aftr_ooc | TEST DRIVE MEME ( 010 )

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*test drive meme

TEST DRIVE MEME ( 010 )

Test Drive Meme #10

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 April 17th, and Applications on April 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.

Friends on the Other Side
When you open your eyes, it is to a shadow-tinted cityscape. The buildings are clay-built and colorless, plunging seemingly infinitely onward into the sky before disappearing into a dense pool of foglike sky. The silence weighs heavily like a mantle across every inch of this place, and no matter how you squint at them, every structure seems strangely blurred, as though being viewed through distorted telescope lens, or in the reflection of a pool of water.

All told, it's probably obvious from the start that all is not well here.

From the moment you arrive in this strange nether-place, your eyelids have begun to grow heavy. Something about this city and its perpetual, misted darkness leaves you inexplicably drowsy, ready to curl up and fall asleep on the spot.

That wouldn't be a problem, perhaps, if you were alone. Mu does not boast a great deal of flora and fauna, but what it does have is a creature capable of inflicting much in the way of misfortune - clockroach. They occupy this city in swarms of wraith-like wisps, both intangible and curiously amorphous. But when they draw close, they instill a sense of terror like no other, usually igniting one's fight-or-flight response as a result. Sure, they might not be capable of actually hurting you, but why should that matter, when they have a skill for inducing a sense of utter dread in their targets?

Ever try to get some sleep with fresh adrenaline pumping in your veins?

Pretty Fly for a...Fire Guy
With indigo-blue skies, lush fields of green, and miles of rippling grass hills for as far as the eye can see, Mu has cast you into the perfect and picturesque evening. As the imaginary sun lips the very edge of the horizon and the last glow of orange fades to the purple of dusk, the fields come to life with a smattering of bright, wavering lights.

LifeAftr has its fair share of fireflies native to its many regions, but this particular kind is special. They're the size of quarters, very pretty to look at...and incredibly volatile besides. It's hard to interpret what these wondrous little glow-bugs might view as a threat or not, but at least it's remarkably easy to discern as much based on the sight of them alone: they're handily color-coded depending on their moods.

While they glow a contented amber by default, those that fireflies warm to will find themselves bathed in a green-blue glow as those bulbous, organic lanterns tint with a soft, cool turquoise. A few of them might even settle across your arms and in your hair, if they take that much of a shine to you.

Of course, those the fireflies don't warm to will be able to note as such when they light up a blazing crimson, mere seconds before the insects spit a stream of glowing orange, molten-colored acid. It stings and burns in equal measure, just as likely to scald you as it is to set the surrounding fields aflame.

Flower You Doing That?
Adventurers were both wary and relieved to discover that the next island on the horizon, known as Ziziphus, appeared to be a rather vegetation-rich paradise. They were considerably less relieved to learn that this island contained predators just like all the rest of them, despite the rich green backdrop of its meadows and the promise of lush woodland at its heart.

So it is that you, too, will learn that sometimes tufts of ferns are not tufts of ferns at all...but dangerous creatures called spindlanks.

What might initially appear to be a leafy hillock will very quickly prove to be something far more...mobile, if you get close enough. That clump of grass and red ferns will abruptly hoist itself up on six vine-like tendrils, crawling for its prey like a very large, mossy spider. While it's fully capable of swiping at its foes with its massive, leafy arms, the spindlank's favored method of dispatching its prey is simply to scuttle forth until it's positioned directly above you and drop down. If its weight does not crush you and choking on the clods of earth doesn't smother you, don't worry; the spindlank intends to eat you alive with a set of fleshy jaws set deep in its center.

For despite their leafy appearance, spindlanks are very much carnivorous. Their size can vary from anywhere between six and ten feet tall when their appendages unfurl entirely. They burn as easily as any plant matter would, but the size of them can make them quite difficult to topple alone.

And they are almost always hungry.

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[He could definitely sense that aggression. He knew what he was saying, and he knew it straight up against what Noct said he was going to do, which was why Prompto had kept it to himself for so long. Now with Iggy being understanding of him, he was taking some risk and trying to bring it up to Gladio. Maybe, just maybe, they could recruit more help...

He shifted anxiously on his feet, looking rather small and meek, not quite meeting Gladio's gaze.]

I kind of thought since we're here and Ardyn's here we could just, sort of, stay here? The daemons aren't here and we've got Ardyn under control. Kind of. So nothing bad has to happen?

[Really he was sort of pleading. He could be yelled at a hundred different ways, but when it came down to it he just didn't want to lose his friend.]

[There's a brief moment of utter stillness as Gladio looks up at Prompto, mahogany eyes flashing with something sharp and dangerous.

Then he explodes.]

Nothing bad? Nothing bad!?

And what about the rest of Lucis? You think the Marshal died so we could give up and run away!? Running away isn't gonna solve shit! The daemons aren't here because everyone back home is turning into them.

