test drive meme # 39

[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 December 25th, and apps are open January 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: HE MADE HIS LIST
[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.

You were hoping for something seasonally appropriate, right? Well, the Door doesn't know it's December, so this must be a coincidence - because this time, it's brought in the Krampus.

This creature is the opposite of Santa, and if you've been bad (and let's be real, who in Hadriel hasn't), it'll be all too happy to punish. Maybe you'll get lucky and it'll just scare the crap out of you and give you some coal... or maybe it'll decide your punishment needs to be much, much worse. Don't you wish you'd been good this year?]

R A G E

SCENARIO TWO: HADRIELITE VANDAL
[Last night everything was fine. You went to bed happy and content - well, as happy and content as you ever are. But this morning, as you stepped out of your house, something was wrong. Maybe you didn't notice it at first - maybe someone had to point it out to you. But there it was, in big bold letters: someone had painted an insult across the front of your house.

Maybe it's a rude name. Maybe an insulting comment. Maybe just a picture of a dick with an arrow pointing to it that says your name. Whatever it is, someone did it specifically to fuck with you. But who? And why? Maybe you already think you know who, and all you need to do is hunt them down. Or maybe it's time for an investigation. Or... maybe all you want to do is clean it off before someone sees.

Good luck. That paint is already dry.]

C O N F U S I O N

SCENARIO THREE: ALL FLIPPY-FLOPPY
[You didn't realize there was anything wrong, not until you saw that person you've always thought was your best friend. They seem the same as ever, it's just - you really don't understand what you saw in them anymore. They're kind of whiny, they're way less cool than you remember, and that hair? Ew.

It's not just that. You ran into your worst enemy earlier, and maybe... you were wrong about them? It really seems like they have some good points, and that annoying expression they always make actually seems kind of cute now. Maybe it's time to kiss and make up, possibly literally!

This is a mini version of our Your Best Enemy event this month.]

Comments

magnus burnsides ; taz: balance ; spoilers

[naturaltwenty]

fear (roll +body)

[ The Starblaster is there, and then it isn't. They're making for another world, as usual, but this time is different. And it's never different, it's always - predictable. It's the shift that brings them back to how they'd been the day they left their home planet - that strange, but now-familiar feeling - and then they're soaring over the face of their next chance to recover the Light of Creation. This time, though, there's none of that. He's on the ship and then he's on the ground, with any middle pieces that explain the transition...gone.

A bearded, muscular man with magnificent sideburns and a red robe is on the ground, face-first. There's a loud groan to announce his presence before he comes to his senses, rolling over and staring petulantly up at the sky above the Colosseum. ]

What...the hell? [ Magnus Burnsides pulls himself to a sitting position, holding his head and wincing. It quickly morphs to something with more of an edge as he rises, grabbing an ax from his hip and looking around with narrowed, bushy brows. ]

Hail and well met, good...uh... [ Krampus is not a "good" anything, and Magnus pulls a face as the creature nearby turns to make eye contact. Candlenights doesn't have a Santa, and it's Star King definitely doesn't look like...whatever this is. ] Yeesh. ...I mean, sorry, handsome lil' buddy! Any chance you could tell me--

[ The creature begins to pelt him with lumps of coal. ]

Hey! Not...cool. [ He's not about to behead this joker just for throwing rocks - yet - but he will hold a shield in front of himself to block the assault, now more than a little confused. ] I just wanted some answers. Or - directions. Can you tell me the name of this world?

[ Doesn't look like it, based on the continued onslaught, but. ]



rage (roll +mind)

Oh, come on!

[ The man, the myth, the disaster - Magnus Burnsides - is standing outside of his house, staring indignantly up at the graffiti on its exterior. "He took the guards with them, left them for the monster" is scrawled across it in red. Next to that is a crude drawing of someone's face, though based on the exaggerated sideburns, it's presumably Magnus himself. ]

That's not even a good drawing. Definitively amateurish. And I don't know anything about any guards... [ He does think hard about it, too, but nothing comes to mind. He heaves a sigh, rubbing his nose with the back of his hand. ]

Well, this can't stay here. [ Whatever it means, he won't have it on his home. As such, he disappears inside briefly and then returns with a bucket of water and a rag, working hard to scrub at the paint, but, alas... ]

Dammit. [ Anybody wanna help a guy out? ]



wildcard (roll +heart?)

( ooc ; choose your own adventure! )

taz babies hour

[madamdirector]

Oh, Magnus...

[ Lucretia looks up at the graffiti in display, journals clutched to her chest. Her brow furrows as she, too, tries to interpret the message. Or the accusation.

But like Magnus, she can't think of anything it might be referring to, either, shaking her head in defeat. She hesitates for a moment, then carefully sets her journals aside, hurrying over to his side. ]

Can I help?

weeps

[naturaltwenty]

Not unless you can remove it with magic. [ He huffs, planting his hands on his hips. Those hands are red and soapy from trying to remove the offending statement, and that's all he has to show for the work he's put into it. ] I can't get the damn thing off.

[ Whatever it is. And it's annoying that it's both seemingly permanently added to the outside of their home, but also that it makes no sense, if it's even referring to him at all.

