dankmemes | test drive meme #16

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!test drive

test drive meme #16

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 January 24th, and apps are open February 1st. Please remember that there is an app cap of 20 apps.

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, either through handwaving or through a shared mental experience while coming through the Door!

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: THE CREEPY CRAWLIES
[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 lurking in the shadows, waiting to impale you on its giant claws and crunch your bones between its mandibles. That's right, this time the Door is bringing you bugs from Starship Troopers, in all their giant and disgusting glory!

Bugs are, well, giant insects that come in all shapes and sizes, depending on the rank, and are way too tall or too heavy than they have any right to be. They can move quickly, most of them have the ability to fly, and their exo-skeletons means that it's difficult to really hurt them unless you've got some muscles on you. Or a really big boot, I guess.]

C O N F U S I O N

SCENARIO TWO: WHO'S THAT IN THE MIRROR?
[Something's lurking in the dark. Something that really wants to ruin your day by any means necessary- that includes preying on your darkest fears, or just, you know, simply killing you. But that's not a problem, right? You're big and tough! Except, so is this creature out to get you. And it knows all of your weaknesses and insecurities too because, well... it is you.

Doubles of characters will be flooding the city and attempting to ruin the originals lives by whatever means necessary. This generally involves killing the original and then impersonating them, but it can also mean killing people you love or just bringing up your awkward teenage years to traumatize you in front of all your new cool friends.

What can you do to stop it? Well, you could kill them first, that certainly won't require a few trips to therapy later! There's always locking them away, or maybe trying to befriend them because hey, who's better at ruining your life than you?

This is a mini version of our Dead Ringers event this month!]

T R A N Q U I L I T Y

SCENARIO THREE: CAN YOU JUST LIKE, CHILL FOR A SEC?
[Embrace tranquility! Or rather, get pulled, kicking and screaming into an event during which you magically have to find some chill, or else Tranquility will force chill upon you.

For this prompt, characters will find themselves in a state of sudden peace and calm, without much anger or meanness to go around. That guy you hate? Maybe you should give him a peace offering. The chick who stole your girlfriend? Maybe you should congratulate her! Everything is peaceful and everything is... sorta gray.

Don't get me wrong, it's nice to be able to relax, but we have an emotional spectrum for a reason. Pretty soon, the tranquility of this might turn into something a little creepy, even Stepfordish... but it's hard to really care when everything is so damn pleasant, right?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Noctis doesn't need a double to remind him of his own guilt and holdups. He just prefers to keep them to himself. The prince furrows his brow and immediately shrugs his shoulder from the double's grasp, gritting his teeth as his blade emerges from thin air and into his hand. ]

[ As Gladio takes a stand between the two, Noctis takes a step back. He prepares himself, uncertain as to whether or not this guy is the harmful double. But he's forced to take his chances. Especially in considering the guy proudly took a few hits before skidding in front of him. ]

As okay as I can be. Where the hell did you come from?

[ Noctis' double takes his own blade shortly after the original, almost delighted in the face of this opportunity. He shrugs his shoulders after being so rudely shoved off of his original, keen to approach the double of his guard. ]

Can never have just a private talk. Gotta hide behind your buddies, who are only your buddies because they're paid to be. By the way.

[ So fine. He's happy in partnering up with Gladio's double to teach the two of them a lesson. The original Noctis, however, tightly grips the hilt of his blade. ]

How about we talk later, huh?

Edited 2017-01-21 21:33 (UTC)

You shut your trap.

[ Gladio snaps at Noctis' doppelganger, though the words seem to delight his double, who's quick to jump to the other Noct's side. ]

Wow, disrespecting His Highness? I didn't think you had it in you.

[ Gladio's double seems practically delighted, which only makes Gladio scowl harder. Gladio eyes both doppelgangers warily, watching their movements for any sign of difference. He's sparred with Noct plenty of times, his copy should have all the same tells. ]

Later works. [ He tilts his head at Noct. ] Think you can take "me" down? Leave the scrawny one to me.

[ Probably not the best time to joke, the words seem to grate on his doppelganger. ]

We all know you don't want to protect him! Keeping to your so-called duty is all that matters, huh?

