June (Dianir) Test Drive Meme

[hugtopiamods]

June (Dianir) Test Drive Meme
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Dianir, the month when Diacht's power begins to take hold, has begun and the effects of the previous month's rejuvenation have finally worn off. The city is fresh and new with flora and fauna, and the weather begins to turn ever hotter with each passing day as summer begins encroaching upon spring. The natives and new residents alike are adjusting to the first major changes to Havenwell's layout in centuries relatively well, all things considered, with natives slowly and cautiously beginning to expand businesses and homes into the newly opened areas. The temples are abuzz with activity as adherents flock to them, offering praise and words of thanks for the gods and the offworlders, without whom this major step forward would not have been possible.

❥ PROMPT I: Basic Instincts

Randomly and without warning, characters will find that, depending upon the strength of their deity, they may begin exhibiting some...odd qualities associated with their god. Those whose gods are the weakest will find the desire to give in to these qualities are the strongest, bordering on nigh impossible to ignore. Like an itch in the middle of your back that you can't reach, but you're going crazy trying to get it. The longer your character ignores the desire, the stronger it gets. Those whose gods are the strongest will find the urge there and definitely annoyingly loud, but not impossible to ignore for longer periods of time. And what qualities are we talking about? Well, from strongest to weakest, those qualities are...

♥ Ohma (strongest urge): While normally standoffish and languid, this feline god can also cling to things and people at times with an almost obsessive fervor. They need everyone to know that what is theirs belongs to them, and what better way to do that than to mark what is most important to them? People and things adherents of Ohma deem essential or necessary to their lives will find that their Ohma-driven friends are unusually clingy, wanting to hold hands or press up as close as possible to them. It might be hard to go about your day when an Ohma adherent has their arms around your waist, face pressed to your back or chest, unwilling to let go! Another unusual trait to pop up is their hunting instinct. This seems to come out most strongly around the followers of Ainea and Diacht, where Ohma's predatory instincts cause them to play-stalk and play-hunt their fellow offworlders. It's all in good fun though! Give them a tackle or a tag and the urge to 'chase' seems to go away.

♥ Ainea: The little mouse deity is renowned for her compassion and family devotion, but a little known trait of hers is the need to gather. Whether it be people or things, Aineans will find an overwhelming need to pack-rat and hoard as much stuff as possible. Oddly, things that aren't owned by other people already (such as items from stores or museums) hold very little value to them. But that scarf someone else is wearing? Yoink. That person who catches your eye as they walk down the street? Yup. You're going to be gathering everything you can and everything that catches your eye into a central location - be it your home or some other meaningful place to you - in an attempt to bring together a cozy, happy home. Once you've created your perfect little cozy pile, wouldn't it be nice to just dig in and snooze with all of your favoritest things and people? Of course it would! It just might be hard because people tend to want to go about your lives and you? You'd rather they stay right where they are with you.

♥ Diacht: This is the beginning of the avian god's cycle and when their power is beginning to grow incrementally, but that doesn't seem to be excluding them from the chaos. While known for their honesty and honor, Diacht isn't above their more basic instincts. One of which is an almost comical obsession with anything shiny. What's shiny to a Diacht adherent? Well, that depends on each person. It could literally be a bit of tinsel or metal that glints in the bright early summer sun, or it could be a person with whom you've begun to feel a special connection. Diachtians will feel an urge to rush in and snatch up what catches their eye the most, which could put them at odds with both Aineans and Rawnas trying to hold onto their belongings. Beware of the Ohmans who might be stalking you from the shadows, too. If you manage to successfully make off with your latest prize, where better to stash it (or them) than high up, right? You'll be wanting to take over a high perch in town, which might put you into direct confrontation with the Rawnans as you bicker over who really has the right to claim the town fountain, the research towers, or the newly discovered colosseum as their own.

