TEST DRIVE: April

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: APRIL —

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 March 25th and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on April 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. These threads do not count toward AC.

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: The Verens Emergency Response Teams are running drills to make sure that the Verens populace, natives and Otherworlders alike, are prepared for any and all emergencies. This means large scale obstruction of public areas, traffic delays, businesses closing their doors temporarily in the name of professional cooperation... and, best of all, Otherworlder participation!

1. Alpha Lava: If you asked Team Alpha, they would say they drew the short straw. They are in charge of the volcanic eruption preparedness drill! This includes cordoning off sections of the merchant’s square and residential district to conduct the following tasks: evacuation drills, where random houses are the "willing participant" of loudspeaker announcements telling them they have thirty seconds to escape their homes before they die; dunamis training exercises, to determine who would be most able to hold back or freeze incoming pools of lava; and, most helpful, the role of victim mannequin. Posing still as a statue for several minutes at a time to simulate being encrusted by molten lava is a thankless job, but someone has to do it.
   
2. Epsilon Epidemic: Team Epsilon's emergency preparedness drill is outbreak of a deadly disease! For this simulation, they will be rounding up helpful Otherworlder volunteers and distributing signs for them to wear around their necks. Following that, instructions are varied. Perhaps some people end up in quarantine, informed that Team Epsilon will shoot to kill anyone who escaped. Perhaps some people are under strict instruction to act out their sign to the best of their ability, and will be penalised if they don't! (What's the penalty? It's quarantine, or no gift bag, or both.) Perhaps they are simply dead and have to lie in the street all day. Yes, that's very boring. No, they don't have a choice. At the end of the simulation, all participants are given a gift bag filled with handmade cookies (courtesy of Team Epsilon's very own multi-talented Agent N) and gift certificate for a spa day for two. Most importantly: have fun!
   
3. Gamma Grandstanding: Team Gamma ended up with the newest preparation drill. Its official title is "People With Indeterminate Motives" (PWIM for short) to keep from throwing a wrench in the Briarlan trade deal and offending sensibilities, but make no mistake: it is about knowing exactly what to do if pirates invade Verens and conduct a hostile takeover. Some Otherworlders will be placed specifically in local business - restaurants, independently owned shops, even the zoo - and trained how to protect them from PWIM. Some businesses will be targeted; others will be ignored entirely (hope you brought a deck of cards!). Other Otherworlders will be asked to play the pirates - sorry, PWIM - themselves, complete with lame costumes (eyepatches, fancy hats, fake parrots to sit on a shoulder, itchy peglegs) for the sake of immersion. Arr! Aye, avast!

• Prompt E: Despite the rain and everybody coming down with colds during the month, everyone in Verens is still doing their best to get ready for next month's Flower Festival. And Otherworlders are definitely expected to help with prep work. After all, it's everyone's festival, so everyone should help make it the best it can be! So here's a few ways to help!

1. Sign Me Up: The Festival needs signs! Lots of signs. And lots of signs need lots of painters! Or one incredibly overworked painter, but in this case, they've decided to go the teamwork route, pairing up Otherworlders and having them make signs advertising various games at the festival! Sounds easy, right? But with emotion based paints in play, be careful. Too much negativity between partners and the wording will change, the paint could run, go too far in the other directions and the signs will be practically glowing, but possibly lead to claims of false advertising!
   
2. Special Delivery Flower Festivals need lots of flowers, and people to transport those flowers! And thanks to handy tech exchange with Briarlan, this year there's some fancy containment units for transporting them. They're really just crates with some fancy looking meters attached, meant to open up when they reach the festival grounds. Unfortunately, these new inventions probably could've used some additional testing and are prone to opening randomly sending flowers all over the place! Try and collect as many as possible and bring them back to the grounds, the festival organizers would appreciate it.
   
3. Flower Round Up! Or maybe painting signs and boxing flowers aren't your thing, so how about...corralling them? With all the good vibes in the air, it seems some of the flower arrangements have literally pulled up roots and are running around the festival. And you can't have a flower festival without flowers, so do your best to try and get them back where they belong before they run off to start some sort of flower civilization in the woods*.
   
   *They probably will not form a flower civilization in the woods, but you never know.

• Prompt F: With Verens trading with more and more cities out there, some shopkeepers have gotten an idea to try and increase sales by encouraging both citizens and Otherworlders to shop local by promoting a tour of various business in the merchant district! Though the crystal has been a little negative, they're still hoping the tour goes off without a hitch! After all, it's too late to postpone it.

