TEST DRIVE MEME: SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

[ryslighelpers]

TDM: SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

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.

Comments

[missleadingquestions]

[Maya's come to investigate why there are arrivals happening more often at all-- not at all clinging to a vague hope-worry she might run into someone she knows, of course-- and seeing the clamor in the streets over it, she's suddenly quite glad she's got a little more strength on her. Once upon a time if someone human were to aggress her, she'd be done for, but nowadays she has a few more tricks up her sleeves and a bit more muscle to make up for everything else. It makes walking past angry townspeople a bit easier, especially when she can flash some a sharp toothed smile to get them to retreat.

Of course, it also means she sure thinks she can take on more danger than maybe she should. So when Maya hears a woman's sheepish voice and a man replying--

The only prank here is the fact you things keep showin up!

--Maya quickly turns on her heel and runs for the source of it. What she sees is that man pressing his rifle in closer on a woman with the most incredible hair Maya's ever seen.

...Which isn't the point.

Give me one good reason why I shouldn't blast your head off--]

Uh, because it's super rude to shoot at cute girls?!

[Maya calls from behind the two, hesitating for just a moment. Maybe-- maybe they can just get this guy to back off??!]

[hairandbackagain]

[Oh, wow, this is escalating a bit further than she wanted and she doesn't have a frying pan—she's about to respond to the man when she hears Maya's voice, and while it's not familiar, it's friendly. She doesn't seem all that perturbed by the other girl's appearance, either.]

She has a point, y'know! I kind of like having my head on my shoulders anyway. My mom always said I had a good one to keep there.

[The man hesitates, spinning around to point the gun straight at Maya.

Ugh, it's like you're all multiplyin!

And Rapunzel is considering using her hair to shield the both of them, should she need to. Not that it would work here, but she doesn't know that yet.]

[missleadingquestions]

[Man, even if she was bulletproof, it'd still feel super threatening to have a gun in her face. Maya's eyes get wide, but she gives a sheepish smile, hands up, and does what she's always done since becoming a mermaid--

--relied on magic.]

Hey mister, don't you think you're kind of overreacting?

[Somehow, she's still able to sound soothing despite still seeming sheepish- though with the man between them, Rapunzel might not be able to feel the effect at all.]

Don'tcha think that we could talk this out?

[The man actually wavers a bit, his gun lowering just slightly in his uncertainty. Perhaps he wasn't expecting a mermaid, or... well, to be sung to, at all, but it's enough for Maya to put her hands on the barrel of this guy's rifle, trying to lower it.]

I'm not your enemy so, won't you pleease just let it go?

[She still casts a look at Rapunzel-- run! Get him while he's distracted! But-- something!]

[hairandbackagain]

[She knows what that look means, and she scrambles into action. Thankfully, in the debris that covers the beach... there was a frying pan. Rusty and falling apart and certainly not good for cooking ever again, but that didn't matter.

And before anything can happen to Maya, she swings. She hits the man and knocks him over, the gun falling out of his grasp as he drops into unconsciousness.]

I wish he didn't make me need to do that.

[missleadingquestions]

[Maya stares ahead as the man tumbles over, her mouth open in half-smiling surprise and awe. She lets out a little laugh, and--]

That was... so cool though.

[She stoops down to grab that gun-- but not to take it, rather, she immediately tosses the thing to the side before she beams up at Rapunzel.]

What do you say we get out of here?!

[hairandbackagain]

We were just lucky that my weapon of choice was nearby! [She laughs, and spins the pan, trying to look super cool. Only for it to hit her head and make her stumble back as she drops it.] Don't—Don't worry, I'm fine, that just happens sometimes—

Let's just get out of here before that happens again!

[missleadingquestions]

[Maya laughs along with Rapunzel-- until that pan donks her head, and then Maya has to cover up her laugh. What, she's super cute too!]

Okay! Um-- do you need help?

[Maya points at Rapunzel's hair.]

I know some of the safe places around here but, uh, you're kinda... dragging your pretty hair there.

[hairandbackagain]

[Oh yeah, the hair. There's just so much of it, and dragging it through the sand and everything else sure isn't helping it. She had been in the process of starting to pick it up, but there's way too much of it for just her.]

It's been through worse... but if we want to get out of here sooner rather than later, I think I'm gonna need a little help. Just take an armful!

[missleadingquestions]

Well don't you worry! I've gotcha.

[Maya eagerly picks up a bundle of sea-swept hair, not at all bothered by it, and grins.]

Okay! Let's get moving!

[They can talk more when there's not a man about to wake up with a huge headache around them.]

This way.

