TEST DRIVE: NOVMEMEBER (get it because it's a meme)

[rysligmods]

TEST DRIVE

Welcome to Ryslig's test drive meme! If you're considering apping here, this is where you can try your characters out in the game's setting. A few things to note:

• You can only app ONE character per round so choose wisely.
• We now have a Quick Game Facts that simplifies the basic information about the game. Good if you want to see what the game is at a glance!
• Ryslig's FAQ is located here, so please take a look if you have questions.
• The reserve date is 11/27.
• Test drive meme threads can be used for your roleplay sample!
• Players with characters already in the game can earn up to a maximum of 6 coins by replying to potential character threads! You cannot use this to go over the bonus 20 coins per month total, but you can use it to reach that coin total. Same rules as normal bonuses apply.

Sample scenarios:

SCENARIO ONE: So you've just arrived, fresh out of the hospital, and already the natives are trying to get on your good side. Offers of food, shelter and other luxuries in return for hoping you don't eat them. They even have some helpful pamphlets to share with you. "How To Deal With Changes", "Alternatives to Human Flesh", "What to Expect When You're Expecting (to turn into a monster)" are all great pamphlets. There's even some detailing certain monsters, and the changes they go through. Some of these seem to have been passed down from one monster to the next.

Among these however, are some... not so helpful ones. "Bunnyipyips And You", "Axe Thief Axehounds," and "So you're becoming a Fur Bearing Trout" among others. Sometimes they have marks on them from previous people who had them saying they are lies, or pointing out good "jokes."

SCENARIO TWO: You've become hopelessly lost in Lager Woods. Paths don't seem to lead where you remember them leading, and you feel as if you're going around in circles. Childlike giggling can be heard from no direction in particular. Suddenly, you stumble upon another character, who seems to be just as lost as you! Perhaps you can find a way out together. Or maybe they want you for lunch...

SCENARIO THREE: The time has come and you've found yourself becoming a monster. Is the change instant, or gradual? Are you familiar enough with monsters to know what's happening, or is it a complete shock? NOTE: Feel free to pick any monster type for this prompt, but note that you may not get the same one in game.

SCENARIO FOUR:The claws, the fangs, the pangs of hunger - horrible as they all are, it's manageable given enough time and perseverance. Local monster hunters, though, not so much.

Maybe it started with a few wayward glances on the outskirts of town, critical stares and disapproving whispers, or just the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Whatever it was, deserved or entirely unprovoked, you're being hunted: a handful of aggressive, well-armed humans doggedly chase your trail throughout city streets and out into the open, and if you're not careful (if you don't find help soon) you might wind up as the next trophy kill claim on one of those hunter's walls.

Comments

Princess Sen | Hakuouki

[deontological]

one;
[Sen had accepted the first pamphlet graciously, of course; it wouldn't do to brush of someone who was so clearly trying to be helpful. But apparently doing so has made her something of an easy mark; what started as just one pamphlet has quickly turned into two, and then four, and then far more than she could reasonably carry, let alone read in a timely fashion.

...some of them may not be worth reading, she realizes as she takes a seat at a conveniently-placed bench and begins to sort through them. Her brows furrow just a bit and she can't help but wrinkle her nose at one pamphlet in particular.]

Really... [It says "SHINE ON YOU CRAZY VAMPIRE - TEN STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL 'VEGETARIAN' DIET" in blocky text, and is accompanied by a little doodle of a stick figure sucking the blood out of some kind of animal and beginning to sparkle.] This is absurd. There must be some more reliable way of gathering information around here...

two;
[She's sure that if Kimigiku was here, "wandering off in the woods alone" would be at the top of her bodyguard's list of things she shouldn't be doing. But Kimigiku isn't here and Sen has to familiarize herself with the area somehow, because not knowing everything she can about her surroundings is something that has never sat well with her.

That's the reason for beginning her walk in the Lager Woods, anyway. Her reasons for lingering are twofold - first of all, she's become hopelessly lost, and second of all, she's rather charmed by the man-eating plants. Sure, They probably aren't the safest creatures to be around, but their singing is rather entertaining.

