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

[It isn't everyday that you meet your idol out wandering the streets, in a place that was not the Underground. But nothing has really made any sense to Napstablook since they've arrived, and that was definitely Mettaton - much taller than Napstablook remembers seeing. And in their big debut form no less.

... Except there's two of them?

Napstablook takes a few, clumsy steps forward. Part of them curious as to what's going on, and the other part of them wanting to run in the opposite direction. Meeting one Mettaton was nerve-wracking... meeting two of them though?

Right as the double's arms reach out to snare Mettaton, a lanky, white-haired human that looks like they haven't slept in days calls out nervously.]

m-mettaton...?

If anything could snap Mettaton out of his self-pitying state (which really...it doesn't sound like him anyway), it would be the owner of that voice. Mettaton whirls immediately, surprising his other self, and for a moment, they stare at each other, neither knowing quite what to do.

Surprisingly, the real Mettaton reacts quicker, his expression switching to one of just anger as he takes a half-step back, and using what little momentum he generated to kick upward, catching his copy under the chin and causing him to reel back. Good. That gives him a second, because he knows his kicks aren't something to walk off.

It's just enough time that he can see the unmistakably human individual who had said his name. He didn't think he was wrong about who he'd heard. But although he's dealt with species getting switched--he'd been human for a while himself, after all--he has to be sure.

"Who...are you?" he asked. "And make it quick, please!!"

There's a visible wince and a look of alarm as Mettaton kicks the other Mettaton. It takes them a few seconds to find their voice again.

"i'm napstablook... i called on your show before... once...
um... is this a bad time...?"

It looks like it. Maybe they should go...?

"I know, I remember!!" he says quickly, and he looks so relieved, so happy, that it almost makes this better, because it's Blooky, it's his cousin and he's missed them so much...

Unfortunately he finds himself needing to prioritize, and at this point, his other self is starting to recover from that kick. Now however...he has much more of a reason to get out of this nonsense.

"Honey, we should, ah. We should run, before I do something decidedly unfabulous to myself..."

His other self laughs, and there's really something quite deranged about how his hair has been pushed askew, revealing that awful hole in his head. His head.

"Oh good! It's about time you made a proper show of it!! Very well, I'll give you a head start, sweetie!!"

The real Mettaton grits his teeth. This isn't a game to him...but he can't deny that he'd think it was if the boot was on the other foot. So...he plays along with it and without another word, he moves closer to Napstablook and ushers them along with him.

"Come on, let's leave, shall we? There's no point in lingering with such an uncouth and poorly-made copy," he says quietly.

"you... you do? oh gee... i didn't think anyone would..."

Their call was so short, and they just blabbed on nervously before quickly hanging up. Mettaton really remembered that call? It felt weird being remembered by someone you've been a fan of for a while now - well, partially weird because this conversation was happening while two Mettatons were fighting each other.

It did make them kind of happy though. It's short-lived because Mettaton is now right there next to them and trying to hurry them along, away from the other Mettaton. They straighten up nervously.

"o-okay... um.... i'm not very fast so if we're running i might slow you down..."

If Mettaton wants to go ahead and leave, Napstablook would understand. They feel even more useless in this corporeal body they didn't want. Almost in demonstration, Napstablook takes a few steps forward - they're still a little wobbly, but they're getting better at it. They'll try to keep up as best as they can.

"You'll do fine, sweetheart. Don't you think I'd be sporting?! If that...strange other me is as much like me as it's trying to be, then his word is his bond."

Simple platitudes, of course. Pretty words to hide that he wished they could move faster, but his guilt wouldn't let him rush Napstablook; they hadn't ever wanted this kind of thing, after all. Corporeality. Walking must have been hard...

"I'm so glad you are here," he says, despite himself.

He has a pretty strong feeling that Blooky doesn't know him like this yet, but...well. One crisis at a time. Mettaton's not the guy who can handle a full load anymore, not that he'd ever admit that.

From the shadows, a whisper--it seems as if his other self is not going to leave them completely alone yet:

"Maybe you can do it right this time. But...I rather doubt that."

A laugh.

"Let me know when it's too heavy to bear."

Mettaton pointedly ignores the words, or at least tries to.

Napstablook does their best to keep up, but even with their best they just aren't very fast. A few minutes in, they dip a little as if they're going to fall, but manage to hold themselves upright.

It's a first.

There's a thudding in Napstablook's chest as Mettaton says that he's glad to see them. Stronger than the usual constant, unpleasant thudding in their chest.

"oh gee... i'm glad to hear it but i'm not anyone special... i'm sure you've already got a lot of fans here?"

Nope, they still have no idea what the connection is. Napstablook pauses for a moment to hear what's being whispered in the shadows, but it doesn't make any sense to them.

"i didn't think this was how i'd get to meet you in person though... haha..."

