aftr_ooc | TEST DRIVE MEME ( 009 )

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*test drive meme

TEST DRIVE MEME ( 009 )

Test Drive Meme #9

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 March 17th, and Applications on March 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.

City Slicker
The walls of this place are uniform, gray-tinted, built from sandstone and clay. The architecture is deliberate and monochrome to an unkind extent; homogeneity, here, is the order of the day. All told, while a bit colorless, the place is not unpleasant, particularly with that periwinkle blue midday sky blanketed with soft tufts of cloud overhead.

Except for the shouts of armed guards pursuing you.

You've broken the law, you see. Maybe your hair is too colorful, or your apparel contained pockets. Maybe you carried a weapon without a permit. Whichever one of those ridiculous, lengthy list of laws you've broken, it's put you in the guards' bad sights. Their technology hasn't progressed beyond that of spears and shields, but at least like this, you're being allowed something of a fighting chance.

We say "fighting," but really, your best bet is probably to try and avoid them. Mu has recreated the ironclad system present on the island of Ai'tuoh, though it's eased some of the unfair advantages stacked against you: the militia are no longer cunningly concealed among the populace, and they do not fight with needles slid into arms before you can understand what, precisely, has just gone wrong. This way, at least you have a chance to run before they seize and sedate you.

Which we recommend, by the way. The running.

Sky Islands, or Skylands
While waking on islands is all very well and good - practically par for the course in LifeAftr, in fact - one might need a moment to adjust to the strangeness of this one. This one, it turns out, is floating.

Suspended in midair, this island is one of several dozens peppered throughout the sky. They drift to and fro, close to one another and then away again, but that's far from the most curious thing about them. No; their most peculiar quality is the fact that these islands shift, warping in shape as though caught in a state of perpetual flux. They ripple seamlessly from one visual to the next,: cycling through the varieties of an ice-swept tundra, a lush rainforest, a half-crumbled ruin, and infinite others in the span of mere hours.

And, if you concentrate just enough, you might find that these islands are pliable to even your will. You may be able to mold them like clay through focus of will alone, causing them to gradually shape into something familiar, even desirable: a home you miss, a place you wish you could see. But no matter how you try, you can only fabricate that which is non-sentient - plants, buildings, rocks, trees.

Just take care not to take things too far. You might find that the landscape does not take too kindly to being overly micromanaged. Too much projection of your conscious or subconscious desires will cause the entire thing to start to darken, crumble, and wither away...taking you with it.

And it's a very, very long fall back to earth.

[This prompt is a miniature version of our February event! Feel free to experiment with whatever details you uncover on the info post if you like!]

Kick Back, Relax
It's not all survivalist shenanigans and horrifying, mind-bending events. There are, in fact, plenty of moments of relaxation, of relief, and even fun to be had. Mu is not a wholly unkind being; it can allow you a much-needed respite in the form of something it suspects everyone might enjoy: a good old-fashioned party.

A volleyball net has been strung between two palm trees. A length of driftwood table has been laden with any kind of food you could imagine might be found on an island: drinks served in coconut shells, carmelized shrimp, smoked oysters, skewers of fish. The aquamarine tide laps up at the soft white sand, and those who test the temperature of the shallows will discover that they are pleasantly warm.

And at the center of it all, a cheerful bonfire that kicks up hot flares of sparks into the warm, rich blue of the sky. What a peaceful sight! What a jovial celebration!

Better enjoy it while it's here.

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

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A: So are people up on the Sky Islands called Skylanders, or...
[It's been a little while since Osomatsu peered off the edge of a cliff and whistled at the long drop waiting for him, so in the meantime he's just been bumbling around in circles and thinking about how much he'd rather be at home, watching TV with a beer, or swimming in a big pile of money, or something. You know, anything but freezing his butt off trying to reach that igloo he might just be imagining in the distance.

