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

[queensberry]

[Jacob bit back a push for more details. He gathered enough to come to the conclusion he didn't want to make that mood worse. At least, not when he could easily wind up getting to know how sharp that spear really is.

So he follows the subject of the armory, gaze lingering on none of the weapons until he'd taken a glance back at the pointed end of Ardyn's weapon of choice. There was a renewed light where his confidence had stuttered.] Here? Dramatics can turn deadly. But...

[He crosses to the shields, fitting his unarmed arm through the enarmes with a grin.] I've always wanted to try these, and you need a dummy to bash that mood out.

[daemonized]

[jacob, jacob no

Ardyn huffs out an amused-sounding noise as the man moves to one of the shields hung on the wall, then takes it for himself. He shifts his weight to face him properly, moving the spear from one hand to the other, an idle gesture.]

Is that what you’ll be, then? My “training dummy”?

[Well. He’ll not say “no”, at any rate. Ardyn runs on calculation and decisiveness, but the rest of him is malleable, adaptable. Some might even say impulsive where trifling matters are concerned.]

A generous offer, but are you certain you can handle the burden?

[queensberry]

[jacob, jacob yes]

I've heard I've got the "dummy" part covered, so let's get to training. [At least he can acknowledge this isn't one of his best ideas. Still, that doesn't deter him from raising the shield in front of him.] I've handled heavier.

[He takes a more defensive stance, clearly not paying any mind to the fact they were still surrounded by an arsenal of sharp things. In fact,] Anything's fair game. You get a hit on me, and you can tell everyone you bested Jacob Frye.

[daemonized]

[why r u doing this, pls re-examine your life choices]

[Ardyn closes the distance between them slowly at first, with long even strides. It isn't until he's a more proper distance away -- suitable enough for a spear, at least -- that he stops.]

Just one hit, Jacob Frye? [He wants to laugh, and he does look amused, but one must credit Jacob for being confident in his skill. Ardyn grasps the spear with both hands now, shifting his weight in a way that settles him into something more reminiscent of an actual stance.] What if I want more than one?

[Joking????]

[queensberry]

[his life choices are death by ardyn, he has aspirations

Jacob does look amused and laughs. It's probably the worst time to, given the nature of his joke, but there's no nervous undertone. No, he's actually enjoying this. The only thing he has regard for his top hat, which he flattens against his chest and tucks in his coat. He's ready.]

You'll have to earn it, you... [He didn't learn his name, so he has to have some sort of witty nickname. Hmmm... Hm...] Dear. Friend.

[Nailed it.]

[daemonized]

["Dear friend". Does Ardyn even decide to comment on this "witty nickname"? Well, yes, but only in a way that discourages Jacob from saying it again, by giving his "real" name.]

My name is Ardyn Izunia. Decide whether or not to call me a dear friend after we're through.

[That sounds like it bodes well, doesn't it? And yet Ardyn speaks it with an airy tone, regardless.

There'll be no declarations concerning whether or not Ardyn is ready to begin -- he is, which is made obvious by the way he rushes forward in his stance, aiming for a forceful blow on Jacob's shield. This is him testing the proverbial waters, starting off easily enough, misleading. Toying, even.]

[queensberry]

Izunia? With a name like that, I just might—

[Jacob had assumed Ardyn might dive right in, but not right into his shield. He'd been on his toes, anticipating the need to dodge, and hardly braced for impact. Needless to say, it sent him staggering backward. Maybe he should have been so focused on making fun.]

My sister hits harder! [Or he could keep going as soon he catches his balance. He keeps his eyes on Ardyn, reaching to a rack beside him for whatever he might occupy his other hand with. A knife on the smaller side. Great.] I thought I was handling a burden, not an inconvenience!

[daemonized]

[His smile widens, and he does laugh a little this time, a heedless sounding thing. He seems pleased that he had sent Jacob staggering just a bit, and he eyes the man as he finds a knife to go along with the shield.

Ardyn decides to stick with the spear, at least for now.]

An inconvenience? What a rude thing to say, when I'm merely being courteous.

[Ardyn has a strange definition of the word "courtesy"; in this case it means he's choosing not to be an overtly sadistic, murderous asshole, and just go completely all-out from the start. Which, really, good on him.]

I can hit harder, if you like.

[Which is the only warning Jacob gets this time, as Ardyn rushes forward once more, but not to strike the shield. Instead, he moves adjacent to his opponent, to the side wielding the dagger rather than the shield, and aims for some spot unprotected. An arm, or a shoulder. Anywhere would do, he's not picky.]

[queensberry]

I'm not here to be courteous, Zuni! [It took him maybe a minute to decide a new, horrible nickname for Ardyn. There was a part of Jacob that didn't doubt the man could inflict some deadly damage, and a part that said a little fun never hurt anyone too badly.

The latter won over. Jacob was still grinning like the fool he was as Ardyn made his next move, even when he'd taken a step too slow. Ardyn's spear tore through the leather of his overcoat, leaving a sizable hole through the sleeve. Jacob probably has a moment to retaliate, but he's going to jump back spend his moment of opportunity gaping at it.]

I was knighted in these! [With the time to use the knife he'd grab long since passed, he'll opt for a late lunge towards Ardyn shield first.]

