Test Drive Meme #33

[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: WEARS HIGH HEELS WHEN SHE EXERCISES
[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.

And this one is, well, particularly creepy. Especially if you dislike body horror, or spiders, or being eaten. This time, the Door has brought in Virginias, from the video game The Forest.

Virginias are rather disturbing-looking monsters, looking a bit like multiple bodies all squished together. They move quickly, they can charge and leap at you, and those creepy arms and legs hurt like hell. They also make skittering noises, if you want to be even more creeped out. So have fun with that!]

L O V E

SCENARIO TWO: YES, LIKE THAT
[Today, it's you time. You woke up this morning and you knew it was the perfect day to practice a little self-care. To put yourself first. To treat yourself. And that's what you're going to do!

Whether that means drinking too much, skipping out on unwanted obligations, telling people what you really think of them, or eating that last donut - you're looking after you now, and it doesn't matter what anybody else thinks! All that matters is that you're happy. So party on, and let's hope your fun doesn't get in the way of anyone else's life.

This is a mini version of our Love Yourself event this month.]

R A G E

SCENARIO THREE: JUST ONE OF THOSE DAYS
[This morning you didn't wake up wanting to treat yourself. Oh, no. You woke up wanting to show your anger - to the world, to yourself, to anyone watching. You want to break shit, start fights, get into pointless internet arguments. They're wrong, after all.

So why not? Find a stray piece of wood and start smashing windows. Tell someone you don't like the way they're looking at you. Post something incendiary on Twitter Hadriel's network. And wait for the responding anger. That's what you want, right? Someone to face off against?

Let's just hope you don't go too far.]

Comments

Connor | Detroit: Become Human

[missiondeterminant]

[Fear]

[As far as Connor is aware, becoming deviant doesn't come with hallucinations.

However, that's really the only good explanation for what he's looking at, now that he's picked himself up from the ground; maybe his programming has corrupted even further than he thought, and he's seeing things that aren't there. Maybe he really is somewhere else, even, if not physically then mentally. Those are all possible logical explanations.

Of course, explanations--as much as Connor is designed to find them--are not exactly the most important things to focus on right now when faced with... That. His scanner says it's organic, not a malformed android, but that's about all he's got so far as he scrambles up to his feet, backing away from the creature advancing on him. It feels... Off, and wrong, and Connor's LED--hidden under the brim of his beanie hat--lights up red for a moment before cycling to yellow as he processes both the unfamiliar emotion and the situation in front of him.

He pulls his gun as the monster continues approaching, but it's faster than he expects and leaps at him; he mostly dodges to the side but it still hits him hard enough to send him to the ground again, causing the gun to go skittering off. Great. This keeps happening to him.

But no time to think about that; he rolls across the ground to dodge another strike, getting up on his elbows and scrambling back to put some distance between himself and the monster, and when it attacks again he kicks it hard in the joint of one of its knees. That gives him enough time to try getting up again, but if anyone wants to help he'd still appreciate it.]


[Love]

[Being able to do what he wants is still a little... Weird.

Even more weird is that he isn't totally sure how to tell what it is he actually wants to do. The concept of having particular desires or the like certainly isn't unknown to him--he's programmed to deal with humans, after all--and he even felt a version of it himself before, when he was focused on his mission. He distinctly remembers 'wanting' to save Emma, to find the hiding deviant, to locate Jericho.

But it felt different from the 'want' to spare Chloe, or to cheer up Hank, or to pet Hank's dog Sumo. But all those experiences were still pre-deviancy, and even though they felt different he's still not sure if they actually felt like anything at all. It's all very confusing.

Or at least it is if he thinks too much about it, rather than just following 'instinct'. But, somehow, he's finding the latter much easier than usual at the moment, and that's why he's out in the rain. It's not like it's the first time he's been in the rain, but it's the first time he's really thinking about it and how it feels, and he thinks he likes it. It's calming, and since he doesn't feel the cold or discomfort from his heavy clothes getting soggy it's overall a nice experience.

