TEST DRIVE MEME ( 017 )

[lifeaftr_mods]

Test Drive Meme #17

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 November 17th, and Applications on November 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.

Is Anyone There?
What initially promises to be a relaxing island getaway is anything but. The tropical backdrop is all there - swaying palms, crystalline shores, white sand beaches, the whole hog. It's as idyllic as Ensō ever gets in the real world, the waters sparkling just that much more with a polish of dream-shine.

The real problem here is that you're not alone.

While they might be little more than a misted, formless shape at first, they'll rapidly take a more solid form as time goes on: a specter of a single person of great emotional significance. Whoever you might be seeing, they're here to rouse some aspect of your life that was not fully resolved. Someone you did not mourn, someone you did not grieve, someone you loved, someone you cut ties with unkindly, someone who represents a chapter in your life that you have thus far sought to repress. Tailing you relentlessly, refusing to be ignored or brushed aside or forgotten, this specter is hungry for your attention to the exclusion of all else. They will bring every painful association to light and rub those wounds raw, to a terrifyingly parasitic extent. They crave your attention, your love, your devotion, your fear. They are tethered to you, and cannot tolerate the thought that you might pay attention to anyone or anything else.

However they might have been in life, however fondly or not you may remember them, this shadow of them is merely that: a shadow. Desperate for your attention, and likely to grow jealous if you dare direct it anywhere else. They can't live without you. Why should you get to live without them?

In fact...why should you get to live at all? If you don't give them the attention they crave, they might start to demand it a shade more vigorously. They're only going to grow more solid as time wears on - and while no one but you can see them, they have the power to affect you very physically if they so choose.

Choose Your Own Adventure
What you have before you, dear traveler, is a very linear path forward. Deep, tropical woodland, jungle-like in texture and evening-dark, and a well-trodden path that stretches onward in a seemingly infinite, winding road. There is no way to go but backwards or forwards. Or, for the particularly brave...well, you could try moving off the beaten path, but we wouldn't recommend it. As it happens, the surrounding vegetation in this area is mostly comprised of a very irritating sort of foe.

As it happens, most traditional mimics take the form of wooden chests to befuddle and then snack upon any intrepid explorers foolish enough to open a container without checking for teeth first. Such is not always the case, however! Mimicries are what we will tentatively dub...distant cousins of your more conventional mimic. In the waking world, most of them prefer to assume the form of bushes, waiting for an unsuspecting traveler to tread upon the roots that will then snap around their ankles and reel them in, leaves parting to reveal a row of very nasty, very pointed jaws. Tonight, on Mu, their aptitude at blending into the vegetation to prey on the absent-minded explorer is out in full force.

While mimicries are very skilled at impersonating their surroundings, there are plenty of holes in their disguise for those keen of eye. An alert enough traveler may glimpse a pair of yellow, reptilian eyes blinking out from the vegetation before they fade just as fast. Mimicries are highly hostile, prone to attacking once they feel you've drawn close enough for them to take a good chomp, and don't tend to let go of their prey until either it is dead or they are. Armed with spiny teeth and a terrier-like refusal of relinquish their grip under any circumstances, mimicries can vary from genuine danger to outright irritant.

The good news is that, despite their number, mimicries are terribly vulnerable to fire. Happy hunting!

Caught in the Rainbow Current
On the more peaceful side of things, you're also liable to wake on a much quieter island destination - and this time, neither ghosts from your past nor RPG-styled foes will be there to spoil your stay!

Instead, you can take heart in the drifting, multicolored lights that shimmer off the seafoam and flotsam. A bale of kaleidoshells are passing through this region, and they're certainly taking their time in doing so. Resembling a cross between turtles and dugongs, kaleidoshells are so named for their distinctive radiance. Their scales and rainbow-colored shells can get as large as six feet across. The shifting colors on their backs are both bright and reflective. A vast enough number of kaleidoshells can allow for the illusion of an underwater aurora borealis, which is precisely what is occurring now. Kaleidoshells are placid and peaceable creatures by nature in addition to being unfailingly pretty to look at. As they are largely sea-dwelling, their presence in the archipelago is usually seasonal. However, despite the autumn season, Mu has elected to make an exception. Kaleidoshells are particularly slow and unwieldy on land, and thus not much of a threat, but you're probably better off not trying to poach their eggs. They do, however, make a very fine sight around the waters of Mu, especially in this artificial evening. Luminescent, their rainbow patterns glow underwater with the dim pulse of drifting mood lights.

