Test Drive: January

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: JANUARY —

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:

• Pre-Intro Log. For the Test Drive, we are using parts of it as a "pre- intro log," which means not only can players go ahead and use the prompts as if the character is arriving into the game for the first time, but this setting will be adapted and continue in the official Intro Log. For TDM purposes the prompts are a little more generic and vague than what will be on the actual Intro Log, but they're relatable enough that can be easily transferred to the official log with a few minor tweaks. For those who do end up applying and entering into Emp, these threads are considered "forward dated" to the Intro Log.
  
  
• Date reminders. Reserves open December 25th and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on January 1st. Apps will only be open for four days! Because we're on a bi-monthly schedule, the next app cycle after this is MARCH.
  
  
• Emotions are key! Empatheias's 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. 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 to collect their emotions and serves as the network device. Remember, communication is telepathic, but it works basically the same as most other network devices.
  
  
• First or third person allowed. Your threads can be in either first or third, but we'd advise being flexible about it. If you have a preference, be sure to specify. 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.
  
  
• For your threads, put the Character Name and the Canon in the subject line to help readily identify them. You're 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!

PROMPTS

• Prompt A: How about giving the emotions a try? Is your character feeling particularly wound up upon finding themselves in a new place? Or perhaps they're finally getting to live out the fantasy dream and are overjoyed! Or they just stubbed their toe and are in a lot of pain. Whatever it may be, this prompt is your catchall "let's try these emotion effects out" for any miscellaneous situation you may think up.

• 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 winter in Verens, and the festivities are alive with some new gimmicks. As always, emotions come into play, so be careful where they take you! Try not to destroy the city.

1. Beware the Snowmen: Do you wanna build a snowman? All snowmen are affected by the emotions around them, and it doesn't take too much to make them come alive. They have imbibed different emotions around them, so you'll find lovey-dovey snowmen who have no respect for personal space, snowmen jumping up and down with joy, sad melting snowmen, and irate snowmen trying to lob their coal and carrots at you. A few snowmen have managed to get hold of murderous tendencies and will now try to kill you when you pass by. Good luck? It's kill or be killed.
   
2. Bittersweet Chocolate: For those looking for a way to warm up, many cafes have begun to offer hot chocolate which is said to be the best in all of Verens. It tastes delicious, with the right amount of sweetness...except to those who hide their true attitude or personality behind a facade. To people who aren't true to themselves, the hot chocolate will taste terrible depending on how much they conceal, not feel. It'll also burn their tongues pretty quickly no matter how long the chocolate has been sitting around.

• Prompt E: Candles of Remembrance for Selenium, a holiday for mourning and grief, are always going through different changes for each year and the prototypes are distributed to see if it works. Normally, when lit, the candles create an image of a person sorely missed, whether they are dead or still alive. But something went wrong with the candle-making process this time. Various scents and aromas were infused into the candles to help improve moods, but the complete opposite is happening.

1. Well, This Stinks: No images are produced from the smoke and flames, but instead, they exude horrible and disgusting smells from memory. They can range from recent events like burned cookies from last week, or the stench of a bloody battlefield from years past. The scent of the candle depends on the character lighting it, so everyone will be able to smell whatever they smell from it. It's very strong, so it's possible someone could actually feel nauseous either immediately or from prolonged exposure. But that's not all. The aroma will elicit varying feelings of regret, disgust, hatred, rage, and overdramatic despair.
   
2. Counter Whiff: On the other end, a different kind of aromatic candle is producing far more pleasing scents, but it's way too strong. It's like getting a bottle of strong, "mature" perfume shoved up one's nose. The scents from these candles have even stranger effects, such as actually knocking someone unconscious; soothing them to sleep right on the spot; or even have strange hallucinations believing that the person in front of them is the one from their memories. The candles also make those affected strangely happy with extreme exuberance, and the emotion effects from their displays of joy are just as extravagant.
   
3. Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Both candles have a troublesome side effect: their scents attract a variety of wildlife from the woods. Deer, skunks, chipmunks, foxes, all sorts of birds, you name it, they've begun to invade the city and zero in on those lighted candles, lingering around them or worse, actually taking the lit candles, which can (and will) potentially start fires. The fires can be put out normally, but strangely enough, after they go out, it is as if the affected structures and items were never burned in the first place. Now they just reek of candle scent. Attempts can be made to remove the scent, but it'll take either a lot of scrubbing or somehow creating emotions that produce a more pleasant scent.

• Prompt F: Boreas, or winter, is in the air and this month the city suffered from a number of wintery effects, partially due to the Arehtei Peromei. Some like the blizzard and mistletoe could be considered typical holiday fare. The werewolf flu sweeping the city, not so much, but that still hasn't stopped the citizens of Verens from celebrating the holiday season. [Note: Scenarios pulled from our current event, and the full details can be read here. Due to the timing, these threads cannot be carried over into the game.]

1. Hibernation: A despair filled blizzard has taken the town by storm, bringing a strong urge to hibernate with it. Characters with strong negative emotions will be hit the hardest, but most everyone will feel the urge to take a nap right then and there at some point. There are ways to ward off the emotionally induced drowsiness though as roving bands of carolers seek to keep people's eyes open and spirits light. In addition a number of hope infused lanterns have been strung throughout the city to guide travelers to safety and keep them from dozing off in a nearby snowbank.
   
