TEST DRIVE MEME ( 019 )

[lifeaftr_mods]

Test Drive Meme #19

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 January 17th, and Applications on January 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.

Let's Be Heroes
Back in December on the recent island of Maati, the Trial of the Brave was intended to challenge those who approached life with hesitation; the timid, the uncertain, and those who trend too easily toward inaction. Mu, of course, has a habit of neglecting the finer details. And thus...here you are, whether you need the intended lesson or not.

Armed with nothing more than a torch, a short sword, and the clothes on your back, you're sure to enjoy the scenic view of labyrinthine stone walls, low-hanging ceilings, sharp corners hiding all sorts of secrets, and a thick, foreboding darkness. Your light, and the torches of others making their way through the dark, are the only breaks in the seemingly uniform dark.

Those and the lights of the eyes of the other things down here with you, of course. Hidden throughout the maze are scattered innumerable creatures, all of them happy to take advantage of those wandering about on their own. Nighthooks are fiendish, shadowy monsters that appear in the shape of a long-fingered hand. While they cannot physically hurt anything, they specialize in slinking out of the darkness to snuff out any light source they can find...like your torch, for example. Also abundand are the grimlings, hulking, dog-like creatures composed of a seaweed-like blackness and glowing coals for eyes. Should you come across one, several more are bound to be nearby, as they travel in packs. And they are always hungry.

For those lucky enough not to stumble across these creatures? Enjoy your stumble through the dark. There's an exit around here somewhere, if you look hard enough. Probably.

The Waiting Game
The second trial Mu has appropriated is the Trial of the Patient. This test was named for those who exhibit the very antithesis of patience, initially intended to draw in the brash, the reckless, those easily incited into action, and so on. Instead of a dark and lengthy maze, Mu has instead concocted a brightly lit room to test your patience, and lack thereof.

So you should have no trouble at all seeing the entirety of the expansive, gaping void that stretches between you and the only way out.

Stranded on a singular ledge, the space in which you wake is white and seemingly infinite. No ceilings or walls are visible, and peering over the edge of the small platform reveals no flooring below to catch you. The only distinct characteristics to this room are the door opposite you, positioned some couple hundred feet away. There's nothing for you to grab or cling to in order to make your way over there faster. In fact, nothing else seems to help, either. Flight, teleportation, gadgets, you name it - each attempt will inevitably fail, and give you just enough time to contemplate all the ways you went wrong as you go plummeting down (or is it up?) into that endless void. What a shame. Luckily for you, this dream is happy to give you a second chance! And a third, and a fourth...and however many it takes, really. Those who fall will, just as the initial adrenaline shock starts to run out, abruptly find themselves standing right back on the platform where they started. Once again, they'll find themselves staring at that infuriating, impossible-to-reach door. Seems like you may be stuck where you are, for the time being.

We say "for the time being," because the other distinct attribute of this loosely defined room is a second platform, drifting steadily from the doorway to your position. Once it reaches you, you'll be able to climb aboard, and be safely ferried across the room to the exit you so greatly desire. Once it reaches you. Once it...well, it seems to be taking some time. A few minutes. An hour. Something in that ballpark, maybe. Got a good book on you? No? Guess you'll have to find some other way to wile away the time.

You, and whoever else you happen to be stuck with.

Water Rising
The island of Ensō is a relatively flat island, aside from a lone, steep mountain to the north. Mu is less so. It tends to mold itself to whatever shape best suits it, and in this case? It has chosen Ensō. And so that is where you find yourself - positioned at the base of its mountain, no less, only several feet up the beginnings of its slope. Unfortunately, there's not much time to take in the new scenery. Stretched out along the island's coast is a beach of glittering white sand. Further inland, the green sprawl of a jungle blots the horizon. But there's also plenty of ocean. And therein lies the problem.

Creeping through the treelines and rapidly pooling about the mountain's base, said ocean levels are rising quickly. Very quickly. Those who wish to stay and enjoy the view of an island underwater are welcome to it. For everyone else, the only other option is the obvious one: to climb.

To climb very, very quickly. As luck would have it, the rising waters aren't the only danger present. Those too slow to escape its wrath will surely drown, but the higher up you go, the thinner the air becomes, and the more searing the heat. To the west, a crop of dangerous creatures known as lungblossoms claim the wooded thickets that offer reprieve from the intense and unrelenting rays of dream-sun. A confrontation with these living plants may expose you to hallucinogenic spores fit to fill your senses with horrific, nightmarish visions, so tread lightly...but not slowly.

At the mountain's very peak, an empty temple awaits those who can make it to the end of this terrible and impromptu gauntlet. It will provide shade and a space for the exhausted survivors to congregate. Tend to yourself and others, if you like- or head back out to locate those who haven't had such luck in reaching this haven.

