Test Drive Meme 2.

[awashmods]

These are the mem’ries that last. These are the mem’ries that will never pass. And time waits for no one. It’s gone in a flash. And only the mem’ries will last.

Prompt 1: he forest looms, uninviting and full of menace, an unwelcoming place for sure. Time to go explore! It isn't as though there's anywhere else to go, now that you've looked around the Town. The trees whack at you with branches that have far too much mobility for normal trees, strange and mutated animals watch from the shadows and boughs, and there’s the constant, constant sense of being watched -- But eventually, nonetheless, you’ll come across a small house in the forest. It sticks out like a sore thumb, bright and colorful, which is probably the first warning that something is way off, and it’s...covered in candy. It’s a candy house! It looks delicious. (It’s empty, too, not a single soul in it, without even furniture, but everything is otherwise edible and utterly delicious.) But if you eat the candy? You’re going to have a terrible, overwhelming urge to do one of two things: Fight the first person you see Kiss the first person you see Unfortunate. Prompt 2: he problem with a Town like this is that now that color is starting to return, bit by bit? You never really know when color’s going to come back -- or disappear. Maybe you’ve made a delightful, delicious sandwich from handmade bread and tomatoes and deer meat, all of which have color now… and then suddenly, when taking a bite, you get only the taste of ash and bread and tomato as the deer meat loses color. Also, someone probably died for that color to fade away. Alarming! Or maybe you’re walking along when suddenly your makeshift clothing is a hideous mix-match of colors; it had seemed fine when it was all grey and colorless! Or perhaps, even worse, you’re walking out of a house when suddenly, the flowerbed in front of it has full color, bright and maybe a little blinding after so much monochrome. Damn those color mechanics. Prompt 3: he quest seems simple, on the Quest Post: Quest 33: Feed the Cockatrice. Requirements: 2 of any color Key word, of course, is seems. First, you have to find the cockatrice. Maybe grab someone to drag into the woods with you, since there needs to be at least two of you. Time to stomp through the woods in search of the elusive cockatrice. Of course, once you find it, the quest...looks a bit harder. The monster hisses, ready to turn anyone who approaches to stone, as cockatrice tend to do. What do you even feed that thing? How will you get it to take it without getting stoned up? There are so many questions. At least the stone will wear off...eventually… if you’re unlucky enough to get petrified. Prompt 4: ut hey, you did it! You fed the cockatrice, it seemed satisfied, and now you can go fetch your reward from your home. It must be something amazing, with the work that you put in. The only change in your home, though, is what looks like a...picture book. It's got a colorful cover (in your character's color shade), and has their name on the cover, so it definitely belongs to them. And when they flip it open, it's clearly full of pictures scribbled in, as if drawn in scribbly crayon. Unlike the rest of the Town, this book is fully colorful, every shade of the rainbow in those crayon strokes... which depict, page by page, your character's worst moments in their life. Every single last horrific experience or tragic moment -- it's all there, in colorful, cute children's drawings. Congratulations! Extra: Got something in mind? Want to play with the setting more? The sky's the limit, so feel free and make up your own prompts to play with! Welcome to Awash's second Test Drive Meme! Please check out the FAQ and rules as you test your characters out. The setting is yours to play with, so be creative and have a good time with it! Important dates to remember are May 1st, 9 PM EST, when Reserves will open, and May 7th, 9 PM EST when Applications will open. Keep an eye out for it! As a side note, TDM threads are not canon, so please feel free to assume established CR for the sake of the TDM if it will make threading or showing off your character's voice easier. If you have any questions about the TDM, feel free to ask us here. If there are any other questions, you can catch us via PM, the FAQ or the contact page. Thank you for your interest in Awash!

Comments

[conferring]

Mm... I am quite sure it will be fine...!

[Fairy land creatures are kind, so no problems here??]

And you seem incredibly capable as well.

[scooptimistic]

That you are! But I'm bad at admiring from a distance.

