graveyardsmash | Test drive meme: November

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Test drive meme: November

TEST DRIVE MEME: NOVEMBER

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 is making all the cuts and scrapes on your skin 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 of the natives are trying to get on your good side with 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 on the more informative end of the scale. 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 readers saying they're lies, or pointing out good "jokes."

Then there are 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? Feel free to pick any monster type for this prompt, but note that you may not get the same one in game.

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Beach

[Sand, water, the smell of salt; he's at a beach. District 4? Finnick blinks the world into existence as his eyes adjust. The sand below him shifts as he pushes himself into a graceful stand. The beach isn't familiar, and Finnick is confident that he knows the ins and outs of every beach within the District.

What has the Capital done now? He's dressed in a tight pair of swimming trunks and a loose t-shirt, his casual wear. It's not the Capital's uniform, but they're an unpredictable bunch.

The gunshot confirms it. This is some kind of Game. That doesn't make a lot of sense. The Capital doesn't do anything in secret. They announce and advertise.

Anyone nearby is approached with caution. If they look suspicious, they're stalked instead.]

In town

[The fact that everyone is being kind to him only solidifies the absolute surety that this is some kind of elaborate new game. None of the faces are familiar, but Finnick surely isn't the only victor to be here.

He studies the brochures carefully. Are there rules written somewhere in the strange text? Finnick tries, but their secrets aren't being revealed. Tossing the literature, he decides a more direct approach.]

I get it, there are no rules. [Even now, he assumes the Capital is watching, and his voice nearly drips with honey.] But knowing the objective will make for a lot better Game.

[Treating this as some kind of elaborate game-for-show would be philosophically similar to how Lucrezia views, well, everything, so she doesn't at all question Finnick's wording when he approaches her. She had seen him out of the corner of her eye before- she always has her eyes peeled for a snack- but she was content to let him come to her.

Imagine her delight when he addresses the world at large, in her close proximity.]

Darling, there are never any rules. The objective is always the same though, isn't it? Survive, plan, thrive, conquer.

[She can't know how well her answer fits into his theory: this is some kind of long-term game where he won't know what's coming until it comes. With the Hunger Games, he'd known death was around every corner. Now, he won't know where it lurks.

The cameras will be hidden, but they're present. That means Finnick has to wear his star face.

He grins suggestively in her direction, a common mode for him when in part. If she's another tribute, he doesn't recognize her as a past victor. That means she likely has a more important role.]

Conquer? [Be the strongest.] Are we supposed to conquer each other?

[She always assumes she knows exactly what to say, too, so the idea that she should question herself would never come to mind.

Oh, death still lurks around every corner, darling, just in the form of man-eating monsters, instead of children with knives.

Lucrezia preens a little under that gaze, fixing her hair, her dress.]

Isn't that always the way? Power and influence are everything, are they not? Anyone you can't control, you destroy.

[she tosses her hair.]

[She's definitely one of the people within the Capital.

Lips are seduction. He keeps his titled upward in a smile, slightly parted, as if trying to draw attention to his mouth.]

Or, you make them allies. [He walks closer. His original question was tossed to the universe, but now, he's far too close for most others to hear. Only her.] I'm a lot better to work with than destroy.

[If only she could be. She would have thrived in that environment. Being spoiled, rich, access to every technology imaginable, in a culture that practically worships violence? Oh yes, she would fit right in.

She hums a little note, taking stock of his body language. She takes her time to enjoy it- the view one gets being a very short woman is nothing to sneeze at. She makes a show of sizing him up, a hand on her hip.]

Hm, you are charming, but I don't often play nicely with others.

[She can have it. Finnick hates the capital, hates every spoiled face there. He hates them, but he hides it because they're the ones with power. She isn't wrong in that power gives control.

Assuming she's among those with power, he continues his act.]

Not even with those who are very [His voice drops on that word] good at playing with others?

[There's a lot to be said for being able to act your way to the top. Lucrezia has respect for that, especially when it means she gets things she likes.

Like pretty young boys flirting with her. Oh, yes this will do nicely. She puts on her best innocent face and traces a little circle on his chest with a finger.]

Not ready to take no for an answer? All right, cutie. I'm Lucrezia.

