Test Drive: May

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: MAY —

Welcome to empatheias' test drive meme. This test drive is to help interested players test their characters in the game's environment. We've included a few prompts that incorporate specific elements of the game, though you'll find all of them have a lot of leeway for players to get as creative as necessary. Before diving in, here are a few things we'd like to remind everyone about the game in general:

• Date reminders. Reserves open 24th of April and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on May 1st. Apps will only be open for four days!
  
  
• OC Reminder! Just a quick reminder that original characters are allowed. Those interested can also use the test drive. OCs do not need to be reserved.
  
  
• Emotions are key! Empatheias' premise focuses on how anyone's emotions can affect their environment, be it big or small. While not every emotion will cause a reaction, significant ones definitely will. How much effect a character will have will ultimately be up to you, the player. Also, while we're giving a lot of leeway for the test drive, keep in mind that there will be some limits in the actual game.
  
  
• Everyone has an amulet. All characters have a unique amulet that is specialized for them. It will contain all of their emotion drops and it serves as the network device. Remember, communication is telepathic. Otherwise, it works basically the same.
  
  
• Assume the character is already in the game. Because "OMG WHERE AM I IS THIS REAL LIFE" threads aren't going to be very helpful in this test drive! Plus, those are going to happen in-game, anyway. So to make things easier, just assume that they've been around at least a week or so. Still learning the ropes, but not a complete "first day" experience.
  
  
• First or third person allowed. Your threads can be in either first or third, but we'd advise being flexible about it. Remember, these threads can also be used in your application for samples! Reminder: We only require one sample and it can be done in either format. We have also made a change to our sample requirements, so look over the Applications page!
  
  
• Transfer to in-game. If accepted, you can assume threads made on the Test Drive happen in-game if the scenario can reasonably fit. For new characters, these threads do not count for activity check. However, these can be supplementary threads for players already in-game.
  
  
• For your threads, put the Character Name and the Canon in the subject line to help readily identify them. You're also welcome to use more than one prompt for respondents to choose from. If you have any questions or want to brush up on the game information, refer to the Game Information entry. Otherwise, tag around and have fun!
  
  
• For any concerns or questions, head over to this top level.
  
  
  Now with that out of the way, here are some prompts you guys can work from!

PROMPTS

• PROMPT A: How about giving the emotions a try?

• PROMPT B: Refer to the Task Board and choose a task your character may be interested in taking up. For this prompt, you could have your character ask for help, already be in the middle of the job, or react to it in some way. Perhaps they were an unfortunate victim or want to create a job countering an existing one. You could even have a prompt making a job request. Creating jobs for the purpose of the test drive is absolutely doable.

• PROMPT C: How about giving the amulets a go? Start a telepathic conversation and see how it works. Remember, the amulets are sending out the owner's thoughts so might want to be careful about how the stream of consciousness goes...

• PROMPT D: Perhaps one may have heard that Verens used to be a floating island, and it was! When the island then ended up on the surface, creatures which explorers have called "Dinosaurs" (quotation marks included) were discovered inhabiting the plains and the mountains in a far off area. It's time to go back to the jurassic world for a very important mission: gather as many Amaranthus Rubus, red pearl-shaped fruits that heal any and all wounds on one's skin. The hospital needs it! As such, one needs to prepare.

Explorers do not wish to harm the "Dinosaurs", as they are afraid the "Dinosaurs" would go extinct should any danger be placed unto them. This means that one's option when encountering volatile and aggressive "Dinosaurs" is to run away. A fun run is now being held in Verens a few days prior to the trip to the "Dinosaur" plains, where 50 sylvs and a t-shirt that says "I successfully ran away from a 'Dinosaur'!". The colour of the shirt is random, though, but there are as many as the colours of the rainbow. Maybe trade with somebody else who's finished the run if you don't like yellow so much.


• PROMPT E: Once the preparations have been made, it's time to set forth into the land of the “Dinosaurs”. As you enter their domain, it may be difficult to resist the temptation to interact with these rare and unusual creatures, and some of the “dinosaurs” are indeed tranquil and herbivorous. Go ahead and feed the long-necks leafy branches and if you're feeling daring, climb up on their backs for a ride! However, many of the “dinosaurs” are quite a bit more dangerous, and they are very territorial. If you cross paths with the a pack of raptors, prepare to run, fight, or distract. All explorers have been supplied with strips of alluring jerky to placate the beasts. Who knows, you might even make a friend! Be careful not to lose and hand, though.

