dankmemes | Test Drive Meme #30

Entry tags:

!test drive

Test Drive Meme #30

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 March 25th, and apps are open April 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: CHOMP CHOMP
[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.

Or sticking out of that pipe, even. Yes, that's right, the Door seems to have brought in an infestation of piranha plants, which may be familiar to you, since they've been in nearly every Mario game.

Piranha plants are large orb-shaped plants with big ol' teeth, all the better for biting you with. They can't walk around, but their stalks can stretch pretty far, so they'll be perfectly happy to stretch out and bite the heck out of you if you get too close - and some of them are good at hiding. You might not see them until it's too late. Luckily, while the biting is pretty bad, it's just about all they can do. You'll be fine, as long as you keep your distance.]

SCENARIO TWO: THEY'RE COMING TO GET YOU
[You've got a scratchy throat, a little cough, a general feeling of awfulness. It sucks being sick, doesn't it? Maybe you can find someone to get you some juice, or hold your hand, or just be sympathetic to how crappy you feel. After all, no one likes being sick. But how can you know that person is actually trying to help you? They have an untrustworthy look in their eye, and you're pretty sure you just heard them mutter something about leaving your body in a ditch.

Or maybe you're the one trying to take care of a sick friend. You have only the best intentions, but they don't seem interested in cooperating at all. In fact, it seems like they think you're trying to hurt them! What the hell? And here you were trying to be a good person for once. Oh shit - did you just sneeze? This isn't going to end well.

This is a mini version of our Flu Season event this month.]

H O P E

SCENARIO THREE: FONDLY YOURS
[When you stepped out of the house this morning, you found a small bouquet of flowers on the doorstep, just waiting for you. They're just the sort you like - your favorite kind, in fact - so they must be meant for you. But who could they be from?

Of course, there must be someone you wish they were from. A lover, a long-term flirtation, your best friend thinking of you. Or maybe you're hoping for something else: an apology from someone who hurt you, or an olive branch from and enemy. Whoever you're hoping they're from, well - the only way to know is ask, right?

Unless you'd rather leave a secret bouquet for them, instead.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

ONE.

[Under burning sunlight, Ben steps lightly in what shaded areas he can find to avoid the snarling, toothy plants with his saber drawn and at the ready. He feels foolish carrying his helmet tucked under his arm, but as a matter of pride he will only abandon it if absolutely necessary; perhaps it's also a comforting thing to ease the unsettling concern over finding himself in a strange desert city.

It doesn't offer much protection from the suns anyway.

Ben is burning up not long after his arrival and has to abandon his helmet and his jacket, his face red from exposure to the alien sun(s). He tucks them away behind a pile of stones for later, rolls up his sleeves, and goes right back to it.

In the coliseum, he doesn't seem to have much trouble at all hacking away at the vines and 'necks' of the man-eating flora.

Should anyone at all need help, he will immediately come to their aid.]

TWO.

I'm fine, [he says, which is clearly nonsense as his flushed complexion, heavy-lidded eyes and the sniffs that plague him and incline him to reach for his handkerchief, wherever it is.

Ben isn't fine at all, and you either likely: Found him collapsed on the street, or coaxed him somewhere safer than the streets to which he is clearly unaccustomed.

In truth, Ben feels like he might be hot enough with fever to set anything flammable in his surroundings alight. He tries to sleep, but the effort is somewhat in vain as his dreams make him restless and, when he wakes, apparently agitated.

His weary blue eyes focus suspiciously on his helpful stranger and he wonders if he has been poisoned--surely he ought to be feeling better by now.

It's best to keep your eye on him, certainly when his gaze drifts to his sword and pistol lying within reach.]

THREE.

Flowers...

[Ben is dressed in a waistcoat and shirt still, though not his uniform, for he wouldn't dream of stepping out without some manner of decency even in an alien world. He spies the bouquet--Apple blossoms, roses and lavender. He plucks the bouquet from the ground and breathes in the fragrant smells that bring powerful images of home to the forefront of his mind.

He's quite new here, and he's not sure what to make of such a lovely gift, kind though it seems to be. He politely reaches out to the nearest person the street and asks,]

--I'm sorry to bother you, but... by chance, did you see who left these?

[Logic says 'probably not' but it's worth a shot.]

* * *

(I'll match your style, prose or brackets!

You can also do a WILDCARD if you so choose, and you're welcome to HMU at

outofmany for that!)

[George is on her way to the Clinic when this guy dressed like something out of another century asks her if she saw who gave him the very lovely bouquet he's currently holding. she takes a closer look at it. roses, that's easy. lavender? maybe? probably? yeah. the other one, she's not so sure about. she's not really the one to ask for interpreting the language of flowers. she barely gets by using the language of normal people most days]

You're not bothering me. If you were, I woulda kept walking. And sorry, but I didn't see who left 'em. Maybe someone's got a crush?

["A crush"? He can guess through context what she means.] Thank you madam, it's very much appreciated. I doubt I've been here long enough to have an admirer though--days at the most.

[A blush is absolutely visible even with his mild sunburn.]

