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

Isabela Madrigal | Encanto

[something_true]

A. Rude awakening

Isabela awakens slowly. Her fingers curl into the dirt as her eyes blink open. She could have sworn she fell asleep in her bed, not in a flower bed. Strange... Also strange were the aches she felt all over her body. She sat up, shaking dirt from her hair as she looked around. This was most definitely not her room. Frowning, she tried to call on some vines to help her out of the hole, but nothing came. Her eyes widened as fear finally wrapped cold fingers around her heart. Sundew? No. Jacarandas? Roses? She'd settle for a single lousy aloe plant. Nothing. Her powers were gone.

Pushing herself to her feet, Isabela searched for anything familiar to latch onto. The Encanto was gone. Or was it her who was gone? How could that be possible?! When she realized she was in a graveyard she whirled around, eyes falling on the gravestone at the head of the pit she was standing in. Gasping, her hands flew to her mouth as she read her name. "No... no, this can't be!" Shaking her head, she scrambled out of the grave and practically tripped over the next stone. Luisa. Her gaze followed the line, Mirabel, Julieta, Agustin, Antonio, Camilo... She couldn't take any more. She fell to her knees with a sob. What was happening?!

A distant sound caught her attention. Looking around, she tentatively called out, "Hello? Who's there?"

B. Stranger in a strange strange land.

Isabela held her head high as she walked through the town. For the first time in her life, the people around her were strangers and the land was unfamiliar. No matter what was happening to her, however, nothing could rob her of her pride. She'd cleaned her face as much as possible, but nothing could hide the dirt on her clothes. Still, she was a Madrigal and she would act like it.

She pointedly ignored any of the angry stares or people who crossed the street at the sight of her. An angry comment earned a withering look down her nose at them and the person scurried off. Then she felt a paper being pressed into her hand and she turned. Smiling, she nodded at the woman "Thank you." When she looked at the pamphlet, her smile faltered. "Monster? I don't... I don't understand, I'm sorry. I think you may have mistaken me for someone else."

C. It's not easy being green.

Unlike many of the others she'd seen stumbling about, coping with their 'monstrous' changes. Isabela seemed quite at home. Thankfully, she was spared the embarrassment of being turned into one of the more hideous creatures in the city. Instead, she'd found herself turning as green as one of her hedge sculptures. She grew a rainbow of flowers to cover her body in a flowing dress that rustled when she moved.

Barefoot, she hummed as she strolled through the town. Spotting a poorly neglected potted plant, she stopped. "Well this simply will not do." She brushed its leaves with her fingers and it surged back to life. In a matter of seconds, it grew and flourished. Red flowers bloomed and vines crawled out of the dirt to curl around the pot. "Now that's much better."

D. Wildcard!

A

[youngtimer]

Horatio had gotten in the habit of checking the graveyard more frequently, but he was still wary of spending too much time there. He'd just finished a quick check, using his newly regained powers to Blink around and cover as much ground as possible. He was about to call it good and go get coffee, teleporting to a spot near the gate with a soft fwump when he heard a woman's voice. She sounded pretty freaked out, so it was unlikely she was there for the same reason he was. Shit, maybe it was hunters being gauche. He hoped some jerk hadn't wounded a monster and left them there to die.

"Uh, Horatio Hargreeves," he answered, already trying to follow the sound of the voice. "You okay?"

[something_true]

Horatio Hargreeves? That was definitely not a name she recognized. She frowned, hesitating for a moment. Did she want to risk drawing some unsavory character to her? She remembered all of the stories Abuela had told her and didn't want to put herself into a similar situation.

But he sounded nice... and asked if she was okay... and what choice did she really have?

Swallowing, she tried to hide the fear in her voice as she responded. "I'm a bit lost at the moment."

[youngtimer]

Lost was a word he hadn't expected to hear, and he swore under his breath. Was it that time already? Or maybe he was jumping a gun and she was just lost in the graveyard. The place was big enough, after all.

"I'm getting too damn busy around here. It's okay, we'll get you out to the ..."

He rounded a row of stones and saw the decidedly human girl near an empty grave, and managed to only swear in his mind this time. "Lighthouse," he finished, holding out a hand to help her up. "We'll get you to the Lighthouse."