2. Mistletoe:t's not just the snow either, the town is also plagued by a particularly invasive species of mistletoe brought to the island by Peromei. To citizens' dismay, it isn't ordinary mistletoe or even ordinary magic mistletoe. No, instead this awful plant that lurks in corners and on ceilings is influenced by a combination of Peromei's and Elios's influences to make it aggressive and mobile. It now prefers to slither around and attach itself to moving targets. Once attached to someone, it induces a terrible longing for the sort of love and affection one secretly hopes for the most -- anything from a simple hug to a mom to fuss over you to a new friend you can always have lunch with -- and it won't let go until its victim has found someone who can fulfill that longing.
   
3. Wereflu: In addition to the mistletoe and blizzard, there's also the aforementioned werewolf flu sweeping the city. Thanks to a foolish researcher, the infected are suffering partial or in some cases full transformations into wolflike creatures. The main cure for it is positive attention as like the mistletoe, the afflicted will be driven to seek it out and the more they get, the sooner they'll be back to normal. If left unchecked, it can lead to more feral aggressive behavior, so Otherworlders and natives alike have been warned to be cautious when attempting to help those affected.
   

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include paper snowflakes and/or cinnamon.

Comments

Nino Lahiffe | Miraculous Ladybug (Different canon-point)

[djbubbles]

[Prompt D-1]

[Carapace woke to find himself laying in snow. He sits up on edge and a little bit of fear, but after a moment, he realizes that he's clearly not in Paris anymore. Did Party Crasher get him and now he's inside the disco ball hands like Viperion and anyone else Party Crasher might have gotten?

No, he's sure it would look more like something out of a disco club, not winter wonderland.

Then suddenly he sees coal and carrots thrown his way and he moves to dodge them, then throwing his shield at it. He manages to destroy it, but then more snowmen show up and he quickly gets surrounded.

Anyone want to help him out?]


[Prompt E-2]

[Nino noticed that something was happening and after asking someone, he found out that it's some holiday honoring those that passed away. It reminds him of Armistice Day, only it's more than just fallen soldiers.

He walked over to where unlit candles are, with Wayzz under his hat. He decides to light one up even though he hasn't really lost anybody. It just seems right to do.

Once he lights it though, it gives off a very strong smell that he can't help but feel the urge to gag. Even Wayzz isn't safe as he comes peaking out of the hat with a (hand?) covering his face.]

Oh my, this candle has way too harsh a scent.

[Nino coughs.] Yeah, but it feels...comforting...somehow...

[He starts feeling sleepy and he finds himself moving to lay down on the ground. Wayzz tries to stop him, but it's no good and Nino ends up falling asleep.

Wayzz tries to pinch Nino. It does no good. Now he doesn't know what to do.

He might wanna hide before someone sees him and Nino sleeping on the ground...]


[Prompt F-3]

[Nino had been feeling sleepy and depressed for a while, then the Wereflu hit him. Thankfully it didn't affect Wayzz but the situation did worry the Kwami.

At the moment, he's running around outside as a wolf. Having much more energy then when he had felt tired and depressed before. Though perhaps someone should try to keep Nino inside and hopefully not end with infected themselves.]

Prompt D-1

[voicelessly]

[ Some of the snowmen she had come across seemed pleasant enough, others seemed to be a little more rude than she would have liked. As she made her way through the snow, it was impossible to distinguish between the types of mannerisms two just by looking at them.

But when she saw a group of snowmen surround someone aggressively, it seemed safe to assume that they were of the rude variety of snowmen.
 
Red quickly approached the sentient piles of snow, dragging her Transistor sword behind her, and swung it with a great cleave, decimating a few of the snowmen into nothing but piles of snow. ]

E-2

[beexceptional]

[Queen Bee has made it a habit on her patrols to find people who have been sleeping in the snow at least get somewhere where they wouldn't accidentally freeze to death. It's not exactly a fun superhero gig, but leaving people to die isn't exactly something Chloe wants to do.]

[So Queen Bee has been a walking alarm clock.]

[And here's another person sleeping where they shouldn't and she's ready to drag them to wakefulness when she realizes she KNOWS this person.]

[....well, that's going to be yet another point of stress.]

[After thinking a minute, she sighed, found an out of the way place to detransform and will approach a sleeping Nino.]

[One advantage to not being Queen Bee, she didn't have to be near as nice.]

HEY LAHIFFE! [A nice loud yell as she approaches.]

[At least that whole process meant she wasn't paying attention to any small green flying things.]

Swaine | Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

[porkpocket]

[C - image]

[ So, this is all a lot to take in. The Welcome Center has been helpful for getting a general understanding of the situation, but Swaine knows from experience that there's no beating the informative power of some personal accounts. So it's time to try these amulets out and gather some useful information. ]

Hello, you lot. My name's Swaine, and I'm new to this place. I'm still getting my bearings here, but, well, everything's easier to handle with friends, wouldn't you say? So let's take the time to get to know one another, shall we? Here's some good questions to start with. How long have you lived here and what's been the hardest thing to adjust to?

[D-2]

[ Swaine's not super fond of the cold, so he's hardly going to turn down warming up with some nice hot chocolate. Except his first sip ends with him pulling a dissatisfied face. ]

So much for truth in advertising.

Noncanon because there's already a Minako and does Swain really deserve to exist in a world with two

[loveandwillpower]

No, no, I've heard of this. You can only drink it if you're pure of heart!

[ She smugs at him over a cup of her own drink. Siiiiip- ]

he probably does deserve it tbh

[loveandwillpower]

[ spits it directly in his face like she's a pokemon using water gun ]

Bleugh!!

Lee Jongdae | Original Character

[itsjiaheng]

[C - Image]

So uh.. hi? I guess this is one of those introductory type things. There's gotta be someone here who knows more about what's going on than I do. My name's Jongdae and I just- oh! Holy shit!