The Amaranthus Rubus is thickest near the home of the most terrifying “dinosaur” of all, the "Tyrannosaur", and if you are daring enough to approach the lair of this creature to reap the fruits, you may not even have the chance to run away before the creature corners you, roars, and...wiggles his sad, little arms. It seems poor old "Tyrannosaur" just wants some kind of tool to extend his reach! Help him out and he will let you go. Or refuse, and he'll eat you. Sounds reasonable, right?


• PROMPT F: It seems like the land of the "Dinosaurs" isn't so bad after all! Perhaps "Dinosaurs" and man can co-exist, but for that to happen, much research will have to be made regarding a "Dinosaur"'s way of life. Now aboard the ship to head back to the city, researchers are talking about another excursion in the future that's solely for researching on "Dinosaurs" - various species, what they eat, their excrement, and the like.

The trip back to Verens is a little long. Perhaps you're just resting in one of the rooms when there's an explosive sound that can be heard. Oh no! It looks like the engine's running out of steam! Luckily, there's a steam generator in the ship, but steam can only be made through cooperation, anger, and sadness. The entire ship needs your help to get back to the city safely, and if you have to hold someone's hand, slap them, and yell at them to get them to manifest their emotions tangibly, then do so!


• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include swords and/or stones.

Comments

[mamorus]

[ With their history, Mamoru isn't surprised that she's late. It's part of their dynamic, but he wouldn't say it's opposites attracting. While it's true he's studious, punctual, and a little reserved when compared to Usagi's social and outgoing personality, they both share a sense of responsibility concerning their roles as protectors. While it's fun to spend time with Usagi, while she brings a certain life and sense of adventure to his day, he can't help but fall in love all over again when she shows that strong, kind, determined side during their trials. ]

You're late.

[ That doesn't mean he's not going to point out the time, but his voice is far from harsh. It's just that the letters are very important.

He lifts his bag, which contains the initial letters. ]

Luckily, our first destinations are nearby.

[lightthedarkness]

Ah... yeah, sorry for making you wait. [She blushed and scratched the back of her head.]

But! I needed to change! [She gave a little twirl.] Usagi Tsukino, special delivery girl at your service!

[She gave a salute.] Let's go deliver our letters!

[mamorus]

[ Her tardiness usually has some reason or another - not always good ones - but the quality isn't a new one and Mamoru loves her. He has to admit she looks adorable in her uniform. Necessary for the mission? No, but it makes her happy.

Ready to start their task, he pulls an envelope from the bag. It's pink and sealed with a heart-shaped sticker. ]

They're already sorted by location so this one should be closest.

[ Though Mamoru doesn't comment, it looks very much like a love letter. ]

[lightthedarkness]

This is so exciting! We've never done anything like this together! [Any "mission" together was usually something dangerous, harrowing, and usually a villain falling in love with Mamoru.

So a nice little "deliver mail" task? Sign her up again and again! She grabbed some of the letters with one hand and put them in her own messenger bag so he didn't have to carry everything and then grabbed his hand.]

Let's go get these delivered!

[mamorus]

[ They have a hard life. ]

Ah, Usagi... [ He's not sure why he's surprised she's enthusiastic to go. Late but ready when she arrives. Even if he tries, and usually manages, to be strict with her, even he finds amusement in it.

He motions to a house not terribly far from where they're standing. ]

That's our first address. [ Which means they won't be getting lost from the start. ] This will be a good opportunity for me to learn my way around, too. You've really been here for three years? I know that time and space can be manipulated, but it feels odd to hear you've been living a different life when it feels like I'd walked you home only the day before.

[lightthedarkness]

[She nods, pumping her fist before grabbing his hand and guiding him towards the house.]

Should we just leave it in a mail slot or a mail box? Or should we knock and give it to them by hand?

[At the mention of living a different life, she looked away and her grip on his hand tightened, shaking.]

Does... does it bother you that I'm older? That I was away for so long?

[mamorus]

It looks especially important. It might not be our place to knock, but if there's a slot on the door, we should slide it inside.

[ Maybe it's not a love letter. Girls often used cute stationery. But if it were, putting it in a mailbox seemed impersonal if there were other options. Of course, for many, there wasn't. In that case, it can't be helped. ]

Usagi, a few years won't change how I feel about you at all. We've seen a future that has us living together for a long time. [ And she's just as beautiful then. Admittedly, it feels like a practical answer, but Mamoru likes to see the sensible side of things. It is odd to suddenly have her be the older one, but that's hardly an obstacle. Nothing will make him love her less. ]

It bothers me to think you were in this place alone. [ Mamoru knows how important he and her friends are to her. To suddenly be pulled away from all of that had to be difficult. There are others now, but if he understands right, that's a fairly new development. ] I wish I could have been here with you.

