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

Isette of Khia | OC

[budgetmage]

[ United We Stand / A ]

[ There is a small lady in a well-worn, very dark cloak patched up with various cheap materials out here in the desert. Most people could figure out this is a bad idea. Desert, shining sun... cloak?

She is, predictably, collapsed in the sand. Be a dear and, uh, save her? From herself? She doesn't appear to be in the best health as it is, she'll probably die out here. ]


[ United We Stand / B ]

[ ...And there is a giant, walking cactus fast approaching. Definitely save her, from both herself and the monster. Mostly the monster. ]


[ Divided We Fall ]

[ In the darkness of the forest, there's a string of floating lights. Like the myth, they appear to guide people in. Except instead of guiding people to safety, or their doom, they instead guide people to Isette. sitting contentedly on a log. ]

Oh, hey, my lights worked. I found somebody! [ She puffs up a little. ] I knew my magic would save the day in the end.

So, uh, you know how to get to civilization, right?


[ Wildcard ]

[ Provide your own scenario! GO FOR IT! JUST DO IT! ]

Sonje Forstner | OC

[quietknight]

United We Stand!

If there's one thing that makes heat worse, it's wearing metal armor. Sonje, clad in shining half-plate, looks *exhausted* from the scorching sun, but she is going to stand and fight these cactus things none the less because someone, that would be you, looked like you could use a hand.

Her sword flashes, sending cactus bits into the air, while her shield blocks needle after needle.

"Don't worry. As long as-" One moment. Gasping for breath. "-as I still stand, I won't let them get to you!"

She was feeling extra courageous today.

Divided We Fall!

An arrow shot out of the woods and hit an unsuspecting deer in the neck. A lucky shot that minimized the poor animal's suffering, killing it quickly while the others scattered.

A moment later, Sonje emerged from the trees, unstringing a short bow and pulling out a knife to dress the deer. That is, until she saw that someone else was eyeing her kill.

She faltered, suddenly feeling self-conscious and awkward. "It's, uh...It's all right if I just...take some of that meat, right? I'll share it!"

Wildcard!

Or just come up with something crazy! Sonje is a gay mercenary knight looking to get rich quick who keeps a cool head while in danger but then falls apart in social situations. Canonmate to Isette, in the prompt directly above this one.

Courtney "King" Barker | OC

[silentmonarch]

Don't fear the Succ

A large woman in what looked like a commando's tactical gear was sprawled out on the deck, taking in the sun and napping. When the kraken hit the side of the ship, she sat up abruptly, rubbing her eyes. Even as she started to stand up so she could investigate, a pair of massive tentacles started crawling over the railing.

Fear or determination didn't show up on King's face when she saw that. No, what her face expressed was undisclosed glee. She reached to her belt and pulled out a shotgun from...somewhere you couldn't quite make out, then threw up the horns towards you with her free hand before turning to do battle with the giant sea creature with every sign of enthusiasm.

At no point during this whole sequence of events did she ever speak.

Divided we fall

Well this side of the island sure seems like a more pleasant place to set up camp than the desert side. Various people were going about setting up tents, arguing over where to store supplies, and all the other business that went into getting settled in.

Except for King. She was sitting against a tree, not lifting a finger to help as she cleaned her fingernails with a big knife.

Still not saying anything.

Wildcard!

Or you can just go nuts and make shit up. King is a deliberate subversion of the trope that mute girls are small and helpless. She is large, rude, and highly competent. She's also an AI based on a brainscan of a real person who was playing an MMO. She's also mute.

The Guardian | Hyper Light Drifter | will match formats B)

[panaceaa]

> Divided We Fall

[A]
The forest is lush. Teeming with life, in a way that most places don't, and placid in a way that places never are. A refuge. A scenic resting spot. A dream.

The Guardian notices none of this, of course.

They're too busy delving into the brush to find a spot to set up camp. There are too many places for something to hide; Guardian needs to hide better. The neon-pastel of their pink and blue armor doesn't aim to make their task any easier -- someone spotting them through the green and deciding to join them wouldn't be out of the question.

They feel uneasy at the thought.

[B]
If unaccosted, they reach a suitable spot eventually; a group of small trees whose branches grew close enough together to form something like a shelter. Sitting inside the space made by the plant life eases the nagging anxiety plaguing their thoughts. Just a little. They've learned to take what they can get. And they have it, for a while.

Until the unmistakable sound of footsteps through the brush approaches, and they tense, peering into the wilds. Guardian calls out ... against their better judgement.

"Just so you know, I have a gun and I'm not afraid to use it."


> Uguu ~ !

Well. This is a thing that's happening right now.

"This" referencing the massive tendrils wrapped around the mast of the vessel Guardian has suddenly found themself in. The entire structure groans and shakes -- and rocks, violently, caught in the grasp of a creature seemingly bent on its destruction. The smell of salt and fish is overwhelming.

