TEST DRIVE MEME ( 001 )

[lifeaftr_mods]

Test Drive Meme #1

Hello, and welcome to our very first test drive! 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 July 17th and that Applications will open on July 24th, in preparation for the game’s official opening on August 3rd!

But first, two important notes!

1. The island of Mu 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.

Shipwrecked
The white sand of the beach ridges the island’s edge, even if the clear water soon becomes murky the further out you look across the horizon until the turquoise gleam of the tide disappears in a coil of surrounding fog. Indeed, your best prospects may very well be to strike out among the trees or the crags looming out over the foam-capped waves. There’s lumber to be found and made from the palm-like trees, potentially fruit or edible tubers of some kind if you forage about some. The further you travel, however, the more of your surroundings will reveal themselves in a steady unspooling of curiosities.

One corner of Mu’s current construct drops away into a sheer cliff, initially too dangerous to brave for all but the more daredevilish, but if one starts to scan the sharp rocks below, you might catch sight of what appears to be sodden planks of wood - a wreckage tossed up against the rocks. And a little further...a bobbing, shattered wreck of a lifeboat’s remains, potentially bearing supplies that might yet be salvageable.

Fashion what you can from the wood and stone around you or scavenge from the ruin of the land, if you like. But you can’t simply stand around and wait forever. It’s going to get dark sometime - and if a creature of unknown terror doesn’t catch you, the elements surely will.

Storytime

There’s a sense of camaraderie in this cove, you think. As the sun hangs low over the horizon, the world cast into orange hues, long shadows dispersed by roaring fires that dot across the beach.

That’s right, folks: it’s storytime.

There’s no one to preside over this meeting of the minds in Mu. Call it a vague recreation of things to come, if you like, some vaguely fatidic dreamlike state where you may find yourself drawn to the heat and company that awaits you by the fire. And from there, compelled to default to that old instinct that most of intelligent civilization has revered since they were advanced enough to paint geometric shapes on cave walls.

You tell a story.

Perhaps it’s a tragedy, a tale of woe and of personal loss. Perhaps it’s the sort of thing you’d break out after a few rounds of your alcoholic beverage of choice, clapping hands to your knees as you try to bite back your mirth long enough to spill the punchline. Perhaps it’s an adventure of some sort, some unbelievable rendition of your past exploits. The only common thread to be had, as those gathered around the fire share their tales, is the fundamental rule of a ritualistic sharing of stories such as this: its truth.

But how one chooses to define "truth" is, in its own way, another story entirely...

Dance, Sucker, Dance!
The beat of your heart in your chest is difficult to ignore. It judders with a pulsing, rhythmic quality. If you’re one of those that lacks a heart, the beat is still omnipresent and all-encompassing, until your entire body is unwittingly bobbing in time to a metronomic tune that seems ingrained into your very soul. It’s inescapable. You can’t seem to move unless it’s in time to the rhythm that’s now singing in every atom of your being.

But rest assured, you’re not alone in this musical curse. Everything, from the swaying trees to the waves against the beach, jumps in time to the music. And so do the monsters approaching you, that - wait a minute.

Monsters?

Oh, yes. Did we mention those?


It seems you’ve encountered the wrath of the Boogieman, who curses you to only dance to his infernal beat. If you wish to best him, you’ll have to either evade or destroy the blobs of greenish slime that serve as his minions, all in time to the hard beat of the tune in your head. Clear the radius of his curse or risk an open confrontation, if you dare. Don’t worry if you look foolish; chances are anyone else caught in the Boogieman’s thrall feels just the same.

Mu isn’t pulling any punches to start with. It is a flighty creation, after all, and seems to revel in displacing people into new and uncomfortable situations.

---

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[shatteredlenses]

"Later, then." That promise is all Ignis will ask for. As crazy as everything is there is no telling when later may come, but he knows it will come. That settled, he can allow his full attention to focus on their current status. As he listens to Prompto list off what he has with him, an amused smirk lifts the corner of his mouth for a moment.

