aftr_ooc | TEST DRIVE MEME ( 017 )

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*test drive meme

TEST DRIVE MEME ( 017 )

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

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[He has never revealed any of the scars that stayed since the flowers tore up his insides as they grew and grew feeding on his lies to himself and to others. A tickle in the throat is something to fear and he hasn't talked about any of it. The idea reminds him of the pain of the flowers and the helplessness as Lance struggled to live. Kravitz sought to help.

And Pidge vanished, all of his world crumbling to pieces. It reminds him of still waters that didn't even ripple when a child was thrust out over them. Of the flames on the beach and the sounds of a bloody siege in the pitch black.

How...could he talk about it? They need to know what dangers they could face. But not...not about how they sometimes chase him from sleep. How watery light makes him freeze for a moment.

All of that is just something to live through. He takes a step towards her when she pauses and her eyes widen. She lurches towards him and grabs his hand. He folds both of his over hers in a protective cage. The shade can't have her.]

I know. [Will he see her when he wakes up? Or will he wake up with vague fragments of a dream? He meets her eyes with a quiet fire reflected back at her. Not with anger, just the steady determination to endure despite how much the rest of the world wants to take from him.] I know you'll always be here to support me. I can't tell you how much that means to me.

[He draws one hand away from hers to place it lightly over his own heart.] Even if you're not here. You're right here.

[He tugs his sleeve back down over the scarring that looks so much like Shiro's. He hasn't told him about that. One day he will. When he's ready to. Because that includes talking about Bliss and who shattered his fake blissful dream.]

It was a sickness called Overgrowth. It didn't act like a normal illness. It grew because of the lies we tell all the time to hide how we feel. The people who first got it...were sending the afflicted to the island of Umui. We caught it when we found their bones. I was among the first to get sick.

Flowers grew out of us. A lot of people died but the dead don't stay dead. There's just a price for it. Pidge couldn't tell lies. Lance couldn't talk at all.

[Allura gently squeezes the hand beneath hers. She is slowly starting to realize how much it does; for the longest time, she felt she could only fully confide in Coran until she slowly opened up to the others. They all mean so much to her, are her family now. Yet it also did not go unnoticed how much he hesitated to say goodbye to Krolia, however temporary it might be, or how no one was there to greet him, Hunk or Shiro when they finally reached Earth beyond Iverson.

Nor how close he'd come to breaking when they nearly lost Shiro once again.

The anger slowly burns away in her gaze, concern and worry lingering in the ashes. Despite herself, a small smile crosses her lips.] Yet it can't be easy to bear that burden alone physically.

[Her tone says enough; he won't have to. Keith has grown so much, despite or perhaps because of the horrors he has faced. And thanks to Lance, she realizes so much of that may have been faced alone. Somehow, that thought stings just a little more than the apparition's scathing comments to her.

Her free hand rests over theirs; a shield for a protective cage. The shade won't have her. Nor will the hospital bed she'll inevitably wake in. Not today; not knowing what she now does of her fellow Paladins' plights here without a leg to stand on. She loosens her grip slightly to let his escape to pull his sleeve down. She wants to know more about what caused the haunted look in his gaze, wants to help make it right, but she pushed him far too hard before. She won't do so again.

So instead, she listens to what he will say. She tries to imagine the flowers where the familiar outlines of Shiro's first prosthetic are marred into Keith's skin. It both makes her heart ache and confounds her that such a disease exists.

Pidge died. Lance died-] Again? [Allura says to herself under her breath. It's like a hot knife twists between her ribs before she realizes that she said that aloud.

Quiznack.]

What? [His memory serves up Lance leaning against him with a prominent floral scent that does nothing to hide the scent of blood and poison. His friend's usual cadence had been broken up by wracking coughs as the petals choked him while they stole his life.

Another memory flows in, the empty cottage where his friends had been. He'd stood alone with the blood on the wind and no amount of searching yielded anything. His eyes widen as the bottom drops out of his world.

Shiro's voice from his memories echoes back as if he's standing within the timeless expanse of the Black Lion's consciousness once more. I died, Keith.