♥ Rawna (weakest urge): Currently the strongest of the deities, adherents of the draconic god will find these urges the easiest to ignore for the longest possible time. The desire is still there, however, and seeing everyone else go buckwild around you might just trigger something deep within: a sense of territorialism. That's your stuff they're taking! And your people! And hey! That's your house! That's your garden and no one else is allowed inside! The urge to protect and keep what's yours for you and you alone is extremely high this month. Sharing is not caring, thank you very much. In fact, it might be easiest to keep an eye on all that you own if you're also the owner of the highest points in town - the town fountain, the research towers, and the newly discovered colosseum. Rawna adherents will find themselves fighting and bickering among themselves and with the Diacht followers to claim ownership of the highest points of land that they can find. Don't be too violent though! No one likes a sore loser. They'll also want to watch out for the Aineans who might just steal that which you hold dearest.

❥ PROMPT II: What'd You Say To Me?

With the gods so thoroughly distracted by their baser needs, it seems something fairly important to the off-worlders' lives has also gone on the fritz. Randomly throughout the month, characters may find that they suddenly can't understand each other. The universal translation magic that's been holding everything together will randomly cut in and out, like spotty WiFi at a public bus station. You could be in the midst of a conversation and suddenly everything that comes out of your partner's mouth turns to gibberish, or just into their native language which you, unfortunately, don't seem to understand. Speak every language fluently? Have a spell that makes you telepathic? Chances are, it won't work. Whether it's written, spoken, thought or gestured, the language barrier is nigh insurmountable whenever this malady passes over you. Thankfully, as with most things here, if you and your conversation friend decide to touch for awhile, the effects wane and pass on as if nothing had gone wrong at all. Let go and it might come back though, so you best be prepared!

❥ PROMPT III: Gotta Make Money to Spend Money

Clothes in Havenwell for more than just offworlders are starting to become a thing, although the availability of good clothing and custom clothing can still be quite expensive. With natives and non-natives alike trying to vye for the latest fashions and outdo one another for an upcoming competition, what little was available is pretty quickly gone from the shelves, leaving the few tailors in town charging premiums for any new products that are needed. Luckily, the wheels of capitalism don't stop, even in this faraway land, and paid jobs are currently plentiful. If you aren't looking to join in the festivities, don't despair! The dora you earn through these tasks can just as easily be spent on other goods and services as you like. A job board is posted in front of tailors and other shops, advertising the following things that people are willing to pay to get done:

• Research Towers: Attention, Offworlders! We hear your calls for innovative cuisine! Create a recipe using available ingredients in Havenwell (replicated or not) with a friend and describe it in detail for potential use in future replicator recipes. We only require that you and your friend taste test and be able to describe the taste, texture, and feeling this food gives you. Please deliver your completed recipes to Research Tower East. Edible and named recipes, regardless of whether they are utilized or not, will receive dora in exchange!
  
• City Council: Attention, Offworlders! We have heard that "homesickness" is a thing that many people might be experiencing and we have heard you! Please are paying for people to bring us examples of your home cultures - be it stories, plays, history or something else. Dramatic reenactments, video recordings, and physical recreations are preferred.
  
• Entertainment District: Attention, Artists! We are experimenting with new synthetic materials that may be useful for your artistic endeavors. Please visit your local museum to pick up a sample pack. Payment for acceptable artistic creations that utilize these new materials in a new and innovative way is being offered. Materials include: new colors of synthetic paints, a more malleable synthetic clay, and a synthetic marble for carving. Offworlder models preferred.
  
• Business District: Help Wanted! We are looking for delivery drones. Those interested should contact the delivery center. Requirements: be capable of moving quickly, carrying large loads of cargo, efficient, and safe! We need machinery, building supplies, personal packages and more shipped and delivered across all of Havenwell. Most packages currently awaiting delivery will require a minimum of two people to deliver. For those without transport, we are offering a crash course in piloting our newly minted three-wheeled delivery scooters.

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Have fun however you like with the setting! Make a network-style toplevel, make up other prompts based on the general setting, go wild. Havenwell is your oyster.

