Test Drive Meme #40

[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 January 24th, and apps are open February 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: SLURP SLURP
[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.

What's that on the ceiling? Who's that skittering along the wall? Why, it's none other than the the Licker, from the Resident Evil series.

The licker crawls around on walls and ceilings and can easily avoid all attacks with their creepy crawly acrobatics. Watch out for those tongues, though- they can whip you with them and catch you off balance. They love waiting in dark corners to jump at you and slash you with their oversized claws, as seen here. Luckily, their brains are exposed and they're quite blind- move quietly and avoid their notice, or attack them in their weak spot to get away safely. Be careful though, they tend to travel in packs...]

T R A N Q U I L I T Y

SCENARIO TWO: CABIN IN THE WOODS
[It's nice outside. There's a heat to the air that permeates through the muggy interior of the cabin, but at night, it's cool enough that you can relax and see all the stars in the sky. The hot tub is a nice contrast to the chilly night air and the possibilities are practically limitless!

So cook something up on the grill, go hunting, or just relax and definitely don't get murdered, because you do happen to have a bit of an odd cabin mate. Why are the two of you sharing this cabin? Well, that's up for you to decide, but whether you're close friends who decided to take a vacation together or random strangers stuck together by circumstances, you're here for awhile so you might as well take the time to relax and get to know one another up here in these mountains!]

R A G E

SCENARIO THREE: MONSTER HOUSE
[It seems like you've just misplaced a few items at first- but after awhile, it becomes apparent that the items are misplacing themselves. Weird, right?

Maybe not that weird, because soon afterward, items of all shames and sizes start to move around, now well within sight. Their intent is clearly to annoy or even harm you, depending on how dangerous the item is... maybe a deathly pair of pants, to a set of keys that keeps running away from you, to a house consumed with the desire to- well, consume you.

Be careful of everything, be suspicious of items that may be trying to lure you in with their stillness, and have fun! This event is based on Hadriel's It's Aliiiive! event this month.]

Comments

[caeruleae]

I'm told that it does. No one I've spoken with since I arrived claims to have come here any other way. And no one's found a way to leave.

[Her gaze drifts to her Keyblade for a moment as she wonders if she should say that she's tested it herself and found that any other door between this world and others is very firmly closed—but she doesn't want to take away hope when hope may be all that carries them through. There could be another way that they just haven't found yet.

(She can also still recall very firm lessons on how they should never, ever reveal that other worlds exist...bit given their circumstances, that rule is no longer applicable.)]

Monsters arrive there, too. So people come back there to protect newcomers who may not be able to fight them.

[That's what she'll do, too. After all this time, being able to protect anyone is what matters the most to her.]

[crownnecklace]

[That's disconcerting. Coming to a new place is one thing, but being unable to leave again? There's something bigger then. He's eyeing the Keyblade again, silently wondering to himself how to bring up the weapon itself. It's also easy to pick up the implications. The Keyblade can't unlock this world.

That makes him a little nervous, but he'll deal with that later. It also makes him wonder just how long some people have been here, but he can ask that later, too.]

I'd like to go back there and check the area myself. [But he also knows better than to let her go right away.] Do you want to come with me? It might be better if there's two of us just in case.

[caeruleae]

[Aqua hesitates. The last thing she wants is to bring anyone into further danger, and this boy seems so young to her—even though he can't be more than a couple of years younger than she is. Ven's age, maybe. Maybe it's just that she feels so old now.

But there's nowhere that's really safe here, is there? If he wants to look out for others who might need help, that's bringing a bit more light to a world that needs it. Besides, she'll be with him.]

All right. It's this way. [She nods and takes a couple of steps before catching herself.] I'm sorry—I should have introduced myself. My name's Aqua.

[crownnecklace]

[Ten years sure is a long time, isn't it, Aqua? Not that Sora knows what she's thinking but he's figured out that there's someone connected to her that's connected to him. It's just another reminder that he has to work harder to get back to where he came from. People are counting on him, Aqua included.

Even though she's here.

This was a lot, but he'll figure it out later. In the end his footsteps are light as he begins to follow her, allowing himself to look her over one more time and casting a reassuring smile her direction.]

I'm Sora. It's nice to meet you, Aqua. [Is it technically "again" when things are so different? He barely even remembered meeting her the first time until recently. What to say, what to say...] That weapon you used before. Where did you get it?

