test drive meme #17

[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 February 22nd, and apps are open March 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: SHOOTING HOOPS
[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.

There you are, calmly exploring this super cool cave city, when all of a sudden you see something roll toward you. What could that possibly be? Why, it seems the Door has brought in some hoop snakes, which are definitely real.

Hoop snakes are poisonous and aggressive reptiles, able to pursue fleeing prey by grasping their tail in their jaws and rolling after them like a wheel. Wow, so efficient! Hard to get away from, though, and kind of... terrifying? If you want to get away, you better be a fast runner. Or maybe you should climb something. Good luck!]

S O R R O W

SCENARIO TWO: YOU GOT THE BLUES
[You woke up this morning on the wrong side of the bed. Not the angry side - the sad side. Somehow, everything just seems to be going wrong, and you don't know why. You were out of milk for your cereal, the fruit you picked just yesterday is already going bad, and instead of getting frustrated all you want to do is feel sorry for yourself.

Even the good things aren't going too well. Maybe your friend just told you your hair looks nice today - doesn't that mean it looks bad the rest of the time? Probably. They've just been too nice to tell you. And your crush smiled at you - that probably means they know about your feelings and are getting ready to let you down easy. That's the only explanation.

No matter what happens, your mind is giving you the worst, most depressing interpretation. You can try to fight it and be aggressively upbeat - or maybe you just want to cry on somebody's shoulder. Yeah. That sounds good right about now.]

D E L I G H T

SCENARIO THREE: PUCKER UP
[For once, Hadriel looks rather lovely, all covered in snow and seasonal! Sure, it's not quite the right season anymore, but who really knows what month it is? Not the residents, and certainly not the gods. But for whatever reason, Delight has decided there should be snow on the ground and ugly sweaters in the shops.

And, of course, mistletoe. On your wanderings around the city, you may find yourself under the mistletoe with a friend or a stranger or even an enemy. Regardless of who they are and how you really feel about them, the mistletoe will give you a gentle compulsion to plant a kiss right on those appealing lips of theirs. You can resist if you want - it won't force you - but don't you kind of want to go for it?

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

Comments

[angstfree]

[ That’s basically his best only material. The worst part? It usually works. Ryan shoots a skeptical look at the guy next to him. ]

Thanks. Sorry, you’re, uh, you're not really my type.

[ It comes out harsher than expected. In part because of his earlier mood, but mostly due to the remaining urge to get closer. Even platonically, it’s a level of contact he usually prefers to avoid. With just about everyone, let alone complete strangers.

Which can only mean this place is screwing with him. Again. ]

[deceiving_is_believing]

[A sly smirk from Shuuya.]

Oh, is that so? Well, then... [He shifts into someone he knows from home, his voice changing to match her appearance. A pose and a wink.]

Is this more your type, then?

[If Momo ever found out, he would probably have to apologizing for tarnishing her name. But, she's not here, so oh, well]

[angstfree]

[ It says something about this place that the display only warrants a brief look of surprise. Shapeshifting isn't even the strangest thing he's seen this week. ]

Maybe. It I hadn't seen you do it.

[deceiving_is_believing]

Awh, man, you're no fun~

[A chuckle later and he reverts back to his former self.]

That's alright, I wouldn't want to kiss a mug like yours anyhow. That would just be weird. [As to what specifically would be weird, he leaves wide open. Fun for the imagination.]

[angstfree]

Yeah, I try not to be.

[ He quirks an eyebrow at the second comment. He’s the weird one here? Really? ]

Who said anything about kiss–[ Oh. He finally looks up to see the offending plant. ] That makes sense. Is it even supposed to be December here?

[ Because that was months ago in Newport. Not that time and logic are real popular around here. ]

[deceiving_is_believing]

[A sharp burst of laughter.]

Oh, man, you seriously didn't notice?! Haha! My bad! I thought you knew, that's why I was flirting with you. [Insert fits of snickering here.]

Your guess is as good as mine. I was in... like August when I got pulled here. ...I think. It's kind of a haze. [He gives a humoured shrug.]

[angstfree]

[ He shrugs at the laughter, clearly so excited to be the source of this guy’s amusement. ]

First time I’ve seen it today. Which probably means it’s all over the city, right? [ Mostly rhetorical. Nothing’s ever done by halves here. Which is one more reason to spend the rest of the day holed up in his room. ]

I know what you mean. It was spring at home, so…

[ Two Christmases in three and a half months. Seth would be in heaven here. ]

[deceiving_is_believing]

Yea, it's in some pretty interesting places. I've never seen it grow inside a building before.

Hey, if it's second Christmas, do you think they'll give us video games? The snow and stuff is cool (Ha, get it?) and all, but I'd prefer something more entertaining. All I've seen so far is ugly sweaters in the stores. [A laugh.] Maybe it's a long shot, but a guy can dream, right?

[angstfree]

Yeah. I doubt it. Not unless we make it worth their while first.

[ He’s been here long enough to know the barter system is a hit with the gods. Just as well, as far as Ryan’s concerned. He’s never been big on trusting random acts of kindness. ]

Unless it’s a way home, I’m not really interested in their gifts.