[Ever see one of those found footage movies? Or basically the entire concept of shaky cam? Yeah. That's what this is like. The wobbly image through someone else's eyes as they hurry down a street, seemingly towards a horse. Now the horse takes up most of the view. What an amazing shot of fuzzy horse nose.]

Is this thing still on? Horses, you guys!

[Everyone is treated to a stream of unfiltered thought. Ohmygodtheyhaveponiesit'ssobigactuallyIcan'tbelieveitdotheygetthisbigjusteatinggrassthisisamazingIwanttorideitIlovethishorseandIwoulddieforhim.

This could go on forever at this rate. They let him pet the pony.]

[D-2]

[It's cold and honestly the hoodie Jongdae showed up here in doesn't do much to keep the cold out after awhile. He's really feeling it by now and after seeing a sign advertising the absolute best hot chocolate in town how could he pass that up? He's really jazzed about that. A universal concept: hot chocolate. Who would've thought?]

How about a venti? No? Okay. A big mug and you have whipped cream here.. right?

[Mug in hand he's so excited! Has anyone ever been this excited about hot chocolate? He's not even sat down yet when he takes a sip, looking content for about two seconds before letting out a sound like he's been utterly devastated.]

It started out fine, but this aftertaste..

[E-1]

[Not entirely sure what all of this was about, Jongdae decided just to roll with it and try out whatever was going on. Maybe that would endear him to the locals or.. something. In any case, free candle!

He lit it and held it with an appropriately sober expression. This was about remembrance and mourning, after all, and he didn't have to dig too deep to conjure up some appropriate feeling for it.

What he doesn't expect is the overwhelming smell of ammonia. Then it seemed to have.. flavour notes, almost. It was a bit more like formaldehyde now. Ugh.]

This has to be a joke. Someone is really fucking with me..

[The poor grass around his feet is starting to look a little unhealthy. Was it really that shade of weirdly grey a moment ago? In addition to the wilting plant life, the colours in the patch of earth immediately surrounding him seems to be... de-saturating? Maybe that's not unexpected though, seeing as he looks absolutely revolted.]

yuna | final fantasy x - will match format

[faythly]

d-1 snowmen of all shapes and emotions

Yuna has been here long enough to know that emotions shape the world, but not nearly long enough to be used to it. The snowmen are something of a surprise at first and fortunately she has only run into the more upbeat emotions so far. Or, well, that is until she finds a sad one melting to the ground. Being who she is, she doesn't want to let this snowman melt into oblivion if she can help at all, so she kneels down next to it and tries her best to manage some hope and joy in its direction.

This... isn't going nearly as well as it used to on Spira, but she tries and that's what matters. Slowly, it starts working, but it's not quite enough, so she glances up to the nearest person around. "Excuse me? Would you... be able to help me? I'm trying to cheer him up, but... it's not working."

The snowman is almost down to his head by now and she's very worried about him.

e-1 sending the fallen

If it had been something specifically for the dead or lost, Yuna would never have tried it. She knows who she misses most, the one person her heart longs to see, but she couldn't bring herself to journey to the Farplane to find out if she would see him and so she can't bring herself to light a candle for the dream that faded here, either. It's only because the candle is for remembrance of those dead and still alive that she tries it.

She lights the candle with ease, letting her emotional vulnerability seep into the candle for just a second. But that second is apparently more than enough. The scent the candle lets off reeks of dead bodies, burned and bloodied from a battle that was doomed to fail from the beginning. Death hangs in the air, mingling with the smell of salty sea breezes, and it nearly chokes Yuna. She knows exactly where this was in her journey, can almost see the bodies strewn across the sand, Gatta's broken form one of them among thousands.

Tears stream down her cheeks and as she stands there, despair washes over her, so great that she thinks she might actually break. Ironic, isn't it? After all that she has been through, after being the hope of the people of Spira for so long and being the one to finally banish their sorrow forever, that she would fall apart at a memory.

g paper snowflakes

Yuna has taken to sitting out among the merchants in the square on most days, offering to help as much as she can. When she isn't making herself useful, she practices folding pieces of paper into various shapes. This time of the year seems to fit the snowflake theme best, but she isn't quite good at making those yet. She does give it a good try each time, though, and after every one, she sets it aside to try another and refine her technique.

If someone passes by, she holds out one from her basket. "Would you... like a snowflake?"

[ ooc: for added incentive/interesting points, yuna has heterochromia: her eyes are different colors. right eye is green, left is blue. ]

e-1

[blitzcheer]

“Sorry boss, I think I’ll pass. This doesn't smell like my thing.”

It doesn’t smell like it should be anyone’s thing, the square a misery zone for the nose alone, yet the ones handing out free samples resilient (or just exasperated, desperate) in offering more of the scented wax sticks of regrets. Excuses and encouragement flow from their lips eagerly, pressing passer-bys to stay, one nudging a candle Tidus's way. That was someone else, that was just one candle; just help us see what’s the problem? It won’t take more than a second. Won't you?

But Tidus knows some of these smells beyond the taste of burnt cinnamon on the back of his tongue, and so he’s hands out, his head shaking, backing away by his heels; wanting nothing to do with one particular smell of the sea laced with singed flesh somewhere behind him. The smell of death. The smell of cremated toast. Why did he have to smell both of these things at once?

His tuft of his blond hair gives a small bounce with his exiting step from the conversation, and he bumps slightly into whoever it is at his back with an arm, catching them. He turns his head in their direction without fully regarding them, just to give a quick "Sorry!", raising an apologetic gloved hand too. But Tidus hurries to move along with that, to make his way out of this failed experiment. After weeks of miserable snow (which was still around, but somewhat manageable in small doses), more misery was the last thing Tidus wanted.