[ she has no sharp objects, but she can tug things off and kick things in just fine. ]

connor | detroit: become human | ota

[cyberlife]

1▸ I SAW IT DIFFERENT, I MUST ADMIT

(connecting. sync in progress. sync done. collecting data. processing data— 100%.

graham cracker walls? chiclet shingles? sugar-coated gumdrop decor? vanilla frosting baseboards? the most appalling focal point in the house is the wallpaper made from what appears to be layers of fruit roll-ups. warnings for high-fructose corn syrup content flash angrily at him in the corner of his vision.

connor frowns.

not only is candy an impractical material to be used in the construction of a family home, susceptible to gooey cave-ins in summer and a notable lack of more insulating marshmallows for winter, but it’s straight-up disgusting. it looks disgusting, it smells disgusting, and there’s no force on god’s green earth that can make him taste any of it.)

Is this a Hansel and Gretel reference? I didn’t realize we’d be investigating fairy tales, that changes my opinion on the matter. Is there—…

(a glance over, one eye narrowing judgementally. he’s looking at you, buddy.)

I would strongly advise against eating that. Candy may not have an obvious expiration date, but you do. You should take your health into careful consideration.

3▸ I CAUGHT A GLIMPSE, I'M GOING AFTER IT

It’s a bit big, isn’t it?

(stares at the mission statement and its parameters, before raising his eyes from the nettled underbrush he’s crouching in to the blessed unaware cockatrice preening a wing.

all of the obvious risks aside, it’s a creature he’s never seen before and he seems pretty amped about the fact that he might get to feed this thing. it hasn’t even noticed them yet, which connor attributes to the fact that he’s uniquely light on his feet and virtually odourless compared to anything else lurking in these woods. now it’s high time to decide on how best to approach this.

elbow on a knee that’s firmly planted in moss, connor shifts to address his partner. that’s you.)

I’m going to attempt a distraction. If we watch it closely enough, we may learn something helpful. Ability limitations, its area of effect… any detail could be important.

(after a quick scan of the terrain, he’s plucking a short segment of branch from the twigs and rumpled leaves, taking an unnecessary few seconds to weigh it in his palm. before lobbing it well over the head of the cockatrice that’s currently preoccupied cleaning a wing. the result is obviously a petrified stick, connor recording the whole affair with a troubled look on his face. it reared its ugly head and froze that thing the second it hit the ground.

ignores the mission’s rate of success steadily dropping, presenting his conclusion with a gesture to the beast beyond their bush.)

…

I’m sure the situation is under control. Now that the cockatrice has been alerted to our presence, our window of opportunity may have closed some, but if we approach together calmly— (stop him right there.)

▸ NETWORK ID: #2953BC

Hello, my name is Connor.
I have a question unrelated to the age of this laptop and its operating system, though it’s highly likely to come up in later conversation.
Has anyone explored the harbour beyond the boathouses that float out there?
I intend to, so if you’re interested in joining me you can meet me by the docks.
There may be a small amount of manual labour involved in patching the holes of this old dinghy, but by my approximations we should be out on the water in under an hour.
See you there.

1

[extrapolating]

[ Elizabeth is wandering around the room in mild wonder as she takes in the sight. Funnily enough, she's think a little similarly to Connor, since logically, this shouldn't be possible to be strong enough to be a house, but... She also realizes at this point that logic doesn't always apply to the town. Sometimes it's easier to just accept the oddities as they are. ]

I think it is. [ A Hansel and Gretel reference, that is. ] A lot of things here are based on fairy tales and myths, it seems like.

[ She leans closer to a rocking chair where the "wicker" is made of Red Vines, at which point Conner scolds her lightly. She steps back and turns to him with a small, wry smile. ]

Did I look like I was going to? I'm not in the habit of eating strange food. [ she's not booker who plucks things out of garbage cans ok ]

[cyberlife]

A little, (admittedly, though now he's giving her an apologetic look for underestimating her common sense,) sorry, Elizabeth.

(joins her in examining the chair, closing the distance in order to push it into motion. alright, so this is fast becoming one of the strangest things he's seen and he's seen some things that raised that bar pretty damn high. sighs, a bit confounded.)

If I'd known that before winding up at the bottom of a well, I would've brushed up on my children's stories. While they aren't exactly what I was programmed to know, I'm fortunate to be familiar with at least some of the classics.

(there's a point of his finger in no specific direction, brow creasing as he considers the scene.)