When the landscape shifts from chilly snowdrifts to crumbling ruins, it brings along with it a couple walls and a scrap of carpet. So, he runs over his own little slice (HA!) of home, kicks his shoes off... And if you happen to bump into him a while later, he's staring gravely at a pile of money stacked up in the corner. Who could be upset with that much cash!? You could always ask and find out, or maybe give him some pointers on how to crack open that fake cold one sitting on, like, half a table.]

B: IT'S PARTY TIME!!!!
[Huh... In a more familiar environment, he'd be hanging out right at the beach's edge, scowling and throwing rocks. Because how dare people have fun right in front of his face, right? For a moment, he does scowl from the distance, like a rude little goblin determined to drag everyone else down to his level. Maybe it's the short attention span, or maybe it's all that free food and drink sitting out right there in the open, but something drags him into the festivities!]

WOO-HOO! PAR-TY! PAR-TY! PAR-TY! PAR-TY! ...Hey, are you gonna eat that?

[...So if you want to throw him into the ocean for being annoying, that's fine. Maybe he can swim. Otherwise he'll be cheering his way around the bonfire and trying to mooch some extra food off of full partygoers.]

[Ah, finally, a time when Takane is whisked to Mu and not in immediate danger. Actually, this is quite nice! All this food... And, well, food was the main point of interest here, in her case. She's already gone to work, creating an impressive seafood tower on top of a single plate, and embarking on her missing to tear it back down via consumption.

As she munches away on an absurd amount of food that would make any lesser being concerned, she hears a voice in the distance getting louder and louder... Ah. She chews absently as she directs a blank stare at the strange young man who approached her. Oh? He wants some food? Well, food tastes best when it's shared, isn't it?

She wordlessly shoves a handful of shrimp at his mouth.]

[PARADISE... A GIRL'S FEEDING HIM AND IT'S NOT HIS MOTHER...? DID HE DIE AND GO TO-- Wait, hold on, a couple of those shrimp tried to go down the wrong pipe. After a moment of coughing and wheezing, they land in the sand at his feet... So he mutters something about the five second rule and grabs them. Food absolutely tastes better when it's shared, by the way. When it's shared with him, not when he's sharing.]

Ah, thanks! You--

[He stares at Takane's impressive seafood mountain and looks around to see if anyone else is joining her buffet.]

So... Are you trying to take some back for later, or are you just REALLY hungry?

[And she'll just watch him choke, continuing to shove food into her own mouth and chewing away with a blank expression on her face. At the very least, she is not judging him for picking up and eating food from the ground. Food is sacred and must not be wasted...

Ah, a question? For her? Give her a moment... Okay.]

Unfortunately, I have already attempted once to abscond with something from this realm... however, to borrow an American phrase I had heard once on the television, "what happens in Mu stays in Mu."

[There were many times in Jullien's life when he questioned his own sanity. This happens to be one of those times. He'd only come down to the beach to do some fishing or sea searching in hopes of finding protein to add to his meals. The last thing he wants to be involved in is a party. He doesn't particularly enjoy parties even when it's among people he knows and trusts, and neither of the descriptions fit the people here. Maybe they will at some point, but definitely not yet.

When Osomatsu came bounding over, it nearly pushed Jules over the edge. He barely manages to restrain himself for planting the guy face first in the sand.]

The death wish I have at the moment isn't for myself, so no.

[Is that a hidden threat? Knowing Jullien, most likely.]

[Do it. You would be doing the world a favor.

There's a moment there where Osomatsu freezes and considers maybe not engaging with someone who looks like he really wants to beat him up, but... Hey, you only yolo once, right? Instead of a natural response, Osomatsu laughs and shrugs.]

Hey, your loss! More for me!

Won't be my loss in the end since it's making more of you.

[Little does Jullien know this isn't the same person that resides in a monkey nest near him. He's never heard that Andarions like Jullien eat humans. His words aren't going to be anywhere near as effective with that background.]

