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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( The positivity is rather welcoming, even if the person it's coming from is a short double-monster. The people who he travels with are a bit of yin and yang -- one very settled in realism, the other a tried and true optimist. The former usually wins out over the latter, and the energy is usually serious. It's not a laughing matter that he's stuck in, after all. )

A hug...? ( That actually shocks him. Why would anyone want to...? The thought is very jarring, even. The only person to hug him for almost two years has been his sister. There is an itch in his brain that is very starved for that physical contact, but simultaneously...it may be best to keep up that streak. ) I...you can do what you want, I guess.

( There, it's not his responsibility. If he hugs him, fine. If he doesn't, also fine. It's somehow easier to think about a new topic of conversation. ) When I was younger, my sister would share her fish with me. It was her favorite, so it meant a lot...that's the first thing I could think of, sorry.

( Also the easiest memory of taste to recall. He hasn't outright told this person -- Fran -- that he's a malfunctioning undead person, but it feels like letting too much out if he says he hasn't eaten in years. ) There are a lot of different people. I haven't interacted with a lot in a long time. And fun...

( Recalling his previous recreational pastimes is just a little too much, still. )

[Pffft, way to shove the decisions onto the nymph~ He just smiles and nods, he may just take the stranger up on that sometime. Later, of course.] If you say so~

Oh? That's a very specific choice, but I like it! I'm not much of a meat eater, myself... but whatever works.[He doesn't really get the whole family bond thing, but that's fine, that's a conversation that can come up later. Unfortunately, most of Wight's surprises are a bit more... uh, common-place for the monsters of Ryslig. Except for the eating part, perhaps. Everyone 'eats', here, even the undead.] Mmh, I see. Being a traveller isn't all that easy, when it comes to socializing, is it?

[Ah, he's hit another sensitive point, it seems. His smile settles onto something more comforting, it seems he's taking him up on that offer sooner rather than later, releasing the hand and wrapping it around the frail boy's waist, tugging him over to either lean against Fran, or rest his head on his shoulder if he wanted. This is what he thinks is comforting, at least.]

You don't have to answer if you don't want to... Here, I'm sure you have lots of questions, still. Are there any I can answer, for you?

( The fact that he isn't hugged is both a load off and also disappointing. Everything is already a lot right now. Extreme physical contact may overload him.

There's also this conversation that's so...normal. All he's talked about for the last couple of years is traveling, military stuff, a few mundane things that come up between those that are familiar. Now he knows that Fran doesn't really eat meat and that's surprisingly interest--

Oh. Nevermind. He may not classify this as a hug, but it's definitely very physical. There's a lot of leaning going on, even if it may be a little awkward considering the nine inch height difference. )

I--!! ( Wight's voice cracks and sputters enough since he...has no real mouth anymore, but the surprise makes it even more obvious through his muffling mask. ) How long, long have you been here? Since you're s-so used to everything?

[Consider them lucky it wasn't BEFORE Fran's changes. He's grown a whole 6 inches since arriving as he shifted into a kelpie! That'd probably tip things over the edge.

As it was, he had just sortof used the leaning angle to guide the tall boy over to his sides and shoulder, supporting his weight rather easily (thanks monster strength).]

I've been here since... Hmm, for the last 8 months? Strangely, it doesn't feel that long, now that it's passed. Every month, someone like you - [well, not undead, but an arrival] - comes along; a few, even, and this process starts all over again. I suppose you could say we're here to welcome you, as folks stuck in the same situation.

( That's okay...he weighs next to nothing anymore, anyway. )

Eight months...I can't imagine being here for that long. ( It's probably easier when you're a noncommittal, nymph-creature. Wight doesn't have nearly as many the attachments that he used to, but the one major one -- his sister -- makes his mind ache the way his body can't anymore.

Eventually he breaks the lean, standing straight again. He may not be able to feel anything anymore, but his brain still acknowledges that it was certainly a nice gesture that makes him feel more calm than he was before. How long that feeling of calm will last...who knows. ) Um, thank you. For being as nice as you've been...e-especially when you didn't have to be.

( Wight is a patient person. He's grown accustomed to hardships and internalizing the burdens of them. There's a lot that he can't be that open about, even knowing the freedom this kind of world can potentially bring. ) I think I can make it here...but I don't -- it will be hard.

