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aftr_ooc2018-07-13 08:54 pm
lifeaftr_mods) wrote in aftr_ooc2018-07-13 08:54 pm
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TEST DRIVE MEME ( 013 )
Test Drive Meme #13
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 July 17th, and Applications on July 24th!
Two important notes:
Remember that Reserves will open on July 17th, and Applications on July 24th!
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.
Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat
When you wake, it's to the bucking of tumultuous ocean waves and the heavy sluice of rain. The boat you've found yourself on was probably seaworthy at some point, but it's been wind-battered and weatherbeaten to the point where it's begun, quite steadily, to sink into the choppy waves. Looks like you're all in the same, sinking vessel.
That doesn't mean you're completely helpless. There is an island in sight, one that resembles the waking land of Ensō, albeit somewhat far off, its silhouette fuzzy and indistinct from the curtains of rain. But if you can make it...
Well, anywhere's got to be better than here, right?
Gibbon No Quarter
It's been a year since the first adventurers were initially drawn to Mu's shores, and then, later, to Ensō's. And so, in celebration, the dream-island has cribbed only the best bits of the previous year for prospective explorers to sample on their way in.
Take now, for instance. You'll find yourself in a cage of all things, with the pound of drums and excited hoots of hungry simians to greet you upon waking. This particular breed of monkeys was once unique to Ensō, before travelers were forced to more or less thoroughly exterminate them. Devilishly smart and naturally inventive, gun monkeys are so named for their trademark weaponry - coconut guns, naturally - and their generally cunning capacity to craft tools out of very rudimentary resources.
Think fast, or work with whoever's nearby, and you might have a chance. Or you could always call for help. That always works out, right?
To Be Continued
Stories, stories, stories. Anyone who's hung around the block for any length of time can tell you, dear newcomers, that those little things are of the utmost importance in this neck of the woods. There's no mistaking the purpose behind this inviting scene - log seats set up around a roaring campfire, and even a packet or two of marshmallows if you're feeling hungry.
It almost might be enough to distract you from the fact that there's no fuel for said fire. And what's more, the darkness surrounding the woodland backdrop is so impenetrable that you may as well be an isolated blot of warmth in an otherwise unforgiving void. And within that void, if you listen close, you might hear something - a snarling, an indistinct rumble of massive jaws parting, hungrily, in search of something alive.
It's stories, of course. Regale us with tales of your past exploits, or with fairytales or nursery rhymes you remember from your childhood. Relay your tales of triumph and of grief, of laughter and of agony, of anything you can possibly imagine. As long as a story of some sort is being told, the fire will burn merrily onward, and the blanket of all-consuming darkness will be kept at bay.
Just try not to embellish too much. If your story is too vague, if it is more lies than it is something genuine, the fire might start to gutter dangerously low as a consequence. And that beast, whatever it is - oh, it's hungry.
Hunk | Voltron
[ Oh man, that's- that's a lot of water. Hunk's not sure what happened to his Lion- last he knew he was crashing, with Lance, in space, and now he's here, on the deck of a boat, in the middle of the ocean?
Isn't he the paladin of rocks or something? Why is he in the middle of the ocean? ]
Oh, that's a lot of water. And lighting. Do you know how we got here, because I don't know how we got here.
[ While he's talking, Hunk's looking around, casting about the deck for anything that resembles a life raft, a life jacket- anything that might help out with the whole 'about to drown' situation. ]
Found some rope! Do we need a rope?
2
[ Every time the thing in the dark makes a noise, Hunk twitches, glancing over his shoulder, or the shoulders of those around him. He's trying to keep up with what's going on, even if he kind of wants nothing more than to reach out and poke at the fire, see what's actually keeping it lit, what interesting technology could be uncovered.
Still, it apparently runs on stories? True stories, and even a month ago, Hunk would have called Quiznak on it, but.
Giant yellow lion, who kinda talks in his head?
Still, when the others around the fire die down enough the flames start to flicker in ways he's not a fan of, Hunk speaks up, glancing over his shoulder again. ]
So, uh- you guys ever hear about the Unilu? They're these guys that run this giant space mall. Moon? I'm pretty sure it was an entire moon.
2!!!!!!!
[Out of all the stories that could be told, this is the one Hunk starts with?
This isn't Lance's first rodeo, and he...Okay, yeah, creepy monster being kept away by the magic of stories is a little spooky, it's not. Not that dangerous, comparatively. Probably comparatively.
He spears a marshmallow on a stick, waggling it at Hunk.]
Are you sure that's the story you want to start with?
!!!!
Maybe.
He's eyeing the marshmallow, suspiciously. It's not even green, so what, is the flavor off?
...the noise has him doubting marshmallows, now. ]
What? It's a good story!
[ He picks up a marshmallow, eyeing it warily. ]
I saved that restaurant, man. Sal owes me, it's good advertising!
!!!!!!!
Yeah, sure, but food service is preeeetty boring, man.
[Time to charcoalize this baby. That poor marshmallow had a good life, and now it's on fire.]
Tell something more exciting first! Get the people pumped up.
!!!!!!!
What? People love food!
[ The marshmallow gets a cautious sniff. ]
Like you've got a better story?
[ Eh, it smells like a marshmallow. Hunk pops the marshmallow into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. ]
no subject
[Speaking of which, it's time to pull back that marshmallow and blow out the flame. It's...It's entirely black on the outside and about to fall off the stick, which means it's Perfect.]
I've got loads of stories! [Ah, ow, molten marshmallow on the fingers, ow.] Like...even telling the story over how we reprogrammed that sentry would be better.
