graveyardsmash | TEST DRIVE MEME

TEST DRIVE MEME

TEST DRIVE MEME



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: The State of the Game Discussion produced a lot of great suggestions and we now have a post for Plot Suggestions and Monster Questions. The NETWORK VOTE results are in and PRIVATE MESSAGING will be added some time in November. Lots of people have asked good questions on the FAQ, so do take a look. You can only app ONE character per round so choose wisely. Reserve and application dates have been announced. Test drive meme threads can be used for your roleplay sample! Sample scenarios: SCENARIO ONE: You've just been released from the hospital in Vandare and no one really seems to know what to do with you. The locals offer polite advice but don't seem to want to spend a lot of time with you. You and the other new arrivals stick out like sore thumbs, so perhaps one will spot you wandering about town. 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. 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Kimbley has been quiet about the rumors, not commenting on them. They're a lie, he's been telling himself. It's not true. It's ridiculous and is something that only happens in novels. And in illegal experiments in the lab he had been held in. Maybe that's why he's been on edge and on guard, protecting himself and refusing to be seen more than he has to be. He doesn't have any changes that are noticeable, not at the moment, at least.

His jaw is set oddly, teeth clenched as he approaches Archer, head ducked and his expression serious. It's strange, almost alarming, how he can sense now, when the other man is nearby. It's true for anyone he encounters. He can hear things better now. Breathing, people coming and going, and he can smell them, too, but he's been ignoring it. Having that ability extend to Archer disturbs him in ways he can't quite articulate, but he can't ignore the man.

"I hate this place." Kimbley doesn't care that Archer looks nervous in the least.

Archer starts when Kimbley speaks to him and turns around to face the alchemist. He relaxes almost instantly though; Kimbley wouldn't hurt him, he's certain of that. Besides, it's not like Kimbley has his alchemy here. Of course there is one concern he has, but... there's no way. There's no way Kimbley is being effected by whatever is changing them.

He almost moves to reply, to agree that he hates this place and wants nothing more than to go home, but he remembers the fangs and promptly clenches his teeth. Somehow the fangs still fit properly and he's not going to think about that right now. Instead he nods stiffly. It's awkward, but maybe Kimbley will let it pass.

By his expression, it's clear he's not going to let it pass. Something flicks in his eyes very quickly, something almost like fear. Archer always has the plans. He's always prepared. He'd been the one protecting Kimbley in Amestris, and that's a debt that he'll never be able to repay.

"Are you alright? You don't look well."

It's nothing. It has to be nothing. Just like he's imagining the fact that he can suddenly smell everything in this damn town. He shoves his hands in his pockets, shoulders stiff.

He doesn't respond at first, merely staring at Kimbley as if that will somehow get the message across that yes, he's perfectly fine, there's absolutely nothing weird going on here.

Unfortunately, staring doesn't seem to be conveying the message properly, so Archer glances away while he tries to find some way to express himself without showing those teeth. Maybe if he had purchased a jacket with a high collar this wouldn't be an issue, but unfortunately it's a bit too late for that.

Archer finally decides to raise a hand to cover his mouth, carefully settling into a stance and expression that implies that he's considering the situation. His eyes are still firmly locked on Kimbley though and he's trying to judge whether or not this is working.

"I'm fine." His voice is a bit muffled by his hand, but once again the fangs don't get in the way any. "I'm just a little tired, that's all."

This is strange. It's so unlike Archer that Kimbley balks, looking away. He's still trying to figure out why it's so strange, why everything is so screwed up. "You're acting weird," he says, but then again, he's been acting strangely himself. He wants to grab Archer by the wrist so he stops acting so secretive, but Kimbley doesn't want to provoke him, not when he's been acting jumpy and strange and completely unlike his commanding officer.

And then he lowers his voice, wary and suddenly struck by paranoia. "Should we go home?"

Archer raises an eyebrow at that. If anyone is likely to find out about these fangs, it's Kimbley. He does spend far too much time with the Crimson Alchemist, after all. Wouldn't it be best to get it over with in the privacy of their own place?

"Yes, I suppose so." He turns to lead the way, finally moving his hand from his mouth after he's done speaking. The walk isn't very long and while he hasn't finished those errands, this is far more important.

That may be the problem with the two of them spending so much time around each other. If Kimbley is quick to pick up on Archer behaving oddly, the reverse is probably true. Maybe this is a bad idea, but he's bound to notice it eventually, right? It's not like Kimbley's growing anxiety is something that he can actually hide.

He's content to walk back to their small house in silence, but he rounds on Archer as soon as they're both inside. "The hell's the matter with you?"

Once again Archer starts, though it's from surprise rather than fear. He hesitates for only a moment before finally speaking properly.

"This is what's the matter." He points at the fangs which are very apparent as soon as he opens his mouth to speak. "I woke up with them this morning. I didn't want you to see them, but since you're so insistent..."

He knows he shouldn't be trying to blame this on Kimbley, but he's both irritated by this new development and scared.

Kimbley takes an automatic step back, left hand raised up defensively. "Shit!" He regrets the tone as soon as it's out of his mouth, trying to amend the fearful tone by closing the distance between the two of them. He's not extremely close, and he's not moving to lay a hand on Archer's shoulder, but he's not running away.

"It's not like you would have been able to keep it from me," he says darkly. He folds his arms across his chest.

"I know..." Archer clenches his hands at his sides and looks away. This is somewhere between really embarrassing and terrifying. He's never been in a situation like this before, where he has literally no idea what's happening to him.

"Do you think..." He pauses, clears his throat, and tries again, "Do you think the rumors are true? Do you believe we're actually becoming... something non-human?" He doesn't want to say "monsters". That somehow makes this thing even more horrifying.

