dankmemes | TEST DRIVE MEME #5

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!test drive

TEST DRIVE MEME #5

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 January 25th, and apps are open February 1st.

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: HERE KITTY KITTY
[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.

Watch out as you explore the streets of Hadriel, because you're not alone, and there's always something on the rooftops watching and waiting for the perfect opportunity to separate you from your group and tear you into pieces. This time, the Door has brought in coeurls, from the video game Final Fantasy X for you meet.

These cat-like monsters can use elemental magic to attack, as well as their teeth and claws. When injured, they can cast a spell that will drain energy from their attacker and give it to them - and they are even able to temporarily petrify you. So if you decide to fight, let's hope you can finish them off quick!]

SCENARIO TWO: BURIED ALIVE
[What a wonderful day to find yourself - or a friend, or a stranger - buried six feet under. Covered in thick earth, the sturdy oak walls of the coffin trapping you in darkness, all alone. Not a soul to hear any cries of help.

Either you're in a coffin yourself, trapped, hoping for rescue, or you've got a GPS, a set of coordinates, and a shovel. Will you try to claw your way out of your possible grave, using only your bare hands and pure terror? Or will you be the one digging, hoping that down below is someone you love, waiting for you to unearth them?

Just don't take too long. Their air - your air - could run out at any moment.

This is a mini version of our Buried Alive event this month!]

R A G E

SCENARIO THREE: PET PEEVED
[Everything seems to be going just wrong enough to drive you right up the wall. Maybe your shoes keep coming untied, or you slammed your finger in the door while you were leaving the house. Maybe your friend keeps using the wrong form of 'your/you're' when they text you. Maybe that guy in the shop with you won't get off his damn phone.

Whatever it is, your day has been full of tiny annoyances, enough to leave you on edge and just about ready to explode. They're such little things, nothing that should inspire so much anger, but one after another - well, shouldn't anyone understand why you're mad?

And then someone else comes along, perfectly primed to push your buttons. Maybe they keep pronouncing your name wrong, or they won't stop staring at your scar, or they have hair just the right color to remind you of your last ex. You're already primed for a fight, and they seem just as pissed as you. What will you do?]

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[ Cashmere looks confused. words are a mighty sword? Effie. no. no no no. she recovers and settles back into antagonizing the other woman. ]

You'd better learn, Trinket, because no one here is going to want to help you. [ that's probably untrue. there's too many people in Hadriel who are are kind enough to defend someone who is otherwise completely defenseless. ] Maybe you can use a bow and arrow like your little mockingjay. Wouldn't that be cute?

[Rome isn't entirely sure what he's supposed to be watching, but when her dagger carves down under the lip of the lid, he can see it silhouetted in the lazy beams of light that appear as a result and shifts away from it, just in case.

The lid is thrown open a moment later. He squints against the sudden light, shifting to take her arm and sit up. Not dead and not an obvious sort of monster, though he wouldn't be sure where lycanthropy would really rest on her scale of judgement when it comes to that sort of thing. Romulus doesn't return her smile, but he doesn't look at her with any degree of harshness either as he slowly moves to stand on shaky legs.]

Thank you.

[His tone is polite, maybe a little clipped. It takes him another few moments to inspect the area around him, marvel a little at how deep the hole actually is, how much she'd had to have dug to save him, and he feels a sudden surge of gratitude.]

Did you dig all of this?

[He isn't sure if she's going to listen, just because it's Emily, but thankfully she starts slowly toward him. He's quiet, watching her and sneaking a few peeks at the cat; if it comes after them they'll have to run, because he's pretty sure the kitchen knife he has isn't going to do much harm.

But then she reaches him, and he's moving to step in front of her as she's stepping behind him, and takes the opportunity to check the answer to her question.

The cat seems to be considering following them, but for now is just padding back and forth a few steps as it considers its options. Chris ducks backs to cover, turning to face Emily fully.]

Not yet but we should really get going before it changes its mind. The house is that way.

[He nods his head toward the direction of the house, too focused on making sure they get safely away from the cat to even think about when he and Emily had last seen each other just yet.]

[When he starts speaking, she opens her eyes. She glances in the direction he indicates and nods. There's a second where she hesitates -- should she go first into unknown dangers, or should she go second, closer to the creature whose presence she's aware of? The one whose gaze she's just escaped will have her scent by now, but anything ahead of them might not. Plus, she won't feel too guilty if it gets Chris instead of her.

