TEST DRIVE MEME ( 004 )

[lifeaftr_mods]

Test Drive Meme #4

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 October 17th and that Applications will open on October 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.

Gone Apeshit
The peaceful island upon which you've found yourself is pleasant enough, isn't it? Clear turquoise waters, white sand, verdant copses of trees...it might be a little on the humid side, sure, but what's not to love?

The answer will come in the form of some decidedly simian ululations and howls that will inevitably start echoing through the trees, paired with the occasional loud, firework-like bang of some weapon being fired. The beach itself is safe, or as safe as beaches can possibly be, but setting foot into the jungle proper will prompt immediate, firepower-based retaliation from the group of monkeys that have elected to live there.
That's right: monkeys. Monkeys wielding rudimentary technology, no less, the most prominent example of such being the cannon-like, primitive firearms that shoot coconuts at interlopers. While their precision is not excellent, a direct or indirect hit can cause incredibly serious injury. Sure, you could opt to stay on the sidelines...but without any resources on hand, your only remaining solution is to either risk starvation or exposure, or to confront the gun-toting monkeys directly.

A pity Jumpman isn't here, huh?

Motherclucker
Congratulations! After who knows however long you might have spent exploring this strange new land - be it hours or eons or days or mere minutes - you've finally stumbled across some resources that may be viable! You've encountered a flock of bludroc, their nests brimming with speckled eggs that would surely taste delicious sucked raw or fried on a stone.

Unfortunately, this is a rather vast flock of the creatures, and they do not part with their offspring easily. While they lend themselves easily to domestication, these bludroc are quite wild, and quite unwilling to be beset upon by complete strangers. So if you encroach upon their territory, beware...for you may find yourself set upon by an abundance of pecking, flapping, screeching, colorful creatures.

Tick Tock
Mu's world is a curious one, no doubt. Its creatures often bear a strange resemblance to those in the world of LifeAftr proper, but some fauna can be found on no other landscape, in no other context, besides the dreamlike dips and peaks that only Mu can emulate.

One of those creatures is the clockroach.

Today, they seem strangely intent on flocking around those who have crossed into the lands of Mu for the first time; the uninitiated of LifeAftr. Their shapes are indistinct, to start with, but the click-whisper of rustling, mothlike wings almost sounds like your name, being uttered over and over...and over...and over...

They have a curious look to start with, make no mistake. But the longer you look, the more those forms start to solidify into a shadow to mirror your own, devoid of color or feature, but unmistakably resembling your general shape. While their edges are softly blurred and out of focus, their forms rapidly begin to solidify the more you interact with them. Speaking to them, touching them, even acknowledging them by looking their way, failing to ignore them utterly, will gradually start to bring them into greater clarity and focus. They do not speak. They merely follow - a shadow of your very own, unattached and allowed sentience.
Once they're solid enough to touch, you'll begin to hear a sound. A low, repetitive tick-tick of a timepiece, moving ever closer to some unseen deadline with terrifying regularity. It starts quietly, at first, but begins to grow louder, louder, until it drowns out all else.

The apparition may soothe and speak all it likes, but the artificial dread worming in your heart refuses to be shucked away. Everything else is a shadow hostile, a creature mistrusted. The fog is a tripwire that will surely trap you; that person approaching from over that hill? Doubtless here to kill you, and see that your invisible clock winds to an end.

But that dark storm boiling in the shadow behind you? Surely that has nothing to do with it...

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LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[the_word_is]

[As much as she hopes for a peaceful resolution, she knows it's unlikely, knows there's going to be a fight. Something rushes towards her out of the darkness, and she dodges backwards, trying to avoid the strike. Insufficient. The knife grazes her left arm with the familiar sting of a shallow cut, but not enough to incapacitate her. Her time in the Box has only sharpened her skills, years of training just enhanced by the constant stress of survival.

Before the Box, Maka might have given this stranger the benefit of the doubt. She might have given them a second chance, stepped back and flared her soul as a warning and announced her intentions and the danger her attacker was in. But now... well, she can't exactly say anything anymore.

Her soul does flare out instinctively, energy gathering and building, a glow visible with sixth sense but also a shockwave of air pressure that whips at her short-cropped hair and the straps of her backpack and sends sand billowing into the air as it stirs the mist into swirls. She grits her teeth and slashes out with her own knife, aiming for her attacker's face. A shard of glass across the eyes will stop anything in its tracks.]

[achievementhunter]

[Their very first instinct, when face to fact with the enemy, is to duck. Sometimes, their height is a boon- an advantage in making themself a smaller target. They hear and feel the whistle of something thin and sharp over their head, mere inches from their scalp.

And their second thought, born from surprise and a short moment of processing, is that they recognize that SOUL. They had told her once that the colors of a SOUL had significant meaning. She had always made them think of JUSTICE.

Maka. They almost say her name aloud, but in the fog and mist, her presence is not a friendly apparition, but a danger. A trick to lower their guard, and LOVE bubbles in the back of their throat, disgusted at the guise this threat has decided to take.

She'll find some other kid, and forget about you.

You'll NEVER see her again.

Their own SOUL bursts from their chest, darting out to hover over an open palm. Bright, blood red- had she not told them, before? Red SOULs mean something different, in her world. Something terrible.

It's as ugly a distraction as they can provide, lunging at her with a feral hiss.]

[the_word_is]

[Red, bright and violent, and while Chara is right about it meaning something terrible, they're missing something important.

Maka Albarn has trained for years to kill terrible things.

The creature in front of her is small, child-sized, and she adjusts her stance, adjusts her movements and her aim to compensate for fighting someone close to her own height. Red is a warning sign, even though Maka should have learned by now not to go on first impressions. She doesn't have time for a more intense assessment of the soul in front of her, and the color alone paints a massive target sign.