So relax, take in the sights...or wade in to swim alongside them, if you like. They won't mind the company, and there's something singularly enchanting about getting to swim in the tide of a rainbow.

---

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

Comments

[diplomacycheck]

What's a double rainbow?
[Keith's words yet ring in her ear when she opens her eyes to the sight and sound of the waves, a small turtle slowly making its way to the water's edge catching her attention. Well, the brightness certainly matched for what she recalls. She vaguely recalls a crash, but then--]

Is this a dream...? [She mutters aloud, reaching up to remove her helmet after sitting upright; legs tucked underneath her on one side. She can't help but smile faintly and warmly as she gazes out upon the water; at all the colors reflecting just below the surface of the waves. It takes one glance at the small turtle to realize it is their shells reflecting the light. What a fascinating sight.

The water laps at her feet with each wave that comes in, but she finds she doesn't mind. Allura had seen many wondrous sights both before and after she had met the current generation of Paladins, but it has been quite some time since she was allowed to simply take sights in with wonder.

That is when she picks up ths sound of sand crunching beneath another's foot and she turns her head, helmet still resting in her lap. At least, until she stands up straight. Her helmet remains in her left hand, freeing her right either for a friendly gesture or to defend herself should the need arise. She sincerely hopes for the former.]

Hello? Is someone there?

Face From the Past.

[How she longed to hear his voice again; to seek his guidance and council once more. But not like this. She had beamed at the praise, to hear him say she has done well guiding the other Paladins. Yet that was some time ago. Now, he doesn't even sound like the father and king she once knew.

She had been foolish to trust Lotor. She'd been foolish to let him close to her. Yet there is no way he could know of such things, even his memories had been lost to them for decaphoebs, and any remnant of him save the hologram of he and her mother she'd grabbed from her quarters for even less time.

You don't have to continue walking this path of sacrifice, Allura. You could return with me; be with the rest of our people. With me. The shade reaches for her hand, but the moment she felt the pressure on hers, she throws him like a ragdoll. It will do no good, but at least she will feel a little better.

A very miniscule amount.] I would love for that to be so, but you are not my father, [She spits out; it hurts to even say as much, even if it rings true.] The real King Alfor would never say personal sacrifice for the good of our people is too great.

[Allura sets her jaw as she stands tall, though anyone who knows her could tell her shoulders are shaking.] The Paladins and the people of Earth are my people as much as the missing remnants of the Altean colony Keith and his mother found.

[Whatever the shade says next has her grit her teeth and ball her hands into fists.] How dare you insult him like that? We may have our differences, but I would and do trust him with my life as much as the others. Keith is not Zarkon!

face from the past

[antepone]

[ When she finds herself in Mu, and she sees the other yelling at nothing she can see, well... she knows what's happening. She'd suffered through it; so many others had, too. She counts herself lucky she hadn't "joined" her shade, that she'd realized that the real one would never have wanted her to die because of him.

So... she very carefully walks over. Mira makes sure the other woman can see her before she starts to speak; she isn't sure if she'll be startled into attack.

And then she says Keith's name, and her eyes widen. She files that away at the back of her mind for later. What's important now is making sure the newcomer is okay. Softly, she says, ]

... He's being loud, isn't he?

[diplomacycheck]

[When she sees her argument with the shade that took on her father's appearance, she pauses. It takes considerable willpower, but with an exhale, she tries to calm herself to conversational tones.]

Yes, quite. [She thought she had moved past this, and yet... there he is, behind her.] I apologize if my outburst disturbed you.

[This should be between her and her father's impostor. Not a stranger.]

[antepone]

[ She shakes her head. She's merely concerned, and it shows in the way her eyebrows pull together. ]

It didn't. Actually, the same thing happened to a lot of us a while back. [ There's something off in the way she says it--something almost hollow. ] It culminated in the shades' asking us to "join" them.

[diplomacycheck]

[It has happened to them before. And from how the other speaks, she or someone close to her faced one some time ago. She glances back at the shade, who now has risen back to his feet and is staring at her with- is that jealousy?]

What did you all do, when they asked? [Though the way she says it makes it perhaps a little too obvious: he's already done so.]

double rainbows

[galrarm]

[ It's impossible to miss that head of hair, to mistake it for anyone else's. That, and the voice. Shiro almost can't believe his eyes and ears, but... yeah, that's definitely Allura. So she's been dragged into this place, too. He's not too thrilled about it--at least, the part of him that knows how dangerous it can be here.

But he's glad to see a friend, nonetheless. ]

It's been a while. Are you doing alright?