1. On the Clock: The first stop is Click, Clack, Clock, a clock shop that offers delivery to anywhere on the island! Unfortunately, due to the poor weather, all of the delivery staff are out with colds, so they're looking for volunteers! And yes, you're on this walking tour, but don't be surprised if you're handed a bicycle and a clock and sent on your way to deliver a clock. Hopefully they remembered to tell you where to go before shoving you out the door.
   
2. Shine On: Assuming you haven't been conscripted into the clock store's delivery force, the next stop is at Verens' very own Restoration Works, an establishment for restoring old antiques and making them look good as new. They've set up an interactive demo for everybody, so partner up and practice using your emotions to bring some shine back to some dull scraps of metal! Sorry guys, they're not going to let you work on anything really valuable during the tour, but if you show some promise, maybe they’ll hire you on in the future!
   
3. Polg-Oh No: Finally, the tour will end with a nice relaxing meal at the Sweethearts Cafe. Or it was intended to be relaxing, anyway (who would've thought the antique store would be the calmest part of the tour?), but it seems no place is safe from the Polgo plague. Better keep an eye on your plates, otherwise the second you’re distracted, the small kitten-sized blue bugs might scurry up the table and try and run off with your food!
   
   Even if you’re paying attention, they might give it a shot anyways. So be on your guard and ready to give chase if it happens!

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include blueberries and/or buckets.

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!

Comments

Jiro | Android Kikaider: The Animation

[emomachine]

C]

[Jiro doesn't not believe in telepathy, technically. At least, he's aware he can communicate in ways other than speech- not with humans, though. But this crystal can really let him broadcast his thoughts to everyone?]

Can I really talk to anyone this way...?

[It's half to himself, but seeing as he was hoping to get an answer...]

D2]

[It takes him some questioning and following by example to figure out what he's supposed to do, and why. He's still not entirely sure why this is happening, but someone said it helps keep people safe, so he'll help.]

[That is, he's lying immobile in the middle of the street somewhere, hands clasped over his chest and his eyes closed. He wears a sign that reads I AM DEAD.]

[He's doing a good job of not breathing, too.]

E3]

[There's a lone uprooted flower here, frozen in the equivalent of mid-tiptoe after being spotted. Jiro crouches a couple of feet away, openly staring. The flower stares(???) back, ready to abscond.]

Where are you going?

[...]

Can you talk?

[....]

Maybe... telepathy?

[........]

[This (lack of) an exchange may go on for a while...]

G]

[??? Throw ideas at me if you want to do something else! Go easy on me, I'm still working my way through all the game info.]

C

[torankusu]

[ Trunks here is still getting the hang of this stuff but, well, might as well try to help someone else out? ]

Yeah. Pretty weird, right?

D2

[theabjectauthor]

[Lemony has missed the memo about this particular event, and when he comes upon the apparent corpse in the middle of the street, the raincloud above his head rumbles with quiet thunder]

How horrible... one would think a society as advanced and complicated as this would take better care of the departed.

[he kneels down next to the "body" and the rain around him intensifies. Jiro, you're getting wet, now. pretty soggy]

Oh, sir, I'm so very sorry. I hope you have someone here to grieve your passing. I wonder if it's taboo for someone to go through your pockets for identification. Someone should know ... oh. Oh, dear.

Alucard | Castlevania: Symphony of the Night | OTA

[draculabackwards]

Fun with emotions

[Although Alucard doesn't have access to the sheer amount of weaponry he's used to have at his beck and call, he has heard that one might be able to conjure such things with dunamis. So, keeping in mind what he feels in the thick of a fight in Castlevania, Alucard draws forth the steady anger of battle.

To which forms a hazy circle of smoky swords at his back. Which then launch themselves everywhere without his really controlling it. Hope you're agile!


More fun (but less dangerous) with amulets

[So, you just gather up your thoughts and speak? There is now a low and powerful voice on the network for all to hear.]

These type of surroundings are familiar and yet not. It strikes me a realm of Chaos, yet people live here, cheek and jowl with denizens of worlds one can barely comprehend.

I cannot be the only one struck by this.


D3

[Alucard disdains the faux pirate gear for the purposes of this exercise. Except for the hat. He just looks at everyone around him and takes a long sigh. Grant would be SO disappointed in this rabble. This he knows.

So yes, Alucard is judging the pirates without even saying a word.]

Fun with emotions

[regisrex]

[ Well, smoky swords they may be, but as they rush towards a pair of twin children, Regis doesn't even think twice before erecting a barrier to stop the path of the weapons.

Then he stands up, frowning, to look around at who else may be in danger - and who is causing it.

Once he has identified the culprit, he will walk over to him, the clip of his cane more setting a rhythm than sounding like a support. ]

You are being reckless.

amulets!

