memepatheias | TEST DRIVE: July

Entry tags:

*test drive

TEST DRIVE: July

— TEST DRIVE: JULY —

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 June and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on July 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!

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: It's been a few weeks since the city of Verens has been covered in steam. It's not so bad for some people! In fact, most establishments are saving so much money because the steam helps power their appliances and the like without the need for elemental cores. It does, however, also mean that people aren't acting the way they should. You might be one such person, or you could be trying to face your inner demons - the part of you you've always been resisting, but it's there, ever present… it's time to reach out to the truth and face yourself head on.

• Prompt E: The steam has caused a good number of people to flee from Verens to Theasthai. Here, the well-known playwright Matthew Floyd Ebber has seized this opportunity to recruit both locals and Otherworlders for the production performance of his new play entitled Hats, which he hopes would be a much bigger hit than Doves Never Lie. For a small fee (or free tickets, or maybe you just wanted to help), you have been persuaded to join in as his staff to make props, set up the backdrops and stage, experiment with emotion magic to produce various special effects, or even be extras in a huge crowd scene where everyone wears different hats with varying emotional effects ranging from calming the wearer to causing the wearer to pick a fight with the nearest person. Be warned that Mr. Ebber can be a little… overexcited and overbearing with his new masterpiece, and he will constantly redo the crowd scene until he is satisfied.

• Prompt F: If the artistic flair of Theasthai doesn’t suit you, then perhaps the more rugged Shaarnath will offer enough to occupy your time while you avoid the steam. The citizens of this desert city are readying their defenses in the event that a being such as GEM makes its way to their walls. A key component of this is, of course, the training of wyverns, and all hands are on deck to see to it that these creatures are fit for battle. Tasks to achieve this include not only feeding them (watch your fingers!) and cleaning their scales (it does get awfully gritty with all that sand around), but also sparring with the wyverns. How are you with a spear? Hopefully decent, because you just might be asked to hold your own against these creatures to test their skills!

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include apples and/or butterflies.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Of course this was her partner for the task - the wrong Rangetsu brother. Normally Velvet sleeps next door next to Rokurou on her airship but she's always been the type to take on random tasks in order to earn a living. Verens tends to be that sort of place that likes to force odd occurrences on her at times and this is merely yet another one of them.

Unlike the exorcist, this daemon does not have a sleeping bag. Instead preferring to sit upright and ready for battle... just in case. Right now Velvet is counting on the fact that he seems eager to fight this dream monster rather than her.

Gold eyes watch Shigure warily. ]

They tend to vary these days. You may find yourself fighting more than one monster in there tonight. Though I'm certain you can handle whatever is thrown at you.

Edited 2019-06-30 02:57 (UTC)

[ Well lookie here, small world even in this one, ain't it? But hey, as long as she doesn't start anything, he'll play nice. So those wary golden eyes of hers are met with a wide grin from the eldest Rangetsu. ]

Damn right I can. Wouldn't be much fun if I could take them out so easily.

[ He frowns a bit at the thought, glancing up to the sky with chin in his palm. ]

Can't say I've dealt with a lot of the creatures here so I really hope I'm not disappointed.

[ In all the time Velvet was first trapped in this world, not a single opponent had ever appeared. Now here she was teaming up with the wrong Rangetsu about to trust him within her own dreams. The only reason she didn't turn around and go back to her airship was because Shigure was someone Velvet could figure out fairly well.

While he may be an exorcist, he wouldn't let her sucumb to the dream eater. If anything, Shigure would save her if only to fight her later on. Like Rokurou, he preferred a head-on fight rather than sneaky tactics. ]

You sound like your brother.

[ Velvet has to wonder if the whole Rangetsu family was like this. ]

Chances are that you'll get a better fight out of otherworlders such as us than the common creatures. Though most others won't battle to the death unless you're trying to kill them. Or if you go after one of the Arehtei.

[ It almost sounds as if she's talking from experience on that last part. ]

[ Spoiler alert: they are.

But she'd be right about that. Just as with Artorius, Shigure only ever stuck by the guy as a bodyguard so that he could get the chance to spill his blood once he reached his maximum potential and boy, what a downer that is to have not gotten the chance to. Ah well, that's simply the way of the sword, isn't it? ]

I find that's how it usually goes when you're tryin' to kill someone.