It's an awkward laugh.

It almost pains him that Napstablook doesn't know. He'd thought that it would have been better this way, for a brief moment. Because then he wouldn't have to disappoint them again...but that's not really the case, is it? He doesn't want to tell them who he is because then he'd have to relive that guilt again, from square one, when he'd never gotten over it in the first place.

It makes him feel more cornered, and his core fickers as he attempts to keep himself together. He's going to have to do this.

"I don't know if I have fans here--probably not, I don't know this place. But you're my favorite fan, of that I am truly certain."

He smiles, even though it hurts.

"I have to say, I'm surprised to see you human though."

No, that didn't seem right...

Mettaton would've only known about their existence with that one phone call. They had an UnderNet account that they'd occasionally comment on one of his shows, but Napstablook didn't have any followers.

They weren't anyone's favorite fan, they weren't anyone's best friend, they were just...

Napstablook.

There's a nervous, uncertain chuckle. The confusion in their expression is easy to read.

"well i didn't really ask for it...
...
i'm sorry... i'm... not really sure how you know me? i don't remember mentioning my name before telling you just now...
i'm a big fan and all but i'm... not anyone's favorite fan."

Fuck.

"No, you wouldn't understand. That is my fault. I'm so sorry, Blooky, but what I'm saying isn't a lie. Perhaps I ought to tell you my secret, then?"

He laughs humorlessly, backing away from Napstablook as he mutters to himself, "Well...again anyway, you knew this where I'm from. Too many shifts, too many timelines..."

His core flickers again, then the glow intensifies. Briefly, the robot smiles, before the glow leaves his core, and his SOUL phases through the transparent container, reforming slowly into the shape of someone that Napstablook would find familiar.

Or at least Mettaton hopes. After all, he used to be just...them.

"My secret is that I know you, because I could never forget you."

Napstablook can't help but stare, as the robot in front of them - the robot they've been such a huge fan of - becomes lifeless, and in his place...

... Their cousin.

...

Their cousin.

This whole time...

This whole time they were... when Napstablook thought they'd never seen them again...

"i-i don't-"

The words come out choked, as if Napstablook is trying to break their own stunned silence with something to say. It was like having a wound ripped up, and all those memories of sitting alone in their house with an empty spot on their couch comes flooding back.

Tears, naturally, follow after. They never thought their cousin was gone for good - none of their cousins that became corporeal were gone, but they'd always assumed their cousin had left for a better life.

One without them in it. Because, after all, the one who was holding them back was always...

A sob forces itself out of their throat.

"I don't understand."

Edited 2017-02-14 09:11 (UTC)

It hurt just as much to go through this again as it had the first time, of course, except that this time it was worse, somehow. Because Mettaton had gone through this already, and he'd been so upset watching Blooky cry and knowing how many years were wasted on his selfish dreams.

Mettaton floats forward, but his pupil-less eye won't focus on Napstablook. He can't. He just can't.

The words of a child come to mind...a reminder that he deserves this. He deserves it all and no apology will ever suffice.

"Blooky I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, I...I shouldn't have left, I wanted to come back but things..."

The small ghost begins to cry, his nubby little fingers covering his face as best they can. He can't even pretend he's a poised, famous star loved by everyone. He isn't. He has nothing to fall back on.

"I was so selfish!! I should have come back so much sooner. I'm the most terrible cousin...!!"

Mettaton is so out of practice with being a ghost that he hardly notices how he's fading away, so close to just running from his own guilt.

Well if one thing hasn't changed between them, it was their ability to become a crying, incorporeal wreck. Napstablook feels a dizzying mess of emotions - guilt, sadness, hurt - all swirling around as their cousin bears his heart in a flurry of apologies and tears. Napstablook notices him starting to fade out of their sight and panics, arms clumsily reaching out to stop him.

Maybe it was wrong to stop him, but in this moment-

"no... wait! please don't go..."

Napstablook's face is a mess of tears, and even as they reach out it doesn't feel right. They're not supposed to bet this tall, their cousin isn't supposed to be so much shorter than them, all of it felt wrong. But nonetheless...

They don't want him to leave.

Mettaton's eye tracks upward, and he lets out a startled little gasp as he realizes what he was doing. Oh...no, no. He can't run away from this. Then he'd be leaving Blooky again. How would he ever be able to live with himself?

"I'm sorry, I won't...I won't go, just..."

He floats backwards, towards his slumped robot body, fading back into it. He'd made his point, he wasn't going to help it by staying a sad little ghost.

No more tears. Not from him.

Once he's repossessed his body, Mettaton draws himself up and moves closer to Napstablook. Even if he isn't crying anymore, the look on his face expresses that he probably would be...if he could.

"I won't leave you again."