"You may wish to write this down. For once, you are more prepared than I am," he gives Prompto's shoulder a squeeze and then pulls his arm back. Carefully, he shifts forward to his knees so he can sort out what he has with him. It's not much, even less since he and his jacket parted ways before he was brought here.

Amusingly enough, the first thing he finds in his pocket is his sunglasses. Somehow, the item of least use made it through everything that happened to him in Altissia. Ignis slides them onto his face and huffs something that might just maybe be a laugh, "Well, I'm sure they cover some of the scarring. Perhaps people won't run for the hills at the mere sight of me now."

If Prompto is going to use bad jokes to cover his true feelings, Ignis will too. He suspects the blonde will understand.

The next thing he pulls from his pocket are the keys to the Regalia. Okay, so maybe the sunglasses aren't the most useless thing after all. Ignis holds them out to Prompto with a soft jingle, before sliding them right back into the pocket they came from. The next pocket holds his smartphone. He shakes as much water off it as he can, frowning when he can feel what is either a crack or a scratch in the screen even though his gloves. There's not much hope it will still work. Even if it does, unless the voice to text option still works as well, it will be useless to him. He shakes his head and sets it near his knee before moving to check the status of one more thing.

Ah! Ignis actually finds it surprising that the small first aid kit he clipped to his belt before the rite started is still there. It's less surprising the amount of water that he pours out of the plastic case, but that doesn't phase him as he holds up the contents, completely sealed in plastic, "Whenever we see Gladio again remind me to tell him how wrong he was. Going above and beyond to protect certain things is not a waste of time and resources."

[want_to_belong]

"It's not the scars, Iggy, it's the sourpuss face," he joked back lightly, hoping that it wouldn't be too soon or hit too close to home. The guys knew that Ignis was a big softie, but if anyone looked at their group they would probably think he was the biggest grump. Prompto couldn't blame them. He'd been intimidated, too, when first getting to know Ignis. Smart, high class, always training, grim-looking. But Noct never treated him like he was scary, and in time it rubbed off on Prompto. He even learned that if he whined and complained Ignis would buckle sometimes, even when Gladio complained that he was 'too soft on them'.

Sometimes he wondered if Iggy knew he had resting bitchface syndrome. He did seem rather surprised when Prompto had caught a picture of him smiling and showed it off as a rarity later.

He waited while Ignis took inventory. It didn't look like much, until finally he pulled out the first aid kit. Definitely something they could use. "I'll let you do the honor of rubbing it in his face." He snorted. A second later he squeezed Ignis' leg slightly. "Hey, wait here a sec, I'll be right back."

It wasn't that he wanted to leave Ignis. On the contrary, he very much wanted to stick by his side. It was just that now that Iggy was there, he had a nagging worry that there could be more. He hopped up to his feet and went running around the beach to examine the water more closely, looking for any possible sign of life. He checked around rocks that were blocking his view and splashed along the low tide. No matter how hard he looked he didn't see anything else out there.

Hopefully they were safe somewhere. He couldn't search forever. If only he just knew what happened to them he would feel a lot better. He trudged back over to Ignis, bending over to hold one of his arms. "I don't see them out there anywhere. You okay to get up?"

[shatteredlenses]

Carefully as to not irritate his injured eyes, Ignis raises a slim eyebrow at Prompto, "Sourpuss face? Is that what they are calling calm expressions these days? It's not as if I just took a bite out of a lemon."

So, the answer is 'no.' Ignis does not, in fact, know he has resting bitchface syndrome. Apparently, there are things that escape even his attention.

When Prompto jumps up a few moments later, Ignis gives him a curious look, but nods his agreement to staying put. Where exactly would he go? While the blonde is gone, he takes the time to return his phone to his pocket and the first aid kit to his hip. Once his finishes, he starts slightly, wondering how he could have forgotten to check on one more very important thing.

