TEST DRIVE MEME ( 009 )

[lifeaftr_mods]

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.

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LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

Comments

oh Shit it’s angus mcventure zone - city slicker

[achievementhunter]

[Wow Angus that is super inconspicuous and absolutely not going to garner any attention whatsoever. Chara watches him peer out of the trash can multiple times before straying away from a few minutes, returning shortly with a few- things.

And promptly rapping their knuckles on the lid of the can.]

Knock knock.

[fancylad]

[The trash can comically shoots half a foot up into the air in surprise. Angus slowly, slowly peers through an opening through his not-at-all subtle nudges of the lid, and visibly sighs through his whole body when he sees it's another kid.

Which is normally the opposite reaction of what he feels when he sees another kid. Which is complete, full body anxiety. Which quickly realizes it's not doing its job and grips at Angus' spine, forcing him rigid again.]

H...Hello, there!

[He can't see what they're holding, but anticipation of the worst settles in the pit of his stomach. Kids are not nice to him. He's been in trash cans before, not usually of his own volition, and the next step is usually tossing him to roll down a hill. And Angus has done half of their work for them.]

What is... um... Hello, you might be wondering why I'm in a trash can! It's the perfect hiding place, see, because... no one looks for little boys in trash cans.

[But someone is and did, and that's why his voice falters at the end of his thought.]

[achievementhunter]

[Lucky you, Angus! They're an asshole and a bully, but it just so happens only one of those things occurs with strangers. His less than confident explanation gains a raised brow- and truly, they'd hate to poke holes in his cunning rational, however-]

I can see that. [They state, very clearly looking at this little boy in a trashcan. Not so little; close to their age, perhaps?

Because eleven is clearly the height of adulthood yep.]

Though if I might make a small suggestion- it would be somewhat simpler to hide in plain sight.

You will, of course, require these. [Which is about the point where he goes blind- not because Chara poked his eyes out, no, but due to the heavy cloth that falls from their fingers, draping over the side of the lip. Very simple, no-nonsense clothing, courtesy of someone's washing line.

They won't miss it.]

[fancylad]

[Angus blinks owlishly at the offered clothing, looking between the clothes and the other child. They're just giving this to him? For no reason?]

I-- Thank you!! Wow! That's so nice of you!!

[He pulls the clothes into the trash can with him and temporarily closes the lid, setting about changing in... not a great environment, but at least he has privacy.

Once he's done, he reopens the lid, newly clothed in drab grey, and he starts climbing out of the trash can.

It promptly falls over, and Angus hits the ground with a lard clang, trash spilling over him.]

[achievementhunter]

Please, think nothing of it. [Please. He reminds them far too much of Asriel; thankful for something as basic as being handed a pile of clothes.

He is also, apparently, as clumsy as Asriel. It should have been expected, but Chara has the decency to turn away, at least- stop fixating on the bin before someone notices them and decides to investigate. The clang has them leaping at the same time their heart leaps into their throat and would you look at that?]

Time to say goodbye to the nice bin! [Because Chara is hauling him upright by one arm and booking it.]

[fancylad]

Oh!!

[They grab him and Angus stumbles back onto his feet, leaving behind his fancy dress clothes and running after them. He recognizes that this child is trying to protect him from the strange militia, which is really unnecessary, especially since they don't know him at all.

But he follows after them, keeping up at least after a moment to gather himself, as the two dash through the monochrome city.]