That's okay, Napstablook is crying enough for the both of them. They don't move as Mettaton drifts back into his body, and as his robot form starts to move, it almost feels like the ghostly form of their cousin was just an illusion.

But...

They've seen that face before, robot or not. They've seen that expression on their cousin before. Napstablook lowers their head, not meeting Mettaton's eyes. They can't stop crying.

"i'm..." Their voice sounds shaky, "i'm not mad..."

They don't get mad, so maybe that didn't mean much coming from Napstablook.

"you... really want to stay...?"

"Blooky, I want nothing more than that. I will make the apology you deserve however many times I must, whether you're angry or not..."

Mettaton feels so vulnerable right now, certainly far more vulnerable than he'd felt when he had done this back on the surface. It's to be expected; he's been through a lot. But he can't even begin to explain that to Napstablook, can he...?

"I've missed you. It's been so long since I've last seen you, sweetheart."

Unable to stop himself, Mettaton reaches forward and draws his now-human cousin into his arms, hugging them tightly.

There is so much I want to say to you...but I don't want to upset you.

Napstablook is pulled into the hug without any kind of resistance. A part of them wonders if they should be mad - after all, it still hurt. Even now, it hurt.

But they can't bring themselves to feel that way. They really did miss him. And it's not like Napstablook could really blame him for leaving. Mettaton never wanted a quiet life of snail farming, and even Napstablook could see his restlessness for something else.

"... i missed you too. my life pretty much didn't change while you were gone, so you didn't miss too much... haha..."

It's a weak attempt at a laugh, and their eyes swell up with tears again. At the same time, they realize their face is pressed against Mettaton's chest plate.

"thank you... for coming back..."

"This place cannot be so terrible if we're together again."

That's all Mettaton says, because he's content to just stay this way. After nearly a year of being separated from his cousin after reconciling and including them in everything he did (within reason, he wouldn't push Napstablook into something they didn't like), it had really stung to be without them.

Staring at the stars on the observation deck of the Moira had always made his SOUL ache, and he really did feel like garbage without his family. Maybe it had a little bit to do with why he felt so gifted to have been accepted by the Dreemurr family, and why it had hurt so much more to have Chara despise him.

But that didn't matter now, did it? Because even if he lost one family, he'd found his true family, and if he had to hurt missing one to have the other...so be it.

No, it can't be. Even if this place has given them a few scares, or forced them into a new body. Wherever they were, it wasn't the Underground they knew - but maybe that could be okay too? Napstablook knew their life wasn't going to change too much, whether here, back home, or even on the surface. Except here they were...

"I've been practicing being corporeal... this body wasn't my idea, but i think i'm starting to figure it out some... maybe..."

They're not good at it. They're not a good human. But they've got no option but to keep trying.

This. It's familiar. He feels a little more like himself this way, and as Napstablook comments on their own corporeality, Mettaton feels a swell of something familiar in him. Something good and normal and truly affectionate.

"I'm sorry it wasn't something you meant to have, that must be terribly uncomfortable," he says softly, pulling away so that he can look down at his cousin. "But I am so proud of you for putting forth such effort in getting by! If there's any way I can help, then please let me know!

I have had to experience humanity within recent memory. It's rather nice, but only if you take care of your body!"

"oh gee... honestly it doesn't feel like i'm really cut out for all of this..."

Their body is uncomfortable, with so much management that they never had to worry about before. Sleeping was their biggest challenge - there was supposedly a balance to sleep, where you wake up and didn't feel so sluggish, but Napstablook hadn't figured it out yet.

Often times they just stayed up long enough until they didn't remember falling asleep.

"but i guess there are some nice things... like um... right now..."

Touch was nice. Even right now, there's a kind of warmth between them that feels so much different.

"i guess you'd know a lot more about humans than i would, heh..."

Not that Napstablook knows that Mettaton was literally human for a little while.

He'd know more about humans, huh? Yeah...yeah, he does. Mettaton thinks to himself that it was rather nice being in a human body, if he didn't count the whole getting sick part. He enjoyed taste and touch, and he'd be happy to have them again.

But at the back of his mind there's a niggling thought.

You don't really like humans all that much anymore, do you? Because there were just as many humans as there were aliens on the Outpost.

He swallows, pushing those thoughts back. No way. There was no way he would ever tell Napstablook about that. Ever. They have more than enough to deal with, and Mettaton's baggage was his own.

...He realizes he's been quiet for, perhaps, too long, and he finally speaks.

"Mm? Ah, yes, well. I never made it secret how much their culture intrigued me, did I? Haha. Oh, but I actually did become human for a short time--on the ship I used to live on."

Damn it, he doesn't want to talk about the Moira, why did he say that?

test drive meme #16

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1/???

2/???

3/???

Done

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when the icon hurts just right

/smooshes them together

forever

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i was going to make this cute, but then...

sad undertales gonna sad

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