June (Dianir) Test Drive Meme

[hugtopiamods]

June (Dianir) Test Drive Meme
Premise ♥ Setting ♥ Rules ♥ FAQ ♥ Mod Contact

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.

---

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

[hansha]

[ And it sure does seem to be like something that's happening now! ]

Heeeh, that's pretty cool!! Did you learn by yourself or somethin'?

[ He squats beside the cello, having a good look at it. Hoo, it looks well-maintained. Ikari must treasure it so much. ]

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[A very well taken care of instrument for sure!]

I started taking lessons back when I was five, but I've just been practicing on my own for a while now.

[Can't really take lessons if you don't have a teacher or anything!!]

[hansha]

Heehh... Then you must've got really good musical sense, huh?

[ After staring at the cello for a good while, he finally tears his gaze and shifts to look at Ikari instead. ]

I've seen a cello on TV but never seen it in person like this - sure's bigger than I thought! Say, how do you play it? You sit here and draw the bow from behind?

[hedgehogsdilemma]

Maybe...? [That sounds like, possibly, praise that is too high! He just knows how to play things he's learned, that's all!!

Yuuji seems pretty invested in this, though, so as Shinji fetches the onigiri from the kitchen, he can't help but ask,] If you're really curious, I could probably play something quick for you.

[Are you, perhaps, angling for a show to go with this snack?]

[hansha]

Not everyone can learn musical instruments on their own! Like me, I don't really know how to play anything, haha!

[ He is genuinely interested in how a cello works, but more than the cello itself, it's Ikari that he wants to know more about. The cello's just a part of it. ]

Eh, really? Hm... But I'm already gettin' some onigiri from you, I don't have money to pay you back for both that and this!

[ He just got here after all, and he doesn't even know what the currency here is yet! If only he's got his wallet... it's probably gone forever. ]

[hedgehogsdilemma]

I wouldn't ask you to pay for something like that...!

[He's absolutely not that good! More importantly,] I won't ask you to pay for the food, either. The ingredients are free, and I had already made them...

[But, actually, isn't there something that he could be doing in return anyway?]

But... if you could do something like describe them? If you just wanna write it down on your tablet and send it my way, that would be plenty helpful.

[hansha]

Eh?! Then all the more I can't ask you to play!

[ Even if Ikari weren't a professional cel...loist?, he's been playing since he's 5, he's a professional enough to Yuuji!! Can't ask a pro to play songs for him for free!!

But for the onigiri-- describing them? Oh! He pounds his fist to his palm. ]

The Research Tower thing, yeah?! I'll do it, I'll do it!! I dunno if it'll be helpful, but I'll try my best!

[ He whips out his tablet, swiftly firing up his messages application. ]

Do I need to add you first or is everyone here automatically in my contacts?

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[Ah, well, it's not like he's particularly into the idea of playing for someone he's just met, but it does strike him as a bit unusual, at least in his own experiences here. If Yuuji insists, he won't push the issue right now.

So! On to! The onigiri! At least for now!!]

Ah, yeah, the research tower thing! [He's heard about it, then? That's good! One less thing to try and explain.] We'll have to add each other, but it's pretty simple, I can show you.

[With that, one plate of nori-less but otherwise tasty looking onigiri are brought on over. Please, help yourself while Shinji frees up one hand to pull his tablet out of his pocket.]

[hansha]

[ Once Yuuji gets some dora he'll ask Ikari to play for him! For that, he'll work hard!! That's one good incentive for working - not that he particularly doesn't want to work per se... ]

Uwahhh!! It looks so good!! [ He leans down and sniffs the onigiri, face melting into one full of happiness and nothing else. ] It smells nice too...

[ Putting his hands together, he bows his head respectfully and, ]

Thanks for the food!!

[ He wonders what's in the onigiri... Well, he'll find out when he has a bite, he guesses.

Nom. ]

Ouffhhh iffh hooo hyahhmm!!!

[ Manners... what are those. He continues to chew away as he leans closer to Ikari to look at how he's doing it on the tablet, proceeding to navigate to the same page with his free hand. ]

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[What wild and varied manners we have at work here... it's Fine. He's used to the way Rowdy Looking Boys are by now, it's fine. Enjoy your salted salmon onigiri, Yuuji!]

There's a few different ways to do it, but they have a feature on them, you can trade information just like... this.

[Once they are on the same screen, Shinji moves his tablet over to Yuuji's, letting the very tops of them lightly bump together with a gentle 'tap'! A moment later, and it looks like the two devices have swapped info, no sweat!]

There we go.

[hansha]

[ His eyes glimmer in sheer delight. Salmon!! He remembers being told that the ingredients coming out of the machine can taste pretty off, but this tastes just like the salmon he'd normally eat back home! It's really good! He devours it in one go, wiping his salted fingers to his lips so he can just lick them clean. Yum!

And while that happens, Ikari efficiently got their friending processes done. !!! It's simpler than he thought! ]

Oooh! Thanks, Ikari! And for this, too! [ He shows Ikari his empty hand, in reference to the onigiri. ] I'll make sure to write a good report on it!!

[ And there he goes, typing away. He didn't watch a lot of TV for nothing! He'll channel the energy of them culinary reporters!! ]

[hedgehogsdilemma]

Of course. [It's really not that big of a deal! But he does appreciate the gratitude, and he'll definitely remember to forward some of the reward dora for that Yuuji's way.] You're welcome to have more, if you'd like.

[More would make for a nice, comprehensive report, at any rate! Plus, one onigiri is hardly equivalent to the whole buffet Yuuji had originally been anticipating.]