---

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

akira (protag) persona 5 ota

[phantomtrick]

lets be heroes

[ For some reason it's like there's monsters in every corner of the room. Akira isn't sure what to do at first. He finds himself running down the hall, almost in a panic. This definitely isn't the first time he's seen a monster and it's not going to be the last either. These creatures are different from the ones he's used to and it makes him nervous. Akira arms himself with a sword and throws it at the next thing that moves. ]

Stop right there.

[ Is it a friend or another monster? He can't tell in this light. ]

waiting game


[ Akira's not a person who's known for his patience. People think he can do many things but being a man of virtue is not one of them. He clicks his tongue together in irritation, feeling rage fill his body.]

This must be a joke. Are you kidding me?

[ It's completely ridiculous. There's no way he can just keep waiting like this. By now he's started talking out loud to keep himself distracted from all of this. Everything's so white. He feels like he's about to drop dead from it.]

[feelinglikeaghost]

[ he certainly looks like a monster, with his floating skull and flaming (literally!) pink hair wafting in a cold breeze. Everything screams menacing-- except a golden heart that thrums rhythmically on his chest. Eye points that pierce through the darkness land on the human with a sword and for a moment--

..no. It isn't him. His shoulders seem to drop just a bit.

A low growl hums out of him, and he pulls the sword from the wall that Akira threw it to, and throws it back at him. Don't throw pointy objects, man. You could actually hurt someone!!! ]

[phantomtrick]

[ Akira jumps back in a defensive stance. He's still on guard, feeling pensive and tense. His eyes narrow with suspison when the sword drops. ]

Who are you? I can only take a guess.

[ He shrugs and then sighs. ]

akira.......

[ladytakamaki]

[ god. even in her dreams, she can't escape the trials--at least she hopes this is a dream, after all. truth be told, ann is afraid. there's something about these monsters that's so much more menacing than the shadows back in the metaverse. she's scared, and she can't even find the courage she needs to summon carmen like she should.

she happens to be running in...some direction, when she suddenly feels something land a few feet in front of her. she pauses, thinking it could be a monster. immediately she pulls out her sword... ]

...Akira? Akira!

oops

[phantomtrick]

[ He hears Ann calling out his name with desperation. Akira takes in a deep breath and grumbles. ]

Ann? Let's stay together, I need you.

[ She someone he can proudly call a friend and an ally. To find her here is nothing more than a stroke of luck. His expression softens as he approaches her.]

this got cute real fast

[ladytakamaki]

[ she starts to see his figure, and at first, ann questions if he's real. she's been subjected to so many hallucinations of people from her past and her present that it's so, so hard to distinguish between what's real and what isn't. but she reaches out and gently presses a hand to his shoulder.

her eyes widen. akira is real. she feels tears forming at the edges of her eyes as she leans in and hugs him tight. screw the monsters; they can wait. ]

Akira... You're--you're here!

aw ann

[phantomtrick]

[ ....? He tilts his head in confusion. Akira isn't sure how to react at first. This is a little odd without explanation, but he accepts it and pats Ann on the shoulder. ]

I'm here. You look like you've seen a ghost. Are you okay?

[ Seems like she's been through a lot and he feels sympathy for her. ]

[ladytakamaki]

Ugh, it's been months since I last saw you! Just let me have this, okay?!

[ typical ann. she's sniffling though as he pats her shoulder, and she pulls away after a few moments, wiping her eyes. it's hard to see in a place as dim as this, but it definitely looks like she's been through a lot here, what with all the battle scars. it's fine. ]

Sorry, I'm...I'm fine now. Anyway... Are you okay?

[phantomtrick]

... Wait, months? How strange.

[ Akira backs off a bit, trying to be considerate and give her space. It's like he never knows what to say in these kinds of situations. What he does know is that Ann is a tough girl and she'll be able to pull through somehow. His thoughts trail off somewhere when she asks how he's doing. ]

I'm not too badly hurt, if that's what your asking.

[ He thinks he's the same as always, but what does he know?]

[ladytakamaki]

Yeah. It's a long story--time basically works different here than back at home, but I can explain to you later. I'm just glad you aren't hurt.

[ something shifts behind them. ann narrows her eyes and grips her sword again, holding her torch out again. ]

Hang on. I think we've got company.

[phantomtrick]

The only thing hurt is my dignity...

[ Akira's just joking around as usual. He can't help it. Ann is a friend and he feels comfortable laughing like this. All the jokes stop when she pulls out a torch. His eyes are stern as he peers into the distance with caution. ]

I'm guessing that they aren't here to shower us with flowers. Okay, let's watch ourselves.

waiting game

[thermalwind]

...of course Mu would twist it like this. [The man standing on the platform with Akira is tall, his dark hair spilling down his back in a long ponytail. His armor is futuristic with lines of violet that cast a faint violet light. He frowns at the platform slowly making its way to the other side and sighs.]

