TDM: OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

[ryslighelpers]

TDM: OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

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: Ritualistic sacrifice, burning)

Someone laughs in the distance. A high-pitched, shrieking cackle. It's followed by a deep boom, excited calls and shouts. 'Someone is having a party', you think, as you are pulled from the thick marsh of your slumber, onto the more solid footing of harsh, cold reality. Because you are cold. You lie on hard soil, pebbles and twigs pricking and poking at your body. As you sit up to survey your surroundings, you realize you've come to in the woods. It must be night, dark as it is, but you can't see the moon, nor the stars. All of that is covered by dark clouds, which hang high above the barren tree tops and swaying, empty branches. All the leaves have already fallen to the ground, and they look almost… decayed, a mixture of black and orange that's been eaten away at by the elements. You can barely see them, for as murky as the sky is, the surface is not much better. It's as if you're sitting in a shallow pond of thick fog, the substance swirling and dancing all around you. It clings to your arms, which are already covered with goosebumps as it is.

Is there a pleasant whisper in your ear, welcoming you to Her favorite woods? … No, that must be your imagination, for there are other things to occupy the senses.

In the distance, you still hear it: that cacophony of assorted voices. And… music? Yes, several instruments are playing. Odd as it is, the tune is not very cheerful. It feels melancholy, full of low string reverberations. And a distinct scent wafts by on the breeze. Crisp cedarwood and smoky embers- a campfire? You turn your head towards the source and see the flickering glow, half obscured by the trees and branches which stand between you and it. That must be where the party is. Perhaps those people can help you, for you have no way of knowing where you are, how you awoke here or why. And if you were not human before, you may even struggle with your new body as you stumble to your aching feet and move your tired legs.

Within minutes, you push through the last bit of scratchy underbrush, and the full sight of the celebration meets your eyes. What you believed to be a mere campfire is a vast bonfire, set up in the middle of a clearing. A group of nine people are positioned around it, bobbing and weaving in tune with the music. The band consists of four members, for a total of thirteen. They strike you as otherworldly at first, dressed as they are in long, flowing garbs and curious black masks. You squint against the light of the fire as you try to make out the details. The masks all appear to be styled after the same animal, as they hold a long, gnarled muzzle. A crown of branches is set upon each partygoer's head, giving off the impression of antlers. The sleeves of their robes appear stained. Unease begins to settle within you. You dare not disturb them, but something has stuck your feet to the ground, be it curiosity or fear.

Why does the fire smell so odd? It isn't just wood that's burning, is it? What are those charred shapes, obscured by the towering flames?

Someone raises a hand, and the partygoers all begin to speak in unison. They are praying. Praying for a harvest bountiful enough to get them through the upcoming winter, praying for the soil to recover, praying for humanity's triumph, for nature, for life, for night. Two of them walk off, into the bushes on the other side of the clearing. When they return, they're carrying something in-between them. Large and bulky, wrapped in a sheet. Or a burial shroud? They must be very determined to keep it hidden within the fabric, for thick ropes are wound all around it. You think you see it; the impression of a head, of shoulders and arms wrapped around a chest, of legs ending in feet.

And if you strain your ears, you hear muffled screaming coming from within the 'package'.

You see them approach the fire and the word "sacrifice" wafts through the air. Perhaps you gasp, perhaps something snaps beneath your feet as you take a step- forward or back- or perhaps… Perhaps you were simply unlucky, for the attention of the celebration shifts and now all thirteen sets of eyes are upon you. The music halts and the only sound to be heard is the crackling of the fire. The fog is still coiling around your legs, and you hear the whisper again.

"What will you do?" She asks you, as the sacrifice is set down on the ground near the fire. "It's you or them. But you… You are far more important. You deserve to live. You are the decider of their fate. You, my child, are the one they ought to bow their heads and direct their fearful prayers to."

The partygoers each take up arms, from swords to torches to hunting knives. They begin their approach and their intent is clear. You, however… You may just have the advantage if you're skilled, for a short distance away lies a weapon all for your own. A bow and arrow, perhaps, or a sling, or a gun. Whatever you might feel comfortable using, should you choose fight over flight.

And there is someone by your side. Someone who, like you, was drawn into the woods tonight and bore witness to these events. A monster to be, perhaps, or someone already long since equipped with claws, fangs, supernatural powers and so much more.