Nodding at Chris, she steps away from the wall and starts walking, keeping the noise to a minimum. She glances over her shoulder at him, and to make sure the cougar thing isn't following them.

This isn't so bad, all things considered. Sure, there are things around here that could kill them, but it's not as dark or as cramped as it is in the mines. She can breathe here, and there are proper corners to hide behind when she needs to peek out ahead to make sure the coast is clear.]

I don't see anything. We should run if the house isn't too far.

[ lycanthropes were always such a... delicate matter, ciri found. whether werewolves, werebears or even werecats. she has fought against many but has met many more who went through great lengths to protect others from themselves. which was honestly difficult enough when you have been transformed into a creature that combines the worst traits from both aspects of themselves. a wolf's desire to hunt and kill along with man's cruelty and intelligence.

it's what made fighting them so difficult but she'd sort it all out at some point. monsters, cursed or not, would not follow the same sort of familiar rules she was used to playing by.

perhaps that was for the best too. it decreased the chances of an ulfhedinn making an unwanted appearance. ]

You're welcome, I was just glad I could help.

[ she responds, adjusting her stance once he's up on his feet to pull herself up and out of the hole. she hadn't even been buried alive but had spent more than enough time there for a lifetime. the question gets him a curious look but she nods, rubbing the back of her hand against her cheek. ]

I certainly wasn't expecting the workout but I couldn't risk being wrong by thinking this all some sort of terrible lie to get my guard down. So, I began to dig and now I'm glad I didn't listen to my paranoid worries.

I saw you perfectly well. You didn't see me, remember?

[ She twists the blade, sneering. Her next words are a blatant mockery of what she considers to be Emily's prissy voice. ]

I'm too small.

[ She scoffs. ]

You're awfully stupid. You won't last long here.

Amos leans around the corner, and says very softly and clearly, "Back up slowly. No sudden moves, miss."

The cat-monster eyes him: it's just close enough to an animal Amos can "hear" the very softest brush of its thoughts, and they are all hungry-aggression-fight. He knows already he can't placate the creature, or divert it to another target... But he does know how to deal with large angry predators who are looking at making you an easy lunch.

Slowly, and without showing a weakness. Strong prey is just not worth the fight.

Amos is armed with several small knives and his latest acquisition from Rage's armory: a shorter composite bow and some very nicely steel-headed arrows.

Oh, company. Maketh nods slowly, and does as she's told. It's the same strategy with approaching any sort of enemy. Don't flinch, don't threaten, and most of all, don't run. A predator would have to chase. It was their nature.

Maketh doesn't know very much about animals, let alone this one, but she knows people.

All things considered, there's not much of a difference at the best of times.

Maketh breathes out through her mouth, careful as she moves back. Her chest is starting to ache now that the shock of - this - has worn off. A sharp, throbbing pain. Broken ribs, she thinks. She'll breathe through it.

[Ronan swears loudly as Gansey tries to shove at the door and he crashes against it in turn, adding what strength he has before they can finally get the damn thing open. It's a rush of movement to get inside, to slam the door shut again, to hear the cat hissing angrily from the other side. He listens against the wood, but after things quiet down, it's impossible to tell whether or not it's still out there. They can explore this place or wait for as long as they can bear, but sooner or later they'll probably have to take their chances with leaving.

The monster probably wouldn't wait that long, though.

Feeling is starting to return to more of Ronan's limbs, and he looks toward Gansey at the question, though it's obvious that he has no intention of answering it. He's quiet for a moment too long, staring, as if any second now, Gansey would dissolve into pieces and reveal that it hadn't been him at all.

It's what he's expecting, anyway. He's not dreaming, he doesn't dream about lightning cats or this fucking cave, he knows he's in reality, but at the same time-]

How long have you been here?

[The blood on Gansey's hands hasn't escaped his notice, nor has the general dirt and grime on his normally-immaculate appearance. He feels, at once, an immense wave of guilt for somehow not knowing that their king had returned, for not rushing to him immediately and helping him earlier. It seems stupid now, but some childish part of him had assumed that the knowledge of Gansey's presence would have been instinct, an awareness that transcends a simple flesh and blood friendship. He's startled to find that he was wrong.]

[it's just starting to get weird, hang on for the ride]

Done and done, Miss Emily! I mean, if you don't know either. We can explore together! [HIS FAVORITE THING sort of...

