TEST DRIVE MEME ( 007 )

[lifeaftr_mods]

Test Drive Meme #7

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 January 15th, and Applications on January 24th!

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.

Ice of You to Drop By
The winter has well and truly settled in, both on LifeAftr and here in Mu; when you wake, you may discover that it isn't on dry land at all, but on a thick crust of ice. In fact, there doesn't seem to be any land in sight, in any direction - just ice, stretching on and on for as far as the eye can see.

Assuming the chill doesn't get to you first, you'll find that there are much more pressing matters than frostbite. One of those things will start cutting to the chase rather quickly in the form of a wickedly pointed fin, glinting beneath the weak winter sun, shearing through the mantle of ice like a hot knife through butter. Ice sharks sound like something out of a sci-fi B-movie and probably are something out of a sci-fi B-movie, but rest assured: they are still quite dangerous. Fragments of undersea ice animated to suit a particularly sadistic shape and size, ice sharks almost look like delicately worked sculptures of glass or diamond, right up until the point where one of them gets their jaws around you. Their preternatural strength and tenacity allows them to "swim" through ice as easily as water. In fact, that happens to be one of their hunting tactics, as they tend to circle a target and break at the ice around them until they're surrounded by icy water, with no means of escape.

Much like real sharks, they can smell blood, and will set upon it eagerly. Unlike real sharks, they are also innately hostile. Anyone who looks like they might be an easy target will be quickly zeroed in upon by several ravenous, but nonetheless quite pretty, of these glittering creatures.

With Our Wassailing Bowl
The rest of Mu might be more forgiving in terms of setting, but that does not mean you're safe. Waking on dry land is generally considered preferable to waking on nothing more than a layer of ice, even if said dry land is nothing more than a jagged spurt of dark, coastal cliff. It's obvious from the start that nothing truly lives here. The island itself is simply some fragment of rock, eroded away from its mainland until it is all that remains.

The island itself isn't special, no. What is special is what is at its center. A massive clay pot of piping-hot wassail steams temptingly at the island's heart, nestled between the crags of rock. Just looking at it, you can know that drinking that heated, blissful drink of cider and cinnamon will surely chase away the unforgiving winter chill, and warm you from your bones to your toes.

Really, the only problem here is that everyone else wants it too.

The second you lay eyes on that treasure, you'll be seized with an instinctive, inescapable need to have it. No one else can be allowed to partake; it is yours by right. You saw it first, after all, didn't you? You'll have to race with your peers to seize it before anyone else does, and you might even have to start fighting dirty to claim your prize. Sure, you could fight that initial instinct, but where's the fun in that?

Dig a Little Deeper
It's not as though actual, real dry land is out of the question for Mu this go around. It's just that there aren't very many desirable options, evidently, when it comes to the manner of islands that resemble those in the proper archipelago. This island in question might be a bit cold, brisk as the winter air is, but it is otherwise quite ordinary. In fact, one would not be remiss in thinking it bears more than a passing resemblance to the island of Chol.

Unfortunately, it's also chosen to emulate a rather unpleasant, if rare, aspect of Chol's landscape: quicksand. No getting out of this one, we're afraid - Mu has dropped you right smack in the middle of a patch of it.

The myth that one can "drown" in quicksand is largely without much scientific bearing. Indeed, the most prominent danger is that one will start to sink and quickly become mired in the stuff, but eventually they'll cease to properly sink at all. No; the real peril lies in the fact that, once stuck, it is nearly impossible to get out of it. Most victims of quicksand risk death by dehydration or starvation, though we wouldn't fault you for fearing death by, er, sand. Who doesn't hate sand? It's coarse, it's rough, it's irritating, and it gets everywhere.
There doesn't seem to be much in the way of ropes or branches one might grab onto for purchase, once stuck. You'll have to ask passersby for a helping hand, and hope they're feeling charitable...or just drag them in with you, if you're that sort of person.

---

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[sorewatopsecret]

[That was just how Takane was; mysterious and distant, excessively polite to both friend and foe alike. It was just in her nature to not let people in so easily---Even the others at 765Pro didn't get to a less formal name basis until a long while.

At the very least, it was fairly obvious the Silver Queen didn't outright hate or completely distrust him. She made no indication that the freezing body temperature of her companion bothered her, and allowed him to sit as close to her as he wished. She’d rather the only other sign of human life not die from the cold and leave her alone here.]