[daemonized]

[Zuni? Really? Ardyn isn’t sure if he should be vaguely amused, ambivalent, or annoyed at Jacob dissembling a surname that he, in actuality, quite hates. He settles somewhere closer to ambivalent, apparently, evident by the way that he doesn’t look terribly fazed by the nickname. Only the slightest of brow quirks belies any consideration of it to begin with.

When his spear hits cloth rather than flesh, it seems to have surprised Jacob enough that the man doesn’t retaliate immediately. Ardyn shifts back accordingly, putting some space between them. Knighted? There's a mental scoff that he chooses not to enunciate.]

Best take up sewing, then. Nonetheless, it could be worse.

[You know, he could have actually skewered him.

When Jacob rushes forward, shield-first, Ardyn shifts and twists his body to miss the incoming impact, just barely. He has to admit that, despite Jacob’s seemingly headstrong manner, the man at least shows some tactical cognizance; with him rushing in this close, a spear is relatively useless.

Which means he could abandon his weapon and go for something more suitable, and maybe he will — but first, a bit of improvisation. The pointed-end of the spear would never hit its mark, but that doesn’t mean he can’t rely on the shaft. He lurches the weapon forward, apparently aiming at nothing — when in actuality, he’s aiming low on purpose, attempting to trip Jacob up under his own feet as he rushes on past.]

[queensberry]

[Sewing! Jacob's going to find a big ugly iron-on patch. He'll show it off to Ardyn later, claim it's like nothing happened. These are the things he thinks about as he's tripping over his own feet.

In hindsight, he should have been paying less attention on how he definitely wasn't going to be sewing anything. Sure enough, Jacob's feet catch on the shaft of the spear, sending him barreling into a display of swords. It sent them sliding all across the floor, Jacob catching himself on rack and leaning against it.]

That's smart. [He admits in a groan, rolling his shoulders as he turned to face Ardyn again.] You're smarter than I thought, Zuni.

[daemonized]

[He watches with keen satisfaction as Jacob crashes into a display of swords, creating all sorts of clattering noises that echo throughout the armory. Ardyn straightens for now, looking at him with growing mirth.]

I certainly hope you don't mean to imply that you thought I was a dolt until just now.

[He lifts up his spear with one hand, pointing it in Jacob's direction.]

That, or a man who appreciates a fine array of weapons without knowing how to properly use them?

[queensberry]

I assumed you were a man with no taste. [As if Jacob were one to talk,] Let alone one that knows how to use them. Or, let's say, dodge.

[He spares a glance between the spear and Ardyn, flashing a grin before his next move. He leaned off the rack, taking an abrupt step and flinging his knife forward. He hadn't aimed for Ardyn's face-- god forbid, he was having too much fun watching it-- but for his shoulder, likely in revenge for his stupid coat.]

[daemonized]

[The day that someone does not make a jab at his fashion choices is the day that the entirety of the universe implodes in on itself. Until then, however, Ardyn seems relatively immune to quips like that being thrown his way.

Knives, on the other hand, well. They're a bit more problematic.

Ardyn has one of two options. They both involve moving out of the way so that the dagger doesn't plant itself into his shoulder, but the matter of how is the question. He could just do it the old-fashioned way, hoping to shift his weight and turn his body just fast enough to avoid the blade doing any damage to him -- possible, if not cutting it a bit close. It's flying with deadly accuracy that even Ardyn finds somewhat impressive.

Or he could lean on his abilities and literally phase out of the way; safety that way is guaranteed, but it would reveal something about him that he's not sure he's ready for, in these new and confusing circumstances. And so, opting towards caution for reasons that Jacob couldn't possibly be aware of, Ardyn chooses the first option.

He is, fortunately, fast enough to avoid the knife; he isn't fast enough to not let it snag on his scarf as he turns his body just in the knick of time, and the blade pulls at it, unravelling it from around his neck, tearing it away and sending it flying across the armory.

Ardyn frowns, turning his head to look at his opponent. In the distance, the knife clatters to the ground with a muffled noise, thanks to being caught in cloth.]

Now, that was an antique.

[queensberry]

Best take up sewing, then. [Jacob bowed his head with a cheeky little grin. If he were disappointed in his dagger missing its mark, he certainly didn't show it. No, Jacob's confident as ever, seeing as he's tossing aside the shield and opening his arms.

If he had any knowledge of Ardyn's abilities, he might have shown more reluctance. But ignorant, he's inviting, as if both their blades hadn't come dangerously close to drawing blood.] You still haven't gotten a hit on me, Zuni. Should I go easy on you?

[daemonized]

[The more confidence the man shows, the more patronizing Ardyn seems to grow, rising in degrees. When Jacob discards his shield, Ardyn does the same with his spear, having grown bored of it.]

And what makes you think that I’m not going easy on you, Jacob? Maybe—

[His hand reaches out towards the wall, displaying great silver axes there. He grasps at one, seeming undeterred by its weight.]

—I’m just having a bit of fun before I draw first blood.

[The temptation is growing, really, to just warp over there and slice at him with his axe; but he controls himself, for now, waiting to see just how cocky this man can be.]