So Guardian sits on the deck with their cloak laid out in front of them, needle and thread in hand.

Patchy. Can't have that.

b!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hyperlit]

Venture into the woods and you might find a local friend and cryptid, says the brochure.

They've been here too long. The edges of their cloak have gone ragged, and the Drifter themself has - how long have they been here? There's a sun gleaming overhead, shaded though it is by the interleaving branches overhead. A deep rumble of a voice that they know, too familiar and too immediate and there's a cerulean glow of a hard light blade being drawn as the Drifter advances, swift-stepped and unerring.

They've glimpsed things in the corners of their vision before. Perhaps - perhaps the Immortal Cell, rearing its blackened head, mimicking the hollow ache of loss far too astutely. Perhaps it thinks that there is more, still, that it could take from them.

There is nothing left.

But they will hilt their blade in its black mat of thickening shadow, if it will put a stop to the memory of an act of kindness that cannot be real.

Red Riding Hood | Mary Skelter: Nightmares

[scissorhood]

United We Stand; Once there was sun

[In the blistering heat, one would think anyone wearing a hoodie would take it off as soon as they could. Red, however, currently was ignoring such common sense. All of this made her feel alive. Who knew that's what the sun looked like? That it could create such heat!

If she could bring back such knowledge to the rest of the Dawn then it would surely put a spring in their step. Her hood didn't block much of the light as she tries to stare up at the sky, making her stop to blink every once in a while.]

United We Stand; Who's afraid of the big bad cactus?

[Later, though, there might be some laughter coming over the sand. Snip--and a large chunk of plant flesh falls down. The giant pair of scissors, black with pink edging, swing through the air as it makes quick work of the enraged cacti.

Maybe just for a moment, blue eyes flash pink as the girl fights on.] Marchen or not I'll make mincemeat out of you--!

Divided We Fall; I give myself very good advice

[Red Riding Hood might have felt some odd comfort in the forest. It seemed familiar in a strange far off way as so many things often did. This clearly wasn't part of the Jail and there were no monsters. It was growing but in a natural way.

The only problem was that her hoodie had moments ago been stuck on a tree branch. Frantic, she's holding the coat out her eyes trying to find any sort of tear. There's a small one near the edge and--]

You've got to be kidding me! [She... might sound on the edge of crying.] It can't be that bad. Yeah. It can't be. If I just brush the dirt off it'll be like brand new. Yeah.

[Ignore her.]

Wildcard

Provide your own scenario! Go on.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng | MLB

[doodlebuginette]

United We Stand

[Several things were readily apparent as she dusted herself off and looked around. It was entirely too hot.

Tikki was not around, which frightened her more than anything else had thus far...

And there were what appeared to be ... walking cacti steadily approaching. What even was this place?]

Merde...

[The first thing she did was shed her jacket, figuring the dark-colored article wasn't going to do her any favors. Rather than toss it away, though, she decided to keep it, and settled for awkwardly clutching it to her chest as she surveyed her surroundings.

She was already looking around for something that could be used to combat the pokey guys. If her time as Ladybug had taught her anything, it was that she was fairly adept at problem-solving. She just had to hope that she was still lucky enough to pull something off.]


Don't Fear the Succ

[Was she... on a boat?

This wasn't right. This definitely wasn't her room, and as far as she could remember she'd never been on a boat this large before. And the last time... she shuddered at the memory.]

Nonononono.... Why did it have to be a boat...?

[The memory of what had almost happened to her the last time she'd been on a boat was still fresh enough in her mind to inspire a nice round of nervous shakes and cold sweat as she looked around in an attempt to figure out a way out of this mess.

The second thing she'd noticed, to her immense horror, was that she could no longer feel Tikki. A quick check told her that she still wore the earrings, but where was her kwami? Had they gotten separated somehow? Had something... NO. She wasn't going to think like that! Tikki would be fine! And so would she!

But then she caught movement out of the corner of her eye and whipped her head around in time to see...]

Are those tentacles?!

Choose Your Own Adventure
[Uh... make something up~?]

🅱️ O Y

[panaceaa]

And how familiar is the gleam of blue through the leaves, piercing the dappled sunlight like a terrible song?

Guardian exits their hiding spot with an devestating hope that sits in their throat just as sharply as the sword and the drifter wielding it before them.

This shouldn't be possible. They don't know why. It's a knowledge that exists outside of them, simply saying hello, yet they have no choice but to accept it nonetheless. Drifter would not be solitary in the thought that this is but an illusion; taunting; a nightmare. Of course Judgement has sought them out again. Bother.

Guardian exits their hiding spot hands up, empty and offering what little peace they have as they reveal themself; there's a certain way these things have to go. But that's where their tact ends. "How many times must we do this? Do you really enjoy the sight of me bleeding out because of you?"