[hansha]

[ More?! Yuuji's imaginary tail wags hard, eyes shimmering in expectation. ]

Forreal?! Ikari, could it be that... you're an angel that fell from the heavens?

[ The worst thing about this? He's 1000% serious. ]

Gabriel Ikari...

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[That, uh, that particular phrasing sort of sends him for a loop, and he looks a little shocked for a very short moment. Oh. Um. Well. Surely that was a purely coincidental word choice.

He presses on like Nothing Strange may have just happened, but sounds, perhaps, a little more measured in tone.] They're... they're just onigiri.

[You are heaping way too much praise on him for these!]

I do mean it, though. Help yourself to however many you want.

[hansha]

[ Oh, did Ikari not like that? Did Yuuji get it right? No? It's hard to tell, Yuuji's not super good at reading expressions. Whichever it was, it didn't seem like Ikari liked what he said. Is 'angel' a taboo word?

Yuuji opens his mouth, about to apologise, but Ikari speaks up. His mouth closes for a moment, and he decides to avoid the topic of the word altogether just in case. ]

They're super tasty onigiri! [ He has to make sure Ikari knows how good it is! ] You know how they say the simplest foods are the hardest? I think onigiri's one of those!

[ As shameless as he can be sometimes, he knows not to gobble up everything in sight just because the other person says so! He can cook too (to an extent) and if anything, he should make something for Ikari too in exchange! ]

I'll have another one, then! Thanks for the food!

[ And chomp. ]

Mmmm! Hyammhy!! [ He finishes the whole thing in two big bites, looking very satisfied when he does. Phew. ] Say, can you show me how you make your onigiri? Ah but, it doesn't have to be today! Whenever you're free, I wanna see how you do it!

[hedgehogsdilemma]

Oh, yeah, I can do that for sure.

[They aren't particularly complicated, after all, and he's used to giving lessons... yeah. If this guy wants to learn, then Shinji can show him how.]

There aren't a lot of typical fillings that you can get out of the replicators for them, but is there anything in particular you like? I'll see what I can do, if you give me some time.

[hansha]

[ He hums at the question. That's hard, he's not picky with his foods, but that also means he doesn't particularly have something he likes best either. Everything's tasty to him! He'll decide on something, though. ]

Can you make a karaage with the replicator? Or do you gotta start from like, the chicken meat?

[ The latter sounds fun, too. He's always just gone with the frozen ones back home, it'll be cool to make one from scratch! ]

[hedgehogsdilemma]

You'd have to start from scratch, for something like that.

[But that's not an impossibly tall order! It probably wouldn't taste exact, given the ingredients but... yeah. That one should be doable.]

The marinade would need some tweaking, or you'd have to get some replicator upgrades, but the rest of it wouldn't be too hard. [He'll have to experiment a little!]

[hansha]

[ That sounds like something fun to try out! Plus if it doesn't work out, he can just have eat it! Nothing to lose! At first, he did wonder how the replicators created all the ingredients and where they got them from, but he's decided not to think about it. It feels like he'll just imagine the worst kind of things otherwise... ]

Upgrades, huh? I assume you can only get it if you have enough money?

[ He looks up at Ikari. ]

Have you ever done the upgrades before? What happens if you do that?

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[Also free food out of the replicators definitely makes any trial and error work way more viable, no expensive ingredients going to waste even if you manage to make something truly inedible.]

You have to pay for the upgrades, yeah, but just the one time. The salmon, [and here, he points to those onigiri,] is something I had to pay for, but now I can make it whenever I want.

[Truly strange little contraptions, but hardly something worth complaining about.]

[hansha]

Neat! Then I guess I'll have to find something to do to get all that money so I can make better stuff too!!

[ He looks through what he's written on his tablet. Weird how fired up he's about writing this review, although he doesn't usually enjoy writing up stuff for his homework back home. Maybe because it makes him feel like a culinary reporter! ]

Then next time I can also make you something! What do you like, Ikari?

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[There's always the Usual Way to make money in a place like this, but surely Yuuji already knows about that, he figures.]

It shouldn't be too tough to find some kind of job on the side to pick up a little extra money, if you ask around. [After all, if someone with a practical skill set as limited as Shinji can find something to keep his time occupied, there's no reason someone as enthusiastic as Yuuji wouldn't be able to.

But, uh, as for what he likes...? That sure is a question. A question for him to dodge.] You really don't have to go out of your way by making me anything. Like I said, just writing something up will be a big help.

[He'll probably send him half of whatever he can get from turning that report in, too!]

[hansha]

Yeah! I think I'll try to hit up the stores around the town and see if they need a hand! Thanks, Ikari!!

[ Unfortunately for Ikari, Yuuji can be a little stubborn sometimes. Well, to an extent, anyway, but he's determined to return Ikari's kindness with something!! ]

Eh, but I want to! [ He says with a fist balled. ] Can't I? I think it's fun to share food with each other!

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[You're already returning the favor! By writing about the onigiri! That's all he's trying to convey here!!]

I mean... [Ahhh, he doesn't want to push too hard on him not having to do anything else, it's hard to be more adamant about it than Yuuji. He'd just feel kind of bad if the other boy felt like he needed to do something in return.] I can't really stop you, if that's what you want. You're just already doing plenty in return for the snacks.

[hansha]

Yay!!!

[ He raises both his hands up the air. ]

Well, you gave me this and also told me a lot about other things too! Not that we gotta do give and take all the time... [ Hmm. He puts a hand on Ikari's shoulder to give it a light pat. ] Haha, don't think about it too much!! Just tell me what you like!!