[reincarner]

[It's been quite an adjustment for Soma, as well, though he's learned to take these things in stride. Of all the things he's seen over the last two years alone, an island that seems to run on emotions is rather tame in comparison.]

It does take come getting used to.

[Little does he know that he's responding to someone that he knows quite well chills with considers a frie— occasionally fights alongside during his own time.]

Most people have been very welcoming so far. I didn't expect that.

Emotions!

[captain_dp]

[Agile? yes. Attentive... not so much. Deadpool was minding his own business, strolling down the street when he was suddenly impaled by several of those flying swords.]

Mother FUCKER. [He wraps both hands around one of the hilts and gives one hard yank to pull one of the swords out of his leg, totally ignoring the ones through his chest and stomach. He waves it around haphazardly.]

Hey! Anyone lose something? Or a few somethings? I don't recall signing up for target practice as the target!

Future Trunks | Dragonball

[fighting4afuture]

C - Telepathy

[How, exactly, this is the standard method of communication is Beyond Him. It seems terribly invasive, and less convenient than a phone or radio. Chalk it up to cultural differences, but he can't say he likes it.

It's something he probably has to get used to, though. Not at all because he wants to, but...]

Um. Good afternoon.

[Awkward awkward awkward look he had like 2 friends growing up and one was his mom, he's not really great at this. He's been putting it off, mostly because of the Intense Discomfort thing.]

My name's Trunks. [Hesitation.] Is it just me, or is this incredibly awkward?

[Crushed it. Good job all around.]

D - Epsilon Epidemic

Really not seeing how this is going to help.

[Come on it's like none of you have really responded to an emergency situation before. This 'quarantine' is a joke. Also, you really can't tell who has a fever just by looking at them, so the giant placard around his neck is being resolutely ignored.

Thus the quarantine.]

You're supposed to actually treat people in quarantine, you do realize that? Not just threaten to shoot them?

[That's super comforting, also the bullet wouldn't hurt him.]

F - On the Clock

[Yes, it's cold. Yes, it's raining. Yes, Trunks is standing outside the shop with a clock in a (thankfully waterproof) box, staring at the bike he was just handed.]

Um. First, no one told me where I'm supposed to go.

Second, I can fly.

[Third? He never bothered to learn how to ride a bike. See point two.]

D

[gainsaiyan]

[You're in luck, Trunks! The person in charge of "guarding" your "cell" is none other than Gohan!]

Well, you're definitely not wrong about that... [It certainly wasn't lost on Gohan how backwards this little drill was. He'd read about how older civilizations on Earth once behaved like this, treating "sick" people like they were rabid animals, but he'd never imagined that Verens could ever think like that. There must be a method to the madness.]

Still, would it really kill you to play along a little?

C

[torankusu]

[ Hold the Dragonball radar here... what did he say his name was? Does he need to clean out his ears or something? Because... how many other people have that name besides him? It's... possible, right? Too weird... this is too weird and he's feeling weird and so- ]

Hey, buddy. What did you say your name was?

[picklebro]

[Piccolo was the kind of person who sometimes just stood underneath waterfalls because not only was it relaxing, but it helped him meditate. Also he was some kind of green slug plant type person. So standing in the rain counted among the things that didn't particularly bother him. Delivering items on a bike did bother him, though. It bothered him a lot.

Which was why he was swooping down back down after his own delivery, bicycle carried in one outstretched arm in a matter that made its existence seem disdainful.]

The address should be on the box. [Gruff but somewhat helpful. He set the bike back on the ground.] Carrying the bike should be no problem with your kind of power.

C

[sonofson]

[He actually doesn't pay too much attention at first but hearing his name almost instantly makes Goten perk up. But...something is off. This doesn't sound like Trunks. It's too deep and a bit too awkard to be the Trunks he knows. Sure his best friend has his moments but there wasn't ego in this guys' words.]

Trunks, are you feeling okay? Did you get sick or something? You sound really funny....

C

[riddlingual]

[ She giggles a little as she listens in, almost like it's something she's already used to even though she only just arrived. ]

Awkward? How so?

Madeline Hatter | Ever After High

[riddlingual]

C: Feathers and Friends, together alone~! It's tea-riffic to meet you all~!

[ She giggles happily, the sound of clapping in the background. ]

I've heard the voices of narrators before, but never so many at once! QUick! Say the first thing that pops into your head!



Flower Round up

[ Now this? This is the first thing here that's actually made sense to her. Flowers running around and causing a bit a mischief? This was completely normal, at least in Wonderland.