[He isn't acting to get to the top, per se. He's acting on orders from the top. Finnick is a Victor, but he holds no real power. It means he's a movie star reading the scripts for the people who write them.

His smile widens.

Lucrezia is a name that would fit in well.]

Finnick. [He assumes she already knows. He's infamous.] Then... [He offers her his arm. People like his arms, the way his muscles stand out from the skin.] Should we explore our new home?

[Such a good little minion, then! Lucrezia will enjoy collecting this one.

She makes a soft sound like an "oh" of impressed surprise when he offers his arm. Such a gentleman, and such a view. Perhaps another adventurer-type, like her late husband? Or just a hardworking minion someone left out to dry? Such a shame.

Finders keepers.] I say we shall. Have you had a chance to see a map?

[She has, but she doesn't want to play all her cards right away, let him think she needs him a little.]

[He assumes she needs nothing. She may want, but she doesn't need. In his mind, she knows the layout, she knows the little secrets.

He'd been given a task, forced into it really, and Finnick has made the most of it. If he has to play the charming gentleman for the lovely people of the Capital, he'll do so for their secrets so that one day, the Capital would fall.]

Hmmm...I haven't seen a thing, but I can think of worse ways to spend the day than exploring with a lovely woman.

[But usually, their desire is more in the open. He knows what they want, they know why he's giving it to them. This new game is odd.]

But I think you know more than you're telling me. You're keeping all of your secrets close?

[Such compliments! There are a few things she does need, but she will always present them as wants for fear of showing weakness.

Luckily, or unluckily for Finnick, Lucrezia has been known to spill a secret or two when she's overconfident.]

I'm sure you can.

[She agrees with a chuckle, then taps at her lips with a finger, considering.]

I always thought it was ladylike to keep one's secrets close. Don't you agree?

[There's no beach near Nanao's home town, so when he wakes up with sand and salt in his hair, he knows there's trouble. Actually, he honestly assumes that he's been thrown into another dimension again, although this time he's unarmed.

Nanao's facing the sea, ignorant to the gunshot that had resounded minutes before and tracing the indent of his Happy Bracelet on his skin. He doesn't look up when he hears the stranger approach cautiously. He merely smiles, amused as the Cheshire Cat.]

I'm unarmed and just as confused as you are, for the record. [He calls out almost boredly] I don't bite too. At least, not on the first date.

Who says I'm confused?

[That's exactly what someone armed and not confused would say, blonde stranger.

Finnick changes his stance. He's still cautious, but he hides it better now.]

I like nightly swims.

Edited 2018-11-13 03:19 (UTC)

I do. But then, forgive me for assuming so.

If you're not confused, then you could provide me answers, handsome. I can gladly compensate you.

[True. But it's also something the foolishly stupid and actually confused would say.]

Is that why you come out here? I never did like the water. Too cold. I prefer a book and tea.

Edited 2018-11-13 03:29 (UTC)

[True. They're at an impasse.

But Finnick's bluffing. Or charming. He prefers to do both. He's still confident that the Capital is behind it, and that means this man likely knows who he is.]

That depends on the question and the compensation.

[He deals in secrets.]

Try it in the summer. There's nothing like diving into the cool water when it's hot.

[Nanao just prefers to be charming. Jokes are more his things, opposed to outright lies, though he's not particularly against it.]

I'll pay whatever I can. Or whatever you think information is worth? All I want to know is where are we? And how did I get here? This certainly isn't Japan. And you're certainly not Japanese.

[Nanao laughs. Light and airy, as if he doesn't have a care in the world despite the situation they're in.]

I think I'll stick to just staying in the hot springs. Even in Summer, it's very relaxing.

[Finnick cocks his head, confused. He's sure they both know he's as clueless as the blonde.]

That would depend: what's Japanese?

[They have Districts, not countries.]

... what?

[Now Nanao looks even more confused. The man tilts his head and now turns to look at Finnick.]

Japanese... as in... where I'm from. Japan. I speak Japanese too. The language. How do you not know what that is?

[He's not sounding any different to Nanao, so... magic or this man's trolling him.]

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Test drive meme: November

Finnick Odair | The Hunger Games

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Beach

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