She's keeping a careful distance from them, but listening to their songs is reason enough for her to not bother with trying to get out of the woods just yet. She's been walking for quite a while now; she might as well rest, and she can listen to the singing plants while she's at it, too. She's just clearing away some leaves from a conveniently-placed rock to sit on when a sound alerts her to the presence of someone else; she turns her head toward the newcomer, raising a brow.]

This is a rather strange place to be wandering around alone, isn't it?

[Says the short human-looking girl to someone who's probably a monster, good lord.]

four - vampire;
[Her eyes are red.

Not the muted, almost pinkish color she's had all her life - no, now they're quite similar to the sanguine color favored by those who have drunk the ochimizu. She's already concerned by these changes as it is, but she would be rather more concerned if her hair had faded to a stark white. It hasn't, thankfully.

But her nails are more like claws and her teeth are sharper than they've ever been. Worse than that, she craves blood - so much so that she can feel the need for it just underneath her skin. It burns at her throat and it's honestly the most distracting sensation she's ever felt. Thus far, she's managed to refrain from sating her thirst on some unsuspecting bystander, but that hasn't stopped the vigilant monster-hunters from deeming her an abomination that needs to be put down.

She wonders, what is it that gave her away? Her eyes, perhaps. She thinks it must be, because she's done her best to hide her condition with long sleeves to cover her nails and parasols so she can stroll out in the sun when most of her kind is safely hidden away. (The parasol idea hasn't worked - she still feels rather drained, but she'd rather not discard it and see if it's just as drained as she would be with no shade at all.

So now she's all but running for her life, taking turns sharply and hoping desperately that the pounding in her head and the blurring of her vision is only temporary. If she can just get out of the sun and hide...! ...ah, but there's someone in her path. She bares her teeth on reflex, then catches herself and straightens up, squaring her shoulders and looking the stranger dead in the eye. She tightens her grip on her parasol to steady herself.]

For both our sakes, I would suggest that you move out of my way.

[Her voice is as firm as she can possibly make it under these circumstances. She would really like to avoid a fight.

...mostly because she's not sure how she'll be able to stop herself from drinking her fill if she catches the scent of fresh blood.]

IVE CAME FOR PATS!!! ONE!!

[yasusada]

[ These pamphlets seem to be something everyone is interested in, though he doesn't blame them when he sees someone curiously flipping through the pages trying to find out what they mean. It also makes it easier to tell how long they've been here or if they're just getting to this new world. Yamato guesses the latter from how the female read the pages and finds nothing that seems to be of value, the raise of her voice was enough to tell him that. ]

Huh.. you seem to not be used to what you're reading.

[ Pushing both his hair and the feathers that are tangled within it behind his ear, he gives a smile as he glances at the front of her reading material. Repeating words that must be ideal in her search. ]

Vampire? Ah, how much information were you searching on for them? I don't know many.. [ He knows none. ] But I'd be willing to help you.

UNLEASHES PATS!!! LOTS AND LOTS OF PATS...

[deontological]

[Sen's gaze wanders up from the pamphlet she's deemed useless to the man who has so kindly offered his assistance. What a polite guy! Surely there's no way he could turn out to be a weirdo or something.

Her eyes linger for a moment or two on the pointed tips of his ears and then the feathers tangled up in is hair, and she considers what that might mean. She's no stranger to appearances that are more than human, but she can't claim to have seen a feathered demon in her lifetime.

...then again, if these pamphlets are to be believed, she's sure to be seeing quite a decent number of Yamato's kind during the course of her stay here.]]

I must admit... I'm more confused by this pamphlet in particular than by the existence of vampires, so to speak. [She's no stranger to blood-drinkers, okay.] I'm quite certain animal blood isn't a viable alternative to human blood. Is it normal for these people to spread misinformation to those of us who have just arrived...?

UGH PLEASE PAT ME tell the okita kun below me to pass tb! pats and tb are my happy home!

[yasusada]

Misinformation? No, it's right. As you can see here, the kind that reside here are much different. One of the people that I live with use to be a vampire and apparently, human blood satiate his taste but here.. they're different. Drinking blood from animals is good enough but.. they really crave human blood and if they don't obtain it.. something bad will happen.