[ And he might just laugh a little at that before he rolls onto his back and tucks his arms behind his head. ]

So what kind of dreams does a daemon like you end up havin' anyway?

[ She wouldn't doubt that at all.

Their encounters might have been limited but Velvet heard about Shigure from his brother on top of it, that has given a good idea of what the man is like. So while she may be safe for the duration of her dream, there may come a time when he turns his blade against her once more. ]

The individuals here a bit soft, though a few have come after me with the intent to kill instead of save.

[ She scoffs lightly at the thought of anyone trying to save a daemon like her. Velvet leans forward, resting her arms on her knees. ]

Depends. Used to be a lot of nightmares or conversations with my meals. Sometimes they're not so bad.

[ Nothing wrong with soft. Just not the most ideal sort of mindset to be in when someone's coming at you with the intent to kill. He can admire that sort of strength for what it is, but it's not anything he would go easy on even in the heat of battle.

He gives a chuckle at the whole saving thing. Ain't gonna touch that one since there's personal interest there what with a baby brother having become one and all. ]

So you're the type to play with your food before you eat it, huh?

[ While that might instill a sort of fear or even disgust in some people, Shigure just hums to himself with amusement. ]

Gotta be messy.

[ Truthfully, the softness of others is the main reason Velvet had others try to reach out and be her friend. Which was partially a good thing in that she had people she wanted to protect but ended up terrible when those people left. A lost friend was what caused her to attack Sosyne in the first place.

Most of the people here don't seem to think that her past matters, and she has to wonder if any of them have changed their tune after all she's done. Both here and back home. ]

A lot of meals tend to fight back, though that was true even before I became a daemon. Prickleboars weren't exactly forfeiting their lives so I could make a meal out of them.

[ A small shrug of her shoulders. ]

Exorcists put up more of struggle even after they were eaten.

[ Lucky for Velvet, Shigure's just not the sort of guy to judge a person based on their past or whatever actions they might have done. Considering the shit he's done? He's got no right to judge anyone lest he make himself a big ol' hypocrite. That and, do whatever you want with your life, you know? ]

Well now you're just makin' me hungry.

[ And he pushes himself up at that to reach over for the bag he brought with him. Digging around in there, he pulls out a piece of fruit which he holds out to offer to the daemon. ]

Ain't no exorcist but it's all I've got.

[ So he's not going to be pissed to learn that she finally got to kill Artorius? That she stole the battle Shigure wanted with the Shepherd. If not for the fact that he was standing in their way and at odds with Rokurou, he would have made a good addition to their band of misfits.

When he ruffles around in bag and pulls out a fruit, Velvet blinks at him several times in surprise. Sparks of light flicker like fireflies around her. ]

No thank you. You should enjoy it if you're hungry.

[ Sure he would have loved to kill Artorius. The man had surprised him all those years ago back when he first sought him out and they had their little scuffle amid the snowy mountaintops, leaving Shigure both annoyed and impressed. But they'd both been gunning for him and while he couldn't be the one to claim that kill, well, at least one of them did, right?

Although thinking he'd make a good addition to the crew. Now that would get a good laugh out of him. ]

Suit yourself. Don't say I never offered you anythin' though.

[ Mostly said to tease her, he does, in fact, take a bite from the fruit as he stares back up to the sky. Huh. Who woulda thought he'd be about to start dream sharing with a daemon of all things?

By the way. He notices the "fireflies" but, rather than say anything about that, he just sort of grins to himself. Emotional magic, right? ]

So what's the deal with you and Rokurou anyway?

[ Even as he asks, he wipes at his mouth with the back of his hand, a glance tossed over to the daemon a little curiously. ]

Wouldn't have ever pegged him to be popular with the ladies.

Edited 2019-06-30 05:58 (UTC)

[ Had Shigure been the one to kill Artorius, Velvet would not be this calm about it. She needed to be the one to deliver the final blow even if she had the help of her group to battle him in the first place. It wouldn't have been the same if he hadn't fallen to her blade. Perhaps that's why she was the daemon and Shigure wasn't.

While she prefers Rokurou over his brother, at least Shigure would have done the same and let her do what she wanted with her life. Velvet already had enough people trying to get in her way. She lets out an amused sound. ]

Don't worry, I won't ever say that. If you want, I'll even be sure to spread the word that you were a gentlemen and offered me food first.

