TDM: SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

[ryslighelpers]

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.

Comments

[toaflame]

[This right here is precisely why Adrian typically isn't part of the welcome wagon. He isn't exactly good at dealing with people, nor is he really handling this...with any tact whatsoever. There's no telling what kind of world Kaneki hails from, sure, so Adrian isn't about to assume anything...but judging by the way he seems about to shit himself, he's assuming his world is about as normal as you could get. It would explain the terror in his eyes, looking up at him as he is now.

Assuming anyone wouldn't be afraid of a gargoyle just...descending upon them like Adrian did.

Adrian huffs, smoke trailing from his nostrils this time as he folds his arms across his chest, regarding Kaneki qith a quirked brow. His tail sweeps the ground a bit as he listens to Kaneki stammer- a leftover from his time as a Manticore, no doubt- angling his head forward a bit as he looks him over.]

No shit.

[His gaze narrows slightly, claws tapping a brief staccato against the scales lining his forearms.]

I ain't gonna eat you, so calm down. [Might as well get that out of the way first.] If I was gonna, you'd be dead by now.

[Eloquent.

But...Adrian does deign to bend down a little so he's more at Kaneki's level, realizing somewhere past his sour mood (because, boy, this past month has been awful) that he should at least try to not scare him if he's going to bother interacting at all.]

But you've gotta get off the streets. You walk 'round like that in this Fog an' you're basically beggin' for someone to make a quick meal outta you.

[...

There's a pause as he turns, pivots halfway so his back is turned to the boy before nodding forwards, gesturing for him to follow.]

This way.

[anthropophagite]

[ no one from any world would be unphased by a giant gargoyle landing in front of them. Maybe the problem here is you, Adrian.

And Kaneki sure would love to pretend his world is fine and harmless, but such is not true. Now that he is no longer a ghoul, kaneki would certainly love to call himself "normal", but after everything he has lived through and done, there is no turning back anymore.

Normalcy is not a thing, even if Kaneki pretends it's possible for him to be normal and lies to himself that he may one day just be so.

When Adrian mentions he will not eat him, Kaneki is relieved. While it sounds silly for someone to land and talk before actually attacking their prey, Ghouls do enjoy some banter before a meal as creepy as it sounds. Ken is well aware of it after several have tried to eat him, which is sadly a trauma that lingers over his head and one he never really addressed. ]

Do monsters-- [ really, that word is a bit offensive, isn't it? But they used that word on the pamphlet as well ] --eat each other? [ he will accept that he is a monster, only because this is the second time it happens. Perhaps becoming a ghoul before arriving here will help kaneki to adapt to the new reality a lot faster than most... some would say he is lucky in a way.

But he still nods and quickly gets up, hurrying after Adrian. He may look really scary, but Kaneki is so glad someone is actually willing to help him and talk to him, rather than pretending they don't see or hear him, or look at him as if he is pitiful (he is sort of pitiful, let's be honest) ]

T-thank you. I'm Kaneki, I came from the boat and -- [ and Adrian probably already knows since new arrivals are apparently a regular thing ] Uhm... were you human before?

[toaflame]

[Mm. Kaneki asking that- about monsters eating one another- causes Adrian to stiffen a little, jamming his hands into his pockets. For a long moment he says nothing, his shoulders hunched. He's already started walking, so it's up to Kaneki to follow because he doesn't seem bothered to make sure he is following.]

...happens, yeah.

[Not often, since monsters need to feed on humans to survive here, but just trust him Kaneki. It happens. It's just far less often, comparitavely.

Maybe Adrian would know. After all, with all of those various scars cutting into his scales, it looks like he's been in his fair share of fights here. Most seem to be healing, but the deeper ones- the starburst puncture wound in his side, and the long gash over his left eye- do not. They never will, not fully.]

Long time ago, I was. Not before I first got here though.

[He doesn't...elaborate on that though, continuing on.]

But ol 'Fog don't care if you were a human, or a bug, or a fuckin' cookie. You'll turn human, then monster eventually.

