Test Drive Meme #9

[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 May 24th, and apps are open June 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:
I'VE SEEN ENOUGH HENTAI TO KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING
[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 malboro, from the Final Fantasy video game series.

These plant-like monsters are essentially comprised of long, tentacle-esque stalks- sometimes with eyes on the ends- and large, gaping mouths. Their breath can be poisonous and literally make you sick to your stomach, and- just your luck- they're carnivorous. Happy hunting!]


C O M B I N A T I O N

SCENARIO TWO: DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME
[You're so tired- at least you've got a reasonably safe place to rest your head at while you recuperate, right? After all, nothing can go wrong when you're asleep.

Aaand that's where you're mistaken. For this event, all characters who fall asleep will either be Hosts or Visitors in their, or someone else's dreams. All dreams are inflicted by one of the four gods (Hope, Delight, Rage, or Fear), and will have their presence influencing the events within your dreams in order to harvest their desired emotion from you.

The sky is essentially the limit, so long as your dreams correspond with one of the four gods. Happy sleeping!

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


D E L I G H T

SCENARIO THREE: JUST SAY NO
[On your kitchen table the next morning is a blue pill. Just the one pill, along with a glass of what seems to be water. There's a note in elegant script next to the pill that merely says 'TAKE ME'.

If taken, the pill can have a variety of effects. You can hallucinate, you can get uncontrollable giggles, you can feel drunk, you can feel like colors all have textures and shapes and the world is looking at you through a kaleidoscope! The drug can have whatever effect the player desires, as long as it's pleasurable or fun.

So: do you take it? Can you hear someone who already took the drug, stumbling down the street? You, uh, might want to help them, and do be careful. There's no telling what kinds of monsters are still out there.]

Comments

Aredhel | Silmarillion

[outwards]

SCENARIO TWO: DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME >fear

[This forest is old. Tall, ancient trees grow into the sky, joining their crowns far above so that only a soft twilight hits the ground. Needles and leaves crunch under the feet of those who go here, between the trees that grow in a hilly landscape. Somewhere, a small stream can be heard in the distance, and every once in a while and slowly approaching, the laughter of a child and once or twice and adult woman's voice, commenting on something that the child said.

It's a peaceful, almost tranquil atmosphere, inviting one to sit down and enjoy the serenity.]


SCENARIO THREE: JUST SAY NO

[Well, taking that pill definitely was a good idea. Ever since she did this morning, there suddenly seems to be a neverending supply of hounds, horses and falcons of various sizes and breeds around the city. And all of them can speak! She would wonder where they all came from, if she wasn't so happy that they are there - she's really missed her favourite hunting companions.

To everyone who isn't her, it does however look like she treats all the other people in Hadriel like dogs or horses or birds - she'll talk to them, yes, but she'll also comment on how nice their fur is and how beautiful various parts of them are, and do they want a treat (yes, she has some on her by now) and then she'll just try to pet everyone if no countermeasures are taken.

She could be seen like this all morning, and now she just spotted a new "dog"/"horse"/"falcon" and grins, walking over with a skip in her step.]

I think no that we had the pleasure yet... I truly wonder how I could miss all of you beauties...

3!

[foundafamily]

[She looks friendly, and Firo never minds stopping for an amiable chat. He slows when he sees the woman approaching and waves one hand in greeting.

He freezes when she actually talks, one eyebrow rising.]

Excuse me, miss?

["Beauties"? She must be talking about something else.]

[outwards]

[This one is... well, a bit rough around the edges, looking more like a stray than like a palace dog. A mutt, though there is a strong strain of terrier.

She tends to think of dogs as handsome, no matter if they're male or female, but this one leans a lot more to the adorable side for her, even though she'll be careful not to pet yet. It ruins your encounters with dogs a bit when they bite you first thing into it, and this one seems a bit ruffled.]

No, perhaps not you... Not that your looks are not pleasant, but there is a different word by which I would describe them.

[foundafamily]

[Ruffled indeed. She's making fun of him, isn't she? It's never good for Firo when his looks come up--always some insult about being too young or too cute or too girly.

He's not sure why she thinks it's any of her business, though, and he's used to these comments coming from men rather than women. Despite the harsh words, his tone is more apprehensive than hostile.]

Lady, if you're tryin' to say something, just come out and say it.

[outwards]

Well, I am saying that I have rarely seen such a fetching mutt as you out in the streets, and no city which I have lived in had a shortage of ones.

[All dogs are her business, clearly.]

[foundafamily]

A mutt?

[Well, that's just pretty damn rude. So what if his mom married an immigrant? ...And how would she even know about that?

He pouts, folding his arms across his chest.]

You'd better be more polite with how you talk to people--somebody might get offended.

[outwards]

[She laughs softly.]

There is no need to be upset, little one. [Considering that she's 6'2, that is true even without Firo being the terrier-mix that she believes she's talking to.] Some of the best and brightest companions that I have had on the hunt were mutts.

[foundafamily]

[Little one? Seriously? Bad enough she's unfairly tall--she doesn't have to rub it in. If she were a man, Firo'd have been tempted to punch her to bring her down to size. With a lady... he's just baffled.

She's probably drunk, he decides. Smiling wryly, he asks:]

Oh, yeah? What kinda hunts, huh?