With a bundle of flowers sitting inside her hat, Maddie was running around the city chasing these uprooted flowers. ]

Scuse me~ Pardon me~! Oh after you~!

[ She might have bumped into a few people or narrowly avoided them. ]

C'mon you little scamps!


G:

[ With a bucket of blueberries in hand, Maddie was going to make today a fun little adventure for herself. She found a tree high up in the air, trying to spot any unsuspecting people. Armed with the berries, she hangs upside down from the tree and starts tossing them. Sometimes it lands on someone nearby. Sometimes it hits a glass with a loud clink. ]

Looook out beloooow~!

C

[myown]

Tea-riffic?

[Pearl has been around humans for ages now, and granted, she's only (relatively) recently started to trying to truly understand them, but she thought she'd made some progress. The voice she's hearing through her amulet is making her wonder if she hasn't. Of course, it could be an extreme cultural difference, as she's noticed by now that the island is host to people from all kinds of worlds. In fact, maybe she's not hearing a human at all.

But, alright, the request wasn't for her to parrot something back. It was for the first thing that popped into her head.]

Um... Hello.

Katie "Pidge" Holt | Voltron: Legendary Defender

[greencosmicdust]

C.

[Perhaps this is a familiar voice to the people from home or maybe even to a few who have been here a while. Pidge is aware that she's been here before but hasn't gone seeking anyone who might know her yet.]

So I just think and it broadcasts my thoughts? That's easy. It's like a neural link only less invasive, right? Hopefully no one can go rooting around in my head. I already had enough of that, thanks but no thanks.

So how do these things work exactly? There's no tech involved at all and no network either. Do other people's thoughts just pop up into my head?

[Please wait for the longest pause.]

Are my thoughts popping up in other people's head? Oh quiznak...

[Pidge really needs to learn not to babble inside her own head while in contact with her amulet.]

D2

[Congradulations, Verens. Today Pidge has a sign around her neck and is on the prowl for hapless victims. She shuffles along like the walking dead, evading pursurers with surprising ease for someone doing the zombie shuffle. Grunts and moans go along to give the full undead effect.

Unfortunately for anyone who dares to come close, Pidge is marking them as a target. Not that she bites them - that's unsanitary! But she taps them on the arm or shoulder (whatever she can reach) with one hand and holds out a matching sign. These have their own duplicates so that the "infection" can only grow bigger.

Welcome to the hoard of the undead, newbie. Join her in spreading the zombie disease.]

F2

[The only reason she isn't one of the delivery people is because how Pidge's eyes light up at seeing the old clocks. Sure they aren't new, fancy tech but a girl can appreciate the antiques too. While she's sure that she could clean and fix up the clocks without using emotions, that isn't the task. So Pidge is eager to get started with her partner.]

Look at it! Isn't it beautiful? The craftsmanship on this is so unique! The cogs and wheels are made to extremely specific designs for each clock in order to make it work properly. One bad cog and it throws the whole system off! Most of the early ones were made by hand, no factories to put them together.

[Her enthusiasm for the timepieces is certainly a bit over-the-top but hey, it's helping to restore the rusted bits.]

G

[Want something else? This is your chance. My plurk is Tsukeru if you need me.]

[tookashirototheknee]

Oh, great. That's the last thing I needed. You in my head as well as getting in my stuff.

[Far from being cranky, though, there's a blast of pure excitement and joy coming through the amulet. Pidge is here.]

Lance | Pokemon - Post HeartGold/SoulSilver

[dragondance]

C - Dragon Rage

Hm! I see I see!

[Lance is taking the opportunity to explore the telepathy for the first time. It's quite a handy way to talk to people.]

I have a question for many of you. What are your feelings on dragons?

E1 - Twister

[Lance is more than willing to work with someone. Teamwork is important for almost all aspects of life. So, with the sign, and a bucket of paint, he gets to work with whoever his partner is.

Getting an idea, he pulls out a round red and white ball, and out pops a beautiful blue and white cloud bird thing]

Let's add him to the sign. That'll make people want to come.

[And shoot, he's so happy, the paint starts to come alive on the sign, and on his brush. Watch for the splatters!]

G - Dragon Tail

You there!

[Pointing to someone walking by who catches his eye, he gives a quick nod and moves closer to them. Nodding.]

I'm certain you're busy and I apologize for interrupting your day, but I was wondering if you had time to help.

[He turns around to look at buckets and buckets filled with blueberries. How many are there? It looks to be at least ten. Filled to the brim and almost tipping over with the blue round fruit.]

I have to move these across the market. Would you be able to give me a hand? I will split the money I receive from this task with you.

