graveyardsmash | TEST DRIVE : MAY 2016 EDITIOIN

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test drive

TEST DRIVE : MAY 2016 EDITIOIN

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 MAY 20ST 12:01AM EST.
There is an Enable Me / App this Plz to see what some people are offering or would love to play.
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, and already SOME 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."

Then there's the people who aren't happy to see you at all. Glares and silent, judging stares if you're lucky. Torches and pitchforks attempting to drive you out of the town if you're not. You may need a friend to help you.

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.

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--huh??

[Any time Trucy brightens with an idea, that's usually Apollo's cue to worry. But he doesn't get any chance to protest, and honestly, her idea is far more practical in this case. He squints, wrinkling his nose as she shoves his hair under the hat (thankfully it'll bounce back properly later thanks to all the gel he uses), and stands there, feeling a bit baffled. He catches a glance of himself in a nearby window. . .huh. It feels sort of weird wearing a magician's costume, but it doesn't look too bad, he guesses. He adjusts the hat ever so slightly, and then looks back to Trucy.]

Adorable isn't the look I was really going for, but whatever works. [He looks a good deal less silly like this, too. I mean, being decked out in magician's clothing is still weird, but it's not like he didn't stand out before anyway! He doesn't comment on the assistant bit, though.] Alright, let's go. Just follow me, the park's this way.

[He leads the way, cape and hat doing their job properly, the former fluttering a bit behind him, and turning some heads. Why hadn't he thought of a hat before, he wonders? He'll get something not as flashy later.]

Aw, well, either way I think you look good! [ This is an image permanently burned into her mind now. She's never going to forget it, and any and all hope he has ever had about dodging assistant duty is gone. It's going to happen... someday, some how, she'll make it happen.

That thought alone has her smile brightening once again as she nods and walks alongside him, blue eyes taking everything and everyone in. She's already starting to memorize this place and as many faces as she can.

Once they're at the park, she feels a bit relieved. Some of those people didn't look too friendly, although she knows she should probably get used to that. ]

Here, we can sit over there! [ There being a bench, of course, which she happily trots to and plops down, scooting over to make sure her future assistant has room to sit, too. ]

This seems like a nice park... do you come here often, Polly?

[Apollo is likely mentally screeching in his head, his fate is inevitable. Maybe by the time they get home, he'll have found something to distract that thought from her. Maybe a new magic trick?? Or a new wardrobe or prop??

Who is he kidding, he's doomed. ]

T-thanks. . .

[Bavan's a pretty big city, and despite time period shenanigans, there are skyscrapers and a variety of businesses everywhere to take in, even on their short trip to the park.

The park itself is quite large and spacious, and very well kept. A duck pond and bridge here, a garden full of flowers there, and other such decor. Apollo looks to the bench she spots, and as hoped, it's covered by the shade of a tree. He follows, and takes off the top hat when he's reached the safety of shadow, his hair springing right back up as if it had never been covered. Go go ace hairdos! He lets out a sigh as he sits next to her, relieved they have a little more privacy compared to the busy sidewalk.]

Actually, yeah. It's nice and quiet, despite all the people that pass through. [And unlike the one back home, it's not across the street from a mob boss!] I do a lot of thinking here, lately.

[He raises his hand, and then plops Trucy's hat back on its rightful owner.]

Thanks for letting me use that. So. . .what else do you want to know? I mean, I guess I should just say everything, but there's so much of it.

[ His fate as a magical apprentice is sealed. Even if they stay here forever, she'll find some way to do her shows and he'll be her number one assistant. Forever.

She grins when her hat is back on her head, nodding. She's glad it helped... she's also glad it didn't completely wreck his hairdo. Then again, perhaps he carries a spare bottle of gel in one of his pockets. She wouldn't put it past him in the slightest. ]

You're welcome! It seems like a nice park, and the city seems nice, too. But obviously it's more sinister than it looks...

[ What, with the whole changing into a monster thing and all. She sighs, peering up at the sky. ]

...Does it hurt very badly when you start to change? Or... or change at all? [ Because those spikes look like they couldn't feel good at all when poking through the skin. Then again, it could be akin to when one has lost their baby teeth and the annoyance felt while the adult ones were poking through. ]

This is just so... strange. I don't even know what else to ask, honestly...