[ Not that he'll have much choice, the other Gladio starts them off by swinging his sword out at them. Gladio is quick to switch to his shield to block the blow, hopefully that'll give Noct an opening before his own doppelganger decides to cut in. ]

[ Questioning how and why Gladio is here can be answered later, but Noctis selfishly revels in the comfort he feels in seeing someone else here that he can trust. At the incline of Gladio's head, Noctis meets him with the same, smirking a touch. ]

That really a question?

[ He does, however, frown at that last part. ]

Scrawny? As if--

[ Gladio's double strikes before he can even finish the voicing of his denial. Noctis meets the lowering of his sword with the curve of his own blade. The clash of metal echoes through the air, the prince gritting through his teeth. It's not the first time he's fought Gladio, double or not, and while he's not normally victorious? He's got enough confidence to get him through. Noctis pushes the double back, raising his blade and preparing for his first strike. ]

[ Noctis' double disappears in thin air, following a flash of blue light as he phases behind Gladio with intentions of striking. ]

You piss me off, you know? As if you know what it's like to deal with the weight of an entire kingdom. Who do you think you are?

[ The question is directed at Gladio, keen on doing its best in ruining the image of its original counterpart. ]

Edited 2017-01-21 22:00 (UTC)

[ A warp strike. It figures Noct's double would have his skills, too. Gladio turns and swaps to his shield, pushing back against the other Noct. ]

Easy, I'm his Shield.

[ He's often held back when fighting the prince, but this is pretty clearly not him. Gladio slices the air with his sword, hefting it around to try and knock Noctis' double and slash him through. ]

That's what I'm here for! He doesn't have to go it alone.

[ The other Gladio makes a similar move, his heavy blade echoing loudly as it bounced back from the clash. He follows it up with some barbed words of his own, flashing Noct a cocky smile. ]

Yeah, you love that, don't you, Noct? Leave everything to Gladio ad Iggy and you never have to have a care in the world.

[ Just as the double of Noctis' blade clashes with Gladio's shield, the loud clang following echoes in the dark. But it hardly seems to push him back much. As he pushes back, his boots skid along the dirt, only giving brief reprieve before seeking to knock Gladio off his feet. ]

Shield? All you're good for is criticizing and letting loose misplaced anger. You're jealous. Could see it from the beginning. You were jealous of a kid half your size, and you're jealous of a man set on a purpose you're simply meant to die for.

[ Noctis can hear his double, and their shared taunts are venomous. Burning through his ears and flesh and seeking to tear him to shreds. The look of pure anger and frustration can be seen by Gladio's double, and he'll be the one to feel the source of growing determination that bubbles in his chest from it. ]

Shut up!

[ To both of them. Gladio's correction is enough to give him confidence to prove him right. That he serves just as great a purpose as he, that he's grateful for it. Despite the differences and pushing, Noctis has never held ill-will for Gladio. Anger, maybe, but the guy has protected him since childhood. He may not need that protection, but he needs Gladio's help. ]

[ Noctis tosses his blade in the air, warping feet above Gladio's copy and attempting to use his air to get behind him, tossing it again to close their distance and gain momentum in his strike from behind. ]

[ Gladio grits his teeth through the double's words, shaking his head even as the words hit a little close to home. He hasn't been to Altissia yet, hasn't seen how bad things can get, but the same feelings lie within him. He'd never act on them, of course! Unless, you know, Luna died and Ignis lost his sight and-- well, it's a good thing none of that's happened yet. Gladio's still proud of his future king, he always will be. He doesn't envy Noct his burden, hell, that's why he knows he needs friends by his side to get him through it.

But there would be time for words and clearing things up later. Right now, Gladio is busy trying to knock the other Noct off his feet with a sweep of his giant blade. (He still looks like Noct, there's no way Gladio could bring himself to really hurt him, but a few broken bones ought to do.)

Doppelganger!Gladiolus notices this and laughs. ]

What, too scared to hurt your precious prince? When all he's done is hold you back?

