♥ 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

[indelebilis]

[ She frowns when he speaks, and it's then that she pushes herself up off of the ground and slowly makes her way towards him. ]

Is that what you think? None of this is your fault, Ardyn. You did nothing wrong... the fault is mine.

[ She stops, looking off to the side. ]

I made the mistake of trusting Somnus. I defied the will of the Gods and revealed that you had been chosen, Ardyn... I never imagined that he would try to hurt you or kill you. I thought that if he knew, he could accept what was to come. That the two of you could finally work together, hand in hand as brothers. But I was wrong...

[ She approaches again, lifting a hand and pressing it gently onto his cheek again. Or rather, trying to. ]

What happened to me was my own doing. I deserved what happened to me, because I was a fool. [ He's right about something, though; she can tell that there are daemons that live within him. And she can't bring herself to be surprised because of just how he was trying to help the people of their star, taking the plague into himself. But it doesn't disgust her, it doesn't make her want to draw away, if anything it only makes her want to come closer, to do anything to try anything and everything in her power to comfort this sweet man. ]

The fault has never been yours. My intentions were good... is there not a saying that the path to the underworld is paved with good intentions? I am sorry that I failed you, Ardyn.

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn was silent as he processed that; part of him did want to be angry, truth be told. Wanted to lash out and start screaming at either Aera or heaven and earth and all in between, rage against fate itself and just completely snap under all of this.]

[But that part...wasn't really him. It was the formless twisting of a shadow where a human heart no longer lived, the intangible fury of the dark given form. Repressing that was something he was used to, something he could focus on as the rest of what Aera said began to settle in.]

I knew-...that it would be one of us or the other, someday. But I elected to ignore the concept all along, I wanted to believe that once the gods and people alike made their choice then he would finally concede and calm himself. No matter how my own reason said otherwise, I never wanted to acknowledge that Somnus was no longer the brother I knew. but even in my denial I never imagined you would be caught up in this.

It's my fault, Aera. If you say it was I who was chosen, then I tell you they decided such in error. The Crystal itself deemed me unworthy and surely I ever was.

[indelebilis]

[ Aera wouldn't blame him, honestly. She'd even go so far as to say that she would encourage it, if it would make him feel even a smidge better. She has no clue what Ardyn's been through or how long it's even been since the last they were in one another's presence, but she can tell just from how he looks and how he's acting that it's been a while. ]

Ardyn... you are a good man. I... assumed the same. I love you both... you have always ever been the love of my life, and Somnus has always been a brother to me. I am so very sorry that things happened the way they did... though no amount of apologies, at least from my end, will ever be enough.

[ Because the fact of the matter, is that she had a hand in Ardyn's downfall, intentional or not. And she can't be forgiven for that, not ever. ]

That isn't true... what do you mean, it deemed you unworthy? [ Now her face falls, as do her shoulders once again. ] I don't understand. I was told that you were to be King...

[ This... is disturbing. But perhaps, if he truly was rejected by the Crystal, it was because of the daemons that she can feel swirling within him, and suddenly she feels like she's been punched in the stomach. ]

...I don't understand the Gods reasoning, but you are a good man, Ardyn... you are far better than anyone else I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

[scourgingstars]

...I understand little of it myself. But when I tried to reach the Crystal for answers after you were killed, it rejected me utterly and cast me down.

[Why else would it have done so if he wasn't unworthy? Corrupted, body and soul?]

I'm...a daemon, Aera. Perhaps more so than any other creature of darkness to ever curse our star. You're better off to stay far away from me now.

[indelebilis]

I... am so sorry, Ardyn. I don't... understand. But... what happened afterwards? Where did you go? How... long has it been?

[ That gets her to frown, and she reaches up to hold his face with both hands, shaking her head. ]

Stop that. Stop that right now, Ardyn. You are still very much the the person I love with every fiber of my being. I will never stay away from you... I care not for what you think of yourself. You are no daemon, you've never been anything short of a wonderful, intelligent, brave man. Nothing will ever change my mind on that.

[scourgingstars]

[It was nothing more complex than that touch which got him to crumble; pulling her into a hug and hiding his face against her shoulder. No matter how much pain he felt, he couldn't break down in front of her. He didn't have any tears left to shed, and he wouldn't dare show her such a ghastly appearance.]

...two thousand years. It's been two millennia.

[indelebilis]

[ This poor, sweet man. He's been through a lot; it's been mere hours, at least to her, since the last she saw him, but when he speaks he says it's been two thousand years and it's certainly more than a little shocking. Aera loops her arms around his neck and runs her fingers through his hair, squeezing her eyes shut.

