Test Drive Meme #6

[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 February 23rd, and apps are open March 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: BLOBBED
[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 several Blobs, from the similarly titled 1988 movie, The Blob for you meet.

These gelatinous creatures have no weak spots or brains that can be sliced or crushed to kill them. Instead, their only goal is to absorb and dissolve its prey so that it can grow larger. Think that its, er, blob-like form makes it easy to avoid? Think again- it moves faster than one might expect, as shown in its canon 'kill' video here (with a healthy cw warning for gore and 80's movie effects).]

R A G E
SCENARIO TWO: WENDIGONE
[Hey, that snack you found? It might taste a little too familiar. At least you don't have time to worry about accidental cannibalism too much though, because you've now become host to a vengeful wendigo spirit! The transformation will be sped up for the purposes of this test drive, though you can post at whichever point in the change you desire. Want to tear people to shreds? Go for it. Want to try to clutch onto the last few pieces of your humanity? Be our guest!

On the flipside, as someone who is unaffected, you may be trying to arm yourself and take these wendigos head-on... or, you may be trying to figure out a way you can save them, which would involve somehow trapping them on Hope's altar. Think you can handle that?

This is a mini version of our Who What Where Wendigo event this month!]


H O P E

SCENARIO THREE: CARNATION DAY
[You know those moments in high school that everyone used to dread? Where everyone would spend a week or so with the opportunity to buy a carnation or two for someone they like, only for carnation day to come along and dash any hopes and dreams you had of getting a flower from that special someone?

Well, here's your chance to relive that day- but, you know, hopefully make it end a little happier.

In this prompt, some characters will emerge through the Door- or wake up, or just suddenly appear- with carnations clutched in their hands. These flowers can be any color of your choosing, and all have tags on them. They can be addressed to you or to someone else, and in that FROM category? Well, from your secret admirer, of course- or any other character who may or may not have sent it! Here's to hoping they're a good one!]

Comments

cole - dragon age: inquisition

[residuals]

one - fear

[ Cole remembers this. only vaguely, as if through a haze; like a dream interrupted, that he never caught the threads of. he remembers the streets, and an ogre as it bears down on him. and a friend...

no. it had to have been a dream. maybe his first one ever, but still a dream.

so it's a familiar feeling of dread and foreboding that has his knives back in his hands, and every last nerve standing on edge. it doesn't take long before his hypervigilance is rewarded, but not in the way he expects. a frown crosses his face when he happens upon the thing in the alleyway. it doesn't look like an ogre, nor any other monster he's seen. is it a demon? or the remains of one's dinner? he can't tell.

and then it moves, faster than he'd expected, narrowly dodging as a tendril shoots out at him. it grabs his hat as he stumbles back, and he watches with dawning horror as the thing starts to absorb it. this is— this is bad. and he shouts so anyone in the vicinity knows. ]

Run! You have to run away from here, there's— It wants to eat you!

[ because getting rid of the monster is important, but making sure no one else goes the way of his poor hat is paramount. ]

two - rage

No.

[ something is wrong. something is very, very wrong, and he knows it. he can feel it in his skin, in his bones — it's in the air around him, the sounds and smells bombarding his senses. he can hear everything, smell everything, even as his sight dims. just a shade or two, but he can tell, and he knows this is wrong. ]

No, I— I don't want this. I don't want it!

[ he doesn't know what this is, doesn't have a name to put to it. but it's bad, and he knows that if it takes over, he's going to hurt someone. he can feel it already, a sick sort of hunger that isn't him. Maker, he's so hungry. it reminds him of being locked away in a dark, dank cell, starving and forgotten. this time, though, there is one stark difference:

he's free. and everything — everyone smells so good. ]

three - hope

[ it makes him happy to see the flowers in his hands. happy, and a little bit sad at the same time. he's got more than he really knows what to do with, and even if he can't exactly read the labels, he knows they're for more people than he thinks he can find. would Sera and Vivienne even accept gifts from him? probably not. but that's all right. he can be quiet; if he just left them outside of their doors, they'd never know, right?

in all honesty, he can't remember ever having given anyone flowers. it never made sense to him to give someone something they don't need. but holding them in his hands, and seeing how happy it makes some to receive them — it starts to make sense.

so he shuffles the stems in his hands, trying not to jostle them or squeeze too tight. he doesn't want to kill them before he can give them away. and picks his head up, a small smile on his face as he looks for the first person who needs a flower. ]

[[ i hope it's okay to try this again, now i've recovered a bit from life thoroughly destroying me...!! ]]

[vektor]

[ Chekov hasn't been able to make contact with the Enterprise, with Starfleet, with anyone since he arrived here. He's not even sure where "here" is. It's obviously a cave of some sort, and the city feels distinctly alien. But it's also a little creepy. There's something off about the light, and why hasn't he seen anyone else here?

