test drive meme #21

[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 June 24th, and apps are open July 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: A LITTLE FRENZIED
[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.

Do you hear something weird? Some kind of strange, constant humming? Hopefully by now you know enough to know that it's probably not nothing, and maybe you should run. If you don't, well- the Door has brought in some Winter Lanterns, from the Bloodborne video game.

Winter Lanterns are rather hideous creatures that hum constantly and glow orange when they detect someone's presence. They can grab you with their tentacles and take a nice bite out of you, which is super fun, or they can mess you up just by looking at you too long. Yep, hanging out in the gaze of a Winter Lantern for too long will end with you being afflicted by Frenzy - blood shooting out all over the place. Not great for the health, really, so maybe don't get into a staring contest. Maybe just run.]

S O R R O W / L O V E

SCENARIO TWO: HAUNTED
[You thought you might never see them again, but now they're here. That person you loved - that person you miss terribly. Except that you seem to be the only person who can see them, and you also seem to be getting steadily weaker.

So that's what it comes down to, then. This ghost that's haunting you will take your life so it can live, even if it doesn't mean to. Do you have the ability to stop them? You'll have to kill them to do it, and you love them so much. Now's the time to make your choice - but be careful. They're strong enough to be visible now, and one of your friends or even a passing stranger might have something to say about your decision.

This is a mini version of our Ghosts That You Know event this month!]

T R A N Q U I L I T Y

SCENARIO THREE: SLEEPING SICKNESS
[For some reason you can't quite put your finger on, you're tired. Like really tired. Like slurring your words, stumbling over your own feet, nodding off if you stop for a second tired. You can't seem to get enough rest no matter what you try - because it's always a light sleep. The slightest sound or movement will wake you up, leaving you just as tired and irritable as before.

What are you going to do? Try to find a quiet place to nap? Good luck. It seems like a lot of other people have the same idea as you - it might be hard to find a truly empty place. Or maybe you just can't take it anymore, and you're going to lay down and take a nap right in the middle of the street. Or maybe you actually feel fine, but everyone around you is falling asleep - and they glare at you when you make the slightest sound.

Maybe you should wake them up? Sleeping in the middle of the street isn't exactly safe. But then, maybe you just want to join them and argue over who gets the most comfortable bit of road.]

Comments

Re: Tranquility

[braveoff]

[ It's a person, alright, and one who will be very grateful when he figures out that the bed's rightful owner let him have it for the night. He's feeling much better in the morning, and sits up on the bed and stretches before reaching for his boots. It isn't until he exits the bedroom that he realizes someone else is in the apartment -- still asleep on the couch, it looks like. Another squatter? Or is this his place?

Drake clears his throat quietly, to see if the other man wakes. ]

[filmthenight]

[He stirs when he hears the throat clearing, opening one eye, than two. Oh, he's awake! Tatara sits himself up promptly and smiles up at Drake. He had hoped to wake up before the other man had and make breakfast for him. But, oh well. Either way is functional, right?]

Good morning, I hope you slept well. I can make you breakfast. Do you want coffee?

[He gets off the sofa and heads for the kitchen, as casually as though Drake had always lived there with him without question.]

So, will you tell me about yourself? I was a little surprised to find you here last night.

[braveoff]

[ ... well this is unexpected. Drake blinks as the stranger gets up to, apparently, make him breakfast. As if he wasn't a home invader but an old friend crashing for the night. ]

It's your place. [ A sheepish grin. He's incredibly lucky this guy doesn't seem to mind. ] Sorry, I didn't realize this place was occupied last night... I was just so tired, I wasn't thinking straight. Still not, I don't think, but coffee might help.

I'm uh. Drake Holloway. I just got here yesterday. What kinda stuff do you want to know?

[filmthenight]

Ah, it's alright. It looks like I wasn't home at the time. It's not like you could have called Heyoooo and I would have answered.

[He laughs lightly and gets the coffee pot ready. Then he turns to the refrigerator to retrieve some eggs.]

I'm Tatara Totsuka. It's nice to meet you.

I was just curious about your story. How you got here, what you do; anything you want to tell me is fine. Anything you don't want to talk about is fine, too. I just thought your circumstances might be interesting.

[He sets some rice to cook on the stove and begins mixing the eggs in a bowl.]

[braveoff]

And the door was open. Seemed good for squatting.

[ Drake comes closer, leaning against the countertop and crossing his arms, thinking. What does he want to tell people here? He hasn't thought about it much but. He should probably try to maintain his cover in case people from home show up. For now he just answers the questions. ]

Honestly, I have no idea how I got here, other than what the message on the phones told me. I mean, I just woke up in that arena with tentacle monsters everywhere... which sounds pretty ridiculous out loud. I'm nothing special back home, either, just a bouncer at a bar. I don't know why I'm here.

