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]

[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.]