He's totally oblivious to how might look, standing out in the middle of the street with his face turned up toward the sky and his hands lifted to feel the rain.

Later on he might also be found climbing the side of a building, carefully but confidently scaling the structure so he can sit on top of it, watching everything below him. He thinks he might be able to add 'heights' to his list of likes.]

love

[unchosenchild]

You're going to get sick.

[ Deadpan, lile she doesn't care one way or the other -- Maki doesn't, except in that having someone sniffling and coughing and spreading something would be an inconvenience. She found a star-shaped umbrella in one if the shops the other day, and she's got it open as she walks around (this weather really reflects her emotional state) so she walks up to him and lifts it as high as she can to cover them both.

It doesn't quite work, but she's Trying.

(Spoilers: being bossy is something she loves.) ]

[missiondeterminant]

[Connor isn't startled, having been low-key aware of Maki's approach, but he only acknowledges her when she speaks and the umbrella comes into his field of view. He turns his head slowly to look at her, considering her for a moment--human, no apparent immediate health concerns--before responding.]

I appreciate the concern, but I'll be alright. You're getting wet yourself.

[Due to trying to shield him from the rain and all. It would be better for her to just focus on covering herself, considering what she's concerned about--him getting sick--isn't possible.]

[unchosenchild]

[ She hmphs quietly, shifting her umbrella a little. He is wearing layers. So is she, but... ]

Fine.

[ She'll just avoid you if you do get sick. The umbrella goes back to protecting just her, and it's very effective. ]

You shouldn't be so confident. This place is-- [ different. Untrustworthy. Too reminiscent od the Digital World with its god-like beings. ] ...unpredictable.

[missiondeterminant]

[Connor decides not to argue the point, if only because it's for the best to keep up the guise of being human; otherwise, he would've totally gone into a lecture about how he had every reason to be confident.

But instead he watches Maki for a moment, focusing on her last comments.]

It's a world none of us come from. Unpredictability is to be expected.

[And therefore not that unpredictable after all.]

Is this place very difficult from your own world?

[unchosenchild]

[ Yes good let her have this, she's already had enough taken from her tbqh.

On the point of unpreditability... ]

A certain amount of unpredictability, yes, but as time passes, even that becomes familiar.

[ Her first days in the Digital World, compared to the ones before that doomed battle, stand in stark contrast in her memory. ]

The main difference here is that even the unpredictability changes. The parameters are not defined in ways we understand. There are too many changes, too many variables. [ She narrows her eyes a little and grips her umbrella tighter. It's something solid in a world in regular flux. ] So yes, it's different from my world -- or from parts of it, anyway.

[ Can she rightly call the Digital World hers when its masters hurt her so badly? Maybe she will, out of spite. ]

[missiondeterminant]

[Familiar unpredictability. He would've agreed, probably, before everything that happened just before coming here; everything he's ever known, in his whole less than three months of life, had turned upside-down in an instant. So what's the difference here, really? He'd thought he understood the parameters at home, too.

But again, he doesn't argue, this time because thinking about the subject causes a feeling that isn't quite fear but can't yet recognize well enough to name; it creeps under his synthetic skin and his still-hidden LED cycles yellow again. Whatever it is, he doesn't like it, and he wants to make it go away.

So, after a moment, he changes topic entirely.]

My name is Connor. What's yours?

fear

[madebyhumans]

[Hey Conner, I hear you like dogs. But what about big psychic cats?

Mewtwo isn't by far the biggest fan of humans (though she doesn't know that's what Conner isn't), but that doesn't mean she'll leave someone to fend for themselves when it looks like they could use some help. A blue energy ball flies towards the creature, hitting it right in the face (?). Not enough to destroy it, but strong enough to throw it back.

She can't speak, but she reaches out to talk to Conner through telepathy.]

Are you all right?