[anthropophagite]

[ the answer doesn't surprise him in the least and perhaps that says a lot about the things Kaneki has seen through his time as a monster - a ghoul - back home.

He watches Adrian's back (mostly because he is following rather than walking besides him since he doesn't know if the other is fine with Ken being close to him) and hums softly at the reply. He is not freaking out over it, there is no point. He knows it happens between the monsters he is familiar with, why would it not happen between the monsters here?

Everywhere he goes, he just... Doesn't win. This place might even start to feel uncomfortably familiar after a while.

But Kaneki eventually hurries his pace a little. While he is not exactly walking besides Adrian just yet, he is closer.
He has to wonder what sort of creature Adrian was before; he mentioned bug and cookie so... Maybe a mix of that? It's a weird mental image. ]

What about the humans in this town? Don't they transform as well? [ why]

And why are they okay with this? [ why aren't they literally trying to chase every single new arrival and kill them on the spot before they turn into monsters and eat them]

[toaflame]

[The Gargoyle exhales on a long, growling snarl. These are normal questions for a newcomer to ask, but not ones he enjoys answering. Everyone has their opinions on this or that, while Adrian just wants to be left alone. The locals he cares about the least, probably because they're all some varying level of too comfortable with monsters, or wanting to see them all eradicated (rightfully) from the peninsula.]

They're locals. They ain't gonna change cause they don't got another world they came from.

[Like himself, or Kaneki, those words imply.]

And they ain't. But do you think they can really do anythin' about it? They could kill off every single one of us an' it ain't gonna matter. All that'd do is leave us lookin' for someone to blame when we revived. They know we can't die, so there's no point.

[anthropophagite]

[ now wait a minute! That does surprise Kaneki. He actually stops for a second, a bit dumbfounded and thinking the other might be playing some sort of trick on him.

Although he doesn't seem like the type at all.

However, Kaneki snaps out of it and quickly runs after Adrian, this time now right besides him to look back at his face]

What do you mean, we can't die? What - we revive?!

[ what in the fresh hell is this]

So we just live forever?! [ now that part? That part is very new.

In fact, Kaneki pants himself down, trying to find the pamphlet he lost] How?! Is it the fog God thing?

[toaflame]

[Adrian stops entirely, then, because he knows that they will barely be able to walk in a straight line if Kaneki is freaking out like he is now. But this is all stuff he'll learn, either through word of mouth or the hard way, so it's better to rip the bandaid off first.]

Yeah. Though I ain't gonna recommend you go throwin' yourself into a monster's mouth to test it out.

[Even Adrian has yet to die, here. From the way he understands it...it's no different from dying normally, you just...eventually wake up. He has no desire to actually experience it, and thus he fights to survive, day by day. He's had some close calls, and a few instances where he should have died, but didn't.]

The Fog heals our wounds faster, assumin' you didn't just get your head lopped off or somethin'. Foggy's responsible for all that. The no dyin', the fog, bringin' you here in the first place.

[He jabs a claw at Kaneki's chest as he says that.]

Now. Any more questions or am I gonna have to keep stoppin'?

[anthropophagite]

[ how messed up is this place? Kaneki can't help but to think of the humans who have to deal with it, who have to live with their own being killed for food by creatures that are much stronger than them, heal much faster, and who won't even die.

But then again... They could probably lock up the monsters when they arrive, maybe? Keep them soemwhere-

Although Adrian is right, if humans fought back, there would be a big chance monsters would just see it as a "they started it" sort of thing. A conflict like the one Kaneki is familiar with, between ghouls and humans in his world, would ensue.

But it still doesn't sit right...

When Adrian pokes his chest, Kaneki blinks but quickly shakes his head. He didn't mean to sound demanding and he didn't mean to annoy the other with questions. He has many, but he should be thankful someone was kind enough to help him as it is.

So Kaneki looks away]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be pushy.

[toaflame]

[Adrian knows he shouldn't be too hard on him. He's new, and confused, so of course he has questions. But knowing and doing are two different things, and Adrian...is in a weird place right now, suffice it to say. But that doesn't mean he needs to take it out on a confused newbie.

He sighs, closing his eyes for a moment before continuing on.]

...this place's got free housin' for newcomers. That's where I'm takin' you.

[anthropophagite]

Eh? Shouldn't I go to the Lighthouse first?

[ oops that's another question and Kaneki said he was done with questions!]

I mean- thank you.

For taking me. [ if there is free housing then he probably will find other monsters there and ask them his questions if they are willing to answer]

[toaflame]

[To that, Adrian shrugs.]

The Lighthouse people do shit with the 38-8 apartments too, so like...it don't matter. You'd prolly get more info there, but I've never been, so I ain't the one to ask.

[Adrian...sort of just did things his own way when he got here. He got enough information to work on before just leaving it at that. He's been aware of the Lighthouse of course since Horatio told him about it, he's just...not bothered going.]

They'll give you a basket with a whole bunch've stuff. Meds, first aid.

[And Adrian recommends keeping it all. He'll need it when the first changes hit.]

[anthropophagite]

[ ken nods softly. It doe sound like a place he should visit for sure and he does make a mental note of finding out where it is so he can drop by later.

At the mention of meds and first aid, Kaneki remembers his own bloodied clothes, reaching down for his shirt to tug at it a little. He refused to take the new clothes some native offered him because Kaneki was so confused and freaked out and now he sort of regrets it.

But hey, if there are free houses, there might be free clothes. Of he will just go back to the native.]

I will keep it in mind, thank you. [ Kaneki let's go of his shirt and instead just presses the laptop against himself, hoping it will hide the blood a little]

[toaflame]

[Adrian notices the blood, of course. It's not uncommon. People show up here with random cuts and bruises seemingly from nowhere, but his own at least felt like they made more sense since he emerged from a literal hole in the wall in the ground. Kaneki, on the other hand, was just on a ship, right?

His tail sweeps the ground again as they walk, hands shifting in his pockets.]

...there's a clinic too, if you need it.

[Like, don't. Just walk around bloody, go to a doctor. Don't follow his example.]

[anthropophagite]

[ on a ship indeed. He even stole some bones from later but that's a story for another time (maybe).

He shakes his head at the mention of the clinic, though] I'm alright. [ this is blood from back in his world and he was already healed when he arrived to the peninsula.]

What sort creature are you? A dragon? [ LOOK. IT'S ANOTHER QUESTION.]

[toaflame]

[Why is he not surprised?

Adrian swings his head back around to look straight ahead again as he continues down the sidewalk. He would have been there by now if he could fly, but Kaneki can't...and he doesn't seem interested in giving him a ride, even if he would allow that.]

Gargoyle. But...yeah, pretty much.

Ain't one usually though. I'm "'sposed" to be a Manticore, but Mana decided to fuck up my request and turned me into another thing entirely.

[.............then, remembering that Kaneki is going to immediately ask who Mana is-]

Mana's a witch that'll give you shit if you pay her in coins. I asked to get all my changes cause I was tired of waitin', but she ain't got the most stellar track record in not messin' up somewhere. Figures the first time I ask I get screwed...

[But that's! What he gets! For trusting a witch!!]

[anthropophagite]

[ honestly, Kaneki would probably refuse the lift. He isn't used to physical contact and riding another sentient being sounds far too weird for him even if that person looks like a dragon.

But he is glad Adrian explains about Mana, and glad he explains what went on. So they can change monster species and... The witch is not to be trusted.]

I'm sorry. It must be hard to just be changed like that. [ Kaneki is sympathetic and genuine in it too. He knows how it's like and he can only imagine how that even goes in a place like this]

Hopefully you can turn back to normal. Unless you like this species better, then... I hope you stay like that.

[toaflame]

S'long as I get my wings back...I don't care.

[He does feel like he likes this form better than the lion, admittedly. There's a LOT about it he prefers, such as the free access to his fire powers, and the stronger body in general...but not being able to go out during the day without turning to stone is killer. He can deal with itchy fur if it measn not having to deal with that.

But the wings. That was the only thing about his form back home he liked, and these wings are much stronger than the delicate things he had. He wouldn't give them up for anything.]

