♥ August Test Drive Meme

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August Test Drive Meme
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As Achtom and Ohnir flow into each other, the skies are still gorgeously blue and dotted with high fluffy clouds that never seem to threaten rain - so long as the weather stays controlled. Businesses are picking back up, the natives starting to cater once again to flesh-bodied people with varied amounts of success. The VR cafes are featuring more helmets so even more people can play along with the ever expanding selection of games. Overall, it seems like Havenwell is quite the peaceful city.

But there are still some issues to be had...

---

❥ PROMPT I: Where's the Pied Piper?

All Achtom, the residents have been dealing with things in characters' houses seemingly moving of their own volition to other parts of the house and going temporarily missing, returning chewed upon by the mice that have overtaken Havenwell. By the time the new wave of arrivals come, the worst of it is over, but there are still some pesky little temple familiars running about the city!

The noises at night aren't as terrible as they once had been, but the squeaking and chattering in the walls and ceiling is still noticeable. It's still difficult to sleep at night for all the noise throughout the long night hours. Trying to find the source is a surefire way to drive yourself mad, but it seems that sleeping in the same bed with another person makes it a little easier to bear, especially if you hold hands or touch throughout the night.

Pink and purple rodents of various sizes from panda mouse tiny to chihuahua-sized rats are still popping up all over the city. It seems the only place they aren't is where they're supposed to be - Ainea's temple - and that's a big problem. While many have been returned thanks to the offworlders' efforts, Ainea's temple priests are still out in the city, begging residents both robotic and flesh to peacefully and carefully capture the creatures and return them home to the temple. They pass out soft woven reed baskets to any who agree and thank all participants heartily for their help.

❥ PROMPT II: We Didn't Start This Fire

Throughout the month, pockets of the city experience magnificent dry lightning storms. Before each onset of the storm, an immense clap of thunder booms across the entire city like a siren and the natives hold their figurative breaths until the first strike rains down. A peal of lightning, searing hot, strikes the ground or hits the spires of nearby buildings, cracking stone and leaving nasty burn marks behind. Each storm is only 4 to 5 minutes in length before they suddenly disappear again, but in those few minutes chaos reigns. For anyone unlucky enough to get caught amid one of these storms, take cover! Residents throw open doors and push people inside, even shielding the offworlders with their own bodies if necessary to keep them from getting harmed.

When the lightning and its sonorous booms pass, residents scurry out to repair the damage. They'll be asking nearby offworlders to help as well with patching the stonework or removing broken debris. Most importantly, they put out a call for help in putting out fires that spring up after each storm. Their metal bodies can't withstand the heat for long without melting and the water is dangerous to their circuitry. After the fires are put out and the damage repaired, on occasion, residents will ask for the somber help of pulling a native robot unlucky enough to take a direct hit from the lightning to a local repair shop. Strangely, the natives don't seem sad when their friends and family can't be repaired, and instead start gathering up objects from home to take with them to the temples along with the bodies. When asked, they say it's to pray for a rebirth and go on their way.

❥ PROMPT III: Let's Play the Friend Connection

With all the craziness going on, some people might just want a distraction. A lot of Havenwell's natives certainly seem to think so. Despite everything, the Entertainment District is as bustling as ever and this month the offering is to participate with a friend or group of friends to play a game called: Friend Connection. Rather than the usual plug in and sit configuration, this time the VR cafes have been reorganized into 3 meter by 3 meter square pads with no chairs or furniture available. Players plug in or put their helmets on and they're instantly transported to a garish neon-lighted stage with multicolored spotlights that show a floating, legless robot with a rainbow bowtie and a magnificent mustache. The robot's LED face lights up into the approximation of the :D emote and then a disembodied voice comes from speakers overhead:

"Hail, well met, and welcome to the hottest game show around: Friend Connection! As the studio audience already knows, this game is simple! You and your new friends compete to complete more challenges than the other hidden team. The more fabulously you and your team completes each task, the more points you'll be awarded. At the end of the game, the team with the most tasks cleared and the highest point value will be declared the winners and take home some fabulous prizes. On today's team is..."

And the robotic host waves an arm to a scoreboard behind it, showing your names. The heading "Other Team" has ???? underneath it and a list of challenges is revealed along with a burst of applause. The list reads:

1. Play Twister until someone falls! The longer you go, the more points you win!
   
2. Help each other do a handstand! The Wheelbarrow is acceptable too.
   
3. Recreate your favorite scene from a romantic movie. Take, for example, That Scene from the hit movie, Skytanic! Or hum along to this song as you and your friend make some pottery together.
   