[Is it a test, to see how close in time Hunk is to him? Maybe.]
no subject
Man! Stop hitting yourself- classic. Way I remember it, you were too busy mooning over Allura while Pidge and I were doing all the reprogramming.
[ Well, Pidge had been doing most of the programming. She was a genius at that kind of thing. ]
(no subject)
2
I remember them. Coran was talking about them. Remember the Space Mall too. We all separated to try and find the Teladuv lens.
[The fire climbs a little higher at the added contribution. Keith doesn't even so much as twitch when another growl rolls through the air.]
Look at me, Hunk. Keep talking and focus on me.
no subject
That's great, because Hunk's gun doesn't want to work with him tonight, and the noises are right behind him oh quiznak. ]
Yeah!
[ it comes out as a squeak, and he winces, trying again ]
Yeah, we split up. I don't know where Pidge and Lance went, but I went to check out the food court, see if anyone knew where it'd be.
[ And to check out the food, because ideas are the soul of cooking, and he always needed new ones ]
no subject
I went looking and found this Unilu advertising sharp knives. Thought it would be a good time to ask about my knife without having to answer questions and ask about the lens after.
[The fire rises into a merry blaze. He lifts his sword up and turns the edge towards the flames. Heating the edge is a mean thing to do but he isn't about to take chances if they need to fight.]
He told me my knife was made of luxite. The planet that the metal was mined from hadn't existed in decaphebs.
[He gestures to Hunk. Your turn.]
no subject
But honestly, how many knives does Keith have in- whatever it is that he's wearing? ]
Right, uh- there was this guy, Sal? He was holding out a platter, for samples, but I guess it wasn't.
[ Hunk makes a face at that, remembering the look on Sal's face.
And the way Sal'd been able to get the drop on him, which, seriously? ]
Guy had me handcuffed to the sink faster'n I knew what was going on.
no subject
[Maybe they can visit sometime in the future. He turns his sword so the other side of it is towards the fire. His Marmora armor keeps him pretty insulated against any cold or heat.]
The guy asked me where it was from and offered to buy my blade from me. I told him I'd always had it and it wasn't for sale. He moved up to threats.
'Beat it or I'll call security.'
[Then he'd gotten annoyed.]
no subject
He think he'd remember something that fancy? And purple. ]
Wait, is that why we got kicked out?
[ Hunk honestly had never connect the dots there, figuring it was Lance and Pidge who had sounded the alarm. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
1
[As in "Connor is trying to keep this boat on course" kind of busy. He doesn't specifically know why Mu chose this nightmare to toss him into, but he's sure here and he's sure one of the only people who knows how to sail a boat. So he's trying, but the boat is still sinking.]
Short version: welcome to hell! We're trying to get back to Ensō! Please try not to freak out, this is stressful enough as it is, and start bailing.
no subject
[ Hunk drops the rope, looking around for something that can scoop water. Bucket, bowl, tub- ]
A-HA!
[ Hunk dives for a bucket he sees, rolling around dangerously close to the side of the boat. He gets it in time, springing back up to his feet. ]
Got the bucket!
[ Nothing else the guy said made any kind of sense, but he has the bucket, so- time to start bailing. ]
Where's you say we were?
[ He can talk and bail! ]
no subject
[It is not particularly looking like they'll be lucky. God, he wishes he had a shell to call the Jormun on right now. At the very least, they're better swimmers and could probably get them back to Ensō easily.]
On the off chance we don't, how good are you at swimming?
no subject
[ Right now, Hunk could really go for having his helmet on him, or his lion, or, honestly, just to not be on this boat in the middle of an ocean. ]
Is that something we're likely to have to do?
no subject
[He is so bad at calculations, but Ensō looks like it's about a hour away. They're sinking rapidly. He is not very optimistic on his best days, but also saying panicky shit is how you make other people panic so.]
We'll cross that bridge when we get there, I guess.
no subject
That's not a no! I'd kinda been hoping for a no, because right about now I'm not sure how far I'm able to swim in this kind of water!
1
[A girl carrying herself like an officer - or trying to, on the heaving deck - holds onto the mast with one arm for dear life, but leans out to take the rope. She shouts to be heard.
Least she's dressed for it; some kind of armored, sexless wetsuit, with geometric heraldry.]
Don't know, some theories. You a sailor at all?
no subject
Kind of. ]
No? [ Well- ] Kind of? I'm a pilot! And an engineer!
[ The rope looks useful, so it's getting flung over his shoulder and he continues his scrambling search of the deck. ]
Found a bucket!
[ He has to dive to grab it before it rolls off the side of the boat- but he does, in fact, have a bucket.
He's also now lying on his stomach, on the deck, peering over the side and into the roiling sea ]
...oh quiznak.
no subject
[It was less funny out loud. Whatever. She ties the rope to the mast, and then...
[No, the angle's wrong to throw him the rope. Quiznak indeed. Instead she ties it to her wrist and sort of... slides down after him.]
Grabbing you, reeling you in! Sit tight!
no subject
Oh quiznak, he doesn't have this in the slightest.
As soon as she's in range, Hunk is latching onto her hand, still clinging to his bucket, then transferring his grip to the rope. ]
That's a whole lotta water! Can you swim?
no subject
[But she is strong. She grabs his arm at the elbow rather than his hand, dragging him further up onto the deck, gritting her teeth.]
Get to your feet and start bailing - get that water in the bucket and then off of our deck!
[She's remarkably comfortable giving out orders.]
(no subject)
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2
[She'd been sitting off to the side up until this point, mostly watching the fire and the way it reacted whenever someone was speaking versus when it was quiet.]
I'm pretty sure there were ridiculous costumes involved.