Kimbley doesn't look at him, opting instead to look at his palms. The arrays are still there, but they're just decoration now. He thinks of the chimeras in the bar, and of Greed, and how he prided himself on not being like them. The scientists in the lab hadn't dragged him off to fuck with his genetic makeup and to turn him into something where he could no longer consider himself a being that exists at all.

But now? Now he's not so sure. Sure, he doesn't have any physical changes yet, but if Archer is getting them...

Kimbley has noticed himself changing. It probably means when they come, they'll be impossible to hide. "I..." but he can't actually bring himself to answer the question. He's too afraid to.

Somehow, the fact that Kimbley doesn't answer is worse than any answer Kimbley could have possibly given. Archer knows Kimbley well enough to know that if he had an answer, he'd give it.

"You haven't noticed any strange changes, have you?" It's not exactly changing the subject, but it's obvious that Archer is trying to keep moving.

"I notice things I didn't use to notice. Sounds, smells. If you took something of mine and put it on the other side of town I could find it from smell alone," he's not aware of the fact that he's drawing his arms up protectively across his chest. It's not an impatient gesture at all. It's defensive and makes it quite obvious that Kimbley is afraid. He doesn't feel fear, but he's certainly feeling it right now.

"I went to buy a watch recently. I found one that looked a little like mine. It was silver and everything, but when I picked it up, my entire hand burned. It felt like I'd just been branded but it didn't leave a mark."

"A weakness to silver..." Archer muses aloud before shaking his head. No. It's just a coincidence. Surely something else could have caused that. He takes a step closer to Kimbley before realizing what he's doing. He wants to get Kimbley to stop doing... that. It doesn't feel right to have Kimbley panicking like this. If either of them are going to panic, it should be Archer. He finally reaches out to tug on Kimbley's sleeves, trying to get him to unfold his arms.

"There aren't any physical changes. That's good. Maybe you're just being paranoid and you think you can see and hear more than you originally could. Don't let it get to you. We'll figure something out."

They're hollow words, but unfortunately, they're all he has.

He lets Archer unfold his arms and allows them to hang loosely by his side.

"No," he says, a bit too quickly. "If you left and went somewhere... I don't know. It could be anywhere, really, I'd be able to track you down. I could track you down blindfolded if I had to." It would be a disadvantage, but he could do it, he's nearly positive.

And then, lowly, like he shouldn't be saying it: "You smell differently than the townspeople."

That's a little creepy, Kimbley... He probably smells different because he isn't like the townspeople. They're all human.

The thought is chilling and Archer decides not to focus on it. He absently reaches up to mess with Kimbley's clothes, making sure the shirt is on properly and there aren't any creases anywhere there shouldn't be. It's weirdly intimate, but he can't bring himself to stop or step away.

"Fine, maybe you aren't being paranoid. Still, at least it's not a physical change."

He seems to be aware of what he's said, because his face twists, but he doesn't apologize or otherwise try to amend his statement.

"You don't show your teeth when you talk. You'll be fine," he says, though he doesn't exactly believe his own words. He doesn't stop Archer from messing with his shirt sighing slightly, but opting to watch the other man instead.

"What will you do when it happens?" When, not if.

He doesn't flinch but he does stop messing with Kimbley's shirt. Archer doesn't look up in an attempt to meet Kimbley's eyes, instead staring very intently at the shirt. What is he going to do? He doesn't know. Somehow, that answer is worse than any other answer could have possibly been.

"...We'll figure something out." He's not sure if that's a lie or not.

What will either of them do? They can't return to Amestris. They'd be shot on sight if not dragged off to one of the laboratories. He doesn't know what he'd do if that happened. He doesn't want to think about what fate could possibly await him because it's unknown and that makes it even more frightening.

Ten years in prison and he never once feared his own death, even before it became clear he wasn't going to be brought before a firing squad. Even when it was looking like he was about to become an ingredient for the Philosopher's Stone, he didn't fear death.

But this slow, inevitable loss of his humanity? This scares him.

"...promise me you won't abandon me."

Can he promise something like that? It would be easy to promise and not mean it, but Kimbley isn't just a subordinate. Kimbley is a friend, as difficult as it has been for Archer to acknowledge that. The answer is easy, but he's not sure he can hold that promise.

"As long as you promise not to leave me."

"I wouldn't," he says stiffly. Not intentionally, not willingly. He depends on Archer. He could probably find someone else, if he really needed to, but he doesn't want to. Archer is his friend. He trusts him, even if he'd never actually say it.

"Good. Then yes, I promise. I won't abandon you. As I said, we'll find a way to work through this. Together."

The words are easy to say, but he knows they're both aware of how difficult it's going to be. They have no idea what changes are in store for them and there's no way of knowing. They're going to have to hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.

What can they really do? Kimbley knows this isn't going to be easy. It's going to be as easy as he's pretending it is, especially when the changes actually start happening. What the hell is he? What is Archer? Neither of them are human anymore, but he doesn't want to say that. He doesn't want to start thinking about how he's no different from Martel.

Kimbley still believes what he said about her. That she's not a living being. But it's starting to look like he's becoming something even worse than her, and if that's really true, what the hell is he?

"Yeah," he says, quiet, his voice distant. "Together."

Seeing Kimbley so quiet and subdued like this isn't sitting well with Archer, so he attempts the usual smirk. Once again the fangs don't hinder him any, which seems like it should feel weird.

"It's not like you to be so quiet, Kimbley. Aren't you usually the one who tells me to lighten up?"

"I am, aren't I?" but he doesn't feel too much like being relaxed and not taking things seriously. Still, he attempts to settle down. To smirk at Archer, because they'll get through this somehow. "I'm sure you'll have grand plans for this place, won't you? This is just a hurdle for us."

It isn't said with the confidence that he usually has, but he's trying.

scenario three

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