Nice as he sounded, his appearance didn't exactly match, and he braced for the inevitable response so many of the newcomers tended to have.

[something_true]

Oh right, she was still kneeling on the ground. That wasn't not very ladylike... ahem.

She accepted his hand, gracefully rising to her feet with an appreciative smile. "Thank you." In the darkness it had been difficult to see the figure clearly, but as she stood, it was obvious that she was taller than him. He was just a boy! But appearances could be deceiving. Although... were those antennae? And wings? She frowned and took a step back, looking him over.

She shook her head, confused. "I... don't understand. Are you wearing a costume? Is there a festival of some sort?

[youngtimer]

"Nope," he said with a shake of his head, as though she'd only asked him if he dyed his hair. "I've had all this for about a year and a half, now. Living in this place changes people. I used to look like you: human. It happens slowly. I got the antennae and the ears first ... we should be having this conversation somewhere a little nicer."

He still had a few uses of his power left... she was already shaken, and would only become moreso once they started talking. Screw it, he thought. Still holding her hand, he Blinked them both from the graveyard into the Lighthouse Church, a high-ceilinged building filled with stained glass, warm light, and graffiti. The benches were cushioned and comfortable, a good place for her to sink into if she decided she needed to sit or lie down.

"Welcome to the Lighthouse. Coffee? Water? Iced tea?"

[something_true]

Her frown deepened. He... turned... into that? But before she could question it, she blinked and they were in another place. Some kind of church, by the looks of it. Gasping, she yanked her hand free of his and stumbled backwards. The backs of her legs hit a bench and she fell into it.

She stared up a him with wide eyes full of fear and confusion. "What? How... Where did you take me? What is this place?"

B also omg hi?!?

[nonmagical]

[Mirabel has been missing her family since she got here. Bruno’s been helping her as best as he can, but she’s been missing her sisters, her parents…

I can’t go home to them looking like this…

What she means is that Mirabel has a new look. A fluffier look. And she’s been very depressed about it.

She’s walking through town, and spots Isabela taking a monster brochure from someone. She immediately panics, unsure to run and hug her or go hide.

So she freezes up instead, out in the open.]

Isa….

Hiiii!

[something_true]

[Isabela hears her sister's voice and it feels like she's surrounded by the brightest, most fragrant flowers in the world. Her shoulders lift and her face brightens in a luminescent smile as she turns.]

Mira... [Then she sees the creature standing before her. Fluffy with big dog-like ears and a snout. But... with glasses? And those are Mirabel's clothes... what the heck? Her smile falters, confusion filling her eyes.] ...bel?

[nonmagical]

[Mirabel look… unusually shy, her ears folding back and her tail tucking under her.]

Yeah… it’s me.

[something_true]

[Okay. Okay. Her sister is a... dog. She squints a little, looking her in the eyes. There's something there that's unmistakably Mirabel. And dog or not, she's still grateful to have someone there from the family.

Without another word, she pulls her sister into a crushing hug.]

[nonmagical]

[Mirabel’s pulled into a hug, and she freezes for a second as emotions swirl through her.

She finally pulls her arms around Isabela.

… Of course, they would still love her. Monster or not.

It’s the relief she desperately needed, and her breath hitches in her throat as she tries to find words.]

I missed you so much!

[something_true]

[She smiles as Mirabel hugs her back. It still warms her heart that the two of them had reconciled and grown so much closer. She gives Mirabel a big squeeze before pulling back, holding her sister's shoulders.]

Missed me? I just saw you. What happened?

B! hope this is okay!

[mingzhu]

The woman passing out the So You've Ruined Your Life pamphlets would stop in her place suddenly. Going rigid as she saw something coming from the opposite direction-- rather behind Isabela.

"Ni Hao~" Should the new young lady turn around, she would see a slender, pale gray Lich of a girl with brilliant blue eyes (though one had gone foggy) sporting a large love-heart burned through her chest like a train tunnel. Wisps of her pink hair billowed away at the tips in a smoky breath. In her hair was a brilliant golden hairpiece which would catch anyone's eye.