[ He knows the details as good as every resident of this place as he takes a step forward, holding out his hands in order to take the pamphlet if she's willing to hand it over. There isn't much he can do but just explain, though he hasn't gained any changes that would relate to what she's reading about. So without personal experience, he has to give her the casual he say/she say that he's noted within his time here. ]

I don't know so much about vampires that aren't from here, but they most be common in your world? Do you look after them, if it's alright to ask?

one!! hello did someone say vampire :-)

[koullars]

[ Since Kou is a noisy person, don't be surprised that he's trying to peek over Sen's shoulder- how could he not! Sen's clothes are preeetty bright, and not to mention she looks pretty troubled at whatever she's reading. ]

Yooo! Looks like you're having trouble, huh? Am I right? [ Kou's trying to get a better look at what she's reading... Let him see... Let him see. ]

hi there, they did indeed :'D

[deontological]

[The lack of heightened senses takes some getting used to - back home, Sen certainly would have sensed Kou's presence long before he'd managed to get quite so close, but here she doesn't realize he's there until... well, until he speaks up. There's a brief moment where she looks startled before her expression smooths itself over and she adjusts her hold on the pamphlet so he can get a good look at the text touting the virtues of a "vegetarian" vampire diet and the sparkling stick-figure.]

Having trouble understanding why someone would publish something so obviously untrue, perhaps.

i will tell u everything you kno sen-chan sparkles..

[koullars]

Hmm! Let me see!

[ Kou decides to lean over a bit more and take a few glances at some words... Then the awful picture... Then he just shakes his head. ]

Ehh... How stupid does someone have to be to believe this? I mean, if you really have questions about vampires you can just ask a real one. [ Points to himself with a big grin! Look! A real vampire, right here!!! ]

one!!

[twomeals]

[Gosh, there sure are a lot of pamphlet-giving people out today. Or people giving things in general? To people who aren't Yue, how rude. Still, he's managed to flip through a couple of those pamphlets (there's a good number on the ground at this point), and. Well. When he sees someone someone actually sitting down to read the things, he can't help wandering over to say hello.]

They're interesting to read, aren't they? Especially the wrong ones.

[deontological]

[Please take her pamphlets Yue, you are welcome to them. All of them.]

There seems to be quite a few of them that aren't... accurate.

[Not that she knows a lot about how monster changes work here - yet, anyway - but, being a demon, she can't help but think the pamphlets about demons are incredibly wrong. And the concept of a vampire drinking animal blood and sparkling is so utterly bizarre to her.

She hides a smile behind one hand.] Perhaps you could point out some more of the wrong ones? I could use a laugh.

[twomeals]

[Well, since she invited! Yue plops himself down next to her, cheerfully kicking his feet as he leans over to pluck one of the pamphlets from her collection. Let's see, let's see....]

Ah, this one says werewolves are all big scary wolf monsters? But Kogitsunemaru-san is really fluffy. [So fluffy!]

only because I like you so much (two)

[creatic]

[ oh yes, the worst kind of monster, even.

Souji moves from the darkest shadows with a slow but intimidating grace, the lighting revealing one Shinsengumi officer, a cold smile stitched across his features. It's not friendly by any means, although for what he is capable of, it's not particularly hostile, either. ]

Hou... ? [ he tilts his head just slightly at Sen's expression a moment before he deliberately averts his gaze to look about them, curiously. Searching searching...

... And then lets it fall back to the princess, his smile twisting into a snarky smirk. ]

I was just thinking the same thing. The princess has no shadow tonight. [ no bodyguard for senhime makes for a very alone person hanging out with man-eating plants.

Good choice.

His expression is wiped into an unamused frown now, the general singsong tone that carries his words normally rather flat. ]

I wonder which one us has made the graver error in doing so. [ that's a threat if anyone's ever heard one but then again when is Souji not making them? He may be a little more agitated than normal for being called out, although it's hard to tell, as usual. ]

aaaahh... i've missed having you in my inbox! <3

[deontological]

[It's almost comical, how her expression shifts from neutral to flat and rather obviously displeased in unison with Souji's twisting into a smirk. Chizuru might have had an extraordinary amount of patience for the captains of the Shinsengumi, but Sen is not Chizuru, and she especially isn't all that inclined to treat people who point out that her bodyguard is nowhere to be seen all that kindly.]

Is that so? [She questions dryly, folding her hands in front of her and tilting her head to one side.] I hadn't noticed.

