aftr_ooc | TEST DRIVE MEME ( 021 )

Test Drive Meme #21

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.

In conjunction with our monthly Test Drive Meme, Reserves are now open! Applications will open on March 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.

Come to Ink Of It
Mu is a strange land, and one that seems to take a conscious interest in the activities conducted upon the waking world. This month, its fixation takes an almost childish delight in emulating the ink-spattered wars and hazing that have occured on Ensō's shores - which is to say, Mu would absolutely enjoy a charming little game of Splatoon.

When you wake, it's in a labyrinth of soft, stonelike material that manages to be the rough consistency of foam. If you take the time to inspect it, you'll discover that it's as good at cushioning blows as it is serving as adequate cover...and it appears to have been shaped into plenty of buildings and barricades, threaded throughout the cavernous room in which you've found yourself. In fact, the whole place looks very much like a battlefield of some kind.

In case you didn't get the picture, the paint gun in your hands should give you an inkling. Colors may be up to personal preference, but the rules are simple - solo, in a team, or as a double agent, your goal is to paint the town red, or blue, or purple, until victory is tasted in the form of aesthetic domination.

Do keep in mind, however, that battle cries may be a double-edged sword in this scenario. Unless you wanted green teeth.

I AM THE SHADOW, THE TRUE

-looks at smudged writing on hand-

...SHELF

What's more trouble than the true manifestation of all your darkest fears, desires, and secrets? The manifestation of all of the above that's just - not very well-made. In order for a shadow, a true self, to appear, one really should know themself somewhat consciously. Of course, this also applies true to the world in which they're standing; an effort Mu is willing to make, but not quite hitting the mark.

And by "not quite hitting the mark," we mean egregiously.

"Shadows" are an off-brand simulation of what one might expect during a typical shadow event, though their attempts at acting like the character they should be are closer to emulating the opposite. Whether based upon a looser definition of canon, a fanon-style iteration of what your character might have been in worse hands, or simply going in a direction that veers into the territory of edgy Harry Potter OCs, your "Shadow" is here, and ready to be a nuisance.

Unlike ordinary Shadows, a "Shadow" cannot be accepted and dissipate as one would hope. Respite from these garish versions of who you really are will come only upon waking. So until then, enjoy attempting to explain just what, precisely, is dogging your every step, and probably refusing to shut up all the while. Though granted, if they share any of your powers - grossly magnified or otherwise - you might be grappling with them in far more ways than one.

A Bug's Eye View
The lush, verdant shores and the peaceful population of newly-arrived island of Cahypdo have been noticeably present on the minds of the islanders lately. Mu has shifted to reflect those thoughts, but as with many things Mu reflects, things have become a little...skewed. For, you see, the native inhabitants of Cahypdo are the Roaka, and as tree-people, they tower over much of the current inhabitants. They range from six to twelve feet in height, generally, but it seems that their heights have left a....very marked impression.

The Roaka certainly tower over you now, even more than before - but so does everything else. Wherever you find yourself in the verdant, fertile valley that houses much of Cahypdo's plantlife - whether it's rich jungles or well-tended farmland - you'll be met with the same undeniable height difference.

Trees are dizzying heights to be scaled the same way a mountain might. Blades of grass and colourful flowers you might once have trodden on without a second thought are like a forest unto themselves. And the fields of crops you might have known from the waking world, like sweetcorn, peas, and tomatoes? Even a single ear of corn or a solitary tomato is now a much, much larger obstacle.

Just pray you don't run into any of the native creatures here, as even ordinary beasts can become potential dangers when they're all the size of giants relative to you, and can stamp you to jelly without so much as a second glance. Snaplings might regard you as a tasty little snack, tigerlilies might think you make for a fun little toy, and worst of all, the native Cahypdo entities known as hydrac, warped hybrids of sharks and dragons, might very well decide that you'd be a fine addition to their hoards.

There's a lot to look out for, when you're this small and the world is this big.

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh, hi!

[At least this one seems friendly? So Niko will be friendly too in return.]

It's nice to meet you... and, um, I'd like to be friends with you both too!

[The other Niko rolls it's eyes and makes a gagging motion behind Niko's back.]

[Asriel wants to gag too. His doppelganger is way too cutesy. The doppelganger just beams at the two children.]

Oh, we're already all best friends forever! Even though I don't know your names yet! I'm best friends with everybody and everything~

[Asriel isn't even paying attention to the other children in front of him. He growls at his doppelganger, who just smiles.]

I am not like this.

Yes, you are! You're a perfectly sweet innocent dumpling who could never hurt anyone! All those people you killed... they all...

[And the real Asriel shoves his doppelganger, knocking him to the ground. He looks furious - and ready to jump on top of his doppelganger and start beating him to death, if someone doesn't stop him.

The doppelganger just laughs cheerfully.]

[Killed...? Niko doesn't get too long to worry about those words when Asriel shoves his copy down and starts beating him up, which causes Niko to run forward to try to break it up, grabbing the real Asriel's arm here.]

Please, don't hurt him! I don't want you guys to fight and get in trouble!

[The other Niko, however, is absolutely laughing and cheering them on here, chanting "fight, fight, fight!"]

