TEST DRIVE MEME ( 018 )

[lifeaftr_mods]

Test Drive Meme #18

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 December 17th! Due to the holiday season, Applications will be opening on December 26th, with an app period shifted to end on January 2nd instead of the usual timeframe!

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.

Upsy Wars: Revenge of the Lift
Over the past sixteen months, adventurers have adjusted to the sight of a wide variety of odd and fantastical creatures, some friendlier than others. Of the more ferocious, it's wise to consider giving them a wide berth - from the indomitable fustercluck to living black holes to the deadly contagious quartzalcoatls. However, only one predator has gained the dubious title of "that weird flying mouth thing."

Invasive to LifeAftr, Upsy the elevator is not satisfied with haunting the memories of those who encountered it during its arrival in July. Now it's here to haunt your dreams, too! While capable of speech and some style of sentience on its home world, it seems LifeAftr has yet to agree with a machine that is equal parts flesh and metal. Driven to silence by whatever forces this world has exposed it to, Upsy is driven by one, basic instinct, and one alone.

To give you a lift, whether you want it or not. Upsy’s attacks are abrupt and immediate. Swooping down from the sky, it will collect as many living things in its mouth as can fit, before closing its doors and soaring away. Want to leave? Don't worry; Upsy has no intentions of keeping you, or digesting you. Release from that fleshy mouth prison is as immediate as the initial attack. We hope you enjoy flying, because Upsy can spit even the heaviest of creatures a good hundred feet away from itself, at any altitude. Do look out below.

The Emoji Movie
Communication on the islands currently consists of Stones of Far Speech, a relatively adaptable system that is open to requests and suggestions for improvement. One such request has been met with a small bout of confusion, however; as adaptable as the Storyteller attempts to be, you kids with your mobile phones and your texting and emojis get a little beyond them, sometimes.

Beyond Mu as well, it seems. When you asked for emojis, this is what you wanted, right? Exclusive to Mu, Emojees come in a variety of shapes and sizes; from knee-high yellow orbs with rows of sharp teeth that simply cannot stop laughing, to horse-sized poop emojees that - well. One can guess. Numbering in the hundreds and intending to convey their meaning by any means possible, it's a good idea to avoid prolonged contact with these happy little abominations.

The taller, more objective emojees will simply try to absorb those attached to them in an effort to become even larger, but the smaller infect their prey with the emotions they portray, influencing them into the perfect emotional state for consumption.

In hindsight, this is probably not what the children actually wanted...

Close enough.

Let It Go Snow
LifeAftr may be primarily tropical, but that doesn't mean some of its creatures don't appreciate a good white Christmas - and a white rest of the year, at that.

Gelfs are one such species. While they may be visually reminiscent of Santa's Little Helpers, these small creatures aren't about to start handing out presents. Having snuck onto Mu's metaphysical shores at the beginning of the month, these little critters have immediately set about doing what they do best - spreading ice and snow across the island, in increasingly hazardous quantities. As the influence of the gelfs settles across Mu, it's quite possible that the abrupt cold snap will lead to severe consequences for any adventurous guests, unless you enjoy the prospect of an avalanche waiting to happen Now may be the best time to hunt these gelfs down, before such disaster can occur.

For those uninterested in massacring a local creature population (again), you may as well enjoy this winter wonderland while it lasts. Ice skating, snowball fights - and for those in the know, the time-honored competition to create the best dabbing ice sculpture. If you're lucky, you might even find a container of piping hot wassail - spiced apple cider - laying around.

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LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

it all leads back down to vore

[warpstriking]

Yeah. [No, no he's not. Physically? Yes. Emotionally? There's definitely a lump in his throat and his voice betrays him with that.] Physically, anyway.

[Which is... a lot more than he could say when they last saw one another and neither was in a spectral form. He reaches for her, almost as if expecting his hand to go through her or that she'd disappear. Instead, his fingertips brush against her hand before he takes it in his own.

His breath hitches, only for a split second before he gently tugs her toward him to wrap his arms around her, if she'll allow it.]

You're here. [She's really here.]

that's just how it be

[coincollection]

[Well, that calls his certainty into question. But who is Lunafreya to blame him? She can't...

She knows so much, about his future, about what's in store for all of them, she's seen it all and...

And she's glad to see him.