[ ...which leaves him wide open for Noct to take down. Feel free to WARP STRIKE! 2.5 BONUS DAMAGE, Noct. ]

Edited (typo) 2017-01-22 20:43 (UTC)

[ Gladio and Noctis' relationship has always been rocky, but the structure it rests upon is sturdy. Strong. Noctis has looked to Gladio for guidance and support since childhood, and while they often have disagreements? He wouldn't change the relationship they have for the entire world. They're brothers. Brothers fight, argue, disagree. Each and every word that spills from his double is heavily blown out of proportion and clearly made to crack his and his friend's resolve. ]

[ While the words are harsh and cruel, they do nothing to shatter his armor. Noctis' anger is clear on his face, but it only seeks to fuel his energy and tactics. There is still a moment where his blade clashes with Gladio's double, where Noctis' copy seeks to brutally damage. Gladio's sweep of his blade throws the copycat prince off his feet, but another toss of his blade has him warping to a high streetlight. ]

[ The true Noctis sees that opening. He grits his teeth, working to commit to his mind that this is not Gladio. He switches gazes between the two only briefly. The fact that they look exactly the same doesn't make this easy, but there's no time to barter with his own feelings. With gritting teeth, he tosses his blade towards the copy which shifts its attention. He tosses it high, giving himself decent height where a flash of blue light sends him just above the target. Noctis turns it around, aiming the end of the sword's handle at the enemy where he strikes him on the head with hopes of knocking him cold. ]

You're done!

[ Damn, the copy's even got his warp-strikes down. So much for that plan. Gladio may be stronger, but Noct has speed on him. They train together too often for Gladio to give up that easy. Still it's not like Noct can't beat Gladio (if he really, really tries,) and this other Noct seems to at least have the drive that Noct usually lacks.

No offense, Noct. (Yes, offense, Noct.) Gladiou knows the best way to catch Noct off-guard is to taunt him and get in his head. If it works on the real thing, it should work on the double too. ]

What, running away already? Thought you were gonna tell me all about how I'm so jealous of you.

[ At least Gladio's double seems to have gone down without too much fuss. Without the loyalty and drive to protect his prince, he's no match for the two of them. The doppelganger is caught off guard and topples over, out like a light. Man, Gladio would be a bit embarrassed if he wasn't otherwise busy trying to keep Noct's double on his toes. He'll have all the time later for Noct to make fun of him, I'm sure. ]

[ The real Noctis is winded, but unscathed. As the Gladio double falls, he's left taking a second to catch his breath. It's... bizarre. Not so much seeing a fallen Gladio (he's kicked his ass in training before), but the things he'd said certainly sunk into his skin. But there's no time to dwell, especially in seeing that his own double has yet to take a final hit. With his grip tight around his sword, he's quick to go to Gladio's side. ]

[ In the face of this creature, he's speechless. Noctis has never considered himself perfect, but this thing? Not even close to a copy. Just a shoddy attempt. ]

Can't stay up there forever.

[ And the double knows it. His grip weakens, but it doesn't seem to bother him all that much. With a smirk, he says nothing, merely warping quick to the ground between the two. For but a moment, his weapon disappears in a flash of blue. ]

Working together, huh? Not rare. Definitely forced. Can you go five minutes without nagging, Gladio?

[ The double is amused, but seemingly bored when he's prepared to finish this quickly. He raises mid-air, feet dangling from the ground as the images of opaque weapons begin to appear before him. They circle him, raising high. The real Noctis grits his teeth. ]

Damn it, move!

[ The imminent threat of this copy releasing the Arminger Chain when Noctis hardly has the energy himself is abysmal. He smacks Gladio on the shoulder in warning, preparing to dodge or at least counter what's to come. ]

Edited 2017-01-29 04:17 (UTC)

Nope, sure can't.

[ Gladio shrugs at Noct's double. He's not gonna apologize for nagging Noct. It's practically his job since Ignis can't be bothered to half the time. Of course, for all that they've sparred against one another, Noct's never gone quite as all-out as this. Damn, there's something really not right about seeing some clone pull out Lucis' Royal Arms. ]

Shit, I was really hoping he didn't have those!

[ Less talking, more dodging. Gladio ducks out of the way and pulls up his shield to try and block whatever comes (placing himself between the doppelganger and the prince, of course.) He knows his weapons are likely no match for the power of kings, but like hell he's gonna just run away from some fake Noct. ]

You got any bright ideas, Noct?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

test drive meme #16

;3;

c;

;o

>D

>9

:D spoilers for ffxv chapter 9+ oops

:> !! Sorry for the delay! Work was pretty brutal but I am back!

no worries!! work got me too orz

-tired brofist- also omg I hope u app your Gladio is spectacular

awwww shucks I'm just winging it