[ He watches Tatara cooking, the corner of his mouth tugging into a grin. ]

You don't seem to fit the bill either, man. I thought this 'door' brought in troublesome types.

[filmthenight]

Well, that too. [He's totally trusting, why wouldn't he leave his door unlocked?

He laughs at the mention of tentacle monsters.]

Must have been quite the adventure. It looks like you came alright, though. Are you hurt?

[He turns back to the fridge, pulling out some vegetables and sauce. He dices some carrots smoothly and opens the bag of peas before turning back to the rice.]

Hmm? Me? I'm totally trouble.

[A faint, playful smirk crosses Tatara's lips.

He breaks another egg into the rice, adds the carrots and peas, and mixes it all in with the sauce.]

[braveoff]

Adventure's one word for it -- it's all been pretty unreal. But I'm not hurt. A veteran of this place showed up and helped get everybody out.

[ Oh yeah, you're totally trouble, making breakfast like we're old friends. Drake huffs a laugh. ]

Seriously, what do you think you did to wind up here?

[filmthenight]

[Seriously... If Tatara has to think seriously about it, then he knows the reason. Still, he says it with a smile.]

Well, I'm actually a cold-hearted person. [Remembering his adoptive father's words.] And selfish. I didn't even cry when my adoptive father died. It didn't bother me to be abandoned in the park by my real parents. I wasn't sad to have a gambling adoptive father who was never home. I wasn't even sad to die.

[He told Yata, as he died in the man's arms, that it would all work out.
With a smile.]

So, if I had to guess, that would probably be why.

[Shortly after that, he pours the mixed eggs into a frying pan and makes it in the shape of an omelette, before adding rice and setting it onto a plate. He turns back to the refrigerator one last time and retrieves the catsup, pouring it on quickly, before holding the food to Drake, with a huge, playful smile.]

Tada! Breakfast is ready.

[He pours some coffee into a cup for Drake and sets it near wherever Drake has decided to stay, be it at the counter or the table. Then he proceeds to make his own.]

[braveoff]

[ Drake's retreated to the table with his plate, though he's watching Tatara with a disbelieving eye. ]

Thanks...

[ Okay no. He shakes his head. ]

I feel like a cold-hearted selfish person would've kicked me out of their bed. And apartment. Not let me sleep the night and then make breakfast. So things don't make you sad, that doesn't mean you're trouble.

[filmthenight]

[Tatara pauses, if only briefly. Not even King had disagreed with him (though, maybe in his own way, he actually did). Tatara's smile doesn't fade.]

But a normal person would be sad, and hurt over those things, right? Most people would resent being abandoned, or hate a father who was never home, or even cry when someone close to them dies. I never hurt over losing anything.

[He brings his own plate to the table and sits acrost from Drake.]

But, as far as kicking you out, you were a stranger, right? It would have been self-defense to throw you out. Yet, I gave no concern to my own safety. I condone habits I shouldn't, don't you think? It might not be cruel, but it is still cold-hearted.

[braveoff]

...okay, yeah, you're not normal. But you're okay in my book so far.

[ He takes a bite of breakfast, which is pretty delicious for something so simple. Tatara gets a hum of approval and a thumbs up. ]

Have you been here long?

[filmthenight]

[Tatara laughs in response to the not normal statement. And he seems glad that Drake approves of his cooking. He doesn't do it all that often, but it's nice that he can do it to someone else's satisfaction when he does.]

Not particularly. Probably arrived about the same time as you, actually. [Except, he spent alot more time running after trying to make friends with one of the monsters.] I found this place and, like you did, it seemed abandoned so I stayed.

[He smiles.]

If you need a place to stay, it's easy enough for you to live here. I certainly wouldn't mind.

[braveoff]

[ Drake hesitates. It would be easy, sure, but it's a bad idea. He's gotta find brains, for one thing, and a tupperware of those in the fridge would prooooobably cause problems. For him, that is. Even if Tatara didn't care he might tell someone casually. ]

That's okay, I'll find somewhere. [ He shrugs, bluffing. ] Kind of a private guy.

[filmthenight]

[Ah, that's a shame. But Tatara certainly respects the decision. Besides, they only just met. Even if Tatara's open to most walks of life and willing to be friendly and okay with living with a stranger, most others probably aren't.

He gives an understanding nod.]

Of course. I'm sure you'll find one in no time.

[A question actually presses at the edges of Tatara's mind; one that's rather been begging to be answered since he woke up here. Is it alright to ask that sort of question to someone else? And for the moment, Tatara is silent as he mulls over the best way to word it, if there is a best way to do such a thing.]

Hey, Drake, what do you suppose this place is? [Perhaps that's a little too simplified...] Or rather, do you think this is an afterlife?

[His smile never drops and it does sound edged with genuine curiousity. Just where are they, and was Drake dead before he arrived, too?]