[caeruleae]

[She may not recognize his face, but the name—Aqua gives him a sharp look as they walk, then forces herself to soften her expression. Could it be...? As she looks at him, she can almost see his features change, become softer, younger. Those of a young child with so much light in his heart it was obvious from just a few moments of conversation.

Sora, do you like Riku?
Of course I like him, he's my best friend!

How old would he be now? Mickey had said ten years had passed—but how long since then?]

It was passed down to me by my Master. [There's no lump in her throat, just a lingering sadness in her heart.] Why do you ask?

[crownnecklace]

[Casual. He can keep all of this casual because he knows this is going to be a lot to unpack especially with the knowledge that they're both in a place like this. He lets himself be examined, eyes still straight ahead as they walk. Unlike Sora, Aqua hasn't changed at all from what he recalls and he can only guess that's why it didn't click at first. (Not to mention it was a long time ago.)

Still, the word "Master" catches his attention. He knew there were Keyblade masters that came before them, but he's still learning about just how many.]

I've never seen one like that before. [Still a truthful answer.] It's...different. [Actually it looks pretty basic and maybe that's what's fascinating about it. When you're stuck with things like Ferris Gear and Counterpoint it stands out.]

[caeruleae]

[Never seen one like that before. For a moment, Aqua feels like she knows—and then she wavers. Has he never seen a weapon like this, or never seen a Keyblade like this? How many are even left in the worlds to be wielded? Mickey, Master Yen Sid if he ever left his tower...Xehanort?

She can continue on in this casual conversation or she can be sure. If she's jumped to conclusions and he looks at her like she's crazy, well, she's dealt with much worse.]

Sora. [She comes to a stop, turning to face him completely.] Have we met before?

[crownnecklace]

[Ah. Luckily for both of them he doesn't look at her like she's crazy, but rather he finds himself stopping as well and thinking on how to phrase what he's thinking. He feels a little bad, like maybe he's accidentally lied to her, but at the same time he's still a little worried about her and how she'll take this.

Then again, the truth is probably for the best. Perhaps knowing some things will spark a little more hope here.]

I think so. A long time ago. [He looks at his shoes for a second, eyes closed as though drawing up that specific memory.] You showed up on our island one day, but I wasn't sure.

["That's your job, Sora, and I'm counting on you to do it, okay?" Thinking about it now, he wonders if, perhaps, as a Keyblade Master Aqua had sensed how horribly wrong some things would go. Memories are a funny thing, too, and granted he was four at the time. He remembered deep down but it wasn't anything that was so prominently at the front of his mind until recently.] Do you remember that?

[caeruleae]

I do. I knew it—you're that boy!

[She raises her hand, just an inch or two, and quickly drops it. He's a young man now, not a small child, and what would she even do—ruffle his hair? No. She and Terra only got away with that with Ven because of who he was them, and Sora is little more than a stranger, although there's something achingly familiar in his eyes.]

But you've grown. [Of course he has. Time has a way of seeing to that. But there's knowing, and there's seeing.] King Mickey told me, but looking at you...it really has been more than ten years, hasn't it?

[crownnecklace]

[Even as Aqua raises her hand, Sora doesn't shy away or flinch at all. Rather, he stands perfectly still and there's an almost-sad smile on his face. It's been so long for her to have been wandering and lost, and he thinks about what the King might have said to her. He knew Mickey and Riku were wandering in the darkness for a while. When did the King find Aqua, and why didn't they rescue her then?

A hand comes up, rubbing the back of his neck a little as the smile grows sheepish. He's grown a lot, but...] It's been about twelve now. What did the King tell you?

[caeruleae]

[Twelve years now. The words make her heart sink, but she forces herself to keep a stiff upper lip. As quickly (as slowly) as ten had passed, what's two more? She should count herself lucky another decade hasn't passed.]

He found me, in the dark world...he told me that you and your friend had been helping him. I was going to leave that place with him, but we were separated.

[Should she tell him that she helped Riku? But what if Sora's been separated from his friend all this time, too? It might worry him more to know that he'd been in such danger. Just what has she missed?]

[crownnecklace]

[It's a plethora of bad news, really. Twelve years had passed and things were just getting worse. He's optimistic about it for now, aware that they're doing what they can to save everyone and beat Xehanort, but explaining that to someone in one sitting is probably too much.

She says "your friend" though and his expression changes immediately to something a little more nostalgic.]

