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

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? ]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace is taking particular care as he traverses through this area, noting the dimly lit lanterns. It's definitely a prime area for anyone to be caught under this "depressing" snow. He can only breathe a little more light into those lanterns, enough to help stave off the effects off himself.

At first he thought he sensed movement, and his ears pick up the faint voice. Eyes narrowing, he lengthens his stride and heads to the direction to find what looks to be a young man lying on the street. Given by the amount of snow, he's been out here for some time, but not too long.

Boots crunch against the snow as he crouches down, a hand first checking his vitals before there's a firm grip on Alm's shoulder.]

Hey.

[Pleasant dream or not, this is not the place to have it. With a rough, hard shake, Eustace tries to rouse him through both his voice and his actions—but mostly actions. He's found that to be the most effective.]

Unless you want to freeze to death, get up.

[scendscale]

[ He winces when a hand firmly grasps his shoulder and shakes him none-too-kindly. Subconsciously, he registers the words said to him. Freeze to death. Yes, he definitely doesn't want to die, not like that. He needs to wake up if he wants to live.

But wake up ... how?

Alm tries to shake off the storm's sleepy snares, but even with every ounce of his willpower at work, it's hard to snap out of it. He hates to admit it but the dream about Rigel, about his father and cousin not dying for once makes things more complicated than it should be.

His once peaceful expression distorts as he concentrates. It's a long shot, but maybe whoever is manhandling him can figure out what's happening. ]

[flamekthunder]

[He can see the man trying to wake up, but is clearly having difficulty. There is an actual moment where Eustace considers outright slapping him to try and jolt him out of it, but he'll try to take a little less rough path and again give him a hard shake and just a light tap to his cheeks.]

You have five seconds or I'm just carrying you.

[Whether Alm can hear and understand him or not, it's at least a kind of warning.]

[scendscale]

[ Perhaps it's his intuition for danger at work, but whoever is trying to help him is starting to sound impatient. He wishes he can at least mumble out something in return. Something like "Don't you dare" or "I don't know what's going on!"

But Alm finds out the hard way that sleep talking doesn't work when you're actively trying to.

Now just floating in his dark subconsciousness, Alm wonders what's going to happen now. He can dimly feel the hand tapping his face - and honestly? It wouldn't surprise him if he felt a sharp pain a moment later. Who knows, it might actually help him wake up from ... whatever this is. ]

[flamekthunder]

[All right, one last attempt. Just going to give a much harder slap—and if that really doesn't wake him up, Alm is getting lugged over his shoulder.]

B - happy almost new year!!

[finheureuse]

[Eustace getting all chummy and buddy-buddy with a dog. Now isn't that a sight for sore eyes? Korwa can't help but approach. She's not wearing quite the level of fashion she's used to, for winter she adores the warm, cozy look of multiple layers expertly arranged for maximum warmth whilst still looking chic and cutting edge... And here she is just wrapped in a thick winter shawl. Awful. But for now, fashion isn't her focus.

She slides up behind Eustace, resting her elbows on the back of the bench he's sat on while she regards him and the dog with a smile.]

Oh Eustace, I knew you could be cruel but this is too much. The poor thing. [Thankfully she's quick to follow up on her teasing--] A little cinnamon should be fine. I've had a client who fed her dog better than her own family before, and that spoiled bottomless stomach on four legs ate far worse things.

[It's all said with total affection-- But that dog seriously ate way too much. And better than her on some days! Crazy really, but to each their own and all. She won't block someone's story from going well, even if that someone is a dog.]

/i already feel so blessed/ ;a; /grabby hands

[flamekthunder]

[Despite being so distracted by the dog, Eustace does notice Korwa's approach—if a little later than he would normally. So he's not too surprised when she slides up behind him, his attention still on the dog begging in front of him.

At her calling him cruel, however, he can't help but have a deep frown as he eyes her. But it quickly fades when she tells him it's all right to feed him.]

Really? ...Then...

[After only a moment more, he picks off a suitable amount of the pastry and holds it out for the dog.]

Here.

[With a happy bark and tail wag, the dog will eagerly take the pastry and circle beneath Eustace's legs before settling beneath the bench to snack on the tasty treat. Seeing this, a rare warm, gentle smile spreads over the Erune's face as he reaches down to gently pet its head. He is completely unaware that the area around him has suddenly become a circle of spring as the snow melts and more flowers bloom around him.]