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> I want to go home. Please. It's been so long. I miss my family. I miss my life. I'm so tired of killing. Is this punishment? What have we done to deserve this?

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

Barbie | Barbie 2023

[pinkeverything]

I. Come on Barbie, Let’s Go Party

A.
[Barbie could almost pretend she was in her nice, safe bed in her nice, safe dreamhouse for a moment. Then the little pains began to seep in. She opened her eyes– it was darker than she had ever seen a place be. She slowly sat up, sputtering slightly as a tangle of her normally perfect hair got stuck in her face. She ached in ways she didn’t think were possible– ways that probably weren’t possible for her until recently. Was this the real world? Had she made it?]

[She could hear things in the distance–music and laughter. Maybe Ken had found a beach? That would be surprisingly helpful of him. Something is off though… The music sounds wrong. The laughter is too sharp, too mean. A sharp pang of fear stabs through her, and for the first time Barbie becomes aware of the rapid beating of her heart. She has a heart now?]

[Barbie bolts to her feet, shaking her hands back and forth, looking around frantically. She’s desperately hoping there’s someone around to help, or at the very least so she doesn’t have to go alone.]

B.
[Barbie had been looking for directions when she stepped into the clearing. This was probably not the crowd for her to be asking directions from. She watched in silent terror as the crowd prayed, until her eyes fell to the people carrying the “package.” As they approached the fire, the muffled sound of screams reached her on the wind. She clamped her hands over her mouth and backed away, hoping to wordlessly slip back into the woods and run as fast as her achy legs would carry her.]

[That would have worked out great, had she not tripped over a rock. She screamed as she fell, hitting the ground hard. Barbie wanted to be more upset about how much it hurt, but she realized that the sound of prayer and music had stopped. The people are watching her. They look angrier than she has ever seen anyone look. She scrambles up onto her feet. The party goers are approaching her, holding a lot of– frankly– very unsafe looking items. She opens her mouth to speak but all that comes out is a shriek as she turns and runs into the woods.]

II. Just Take Me Home

[Barbie, by some miracle, made it into the city. She’s cold and damp, mud streaked on her dress and sticks and leaves stuck in her hair. She lost one of her shoes in her rush out of the woods. She almost gets hit by a car as she crosses toward the shops, the car swerving and honking at her as she yelps and runs the rest of the way across. She takes a deep breath–shaking her head and trying to calm down. Surely, there’s someone who can help her.]

Um, excuse me? If you could– hello? Anyone?

[People are ignoring her, passing with barely a glance. She’s never felt so invisible.]

ii!

[jumpie]

[ oh, no! oh dear! a pretty lady, lost in the fray? someone happens to see her, notice her and the hardship immediately. oh, she seems a mess. and lost. a kelpie boy in sportswear and a sports jersey bounds up to her—

Um!

[ and thus the little foal boy begins to turn beet red down to the neck, with an increase in his silence but still staring up at her, slack jawed—

she’s so hot i forgot what i was going to say!!! ]

U-um—!!

[pinkeverything]

[The small 'um' gets her attention. She looks over and then has to do a startled double take. The boy is certainly not human. Maybe she's not in the real world?]

[The boy also seems embarrassed. Maybe he recognizes her. She offers a shaky smile.]

H-hi. I'm Barbie. Do you— [she glances around nervously.] do you know where we are?

[jumpie]

[ she is . . . . a queen. nothing less and everything more! her smile! an arrow shoots right through the kelpie boy's little heart as he clutches his chest and gives a little bow with a bright red and green face, and just about everything that comes out of his mouth afterward . . . ]

This is Buvuh, Bavush— Bavan, it's grood to meet you, I-I'm— I meant, great— I mean, Shoyo! My name's shoyo.

[ he was a short little guy— now he just looks smaller. ]

[pinkeverything]

[She tilts her head slightly, watching him stutter. He reminds her a little of Ken. Which reminds her.]

You wouldn't happen to have seen my friend, Ken? He was with me on the way to the real world, but he must've wandered off on the way. He might be looking for me? Or the beach?

[jumpie]

I—! I love beach!! Th-The beach—!

[ when he grows up, his life too, becomes just beach. despite all his stuttering and flustering, he’s returning to function, somewhat. his ears and tail move like and interacting horse would! ]

I can help you look, ma’am! What’s Mister Ken look like?