[Aww, come on, they're totally different! They're the same height, they have the same face, and they have the same nasty aura, but-- Okay, yeah, they're pretty identical. How do the fans do it...

Wait, more of him!? He turns and looks for any sign of his brothers, but... Nope, just other party people. Osomatsu stares blankly at Jullien, like he's trying to figure out if that was a joke or not. What does that even mean...?]

Uh... Huh? I don't get it.

What? You just assumed when we were discussing my species eating yours that you were safe just because you live nearby?

[He says all of that like it's no big deal, just like how he explained Andarion appetites to Osomatsu's brother. There's no indication at all that the whole thing was started by humans and Andarion's never corrected them.]

What? ...I really don't get it.

[Ah, of course! A different species! ... ... ...Uh, wait, what's going on? Shouldn't he remember a conversation about eating him? Osomatsu scratches his head and comes to a realization.]

Oh! Did you talk to one of my brothers, or something?

[How the hell does someone forget a conversation like that? Most humans never did, which was one of the reasons why there was such rumor over Andarions eating human children.]

Brothers?

[There's no place like home, he guesses. Even if it's just a partial home, and it's up on these damned islands, and honestly, he doesn't even know why the hell it's here; he just barely got to this chunk of rock a few minutes ago. Is it trying to apologize for almost killing him a few weeks back? Too late for that. Eat shit, island.]

[That's what he thinks at first, anyway, hands shoved into his pockets as he determinedly begins to shuffle past without acknowledging the familiar home. Then he spots a very familiar pair of red shoes, just sort of strewn across the entrance rather than lined up. That's.... accurate.]

[...]

[Alright, he'll bite. Ichimatsu steps through the half-formed, doorless threshold and glances around. It doesn't take him long at all to spot Osomatsu glowering at a pile of yen, ignoring the unopened beer right next to him.]

[What is this apparition and why does it look like his brother.]

... I'm home.

Welcome ba-- [.........wait] ICHIMATSU!?

[He hollers like he hasn't seen a soul in weeks. He's only been up here a couple of hours, at most, but we're dangerously close to the "pretend to be your brothers and play poker with yourself" stage. Osomatsu hops up off the floor and skips over to throw his arm around Ichimatsu's shoulders.]

Thank God! I thought I was gonna go nuts up here!

[His expression suddenly hardens, like he's just remembered something of grave importance, but...]

You wanna see something wild?

[Ichimatsu's been around a bit longer, if the unshaven stubble decorating his jawline is any indication. In fact, he doesn't struggle or even frown when Osomatsu puts his arm around his shoulders; he just sort of looks down and swallows.]

[Really? That's how he's doing this? What an inconsiderate moron... disappearing like that, making Ichimatsu ask if he was dead, and here he is, talking about going nuts. Ichimatsu should kick him in the dick.]

[But he knows this isn't really happening; it's just Mu, with that faint, dreamlike quality to it. So there's no point in getting that emotional. Ichimatsu sighs and puts his hands back into his pockets, deciding what the hell, he'll treat this like a normal day back home.]

I don't want to hear you burp the alphabet, Osomatsu-niisan.

[You know what, just kick him in the dick, because he has nooo idea what cans of worms he has opened with his presence here, wherever that may be. He slumps and pouts like a... Well, an inconsiderate moron.]

Huh? What, really? But that's, like, my best--

[Partway through whining about how well he can burp the alphabet ("it's a captivating performance," said no-one ever), he suddenly remembers that his awesome party tricks weren't the thing on his mind!]

Waitwaitwaitwait! No! That's not it! Come here.

[He drags Ichimatsu over to the corner of the "room," where the beer and money are.]

That's it.

[He is ever Osomatsu's tolerant little brother. Well, most of the time. He puts up pretty much no fight as Osomatsu drags them across the room and points out two of his favorite vices, which like, aren't weird in relation to Osomatsu at all. Except maybe for how much money and how little beer there is here. And the fact that his brother isn't currently trying to exploit any of it.]