[His head gives a little nod, that soft smile remaining on his lips. It is a little easier, admittedly. Not that he didn't lose anything, but... it was more a part of himself, than anything else.

His hand releases, drifting back to his side and staying open, in case the boy wanted to take his hand once more.]

You're welcome to it, any time~ We've all been there, your first day here. It gets easier at first, but it is hard, for sure.

[There's a soft hum, a memory striking his head.]

Try to find Hestia's Place, in Bavan, if you don't mind cities. She runs a hostel that's free for young arrivals, and you can get your bearings without worrying about not having shelter over your head.

( Hestia's Place, huh? That literally sounds like a place taken right from his own home world. Maybe there's something meaningful to that. )

Alright. Thank you...I haven't lived in one place for a long time, but, but I don't mind cities for a short stay. ( It may end up a long stay...if there's no need to run here, is there a point to keeping up the now non-existent chase? ) But...I'm sure that only lasts for so long.

I guess it'd be smart to ask: how do you find work here? Is there money? Do you...barter? Or bounty? ( It's not like he's in the market for food, or even clothes, but those aren't the only important necessities in society. Mostly he just wonders if his particular skill set will be of use here, especially since he washed up on shore sans rifle. )

[It very well might be, the old owner is long gone, however. His smile grows.]

The girl who runs it, Korra, is quite compassionate. She'll let you stay for free until you find some stable work, then charge a small amount.

[At the second question, he simply blinks. Hmm. That was a tough one. You're asking a non-human with very little experience in this area.]

Uh- I mean... there's money, yes. I just sortof, found my work, and even that barely feels like it. I guess you just ask around. Other monsters like to hire each other, since it's slightly less risky~

[That's... helpful, right?]

( Dang...it's hard to get a lay of the land and how this all works with something that vague. There's a hiring system, some kind of "risk." Doesn't sound so far off from back home, but there monsters are a majority here, even if some may be more like Fran than nightmarish -- he did imply some others are more unsightly. )

What do you do for work, then? I want to know what type of work there is to do around here... ( Maybe this will be easier if he uses his own world as a sort of example. ) Where I come from, there are civilian jobs, like inn keeping and running bars. The military too...but also underground work, like item and weapon trading. Couriers, um...hunters? Bounty hunters.

I guess what I'm trying to ask is whether or not I'd have to be something more norm, normal like be a farmer or, uhm, something a little seedier. ( Basically: how slice-of-life does he have to be to earn some coin around here. ) There was a lot of freelancing and scavenging back home. I don't know how different it might be in this place.

[Oh wight... Wight, of all the things to bring up. He was with you right up until the hunting part, at which point his brows furrow, lips curling in disgust. To him, at least, that has a very different meaning.]

Better to stay away from that kind of work... This land has a few more surprises in store that make it difficult, but I wouldn't recommend it either way...

[Alright, shhh, take a breath. His voice shifts to something a little calmer.]

I work as part of an expedition team. Mostly exploring, mapping, and checking out new locations, as well as re-checking old ones to see if anything has changed.

There are a few... mmm, odd jobs around. But a lot is very 'civilian', as you called it. Bartenders, doctors, shopkeepers and all that sort of stuff. You could probably set up your own thing fairly easily...

[Those slitted eyes had narrowed a bit, focusing on the arrival for a moment to judge his reaction.]

( Don't worry -- he's been hunted for years now, he'd much rather stay away from that kind of profession. )

No, no -- trust me I'd...like to avoid doing that at all possible. ( Wight leaves out the part where he's killed both monsters and men out of necessity before, but killing for sport or money when it could be obtained elsewhere...let's save that for when things are way more "eat or be eaten." He has morals, after all. ) I've never been a proper civilian before, but I think it's preferable to a lot of other alternatives. Some of my closer acquaintances are civilians and they're...very helpful.

It's hard to know what to expect from a place that's so different. And if I have to concede to being here...I have to understand how people survive. ( For as bad off as he is mentally, and for as guilty as he feels all the time, Wight still is very much not okay with giving up and dying. )

[The once-nymph has an understandably poor view of anyone who captures or kills for cash. Small population, high price, it's not a great mix, really. Still, he nods, settling back down fairly quickly after that.]