There's nothing for Chekov to do but explore. He maps the place in his head, searching for life, for clues. The boy wearing what looks like a costume from ancient times is an unexpected, but welcome, surprise. Chekov returns the smile, happy to see someone else at last. ]

Hello. My name is Chekov. [ He says, gently. The boy seems shy. Chekov's voice is genuinely friendly, with a thick Russian accent coloring his words. ] Do you live here?

[residuals]

[ he looks up at the sound of an unfamiliar voice heavy with an accent he doesn't recognize. a brief thought flickers through his mind, wondering if the person it belongs to is from Thedas, or if he's from somewhere else. he seems friendly enough, and Cole can't feel any ill will from him. that's the most important part, he thinks. ]

It sounds like Yehkov when you say it. It bothers you sometimes, when people can't hear past it. They don't mean any harm.

[ just said idly, before he shakes his head. ] No, I don't live here. We're both lost. [ and he pulls a white carnation out of his bouquet, offering it to him and completely ignoring the tag. ] I'm Cole. I'm sorry you're lost.

[vektor]

[ Chekov's brow furrows, but he doesn't say anything. Cole isn't wrong, but that's still not exactly a typical hello. Most people he's met don't bring up the accent right away, or if they do, it's always sideways, like 'oh, are you from Russia?' Coming from anyone else, Chekov would think they were assuming things, and he'd probably get a little irritated. But the way Cole says it, so matter-of-fact, sounds nothing like an assumption. It's like he truly knows, somehow. ]

Yes. [ he concedes. ] A little bit.

[ Chekov takes the flower and looks at the tag. That's not his name written on it. ] I am sorry you are as well, and thank you, but... [ how does he say this? ] The flower is not addressed to me.

[residuals]

Don't worry. The ones that do mean it are only jealous.

[ Chekov is both young and smart, both traits other (older) colleagues would find enviable — he can hear echoes, quieter since he's arrived in this place, of people mocking his accent and spreading gossip. it's just how humans are.

Cole looks up at the "but", however, and there's a slight frown on his face as his eyes go from Chekov's face, to the tag, and back. ]

Does it have to be? [ he hadn't expected that. maybe there's more to giving flowers than he thought. a glance down at his bouquet before offering it to him. this bit, he can't help with. ] You can look for yours, if you want.

[vektor]

I know. [ Chekov says, softly. There were some crewmates like that, back on the Enterprise, but the worst of the outright teasing was at Starfleet Academy. The other students were pettier there and more upfront with their mockery. Now, it happens more behind Chekov's back, and as long as he focuses on the work he loves, he tells himself, their words cannot touch him.

Chekov doesn't really want to focus on that right now, anyway -- those things were said and done, and obvious. What he's more curious about is how this boy knows that at all. ]

How are you so certain?

[ Chekov takes the flower anyway, smiling gently. It's a nice gesture. Whoever this kid his, he's obviously very sweet, and that puts Chekov more at ease than he ordinarily would be towards a stranger who knows so much of his personal life. ]

There is no flower addressed to me. I'm sorry. I think these are for your friends, and I don't want to take their flowers.

[ But surely, this kid knows that, unless -- ]

Can you read? [ Chekov asks, purely curious and caring. There's no judgement here. ]

[residuals]

I can feel it.

[ Cole looks away, idly brushing his fingertips over the flowers. he doesn't expect Chekov to quite understand, knows there's a good chance he wouldn't, if he were to say that he can hear the wonder, and freedom, and the bright lights inside of him. it's so far different from what he's used to, nothing like he's seen on Thedas, and how he knows theirs must be two different places. ]

You've seen so many things. Her name means boldness, an undertaking. She lives up to it, and you help make it happen. You are much bigger than they are. It echoes inside you. That's how I know.