[nofarplaneyet]

You know, if you're looking for a job, I could help you with that.

[Auron makes sure that his teasing tone is gentle when he walks over to her to say hello.]

What are you up to?

e-1 (Summoners unite?)

[ninjainviolet]

Lighting candles for the fallen was nothing new for Sheena. She had been doing it for most of her life. This time, however, she decided to pass on these special candles when she got a whiff of something burning.

An all to familiar smell to the young woman, and one she really doesn't want to remember.

However, when she turns and sees the other woman behind her and the tears on her face, the summoner approaches her instead, concern clear in her eyes.

"Are you all right?"

Rey | Star Wars

[reyofsunshine]

[E-1]

[Back in Verens. After the last few months of war and frustration and futilely grasping for her place in the galaxy, Verens is for some reasons a relief. There's no war, at least. No Jedi or expectations. But for other reasons, mainly one particular presence in the Force that burns in the back of her mind even in the odd flavor of the Force distinct to this galaxy, Verens is the last place in any galaxy she wants to be. Being back here dredges up a tangled knot of complicated emotions that only seem to get more convoluted and terrible the more she remembers.

And also it's cold.

Ugh.

Rey's only a few steps out of the Welcome Center when something whizzes at her head, and her hand snaps up to stop it with the Force on instinct. She looks at the object floating a few inches away from her hand and frowns in confusion.]

A carrot? Ow! [Letting the carrot drop, Rey rubs her arm where... a lump of coal hit her?? Who's throwing coal? Rey whirls around, only to get smacked in the head by another chunk thrown by, of all things, a snowman, and one who appears to be extremely angry for some reason.

That's the last straw. Rey is stressed, stuck somewhere with the last person she wants to encounter, far away from her friends, nursing a bruise over her eyebrow, and cold. She reaches out her hand in the direction of the snowman and makes a sharp clenching gesture with her fingers, and the figure implodes into clumps of snow and powder as if crushed by an invisible giant hand.

And that's how she makes her way through the city, throwing or crushing any snowmen who bother her and sand mingling with the snow in her footsteps. Anyone else who may be having trouble with snowmen will, of course, receive help, despite the sullen expression of the young woman giving it. She's a hero, after all. A Jedi. If she can't help people with magical creatures made from snow, what's the point of her?]

[E-2]

[At a certain point, Rey becomes resigned to the fact that she's in Verens again, and there's nothing to be done but face what comes. In the meantime she distracts herself with one of the cafes serving (reportedly) delicious hot chocolate. Maybe having something warm to drink will help her mood a bit, make it easier to ignore the frustration she feels bubbling up inside her. Hopefully it's some sort of calm-infused Sosyne drink. That would be nice. She thanks the shopkeep and takes a sip... and immediately chokes.]

Eugh! [She coughs a few times, grimacing instinctively.] Awful! And it hurts! Is it meant to taste like that?

[She directs the question to whoever might be nearby enjoying (or not) their own cocoa. Despite her incredulous tone, it's a genuine question. In Verens there's no telling if flavors are off because of different cultures or because of the magic of the place.]

I think it burned my mouth! Ugh!

[w-w-wildcard!!]

[idk, if you wanna make up something else you can. i'm not your mom.]

E-1 (matching format isn't necessary! Chaz is just impossible for me to write in action tags... XD)

[pessiceratops]

So far, Chaz hasn't really noticed the snowmen. Why? Well, because thanks to his short stature, he's having enough trouble just making his way through the snow. That, and being so low to the ground does tend to make him easily overlooked, to judge by how many times he's been tripped over in his few months here. (Don't ask how many, he's lost count.)

Of course, his luck was bound to run out sooner or later, but as it happens, it's not, in fact, from a snowman attacking or being overly affectionate towards him. Rather, he's just scrambling over a particularly deep drift (well, to him, it's really a fairly average snowpile) when a mass of snow that may have once resembled a snowman comes flying and smacks him in his bony face, sending him tumbling back down the drift before scrabbling to get back to his feet.

"Do you mind?!" he squawks angrily. He's assuming someone threw that. This place is weird, but normally there's some pattern to it. Not that he can confirm his suspicions either way, as there's a nice thick coating of snow stuck to his face and frill and getting into his eyes that he's alternately attempting to furiously shake off and to reach up with one of his stubby forelegs to brush loose. Neither is working particularly well.

[sithkabobed]

[He'd felt her presence the moment she arrived, but it took Qui-Gon far too long to pinpoint exactly where Rey appeared in Verens. Until now.]

[As a Jedi, Qui-Gon doesn't believe in luck or coincidence. Providence, however, has been too prominent a factor in his life for him to ignore. Surely, it's the will of the Force that's led him to this tiny cafe... even if it's just in time to catch Rey burn her tongue on some hot chocolate.]

Are you alright?

[He says it with a chuckle, genuinely happy to see the young Jedi return to Verens.]

forgive any typos, mobile tagging is hell

[lostapprentice]

[When Rey returned to Verens, it was impossible to ignore—it felt as if a part of Kylo had been restored after getting used to living with a hole in his chest. He had given up all hope of seeing those he lost again, but now...

Well, he's not going to be that optimistic. He's been on edge for a while now without being able to sense why, so his approach towards Rey is cautious. It's likely she doesn't remember this place, or she's returned to hating him, or both, or something worse. So he stays back to observe her for a while, watching her deal with the snow.

He blends in with the crowd a little better than he used to, but he knows his height and their connection will out him eventually, hood or no. He intends to let her make the first move, and it's definitely not fear that's driven him to this decision. Nope.]