[ Having traveled with others who enjoyed teasing her, Shigure will have to try a lot harder. Instead, Velvet will smirk back at him. And they'll never get any dream sharing done if they keep sitting here talking.

The lights blink out as quickly as they started but Velvet frowns anyway. This particular emotional effect has never happened before.

His question gets a soft huff out of her. To most people what she's about to say would be ridiculous but... Shigure is a Rangetsu to so... ]

After I helped freed all of the prisoners, I told him where he could find his broken sword and he's been following me around trying to repay the debt ever since. [ It had been crazy to Velvet for the longest time, especially over a weapon that couldn't be used. Over time it just became part of who Rokurou was. ]

Once Artorius is dead, that debt will be repaid. [ A brief pause. ] Though I'm uncertain if it counts now that I've killed Artorius while Rokurou has yet to live through that event.

[ Don't worry, he won't tell anyone about this first time emotional effect happening but he does have to give an amused snort at the whole gentlemen thing. What is it with people spreading rumors about him? But eh, whatever. This one could be worse, right?

It's Velvet's words regarding the deal with her and Rokurou that has Shigure listen closely to, even if it appears that he's not. He always listens, maybe a lot more than people think he does. ]

He's still hellbent about that, huh?

[ Repaying debts that are owed. Though, even with coming to take another bite out of the fruit he's been snacking on, there might be the hint of a smile at that. Good for you, little bro. ]

He know about that?

[ The core of the fruit is tossed then, rubbing his hand on his pants before he lazily falls back against the sleeping bag again and settles in. ]

Or you intend to leave that as a surprise for him?

[ Probably before the best or she might have to hurt him. While Velvet may be a little more relaxed this time around, she doesn't want a hoard of people pressing their friendship on her. Despite the rivalry between the two brothers and the fact that Shigure was once an obstacle, Velvet has no actual negative opinion of him. The same is not true of other exorcists, though.

Regardless of how he may appear, she knows better. He's a sharp individual who also happens to be a master of the sword. Taking in every detail is etched into his core. ]

There have been multiple times when I said he could walk away and he refused to.

[ A wave of her hand accompanied with an expression that says "what can you do about that?" Velvet has just learned to accept it at this point. ]

Rokurou knows Artorius dies at my hand eventually. I merely haven't told him that I've lived through that yet.

[ They've both known that for a long time actually but talked about how it doesn't quite feel right merely knowing what happens. Maybe learning that Velvet has experienced it now will change how Rokurou feels about it. ]

After what happened last time I left him in the dark about future events, I intend to tell him soon. I don't need him complaining to me telepathically while he's drunk again.

[ Well, damn. How's a girl like her know about a guy like him? Blabbermouth baby bro strikes again? Sure seems like it. But whatever, it's not like she'd be wrong to assume so with being as sharp as his blade... that Rokurou now has. Damn. But it was well earned. He'll just have to get himself a better one here.

Although speaking of little bro, he cracks an unexpected howl of a laugh and right as he settled in, too. ]

Oh you can't leave me hangin' like this. This I gotta hear.

[ Even if they should be dozing off to get this task done. Storytime first, then sleep. ]

[ Spend enough time with one swordsman and anyone will learn a bit about how they operate. It isn't just from hanging around Rokurou. Velvet did technically grow up with Artorius as well and he was the one who taught her the way of the sword - even if she developed her own unique technique. Nothing seemed to get by Arthur.

A curious tilt of her head. ]

It isn't exactly a nice bedtime story. Are you certain you want to know?

[ Not that Velvet believes that Shigure will have too much trouble getting to sleep even after hearing it but still... ]

[ He most certainly won't. Contrary to his carefree and forever optimistic demeanor, he's had his fair share of shit in his life. Just keeps that all to himself or occasionally mentioned to Morgrim. Boy, she sure puts up with a lot from him. ]

Lay it on me. Do your worst.

[ Except she already kinda did with eating him, didn't she? Oh well, storytime will just have to do. ]

[ Their world hasn't exactly been soft and cuddly these last few years and if they lost sleep over a story, none of them would ever sleep again. Plus he doesn't really know the people of their group all that well and this particular story involves one of them. ]

He found out that Eizen - that blond earth malakhim with us - eventually becomes a dragon. It's a few hundred years after our time but apparently Rokurou somehow put his foot in his mouth when talking with Eizen's little sister.