[missiondeterminant]

[Big psychic cats are... Definitely on the weird side of things, even with everything that Connor is used to. But hey, she's helping, and although the telepathy isn't quite familiar it isn't entirely new either; he rarely speaks to other androids through the mental connection, but it's definitely possible. It doesn't feel quite the same with Mewtwo, but it would make sense if she were some sort of strange android and that makes the situation at least slightly less... Completely unknown.

But only slightly.

Still, he's not at all about to complain, taking the opportunity provided by Mewtwo's help to get to his feet and quickly scan for his gun. There it is, not too far, and he goes after it immediately; weapon in hand he backs up next to Mewtwo, gun pointed at the now-recovering many-legged monster. It's only then that he responds, gaze still fixated on the monster.]

I'm fine. Do you know what that thing is?

[His tone is calm, the situation seeming more under control for the moment, and he only isn't shooting the thing because he has no idea what it is. Who knows if it might spray acid or something.]

Love

[onlyanautomaton]

[Oscar is minding his own business--looking over the engine of one of the fire trucks for the fourth time this hour--when he hears movement outside. He doesn't think anything of it until a set of thuds resonate from the roof of the building, closely followed by footsteps.

Curiosity piqued, he leaves his work to go out and investigate the source immediately. His best guess narrows it down to Curufin; he is here more often than the others. But much to Oscar's surprise, it is not the elf's gaze that he meets when he looks up. A man has decided to make himself comfortable up there for reasons Oscar cannot yet determine.]

Good day, sir. May I ask what you're doing up there?

[missiondeterminant]

[It's still kind of a new thing to attract attention, at least besides a dismissive glance or comment here and there, so the fact that someone is directly addressing him--and not only that, but doing so politely--takes him a moment to realize. But he soon focuses on the speaker, and they're... Obviously not human, just by appearance alone. Connor is instantly intrigued, if slightly cautious due to both trying to hide his own status as nonhuman for now and not knowing exactly what kind of motives Oscar might have, and answers neutrally but amiably.]

I wanted to see the island from a higher vantage point.

[Not that this one is super high, and not that that wasn't a secondary objective anyway, but it's still true for the most part.]

But I didn't mean to trespass. If you'd like me to leave, I'll do so.

[onlyanautomaton]

[Oscar notes that he has not seen or heard this man on the network or in person prior to their current meeting. A new arrival?]

You will find a better vantage point on the Guard's watchtower. The view from it is optimal for surveying every corner of the island, though I would recommend that you speak with the Guard before using it.

The weather is likely to turn at any moment. [And when it does, he will not be content to simply leave the young man to the mercy of the elements.] Would you like to come inside?

[missiondeterminant]

[The information about the watchtower is good to know, and he's definitely going to talk to the Guard; not just about that, but about their organization in general. That's for later, though.]

I will, thanks.

[As for the weather, Connor could mention that it doesn't bother him, but he won't for a few reasons. He's much more interested in figuring out more about Oscar at the moment, and so decides to go along with the whole thing.]

I'd like to, yes.

[He's not sure what exactly this building is, so he's curious about that too, and climbs back down the side of it without further comment. Once he drops the last few feet and steps closer to the Oscar, though, he's talking again.]

Forgive me for stating the obvious, but you're not human. It seems most of those here are.

[And so he's very interested in hearing more about what Oscar is, and what Connor might be able to learn about how the social structure of this place works in regards to human or not.]

[onlyanautomaton]

[As if to confirm his suspicion that more rain is on the way, a brisk gust of wind chooses then to hit their section of the island. He is glad that coaxing the young man down from there was unnecessary.

The statement, obvious though it might be, does give Oscar pause. He has thought about this.]

The point of entry through which we arrived has been said to draw in those that share some association with chaos; whether that is chaos in a general sense or specific to an individual's circumstances can vary. Most worlds of interest to our captors are primarily inhabited by humans, including my own.

Love

[faithliss]

[ Faith grew up in a rural community and so it was far from uncommon to see a child scaling various trees and car parks for the tiniest bit of rush. Faith would never lie: she'd been such a kid. There was something about being up and away from everything and everyone else that gave her a little piece of mind.

