dankmemes | 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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

In hearing his own name, or at least what passed for his name these days, it was as though the world came into sharp focus. He hadn't noticed until then just how unfocused he'd been. It was only the contrast of clarity that made him see it. It wasn't a blurring of his vision, but of his mind, to the point that he hadn't recognized the boy before him. Not when he'd spotted him, not when he'd raised his gun. And if there'd been anything said other than his name, he may not have recognized that voice. Gansey. Unflappable, focused, caring Gansey.

Even with an anchor like that, he couldn't make himself lower his arms. It was that unwavering feeling of stillness he always felt when the moment came, the mentality that allowed him to kill easily and frequently. He'd felt it when he'd dragged Niall Lynch from his car. He'd even felt it as he squeezed the trigger at that truck stop, beneath the icy fear. But to feel it when he was looking Gansey in the eye wasn't right. It was all he could do to keep his finger off the trigger, resting on the guard.

"It's...you." He said, slowly, a vague astonishment in his otherwise flat voice. It wasn't surprise that it was Gansey here in this city that shouldn't be, but rather as a response to what the boy said. "You need to leave, Gansey." Firmer this time. For as much control as he had, he knew himself well enough that he couldn't be sure he wouldn't pull that trigger. Perhaps once he got out of here, he would vow to avoid caves. There always seemed to be powers trying to manipulate him into that which he should not do.

Gansey kept his hands held up, and walked carefully closer. He had to try and defuse this. Walking away was not a thing he found terribly easy to do, not when it concerned his friends. The Gray Man was not exactly one of his friends, but he was connected. A branch on his tree.

A branch on Blue's. He couldn't just be abandoned.

"This is a trick," he said, carefully, and very clearly. He put as much authority in his voice as he could manage. "You don't want to shoot me. I know you don't. You can fight this. You have to fight it."

Another step closer. He had to try and get through.

"Blue is here," he said, hoping it would diffuse some of the tension. "And Adam, and Ronan. It's all of us. Even Noah, who I'm now not sure you've even met. Have you? If you haven't, I'll introduce you. Just put the gun down, and I'll explain eveyrthing."

That authority more than anything helped him find his way back to himself. So sure, so firm. It let him anchor himself, get his bearings. He could see this for all it was. He had his gray days, where everything blurred and faded and weighed him down. This was the opposite of that. A mirror image. A negative. It was all turned inside out but still the same in some ways.

This wasn't him.

With one slow breath, he was able to pry his finger from the trigger. With the next, he lowered the gun slightly. On the third, he was able to drop it lower still, pulling one hand away. The spell wasn't broken, he could still feel it trying to convince him to raise his gun, to take Gansey out. But for now, he could hold it at bay.

"Noah?" He said, sounding strangely normal. "Is he the one..." But too much effort was being put into keeping himself calm that he didn't have the capacity to find the words to describe the boy he'd seen with Blue. "I think I've met him." No, he couldn't act like this was okay. He gave a small shake of his head. "You still need to get out of here, away from me." He would not be the one to make the boy's foretold death come true.

Gansey blinked. It wasn't precisely unusual for people to have met Noah, but...

Well, in a way, it actually was. Not many people could actually see him. Gansey wasn't exactly sure why that was. But Mr Gray was dating Blue's mother. He lived in a household of psychics, and he dealt in magical artefacts. If belief was any factor in being able to see Noah, someone like Mr Gray would not be lacking.

Gansey took a breath. His pulse skittered every time he let his thoughts return to the gun. He could not afford to focus on that. He kept his hands where they were; raised, careful. He wouldn't make any sudden movements. He could not believe that Mr Gray was truly a danger to him, even if he said it was.

This rage could be fought. It could be mastered. Gansey told himself that again, and pressed on.

"Yes, that Noah," he said. "Blue's friend. Mr Gray, whatever...you're feeling about me right now, it's not you. There are gods here, and they work on our emotions. One of them is Rage, and this...it feels like her. We've all been feeling this, but you don't have to give into it. You can still choose."

A slight step closer.

"I trust you. I don't believe you'll hurt me. Please, prove me right."

Test Drive Meme #8

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