His hands open and he stares at her. He'd seen Lance. His mouth moves.] I saw him before I went to bed. He's in a hospital gown. He told me you freed the Earth from the Galra. And I was shown a glimpse of the future. You all were there. We were heading towards an assault on Galra bases on Earth.

How.

[He stares down at their hands and closes his back over hers as he grits his teeth.] He's fine now. Isn't he? He's okay, right?

[Keith looks up at her with a plead in his eyes. Please. Don't let them lose another friend.]

Yes, he is fine now. [She is quick to assure him, her hands grasping Keith's just that little tighter. She hates herself that she accidentally stated that one word the shade behind her spoke.

'He died again, and this time you could not bring him back. You weren't there, daughter.'

They were as fine as they can be, considering the circumstances surrounding their latest memories. Lance had found her earlier, and told her they wake up in a Garrison hospital. Yet this-]

It happened not long before you returned to us with your mother, Romelle, and Kosmo. The Fire of Purification attacked a Galra outpost that shields a supply planet from constant radiation belt assaults. We were attempting to repair the solar shields when...

[Suddenly, whatever the shade said no longer mattered. She was back in Red's cockpit, holding an unresponsive Lance in her arms. Their armor unable to disguise the scent of electrical burns.]

The plate we repaired shorted out. He tackled me out of the way, but Red was not fast enough for him to escape as well. I'd made it to his side in time that my alchemy could bring him back.

[He'd saved her, and she'd saved him in turn.] None of the others know, and I am sorry this is the way you had to learn this.

[He didn't need to have this on his shoulders as well.]

It's...Better I know now. Rather than this coming up later. That happens here sometimes. [He feels a stab of guilt that he hadn't been there. But what is done is done. He watches her face.] I can handle any news you have or anything else you want to share.

But we should get moving. There's a lot to tell you about the dangers and what to expect. ...it's not all bad. I raised a firebird from a hatching. Seen the turtles with the rainbow patterned shells yet?

[His eyes brighten up, and he reaches for the lantern at his side. Bright light spills forth as he twists the top. The liquid inside sloshes around casting its radiance all around them.]

They should still be at the beach.

[She too feels a stab of guilt, for an entirely different reason as she watches his face in turn. She hadn't meant to share what she did, but he is their leader. Allura trusts him with that and knowing his own limits.] Before I do, you mentioned your last memories from our reality were of Naxzela when you first arrived. What is the last you recall now?

[There is roughly a span of eighteen of their earth "months" between when he returned with the scar on his face and the last she recalls. A lot transpired in that span of time.

Though all thought of that leaves for a brief second as slight confusion writes itself all over her face. She blinks.] A fire...bird? [Oh, noooo.] Lance tried to describe birds to Coran and I, but I fear he did not do them justice.

[It's probably a rather large hint as to what she last recalls likely lining up with what Lance does now.] Is that what they're called? [Referring to the turtles.]

Yeah. Well, they're sea turtles. You can tell by the shape of their feet. I'll show you.

[He draws her with him as he back steps towards the trail. Lance had had a turtle friend for a while. If he still had a sketchbook he'd draw them. Maybe...maybe he should sketch again. It would be a good way to deal with nights he's chased from sleep.]

What did Lance tell you about birds? ...a Firebird is an earth legend. They symbolize things like rebirth, new beginnings, reincarnation, and renewal. Firebird is their descriptor. We call them Phoenix.

[Right, his memories. That would be a good idea to tell her too.] The last thing I remember is we were planning to go home and Shiro passed out after you transferred his soul. Lance told me bits and pieces that the glimpses of the future I saw in a campfire didn't tell me.

Anyway, regular birds come in all shapes and sizes. Some are really small and could fit in your hand. Others are huge and you can see their shadow when they soar overhead. They all have feathers and a hard mouth called a beak. I...probably better sketch it out for you.

[An owl hoots overhead and he shifts, turning his head. He recognizes the owl made of plants. He points to it.] One of the birds of prey, they hunt down other living things and eat them. That's an owl. Because it's this reality they're weird and made of plants. I'm not sure what they eat.