There's a witch in that tale, right? And a trail of breadcrumbs?

i dont even have all my icons up yet ( 3 )

[lightbears]

Please wait.

[ accompanied by the way her arm juts out, to form a barrier between any advancement he may make on the cockatrice. they are downwind of the beast, a woven basket full of wriggling, collected fish worn over her shoulders - for that, she is thankful. it was a clever idea, hatched between the two of them, as there was a likelihood that the cockatrice was carnivorous. by its aggression, shown towards an innocent stick, they're entirely correct. ]

If we must approach it, the swifter of us should lead the way...

[ she touches the blue material of the champion's sash, worn around her body ]

And blindfold it. However, I do not wish for either of us to approach it without first thinking of another way. The danger is very great.

MY FISH CRUSH

[cyberlife]

(his chest bumps her arm and mechanical limbs lock him into an unnaturally abrupt stop, LED cycling yellow. she's slight, but she doesn't need strength to stop him: he acquiesces to her quite readily on his own. in turning back towards her, though, intent to hear her out, connor checks on their basket — it's weathering those fish well enough, as they suspected it might — before his eyes settle back on her.

using the sash is a far better plan than a frontal approach on the beast would be, which he's honest enough to admit was his first idea.)

It's safer for me to rush the cockatrice, Mipha; I'm fast enough.

(lets his knee wedge back into the nettles, unbothered when they prick at his pants and the irritate the artificial skin beneath it.)

I don't know what effect the petrification might have on you, but I've never needed to breathe. If it happens to catch me, I'll be fine waiting its magic out.

YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND

[lightbears]

[ at least he's not lunging into the fray like a hound. she isn't aware if her healing would work on a man built from parts, the way a guardian was. quietly, she slips the basket from her shoulders and sets it to one side of them, away from the nettles that might tear into the delicate weave. her skin is hardy enough that she hardly feels a prick, as she takes a knee next to him and peers through the brush. ]

I don't much like the idea of you coming to harm.

[ it's in her nature. think smarter, not harder! ]

Perhaps there is a way to leave the fish where it may find them, without giving away our position? Are you able to see how we could? You have much better eyes than I.

3 welp

[fuckinandroids]

Hell no! [It's hissed in the android's direction because he really doesn't want to alert that thing to their presence any more than it already is but also are you fucking kidding right now Connor???] That thing just turned that stick to stone! [ Unfortunately, deep down Hank also knows that Connor is 100% not kidding, so his hand shoots out from where he's crouched, grabbing onto the android's elbow and making to yank him back down next to where Hank himself is kneeling in the dirt] What do you think it's gonna do to you, huh?

[cyberlife]

(the pull at his elbow disturbs his balance and before he can account for the shift in equilibrium, he's sent off-kilter. and there he sits, awkwardly akimbo in the grass, confused, before pulling himself back up into a kneel. to avoid staining his pants anymore than he already has, of course.

pats them off, offering hank an apologetic look.)

Sorry, Lieutenant. They said the petrification wouldn't be anything permanent, but I understand if you'd rather discuss alternatives.

(hooking his chin with his fingers in deep consideration, finally involving his partner in the dangerous side of their fiasco of a field trip. at least they've had a grand old time so far, according to connor, camping out and "roughing it" which consists of connor doing something unconventional and getting crabbed at by a grumpy lieutenant. he even built his first fire and tried to combine two sets of supplies into a multi-tent headquarters instead of individual tents where only one would see any use.

well, he got yelled at for that too. good times are being had by all.)

...

I have another idea, but you can go first if you'd like to share yours.

[cyberlife]

(normally he'd think to be concerned about the nettles on her behalf, but — having taken an initial scan of her when she spooked him the first time they met — the fine scales that cover her are hardy and belie a great durability. so they huddle together and consider.)