Not everything is totally sinister. The only weird people here are outsiders like us, so the suspicion is normal. Most people in this city are pretty nice, though I do get he occasional glare. Still, they try to understand.

[And this is coming from Mr. Pessimistic himself. He's found a job, his landlord is pretty decent, and most of his acquaintances don't mind the whole goblin thing. Hell, even some of his co-workers poke him about the energy feeding thing so they can get out of work.]

But it was rough, yeah. I guess it went by pretty quickly, but that's not saying much. No matter how you spin it, growing spikes and fangs and stupid wings really freaking hurts. It felt like someone was stabbing me from the inside out.

[His tiny wings rustle under the cape. Seriously, what is the point of these things? He can't fly and they're too small to be used offensively. What is he, a Disgaea demon?? He's used to them now, and feels totally normal otherwise, but initially most of his features were just unnecessary growing pains. He huffs, looking down at his hands.]

I'm lucky though, at least I don't have to deal with--tails or horns or something else ridiculous. Some people lose entire limbs, and apparently mermaids are a real thing here? Ugh. It can be jarring at first, but nothing is worse than--. . .

[The part where some monsters eat people. Apollo dodged a bullet in that regard, surviving on energy and never having to kill. But most. . .not so much. And he's not naive, he knows he could be dangerous, if he wanted. He's seen other goblins turn people into empty husks. Just the thought sickens him though, and he quickly steers his words toward something a bit more optimistic.]

I mean, of course, there's a chance it won't happen to you! Maybe it'll stop being foggy. Er, that's what triggers it, a weird fog that rolls in every now and then.

So as long as it isn't foggy, it's fine! You'll be fine.

Well, that's good to know! Some of them sure seemed rude earlier, though. But maybe it's just me. [ She shrugs her small shoulders and sighs. She'd tried being nice, but no one was listening to her so she'd snapped. Some people had scattered pretty quick, while others had tried to throw a little threat or two, which was pretty easy to ignore honestly.

Still, she has to hide a cringe because she's tough, yes, but she's not so sure if she can handle pain like he's describing. ]

That's not good... oh, Polly, I'm so sorry you had to go through all of this on your own! That's just terrible...

[ ...Losing limbs sounds pretty hideous too, at least until he mentions mermaids. Unfortunately, her expression brightens. ]

Wait, mermaids are real?! Like... like in those cartoon movies? I want to be a mermaid! Oh, wow, that's really neat! [ Little does she know, of course. But singing and swimming around doesn't sound that bad to her... if that's all it really was. Too bad she's a little naive about mermaid lore. ]

...Wait, worse things? What... what worse things? [ He's piqued her interest even further now, morbidly so. A brow arches, and then she frowns. ]

Hold up, the fog...? Why doesn't everyone just wear gas masks or something when the fog rolls in?

[Trucy's got a winning personality, but Apollo imagines a lot of people here may not warm up to her so easily. The whole magician get-up probably didn't help matters either. At least it hasn't bothered her too much so far, but he makes a mental note to try and help her with a little PR during her stay.

As for the pain of the changes, he shrugs it off again. If she's hit with them, he can probably find some good pain meds for her. From migraines to horrific bone growth, a good pill can relieve anything!]

It's fine, and anyway--[Oops. Lost her to mermaids. He shakes his head frantically, making an X motion with his arms.]

--don't say you want to be anything!! Do you want to jinx yourself? And what's so great about mermaids, anyway? There's no way to fix your hair after all that swimming, and you'd probably smell like an aquarium. [Mr. Wright and Athena sure did after spending so much time on that one case. Priorities!] Besides, who knows what you could pick up swimming around in a dirty lake, and there could be sharks at the beach.

[Maybe. Honestly, sharks are the least of his worries, but it's important to consider! He not-so-stealthily ignores her spiked interest in his ommission.]

Fog isn't gas! It just happens, it doesn't matter where you are, inside or out, you'd still feel the effects. Some shops even close up when it gets foggy, it's that bad.

