TEST DRIVE MEME

[ryslighelpers]

TEST DRIVE MEME: MARCH

Welcome to the Ryslig Test Drive Meme! Below are a few prompts to get you started, but you may make up any prompt you desire! Please take a look at the navigation page for rules, setting information, and links to reserves and apps. Have fun!

SCENARIO ONE

You wake up on the beach thoroughly drenched with your mouth full of sand. The salt water causes various cuts and scrapes on your skin to sting and the sand isn't helping. The air is slightly humid, ruining any feeling of refreshment you might have gotten from your dip in the ocean. There are lights in the distance but the unfriendly scent of gunpowder fills the air. If you're lucky, you're alone. If not, you might find yourself staring up into a pair of monstrous eyes or down the barrel of a local's shotgun.

SCENARIO TWO

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 THREE

"Seek us out," the voice whispers in your head, and before you have time to question it you've found yourself in someplace entirely alien. Maybe it's the Fog God's ghostly town of Dyster, where exultant followers dance around bonfires and sing their praises to the skies above. Maybe it's the Fourth God's arcade, with small robots wheeling about amidst the lights and colors of old pinball machines. Only one thing is certain: you are not alone, in this sacred place.

SCENARIO FOUR

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.

Comments

9S | Nier: Automata | spoilers will be avoided!

[yandroid]

prompt.one['vandare'] # evening?

[ Where... am I?
I flex my hand, trying to make a fist. As if in response, my fingers twitch.
My motor functions are impaired. Better do something about that.
I try to initiate self-diagnostics, but none of my systems activate.
Something's gone wrong.
I try to navigate to communications, but the feed doesn't open.
Am I... functional?
At my wit's end, I open my mouth and call out.
"Hello?"
"A-anyone, can you hear me?"
...
Nothing.
I am completely, truly alone.

9S opens his eyes and sees, for the first time, an alien world.

he lies there for a few moments, trying (and failing) to take in just what he's seeing. it's... is it earth? no, it can't be. it's dark up there; not like the fading clouds of the amusement park, but actually dark. dark like he's read about on the bunker's data servers.

just where is he...?

he pushes himself up, stumbling to his feet. his systems are inaccessible. he's lost communications with the bunker. he's on a planet he doesn't recognize. so what does that leave him? well... not too much, if he's being honest. but staying here isn't going to do a single thing about it. so he steadies himself on his feet, brushes off his pants, and starts heading inward from the shoreline.

first step: find a weapon. ]

prompt.three['arcade']

[ seek us out, the voices say, and like a moth to flame 9S follows. it's not that he's unaware of the potential dangers - far from it. he's stuck in a fully-organic body with systems he can't even run diagnostics on, much less initiate self-repair routines. his standard-issue combat modules weren't ever as impressive as a type B unit's, and he can't access those; all that's left are the memories and instincts of how to hold the sword in his hand. he's got no backup; an operator isn't going to connect him to necessary intel or modify his hud to alert him of nearby hostiles. and to top it all off, something has managed to interface with his sensory inputs - in this newly "human" body, unconnected to any networks or servers.

no matter how he looks at it, this is a suicide mission. he knows that. but he can't shake this need to reach out, to touch the flame that's dangling just out of reach.

even if it burns him whole.

the voices stop. he finds himself standing in front of an open door: a dimly lit hallway before him, the sounds of electricity and static audible even from this far out. without an ounce of hesitation he steps inside, taking in his surroundings with a tourist's wonder. he reaches out with his free hand, runs it along the wall - smooth, worked stone like concrete. this structure is recent enough to have not eroded. just where is he-

footsteps echo from behind him. even as a scanner unit, he pivots into a fighting stance quickly enough: sword out in front of him, legs spread to balance weight evenly, a slight crouch to lower his center of mass. he hesitates just long enough to confirm a rough humanoid shape, and calls out: ]

This is YoRHa Unit 9S. Requesting immediate identification.

[ and then, after a slight pause, he adds- ]

That means before you get any closer.

prompt.three

[fivebooktrilogy]

[ Fiske startles at the sudden movement--fata's heart, is that a sword? Gaaah. He puts his hands up in a placating gesture and starts stumbling his way through an introduction, trying to be quick, be clear, and not sound too intimidated. It's only sensible to comply before stabbing happens, after all, but he still has some pride. The pride is hard to remember at times like these, but he's making a conscious effort all the same. ]

Ah, I'm uh, Fiske? Fiske Hollis. I-- [ Wait, he's not in the manor anymore. He can't turn this around into "I live here, who are you". Um. How does he finish this sentence. ] --would very much not like to be stabbed.