2

[starsignited]

I'm not quite sure what it's suppose to taste like, but I like it.

[He's never really had hot cocoa before, but it sounded interesting and he needed an excuse to get away from the cold. Holding the cup gave enough warmth to at least taper off the feeling of freezing to death.

He wasn't really freezing to death, but damn if he didn't dislike this weather.

He was also lying and hadn't drank any of it. After watching the women's reaction he felt incline not to. It was more amusing to state otherwise as her annoyance was a nice distraction from everything.]

Amaya | The Dragon Prince

[silentresolve]

[B-The Search for Crumpus-ST0112]
[While it's nice that this world is not in constant war, a soldier needs to find something to upkeep their training. Anything could happen at any moment that would require her to fight and defend others. How fortunate it was then, when she discovers this place has things that need to be hunted, something to change up the monotony of a morning routine. As she looks over the task board, she sees a mark for a creature known as a Crumpus. A monster that has been kidnapping others definitely needs the most attention. Though she couldn't help making a strange face at the alcohol thing being the bait...

She glances to whomever is beside her that may be looking at the same mark and clears her throat. Up for a hunt?]

[F-1]
[Rather than heed the warnings about the despair inducing blizzard, she fashioned herself one of those hope lanterns and was out searching for anyone who had fallen under the sleeping spell. People could die in this weather, she wasn't going to sit back and allow it.

Her determination keeps back the despair for now as she wanders the cities and near it's outskirts. She was checking places where the snow had piled up, pushing them with her shield to check that no one was buried underneath.]

[G]
[With all this snow, one will inevitably find themselves snowed in. The doors to the Welcome Center had frozen up and wouldn't budge with the snow piling up outside, leaving Amaya, a few volunteers and visitors stuck inside. Thankfully the Center is well supplied that they won't be any serious trouble anytime soon.

Although, sitting still is just not Amaya's style, so she finds things to busy herself. She does it so well, organizing and being productive at the Center that even the volunteers were running out of things to do. She may tap on your shoulder and gesture if there's something else she can do.

Eventually, she takes a break from being wonder woman and spend some time with the younger folks. Sitting at one of the bigger tables, she tries to brighten some of their spirits with simple crafts like paper snowflakes. She would demonstrate and then help those struggling to cut out the shapes, sometimes turning a disaster flake into a cool monster flake. There is no bad snowflake under Amaya's roof.]

[Wildcard]
[Start up a prompt instead! I'm also fully caught up with the show, so spoilers are a-ok with me]

B

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace had also been taking a look at the Task Board, trying to adjust himself to this strange place. But it seemed that just like any world, it's rife with monsters and until he ascertains what he should do while here, he might as well try and eliminate a few to help protect the people here. It's also a good opportunity to test and make sure his weapons are still functioning properly.

Thus it just so happens that he's standing next to Amaya and looking at the same hunt (really, he's considering taking all of them) when he hears the woman clear her throat. He had been aware of her presence but had made little acknowledgment as he had seen no reason to. As they are the only two currently here, he can only assume she's trying to address him, so he looks over at her at with his usual, cold silence.

What?—is what his eyes seem to say. Given where they're standing he can take a guess it's something about these hunts, but other than that he's not going to make an assumptions.]

Anakin Skywalker | Star Wars

[starsignited]

[A] Emotions!

[When he first arrived, he wasn't sure if this was some sort of dream or some sort of elaborate vision. It felt so very real, but the same could be said for most of his dreams.

If someone could really call them that. Mostly they were nightmares haunting him of things to come. Things he needed to find a way to stop ...

The second reason that filled him with uncertainty was the perpetual mini storm cloud brewing over his head. At first he didn't pay much attention, but then he realized it followed him. Everywhere.

And the more frustrated he got the worse it became.

He partly felt like running from it and partly like facing it, not that he thought either would do any good. Just when he felt like he was going to break --

The storm did instead, rain pouring down.

But only directly on him.]

You have got to be kidding me.

[B] Task Board

[To take his mind off of, well, everything he decided to do what he does best: help people. While he didn't know what geese were, certainly this would be an easy task. He's dealt with many dangerous people and creatures in the past.

Anakin went in certain this would be nothing in comparison.

He was completely wrong.

These creatures, these geese ... well, they were slightly terrifying. They attacked without mercy on top of making annoying sounds.

Somehow they were worse than jawas. And while he did his best to not hurt any of them, he partly considered just igniting his lightsaber and making a quick to it all. Instead of slaughter he used the force to lift a goose and hurl it into the other ones. These things were relentless and he needed a plan.

It was too bad he didn't start this mission with one thought out ahead of time, no doubt something Obi-Wan would have given him a lecture on.]

I don't know how I always manage to get myself into these kinds of situations ...

[D-1] Snowmen

[The more he experienced the more he was convinced that even if this wasn't a terrible dream, it was a terrible place and he no longer wanted to be here. Not that he wanted to be here to start with, but he could tolerate being sent to strange places for awhile.

Being in the middle of a war, he never seemed to be home anymore.

But it wasn't even being away or the cold that got to him. No, the really sad snow ... people(?) melting and reaching out is what kind of did it. These things were strange and were apparently made out of the snow around the city, but they were also somehow alive and looking at him like he could possibly help them.

He didn't even know what they were supposed to be! Or how they were alive. Or what they truly wanted. One grabbed a hold of his robes as he passed by, jerking him to a stop.]

Stop it. I can't help you. Leave me alone.

[Could they understand him? Who knows. But Anakin really wanted to get away from them and they were insistent on not letting him go.]