This TDM is for the July application round. If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to the FAQ or to the Mod Question thread below. The reservation round begins on June 29, 2020 at 10:00PM EST and our applications will run from July 2, 2020 to July 9, 2020 from 10:00PM EST to 10:00PM EST.

♥ Taken Characters ♥ Reservations ♥ Applications ♥

Comments

[daikonrose]

[ ... You know, she actually can kinda see the logic in that one. Though it's a little amazing that this guy can just jump right into this scenario, thinking like it's a game. ]

No... there's no system like that in place. I had to squash some of the giant spiders, and I was still pretty broke when the next paycheck came around. [ A beat. ] I was fine, though.

[ With that, she's gonna stroll right into his kitchen, since it's pretty much in the same place as her own. ]

Anyway! What did you want to eat?

[hansha]

[ He hums in response. Giant spiders, huh... He wonders if she meant tarantula-sized or actual monster-sized. Either way, there's no way it was a pleasant experience for anyone. Agatsuma seemed pretty uncomfortable talking about the monsters, too. ]

Well, you sure did a great job!

[ Thumbs up!! She got through it and she's safe, that's a good thing to hear.

He lets her waltz in to his kitchen, following right behind so he can see how she's operating the machine. ]

Hm... I guess whatever's easy to achieve with this thing? Like, fried eggs, maybe?

[ He stares at the machine, mind still mulling over what they discussed earlier. ]

...So they only give us money for, uh, what do you call it? 'Affectionate'? Kind of touches, huh.

[ If that's the case, it's definitely not as simple as what he initially thought. Even for someone like Yuuji, being open and friendly doesn't mean he can go outright touchy-feely. It's probably kinda weird to suddenly give someone a hug or something to that effect... ]

[daikonrose]

[ FRIED EGGS ARE NOT AN ADEQUATE MEAL, but Kyoko will let that go for now. All she's here to do is show him how to work the replicator, he'll surely get more food later! Simple is good, it means she can leave soon!

So she stands aside and just points out the appropriate buttons, let's get this over with. ]

You just press this one, and this one, and this one. You have to remember to even ask for basic things like oil and salt, or you're gonna be at a loss.

[ But oh, more questions. She thought he already understood? Maybe it just didn't sink in for him until now. ]

... Mm, well. As I understand it, it's not necessary to actually feel any affection. [ Does that make it better, or worse? Kyoko still hasn't totally decided. ] As long as you're not hurting anyone, you should get paid for it. So, everything that falls under that umbrella.

[hansha]

[ He keeps his eyes close on the buttons that Mogami presses, it seems pretty straight forward, but if he's not careful, he might just ask for something completely different by accident. ]

Oh, that's a good point. I'll keep that in mind! [ A beam and a salute! ] Thanks, Mogami-san! I'll play around with it more later.

[ Huh. So even if you're touching someone you don't like it will count? And here he thought the Gods were getting power from the positive energy that it exudes... maybe he watched too much television. ]

Haha! That's surprisingly pretty loose. But that makes it easier, I guess... [ Maybe? ] Or not really? [ Hm. If you think of it like a labour, not bringing affection to it makes sense... he guesses? ]

[daikonrose]

[ It sure is weird and impersonal when you really think about it, isn't it? But hey, you get to make money. ]

I guess it is pretty easy, if it's something you want to do. [ Kyoko's just arranging ingredients on the counter for him, not particularly wanting to look his way. ] But since we can live in these houses rent free and get ingredients for free, I guess we're expected to be motivated entirely by spending money and world salvation.

[hansha]

[ Yuuji's standing behind Mogami, so he can't really see her face from here, but there's something in her words that sound... off? He can't really tell what it is. ] ...Do you hate the idea of it? [ Realising that it might sound vague, he adds: ] This... uh, tradeoff between money and physical contact.