First, though, Sanji steps over and taps the toe of his shoe against the coeurl's side to make sure it's solidly unconscious and has no intention of getting up to chase them. Although, there's probably more where the last two came from...]

I won't let anything harm you, don't worry. C'mon, this way. [starting off down the street in the opposite direction from whence he came. After all, he's already been that way, he knows there's nothing interesting there and only more unconscious giant cats]

[ Gansey remains concerned with the cat lurking outside, while Ronan quickly becomes concerned with Gansey. Gansey can see the shift, can feel the exact moment when it happens.

And Ronan didn't answer that question.

Under that scrutiny, he's aware all over again of the way he looks. That's a thing he ordinarily cares least about around Ronan, but in this case it's a very particular concern. His friend's worry is like a living, breathing thing, and his instinct is to soothe it. He knows the dirt he's covered in will do little for that.

Determined to try his best anyway, he pushes away from the door. ]

Hours, at most. I've seen Adam, and Noah.

[ His words are careful. He doesn't know how Ronan will take this next part, but he has to say it. He has to get it out of the way, before the intensity of that stare does away with him. Gansey takes a breath. ]

Ronan, I don't remember being here. They told me that I was. Four months here, four somewhere else. [ His shoulders lift and his head shakes, helpless. ] I've been trying. I'm sorry.

[ Well, that implies that this door is closed, for the time being. Gansey feels a rush of unease that he dan't explain. He cannot be that far from home. He cannot stuck here. ]

If it makes you feel any better, I don't remember it at all. Quick or otherwise. Is your wing hurt?

[ His eyes flick over them. He hadn't noticed either one being favored, but he hadn't known to look for it, either. ]

I'm sorry. All of this, and I've not even said. I'm Gansey.

[ Noah says it so quietly, as though he's delivering terrible news. Eight months. Eight months away from home, and Gansey remembers nothing about it. Every one of them had been there with him. They hadn't been missing. And here they were, in a place so dangerous even Noah had to use a knife. ]

Jesus Christ. Noah, I'm sorry.

[ He puts his hand on Noah's arm, the one that had held the knife. ]

I promise you, I saw you yesterday. All of you, and Blue. [ That she hasn't been here is one small mercy. Yet even as he thinks that, Gansey wonders why it's the case. Why all of them, and not her?

That was wrong. It felt wrong. ]

There must have been something wrong, this can't be a coincidence. It's like time around a ley line. Distorted, chaotic. But you, Noah. You look stronger than you did at home. Where were you before?

[ A land ruled by gods.

Well, that should be impossible, for a start.

And yet Gansey doesn't argue. He knows, of course, that Adam wouldn't lie to him. He knows, too, that he just woke up in a grave, that there is a cave ceiling above him held up by nothing at all, and that he can't see where the light is coming from. It's no stretch a all to believe that this could be magic at work. Gansey has always found it easier than most to believe.

He doesn't focus on that. Instead, his head snaps up at Adam's question. ]

No. [ A pause. That's actually not true, his hands are a mess. The skin on his knuckles is broken and his fingertips are torn from where he'd clawed at first wood and then soil. He considers them, and then shakes his head. ] They're not important.

You said half of you were buried, I'm not the first. Were you...?

[ He doesn't finish that question. He's watching Adam's face instead, reading his reaction. Reading all of his reactions.

Adam's been here for four months. Gansey should have four months of memories, and they aren't there. He's not even aware of a hole where they should be. And Adam said they, too, and there's no doubt in his mind who would be meant by that. ]

Ronan, Noah? Blue?

[ God, if they're all here and he's forgotten them, that's terrible. It's not right. Gansey despise failing any of his friends, and this is undoubtedly a failing. ]

That's why you were in my way. Okay.

[Emily rolls her eyes. Children.]

Yeah, I'm a dumb bitch. That's why I didn't get killed by a fucking cannibal monster or by my idiot friend's stupid pranks. Nice try, Stabby. You're stuck with me.

[Spite is a powerful motivator. Emily may hate this place, but she will find joy in pissing you off by not dying.]

[Honestly, she has had enough exploring for one lifetime, but what choice does she have? Either she stays here and gets eaten, or winds up back at the lodge and potentially gets eaten. At least here, someone's willing to protect her. Sanji may be weird as hell, but he seems gung-ho about protecting her, which is more than she can say for most of her friends at this point.