Sit down. Ask me questions about what’s going on. We’ll pass the time that way.

[He drops down and folds his legs under him.] Or you can stare at the platform and go nuts. Your choice.

[phantomtrick]

[ No, no no he's sitting down and doing nothing because it's going to drive him insane. Akira ruffles his hair and shakes his head. He sits on his knees at the suggestion. ]

Yeah, sure. Why is this place like a prison? Is this normal?

[ Probably not but he's asking anyways.]

[thermalwind]

[Keith shakes his head. He shifts a little. He can’t sit still. Not in absolute white.] It’s not. It was an island before. Mu changes to reflect the events of the reality it’s tied to.

[He spreads his hands apart and glances towards the second platform. It has barely cleared the other side.]

Last month we were put through trials to better us as people. Not by choice. Mu has to be reflecting that and like it always does it isn’t entirely true to reality. This reminds me of the trial of the patient. It’s about as annoying.

[Keith stands up and pulls a knife from his belt. He hurls it into the void with one smooth movement. The blade vanishes and appears above them. He catches it by the hilt before it can hit the ground.]

No death counter this time. Or our names on the stone.

[phantomtrick]

Sounds rough.

[Akira squints a bit and adjusts his glasses slightly. ]

I can't say I know too much about any of this. Doesn't it seem wrong to you? These circumstances are extreme.

[Trials to make people better individuals?? They don't have a say in this? Akira's thinking about how terrible it is. ]

[thermalwind]

That's because they are. I don't think the greater beings on these islands really understand anything outside their own perspectives. The, I guess, aspect of judgment only understands things within their scope.

[He turns the blade in his hands until the light runs down the dark metal.]

They get what we need to temper ourselves but not how to achieve that. Or that forcing the issue isn't going to help. People can't be forced.

[phantomtrick]

I'm starting to dislike that already and I just got here a while ago.

[Akira scratches his ears, feeling restless. ]

Hypothetically speaking, what's the worst thing that can happen in this place?

[Color him curious because he feels the need to ask. He imagines that it's something brutal. ]

cw: mentions of body horror

[thermalwind]

[He looks away for a moment and glances at his right hand.]

Well, I actually don't know. I can tell up the worse that's happened was a sickness called Overgrowth. It gets inside you and takes root based on what you aren't 'emotionally honest' about.

You either confess to those things or the flowers grow inside you. When it reaches your head it's, [He grimaces and his face drains a little of color. It still makes him ill to think about it.] let's just say you die in a bad way.

That's not the only instance of our heads being messed with. There's a long list.

waiting game

[vorpalstrike]

Tell me about it.

[ If there's anything else in this damn void to take his mind of the waiting, Kirito would gladly do it. Thankfully he wasn't the one forced to break the awkward silence when he ended up on this platform with Akira right here. ]

It's like a build up to a boss fight or something, but it's just silence and awkwardness instead.

[phantomtrick]

[ Akira walks up to Kirito and clenches his fist. ]

This is such a huge waste of time. I can't be standing here so mindlessly..

[He lets out a long irritated sigh. ]

It's hard to write this off as a joke. It's not even funny.

[vorpalstrike]

Yeah, can't disagree with you right there.

[ Though, he can at least sympathize with how unsettled Akira is, since well, a lot of shit had happened in a short burst of time and now they're in this weird place so.

YEAH. ]

But hey, at least you didn't just wake up here while falling from a tower. Long story.

[phantomtrick]

...? A tower? That can't happen without you hitting your head and being miserable.

[ Akira's first impression of Kirito: maybe this guy has brain damage somewhere and he should be concerned. The tension from his body leaves as it's now replaced with just worry.]

Tell me about it.

[vorpalstrike]

[ There's a dry laugh from Kirito, at least he's not offended about that. ]

I'm kind of known for being a hard head from my circle of friends.

[ But he shrugs, and continues on anyways. ]

Me and a friend were kind of sneaking into an off-limits tower to save another friend, only for a kind-of disaster to happen and causing me to be thrown off. It's... well, not great.

But hey, I'll take cold solid ground than falling any day of my life.

[phantomtrick]

You must have a thick head if you survived that.

[Akira thinks it might actually be a good thing?? If Kirito wasn't as hard headed it may have gone badly.]

Well I'm just glad you're alright. So that guy you mentioned....your friend? Is he here?

[ What happened to that? ]

[vorpalstrike]

Well, that was the last thing I remembered, so I guess I can add Thick Head to my list of skills now.

[ well. he's been smarter, so. ]

I don't think so, but knowing him, he can handle himself pretty well on his own, so I trust him to be doing good by himself.

[ Beat. ]

Yeah! I'd like to think this day can only go up, since things have gone so pear-shaped I'd think if it goes on it'd be an apple then.

[ Gotta be a postive! Or he'll probably break into pieces if he's given time to process. ]