I'd be more worried about yourself than me.

[anthropophagite]

Me? Oh-thank you.

But I'm stronger than I look. [ says a tiny little guy who was having a panic attack minutes ago, and would have easily been killed by any monster.

But sure, Kaneki supposes he will be okay. Because this nature is not all that different from his non-human nature. He is afraid of looking like a monster, he is afraid of being a monster, he is afraid of being in a whole new world... But in the end he is still being transformed into something horrible and doing horrible things which isn't different from the past few months in Kaneki's life.]

I hope you get your wings. [ Kaneki is a nice person. And he means it genuinely. Living in such a horrible reality, at least Adrian has something he likes about it? If Kaneki ever finds something he likes, that will probably be his anchor too.]

[toaflame]

[That's what they all say, he thinks. You think you're strong and capable until this place beats you down and reminds you that, even as a monster, you're not.

His brows furrow, and he feels the way the movement pulls at his new scar over his eye.]

...yeah. Me too.

[And so they continue on in silence for a bit...until it's Adrian who speaks up, this time. It's only to say one thing.]

Name's Adrian.

[anthropophagite]

[ Kaneki never saw himself as strong. But being turned into a human-eating-thing kind of forced him to be a little. As pathetic as he still thinks of himself to be, at the start he'd only cry and curl up in bed. Now? Now he isn't crying. It's a step forward!

When Adrian finally introduces himself, Kaneki smiles wider. In the end, this person isn't as scary as he thought.]

It's nice to meet you, Adrian-San.

I know it must be a bit annoying to help out someone who doesn't know anything, so I really appreciate it.

[ Kaneki is making friends (????) in the monster world, amazing.]

[toaflame]

[If asked, Adrian would reject the idea he's made friends here. Or, with anyone as a matter of fact. Even if that's patentedly untrue.]

Yeah, well. You ain't the only one who don't know nothin' here. It ain't like it's new.

[And there will be more like him, soon enough.]

Might as well get the questions out before you got more important things to worry about.

[anthropophagite]

[ Stop being a tsundere Adrian, maybe?

Adrian says that but Kaneki also is trying not to overwhelm the gargoyle with thousands of questions about this place since he realized it was annoying to him. He doesn't want to annoy Adrian, he has been kind enough so far.

But Kaneki does have a question that has been nagging him at the back of his mind and he isn't entirely sure how to ask it. At least, not in a way that won't make him suspicious.

Then again, they are all cannibals here, aren't they?]

Uhm... Adrian-San. I have another question, I'm sorry. About... f-food. [ oh yeah. Time to talk about that elephant in the room]

[toaflame]

[Honestly, he's almost surprised it didn't come up sooner. Either he'd not heard about it yet, or...he had, but was scared to broach the subject. So when Kaneki does bring it up, Adrian tilts his head slightly to indicate he's listening...but he doesn't stop walking. The larger buildings in the center of the city are starting to loom into view now, indicating they're nearing their destination.]

Uh huh. Well? Spit it out then.

[anthropophagite]

[ right.]

Can we only eat... That? [ humans, he means humans] Uhm, I get that we have to eat sometimes and we can't go without it. But is that the only thing?

[ Kaneki has to eat people. He knows that, has done that, and while he hates it and may cry about it, he no longer fights it. And he won't fight it here either, because he knows he just can't.

But as a ghoul, Kaneki was no longer able to eat anything else. No longer able to enjoy normal food, to enjoy a meal with friends, to pretend to be normal. It's something that he misses but he doesn't even remember how it all felt.]

[toaflame]

[Sorry Kaneki, while you might be willing to tiptoe around the vocabulary...Adrian is not, who comes right out with it as his tail sweeps the ground behind him.]

You ain't just gotta eat humans, no. You gotta eat 'em to survive...if you try not to forever, you'll go crazy and eat whatever moves.

[So basically: don't let that happen.]

You can eat whatever the hell you want, otherwise. Might be different ways to eat, dependin' on what monster you are, but most of the time it's just. Shove food in hole, just like anythin' else.