[ He's smiling, and to Allura, he certainly looks much, much more different from the last time she saw him. He still has his first prosthetic, still has that undercut and tuft of white hair.

... And to him, she looks different, too. At least, she's dressed differently--in Paladin armor. ]

what does it meeeean?

[diplomacycheck]

[Likewise, it is impossible to miss that voice and who it belongs to. Her eyes widen slightly as she notices the marked differences. It would be hard not to, considering what occurred since he disappeared.]

Shiro? I'm fine, but- [She asks, looking as though she's glimpsed into the past. Which, she supposes, is true. Yet she can't help but return the smile, despite being surprised. So long as time doesn't loop and he doesn't suddenly turn into a baby, she's good.] You look... younger.

[Though there should be another thing he notices: her tiara is gone.]

oh my god it's so bright

[galrarm]

[ He definitely does. It's certainly more than enough to concern him; did someone take it, or was it destroyed?

But her comment begs his attention more. ]

You think so?

[ He remembers back to when he'd first met Keith here. When he'd noticed the physical changes on his best friend, the scar and the longer hair. He wonders, then... that means this Allura might come from whenever Keith does, right? ]

and so vivid

[diplomacycheck]

[Ask, and she may tell him. Though she also may not considering it would be... incredibly painful, and she doesn't know if it is her place to tell him what will be in his future. Even if her armor may hint that something happens to one of them. She straightens slightly more.]

Yes. The last I remember, you stopped shaving the sides of your head so closely to the scalp.

[Not entirely a lie! ...Just not the full truth, either.]

Face from the past.

[thermalwind]

They're shades that try to lure people to their deaths. [The man of the hour stands not that far away. Half in the shadows, he steps entirely into the light. His hair is longer than the last time she saw him, falling about his face like a lion's mane.] You have to endure and ignore them. They're using your memories against you.

[He glances around to see if anything else is coming out of the woodwork. Nothing. They're alone except for the shade in this patch of Mu.]

Giving it attention gives it strength. ...and uh thanks for defending me. [He's not sure what to do with that but he'll accept it. He trusts her too.]

So, how about I explain this place. This is Mu. It's a realm between reality and dreams. This place reflects what we've dealt with in another reality. I'm stuck there but you might just be passing through and wake up back home.

one of these days i'll remember to post a subject header in the top level (s7 spoilers)

[diplomacycheck]

[Actually, he looks very much the same as she last recalls. Perhaps slightly younger, but she doesn't seem surprised in the slightest by the longer hair nor the scar it fails to hide. The moment she turns to face him however, he will notice something different about her as well. While she hasn't changed overmuch, her tiara is markedly absent from her possessions.]

Keith? [Though any sign of relief is quickly dashed by the words that leave his mouth. She has to struggle with herself not to look back at the pretender of her father and barely succeeds.] I- see. That will be difficult, considering it-

[The shade speaks again, with honeyed words that drip like poison. She wishes it would stop.]

... Why wouldn't I? You are our leader, but more importantly, a dear friend. [One she should have not been so hard on, the shade may be right about that much at least. Yet if what Keith says is true, then saying so would be acknowledging it and granting it more power. Perhaps when this is over and they have the opportunity to speak without its influence clawing at her.]

Yet its very nature is more dream than reality. [How else would the shade know of Lotor and her actions since she had to destroy the container that held her father's memories? Yet it also begs another question:] Before- [-it showed up-] -I ran into Shiro, he looked as he had decaphoebs ago. How is that possible?

lol(s7 spoilers)

[thermalwind]

This of this reality as outside our flow of time. We can come from any point in our timeline but return to where we left off. ...I was from the end of the battle of Naxzela when I first got here. Lance from about the same. We've all been here except you. This is the first time I've met you here.

[He missed her. The team feels incomplete without her around. He looks away. He hides it well, but there's no way to completely hide the pain in his voice.] Shiro has been and gone several times. He arrived the first time from just after he reclaimed his bayard from Zarkon. He never sticks around long.

Pidge is from around the same timeframe. Hunk was ...before that. He didn't even know I'm Galra. I had to tell him.

oh look, i did with the other royal! (sob) (s7 spoilers)

[diplomacycheck]

[She listens, taking in what he said. He doesn't often mince words, and in this instance, it's appreciated. One thing stands out to her.]

Naxzela...? [That was so long ago, and from his appearance, it has been for him as well. He had still been with the Blades full time back then. She clasps her hands in front of her to keep herself from fidgeting.] That would explain why none of us have noticed one another missing. It has been- quite some time since we reclaimed that entire sector of the known universe.