[Asriel growls at Niko when they grab his arm, while his doppelganger continues laughing and laughing. It looks no worse for wear, but it isn't fighting back. The real Asriel tries to pull his arm free of Niko's grip and go for another punch, but something about them grabbing his arm is making him hesitate.

His arm shakes in their grip instead, then his whole body, and then he's crying, big, messy tears. He suddenly stops fighting back, his whole body deflating like someone's let all the air out of him. He sits over his doppelganger, trying desperately not to cry and failing miserably.]

[The doppelganger says cheerfully, to Niko:] See? He couldn't hurt a Whimsun! He's just a sweet, innocent baby, like me!

[Asriel snaps at him, although his voice is quiet and strained:] Shut the hell up.

[Oh no, now they're crying... Niko awkwardly offers a slight hug from where they are holding their arm to keep them from attacking the other Asriel, unsure of what to do here. When the other Asriel speaks however, Niko turns their attention back to them.]

Hey, please stop saying stuff like that already! You're upsetting him!

[The other Asriel just smiles at Niko and Asriel, as if they're enjoying Asriel's suffering. Asriel reaches up with his free arm and wipes his eyes, taking a deep breath.

This gross parody of himself isn't real, he reminds himself. He's thought worse things every day.

He doesn't get up from where Niko is hugging him. He leans into the hug instead.]

T-thank you.

[The other Asriel looks disappointed. But, before he can speak, Asriel speaks first, turning towards Niko.]

Sorry you had to see that. What's your name?

[It's easier to focus on the Asriel hugging him than the other one, so Niko will do just that.]

My name's Niko! What's yours?

[He smiles, even though there's still tears in his eyes.] Niko. That's a cute name.

My name's Asriel. Asriel Dreemurr.

[The doppelganger looks offended for a moment. He narrows his eyes at Niko and Asriel before returning to his usual smile.

You're just going to be friends now? Golly, how adorable! But it won't last! We both know what you're really like! Why don't you be friends with me instead, Niko? I'm everything Asriel should have been!

[Asriel tries to ignore him, but a frown comes to his face as he looks at Niko.]

You know... you know what this doppelganger is saying... it's not real. Right, Niko?

Edited 2019-03-24 23:56 (UTC)

... Right. [They think? They're not honestly sure, but...] I said I would be friends with both of you, but they're being mean now, so I don't think I want to be friends with them anymore until they start being nicer to you too.

[The truth is that he has killed people, but that feels like too much to confess. Nobody would want to be friends with him ever again if they knew that. So he only nods and says:] I wouldn't want to be friends with him either.

[The other Asriel's smile fades.] I'm not a meanie. I'm just speaking the truth. What happened to you, Asriel? You used to be so honest - why, what would your mother think?

[Asriel continues ignoring the doppelganger and stands up, the better to ignore the doppelganger. He looks down at Niko, smiling a somewhat awkward smile.]

But I want to be your friend too, Niko. You seem like you have a really kind heart.

[He looks toward Niko's doppelganger.]

Um, I'm not so sure about them though...

[Niko's doppelganger, for their part, has been rather quiet, watching this whole exchange with an unreadable expression now. It's kind of uncomfortable the way they're staring, actually, as Niko frowns.]

To be honest, I'm not really sure what to think of them either. But I want to believe that they're capable of being a good person too?

[It's the reason why Niko hasn't tried to ditch them somewhere, despite the swearing and misbehaving they were doing before.]

[Asriel smiles at that, a genuine smile.] You remind me a lot of some friends of mine. They always believed in the good in everyone too.

[He looks back down at his own doppelganger, still smiling.] Maybe you're capable of being a good person too.

[The doppelganger blinks.] Oh, but I am a good person. [They smile a strange, distorted smile, a smile that he doesn't even look like he's capable of making. His mouth and eyes become black empty voids.] It's you that...

[Asriel goes back to ignoring him.] Well, we'll work on it.

[Niko smiles too, despite Asriel's copy still being kind of a jerk.]

Yeah. And since we're friends now, we can help each other out too. So if you need anything, just let me know!

[Asriel beams. That sounds... really, really nice. He's happy he's made a friend today.]

Alright, Niko. I'll do that.

And thank you. You really helped me a lot today.

Oh, you're welcome! I'm really glad that we got to meet you! Right?

[This is directed to the doppelganger, who only stares before opening their mouth and--]

FUCK IT, I'M OUTTA HERE

[And there they go, running off. Um...]

... I'll, uh, work on getting them to stop talking like that too.

[But in the meantime Niko should probably go after them.]

[Asriel stares at Niko's doppelganger, laughing as they run off.]

You should stop them from setting something on fire first. I'll, uh, work on mine too.

[Asriel's doppelganger glares at him.]

...No promises though.

Yeah, that too...

[Fire is bad... but Niko smiles and waves their sleeve at Asriel.]

Bye Asriel! I hope we see each other again soon!

[And then Niko is taking off after their doppelganger to make sure that they stay out of trouble.]

TEST DRIVE MEME ( 021 )

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wrap up the thread?

sure that's fine with me

thanks for the threads <3 they were fun!

agreed! thanks for threading with me!