[He's on his feet and in Prompto's face without even realizing he's moved.]

But if Ardyn is here then I know one way we can stop this shit and go home.

[He doesn't care, in that moment, that he's probably scaring the crap out of Prompto. None of it matters if there's something here he can actually fight. And that has him turning on his heel, stalking away from Prompto with murderous intent. He will find Ardyn and he will put the bastard down before he can ever lay a finger on Noct.]

[Maybe this was a bad idea.

Gladio was a lot bigger than him, and while Prompto didn't completely back down or run away it was clear that he was intimidating. It didn't help that Prompto was starting from a shaky position or that he didn't have the explosive personality that Gladio did. He pursed his lips, bearing the outburst with heated breaths. Maybe this was the scolding he deserved. It was definitely the one he feared.

How could he even try to explain the weird otherworldly timey stuff potentially going on here? Ignis was the better man for that.

This was a really dumb idea. He should have talked to Ignis about it first.

For a moment it was as if his feet were glued to their spot when Gladio started walking away. Chasing after an angry mountain probably wasn't many people's idea of a good time. There was one pretty big flaw in his plan, though. After a few seconds, when it seemed like Prompto might just let him walk away, he took a reluctant step forward and shouted.]

There's no death here!

[He would never really hurt Prompto. Even with the distance that's grown between them through the years he'd cut off his own hand before he hurt one of his friends. That doesn't stop him from responding to worry and fear with aggression though, still so much the frightened big brother, terrified that he can't protect everyone he cares for.

Cor was gone, they were likely all going to die bringing down Ardyn, Noctis would surrender his life for the kingdom. Going home only meant misery and death but if it meant that there was a chance for the rest of the world, an opportunity for Iris and Cindy and Talcott, to live a real life how could he not do everything in his power to make sure they'd be safe?

Prompto calls after him and he stops but doesn't turn, doesn't look back at the blond. If he looks closely Gladio's shaking. Barely restrained anger bubbling over heartache and despair.]

I have to do something.

You...

[Should what? Prompto didn't exactly have all the answers here. What he knew was that people came back, timelines were weird, and people disappeared and reappeared sometimes. He wasn't exactly keen on becoming part of Gladio's "doing something" right then, so he went to the next person he thought he could count on, spouting it out quickly.]

You should talk to Ignis!

[Ignis could explain this stuff better than him. Maybe calm him down or something. Hopefully. They'd had those issues on the train, but that was over, right?]

[This was so much different than the issues they'd had on the train but at the same time.... exactly the same. He couldn't stand sitting idly by, helpless to do anything to change the path set before them. He couldn't fix anything, he couldn't beat this problem into submission with brute force alone.

His shoulders sag a little and he turns a half step, looking back at Prompto but not turning fully to face him again.]

Hmmph... If you're telling me not to kill his ass then there's no way Ignis will condone it. [But what else is he supposed to do? They've haven't stopped fighting for a moment since the light vanished. He doesn't know what else to do if he doesn't have an enemy to fight.]

He'd just come back.

[The sad reality they all had to live with. Including Ardyn himself.]

There's a lot of weird stuff about this place, I don't know where to begin. I don't think this island is even exactly real.

[He let out a heavy sigh, air that had been locked inside a tense chest.]

There's other gods here, and the Astrals don't seem to exist here at all. Iggy thought we should learn more about them.

I know. [Island magic or not they'd tried that once, cut him down only to have him get back up and walk away like nothing had happened.

But it had felt damned good.]

If we're on it it's gotta be real. [He snaps it, short tempered still but groaning to himself as he actually realizes it this time, shooting Prompto an apologetic look.]

Other Gods? But- [One hand comes back to shove a few strands that have escaped his ponytail back out of his face.] What the hell is this place?

[Gladio was still clearly frustrated but at least he seemed less in-your-face. Prompto slightly relaxed his position, still staying where he was.]

As far as I know, me and Iggy and Noct were the among the first people to show up, and I still couldn't tell you that. Kinda been busy trying to not starve and stuff.

[That did remind him of something else that probably would get Gladio to settle down more, though.]

Gladio, there's kids here. I mean. Maybe not here here. This is kind of a weird dream-type-place-thing. But back on the island there's a bunch of regular people and kids and stuff trying to survive. I wish all there was to it was camping, but danger keeps popping up.

[Not having anything to take the frustration out on was enough to let his anger fizzle down, still close to the surface but not quite as volatile. Mentioning Ardyn was... probably the worst thing Prompto could've done.]

Weird dream type...? [He shakes his head to dismiss it, that was not the point right now.]

Civilians? How many? What kind of measures have you guys taken? Is it- [Does he dare ask? No, weird or not he can't even begin to fathom something so strange as a world unaffected by the darkness. Surely the sun cannot shine anywhere while Ardyn still lives.] Are there lights?