[a]

[ninjainviolet]

[ It was the sound of a voice that she hadn't heard in a while that had stopped Sheena in her tracks. She stayed still for a few moments trying to place it, when it came to her: Anakin.

But, knowing how things worked here, and having dealt with it before, she doesn't assume he remembers her--even though she recalls him even after their few conversations. She turns, chuckling slightly as she speaks. ]

That sounds like something I would sa--

[ She stops when she sees what's happening and nods. ]

I'm going to guess you're angry about something?

Eustace | Granblue Fantasy

[flamekthunder]

» d-1: rogue snowmen «
[Eustace didn't notice anything amiss regarding the snowmen at first. This is mostly due to the fact that all of the ones he passed took on his quiet, calm demeanor and remained still, not bothering anyone. That all changes when he hears a commotion ahead and he looks up to find people yelling as some of the snowmen twist and bounce through, chucking hard coal and some even wielding pitchforks. Where they got them, no one can really say.

In any case, the once peaceful avenue has been disrupted, and it looked like they were all mostly civilians unable to really fend them off. It doesn't help that the rising panic is influencing the snowmen further, making their movements more frantic. After quickly assessing the situation, he issues orders to those near him as he pulls out his long dagger. Given the chaos, close combat would be better than using his gun, and he'd rather not risk a bullet going straight through packed snow.]

Help move everyone inside, I'll divert the snowmen's attention. If you have any combat experience then take out any following civilians.

Move.

[Although his voice remains low, calm, and methodical, the instructions alone and how quickly he dashes forward hints the urgency of the situation. These may be snowmen and he doubts anyone could be killed, but people could be seriously injured both from the "weapons" and the chaos.]

===================================
» b-2/g: of cinnamon and dogs «
[After procuring some hot chocolate and some various pastries, Eustace settles on a bench near the park. Although he could have stayed at the café, he's still adjusting and prefers the peace and quiet of this area instead where the only sounds are distant laughter and chatter of those playing and socializing further in.

As he's enjoying his meal, however, he hears some rustling in the nearby bushes. Even if he's in a well populated city, instincts make him immediately alert—but he instantly relaxes when he sees it's just a young, small dog.]

...A stray, hm?

[As much as he favored them, dogs have always been a hit or miss due to his cold, intimidating nature, but he's softened over the years thanks to a certain skyfaring captain. So he takes a breath, tries to open himself up more, and reaches into his bag to take out...a cinnamon bun. Uuuh.

...Hm...]

Is cinnamon good for dogs?

[He frowns a bit as he wonders aloud, actually looking a bit perplexed as he tries to recall any kind of information he knew about what was safe and what wasn't for the animal. At this point the dog notices the prospect of food, and after some hesitation pads over to sit, its tail wagging slightly in clear hope of getting a free meal.

This is only making Eustace feeling a little more perplexed. He should have gotten a sandwich with meat or something!]

...Wait, I don't think this is good for you...

[And now the dog is whining. C'mon pal, don't dangle the goods and the take it away!

For once the usual taciturn Erune is wavering, caught between secretly happy that a dog actually approached him (if under the pretense of food) and not wanting to feed him something that may not be good for it. That would be why there's weird display of some small flowers budding underneath the bench and a rather frosty atmosphere around him, strong uncertain breezes bustling about. Some assistance may be in order.]

===================================
» f-1: trudging through snow «
[Despite the cold blizzard blistering through, Eustace traverses through the snow-filled streets with relative ease. There's a lull in the storm which allows people to walk about to quickly do what they can before the next wave hits, but the area Eustace is passing through is quiet...but not quite as peaceful as he would have liked. Although he feels comfortable in the cold and would otherwise enjoy the walk, the eeriness of the situation ruins it. Thus he keeps an eye out for any unusually large lumps of snow to investigate for any victims.

Strangely, he also has to fight off some of that malaise, certain thoughts and memories hovering at the edge of his mind, the despair in the air more than ready to take grip and pull them out. When a memory manages to pass through, he stumbles and staggers a step. For a brief moment the wind picks up and sharp snow flurries bustle around him, but feeling a few cut into his skin breaks him from the brief reverie and he catches himself, shaking his head. No, this isn't the time for that.

Closing his eyes briefly, he takes a deep breath. Slowly the wind calms and the flurries fade, and when there is renewed resolution as he continues on.

Should he find someone, he'll give a rough shove. And if there's no response, he'll have no choice but to pick them up. Whether he carries them over the shoulder, on his back, or in his arms is up to fate.]

===================================
» wildcard «
[For all your wildcard needs. And yes, Eustace has furry ears that resemble a dog or wolf and not because of the wereflu.]

F!

[scendscale]

[ And (un)fortunately for our furry friend, this young man is snoozing away a block or two away, his green hair covered by a small pile of snow. Considering that this particular portion of the street is rather dimly lit by the hope-infused lanterns, it's not difficult to guess what happened.

Despite the turbulent weather though, Alm's sleeping face is rather peaceful as if he's watching a wistful dream. There is a bit of mumbling as he turns his head in the snow, white breaths rolling out as he did so. The first few words are hard to catch, but Eustace might be able to catch the last word before it fades away in the frigid winds.

"Father."

But alas, he really couldn't afford to freeze to death out here, no matter how nice his dream might be. Care to lend a hand? ]

Obi-Wan/Star Wars

[ihateflying]

Prompt F-2
[ Obi-Wan has always been a bit (sometimes a lot), introverted. Time alone has been luxury to him more often than hardship. He could, would, and has chosen to sit alone in a cave and mediate - and not only chosen to do so, but enjoyed it.