Now, her brother's are the ones who give her peace of mind (and sometimes they terrify her, though none like Joseph).

She watches Connor as he starts, watching with somewhat bated breath. A building like that isn't like the trees she'd like or the playground equipment she used to misuse; this was far more dangerous. ]

You're a very good climber! [ She calls out to him, her voice soft and honey-like. She won't deny the pit in her belly watching him but she's seen many men jump to their deaths at her own behest, their bodies spattering at the Father's statue's feet.

One must be worthy. ] That might be dangerous so soon after the rain, though!

[missiondeterminant]

[Being able to calculate routes and account for the factors of the texture of the building, the effects of the rain, and anything else important makes it a lot safer for him to climb after a storm than it might be for other people. But he does realize, at Faith's comments, that this probably isn't helping his whole 'pretending to be human' ruse.

So as he settles on the top of the building he offers a hesitant smile meant to look a little sheepish, inclining his head just slightly in a nod of acknowledgement both to the compliment and her last comment, and raises his voice so she can hear him as he responds.]

I appreciate the concern, but I'm being careful. I wanted to see more of the island.

[It's all true, if not the actual reason.]

[faithliss]

[ He's agile and careful, his movements almost calculated. Perhaps he's one of those free climbers. Parkour and free climbing have gotten popular and she's met many in her time in Hope county, all those people drawn to the towering trees and mountains.

She's always enjoyed the view from the top of the Father's statue, how she could see so very far into the world, and how at its feet lay those who lacked in faith. But she's never been one to seek out height. Joseph spoke of the tower of Babel, of the dangers humans put themselves in when they climb too high to reach the glory of God.

Curious, she lifts to her toes, feet bare. She covers her eyes with a palm as she looks up at him. ]

How is it? [ She would climb the building if she were skilled in such an aspect but her skills lie in manipulation, in faith, in illusion. ] Is it beautiful?

[missiondeterminant]

[At the question Connor turns his gaze from her to the view in front of him, allowing himself to really look at the landscape dotted with buildings and surrounded by blue-grey water, mist hanging in the air from low-lying clouds and recent rain.

He knows that humans' opinions on the scene would vary; some would find it depressing, some would find it peaceful, and others would feel any number of ways inbetween. But it's strange for Connor to really think about how he feels about it, rather than what would be the appropriate answer.

Still, after a moment, he looks back down at Faith and calls a simple answer down to her.]

Yes.

[It is beautiful in a quiet, sedate way, surrounded by tumultuous ocean and only seeming more still in contrast for it. He definitely likes rain, as well as the aftermath of it.

But he is also not the type to sit still for long, even when he was supposed to be being a professional, emotionless android, and so he's soon moving to climb back down as quickly as he'd gone up. Connor drops to the ground near Faith soon enough, and that's when he notices--]

Should you be out here without shoes?

[He's pretty sure that's how humans get sick, and/or tetanus.]

[faithliss]

[ Of course. It was going to be beautiful, even if the horizon held fire and destruction. From such a height, everything was beautiful because it was so vast and such a rare sight. A giant wouldn't blink. God wouldn't blink. But humans, small and fragile creatures, would find beauty in such greatness.

At the question, she looks to her feet and then back to Connor with a warm smile. ]

I like the way the ground feels. [ Her eyes close a moment, wigging her toes against the wet ground. ] It feels beautiful, as if I'm connected to something bigger than myself.

[ Her eyes open, bright and curious. ] Have you never walked barefoot?

love

[laqueata]

[ Devan loves the rain. It's hard not to, when it is the source of so much - back home, they'd collect it in large, curved leaves, use it for cooking and washing. Big downpours would create makeshift pools, to the delight of the kids.

Rain was life. And so Devan was out in the rain, in her natural form, dodging drops like she would bullets, flying higher and higher, appreciating the emptiness of the skies compared to the streets, busy with people rushing to try and avoid getting soaked.

That's when she sees him. Sitting at the edge of a rooftop, but no wings on his back, yet looking completely comfortable, like he's enjoying the height, and the rain, like Devan herself.