['Are there lights?' Strange how that question gave Prompto a pause. He had to remember his own world and why Gladio would ask that. Had it really been so long that this was his new normal and home was a distant place?

He actually got a chance to smile a little bit, though.]

There's light.

[It was the type of thing that would mean so much to anyone from his world.]

Not sure how many people. It keeps changing and not everyone sticks together. We've got some bitty islands we've set up shop on. The shelter isn't as cushy as the tent was, but we have something.

[And if Prompto thought the tent was cushy in comparison, that said something about the quality of their accommodations. As if his slight weight loss didn't speak loud enough already - he was not someone who needed to lose anymore pounds.

He folded his arms as he continued, tone slightly more casual.]

When we got here Iggy had just lost his sight and Noct insisted that all vegetables are dangerous to eat [Couldn't help taking a small jab at his friend] sooooo, some survival skills would really come in handy. Buddy?

[A peace offering? Really, he wasn't much different than before. He just wanted everyone to get along and for things to be happy. He didn't want to argue unless it was to stick up for a friend.]

[Until he'd been there and lived it, strained for some tiny hint of light in a world gone dark, it was hard to understand. But over the years things had gotten so much worse that the rebellious pools of light at Hammerhead and Lestallum were all that kept the entirety of Lucis from being lost to the darkness. Even that couldn't last forever but it was the best defense they had.

He just wanted to be certain they had that same defense here.

Gladio nods, already thinking on how to potentially improve what they might have set up. A series of small islands gives them somewhere to go if something happened on one.]

Heh not surprised you guys are lost without me. [He smirks a little, still not 100% okay but having something to think about and a purpose made it easier for him to set aside the Ardyn issue. Finally Gladio closes the space between them again, "patting" Prompto on the back, too hard for his smaller frame, especially without the decade of battle hardening he's used to the blond having.]

Let's see what you guys got set up.... and what's dangerous around here? Aside from the bugs.

[He let out an 'oomf' and stumbled forward a step in response, but didn't particularly look too upset by it. He was more concerned with pretending it was no big deal because he was super manly and strong.]

Can't show you yet. We'll have to see if you actually end up where we are... It'll be kind of like the way you ended up here? Just boop, suddenly you're somewhere else with no idea how you got there.

[Still, he started walking as if to lead them somewhere, because moving was better than sitting around all day.]

Oh man... Where do I begin? Some stuff is just animals. No biggy. Other stuff could probably be classified as daemon-level, though they're not daemons as far as I know. Sometimes really creepy. I only just got my gun back recently, so you can imagine all the fun we've been having.

[Iggy recently blinded. Prompto with just a knife. Noctis was the only one even close to being normal, and his powers had been nerfed. They'd been a mess.]

If you finally get around to showing up and Noct comes back, I think we could be back in business.

[The manliest, yup. He totally believes it Prom.]

If...? You realize nothing you're saying makes any kind of sense, yeah? [Here but not here, "booping" somewhere else, if he shows up when he's already... here?

But he's content to fall into step beside Prompto anyway. If nothing else, Gladio is at least good for bashing damage, weapons or no.]

There a way to get back?

Dude, if you're here in a month I'd like to see you describe it better.

[Teasing as it was, he couldn't really say how much he hoped Gladio would be there. It would really take some weight off, even if things were tense sometimes.]

We don't know a way to get back home. If we did we'd be there already.

[Which probably indicated one thing - Noct was going back. Whatever Prompto wanted so deeply, he couldn't fight Noctis, and he'd follow him anywhere.]

There's a way to get from island to island quickly, though. It's pretty much like teleportation. This place we can only get to like... once a month maybe. It's almost like a gateway?? People who come here have a good chance of showing up on the islands with everyone else. This is more like an entryway that's only open sometimes.

Challenge accepted. [He smirks, all brash confidence again but he's not so sure. Prompto was right about one thing, Ignis would be able to explain it better than either of them.

Of course Noct was going back, Gladio expected nothing less of him. He wouldn't leave the people to suffer.]

You think the people that don't show up on these islands of yours... you think they just get lost or somethin?

I don't know. We never see them again. I'm not sure what happens to someone if they die here, either.

[Though Prompto tended to try and keep lighter tones, there was a clear unsettled tone to his voice, and he kept his eyes facing ahead. The way he blinked a little more often and he struggled to hide a frown was proof that he'd never be a professional poker player. This was not the first time he'd wondered about this and it weighed heavily on his mind.]

So I try to find people and make sure they're okay when I'm here.

Well I ain't plannin on dying here.

[Gladio's smirk softens and he nudges Prompto lightly.]

That's good, though. Just doing what you can.

How long've you been here? I mean... on these islands.

