TDM: MARCH/APRIL

[ryslighelpers]

TDM: MARCH/APRIL

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

[sciencesquid]

[Ever since regaining his true self, Otto wouldn't lose his cool as easily anymore. Seeing Peter grabbed right in front of him, however, is enough for him to react on impulse.]

Let go of him!

[Otto may not have his mechanical limbs anymore, but he does still have his very typical human hands, one of which curls into a fist. And while he may not be the hardest hitter, the punch across the face he delivers is enough for the mob assailant to release Peter's shirt. (Wow, that hurt his knuckles.)

And now two pitchforks are directed his way.]

[heyunderoos]

[This is definitely getting out of hand. Being released leaves Peter stumbling again, but he rights himself more quickly now. He bats aside a pitchfork, cringing when the wood bounces off of his arm.

Yeah, okay, his powers are not working right now. He needs to panic about that in a second.

He reaches out to catch Otto by the arm, tugging at him. He doesn't know Otto, but he isn't about to abandon him to a crowd getting angrier.] I think now would be a really great time to run, and very quickly!

[sciencesquid]

[Otto was already taking half a cautious step backwards when he feels a tug on his arm. Thankfully, it's just Peter. He nods, stepping even further away from the crowd. He has no idea where to run- he's not certain Peter knows either. But anywhere else has to be better than this, surely.]

Yes. Right. Go. [Time to whirl around on the spot and choose... whichever direction has the least obstacles in their way.]

[heyunderoos]

[Peter chooses the left, which looks a lot clearer than the rest of the busied streets of Bavan. The foot traffic left open a sizeable gap the two can duck into. He keeps close to Otto, pretty set on not losing the older man.

Bavan definitely isn't New York's level of foot traffic by far, but it's busy enough Peter hopes they can lose the crowd.

Unsurprisingly, the mob is hot at their heels.]

Let's hope we can just lose them somehow.

[sciencesquid]

[This would have been a spectacular moment for Otto to rip a lamp post sideways in order to block the mob's path. If only he could. Instead, the best he can do for now is try to keep up with Peter and keep an eye out for opportunities that don't require brute strength.]

They'll have to give up eventually, won't they?

[heyunderoos]

I'd like to think so. I mean, we're running away, they'd have to figure it's a lost cause eventually? [And that is a pitchfork flying through the air past them. Someone's aim needs work.

Peter has to groan a little at the realization, just speeding up a little as he spares the group behind them a glance.]

Or they start throwing stuff.

[sciencesquid]

[Otto watches that pitchfork fly on ahead, then clatter to the ground before them. His first instinctive reaction is to be horrified, but then he realizes this is exactly the sort of opportunity he was meant to be keeping an eye out for. He quickly leans down to snatch the pitchfork up from the ground and while it's with something of a stumble, he does succeed in raising it. With a weapon in hand, he whirls around to face the incoming attackers.]

Now stay back! Back, I say!

[Good idea? Bad idea? It's an idea, that's something.]

[heyunderoos]

[It takes Peter a second to realize just what Otto is doing. The teenager has his own stumble as he has to change trajectory to come to a stop a little ways behind Otto.

Otto turning on the crowd with one of their own weapons seems to draw a few of the mob up short. The sidewalk already thick with people only gets a bit thicker as pedestrians quickly scurry by to get out of the way. Some of the mob started shouting at the man, whilst others aren't quite sure what to do.

Peter comes to a stop next to Otto, trying to avoid being in the line of fire. He really wishes he had his web-shooters, or anything tactical to get the mob to go away. The best he can do is try to reason with them, though he doesn't think it'll actually work.]

I don't know why you're chasing us. We don't want to hurt you guys, we don't even know why or how we got here.

[sciencesquid]

[To be honest, Otto doesn't even fully know what Otto is doing. Making bad decisions, most likely, but that's nothing new in his life. If he has to jab someone with a pitchfork to protect Peter, he'll do it! That should be written all over his face, too. He may not be Doc Ock anymore, but he can still mimic that malicious fury to perfection.