I'm afraid that you might be searching for that kind of repayment for a long while. There isn’t much that I cannot obtain easily on my own, and the one thing I wish to seek is something not something many can provide for me. [She looks up at the mist-filled sky, a somewhat wistful smile on her face.] However, I do look forward to seeing your attempts at finding something equivalent, if you must insist on finding it. Fufufu…

[Though her head continues to remain raised, her eyes move to once more acknowledge Eichi via her peripheral vision.]

But I will say you are indeed strong and sturdy, Eichi Tenshouin. It is not only physical capabilities that define such, wouldn't you agree? Though we find ourselves in an unknown land, fighting desperately for our lives, you've managed to keep your wits about you. I don't believe many can do the same.

[As for plans, there was something that came to mind once they weren’t in immediate danger. It only took a moment after Eichi mentioning ways of escaping for her to dig for her phone in her dress pocket. Perhaps she could place an emergency call and have home send a helicopter?

… Those hopes are quickly dashed as she gives a puzzled stare at the garbled mess on its screen, tapping several icons to no avail. Did it break during their escape from the ice shark?]

[finethanks]

[Hmm, he's definitely going to keep that first comment in mind, so he can ask her about it later. Just what could she be searching for that he can't acquire? For now, though, he's focusing on warm thoughts, laughing quietly at her calling him strong and sturdy.]

If you continue to flatter me like that, Shijou-san, someone may come to our rescue just to scold my ego into place. [That's one method of rescue, he supposes.] Hm? Is there something wrong?

[But with a more careful look at her phone, he understands. Pulling out his own, he taps at it a few times only to find the same problem.] Ah, I see. So we truly are in a situation just like that out of a manga. Stranded, our phones mysteriously unable to function, the night nearing and no sign of shelter... [But scenarios like this in real life don't have a happy ending.

He keeps that to himself, this time.]

[sorewatopsecret]

[The grim truth didn't need to be told. Takane, despite being incredibly naive a times, was far too aware that this may not go the same way that fiction would. Still, she somehow manages to keep her composure, maintaining the casual conversation as if the two were not at the mercy of the elements.]

… I must confess, that thought also occurred to me when I first noticed your presence. At the time, it was more akin to that of a fairytale, or those shoujo manga frequently consumed by one hailing from my agency, but I now see that the genre is wholly different.

[She would have continued to ramble, but the instinctual jolt of something being ‘off’ caused her to flinch slightly. She glanced towards the steep incline of the cliff-like formation, only to notice something different. Where there should have been solid rock, was a large opening, which inexplicably seemed to extend a significant way deeper.

A cavern? Takane would have considered themselves somewhat fortunate, if it weren’t for the fact she clearly remembered there being nothing but a solid wall of rock at that spot… She frowned slightly with disbelief.]

How mysterious… Tenshouin-sama, my eyes do not deceive me, do they?

[finethanks]

Fufu, if I can manage to appear enchanting in that way even outside of fine's uniform, then I will consider it a compliment.

[Like a fairytale, huh? His ego is going to get even bigger, with reactions like that. ♪ He likes it. Ah, but then her words draw his attention, and he peers the same way, keeping that blanket of a coat close over the both of them.]

If you're asking if I can also see that cavern, it's true that it's there when it wasn't there previously. Ah, but this whole world seems to be something like an illusion, doesn't it? If it were a dream, though, I think it wouldn't be so difficult to breathe.

[His dreams are never so painful.] Should we head inside something dark like that? I suppose it is better than staying out in the elements. It's like an adventure, isn't it? How exciting. ♪

[sorewatopsecret]

[Dear lord they really do require the wrath of Buddha even without the impending danger via ice shark. There's no telling what the pair of Tall and Absurdly Rich Idols will get themselves into without some sort of overworked straightlaced glasses person keeping them in line...

Eichi's mentions of a uniform and something called fine does spark a bit of interest in her, and with that some questions, but Takane keeps the thoughts to herself. She was not one to pry just to satisfy personal curiosity. Instead, she focuses on the more pressing question he puts forward: Should they venture forth through this newly opened path?]

... Fufufu, that would depend. Have you been sufficiently warmed up from this arrangement that could cause a "scandal" if it were any other circumstance?

[She turns her attention back to her coat partner, her polite smile having a slight air of playfulness this time around.]

Though I am one to approach decisions with a quiet heart... I believe we sat here long enough to see that it may be more beneficial to brave the oppressive darkness of the unknown which threatens to consume us and embrace possibility, rather than sit here and submit to the bindings of the Fates' threads of certainty. I do hope I am not being presumptous with this assessment.

[finethanks]

No, it's as you're saying. I may not feel warm enough, but it's just that my body lacks the ability. My heart is racing so fast that it hurts my chest even to breathe, you know? So if I wait much longer, my heart may stop.