[And now it is likely undone, with how the rebel sectors and the Blades have been... She pushes the thought aside. Now was not the time. Along with the news the others have come and gone from this place (how many are here now? she wonders- Pidge is likely still here from how he said it, Lance too, but Hunk-) and with how he turns from her...

She regards him; concerned. He's had it rough in another reality and she never knew.] I'm sorry, Keith. This must be hard on you. [All of them appearing and then disappearing; Shiro especially. How can she help?]

double rainbows

[thegoofball]

[He's not expecting to see a familiar face - isn't quite sure he wants to, with everything that happens here. Enso is dangerous in a way space never was, and he wants his team, his family, to be safe. They deserve peace, not...everything this is.

But it's not like he's the one making that choice.]

Allura?

[It's not like it could be anyone but the Blue Paladin, stopping Lance in his tracks.]

Allura!

[Don't mind him picking back up, crossing the sands in a sprint. A part of him knows this isn't quite real - this is just another dream, but this dream could mean-]

You're here!

[diplomacycheck]

[She realizes this is just a dream, yet she dared not hope she would see any of the rest of Voltron. Yet the sight of her close friend and his smile.] Lance?

[Allura smiles back. She nearly drops her helmet atop the small creature slowly making its way to the sea. Instead, she carefully steps over it then rushes to meet him halfway.]

Lance!

[thegoofball]

[It's time for a big time movie reunion hug and Lance is more than here for it. He's not ready for Allura to crush his spine, but he's ready for the hug.]

I can't believe you're here!

[He's missed her - of course he's missed her, but he had never thought she'd actually be here.]

double rainbooooow

[promiselisting]

[ Somewhere up near the treeline, there's a startled yelp at her call. Followed by the crash of something falling or scampering at least, kicking up sand as they do.

Nope nope nope abort mission abort mission.

Futaba may be trying to hide behind... something. A rock. A tree. But she's not stealthy in normal Futaba form and that mane of hair is. Distinctive. Even in this lighting. ]

what does it meeeean?

[diplomacycheck]

[Allura looks toward the tree line, concerned. She cautiously approaches; cautious so that she doesn't step on any of the marvelous turtles (they're so beautiful ok). When she notices the head of orange hair behind a rock, she offers her hand.]

I'm terribly sorry if I startled you. I won't hurt you.

[promiselisting]

[ noooooo allura don't come closerrrrr ]

There's nobody here!

[ she shuffles a bit. Further behind the rock. This is surely a foolproof plan. ]

face from the past

[ladytakamaki]

[ keith? she knows keith--ah. she must be from his home. and the armor...

oh. oh! ]

Hey, [ ann approaches her slowly, not wanting to startle her while she's so upset. ann has a pretty good idea of what's going on. her voice is soft in quality but hopefully loud enough in volume so allura hears her approaching. ] hey, it's okay.

You must be...Allura, right?

[diplomacycheck]

[She nearly started to hug herself when she hears another voice call out. One that is completely unfamiliar, and yet.... knows her name? She wants to argue that it is not okay, but curiosity gets the better of her.]

Yes, but how...? [How do you know her name, miss?]

[ladytakamaki]

Keith's told me about you before. And I kind of assumed from the armor.

[ context clues, etc. ] I'm Ann. And I promise that whatever you're seeing right now isn't real.

[ maybe she already knew that. in any case, ann is here to help. ]

Rainbow

[pidgeypidge]

Are you real?

[Probably not the sort of greeting Allura is expecting, but it's the one she's going to get. At least for now.

And there's Pidge, just sort of staring up at her a short distance away. Her eyes are wide and her mouth is agape, as though she wants to say something else but she can't quite make up her mind about it.

On the one hand, it's nice to see a familiar (and friendly) face. But on the other, Hunk wasn't real. But she'd eventually realized that the real Hunk would never say those things to her. And it had helped.

Still, that doesn't mean it can't be happening again.]

[diplomacycheck]

[Allura blinks. What..?] Of course I am real, Pidge. Why wouldn't I be?

[Yet Pidge looks as though she has seen a ghost. It boggles her mind. Give her a few hours, and she'll see why; thanks Mu, she hates it.]

[pidgeypidge]

Oh. [Of course she realizes how that probably sounds, but after everything she feels like she needs to ask. To make sure.]

Sorry. I've never seen you here before, so I wasn't sure.

[She seems real, and as far as she knows, people have only been seeing people who've been here before.]

It's a long story.