Ardyn can't die, he hasn't changed in two millennia... she can't imagine what he's been through and what he's seen. How tired he must feel. No one is meant to live forever, and yet Ardyn seems to defy that logic. ]

Two millennia... oh, my sweet Ardyn. You poor thing... have you been alone this whole time?

[scourgingstars]

[He didn't answer right away, struggling to keep his composure. This was real, he was sure of it--after a thousand dreams and hallucinations, his Aera was real and warm and solid in his arms.]

None of this is your fault. I never blamed you for any of it, and I will do nothing of the sort now.

[indelebilis]

[ She shifts, just a little bit, and moves to press her forehead against his, offering him a shaky smile. ]

I love you more than words can ever say, Ardyn. The Gods have seen fit to give me a second chance, and I wish to spend this time with you. So long as I am here, I promise you this: you will never be alone again. I will never allow anyone to hurt you in such a way ever again. I swear it.

[scourgingstars]

I should be the one saying that. I'm sorry, Aera--I'm sorry I failed to protect you. I'm sorry that I'm...whatever this terrible thing before you is. But I swear I'll not fail you again, no matter what it might take.

[indelebilis]

Stop that. You did not fail to protect me, I failed to protect you. And there's nothing terrible about you... you are the very same man I fell in love with, nothing has changed. You've never failed me, Ardyn... you never have, and you never will.

[ She can't help it. She leans in to quickly peck the poor man's lips, before she draws back just enough to flash him a bright smile. ]

Come, now. Tell me of the life you have made here in this strange world... tell me of all the adventures you have gone on.

[scourgingstars]

I've done nothing of any note, truly. It turns out brother's descendants seem far more patient than him; I've been staying with one of them since my arrival not too long ago.

[indelebilis]

I have met young Noctis, what a delightful young man! [ She... sounds far, far too excited. ] Ah, have you? I am afraid I've yet to meet any others... if he is anything like sweet little Noctis, then I cannot wait to meet him!

[scourgingstars]

He's...certainly something.

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He's...certainly something. <small.[even if he looks punchable through no fault of his own]</small> We've gotten along well enough. I'm not sure how many generations separate them, but I came across Regis not long after awakening here. When he learned my name and the truth of the matter, he was quite insistent on helping however he was able.

...It does seem I don't exist, as far as matters of historical record are concerned.

[indelebilis]

I love him already, he's very sweet and needs to be protected. [ Yep. Poor Noctis is just... doomed. ] Regis... what a lovely name! And how very sweet of him to help you. I must meet this sweet man and thank him as well.

[ And also probably embarrass him, if he's anything like Noctis. But she's frowning again, unfortunately, because this next bit of news is unexpected. ]

...What? How? [ Oh... her frown deepens impossibly. ] ...Somnus.

html is cursed

[scourgingstars]

They've not doubted my word yet, at least. No matter how surreal a lost and erased member of the bloodline must sound in concept.

forever cursed tbh

[indelebilis]

Well, now they cannot, because I am here to confirm your story to be true. Besides, no one is allowed to deny nor doubt your story.

[ So says the Oracle, who will gladly flail in someone's face and cause a scene all in Ardyn's name. ]

[scourgingstars]

You needn't go to any trouble to defend me, my beloved.

[indelebilis]

Don't be silly. It is never any trouble.

[ He is going to get no warning as she throws her arms around him again and closes her eyes, merely happy to be in his presence. ]

I simply will not stand for anyone trying to say otherwise, dear.

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn staggered a step or two as he caught her, thrown off guard but managing to keep his balance.]

Just...promise me you'll stay out of an overabundance of trouble. Please.

[indelebilis]

[ She gasps when he asks her such a question, looking up at him as if she were some sort of puppy who'd just been kicked. ]

Dearest Ardyn, when have I ever gotten into any sort of trouble?

[ She pauses and then glances off to the side, because... yes, she can recall more than one time she's promised him to not get into trouble and... went ahead and did the thing. ]

...I can make no promises, but I will do my best to try, dearest.

[scourgingstars]

[He laughed softly for possibly the first time in two millennia; sincere, but with a note of deep exhaustion.]

That's enough for me. More than enough, so long as you're here.

[indelebilis]

[ His smile, tired as it sounds, is like music to her ears. And she wants to hear more of it, she's determined to make sure that he laughs more. ]

Now you are just being far too kind. Besides, what sort of trouble could there be to get into around here, hm?

[ Tell her, Ardyn. Tell her your secrets. ]

[scourgingstars]

This realm is...'strange' sounds an understatement. There's simply no telling what could happen or who could arrive next.

[indelebilis]

I see. Does this mean that I will not have to make my own fun?

[ Because as he very well knows, sometimes the trouble doesn't come to her. Sometimes, she is the trouble, and he should know better than anyone what could happen if she were to get too bored. ]