I'll check, (she's acknowledged with a bob of his head before he turns away to process the data picked up from a lengthier study of the beast and its immediate surroundings.

three points of interest that give them three routes: one, the safest route, denser underbrush acting as ample cover they can crawl through, bringing them within a hair's breadth of where the cockatrice in grey still-frame currently pecks at the ground; two, dicey but ultimately worth it, using the thick trunks of trees edging into the clearing to lunge out at an appropriate time with the basket; three, high risk with high reward, a deep stream crossing in front of the cockatrice that would disguise footfalls but require a preliminary distraction to draw its gaze.

silently, connor gestures out the choices for her, quietly explaining his findings until he's come to his own conclusion.) —It's risky, but I believe dampening your steps with the water and using the breeze to carry the fish odour back to the cockatrice would be our best bet. The presence of the fish should naturally draw its attention away from me.

(slowly peers over the bush for a moment, before ducking back down to rasp the rest.)

You can retreat quickly downstream if it senses anything amiss and I'll remain hidden until it gets preoccupied with its meal.

[fuckinandroids]

[Hank, on other hand, would definitely not describe this trip insofar as "a grand old time." In fact, he'd describe it as just the opposite, and probably with far more colorful language. It hasn't helped that there isn't any alcohol that he's been able to locate, so dealing with the withdrawal symptoms of that made the first week and a half here a literal hell. Turns out going cold turkey after years of severe alcoholism is not the best way to go about being sober. Not that Hank had a choice in the matter. But he really doesn't want to think about that at the moment, considering they've got even bigger fish to fry. Or, rather, to feed to some creepy creature that turns things to stone.

Sure.]

Just because it isn't permanent doesn't mean you should run right into it! [Connor's put up with a lot of Hank yelling at him lately and if that weren't their modus operandi, he might've felt worse about it (because to be honest, it was a little much, even from him.) However he's fairly certain Connor's recklessness warrants it sometimes.

This is one of those times.

At least Hank's trying to modulate his yelling to more of a whispered volume, though the scowl on his face speaks volumes]

Your idea better be leaning towards neither of us approaching the damn thing, calmly or not!

[cyberlife]

(thoroughly chastised...........

he couldn't begin to understand how stressful their time here has been for hank and while he's worried for him, well, he can't help but harbour the secret opinion that this is for his own good. connor can withstand any amount of his friend's berating if it has a positive impact on his health down the line, because losing him to a lifestyle they can change would be his life's greatest misery.

so he's been optimistic, trying to balance out hank's inner turmoil.

sometimes, though, he experiences slips in composure. making the wrong decisions is something that's been happening more frequently after his turn to deviancy, a lot going on in his head that wasn't there before. with his eyes downcast, he takes time to rationalize the whole situation out in his head. this will be something they look back on and laugh about, a memory that ages well over time. surely. it has been a grand old time, he reassures himself, it just doesn't seem like one at the moment;.they're doing well for themselves and this cockatrice is nothing compared to what they've been through already.

connor shifts lower behind the nettle bushes with a reach out to fuss at some trying to harass the lieutenant's elbow.)

I made a mistake. (stresses it with surrendering hands to make it very clear, wanting to appeal to him:) I won't make it again. We won't go near it, okay?

Leaving the fish out for the cockatrice to find on its own would be a simple and safe solution... instead of trying to force anything. I don't know if the mission parameters require us to hand-feed it, but I'm willing to risk the reward to avoid a mishap that could put us in danger.

We'll just push it out into the clearing, trek back to the tent, pack everything, and go back to town.

[extrapolating]

It's fine.

[ She at least accepts the apology easily, since it's... Well. She might be slightly annoyed by the assumption, but it's nothing worth dwelling on. And especially not in the face of the candy house they're in. Her posture shifts to thoughtful, and she nods. ]

To be fair, I don't think anyone wouldn't have expected that. I'm used to... strange things, and I wouldn't have imagined it either.

[ ...There it is again, though. "Programmed." She's so curious between some of the ways he talks and the light on his temple, but she's not sure how to fully broach the subject. It also seems like it would be a distraction from what they're doing now. ]

But I read a lot of fairytales growing up, so yes, you're right. Not that I saw a trail of breadcrumbs here, but maybe the birds ate those like in the story. [ She shrugs, since that's mostly a joke. It doesn't matter too much. Instead, she looks around to see where a kitchen might be. ] But there were cages the witch kept children in too.

