graveyardsmash | TDM: MARCH/APRIL

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The beginning of the compliment isn’t lost on Gren, even if the screaming driver seems intent on ruining it. It’s the first kindness that’s been shown to them since arriving here, and there’s no denying the smile that spreads across their face in response.

It only widens from there. There’s always something to be said about a strong, assertive woman.]

Ooh, I like you already…

[Their words are peppered with a warm chuckle as they reach out to take the offered hand, allowing themselves to be pulled to their feet.]

I’d be willing to say that humans everywhere can be pretty big jerks. But yes. Out of the road sounds like a plan.

[As they make their way back to the sidewalk, Gren does a quick once over: their palms hurt from the impact but otherwise, and they’re a little shaken. Who wouldn’t be, after waking up in some strange city and then immediately narrowly avoiding being hit by a car? Otherwise - no harm done. Is there really a point in dusting off, given that their clothes were filthy before they ended up in the road? They wrinkle their nose briefly at the thought, and leave it be in favor of giving their full attention to their hero - who they haven’t even bothered to introduce themselves to. Rude.]

I’m Gren, by the way. It is an absolute pleasure to meet you, miss…?

Maya Fey!

It's a pleasure to meet you, Gren.

[She walks backward while introducing herself, putting her hands together in a gesture of prayer and nodding her head before she turns back around. Old habits die hard.

Maya looks over her shoulder as she continues to speak, though.]

So, has anyone given you the rundown yet? Do you know where you are?

[Maya. There’s something about her energy that feels like it fills the air around them, chases off some of the foggy confusion that’s been weighing Gren down ever since waking up in this strange place. Trust doesn’t usually come easily for them - they’ve lived long enough to know better - but they find themselves following her without much hesitation anyway.

Besides, where else are they going to go in a city they’ve never seen before?]

No one’s bothered to give me the time of day, nevermind the ‘rundown’. Did I miss the welcoming committee?

[She’d said something about this ‘always happening on the fourth’, hadn’t she? Are people regularly waking up in graves here?]

Seriously though, not a clue where this is. I don’t consider myself very well-traveled but I don’t know anywhere in the galaxy that’s still this low-tech.

[Maya swings around at the mention of the galaxy, her eyes glimmering— as much as dark-sclera'd eyes can glimmer, anyway.]

Are you from space, too? No wonder you're so pretty. I bet you're from Mars like Juno was. You look like Juno.

[She realizes Gren won't know who Juno Steele is, likely, this person doesn't sound like Juno's plucky assistant after all; but the point is, the most beautiful people come from Mars. That, and as a mermaid, she loves the sound of her own voice...

Turning back to watch where she's going, she adds;]

But you're not even in your own space anymore. This is a completely different universe. I know, pretty big deal, but I mean—

[She gestures at her entire self and asks;]

I betcha haven't seen one of me in your universe.

Spot on. I grew up on the outskirts of Tharsis, if that means anything to you.

[Impressive. The pretty comment brings a genuine smile to their face, too - not that they’re unaware of the effect that they tend to have on people, but most dance around it. Maya’s forwardness is refreshing.

They’re busy considering whether or not they know this Juno person - Mars is a big planet after all - when the next sentence comes and just about knocks the air from their lungs.

Not in my own universe? How is that even possible?

They do a stand-up job of not letting the effects of that dizzying thought show on their face, rendered all the easier as Maya continues.]

I have definitely not seen anything like you before. I was going to ask, but…I didn’t think it was polite to question why my rescuer’s got a tail.

[They even manage a grin. The show must go on.]

So what is this place? Everyone else seems pretty human...are there more out there like you?

Tharsis... Mm.

[Maya shakes her head at that; Juno came from a different city, she assumes, and Dandy supposedly came from Earth, where the best waves in the universe can be caught. Tharsis means nothing to her.

She is much more able to answer the last question though, offering;]

A lot more. They're gonna give you a laptop at some point— Liewen labs? They're somewhere around here— the laptop connects to one of all of us monsters.

You're... gonna want to sit down for some of this, by the way.

[She didn't quite catch Gren's faltering, but she knows the drill by now.]

And lucky for you, your dashing hero is married to the guy who owns the best bar in Bavan! Which means I can give you the monster rundown somewhere nice and safe.

[That appears to be where she's been leading Gren, as she turns as they approach a certain door and she gestures;

The building before them is in true 50s style, fitting right with the other buildings, except Maya is on the sign. Ah, as always, shilling the business.

Maya gives a showy little bow and puts on an exaggerated 'fancy' voice, offering;]

May I welcome you in, my dear Gren?

Edited 2022-03-20 03:29 (UTC)

[None of this makes sense. The more they think about it, the more confused Gren feels. But more importantly, despite the strange, frazzled, foggy feeling they’ve been fighting off, they’re storing away little bits and pieces of what Maya is saying. They can consider it all later, but it’s there now, in the back of their mind: Liewen labs, laptops issued to monsters…there’s an implication there that curls around their gut, uncomfortable and heavy but maybe, just maybe, they’re being too presumptuous—

If they’re to be issued a laptop, and they’re given to all monsters…and the pamphlet had said…

Nah.

As they come to a stop, Gren peers up at the sign, a grin spreading across their face.]

Hey! Look at you! Someone clearly knew exactly what they were doing. And I’m not just saying that because you just saved me from getting run over.

[Their grin only widens as Maya bows, and they take the lead, stepping into the establishment and lingering by the door to take the place in. The ocean theme is immediately apparent, and not necessarily their usual vibe, but it's pleasant and welcoming. Maybe it’s the day they’ve had, but it feels like stepping into a little oasis. They glance over to Maya.]

Gorgeous place you’ve got here.

[They smirk - the teasing is clearly playful, no malicious intent. She'd mentioned her husband...they have a feeling the decor was likely at least partially his call.]

The plastic trees are a nice touch too.

Right? It's really cute, but I can't take any of the credit.

Dandy got this whole place running while I was missing in action back in the sea of stars. You'll learn about that place, too, don't worry.

[She leads them over to a nice table, and a waitress in a mermaid-tail-skirt brings her around a few glasses of water just upon seeing her; it's clear there's quite the hydration routine already in place.]

There's another bar called the Lucky, and there's a vampire bar too, called, um... The Last Drop? But I haven't been there yet. This place is the chillest place to be.

You want anything, like, actually alcoholic? You're due for a pretty wild introduction to this world, y'know.

TDM: MARCH/APRIL

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