C, assuming they've talked already

[geophile]

[ hey there, binch. ]

They're a strong and commendable type under the right Trainer, but not quite as elegantly powerful as Steel.

Pearl | Steven Universe

[myown]

Prompt B
[When Pearl offered to help the Nellie Family with their glowsheep, she'd assumed she'd be working alone, and she was perfectly fine with that. However, it would seem she's not the only one who took up that particular task.

She's agitated at the idea of doing this as a team. She's already part of a team she works wonderfully with, thank you very much. Sure, half of her teammates aren't on this floating island, but the point remains.

Still, Pearl realizes that working together with her fellow volunteer should make the task easier... Hopefully. Some people are just extremely difficult to work with. Or don't know what they're doing.

On the other hand, maybe they've been here longer than she, and have some actual experience with these glowsheep. Or any sheep. It's worth looking into, so she turns to her new partner.]

I must admit, I'm not... Exactly familiar with sheep. [She's reluctant to admit this.] Are you?

Prompt C

[Pearl has been in Empatheias for a little over two weeks now, and she hasn't exactly been a social butterfly. That's just not her in almost any situation, but especially when there's a task at hand - like protecting Steven. Oh, and rebuilding the surface. That, too.

Still, she feels that she can almost hear Amethyst's voice teasing her for being stuffy, and Pearl would find some comfort in having more companions she can count on here on the island. So she's decided to start an open conference voice message through her amulet.]

Hello. If we haven't met yet, my name is Pearl. You know, it's funny, back home I've never used most of the common human communication devices. I don't have a phone, and I've never been on a computer... This actually feels a bit more natural than I suspect those would. I suppose that's because there's a slightly similar mental connection to Fusion.

[That is where Pearl's stream of consciousness gets away from her.]

Not that I can fuse with any of you, of course - unless there are other Gems out here I haven't encountered. Wouldn't that be interesting. And I- I suppose I can fuse with Steven, but I've always hoped I'd never have to do that. I don't know what forming Rainbow Quartz with him would be like. If I'd be able to feel Rose. I'm scared that I would... And that I wouldn't.

I can't believe that after all this time, after everything we've been through, I can still look at him and see her. It's wrong, I know. He's his own person, who doesn't deserve that, but-

[There's a sharp inhale as Pearl realizes how far her mind has strayed, and there's a choked-up sound to her "voice" when she speaks up again, though she tries her best to keep her tone strong.]

I'm sorry about that.

Wildcard
Whatever you'd like, or you could contact me via PM or at dolewhip if you wanted something specific.

C

[themirrorcracked]

...Wow. You... probably should stop using the telepathy until you get a better hang of this.

[And people call her awkward.]

Not... that I want or need to know what you're talking about, but -- you know Steven can hear this, too, right?

Acxa | Voltron: Legendary Defender

[tactical_honor]

B: Sheep Hearding

[This was not the first time she had been on a mission to retrieve materials. Or the first time that she was required to work with an animal for the purpose of getting what she needed. Acxa was waiting, quietly following the signs of the passage of one of the animals. Staying just outside of the glow of its wool while she worked towards flanking it. Careful precise movements were required so not to spook it, she approached carefully, slowly, almost close enough to catch it.]

About there.

D: Gamma Grandstanding
"People With Indeterminate Motives", why Axca had been tasked with identifying and defending this business from such an attack was something she did not fully grasp. But she had already set up several defenses around the shop, including arming herself and one of the other staff. For now, she was waiting, trying not to stand out, but remaining vigilant and observing all of those who walked through the entrance.

G: Free game
[Come up with something else fun and we'll roll with it.]

Aaaah an Acxa! =DDD (Also D)

[heartofalioness]

["I'll volunteer to help the emergency response teams," she said. "It'll help the people stay safe," she said. And what does Allura get for her charity? Stuck in a ridiculous and impractical costume and forced to terrorize people. Her eyes are definitely shifting as she enters the shop, but only to AVOID people's gazes, steam billowing around her. She waits a few seconds before (halfheartedly) brandishing the (painted wooden) cutlass.]

... Argh...

[Whyyyyy....]

Khamu'wo Zhwan | FFXIV OC

[adloholic]

A; Emotional Rollercoaster

[It's been a few weeks since his arrival, and while the world itself isn't far too different than the one he's come from—to some extent it follows similar rules, and has a similar look, at least—he's still trying to get a hold of the emotions thing. He's always been one to keep his emotions in check, trying to appear far more like a stone-cold statue based entirely around logic, than the less collected members of his Free Company (that is to say basically all of them); however this place did its job tattling on how he truly feels.