[ the question doesn't bother him. Cole just shrugs. ] I can't. He never learned, and I didn't need to. [ and there's a small pause. ] Why? Is it bad?

hope

[closerift]

[ Honestly, it makes her much happier to see Cole than it does to see the flowers. She's never been one much for sentiment, but he seems... lost in thought as she approaches, and not necessarily in a bad way. For a moment, it seems as if he's conflicted about something, and she frowns curiously. ]

Cole? [ The Inquisitor questions gently, offering a faint smile. He knows she's never been very good with gestures (he seems to know everything about everyone), but let it never be said that it's for lack of trying. Taking a decisive sort of breath, Cecily picks through the carnations that had somehow materialized on her person, not stopping to question how they'd gotten there. With all of Hadriel's many unpleasant surprises thus far, it's almost refreshing to find something non-lethal suddenly cropping up in their temporary home.

It occurs to her that they could be poison, but she also firmly believes that Cole would know already if they were. ]

Is everything all right? [ She asks, looking from his bundle of carnations to his expression. Then, she rifles through the few in her own hands and picks out a bright, yellow flower, offering it to him with a look that suggests I'm trying. ]

For you. [ A beat, and she clears her throat. ] I wouldn't know what to do with all of them, and you deserve-

[ What? A flower? A break? She shakes her head, assuming he knows she means, but then mentally chastises herself and tries anyway. ]

A gift. [ She settles. ]

[residuals]

[ Cole's face brightens immediately upon seeing the Inquisitor. she is a friend, and a welcome ally in any battle; coincidentally (or not so coincidentally at all, really) she's one of the first people he'd want to give one of the flowers to. he nods in response to the question. ]

Everything is fine. I was just thinking about flowers. There are so many, and they mean so many different things. Can mean, to some people. Others are just happy to get them.

[ it's always puzzled him. why give a gift that will wilt in a couple of days? he'd never considered before that it isn't quite the flower that matters, but the thought behind it. now he can feel it, now he knows —

Cole's smile grows a touch wider at the yellow one he's offered. he knows there's a whole language of flowers, depending on the kind of flower and the color; it seems over complicated and even stranger than giving away dying plants, but he recalls overhearing a florist once, scolding a man on a bouquet for his sweetheart. yellow had been a bad choice. disappointment, rejection. only if you want her to kick you to the curb! the florist had said.

he won't do that, though. he knows she means well, and her words only support the fact. he pulls a light red one from his hand, leaning to tuck it into her hair before taking the yellow. ]

Thank you. [ and there's a quiet hum. ] It means what you want it to mean, even if it's wrong. This one can mean "friend".

[closerift]

Does everything always have to have a meaning? [ She poses dryly, no ill will meant for him, but for the unnecessary complications that seem to choke simple gestures these days. ] Can't you just five magical cave-flowers to people anymore?

[ There's a sideways sort of smile. Then, when he leans in and tucks it beneath her hair, she smiles more softly, ducks her chin a bit to make it easier. ]

Thank you. [ Cecily offers, straightening, with the body of the flower heavy in her hair. ] And, I'm... glad it can mean 'friend.' I'd like for it to.

[ Maker. He's absurdly better with language than she is, even when he's being mysterious. She sighs shortly, again adopting a slightly weary grin. ]

And what is this one, then? [ The Inquisitor asks, tilting her head slightly to feature the carnation he'd left there. ]

[residuals]

Yes, to some people. Vivienne uses hers like a weapon. Sometimes it's even stronger than her magic. [ and a look down at the flowers at that question. ] Do you regularly give away "magical cave flowers"?

[ in all their travels, he can't recall ever having seen any magical cave flowers. embrium and prophet's laurel, sure, but those were hardly magical, nor did they usually grow in caves. he frowns just a little. ]

Where do you find them?

[ still, though, the frown is gone almost immediately upon seeing her with the flower in her hair. Cole smiles. ] It does look nice, doesn't it?

[ he takes great care not to let the one Cecily gave him get mixed in with his own, looking down at himself and trying to figure out a good place to put it. it's the first sort of gift he can recall receiving, that he didn't ask for himself. the amulet was a necessity he'd thought he needed, so it couldn't count. this, though, the flower should be treated gently, put somewhere safe. where on his person was safe enough, though?

