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

[epitaffio]

Thanks. [He adds those to the pile he's gathered himself, smiling. It looks like he's carrying them even more precariously than before.] And you've got that right! I woke up here a few days ago.

[standless]

It's no trouble, [he replies, smiling as well. It fades of course, when the reminder of where they are comes up in that way.] It must be quite a shock then- though you appear to be doing well thus far, and that deserves some credit.

[AH- but he's gone and forgotten his manners again. He should-] I should probably introduce myself though, [Jonathan chuckles quietly.] It's quite rude of me to carry on such a serious conversation without that- my name is Jonathan Joestar. Might I know yours?

[epitaffio]

Oh, you're fine. [He waves a hand - and then quickly returns it to its proper place, lest he have to pick up the pamphlets all over again.] I'm Doppio. Uh, Vinegar Doppio, but you can just call me Doppio, really.

[standless]

[That's a very odd name, but he's not going to comment on it. Really the mystery is why Vinegar would be any stranger than Speedwagon, but,] Doppio then. In that case, you are more than welcome to call me Jonathan- Joestar feels rather...impersonal, I shall admit.

Well then, Doppio- a few days you said? I should hope then that you were able to find someplace offering shelter then- it's far from the sort of weather to be caught outside in for too long. [Especially alone, though that bit doesn't actually come to mind.]

[epitaffio]

Don't worry. I may not look it, but I'm pretty resourceful.

[By which he means he's been breaking into abandoned houses and sleeping there.]

I heard there's free housing for people under 18, though... Maybe I should look into that.

[standless]

Ahh, I see! [He does not see. He lives with a former street thug, who actually mugged him accidentally (twice!), and he still does not see. Ah.]

I do believe you would be right about that however- at the very least, it would be a wise option as the end of the month draws near. Many of the places offered in these vouchers and pamphlets seem...keen on the idea of sending people out once they've been there for about that long.

[He knows why, granted, but it's still disconcerting to think about.]

[epitaffio]

Really? [He hadn't gotten to that part yet!... On any of the several dozens of pamphlets, it seems!] Oh, because that's when you're supposed to turn into a monster, right?

[standless]

[Ah, he said it.]

Unfortunately so, though it's unclear as to exactly how it will happen...I've questioned others about the matter, but all of them have differing accounts.

It's rather unnerving, I shall admit. [Very unnerving. Very, very unnerving, but the point is not to incite further concerns here!]

[epitaffio]

Wow, so you haven't started changing yet?

[He suddenly seems to realise that might sound a little Rude.]

I mean, you're so big, I thought maybe you were turning into a giant! N-No offense!

[standless]

Oh?

[Oh! Well, he has to give a warm laugh at that.] Not at all! I only arrived a couple of weeks ago- I am close to 'one month', but not quite!

I shall admit that I'm not quite sure where I received my height from, given that neither of my parents reportedly reached it, but I imagine that I can give thanks to eager participation in rugby from recent years! I did participate in boxing as a child however, [he adds with a smile.]

[epitaffio]

[So Jonathan is some kind of athlete... That would explain the size. Doppio nods.]

Do you think that has anything to do with what you'll turn into? Honestly, I don't get how it's supposed to work.

[standless]

You know...

[Jonathan brightens.] You may well be onto something there! There are a number of differing 'species' of monster after all- it would make immense sense if that affected how the initial onset of transformation occurs!

[epitaffio]

Hmm...

[Doppio looks like he's... mildly interested, at best. It may or may not have something to do with the fact that he thinks turning into a monster makes for a very strange afterlife. He wouldn't believe it, if he hadn't already seen several monsters with his own eyes.]

So maybe if you're athletic, you'll turn into a jackalope?

[standless]

...A what?

[What's a Jackalope.] I've admittedly yet to read up on the information for each monster 'type'...just what is a Jackalope?

[epitaffio]

Right here! [He tips a pamphlet over into Jonathan's arms, which probably takes more dexterity than you'd think.] It says it's a bloodthirsty, horned rabbit.

the...sheer irony of this given speedwagon omg...

[standless]

Oh-! [That's some impressive pamphlet tipping Doppio- he does it very well however, and Jonathan's soon squinting at what looks to be a bit like a cross between a rabbit and Satan.

Hm.] ...That's certainly something...

I can't imagine becoming something so small- let alone having such thoughts as implied by this. [Bloodthirsty... ...he thinks of vampires and winces, honestly.]

[epitaffio]

[Doppio, on the other hand, finds himself smiling.]

It would be something if someone as big as you turned into a tiny rabbit. I mean, this is all pretty unbelievable to begin with...

[standless]

[Well at least someone is amused.] As unbelievable as waking up here when one should not have awoken elsewhere to begin with, [He concedes, unable to keep from more positive jokes and conversation for very long.]

I suppose we shall both see for ourselves once a full month has passed... Perhaps we will encounter each other again at that time.

[epitaffio]

[... Well, that's not quite the mood he was going for. But the turn in mood isn't exactly the only thing that gives Doppio pause.]

You... shouldn't have woken up?

[standless]

[Jonathan has Possibly made a mistake in how he phrased things.] Ah...

[Well, no hiding That then. He flushes a bit, trying to bring some calm back to his expression before he answers. It's been a rougher subject ever since it became clear that not everyone here was...dead.] ...Unfortunately. I'm sorry to say it so casually...but to tell the truth I should have died before waking here. There was no doubt that I had, in fact...

We're in quite the 'impossible' world, aren't we?

[epitaffio]

[Doppio crosses his arms, seemingly deep in thought. This is... really weird to talk about, actually.

But hey, of course he never thought he'd have the chance to talk to someone after death. It's natural that it'd be awkward.]

It sounds like we're in the same boat, then...

[standless]

What?

[Somehow, despite his original theories, he failed to expect such a response. Jonathan blinks rather rapidly before he can bring some sort of response to the air, not once looking away from the other.] You as well...But-

['But you're younger than me'. It's what he wants to say, but the words never make it through. Instead, closing his eyes in a gesture of understanding, he nods.] ...I'm sorry, then- for us to be brought to such a place...it is no way to spend an afterlife, of that I'm certain.

[epitaffio]

Oh, it's ok! [He raises his hands, seemingly trying to reassure Jonathan.] I never really thought there might be an afterlife, so it's still pretty incredible to me that there's anything at all. Although I sure didn't expect turning into a monster to be part of it...

[standless]

I suppose that's a good point to make, [Jonathan concedes. He wasn't exactly the most religious person (the Joestars were quite possibly outliers in that regard at the time), but somehow he never actually put a lot of thought into what would or wouldn't determine there being..well. A place to go in the end.] Without...I wonder if it would have been like going to sleep, [he ponders aloud.] A sort of rest after a long day.

[ah] Though that may seem a little morbid as well... ...Not unlike becoming a monster is, perhaps, [he realizes.]

[epitaffio]

...

[Maybe going to sleep would be fine, as long as you never actually woke up. Otherwise... it would just be awfully lonely. But come to think of it, that's precisely where he's at right now, isn't it?]

I think going to sleep is definitely less morbid, if I had to pick.