TDM: JANUARY/FEBRUARY

[ryslighelpers]

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.

Comments

[humblecowboy]

[One thing Spike is not is mean to kids. That doesn't mean he can't be paralyzed with confusion when such a strange— and loud, did he mention loud?— kid is coming to his... defense.

Does alcohol give you hallucinations? It doesn't, right? And usually hallucinations don't have a feeling when they tap you on the shoulder. He thinks. Do they? Well now Spike is conflicted and— right, there is a task at hand.]

Oh— right. Shit, Uh—

[With little more hesitation, Spike attempts to usher this kid along with him, admonishing as he picks up his pace—]

What the heck are you doing, anyway? That guy's like, ten times your size!

[irkeninvader]

[Despite his stature, the kid in question is surprisingly agile - he scampers right along, more or less keeping pace with the lanky grown man he's chosen to ally himself with. Though he is breathing much more quickly, too. Little lungs gotta work hard.]

H-- How dare you!
He may be tall, but he is nothing I cannot handle!

[Apparently height is a bit of a sore spot. Zim points accusingly at Spike, as he continues.]

You are tall and yet you needed my assistance to escape! Clearly, you humans don't correlate height and greatness!

[humblecowboy]

[Spike's lips draw into a line, but he nods to the side as if conceding that this weird ass kid does have a bit of a point.]

Greatness and risk are two different things!

[he argues, despite his mental concession. Because he always argues.

Looking over his shoulder, he takes in the gait of the now muddier grave keeper, and makes a few decisions. He is taller than this kid, at least, and can use his own weight to throw the grave keeper's around a little bit.]

Hey, stick to the side!

[Spike warns Zim, but doesn't really give him much time before he spins and ducks down, aiming a kick toward the pursuer's feet, and curling up in hopes the grave keeper will simply tumble over him. He's lucky enough that it works, sending the grave keeper sprawling forward onto the ground with his arms just inches from poor Zim. Of course, he is now on the ground, leaving Zim with much more of a chance to place distance between them— and Spike wastes no time with a few well placed steps over the gravekeeper's back and head to run over him.]

Alright, let's— go!

[irkeninvader]

[The warning is appreciated: it gives Zim enough time to make a confused, indignant "eh?!" noise before the action goes down. Immediately, he scrambles out of the way, a little scream punctuating the gravekeeper's fall, but in the end, he's on the ground and Zim is unharmed. With a growly grumbling under his breath, Zim scrabbles up over the fallen human, scampering along his back and hopping off to keep sprinting after his new ally. Combat experience is a plus in any new minion.]

Well done, human! Exactly the maneuver I would have chosen!

[Sure it is.]

I knew you weren't as useless as you appeared! ZIM can see potential even in pathetic Earth-creatures!!

[Are these really compliments...? He's certainly saying them like they are, his tone incredibly boastful. Despite becoming increasingly out of breath, trying to yell and run at the same time.]

Though - I admit - I am unfamiliar with this territory! Where - [he gulps in air, presses one hand to his side and hisses something to himself before continuing:] where are we going?

[humblecowboy]

[Fortunately, Spike's taken a lot of smack-talk in his life. He's... definitely not as used to being on this end, but it's fine.

This kid is just really weird. What's up with this alien roleplay??]

I— I have no idea,

[Spike admits, panting all the same, not bothering to look back this time; as long as they keep going forward, he's sure they'll make it out of the grave digger's reach. But hey, while they're being loud and announcing annoying but relevant inconveniences, Spike will answer with an informative complaint;]

This doesn't look like Tharsis to me!