Some of the mob back away, mingling into the stream of innocent pedestrians to beat a hasty retreat. Three of them stand their ground, though, two of whom are still holding their own pitchforks. Once again, they're shouting something about 'monsters' and 'stopping the transformation'.]

[heyunderoos]

[Three is definitely a better number given how big the mob was originally. Peter looks to Otto uncertainly. Peter isn't sure if his powers are working, but, he could maybe figure out how to fight without them.]

Do you know what they're talking about?

[One of the mob members releases a frustrated sound, slamming the end of his pitchfork into the ground. "You're going to turn into monsters! We're going to kill you before that happens!"

Peter just stares at the man in question.]

Excuse me-?

[sciencesquid]

[Turn into monsters? That sounds awful backwards to Otto. It's enough to have him falter with the pitchfork, just for a second. If he attacks someone now-- No. No, this is self defense. It isn't the same thing. These people are the ones trying to deal the first blow. He has to stand tall. Though, he is vaguely beginning to wonder why Peter doesn't just websling them out of here. Out of web fluid, perhaps?]

If you're the ones willing to kill, that makes you the monsters, doesn't it? If it's up to me, nobody will be taking any lives!

["It's not up to you!" one of the mob members snaps back at him.]

[heyunderoos]

[Peter just ends up looking to Otto again, glad to see in some part he isn't the only one confused by this. He takes a few steps forward. He doesn't have any of his equipment, but he wants to be able to just stop the argument here and now.]

Okay, we're... clearly missing something here. We're not monsters and we're not here to hurt you.

[Another member of the mob gives an exasperated sound, "You'll hurt people regardless. Monsters need to eat!"

That just makes his remaining companions nod in understanding. One digs through their pockets to produce wadded-up pamphlets and throws the paper at the two. One of the wads of paper bounces off of Peter's chest, who fumbles before managing to catch it.] What is with you guys and throwing stuff?

[sciencesquid]

[... Alright, they're definitely missing something here. What does it matter what they eat? Why would it be certain they'll hurt anyone? For him to be accused of such a thing is understandable, but Peter? Peter would never hurt a fly- not even as Spider-Man.

When the pamphlets get tossed their way, Otto wonders vaguely whether it's just a distraction to get the pitchfork away from him. There's no immediate follow-up from their opponents, though. Only expectant stares. Cautiously, Otto's gaze shoots down towards the nearest pamphlet, which lies face-up near his feet. The title is clearly visible.]

... What To Expect When You're Expecting... To Turn Into A Monster...?

[heyunderoos]

[Otto's pamphlet is far more helpful than Peter's own, which is a personality quiz trying to guess at which monster he would end up being. Hearing Otto say that aloud just makes the teenager open and close his mouth a little in shock.

Peter looks up from the crinkled paper in his hands to the three mob members staring at them expectantly.]

This- you have to be kidding.

["Son, does this look like the face of a kidder?" One of the mob members ask. Which just makes Peter choke on a strangled kind of laugh.]

[sciencesquid]

[Otto would also sooner think it's April Fools, but... There were a lot of things he never considered real or possible before he was whisked away to a different universe. And even back home, there were teenagers who could clamber up walls like a spider. And, apparently, guys who fall into super colliders and end up with bodies made up out of sand. Is it possible to become some sort of actual monster?

He shakes his head roughly, his jaw set and his fingers tensing around the pitchfork's handle.]

Even if this were true- [And he's not saying he believes it just yet-] You can't know that! You can't know for certain we'll turn into something like that!

[heyunderoos]

We're not going to turn into monsters. I know we won't. [Peter says that with a lot more conviction than he's actually feeling at the moment. He balls up the pamphlet in his hand but doesn't let go of it yet.

The three people left in the mob aren't particularly impressed with their denial. One of the men, still armed with a pitchfork takes a few steps forward.

