TEST DRIVE MEME ( 006 )

[lifeaftr_mods]

Test Drive Meme #6

Hello, and welcome to LifeAftr! We’re pleased that you’re expressing an interest in the game. Here, you can test the waters, gauge how your character may fare in the world of LifeAftr, and even gain some in-game incentives, if you so choose.

Remember that Reserves will open on December 17th! Due to the holiday season, Applications will be opening on December 26th, with an app period shifted to end on January 2nd instead of the usual timeframe!

Two important notes:

1. LifeAftr's test drives take place on the island of Mu, which exists apart from the real world and possesses a dream-like quality that characters are innately aware of from the moment they appear on its shores. No need to panic or fret. Dreams are odd things, after all - and anything can happen in them. Why would anyone question where their mind chooses to wander in its sleep?

2. Due to the nature of Mu, threads in our test drive can not only be accepted as thread samples in your application, but can be accepted as game canon as well. In fact, certain choices your character makes in Mu have the potential to bear in-game consequences, largely in the form of test drive reward items.

United We Stand
This particular month, Mu has seen fit to recreate the strange, dichotomous island of Monsun. Most of the information regarding this peculiar land can be found in the informational post linked, but as a quick rundown: Monsun's western side is a hot wasteland of a desert prone of disasters and mishaps, but will affect your character's emotional and psychological state in a positive sense, while its eastern side is a verdant forest filled with endless resources...as well as a tendency to bring out the absolute worst of your character.

The western region blazes with a vengeance, the imaginary sun roasting overhead. The psychological effects of this area of island will shine far more kindly upon you than the sun does; your character's best qualities have been brought to light, and the longer they remain here, the more profound those qualities will become.

This is probably a good thing, too. Because those cactus plants on the horizon seem to be moving closer...and closer...

In fact, they aren't really plants at all. Those who squint may find themselves thinking of another, cuter version of sentient cacti found on other worlds, but the mutual relation to a certain desert plant is where the similarities come to an end. Walking cacti are silent predators who prefer to slowly approach their prey, avoiding being noticed by their targets until it is too late.

Luckily, these creatures do not rely on projectiles to attack. Rather, their needle thin spikes can extend up to one foot out of their bodies in a fast, powerful motion - more than enough to puncture flesh and muscle. If you've ever wanted to try death by acupuncture, these are your kind of monster... but if not, a sharp weapon or fire will certainly help whittle down their numbers.

Regardless, all of your best qualities will come to light quickly in a fight, whether it be courage, diplomacy, compassion, earnest hope, or whatever other positive traits you might bear. Such is Monsun's boon to you.

Divided We Fall
The east, on the other hand, is the polar opposite to that desert wasteland. The sun shines evenly through the thick spread of deciduous canopies, which shade you from the worst of that unforgiving heat. The verdant greenery is perfectly temperate and even tranquil.

A pity that you'll soon find your worst qualities manifesting at a rather rapid rate. The proper Monsun generally gives you a twenty-four hour window before your most despicable traits start to flourish, but Mu, it seems, has sped up the clock significantly.

Scattered across the rich landscape, a herd of deer can be found prancing eagerly about, seemingly oblivious to their potentiality as a food source. In fact, they hardly seem to react to the approach of foreign entities at all. They're quite placid, and content to sit idly back until attacked - at which point they'll do little more than flee at a brisk pace. What an ideal set of circumstances, truly. But should anyone else impose upon your peace, you'd better hope they don't mind encountering you at your absolute worst.

Don't Fear the Succ
You wake on a boat. It's a very nice boat, make no mistake, weatherbeaten and worn as it may seem, but it's still a boat, and you're still surrounded with lapping waves, as far as the eye can see. Or as far as the eye can sea.

Still, no reason not to make the best of this, right? Just sit back, relax, and let the wind take you wherever it may. You hardly need to eat or sleep in the regular sense in dreams, and this might be a good deal more picturesque than many of the dreams you're probably used to. All told, this is really quite a nice diversion -

Hold on. Did something just bump up against the hull?

Yes, in fact. Something did. Something with long, long, reaching tentacles that will soon snake over the deck to try and grasp your vessel in a death grip much like that of a boa constrictor: designed to crush and destroy.

It seems you've run afoul of that legendary creature of the depths; the one that every sailor most fears.

A kraken. Hope you're not averse to a little hentai.

---

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[achievementhunter]

That is not what I am saying at all. [Thanks, bracket text.] Your magic trick is cheap- tacky. Mundane. Naively dangerous. Would you like further definitions, or has the implication sunk in?

[quietknight]

Sonje flopped down against a rock and loosened her breastplate. "Hah...Thanks. I'll admit I'd have dressed differently if I knew I'd be spending time in the desert."

She reached over and grabbed a chunk of cactoid to inspect it. Could she just...take a bite out of it?

