graveyardsmash | TDM: JANUARY/FEBRUARY

TDM: JANUARY/FEBRUARY

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".

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? 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Bambi…

[ She could feel the tension in his arm, but the instinct to pull in closer and give him a hug as she laughed was a lot greater. At the very least she made sure not to linger. ]

Ah shit, sorry, I’m kinda dirty from crawling out of that grave—-they sure do get creative with entrances don’t they?

But hey! This is great! I didn’t expect to run into you, but it feels good. Do you get a winter coat? Does it work like that here?

[Oh. Oh, it's her. Recognition sets in fully only a moment before she pulls him into a hug, and although she's mercifully quick to let go, an uncomfortable sensation lingers on his skin. And that's before he notices all the dirt.

... Still, she seems happy to see him. Doppio isn't really sure what he did to endear himself to her, but that's... something. ~~Is he simply that cute...?~~]

Uh... I don't know? The cold doesn't really bug me, so I don't think I get one of those.

[ He’s just actively that cute. But as this continues Jolyne is stuffing the informational paperwork away in her pocket. ]

Really? Lucky you! Even just having this little bit of cold is kind of a lot. I’m so not into it at all.

But seriously, how have you been? Gone on many dates? Anyone beat me to making those heels for your little deer hooves? I still think I could pull it off…

[ This is when she’s pulling back to look him over appraisingly with a nod. ]

Would you say you have a great sense of balance?

Dates?! I, uh, I don't do...

[Before he can even really articulate his (non-existent) relationship with dates, though, Jolyne is already moving on. Why does talking to her always feel so... overwhelming?!]

Uh... No.

[At least THAT question is easy enough to answer.]

You need to loosen up a little, have some fun. I mean, even if you gotta go cannibalistic while you’re here…

[ Yeah, that definitely was a thing here, wasn’t it? It’s probably best not think about it too much right now.

Instead she moves in closer, keeping her hands to herself for now. ]

Besides, you’re cute, it’s only natural to enjoy yourself a little right?

[ Danger…! But only for a moment before she smiles and pulls away. ]

So any big changes I should be aware of? Anything new that goes bump in the night?

[Doppio noticeably grimaces at the mention of cannibalism. He could say that's never applied to him; he's argued it plenty. In fact, he may have argued it so much that he's disinclined to bring it up now. Would it matter? Would it go anywhere? Or would she just not believe him, like everybody else?

It might be for the best that Jolyne keeps him on his (purely proverbial) toes, coming in and out of his personal sphere of comfort. It leaves less time to dwell on subjects like that.]

... Changes? [Simple questions, at least, are something he can answer, especially if they have nothing to do with him or the Boss.] Uh... That Cube place blew up, but I think it's all fixed up now.

Oh man… I missed a prime action movie moment of walking away from an explosion…

I’ve definitely always wanted to do that, but I guess tomorrow is another day. Maybe. I mean, we gotta just live for the moment amirite?

Like this one here, I’m actually pretty glad I got to run into you. I probably pick on you a lot, but that’s kinda just how it is with friends right?

I just feel like really chill around you. We’re in this weird kinda fucked up place, but at the same time I have the chance to get to know so many people I probably wouldn’t have otherwise met.

[... Well, that's one way to look at it. He wonders if she wouldn't have been startled in the slightest if she'd been here to HEAR the explosions...

Also, uh.

Uhhhhhhhhh.]

You... really mean that? Uh, that's really nice of you.

[Wait, she-- she thinks they're friends??]

Of course I do, I mean back at home I’m in prison and I get sent into isolation a lot so you kinda just have a lotta time to think. And when I’m thinking I feel like maybe I don’t get to say things openly enough to the people that really matter.

[ There’s a pause of reflection before she smiles again. ]

Holy shit, sorry I think maybe this is too heavy. I just don’t want to up and disappear again without saying that I like you. So this time around let’s hang out more, okay?

And who knows, if some of my family is still around here I’ll introduce you to ‘em. Or you know, I could win some sort of ridiculously huge plush toy from a game for ya.

[She's in prison...? Doppio didn't have her pegged as the criminal type. The reckless type, sure, but not a criminal. That said, if he was at all put off by the subject, it doesn't show. If anything, what gets him to tense up is the repeated assertion that she likes him.

... Not that there's anything wrong with that, or that he doesn't consider himself likable. He just... didn't think he'd stick out in somebody's mind like that.]

You had family here?

Huh? Oh yeah, they were like great great and beyond relatives, but that's just super complicated and probably a little boring.

I have a very strong feeling that there are a few left.

[ Just easily brushing it off. Is that just confidence or actual intuition? She won't elaborate on that. ]

But bruh, either way we're gonna have fun alright? We can make the most of what this place has to offer. Not like right this minute, because filthy, right?

TDM: JANUARY/FEBRUARY

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