test drive meme #13

[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 September 24th, and apps are open October 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: DON'T LOOK AT ME
[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 hop right on you and chow down. This time, the Door has brought in several Boos, from the Mario video game series.

These monsters can be menacing, but are also incredibly shy. When looking directly at them, they will cover their faces and fade into the background- however, when turning away from them, they advance on you until they're in the perfect spot to take a nice big bite. The only way to defeat them is to escape this part of the level- that is, run madly away and try to keep up eye contact while you do so. They may look cartoonish, but those ghost teeth can be sharp!]

SCENARIO TWO: YOU'VE GOT RED ON YOU
[Hadriel is home to many things- temples, irate gods, angry citizens and... well, zombies, apparently. Beware as they start to walk/stagger/generally kind of shuffle around the streets of the city, since where there's one or two, there's usually a hundred more just waiting for the right moment to strike.

Zombies attack Hadriel by the dozen for this prompt, and nowhere in the city is technically safe from them! While they're not necessarily fast or intelligent, they have an advantage on you in that they have a lot more friends and they can't feel pain. So saddle up, bunker down, and try to survive the infestation!

This is a mini version of our Dead Men Walking event this month!]

R A G E

SCENARIO THREE: CAPTURE THE FLAG
[Hey, what's Hadriel without a few mind-numbingly stupid games to forget the fact that you're in a murdercave that routinely tries to scare the crap out of you while also maybe killing you every once in awhile? You're not quite sure who came up with this particular mind-numbingly stupid game, but you seem to be playing, so get your running shoes on and grab that inhaler!

This is a game of Capture the Flag, and thanks to Rage, you're really starting to feel that competitive spirit. You're going to win- you have to. So what if you incur a few fouls along the way?

There's a red team and a blue team for this prompt, with both teams trying to protect their corresponding flags. Try to strategize to take the other team's precious flag, chase someone from the opposing team down, or just go all out and full body tackle that poor guy who got a little too close to your territory- it's all on you!]

Comments

Will Graham | Hannibal

[feelslikeimspilling]

SCENARIO ONE:

[ It wasn't unusual for Will to see strange things but this was something completely new to him.

As he stood there, firstly simply looking at the smooth, milky transparent underbelly of the Boo. His mind in a state of total disarray. Focus Will. Focus. It was hard enough for the FBI profiler to keep eye contact with people at the best of times, let alone trying to look an unrealistic apparition in the eye. This is it. You've finally broken. Your mind is collapsing, Will. Dr. Hannibal's voice speaking inside his head, as it often did. ]

Am I... Awake?

[ Closing his eyes, a trembling hand raised and pressed to caress his knitted brow. Deep breaths, in through the nose, out through the mouth and relax. His shoulders pull up before dropping down, limp and loose. Will opens his eyes. Only to see that the ghost-like vision is now only a foot or so away from him, covering it's own eyes with chubby little transparent stumps.

Of course, this made him jump, made him shake and then the sweating started. What mix of madness and memories was this? Taking a few unsteady steps back, this was when noticed he wasn't alone, there were others! People and ghosts alike. Some standing staring as he was, others running, the spirits taking chase.

His heart pounded in his chest, pulse thumping in his ears as he continued to step blindly backwards until his back came crashing flush against someone else. ]

SCENARIO TWO:

[ Will had seen more than his fair share of cadavers in his lifetime, call it an occupational hazard if you will. But the dead he was seeing today were walking almost upright, straight towards him. Again, nothing uncommon for Will, though normally, the dead only hung around him when he was either dreaming or lost somewhere in the depths of someone else's mind. So which one was it now?

Looking around at the carnage scattered in each direction, the mess and evidence left behind. Human remains, insides strew around the street, limbs left lifeless with signs of abrasions and lacerations made in the most sloppy of manners. He closed his eyes, felt himself moving backwards through memories that were not his own. Seeing the disaster on the streets appear as if they were about to happen, instead of the end result.

Will saw a young man coming towards him with a hatchet, yet he felt no fear. His arms reached out, grabbing and missing, he stumbled and fell. That was when he was struck. Looking down, through someone else's eyes, Will saw the hatchet slice into his leg...But there was no feelings of pain. In fact there was only one sensation he was experiencing. ]

Hunger. I am hungry. I can't control my urge. I crave... I crave meat. I'm... confused? Sick? My body is unstable. I'm frantic and you're scared of me. As you should be. You are my target after all. I clasp at your arm. Sink... Sink my teeth in. I want to consume you. Devour you alive. This is my design...