She squeezes his hand, lets herself get pulled into a hug.]

I am. Wherever here is.

[Asides from the inside of a strangely fleshy elevator.]

yup

[warpstriking]

[Noctis wraps his arms around her then, smiling faintly. She's real. She's here. That matters more than anything else right now, even this circumstance they find themselves in.]

You mean aside from this strange elevator with a vore fetish?

[It's a joke, and yet... it somehow rings a c c u r a t e.]

It's the island of Mu - a sort of in-between place that reflects parts of the islands I'm currently on. First time running into this thing, though.

[He means Upsy.]

sighs

[coincollection]

[Vore fetish-? Well, she supposes the monstrosity that scoops them up probably counts as a vore fetishist, whatever that is, but the statement is so absurd and unexpected it startles a rather undignified laugh out of her.]

I'm afraid I don't know quite what you mean - [You think she was allowed regular access to the internet to learn all of this terrible shit?]

But it sounds like the sort of place fitting for me.

[There's a wryness to her smile. It's a vague statement, but telling enough - this is a woman who knows what's happened to her physical body, but the demands of the Oracle go beyond flesh and bone.]

ilu? ❤️

[warpstriking]

[... Okay, he can't help the chuckle escaping him at that. He squeezes slightly before pulling back just a little bit.]

No, no it isn't. You deserve a lot better than this thi-

[Just like that, Upsy thinks their destination is at hand. And they both get spat out by the fleshy elevator. Noctis' eyes widen slightly and he holds onto her with one arm; he's technically beneath her as they're spat out, considering his back was still turned to the...doors...

He doesn't even think about what he's about to do. He summons his father's sword and throws it with his free arm just as they're about to land. They both warp away, and while the blow isn't nearly as bad... Noctis still lands on his back.

Owie. Well, at least Luna's fall was cushioned.]

hmmmm....

[coincollection]

[Well.

This is happening. She's having a nice moment with her fiance and then they're being spat out by the vore fetishist (???) elevator and the moment is ruined.

Which is, perhaps, for the better. It's not much of a moment when you're cramped up with nowhere to go, possibly going to be eaten alive. At least she's not the one landing on her ass, and there's worse things to land on than Noctis, but...

Still. This is happening.

She takes a moment to breathe, before pushing herself up and looking down at Noctis. She hovers for a moment, before a wry smile cuts across her face.]

Enjoy your trip?

[warpstriking]

[This is a thing that is and has happened, now. He lies there for a moment, a teensy bit winded.

Noctis looks up at her, a tiny amount of color on his face before he notices how soaked they are in the creature's spit. He blinks, and when the words leave her mouth... This entire ordeal is so absurd, he can't help it; he laughs.]

Yeah. Could've had a better fall. [He smiles back up at her, hands lingering on her sides.] You?

[coincollection]

[Things are absolutely ridiculous right now. Lunafreya feels disgusting and is sure she looks absolutely disheveled right now, but...

The absurdity of things just makes them feel all the more real. None of this is something she could have imagined in all of her wildest dreams. (Perhaps she never allowed herself to dream big enough, too focused on making sure things went the way they were supposed to.) But if she didn't dream it up, it must be something...real.

None of it feels real, but it's too bizarre to be just a dream. A world between, Noctis had said.]

I don't know, I rather liked the fall. Or at least the landing.

[Hopefully she comes out on the other side, with him.]

[warpstriking]

[At least she's not the only one who's absolutely a mess right now. He watches the realization dawn in her eyes and smiles. Yep, this is actually happening, honey. Welcome to Mu. The place where everything's made up and the slime doesn't matter.

Well, much. Noctis calms down enough to offer a white towel from the armiger. Well, at least that didn't get coated in gross elevator saliva. He drapes it over her head.]

Landing wasn't half bad. [He'll admit that much. ...He is going to be doomed if she or the guys find out he doesn't mind being on the bottom. He can tell already. But even with the spit, it's not that bad a view.

He could stare into those eyes forever.]

[coincollection]

[This is one of the stranger welcomings she's had, but also one of the best. Funny how that works.

She takes the towel with a grateful smile, finally pushing herself up and over so she's not so much laying on Noctis as she is sitting on the ground. She just wants to get as much of this gross...vore saliva as she can.]

I've suffered much worse.

[It's okay being a bottom bitch, Noctis. Sometimes you just need to accept that.]

