dankmemes | test drive meme # 35

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 August 25th, and apps are open September 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: GET YOUR RED CAPE READY
[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 they sure are big boys. Big and easily angered and ready to run right over you. This time, the Door has brought in Brontos, from the video game Dragon Age.

Brontos are large oxen-like beasts, though more sure-footed due to spending all their time in caves underground. There are domesticated brontos, bred to haul and be ridden and eaten... but these aren't those. These brontos are wild, one and all, and they are skittish and large and perfectly capable of running you over. Maybe just keep your distance.]

SCENARIO TWO: DESERTED
[You're alone. Completely alone, as far as you can tell. Nothing here works - oh, there's food in the stores, sure, but the water's not running, the electricity isn't working. There's not a soul on the streets, where you would normally expect to see at least a few people here and there.

So what will you do? Smash windows and grab food from the stores? (Well, the doors are all unlocked, but hey, who doesn't love smashing windows.) Shout in the streets in hopes someone will hear? Curl into a ball and cry? All valid choices. But then, what will you do when you do find someone, after thinking you were all alone? Someone you like, someone you hate, a complete stranger?

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

S O R R O W

SCENARIO THREE: ONE MORE CHANCE
[You can't stop thinking about the one who got away. They've been on your mind - well, it feels like forever, but maybe it's only been a few days. A few hours. But you can't stop thinking about them and regretting what could have been.

Maybe it's a failed romance. Maybe a broken friendship. Maybe a family member who walked away - or who you walked away from. Even a business partner who things ended poorly with. Whatever it was, you regret how things went down. If only you had another chance, a chance to fix things!

And then, there they are. The person you've been thinking of. What will you do? Beg forgiveness? Make amends? Run away? Make your decision and take action, because as soon as you do it you might realize it was never that person at all. You might have just poured out your heart and begged forgiveness from a complete stranger.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...Point.

"I live." He shrugs. "I try and keep to a quiet life, these days. There are good people here, folk from many worlds, and many times."

OH YES HE SHOULD WARN HIM

"And there are, as always, not so good folk." Himself included, duh. "But specifically, I would warn you about one who styles itself Caedra. A demon in the form of a woman with night eyes."

Exactly.

"As you have since you lost your last brother." Volume isn't needed, but he speaks quietly anyway. Yep, he's been watching too.

The mention of various times is confusing, but he supposes he'll see what Maglor means by it himself. Eventually. And the warning has his eyes narrow slightly.

"And what has she done for you to give such warning?"

Maglor flinces - Maedhros' death is long ago, but he has only just gone from Hadriel, and the wound is still too fresh, the pain painted brightly through his eyes for long seconds before he masters himself.

"Yes." He says tightly.

That gets a snarl with bared teeth, although it's not directed at Cirdan, and here, here is the kinslayer of legend, the monster that parents of the First Age used to warn their children.

"It killed one under my care, a friend who had done nothing to deserve it, had no way of defending herself, killed for no reason than that it could."

Cirdan frowns at the fresh sight of pain from that memory. How could a wound centuries old still show so new?

He doesn't ask, yet. But he will, perhaps to someone else. There is no need to poke a fresh wound, even on a Feanorion. His hatred for them is more for their old deeds. And it's been a long time since then.

The snarl doesn't have him step back, nor even lift his makeshift weapon. He can tell it's not directed at him. And...it's even a little reassuring to see.

"I will not forget that name. I thank you for the warning."

Maglor's eyes are still silver-bright with remembered fury, but he settles, and nods to Cirdan.

"I would not have any run afoul of it." He says simply. "Especially since it is making overtures of 'being good' at the moment."

Sauron had done that too, and Celebrimbor had paid for it (and that memory too, brings a spasm of pain to his face). No, Maglor won't be fooled.

The Shipwright's eyes storm in memory, recognizing the same description for another. Oh yes. Sauron will never be forgotten, nor those lessons painfully learned. He inclines his head in understanding.

He gives them both a moment to calm.

"What other information do you feel I should know?"

It takes a little, but there is no threat here, and Maglor, normally one of the more peacable of the brothers, is also swifter to cool.

"Our captors are not above inducing the emotion they most need." He states. "By any means necessary. We have had emotion 'storms', but also things have happened deliberately in order to produce emotion of some form."

No. Nor will there be one from Cirdan. Not unless Maglor directly attacks him, or others undeserving.

Wonderful. There's almost a wince at the implications. "I imagine you have not had an easy time of it here." Not pity, but understanding.

Maglor shrugs, looking away a little shyly.

"No worse than everyone else. Perhaps even a little better - I am... used to the darker emotions." Not so much the happy ones, but he was a child once. He remembers what joy tasted like, long ago. It does rather hurt when it goes away though.

That surprises a quiet little snort. "Yes, I can see that much." Which is and isn't a bad thing.

"But you mention friends, and that is good." He knows what a friend can do, even for one who once killed kin. Maglor and Maedhros nurtured Elrond and Elros, even if once those twins were safely away, they sank back to madness.

Maglor shoots him a surprised look.

"It... is?"

"I remember when we first met." Before he'd learned of all that had been done. "Have you forgotten Makalaure? I have not."

A barely there shrug. "You will only need worry over my actions if you harm innocents. I think there is little danger of that. You know your demons too well to be easily overcome."

He looks away.

"Makalaure is long dead." He says softly. "And my greatest demon is not here, at least."

"Then why do I see part of him peeking out at me?

"Your greatest demon, no. That is one kindness we may all be thankful for. I can trust you to remain vigilant, I think." Don't prove him wrong.

Just don't.

Maglor's shoulders hunch, as if he's trying to hide, and he refuses to meet Cirdan's eyes.

"All you see is a ghost." He says.

But he looks up at meets his eyes in all seriousness. "I can't promise anything if a Silmaril comes here. You know that. But I've no reason to lash out beyond that."

Right there. He sees the young brash elf he'd once known, yet again.

"It would not be the first time, nor, I expect, the last. They should not be forgotten."

Cirdan inclines his head, eyes just as serious. "I have no right to that cursed jewel. Should it come here, and fall in my hands, it will be given back to you to do with as you see fit."

Liiiiiiiiiies.

Maglor shrugs, uncomfortable, and looks away. But that makes him look back at Cirdan with wonder and shy hope.

"You would?"

Truth! And he's missed him.

He steps closer, staff pointedly at rest, and briefly rests a hand on Maglor's shoulder.

"I would. The sea is enough a treasure for me, I do not need to covet others." And even then he doesn't claim the seas as his own!

............why would anyone miss him does not compute.

He flinches in startled surprise at the contact, and there is a hungry thanks in his eyes.

"For that gift, I thank you."

Because adorable.

Cirdan squeezes the shoulder before letting go, understanding flickering in pale silvery-blue eyes.

"It seems to me there is enough trouble here, there is no need to go looking for more." And attempting to keep a Silmaril from a Feanorion is just screaming for trouble.

AM NOT!!

He shrugs a little, wry and shy and tired.

"Thank you all the same - not all would be so kind."

test drive meme # 35

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