What he has never been, is a recluse. Even had he not been raised (and spent the majority of his life) as part of a communal living environment, two years on Tatooine would have been ...trying. Add in the horror of order 66, and the death of nearly all Jedi, whom he was very used to feeling, and two years was just about enough to drive him half out of his mind with loneliness.

Being here is better (even if he doesn't completely understand it). There are people here, and more life in general, but he is desperate for even mildly friendly interaction and faces. Meals, conversations, and force he'd kill for tea with someone, or to feel the presence of another Jedi (who wasn't seething in hatred and rage).

He's just... lonely.

No surprise, then, that the mistletoe attaches to him and absolutely refuses to let go. Which, lonely or not, leaves him a bit grumpy and more than a bit bemused.]

ready for some pain?

[starsignited]

[Anakin spent his time since he arrived trying to figure out where exactly this place is and how to leave.

So far he's failed on multiple accounts, though he has gained some information none of it is what he wants to hear. Namely: How does he get back?

People needed him back home, if not for the on going war then for other reasons. Ones he still needed to process and figure out how he'd handle in the future.

For now, he had to keep himself collected and focus on getting home. Even if in doing so his options increasingly felt limited. Not to mention the snow as his tolerance for the cold was very low. If only Obi-Wan were around for him to constantly complain to about it, if only --

As he passes by a few buildings, he felt it. The pulling light in the force that could belong to no one else other than ...]

Master! I'm so glad I've found you. I thought I would be suffering here alone. Do you have any idea what is going on? Just where are we?

[He spoke rapidly in that general Anakin fashion and didn't even wait to head over to Obi-Wan. Surely together they'd be able to figure it all out. They were the ultimate team after all.]

Glitch | Original

[glitchinthesystem]

D-1 | Attack of the Killer Snowmen

[ You'd think showing up in the same place for the third time, one would become accustomed to the weirdness of this place. But, no. No, Glitch was not because there are now tiny little snow men trying to jump on him and stab him with icicles.

Currently he's up a tree, trying to kick the snow men from climbing up towards him, an occasional lightning blast being thrown down. With the canopy barren of leaves due to the winter cold it's not hard to spot the flailing boy. ]

God dammnit, can't anything be normal in this stupid place?! [ He has to look about and all he can do is yell; ]

Hey! Is there anyone around!? Need some freaking help here!

E-1 | That stinks

[ He immediately regrets lighting this candle. He has to plug his nose at the awful stench that seeps off from it. It reminds him of the life in the domes on the assembly lines. Not just the working machines but those days when other kids' hands had gotten stuck in the machines or some gruesome accident. Blood and death usually soaked the air on those bad days.

He has to take a step back from the candle and raise a sleeve to his nose, to try and cut off the smell. His face contorts in disgust as he looks to it.]

Whoever thought these candles were a good idea clearly had their damned had cracked.

C | Network
[ Well, no time like the present he supposes. It doesn't take long to get in tune with the amulet again, to focus on it and send his thoughts out. ]

So, Glitch again. Did you all manage to blow yourselves up while I was gone or have things just been normal? Well, as normal as things get around this stupid place.

[ ooc: feel free to PM or contact me on plurk christhehost if you want a custom pompt. ]

C

[sithkabobed]

[Ah. Another familiar voice.]

[Qui-Gon can't help the smile that crosses his face when he responds. Dare he say it, but he misses having some sort of bratty teenager presence around. It makes him feel like he has a Padawan again, sometimes.]

Relatively normal, as far as Empatheias is concerned.

Welcome back, again, Glitch.

Evie Grimhilde - Descendants Series - OTA

[blueberryprincess]

[D-1]

Winters on the Isle were the ones Evie had the most memories of. The snow always seemed to get dirty before it touched the ground, it never really washed any of the garbage and dirt away, and trying to build snowmen that didn't have random pieces of garbage sticking haphazardly all over was out of the question.

Winters in Auradon were a whole other question. Everything remained pristine. Sparkling. Perfect. She thought it was beautiful. She also loved that unless the snowmen were brought to life by Elsa from Arendelle? They were few and far between, if night non-existent.

And really, the only reason she's feeling this way about sentient snow-creatures is she'd walked passed one that was full of mischief.

Along with trying to steal her backpack (unbeknownst to that snowman she grew up on a place where that sort of thing happened regularly) and getting it's hands on her sketchpad, it had also thrown coal, snowballs and it's own carrot nose at her. Evie wasn't fond, and had no real way to fight back until she spotted a fallen branch that'd work well for her for now.

It was just a matter of getting to it. There's now a girl with blue hair and several scratches and bruises on her face and hands, ducking behind whatever she has to to keep out of the line of fire as she makes her way to that tree branch. Once she has her hands on it, that snowman is in for some goblin refuse.

Provided, at least, that she can get to the stupid thing.

Help won't be turned away. That thing has her sketchpad.

[D-2]

Evie has hot chocolate and it is delicious. She's good about remaining true to herself, so it won't be tasting strange to her at all. She needs this after the fight with Frosty's less pleasant cousin.

She'll be drinking this slowly while she sits at a cafe table, turning the pages of her partially destroyed sketchpad and frowning in frustration. All of her designs were ruined, whether it be from the melting snow or the snowman actively tearing pages out of her book. She'd have to start again. Not that she much wanted to. She'd never be able to recreate all of her designs so perfectly.

It wasn't fine, but it wasn't the worst situation she'd ever been in. She can improve the designs. There's always room for that much.

