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

[daemonized]

[The side-stepping of the question is noted, but not exactly enough to get under Ardyn's skin. Curiosity exists, to be certain, but he's apathetic enough to not particularly care one way or another if the reason isn't shared with him -- other than for the amusement of prying for discomfort's sake.]

Then I'd know not to have such conversation with you in the future, else you share it with those you stumble across. But of course, now this only makes me believe that you're avoiding my question.

[deceiving_is_believing]

Now why would I do something like that? I'm just more interested in you, is all.

[Avoiding? What's that?]

You don't have to worry about it, I have no one here to tell.

[daemonized]

And haven’t you heard of give and take? The information you garner from me will hit an unfortunate plateau, unless you indulge me in my own curiosities.

[In other words, if you’re going to avoid questions, so will he. A politician at heart, he doesn’t just give information freely unless he’s in a generous mood — and a rare mood that is.]

[deceiving_is_believing]

[Shuuya's eyebrows shoot up into what comes to be an awkward stare. An impasse. Well, this is just great. He's actually not comfortable with this. At all. And it probably shows on his face a little as he mulls it over.]

Well... Fine what do you want to know, then?

[Maybe he can pass a lie by this guy and get away with it.]

[daemonized]

[A bit misleadingly, he starts easily enough, but the discomfort on Shuuya’s face is visible to a man like Ardyn.]

Why don’t we begin with names? That shouldn’t be too difficult for you.

[deceiving_is_believing]

[Oh, that's definitely an easy one. The smile returns to his face.]

Shuuya. Shuuya Kano. And what do they call a strapping young man as yourself?

[Shuuya's known for his mouth and not thinking if something might be offensive, but he genuinely means that in a warm way.]

[daemonized]

[The irony in that is, of course, that Ardyn is anything but young. But he at least doesn't look anything close to his actual age.]

Ardyn Izunia. [-he says, with a slight incline of his head. Obviously the "strapping young man" comment did little more than just slide off of him completely.] A pleasure, Shuuya.

Now, I imagine you know what I'm going to ask next.

[His question from before, what the young man had been so hesitant to answer.]

[deceiving_is_believing]

[Yep, and Shuuya goes right back to being hesitant for a few more moments.]

What my personal experience is to Fate being cruel, huh?

[Okay, maybe he can divulge a little. This is stuff that can happen in anybody's life. Right? Just don't go getting super detailed. This'll be fine.]

Well... My big sis died by suicide. [Which is the cover story back at home. It's not the whole truth as to her disappearance. But Shuuya still blames himself for it.] I was supposed to be her hero, but she did it to save me... us... We were adopted, and... Something wasn't right with Dad. I don't know what, but she apparently did, and she jumped to her death for it.

[He actually does know, but he doesn't want Ardyn asking about it, so there's his main lie. The rest... well.. it's pretty much true. But, Shuuya's uncomfortable with it. He scratches his head and looks away.]

[daemonized]

[He listens, even tilting his head a little while Shuuya explains. He has no reason to doubt the boy, of course, nor does he have any reason to believe that he's being told the entirety of the truth. But regardless, it didn't matter. Ardyn's curiosity for now is passing at best.]

Family tragedy, is it? [If he can relate to that, even the smallest bit, he makes an effort to not let it show. His words sound almost flippant, even if they're laced with a truth he speaks rarely in actual sincerity.] The sort that leaves the biggest hole in the heart. And yet you appear just brimming with smiles, regardless.

[deceiving_is_believing]

[Ouch. Being called out for his Stepford Smiling actually hurts. Still, Shuuya throws on another smile.]

Yea, I guess that's just me.

[The best casual shrug he can manage, trying to ignore the pain nagging at the corners of his heart. How did one simple observation start crumbling his tower of defense? He's stronger than this. He has to be, for Ayano's sake.]

But you, what's your experience?

[Quickly changing this to the promised exchange of information. Anything to make the pain he feels right now stop, so he can go back to casual and joking.]

[daemonized]

[Give Ardyn an inch, and he'll take a mile. His sadistic nature is born from existing so long that he's lost his humanity somewhere along the way. Thus the man has no qualms about using his words to make others uncomfortable, make them teeter on the edge of sorrow just because he can. If Shuuya leaves a metaphorical opening for him, Ardyn will hone in, working his way inside and out, just to bring the pain to the surface.

What a nice guy!

Still, the question reflected back at him isn't surprising. He's already prepared an answer in his head.]