[ Bah humbug? ]

[deceiving_is_believing]

Boy, you must be a real hit with all the ladies back home. I bet they swoon over you left and right. They must all be waterlogged now that you're out of their grasp. [Absolute sarcasm. As if there was any doubt.]

Seriously, dude, lighten up. We all miss home, but if whatever it was that brought us here is too stupid to be able to send us back, what's the point of moping? You're going to give yourself a headache. Although, with that expression, it looks like you already have one.

[angstfree]

[ His jaw clenches, the ladies comment hitting a little too close to the mark. Considering the way he and Marissa had left things...let’s just say, it’s been one more thing he’s been trying not to think about since arriving here. With a sigh, he releases the tension he’d been holding. Slightly. Of all the things he’s gotten into a fight about this, this would be the dumbest. Or in the top ten, at least. ]

You’re right. Sorry. I’m not big on the whole...holiday thing. Makes being here even worse, that’s all.

[ Yes. In the cave of horrors, snow and mistletoe are just a bridge too far. ]

[deceiving_is_believing]

[Shuuya mentally scoffs. What does this man know of worse? He waves his hand to dismiss the apology.]

I'm not asking you to be sorry. Just... you got to roll with the punches, man. Life and lemonade or whatever. Or are you going to just suck on those lemons crying about how sour they are when you've got sugar right beside you?

[He doesn't care all that much for the pessimist outlook on things. But, then again, he has a strong tolerance for going through things that aren't okay.]

I mean, shit, you're acting like you watched Grandma get run over by a reindeer while Santa packed an MK-47.

[angstfree]

[ If there’s one thing Ryan’s never doubted about himself it’s his ability to roll with the punches and adapt. This may be why he listens blankly when the other guy starts talking. Though, the scowl fades into a brief, quirk of the mouth smile at the last comparison. ]

How do you know I didn’t?

[ Anything's possible here, right? ]

[deceiving_is_believing]

[Shuuya glances at Ryan, just looking over him once.]

Your body language. [Although, he's not going to elabourate. Doing that means going in on his own past and that's not happening. He abruptly changes the topic.]

Hey, do you know why seagulls fly over the sea?

[angstfree]

[ Ryan’s usually good at getting a bead on people, but this guy’s...opaque, to say the least. The randomness of the last question isn’t helping. There’s a noticeable pause before the answer comes. ]

...No idea.

[ But he’s sure Shuuya's going to enlighten him. ]

[deceiving_is_believing]

[Shuuya's already cracking up before he can get his answer out.]

Because if they flew over the bay, they'd be called Bay-gulls!

[He's still snickering. He thinks he's just that damn funny. Seriously, who doesn't love a terrible joke?]

[angstfree]

[ People who hate fun? Though, not even Ryan can keep a completely straight face at that. It’s not the awful joke. It’s the ridiculous enthusiasm over it. ]

Let me guess. Your version of rolling with it?

[ His vote’s still for brooding. Sorry, man. ]

[deceiving_is_believing]

I'm always rolling with it. [A smile and a wink.]

It's the key to a happy existence.

[Okay, that's a lie. Shuuya's not a happy person, but he'll play it like he is until the end of the world, God willing.]

I've got more if you want 'em.

[angstfree]

[ Yeah, this guy's almost too happy. But, there's something refreshing and a little nostalgic about the babbling. It's not a sound he's been exposed to much since arriving here.

For that reason, he gives a little 'go ahead' hand gesture. ]

Why not?

[deceiving_is_believing]

Whoa, man, really? Sweet!

Okay, okay. So, what's the difference between a snowman and a snowwoman?

[More snickering as he waits to answer.]

Snow-balls!

[He's enjoying himself so much. Bless Ryan.]

[angstfree]

[ This may actually be weirder than the mistletoe. He had no idea anyone past the age of five enjoyed this sort of thing. At least, not to this extent.

Instead of interrupting, Ryan stays quiet and only acknowledges the joke with a half-amused grin. Partially because he doesn't want to bug the guy clearly having way too much fun. And...also, a healthy amount of morbid curiosity that makes him want to see how long Shuuya can keep going. ]

[deceiving_is_believing]

[Shuuya will enjoy just about anything with an hilarious impulse. Age has no limit on funny.]

Alright, so, what did the dog say when he sat on the sand paper?

Ruff-ruff.

[He might die from laughing if this keeps going too long. Good thing his artillery is limited.]

[angstfree]

[ Sure, the age argument would be true...if any of these were actually funny. But despite himself, Ryan has relaxed significantly from the start of this conversation. It’s too bizarre not to have. ]

Where did you get these?

[ Like, do you have a book of shitty jokes or is it just natural 'talent'? ]

[deceiving_is_believing]

Just stuff I picked up in the orphanage. [He manages between laughs and light shrug. For all the stuff he managed to hear from the kids who avoided him, Kido, and Seto.]

I have no idea where they got them though. Maybe from home before they ended up there.

[It may be a downer point, but Shuuya seems to be keeping his good humour, regardless.]

[angstfree]

[ There’s a small, instinctive reaction to the word orphanage. Just a tiny moment where his good humor fades at the thought of the system. Then it’s gone, hidden as quickly as it appeared. ]

Well, uh. Thanks for sharing.

[ It’s said drily. He may feel better than he did earlier, but that doesn’t mean he’s willing to admit it. ]