[Sarcasm, of course.

His threat certainly doesn't fly over her head, but she does her best not to appear any more ruffled than he's already made her. She looks weary rather than wary as she shakes her head ever so slightly.]

As of this moment, neither of us has made a particularly grave error, but that could always change. [Go on, attack her, she dares you, basically.]

<3 same me to you!

[creatic]

[ he's ready to make some real life mistakes as if being here couldn't possibly be punishment enough for any other things he's done similarly. For a moment he considers her challenge letting silence drag on after her words die between them before he huffs, folding his arms across his chest. The hostility ebbs out of his posture for the most part, leaving a hissy cat to downgrade to simple tail-swishing. she's not as easy to rile as Chizuru, that's for sure. (That shouldn't be surprising...) ]

Is calling out to suspicious strangers while alone out here with the wildlife [ he says that word pretty stiffly, gaze darting to glare at one particular plant, not seemingly too happy to call it such but perhaps feeling obligated by its nature. Plantlife is not a word he can use on a thing that eats people okay. ] a habit of yours? I'd think you'd not want the attention.

[ or maybe she does he doesn't know. all he does know s it's no fun to attack her if she's daring him to do it. That's like the same as being okay with it but not when it's convenient for Souji himself.

Also, actual effort required ... ]

two!

[troyhard]

[ Between the unhelpful pamphlets and the pestering natives from town, Slaine thought it would be best to just make his escape. His appetite still hasn't fully returned and seeing the bountiful feast that they presented him just made him sicker. However, running into the forest was definitely not the best idea.

By the time he makes his way to where Sen is sitting, he looks pretty worse for wear. He's limping a little, has bruises and cuts, and his clothes are rather dirty. He either had a very unfortunate run-in or the boy simply tripped and fell a couple of times. It's most likely the latter. He didn't seem to be in a rush to get away from anything.

Earlier, he had heard child-like laughter, but he's sure it didn't come from the girl sitting on the rock. Slaine takes a moment to gauge her appearance. The town they were in already seemed a few decades outdated, but when you've lived in high-tech space for most of your life, almost everything would seem pretty obsolete. While kimonos are still a thing in his time period, the style she's wearing seems to be far older than Slaine could imagine. (But who is he to judge on her sense of style anyway!!) He's left feeling a bit dumbstruck for a few seconds before... ]

... Wandering around here wasn't the best plan I've had.

[ Especially since he's now lost and has no idea how to get back. And of course, there's also the fact that there could be monsters out here... Slaine didn't want to believe it, especially when the pamphlets were full of nonsense and unhelpful information and doodles. ]

Are you... [ He almost seems kind of embarrassed for admitting this, but... ] lost as well?

[deontological]

I'll admit I'm not as familiar with my surroundings as I could be.

[A very delicate way of confirming that yes, she's lost.

She studies the rock as she continues clearing off the last of the leaves, then studies Slaine. There should be enough room for them both to sit, and so she gestures for him to join her before folding her hands in her lap and offering him a patient smile.] Perhaps you would like to sit down and rest? They say that two heads are better than one, and it will be much easier for us to find our way out of here if both our heads are well-rested.

[And if there are monsters out there, perhaps there's something to be said for there being safety in numbers.]

Go on - I don't bite.

[troyhard]

[ His legs are tired and hurting. It would be a waste to turn down her offer, especially when she invited him so nicely. But once he takes a step forward, he hesitates again. Slaine's clothes are dirty... It would be awful of him if he accidentally a woman's outfit dirty as well, even if it's unintentional. ]

Please excuse me for a moment...!

[ In a futile attempt, he tries to wipe off his clothes clean, but a task like this required proper washing. After a short while, Slaine frowns a little, deciding that he should give up. ]

Thank you, but I think it would be best if I sit here. Your clothes might get dirty as well.

[ As old-fashioned as her robs might be, they are still very elegant looking. ]

Two

[petaltail]

[ Those plants that were amusing Sen now have caught the curiosity of another person, a taller man in traditional clothing, who figured that the singing would mean a good sign, or a landmark in these woods. At this point Tonbokiri's content to hear a voice that belongs to an actual living being as well, regardless of the tone and mild hypocrisy. Humor him, he's been wandering for a good hour or two. ]

Strange can describe plenty of things around here, so I wouldn't be able to tell anymore.