4. Create a complicated Best Friend Handshake consisting of more than 5 moves and do it together 3 times without messing up!
   
5. Answer trivia questions about each other and your worlds while holding hands and staring into each other's eyes. The more questions you can answer, the higher your points!
   
6. Do a trust fall into your friend's arms. The higher or further you fall, the more points you'll earn.
   
7. Play two truths and a lie with your friend. If you can guess correctly, you'll earn points for your team!

Are you ready, contestants? You have 20 minutes. Good luck!

At the end of the game, the characters are declared the winners by a slim and, naturally, exciting margin of just one point! And their fabulous prize......? The friendship they earned along the way! Congratulations, players! And don't worry, when the game ends, you'll be in the exact weird position you were last in as the helmets turn off. Hopefully you aren't still in those weird Twister positions because everyone can and has been able to see you. Yup, the entire time.

❥ PROMPT IV: Comic Logic

Although Achtom is waning and Ohnir beginning, Diacht's influence is still going strong. Throughout their day as they go about their daily routines, helping people out or trying to find their missing items, the natives stop looking at them and start looking above their heads. In fact, as characters meet one another, their attention may also be drawn vertically above their companion because floating above every offworlder's head is a faint white cloud. Whenever they move, the cloud moves too. Attempts to dispel it by magic or physical means does nothing and it seems like you can't touch it at all.

It's annoying isn't it? Or maybe you're feeling quite curious about this phenomenon? Or maybe it scares you? Whatever you're feeling or thinking, it shows up in that cloud clear as day. It's not every thought or feeling that shows and attempts to control what appears fails, but you're now broadcasting your innermost self to the world.

For a time at least. Smart characters might notice that after prolonged physical contact with another character, the cloud fades away and stays away for an undetermined amount of time. Sometimes it's an hour, sometimes it's a day, sometimes it's only 5 minutes, and then it begins to reform again. Whatever it is, it's here to stay, so good luck keeping your secret inner workings, well, secret.

❥ PROMPT V: Buddy System

With all the changes going on, it might be hard to be a new arrival to Havenwell. The natives understand! Sort of. When new arrivals begin to appear at the temples, receive the welcome speech, get their communicators and the simple map of the city, they get taken to the front of the temple by a helpful robotic priest. Rather than turn the newcomers loose right away, they pull someone seemingly at random off the street and push the two people together with a cheerful, "Here's your guide to Havenwell! It's dangerous to go alone, so be buddies!" before going back inside. They try to place a new arrival with one of those who previously arrived, but who can keep track of all that, right? Characters may find themselves thrown together with an actual veteran or with another new arrival who only came here a day or even just an hour before them! Good luck helping each other out, offworlders, and don't lose your buddy!

---

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

This TDM is for the September 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 August 30, 2019 at 10:00PM EST and our applications will run from September 2, 2019 to September 9, 2019 from 10:00PM EST to 10:00PM EST.

♥ Taken Characters ♥ Reservations ♥ Applications ♥

Comments

Ardyn Lucis Caelum | Final Fantasy XV

[scourgingstars]

[V; it wouldn't mean a thing if I told you how I feel]

[To say the man in white looked lost would have been a massive understatement. He seemed more than a bit out of sorts, simply going along with everything rather than waste time and energy questioning the matter. Even if he did, where would he begin? 'How' and 'why' all seemed rather hollow, not to mention he was sure the answers would end up being unsatisfactory.]

[Immortal life was already so goddamn weird, this might as well happen.]

[So perhaps the nearest person unlucky enough to be pulled off the street was met with a somewhat disheveled man with violet hair, gold eyes, and a clear unwillingness to deal with any of this nonsense today.]

[IV; so I'm tired of the pain, of the misery inside]

[Ardyn tried very, very hard to ignore the floating cloud over his head. Most of what the cloud showed were brief flashes, as though his mind itself was a jumbled mess. Brief visions of things like an endless snowfield, a dark room of stone...on rare occasions one could make out a spark of clashing blades or a young woman. Notably enough, that last one always seemed to disappear as quickly as it manifested--as though it was something consciously pushed aside.]

[Gods above, this place was a waking nightmare. He wanted nothing so much as to withdraw somewhere no one could possibly see any of this, but Ardyn had the sneaking suspicion it simply wouldn't be that easy.]

