TDM: NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

[ryslighelpers]

TDM: NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

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 in a dark ditch, the sky cloudy overhead. Dirt cakes into your cuts and scrapes. The air is clammy and damp, and it smells like rain.

You’re in a grave. And when you sit up to inspect the tombstone marking your spot, it has your name on it. Maybe the graves next to you have the names of familiar friends, family, acquaintances. Not all of them are open like yours are. RIP.

There’s a light dancing in the distance, and you hear the jingle-jangle of heavy keys, or worse still, the gravekeeper’s massive pitchfork or shovel. If you're lucky, you can sneak out beyond his notice, and get out alone. If not - you might find yourself on the wrong end of a shovel’s swing, or worse yet, tripping headfirst in front of a pair of monstrous eyes.

SCENARIO TWO

You've stumbled your way out of the graveyard, and you're promptly besieged by the overwhelming sights and sounds of the city. Cars honk at you to get out of the street, and strangers try not to look in your direction for too long. They see your dirty clothes and scraped faces, and pretend to busy themselves with something else. Rarely, a look of pity is cast your way.

But some people try to reach out. Enterprising citizens and those that hope to curry favor with the newcomers pass out new clothes and bundles of food, asking if you have a place to stay the night, wondering about the details of the world you came from. Some are even handing out pamphlets which vary in how helpful they are--"What To Expect When You're Expecting (To Turn Into A Monster)", "Wolpertinger: Fact or Fiction?", "100% ACCURATE MONSTER QUIZ ASSESSMENT: GUARANTEED TO PREDICT YOUR MONSTER!", and "Ryslig Law In A Nutshell".

As you wander from street to street, you come to realize that some of these people seem...off. If you draw close enough to look at them--really look--you'll be able to observe certain uncanny features. A misshapen eye socket that looks more like an insect's compound eye, skin like a loose bag that seems to fit poorly over their own musculature, a backwards hand that seems to function as normal, and, of all things, an opaque mucus that seems to drip from unseen orifices.

Not only do these people look strange, they act strangely, too. One can be seen drinking a cup of whole coffee beans. Another chews on a piece of rubber tire as if it were a stick of gum. A man dressed in a full-body trench coat seems to writhe as he sits and reads a newspaper.

If any of them notice your approach, they immediately stroll over to enthusiastically greet you. When they speak, a droning buzz seems to emanate from deep within their chests. They smile and stare unblinkingly, talking in obscenity-riddled, disjointed sentences.

"Welcome! It is almost a season! Are you ready to fucking party?"

"What the shit! You're monster?"

With time, more and more of these people begin to shuffle towards you in an almost swarm-like fashion. Lose one of them, and more show up around the corner. They're eager to ask questions--most of which make absolutely no sense--and they won't be easily dissuaded from their goals.

Maybe you should run. Or maybe punch one of them. Surely, that won't cause any problems.

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? Does it fit you, or does it feel incongruous with your nature? Feel free to pick any monster type for this prompt, but note that you may not get the same one in game.

Comments

[leggierissimo]

It's a simple explanation, at least.

[Or somewhat, anyway. He leans one hip against the side of the gravestone next to him, crossing one arm over his chest while leaving the other hand free to gesture as he talks.]

This place doesn't seem to have a UG, or at least not one that I'm able to access. Much like our week together all those years ago, I've been confined to what essentially equates to this world's RG - hence my smaller appearance. As for the rest of it... The so-called Fog God seems to enjoy playing with the Soul coding of anyone she draws in. You'll find out soon enough, I'm afraid.

[unlivinglegend]

Wait, does that mean you didn't actually age, just made yourself taller...?

[Wait, no, getting any kind of actual Game lore is not important right now, even if he's curious.]

Nevermind. So whoever brought you here turned you into a snake.

[leggierissimo]

The closer I get to the plane I'm naturally tuned to, the more accurately my appearance reflects me. If it's any consolation, however, the way you saw me last is more or less how I would look normally.

[Neku brushed it off, but he's answering anyway. At least he's giving answers! Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.]

Yes, though I believe the correct term is 'Naga'. Your friend is here, too, though. He's what the people of this place call a 'Pooka', but he looks like a squirrel.

[Information overload yet?]

[unlivinglegend]

Aren't pooka usually hares...

[He mumbles to himself- of course, Neku would know such a random thing- but talk of 'he' and 'friend' gives him a good idea who Joshua means. Unless his extremely weird life was going to be extra cruel and it was him instead. But if it's someone Joshua knows...]

You mean Beat?

[leggierissimo]

I do. We were both brought here at the same time, but it's only been a month and a half.

[His free hand lifts to tap at his lower lip as he glances out across the cemetery. Only a month and a half... A lot about them has changed since then, and all in the last couple of weeks, to boot.]

He's been helpful, at any rate. We managed to find a small apartment to stay in; you're welcome to stay there, too. It'll take a good few days before you're on your feet.

[unlivinglegend]

A month and a half...

[He would have noticed Beat being missing that long. So this Fog God is strong enough to alter that kind of thing. That's Bad]

No luck in finding a way to escape?

[leggierissimo]

[And now, Neku sees the problem with this situation.]

Not yet, though I have a lead I'm working on.

[He flashes his wrist - there's a thin wring of what looks like circuitry around it, glowing a gentle violet.]