There is a war raging, where I come from. In such circumstances, Fate only favors those with the largest army, the strongest weaponry, the most cunning, ruthless minds.

Can you imagine the lives lost? The families shattered? Differing circumstances than yours, but the idea is the same. Fate is a cruel mistress, indeed.

[deceiving_is_believing]

...Yea, I can. [He's reminded of his birth mother, his adoptive mother, losing Ayano, and his siblings losing those close to them. Where they were gifted the escape from death, while their loved ones were devoured by Wide-Eyes Snake.

Shuuya stuffs his hands deep in his pockets.]

I'm sorry for your circumstances.

[daemonized]

Don't be.

[He spoke in generalized terms, in which there's obviously much more to the story than he's letting on. For example:]

There's nothing to pity when you're on the winning side, after all.

[deceiving_is_believing]

[Shuuya seems to think on this for a moment, wondering if he agrees. Eventually he shrugs as he goes to inspect a dagger.]

Yea, I guess so. [But it doesn't bring back what was lost, does it? Is it really alright?] What was your reason for fighting. I mean... I know it's war, but what was beneath that?

[daemonized]

[What was his reason? Well, to be completely truthful would delve too deep into reasons more personal than he'd like to reveal. And so, he offers something else that isn't false, per se.]

The Empire wanted to expand its power, as always; Niflheim was keen on gaining resources that it didn't have access to otherwise. [Namely, the Crystal itself.] I was the Niflheim Chancellor, you see. Loyalty by title alone.

[Well, the "loyalty" part isn't completely true.]

[deceiving_is_believing]

Sounds like alot of trouble. [His voice is remaining mostly mellow at this point. He looks a rather simple dagger over, touching his fingers along the blade.]

You were a Chancellor? You must have had alot of power. How did you guys win?

[daemonized]

[Ardyn watches, eying the dagger, but not particularly caring one way or another if Shuuya takes a liking to it or otherwise. He answers flippantly enough.]

How are wars often won? The side with the most might continues to push, until it's no longer about attrition, but rather a question of when the other side will fall.

[deceiving_is_believing]

I suppose so. But what about wits? Haven't battles been won by the underdog because they were smarter than their opponent?

[Back to weird questioning without a visible point with this kid. He picks up another dagger for comparison.]

Were there ever any doubts? Did you ever fear you might lose?

[daemonized]

And that's when one plays the game of politics. Thus, my title of Chancellor.

[The answer to the next question is quite simple. It's a resounding no.]

What with amount of preparation put into all of the planning I did? No. Lingering on fear is a useless endeavor, don't you think?

[deceiving_is_believing]

I wouldn't know. I haven't been afraid of a whole lot before. I guess it would depend on the circumstances. If I valued what was at stake more than my life. If I were fighting for my family, sure, I'd be fearless. But, if I were say maybe getting mugged at gunpoint, then yea, I'd be pretty damn scared.

[He pockets both of the daggers and turns back to face Ardyn with a smile.]

But, like I said, I haven't been given significant reason to be afraid before. So, I can't really confirm or deny if fear is useful.

[daemonized]

And what about being here, in Hadriel? What of fear, then? The idea of having lost everything, to sulking in caves and darkness for the rest of your days, doesn't concern you?

[Asked from a man who looks like it doesn't really concern him terribly, either.]

[deceiving_is_believing]

Not really. I mean... [A shrug.] I am concerned, about what is going to happen while I'm not there. But I can't do anything about it, can I? It makes no sense to be depressed over something I can't control.

[Of course, if he's prodded enough, he'll actually have to admit to himself that it does bother him. But why do that when you can fake smiles all the time?]

Why do you ask?

[daemonized]

Merely because I find it difficult to believe.

[Ardyn decides to begin to close the distance between them, taking long strides over. He opens his arms wide in a questioning sort of gesture.]

You can't mean to say there's nothing here you won't miss from your home? Even I can admit to that much.

[deceiving_is_believing]

Sure, I have things I'll miss. [He turns his attention to Ardyn properly with a grin.]

I'm just saying there's no point crying over spilt milk. Being upset because I'm stuck here is like crying because I wish I was still 5, but I'm 16.

[With a chuckle, and mimicking Ardyn's arm extension, he adds:]

Did you need a shoulder to cry on?

[daemonized]

Sixteen? My, then you're certainly all grown up, aren't you?

[Sixteen years is absolutely nothing. What a pup, sporting that grin like those years actually mean anything. His patronization is more than clear.]

Certainly not. You'd do well to remember that there's a difference between acceptance and complacency.