[George and her newfangled 2003 slang] Madam? No one's ever called me that. The name's George. And you're welcome.

As for not being here long enough for that, you'd be surprised. Some people here like to work quickly.

[yes, she can definitely see that blush. it's adorable]

[Oh! Ben smiles sheepishly. It would make sense that meeting people from different worlds entirely would bring strange vernacular and different customs for addressing one another.] Ah, right, sorry. George. I'm Benjamin--Ben is fine. It's nice to meet you.

And perhaps you're right. I wish she had left a note... or something. Though I'm more perplexed at anyone finding fresh flowers in this environment. Two suns and man-eating plants... [He shakes his head.]

[now she feels a little awkward from putting that sheepish expression on his face. one of these days, she's going to learn to not be so flippant. today apparently isn't that day]

Nice to meet you, too, Ben.

Well, maybe she's shy? Or he's shy? But you're right about the whole flowers being weird thing. I know people who have gardens for food, but not anybody who has gardens for flowers. And those look fresh outta the florist's. [she leans in to sniff at them]

[It's alright, he's certainly not offended. Ben could use a little levity right about now anyway.]

Could this be a case of one of the deities and their influence? [Ben plucks one of the lavender stems and offers it.]

I don't think she--or... he--[He won't get into that with himself today.]--won't mind.

[at least she's good for something?]

Could be. They like to do weird shit to us now and then, throw us off balance. [she blinks in surprise, but takes the offered stem and sniffs it]

They better not. 'Cause now that I have this [she holds up the stem of lavender], I'm not giving it back.

[That gets a sincere chuckle out of him.]

I won't say anything if you don't.

[yay, she succeeded in making a funny]

Oh, I won't say a word. Mostly 'cause no one would believe me that a guy gave me a flower.

What? [Ben breathes a skeptical laugh this time.] Oh come on. I refuse to believe that. You have wit and a sense of humor just to start, and you were kind enough to stop and speak to me, a complete stranger.

I'd say that's more than deserving.

[she shrugs, trying to not let it get to her] I dunno, the guys and girls here are immune to my charm. And the people here tend to pair off fast.

Makes sense, being in a strange land. [But!] I also think, being in a strange land, focusing on other priorities--like survival--is entirely justified.

At the risk of being forward, though we've only just met, it seems to be their loss.

Yeah, we had a rough few weeks after the Null attack when Hope was weakened. No food provided and no running water or electricity, either.

[she blushes! a lot] Well. Thanks?

Oh a soldier! Interesting. His uniform isn't one she recognizes, and that - is that a firearm at his hip? That catches Caedra's attention more than his hacking away at the plants like some jungle-dwelling peasant with a machete. Those, she's seen, but they're rare. Crafted by specialized artificers for nobility without any magical skill. Like a crossbow, but with more power to them.

Currently she's sitting atop one of the strange tubes the plants arrived in. She's killed this one so many times it seems to have finally given up - or so she hopes since it hasn't tried to bite her in the ass in the last five minutes. Or maybe it's lots of different plants, all using the same tubes. Maybe they passed on the memo.

Caedra pulls out her phone and holds it out to take a photo of this guy who's so busy at work. There's an audible shutter noise - which she's learned by now she can turn off. But it's funnier this way.

"Nice work!" she calls, and Caedra, somehow, is an expert at making what should be a compliment sound patronizing, or at least teasing. She grins as she puts the phone back in the bag slung over her shoulder.

A final slash with Ben's sword severs the vine of a plant whose head is promptly booted back into the enormous, outward-facing pipe. It tries to wiggle free, but only pushes itself further into the cylindrical depths. Satisfied, and seeing no other apparent threat, Ben sheathes his sword and mops the sweat from his brow.

The peculiar, strangely mechanical clack catches Ben's attention and he turns, squinting curiously at the origin of the sound. And the greeting, which he suspects is a playful comment not meant to be particularly offensive.

"Thank you," he replies, electing to approach her cautiously. "I'd be careful, sitting on that pipe."

"I'll be fine, but I appreciate the concern." Well no, she doesn't care, but it seems like the right thing to say.

"You're handy with a sword - are you as good with that gun? We don't see many of those here."

Ben continues to squint, and he feels he ought to be forgiven if he were to question her tone; it's mild though, and he might be a little overheated.

Her question catches him off guard. "... I can use my firearm accurately, yes. Do you often ask strangers about their weapons?" His own tone is more curiously stern and not so much meant to chastise. He could walk away if he wanted, but instead, he simply stays put.

She grins at his question, then gestures at the plants around the arena, still snapping away at anyone who passes near enough to them. "It's an appropriate question, given the situation! But even so - yes, I do, when they're unusual weapons like that one. I notice, and I ask."

She's not shy, certainly. Caedra never saw the point. Sure, if she wants to hide something then she'll be more elusive but it's surprising what most people will say when asked directly for information. Some are so happy to talk about themselves that it's hard to get them to stop.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Test Drive Meme #30

major ben tallmadge | turn: washington's spies

three

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

one

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject