graveyardsmash | TDM: SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Entry tags:

test drive

TDM: SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

TDM: SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

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

(CW: Human remains)

When you awaken, you are hit with an immediate feeling of motion. A bobbing, if you will, or perhaps more of a rocking. You take a deep breath through your nose and take note of salt, along with the pungent scent of rotting wood. Creaking sounds echo all around you. Sitting up, you find yourself locking eyes with a skull.

An entire human skeleton is positioned across from you, resting limply against a pillar. Surveying the rest of your surroundings, you soon realize that you're below deck on an old, dilapidated ship. A ship that's on the move. The crew must have suffered a terrible fate, strewn as they all are across the floor. With their ripped poofy shirts, sheathed cutlasses and jaunty feathered hats, they seem to scream one word at you. "Pirates". ...Ooh, is that an abandoned bottle of rum? And a treasure chest? Surely they won't mind if you help yourself. They're dead, after all!

Once you've ascended the creaky steps, you find yourself on the deck of this vast, once proud vessel. A tattered Jolly Roger flaps overhead. Thick fog obscures most of the ocean surrounding you, but what's that straight ahead? Land ho! The ship's about to make port, and a crowd of curious onlookers has already gathered on the docks to stare up at this spooky new arrival. They appear apprehensive, perhaps even fearful, as if they haven't seen a ship come in for a long time. Will they hold you accountable for what happened to the skeleton crew? Will they praise you for 'ridding' them of pirates and allow you to keep the booty? There's no way to know just yet. Perhaps you'd best hide and find a way to disembark without being seen. Or perhaps there's someone else to be found here on this ship who suffered the same fate; someone who has a better idea of what to do.

SCENARIO TWO

You've stumbled your way into a city, and you're promptly besieged by the overwhelming sights and sounds. 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 lost expression and your clothes- so different from their own- 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. A hefty laptop may be handed to you, with words of a ‘network’ used for communication. Wonder what that’s about? Then there’s the very confusing pamphlet stuffed within: "What To Expect When You're Expecting (To Turn Into A Monster)”. They may direct you to an organisation known as the Lighthouse, their members most prominently found at the 38-8 apartments and the Lighthouse Church. Or perhaps, if you're injured, they'll refer you to the Crowe Clinic instead. Unfortunately, the directions you're given are so very complicated that you lose your way in the streets after two left turns, a right and a left at the soup kitchen.

Take care when asking for more help. 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

Now that you've found a moment of peace, you open up the mysterious device that's been handed to you. Perhaps you'll recognize it as some sort of laptop, albeit an old and clunky one. Or perhaps you'll be astounded by this curious feat of technology, which is unlike anything you've ever seen before. Regardless, the moment the lid is propped open to reveal the screen and the keyboard within, you gain your first glimpse of the network.

Perhaps you'll want to choose a username and write your very first message, posing the pressing question that's on your mind at this very moment. The lettered buttons click and clack awkwardly beneath your fingertips as you type.

However, you may instead want to respond to today's most popular message.

WELCOME TO RSDOS.
PRESS F1 TO COMPOSE POST.

*** TODAY’S TOP POST ***

018.07.154.55 <JUSTSOMEGUY> Let's play Two Truths, One Lie! It's real easy! You just post three statements about yourself, and the rest of us have to guess the lie. It'll be fun! And you get to be a liar liar without your pants catching fire for a bit.

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.

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"If these pamphlets are true then it's just another deadline. I've worked under tighter limits." His tugs at his jacket cuffs, as if messing with his missing red gloves.

'However, what happens if you find yourself having to make that call?' echos in his mind though. Can he really make the selfless choice?

It doesn't take long for him to find Akechi- even though his new senses are, well, new, he still remembers all the sensory information he's consciously and subconsciously gathered all his life. So he simply puts his new nose to the earth and tracks, barely even aware of what he's doing. His mind is a fog of pain and new sensations, so he just follows instinct.

Soon he finds the fledgling nymph, looming over him, now yellow eyes gleaming in the moonlight.

"True, you are the trickster type. I guess we'll see if you can pull off your fourth miracle. Well, third for you, I suppose."

"Two gods just means I can catch up faster." He smirks, tapping the side of his face with his fingers, looking smug.

"Well in that case you have your work cut put for you."

The sarcasm was almost dripping with every word.

"Might I suggest a proper attire? And no, I don't mean obtaining a costume so you can pretend to be a Phantom Thief."

He can barely see right now, at the mercy of any angry townspeople or random monster that might want a kill for their god or whatever else their stupidity demanded. So when the towering form appears in his view part of him just accepts it; maybe death would hurt a lot less than this.

As his greenish eyes start to adjust, however, the towering form doesn't seem to want him harm. In fact it seems more curious and perhaps protecting him in some way. Which could only mean Kurusu.

There's a laugh that escapes his lips. The same pathetic, desperate one when he'd faced off against his rival in Shido's Palace.

"So in the end you failed to stop it," he begins, as something begins to pull against his shirt's fabric behind his back. "Just like you failed to stop Maruki."

It's a cruel retort but he just feels incredibly angry right now and Akira just happens to be besides him.

The pushing almost causes him to choke, too caught in his prideful ways, or perhaps ignoring the warning, he had kept on his clothing. Thankfully whatever had been working at his back pierces out of like wooden stakes, the sound of the fabric tearing before vine-like tentacles erupt from his back and almost slither along the floor, protecting him from harm.

It feels a little better, at least, as his mind panics and tries to adjust to each new sentation and feeling. He also feels disgisted as the vines remind him of Maruki in a way and the ones of Azathoth.

[That's exactly why he wants to meet Sparkling to be honest, as well as the entire population of cookies he's somehow convinced just live here. He doesn't even realize how small he'd be if he were his actual cookie self right now, this is clearly just a weird city full of weird...not-cookies.

But enough about that, he's plummeting onto cement, which turns out isn't nearly as fun as tripping onto rotting wood. ...And that wasn't very fun to begin with! Thankfully there's a Maya to keep things from turning into a disaster. Caviar might be bigger than her, but he has no shame accepting the stranger's assistance.]

Looks to be that way. [He forces a toothy, lopsided grin as he holds onto her arm, pushing himself up and giving her head a good "thank you" hair ruffle.] Thankfully all it takes is one strong cookie to make a difference. ...Or, er, sea monster, in this case.

[And thankfully for them both, Maya doesn't at all seem to struggle to support Caviar's weight— and gives a playful, proud smile when he ruffles her hair. She lets him lean as much as he needs, lifting her other arm in a flex pose without actually flexing.]

You won't find a stronger sea monster than me around!

Might find weirder, though. And some water monsters are horses, too, for some reason.

[Why are kelpies? She doesn't know.]

[Wonderful, he isn't crushing the little girl, therefore he doesn't have to feel bad taking advantage of the balance she provides. It's seriously a huge help and even if his knees still wiggle just a little bit, it's a noticeable difference than how he was before.]

Hey, I've seen all sorts of sea monsters, and I can tell ya right now, they don't NEED a reason to be...whatever. Why not a horse? Maybe they got sea carriages they need haulin'.

[His tone is rather serious and matter-of-factly, but he shows his hand pretty quick when he opens one of his eyes and gives her another grin.

This man

might be a goober.]

[Maya brightens even more, enticed by someone playing along. Cookies really are the best, aren't they? She puts her hand to her chin as if deeply contemplating the suggestion and answers—]

That's gotta be it! A whole sea kingdom with sea horse carriages...

I wish I had a carriage underwater.

[Despite never having contemplated it before this...]

[It's only because once you hear about the undersea carriage, you're instantly sold. Who wouldn't be?!

But all jokes aside-]

Yeah, well, I hear ya got a car, and as much as I love standin' in everyone's way yappin' about it...

Right-o, Captain!

[She seems to be having a lot of fun with this.]

Just a block to the bar and our land-carriage awaits! One foot in front of the other, now.

[With that instruction she begins to lead him.]

[Well at least SOMEONE is having fun. Caviar may be a cool cookie on the outside, but rest assured, he is screaming internally.]

Now that's what I like to hear! Alright then, full speed ahead!

[Haha just kidding, if only because he almost stumbles again. You'd think he'd, like, remember the whole reason why he's clinging to her, but maybe!! He just wants to get a move on!!]

Eh, maybe not full speed just yet. Looks like I'm gonna have to go with the flow and let the current guide me, heh...

[It's Maya who's screaming internally a little bit, now, but she keeps a tight smile on her face and regroups—]

Someone once told me that's the only way to do it! Don't fight the tide, just—

[She moves her hand like a shark through water, wiggling it as they walk (or... kind of walk), finishing—]

Gooo with the flow, or you're just gonna drown.

[That stops her.]

[She doesn't know what to say. There's no arguing this. They both know it. The stalling is cowardice. And yet.]

Yes.

[Shame sweeps through her, tip to toe. She withstands it, but barely.]

Or we were. What we are to become here, I couldn't say.

[The afterlife.]

[If Harrow was a laughing sort of person, this is where she'd laugh. But she's really not, so she just stares. There's a quagmire of belief swirling in her brain, much of it having been stepped on in the last year of her life, much of that still stuck to God's boot — but there's one thing she's very sure of.]

No.

[Her tone is flat, dismissive. As she glances around at the deck, the bodies, and so on, she clicks her tongue in a dry mouth.]

The afterlife isn't so comfortable. You would know.

[And then her attention snaps back to FF, eyes narrowing, less in surprise and more in what looks like exhaustion.] You're dead?

[Sports have survived, of course — they're too inherent to human nature not to have — but with the fundamental weakness of the necromantic body and the brutal asceticism of the Ninth House, Harrow has never seen a sport, let alone played one. For Emporio's sake, it's probably for the best that she also knows what a ball is and the role it plays in sports. The poor kid is spared explaining that much.]

[She does look mystified, though. There's no hiding that. For many, many seconds after Emporio stops speaking, she frowns to herself, the explanation he's given percolating in her brain. Until, eventually:]

Yes.

[And then:]

You don't have the muscle tone of an athlete.

[he is like FOUR YEARS OLD HARROW]

The beast growls softly, annoyed at Akechi's mocking and on guard against the vines. He never saw Maruki's persona, but he got deep enough into the Palace to remember the tree. If Akechi starts smelling of apple he might just lose his mind. As if he hasn't already...

But growling is all he does. Ever since he discovered Akira's shame that was all he did at worse. Because deep down he knew Akechi of any form had the right to demean him for this.

"I didn't fail." He snaps, reaching out like he's about to grab Goro's neck- instead he just tears the shirt collar with his new claws so he doesn't almost strangle again under more growth.

Wait, here--

[ She holds out a hand to him - it's made entirely of leaves, or at least seems to be - there's sharp claws at the end of it, not that that'll matter much to somebody recently turned into goop. ]

Take my hand. I'll help you up-- it takes practice to form, at first, I think.

[ ...she blinks for a second, despite still being held up by the scruff. Listen, this may be super uncomfortable, but she's not about to let that show or anything. ]

...UGH, so you mean you're going to be even more insufferable? I've changed my mind. Just kill me now. I think I'll prefer that, actually.

[ Please, just end it, she won't mind. It'll be over quickly, whereas Saint-Germain and Cagliostro existing as lovers... the thought already makes her feel a headache growing stronger.

...though, Saint-Germain? In a romantic relationship? Potentially hilarious, but ultimately not worth the extra pain, Carol decides. ]

Edited 2022-09-24 16:53 (UTC)

["lovers ;)" says her horrible instincts, and she suppresses a laugh, prevents herself from typing it out. Harrow might throw her laptop out the nearest window and that would make future chats so much more difficult.]

i would like to remain so.
as far as i can tell, we are the only links to our system, and i think we would both very much like to return. it makes more sense to help each other, as we have been.
and also i quite like you despite your terrible attitude, so i daresay you can put up with mine.

"You-"

He meant to continue the taunting, to gaude a reaction but was caught off-guard when Akira moves closer about to strangle him, and in the breif moment worries that his rival is about to kill him. The vines on his back move upright in a single moment, aimed at Akira and ready to turn the creature into a shish kabob. Fear and dread fill him, making him suddenly realize that he doesn't want to die after all - but also a slight buzz at his rival's action even if it turns out it was just to help him.

Bleeding heart Ren or Akira, it didn't really matter. Putting the world on their shoulders no matter what the situation. Maybe that's why there's a tiny but of jealousy from the other Goro, even if he is now a slave. Because Akira thought his life was that important. It's a cruel thought, but on par even for him. His mind tries to go elsewhere, as he realizes that they might be for the first time as powerful as each other. No special persona. No special friends. No special destiny.

The very idea thrills him.

As the the tendrils don't see Akira as a threat anymore, they seem to continue what he started, and neatly tear off what remains of his shirt. Akira would see the drastic changes he was undergoing then, the skin on his chest turning green, pieces of white bark visible as his skin was being pushed back into a protective wooden ribcage, a single Black Rose Aeonium blooming over his heart. The same whitish wood bark forming spikes on his elbows.

It was a lot easier to withstand now, and he could feel the power from whatever he was turning into much like when he had awakened his Personas. It tore at his legs and feet elongading them, maybe a subcuncious desire for the both of them to be as tall as each other.

"As I was saying," he finally says, breaking the silence "You can argue all you want. But maybe like back home, you wanted THIS to happen."

"The thief outfit is later, got it." He does seem amicable to the idea though- Akechi has a point.

He watches the changes with open fascination. If he had his powers he would at least try and heal the damage as it happens, but as he is he's helpless to do much. Even his knowledge of first aid is pointless in how fast things are happening. His own changes were fast, likely because they would happen again and again with every moonrise. If they were slow he would quickly go insane.

His eyes fall on the dark not!flower on Akechi's chest and settle there as he speaks.

"... maybe I did." He rasps out, his maw of teeth and muzzle making his already low voice even more rumbling. His tongue darts out and swipes over his tongue in what he doesn't realize is a canine nervous twitch. "Believe whatever you want."

There's still the sound of cracking of bone as he looks down, noticing that his feet have become what he first thinks are earthworms, then realizes are actually roots. He concentrates enough to regain control of them and they fold into a shape more akin to human feet.

"It really is facinating," he replies, either commenting on his new control or a answer to Akira. If the other would look up from his not!flower, he'd notice Akechi grinning at him, some of his teeth having become pointy. The unhinged look that was chaos incarnate. "I had my morbid facination wondering what the process would be like, of course."

True, it had started out painful, at least for him, but now that it was becoming more pleasent with each new sensation, he was, quite literally, becoming intoxicated by it. His hair blossomed into a crown of various flowers that could cause pain and confusion. Beautiful, but untouchable, a reflection of Akechi, in a way.

With most of his changes done, it opened up his own twisted imagination. Imagining the damage he could cause with the petals of his crown. Imagining his father being strangled by the roots on his back as Akechi watched triumphant the snuffing of his life and then tossing him into the dirt.

It really wasn't healthy, but that's who he was.

He didn't want to feel helpless and the last month here amoung the townspeople had made him realize how feeble the human form was, with no Personas at his beck and call.

Which brings him back to Akira.

"You might not be Ren, but you must have promised the other me a duel as well." He sniffs the air and stretches his new arms, admiring how much farther he could reach. There was something there too, a call to go into the forests they were warned about. Somehow he knew he'd have no trouble there. "Don't think I've forgotten."

But first, something else which they'd need addressed tonight, or at least for Akechi. Maybe it was due to the slow, deliberate change, but much of his energy had been spent.

"In the meantime, I'm afraid I'm quite famished." He grinned again, with all the horrible implications that came with it. "I suppose you can either join me or try to stop me. Either way...it will be entertaining."

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Page 37 of 68

TDM: SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

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Since this is not canon I'm gonna assume Goro found out The Secret (tm)

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<bonezone>

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<sanctumreverentia>

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