Cole looks up when she asks about the flower he'd given her, then nods just a little. ] Admiration. [ a short pause— ] Sort of. It's not right. I want them to say you're a very good friend, but they're not the right flower. It's the closest I have. I hope it's okay.

[closerift]

Everything she does is strong. [ Cecily concedes, with a small smile. She admires the mage, though she doesn't always understand or agree with her. Madame de Fer is a lot of things, many of which the Inquisitor hasn't really come to wrap her head around yet. ]

Oh- No, these only just appeared. I've never seen them before: it was only a joke.

[ She admits a little laugh, glancing down again at the flowers. Like Cole, she's thinking of herbs and other plants that they've found across Thedas, but none were... exactly like these. ]

It does. [ Look nice. Not that she can see it up on her own head. If it makes him happy, then that's good enough for her, and the Inquisitor can't help but brighten a little more when he does. ]

Admiration. [ She repeats, the tiniest spots of color blooming in her cheeks. She's never been admired for anything, hadn't done much to speak of before the Inquisition. Even then, she'd started off much less of a serious figure than anyone had wanted and had grown into the role out of necessity. That anyone would admire her is fairly overwhelming, makes her want to shrink back and pass the credit to someone else, which she almost always does. ]

Thank you, Cole. [ Cecily says again, earnestly. ] I don't always earn it, but... the thought is very sweet. It means a lot to me.

[ His judgment is one of the most honest, the most comprehensive, given his insight into all their lives. Aside from that, he's just a genuinely good person. ]

[residuals]

Oh. [ Cole can't help just a tiny sliver of disappointment at that admission. he might have been interested in finding magical cave flowers. ones that were not these, at any rate; despite the fact they'd simply appeared, they didn't seem very magical past that.

oh well. that's not important. what's important is that the Inquisitor is happy, even if he doesn't understand why she seems a bit reluctant to accept the compliment. ]

That's not true. [ he frowns. ] You do more than anyone else. You watch, and you care, and you help. You've earned it, many times over. They're proud of you, even if they don't say it.

[ spirits by their very nature don't have families, so the only information he has to go by is what he can feel of her relationship with hers, the tidbits he's picked up from their friends, as well as whatever semblance of it Cole had. knows, through it, that a parent's approval is important to a child. Cecily may no longer be a child, but that doesn't mean it's not important. ]

We all are.

fear

[tishinka]

[The sound of strange squishing and shouting reach her ears as she makes her way through the streets. Knives in hand she rounds the corner to find, well, not something she expected to find.

She pauses for a moment, staring in confusion at the strange creature. She snaps quickly enough of it, jumping into action. Someone is already fighting the creature but there's people that need help. She sheathes her knives and begins grabbing at anyone who doesn't seem to moving fast enough to drag them out of danger.]

What is that thing?!

[residuals]

I don't know.

[ and that, more than anything, freaks Cole out. he doesn't know what this is. of all the things he's seen, the places he's been, this...thing, this creature, is entirely new to him. and it's dangerous. ]

They lurk in the drain, tap at the window. [ he's muttering more to himself than the girl, frowning as he tries to attack the blobby thing without losing either of his daggers. ] Mimic human shapes, and then devour what's closest. Until nothing is left.

[ it's hard, fighting and not knowing what he's hitting. he can't cut its throat if it doesn't have one. he can't stab it in the heart if he doesn't know where it is. still, he takes a deep breath, tries to use his Hidden Blades talent to cut it apart —

— and can't help being surprised when it works. the pieces plop to the ground, and he only turns to face her once he's sure they aren't moving. ]

Thank you for helping. I don't think they were listening to me.

[ what he doesn't notice, however, is the quivering behind him as the blob slowly starts to reform. ]

[tishinka]

[He doesn't know. She doesn't know. That doesn't sit well with her. What she catches of his rambling, as she helps people get out of the way, doesn't make the situation any better. Not to mention, the blob doesn't seem to take any noticeable damage.

By the time he uses Hidden Blades, everyone who was in danger is out of the way. Irisa simply stares at him.]

That seems useful. [She has no special abilities like that so count her impressed.]

I'm just trying to make sure no one dies.

[The movement is slight but it draws her attention.] I don't think it's dead.

[residuals]

Thank you. It is, sometimes.