The words hide much fear. Too bad they can't take them back. Final sale, no refunds. Very sad.

Atomic Robo | Atomic Robo

[mammal_robot]

United We Stand

"Just a little bit further..."

Robo was supposed to only get tired every ten years or so when he started running low on fuel. Something was definitely wrong with him. Low power warnings were urgently requesting his attention as he stumbled through the desert. The heat, of course, was no problem for him, but the fact that he had apparently burned through eight years worth of uranium in the last few days was rather concerning.

"Never felt...tired before... How do humans put up with it?"

He could see trees on the horizon. Maybe he could find SOMETHING there. What he really needed was a Mana Pool, but the scientist in him stubbornly searched for a more logical solution than ~magic~.

Tentacles!

No power problems this time, but plenty of other problems. Robo held onto the tentacle that was flailing back and forth over the ship for dear life. Not that being dropped into the ocean would kill him, but it would take a LOT of walking along the bottom to find land again, this far out to sea. Better to stay with the ship.

Of course, first he had to stop it from getting broken in half by an angry squid. He fumbled at his belt for a gun before remembering that his gun was lost in another dimension. Maybe he could just...squeeze it in half with sheer strength?

"Oh god it's COVERED IN SLIME! EVERYTHING IS TERRIBLE FOREVER!" He screamed, while the kraken repeatedly bashed him against the deck of the ship.

Honestly, it looked like the ship was going to start cracking before Robo did, but either way it would be a problem. Help a sapient robot out?

Wildcard!

Use the power of your imagination! Robo is an ageless, nuclear powered, artificially intelligent robot built by Nikola Tesla in 1923 who spends his time having adventures with his team of Action Scientists™

Ryuji Sakamoto | Persona 5

[effinlame]

Divided We Fall

[Ryuji was a city boy. This kind of pure wilderness is something he's never really interacted with face to face. It's beautiful, peaceful and honestly kinda boring. So why does he feel so aggravated? It's a dream. A nice dream. But his skin itches with frustration. So he stomps through the woods, brow furrowed- enough so that even the tame deer jump away eventually.

Especially when he smacks one of the trees with a stick he picked up, the cracking sound loud and shocking in the serene scene]

Don't Fear the Succ

W-whoa! What the hell, man?!

[Ryuji hops back from one of the flailing limbs, falling on his ass and scooting back. He's fought monsters before, some of them giant, many of them looking straight outta the kinda porn he'd never admit to watching. But the two together is a BIT much.

Still, battle trained instincts kick in, and he scrambles for the mace he had arrived with, hauling it up with an almost eager grunt. Swinging the heavy weapon is always so damn satisfying, and he brings it down on the limb with a holler and squelch]

Bring it!

[Maybe someone should stop him fighting then damn thing. Or join in?]

cactus

[sacrament_of_blood]

[Possibly the first sign to Red Hood of the other girl is... the singing.]

And we sail down the river of blood, meditating in the glory of the Two Gods as we kill and slaughter, murder and massacre... Praise the Bloody Goddess, may She forever slay! Praise the Living Corpse, may He forever sustain!

[The sound of fighting is also there, of knife on plant flesh, and it's rapidly getting closer. Into sight comes a fleeing cactus monster, with many cuts across its body and leaking lots of fluids. Immediately following it is a girl in rags set on pursue, who makes cuts here and there with a knife, trying to figure out which one will be the most efficient at disabling and which one'll kill the walking cactus. Just as the two of them draw close, Merciless finally goes for the kill. The thing dies fast from her decisive blow, thudding onto the sandy ground. She turns to the other girl, studying her with red eyes.]

Ah! Many greetings to you! That is a quite interesting weapon you hold there. I apologize for the noise, I was attempting to figure out this strange thing's vital spots.

tentacles; science girl and science robot

[mindread_it_all]

A colossal squid of all things. Aren't they supposed to dwell in the deep depths? This one should be having pressure problems. And also it's awfully big and it's attacking the ship she's on. It really doesn't help things that she can sense this thing's raw animal hunger.

In short, she's kinda paralyzed with both incredulousness and fear. Up until she hears the robot's screams. He seems to... be surprisingly okay for someone being bashed against the deck repeatedly by a giant tentacle. But he's also in need of help. There's not much she can physically do against that thing, but...

She sends a strong mental blow at the animal mind she can sense. Hopefully that'll get it to release the robot and also go away and leave them alone. As scientifically fascinating this thing is, she'd really rather it not be near and trying to eat them.

[hyperlit]

Everything about it - too familiar. They ought to be stronger than this. A warrior cannot afford to hesitate at a pivotal time. One has to be precise, dispassionate, abrupt, unfeeling. A drifter who allows conflicting emotions to well up like a gout of blood from an opened sore will not last long.

