Test Drive: AUGUST

[empevents]

— 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.

Comments

[dj_jiraiya]

[It took a moment, his eyes too focused on his knees and his music to realize someone was in his line of sight. When he did notice, Yosuke couldn't help his eyes widening and the grin following suit. Geez, Yu must have a sixth sense or something.

He pushed his headphones down as he stood up from his crouched position, waving to get his friend's attention.]

Partner! You're here too?! Oh, what a relief. What about the others?

[yuzanagi]

[Oh wow Yosuke, he hadn't noticed you at all. What a strange miracle of life that was. He gives him a small smile but then looks a little crestfallen.]

You're the only one I saw so far. I haven't seen anyone else.

[dj_jiraiya]

[Yu, pls.

Yosuke blinked at that answer though.]

Oh. So, just us two?

[It could have been worse, he could have been all by himself. Or stuck with Teddie. He scratched the back of his head, letting his hand rest there for a moment before dropping with.]

So, what do we do? The people told a bit about this place and I got some of the pamphlets and stuff but... it's a lot, y'know?

[Does Yu have a game plan or are they just gonna wing it?]

[yuzanagi]

Yeah. Just the two of us for now.

[For now. Yu was hope , after all. It's Yu, Yosuke. He's used to being moved around and landing in unfamiliar places. This places does lack TVs but it's got plenty of magic for it.]

I thought we were back in the TV world for a bit...but it's not like that all.

[He crosses his arms and looks over at the horizon.]

We make with what we have. They pay for places to stay for a bit, and we can find small jobs to earn money. Then....we do what the Investigation Team does best, figure out how we can help.

[dj_jiraiya]

[Yu is used to it, but Yosuke only did it the one time. TV World notwithstanding. Still, it was reassuring to have his partner here and to help him get his head back on straight.

Appreciative was definitely him, even if he wasn't totally understanding it right now.]

Well, I guess I can't complain too much about that. Be nice havin' you around again, partner.

[He scrunched his nose a little as he grinned, but his face turned a little more serious even with the smile as he nodded.]

Sounds like a good plan to me. So h- whoa, what the-?!

[Guess who just noticed all the sunflowers that he didn't remember being in the park before.

! - literally above his head for a brief moment.]

Where did all this come from?

[yuzanagi]

With at least one of you around, I know I can continue to be a proper Leader. I'm sure we'll be able to do something here together, Yosuke.

[At the sunflower comment, Yu just puts a hand on Yosuke's elbow.]

Congratulations, Partner. You've discovered a new talent for yourself...two green thumbs. It works well with your healing magic, doesn't it?

[dj_jiraiya]

You make it sound like we're gonna change the world. I don't even know what world this is.

[Yosuke just gave him a incredulous look at the green thumb comment.]

I have no idea what you're talking about, dude. Sunflowers don't have anything to do with my healing!

Wait, are you saying I did this? I was doing some funky garudyne stuff earlier and now this? I don't get it.

[yuzanagi]

Well we already changed one world for the better. Why not one more?

[It just makes Yu smile even more.]

Well one of the leaflets mentions emotion affecting things around you...if they weren't there before you got here, by logic it means you caused them, right?

[dj_jiraiya]

[You make it sound so easy, Partner. But he just scoffs with a laugh, shaking his head. Can't they just be normal for once?]

But I don't wanna cause flowers! One, that's incredibly girly! And two, what if it happens when I'm in the shower or something? Or accidentally using garudyne again?

[And they both knew how accident prone he could be.]

[yuzanagi]

I don't know Yosuke, that type of flower can be very sunny. Enlightening, if you will.

[Yu. No.]

In that case you just have to hope you don't blow the walls down, right? I won't look if it happens.

[dj_jiraiya]

[He's shoving you away. Some friend you are!]

Dude! You're not helping!

[yuzanagi]

Hah hah hah...sorry partner.

[Yu does back off pretty quickly but then he looks back at the sunflowers.]

It would be a shame to just leave them there.

[dj_jiraiya]

Huh? [He can never actually stay mad at Yu so he’s pretty quick to look thoughtful at the flowers.] There’s a lot though. I don’t think there’s much we can do. Not like we got a place to put ‘em.

[yuzanagi]

I think if we put our heads together, we might be able to find something.

[Maybe it is due to the hope and positivity he has in him, but the flowers begin to turn towards Yu as he continues to speak, stopping only when he notices. This seems to make him even happier and...little flower symbols appear next to his face.]

Look at that! Clearly they want us to take them!

[dj_jiraiya]

[Nevermind that seeing flowers light up around his face or the sunflowers themselves turning towards Yu being only slightly creepy on his list of creepy things he's seen, there's still one question.]

Take them where? I mean... [He looked at the time and then scratched the back of his head.] Okay, it's barely lunch time. Let's leave them here for now and we just go... I dunno, apartment hunting? We can come back for them in a bit.

[The flowers turning meant they were still in the ground at least, so hopefully they wouldn't sprout legs and just walk, right? Right.]