[ he nods at what he takes to be a compliment, then glances at the alley around them to see if anyone else is left. ]

That's important, too. It's the most important. [ said matter-of-factly; while it's true that it's impossible to guarantee that no one dies, he still wants to make sure there are as little casualties as possible. so for that — ] Thank you for making sure everyone else got away.

[ Cole turns at the comment. his grip on his daggers had slackened a little, but now he switches his hold, gets into a fighting stance. because as much help as she'd been, there's still someone else in the alley. ]

You should probably run away too. I've never fought one of these before. I don't know how to kill it.

fear (yay cole again)

[theresolve]

[Rainier all but - no, scratch that. He does swear, very creatively. Sera would actually probably be pretty proud, he even manages to eloquently incorporate her favorite of 'arsebiscut' into the frustrated tirade. This thing can only be harmed with magic, it seems, and they're rather short on that. They BOTH need to run.]

It'll eat you too if it gets a chance, come on kid!

[Do not make him grab you Cole he will grab you by the back of the shirt and yank your skinny ass with him if you don't make like a tree and leave too.]

hello hello! ;u; i am sorry about last time, but glad to see you again!!

[residuals]

[ the cursing surprises him, and it's evident in the wide-eyed look Cole gives him. ]

She would be very proud. I wonder if she knows? [ and— ] I know it will. Do you think I'll ever get my hat back?

[ that, more than the threat of getting eaten, is what upsets him. he doesn't run, so much as takes a few steps back and away from it. he really did love his hat. ]

life happens! as evident by my own lag... (let me know if this is okay!)

[theresolve]

[Okay. Okay. You know what, Cole, you can't weigh that much, you don't eat anything, so yeah Cole is getting grabbed and carried out of harm's way. Rainier does not want to wait to get eaten while Cole hems and haws over his hat, but nor is leaving Cole behind an option at this point, not anymore and not for a long time now.]

We'll find you another hat!

;u; A Coooooole! (FEAR)

[fuwatokurage]

[Clear hears the shouting. Shouting was never a good thing here. It wasn't really a good thing anywhere, but so many strange things happened here that it was definitely, most certainly, positively not good. It was possibly even worse than just not good.

He moves to see the source of the shouting, hoping that he can help in some way. He enjoys helping people here. He feels useful and being useful makes him feel more human.

That's when he spots where the source of the distressed voice came from.]

Hello? I heard a scared voice.

CLEAR *A* hello!!!

[residuals]

Hello!

[ Cole's too busy to drop his guard and properly greet whoever is there. he dodges the goopy tendril that lashes out at him, slashing with a dagger and rolling away as it drops to the ground. ]

You shouldn't be here. It isn't— [ he's not sure what it isn't. it isn't real? it isn't alive? it moves, it tries to hurt others, so it must be those. ] It isn't safe!

I AM SO EXCITED! NOTHING BUT STRANGE CUTENESS CAN COME FROM THIS! *u*

[fuwatokurage]

[Clear looks at the big, blobby thingy.]

W-what is that?! It has a very large hat!

[That's the thing he notices first.

He pulls out a knife from his own pocket that he acquired from the armory.]

What about you? It cannot be safe for you, either!

[As much as that thing is really scary, he doesn't want to leave someone alone to defend themselves.

One of the tendrils comes lashing out at him now and he narrowly dodges it by flinging himself away.]

Uwaaaaah! That was close!

ME TOO aaaa clear was always my favorite from dmmd!! ;A;

[residuals]

It's my hat. It stole it!

[ Cole is (reasonably, he thinks) upset as he says it. he loved his hat, loved the protection and security it afforded him, and now it's too dangerous to take it back. he's not happy, and it shows on his face.

still, though, he can't help nodding appreciatively as the stranger pulls out a knife. ]

It's not safe for either of us. [ it's not hard to fade in and out of sight as he slips away from the monster to go to his side, help him up. ] If there's no one else for it to eat, we should run.

Cole was also always in my party and I always shouted "NO BABY!" when he died. (which was very often

[fuwatokurage]

[Clear can understand that the blob has committed a serious offense by stealing this guy's hat. It is a really large hat and it looks important.

He accepts the help up and nods quickly, impressed by the fading step Cole did to get to him.]

I agree! We should get somewhere safe. It does not look fast enough to catch us!

[He then begins to run off quickly, hoping that the other person is following close behind.]