[daikonrose]

[ Hands still on the counter, Kyoko freezes, eyes going wide. How strange. It's not like she makes her feelings a secret, but she's gotten used to them being misinterpreted; it's sort of become ingrained that the way she views these things must be weird, even if she doesn't see why it should be. Nobody's ever been unkind about it, even after she explains herself, but....

Having someone get it right away still pierces her with a strange sort of shock, one that feels almost like relief. ]

I hate it. [ She says it simply, as if it's the most neutral position there could possibly be, and turns to fetch a frying pan. ] I never asked for it. I don't want it.

[hansha]

[ Yuuji doesn't move from where he is, unless he's blocking her way. He doesn't try to avoid eye contact when (if) they happen either. ] I see. [ For a moment, he mulls the situation. ] Now that I think about it, this whole thing is pretty one-sided, huh? Getting dragged over here, and then "now touch people and we'll give you money"... as if physical contact's some kinda product. [ As a concept, it sounded convenient to him at first - you touch people and ka-ching! But when he actually thinks about it, he can't say he likes the idea either. Maybe he doesn't feel as strongly as Mogami does, but he understands where she's coming from. ] If say, I hug someone because I want to, and I get money in return for it, that'll feel... wrong.

[daikonrose]

[ Kyoko slams her hands down on the stovetop, frying pan clattering on the cold burner. He did it again! She barely said anything, but he understood perfectly! And that was the part she always had to explain carefully! Forgetting all her hesitations about this guy, she whirls around to face him, hands clenched into fists at her sides, eyes wide and intense. ]

It's like they don't understand anything about it! They added in something totally unnecessary, and now even normal things have this extra weight to them, and you can't even say no! As if kidnapping us and using us wasn't enough, they even had to mess up something as pure as holding hands! Of course I'm not fine with it!

[hansha]

[ Yuuji freezes when the loud bam echoes in the room. For a moment, he thought he'd said something that insulted her. But when she turned around - he knew that wasn't the case. It's almost he's set something off and it all finally breaks loose. Has she been holding it in all this while? Her words, even with all the intensity, ring nothing but the truth to him, he can't help but raise his voice a little himself. ] You're right! The Gods here sure are self-centered, aren't they! [ He crosses his arm, tilting his head to one side. They can't say no, and they'll probably be stuck here forever if they refuse physical contact altogether, but-- ] Hey, let's ask them to stop giving us money! I mean, if other people wanna make money with that, they can... but maybe the Gods can make exceptions!

[daikonrose]

[ ... Could the gods make exceptions? Well, why wouldn't they be able to? Would they bother, is probably the right question.

It's enough of a quandary to make Kyoko pause and calm down, brows creasing as she thinks it over. ]

Should we? Should we just go to the temple and tell them? [ It's a compelling idea! ] I've yelled at Rawna before, but I don't think he noticed....

[hansha]

[ The eggs can wait, this is more important now. ]

Yeah! Let's go! [ Yuuji pumps his fist, nodding vigorously. ] This time I'll yell with you!! I'm pretty confident with my voice!!

[ He's. Yelled atop a building for his mentor before. It has successfully summoned the said mentor. ]

[daikonrose]

You'll really do it?

[ She's not shouting, but her wide eyes are intense as she stares at him. What kind of person is this guy? Does he really feel the same way she does? To this extent? ]

You'd risk offending the gods with me?

[hansha]

That's what I said, wasn't it?

[ Right??? Now he's unsure. Well, he can say it again. ]

Yeah, sure!! I'm not religious anyway! Let's do it!!

[ He's even rolling up the sleeves of his parka to show how serious he is about this!! ]

You can leave everything there! I'll deal with it when I get home later.

[daikonrose]

[ IT'S not really a matter of being religious, in this kind of place, but Kyoko is too wrapped up in the possibility that she could change at least one thing she hates about being here to quibble about it. Now isn't the time to stand around and talk or fry eggs! ]

Then let's do it! Let's go!