If you want to know what he said to her, you'll have to ask him.

[ Hey, she only ate him. And helped Rokurou fight him but that's it. ]

[ So the blond is in for a rough time, huh? Well, can't say that isn't something a lot of them have in common there but, shit. That sucks.

There's a moment of silence between them where he allows his thoughts to mull over that little tidbit of information for a period before he cracks an eye open in her direction. ]

This wouldn't be your way of tryin' to get him and I to talk more, would it? Because he can be a stubborn bastard in case ya didn't notice.

[ She totally has. ]

Edited 2019-06-30 08:06 (UTC)

[ With Eizen's luck they all knew it was matter of time before something terrible happened to him. Velvet wasn't surprised to learn it was this.

She lets the silence stretch and settle around them. It's been a long time since she learned of Eizen's eventual fate and knows how it will end even after that. There is no saving a malakhim that's been tainted by malevolence.

Even though the corner of her mouth turns upwards a bit, Velvet shakes her head. ]

I honestly don't know what Rokurou said to Eizen's sister. At the time, I didn't feel the need to ask. Talk to him or don't - it's none of my business.

[ How could she not notice? ]

Just don't trash my ship if your talks end up with swords swinging. [ That is absolutely a threat, even if it's said lightly enough. ]

[ Somehow his life now seems to consist of malakhim and daemons, especially here in this world and, gotta say, sure makes things interesting in a whole lotta ways he never thought it would. Upward and onward with the new experiences, right? Not like he's got much choice there anyway.

But fine, maybe he will ring up baby bro on these amulets and give him an obnoxious HEY BRO, interrupting whatever he's doing just because he can. But for now? For now he just stifles a laugh because oh really? ]

Your ship, huh?

[ Ah, that sure brings back memories, don't it? And while he smiles at the thought, he hums a second later, head resting back against his folded arms. ]

Fair enough. Probably not enough space there anyway.

[ Shigure is late to the exorcist and human party. Eleanor and all of the people from the future are gone now - who knows if any of them will ever come back. It is interesting how this world seems to prefer the daemons and malakhim to anyone else - at least from their world. Plenty of humans from other worlds hanging around.

Yes, absolutely do it. Even if it may mean that Rokurou starts bugging her because his brother is harrassing him on her encouragement.

A devious smile. ] I was the one to acquire [ stole ] it originally. Rokurou didn't come along until later.

[ Velvet has this habit of taking ships that don't belong to her, that hasn't changed just because of a change in scenery. ]

Just keep thinking that. [ She likes her ship intact, thanks. ] Whenever Rokurou and I get into an all-out fight, we use the arena outside of town.

[ Oh? Well colour him intrigued? ]

Arena outside of town? Don't think he's mentioned that to me.

[ Curiosity getting the better of him, he rolls onto his side, chin plopping down into the palm of his hand, and widens his eyes at the daemon with a big ol' smile on his face. ]

Gonna share that info with me, darlin'?

[ She sighs because of course he's intrigued. ]

It's abandoned and doesn't get any use these days. Rokurou and I were going to fix it up and use it as a place for people to train, fight each other or against monsters but we never got that far.

[ As for that story, well it has destruction and physical violence - which means Shigure will definitely like it. ]

I was having a terrible week, his wasn't much better and we trashed the place. Get two daemons together in a world where emotions have physical impact on the environment, add in a battle with nothing held back and you get some intense destruction. You know how it goes. [ Casual wave of her hand. ]

[ Oh it's definitely his sort of bedtime story. Don't hold back on him now, Velvet. But alright. An abandoned arena that could maybe be repurposed? Sounds good. Might have to check it out first but hey, he's got time to do so.

Humming, he sure does know how it goes but he has to wonder. ]

So who won?

[ Baby bro still as good after they parted ways for the last time? ]

[ Now that she's back and not looking to continue her world-shaking plan, Velvet may try to get the arena up and running this time. But he's welcome to get check out the damage that's probably still there.

She honestly should have been expecting that question. ]

It was tie. He thought it was a smart idea to throw away our weapons and take me on without them. I took him down with me.

[ Because no way could Velvet let him win like that. ]

TEST DRIVE: July

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