They are up against a skilled opponent. One who knows where to hit where it will hurt the most.

Because of you.
(Because of you.)
(Because of)

Guilt is more potent than any sword.

The Drifter halts with the scrape of dirt beneath their boots. The thin stripe of cobalt-colored skin darkens with a cloud of some nameless emotion, dark eyes glinting like cherry pits.

Their sprite chirps, issuing a line of brusque text:

not real

Divided

[nostatbonuses]

[ Sawyer figured there were even odds of mysterious ghost lights leading to civilization or getting eaten by a giant ghost angler fish. Instead, they led to Isette, so closer to the former. ]

Unfortunately, at the rate today is going, we may need to found a civilization if we want to spend any time in one before sunset.

United We Stand A -> B

[greatcleavage]

Hey, hey.

[Roy gently nudges the girl, as carefully as he can and still make sure there's enough of a bump to rouse her. This is a very bad situation, but not unsalvageable if she can be coaxed back to consciousness. If not, he'll have to carry her out at speed...]

Can you hear me?

United!

[greatcleavage]

One minute you're sitting there in the shade, trying to enjoy a gulp of water before you plunge back into the desert heat -- the next, a woman's put herself between you and a cactus that was sneaking up on you, and initiative gets rolled before you even know what happened.

Roy bolted to his feet, the greatsword on his back practically flying into his hands, only to discover the rocks the cactus had been creeping around now effectively walled him off from engaging it, with her between it and him. "I sincerely appreciate the help," he said, speaking up over the chop of her sword and the gasps of her own breath, "but I'd much prefer to actually take a shot at it myself, if you could..." Maybe scooch over a bit?

Damn you tentacles!

[greatcleavage]

"...Huh," said Roy, when the first blast ripped across the deck and one of the tentacles erupted into a spray of blood. "Be careful -- we don't have any way to recharge expendable items here," he called out to her over the smack of tentacle against flesh and the thwock of sword against suckers and skin. "The only way to get more of that is to barter with the Storyteller!"

United We Stand

[greatcleavage]

Please don't stare at the sun.

[Roy delivers this line with the simple patience of a man who has dealt with a bard of questionable intelligence for far longer than is good for anyone's sanity, the sort of tone that recognizes getting mad over this crazy choice is just pointless.]

[quietknight]

"Ah!" Somehow, the way he had been sitting had hidden the fact that he had a HUGE SWORD and was probably a front line fighter himself. "By...by all means! It's not like a LIKE fighting these things."

Fear that Succ?

[greatcleavage]

From a biological perspective, no. Those are arms. You can tell because they have suckers along their entire length, which is usually the determinant.

[Roy has, by the time this explanation ends, already begun a vigorous duel with one of the tentacles, whacking at it with his greatsword while it pounds down, trying to break his guard.]

But the two terms are used interchangeably in common parlance.

[greatcleavage]

Entirely understandable, since Roy had set his sword to one side while he sat -- the damn thing was just too large, without a chair or a stool or something to keep him off the ground.

"You start to like it slightly more when you realize they're edible. Not tasty, but both food and water to get you through the desert." Let's see if he just -- maybe if he slipped through over --

Actually their respective sizes were making this really inconvenient. It figured the one time somebody here looked like they belonged to world he understood, this would happen.

[silentmonarch]

"Who the fuck is the Storyteller?" King didn't ask. She was far too busy expending ammo blasting away at the tentacles. It was working, but ammo was also dwindling.

She didn't look like the long term planning type, to be honest.

[greatcleavage]

Roy would love to answer, but in absence of a question actually being posed in a way he could comprehend, his options were kind of limited here.

"Ngh!" A tentacle whacked him upside the head, leaving a broad bruise slowly growing across his skull. "Look out behind you!"

[quietknight]

"How useful! I'll make a stew of them later!"

Roy was actually a few inches taller than Sonje, though that didn't make her small by any stretch of the imagination. It did leave them without a lot of room to maneuver, though. Sonje resolved to fix this. She hunched her shoulders down and raised her shield, then bull rushed right into the midst of the cactoids with a shout, sending them flying. It left her with a couple of spines sticking into her, but for now she just ignored them and kept fighting. It also left room by her side for Roy to slip in and help out.

[mammal_robot]

The squid shuddered, in far more pain from Darja's psychic blow than from Robo's tentacle wrestling. The sudden thrashing finally dislodged is grip, in fact, sending him flying straight up. He was nothing if not adaptable, though. Robo twisted around in the air and aimed himself facing downwards so he could turn his trajectory into a double fisted haymaker on the last of the kraken's arms that was still on the ship.

He was still screaming as he fell. When you don't have lungs, you don't have to stop for breath.