[ She seems harmless at the very least, so he approaches her calmly. A little cautiously, but that's more because of the plants. ]

Might I assume you are also one that has lost their way, young miss?

[deontological]

You would assume correctly.

[Tonbokiri seems equally harmless, so Sen greets his approach with a smile and folds her hands in her lap. She'll refrain from making any sudden movements, but she's aware that she doesn't really look threatening at first glance - nor does she feel that way anymore, as she seems to have lost all traces of her demonic aura - so she doesn't think anyone really has much reason to be wary of her.]

There are worse places to be lost, at least. So long as we keep our distance, these plants don't seem to be too bad.

[petaltail]

I would hope that could be the most of our concerns in these woods.

[ Even if she had that demonic aura, whatever had taken that from her seemed to have taken his sixth sense- the one that comes from naturally being a spirit. They're both human now, whether they want to really be aware of the fact or not.

For the time being, Tonbokiri leans against a nearby tree. Sen seems pleasant, and some light conversation never hurt anyone. ]

Perhaps staying in one place is better than wandering constantly until exhaustion?

four! points at eyes points at u

[souredsweet]

[But violence is always the answer?? Or at least, it's always a viable answer...

That said, Kaoru actually isn't plagued by monster-hunters, currently. Being in the earlier stages has its benefits when it comes to skirting under the radar, after all, and a thick pair of gloves is enough to do the trick. It's why this punk doesn't feel the same pressing urge to get the hell out of dodge - along with the fact that there's no Curse Of Bloodthirst going on here, either. Some people have all the luck!]

Ah—? Certainly, though I do feel obligated to ask if I can help you get to where you're going.

[Is now the time for snarky passiveaggressive comments, Kaoru!!]

[deontological]

[FOR FUCK'S SAKE, KAORU.

...is what Sen would say if she were any of the more ill-tempered demons from their homeland, but luckily (?) she isn't. Instead, she just releases some air from between her teeth in a slight hiss and looks over her shoulder.

She's put some distance between herself and her pursuers, but they've seen which corner she turned, so she's sure it won't be long before they've caught up.]

If you're in the mood to run, then by all means, help me get out of sight.

[She never thought she'd have to take the whole Torches and Pitchforks thing seriously, but here she is... why this...]

[souredsweet]

[A LUCKY THING INDEED for Kaoru, at least... who isn't in the mood to run at all, but also isn't used to being lucky for any sizable chunk of time. If Sen basically says "run", Kaoru sure isn't about to stick around.]

This way, then.

[A gentle nod to the side and Kaoru's gone! Even without the aid of cheating anime demon speed, Kaoru's skills lie in weaving through crowds undetected and knowing the best way to get from point A to point B without drawing unwanted attention. It helps that this area is pretty familiar, too; it's an easy enough feat to lead the way through a few more corners, side-streets and alleys until coming to a stop in the cradle of a neighborhood that appears to have been abandoned.]

If you're being pursued, you'll have time to catch your breath here.

i!!

[hoasen]

Really.

[The pamphlets were not all that reliable, but what Vietnam still thought they were good for was the slow introduction to the Doom everyone here will suffer. At least, everyone who came to this island through unnatural means.]

You are right, however. There are better ways of getting information. [because why not from someone who looks like they've already been affected?]

[deontological]

[Those... sure are scales. And fins. And - and are those gills? Sen's gaze doesn't linger on her neck for too long because she's already learned of the existence of vampires and since her eyes are naturally reddish to begin with, she doesn't want to give anyone the wrong idea, but... this is definitely someone who's quite a bit further along in their transformation than she's met so far.

She smiles, though. It would be rude to do otherwise, and Vietnam isn't being hostile at all.]

I assume asking you would be one of those better ways, Miss?

[hoasen]

[They sure are, this young woman's reaction at least is calm and collected, and quite bright. At least she's open minded to this whole ordeal.]

I am, or at least for what I have been afflicted with, the curse of turning into a mermaid. But I can give some basic information about the others. [There are small details that she does not know, only because there are still some kinds she doesn't see as often.] And you need not call me Miss, just Vietnam will. What should I call you?