dankmemes | Test Drive Meme #8

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!test drive

Test Drive Meme #8

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 April 24th, and apps are open May 1st.

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: DEAD FLESH BUFFET
[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.

Watch out as you explore the streets of Hadriel, because you're not alone, and there's always something lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect chance to swarm around you and chow down. This time, the Door has brought in a group of rotfiends, from the video game The Witcher.

These unpleasant-looking creatures are necrophages, meaning they feed on the flesh of the dead, and if that flesh is in short supply they are happy to add to it. Normally found in groups, they are fast and difficult to corner. What's more, when on the verge of death, they have an annoying tendency to explode into a flammable cloud of poisonous toxins. You left your torch at home, right?]

R A G E
SCENARIO TWO: MMM WHATCHA SAY
[There you were, just walking along the street, minding your own business like a good underground hell-city citizen, when all of a sudden you saw someone. It was like love at first sight - if by 'love' you mean 'deep burning hatred'. You've never wanted to kill someone so much, and why? Well, you're not really sure, but there's probably a reason! You'll just have to figure it out. Or not. Who needs a reason for murder, anyway?

Or maybe you're the one someone else has targeted. Maybe you know they're after you and you're desperately trying to watch your back. Why do they hate you? You don't even know them. Or maybe you do, maybe they're your best friend. Either way, this is a super awkward situation, and someone might end up dead. Hopefully not you!

This is a mini version of our Assassin event this month!]

H O P E

SCENARIO THREE: SCRATCH OFF
[This morning, you received a scratch ticket in the mail (who knew Hadriel even had mail?), addressed to you. The instructions are clear enough - scratch off three matching icons, and you win a prize! Sure, okay. But here's the grand prize: a one-way ticket home.

Unfortunately, try as you might, you aren't gonna win that one, but keep hoping! And hey, just think of all the other GREAT PRIZES you could win: an inflatable duck, a plastic ring to give your sweetheart, an empty can of Red Bull, a cell phone charm shaped like a strange green creature with a boner.

So what if you didn't win that ticket home? You got something almost as good: a shitty prize! Thanks, Hope!]

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I know you're not helpless, but...

[ ...but monsters?! How was she supposed to hold her own against monsters? ]

...just stay by my side, okay?

[ She sighs and after a moment of looking like she might fight she nods. ]

Fine. Where are we going?

To the Spires; I've got an apartment there and--

[ Yu cut himself off, frowning as he heard the faint sound of scuffling against the ground nearby. That definitely wasn't him this time, and his hand went instinctively toward her to keep her from being hurt. ]

[ Right, Spires, home. She's just going to try and not think about how weird that is. He's got to sleep somewhere. Ai wou-

She stops, his arm brushing against her stomach. It takes her a moment to catch what Yu must have heard. ]

Should I get ready to run?

[ Yu gave a faint nod, afraid to even breathe. He wasn't sure what the heck was coming at them, but it sounded... big. Big and unsettling, and probably something from their nightmares. He was about to start backing up, try to get Ebi to safety before anything happened, when something rustled, tipping over something large and metal. He just about jumped out of his skin, his hand going for his sword and... ]

[ Some small, harmless animal hopped out of the darkness. It paused, staring at them, before bounding off. ]

[ Yu stared after it, before he wilted. ]

...oh.

[ It's probably not the best of signs when your closest friend is telling to get prepare for more running and seems excessively tense. It was a strange contrast to how he'd always seemed after she put an end their charade. He was so much more relaxed afterwards and here Yu looked like he was waiting for a blade to drop and take his head.

But it's only a tiny little thing that comes and Ai can't help but laugh. Fingers curling into his sleeve as her body shook and her other hand pressed to her mouth in an effort to muffle the chuckles. ]

It's ador- is that a rat?

[ Now that it's fully in the light, her laughter dies in her throat as she spots the long tail and large paper thin ears. Keep it away keep it away. ]

[ Yu visibly relaxed once the little thing started bounding off, letting out a breath. It was a rat... just a rat. He glanced back at her, offering her a small smile. ]

Yeah, thankfully.