[wildcard; and I wish that I could live feeling nothing but the night]

[hit me with whatever, i'm easy]

V

[velvetinmate]

[Welp, this sure happened. The gold eyes... definitely throw him for a moment or two, but anything he'd have to say about them is shoved to aside--Akira's been here long enough that he's reasonably sure this guy isn't a Shadow. Even if he can access his Persona, there hasn't been any other sign that this place is like the Metaverse at all.

As soon as the robot leaves the two of them alone, Akira shifts awkwardly.]

So, uh... do you want to just find somewhere to sit down first instead of...

[Vaguely gesturing in the direction of the temple.]

[scourgingstars]

I'm fine.

['Fine' in this context meant 'functional'. Functioning, he could do--'fine', he hadn't been in a very long time.]

[velvetinmate]

If you're sure...

[He rubs at the back of his neck.]

Sorry about those robots, by the way. They're, uh, a lot. Be glad you weren't in the first crop of off-worlders. They were a lot more... excitable then. And touchy.

V;

[philoxenia]

[ The allegedly unlucky person just happens to be someone... well, a little overwhelmed by everything. It's... difficult to ignore how utterly done he feels with everything, which... yeah, she understands.

Mira clears her throat. ]

... Hello.

[ nailed it ]

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn looked her over with a slight raised eyebrow, as if he was still trying to process literally anything that was going on.]

...Hello.

[nailed it x2]

[philoxenia]

[ Great job, guys, truly brilliant. ]

... I'm sorry, I think I'm just as new as you are. I'm not sure why they chose me to help you.

IV

[twistedempathy]

[It's the quick, flickering fragments of images that catch Will's attention before anything else--it looks like someone's channel surfing, or a bunch of jumbled broadcasts all trying to cut in on each other. It's even worse when he glances down to spot the man the thoughts belong to; Ardyn looks kind of wretched, if he's being honest.

Will raises a hand as he approaches, smiling. For the moment, his own thought cloud registers nothing more than a simple question mark, mildly puzzled and concerned.]

You're looking a little out of sorts. What's the matter?

[scourgingstars]

[His thoughts were about as disheveled and disconnected as the rest of him, Ardyn taking a moment to process that someone was in fact speaking to him.]

...Nothing. I'm fine.

[twistedempathy]

[Will's eyebrows raise far enough to peek up over his mask at that. Are they using the same definition of "fine" here? Probably not. It sure seems like a lot of people here have a very different idea of "fine" than he does.....]

Are you sure? You look like you could use a good nap, at least.....

[And maybe a shower and shave? And a good hot meal? And a hug?]

V

[kingkingcxiii]

[In another time, or perhaps from a different world, Regis might recognize the tired redhead the robots all but drag into his presence, but on his world, Adagium had been very careful never to drop the illusion that masked his true identity where the King of Lucis could see it happen. As a result, he has no reason to be wary of the new arrival.

Gently, he shoos the robots away from the poor man. They mean well, but their constant attention is likely making the man feel nothing but smothered.]

Forgive them. They are trying, but they don't seem to quite remember how easy it is for us to get overwhelmed. Would you like to sit down?

[scourgingstars]

[Oddly enough, this time it was Ardyn who was a little wary--something about the stranger felt familiar, in a way he couldn't quite describe. Had he possessed the ability to remember them with any real clarity, then he would have realized that much like Noctis was a mirror of his brother, so too did Regis carry an odd resemblance to their parents.]

[But as it was, he didn't. Two thousand years had done more than a little damage to his memories, and it had taken conscious work to remember the people he did. So there was nothing more than a vague sense of familiarity that set Ardyn on edge rather than put him at ease.]

I-...that might be the better option here, yes.

[kingkingcxiii]

Why don't we step over here, then? It's much quieter.

[Regis leads the redhead over to a bench where there are far fewer people milling around, careful not to touch him as he does so.]

My name is Regis. May I ask yours?

iv;

[promittere]

[Luckily, not everyone is watching the clouds over people's heads. By now Ignis knows the clouds exist, but he's not keeping many secrets and he doesn't care to pry.

He can't, anyways.

Which is lucky for Ardyn, perhaps, though the man's blindness extends beyond the clouds. He clips into Ardyn when he passes the man on the street - there's so much going on at any given moment he hasn't quite mastered the ability to navigate the city with no issue - and is immediately apologetic.]

