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.

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Of course Akechi looked up his records. Of course. But-

"Never heard that name in my life." He eases down off the balls of his feet as Akechi lowers his 'weapon', but keeps his back against the wall. Like Akechi is a feral dog ready to bite at the slightest fast movement.

He had access to them, what did Akira think would happen?

Perhaps more insultingly than trying to kill him, Akechi looks briefly away in disgust. One 'Ren' was already enough, but...

"Then you're not the Joker I know. I've spoke to others from different worlds and different times. In this place it seems probable."

There's a strange sadness to it, almost. Like his realization that while both are together...they are, ironically, alone.

"Ah." That makes as much sense as anything else. Not even the weirdest thing that's happened to him. The idea of another Joker out there... and one that apparently made a choice he could not... is something he just has to accept.

He suddenly hates this 'Ren Amamiya' with an almost uncharacteristic passion. It boils, rancid, in his guts. His mouth is suddenly dry and he licks his lip to try and fight the feeling back. But it just sits there like a rock.

As for this Akechi not being the one he knows, unlike the man in front of him he only feels a guilty relief. While he would be happy to see Akechi back to himself, even if it would only be for moments before his rival killed him for his betrayal, it would be... worthwhile. But what if the happy, pleasant Akechi showed up? He's not sure he could bare it.

This way his secrets are safe in his chest.

"But you're still Goro Akechi, then?"

"Unfortunately."

Not because he fully hated his name - but mostly what it meant - whatever universe this 'Ren' came from, it seemed that he didn't seem all that too surprised by his behaviour or his way or talking. It implied that his path in life was the same - and for all that Akechi was and had been, he hadn't lied when he had told Ren he wished they had meant earlier. Meeting someone who had, even if it would have created a well of jealousy deeply wedged inside of his heart to the point of turning it even more black, still meant that somewhere out there, he had at least lived a more fruitful life.

"So then, not-Amamiya, what is your name?"

"Kurusu. Akira Kurusu." He gives a slightly over-the-top bow, all melodramatic charm.

Which clearly falls flat on the other.

"Akira...really?" That's such a generic name. Now he appreciates his own Joker's a lot more. But now on to a theory which makes him even more angry and annoyed, least one forget that Akechi is built upon them and jealousy.

"Perhaps that is how the worlds in our universe differ themselves...with your name." Urgh. Gross. "For all we know, there's another you called Kouichi Miyama, Tsumugi Arikawa or even Nozomu Akase." Each name more stupid sounding than the last.

His nose wrinkles in slight pouty annoyance at his show falling completely flat. Well, at least now he knows this Goro is exactly the same as his own. Was. Used to be.

"You just had all those names on hand? What's wrong with Akira?"

"They came out of my mind," he replied shrugged. "I was just trying to prove a point."

The point of how lame your name is, Akira.

"To put it bluntly," wow, really Akechi being blunt? "It sounds a little too...typical for someone like you."

"Typical?" He looks a bit aghast. "But isn't Ren Amamiya a bit too... hmm..." He narrows his eyes, letting his pettiness come out a little bit. "Too much? It sounds like an anime character."

Hey don't diss his protagonist Akira. That's Akechi's job.

"And you sound like a generic manga character. What's your point?"

Wow rude???

"Tch. Well, it doesn't matter right? Joker works fine either way."

"A thorn on my side either way."

Well with that out of the way, time for more pressing matters.

"Ama--Kurusu...have you bothered to read the leaflet?"

"A little. And I've seen these 'monsters' around too. How much of this are you buying?"

He's pretty sure at least some of it is true- if just from how the not-monsters are acting around him and the other new arrivals. But it's still a lot to swallow.

He frowns as he takes the papers from under the computer - honestly what he wouldn't do to get his briefcase right now - and looks at it again for a few seconds in silence.

"As much as your name is actually Akira Kurusu."

Can't stop being a brat for all of 2 minutes, it seemed. But also to prove a point.

"We're clearly dealing with an entity even more powerful than Maruki's or the Holy Grail. More annoyingly, it seems like there's two of them."

He makes an annoyed scoff through his nose, but it's not worth bickering over right now.

"Two that hate each other. From what I've heard they actively cultivate followers too."

"Well I don't see how that's any different. Recall Maruki's palace and how they reacted."

He'd also mention the end of Mementos but he wasn't there when Ren went all giant Satanael.

"What honestly worries me is how...accepting everyone is of this. By now it appears to be normalized."

He frowns slightly, not thrilled at the idea of comparing Maruki to these strange alien gods. For all the man's flaws, Akira still saw him as a friend. But... he has a feeling Akechi would not appreciate any attempt at putting the man in any sympathetic light.

... he wouldn't have been thrilled at being seen as someone with 'followers' either, but thankfully that thread is unknown and unspoken.

"Not surprising for the locals, if this has always been the way it is. But the people like us..." He shakes his head in distaste.

"For all my enjoyment in obliterating demons, it is a far difference from cannibalism."

He's just going to air that part in the open.

"It's surprising the townspeople bother having children."

"Hm. It's a big city, so even with all the monsters we've seen it must be a pretty small part of the population that gets eaten. People die every day from things like car accidents, but we don't ban dangerous things that only kill a small amount of people."

He shrugs.

"... I'm not excusing it, of course. But I can see how it can maintain like this if they don't really have another choice."

"Cars don't go out to eat people." It's strange how he as a serial killer seems at least more disgusted by it.

"Well without our powers or the metaverse, it's not like we can do much."

He considers calling Akechi out on that, and it shows on his face. But he refrains.

"Well, I'm not going to eat anyone. And even if I don't have the Metaverse doesn't mean I'm going to sit by and give up." His lips quirk a bit, a bit of Joker sparkling in his eyes. As if it was that simple.

"Always the hero." That's what he liked about Amamiya and by extension, Kurusu.

"However, what happens if you find yourself having to make that call? It would ruin your perfect record. Mine is already tainted."

Edited 2022-09-23 22:05 (UTC)

"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?

"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.

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policedefective - 2022-09-24 00:27 (UTC) - Expand

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le_mat - 2022-09-24 18:10 (UTC) - Expand

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