[pinkeverything]

[She grins. He is kinda like Ken. But also like a horse? She's been around horses, sorta. She's trying not to question that bit yet. One thing at a time.]

Well. He's blonde and tall. I'm not sure if he changed outfits between where we got lost and here. He's probably talking about the beach. Or me. I woke up in the woods so I don't know if he was also there, but I didn't see him.

aaaa Barbie!!! just take me home

[albuquerque]

[ The honk and screeching swerve of tires pierces like a gunshot fired right into Jesse's nerves. Lost in the confusing swarm of the city, he stops in his tracks and whirls around, startled. Eyes wide, he watches a blonde woman running across the street in his direction with the same outward display of bewildered terror that he's been screaming internally with for the last several hours. If he wasn't screaming internally with said bewildered terror, his immediate thought would be something along the lines of, Holy shiiiiiit, yo, what a smokin' hot babe, and then would immediately switch his on his Fuckboy Flirt™ boyish charm and try his luck.

Lucky for her, Jesse is screaming internally too much right now for that.

He does, however, find her bewildered terror to be the first normal and relatable reaction he's seen from anything or anybody in this place so far. She is one of the first normal — and definitely the least freakish — people he's seen so far in this place. ]

Hey, uh— Yo! Hey, yo!

[ Jesse shoots up a waving hand to get her attention. He's hard to miss with the clothes he's wearing; he stands out like a sore thumb: a young, weedy-looking guy, all skinny limbs and nervous vigilance, ballooned by his obnoxiously loud clothes that droop off his scrawny frame, and his bright red beanie that's shoved lopsided on his head. He begins to slalom his way through the bustle of freaks and weirdos clogging up the short distance between him and her. ]

[pinkeverything]

[Barbie is busy being gripped with terror when she begins to hear someone yelling. It takes her a moment to realize it's at her. She whips her head in the direction of the sound, terrified that it's going to be another one of those people from the woods. But the man making his way toward her doesn't look like them. Importantly, he seems as alarmed as she is. She raises up a shaking hand in greeting.]

Uh. Y-yo!

ib

[alexandercityborn]

[He doesn't know this stranger, but there sure are some of the local scum tracking towards the little scream, and it's an instant choice for him to put himself between them and her, catching up to her on his hooves as quickly as they'll carry him. He dips to put a hand on her shoulder, leaning in, insistently keeping her moving forward.]

So. What we're going to do... Is very calmly keep walking, and use the woods to keep some distance between us and them. They ain't gonna do anything to you, alright? I won't let 'em.

[The big minotaur glances back over her shoulder, staring at the group still coming towards them.]

You hurt? Think you could run if we need to?

[pinkeverything]

[Barbie stiffens when the hand clamps down on her shoulder. She looks up shakily, even as she walks with him, and is surprised to see a much younger boy than she expected. He's really tall.]

[When asked about injuries, she looks down. The hem of her dress is torn slightly, and there are scratches and bruises on her legs. She tries to ignore that for now—one breakdown at a time please Barbie.]

I think I can run... why are those people coming after me??

[alexandercityborn]

[He doesn't follow her glance down, but instead checks behind them, before pulling Barbie to one side, starting them both on a more zigzag path, to make it as hard for them to follow as possible.]

If it's just scrapes - we can sort that out pretty fast. We'll get you cleaned up and things heal quick here.

[There's still the sounds of someone following, and Aaron grimaces.]

There's... Tension here, between people brought here from outside, like me or you, and the people from here. I promise you ain't done anything wrong or to cause it. But they're... Real angry. With all of us.

[pinkeverything]

[She goes where Aaron steers her, but she's starting to get more anxious the longer she can hear people following them. Her lip trembles.]

But why are they so mad at us? I was just trying to fix things... [Her voice wavers. Weird Barbie never mentioned people wanting to attack her.]

This is the real world, right?

[alexandercityborn]

[Oh, god. He's not built for crying strangers. The mere threat of it is enough to make his ears pin back along his skull.]

I promise - whatever you're trying to fix, it weren't meant to be here. This is a... Wrong turn. What's wrong with them is something I ain't really sure can be fixed.

["They're mad because we eat them" is not a conversation to have with an aready upset and terrified lady in the woods.]

That's... I ain't sure how to answer that, if I'm honest. This is real, but it ain't what I'd call "real world" either. It ain't home.