She flies closer, until she lands by his side. ]

Hi.

[ In this form, 4 inches tall and wings fluttering around her, she is quiet, to humans. So she sits on the ledge, closes her eyes, and murmurs the prayer to the Trees she always does as she shifts into her human-like form. Still short - barely over 5', with a greenish undertone to her skin, but no more wings. However, she is soaked, her hair plastered to her face. ]

Are you okay? Not many people like to sit in the rain.

[missiondeterminant]

[Connor doesn't miss the approach of what looks like a very small human with wings, which is... Definitely fascinating, and she immediately has his attention especially since she seems be friendly. That she's able to change her form somehow is just even more interesting and Connor watches curiously, noting the disappearance of her wings and the unusual tone to her skin, and he mentally adds her to the growing list of nonhuman beings in this place.

He gives a small nod, little more than a subtle dip of his head, at the question before responding.]

I'm okay, thank you. I'm finding that I like the rain.

[It's weird, in a way, to say that; it's part of his programming to express and even have likes, so as to seem more personable to humans, but that's different from genuinely, truly, liking something himself.]

What about you? You're out here yourself.

[And even if she's not human, getting soaked is probably more of an issue for her than for him.]

[laqueata]

[ Devan smiles, feet kicking as she dangles them off the edge of the roof. Tilting her head up, she closes her eyes to the rain, breathing deep. ]

I love it. There's something very... cleansing about it, isn't there? Reminds me of home - it's a little bit of nature in the city, and I like that, because I've lived in the forest my whole life. I'm still getting used to the change.

[ Maybe she clings to small reminders of home. ]

You're only finding that you like the rain now? You didn't like it before?

[ After all, he looks like a grown adult, but people are allowed to change their minds, after all. ]

[missiondeterminant]

[...Yeah, this 'pretending to be human' thing is definitely harder than he expected. It's almost funny in that he was made to integrate with humans, to appear and sound and act human, even while it's clear the whole time that he isn't, now that he's trying to actually pass as human it's a lot more difficult.

But he comes up with a decent explanation in response to her question, offering it casually and with perfect but fake sincerity.]

It doesn't rain much where I'm from.

[It's... Maybe faintly true, if you count that he's only a few months old and spent most of that time in a single building, but it definitely rains a lot in Detroit and even in his few days outside it's poured on him more than once.

Moving on before he can be questioned further, though--]

You lived in the forest?

[laqueata]

[ Devan's eyes widen with excitement, a smile on her face. She is curious about Humans, in knowing what makes them tick and what they love and how they live. It's one of these things. ]

Where are you from? I've only ever been in really humid places, but then again you could say I haven't been in many places at all. But it rained a lot in the forest, another reason why it was safer to live underground.

[ When his interest turns to her, though, Devan flushes, shrugging as she plants her hands on either side of her. ]

I did, for most of my life. I lived in a bamboo forest, in the very south of South Korea. But I left recently. I still don't know if it was a mistake.

f e a r

[strikes_x_twice]

[ Yes, it’s going to be one of those days. Lightning was still new enough to this world that these creatures derived from the recesses of one’s deep nightmares still shook her to the bone. Although, did she really want to see the day where she was numb to these these horrors? No. She couldn’t imagine being so desensitized that she wouldn’t have an abhorrence toward it. ]

Watch out!

[ She called to the man just after he gives the spidered-creature an impressive kick that sends a noticeable crack sound echoing through the street. The broken limb is followed by a screech. So the monster feels? She wonders before she brings her blade down on one of the other legs. Again, the creature responds with a noise indicating some agony somewhere there.

Blood gushes and the amputee limb wiggles and squirts away while the creature stumbles back with a nonsensical movement in response to losing two of its legs. Lightning quickly glances at the other man before she focuses back on the creature and raises her blade again. She’s ready to slice off more pieces from the creature if it dares pursue. ]

All right? [ She asks, without taking her eyes off the creature. ]