[The small encouragement makes him feel a lot better. He knew he didn't have the training or skill that Gladio and Iggy did, but he tried his best.]

Yeah, I got a feeling you'd take down the whole island with you first.

Uuuummmmm... Let's see. Nine months...? I could always check the dates of the photos on my camera...

[With that he turned it on to start browsing. Might be better to avoid browsing to any photos of Ardyn. The bastard liked to cockblock him when he was trying to take adorable chocobo pics. A quick glance would reveal some photos of girls, though. Even one of Prompto with a girl! Naturally, there were some of the islands, some of the guys, all kinds of stuff outlining their adventures.

Unfortunately, Ardyn would be in some of those photos, much as Prompto tried to quickly scroll past them. It didn't look like he was generally trying to take photos of him, but he couldn't help that he was there. Particularly when the photos all seem to be around the same place in a desert-like barren wasteland and there seems to be a gathering of people using a huge tent. Later a hell of a lot of photos seemed to feature a baby brown chocobo chick. The latest seemed to mostly be of greenery - documenting the landscape of a new island.]

Looooks like... eight or nine months? About?

[Gladio shifted around to look over Prompto's shoulder as he scrolled through his camera's memory. The first picture featuring Ardyn made Gladio rumble, a soft near growl. He didn't say anything though, didn't acknowledge the implications of what he was looking at.]

Turnin into some sorta ladies man? [Another playful nudge but the tease is strained by the content of some of the other photos. Still he watches the story of their time play out in the photos, mostly enamored by the flashes of bright sky in so many of them. He'd expected darkness and electric lights not-

Prompto gets to the end and Gladio reaches around to gently take the camera from his hands if Prompto will let him, staring at the tiny screen and the downright adorable chocobo. But that's not what he questions.]

Sunlight? [And the word comes out a little choked and more desperately hopeful than he meant it to so he clears his throat, hands the camera back, trying for careless and unaffected again but failing miserably.]

So you've been here awhile then.

[He laughed softly, easily pushed by the larger man but just as readily falling back in place.]

I'm working on it. There's a lot of really pretty girls on the island.

[And, to his credit, it didn't look like any of the photos were weird and stalkery. Everyone looked like they knew they were having their picture taken!

Crap, this meant he might have Gladio as his competition now, didn't it?

Despite not having lived in the endless night, Prompto remembered the days coming slowly to an end. He also had the unfortunate experience of a lengthy night on the islands - nothing close to ten years, though. He knew exactly why Gladio would be enamored by sunlight.]

Yeah. Regular days and nights. Just like old times. Hard to believe how much time has flown by already.

[He reached over to point to the chocobo in the picture.]

And that's Coco! [Super proud pet parent here.]

[A lot of pretty ladies? Gladio just flashes Prompto his best reckless and dashing bad boy grin, the kind of smile that has stolen the attention of so many of Prompto's love interests in the past. But he's not going to actually say anything on that front. He doesn't need to, Prompto knows.

Then again they're in different age brackets now.]

Regular days... [He smiles softly, something wistful in his expression but quickly chased away by the promise of baby chocobos.]

Coco? You named her? him? Coco? Not very inventive, is it?

[Worst. Friend. Ever. Prompto was already second-guessing whether they really needed to have Gladio around. The main relief was that Gladio would probably be considered 'too old' now to flirt with a lot of the girls Prompto was looking at without being called a dirty old man.]

What's wrong with Coco?!

[It was at least an upgrade from 'Tiny'.]

It's really cute and it suits him.

[Clearly he'd partaken in his old schoolboy hobby of taking pictures of cute animals, because there were many of them.]

Iggy has some birds, too. So that we can get eggs. But they're not chocobos! They were from the islands. The only other chocobo is...

[Ardyn's.]

Fressy. A really cute black chocobo. But Coco is way easier to say than Fressy's actual name.

Chocobo... Chocolate... Cocoa. Not the most inventive, man. [It is cute but it's also a little groan-worthy, sorry Prom.

Still it's nice to see Chocobos, even if just the two. It's been... so long since he's seen them, the landscape of Lucis far too dangerous for people much less Chocobos.]

Fressy? What's her real name? Iggy name her something ridiculous? [Because obviously the other Chocobo is Iggy's right?]

Hr.... Hresvelgr.

[He struggled a little to say it correctly. Hence why he swapped to 'Fressy'.]

And she's not, uh, Iggy's.

[Which was followed by nothing. Nope. Maybe he can just skip over that.]

I think "Coco the Choco" is pretty cute! What would you name him?

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nfsjdknjk I'm so sorry.... why do I have to keep apologizing for this man.

Gladioooo

He loves the chocobo, really he does. He's just *so mad*

Gladio arrives. Party explodes.

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He loves the chocobo, really he does. He's just so mad