But this place is...truly real, isn't it? This is happening.

[warpstriking]

[True, it could have been worse. His uncle could have said hello.

Noctis sits up when she sits down beside him instead of on top of him. He pulls out a second one to try and clean himself off and hides his reaction to what she says. ....Yeah. He has no doubts about that. He was there when she died and he highly doubts being in imperial custody for twelve years did her any favors.

Also, rude. Not inaccurate, but rude.]

Yes. It is. [Just as real as the scars on his back and the slight headache he gets from being able to understand the Astrals, now. Something he knows will stop being a problem, and isn't one here.

It doesn't stop him from being concerned though.] Luna, [Oh boy, here we go.] What's the last thing you remember?

[coincollection]

[And that would have been terrible. That would have probably been the most unbearable thing, worse than Upsy.

Sometimes the truth hurts, Noctis. The truth hurts.

And that's the million dollar question. Lunafreya pauses, hands going still, before she lets out a sigh.]

I know it sounds impossible - that it should not be so - but the last thing I remember is your fight with... [The Accursed.] That man. Ten years out of the Crystal.

[It should not be possible, but Lunafreya is as bound to her duty as Noctis is. The Oracle's purpose, mission, goes beyond her death. She was there for him when she needed him, up til the very end.]

[warpstriking]

[There are few things worse than Upsy that he's come across here. One such thing is his retainers all having somehow befriended a certain someone with a love of fedoras and other terrible fashion choices.

Also he totally just thinks she's beautiful no matter the angle, sooo.

He also pauses. Ten years. He should be used to that fact with how many times the others have stated it, but...]

Not really. It's one of the first things both Ignis and Gladio told me when I woke up here.

[That it'd be ten years before they hear him again back home, or in Gladio's case, did see him. His voice almost sounds a little worn before he pushes the emotion down.] I'd just spoken to the Draconian when I woke up here.

[He knows, Luna. He knows what will happen if time resumes its normal pace for him.]

[coincollection]

[Well, that will certainly be...interesting, when it's time for that to come to light.

You're whipped and smitten, boy.

She is...glad, at least, that he knows, even as it pains her that he already knows how much time he has to wait in the Crystal. How much time he needs. So much of his life, wasted, all to just-

She doesn't want to think about it. Now is not the time to think of their future, when there are more pressing things to think about.]

So you already know everything laid out before you. [Her voice is soft, and she sighs.] But you're here, now. Both of us are.

And it seems we're not the only ones here, yes? Your retainers are here as well?

[She's glad he hasn't been here alone, but that leaves a more pressing question - how long have they all been here?]

[warpstriking]

[It... certainly will be. He's still digesting that thought along with how another him started it. (Ignis wouldn't lie to him; that much he's certain of.)

Well, he can't argue that point.]

Yeah. May I? [Noctis sits up fully, and if permission's given, he reaches up to help her wipe off more of the saliva.]

We are. So are Ignis, Gladio, Prompto, and- [Well, there's no getting around it.] ...Ardyn. It's already over for him, but... the others are trying to find another way.

[If they wake up remembering this place, that is. He isn't entirely sure it's possible, considering he's apparently been here twice before.] Apparently Nyx Ulric was here before, but he's gone. None of them have seen or heard of anyone else from Eos arriving here.

[...Heard being an important factor, there. Considering.]

[coincollection]

[There's too many things happening for all of it to make sense - so one thing at a time. For now, Lunafreya is just going to focus on what's most immediate, most solid.

It's lucky for her that thing is someone she actually wants to see.]

Of course.

[Like she'd say no to his help. She does, at least, feel a little bit more preventable, even as he lists off everyone from their home who's here as well.

Her fingers curl, not quite into fists, but she has a hard time appearing unaffected.]

I see. Perhaps...that is the key. The world cannot change because of the actions of one of you.

[She manages to keep her voice steady, and of course she knows who - what - Ardyn is.

But that doesn't mean she wants to see her murderer any time soon - and, gods, Nyx had been here as well? But he was gone? It would have been good to see him again, but...

It seems that's not in the cards.]

So everyone is trying to find a way around the prophecy...?

[Focusing on that is better than focusing on all the people lost to them. Perhaps it's not what she should focus on, but...

If Noctis can live, she wants to help.]