[Network: ]

[ Enough time had passed where Evie felt comfortable reaching out with the amulet. It was kind of a strange way to communicate, but whatever worked, right? So time to give it a shot, she supposes. ]

So are the magic snowmen normal around here during the winter? And if so, where do they come from? Also, if anyone finds sketches of clothing designs floating around, please let me know. One of those snowmen got their hands on my sketch-pad and decided to try to make confetti of it.

network

[heralded]

You can pretty much expect magical things here each season. [ If it isn't weird pumpkin creatures all over the place, then it's magical snowmen. Haruka is used enough to it that she sounds fairly relaxed though - maybe almost kind of amused, since she knows these things usually aren't too big of a danger in the end. ]

I did find a scrap of paper though. I think it's the bottom half of a dress?

Mukuro Ikusaba | Danganronpa | DR Spoilers all over the place

[corpsewarblade]

[Prompt A: Emotions and Despair]

['This wasn't supposed to happen.'

That was the one thought that had been overriding all others since Mukuro had woken up here. Since she'd been killed.

Despite how many battles she'd fought in, no matter where her Sister's despair had taken her, she kept up pace and followed along like a good Soldier. She always had. But now... whenever she tried to make sense of what had just happened, she just drew a blank.

The spears of Gungnir, the feeling of cold as her life slipped away from her, and now waking up in this place? None of this was supposed to happen.

Where even was this place?]

What's going on...?

[Despair. Somehow, that made the air around her cold even by the usual standards of winter in this world. Mukuro hadn't even noticed that the tree she had been leaning against was starting to rot away the more her thoughts circled around and around in her head.

Not least until one of the upper branches came crashing down next to her. She didn't jolt in surprise - her reflexes were firmly under control - but that was enough to give her pause. That tree was definitely healthier when she'd sat down.]

[Prompt D2: Posing as Junko]

[The chance to warm up in the cold weather was definitely appreciated. She knew how dangerous the elements could be if she didn't take care of herself - so as soon as Mukuro saw the offer of hot chocolate was available, she ordered a large cup and took a seat in the cozy little cafe to enjoy it. That was sure to make her feel better...

Except, well, she'd decided the best approach to exploring this new place would be to pose as her sister. Her older sister who, despite being her twin, was the polar opposite to her.

Cue horrible amounts of spluttering and an angry fake Ultimate Fashionista loudly complaining about how awful this sorry excuse for hot chocolate was. The burned tongue wasn't so much of a problem, but the barista had to have known that milk was way too far gone!]

Like, seriously! What kind of a joke even is this!

D2

[sobored]

[There was certainly a very specific very particular kind of despair when Junko was asked if she was at a certain cafe and after explaining no, was told there was someone who looked just like her there. A very very particular despair takes hold, one she hasn't felt since...

Okay, movie references aside, she'll head straight over there and after looking through the window and hearing that attempt at sounding like her, make her way over to her sister, an absolutely disappointed look on her face when she does. What other expression could she have?]

This is definitely something I had to see with my own eyes. A disappointingly dull cosplay, a disappointingly dull imitation, and disappointingly despairingly late entrance. It's called fashionably late, not several years late, but I could see how someone so braindead could make the mistake.

[Still, this does a lot to sort things out in her head. If her sister's dressed like her then that narrows down when she could be from. She wouldn't have shown up like that if she was from too far before or if she's from after since apparently there's some alternate universe out there where she survived the whole surprise attack thing.]

And what's with that spluttering? Since when do I do something like that?

[There's probably a few stares by now as she critiques her sister, but probably not as many as there should be. It's Otherworlder drama and it wouldn't be the first time Junko's been involved with something weird around here, so the verbal dressing down she's giving her not really near identical twin here probably is the lesser of several evils that could be going on.]

Michiru Kaioh | Sailor Moon

[lipsticklez]

[ Prompt C ]

[ She doesn't know what she hopes to gain from this. Michiru is a private person by nature, so the idea of broadcasting her thoughts isn't exactly at the top of her list of 'things to do'. Regardless, it seems like a necessary means of communication, and the easiest way to find like minded others.

And so, she gives in and allows her thoughts to flow- with the background noise of her playing her violin to help her focus.

Something small, simply, friendly even... ]

Despite the weather- I find myself longing to find a beach. Are there any decent alternatives here?

[ Do floating islands even have oceans? Surely there has to be something that might compare. ]



[ Prompt D-2 ]

The chill in the air isn't unwelcome. Snow and storms of any similar nature can be rather peaceful, and there's that slight feeling of comfort that comes from them... Even if it isn't the type of water she feels most at ease with. That hardly matters, of course, when she's forced to bundle up- and she's not particularly comfortable with the 'fashion' here. Not yet.

She's able to eavesdrop in on enough conversations to learn about the 'famed' hot chocolate, and without anything else to do- it only makes sense to pop into the shop to grab a cup.

Michiru makes a face as soon as she sips the drink, wrinkling her nose as she inspects it- first by sight, then by scent. It's not horrible- but there's something off... and not just with the way it burned the tip of her tongue.

"Pardon me," she reaches out to someone passing by. "Does all the sipping chocolate here taste this way?"


[ Wildcard ]

[ will match style. super open to other prompts as i know this tdm is a bit dated now.

come at me! ]

C:

[lightthedarkness]

MICHIRU! [The image that comes through is not one of a teenager with bright blonde hair, but a young woman who would in the very near future rule Earth. The crown atop her head and the bright silver hair are only some of the giveaways, the glowing both within the mind and without is another.

But despite turning into Serenity, she is no less happy to see one of her precious people.]

Michiru, I missed you! I'm so glad you're here. Ah, there is the lake, I would be happy to show you where it is.