But I do want to be a mermaid! Besides, mermaids are tough, and I'll wrestle sharks away-- wait, there's a beach?! Oh, oh, I definitely want to be a mermaid now! Forget the lake! You can come sit on rocks with me at night and we can sing to the sharks! Or you could use your Chords of Steel to scare them away!

[ This doesn't sound bad at all... well, the mermaid thing. Do you see the look on her face, Apollo? This is the expression of someone who seriously wants to be a mermaid now. She's got visions of singing and dancing fish in her head now. ]

If I'm a mermaid I'll bet I'd be immune to any weird diseases in the lake! Are there other merpeople in the lake?! I can make merfriends?! Oh, and then they can be my assistants too! My assistants in my mermaid magic show!

[ Good job, Justice. She blinks, before humming. She's trying to find loopholes for this whole fog thing... ]

Okay, but in school we used to practice shelter in place things... why not just tape up the windows and close off the air vents and stay inside? Then again, like you said, it's not gas...

[What have I done, he thinks, sweating a bit, mouth slackjawed as she goes on and on about the possibilities. What if she does become a mermaid? Will they have to move to the shore?? His commute to work will be hell! Would he not be allowed to eat fish? That would be semi-cannibalism, right??]

I--that's not what my Chords of Steel are for!! Just don't get too excited. . .there are other mermaids, yeah, but I don't know how well an underwater magic show would work for you.

[It'd certainly sell out if she could make it happen. He rubs at his head, trying his damnedest to imagine all this. He doesn't actually know the specifics to how mermaids function here, would he have to cart her around in a wheelbarrow full of water? Sheesh!

He sighs, and shakes his head at her assumptions about the fog.]

Right, it wouldn't work. It's. . .[He bites his lip, frowning, hating he has to admit to do this.]

It's magic. The real deal. I don't know how, but there's no logical explanation for it.

But they can be for that! Oh, and we can punch sharks too! You're good at punching things, you'll have to teach me your techniques!

[ The more he talks about it, and the more she thinks about it, the more excited she's getting... the exact opposite of what he's told her to do. But she can't help it! ]

I can figure it out! And the sharks will be my new friends and we'll have a great time, and they can take the place of my doves and bunnies! Are there dolphins too?! I can ride a dolphin!

[ She's practically bouncing in her seat at this point, planning for a future that's probably most definitely not going to be spent under water like she wants to. ] Oh, but instead of living in the ocean or the lake, can I live in your bathtub instead?

[ ...And now, he's said the other word she loves so much: magic. This isn't the good kind of magic, though, and she knows it, but... real magic! ]

I want to learn how they do it! I'm gonna figure it out! And then we can use it to reverse what's been done to everyone... except the mermaids! Or at least, mermaid me! But everyone else can be fixed!

No one is allowed to punch sharks!!

[Putting his foot down there! Is she trying to get his fists bit off??? He sighs, leaning back on the bench, and rubbing at his temples.]

Admittedly, I'd pay to see you pull a dolphin out of your hat, but maybe slow down a little. And--no! No bathtubs! Mostly because I only have a shower, but we'd have to get you a fish tank or something! Those are expensive, especially if you want coral or a plastic castle or something.

[It's like he's planning for a giant beta fish. He glances over at her as she muses about reversing magic, snorting at the notion. It's bad enough real magic exists here, he doesn't want her getting mixed up in this wizardry.]

That's wishful thinking, Trucy. I mean, I guess if anyone could figure out a trick, it'd be a magician, but this is dangerous, you don't know what you're dealing with. Look here--!

[He holds out his hand and, whoosh. It's engulfed in flames. It doesn't hurt him (so long as it stays around his hand), and with a wave it disappears] See? I shouldn't be able to do that. It makes zero sense.

I can do it! I can do it, Apollo! I can punch them and win! We can have shark fights and people can place bets!

[ Poor Apollo. He's making this better and better and he's not even trying. Her eyes are practically sparkling at the idea of having her own aquarium and her own plastic castle. ]

Can I have glittery glow in the dark gravel? Can I have sleepovers in my tank?!

[ Money isn't the issue here Apollo, she needs a huge tank to be happy! Still, he's right, but it doesn't mean she won't think of a way to try and figure out just how this is being done. ]

Dangerous is my middle name, I--

[ She's cut off, though... and suddenly, his hand is on fire. She practically squeals and claps her hands, looking absolutely amazed. ]

THAT'S SO COOL! I want to do that too! OH! YOU CAN LIGHT MY TANK ON FIRE! How did you do that?! Do it again, please?