Then again, he also seems way more excited than she is, which could get annoying fast -- but Emily has never had a problem letting people know when they should stop talking.]

Yeah, whatever. [It's nonchalant and bored as she follows, glancing back once at the puma he'd just knocked out.

Flaming shoes. Weird.]

[He almost doesn't check if they're safe, either, too worried, too distracted by the need to do something to help her. But he remembers for a moment that they could easily get attacked by that beast, or another one, and he looks around wildly.

Nothing. As far as Josh can tell, they're more or less safe, at least for the moment.

So that's fine. He can ignore the rest of the world, drop to his knees in front of Hannah, and put his hands on her shoulders.]

Hey, you're okay, I'm here. Nothing's gonna happen.

[He doesn't know what's wrong, exactly, but some part of him wants to cry too, because she's here and alive and he's pretty sure it's even real, she's real.]

[at least he calms down quickly, and casually lights a cigarette as they walk. He may not look like he's on alert, but Sanji has his senses trained on everything around them.]

Hell of a welcome party. Here, come to a new town, stay for the wild animals. Have you been here long or is this your introduction to crazy, too?

pet peeved
or: get out of the way unless u wanna lose ur face!!!

[ Although some might argue otherwise, Sera really isn't ever in a foul mood unless something has warranted it.

Except for today. Today, she's angrier than perhaps she's ever been in her life and she has absolutely no idea why. She's been out and about, spending an awful lot of time chucking rocks at things and scribbling very rude words where rude words have no business being scribbled, but nothing has assuaged her fury.

Even now, some idiot is walking directly in front of her even though there's an entire pathway. Why won't they move? (Yes, she could also move, but that's not the point here.)

She huffs and rolls her eyes at the back of their head. ]

Ugh! Come on!

[ The person doesn't "come on," or at least not quickly enough for Sera to be satisfied, so she raises her voices: ]

Are you stupid? I said frigging move!

[In all honesty it's a relief. Those eight months had done a number on them, on Gansey in particular. Noah would rather they be lost if he gets his friend back like he was before, without all that pain.

Noah's not cold.]

A place called Harborview...

... They gave me a body.

[Maketh thinks she's minding her own business. So far it's involved wandering around trying to find some sort of civilization. And oh look, there's a path. Those usually lead somewhere.

Then, of course, someone starts yelling.

This isn't all that strange. Usually it's Maketh doing the yelling, though.

Today isn't a great day. It hurts when she breathes, and she kinda wants to cry when she turns and puts a hand on her hip. Getting blown up does that to a person.

Plus, it's ruined her uniform.

Maketh glares. If she holds very, very still, then it looks like she's standing at attention.] Is something preventing you from walking around me?

[Firo’s happy enough to stand back and let this guy finish the work. He watches the man closely, curious as to what manner of person he is, hopeful that he won’t be the kind to turn on someone.

He blinks at the statement. Is this kind of thing routine for this man?]

There was a first time?

[Ugh, great. Of all the people to get, he’s stuck with the one who already sounds like a weirdo? Life just isn’t fair.]

[The response is almost cheerful, like the speaker is smiling in relief.]

Yeah? Looks like all this isn’t just for nothin’.

Hold still. I’m gonna break this thing.

[He tries jabbing the shovel at the wood even harder, but it doesn’t give. Crap.]

…Hey, you can’t, like, reach the nails with anything in there, can you? Or pry this thing off?

[Cyril hauls himself out of the hole with ease before dusting himself off.

Brows go up at the question. Oh, he said that out loud.]

Uh, yeah. Hazing ritual kind of deal. [Not entirely a lie.]

Ugh. Could you not? Keep that thing away from me, I do not want this jacket or my hair reeking of smoke.

[If so much as one granule of ash lands on her, holy shit.]

Some douchebag fucking brought me here or something, I don't know how. I was walking around in these underground tunnels with a bunch of losers, and suddenly I turn a corner and here I am. [She gestures to indicate the city.] I don't know what's worse. The wendigos on the mountain, or all these fucking cougars or whatever they are.

[The wendigos, probably, why lie.]

Edited (#ESL problems) 2016-01-27 23:53 (UTC)

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Page 9 of 20

TEST DRIVE MEME #5

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Sera / Dragon Age

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this ought to be fun

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