[ Gasping as he opens his eyes. Disgusted at what he was seeing and feeling. His hands slick with blood when he looked down at them. He'd done it again. Got carried away while channeling into the killers mind, or lack of in this case.

Jumping up and falling back into some crates behind him, drawing attention from the other corpse walking the streets. He must have blend in for a moment, what with the way he'd been straddling that dead body at his feet. Gagging, covering his mouth with a blood soaked hand to prevent him from throwing up.

Where was he? What crime scene was this? Was he dreaming or still at work? ]

Jack? ... JACK!?

two.

[scarletcast]

[ There are times one drowns. Wanda has been hungry for hours with not her hunger, feeling too much movement not her own. Will is standing alone in the street with the horde and she can't sense anyone else around for backup. She makes a beeline for him, ducking behind the crates. ]

Are you all right? Did they bite you?

[feelslikeimspilling]

[ The voice from behind him snapped his sense back to reality, if but for a moment. Turning to face the stranger, a young woman. Will glanced briefly over her face, trying his best to avoid eye contact with her, though he did notice a colour to her eyes, as if she were alive. ]

No. I'll never be alright... Bite me?

[ Blinking, titling his head a side, trying to remember. No, no from his memories he was the one doing the biting. ]

They're all dead, aren't they? You can see them too?

[ Sweating, wobbling where he stood, holding a blood covered palm to his forehead. He was coming out with a fever again. No, not now, please not now. ]

[scarletcast]

[ His memories swim, hazily, his mind is some dense fog. It is so easy to get lost. Wanda shakes her head briefly to clear it. ]

[ Sharply, ]

They are real. They can hurt us. Do you have a weapon?

[feelslikeimspilling]

[ Each breath was laboured, yet when she confirmed that the dead were real and the danger was just as real, Will calmed for a brief moment. ]

I, yes.

[ Pulling the pistol from out of it's holster hooked on at his belt, Will checked it over in his hands. It didn't feel real. It felt fluid. ]

I don't... know you. You don't belong in this scene.

[ Was she even real? His mind often made people distorted, a more raw and true version of themselves, yet she was so out of place and at the same time, it was as if she was already inside his mind. Had he investigated her before? A memory of a murderers victim to be perhaps? ]

[scarletcast]

[ She glances at the gun. He knows what it is and how to use it properly, that is one less problem. ]

None of us belong to this place. I will explain. Later. Can you run?

[feelslikeimspilling]

[ Nodding. Will flipped the click and unlocked the gun's safety. Please. Please not again. If he had to kill he would, but Will would rather not. Still, he took the pistol in both hands, one to hold, one to balance, though he trembled no mater what. ]

I can run.

[ Catching her eyes for a moment, before looking away like a scolded animal. I can trust her. ]

one

[mismanagement]

[Don't startle the newcomers. That's the second rule. The first is, don't let them die. The first, occasionally, must take priority.

Maketh flinches away from the man, but keeps her rifle lowered. He doesn't look well. They rarely do.] Be still. Control your breathing.

[feelslikeimspilling]

[ Will's eyes took in the woman before him as he turned suddenly to face them. The movement mocked that of REM experienced during deep sleep. Avoiding at best, yet still managing to focus on her between the flitting of his eyes.

Panting out a trembled, staggered breath, like he'd just been submerged in freezing cold water. Fingers flustered and pressed to his eyes, closing them as he exhaled, the sweat dripping from him causing him to shiver. ]

My name is Will Graham... It's- What time is it? ... Where- W-Where am I?

[ Trying his best to execute the only grounding technique he knew. His name, the time and where he was. ]

[mismanagement]

[Briefly, Maketh wonders if this one is unstable. The twitching of his hands, the way he looked at her as if expecting to see something entirely different. She fights back a sigh. None of these people act as they ought to, even without complications of brain chemistry. He won't be the first, but it doesn't make this any easier.] My name is Maketh Tua. We aren't safe here. I'll explain, but not here. Do you understand?

[feelslikeimspilling]

I'm not sure that I do... But I will.

[ She seemed real enough. It was his vision that made her blur, it was his ears that muffled her voice. She looked alive, she looked real and solid. No, this wasn't a hallucination. Pointing behind him, to where the ghost like monster was slowly gaining on them. ]

I'm guessing that this is the danger?

[ She could see it, right? ]

[mismanagement]

[Logical. Good. That means he can be reasoned with.

Maketh glances back towards Hadriel's newest monstrosity and nods.] One among many. Hurry now, Will Graham. I'd rather not fight it.

[feelslikeimspilling]

You and me both.

