memepatheias | Test Drive: AUGUST

— TEST DRIVE: AUGUST —

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 25 July and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on August 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: Mystery boxes have begun to turn up not only on people’s doorsteps but also anywhere they go - at their workplaces, dropped off on their cafe tables, even falling out of trees or windows right in front of them. There is nothing special about the boxes themselves - nothing is written on them and they are made out of generic cardboard - but they may contain items such as a set of cute furry animal figurines, a ring of old tarnished keys, or a fancy but stained secondhand fedora. Others, however, have more sinister, mysterious contents, such as a black coat with a muddy hem, a blood-spattered kitchen knife or even what looks like a severed bloody finger. Ask around about who has been leaving these boxes all over the place, and you will get conflicting reports. Otherworlders lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a person suddenly in a hurry to leave the scene will learn that this person behind the mystery boxes can appear as a man, or a woman, or neither.

• Prompt E: Receiving a mystery box has its pros and cons. Some items give so much emotion and energy to a person, exaggerating everything they feel and think. It's a good thing at times, because when one is happy, they truly are HAPPY! When one feels like they're on top of the world, they may end up floating! However, there are instances in which the other person feels like they're drowning due to sadness, in which case, they may feel like they're underwater and need air to breathe. Don't worry! In times like these, all you need is a slap in the face to make you feel better! Or if that's too physically hurtful, others have discovered that crying stops the hyperbole of emotions, too.

• Prompt F: Investigations eventually lead to the founder of the cryptocurrency EmoGold who goes by the pseudonym "Sato" to be the one sending out mystery boxes to people. It seems the emotional currency has taken a dive in terms of exchange rate between EmoGold and Sylvs that he thought giving out mystery boxes to people would make them want to learn more about EmoGold and mining… sadly that didn't work and only proceeded to creep people out! "Sato" is now under custody of the Enforcers, and all the furniture in his house (strange and unique as they may be) is now up for auction! A lamp that looks like a cow and shoots light out of its eyes for 5,000 sylvs going once… going twice… SOLD!

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include forks and/or snow.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Upset is a great way to put how Kieran feels right now. But his emotions (and the shadows they're literally casting) do lighten up a bit when Aziraphale addresses him. Just the notion that someone else is willing to come help him out puts him at ease, even if it's just a smidgeon. At least he's not straight up panicking as much anymore.]

Hello, um, sir.

[It's not the most vivacious of greetings, but it's as good as we're going to get with the current level of distraction.]

Sorry, I just... c-couldja help me out? I got no clue on how to...

[Kieran trails off, trying to find the right words to describe overdramatic shadows rippling from his feet. Oddly enough, that's never really happened to him before.]

...turn these off?

Please, call me Aziraphale.

[He doesn't mind being addressed as 'sir'. It's quite nice, in fact. But he doesn't want this man to stand on ceremony with him. He nods briskly, and draws himself up, beginning to breathe very obviously loudly and regularly.]

It's confusing, isn't it.

[He speaks between breaths, nodding at Kieran again, trying to encourage him to copy.]

I confess I'm far from expert, but I've found that if I can calm myself physically, it helps. If not, then perhaps we could talk about what's upsetting you?

[At first, Kieran wants to ask what the heck Aziraphale is doing, or if he’s having some trouble with his breathing. But after he explains himself further, he starts to get the gist of it.]

[So he takes a couple of deep breaths, mirroring this nice fella who’s taking time out of his day to help out.]

O-Okay, yeah. Yeah I can do that, Mr. Aziraphale.

[The shadows don’t disappear entirely, but they’ve stopped spreading. That’s a good start.]

How’s that?

[The shadows don't seem quite as pervasive, though Airaphale's not sure if they're shrinking. Perhaps they simply are no longer spreading. That will do, as a start. He smiles encouragingly at Kieran.]

That's it, that's tip-top!

[An extremely calm voice.] May I ask what's been bothering you?