Trust me, I can understand that fairly well... Thankfully, there are plenty of generous monsters around who have done quite well, and just want to support the new arrivals.

[On that note... actually.]

Of course, you're always welcome to stop by my place. A VERY large treehouse in the middle of the peninsula, a couple hours walk south of Bavan... You- Uh, you have a map right?

[Let him juuuust... mark on the map where it is, yes, good. Now there's no excuse.]

( There's a inkling in Wight's mind that he'd like to not be so stuck on the receiving end of any generosity -- in his life, charity can sometimes mean "owing someone later, and you might not like what you owe them." That niggling whisper of his sister telling him not to trust people is present still, making him unsure of this suggestion.

...But so far, this person is trustworthy. If there are more people like him, and like the people who he could trust on his own journey back home, then things may not be that bad. )

Thank you. I will...definitely. You're a really kind person, Fran. ( And sometimes kindness is very hard to come by. The little dot on the map is something he treasures already. ) I...if I can repay you in some way, I will.

[His smile grew into a beam from the compliment, one hand reaching up to rub at his cheek. Well gosh, look at him, being all nice and stuff. That's a nice change. A lot of arrivals were too busy freaking out for that kinda thing.

There wasn't a huge amount of risk when it came to trusting Fran, at least. Had he wanted to do anything nefarious with the boy... like feed off of him, well, he would have done that already. The two were alone in some side grove, after all. ]

I'll tell ya what~ [The corner of his lips curl a little, eyes returning to the pale boy beside him.] Once you're a bit more settled, you can bring me some tea from the city, and we can sit down and have some together. Then I'll call us even~

[Yup, that was it, easy enough, right? Fran's desired payment, as it often ended up, was company. He travelled and ran, much like Wight, but without anyone coming with him, no sister or friends. It left a sizeable social hole in his needs.]

( One day Wight will be horrified at the idea that he let his guard down so easily...back in his world, you had people and you had the undead. Here? There's so many different types of dangers. Learning what to be wary of for each individual type...boy, that will take some time.

This seems like an easy task to accomplish...unless it's one of those challenges that appears simple and suddenly turns into a truly epic quest of danger. Although, Wight supposes it's more likely a small errand that's a friendly gesture more than making anything square. ) Alright. That's do-doable. I'd like that.

( As far as Wight knows, he can't drink tea --well, he probably could but it's not the wisest idea. Regardless, he's sure that won't be too big an issue. Fran is someone who he could get used to spending time with...

He looks at Fran, closely. Fran is very obviously not completely human. But...he also wasn't human before he came here, either. ) I hope it's not a lot to ask, but...what all about you changed after you got here?

( He's not totally sure what a nymph looks like in reality. Or if by the time he makes good on his promise, how unrecognizable he might be himself. )

[The good news is, most monster's powers don't work, or don't work as well, on other monsters! So there's at least some safety in that, after the change. Either way, in this case, It's just Fran trying to dismiss whatever sense of repayment the boy might feel he needs to carry.]

Then it's settled, I'm looking forward to it~

[God it's hard to resist the urge to pose for him as he's scanned over, simply smiling and maybe winking. Look he's always teasing.]

Ohoh, no, that's perfectly fine! Honestly, I got off fairly light, even for my monster type... My skin has changed into this pale white with a tint of blue, and my hair has gotten thicker, like water plants~ My nails are also thicker, and darker... Oh, and I've grown! I'm like, a half foot taller now![His grin widens.]

There's some other stuff, but not really appearance based. I can breathe underwater now too, and turn into a horse! Among other things... There are certainly some advantages to the changes... as undesirable as they are.

( Well, being dead, Wight doesn't much care about his appearance -- kind of hard to when he can't do a whole lot about it. Still, it feels kind of like a relief that he may get away with something not so...extreme.

Also dang this guy was short before. There's something about the word "nymph" that brings to mind someone smaller, he supposes. As a side note, being able to turn into a horse is certainly strange, even though it's pretty useful? Wight hasn't ever seen a horse in real life, either, but he knows what they are. )

I mean, you don't look bad...not that it's something you might wa-want, like you said. Just it could be worse, you know. ( Like he doesn't have unsightly patchy fur or spider legs coming out of who-knows-where. That's the kind of transformation that Wight...wouldn't be looking forward to, not that he knows what's coming. ) Although, I guess being taller might be a decent change out of that whole package.