[ She's practically begging, because legit that's definitely one of the coolest things she's seen in a LONG time, and from Apollo no less! Her hands clasp together, and she stares up at him with big, pleading blue eyes. ]

Please, Polly? Just one more time?

No, no, maybe, and no.

[The glowing gravel is the only negotiable option. Mostly because there are lots of environmentally friendly glowing rocks he could find for free out by a lake or whatever. Gotta be frugal!!

He nearly jumps out of the cape at her excitement, hair spikes standing straight up. Not the reaction he expected! He scoots away a bit, shaking his head.]

I-I'm not going to set anything of yours on fire, Little Miss Arsonist! This isn't cool, or a play thing! It's very serious, and I'm trying to make a point!

[. . .

But still. It is cheering her up. And it's ridiculously hard to say no to that face. No wonder Mr. Wright gives her so many advances in allowance.]

. . .but fine, once more.

[He makes a fist, holding it away. Whoosh, fire fist!! ]

But Polly, think of the money we could earn just by fighting sharks!

[ She's a business woman, Apollo. It's her job to crunch numbers and think of these things, because she's not sure what sort of work she can do here. Stage magic might not cut it in a place that has real magic.

Still, she's staring up at him, hoping she doesn't have to beg and plead more. ]

But it would make for a cool trick! I can jump through the fire and... well, I dunno what else, but I'll think of something! You're right, it's not cool, it's awesome!

[ And then he's doing it again. She claps happily and giggles, extremely excited and praying that mermaid or not, she gets some sort of amazing powers like that, too! Of course, with her luck, she'll be the most boring thing in the world... ]

That's really cool! Thank you for showing me again, Polly! I want to do that stuff, too... I wonder if I'll be able to do neat stuff eventually?

I'll stick to my day job, thanks.

[Lawyering and being a parttime store clerk. It's not glamorous, but it pays the bills!]

And I'm not sure how your father would feel if I let you jump through a ring of fire like a trained tiger shark, so let's put that idea on the shelf for now. Or at least until you discover flame proof stage wear.

[Which hopefully won't be any time soon, and this idea won't fester. He shakes his wrist, and the flames poof out of existence again. While the idea of real magic will never sit well with him, its existence at least creates a positive outlook on things to come. If anyone can take advantage of crazy powers and gimmicks, it's Trucy!]

Actually, that is one of the perks of this, if you want to call it that. I've seen some people do really amazing things. Some can fly now, turn into animals, disappear and reappear, things like that. [Apollo just sort of punches people and accidentally sets his tie on fire every now and then. Others have far better uses for their abilities.] Ha ha, I guess in a way we all sort of belong in a circus.

Oh, come on! Where's your sense of adventure?

[ Buried in that dumpster he dug through last year, probably. ]

But daddy's not here! Hm, okay, though. I'll start working on that ASAP!

[ That's what he thinks. She's got her mind set on this... fortunately for him, her attention span can sometimes be that of a goldfish. If he's lucky, something else will distract her.

Something like flying. ]

I'm not really seeing the problem with this place! I want to do all of that stuff! So, I just have to throw myself into the fog, right? [ Yes, throw herself into it, he heard right. She'd also like to see him sort of punch people and laugh when he sets his tie on fire. Because she will. She'll laugh. Just a little. ] It seems kind of cool, if you ask me... but there's gotta be a catch. There always is, and you were avoiding telling me something earlier.

[Buried in the trash and then crushed in a compactor.

Apollo recoils at the thought of Trucy just straight up running into the fog, arms spread in welcome. Nope nope! He jumps to his feet, shaking his head and making a fist.]

--NO, no, no throwing your body into the fog! That is the exact opposite of what you should be doing! [HOW COULD THIS BE GOING SO HORRIBLY WRONG. It's true that a lot of people have adapted fairly well--hell, some of them even have better lives here than back at their homes, apparently. But the price is too high, Apollo thinks, and there's no omitting info around Trucy. He sighs, rubbing at his head again.]