[ He was about to turn around to her, about to suggest that they get out of this area, before there was a sudden crash as where the rat had escaped from suddenly went flying everywhere. Yu immediately grabbed for Ebi, protecting her as debris went flying, and tensing immediately after as a hideous noise filled the air. He looked back to see some... thing; he didn't know what the heck it was, but it didn't look like it had eyes and it was rotting and there was this ungodly smell... ]

Run...

[ It looked to the rat, before swiveling around awkwardly, zeroing in on the two of them. ]

Run!

[ Thankfully? Yu you are so weird.

It might be a good thing he doesn't get to turn around just yet. She's practically poised to climb onto his back after the rat appeared. Ai just didn't expect to be staring at the front of his uniform as things go flying. Bile rising as her nose is assaulted by that god awful smell. ]

Wha-

[ She breathes the sound, rooted to the spot despite his initial urging to run. And then with the second shout she's sprinting, her flight instinct finally kicking in to take her in the opposite direction of the source of the stench. ]

[ There were worse things than rats, as this place was more than happy to prove. He was just grateful that Ebi hadn't been facing in the direction of the creature when it came into view, otherwise he was sure her scream would have been heard throughout the whole cavern. ]

[ Of course that was short lived. They had only managed a few feet down the road, before more of the disgusting, foul smelling creatures came out from every possible place they could have, and Yu reached out, grabbing Ebi before she could get too close by accident and pulling her close against him. Crap; he had been hoping to break her into how crazy this place could be slowly, not... quite like this. ]

[ He was going to have to use his Persona already, wasn't he? ]

Ebi... stay close to me.

[ That scream he'd been concerned over, he doesn't have to wonder just how loud it is going to be. It's loud and high pitched and bounces off the buildings and rattles over the fire escape. It seems to just roll over and over without end and when it does it just ceases leaving only the rustle of the creatures in its wake.

She huddles close and grips tight to his jacket. Her knuckles white in fabric at his elbow and she shakes.]

Do something.

[ Ow, his eardrums; Yu flinched at the scream, still holding on to her tight as the sound attracted even more of the gross things. Great; if he hadn't been through this kind of situation a million times by now between here and the TV, he would be worried by now. ]

Just don't scream.

[ Easier said than done, he knew, but it was worth a shot. He reached up, calling on his Arcana card; not exactly the best way he wanted to go to a friend about his powers but... oh well. ]

Izanagi!

[ His Persona appeared as always, blade immediately sweeping around in a wide arc to throw off the monsters, hopefully impaling a few in the process. Yu didn't look; he was busy wrapping his other arm around Ebi to protect her. ]

[ Sorry. She doesn't do monsters. Never has and never will. It's just like a knee jerk reaction that she screamed, he should be glad Ai only wanted to shop and never dragged him to the movies. Another scream bubbling up as she notices how many more of those foul smelling things draw closer.

She just stares at the command, and then sense has her nodding as she clamps a hand over her mouth so that second scream can't so much as slp passed her lips and nods.

She's as ready as she'll ever be. Ai doesn't know what she's expecting, but it isn't a brilliant blue light. Nor is it a giant figure in a white mask and flowing black leather carrying a humongous sword. It's not right or normal that he can do that. Why didn't he ever tell her about that?

Maybe it's the surprise and at least part of it is fear, but Ai struggles against his hold. ]

Let me go!

[ ...of course she would react like that. Seriously, what was he expecting? Instead of letting her go, because like hell he was going to let her run right into the monsters or his Persona, he held onto her tighter. ]

Ai!

[ He didn't mean to snap at her, but it was more important that he focused on what Izanagi and the monsters were doing, and she needed to not. As it was, the monsters were recoiling from the sudden appearance of his Persona, but it was clear they were thinking of retaliating now that their surprise over it had faded. He needed to make them rethink that, and in response, Izanagi cast his lightening, leaving a charge behind in the air as the Zio spell zapped out, hitting one monster and making it let out an ear bleeding screech. ]

Edited 2016-05-06 10:10 (UTC)

[ She wasn't going to run into the monsters or the freak with the sword, she was going to run away. Run away as fast and as far she could and find a place to hide.

It should be really easy to focus on lightning freak now. Ai stomps on his foot intent on running as soon as he let go enough for her to do so. It's debatable of just how far she'll get scrambling around monsters and charred flesh but she has to try. She needs to get out and find a place to hide and process. ]

[ ...ow rude. ]

[ Yu flinched, but instead of letting her go, his grip on her only tightened, right until the last of the monsters were either zapped or stabbed. Izanagi glanced back at that, stabbing his blade into the ground for dramatic effect. Thanks, is inner self; that totally helped right now. ]

Look... I'm going to let go now; don't run off. We don't know how many of those things are out there.