Restille Alleluia (body) + Allione (weapon) + Farron Al-Beyer (soul) | OC

[allione]

[ United We Stand ]

[ The desert sure is hot, isn't it? But this girl here, in her modern school uniform and holding a long jitte, doesn't seem affected by it at all. ]

Hey, uh, are you all right? Do you... need some water? [ Before she even hears a reply, she's searching through her bag. ] I'm pretty sure I've got some.

You have to be careful out in this heat, you know.


[ Don't Fear The Hentai ]

[ When you're expecting people to be fighting off a kraken, you're probably not expecting a girl like this. In a school uniform, a high-school aged girl whacks at the tentacles coming over the side of the ship with a jitte, doing more damage than she probably should be.

Most telling was how she did it, though. There wasn't an ounce, a single trace of fear. It was methodical, somebody who's done similar tasks dozens if not hundreds of times.

And then a tentacle lashes out. She jumps up onto it in midair as it's coming down, then kickflips off of it to land next to another fighter. ]

My attacks don't seem to be doing more than annoying it. Got any better plans?



[ NOTES: Since it's a bit complicated, here's the low-down for people with weird senses or good observation: This is a dead body. The jitte has a soul, and that soul has the ability to perform necromancy. So the weapon is using a girl's body to pretend to be alive basically! But the body doesn't breath, sweat, or feel pain, so there you go. ]

[nostatbonuses]

You know, if we're founding our own island nation, we don't need to abide by the limits of old world currency. If we're the government, we can establish anything other people are willing to acknowledge as the new basis of wealth. [ Because this is what's important here. ]

[budgetmage]

Yeah, I'm used to hearing that. I'm sorry that all I can do is make lights. [ She doesn't sound sorry. In fact, that was all stated particularly monotonously. Not that it was an actual apology of any sorts anyway. ]

But if you're really not going to answer, I'll just follow you around until you go back to. Wherever people congregate.

Kids really shouldn't be wandering around unsupervised anyway.

[effinlame]

[Ryuji snags his hand like its second nature, and the tentacle thrashs in pain- or would if it wasn't tied to itself with a chain of teenagers.

Still, Akira grabbing him is close enough to a Baton Pass for Ryuji, and his free hand goes for a mask that he's not 100% sure will be there ]

Seiten Taisei!

[the quarters are too close for a Ziodyne, but thankfully the monkey king shows up, taking a swing at the offending limb and tearing a huge chunk out of it]

Akira, you gotta finish it!

[budgetmage]

I don't have anything remotely worth anything, Sawyer. Like, some spare cloth... a potato.... [ Not even multiple potatoes. A single potato. ]

[sacrament_of_blood]

I am taught to strike swiftly and efficiently at the points that will slay them immediately, but this creature has a most unusual body. [She eyes the scissors closely.] Perhaps I should acquire a larger weapon to simply destroy the body of any other such unusual creatures I might come across.

[She looks over the dead cactus monsters speculatively.]

Would those make for adequate nourishment? I confess I am also feeling parched.

Wildcard

[budgetmage]

It's nighttime and they've found, ah, some sort of encampment. While others were milling about or trying to sleep, Isette pulled Sonje down low, away from prying eyes.

A small ball of light, Isette's signature magic, lit up their immediate area enough to see, but not so bright as to draw a lot of unwanted attention. Exactly as Isette wanted it.

"All right," Isette starts, "from what little I've learned, we're pretty much stuck on these abandoned islands, right? And there's no real civilization. Just." Gestures around. "You know what that means, right?"

[hyperlit]

What sort of memory or ghost or fragmentation just walks away?

The bizarre lack of predictability is enough to arrest their attention, to prick at them like a splinter beneath a fingernail, like the subluxation of bone from socket. Like an itch, inescapable, tickling in their skull. A rapid flare of text spits out across their companion's translucent HUD, none of it forming into comprehensive words.

It is at times like these that they resent it, the state of their vocal cords, the way they have torn and rendered them helpless in the ways of calling out to a retreating figure. A huffed-out, ragged rasp of air hisses out from behind their mantle, a cough gone staggered.

Wait.

They dart forward in a bright splash of violet motion.

real?

UGuuuuu

[catpiper]

[It's only a dream.

It's only a dream And she's grasping a rail next to her to avoid falling inward, falling overboard-falling at all, honestly. She's not okay with this. She hates this, actually. Completely. Dream or not, that tentacle slithering up the boat scares her. The jarring sensation of being on a boat doesn't help. This is a nightmare.

It doesn't help the only other person on board is calm, almost relaxed, as they sit on the deck like there isn't a large creature trying to sink them into the water. Their sight seems fine, if they way they're working on their cloak is any indication. So they must see the creature. Must feel the tremors under their body as they work and hear the unnatural way the boat shifts under the creature's grip.

She doesn't understand one bit. There's bravery, but this-]

We have to hide.

[Where are they gonna hide on a boat in the middle of this dreamy oceanworld?? She has no idea. The main goal here is get out of the immediate area. Even if it's for a second, she just wants to hide. There has to be a place that'll fit both of them.]

It's scary.