[And so she sets off, gesturing for Rapunzel to follow her, and leads.]

[hairandbackagain]

[Though even as they start to walk away, Rapunzel following after Maya, she still turns her head and whisperyells, "I'm sorry!!!!" at the unconscious man. She didn't want to have to do that, after all.]

Soooooo... thank you for helping me. I was getting a little worried!

[missleadingquestions]

Of course!

[Maya snickers at Rapunzel's apology, but in turn gives her a kind smile as a response.]

Hey, no one should be leaving cute girls with Rapunzel hair out to fend for themselves.

[hairandbackagain]

[Ok, she freezes like a deer in headlights for a moment when she hears her name, and then squints at Maya. It's a bit dramatic and comical, but she's trying to be kind of serious too okay.]

Rapunzel hair? I am Rapunzel, but I didn't think they named what I did with my hair!

1/2

[missleadingquestions]

Well, yeah, of course, why wo-

[Maya also freezes mid-response, turning back to face Rapunzel again and take her whole image in. Pretty blonde hair long as a mile? Check. Pretty purple dress? check. Just said her name was Rapunzel??]

[missleadingquestions]

--Oh.

You are Rapunzel.

[Maya looks down at the bundle of hair in her arms, then at Rapunzel's face, and repeats this motion a few times, the starts in her eyes increasing each time.

A real. Live. Bisney Princess.]

[hairandbackagain]

You've heard of me? [Probably not unheard of, considering her whole story.] I mean—yeah! I am Rapunzel!

[missleadingquestions]

Aaaaaaaa!

[Maya points at Rapunzel with one arm, the other arm clutching her hair still, and bounces on her toes a few times. She's so sweet and cute and pretty??? This?? is absolutely the real thing?!]

You're a princess! You're-- you're real! You're the real Rapunzel! That's amazing!

[hairandbackagain]

Of course I'm real, silly! Why wouldn't I be?

[She seems to be taking it okay, at least. It's not dissimilar to some of the reactions she got when she first came back to Corona.]

[missleadingquestions]

You- I've only ever seen you in picture books! And movies! And-- oh my gosh, you don't know what a movie is, do you.

[Maya claps her hand over her mouth in realisation-- before she waves it off and shakes her head. More pressing matters!!]

We've got to get you somewhere safer. This city's dangerous for people like us, princess! You'll have to trust me, okay? I'll explain later.

[hairandbackagain]

[Picturebooks? Movies?? Wow, wherever she is must be wild. Picturebooks aren't too unusual, though.]

You saved me. Why wouldn't I trust you? You can explain everything once we're safe.

[missleadingquestions]

Oh. Yeah, I kinda did help, huh?

Was I cool? Tell me for real.

[Right she can talk and walk, though. Making sure Rapunzel's hair is all bundled up in her arms, Maya sets off leading again. Leading a princess to safety is an important job!]

There's not a lot safe here in Vandare by the way, but there's something.

Three blocks and we're there.

[hairandbackagain]

Oh man. [She laughs.] You were the coolest! You just came in and you were like "whoa, hey!" and then you did that singing thing. That was so cool.

[And she seems like such a nice, friendly person.]

That's closer than I thought it'd be... and I'm sure Vandare isn't that bad!

[missleadingquestions]

Thanks! See? I knew you'd get it. You're totally the cool type, too.

[what are you two even defining as cool... Even still, Maya is all stars and smiles at Rapunzel's compliments, a pep put in her step. And it's not even cos mermaid brain! Well, like, a little bit.]

It's just a little spot where... Well, where people like us are okay.

[She turns her head quickly at the comment on Vandare though; of course it isn't Vandare that's bad. It's them, that were made bad.]

[hairandbackagain]

[Cool is just cool, for them. It doesn't even matter what it is.]

... People like us?

[Why would they not be safe? The gun thing was something, but she doesn't understand why yet, not really.]

[missleadingquestions]

[...Mm.

Maya beckons Rapunzel down an almost-hidden alleyway half covered with vines, slowing her pace as they walk. The last length of their path goes along this alley, where there aren't any people at all, so Maya speaks a little more.]

I used to look like you, you know? I mean, not like you--

[Maya gestures to her face and down with an open palm for an instant before she re-catches the half of Rapunzel's length of hair that arm was holding.]

--But human. I got brought here, like you.

To get turned into a monster.

[hairandbackagain]

[There's clearly nothing that feels sketchy about what they're doing here, not at all. She doesn't even seem nervous going down an alley with an odd looking lady.]

I wouldn't call you a monster. You're just... odd-looking, that's all.

[But she hums thoughtfully.]

How? Why?