;w; reaches for hi lae!!

[finheureuse]

[Aww now isn't that adorable? The dog, for sure, but also the end results of Spring coming early here. It's enough for her to want to pull her shawl off before she thinks twice.]

There we are, a short and sweet little story with a happy ending. Who could ask for anything more than that? [... She nudges Eustace with one of her elbows.] Maybe the story will continue, the man finding warmth in his new companion and in his life at large. The two of you could make a great adventure series.

[Take the good pupper in Eustace, you clearly like him. And all dogs. But this poor stray deserves a home right?! He should absolutely do it. For the story. And his own happiness, that too, that's important.]

/latches onto and never lets go ;a;

[flamekthunder]

[Yes, what a wonderful happy ending—wait, what?

At her suggestion, his hand pauses as he casts an uncertain glance back at her before his gaze drifts to the dog beneath him. He's had the fortune to be able to come across more opportunities like this, but to actually take one in... It never crossed his mind, and for good reason.]

That’s not possible.

[A small, cold breeze blows past, some frost tinting the blooming flowers.]

holds forever!! ... or until this thread ends!!

[finheureuse]

[What what why the wait what? What??

She cocks an eyebrow along with tilting her head at him when she gets that look back, with her wincing slightly as the breeze blows right through her. Good thing she kept on the shawl, which she clutches around her a little tighter now.]

Bzzt, no, that's the wrong answer! You're meant to ask "what about a name though" or "I'll need to find him a bed", not shut the idea down from the start.

[She pulls her arms back under her shawl, crossing them as she walks around the bench now so she can look at him properly and not just talk to the back of his head.]

So why, what's not possible about it? [She doesn't work in "not possibles", it's just. Impossible.]

guess this is never ending...! or I drag you down

[flamekthunder]

[There's a stretch of silence even after Korwa moves, long enough that it might seem as if he won't answer. But eventually his lips begin to part and he speaks in his usual methodical way.]

Taking in a dog requires time, space, and responsibility I don't have. I'm often out on extended missions, which would leave it alone for long periods of time.

[His gaze drifts back down to the dog, hand at some point returning to gently stroke the top of its head.]

It deserves a warm, loving home and family. I can't offer that.

[His words are a little quieter, expression bearing a hint of somber. Even if he may be thinking more about his usual lifestyle back in their world since he can relax a bit more in this one, he does often take on difficult jobs and he still thinks he would be unfit for this particular child. There's also the matter of his own residence which may be too small and inadequate. Surely it needs at least a yard...]

wildcard

[iustaegis]

[ After making it through the blizzard outside-- trudging through nearly a meter of snow-- to the shelter of a cozy tavern within the city, she turns towards her unlucky companion, who has been painted ghost-white by the icy sleet. Pyra is not effected by the temperature regardless of what she wears, but she is unlucky in that the snow is already melting and dripping off of her, which means that instead of being covered in what could easily have been brushed off, she is practically sopping wet.

Him on the other hand....

Well, her eyes lift up to his ears. Despite the short time they've been outside, there're icicles hanging off of their tips. Unable to hold back a smile, she lifts a hand to cover her lips as a giggle escapes her. Cute-- aaah, but she knows she shouldn't laugh, so within a moment she raises that hand further towards those ears. ] Would you like some help?

[flamekthunder]

[Having grown up in a wintry, cold island and never bothered by the cold to begin with, Eustace fare well enough all things considered. It doesn't mean he likes being covered in sleet and snow, but he can at least tolerate it until he's inside.

Already shaking out his cloak and following it with a shake of his head and starting to brush through his hair, he pauses when he hears the woman giggle. Realizing it's at him, there's just a subtle narrowing of his eyes, lips forming a small frown before he notes her raised hand and her offer.

Truthfully he could probably do this himself, but there is a lot and it can be difficult sometimes with his hair. So after a moment he closes his eyes and lowers his head.]

Go ahead.

[He can focus on the rest of himself and he can always pull back if she does something weird.]

[iustaegis]

[ She's gentle.

And he will also find that her touch is warm, inhumanly so although not enough to be uncomfortable by any means. Fingers brushing against his ear first so that he might feel this-- and that she means no harm-- she brings it to the base of the first icicle hanging upon his ear, allowing it to narrow and drip away from him.