Riku...he and the King have been traveling together for a while. [It's partially for her benefit to update Aqua on what's happened and also a reminder to himself that Riku's probably okay even if he's not here. Something about that timeline doesn't add up though and there's another imploring look.] You were on the other side of the door, too.

[He remembers closing that door, leaving his best friend and the King trapped. It's just confirmation of how messed up everything was. There's a little smile though, because maybe this next piece of information will help.] He's a Keyblade master now. He and the King had some important job to do and had already left by the time I got back.

[caeruleae]

[As much as she might want to hide it, her relief must be obvious from the way her shoulders relax as she lets out a long breath. That boy, the one Terra chose; he's all right. She was able to accomplish something worthwhile.]

That's...that's wonderful. I'm so glad.

[A Master, already? Then Yen Sid must have trained him, or Mickey, if they're traveling now.]

I was afraid of what might happen to the worlds with so few Masters left. Of what did happen. But there's still hope.

[crownnecklace]

The worlds are safe for now. [Or safe enough, he thinks. He's not going to go into details about all of the worlds he's traveled to including the sleeping ones. This is about assuring her things will be okay. Not overloading her. Not giving her more to worry about.] I still have some training to do, but we're working on bringing everyone back.

[Aqua included.] Aqua...is the name Xehanort familiar to you? [He's fairly sure it is because, like, duh, but he wants to hear it directly from her.]

[caeruleae]

['For now.' The qualifier doesn't escape her. She'd known the worlds had been restored, felt it as the light faded and she sank back into darkness, but that didn't mean the threat was gone.

There's so much more she wants to ask, but it can wait. Especially when he says that name.]

Yes. I do. [The instant frown and stiffening of her shoulders makes that clear before she says a word.] He's a Keyblade Master too, an old friend of my own. But he betrayed Master Eraqus, and used my friends.

[crownnecklace]

[Oh yikes, so that's definitely Bad. How is he supposed to explain...]

There's a lot that you need to know about him and the plan he's working on. But...it doesn't have to be now. It's a lot to think about, and if we really are stuck here we should focus on finding a way back home so we can stop him. He's not done using people. He's just finding more vessels instead.

[He's a little too aware that he almost became such a vessel, but again, things that don't need to be said.] But we'll put a stop to him when we get home. Without a doubt.

[caeruleae]

[Aqua is very nearly about to tell him no, she needs to know right now, whether or not she can do anything about it or not, because she's been away and ignorant for far too long already.

But look at Sora—not so young, but young enough that putting the weight of all her fears and expectations on his shoulders would just be too heavy. And he's only just arrived in this strange new world. She's waited for years, but she can wait a while longer.]

All right. [She takes a heavy breath.] Just tell me one thing, please. If he's in search of a new vessel, or vessels...is Terra dead?

[She has to know.]

[crownnecklace]

[There's guilt in his expression because he knows she deserves to know. He wants to tell her everything, but he's not even sure he truly understands everything. Not in a way that he can explain properly, plus there's the whole "so there was Ansem's Heartless, but then also Xemnas, but then also actual Ansem the Wise, and Xehanort, and Young Xehanort, and now Young Xehanort and Xemnas are working with Xehanort on the real Organization XIII and snatching bodies for vessels for Kingdom Hearts" thing.

Not really something to immediately dump on someone no matter how important. He doesn't need to worry her needlessly. Not yet. There's time, and...that question doesn't help either because there's disappointment in himself that he doesn't quite have an answer. Terra...]

...I don't know. But I don't think so. [Someone would have said something, and while Terra, Aqua and Ven haven't been seen in years according to Yen Sid, he's sure someone would have said something about Terra actually being dead.] That's what we're working to find out.

[caeruleae]

[It's not the answer she wants. But it's not the answer she dreads with all her heart. For now, she'll just have to have faith in her friend.]

Thank you, Sora. For being honest with me.

[Keep fighting, Terra. I know you're strong enough.]

So...shall we continue on? There may be other newcomers we can help.

[crownnecklace]

Sure. [What else could he be? He wishes he had more answers to assure her, and he wishes Riku were here because maybe he'd know what to say to her. Riku would know better, he thinks.] It's gonna be okay.

[He can offer that assurance at least. But she reminds him of the task at hand and he nods once more.] Let's go. Once we clear the area we can figure out what's next.

/wraps this up

[caeruleae]

[Aqua hopes that he's right. With all her heart, she hopes.]

All right. We'll go together.