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

Noctis Lucis Caelum | FFXV

[warpstriking]

Double Rainbows Across the Sea...
[Well, this wasn't what he'd been expecting when he got pulled into the Crystal. He has no idea how long he's been there, or how long it will be. Yet seeing an unfamiliar beach when he opens his eyes? Which god was toying with him this time, he wondered? Likely wasn't going to find any answers just lying around, either.

Noctis sighs, moving to his feet. Well, this would be a nice place to fish. He'll give them that. His hand itched to test the waters here, so to speak. Yet he pauses when he sees the plethora of colors reflected beneath the almost clear waves.]

Wow, [He exclaims.] Awesome.

[Noctis Lucis Caelum: CXIVth of his line and completely and utterly enamored by sea life. ...He may also be wondering if they'd mind him getting closer or if they'd flee at his presence. He's very tempted to jump in and check it out.]

Of all the things they left out of Eos...
[He was no stranger to linear paths through the wilds. Well, not nearly as much as he had been months ago. Being wanted by an entire Empire had its advantages, he guesses. Though there's something about this tropical forest that feels... different.

Orignarily he'd chalk it up to just him having grown paranoid in yet another linear maze, one far more different than this one, but he could have sworn that bush they past by had eyes...]

What? [He looks back, but the moment he does; they're gone. Huh. That's weird.] Could have sworn I saw-

[... Those sure are roots that just shot out of the ground where he'd been standing only seconds ago.] Sonova- [He lurches back, bluish white sparks lingering as he makes some distance, holding in his hand some sort of glowing red orb. When in doubt, kill with fire, right? That's what he's thinking. Too bad all his very limited quantity of spell grenades are area of effect. He doesn't want to think what it'd do to the surrounding jungle.]

Can't Say He Didn't Warn You, Noct
[He'd grown way too used to ignoring this particular voice. It had nagged at him for hours on end before, egging him on to a point there was no return from until Astrals knew when. That's when it changed on him; turned into the voice he wants to hear so desperately, and he knew if he turned to face whatever entity it was, he'd regret it.

'Dear Noctis.'

His heart aches; feet feeling heavier with every step he takes away from her voice. Noctis wants so much to turn around and wrap his arms around her, yet it can't be her. It can't be Luna. Why not, his heart asks him, but he has no answer. Only a longing to see her again; to listen to her voice and hold her in his arms.

'Come with me. We can see the sylleblossoms together, as we did as children.']

You mean the ones the Empire burned as a reprisal for Ravus's betrayal? Along with the manor and the village? [He remembers the scent of smoke, the child crying into their grandmother's lap stating she wanted to go back to a home that no longer existed. The word of Pryna's death alongside the woman this shade pretended to be.] No. I can't join you yet. I will not abandon our people to the dark.

[He only wishes that the real Lunafreya Nox Fleuret would have survived to see dawn's light once again.]

[witty pun about mimics here]

[scourgingstars]

Get off, I am nowhere near in the mood for this—

[Well, someone didn’t seem to care all that much for the risk of using fire in the jungle. Ardyn was having trouble with a carnivorous bush of his own, or he was until he called up a small burst of flames with a snap of his fingers. Meh, too low-level a Fire spell to damage much. Probably.]

[Looking thoroughly inconvenienced in a way very unlike him, Ardyn straightened out his hat and dusted off his coat, frowning at the scorched ground where the mimicry had been.]

[...Weird, he could have sworn he heard someone familiar just now.]

[annoyed response that includes another witty pun about mimics here]

[warpstriking]

That makes two of us— [Wait, what? He knows that voice. It would be hard not to, with how much of a thorn in his side makes you wiggle and writhe he’d been. His eyes narrow at the glimpse of a fire spell not far off; likely just further down the path.

Just as he feels vines wrap around his ankles. Screw potential forest fires.] Get. Off—

[Well, that sure is another weak fire spell to join yours, Ardyn. How does that make you feel? Because he may or may not be highly irritated.]

[scourgingstars]

[as a matter of fact he doesn’t like it!]

[But once he was reasonably out of range of the creeping vines, Ardyn tossed a dagger into the nearest tree and moved from ground to branch in a trail of magenta sparks. Surely he hadn’t just heard who he thought he did, right?]

[warpstriking]

[Then, again, makes two of them!!

