's something dripping from the ceiling. This may not be a legitimate hospital at all.

There are footsteps outside the door. It could be a friend - or not. Will you call for help? Try to free yourself? Lay back and wait for the doctor to arrive?]


H O P E

SCENARIO THREE: HOPESGIVING
[You find yourself in a kitschy, brightly lit, utterly pleasant gift shop. Lining the shelves are all manner of stuffed animals, inspirational figurines, greeting cards, and delightful ornaments. Some even look familiar, like something you might have seen before.

The door isn't locked. You can just leave, if you want. But on a pedestal where the registers should be is a globe of glittering light, and within it, a picture of the person you care for most in the world. Carved on the pedestal are the words Bring someone hope, and you will bring them happiness.

Of course, you aren't alone in there. Will you find something on the shelves to show to your companion, something that might bring them hope? Or maybe you brought something from home. Or maybe you don't care at all, and just want to smash everything in there. It's all up to you.

This is a simplified version of this month's Hope event.]

Comments

triela (gunslinger girl)

[leprotto]

scenario two.

[Triela wakes with tears on her face. That's not unusual: she often cries in her sleep, especially during operations, though her dreams leave come morning like marine layer. Are they sad dreams? She couldn't say, but they do bring her to weeping.

It's also not unusual to wake up in a hospital room, on a thin bed, but she's usually just out of surgery when that happens. Triela can tell right now that she hasn't gone under the knife just yet, so it is a little strange for her to have come awake already. She makes to lift her hand so that she can dry her eyes, but the bonds of the bed snag her and she realizes that she can't move. That realization comes instantaneously with a dreamy fragment of terror: she can't remember when or how, but there's the recollection of this, a table, a saw, a hurt, a mother... It leaves her with a thick tide of adrenaline, fear almost overwhelming her militant training, and now that she's on high alert, she sees that her surroundings aren't right either. This isn't the Social Welfare Agency's hospital. Her doctors didn't put her here. Her handler didn't put her here...

Whatever sedation they've given her doesn't negate her cybernetic enhancements — Triela is strong, and she knows this, has been trained for pretty much this exact scenario by men who have feared their asset falling into the wrong hands. She's able to, with her great strength, snap her arms free of the straps — though they still cuff her chafed wrists — and hurriedly reach down to undo her ankles. Once she can properly move, she's off the bed and clattering around with the tray of medical instruments. As footsteps draw near to the terrible room she's in, Triela stands like a fighter, scalpel brandished, long blonde hair falling around her face, disturbed by her angry, frightened huffs of breath.

Depending on the angle you talk when you come to see her, she looks like a scared little girl who's just been crying — or a furious young woman who's ready to cut your throat.]

scenario three.

[The man Triela sees in the pedestal is pale, a little bit drawn. He has high cheekbones and dark hair. He's the love of her life. Of course she wants to make him happy — but more than that, she thinks bitterly, she wants to keep him safe. How can she do that if she is here and he is... somewhere...

So she's frowning as she holds a modest stuffed bear. It's the color of cinnamon; it has a green ribbon around its neck. It looks soft... Feels soft, too, in her gloved hands.]

Well, this is what he'd get for me, [she mumbles,] but...

[Then she shakes her head, just a little irritable, mostly with herself. This bear is just too much. (She wants to take it home and hug it.) Like a little adult, she releases the bear back onto a shelf and then puts her hands on her hips.]

I guess this place doesn't have any firearms. [She's talking to herself, so her voice is soft, but it must seem out of place coming from a young teenager with pigtails... Even if she looks a little stern in her suit and tie.]

Scenario three.

[twincurses]

[Stern or adorable? Fai notices the girl right away. Given her age and clothing, it’d be difficult not to. While she looks at the bear, he starts to make his way over. After all, no one so young should be trapped alone in a place like this. He can just make out her voice, though, and that makes him pause.

Firearms? The word’s only vaguely familiar - from Spirit, mostly - but he knows what it brings to mind. A weapon. Either she’s older than expected, or...she’s experienced more before this than a child should. In either case, it only slows him down for a moment. A few more steps, and he reaches over to the same stuffed toy.]

Aww~ It's cute, isn't it? [He leans over slightly. Not so much that he’s in her space, but enough to get closer to her level. Without looking, he gestures over to the pedestal and continues gently.]

You don't have to place it there. [With a glance around the empty store.] If you like it, I don't think anyone will mind you keeping it instead.

[leprotto]

[Actually, Triela isn't really accustomed to having adults place themselves 'on her level.' In general, she's expected to rise to theirs instead... She always stands with her back straight and her shoulders square, and she's used to tilting her chin up to look men in the eye. Having a man instead meet her halfway is... novel... And it flusters her: she flushes slightly, and clears her throat, awkward like a child trying to be grown up.]

It's not really something I need... It just made me sentimental. I know that sort of thing is silly.

[She adjusts her necktie with her hands, but she's stuck looking at the bear again. It really is cute.]

Besides, it's kind of a Christmastime tradition. If I got one now, wouldn't that mess things up?