So there's no hesitation, just a match to Chara's headlong rush. Or, not a match, not exactly. A rush and a dodge, sidestepping at the last second and slashing out at her opponent's side, then back behind them to aim a knee into a kidney.]

[achievementhunter]

[When they think of Maka, they don't necessarily think competent. It's a dire mistake to make, when their memories of her consist entirely of peaceful moments- conversations and quiet breakdowns. She'd taught them of the SOULs of her world. She had told them she was a fighter.

This is the first time that they can truly believe that, cemented and reinforced by a hot flash of pain in their side. They yell when her foot connects as well- they're well on their way to hitting the ground face first, throwing out their free hand to take the brunt of the impact.

And rolling away immediately, well aware that she has full advantage, with momentum an additional boon to her side.]

[the_word_is]

[She doesn't press the advantage. Her opponent is down and Maka backs up, putting space between them despite every instinct and the ticking in her head pushing her forward. She has caution in her now, a caution born of years of distorted perceptions and of having her hand forced by those in control. There's something going on, and so Maka stays her hand.]

[achievementhunter]

[It's a boon they aren't expecting- one that gives them the time they need to get to their feet and face her, ignoring the tear in their side. It's going to slow them down- a disadvantage.

They've fought under worse, if it comes back to that. But right now-]

Maka Albarn. It is you, correct?

[the_word_is]

[Her patience is rewarded with her name said in a stranger's voice. It's a new experience for Maka, especially since her memories of the Box are intact (she's not like TJ, gone and come back again).

A sharp nod, but no signs of being any less tense. Her grip doesn't so much as shift on her knife and her posture makes it clear she's ready to spring back into the fight if necessary.]

[achievementhunter]

[Not a confirmation they needed, but it has it's uses. She's listening, at least- not simply attacking outright. So they keep talking, holding their blade at the ready all the while.]

I take it from your SOUL that you are not simply a figment of the mist. In which case, I propose a draw.

I'll put down my weapon, if you put down yours.

[the_word_is]

[Another nod, and Maka slips her knife carefully into the deerskin sheath hidden in the pocket of her hoodie. There's no hesitation before the movement, just acceptance of the terms.

She does wait for the stranger to put their knife away before stepping closer with a sheepish sort of concern.]

Sorry [she signs, not really expecting understanding. Her whiteboard is buried inside her overstuffed backpack.] Are you okay?

[achievementhunter]

[...On second thought, this is precisely the lack of self-preservation they'd expect from her. Raising their brow upon her approach, it practically disappears beneath their fringe as she signs to them- that's new.

Which means she isn't who they think she is, after all.]

I'll live. Your arm?

[the_word_is]

[She grins, flashing a reassuring thumbs up, her movements and expressions just slightly bigger than Chara might expect. She's had way worse in spars with her friends.]

Your name?

[achievementhunter]

K-i-d-w-u-n. [They finger-spell it for her, first, before adding their name sign; the finger sign for k, tapped lightly against their chest.

The gesture is a little awkward- rusty, maybe.]

Are you out here alone?

[the_word_is]

[Maka almost wants to ask the most important question but she (somehow) resists.


for about three seconds.]

Is there a K-I-D-T-U?

[She doesn't know if the pun translates, but it's worth asking.]

[achievementhunter]

[Oh, they should've seen that one coming. Chara's lips pull into a well used smile, at this point- the very same they've adopted at every joke.

For all their Partner does well, names are really not one of them.]

K-I-T-T-U. My twin.

Our parents had a sense of humor too.

[the_word_is]

[Maka grins, amusement cutting straight through the nervousness and the uncomfortable background feeling of being watched.]

The Japanese for scythe is K-A-M-A

[Her name's a play on words too.

(Speaking of words, large portions of what Maka says is fingerspelled, actual signs interspersed at random. Her grammar is English too, instead of any sign language's grammar. She learned quickly, and out of necessity, and from someone who wasn't fluent himself.) ]

[achievementhunter]

[They have to snicker-

Even if they shouldn't know that, should they? They shouldn't know her weapon of choice, shouldn't know her name. If she winds up being one who stays for a long while, then this entire confrontation.

It's a mistake. Luckily, she's already given them the perfect prompt to move along, watching her face as they sign back to ensure she still understands everything they have to say.]

Your signing is a little rough. Maybe if we meet again, I can teach you more.

[the_word_is]

[She huffs, arms crossed dramatically as she pouts. She gets most of what Chara signs, but not all of it. Enough to know that she's being made fun of.]

[achievementhunter]

[Aww, sorry Maka. Was some of that lost in translation?]

I said I could teach you proper signage, should we meet again.

[the_word_is]

[If only it were an error in translation...]

It's fine. People can understand me.

[achievementhunter]

Less fine, if you're stuck in the middle of a fight.

[Finger signs are all well and good, until you don't have the time to use them.]

[the_word_is]

[A raised eyebrow and a slightly exaggerated incredulous look. What kind of fights do you think she gets into?

This girl is the type to solo the final boss.]

[achievementhunter]

[Excuse you, this is precisely why they want her to learn.

She'll absolutely get herself killed, otherwise.]

We'll discuss it later, if later ever happens.

For now, do you require any assistance?

[the_word_is]

[Oh, right, there's a threat, isn't there? It's not that Maka's forgotten, the bugs have just been in the background and less of a threat than the child in front of her.]

No

[Who knows what this child might do? Maka doesn't, and she's not going to turn her back.]

[achievementhunter]

Suit yourself.

[If that is all, then- they'll step away. Keeping their eyes trained on her own as they back off, not turning around until she is obscured from their vision by the mist- and they from her own.

Maka. If she comes here as well... that would be interesting, wouldn't it?

The complications never cease to amaze.]