Noctis follows suit with his sword, noting the magenta sparks going in one direction and leaving blue going the other. Surprise, Uncle. It wasn't the wind. As though it were much of a surprise with the particular fire spell that still left embers in its wake.]

One has to wonder in a mimic vs mimicry battle will they try to mimic each other?

[thermalwind]

[A low lupine growl rolls through the air as something vast and blue leaps at the bush. It's followed by a knife slamming into the target and flaring with purple light. The creature is pinned between a blue wolf's paw and the black sword with a glowing sigil on the hilt.]

Come on back. At least it isn't a damn tree this time.

[A voice says out of the dark. A black hand wraps around the sword's hilt and the light through the trees moves revealing black and grey armor lit by violet markings. The man's gaze shifts to the red orb as he jams his blade deeper into the struggling mimicry.]

If you want a shot at it we'll fall back and let you finish this.

That would be a sight. Neither one quite knowing which form to choose...

[warpstriking]

[...A teleporting wolf. That's blue] Now I've seen everything.

[Well, not everything; though it makes him miss Umbra something fierce. He places the fire grenade back in his pocket(?; who really knows where it goes) in favor of the sword in his right hand.]

That would have been something, though. [Right out of a faerie tale, too; the tree, that is. He throws the sword, disappearing for a split second before reappearing where the sword strikes: right beside the man and strange wolf.] Get back.

[He shoves the orb into the mimicry's mouth and jumps back with similar blue sparks left behind. Countdown to the damn thing exploding in three, two...]

Just swapping forms back and forth. Like boggarts!

[thermalwind]

Fire in the hole! [Better to warn anyone around. Wash might hear it and come straight here to see what dumbass is blowing something up.

Not him, this time.

Keith wraps his arm around his wolf and the pair of them vanish in a burst of blue light. Both parties are teleporters. That's interesting.

They appear at the stranger's side. Keith braces himself and the wolf lays down, ears going flat.]

OK wow easy there HP nerd

[warpstriking]

[Noctis warps back with them the moment they disappear; there's only a few possible places that aren't tree branches that will be from a safe radius before it-

Aaaand that is fire shooting out of the holes they made in the bush!mimicry's body. It almost looks like it's farting from two different places as it shrieks and burns.

He really wishes his phone worked. Getting a shot of this would be priceless.]

Not bad.

you literally asked for this

[thegoofball]

[A little known - or perhaps little believed - fact about Lance? He's incredibly observant. He knows immediately there's something off about the bushes, that they're not just plants. Maybe at first it's just paranoia, but...

Nope. He sees the mimicry's attack, and he takes aim. Maybe it's over kill, but...

A sniper round to the gut should take care of it until this guy can get to safety.]

You might want to get back!

i did indeed

[warpstriking]

Better idea.

[He shoves that odd glowing ball into the mimicry's maw, then throws his sword to a nearby tree branch. It connects, and he disappears in a trail of blue sparks while shouting:] FIRE IN THE HOLE

[...About .5 seconds before the mimicry shrieks as it's burned alive from the inside. Also just as flames shoot out through the hole Lance left in the fake bush.

Again, he wishes his phone worked so he could take a selfie for this beautiful moment.]

[thegoofball]

[Well, there were definitely fires in some holes right then and there.

Lance takes a moment to be impressed, before he transforms his bayard back and steps closer to the stranger.]

Neat trick.

[Which part? Who knows.]

[warpstriking]

Which part? The fire of the warp?

[Yes, stroke his ego, Lance. He needs it after getting repeatedly kicked while down.]

Not so bad a trick yourself. [He saw that weapon transformation thing. Huh.]

[Rainbows]

[want_to_belong]

[Ah, this was a sight that brought back memories. Prompto was naturally drawn to the rainbow sea, ready to find that perfect shot.

What he found was much, much more.

So reminiscent of Cape Caem, he spotted an all too familiar figure near the shore. His feet moved before his mind did. With quick, distinct steps he ran up behind Noct.]

Noct!

[But there was an unusual pause. His eyes darted to each side, looking for anyone else. After the last apparitions, he was afraid this would be another trick, another fake Noct who might hurt him, and he wanted to make sure he wasn't the only one who could see him. But no one else was there.

