aftr_ooc | TEST DRIVE MEME ( 001 )

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 )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[This kid kind of reminded him of the one in Lestallum. At the mention of Ignis, Prompto placed a hand on the man's shoulder instinctively. The emotional scars were just as fresh and he knew Ignis' pride had taken a blow.]

We'll be okay. You don't have to worry about that.

[He squeezed his shoulder.

But he leaned towards Ignis to explain what was going on.]

She's got some bandages. Do you want them?

[Since he can't see, it's only when Prompto calls out to the child that Ignis realizes anything odd is going on. Ignis knows he should be listening to the conversation closer, but at the moment, he can only gather enough energy to half pay attention to it. Pain and exhaustion are closing in again no matter how he tries to shake them off now that he's mostly dried out by the fire.

It's only when Prompto puts his hand on his shoulder that Ignis is able to fully focus on the conversation. He turns toward the child--Prompto called them 'kiddo,' so Ignis assumes that they are a child anyway--and gives them a tired look.]

I thank you for your kindness, but are you certain you wish to give them up? I can manage.

[He says the last sentence a little slower than the first as if he is not sure that he won't be called on the lie by Prompto at least. But, it's not exactly a lie. Ignis could manage; bandages would just be helpful.

Of course, someone would have to make sure he actually uses them for himself instead of squirreling them away for later, but that's a different issue all together.]

[Pride has no place when it comes to survival. He looks to them- and it hardly takes a professional to see the pain etched into his expression, the offset tone of his skin.

He will undoubtedly get worse without assistance. They have nothing to lose by providing it.]

I am certain, though I would appreciate not being referred to as 'she'.

[A mild enough correction; he likely has other concerns.]

You should utilize these as best you can, sir.

[He floundered. Of course he would make some sort of mistake. It was hard to tell with the haircut and sweater.]

Ah, sorry, little dude. Didn't mean any offense by it.

[He pushed to his feet, adding a small amount of pressure to Ignis' shoulder, and closed the gap between them to accept the bandages. He stood bent down to lower himself closer to Frisk's level as he held out a hand.]

We could always give them back if we don't need them. Where'd you find them?

[Hopefully Ignis wouldn't be too upset. He wasn't usually one to go against him, or even make the decisions at all, but Ignis was putting himself last again. If they never used stuff when they needed them, then what point would there be to keeping it around just to look at it?]

[Of course, he's putting himself last. There's not much else Ignis can do right now to help. Still, it seems the choice is taken from him, and it's probably for the best. Unwilling to argue on this point at least, he nods his head in the child's direction.]

We are in your debt.

[Concern crosses his face, the expression given away not by his damaged eyes, but by the wrinkling of his brow.]

Are you alone out here?

[Whether they actually believe his apology is a moot point. It stays locked away for Chara to know- and Prompto to potentially find out, nodding their head courteously.]

They were on my person at my time of arrival; I have little use for them. Should I require it, I am certain I will come to collect your word.

[They have little need for that, either. Chara rocks back on their heels, glancing about at the other fires dotted across the beach.]

You needn't concern yourself. My Partner is likely indulging in their own trash habits.

[By now Prompto had a weird feeling. They looked like a kid, but they didn't really seem to act like one. He didn't want to jump to any conclusions, though. After all, he could be pretty awkward himself, and Ignis didn't act like the average person, either. They could just be kinda weird.]

Your partner? You got someone out here looking after you?

[That was still a relief. Sitting by Ignis, he gently took Ignis' hand to place the bandages in it. Who knew what they would do with them. Ignis was a stubborn man sometimes.]

[Ignis curls his fingers around the bandages, folding them between both his hands once Prompto has released them and settling his hands into his lap. He sends a nod of acknowledgment Chara's direction, but remains quiet. There is something in the child's manner of speech that reminds Ignis of himself as a child when his words often carried more meaning than what those listening to them ever knew. Still, he is a man of his word and he will not go back on a promise made. If it comes back to haunt him, he will deal with it when the time comes.]

[They doubt his vision is at it's peak- thus, they don't bother nodding in turn. All their attention is upon the other man; the chatty, nosy one. It's not the first time someone has treated them in this manner, they suppose.

As if they are not capable on their own.]

We take care of one another, much like you and your friend.

I take it neither of you are natives.

TEST DRIVE MEME ( 001 )

Iggy next

Got tracking on this now. Just let me know if the Igster is needed. :-)

Apologies! I'm now tracking this as well!

I'm jealous of your tracking abilities

No worries! \o/

no subject

no subject

Iggy bowing out of rotation for now. I'm still tracking. Just directly address him if he's needed.

cool beans!