test drive meme #19

[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 April 24th, and apps are open May 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: WHAT A FUNGI
[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, walking along, minding your own business, when you come upon a strange... something buried in the ground. No sooner have you noticed it then it pops out, ready to attack. This time, the Door has brought in some Mushbooms, from the Secret of Mana video game.

Mushbooms are large mushroom-shaped creatures that seem to be quite upset that you've infringed upon their territory - though who knew it was their territory to begin with? They attack unpredictably, dancing around before lashing out, and if you're not careful they might just hit you with sleeping powder. But who doesn't need a little nap sometimes?]

S O R R O W

SCENARIO TWO: SHALL WE DANCE?
[You received your invitation - now it's time to attend. Yes, it's the night of Sorrow's masquerade, and surely you're coming prepared. You've found an outfit in the shops, and maybe even a matching mask. You've learned the steps to a dance or two, or maybe you're counting on your partner teaching you.

What will you do, now that you're at the masquerade? Will you enjoy the delicate refreshments on the tables to the side, stuffing your face to avoid making eye contact? Will you make like a wallflower and watch people dance, hoping to be asked yourself? Or maybe you're the brave type, and you'll walk right up to a lovely person and ask them out on the floor. Whatever you do, the night is young - there'll be time for plenty more.

This is a mini version of the last day of our Seven Days of Hadriel event this month!]

C O N F U S I O N

SCENARIO THREE: NEW PHONE WHO DIS
[So you called your friend - you're sure you did. You opened up your phone, hit their name in your contacts list, and started chatting. Maybe you have something important to say, maybe you just wanted to shoot the shit. Only - somehow, it's not your friend. It might be a different friend, a perfect stranger, or even someone you hate. Let's hope they speak up before you say something too embarrassing, right?

Or you might be the one getting the call. You answered the phone, and someone started talking as if they knew you - as if you're a close personal friend of theirs. But who the hell is this, anyway? What are you going to do, speak up or let them keep rambling on about their latest fight with their best friend? You might even recognize their voice - wait, did they just call you sweetie? Oh shit, they definitely think they called their boyfriend. Wow, this is awkward.

The longer you wait to speak up the weirder it'll be. Unless, of course, you have no sense of shame at all and are happy to let them make a fool of themselves.]

Comments

[determinatae]

That sounds good. Tomorrow? [She has tried to familiarize herself with the most important parts of the city, but the garden will be very important as well. Humans need food, after all.]

It would be a way to change the variables.

[lifetothefullest]

Sure, sounds good to me.

[They can go exploring in general a bit too; that'd be nice. And okay, operation blind taste-test is a go.

He sets the tray of snacks on a char and closes his eyes, holding out a hand.]

Okay, pick one. Not something that looks gross.

[And sure, the whole point is not to see it, but still. It's the principle of the matter here.]

[determinatae]

[Daisy considers the plate for a moment before selecting a rounded pastry that has green sprinkles on white frosting.]

Here. [She thinks it looks pretty. That satisfies his expectation.]

Tell me what it tastes like.

[lifetothefullest]

[Well, it feels like a pastry, so surely it can't be too bad. Still, he's a little apprehensive, but what's the worst it could be?

...Cilantro.]

Wow, that's awful.

[Said through a face of disgust as he opens his eyes; sure, cilantro is fine in places it should be included in, but not in a pastry. Eurgh. Horrible.

Although the dessert does look pretty, so there's that.]

[determinatae]

Really? What did it taste like?

[She takes the pastry back, sniffing it carefully.]

[lifetothefullest]

I think it's cilantro? Or basil, or something.

[He's not a cook by any means, so who knows.]

I take back what I said about the pumpkin one; blue pumpkins are way better.

[determinatae]

[She frowns for a moment before shrugging.]

They don't understand humans very well, do they? The gods?

[lifetothefullest]

[Don't mind him getting rid of that weird cilantro taste with a few large gulps of wine.]

No, although I've heard they're better at it now than they used to be.

[Which is a little scary to think about.]

[determinatae]

It's encouraging to hear that they do learn. [It would sound sarcastic from anyone else, but coming from Daisy it's a very matter of fact statement.]

Shall we continue trying the food, or just stick with the drinks?

[lifetothefullest]

[That's true. Way better than the alternative, and he's also kind of glad neither of them arrived early on in the whole history of Hadriel. It sounds like they missed a lot of the worst stuff.]

I'm still willing to keep trying them; eventually we'll get something good, right?

[And worst case they'll just go get more of the pumpkin ones.]

[determinatae]

Logically that doesn't make any sense. [There's always the possibility that everything is awful.]

I suppose we can continue with the experiment.

[lifetothefullest]

Optimism, Daisy.

[He's teasing her, just a little, considering the remaining snacks before looking up at her again with a grin.]

Do you want to take a turn, or should I try another one?

[determinatae]

[She smiles broadly before looking serious again.]

My palette is different than yours, it wouldn't be as accurate.

[lifetothefullest]

[He gives her a raised eyebrow for that.]

Are you sure you're not just trying to get out of eating a pastry that tastes like toothpaste or something?

[determinatae]

It's a possibility. [She laughs quietly.]

I will eat the rest of the pumpkin one.

[lifetothefullest]

What a sacrifice.

[He laughs too, picking up the pumpkin-flavoured pastry and passing it to her before selecting one that's a delicate pink colour.]

What do you think?

[Gonna be gross or just weird?]

[determinatae]

Maybe it will taste like bubblegum. [She laughs and finishes off the pumpkin pastry, still somewhat amazed it is blue and tastes exactly like pumpkin.]

Or strawberries.

[lifetothefullest]

Either of those would be totally fine with me.

[Strawberries would be better, but he'd accept bubblegum.

And okay, here goes nothing--

Well, it's not horrible, at least. Just not strawberry or bubblegum, and he makes a perplexed face as he finishes the bite of pastry.]

I think it's...

[And then he placed the flavor suddenly, pleased with himself for figuring it out.]

Grapefruit. And grapefruit is even technically pink.

[This pastry is the winner so far for this reason, even if the pumpkin one tasted better.]

[determinatae]

Sweet grapefruit or sour? [She peers at the pastry and then smiles.]

Do they have fruit trees here?

[lifetothefullest]

Sweet; it's actually pretty good. Do you want to try it?

[He offers the pastry to her, if she wants it.]

I think so, yeah, but not fruit we recognize. Sometimes you can find canned fruit that's normal stuff, though.

[determinatae]

[She takes the pastry and takes a bite. And then she finishes it off. That was delicious.]

Has anyone made lists of the foods?

[lifetothefullest]

I don't think so; I'm pretty sure the food in the stores changes, but the plants in the Orchard may be static.

[Lance is already eyeing a potential next taste experiment.]

[determinatae]

This is all very interesting. [She sips from her wine glass and watches the crowd as Lance watches the pastries.]

Do you believe it's real?

[lifetothefullest]

[That question suddenly gives him pause and he looks up at her again, uncertain for several seconds how to answer.]

I don't know.

[It's honest, because she's always been good at telling when he's lying, and there's no better answer he could've given anyway. He isn't even sure if he wants this place to be real or not, let alone if it is.]

[determinatae]

[Her expression turns rather serious as she nods in agreement.]

I'd almost suspect it was a dream. [Even her most unique dreams never approach this level of weird, however.]