Test Drive Meme #34

[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 July 25th, and apps are open August 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: OOZES GEOMETRICALLY
[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.

The only warning you may get is the squish slick sound of movement before a gelatinous cube is upon you. Leaving gross trails behind them and with their see-through bodies filled with the bones of those that they've dissolved in their jelly, these cubes have no real vulnerability other than their limited movement.

Gelatinous cubes are exactly what it says on the tin, giant translucent cubes of jelly whose main attack tactic seems to be cornering people in small hallways and just sort of absorbing them into its mass. They then digest all meat and flesh and leave only floating bones and various metals their victim may have been wearing stashed inside of their jiggling forms.

Maybe it's time to apologize for the last time you brought a jelly mold to a potluck.]

A L L

SCENARIO TWO: MY LOYAL SERVANTS
[Thanks for your service to the gods! In order to power each of them up, it's up to you to pick a deity you like most (or dislike least, as it were) and simply say their name in order to be influenced by them and encouraged to inspire their emotion in others!

What, you don't want to play? Too bad, accidental name calling works just as well, even if you didn't mean to incite them- you'll feel their presence pulling their chosen emotion out in you anyway. Hope you picked a good one!

This is a mini version of our In Need Of A Boat event this month.]

C O N F U S I O N

SCENARIO THREE: I MISS GPS
[Sure, you might be a little confused at being here at first, but that generally goes away within a few days. This time... well, this time, that feeling of befuddlement isn't quite going away. Roads that you take seem to disappear behind you when you turn around, your right turns are left turns on the map you're following, and you're pretty sure that everyone except for you put their shirt on backwards this morning.

Is everyone high? What they're saying makes absolutely no sense to you. You can't find your way out of a paper bag, let alone back to where you've been staying lately. Is that a dog or is it an eldritch horror coming up to lick at your calves?

During this prompt, everything will feel off and it can be very difficult to get your bearings at all. That's Confusion for you!]

Comments

fear

[hot_mes]

[honestly, Law's used to this by now. Anything can happen on Door Day, from hapless newbies crying for rescue to overpowered idiots going a bit overboard. He's about to slot this guy into the second category when something about his appearance stops him.

It's not the vest or even the headband, but the rest of his outfit...

No no gotta play it cool. Never let anyone know you're a fanboy. Ever.]

It's....nothing. Really. Nothing at all. [cough] By any chance, are you a ninja...?

[inukage]

[ Kakashi nods, thankful he didn't accidentally injure the guy. That would be one hell of a first impression. ]

I am. Are you? [ Kakashi gives the stranger a quick once-over. He doesn't look like any ninja Kakashi has seen before, but hey, today was full of surprises. ]

[hot_mes]

No...

[not with a giant fuzzy hat like that, ha. Law's eyes sort of light up, although "excited" for him is still "standing there calmly and not letting his voice inflection change" so there's that. But really, he is excited.]

Prove it. Do a jutsu.

[inukage]

...

[ What the hell... Kakashi narrows his eyes at the command. What would he even have to gain from lying about being a ninja?

He's about to just leave when the familiar gurgling of the gelatinous cube starts echoing from the corridor Kakashi came from. Unfortunately, he made his exit hole a little too wide and the cube starts oozing through. ]

Shit.

[ He's had enough of this thing. Kakashi motions for the man to stand aside.

He had analyzed the monster as it pursued him through the halls earlier. The bones in the gel had confirmed it was deadly. A thrown kunai with a bit of fabric wrapped around it confirmed that while the cube could dissolve some material, metal and bones seemed to stay. All Kakashi has to do is destroy it without getting any of the harmful ooze on himself.

He sighs, knowing that he's about to give the stranger exactly what he asked for.

The build-up of electricity in his right hand is slow and controlled. No need to waste too much chakra in case any other threats arise. Or cause anymore damage than he already has to their surroundings. Bolts of violet electricity spark around his body and just as the ooze is halfway through the opening Kakashi rushes forward. With his hand, he slices through the ooze like butter. The electricity around him simultaneously tearing the ooze into pieces while protecting Kakashi from any exposure.

He stops once he emerges from the end of the cube. The walls are coated with globs of goo--some still wriggling--, but the giant cube itself obliterated. Kakashi checks his clothing for any stray goo and swats it off. Yeah. He definitely went overboard for an enemy like this.