The crude drawing of his face is the most offensive, but he tries not to dwell on its glaring inaccuracies. ]

What...the hell. [ He leans in really close, eyes narrowing. ] I think they drew muttonchops on me. Tell me they didn't do that, Lucretia.

[madamdirector]

Let me think.

[ She does, mentally paging through the spells she knows in an effort to find one that might work. In the meantime, though, she mimics Magnus, leaning forward to peer at the...well, it's obviously supposed to be a caricature of Magnus, any question of actual resemblance aside. ]

Oh. Well... [ She trails off, opens her mouth, closes it again, winces a bit, and finally tries again. ]

Well...no, no, I don't think so, Magnus. They're just...sideburns. Magnificent...uh...manly?...sideburns?

[ She's trying to help. ]

[naturaltwenty]

They're muttonchops. [ He sighs and puts his back to a part of the wall not bearing graffiti and slides down against it, looking just. Tired. ] Great. If they're gonna try and make fun of me, I'd rather it be somewhat accurate. This is just insulting.

[ More confusing than anything, actually. He pauses before glancing back up at it, and at her, and asks: ] Do you think there's any way this could actually be about someone else?

[madamdirector]

[ Lucretia watches with a concerned frown as Magnus sinks down to the ground, then lifts her eyes to study the graffiti again.

The thing is, while the drawing may not be good, the caricatured sideburns make it very, very obvious who it's supposed to be.

The words, on the other hand...She steps forward to brush her hands across the paint, mouthing the words to herself, trying to figure out what they might be referring to. ]

'Took the guards with them...' [ But the only guard on board the Starblaster is Magnus himself. And besides, she's seen him in action. ]

Magnus, you've never left anyone for any monster. Not...not when you could help it.

[ Yes, they'd had to abandon world after world to the wrath of the Hunger, saving themselves to fight another day. But Magnus has stayed behind countless times, fighting to save as many lives as he could, to delay the inevitable as long as possible, even when they all knew it was futile. He'd never hesitated. Never chosen the easy way out.

She sinks to the ground before him, hands on her knees, and peers at him earnestly. ]

I'm sure it's about someone else.

[naturaltwenty]

I hope not. [ He sighs. They've had to leave people - too many people - behind, when escaping worlds to live to see another Cycle. Still, he hopes he's proven more than enough that he'd happily give his life if it gave them a better chance to stop the Hunger. If it spared even a single resident of that world who needed help. ] I do try.

[ Very, very hard. It's easy enough to remember that very first world, to remember the baby animals and their families as he fought the incoming darkness to try and save their lives. ]

If it's about someone else, then - why here? Why with that?

[ He flings an arm up toward the drawing, the one obviously of himself, no matter how much he'd like for it to be of someone else. ]

I wish they'd come back and explain it. And then get rid of it.

[ Dick. ]

[madamdirector]

You do more than just try.

[ But it's harder to answer his question. Why would they draw Magnus, if the words were meant for someone else? She tilts her head back, looking up at the graffiti again. ]

Maybe they got you confused with someone else?

Maybe...you have an evil doppelganger from another plane?

[naturaltwenty]

I guess it's possible. [ He studies it a bit more, looking peeved, but a tiny bit relieved that there might be an explanation. ] We've seen weirder than that.

[ With all the worlds they've visited, it's not so hard to believe that they may have evil twins out there. Right? And...that he's here, in Hadriel. ]

Well, we obviously need a system in case you run into the guy. Can't have anybody thinking I'm my evil doppleganger. [ Hopefully the guy just looks like him and doesn't quite have the hang of acting the part. ] Maybe, uh...hmm.

[ A secret handshake? A code word?? A duck-carving contest??? ]

[madamdirector]

[ She doesn't really believe that's what's going on here, but it's not as though she has any other explanation. She can't imagine meeting Magnus' evil twin and not immediately spotting the difference, either. But if it makes him feel better... ]

A - like those spy stories, you know - [ She gestures with both hands, the idea coming to her before the words do. ] You say, 'The red sparrow flies at midnight," and I say "The raven rides at dawn - "

[naturaltwenty]

Oh. Yeah! Something like that! [ He glances over at her and grins, nodding. ] You've always got great ideas. [ beat ] Do you read a lot of spy novels? I wouldn't have pinned that kinda genre on you.

[ It's too fantastical or something, right? Too unrealistic? Too...eh. Lucretia's a more complex person than most people give her credit for, though, so he's not about to start stereotyping her, himself. ]

That sounds perfect. I'll remember to say that the red raven flies at...hang on.

[ ... ]

I'll definitely remember.

[madamdirector]

[ There's no way he's going to remember. Lucretia just nods, trying to hide her smile. ]

That's our code, then.

[ She shrugs, leaning her head back against the wall. The place may be new and unfamiliar, but it really doesn't matter, with Magnus here. ]

I've read a lot of everything, by this point. Not everyone gets to live as long as we have. Or see all the places we've seen.

I just think...well, it would be wrong, wouldn't it, not to take the opportunity to try new things?