There's another god here, a boy artificially imbued with godlike powers against his will. He's a bit weaker than the Fog God, but he's shown us that he's able to open a portal to another world. I've agreed to give him my support in an effort to get out of here. I was hoping that we could manage it before she could pull someone else here from Shibuya, but there hasn't been much time.

[unlivinglegend]

Do you trust him?

[leggierissimo]

He kept true to his word, and he's tried to help us by stopping her influence over our transformations. It wasn't perfect, but an attempt is better than inaction.

[unlivinglegend]

[He ponders for a moment, then nods]

Alright. I'm not about to go swearing loyalty or anything like that. But no reason to doubt his intentions.

[He does seem slightly calmed by having Joshua here, just like at the end of the Rindo's Game. Such a far cry from when they met]

[leggierissimo]

[It's funny how that works. Joshua wouldn't blame Neku at all for hating him for all the trauma he's been through the last three years, and yet, here they are.]

No reason to. If I had my way, I'd prefer that you not get tangled up in all of that. You've been through enough.

[unlivinglegend]

That almost sounded like remorse.

[he had given up on his bitterness long ago- same as with Coco more recently. It was the only way to stay sane, caught up in all this. But that didn't mean he exactly forgave him either. But even these small hints that the Composer didn't want anything more to happen to him were... nice.]

[leggierissimo]

It's the truth. You've had your fair share of excitement, far more than other winning Players ever see. While we can't help that you've been caught up in all of this, we can keep you out of the middle of a divine squabble.

[It may actually be a little bit of remorse. But only if you squint. Mostly, it's a 'fair is fair' take. Neku has done more than his share, and he deserves to live a life free of otherworldly issues.]

[unlivinglegend]

I... appriciate it. I know if I had stayed in the UG things might be easier on you and Mr. H... no offense but even a layman like me can tell your system is fucked up.

[he sighs]

But... I trust you two can handle things for now. Call me up again once I die for real. Old and cranky, hopefully.

[leggierissimo]

[Oh. That's surprising on both counts, and for a moment, it shows.

After a moment, Joshua actually laughs, a genuine chuckle rather than the snarky giggle he typically uses.]

Fixing the damage from an unproductive Game cycle spanning a couple of years is going to take a lot of work, but we can handle it just fine. It'll be back to business as usual in no time.

[He pauses then, tilting his head and toying with the ends of a bit of hair hanging by his cheek.]

And here I thought you had no interest in sticking around. Don't worry, though - I'm sure you'll live a long and happy life.

[unlivinglegend]

[he snorts in amusement]

Is it THAT surprising that I actually care about the UG?

[he goes a bit solemn, staring at the distance- a bad habit from Shinjuku]

The Game and Shinjuku... took a lot from me. But they gave me things too. Shiki, Beat, Rhyme, Coco. The Twisters. You too. Do I wish things happened different? Yeah. But I'm not Rindo. I can't do that trick.

And I need... time. To just be me. To figure out who "me" is now. But if Shibuya needs me, I'll always come back. I promise that.

[leggierissimo]

[For a long moment, Joshua lets that solemn state pass in silence, Neku's words hanging in the air as his thoughts take the time to percolate. He, too, goes solemn in his pause, glancing off to the side as his fingertips tap his lower lip.]

Shibuya will always be a part of you, no matter where you are, and it isn't going anywhere. You have plenty of time. Make the most of it while you have it.

[Because what else can he say to that? What else can he say to such a promise? Though the UG has shaped Neku far beyond what it should have, he has no obligation to it. He may go out into the world someday and change his mind. But no matter what happens, no matter where he goes or what he does, Shibuya will always be a part of Neku. That's a fact that won't change.]

[unlivinglegend]

[He sync'd with every Soul there- how could it NOT be part of his blood]

Right. Though ending up in monstertown wasn't part of the plan.

[leggierissimo]

[And just like that, the serious topic is broken. Joshua sighs, shrugging his shoulders and lifting one hand to pluck at the curl by his cheek.]

You're telling me. Hopefully this detour won't be a long one. I'm a very busy man.

[unlivinglegend]

[the way Neku's shoulders relax suggests that was his intention.]

No tin pin for distractions here?

[leggierissimo]

Not a single pin to be found, I'm afraid. Or at least not one suitable for a game no one else knows how to play.

[He might think that was a jab, if Neku knew about the parallel world where Tin Pin was king. Alas!]

[unlivinglegend]

[If he knew it would have been a much more biting response- but he does remember Joshua enjoying the game. And generally being better at it than him]


I'm sure there's plenty of mindless games for you to play. So don't get too distracted. I'm depending on you.

[Said with a small smirk]

[leggierissimo]

[Ah? That makes Joshua pause, his expression not quite sobering, but the blink of his eyes, the slight tilt of his head, and the black, forked tongue flitting in and out between his lips ends up being a curious mix of something akin to 'pleasantly surprised'.

It's odd, feeling as suddenly comforted as he does. Hmm.]

Well, someone's certainly turned into the mom friend. [A chuckle, but it's fond.] Don't worry, I have plenty to keep myself occupied.

[unlivinglegend]

Gross, don't call me that.

[He's blushing but not actually denying it- not his fault his first instinct on seeing the Twisters was 'welp guess I'm a parent now' among other things]

[leggierissimo]

What, you can't handle the truth?

[This is good! Divert from the things that cause emotions. He's happy with the way this conversation is now going.]

It's a good look on you, you know. You've changed a lot since the first time we met.