[ Yu you're scaring her. Just let her go, let her process this. She's not going to hurt herself, she just needs to process what's happening. And that thing stabbing his sword into the ground is not helping. It actually makes her jump and her eyes go wide. Her tone turning just this side of hysteric as she climbs up in the decibels to shrill, her hands waving in the direction of Izanagi like she can simultaneously ward it off and send it away. ]

Don't run off?! You expect me to just process that like an algebra problem and move on. You you summoned a swordsmen in bondage gear to fry those things.

Yes, I did. I... did that all last year. Just... not in public.

[ He was hoping being his usual calm would help matters, but this was Ebi he was talking to. She had grown, like all of them had, but when it comes to sudden surprises like this? Well, anyone would be hysterical. What made matters worse was he was reluctant to pull Izanagi back; if there were more of those creatures around, having him out would make things easier if they were attacked again. ]

...and it's a coat, not bondage gear...

[ He couldn't help but pout a little at that one. Excuse you, Ebi, his inner self wasn't like that. ]

You what?

[ When the heck did he have time? And don't tell her it's a coat. Just make it go away. It's creepy between the leather and the cup and the mask and stupidly bright yellow eyes. Yu your inner self is a little um odd. ]

Then what's with the mask, and the ribbons, and the freaking obvious codpiece?

[ What she's trying to say is that Izanagi is a fashion disaster. Yu why? Didn't you learn anything from the eight million shopping trips? But she pauses long enough in her rant to take a breath and see that he's pouting at her. ]

Why are you pouting?

[ Yu stared a moment in utter and complete disbelief... before both he and his Persona's shoulders sagged. ]

...d-did you just fashion critique my Persona...?

[ It took a moment, but a small smile worked it's way onto his face. Only Ebi would stare in the face of an avatar of a Japanese folklore god and tell him his codpiece didn't match his coat. It was so ridiculous it was hilarious. ]

It's a long story... but my friends and I were the ones that were able to solve the murder case last year, using our powers.

Is that what it's called?

[ Yes yes she did just critique his persona. That really shouldn't surprise him in the slightest. But what was she supposed to say? Was she supposed to curtsy and say it was pleasure to meet him?

Ai's eyebrows go up at how he phrases his explanation. His friends, like she was something separate and not to be included in that group. It stung to hear it like that. She'd been awful for much of their relationship, but she'd thought they'd at least worked it out for the most part when she gave him the mirror. She doesn't crumble exactly but there's a slight deflation to her, kind of like she's pulling in to occupy as little space as possible.]

I see...

[ A confused look came to Yu's face, and it took him a moment to realize why she seemed upset. He flinched once he did, wanting to beat himself over the head; A+ Understanding skills there, hero. When he spoke next, he kept his voice gentle, hoping she would understand. ]

...I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. In the last year, I needed to separate the friends that could fight with me, and the friends I had in the real world, if only so I wouldn't say the wrong thing to the wrong person.

[ A soft smile came to his face. ]

Both of those groups are equally important to me, Ebi. That means you too.

[ It made sense, and she wants to believe him. She really does, she's put him through enough in the year he's spent in Inaba. He has no reason to lie to her, but she's learned over the years that usually people say what the mean first and adjust it after the fact when they realize it might have hurt someone else. He knows she dealt with enough of that both before and after she moved. He's the only person she ever felt comfortable enough to tell.

And maybe it's a little vindictive but she doesn't feel like automatically forgiving him right now. ]

You just did.

[ He could lay on the charm but she just sounds hurt despite it. She'd rather be mad, she just can't work up the steam to do it. ]

I know.

[ The apology is clear in his voice, as was the regret on his face. He held out a hand to her. ]

After that... I can explain. Everything.

[ Ai just frowns at him. If he knew he should have been able to realize how that would hurt her. It's a very long moment before she finally puts her hand in his. ]

I'm still mad at you.

[ But she'll at least hear him out for a moment or two. ]

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Test Drive Meme #8

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Dammit there's still lag.

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