[twincurses]

[Well, that clears up any confusion about the girl’s age. Clearly a child - and obviously one that’s seen too much. It’s a very recognizable sight...Which only serves to make him more determined.]

...Silly? Ah, but that’s not true! There’s nothing wrong with being sentimental, especially in such a strange place.

[At least, he assumes it’s strange to her. Most people here don’t seem accustomed to the type of travel he’s familiar with. More importantly, it’s apparent that she’s drawn to the toy. Her denial, while cute, is a little painful to watch. When her eyes land on it again, Fai holds it out to her slowly. Just in case.]

Hmm, which tradition is that? It doesn’t sound familiar at all.

[Not entirely true. Given his recent travels, there’s been more than a few holidays mentioned. Each with their own customs and such. However, it's hard to tell exactly what she's referring to. Something to do with gifts in general, or is it more specific?]

[leprotto]

[This guy has a nice sentiment and all, but Triela's not sure that it's appropriate for her to buy into it. What would Hilshire think? The same stuffy thing any adult would, she tells herself. What would someone who's not an adult think? She tries to imagine what other kids are like — she doesn't have much experience there. Hesitantly, she tries to imagine Mimi Machiavelli, the only normal teenager Triela's ever met. Mimi Machiavelli would tell her to keep the bear, right?

But Triela can't afford to do the things that normal teenagers do. She's loath to admit it, but maybe stuffy adults are on to something.]

The tradition? Oh, well... For Christmas, my— [My... How to explain Hilshire? Now Triela blushes for real, before closing her eyes and willing it away. To her credit, her complexion does go back to normal.] My brother... He gives me stuffed bears.

[To keep herself from taking the bear from Fai, she folds her arms sternly.]

[twincurses]

[Any adult? Aww, but what does that make the weird stranger talking to her?

Fai waits for her to finish the explanation, but at the word brother...He closes his eyes for a moment, and the ever-present smile changes. Less soft, and more...bitter? Wistful? Whatever it is, it only lasts a blink before it’s gone and the normal one returns. A little faker brighter than before.

At the sight of her crossed arms, he gently places the bear back where it came from.]

That does sound important!

[Which means he’ll stop pushing. About that particular subject, at least. He stands up straight for a moment to look around - still carefully glancing away from the globe.]

But there's more than that here. Would taking something else be all right? Or would that mess things up, too?

sorry for late!! :(

[leprotto]

[All adults are stuffy and selfish! Deep down... And even if they seem pleasant and warm. Well, maybe that's a harsh judgment, but Triela's a particularly guarded child. And she's not used to being catered to, so this is leaving her with a wary note... But more than that, it flusters her. What's this guy's deal, anyway?]

It wouldn't... mess things up. [Her eyes fall to the right, then the left, and she chews on her bottom lip for a moment, arms still firmly folded.] But I don't know if I should take something that I don't need to have. It would be a waste, right? [Triela isn't exactly deprived — to the contrary, she and the other girls do live in comfort — but she doesn't usually pick stuff out for herself. It's always up to Hilshire's judgment...]

no problem! :)

[twincurses]

[Selfish? Undoubtedly. Stuffy? Never.

Some of the girl’s behaviour really does strike a miserably familiar chord - the reservedness, the formality...On the other hand, he’s only more encouraged by her fluster. Clearly she hasn’t been spoiled nearly enough before coming here.]

It’s not a waste if it’s something you want. Anything that makes you happy, or... [As he talks, Fai starts to look around the nearby shelves - filled with novelty mugs and tiny figurines. How could taking any of this be considered a waste? As adorable as most of the stock is, it’s not exactly useful. But-]

Ah! [He follows up that cheerful exclamation by carefully pulling something off the shelf next to him and making his way back over. Once he’s in range, he makes a flourish and pulls out the object in question. It’s...a headband. A very bright, extremely pink headband with a flowery pattern. One that, barring any interruption, he’s attempting to carefully place on Triela's head.] Or that looks this adorable~

[...at least it doesn't have animal ears on it?]

[leprotto]

[Anything that makes her happy? The sheer absurdity has Triela turning her head a little at that, and she's about to pull a face, when...

...

?!?]

Sir?! [Now she blushes hot and awkward, not knowing what to make of the situation at all — is this normal? Do grown-ups do stuff like this to kids all the time? They're so weird! This is so weird! And Triela's not sure that pink suits her... She's used to darker colors, or whites and creams, nothing vibrant. No, there's not much that's vibrant about her, she'd say... Flowers, too, are a novelty. Fai's able to successfully set the headband on her head, but steam is practically coming out of her ears for how hard she's blushing. She'd be angry if the great audacity of the situation hadn't shocked her so wholly.]

Uh... Mister? What are you... Don't play around!

[Triela fumbles, scrambling to get the headband back off of her head, though she holds it in her hands and looks down at it, biting her lip.]

This isn't really my sort of thing...

[This might be the weirdest adult she's met yet.]

Hey... Why don't you get something for yourself if you want to take something so badly?