Ah, I'm sorry. That was not my intention.

[scourgingstars]

Oh--no, it's alright. I was scarcely paying attention myself.

[Which was true; he sounded distracted at best and exhausted at worst.]

V hey buddy

[unsunderworld]

[Violet-leaning hair, gold eyes, and a lack of tolerance for nonsense?

What a pair they make. The man dragged off the street pulls himself out of the robot's touch as quickly as he can, but otherwise seems willing enough to go along with these shenanigans. Though not without some dry commentary.]

This, I suppose, is my punishment for carrying myself like I know where I'm going.

[He's been here for a couple hours, at most. Oh well, such is life. And no one can say he isn't magnanimous, considering that he does not, in fact, attempt to go off on his own again as soon as the robots are paying attention to something else... For the moment.]

[scourgingstars]

I can just as easily leave, should my presence be such an inconvenience.

V

[this_loser]

[Guess who else doesn't want to deal with this nonsense today?

Prompto takes one good look at the guy he's been hustled toward and does an abrupt about-face.]

Nope!

[Though he does pause once all the details have a moment to settle in and looks back with a baffled expression.]

Okay. But what's the deal with your hair?

[It was definitely shorter before.]

[scourgingstars]

What--you're certainly one to talk, Verstael, did you electrocute yourself for that look?

[i'm really sorry, prompto]

No, wait, you're not-...who are you?

V

[astralera]

[ Era had only just recently managed to escape the temple herself, eager to explore a new place. True to form, however, she gets 'buddied' with another newcomer, any attempt at protestation falling on deaf ears and so she quickly decides not to bother. Standard fare for the Warrior of Light. It is almost comforting in how familiar it is to have one's autonomy disregarded.

She sighs, weary, as she is quickly shepherded to her newest 'buddy', though does her best to be polite. There is a wry smile on her lips when she lifts her head to greet the stranger, however it drops briefly when she catches sight of the man's face.

He is a stranger, which is no surprise. But at a glance his eyes seemed too familiar and it catches Era off-guard. She scrutinizes him for a breath, then shakes her head faintly, as though trying to rid herself of the thought. ]

Hello. [ A small incline of her head and shoulders; a bow, informal yet polite. When she straightens her spine once more that wry, tired smile returns and Era glances pointedly toward the temple's priest. ] Shall I escort you to your freedom?

[scourgingstars]

Oh--truly, there should be no need for that.

[He definitely wasn't much to look at--pale, exhausted, disheveled, and in clothes that made MMO starting gear look fashionable by comparison. Ardyn shifted a bit uncomfortably, gold eyes drifting off to the side like he wanted nothing more than an escape route as quickly as possible.]

I'd not wish to trouble you.

IV

[original_is_best]

[Unfortunately for Ardyn, Verstael had been out specifically to get a peek at different thoughts. His own thoughts often repeated others as he pondered the meaning of the glimpses he saw.

However, when he spotted Ardyn he had to pause. Someone else from Niflheim, so to speak, finally. Though he couldn't help but notice that Ardyn looked as he did when he first found him. Considering the time differences between himself and some of the others, did this mean someone was finally earlier in the timeline than himself?

Surely Verstael had already rescued him in his time, considering the clothing.]

Ardyn.

[The distinct voice rang out as Verstael moved straight towards him, a smile on his face. Regardless of time differences, it was good to see Ardyn. Or so he thought. He never did fully grasp how Ardyn would bring the Empire down.]

I see you have finally joined us. It is good to not be alone.

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn's own thoughts dissolved into a sort of hazy static, a wordless annoyance that only one person could really set off.]

Must you persist even across the boundaries of worlds?

IV

[flawed_immortality]

[Clouds overhead are an unfortunate side effect of the world right now and as soon as Cor catches sight of Ardyn the image floating across his own thought bubble flickers to a bright red exclamation point before settling on an image of a much different Ardyn.

For a moment he's utterly still, trying to decide on how best to proceed.

Then he slowly approaches the other man, ice ready at his fingertips and kotetsu awaiting him in the Armiger should things go awry.]

The Oracle isn't here. [Because that brief flash was clearly Lunafreya, right? But why would he be thinking of her? Unless to relive the twisted joy of murdering her all over again.]

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn flinched back from the sudden voice and then took a full step back once he had a better view of its source—the last thing he wanted was to deal with what looked like a soldier in Lucian black.]

I know that. Aer-...the Oracle couldn’t possibly be here.