[lightthedarkness]

[She paused and smiled, turning back to him and wrapping her arms around his chest. She wished he could have been there as well. She swallowed and felt her eyes start to burn but she wanted so desperately not to cry again.]

You're here now. [She whispered, shaking.] Please... promise we'll go home together from now on.

[mamorus]

[ Immediately, he wraps her into an embrace. He may not always humor every time she cries, but when he can understand the reasoning, he'll move the Moon and the Earth to stop it. He can't imagine what it must have felt like, living in a world away from everyone you love.

Outside the two of them, sound fades and the world blurs. It's not intentional, but the desire to protect her, show her she's loved, results in his emotions creating the illusion of having their own little world. Mamoru is so lost in Usagi that he doesn't even notice. ]

I'll stay by your side. I won't leave until you're ready to leave with me.

[ Reaching out, Mamoru urges her to look at him so that he can bend down and steal a kiss. Normally, he's too proper to do it in public, but he can't stand the pain he imagines she must have been feeling. ]

[lightthedarkness]

[She looked up and wrapped her arms around him as she felt his lips press to hers and she trembled in his arms, scared that any minute she would wake up from this wonderful dream and she would be alone without him again.

She breathed him in, the scent of roses and the ocean and sky, everything beautiful about the earth. She combed her fingers through his hair and was once more home, a feeling that no one could ever duplicate, a feeling that no one but him could ever make her feel.]

I love you, Mamoru.

[mamorus]

[ She's so small in his arms. It would be easy to forget what power her slender body holds if he hadn't been witness to it time and again. However, it's another reason that he loves her and it, along with the many more, are always forefront in his mind.

The illusionary force field strengthens and now, it serves as proof of the warmth she brings out in him. Mamoru has had people come and go in his life, has loved and lost, but this is one person he never wants to be without. Let the world wait. There isn't any danger, no one will die, so for a moment, let them be Usagi and Mamoru, two youths so impossibly in love. ]

I love you, too.

[ His hand brushes across her cheek, feeling the smooth skin beneath his fingers. ]

No matter what happens, no matter where we are, I'll never stop.

[lightthedarkness]

[In his arms, she felt whole. In his arms, every problem in the world could be solved so long as they were together. In his arms, she was safe and invincible and she could face any challenge thrown at her so long as she had his arms to come back to.

She closed her eyes as she leaned into his hand and her hands finally uncurled. The tension in her shoulders finally released, like a tight knot that had been wound up and made worse, again and again, and the knot pulled tighter and tighter on what little rope was left but it was finally pulled straight and then allowed to just fall.

She let out a soft, shuddering breath, and opened her eyes, smiling up at him.

Anywhere where they were together was home.]

I won't either. In this, or any life, I will always love you, Mamoru.

[mamorus]

[ The stars that begin to shine around them are no more real than the shield, but they glow as brightly, though their light is almost lost in the darkness of Mamoru's hair.

The tension makes him want to hold her tighter, protect her from anything and everything. He fights to protect her, to love her, not because of some destiny or past life. It's true he was reborn to be her soldier, but it's his affection for her that means he can never leave her, not permanently. Even if he goes to another country for school, or she has to transfer for some reason, their love can reach across planets, nevermind countries. ]

I'm here now.

[ His voice is almost a whisper, words only meant for her to hear. ]

By your side, where I was always meant to be.

[lightthedarkness]

[She breathed him in and then leaned towards him, gently nosing his cheek before moving to catch his lips and holding his cheeks. She felt it, that gentle light that only he could help create within her, the light of their power, of the earth and moon.

She opened her eyes and smiled up at him, pushing back his hair from his face.]

You have always been here in my heart, but I finally... [She took his breath and her thumb gently ran along his cheeks.] You're here... And that's all that matters.

[She pressed her forehead to his.]

I think... we should probably get back to that task.

[mamorus]

[ Usagi is the one suggesting they get back to work. How much had she changed in her time away? But she isn't wrong. They'd made a commitment, and they needed to stand by their promises.

Pulling back, he keeps his hands on her arms, his blue eyes searching hers. ]

We should so that we don't get behind schedule, but you're really alright?

[lightthedarkness]

No.

Not... really.

[She answered honestly, but she let out a breath as she kissed him again.]

But you're here, so I will be.

[mamorus]

I'll be sure of it.

[ It's so easy to get lost in her eyes. For a moment, he does, allowing himself to fall into the deep depths. With the faintest of blushes, he looks away and at the letter. ]

Okay, then. You should deliver the first letter. Remember, it's best to use a mail slot, but if they don't have one, we can use the mailbox instead.