Ignis peels his soaked gloves off and then slides his shirt sleeve up. A little feeling around confirms that the small dagger sheathed and strapped to his upper arm is still there. A quick check to his other arm confirms the matching one is also there. It's actually a relief to know he's not completely weaponless even though using them will be a lot more difficult without his vision.

He's sliding his wet gloves back on--better to wear them than to accidentally lose one while they are moving--when Prompto returns and explains what he's been up to. It's both disappointing and a relief that there is no sign of the others. As much as he would like to see Noctis and Gladio, Ignis isn't sure he wants them stuck in the same situation he and Prompto are.

"Yes, I believe I can stand now as long as I do it slowly. May I have your assistance?"

[want_to_belong]

Theory confirmed. Ignis had no idea. Maybe he could explain to him at a later date when he might be less sensitive about his looks. He didn't want to dwell on it too much right now.

Rather than making Ignis search for him when he got back, Prompto took his hands.

"Yeah, anytime." There was no way he was going to deny Ignis anything he asked for anytime soon. Probably wouldn't have even before he was injured. If Ignis asked for something, it generally meant he needed it.

There was a good size difference between the two, but Prompto wasn't a weakling. He planted his feet firmly on the ground and stayed steady for Ignis, letting him mostly pull himself up so that Prompto wouldn't yank him up too fast.

As soon as he got up, Prompto's hand immediately went to the small of his back, a hand on Ignis' arm. He'd been doing this for a few weeks and he might not have been perfect but he was getting pretty good at leading him right.

"Are you going to get sick? You can always sit down on the snowmobile. It's just a short walk from here." He added lightly, "Best seat in the house."

Only seat in the house.

[shatteredlenses]

Fortunately, Ignis is well aware of the size difference between them and is careful not to pull on Prompto anymore than necessary. He really needs the blonde for balance more than anything. As frustrating as it is going to be, there is no way he can rush his body as it learns to judge his position without sight to aid it.

Thanks to his slow movements, though, Ignis manages to make it to his feet without getting dizzy or having any nausea return. It may be a small victory, but he'll take it.

When Prompto moves to guide him in such a practiced way, Ignis is torn between being relieved to have the support without having to ask for it and being disturbed at how well seasoned the action is. It's one more piece of proof that Prompto has been helping Ignis with his disability even though Ignis himself cannot remember it.

Despite his conflicted emotions, Ignis gives Prompto a small smile, "I'm fine and I believe I will stay that way as long as we move slowly. Now that I'm up and moving, it may be nice to stay that way. Does this area seem like it would be a good place to hunt for supplies or should we move to a different area first?"

[want_to_belong]

"All right. Just let me know if I'm going too fast."

As they walked he surveyed their surroundings. This was more Gladio's territory, but he could fill in as best as he could. "There's the raft I floated in on. Maybe we can keep it somewhere to use later? There's a lot of trash around. Like, broken up old boats and stuff. And it looks like there's a lot of plant-life."

Unfortunately, he wouldn't be as good at identifying edibles as you-know-who, beyond the basics that were obvious.

"That's about all I can tell from here."

[shatteredlenses]

"You're doing just fine. Have a little more faith in yourself," Ignis' voice holds a quiet confidence meant to help bolster Prompto's belief in himself. His disability might keep him from being able to do most of the things he used to, but at least Ignis can still offer support through his words.

"Since the logs that made up the raft were sturdy enough to hold a snowmobile, it would be wise to salvage them if we can. They will be strong supports for a permanent shelter or a good start to some kind of protective fence depending on just how long they are," he pauses a moment to look inland before continuing. "For the moment, lets not worry about vegetation. If I could see, it would not be hard to determine what is edible and what isn't. Describing each plant in detail to me is something we don't have time for, especially when that time could be better spent searching boat wreckage for supplies or tools that have been left behind."

[want_to_belong]

"Thanks. I've been trying to learn to do it right."

