graveyardsmash | TDM: SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

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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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[To anyone else, the weird bat man with the candy cane feet would probably be a little more off-putting than the rest of these people. Instead, his sparkly colors and bright patterns are the only thing keeping the captain from shooing him off with the rest of the lot.

Somehow...somehow this one just feels more normal.

Caviar grunts at the "yet," unsure whatever that's supposed to mean. It was a pamphlet about transforming, wasn't it? Well, he's transformed!]

Ya really wanna know? Then take a good look at these! [With an almost crazed look in his eye, Caviar holds up the one hand not clinging to a wall for dear life and wiggles his fingers aggressively. It's the only quick example he can think of that isn't him spiraling into a rant about how his dough isn't feeling so...doughy. Don't even get him started on the loss of his caviar, so far no one's been able to understand what THAT means.] Lookin' pretty monstrous to me.

[He sighs, putting down his new and unusual hand and instead just leans against his emotional support building. Thankfully his massive coat didn't transform nearly as much as he did and makes for great padding between him and the otherwise uncomfortable bricks.]

So what are you suppose to be, anyway? Some kinda peppermint bat monster? ...Or am I wrong again? You'd definitely be the calmest monster I've ever seen if I'm not, so thanks for not tryin' to crumble me.

[Listen, he knows he's an easy target right now. He hates it, but he knows it.]

[It's reflexive, the way Sparkling leeeans back as Caviar suddenly shoves a hand into his face, wiggling his fingers at him as if it's the most terrifying sight in the world. And...maybe it's because he's been here too long and has really gone native, but having fingers actually used to be the norm for Sparkling. Now he barely has any at all, with just two claws on each wing-tip to articulate and grip things with. Of course, that was never a problem back home when you didn't need more than a hand to do whatever you wanted.]

Wh- I-

[He can't really get a word in edgewise either before the Captain continues, leaving him feeling a bit dumbstruck as each question rolls around in his head too fast for him to process. Peppermint...? That he supposes would make some sense, he-

But then, the Vampire goes very still. His ears perk up as straight as possible, and for a moment Sparkling just stares back at Caviar, looking more through him than at him directly.

He then suddenly moves a step closer, hopping up onto the tip-toes of his talons, too overwhelmed by the possibility to keep his composure entirely.]

Crumble? Did you just say crumble!? That...you- you would crumble- I heard that right?

[It's Caviar's turn to lean back as Sparkling moves forward, or at least as much as he can what with already being pressed against the wall. He raises an eyebrow, unsure why THAT would catch his attention so much.

Unless...]

What...? Are ya tellin' me nobody crumbles here? What sorta place is this?

[Of course if this is a peppermint bat monster, and he is vicious, it'd make sense he'd be so interested in Caviar's horrible, crumbly, gruesome death. Did...did he just slip precious mortality intel? To a monster???]

Look, don't go gettin' any ideas, you hear me? Just 'cause I can't stand on these legs, doesn't mean I still can't kick 'em!!

[It isn't until Caviar is leaning away from him that Sparkling realizes that he's maybe being...a bit intense, prompting him to quickly move back again. But really, can you blame him? It's hard to exactly compose yourself when someone is using what is very obviously cookie language right in front of you. And this time, Sparkling is so used to people misunderstanding him or the reactions he gets otherwise from telling people that he is a cookie that he doesn't bother beating around the bush.]

No, no you don't have to worry about that! Just, listen- you're a cookie, aren't you? You live on Earthbread? That's why you said you'd crumble?

Wha—

[Sparkling's quick explanation leaves the captain blinking a few times, but it isn't long until he's connecting the dots and grinning ear to ear. Which...is a bizarre feeling when you've never had ears before...]

Oh? Oh! You could tell all that just by a few choice words, huh? That's pretty sharp, mate, I'm impressed! But yeah, ya got that right, Captain Caviar Cookie of the Crème Republic, at your service!

[He's so thrilled about being recognized as a cookie, he nearly forgets that he is, in fact, at nobody's service in the state he's in. It's only when his knees shake a little more does his smile falter.]

Or, well, I will be...once I figure out what's goin' on. ...But say! Does this mean you can show me where the other cookies are?

[It's a not so great combination of relief and dread that floods Sparkling when Caviar introduces himself as a Cookie after all, and while he may not currently be in the dough, that much doesn't matter in the slightest. Sparkling is a vampire for witches sake, they're really past the point of splitting hairs over appearances.

And so, he'll gesture with a (slightly trembling) wing for Caviar to follow him, trying to keep his voice level as he replies.]

It's...wonderful to meet you, Captain. My name is Sparkling Cookie. I can't say I have credentials quite so lofty as yours, but...I do run a bar here in this world. I think we would be more comfortable talking there. I will try to explain as much as I can to you on the way.