Lanzhu flicked her wrist at the pamphlet passer who high-tailed it the HELL out before she had to put up with a devious creature such as her.

"You don't want to get your advice from them. They're gonna scare you worse than real monsters~"

Definitely!!

[something_true]

Knee how? What? Confused, Isabel turned towards the voice. When her eyes fall on the specter, she freezes. Her eyes widen to saucers as she tries to understand just what she's seeing. Certainly she's seen some strange things in her time (her house is alive, for goodness' sake!) but this... this is beyond comprehension.

"Real... monsters?"

[mingzhu]

Don't mind her body rot. Exposed intestine, general grossness, but she seemed to pull it off well, dressed in scarlet and black.

"Like Lanzhu~" She pointed to herself, "Most of that pamphlet is true but they like to sugarcoat the yucky parts." Was she being blunt and scary on purpose?

y e s.

[something_true]

"Lanzhu?" Is that her name? But... she looks so monstrous to have what sounds like a relatively normal name. Her mind goes to some of the myths they'd been told when they were children. Certainly they'd been reassured that they had nothing to worry about in the Encanto, but they still haunted the back of her mind.

Isabela took a step back, her hands raising involuntarily. "I'm sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about."

[mingzhu]

She clapped her hands!

"To make a long story short, you are going to end up becoming those monsters in the pamphlet. We all do when we come here~" And she was oddly chipper about that. Lanzhu tapped her cheek with her long fingers.

"Let's do this properly. Lanzhu is my name!"

C BIG SIS BUDDIES HELL YES

[defyingfrigidity]

[Once upon a time, Elsa and her since-departed sister were the only nymphs in the whole peninsula. She'd gotten used to it, after a time, but in recent times more and more plant folk have been popping up around the land. It's... nice. It makes Elsa feel a little less alone. So when she sees another green-skinned young woman walking down the street, taking such gentle care to tend to the flowers set outside a shop close to her own, she can't help but call out.]

That little guy's had it rough. No matter how many times I tell those owners to pay him a bit more attention, I always wind up having to give him a little boost myself.

[She sets the broom she'd been using to sweep the sidewalk outside her own store - a cozy-looking cafe almost overgrown with vines and other pleasant-looking plantlife, both outside and in - aside, arms loosely folding in front of her as she smiles.]

Woot!

[something_true]

[Isabela turns with a bright smile towards the voice. She'd been meaning to pay the cafe a visit, it always looks so vibrant and full of life!]

It's good to know I'm not the only one who cares about the plants around here. I was hoping I wasn't overstepping my bounds by helping.

B - Have another Madrigal

[sandinmyhair]

[Oh, no, people are pestering newcomers again. He remembers all too well the kind of hounding he'd received. He draws closer and starts to shoo them away.]

Okay, yeah, monster, oo, scary, better run before they turn into a--into a....

[What?! How?!

The creature staring at Isabela looks... well, he looks a lot like Camilo's impersonation of Bruno--his eyes are glowing green and his hair is pretty wild and untamable. But he's dark grey, and... he's staring cluelessly instead of wearing a big shiteating grin. But that voice had certainly been Bruno's....]

Yay!

[something_true]

[Isabela blinks in surprise as someone shoos away the strange, but well-meaning townspeople. But... she remembers that voice.

She turns and gapes for a moment. Okay, he looks incredibly strange, but there's no mistaking it.]

Tio Bruno?

[sandinmyhair]

[He gives a shy chuckle.] Yeah... it's me. Don't let the weird tan fool ya, [gesturing to himself.]

They're right about one thing, though, we all do turn into something else... it's not so bad, though. Got my own built-in nightlight. No more stumbling to the bathroom in the dark at three am....

[This can't be anyone but Bruno.]

[something_true]

[Yeah there's no mistake. That's definitely Bruno. She grabs him in a hug, thrilled to have someone familiar there.]

What is this place? What happened to you?

[sandinmyhair]

[He's a little startled, but he curls his arms around her after a beat. He still has ten years' worth of hugs to catch up on, after all, and only a couple months in which to do it.]

It's... a weird place, is what it is. I'm, well, I'm turning into something they call a Shade. A sort of a, a living ghost. [A beat.] Which is kind of ironic when you think about it.