Kakashi steps through the opening in the wall. He twirls the kunai he had originally tossed into the cube earlier around his finger. ]

Ah. I overdid it a little.

[hot_mes]

[That. Was. COOL. It's no clone jutsu but he can deal.

Law's eyes are keen, and not with the suspicion and disdain he usually shows around people whose powers are still pretty useful but gawd magic isn't real...he can appreciate the electricity, since he can also wield it. Fascinating how such abilities are so much closer to his own...

But he's got to play it off like it's no big deal. Someone his age flailing about ninjas, that's just not appropriate.]

Impressive. You even chose the most effective counter to those things. [he's been teleporting rocks onto them, less flashy but just as fun] It's always a pleasure to run into someone who doesn't need their ass rescued straight off the mark.

[inukage]

[ Things? Just how much of them were crawling around? Kakashi slips his kunai back into a pocket and gives the stranger his full attention.

This guy seemed a little cocky, but not a threat at the moment. His last statement was also particularly interesting. ]

You've run into others?

[hot_mes]

Like clockwork, every month. Gelatinous beings is a new one, though. Wish I could offer a more friendly welcome, but it is what it is. You're not dead and I didn't have to unsheath my sword, for once.

[it's a big one, too, a long nodachi resting sheathed on his shoulder]

[inukage]

[ He shakes his head. ] I've had worse welcomes.

[ He cocks his head to the side when the stranger mentions his weapon. A pretty big sword, but it wouldn't have been very useful for the last monster. How had he been getting by? ]

Ah. Are you some kind of guard here? [ If so, he was doing a pretty crappy job. ]

[hot_mes]

No. Just one of the unfortunate residents. There is a Guard, but I don't associate with them. [s h r u g] I come out every time we get visitors. Professional curiosity.

[inukage]

[ "Visitors." That's one way to put it. At least it slightly eases Kakashi's worries about this being a targeted attack on him. Although it leaves him wondering if anyone else he knew was around. ]

I see. How noble of you try rescuing others just to satisfy your curiosity. [ Something about the slightly cocky attitude and the command from earlier still rubbed him the wrong way. Additionally, the man was the first person Kakashi had run into since coming here. Being suspicious was only natural.

He wants to ask about anyone he might know coming through, but it might be best to hold back for now. ]

( // when kakashi dont care about drama but i do!!! WHAT is up with the guard 👀 )

[hot_mes]

[fortunately, Law doesn't take such suspicions too seriously. By all rights he should be less flippant, and most days he is, but a good portion of his vaunted veneer of self-control has been ripped away by omg it's a real ninja and he's not weird like Raizou...

He smirks vaguely, shrugging again.]

Sometimes it's the only way to have fun. I wouldn't bother to show up if it wasn't occasionally successful. [does this guy doubt that he's capable? Maybe not the best time to be a complete showoff.] Sometimes people you know show up. Sometimes the monsters turn out to be much more edible than the canned food in the shops. Not these, obviously. [with a disdainful nod toward the jelly remnants beyond] One never knows unless one investigates for themselves.

[(it's no big mystery, a pirate would never condone law enforcement!)]

[inukage]

[ His ears perk up at the mention of people one knows showing up. So there is a chance.

He frowns at the globs of slime that had now slid down the walls. Kakashi isn't a stranger to hunting for his own food at times, but something about hoping for edible monsters once a month is particularly bleak. ]

I'm guessing it's difficult to leave here. Otherwise it sounds like you'd be out having your fun elsewhere ... with your companions. [ Real subtle there. ]

( // huh... youre totally right! though id love to see those interactions : ' ) )

[hot_mes]

Impossible. But, we're working on that.

[quite literally right now! But that's another chat for another time.

Law's eyes narrow slightly.]

My crewmates can take care of themselves, back home. Though, if I get back and they've run themselves aground on an island, I wouldn't be terribly surprised.

Unless you were planning to hang around and explode more of those cubes, I'd suggest we take a stroll away from here.

[inukage]

[ Kakashi doesn't doubt the strength of anyone he knew (particularly against these cubes), but the idea that they were captured and thrown into this same situation made him uneasy.

He also wonders if anyone has noticed his absence yet. ]

No, I've had enough of these things. [ They aren't difficult to deal with, just annoying. However, Kakashi doesn't let his guard drop as they walk. ]

You mentioned crewmates just now. Are you a sailor?