[ Oh for--Fiske's uneasy smile quickly drops into undisguised irritation. So much for maintaining pride. Apparently he needs to work out a new "nervous and running on automatic" script for himself. ]

[yandroid]

[ that's not the reaction of something feral - and whoever this is, he's clearly not a machine. and because of that, he doesn't flinch or take fiske's slip poorly. he just chuckles lightly and says: ]

Yeah, you and me both. [ it's with an almost roguish smile that 9S twirls his sword in his hand, dropping his arm down to his side as he relaxes his posture. ] Sorry about that. It's kinda hard to tell who's who around here.

[ especially when you don't have map data for the area, or intel on nearby hostiles. or even some way to distinguish sensory inputs outside of color and motion. but he doesn't say any of that just yet. he looks fiske over once from top to bottom, not even bothering to hide the act, before turning back to the wall he was examining earlier. ]

You're human, aren't you?

[fivebooktrilogy]

[ Fiske makes a wry noise of agreement, smile going back in place. ]

I--um...

[ He hesitates and fidgets at the once-over, coloring slightly. Why are you doing that, person.

Fiske certainly seems human, yes. Older teens but short for his age, dressed in a decidedly 19th-century manner (and primarily in burgundies, a dubious choice given his red hair). Apparently unarmed. ]

Sure...? Er. Yes, I mean yes.

[ Fiske decides that's not a slip that counts--he is fully human again, as far as he can tell. He's just nervous, which is completely reasonable because sword. He turns his attention to their surroundings as well. ]

What is this place, do you know? What are all these... [ He pauses, giving a nearby pinball machine a doubtful look. ] They're certainly bright, aren't they. And those sounds are very strange.

[yandroid]

[ listen, fiske, there's one thing you've got to understand. 9S units are known for a lot of things. modesty is not one of them. either way, fiske's answer - combined with his appearance - is clearly good enough for 9S, and when he speaks again he sounds relaxed, casual. you know, like someone who doesn't point a sword at people or blatantly check them out. ]

Looks like some kind of recreational facility. [ he reaches out, gently pressing his fingers against the glass of an arcade machine with one hand. ] People used to build this stuff all the time. They're kind of... precursors, I guess. You know, to modern simulations.

[ he trails off for a moment, gently pressing each of the buttons on the machine before speaking again. ]

I mean, you're the human here. I was sort of hoping you'd know.

[fivebooktrilogy]

[ Fiske doesn't--or didn't--get the chance to meet new people terribly often. Just don't stab him and you're doing fine! ]

It does? I don't really see... Simulations of what?

[ Oh. He's. Being looked to as an authority. On these... objects. Why though. ]

You're ah, not human? [ 9S gets a side glance that's a good bit more calculating than Fiske's seemed so far. It's brief, as Fiske quickly remembers he's supposed to be providing information. On stuff he can't identify at all, granted, but. Maybe he can provide a more educated guess. ]

Some form of music? If you can bring yourself to call those sounds music. [ All those lightbulbs... at least, he's fairly sure that's what they are. They're awfully small, to say nothing of the odd colors... and the flickering. ] Run off electricity, but the power source appears inadequate. The state of repair suggests someone cares about these... things...

[ He hesitates, then sighs. ] I will be honest, that's the extent of my expertise here. [ Wait. ] Did you say "used to"? This technology is old?

[yandroid]

Combat situations, system diagnostics... that sort of thing.

[ "you're not human?" 9S takes the question completely in stride, chuckling and shaking his head. ] Not one bit. I'm an android - YoRHA Unit Number 9, Type S. [ with only the tiniest pause- ] The S stands for Scanner. It means if Command wants the best intel they can get, they send me.

[ he listens to the rest of fiske's hypothesizing, nodding at appropriate intervals. all of it does make sense. music for a distraction, flickering due to damaged power sources... this is someone's pet project, probably. when fiske finally asks the big question, he nods assertively. ]

Yeah, ancient. Pre-war, at least. [ someone hasn't been updated on the whole "time travel" biz yet. ] I don't have any intel to cross-reference while I'm off the grid, but... seven or eight thousand years, probably.

3

[peccatore]

[Luckily, Marco didn't intend to step any closer by the time he saw the sword. In fact, he takes a step or two back, holding his hands up.]