It's a vexing situation at best, and he finds himself contemplating it far more than he'd like. Particularly when it broadcasts it in less than subtle ways than the ever so slight flick of his blue lion's tail, or how his ears are half a degree lower than normal. Nay, instead this place so chooses to let flowers wilt as he passes, the ground below him chipping away as if the world's smallest man has an equally small chisel, and the pavement is to bear his greatest creation yet.

Of course, these never go unnoticed by Khamu'wo, which just makes matters worse, and subsequently the surrounding projections return in kind. This day so happens to be a particularly burdening day—surprising as that may be, what with his usual stressors no where to be see in this foreign land. However, his private feelings were his cross to bear, and his alone, so this crossed a line not many dared before.

Once he reaches the middle of Verens market, and likewise the threshold of his patience—overhangs seemingly wrinkle in an unnatural way, surrounding benches seem to warp as he draws nearer—he stops. Running his hands through his hair, looking as though he might pull out a large chunk of it, he lets out a sound of unbridled agitation.]

Thaliak, preserve! How do I MAKE THESE UNRULY PROJECTIONS STOP!?

[Of course, he's not asking anyone in particular, but you know, he's not exactly going to turn away people willing to share some advice on the matter.]

D; for disease

[Khamu'wo loves drills. Honestly, they're important, as is all preparation! Especially when it's something around the idea of a pandemic! He's a scholar after all, and they are chirurgeons for the ill, those who would lead the wounded and weary from running astray into the land of the dead. So, while others might not be having much fun, Khamu'wo is having a blast, and is in fact acting more like he's part of the group leading this operation, than simply someone being put through the drill.

Of course, he's being sure not to touch anyone, what with the sign he was given! Can't go breaking the rules now! So, whether you might be someone weirded out by his unusual cheeriness of being put through this disease drill, or someone he is directing where to go based on the sign given to you—he kinda sticks out like a sore thumb among all the aggravated faces.]

Come, come! You there—the deceased—if you were truly dead, do you think you would be standing around gawping? Lay on the floor as instructed. Surely yours is the most simple of roles—

[He turns to the next person, ears perked, tail just barely swishing at the tip.]

Wait! What are you attempting to achieve? If you are burdened with a cough, doubtless you know better than to go within a group of asymptomatic people! Go on, go! Ere you kill us all with your nonchalance.

Twelve forefend! Were this not merely a simulation, we would be doomed ere long.

[And maybe the cat ears and tails don't help blend him into the crowd either, but they probably seem somewhat mundane compared to how he's acting, directing, but seeming rather cheerfully annoyed with it all. What a weirdo.]

A

[eonticket]

[May was enjoying a peaceful moment, but the island hasn't exactly been her friend, either. With a quick temper, among other emotional baggage, things have been...

Well, there's never a dull moment. And now this odd-looking man is disturbing one of her rare times to relax. May feels her body go tense in the chair she's sitting in, and at the same time, the metal spindles on the back of her chair begin to twist, taking on a gnarled appearance. She sighs and glances over.]

I don't think you really can. You can try calming down, though.

Lemony Snicket | A Series of Unfortunate Events

[theabjectauthor]

A: Emotions

[Lemony has had a small raincloud of his very own following him around since the day he arrived, but he always carries an umbrella. on this particular day, however, he's browsing the Verens market and spies a vendor of peppermints...]

Oh. ... Oh, dear.

[the raincloud around him begins to grow, and within moments, he's weeping. openly. in the middle of the market. and the rain is spreading to the stalls around him. whatever you just bought is probably getting soaked.]

D3: Gamma Grandstanding

[being asked to guard a shop is a fine way for one to volunteer, and Lemony is very diligently facilitating his duties, rearranging the items on the shelves so that they're more pleasing to the eye as he waits for any pirates to arrive. he's humming softly to himself. it's catchy. just don't ask him the words. also, if you happen to be wearing anything vaguely pirate-like, he'll eye you suspiciously, and ask....]

Are you who I think you are?


F1: Clock Delivery

[all good and decent people know it's time to volunteer, so Lemony is on a bike in a tweed jacket with leather patches at the elbows, a cable sweater over a dress shirt, and a pair of tasteful gray jeans, pedaling his way through the streets with a dapper newsboy cap on his head. the basket on his bike is carefully padded, and he's fastened an umbrella to his handlebars to keep the little gray cloud above his head from drizzling on the clockworks. it's not raining, today, at least, and he's even smiling a little as he rings his bell to clear the street. he stops next to you, tips his cap, and:]

Hello. I'm sorry to trouble you, but do you know where I can find this address?