[priforprince]

[ At this, the figure will rub the hood's fabric between their gloved thumb and forefinger, if permitted, and add an extra dose of reassurance to their smile. ]

No harm done.

[ It's...probably not a desert mirage that this person is sparkling. ]

[scissorhood]

[She...watches and thank god. It's okay. She's okay. Wait, why is she blushing so hard.]

Thank goodness... I don't know what I would have done...

[Wait, no.]

But you're really something yourself. That was some great hustle.

united

[catpiper]

I'm okay.

[The heat's sucking every bit of energy out of her, but she feels oddly okay despite that. Having a companion by her side is enough motivation to keep moving on in this expansive, dream world.]

You should drink that.

[scissorhood]

Well, whatever works for you. It takes a lot of effort to use something like this if you're not used to it. Though, I'd be happy to help out with that if you want. [Though she doubts the fluids of these creatures were as dangerous as Marchen blood.

Wait. She stares at the cactus.]

Don't know. I'd think we probably should wait on that... there might be someplace to get water soon.

Don't smash up the forest, Ryuji

[scissorhood]

[This really is a dream. It has to be. Plants don't grow without the sun and the sun was far away...not to mention the distant feeling of nostalgia that she can't quite place. Red's not sure at all about this forest and when she hears the crack she turns on her heels. Her large pair of scissors cut at branches when she turns around ready for a fight.

Then she sees--]

Oh--didn't think it was a human kicking up a ruckus. You really shouldn't do that.

[priforprince]

Your charms have already punctured my heart.

[ This mysterious individual's general amazingness seems to be going without question. Instead, the hand that had been checking up on the hood now moves to try and brush a thumb across Red's cheek. ] How could I let anything act likewise?

[nostatbonuses]

OK, I'll concede that a single-potato economy wouldn't really be sustainable. I guess we're gonna have to look for help after all.

EEYYY

[panaceaa]

Being a child certainly changes things, to be sure.

Changes the tense slope of their shoulders, brings Guardian further out of the leaves, has them standing a little more assuredly when they rise. Look, they're trying to be the Confident Adult here! Bless their heart.

"Apologies," they start. And then, glancing at the forest around them, "...are you sure that's wise?"

Maybe the woods are quiet and peaceful and tranquil and all that, but. you. never. know.

Right??

United

[priforprince]

There's no need for alarm.

[ In the shadow of a large cactus that appears to be nothing but a cactus, a handsome young "man" sips at a cup of tea. ]

Their tactics allow ample time for escape.

[panaceaa]

The strained sound earns the Drifter a flinch as Guardian stutters to a stop.

They want to tell themself not to look back. They also want to tell themself that the only reason they're already doing so is because of years of reflexive training making them react to the sudden movement at their back, but... Guardian already knows that's not true.

They read the word offered to them and struggle. A million impulses under their skin; maybe if they yell or shoot or run away all of this will dissipate into smoke, will leave them. A thousand words sit under their tongue and Guardian bites on them all.

When has the Immortal Cell ever displayed a single seed of doubt?

The Guardian holds out a hand. Equidistant in the space between them. There is no getting around the fact that they are a coward, too afraid to reach for the Drifter's cloak, to resolve the possibility of is real/isn't, in the case that the outcome isn't the one they hope.

"Is it foolish to want it to be?"

Fool them once, fool them a million times, they've always preferred reunions over goodbyes.

[scissorhood]

Charms?

[What are those? Can you eat them? Where was Cinderella when you needed her to explain girly things? Red stares and just. Kind of leans into it just a little.]

I appreciate it, though. I can't believe I let them sneak up on me.

[hyperlit]

A coward, or a fool? Skittish, or selfish? Is it better to burn, or to fade away?

Preferably neither. But they already know this is not the end to their story. It is not the end to this drifter's either, the way they spit up blood on the ground, imparting their final words in a slur of faint speech in commemoration of a family long gone.

They never asked. They never asked a word of their savior, of their life, of their world.

A slender, gloved hand slips out from behind the folds of their cloak. A subtle tremor shivers the slightly pointed tips of those fingers that might be claws, might be nails, might simply be pointed gloves.

It is foolish to fear that which cannot hurt you.

They close the distance in a brief brush of contact.

It's enough to send them reeling back several paces in shock.

[panaceaa]

[Ohh, this complicates things.]

[Guardian had simply been planning on finishing some chores until either the dream ended or they died or both, but the voice of another person -- scared, a child no less -- has them hastily tucking their sewing things away, wrapping their cloak back around their shoulders. They dash over in a blur of afterimages, nearly ramming into railing as the boat lurches again. Oof. Maybe they should put a cap on the drifting for now.]

[But they hold out an arm for her to take, otherwise seeming unshaken.] Quickly, inside. [They look over to a door that must lead below deck. All it would take is a quick run to reach.] It may leave if it thinks the place abandoned.




[Ehh. Probably.]

[allione]

You don't look fine. [ She's finished fishing a water bottle out by now, and she doesn't really give much more room for argument. She tosses it over. ] You need this more than me.

Is this your first time out in a desert?