He couldn't hold himself back. Even if it might kill him, he ran forward and lunged at Noct.]

[quietly dying]

[warpstriking]

[At first he didn't hear the footsteps over the sound of the waves crashing against the shoreline. Then he hears his name being called and he stands up just a little straighter and he turns to the source of the voice.

He'd know that voice anywhere.] Prompto!

[He almost warps into him instead, but then he's suddenly flat on his back. With a certain photog nerd on top of him. Congrats, Prom. You aren't dead. Just have a very surprised and confused king on your hands.

Or, well, under... Details.]

[want_to_belong]

[Iggy and Gladio were great. Really. He loved them. But nothing replaced having Noct around. He'd been both with them and at the same time so alone in some ways. All he ever really wanted was to have him buddy back.

How long had it been? He wasn't sure. Iggy would probably know how many days. He just knew it was too long.

Pushing himself up, he rolled off of Noct and tried to play it cool, rubbing his nose with the back of his hand.]

Sorry. Just haven't seen you in a bit.

You're real, right? Really real? You're not a dream?

[warpstriking]

[He'll agree that Iggy and Gladio are great; the best at what they do, even. Though no one is the best friend like Prompto is.

He's more than a little relieved to roll in the opposite direction, and dust himself off of sand when back on his feet.]

I think so. At least, that bruise might be.

[When in doubt: dry humor? It's always worked before.]

Double Rainbows Across the Sea...

[shatteredlenses]

[The first clue that Ignis gets that he's not longer on the islets is that he wakes up pain free for the first time in weeks. The darkness he lives in is darker too without the magenta glow that has lit it recently. Not the islets, then. Nor Enso. Nor Eos.

Mu.

Considering the strange dream world was responsible for his death and the deaths of so many others not long ago, he's understandably not happy to be here. He has only a few moments to ponder why he's been brought so suddenly after many months of being spared the honor and then a familiar voice makes his heart skip a beat. Painfully.

It was a specter of Noctis who had led him to his death, while another had dogged Prompto's steps during the same time. Who is to say this is not a repeat of the same thing?

Well, perhaps there is one way to figure out.

Ignis raises a hand and reaches out for the magic that has been denied him for the last few months and can't help but smile when the familiar warmth of his Regroup spell washes over him.

Considering Noctis is close enough for Ignis to hear him, the advisor won't be surprised if his friend feels the spell as well, a familiar pull amongst the unknown surrounding him.]

[slightly louder dying]

[warpstriking]

[He feels that pull; and he'd know it anywhere. Noctis follows it without thinking, surprise unseen yet written all over his face as the world refocuses and he turns his head to see the face he knew would be at the end of that magical tie.]

Iggy?

[The nickname leaves his lips before he thinks about it. As does his footsteps sound just a little louder with how they crunch in the sand as he turns to face him better. He hadn't expected to feel that tug out of combat, and he doesn't notice anything that might be a sign of danger.

Yet. Great, now he's gonna be worried about that.]

Now now, no dying. You've only just arrived! ;-P

[shatteredlenses]

The one and only unless you've been hanging out with another 'Iggy' I need to know about.

[The joke sounds a little flat to Ignis in hindsight considering the idea of there being multiple versions of themselves in existence is something they've had to consider for too much since arriving here. He masks his discomfort by moving carefully in the direction of Noctis' voice, holding out a hand in welcome as he does.]

We've missed you. Are you well?

[There is no pain in his king's voice and that is a relief. It is also missing the tiredness that weighed down the voice of the older Noctis who was here most recently, the one who was from farther forward in time than even Ardyn. When is he from then? Before going into the Crystal? After Altissia most certainly as he's not reacted in shock to the scars upon Ignis face, but that still leaves a lot of time it could be.

Perhaps that doesn't really matter. After all, he's here and he's safe. Once more their little family is complete.]

Tell that to the Voltron cast, holy shit—

[warpstriking]

No, just you.

[Perhaps in hindsight to him, but to Noctis it only earns a confused raising of an eyebrow. He's the only Ignis he's ever known, and while there is a slight hint of tiredness in his voice; it's not nearly as prolific as it will be in a decade's time.

He takes the offered hand in his own; his right hand, which still bears the Ring upon it. Perhaps it is as good as any way to tell him precisely when he is from, despite not quite knowing yet that can be a thing. Just wait, Noct; you have a lovely family reunion waiting for you.]