Okay, fine, you've got me. There is a catch--a really big one. Promise not to freak out, okay?

[Honestly Apollo's more likely to freak out despite being here for a good year now. Defense attorneys vs murder, it's just not a good mix.]

[ Trucy almost jumps when he jumps up, and she stares up at him, tipping her head slightly. She knows he's probably right, he's been here a while... but at the same time, she really wants to be a mermaid. Or something that flies. Either way, it's still not sounding that bad. ]

Okay, what if I cartwheel into the fog? Does that make it better? [ She's not even trying to troll him right now. She's being dead serious -- cartwheeling into the fog at the very least sounds a lot flashier than just hurtling herself into it.

...Except there he goes, finally about to talk about that catch. She straightens up and nods, a determined look crossing over her features. ]

I promise! Lay it on me, Polly!

Not in the least. It just means something might happen to your hands or legs first.

[Okay, the fog doesn't exactly work that way, but he's paranoid enough to believe the fog god would do something of the sort.

He takes a deep breath, and then looks around. Just spit it out, Justice, you can't hide the truth forever. He makes sure there aren't any park goers in hearing distance before he speaks up again.]

Alright, so. This doesn't apply to everyone but, the whole turning into a fantastcial monster comes with the full package. Weaknesses, strengths, lore, all that. In a way it's like we're turning into malicious versions of those yokai things your friend was afraid of. And because of that, sometimes people here snap and. . .do things they usually wouldn't.

The most usual instance is. . .murder. Many of the monsters here can't survive without killing normal people for food. Cannibalism.

That's both creepy and interesting.

[ She's still not really deterred, not yet at least. Except then he continues, and at first she just sort of stares at him, as if she doesn't believe him. Her expression shifts, eyes narrowing slightly, as she then attempts to decipher whether or not he's pulling her leg or not.

Except he's not laughing and his face looks pretty serious. ]

...Question. Do Mermaids eat people? I kind of... don't want to do that. Whole... murder, eating the flesh off of corpses thing you just talked about.

[He's dead serious of course, but even as he explains it, it's hard to believe it's flowing from his mouth. He's not very accepting of it, even now, but it grates him that he's explaining this as if it were a simple rule of a game.

On the plus side, re: mermaids--]

Er. Actually, I don't think mermaids eat flesh. They just drown people. . .a lot. That's what you'd have to do if you became one. I can't imagine such a reputation would help sell your stage act.

.....

[ Sadly, it's not the whole 'drowning people a lot' bit that gets her. It's the fact that it would put her show on ice, and that's not something she can have. Ever.

With wide eyes, she slaps her gloved hands against her own cheeks, looking horrified. ]

But I won't drown anyone! Why would they do that?! Why would anyone do that?! I'll be the good mermaid like in the movies!

[gdit trucy!! Well he can't fully blame her for putting business first. Gotta make them dollars!]

Technically, the only good mermaids are the ones in movies. In most written fairy tales, they're kind of awful fish people.

But I can't tell you a why. It's just what they do, and how they get their energy.

Edited 2016-08-05 02:34 (UTC)

But. But! I wouldn't do that! Drowning people to get energy is really stupid, why don't they just drink energy drinks? Or fish coffee?

[ These are truly the hard hitting questions of our era. The appeal of becoming a mermaid is suddenly fading quickly, at least. ]

...Wait, does that mean you've had to eat people too, Polly?

Fish coffee? Just saying that should be enough to make you realize why that wouldn't work. [You can't just pour coffee into a goldfish bowl, Trucy!!

But to her question, he actually relaxes slightly. This, he doesn't have to sugar coat entirely.]

Actually. . .no. I got a lucky break for once.

I said many of the monster turned people have to eat others, but not all. I just......sort of steal energy? With magic? I don't really understand it. [He looks at his hand, flicking out another small flame before it flits out of existence. He feels lucky compared to most people, but he omits that, even if some of his victims are voluntary, he still doesn't like it. For all he knows, he's shaving years off their life by taking their energy.]

But the point is, I don't have to kill people to do it. There are some others like that, too. It's still possible to kill them, sure, but only a crazy person would do it on purpose.

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magicpanchira - 2016-08-15 03:19 (UTC) - Expand

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