Having a friend injured like that was still daunting, but he thought he was getting better at dealing with it. He took his time, and when he was able to touch Ignis' hand on the seat of the snowmobile and wait to be sure that the man was fine on his own, he took a step back.

"Okay, I'll go get the raft."

He kicked up some dirt as he made another dash towards the water. The raft had slid onto the shore but a high tide could still pull it away. There was some splashing as he stepped into the shallow water, and some grunting as he struggled to drag another heavy object onto the shore. Gladio would have been a huge help. He switched between pulling and pushing until he got it about as far as he thought he would for the moment. Moving the snowmobile, the raft and Ignis was all going to be too much. He'd have to leave some things behind and come back for it later, when they knew where they were going to use the raft.

When he came back to Ignis it was no secret. He was panting heavily, wiping the sweat off his brows and trudging along. He sounded like he was out of breath when he spoke, "I think that'll keep it from drifting away for now."

Leaning on the snowmobile next to Ignis, he let out a little, tired 'phew'.

[shatteredlenses]

"It shows," Ignis is grateful for each bit of assistance he doesn't have to swallow his pride and ask for. He's sure at some point the unasked for help will start to feel suffocating, but he will worry about that when the time comes.

While Prompto takes care of the raft, Ignis settles against the snowmobile and does his best to rest so he's ready to move once the blonde returns and has rested himself. He stares blindly out at the water, and eventually, quite against his will, the waves start to lull him into dozing. Scattered flashes of memory haunt him and it's actually a relief when Prompto's return wakes him fully.

He gauges the blonde's location by his breathing, reaching out to give his shoulder a light squeeze, "Thank you. I wish I could have been of some assistance. You sound quite worn out."

[want_to_belong]

"No biggie, Iggy," he did his best to brush it off, though he was still catching his breath. The last thing he wanted to do was make Ignis feel like he was being a burden or putting him out.

"I think we'll have to come back for it later, though. There's too much stuff to move." He paused. "Wherever we're going to move it. We should find a haven somewhere soon so we know where to go before it gets dark. Who knows how long the day will last?"

It was still bright but the days had been growing shorter rapidly. Pretty soon there wouldn't be any daytime left. That left him with the awkward question, "Do you... wanna stay here while I look, or do you want to come, too?"

He honestly didn't know which he felt better about. Ignis didn't seem to be in good enough shape to travel, and who knew what hazards they might run into. On the other hand, he didn't like separating from Ignis and leaving him there alone. What if something happened? In the end, it was up to Ignis.

[shatteredlenses]

"If we must come back, we must. We can't risk you hurting yourself trying to do too much." The warning is a gentle one. Ignis might not be able to do much else right now, but at least he can still urge caution and patience. Not that a simple warning seems like anywhere near enough. He wants to go with Prompto on his hunt more than anything, but he is also quite aware of the fact he will only slow the blonde down.

Unconsciously, the hand not on Prompto's shoulder tightens around the edge of the snowmobile, but aside from that, Ignis schools himself into neutrality, "It's probably best if I stay here while you search the immediate area. So far no danger has presented itself, so I will be fine alone. We don't know if that will remain true once we move to a different location."

[want_to_belong]

"All right," he responded, though there was hesitation in his voice. He was no fan of leaving Ignis behind in this state. He pushed off the snowmobile to stand on his own, but he wasn't gone right away, instead lingering in an antsy state. If something happened while he was gone he'd never forgive himself.

Facing Ignis, he took a step back and frowned. They'd have to do something about all that blood. Ignis didn't deserve to sit around covered in that. Even worse, it was probably Ignis' own blood. He couldn't be feeling great right now.

"I'll come back as soon as possible," he promised, taking another step back, reluctant to break away completely. "I'll try to find water and stuff, too."

His voice was on the verge of cracking as he shifted about restlessly, before finally breaking away and jogging up the beach. If he waited too long he would never leave. Normally he wouldn't worry about splitting up, but leaving him in such a weakened state was another matter. He'd just have to hope for the best and find things quickly. At least, if nothing else, he was good at running.