[fuckinandroids]

[Hank blinks, a bit startled as Connor admits he made a mistake. That's....different. He frowns, then, a crease appearing between his brows. True, Connor's always been leap first, look later, but the whole placating hands is enough to give him pause. They did come out here for a reason, and at the end of the day, Hank would rather leave with the mission completed. He just...okay, sure, they put themselves in danger on a daily basis before, but it feels different here. He's not sure why. Not that he ever liked seeing Connor get hurt at home, but...there's no CyberLife here. No patch up if Connor gets hurt. Not to mention the lack of technology. The limited number of bullets.

The thought turns his stomach, making him glance away, squeezing his eyes shut and dropping his head to pinch at the bridge of his nose. Connor's more than capable. Hank knows that. But hell if he doesn't still feel hesitant.

He huffs out a sigh after a moment, dropping his hand.]

Maybe we can...I dunno. [he waves the same hand slightly, acquiescing a bit despite himself] Find a way to lure it closer so it notices the fish or something while we back off. [he shrugs a shoulder, a bit helplessly. It's not a great plan, and he knows it, but it's....something like a compromise? Somewhere in between???? He's trying, ok.] Just so it can make up its own mind, I guess, and we know that the mission's complete.

[he glances sidelong at the fish they've brought: one blue, from Connor, and one red, from Hank, matching the colors they've been somehow assigned.]

Mikleo | Tales of Zestiria

[resoluteseraph]

one

[Looming and unwelcoming places have never put Mikleo off before. In more recent times, he's actually been exploring all sorts of strange areas. So when he hears that sometimes things show up in the forest he has to go investigate. With any luck he'll come across ruins and have the chance to see what this world has to offer - it has its own unique history and Mikleo is starting from scratch. He has no problems battling trees that try to impede his progress, using both his staff and water artes to chop limbs that come within range.

What the seraph finds in the forest isn't any sort of ruins, in fact, it's a structure like he's never seen before. It's a house made out of candy and instantly he's suspicious. They may have found a few oddities in treasure chests on their journey but a whole building just screams trap.

Unfortunately he isn't at the house alone - though being a seraph brings about a unique set of visibility issues. Still, when Mikleo spots someone intending to eat a piece of the house he can't stop himself from calling out.]

Stop! Don't eat it! [Whether they can actually hear him or not, he also shoots a stream of water - aiming at the treat to knock it out of their hand. Good thing he's an excellent shot.]

two

username - #33acb7

This device is extremely interesting. It allows me to communicate with others that I might not have been able to before. My interactions with humans are typically limited by the fact that most can't see or hear me. However, I have heard that not everyone here is human or might be unique.

Which leads me to a request, I'm curious in knowing just how many have the capability of seeing me. Attempting to do the quests with an invisible, silent partner can a hardship so I'd like to find out just how many people can see me or at least hear me.

I can be found at the library all day today, either you'll see me or you'll see a floating book.

Mikleo

three

[Even though he might be invisible to many, Mikleo still absolutely intends to do these quests. Mostly to see what comes of it and because he has plenty of time on his hands. So he's found another over the network and tagged along with them. The computers are a good way for the seraph to communicate with others no matter the situation so he doesn't have to rely on Sorey to speak for him a lot of the time.

This time he's come along on a quest to defeat the Jorogumo as their resident Bluo member even if he's a silent or invisible partner. Though here's hoping that they have at least the ability to hear him or this might be a short quest. He has said over the network that he would be there even if others couldn't see him.]

A snake woman... it certainly sounds more like a hellion than a demon.

2; RIP your eyes, Meebo

[tendershepherd]

User: #FFFF4D

Mikleo!!! You're here!!! These devices are cool, aren't they? They're called laptops. Apparently they're really portable despite their size.

Hold on, I'll meet up with you at the library.

[Later, at the library, Sorey practically threw the door open, finding Mikleo quickly and bounding over with a big grin pretty much glued to his face.]

Found you!

the brightest of yellows, god

[resoluteseraph]

[He might have gone blind trying to read that font. How will he read now? Guess Sorey will just have to do it for him.

For the sake of his eyesight, Mikleo doesn't write back and just waits for his friend to appear. When Sorey arrives at the library it's like he brought the sun with him. Of course he has a book in hand but looks up at the interruption with faint amusement.]