( Being like five feet tall...nah, son. )

[What a twist, for a boy so pretty. The kelpie's grin grows, leaning in a bit to raise an eyebrow.]

You don't look so bad yourself, either. Not that I can see the other half of your face... but everything else at least~ [Sometimes, just a bit of casual flirting is all that's needed to lighten the mood. His head gives a few bobs.]

Heh, it has its.. ups and downs. But it's nice not having to tilt my head way back just to look at people!

( Woah dude...woah. The old Wight would have batted that ball back into Fran's court with ease, but the new Wight. It just makes him feel a certain panicked tension. How do you handle flirting when you're a fucking zombie!!! )

Thanks. I, I hope you didn't take that wrong. That I meant more than I did. I mean, you aren't unattractive, and you're very nice, but I don't really know you. And I'm definitely not anything to look at...especially where my face is concerned. ( It's not surprising that someone would point it out. It's...kind of obvious and weird. But he is weird now. )

I'm sorry. That was, was probably a lot and unnecessary. And awkward. Sorry again.

[The short laugh that escapes afterwards makes it fairly clear what the kelpie's thoughts are, though he passes the boy an apologetic look and nods either way.]

I know, but you're far prettier than you give yourself credit for... But, lets not dwell on that, you've just gotten here, there must still be quiet a bit on your mind.

[Shh, no need to apologize, he had kind of been provoking that flustered reaction anyway.]

So what's your plan, for now? Given this new situation.

( Something about this makes him feel kind of like an impostor. A few years ago, he would definitely be confident in his looks. Now, whatever is left of him -- no matter how much he hates that, too -- is still nothing compared to the hideousness he's hiding.

Yeah, let's not dwell on that. )

I guess I'll make my way to the Hestia's Place you mentioned. From there I'll have to wing it. I had a goal back home, but here...I don't know what marker I should be heading towards.

[This poor boy may find, soon, that folks around here don't find that hideousness quite as bad as people back home do.

He gives a sage little nod, shifting off their seat and standing up once more, even offering a hand to help the taller boy up.]

You humans are strange like that. Why not just float, and enjoy yourselves? [Aside from when that isn't an option. of course.] I'm heading in the same direction if you'd like to tag along, and part ways once we near Bavan.

( Wight thinks for a minute. Well, there were a lot of reasons to keep moving forward back then -- even if back then was only a few hours ago in his mind. Here, maybe it makes more sense to be aimless.

...No, if it's human to keep striving toward some goal to accomplish, he'd like to hang onto that. He takes the hand and stands up, suddenly more unsure than ever of what purpose he can ever potentially find here. )

If you can show it to me, that would be nice. I have a map, and, and of course I can read it, but nothing here is familiar yet. ( Even zones he had never been to back home, there was some knowledge there being part of the military. ) I promise I won't be so useless eventually, but you know...it's my first day, and all.

Of course I can~ As you can see, about... uh, there. [He points to the dot of his treehouse on the map, south of the city, but to the side of the path they'd take.] I can travel with you until we're almost there, then just detour a bit near the end. You can't miss the city once you're near it.

[No really, it's like, gigantic. It's basically old new york.]

And hey, you're doing really well so far. When I first arrived, I was so scared I ran right out the city and into the farmlands before I even slowed down!

[He also arrived in a giant flesh hospital that was trying to eat him, so... you know, minor circumstantial differences. But he omitted that to make it sound more comforting.

And with that, he's on his way, gently tugging the boy along for the first minute, then letting him decide whether or not he wants to keep those hands held.]

( Don't worry. Wight's brand of fear is panicked shaking and breaking down quietly. So whenever he holes up alone he'll...probably have a little internal meltdown.

A flesh hospital might at least be a distraction.

Wight's eyes absorb the map closely, committing certain things to memory very quickly. ) That shouldn't be too far. I'm used to walking, anyway. ( Ah yes, a world without vehicles. )

But I assume you are too, considering you're sort of a wanderer, right? ( It would be a blessing to not talk about himself right now. ) What was the place you came from like? Different f-from this place?

(no subject)

hantale - 2018-11-20 06:23 (UTC) - Expand

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