[Ichimatsu stands there blankly for a few seconds, eyes sliding from the pile to the can and then back several times.]

Money and booze. So what?

[Right!? That's weird, isn't it!? Osomatsu stares expectantly at Ichimatsu, as if to say "Check this shit out." He picks up a wrapped stack of notes and presses them into Ichimatsu's hand... It's just a brick. Deeply upsetting prop or not, Osomatsu still closes Ichimatsu's fingers around the stone and looks both ways like he's trying to conceal a bribe.

He grabs the beer can off the table and tilts it up towards his face. Totally normal, until he brings it up to his eye and stares at his brother through the can-sized bamboo stalk.]

What the hell kind of shitty mind-reading prank is this!?

[Osomatsu is giving him money what kind of nightmare scenario]

[Oh. Ichimatsu glances down at the unexpected weight of the bundle, hefting it up and down slightly. It takes a bit to click, and when it does, he just tosses it over his shoulder and bends down to pick up another wad of cash. That is to say, another block of stone.]

[okay but what if it's just... he brings it to mouth and bites down on it. Ow?? Okay yeah, it's a brick.]

[Teeth still latched onto it, he glances at Osomatsu and raises his eyebrows up into his hairline at what he sees. Bricks and bamboo? He almost feels bad for his brother, if he weren't such a greedy bastard and probably did something to deserve this anyway. Lbr they both probably did.]

[Still!! Not cool, and he already has it out for this place. He drops his second brick onto the floor with another thud.]

It's these shitty islands... I've been here before. This is only the start. Next thing you know, we'll be zombies. [personal experience!!]

[Osomatsu shouts and points at the brick when Ichimatsu bites down on it.]

SEE, IT DOESN'T EVEN TASTE LIKE MONEY! THIS SUCKS!!

[He chucks the bamboo stalk at the ground in a huff, but he still listens intently to what his brother has to say.]

Eh? Zombies, really?

[His face scrunches up at the thought... Or maybe it's the odd feeling of deja-vu sweeping over him, like, twice. Ugh, gross...]

Aww, man... And I thought food was gonna be the hard part! So, what, we're just trapped up here?

[Like... He won't deny he probably deserves this fate, but there's got to be a way he can cheat them out of it, right!?]

How do you know what real money tastes like... ? No, forget I asked.

[He can guess why and he's not emotionally prepared to deal with it.]

There might be a mana pool up here somewhere. We could use it to get out. Or we could just die.

'Cause-- Roger!

[All riiiight! Die! Got it! ...Just kidding. He does think about it for a second, because hey, it'd make for a good bit, right? But it doesn't really look like Ichimatsu's in the mood for jokes. So, he shoves a couple of his damn bricks into his pockets and picks a direction to start walking in.]

So what the hell IS mana, anyway?

[He doesn't even question why Osomatsu takes the bricks with him; he kind of just assumes they're for Plan B: Bludgeon Each Other to Death. He tucks his hands into his pockets and starts following, because even though he's the one who's been here before (in the real world, anyway), taking the eldest's lead for anything is practically an instinct.]

[He does linger for a few seconds, though; eyeing the interior of their home. Even half-formed and shoddily recreated at best, it's been a while since he's seen it...]

[Whatever, that's enough. Ichimatsu catches up to keep pace with his brother, shrugging.]

How would I know? It's magic or something. The rabbit gets pissed off if you bathe in the pools, though.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TEST DRIVE MEME ( 009 )

Bird has wished upon the monkey's paw (Osomatsu Matsuno - Osomatsu-san)

PARTY

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B - because I must pester a fellow former Forest Covered player

yes, perfect

Worse, he lives near one of Osomatsu's duplicates.

"duplicates" implies something sinister behind their origins and I agree, they're cursed

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SKYLANDERS

skylanders, but only the crash bandicoot ones

crash 4 smash

aku aku amiibo...

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