[ Even if her idea of trying new things is as tame as reading a book she might once have never looked twice at. ]

[naturaltwenty]

Fair enough. Wish I had more time to read. [ Maybe he would if he wasn't training with bears or jumping out to scare their friends. As it is, he just sighs loudly and gazes upward. ] I'd like to learn how to do my woodworking better, but I'm hoping that'll just happen when I do it more. Not sure how much I could get out of a book for that. ...Unless it was a really good book.

[ Practice is what makes perfect, right? And if she finds something to read that seems like it'd help him improve, he trusts that she'll tell him. ]

+ mind

[restinglichface]

[Magnus isn't the first person Lup's come across today with a bunch of graffiti over their walls, red and bold, displaying dark secrets or simply just insults. But the words given to Magnus' just don't add up for her.

She doesn't get it.]

Must be for someone else, right, my guy?

[Funny how Magnus has been in and out of Hadriel enough that she barely even bats an eye at his sudden reappearance. Give her a moment for reality to sink in.]

[naturaltwenty]

Then why did they put their crazy on my house?

[ He doesn't bat an eye at seeing Lup: after all, they've traveled together for almost fifty years, now. ]

It's possible they did it here by mistake. [ Magnus admits grudgingly, crossing his arms. ] ...But they apparently made it permanent, so now I have to look at it every time I walk by.

[restinglichface]

[Damn right, my guy. They're besties, they are just meant to run into one another like this.]

Sometimes you just gotta spread your brand around, Mags. Can't fault an artist for gettin' their name out there. Even if that name is Crazy.

[But it's a dilemma, for sure. Lup gets that.] How 'bout we go wild with some paint? Turn it into a place worthy of the Burnsides name.

[naturaltwenty]

[ Oh, Lup. You're the best.

Magnus lights up with a nearly-mischievous grin at the suggestion, turning that gaze back onto the house and rubbing his hands together. ]

Yes. We're doing that. [ Because not only can they (hopefully) erase this garbage, but they'll be able to make the place look awesome. Probably. They're artistic, right?? ] Do you have any paint? Or, uh. Brushes? [ ... ] No glitter or anything on this, though, okay? I don't want to be completely blinded every time the sun shines on it.

[restinglichface]

[Maybe not Lucretia level of artistic, but hey, Lup's pretty good at drawing dongs and that weird s-shaped thing from the 90s that kids would carve into their desks. They've got this covered.]

Actually, I know exactly where to get some. Gimme like, two secs.

[And depending on Magnus canon point, he may be surprised when the elf summons a scythe from seemingly out of nowhere to slice a portal right into the air between them. Lup hops through it, but pops her head out at the last second to address him.]

Hmmm, and maybe just a little glitter.

[- Before poof! She's gone.]

[naturaltwenty]

Wait- what? [ He whips around to see where Lup went, eyes wide and finding no one. ] Hang on!

[ But she's gone, so he just has to kind of. Sit tight until she reappears. Until then, he's just going to huff and turn back to the graffiti with another frown. ]

I bet I could draw a better me than that. ...I think I'm going to do that. Just to spite you, whoever you are!

[ He'll have to wait for Lup to return first, but. Still! ]

[restinglichface]

[Poof! Good thing it only takes her a few seconds to reappear, stepping out of the portal before it closes up completely, scythe disappearing along with it. And with her, she's holding up too much paint.

Granted, it's not like a giant can of paint, more like the little tubes, but look, they'll make it work. They've made it through rougher times than this.]

Okay so, color selection could be better, I got a dope pink that would super bring out your paint-self's eyes.

[naturaltwenty]

Hey! Where'd you just go? [ He'd usually chalk it up to magic, but-... Okay, fine, he'll chalk it up to magic. Magnus can't help but chuckle at the paint, taking one of the tubes and cracking a grin. ] Can't argue with that. It's definitely got a nice, uh - hue?

[ Whatever. Did Lup bring brushes? If not, he's going on ahead to use one hand as an easel and the other's fingers as a brush. ]

I'm not gonna be able to pretty up this guy myself. Help a guy out, would ya?

[restinglichface]

Just a quick hop home, duh. From my own personal stash. You're welcome.

[No brushes, so it's all going to be finger painting from here on out. Lup twists off the tip of the teal color and goes right to town, dipping her fingers right in.]

Like I was gonna leave you all alone, my guy. We're gonna make magic together.

[naturaltwenty]

Alright! No more questions. [ Even though he sorta has some more. ] Magic-making it is!

[ And he'll go right on ahead and start on that, thank you very much. ]

I think I've improved him. [ Magnus announces, having painted a Fancy Mustache (tm) in bright pink on the 'face' of his counterpart. ]

[restinglichface]

[Lup's deep into drawing a teal dick right over the graffiti that says monster, her head tipping back and forth and her lips pressed together together in concentration until Magnus calls for her attention. She laughs, bright and happy, delighted at the touch he's added.]

Uh, you gotta give him a dope ass hat to go with that 'stache, my guy.

[naturaltwenty]

Oh, absolutely. I'm on it. [ And 'on it' goes a hat, one with a comically-huge feather. Magnus finishes adding it and then tips an imaginary hat of his own to his companion. ]

M'lady. [ He offers, waggling his eyebrows furiously. ]