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

Well, I... um, well, thanks.

[He can't help the bright smile on his face at that and he takes Kieran's hand.]

Yosuke Hanamura. And uh, thanks again.

[Yosuke’s name isn’t like anything he’s ever heard before, what with limited experiences with people who weren’t American in one way or another, but Kieran gives it due diligence, repeating it in his head over and over until he’s pretty sure he’s got it.]

Y-Yeah! Don’t mention it.

[No, seriously, don’t. He’s not the best at taking compliments.]

So, uh, let’s get started!

[With that, Kieran releases Yosuke’s hand and gets to work clearing up some of that trash!]

[If asked, Yosuke could help him! He's pretty aware he's speaking to someone from a Western country, so it's not unheard of that they can't pronounce Japanese names very well. Regardless, the whole thing warms the area around them a little with his bright smile.]

Okay, uh... [There's a brief moment where he's has to locate the box he was originally carrying, and when he does he grabs it and brings it upright again. The air cools again.] There we go. Just put it all in here.

[It's then just a matter of time to clear the area up, the other shoppers keeping out of their way.]

[Somewhere down the line, Yosuke may very well have to educate Kieran on quite a few different things—pronunciation of his name included—but the nice thing about it is that as eager as Yosuke is to teach, Kieran is to learn.]

[Kieran’s also just as eager to help, and with the shoppers keeping out of their way, he manages to work with Yosuke to get everything cleaned up.]

Think that’s the last of it!

[Kieran adjusts his hat while he admires their handiwork.]

We did a pretty good job, huh?

[Yosuke hefts the box back up once they do and nods with a smile.]

For sure, thanks again man. Just give me a few minutes to get this put away and we’ll get those figurines to the Welcome Center. Someone’s bound to be lookin’ for them.

[This time, there is no mishap so his poor back is saved and Yosuke is back with a small stretch.]

Okay! Uh... do you happen to remember where the Welcome Center is?

[Whoops.]

No problem, friend.

[Kieran grins in response—although it falters when Yosuke mentions that, oopsie-doopsie, they may have another little problem on their hands.]

That’s a... a good question.

[Normally, he’s pretty good at navigation, but that was out in open country. Here in Verens, there are twisty roads and nooks and crannies that he hasn’t had a chance to (or desire to, frankly) explore.]

[But Kieran had been to the Welcome Center somewhat recently, at least. Maybe he can figure this out...]

[...or maybe he can get them both even more lost. That’s an option, too!]

Let’s see... Maybe this way?

[He tilts his head in the direction that he’d been heading before coming across Yosuke. It feels right. Kind of.]

[Yosuke couldn't help but laugh a little. Looks like they were both a little lost.]

Sure, I'll follow your lead. We can always ask if it gets to be a bit much.

[He's good with exploring and the box isn't very heavy.]

So, can I ask where you're from? Or, uh, when?

[He's not American, but even he can see the clothes are old.]

[For the briefest of moments, Kieran expects Yosuke to get on his case over not being sure about where to go, so he braces himself for it...]

[...but then he hears that brief laugh instead, and he can't help but return it with one of his own. Sure, he was surprised, but he lets it give way to the relaxation of the moment. As if in response, birdsong follows behind Kieran as he thinks of a response to Yosuke's questions. Had they not arrived in such a strange world, the second one would've come off as odd, but bearing witness himself to the many oddities of Empatheias--food, clothes, machines, etc.--Kieran is able to take it in stride.]

I, uh, I don't exactly got a home or nothin', but the year's 1899!

I-If that helps.

[Yosuke knows all to well the feeling of being a disappointment. Despite having grown in the last year, it's always all too easy for him to use self-deprecating humor on himself.

He hears the birdsong a bit as they walk, smiling lightly at it. Was that from Kieran or were there actually birds following them? He didn't see any.]

Wh-...1899?! Dude, that's old!

[Foot in mouth. It took a moment for Yosuke to realize just what he said and he winced once he realized it, cheeks coloring.]

U-Uh... so-sorry. I-I didn't mean that you were old! J-Just... y'know. That's a long time ago. For me. That is.

[Welp, whatever birdsong was there is gone now!!!]

[Nah, it's not that bad. Although Kieran does make a bit of an unimpressed face, it's clear that he's not angry. Maybe just a little annoyed at the outburst.]

Well, what's the year for you then?

[He said he was sorry!

He fidgets with the box a bit, not really wanting to answer. Because, you know, being 113 years into this dude's future was actually kind of awkward now that it was brought up. Why did he bring it up?

He bit the bullet, though.]

2012.

[Time for someone else to get surprised!]

Woah, woah!!! Hold on there!

[Sparks of light pop around Kieran's head as he cranes his neck to look down at Yosuke.]

You're kiddin' right?! 2012?!

[Literal !!! appear briefly over Yosuke's head when he's told to hold on, and the teen does. Stopping and looking at Kieran a little miserably.]

N-No. I'm not kidding. [His voice totally cracked there.] B-But I don't know anything about what was going on in the west during that time till now! I'm from Japan!

[So don't ask him too many questions about that because American history wasn't exactly the most important subject in Japanese high schools. Also, Yosuke wasn't the best student.]

[That's a lot of information there! Both stuff about the future and about a country that Kieran's only heard about in passing. The poor boy wouldn't be able to point out Japan on the globe, at any rate.]

[Regardless, any surprise that Kieran felt before gives way to some intense curiosity.]

What's it like, huh?

I mean, the future, your country... all of it.

I... um, well...

[It wasn't that he didn't want to say anything but fitting in 113 years was kind of a lot. Plus the history between the two countries (Yosuke is like 80% sure this guy is American) would be a bit of a downer in a certain part. But also wouldn't it like... mess with things? Timelines and all that stuff?]

That's... kind of a broad question, y'know? I mean, things improve like medicine and machine and all that. But like... I'm not really the best person to give a history lesson.

Yeah, sure. I gotcha.

[Kieran falls silent for a bit, brow furrowed as he tries to think of a better question.]

[Aha! He's got a good one.]

What's the food like?

Test Drive: AUGUST

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