[Casually mentioning that, he pushes himself to stand up with shaky hands, holding his head high and pretending he can do it just fine. He'll leave the coat to her, since it is hers, after all.] With that said, I believe it's more important to keep moving.

It's rather dark, and if our phones are broken, we'll have to stay close to one another. Here, you can hold my hand. ♪

[What was that about scandals.]

1/2

[sorewatopsecret]

[Takane re-buttons her coat as Eichi gets up, somewhat tempted to offer it to him instead, but ultimately decides against it. He seems well enough, and it wasn't as if she couldn't offer it at a later time if needed. He sure does seem to have a habit of making light of his own mortality, though... Despite this, perhaps out of respect, or perhaps because she felt that he expected some sort of reaction from her, she lets it slip through the cracks of conversation.

However, at his suggestion of holding hands, it does make her pause for a bit, looking up at him with eyes slightly wide with surprise.

Of course, Takane knew it would be dark in there, and that it was best to figure out of a method of not losing each other. It's true that she had been providing and accepting more physical contact than she usually did ever since she found herself here, but only because it proved to be necessary for survival??? To be honest, she was about to propose something like playing "Marco Polo" or singing children's songs in a round the whole way through before he cut in with his suggestion...

She puts her hands to her cheeks, glancing away from his outstretched hand.]

Dear me...

2/2 i never expected it to become like thissdihgdl

[sorewatopsecret]

[But then in an instant, she's back to being her usual calm self. Was she trying to cover up her bashfulness? Or was that reaction Takane trying to add her own brand of humor into the bleak situation? Maybe a bad attempt at playing along just to politely satisfy his amusement?

That's top secret.✩]

... Fufu. Eichi Tenshouin, you've been quite forward for a while. Though you have the gentle face of an angel, in truth, you are actually quite the mean-spirited one, aren't you?

[Takane lets out this remark playfully as she gracefully takes his hand, lifting herself off the ground. Contrary to her initial reaction, she doesn't let go once she's on her feet, continuing her poker face of a smile.]

Let us be off, then. Our destinies lie not within the stars, but ourselves.

LGFMLDMF how did fate allow this

[finethanks]

[Whatever it was, it certainly does satisfy his amusement. She's a cute girl, and he's always so busy wrapped up in school things that he barely has time to appreciate things like this. She doesn't seem to recognize him, either, which means she's not from anywhere that would know the Tenshouin name. Interesting... but it means he can be free for this moment, while half-freezing to death.

Though he's holding her hand, it's icy and he doesn't have much of a grip.]

Is it mean to want to make sure that we're not separated? [Feigning innocence, he follows along like this, his own distant smile on his face never moving.] Ah, that being said, please step carefully. I'll do my best to catch you if you might slip on unsteady ground, Shijou-san, since it's not like my upper body strength is lacking, but I am still a little tired, you know.

[Please don't fall, he'll feel bad if he can't catch her like a gentleman. The last thing he needs wounded is his pride on top of everything else.]

[sorewatopsecret]

[Maybe, maybe not. Takane had been overseas for most of her life, and on top of that, isolated within the Shijou estate until recently, so she did have quite a bit of ignorance regarding the outside world. From his mannerisms, and the words they exchanged, she could at least infer that he was of similar social standing as her, if not more. However, with the predicament they had at hand, she could hardly see how that was relevant.

Interestingly, she also noted how she hadn't been recognized how dare you not know of her glorious weekly ramen documentary series, assuming that he was also from Japan, but there were many ways for her to rationalize that away, the most primary one being that she still had a long way to go in terms of her career.]

You need not worry about me. I've developed quite a good sense of balance thanks to a bit of Spartan-esque training, you see.

[And so they advance, hand in hand, towards the mouth of the cave. However, Takane stops in her tracks suddenly mere centimeters before the darkness, raising her free hand towards the sky...

Then brings it down forward dramatically and sharply, as if commanding some imaginary army to charge onward.]

FORGIVE OUR INTRUSION...!

[ECHOOOO!!! Echooooo.... Echoooo... Once the reverberation of her voice dies within the cave's depths, she turns to look at Eichi, a Deadly Serious(TM) look on her face.]

... It seems that it is not occupied, Tenshouin-sama.

[In contrast to their coquettish banter only seconds earlier, she was not joking around this time. She wanted to be courteous. Just in case something was in there. It would be rude to just walk into someone's home unannounced, wouldn't it?! Good thing it wasn't someone's home. My word, that would be so embarrassing.]