I did say I'd be here so it can't have been too hard. The library isn't all that big to get lost in.

[Still, Mikleo understands the other teen's enthusiasm.]

the brightest yellow for the sunshine boy, of course

[tendershepherd]

Well, no, but still!! I'm just...surprised and happy you're here, is all.

[His smile turns bashful but is no less bright.]

Can't blame me.

[He gently bumps shoulders with the smaller boy, totally invading his personal space. Like usual. Trying to get a look at the book.]

What're you reading?

[resoluteseraph]

Are you certain you're not just happy because now you can show me how much you've learned about this place before me?

[It's partially teasing because Mikleo knows that isn't the only reason. He heard how Sorey's been here for months without anyone else from their world. Honestly, the thought of being separated for any length of time twists his stomach into knots because he knows their next one won't just a few months. When Sorey slumbers it will likely be for much, much longer.

A nod of his head, a more serious tone.] We've been together ever since Gramps took us in.

[Mikleo sways just a bit from the bump but comes back to press his shoulder against Sorey's. Doesn't complain about the space invading at all, turns his gaze to the book.]

Either an extremely strange history book from another world or a collection of made up stories. Hard to say after learning about the people in this town.

[tendershepherd]

Hmm.... [It hadn't actually crossed his mind, but now that it's mentioned...] Maybe a little. Had to get ahead of you in something! [Other than, you know, height.]

[The other's shift to a serious tone doesn't go unnoticed and it makes Sorey mirror it a bit in the way his expression changes, humming affirmatively at the statement.] Yeah, we have, haven't we? I'm really glad you're here, Mikleo. I mean it.

[Mikleo's weight against his shoulder in turn has him smiling softly.]

Hmm, lemme see...oh! This is a fairytale collection. Almost all the books are like that, actually.

[resoluteseraph]

Don't expect to be ahead for too long because I'll catch up quick. Before you know it, you'll be the one who's behind. [One day he's gonna be taller than Sorey too. You'll see.

Mikleo isn't sure which is harder - being without each other on purpose or accident. That is one thing that he would be glad to not compete in. For now they should just enjoy this extra time they're getting together. His voice becomes lighter.] Someone has to make sure you don't get into too much trouble and that's an area where I have a great deal of experience.

[He leans into Sorey a little more firmly.]

One world's fairytale could always be another world's history, you know.

In which I bring up a time honored Tales tradition

[tendershepherd]

Yes, yes, whatever makes you sleep at night Touchy Feelio.

[He didn't want to compete in that either, so he fully intends on enjoying every minute he can of this extra time.

Without much thought, he decides to wrap one arm around the smaller boy's waist, humming thoughtfully at the statement.]

That's true. We had stories like that back home, didn't we? Like the one set in Aselia. That could've been another world's history too.

no Tales game would be complete without it

[resoluteseraph]

[While isn't so bad being called names like that by Sorey, Mikleo does bristle just a bit. Huffs.] Oh, don't you start. Edna's been a bad influence with those ridiculous names.

[Their time here will end and they'll go back to finish what they need to eventually but they don't have to sit around and dwell on it.

He jumps a little at the contact -- half-expecting the other to tickle, the other half just not expecting it at all. But Mikleo doesn't protest or try to pull away. It's nice and it would be amusing if someone walked in and couldn't see the seraph.]

This place proves that there are other worlds out there - probably more than we could ever imagine.

1

[sacredblaze]

[All of Lailah's long years of experience and common sense tell her that the building is either A: Very Dangerous or B: Very Special. It's possible the thing is some kind of shrine that may help. Or it could be a trap - like a color sponge, sucking pigment from anyone foolish enough to investigate. But even if that's the case it's a colorful trap and that means flavor, right??

For several long (by human standards) minutes she stands near the house, hands clasped in front as caution and longing wage a silent war in her heart. She really shouldn't be so careless. But... one bite shouldn't hurt. Just a little taste to remind her what flavor is...!

Alas, it's not to be. For just as she plucks off a rainbow striped candy cane, a familiar voice reaches her ears and water sends the treat into the wild, colorless yonder. Whirling on the heartless perpetrator with a look of utter dismay, Lailah lets out a moan.]

Mikleoooo...! That was uncalled for!