[ She roars it out, barreling towards the door. ]

To where the gods are!!

[hansha]

Ou!!

[ Seeing how pumped up she is, he is too!! Watch him punch the air as he follows her out of the house, to where the gods are!! He'll have to rely on her to lead him to the Rawna temple, because while he's not the worst, he's not the best either when it comes to directions. He's still getting used to things and temples are the places he had the least business with. ]

Do you go to the temples often?

[daikonrose]

[ Everyone's pumped up!! Kyoko had been about to bolt into a sprint once they were out on the road, but oh, a conversation is still happening. And she should take care not to leave him behind anyway, right? So she settles on a quick march, eyes burning with the fire of her spirit, focused on the path ahead. ]

Huh? I guess so--just to Rawna's, though. --Oh, speaking of which, you aligned with one, right?

[hansha]

[ Well, they can sprint and talk at the same time!! That's his forte!! He's a-okay settling with a quick march too, though. This way they can save their energy for all the yelling later! Never mind that he always has so much energy for everything. ]

I... think so.

[ His god is still a lot of question marks atm but also, he is incredibly clueless about these things as he didn't really process things when he arrived, so help him god. ]

I remember them talking about four gods but I can't remember the name they told me... Oh well! I think they all get along [ Right??? ] and will tell each other, so we can go to yours!!

[daikonrose]

[ It's. It's probably fine, right? Even if it's not, Kyoko wouldn't know how to find out which one he's with anyway. So it's fine for now! Sure! ]

Right!! In any case, Rawna knows me pretty well by now, so if he won't listen to my request, there's probably no hope for you anyway!

[hansha]

Awesome!!

[ Maybe he shouldn't respond so positively when he's being told there's no hope for him, but to Yuuji, there's always hope!! If there isn't... well they can always make one!!

As the their talk winds down, he picks up his pace a little, careful not to overtake Mogami lest he loses her in the sea of people... er, robots. There are people too! Nevertheless, he makes sure to watch every turn that the other takes, just in case. ]

[daikonrose]

[ With the conversation fading out, Kyoko picks her pace up too, running whenever there's enough space, not minding the robot heads swiveling to glance in mild confusion after this pair of offworlders cutting through the crowd. And just like that, soon enough Rawna's temple is rising up before them.

Slowing to a stop, Kyoko pauses just for a moment to catch her breath--and now it's time to sprint, right on in past the priests milling about and a fledgling dragon sunning on the steps.

Bye. ]

1/3

[hansha]

[ Hey, they're quite a good duo, aren't they? Yuuji hasn't felt this kind of excitement for a while since his arrival here. Okay well he's gotten up some roofs and buildings, but that's different!! They're blasting through the crowd, efficiently dodging people and robots, towards the same destination!!

When the temple is finally in sight, he can't help but be enamoured by the look of it. It's something that he thought he would've only been able to see in TV shows, but here it is, a Greek (maybe?) temple, right in front of him!! He doesn't need a passport to see it in person!! Seeing that Mogami isn't winding down just yet, he too continues to zip through further into the temple, though not without cocking his head from left to right to admire the sight. He doesn't get it but all those carvings and pillars look real neat! So grand!!

He only skids to a stop when they arrive before a huge, glistening stone. Sunlight shines down on it, reflecting rainbows in his eyes, that even someone not religious like Yuuji can tell that it has, uh, some kinda significance. It's ethe... ethe...something.

This is it, right? This is where they're gonna do it? ]

[hansha]

[ Alright, he's got this, give him a moment.

He takes a deep, deep breath.

3...

2...

1. ]

[hansha]

RAWNA-SAAAAAANNN!!!!!!!! GOOD AFTERNOOOOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ Nailed it. ]

[daikonrose]

[ Unfortunately, they didn't chat ahead of time about coordinating their message, so Kyoko starts shouting at exactly the same time. ]

EXCUSE ME! I NEED A WORD WITH YOUUUUUUU!!! LISTEN WELL!