"What you want doesn't matter. You're going to be a monster." He spits it out with obvious disgust and venom in his voice.]

[sciencesquid]

[The conviction in Peter's statement is so strong, it actually boosters Otto's own confidence in the matter. After all that trouble to save lost causes like himself, there's no way either of them would just accept a fate like that without a fight. They're both brilliant minds, they've both got more than enough experience with trouble. They'll figure something out.]

Well, I'll tell you what. If we do turn into monsters, you can try and kill us then. [He jabs the pitchfork forward, just a few inches. A clear warning.] Until then, we're innocent human beings, just like you. So lower your weapons and go.

[heyunderoos]

[The three members of the mob exchange glances. The would-be leader just shakes his head, pity and disgust blending together oddly on his face.

"Have it your way, monsters."

That is enough to make the three back off and disappear into the crowd.

Peter stares at their retreating form before running a hand through his hair. A relieved and confused laugh bubbles up and out of the teenager.]

That... well, that definitely happened.

[sciencesquid]

[Otto hadn't quite expected that to work, but he's glad that it did. He won't throw the pitchfork aside just yet, since he doesn't know what else they might face, so he just lowers it as he breathes a loud sigh of relief.]

That was... entirely too much excitement for one day. Again. [Smiling, he places a hand on his companion's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.] Thank you for stepping in, Peter.

[Because clearly Peter knows exactly who he is, and there's no memory discrepancies happening here at all.]

[heyunderoos]

[Peter's idle joking question of how much excitement Otto gets into regularly drops away when the man just knows who he is.

The teenager blinks in confusion, brows furrowing together. He's searching his memory for just who this guy is, but he's completely drawing a blank.]

Uh, have we met before?

[sciencesquid]

[Otto's hand tenses for a second, then withdraws from Peter's shoulder as if burned. He wouldn't joke about that- not now. But how could he not- Did the spell go wrong? Or was this exactly how it had meant to work? Truth be told, Otto wasn't certain what it was that had sent them home to begin with. He'd been a bit too busy keeping an eye on Max and staring in awe at all those multiversal rips that Strange attempted frantically to mend.]

... You don't remember? [The question is quiet and shaky. He already knows deep down what the answer will be, but he still hopes it's something else.]

[heyunderoos]

Uh. [Very eloquent and well spoke, Peter.

The teenager just looks at Otto in open confusion. He loosely crosses his arms over his chest. He really isn't sure what to think about this. The guy seems too nice to be associated with Beck or whatever his team was doing.]

Am I supposed to-? Did I miss something?

[sciencesquid]

[And just like that, Otto feels quite alone in this place again. Several theories come to mind as to why Peter might not know him- might never have known him to begin with, but none of those fix the issue itself. If he were to try and explain, he might just sound like a lunatic.

So he takes a step back and shakes his head nimbly.]

Nevermind. It... It's nothing.

[heyunderoos]

[Given how fiercely the man had protected him against the mob chasing after them earlier, Peter can guess they know each other [pretty well in some capacity. That much makes the teenager stubbornly dig his heels into the topic.

This whole place is bizarre, even a bit horrifying given the monster thing, but-

Peter could use a friend right now. After everything that happened with Mysterio, he doesn't really want to go this alone. He doesn't think this man wants to go it alone either.]

Hey- I mean, if you know me, you know me. Even if it sounds weird, I mean- we just got told we're going to turn into monsters.

At this point, I'm willing to try and believe everything.

[sciencesquid]

[The hesitation is likely written all over Otto's face. He can't be certain this is the same Peter; it may just be another one who happens to look the same, from a different universe. If so, this one may not even be Spider-man. It would explain why he seemed so powerless against the mob. And even if it is the same Peter, perhaps his memories are gone for a reason. Perhaps Strange erased them for the sake of preserving the multiverse.

Then again... Whatever it was that was supposed to happen, it can't possibly have been this. Something's gone very wrong, somewhere. And if that's the case...]

... Are you familiar with a man known as Dr. Strange?