dankmemes | test drive meme #17

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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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?

[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.]

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?

[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.

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?

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?

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.

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.]

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?

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.

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?

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.

[Shuuya scoffs through his nose at the all grown up statement. He's being condescended to, but whatever.]

Yea? And which one does that make you?

[He folds his arms, his grin unfading.] Smug certainly seems to suit you, so I'll place my bets on that one.

[And Ardyn walks forward, deciding to close the distance between them. It's not an intimidation tactic, not really (though he is a rather intimidating individual); it's merely to bring himself closer to watch Shuuya's expression.]

It makes me a man who does not intend to linger here for longer than necessary.

Perhaps if you had anything you cared about back home, you'd feel the same way. But you've already told me of your tragedies; is Hadriel little more than an escape for you, then?

[Shuuya's small-framed; sure, he's a little intimidated, as one would naturally feel standing beside an unpredictable opponent. But that's not going to make him break a sweat.

It's what Ardyn says next that causes his grin to flash into a frown, a faint scowl, if only for a moment. But that smile is back up as quickly as that scowl flickered.]

An escape? There's no such thing. If a way becomes available, of course I'll take it. You got a plan, there?

A plan? Not without enough information about this place, and about this so-called Door that's torn me from Eos and brought me here.

[His grin becomes a little sharper. He catches that scowl, which means there's more brimming under the surface than the boy is letting on.]

But with time? Yes, a plan. My purpose does not lie here in this world, after all.

Well, having a start of a plan is better than nothing. What would you need to obtain that information?

[You know, because Shuuya might offer to help. He's all for the man with the plan.]

[Ardyn huffs out something that might sound like an airy laugh, despite himself.]

What's this? Offering your services, are you?

[He gives a shrug.]

Sure, I like interesting people. Especially ones that can think ahead. If you got a plan to get us home, I'll go out of my way to provide you anything to get it going.

test drive meme #17

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