[She nods and follows him to the trail and onward. She ponders in the meanwhile what she could do to help alleviate some of the stress on the black paladin. Ordinarily she would leave it to Hunk, but he isn't here, and she has a feeling asking Shiro directly may not be the best idea. Hm... He hadn't been that bad of an artist during that shared dream experience of Bob. Perhaps she could-

Oh. Right.] Winged creatures with claws for feet and beaks of varying sizes. Some are flightless. I have since seen a few and I can tell you that it was not what I had envisioned when I asked him what a chicken was in private.

[And considering he continued to shout the word during Pictation, she was most curious indeed. She listens to Keith's explanations, utterly fascinated. It shows in how her eyes brighten slightly, yet Allura pauses before asking:] Have you come up with a name for them yet, Keith? I know you were waiting for Kosmo to tell you his name.

[Completely. Innocent. Question. No really, she is honestly curious despite the slight amusement in her gaze.] That would mean 1.5 of your Earth years in difference. [Roughly fifteen to sixteen phoebs. Keith points up and her gaze follows, eyes widening slightly at the sight of the owl. Oh, wow.]

I wish I could have seen more of your Earth creatures. [She almost sounds sad.] Sendak and the Fire of Purification invaded and occupied Earth, and we were immediately brought to the Garrison. Between helping the Holts search Sendak's memories for weaknesses in his tactics and modifying a new arm for Shiro...

[She sighs.] There wasn't the time when we needed to save Earth from the same fate as Altea. The last I recall is that we succeeded.

[He keeps guiding her but his mind races. Sendak. He's gone toe to toe with him before and so had Lotor. Of all the Generals of Zarkon he's the least surprised that Sendak would turn towards Earth and hit it.

As surprised as he is that Allura helped build Shiro a new arm. He nods, clearly listening as he guides her through the forest.] It's alright. It just means we can show you our creatures ourselves.

...we succeeded that's half of the battle right there. And I didn't come up with Ember's name. I asked him what he wanted to be called and he dropped an ember from the fire in front of me.

[Wait. His brain catches up and he visibly perks up.] Wait. Did. Did he tell me his name? Is that why you said Kosmo?

That is true, I suppose. [She immediately brushes the thought aside, smiling faintly at the idea. Perhaps when they all awaken, or whatever similar creatures exist in this dream world -- like the plant!owl Keith pointed out to her earlier.

Allura thinks of pointing out something glaringly obvious to Keith before he perks up.]

Ah yes. Now that you mention it, I do recall you saying as much when Hunk asked if he had one yet. [Her smile turns a bit sheepish.] Hunk also suggested "Kosmo" and your wolf companion immediately latched on to it.

Ember is a lovely name, though. He chose well.

...maybe I should have suggested names to him. [Well, he latched onto one. That's something. Kosmo it is. Keith nods as they clear the forest and he steps onto warm sand.

It shouldn't be warm in this strange nighttime but this is Mu. The rules are skewed in this dream based reflection of reality. Keith glances back and the water beyond the shore is alive with colorful patterns as the sea turtles swim on by.]

Here we are. Take a look. We have a lot of bad things happen here but, just as many good ones. They're called sea turtles. The variety here...pretty cool, right?

Perhaps. ...Did you ever ask him to point at something? [He didn't have the luxury of being able to understand Kosmo the way she did with Platt, Chulatt, Plachu, and Chuchule. It was an easy way to communicate instead. Pointing with his nose or pawing. He is a smart cosmic wolf; he'd understand.

Her jaw sets as they step out of the forest. It's been easier to ignore it, the shade, but the presence persists. An exhale, and the tension leaves her as she follows Keith's gaze and to the brilliant display of colors beneath the waves.]

They're amazing, especially when the sunlight hits their shells just so. [It had been just further down the beach that Shiro had found her. That reminds her of something she should probably discuss with Keith.] Should I awaken with you all, is there anything you've shared you'd rather I didn't mention to the others?

[It's probably obvious what she means; he'd never told them how he got the scar on his right cheek.]

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TEST DRIVE MEME ( 017 )

cw: body horror, character death (s7 spoilers)

cw: body horror, character death (s7 spoilers)

cw: body horror, character death (s7 spoilers)

cw: body horror, character death (s7 spoilers)

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