[Basic encouragement has been a foreign, abstract concept to Kieran for years now, so Aziraphale’s words are met with equal parts astonishment and, most importantly, gratitude.]

[He grins, ready to thank Aziraphale for his kindness, but then the next question pops up.]

I’m not too sure you want me answerin’ that question, friend. We’ll be here for a while.

[This man seems very sweet.]

Oh.

Please. I have little to do here at present, and I would honestly quite appreciate you filling my time. You'd be doing a favour for me.

[He tries to be!]

[Kieran shifts back and forth from one foot to the other as he considers the offer. Does he really want to bug Aziraphale with everything that’s gone wrong ever? Probably not. Nobody wants that.]

[But, maybe he can talk about what’s bothering him right here and now. That’s totally acceptable and not oversharing, right?]

Okay. Here goes nothin’.

[Kieran takes another deep breath.]

I think it’s comin’ from the fact that I’m here, and I ain’t entirely sure where here is.

I can’t tell if I made it to heaven, if I got thrown into hell, or if I’m gonna be stuck in purgatory for the next thousand years ‘cause of all the things I done.

[Aziraphale listens with gentle concern, trying his best not to make Kieran feel too terribly pestered. He loves humans a great deal. He doesn't always understand them or their needs.

...oh.

Oh, that's something he can actually assist with - something with which he can assist, rather. He draws himself up gladly.]

I can tell you this is not heaven, nor hell, and I have some authority in that respect, my friend. If this is some kind of punishment, it's on the mortal level.

[Kieran blinks in surprise.]

[Aziraphale doesn’t look or act like any preacher he’s ever come across in his life, but he speaks with such confidence when referring to himself as an authority on the matters of heaven and hell and the limbo in between that Kieran can’t help but take him at his word, even though, to him, Aziraphale is just another guy who happens to have a higher level of knowledge than he on these things.]

[All that without knowing about Azirphale’s true celestial nature.]

Huh.

Not sure how I feel ‘bout that. But hey, least it ain’t been a punishment or nothin’ so far. O-outside of all this, anyway.

[He gestures at the shadows pulsing around his feet, even weaker than before, thankfully.]

So, uh, since you’re an authority and all, let’s say someone was worried ‘bout the whole makin’ it to heaven thing. Someone who maybe didn’t make all the right decisions in their life. What would you say to ‘em? Do you think they’d have a chance?

[Aziraphale gives him the gentlest of smiles. He can't be too explicit about the source of his knowledge... but if Kieran might eventually suspect, it's not as though Kieran would be the first to do so.]

Indeed.

I believe there's always hope, yes.

[Sometimes in the form of a demon best friend.]

If one tries to do right, and truly regrets bad decisions... I believe that counts.

[No worries, Aziraphale. Kieran here isn’t likely to suspect much unless it’s spelled out in front of him. Your secret is safe for now!]

[He nods at Azriaphale’s encouragement and the shadows all but disappear entirely.]

Yeah.

[Kieran smiles.]

I like that. I hope you’re right, friend.

Friend, yes!

[He's delighted at that, even if it's possibly more of a polite word than an actual declaration of lifelong friendship, because really, they've known each other for all of three minutes. He would be quite happy to have Kieran's lifelong friendship, though.]

I am frequently right. And occasionally wrong, but mostly when it comes to the internal combustion engine, apparently. According to another friend.

[Aziraphale's found the right guy if he's looking for someone who'll want to be friends after just one conversation!]

[Kieran's smile widens at the prospect and tiny specks of light blip in and out of existence around him in pleasant contrast to the weakening shadows.]

Can't say I know much about engines either, so we're even on that part.

[He falls silent for a moment, awkwardly fiddling with his sleeves before clearing his throat.]

B-Been on a train once or twice, though! If that counts.

[Oh no. Oh no that sounds so stupid. Oh no, Kieran, what have you done.]

Test Drive: AUGUST

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