♥ August Test Drive Meme

[hugtopiamods]

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

[carbungle]

Oh, right... Messengers of the gods.

[He's familiar with the concept, at least, having met Gentiana, Umbra, and Pryna during the course of his lifetime. The gods might be different but not everything is.]

Wonder what Ainea's trying to tell us, to send so many of them around. They don't seem too chatty.

[twistedempathy]

You know, I'm not sure?

[Will hums thoughtfully, propping his chin in his hand as he watches them.]

But if I had to take a guess..... I think she might be urging us to grow closer to each other.

[carbungle]

Think it's working?

[Because so far all it's done to him is make him want to feed mice in the dirt outside his house.]

[twistedempathy]

Hehehe..... Not as well as she probably hoped, no. But it might be working a little bit? People do seem to be coming together a little to get a good night's sleep, and get rid of the little clouds.

[carbungle]

[....

come again, they're doing what now?]

What do you mean?

[twistedempathy]

[Ah, is his cloud still gone from petting his Pokémon? Well, he's sure it'll reappear eventually to demonstrate his point. Noct must not have gotten one at all then, hmmm? Lucky him!]

Oh--I guess you're still pretty new, huh? People have had little clouds over their heads that show their thoughts this month. They come and go, but while they're around, touching people makes them poof for a while.

And these little cuties--they're kind of loud at night, aren't they? Sharing a bed makes it quieter; they avoid your room if you sleep with someone.

[carbungle]

[um. okay.]

The beds aren't that big, though... it'd be a tight fit.

[It's not like he's never slept close to other people before - shared plenty of tents on the road with his buds - but that's a bit too much of a squeeze to be comfortable for him.

He's not even sure how to deal with the cloud thing. That just sounds out of this world. ...Though that is his entire situation right now, so maybe it's not that far off.]

[twistedempathy]

Hehe~ Yeah, you do have to get pretty cozy with each other. It's not bad as long as you don't mind a little cuddling, though!

[carbungle]

[yikes.]

Maybe it'd be fine if it was a chocobo... but I'll have to manage without.

[twistedempathy]

You like cuddling with animals better than people, huh?

[Have an amused grin--before he does a double take a moment later, tilting his head curiously at Noct.]

Wait, chocobo? Are you from Eos?

[carbungle]

Uh, yeah, of course.

[Animals give the best cuddles, okay.

The curious look is returned, of course. He hadn't expected that response.]

You know about it?

[twistedempathy]

Hehehe! I can't say I blame you; hugging people is nice, but nothing beats cuddling Pokémon.

I've met a few people here from Eos, though--it's kind of strange that there are more than one or two of you. Only a few other people seem to have anyone they know here at all.

[carbungle]

Yeah... that's one way to say it.

[Strange... though probably not for the same reasons as Will might mean; usually it's his friends who follow him (to keep him alive more often than not) so the reverse is a bit weird. But what's more strange is the younger version of his father being here. It's left him somewhat lost and conflicted on how to feel about it all.

All of that is private and has nothing to do with this conversation, though, so-]

What's Pokemon?

[twistedempathy]

They're..... uh, I'm still not entirely clear on all the differences between them and animals. But everyone else's worlds seem to have animals, and mine has Pokémon.

From what I've heard though, Pokémon are usually smarter than animals, and they can do things most animals can't, like use elemental attacks?

[Gee, Noct, it's almost like you're deliberately avoiding the other topic you just asked about..... But it's your world, so he guesses it's your right to deflect if you really want to.]

[carbungle]

[The word you're looking for is parry! That's how you handle adult conversations, right?]

Huh... yeah, that is unusual. There are some animals that can use the elements on Eos, but they're more monsters than everyday creatures. Not much good for cuddling, either.

[Though it might be funny to watch someone try.]

[twistedempathy]

[.....Right, sure. That's absolutely how you handle adult conversations. Just you wait, Noct. Will is absolutely going to figure out how to train monsters if he ever makes it to Eos, and he's gonna cuddle the hell out of them the second he manages.]

A couple of mine managed to make the trip with me! You think it might scare the mice if I let one or two out of their balls?

[carbungle]

[If he's still alive at that point it'll be something to popcorn! Cool.]

Their... balls?

[wtf does that mean

He glances around at the mice, and very gently scoops a couple up while they nibble at their fruit, depositing them reluctantly into the basket like he's supposed to. The rest seem content on their pillowcase blanket with the remaining food, so he nods.]

I guess so, yeah. Maybe start with one and see how it goes.

[twistedempathy]

Mmhmm! They can go into Pokéballs for easier traveling. Like this--

[Will produces a tiny Pokéball with a flick of the wrist, as though performing a magic trick. A click of a button enlarges it, and he twists where he's sitting, pointing it behind him and away from the mice. The red light that spills out shapes itself into a Flareon, ears perked and tail wagging.]

[carbungle]

[Okay, that's fun to watch. Like the Armiger for animals, in a way- at least, that's his only frame of reference. Noctis can't help leaning in as the creature forms out of nothing, nor can he help the smile that creeps across his lips as it comes alive and moves. It's so cute and fluffy...]

That's awesome. Is it friendly?

[can he pet it]

[twistedempathy]

She sure is! Go say hi, Arche.

[The Flareon trills and trots right over without so much as a trace of fear, putting a paw on his leg. Love her, Noct. Looooooove heeeeeeeeeer. She demands petting as tribute.]

[carbungle]

[Oh. Oh, no. She's so cute and fluffy. Noct doesn't even hesitate, immediately reaching his hand out to brush it through her… fur? It kinda looks like fire, but it also looks soft and fuzzy and- yeah, he's gonna pet the hell out of her, and look absolutely delighted as he does it.]

Haha… hi there, Arche. Aren't you friendly? There's a good girl...

[twistedempathy]

[It's definitely super soft fur--but it is awfully warm, too, like he's petting a fluffy space heater. She immediately moves to crawl into Noct's lap--sorry, mice, this is her spot now--to monopolize his attention, nuzzling into his hand and purring. Even Will has to grin at the sight.]

Awwww..... looks like she likes you already!

[carbungle]

[Oh noooo, she's too precious. He's gonna die. He shows no qualms whatsoever about indulging her, using both hands now to stroke through her fur, marveling at the unique warming sensation of it.]

Are there different kinds of Pokemon?

[twistedempathy]

Mmhmm! There are hundreds of species. Only a few of mine made it here with me, though.....

[The mice haven't scattered yet, so they should be fine..... Will produces another Pokéball, this time releasing a Chansey.

Arche, meanwhile, is happily milking this attention for all it's worth; soon enough, she's sitting up and putting her front paws on Noct's chest, all the better to balance while covering his face in puppy kisses. If he wasn't a Disney princess before.....]

[carbungle]

[Oh, gosh. Puppy kisses don't discourage him at all; he mumbles a half-hearted, "hey!" and feigns trying to prod her off, but in the end he pretty much just lets her do whatever she wants, laughing quietly. A very good girl indeed.

Meanwhile his gaze drifts to the new arrival, brows lifting in curious confusion.]

An... egg?