[pinkeverything]

A wrong turn? [she's quiet for a moment, before mumbling softly.] I told Ken I was afraid we'd taken a wrong turn somewhere between the rocket and the RV...

How do I go home?

[Barbie looks up at him, teary eyed.] How do I get back to where I came from? I d-dont think I have my rollerblades this time.

II

[composalvation]

[Kanade's not... really good at dealing with new people. It takes a bit of courage for her to approach strangers, especially when she's alone. But her anxiety doesn't make her heartless; when she spots Barbie stumbling in the street, looking so lost an helpless... she can't just do nothing. So she approaches slowly, like she's trying not to frighten a spooked animal, and quickly reaches up to tuck her long, drooped ears into her raised hood. She can't make herself look human, not with her grey skin, but... she can lessen the impact a little.]

Hey... it's okay. I can help.

[Her voice is soft, but clear enough that Barbie can hear her well enough. Blue eyes peek out from under her hood, and she tries to give her what she hopes is a somewhat reassuring smile.]

Um... I think there's a cafe nearby, if you want to get somewhere warm and not as loud...

[pinkeverything]

[Barbie certainly looks like a wild animal, as frightened as she is. When she sees the girl approaching her though, she tries her best to look like she's fine. It's mostly just a shaky smile.]

Oh, uh. A cafe sounds nice, yeah...

[Mostly it was that somewhere warm sounded nice. She had never been this cold in her life.]

Thank you.

[composalvation]

[Kanade doesn't need to be as perceptive as she usually is to tell that smile is fake. Maybe it's because she's spent so much time with Mafuyu, seeing how easily she can shift between her true self and the mask of the good, perfect high school girl that she wears around everyone but Niigo, but the way Barbie tries to force that smile... it makes her heart hurt, honestly.

Kanade's always been one who does her best to help others. So she can't just leave someone to flounder like this.]

It's okay. I - I woke up in a really bad place when I first got here, so... I want to do my best to help. [Waking up in a morgue sucked!] Um... I think I have enough money for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, if that can help too...?

[pinkeverything]

You just woke up here too?

[She seems relieved, a little. She glances back in there direction she came from with a grimace.]

There were people out in the woods. They chased me.

[She shivers a bit and shakes her head.]

A hot chocolate might be nice, thank you... I'm Barbie, by the way.

[composalvation]

Ah, no... I've been here for about two months now.

[Those long ears droop even lower, giving off the rather sad look of a guilty puppy. She feels like she's breaking some terrible news just from that alone...]

When I first woke up here, I was in a shelf in a morgue. So whatever you went through... I think I understand. So I want to be like those people that helped me...

II. Just Take Me Home

[bugbeverage]

<sub>[Today, Beetlejuice is (mostly) minding his won business standing at a crosswalk with a powdered donut in one hand and a newspaper in his two other hands. Mama Fog has blessed him with the ability to sprout them at will and will he does!]

[When Barbie blusters onto the scene he lowers his paper a little and peeks at her over the edge with his yellow eyes.]</sub>

Oh-ho!

_{[He brushes powdered sugar out of his mustache.]}

Who do we have here?

[pinkeverything]

[Barbie almost doesn't realize that he's talking to her when she hears him. She turns her head, briefly more surprised than she is scared. The extra arms are not helping her nerves though– she's finding it hard to keep her eyes from flicking down to them.]

Um. Hi? I'm Barbie.

[bugbeverage]

[ The minotaur's bushy eyebrows spring up when Barbie introduces herself. Now he knows how Artemis feels! ]

Ho' wow! Didn't think I'd be meeting a celebrity today! Tell me--how are things with Ken? Are they serious? Could they be less serious? I'm very available.

[pinkeverything]

[She seems a little relieved that he knows who she is. At least, briefly. Her smile becomes a little more forced at the questions.]

Oh! Uh, thanks I think. Ken is fine.

[She doesn't actually know where he is right now. But it's just Ken. He's fine.]

Well Ken is my boyfriend. But mostly he's a boy who's also my friend. I don't think I'm really available though? I kinda have to fix a whole in the universe so...

[bugbeverage]

[ Ah, so it is serious. He snaps his fingers. Shoot! Ah, well, if you never shoot your shot you won't hit anything. He changes lanes and leers at her while he delivers some truths. ]

Looks like you're going to be the first Barbie with Flesh-Eating Action, huh? You should be excited!