memepatheias | Test Drive: AUGUST

Entry tags:

*test drive

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.

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[ He's truly his mother's son in regards to the whole creating/inventing thing. Or at least, he will be a lot later on in life. But hey, this is a start, right? Speaking of however. ]

That's the point, dad. But you gotta make one for mom, too.

[ And he says this so matter of fact. Vegeta wants to train Trunks in combat? Trunks can train Vegeta in harnessing his emotions into magic here. ]

Or maybe make a whole bunch for mom!

[ To which he jumps his way up into the air with arms stretched out, clearly imagining a whole field of flowers for mom. ]

She'll really like that, right?

[...what?

What?

Boy, did you forget who you're talking to? Do you honestly, honestly, think your father is capable of something like this? His face twisting into a look of shock at firstly Trunks' statement as well as his enthusiasm towards the idea.] What?

Come on, dad. You know mom would love it, right?

[ And he floats there, smiling to his dad as he comes to cross his legs and more or less just... sit there. Mid-air. Yeah. ]

She's been here for so long without you or me. We should do something really special for her.

[Look, part of Vegeta is a little proud that Trunks had picked up how to manipulate others, it was a useful tool on the battlefield to throw off your enemy. The other part was not amused at all that it was being used against him! Don't try and guilt him!

Vegeta's getting that enough from Bulma right now...

His face resettled back into that typical, resting scowl, his own arms crossing, as if he could ignore this all and the matter would go away. The thing is... he knows Trunks is right, Bulma would like that. It's just...

It's so embarrassing! And that's without even knowing how to even do it. But... growing flowers? Seriously?!

Silently debating with himself back and forward, Vegeta finally lets out a huff of breath before asking,] How did you do it?

It's real simple, dad. You just have to use your emotions.

[ Real simple, he says. To Vegeta. Yeah.

But he taps down to the ground and smiles up to his father. Don't worry, they can do this and since when does his dad ever back down from something once he sets his mind to it? Exactly. So this should be a piece of cake! Maybe. ]

Just think real happy things and I'm sure a flower will come up, too.

[...

He does use emotions, though they tend to be along the lines of anger or annoyance, a very big dose of pride, but generally not anything that would result in flower.

Maybe a toxic one.

And that was hardly suitable for Bulma.]

You're kidding me... [His gaze darted around, assessing just how public this all was, how many may oversee this going on.]

C'mon, dad. Just try? You can do anything, can't you?

[ And yeah, he definitely IS going to be whining a little as he says that, face even coming to fall some as he looks up to him. Yeah, part of him knew this might be A STRUGGLE since this is his dad and all but... it's worth a shot? Plus mom would really like the gesture so why not, right? ]

Please? Please please please please? Please please please please? Puuuuuuuuhleeeeeez???

[ Yeah he's... not going to stop until you try, Vegeta. ]

[That pleading really wasn't needed, Trunks' question having instantly won him over, that belief in him. And honestly, Vegeta has swallowed his pride for a lot more before, a flower was simple, right? Of course he could do it! He was a prince! ~~Second~~ Strongest on earth! Easy!

Another huff of a breath before Vegeta drops down, sitting cross legged on the grass, casting a look to Trunks.] Happy thoughts? [So... like ki manipulation, right? Because he can do that, he was good at that, damn good. Just think of it like that, right?]

[ He's about halfway through belting out another hundred pleases when Vegeta seems to suddenly fold and Trunks is left standing there... staring... but then quickly smiling because HAH. He's still got it! ]

Yeah!

[ And he comes to take a seat in front of his father as well, sitting cross-legged, too. Gotta be super cool just like dad after all. ]

Well... different emotions can do different things I guess. But I think happy thoughts should make happy things like a flower.

[ Makes sense, right? Although, coming to hold onto his ankles then, Trunks smiles up to his father. ]

What happy thought do you have, dad?

[...that was a good question. So much of Vegeta's thoughts are linked to improvement, or working out a problem, or thinking of how to cope with the worst case situation. Happy wasn't a default for him. It had been something he had to learn. Well, he enjoyed destroying stuff so many years ago, but it really wasn't 'happy' per say...

So, what did make him happy? Being able to land a hit on Beerus, Bulma checking up on him after a work out, the turn in a battle that looked like he was going to lose, Bulla recognizing him and smiling when she saw him, being able to get a hit in against Goku during training, and Trunks looking at him right now like he was the best thing in the world. Those made him happy.

If it wasn't currently being overridden by the fact he was sitting on the grass like an idiot trying to make a flower appear with magic! His head dropped down, shoulders hunched up as his own thoughts got the better of him, arms crossing tightly over his chest. This was so stupid!] I don't know. [It coming out a little bit more of a snap than he meant, but at least he answered. Even if it was a rather poor answer.]

[ The unexpected and yet also expected at the same time(???) snap has Trunks wince for a second but he rebounds back quick enough having spent the last 8 years of his little life growing up with Vegeta for his father so, yeah. This is normal and all. ]

Come on, dad. There's gotta be something that makes you happy.

[ And he gives a frown before he perks up then, small hands curling around his ankles tighter. ]

Remember when I beat Goten in the World Tournament for the junior division? That made you happy, right?

[Sorry Trunks, he really is trying to be a better father and balance that out with all the shit from his earlier life. He'll get there with time.