[hot_mes]

Pirate. [might as well be up front, everybody around here knows.] Trafalgar Law, captain of the Heart Pirates. You've got a name, I assume?

[he's not very funny but he ...no, he doesn't actually try.]

[inukage]

[ Kakashi suddenly had a guess as to what "professional curiosity" may also entail. A pirate coming to a place with helpless visitors. It would be pretty easy to extort them for protection or just loot any that didn't make it.

Of course Kakashi's opinions on pirates are all based on secondhand information. ]

Got it. Trafalgar Law. [ He nods. ] Of the Heart Pirates. [ ... That's kind of a girly name. ]

No. Shinobi never reveal their name. If a stranger were to find out, we would have take them out instantly. [ He's fucking around, but keeps a completely straight face. ]

[hot_mes]

[at some point there'll be more information, and that opinion might change, but eh. What Law doesn't know can't hurt him right now.

He should be smart, but noooo, fanboy mode is still running so he completely falls for it. Thanks Kakashi.]

...what? Is that true? [huh...] Then either Raizou is an idiot or my whole crew could be dead right now...

[inukage]

What would I have to gain from lying to you? [ Other than seeing just how gullible this pirate captain could be. ]

If this "Raizou" has even a basic level of ninjutsu skills, your crew could be in danger. [ Ok. Maybe he feels bad for that one. Especially considering Kakashi has no idea how anyone he knows is faring. ]

[hot_mes]

[yes, good. Thinking engaged, we might get back to normal here in a minute]

Well. His clone jutsu was pretty impressive, but that was the first time I'd ever seen it. [so, no real frame of reference there. First ever ninja, it sort of blew his mind] Either way. If you'd prefer I just call you Ninja-ya or Shinobi-ya, so be it.

[inukage]

[ Kakashi nods as he listens. ] Sounds impressive. [ The Clone Technique is one of the basic jutsus a student needs to graduate from the academy. ... So it's so easy a kid could do it. ]

And that might be the best option. For your own safety. [ He's really laying it on thick now. ]

[hot_mes]

Uh huh. [his own safety, huh? That's where he's a lot more confident in himself and not so much in legends] Very well, Shinobi-ya.

[what? it rolls off the tongue nicely]

So what's your deal? Some poor lowly foot soldier in a war, or something far more adventurous?

[inukage]

[ Huh. How much could he get away with? ]

I've done a little of everything in my time. [ Some missions were more exciting than others, but "adventure" would be the wrong way to describe the life of a shinobi. At least Kakashi's. Currently he was the leader of his entire village, but he was still withholding that for the time being. ]

[hot_mes]

[as someone who can be skillfully evasive when he wants to be, Law can appreciate the vagueness, but it doesn't get him very far. He's terrible at small talk, and it shows.]

Enough to have earned a few scars, it seems.

[inukage]

[ Right. He definitely got more looks now that he stopped hiding his eye. ]

Everyone in this line of work has some. I imagine it's the same for you.

[ Kakashi perks up when he hears a sound further ahead. The quiet, but distinct sloshing of gel against a stone wall. The cubes don't have any kind of energy or scent for him to sense, so their sound was the only hint.

Two massive gelatinous cubs appeared ahead. They were far enough (and slow enough) to avoid, but... ]

Do a pirate move.

( // i hope it was ok to assume they hadn't left the area yet! i thought this might be fun. )

yes good perfect

[hot_mes]

[it's at the same moment that Law checks, because he can sense something, even if it's just the vibration of movement. Ugh, nasty bastards squelching about here, can't leave well enough alone.

He gives Kakashi a good solid deadpan look before sliding the saya off his shoulder and grasping his sword's handle]

I asked for that, didn't I?

[one good showoff deserves another, after all. He squares himself but doesn't advance on the cubes, instead raising his free hand and muttering what sounds like "Room." A faintly-blue bubble of aura swells around them, large enough to encompass the enemies ahead as well. All Law has to do is swing his blade a few times, rapidly, and the cubes quite suddenly split into halves, then quarters, then little tiny Jello squares, all of which just sort of plop and wiggle around helplessly. They're not dead, but they sure as hell aren't going anywhere unless the creature is smart enough to figure out how to rejoin itself.]

...that should do, for now. Unless you'd like to see them fried as well.