[he carefully takes his delivery slip from his breast pocket and holds it out]

F1

[myown]

(ooc: I'm going to assume this can take place after the above conversation? I'm sorry, threading these two is too fun of an idea!)

Oh!

[Pearl recognizes that voice! She turns around to face the gentleman on the bicycle.]

Lemony? [And, of course, being helpful is a good thing, so she doesn't wait before inspecting the delivery slip.] Ah, I might know where the place you're looking for, yes!

May | Pokemon ORAS

[eonticket]

A.
[May wasn't planning on giving the emotions a try, but she's definitely gotten herself in a state where she's changing the environment around her. On the plus side, it's from being in a good mood. She's already dealt with the fall-out of her temper and rashness, and that wasn't very fun at all.

But today, she's in a cheery mood. Actually, maybe a little overly cheery. Or at least, considering the way emotions work around her, she is. May just can't help it! A task she recently completed paid a good twelve hundred sylvs - twice what it was originally going to net her. She'd completed the task quickly with help from her Pokemon team, though, and the people had been thankful.

Anyway, with this much good fortune, May can't help humming as she walks around. She's smiling, and her eyes are shining. With each step, flowers are sprouting where her feet last were, and there's a pleasantly warm breeze in the air around the teen. The raindrops seem to conveniently miss her. She laughs and waves at passers-by, feeling more social than usual.]

Hey! Not a bad day, huh?

D2.
[This is insane. Of all the luck - the way May sees it, she doesn't even look like a Team Aqua member; she looks like a reject Team Aqua member. Decked out in a fancy, long red coat and matching hat with a huge feather sticking out, May is just about at the point of fuming. Her main Pokemon partner, who she managed to convince to wear an eyepatch, looks pretty annoyed, himself.]

Keelhaul it all. Seriously. [Her tone and expression are both flat, and then she turns to her fellow PWIMs assigned to the restaurant.] Okay, let's get this over with, right?

F1.
You didn't tell me where to go!

[It's too late; May's shouting at a closed door. The guy who gave her the bike and package is back inside, again. May sighs and looks at the beat-up bicycle, really missing her Rydel Mach Bike right now. Since arriving, she's missed most things about home - even her dad - but this is a first. Who would've thought she'd miss a bike?]

Well, I guess it's time to start to start asking who ordered a clock...

A, assuming they've met already!

[geophile]

[ their paths cross just outside of the Merchant's Square, with Steven having finished some business with a local jeweler he asked to appraise a stone he found on his most recent trip to the mountains. her greeting and trail of flowers makes him raise an eyebrow, but it's with a lightly amused smile. he wouldn't consider it to be out of character for her - May has always been a cheerful person. ]

I suppose not. I can't think of any complaints. [ it's been average, but he'll go along with her chipper disposition. ] I'm glad to see you in good spirits, May.

Zarkon | Voltron: Legendary Defender

[zariconic]

A/C.
[Zarkon is not a fan of this emotion-based power system. Technology shouldn't be based on emotion. It should be logical, controlled. It doesn't help that he's been having trouble with it. Yet—at the same time, he doesn't like not being in control of things, so he's making An Effort. This morning, he decided to practice his emotions outside the city. It hasn't gone well. He's making a mess.

A few trees have already been knocked over, and Zarkon's attempts to put them back where they belong have left him covered in dirt and leaves. He accidentally sends out an aggrieved message over the amulet.]

This isn't going to work.

D. Alpha Lava
[If there's one person you can rely on to be helpful, it's Zarkon. Or—that's what Zarkon thinks, and he's often right. He is a defender of the universe, after all. So of course he'd agreed to help with these drills. Drills are important; people should know how to react in an emergency.

It had taken Zarkon about 4.2 seconds to become frustrated with the drill.

It had taken Zarkon about 5.36 minutes to start an argument with one of the drill team members. An argument he is currently in the midst of. It's not hard to hear what he's saying. His voice carries very well.]

You're going about this all wrong! Yes, you are. Which one of us has evacuated numerous cities?

[Zarkon, that's who.]

F. On the Clock
[Zarkon's not entirely sure how this happened. He's not one for "walking tours", but he'd taken one, because he must learn as much about his current surroundings as possible. Which is why he ended up in the clock shop. Which is why he ended up conscripted and pushed out the door—clock in one hand, directions in the other, bicycle leaning up against the nearest wall.

Zarkon peers at the bicycle. He's supposed to ride that thing? It's flimsy. But he should help—he can't abandon his duty. He frowns down at the written instructions in his hand. They're not very well-written.]

These don't make any sense.

[His irritation, unfortunately, creates a cold wind—which promptly and mischievously blows the paper from his hand.]

