memepatheias | TEST DRIVE: April

Entry tags:

*test drive

TEST DRIVE: April

— 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!

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.
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!
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!

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!
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.
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.

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.
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!
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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Thanks for that.

[There's a short delay, he hasn't quite mastered the idea of thinking about what he looks like. The concept of telepathy isn't something he's ever really thought about.

Then he realizes it's probably easier to look in a mirror and just...let that visual filter through. Maybe. He'll figure the other way out eventually.

This works though. See, look, his voice is deeper because he's 30 years old.]

[Give him a second Trunks, Goten needs some time to process this. He stares, blinking several times as his eyes going wide.]

[That looks like Trunks. But how can that be Trunks?

A million questions flood his mind. He can't believe it. What happened?!

Goten can't even talk, he's too busy gawking at the sight of his older best friend. Way older]

Wha--how--wha...

[Goten stumbles over his words, struggling to speak. He just saw Trunks like...minutes ago. Now he's all grown up. This...can't be right]

T-Trunks? Is that....really you? HOW'D YOU DO THAT?!

[What is volume control]

[His disbelief and amazement quickly shift to being upset that he's clearly been left out of this amazing magic. Goten doesn't want to be a kid if Trunks doesn't have to be. He huffs, clenching his fists as he frowns]

If this is a trick, it isn't funny! What did you do? You better tell me! I don't wanna stay little if you don't gotta! That's not fair, Trunks!

[Well, you'll get there eventually.

Trunks isn't quite sure how to explain what he thinks he needs to. Whoever this kid is, it's obvious he's familiar with...what he has to guess is the younger him. He's not sure what the relation is.]

I didn't do anything, sorry. Pretty sure your friend is a different Trunks than I am.

[Goten isn't buying that. Trunks picks on him way too much for that]

What do you mean different? You're Trunks! You're just bigger...and older and I donno but did you somehow wish yourself big?

[He would never.]

No, I didn't.

[He's trying to think of who this kid would be, exactly. If he grew up in the other timeline, he'd probably have other friends when he was younger, he just had absolutely no idea who they'd be. Well. They probably weren't around in his timeline, anyway.

But he has a guess.]

Is...Gohan your brother?

Imma come find you and make you tell me. Where are you?

[If he's not going to say, Goten is fine playing hide and seek, he's gotten a lot better at sensing ki. Though the question makes him stop. What? His voice is more concerned now.]

....Did you hit your head on the ceiling or something when you grew up?

[Thats not good his best friend is big and forgetful]

Edited 2018-03-24 21:14 (UTC)

[That wasn't a denial, plus the kid sounds worried, so he's guessing that's a 'yes'. But he supposes they can cover that more a bit later.

He absentmindedly gives a location--basing it more off of landmarks than off of actual streets, since he hasn't learned their names yet.]

No, I didn't hit my head.

[Well. Okay, he has taken a lot of blows to the head, but they haven't come with memory loss.]

You sureeee? It's okay Trunks, I'll come get you and we'll figure this out. Don't worry okay?

[As if Adult Trunks needs any reassurance. Goten is zooming there though. He's been in this world long enough to have a good idea of where things are based on landmarks. The names of places and streets actually would have helped a lot less.

It's not long before he comes dropping from the sky]

Trunks!

[Once he lands, he has to stare up at his future best friend...wow he looks a lot taller in person. Is he taller then Vegeta? Goten can't help but stare up at him in awe again. He can't believe his eyes.]

[Hey, nothing's exploding, he's actually pretty okay with the state of things right now. Not that he's not worried, because he's never really not worried.

~~And yes, he's taller than Vegeta. That's not exactly hard.~~

Seeing this kid--he still doesn't know his name, though he's guessing 'Go' is in there somewhere--he's absolutely convinced he's related to Gohan. I mean. You're a tiny Goku clone.

He looks a bit...okay, a lot awkward, standing there with his hands in his pockets. Probably not at all like Goten would picture his friend looking like when he was older.]

Um. Hey.

[HOW DO YOU TALK TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF CRISIS SITUATIONS he doesn't know.]

[Goten might not be the brightest crayon in the box but he's not the dumbest either. Chichi raised both her boys good even if Goten is more navie. But one thing he does know is his best friend. He's grown up with Trunks and they've played together for years. How awkward and stiff this Trunks looks sends all kinds of red flags.

Shouldn't he be boasting about his height? Goten is right here marveling at him.

Goten frowns. This isn't Trunks.]

.....You really did hit your head, huh? Don't worry Trunks, we'll get Gohan and he'll be able to fix you up.

[It's nice how well you know your friend.

He sighs softly and sits down so he's closer to Goten's eye level, cross legged on the ground.]

I really didn't hit my head, promise.

[Though he really wouldn't mind seeing Gohan again.]

I'm Trunks, but I'm not the same Trunks that's your friend.

[Goten ignores what he says and moves closer once Trunks sits down. He practically climbs over him, stepping on his crossed legs as he reaches out to grab Trunks face. He stares at his face intently, like he's searching for something...though don't be surprised when he grabs his cheek and pulls hard.]

[He's starting to feel super uncomfortable at the scrutiny when Goten reaches out and grabs his face and pulls, what the hell ow.]

Ow! Stop that!

[You've got a strong grip, kid, geeze.]

[One more pull for good measure before he lets go, staring at Trunks.

Huh.]

You really are different, Trunks.

[Nevermind that's what he's been telling Goten the whole time. Nope, this comfirms it. No way he would normally be able to get away with that. Trunks would have punched him for sure or at least done the same! Yet this older Trunks just let him do what he pleased. This is weird...]

What's it like being old?

[He's been telling--nevermind. What is with you kids and pulling on his hair/face anyway?

Also: it sucks. And he's not that old.]

I don't really think about it.

[What's it like being a kid, he's not sure.]

So, you obviously know my name. I'm not sure of yours?

Huuuuh?

[Goten blinks slowly and points to himself.]

Sure you do! It's me, Goten! I bet I look different older but you should know what I look like anyway. We're best friends!

[Wow Trunks, memory does go away with old age. Sheesh. It's making Goten second guess if he ever wants to grow up after all.

Different Trunks or not, Goten would always be his best friend. He reaches up to knock on his head. Hello?]

[He tries to duck away but it's kind of hard considering the close proximity.]

Um.

[Is there really any delicate way to put 'you don't exist in my timeline because your dad died and couldn't ever come back'? No? They don't make greeting cards for that one?]

Remember how I said I'm different than your friend? That's because my mom built a time machine and we were able to change some bad things that happened, so where I'm from...well, your brother Gohan was my best friend.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TEST DRIVE: April

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oh Goten you're adorable.

you can be his friend too.

oh good he needs friends

he does! trunks and goten will drag him around for sure too

a 30 year old man getting dragged around by a couple kids lol

hey he grew up too fast so time to be a kid in his 30s

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why is this so cute

haha

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