[ Uttered under his breath as he moved along side her. She would lead and he would follow, at least for now. At least until he found Jack or one of the other FBI officials. ]

What about the others?

[ Referring to the other people off in the distance he's seen earlier, all either trying to fight, avoid or flee from the sharp toothed spirits. ]

Two (Sorry not sorry)

[goodguess]

Nope! Trance Gemini.

[ Which is what everyone wants called back after they were clearly calling for help from someone they knew. The very purple girl had gotten to the area from another entrance, and though she paused at the offal mess, strode towards Will with a bit more purpose. Which, given her appearance, probably wasn't the best thing for Will in the immediate, but he had just been calling out for someone. ]

I really wouldn't put your hands near your face with all that blood on it. Here, it's water. You should drink some after rinsing off a little.

[ Pulling a fuzzy water canteen off her shoulders, Trance unscrewed the cap. While holding it out, she tilted it just enough so that a thin stream was ready to come out. Because clearly he would follow this stranger's advice. ]

Oh gosh lol

[feelslikeimspilling]

[ He'd finally lost his mind. That was it, no coming back. Purple women with fuzzy water containers, zombies, no sky... He's snapped, suffered massive brain trauma, overheating and swelling, yes, that's got to be it.

Will stared at her gormless and unblinking. Normally, eye contact was a bit of an issue, now however, he was in shock.

Looking back down to his bloodied hands, then up to the women again. Had he done this to her? Was that her skin or decomposing muscle? Was she dead, fake or real? ]

Think I'll pass... Think I'll just wake up now...

[ Closing his eyes and curling up against the crates he'd stumbled into. Hoping to wake soon, surrounded by his dogs and in his own bed. ]

[goodguess]

[ At least one of those things is just fashion more than impossibility. At least there wasn't a sign of her being someone who was dead and decomposing- Even when rotting, people usually don't have pointed ears or a 'devil' tail.

Which probably doesn't help the breakdown. Especially when the answer was that she was dead, alive, fake and real, all wrapped into one. They say you shouldn't stare too carefully at a sun, and that still applied here. Will had more than enough of a shock. ]

You can't. Because you're already awake.

[ Yet he was already curling up. She was more concerned than anything, pursing her lips for a bit out of thought more than anything else. So she made the decision to place a hand on his shoulder and give a gentle nudge. Usually Trance is oblique more than bossy, but maybe he needed something firmer to follow. ]

You need to listen. These things are very bad, very dangerous, and they can spread their affliction to others. So you need to clean up, drink some water, and then I can bring you to someplace safer.

[feelslikeimspilling]

[ Will would argue with you on that one. He'd seen horned and tailed creatures in his visions before, in fact, he's half expecting a rather familiar, giant, black feathered Stag to appear. Any second now.

Flinching at her touch, curling up tighter for a moment then uncoiling as his sweating muscles cramped up. ]

... They'll eat us alive. That is their design?

[ If he was going to stop questioning the reality of those monsters and take advice from an upbeat purple woman, he might as well go the whole hog. Nodding his head, clambering to his feet and looking at the gore he'd managed to get covered in. ]

Then I thank you for your assistance. Please?

[ Nodding towards her water bottle, his arms held out before him. ]

[goodguess]

[ Luckily she's nowhere near as scary. Not on first impressions, at least. More harmless and cute than someone that might as well be the actual devil. In fact, when Will starts to get up, Trance beams out a smile. Acceptance isn't necessary; as long as he's not frozen in place he could be helped away from danger.

So she tilts the canteen enough to provide a small stream of water, talking in the meantime. ]

That's right. Well, they'll probably continue after you've just died, but I'd rather get you somewhere else before it comes to that.

[ The smile fades however, as she observes his face better. It wasn't immediately apparent with the blood he had smeared on part of his face, but she was getting a better assessment of his condition. She even glanced over his entire self to make sure, though his symptoms might not be completely apparent. Like Will's empathy, it was almost a different kind of sense. ]

It doesn't look like you were bitten... The infection can get pretty nasty.

[feelslikeimspilling]

[ Rinsing his hands, watching as the blood mixed with water, it was as if everything was happening in slow motion and her voice was distant and small. Trembling, Will raised a hand to his face, slowly and methodically he inspected inside his mouth with a finger. The fear rose up from the pit of his stomach, the notion that he could have perhaps bitten into the corpse while letting the memories run wild.

Spitting out into his hand... Nothing. Thank God for that. The relief left Will like shedding a wet clay jacket. ]

I think they assumed I was one of their own.

one!