Wait, come back!

[Zarkon goes for the paper, but unfortunately, his irritation is continuing to create various breezes and gusts, so the paper dances through the air, out of his reach.]

Wildcard
[Do as you will!]

D

[tookashirototheknee]

[Matt has no idea what he's getting into, but he's in a rather good mood, so he's watching the situation with bemusement while eating one of Hunk's cheerful dunamis apple pastries.

After a moment, he calls out.]

You might have, but have you ever attempted to herd people with sometimes uncontrollable emotional effects? Sometimes logic doesn't exactly apply.

Deadpool

[captain_dp]

B

[Heaving a GIANT melodramatic sigh, Deadpool swats at some of the job postings on the task board, clearly unimpressed with the offerings.]

Boring. Boring. Boring. Too easy. Oh! This one doesn't look so... nope. I was wrong. Still boring.

[It's not visible under his mask but he's totally rolling his eyes right now.]

I've seen better job offers on the bathroom wall at Hooters. Seriously, what the fuck is this shit? Basketballs, glass, spiders, and cats? What? Am I doing side quests to power level to fight the big boss fight?

C

[Deadpool is bored. There's no TV. No Candy Crush. No nudie mags. What the fuck is he supposed to do?! He managed to scare up some paper and had some broken crayons in one of his pouches and decided to do something useful with his time.

Unfortunately, he forgot about the telepathy thing. So he's accidentally started broadcasting to... everyone. Everyone is now privvy to the sight of a badly scarred hand using a blue crayon to color in the mane of a badly drawn unicorn.]

Oooohh yeah. Shake that mane you saucy little minx.

[housewareshero]

[from behind him comes the voice of a possible kindred]

Ya'I know, right? If they're gonna make us work for shit, it's gotta be interesting.

[he pauses]

Sweet katanas.

Reyson | Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

[heronpunch]

C

The air is... tumultuous here.

[The comment came almost as an afterthought, from someone who had long since taken to observing the city from the safety of the rooftops rather than from the streets themselves. Reyson looked over Verens with a wary curiosity gleaming in his eyes. There were moments when the air itself was thick with negativity-- something that grated on his senses and threatened to whisk him from the skies. Other times the atmosphere was as light as the wispy clouds that brushed by in the highest parts of the sky where even his wings couldn't take him.

Nothing was quite as calm as the Serenes forest, but it didn't need to be; it just needed to be stable enough for him to adjust to it.

Small fortune it was that the strife of the battlefield was absent here. Reyson wasn't sure how much more of that he could take.]

D-2

...I refuse.

[This 'drill' seemed utterly pointless in his mind, when there were so many other things that needed to be done-- but being handed a sign that read 'I'm dead' and instructed to lay in the dirt all day was the final straw for Reyson. He was never one to allow someone else to fight for him if it could be helped.

Even if fighting often resulted in him getting hurt worse than his enemies.

To further make his stance known, Reyson unfurled his wings. Did they really expect him to just lie around when he had fragile appendages that could be stepped on???]

D

[zariconic]

Precisely.

[Although technically "helping" with the drill, Zarkon has spent more time instructing the organizers—particularly on the matter of what mistakes they're making.

Reyson might not have been responding to anything Zarkon said, but Zarkon, having overheard, is going to take Reyson's remark as support for his own very sensible argument.]

And why should you lie on the ground helplessly? It serves no purpose in emergency response training. It doesn't educate anyone.

Edward | Cowboy Bebop

[jammin_with_ed]

A

[Edward still doesn't realize that her emotions are having any sort of effect on anything. Of course, she has more important things to worry about - like exploring EVERY INCH of her new home. As she rolls around town, pausing occasionally to gape in windows or sniff flowers or examine other new things, she has a literal ray of sunshine following her, shining on this joyful little girl like her own personal spotlight.

Feel free to spot her anywhere, stop her, or be run into by her. She doesn't always pay complete attention to where she's going, after all.]


E2

[Edward, having taken on the very important task of flower delivery girl, is taking her job quite seriously.

Which, of course, means that she's prancing through the streets with a delivery box balanced precariously on her head, singing at the top of her lungs.]

Floooooowers, flooooowers, delivery of flooooooooowers.

[Just as she's about to launch into her fifteenth chorus of her song, the box decides to pop open, spraying flowers EVERYWHERE. She stops dead in her tracks, eyes wide as she watches the flowers fall.

Ooo la la. Box go BOOM!

A

[heartofalioness]

[And Edward will find herself smacking face-first into a tall, white-haired space elf lion princess, who'd only looked off to the side herself so she didn't see the girl coming.]

Ah, sorry!