test drive meme # 26

[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 November 24th, and apps are open December 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: SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL
[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.

This time, the monsters are a bit more transparent, as the Door will bring in a few skeletons! Skeletons often accompany the fear of death and can such be found as entry-level monsters in many different stories and games of all kinds.

Skeletons are well... skeletons.... but they move around like they're still alive. Some of them use weapons to make you fear death by killing you, which is cool for them I suppose. They're not particularly smart and they can be tricked very easily, but once they hone in on a victim they won't rest until they make everyone else just as dead as they are.]

D E L I G H T / L O V E

SCENARIO TWO: SQUAD GOALS
[Hey, look to the guy or gal to the left or right side of you. Did you guys just become best friends?
I think you did! For the next little while, you find yourself entering into these odd platonic relationships you'd never considered before. That guy who you kind of awkwardly made eye contact with at the grocery store last week? Best friends! The lady who's friends with your roommate's sister? Inseparable pals!

This event, based off of our recent event of the same name inspires you and all your weird facebook acquaintances to suddenly feel like you're best buds. You guys will share everything together, do everything together, and just generally think the world of one another. Enjoy your new and beautiful friendship!]

S O R R O W

SCENARIO THREE: INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS
[You know that voice deep in the back of your head that you generally ignore? You know, the one that tells you that you're stupid or worthless or that you should push that old lady into traffic? Well, usually you ignore them- we know you do, because you're a decent person who doesn't experience that kind of self doubt.

Now, though, all those little voices seem to have some merit. You're not sure why, but suddenly just giving into your weirdest impulses sounds like a good idea. You'll have to fight even harder to ignore them, particularly the ones that tell you to do something. What would that guy do if you just up and punched him in the face? What about if you just broke that chick's window? You'll have to find out!

Alternatively, all those thoughts about how lame you are and how you'll never succeed at anything are a bit more believable too. Hopefully you don't have too many of those- but hey, if you do then you can always drown your sorrows away at the local bar!]

Comments

[wantsnudes]

[Yusuke's never even met Kamoshida before, nor does he have any idea what he sounds like, so he wouldn't even recognise such a voice even if he heard it. More than that, though, the sight of Ryuji crying is also something he's never seen before, either. He freezes up for a distressed moment; he's bad with situations like this, and he knows Ann or Akira would understand better.

But... He can't abandon his friend like this. Whether he's the right person for this or not, he has to try.]

I-- I don't hear anything. [He squeezes his shoulder tight, hoping the pressure might somehow help ground Ryuji between what's real and whatever falsehood he's been placed under.] We're the only ones here. He can't hurt you any more.

[ryuji]

[The weight on his shoulder reminds him to breathe, and as he focuses, really focuses for a few seconds, the trail end of what Yusuke was saying starts to tune in better. He can't hurt you anymore- is about the extent that he can comprehend, as he looks around and sees... that it's only the two of them in his little alleyway.

He could've sworn Kamoshida was right there, or was it his father? Or was it both? None of this made sense anymore. He rubs his eyes with the back of his hand, mouth screwed shut and trying to stop himself from rattling off any more tears in front of his friend.

Yusuke might not have been the best person out of the group at handling something like this, sure, but he was there, and that's pretty much what counts. Ryuji leans his head up against the brick wall behind him, still somewhat out of breath like he had just run a mile.]

God... why am I so... messed up...

[wantsnudes]

Ryuji... [Yusuke looks at him anxiously, but lets go of his shoulder, stepping back to give him some space as his friend collects himself.]

It isn't your fault. This place and its so-called "gods"... they have a way of making us experience things against our will. Even things we never wish to see or hear again.

[That's simply the reality of Hadriel. Yusuke hates it, but until they can find a means to escape, it's a harsh reality of being here. Then, hesitant:]

Do you... want to talk about it?

[ryuji]

"Gods" shouldn't have this much effin' power...

[Idly, he rubs his leg, noticing now how much pain it was in. It's slowly coming to him that whoever was pulling the strings behind the curtain wanted him to shake into a frenzy and reenact breaking it again. He lets out a huff of air, and grits his teeth down to try and distract himself from it. Shit, it was practically pulsating, throbbing from the joints and sending sharp vibrations right up to his hip. This wasn't right.

He was going to find those gods. And he was going to kick their goddamn asses. Every single last one of them.

Attempting to put enough pressure on it so that he can support himself standing up, he realizes that he needs a few more moments, which sucks because that independence that stirs within him to try and make himself always appear capable of handling everything is taking the wheel right now. No matter how much endurance he has, this is past his threshold.]

Not really... [It's nothing against you, Yusuke- he hates talking about this sort of shit with anyone. His chest tightens thinking about it.]

Before he ran off and abandoned us, my old man used to beat me and my mom. I don't. I don't ever wanna relive any of that. Ever again. [He looks away from Yusuke- eye contact becoming pretty damn impossible. He knows they're all outcasts- knows that they all have issues that are deep; they discovered each others' pasts just by virtue of coming into their personas in the first place. But this? This is still hard for Ryuji to talk about.]

[wantsnudes]

[Yusuke nods grimly.] I agree, but until we can find some way to counteract them, we're quite powerless to their whims.

[He knows Ryuji is a proud person, so he won't hurt his pride any further by offering to help him up. Still, he remains close enough that Ryuji can lean on him if he needs to, or to catch him if he falls over.

When Ryuji begins to talk about his father, Yusuke's frown only deepens, and his hand returns to the other boy's shoulder in solidarity. Of course, he understands what it is to have a terrible father, even if Madarame's abuses had been more of the emotional kind. Even when he's no longer around, the aftereffects are long-lasting.]

I'm sorry... I can't imagine how hard that was, for you and your mother. [And that, on top of everything with Kamoshida...] Your leg -- is it all right?

[ryuji]

[Yeah. And that's the problem, right there. Being under someone else's control is just about the most immoral thing that Ryuji could possibly imagine. The value of freedom? Making choices by yourself, for yourself, is the highest order of needs that a basic human being should be allowed. This place sucks. If someone can do this to him, he can only imagine what other things it's capable of- and to other people. He clenches his fist in anger.

But right now, that fury isn't going to do him any good. It's not going to get him off of his feet and start moving again, nor is it going to be any more meaningful than a kid kicking around in the sandbox over something that's out of his capability to change.

He only stops the tension that's rising in his body by that reaffirming, calming hand against his shoulder. It worked once to pull him out of this frenzy to begin with, and as it stands as an actual reminder that he has a friend in Yusuke, it works here, too. He looks up to see him, still there, still confident and it's just... well, it's calming in a way. They're both outcasts- they've both had to fight their demons. Because of that, they're linked together through this, thick and thin.

Ryuji probably doesn't say it enough, but Yusuke is a really good friend.]

I'll... uhm. I'll manage. [He gives a bite against his bottom lip and uses his weight up against the back of the wall to help jimmy himself upward. Pain immediately starts shooting up and down his hip, radiating down into his ankle, and he has to catch his breath for a moment, his arm looking to grab onto Yusuke's shoulder for a moment of support- which, honestly, he didn't want to be a burden to begin with.]

S-shit. I'm sorry. I can't even---

[wantsnudes]

[As Ryuji grabs his shoulder, Yusuke holds him around his middle in order to steady him, and shakes his head.] Don't apologise. You'd do the same for me, were I injured.

[And no doubt he has, in all the times they've infiltrated Palaces, whenever Yusuke was injured or unconscious. To him, this is no different. There's nothing wrong with leaning on each other, figuratively or literally.]

Let's find somewhere for you to sit. I'm sure you could use the rest. [And a listening ear, if he needs it.]