That memory does bring up a bit of a smile, another strong exhale but less of a huff than before, more of a very watered down laugh.] Yeah, it did. [Hell, it had been hilarious, seeing Goku's face with how Trunks won. Trunks very much proved he was Vegeta's son that day, tricking Goten like that. Dirty tactics were always allowed in a battle, if it got you the win.

Shame the rest of the day had turned into him losing control, murdering a bunch of people, Trunks and Bulma getting killed, and having to fuse TWICE with the idiot to beat Buu. And STILL have it so Goku won the fight.

...those priorities might be a little mixed up, but about normal for Vegeta.

So of course he was going to answer that it made him happy, but it was also for Trunks to hear. Vegeta knows he's hard on his son, but he also knows what may happen if he's not. He's seen what happened to a world that can't be protected and he's not going to let this Trunks live through the same world the older one had.] You could had beaten him faster.

[ Well, Vegeta. Hope you're ready for some pouting because Trunks sure is going to give you a can of that right now as he stares down to his hands holding his ankles. Geez, dad. Always gotta be so difficult to please, don't you? ]

But I still won, dad. Isn't that what matters?

[Trunks may be his son but he still had a long way to go. It hadn't been an insult, more a push to get better, that smile not leaving his face as his stance relaxed more, shoulders losing that tension as his arms sat in a more relaxed crossed position.] That's why you're not getting off training here. Once your mother finishes the Gravity Room we're going to find a way to break through this stupid power cap. [So stop pouting.

And if Trunks wanted to impress his father, Vegeta wanted to do the same for him. Even if it meant trying to make some stupid flower thing. Going to make the best damn flower his perfectionist brain can make. Switching his gaze to the grass between them, Vegeta kept his cool. Trunks had shown that too much concentration was not needed, it wasn't about the force behind it, but how it was used. The difference between a ki blast and flight, the same idea but at different levels.

Just the right amount of focus, on a happy thought.

The resulting flower, well, it's not much better than Trunks' attempt and in a lovely shade of blue. Not really surprising considering who it was meant for.]

[ BUT DAD. You can just... you know... not get obsessed with training and relax here or something? Nevermind that his dad really doesn't know the meaning of the word relax but yeah. The thought of his dad going into Intense Training Mode while here gets the young half-saiyan to pout a little more but, thankfully the result of a flower (FINALLY) made gets Trunks to hop himself up to his feet, beaming with a smile. ]

Dad! You did it!

[ And his enthusiasm for his father creating that blue flower causes bubbles to suddenly appear around Trunks, a means of showing how he happy he is for his father's flower there. ]

...thought it would be better. [And there was that perfectionist side, needing to be the best, to do better than others, to be perfect.

Honestly, and people were surprised that he and Bulma got along so early on. They were really alike. Sorry Trunks, with your genetics you had no hope. You got both of their attitudes.

As much as emotions helped that flower to grow, Vegeta's disappointment also caused it to instantly start to droop, losing its petals.] Wait! Stop! [Hands shooting out as if he could stop it somehow, but stopping just short to hover around it as the last petal fell off.] Damnit! [Then catch on fire. Whoops, seems he didn't learn from Trunks' mistake.]

[ Well, talk about short-lived?? Yeah... Trunks has his eyes bug out for a hot second before he smacks his have over his face and just sort of peeks through his fingers because... like father like son? Sure seems like it. ]

Well... at least you didn't set everything on fire?

[ Silver lining... silver lining... ]

[...give it time.

This world was really both horrible and good for a person like Vegeta, being forced to face the fact he had emotions, even if he hid them for the most. He hated this world made it more transparent what he was feeling, but it would force him to accept that he had them and that it was normal.

A hiss of breath got out between his teeth,] Damnit. [Less of a yell, more of a growl this time. A wave of his hand brushed a pulse of energy over it, squashing the fire, much like what he would had wanted Trunks to do before. Look, he knows he can do it now, so he will be able to repeat.

And even better than before!

Once he calms back down.]

[ Oh boy. Dad meltdown imminent?? Sure looks like it.

With a slightly sheepish chuckle, Trunks hops his way over to his father and stands there beside him, patting Vegeta's shoulder with his small hand. ]

Don't worry, dad. We could just buy some flowers. Or-

[ Please hold as he checks his pockets because yeah, he sure doesn't have any money on him. SWEATS. ]

Uh... maybe we could pick some.

[No! He will not be beaten by a flower! Or by the stupid emotional magic of this place! He will do this and it'll be the best damn flower ever! Sorry Trunks, this means your attempts to ease the situation is ignored for now as Vegeta glares at the ground, hands just short of becoming fists.

And of course it fails, the pure want for it to work was not how this place worked. Instead it results in a lovely series of cracks across the ground, sprouting out from the spot like a spiderweb. At least there wasn't anymore fire.] Fuck. [Also not appropriate language around your son, but no doubt he's heard it before from his father when he was frustrated.]

[ Trunks takes a surprised step back when the cracks appear in the ground but when they fail to split open and shoot fire or gobble him up into a deep dark abyss forever and ever, he sighs a bit and frowns some to how frustrated his father seems. He knows his dad and emotions are... not... cooperative of each other. But, hey! His dad is the prince of all Saiyans! He can do anything! ]

Maybe you're trying too hard, dad. You need to just chill, you know?

[ Vegeta and chill. Sounds fake. ]

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Test Drive: AUGUST

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omg that icon

often captures the mood perfectly tbh

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