[He just hates to be the bearer of the worst news: that...well. There aren't any other cookies.

At least, not anymore.]

[Sparkling Cookie? So this guy...is another cookie? Well, Caviar can't really say that's unbelievable considering the circumstances, but uh...he sure does look more like Peppermint Bat Monster at the moment.

Oh, wait, no, he's still sparkling from the looks of it. Sparkling Cookie it is.]

Bah, what are ya talkin' about? When it comes to credentials, runnin' a bar is by far one of the more respectable things you can ever tell a captain! [He laughs, giving Sparkling a hardy pat on his back. His...weirdly furry back...] And a drink does sound pretty good right about now...

Just, uh, remember to take it nice and slow, okay? Ya get too far ahead and I'm gonna topple over like a sand castle in a tsunami.

Of course. Trust me, I understand. It does take some getting used to...

[And Sparkling still has some days where he wakes up feeling off because of it. Like he should be back home, with no fingers, no toes, no hair, no skin...

But that isn't the reality he and Caviar have to deal with now. He just hates to once more be the unfortunate bearer of bad news.

Sparkling smiles politely, if weakly, back at Caviar before indicating that he follow, starting to make his way towards the nearest bus stop. He is not going to try to make Caviar walk the several miles it would take to get to Amusement Mile, and Sparkling lacks any transportation since he can usually just fly in bat form...so. Bus it is. They'll at least have time to talk in the meantime.]

I do hope that my place lives up to your expectations. I am...currently the only cookie living here that I know of, up until recently. So...having your seal of approval would mean a lot to me.

Eh, as long as there's a roof over my head and a drink in my hands, my expectations are more than made.

[Wait.

The only cookie? For whatever reason, Caviar was under the assumption that there had to be cookies living around here SOMEWHERE amongst all these fleshy...not-cookies. Then again, they aren't exactly cookies themselves right now, are they? So strange, why should they have to change to be here...?

Either way, a lot of Sparkling's actions make sense now. He wasn't being weird, he was being hopeful.]

...So is that why you've been shakin' like a sail this whole time? [Don't think he hasn't noticed. Despite his best efforts to be accommodating, this bat is clearly upset over...something.] I can't say I blame ya for how you acted earlier. Heh, I betcha I woulda been worse if I were the only cookie in a place like...whatever this is.

[Knowing how obvious his nerves have been this whole time is admittedly a little embarrassing, but it isn't as if Caviar doesn't have eyes. So Sparkling decides to just be honest with it all, nodding as he leads the way to a street corner with a bus stop on its edge.]

It...wasn't easy.

[And that is an understatement, to be sure.]

I wish I had better news for you, but unfortunately...cookies like you and I just aren't common in this world. And as you can see, we aren't even cookies at all anymore. What you are now, for example, is a human. You have skin instead of dough, and hair instead of...

[He blinks, thinking back on how he'd introduced yourself.]

Caviar, I assume?

[Caviar's response is pretty much automatic because despite the horrible news Sparkling just told him, he can't help but smile again and swell with pride.]

Right again, mate! A gift from the...sea...itself...

[And noooooow it finally catches up with him. The captain's reflexive response gradually loses its steam and what was once a quick, cheerful explanation becomes a silent look of dread. Cutting his little speech short, both his hands proceed to grab at his head despite his prior need for balance. There are more important things than just standing up at the moment!

And as they grasp into what should've been a beloved ingredient, instead he's welcomed to thick handfuls of...what did Sparkling call it? Hair? He's hairy now?! The worst part is he can't even trick himself into thinking his precious caviar is just covered up or something, he can feel the strands connected to his scalp with each little squeeze and tug.]

Did they— They took my caviar?! [You know, up until now he was doing pretty good keeping it together. A good captain normally doesn't falter in the middle of an emergency. But this? This is personal!] How am I suppose to be Captain Caviar Cookie without any caviar?!

[At least Sparkling still SPARKLES.]

[Poor Caviar...Sparkling felt much the same when he realized a lot of the things he's used to having had just been...changed. No dough, no icing, but most jarringly, no...well. Sparkling juice that really makes up who he is as a cookie. Sure, he sparkles as a Vampire, but that only makes up for so much!

Sparkling looks on at Caviar sympathetically as it finally dawns on him the reality of his new form, nodding slightly.]

I know how you feel, my friend...trust me. I know it's going to be hard, but you will eventually get used to it. But nothing and no one can take away who you are, even if "what" you are changes. Please try not to forget that.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TDM: SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

I'm so sorry for your future sore throat chi

IM sorry for Sparkling bc hes gonna seem like hes lost his mind for a hot second here

Re: IM sorry for Sparkling bc hes gonna seem like hes lost his mind for a hot second here

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