[outwards]

All kinds, though my most beloved hunts were those of boars. Not only are they fast, but to hunt them is always a matter of setting up high stakes, as they can cause gruesome injury if attacking.

[He seems to relax, so she relaxes a bit, too.]

Have you ever been taken out on a hunt, I wonder?

[foundafamily]

Boars? Like the big pigs?

[His eyes go wide—he’s never seen one, but he’s heard of those things.]

“Gruesome injury” wouldn’t sound like a good selling point to most people, you know. And no, I haven’t. People don’t do stuff like that where I’m from.

[outwards]

Why do they not?

[All else falls away at that revelation. It isn't surprising that there are people and dogs alike who do not and would find no joy in it, but to think of a society where the hunt is not practised is startling.]

[foundafamily]

[He shrugs. Her way of life sounds just as weird to him.]

For starters, it’s a city, so… No pigs anywhere, especially not big angry ones.

People get their food from the store, if they can afford it. Some of ‘em keep chickens behind the tenement, but that’s only the ones who've got the time and money for it. And it’s easy for those to get stolen.

[You know. By hands that might as well be invisible, because Firo certainly has no idea how that could happen…]

[outwards]

Well, they are not within the city walls where I hail from either; will would ride out to the woods to find them.

Though game will be prepared and eaten, and the skins will be used well, I would not say that the primary aim of the hunt is to feed ourselves and to provide for leather; or at least it was never the only one where I grew up and food was plentiful. We simply rejoiced in the thrill of a hunt.

[It was very different later, and there were times when the game that they brought home might be the only food that they would see, because there was ice on all sides and no tree or plant in sight.]

[circumitus]

[Beauties...?

[Rey starts to say something, but then her hair is being petted.

[This is strange. This is certainly something that's never happened to her before.]

Um... Sorry? [She's trying to brain a response to what this woman just said, but her mind is just a little boggled right now.]

[outwards]

Yes, you are one as well.

[More pettings are clearly in order, along with an amiable, calming voice. This beautiful horse seems to have seen some challenges in her life, but at least at the moment Aredhel doesn't get a traumatized feeling - so her hand moves slowly a bit downwards, gently carding through the mane.]

Such a fine coat, and such strength - I would still say that strength should be considered a greater sign of beauty in horses than breed or build. It is what you achieve with what has been given to you, not what has been dealt which makes us grand, is it not?

[circumitus]

[Rey makes a futile attempt to tilt her head away from the woman's hand, but her fingers are effectively coursing through her short strands.

[This... isn't normal. Is it? People don't just walk up to someone and start petting their hair like this, do they?]

...

Am not a horse. You must be confused.

[Unless this is some sort of weird metaphor or something, in which case Rey doesn't even want to know what else it could mean that isn't obvious as it is.]

[outwards]

What else would you say that you are, then? Hardly a pony, small as you may be.

[Considering that this horse is standing significantly less tall than her.

She keeps petting Rey, slow, simple strokes meant to convey calm and reassure.]

[circumitus]

[..."small"? Um, excuse u, lady.]

Am... not a pony, either.

[It's hard to say that she's a person though. She's still getting used to this whole "accepting one's own personhood" thing. It's hard.

[After a moment, she finally takes the elf woman by the wrist, putting a halt to her petting.] Why are you doing that?

[outwards]

[The action gives her pause, because even her drugged brain is having a hard time matching "she took my wrist and pulled it away" with "she is a horse", but that doesn't last long.

It's just a thing. Maybe the horse pushed her hand away with her head.]

It has a calming effect, in most cases.

So if you do not call yourself a horse, what is it that you call yourself?

[circumitus]

[Maybe. Or maybe this lady is just high as fuck. Rey has certainly seen weirder things, anyway.]

Not very calming.

[Okay maybe a little, but heeeell if Rey is actually ever going to admit that.]

Am called-- [Human? Synthetic? Both? Honestly does this woman look like she's from a place that would even get the latter? Sigh.] --not... a horse.

[outwards]

[Well, that assessment isn't too far off the mark.]

But a little bit? [She laughs softly and if Rey lets go of her hand will attempt to continue the motions, though only on top of the hair that time.]

And you seem to be terribly in denial here.

[circumitus]

[A slight shrug.]

Don't know. No one's ever done... that before. It's weird.

[You're weird, lady. But Rey just huffs and stands there for a moment.]

In denial of what? Not being a horse? Am not a horse. [How many times does she have to say that?]

[outwards]

[She just smiles at the continued denial and shakes her head.]

How is it weird? It is a simple gesture of much common use between all who care for one another and have hands to perform it, and frequent in use for those we only care about at the moment as well.

[circumitus]

...

[Okay. Petting Time stops now. Rey just brings her hand up and pushes Aredhel's wrist upwards, off the top of her head.]

"Care for one another"? We don't even know each other.

[Because you can't care for strangers in Rey's opinion, apparently.]

[outwards]

You can care of another as one whom you know well and hold dear, but you can also care for another as an act that is spur of the moment, if they seem confused or scared or lost or sad, or simply in need of care.

...If one was to see a foal in distress, they would rise to care for it quicker if it was theirs, yet would still rise to care for it if it was not.