In the meantime, she is plenty capable to continuing their conversation. Breezily, ]

I don't suppose they make specialized ear-covers for you here, do they?

[flamekthunder]

[He does notice that her hands are oddly warm, especially since they only just entered this tavern. He'd expect her hands to be colder...hm. Otherwise, he pays little mind to what she does, her touch and movements not offensive as of yet.]

Here, no. In my world, however, they do make such hats and covers for those who desire them.

[iustaegis]

[ Warm touch does wonders to help ease the cling of the ice upon his ears, and seeing that it is actually working, and that she is helping, the light around them turns a hue softer. She's happy she can make some sort of difference, happy to help in some way. Any way. This is the most she can do. ]

Mm, then...

It wouldn't be a bother to make you one, if you'd wish.

[flamekthunder]

Unnecessary.

[Just an immediate almost curt answer as he waits patiently for her to finish, although he can already feel most of the snow and ice has been removed.]

I find them more of a hindrance unless absolutely required.

B

[crystallomancy]

[ Dogboys. How lovely. Natsume half wonders if it's due to that werewolf flu he's heard tell of or if this is just his usual — he's been a little off-balance since arriving. A lot of this world is just... not normal, and as exciting as it is, it also makes him a little guarded. Until he has a better grasp of how things work here, he really should keep on the down low.

...But he can't help it; while he doesn't have a certain fondness or dislike of dogs, he does get along with them somewhat, and he'd hate to see one just get poisoned or something like that! Thus: he heads over to Eustace, half of his face covered neatly with a scarf he'd bought not too long ago. ]

I don't believe that particular treat is good for DOGS, but I wouldn't know for SURE. [ The way he speaks is more than a little weird, a certain emphasis laying on the ends of his words and his soft (though not quiet) voice. Easier to show in writing than it is in speaking, unfortunately - it's just off enough to be noticeable without being too overbearing though. Think uncanny alley. ] UnfortunateLY, my only experiences are with CATS... And I know for certain such things would not fly with THEM.

[ He pauses to kneel down under the guise of holding his hand out to the stray to see if it'll let him pet it; his real intention is to glance at the flowers budding beneath the bench despite the stiff coldness, and when he speaks again, it's raised a little in volume so he can be heard despite his gaze turned downwards. ]

Pardon me for butting IN, but you looked as if you were having a moral debate with yourSELF, and the stray looked as if it was going to simply solve that for you by taking it anyWAY.

[flamekthunder]

[...All right, that is definitely a strange way of speaking and Eustace can only turn and stare at him. However, he doesn't take a second thought about it, instead focusing on the actual content and watches as the dog accepts the attempt and allows for the pet.

The small frown returning, he puzzles over this.]

Hm...I see.

[He also agrees that this might not be good for the dog, but...he's aware that dogs tend to eat whatever is on the ground.]

While I think as a small treat it might be fine, I'm concerned whether cinnamon is actually toxic for the dog.

[crystallomancy]

I don't know if I'd risk IT, mutt or no MUTT.

[ ...Stray or no stray, he means. Just because it doesn't belong to anyone doesn't mean anything. He pets the dog gently, slowly rotating his hand to scratch its cheek, then beneath its chin. They're so easy.

Natsume glances back up, staring at Eustace's ears for a moment, and then back down. ]

Though it depends on if such a thing would be toxic to YOU.

[flamekthunder]

[He's about to agree with the younger man's sentiment—no matter how much the dog may end up rejecting him, he'd rather that than accidentally harming it. However there's a small puzzled frown at the question.]

Why would that matter?

[...Wait, he seems to be staring at his head... .... .... .......]

[crystallomancy]

You seem rather close to canine KIND, that's ALL.

[ this is a very polite way of pointing out his doggish-ears. polite for him, at any rate. ]

[flamekthunder]

[.....As he suspected, if a little too late. Since this world is primarily filled with humans, his ears do stand out. However, he never really thinks much of and ignores any stares he does receive, so the idea that someone would think he's actually related to dogs in some way isn't a thought that immediately comes to mind (though that might change if this keeps happening).

With a small sigh he shakes his head.]

I'm an Erune. My ears may appear more dog-like, but I'm in no way related. Although my race is different from humans, we're similar when it comes to living and sustenance.