M-Marco Evangelisti. Uh... [Just a name isn't really identification, is it? What else can he add that actually means something-- ah.] Priest of the Fourth God.

[Speaking of wanting things to mean something, he's kind of wondering what the heck a YoRHa is. That entire... sequence of words almost sounded like some kind of codename, or... something like that.]

[yandroid]

[ "priest of the fourth god." it means nothing to him - there's hardly any data on religion as a concept, much less specific ones from antique eras. but the name is another matter entirely. that's a human name, pure and simple, and after a few moments he distrustfully sheathes his sword by his side. ]

...right. [ it's hard to give this man his full trust - he's turned into a monster already, after all. but he'll freely admit he's curious about these monsters. and besides, whoever marco is now, he was a human once, right? which means its his duty as an android to protect this person. that's just how he's programmed.

or, well. was. ]

You probably shouldn't get too close. [ it's gentle, but there's an almost chiding tone in his voice - like a babysitter explaining why a child can't touch the oven. ] This door, it's... it doesn't connect to the building interior. Something's off about it.

[peccatore]

Hm? [Marco is worried for all of three seconds, until he takes a peek inside.] Oh, no, it's perfectly fine. It's just a gateway into the Fourth God's Arcade. If you found it without a card, then I'm guessing He called for you.

[yandroid]

The Fourth God's Arcade...

[ well, alright. he's not exactly sure what an arcade is, but judging from its looks he's guessing it's not usually associated with religions. he leans in through the doorway, looking around inquisitively before it hits him just exactly what marco's saying. ]

Uhh... That'd be pretty difficult for him. [ he leans back out, turning to marco and tapping lightly at his own temple. ] My network functionality's out the window. However I got here, it really did a number on my systems.

[peccatore]

Oh, He doesn't have to use the network, He can-- [Abruptly, Marco stops, tilting his head to the side and lifting a finger.] We're talking about different things. Different networks. You don't mean RSDOS, do you?

... I'm just wondering, were you human before you were kidnapped? You don't have to answer that question.

prompt.three

[tsunderoid]

[The arcade is nothing like anything A2 has ever seen before. All the places she's ever wandered in her real life are ruins, wrecked remnants of a world gone long before she ever entered it, and her simulated memories were of the countryside. Most of humanity and their works are an enigma to her. For what use are these boxes and their simulated fights and races? She idly wanders the rows of machines, but something makes her pause.

There's a voice. One she actually recognizes.

She slowly walks out from behind a game cabinet, heels clicking against the floor. She comes to a stop once she's in full view, hands down, stance easy. He's armed and she isn't, after all.

The light from the screens casts an eerie glow over her features. The changes to her body make her feel awkward, unnatural in her own skin. Gone are the processes and augments that made movement graceful and effortless; now each step she takes is careful and deliberate. Who would have ever thought high heels weren't proper combat attire???

She doesn't bother answering him, though. A2 hasn't been one for talking in a very long time. Instead, she just watches him and the sword, waiting for him to make the next move.]

[yandroid]

[ the form finally walks into the dim lights of the arcade, and 9S has to stifle his breath. is that... a yorha unit? she could be a combat unit, but parts of her seem, well, off. she's not a unit he recognizes, and more importantly she's not responding to the question.

his fingers tighten around the sword, but he forces himself to lower it towards the ground. he calls out again. ]

Repeating request for identification. [ and then, after a moment's pause to breathe: ] Listen, I'm just trying to follow protocol here, so...

[tsunderoid]

[Her eyebrows move a fraction of an inch in surprise at his reply -- especially at the lowered sword. He doesn't recognize her? Has he somehow forgotten?

Maybe... that's for the best.]

A2.

[It's not her name, but it's close enough. She doesn't bother designating herself as a YoRHa unit. If he wants to take issue with that over everything else while they're here, then that's his problem.]

What is this place?

[yandroid]

A2... [ huh - it's not a designation or unit type he remembers. even the syntax is all off. still, she's pretty clearly yorha in design - if her uniform weren't torn to hell and back she could pass for a modern combat unit. so he shakes his head and sighs after a moment. ] Well, uh... Like I said, I'm 9S. It's nice to meet you, even in a weird place like this.

[ what is this place? he laughs ] I've been wondering that myself. There are machines all over, but they seem to be human in origin. I'm guessing this was a sort of training facility.

[ then again, he hasn't really tried any of them out. thoughts of the intruder put aside for the moment, he turns his attention to one of the tall booths. ] "Galaga." Hmm... maybe it's a location? Not really ringing any bells, though...