[casperdisaster]

[Noah doesn't so much scream when he bumps into someone (SOMETHING?!) as he does let out a little breathless panicked squeak. That's only because he's generally inclined to be quiet.

He still can't hide the sigh of relief when he risks a glance back to see that he hasn't ran into a monster but a perfectly normal if kind of scruffy dude. To the seemingly normal looking teenager that's great news!

Oh shit he took his eyes off of his own Boo. Turning quick enough to borderline whiplash Noah puts his back in his sights again. Fuck, it got closer. And now he's back to back with a stranger.]

Um.


... I think we're gonna have to like... crabwalk...

[feelslikeimspilling]

[ Will flinched. Eyes closing (which is the worst thing he could have done, considering that Ghost like being edged it's way closer towards him) face twitching here and there, his telltale signs of having been emotionally and mentally, pushed too far.

Reaching back, grasping at the teenagers side, something, anything to make sure he was real. Fist balled into white knuckles where he held on to him. ]

Am I glad to see an actual "person" person...

[ This was ridiculous and Will knew it. Nodding, the back of his shaggy hair, brushing against the back of his new walking partners. ]

I think that, albeit stupid, is actually in fact, a great idea.

[ This was exhausting. ]

[casperdisaster]

[Noah feels Will's hand and - maybe misinterpreting the gesture, maybe not - he reaches back in return to hold on to Will's hand with his own.

Noah's shaking a little bit, he couldn't hide it even if he tried. He's a coward after all, but it feels better to know he's not the only one afraid. These things look so... silly. Noah wouldn't even be scared if he hadn't also seen what they were capable of.]

Um, to the left - my left.

[Noah corrects quickly, he doesn't want to risk separating. Not when he's now got a fear buddy. It somehow makes him feel like they've got a better hold on this, even though it means there's two of the Boos so they're actually still even stevens with the problems to helper ratio.

Details.

He starts to edge a bit in that direction, but only if Will moves along with him. He'll stand right in the goddamn street if it's that or go it alone.]

So. Um.

I'm Noah, hi.

[feelslikeimspilling]

[ Will wouldn't point out or complain that his intentions had been misinterpreted. In any other, or normal situation, he wouldn't have even put himself this close to a stranger. So instead, Will embraced it, it was for survival and if the young man could cope with Will's sweating hand then they were good to go.

Moving with Noah as he stepped to the side, stumbling a little as he was about to go the other direction. ]

It's okay. At least we know our parasympathetic nervous systems are working. Which is great news, really. Especial now.

[ Rambling a little before composing himself once more and giving his name in return. ]

Will.

[casperdisaster]

[A physical reminder that both Will and Noah are real and alive right now is that whether or not Will’s hand is sweaty. Noah’s not about to complain. He also lets Will ramble has he wants to - he’s listening, Noah’s always been a better listener than talker.

He’s not sure if the Boos (not ghosts, if this situation wasn’t so dire Noah would allow himself to get huffy at the offensive stereotype even) can go through walls. He hasn’t seen it personally but absence is proof is not proof of absence, so the idea of seeking shelter in the empty shops to the side of the street might not be usable at all.

Even if they can go through walls, it’ll force them to turn so Will and Noah will at least have the Boos on the same side and not be forced to sandwich back to back like this for the remainder of the escape. Maybe even then as long as one of them is watching the other can keep an eye on where they’re going. That’s the idea. One little step at a time.]

Nice to meet you, Will.

[Because this is obviously also a great time for inane pleasantries.]

I don’t suppose you know if these can go through walls, do you?

[feelslikeimspilling]

[ Will pondered over the question for a moment. He's not seen them move through walls, yet he wouldn't put it past them. There was a way he could find out however. Nodding, nudging with and elbow lightly into Noah's side. ]

I can find out. Swap places with me.

[ Walking in a circle, still back to back with Noah, Will wished to see the people off in the distance that were easier to view from where Noah was standing. Once moved, Will took some deep breaths, scanned the area for a second until he saw blood on the floor. A Boo had taken a victim that had gotten themselves trapped while attempting to flee.

Breathing slower, calmer even. Will closed his eyes and let his mind drift away. It was dark. He could hear a terrified whimpering and then suddenly his vision came back to him. Stumpy little hand like appendages move away from his eyes, his jaw long and smiling with malice in mind. He was inside the head of a rather large Boo in the midst of attacking. Flinching, Will jolted a back a little, bumping into Noah without meaning to. His jaw detached and unleashed slashing and slicing teeth into the hidden victim. ]

... Yes. Yes, they can indeed traverse through walls... I think, it's best if we can keep as much space between us and them as possible.