Yeah. [As well as he can be, considering the circumstances.] How long?

[Has he been here without him? Been in this place? There's a lot of things those two words could mean, and still. He kind of means them all?]

Since when does Noct listen to warnings?

[piercetheheart]

((OOC: HI!! OMG NOCT!! I wanted to hit you up real quick but as I believe someone mentioned, wedding tomorrow! Should be back into the groove of things again on Monday~ <3 ))

[Gladio's only been here once, before he'd awoken on the islands proper. Seeing it again, now of all times, only makes him grit his teeth, furious at the avatar. He knows damn well Mu is only fucking with him because of everything that happened with Tory.

And to see Noctis, knowing full well that it was him that caused all the trouble for Ignis, the reason Iggy's been in so much pain... But it's not Noct's fault and, from the sound of it, Noct has his own troubles.

Gladio sighs heavily, lifts his hand to shove his hair back out of his face. It takes a moment for him to realize exactly what he's done before there's a soft relieved sound and he shoves both hands into his long hair, pulling free the braid Ignis had done for him.]

You won't... you don't. [He moves up to stand beside Noctis, settling a hand on his shoulder.] Sure make us wait a helluva long time, though.

Never. It was a trick question.

[warpstriking]

((ooc: HIIIII omg!! Sam mentioned it briefly, but yes; congrats! Take your time and enjoy <3 I'll be here.))

[Noctis was very much ready to keep moving forward the only way he knew how (keep walking) when he hears a familiar heavy sigh to his nine o'clock. He looks over just in time to see his Shield - older, likely wiser, and holy shit did he get beefier. He wasn't even sure that was possible, considering the last he saw him Gladio was already a moving mountain of muscle.

You don't. Meaning, he already knows. There's a brief flicker of something in his eyes before he shoves it down. No, not now. Not when whatever that thing wearing Luna's face will likely feed off it and fuel it to get him to go with her. The hand on his shoulder keeps him from turning back around to face it.]

What can I say? [It comes out a little more raw than he intends. 'I'm worth the wait.' dies on his lips before he says it, and he closes his mouth before he can utter them. Instead, he looks Gladio in the eye.] How long?

Noct don't you dare use Nyx's line :p

[piercetheheart]

[He squeezes Noctis' shoulder firmly, trying both to reassure himself that this is really his King. And for a moment all he can remember is the visions Mu forced upon them, Noctis' body slumped over his father's sword, cold under his hands in the harsh light of morning. He grits his teeth, sucks in a ragged breath... and then he's yanking Noctis towards him, pulling the smaller man into a tight embrace.]

Dunno if this is gonna last. [His voice is harsh for that admission and for a long moment all the Shield can do is just hold onto him.] Iggy said it doesn't, not always.

[Right. There's a question he's supposed to be answering. And if he's not arguing then does that mean this Noctis knows about the crystal? He finally lets Noctis breathe, at least, though he keeps a hand on his arm, unable to force himself to let go entirely.]

About 10 years... things get pretty rough. But we're working on figuring... I dunno something out here that we can take home.

He says it at the end of Episode Gladio, too! :p

[warpstriking]

[Noctis blinks, surprised for a moment because it's such a far cry from words laced with poison he's sadly gotten used to blocking out from one person. (Not her. Never her. She'd never try to get him to abandon his duty. It had been her calling to ensure he succeeded.) He doesn't even mind it's hard to breathe. It brings him back to what's actually happening; who's really here. His arms wrap around him, until the grip loosens.

Noctis looks up as he let go, determined to look his Shield in the eye undeterred by whatever the shade behind him says. Nothing could be worse than what Bahamut spoke of.]

He mentioned most new arrivals show up here first. [Not that it doesn't always last. Though to answer his question, all Gladio has to do is look at his right hand and to the Ring on his middle finger. That likely says enough of where he was before waking up in this dream.

His eyes widen slightly, not even realizing that he tries to take a step back until he feels Gladio's hand keeping him there.]

Ten years... [Damn. Just how many fall victim to the plague Ardyn became a harbinger of? Does he really want to think about that?] The Draconian just told me what I'll need to do.

[Need, not could. He wasn't given an alternative for what could be done instead.]