Test Drive Meme 3.

[awashmods]

Mary, Mary, quite contrary How does your garden grow? With silver bells, And cockle shells, And pretty maids all in a row.

Prompt 1: t's probably been at least a little while since you managed to climb out of the well, so hopefully you've dried off by now and are enjoying poking around the Town. But who cares about all of that? More importantly, the Town has a new feature this time, for reasons entirely unknown to everyone. The flowers...seem to be talking. They have no faces, but they will definitely turn to talk to you, and if they have had their color restored, they will very brightly and contentedly compliment you, or your clothing, or wish you well. If they haven't? Prepare yourself for all sorts of horrible, horrible insults, because that's all that's coming your way. Prompt 2: ow are you settling in? Is the Town treating you well? It's not as bad as it used to be; some of the houses have color, some of the food has color and taste as well. It's been polished up a bit since everyone first got here. Granted, when you wake up that morning to find yourself in full fancy wear of many different types (all colorless, and gender has nothing to do with which you might end up in), you'll find that the Town might not be as well put together as it seems. You can't get out of the formal wear. It just won't come off, no matter what you do. Which wouldn't be so bad, but... it seems like these clothes will snag on just about everything in the Town, which is far from smooth. Try not to trip over those loose cobblestones, or your dress snagging on a nail sticking out from a door frame. This is really not the place for this sort of clothing. Prompt 3: e loves me, he loves me not... that's a pretty familiar game, right? For some reason, the urge to pick one of those flowers and casually pluck the petals from it while playing that game is going to grow stronger and stronger the more flowers you see. Eventually? You're just going to have to cave to it. (Certainly it doesn't help that the flowers scream a bit when you pull their petals; they still can talk right now, after all!) She loves you, she loves you not...and by the time you've picked the last petal, you've forgotten who you were even thinking of originally -- instead, the very next person you see is going to be the victim of a very impassioned declaration of love. Don't worry, you'll come back to yourself...after you declare your undying love for everyone to hear. Prompt 4: ut no matter how many people tell you not to go into the forest, however, it's still rather enticing, isn't it? It's sitting right there, waiting for you to explore it, waiting for you to just step a little bit out of the Town... And soon, you're surrounded by the dark boughs of the trees, the twisty, turny paths of the woods, where it feels like you're wandering in circles for hours upon hours -- And then, after ages of tree branches yanking at your hair and roots tripping you up, you find a clearing. And in that clearing? There's a field of flowers. They're colorless -- strangely eerie because of it, but still distinctly recognizable to the flower familiar as Asphodel. And touching any single one of those flowers will suddenly give you vivid memories of one of your precious friends -- so long as they're dead. Anyone around you is going to experience that flash of memory too, so be careful! 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 third 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! An important date to remember is September 1st, 9 PM EST, when Applications will open. There will be no reserves for this app round or any future app rounds, so it will be first come, first served applications. 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. You are of course welcome to use prompts from the previous two test drives. Thank you for your interest in Awash!

Comments

[athorn]

It's rude to ask a lady that question, you know. But . . . if you're that curious, maybe I should stay here until you can guess it right.

[ 💢 ]

[oceanthief]

[boop. Jotaro's finger collides softly with her chest, staying exactly where one would expect it to when they go around poking anything. although the mystification is written all over her face as she looks down at the offending digit, she makes no attempt to brush it away or otherwise retaliate.

humans were super weird, after all, and it's not like it really mattered if he was tapping at her or not in the grand scheme of things. oh, but maybe her suggestion had confused him..?]

No, this is my chest.

[it's like she;s correcting a toddler, although her voice remains completely sincere. there's not a hint of mockery anywhere, from her words to her posture.]

[bittybat]

Being able to at least put a name to a face is a business to get into. [Nico gets a glance over the shoulder, but otherwise, Damian continues picking the way through the center of town.] There's, at most, eighty people here. Usually it's less. Some people wander into the forest and never come back.

More people come from the well periodically.

[He can't be much older than thirteen. The way he talks, however, is strangely articulate and... old. Very weird.] A board for everything. [Along the way, they pass by more flower. The colored ones sing praises for them. Being cute. Being strong. Trying their best. Happy to meet them.

The monochrome ones scattered here and there, however, still give them the worst. No one really likes you; they only talk to you to be nice. Your father must be disappointed having you as a son.

You think you can help others, but you just hurt them in the end. His fists turn mottled red from how hard he squeezes them at his sides.

The Board is a wooden community board in the center of town. It hasn't been outfitted with glasses, but there's a small roof on top. Several papers have already been placed, including a map labeled Chroma. Damian stops nearby and lets Nico have at it.] If you need information, you can find it here.

i

[awamori]

[This town just continues to surprise him. Ryuu never thought he would hear flowers insulting him or well anyone as they walked by. He's not too bothered by them cause well they're flowers and being in the entertainment industry helps out too. However, when he sees the young man quivering before them he makes a beeline over to him and leans down enough with his hand stretched out.]

Hey, why don't we move away from them? I don't know what's gotten into the flowers, but your hair is fine.

[He never imagined he would be glaring at a flower, yet here he is.]

[foxslittlehelper]

Oh, that looks unfortunate too. Is it supposed to make a torso look like that.

"It is a fashion that didn't survive.... for obvious reasons." Kogitsunemaru lifts his arms, showing that there's ... about twelve distinct, bright colors going on on those sleeves. "Mikazuki doesn't even wear this many, but still cannot dress himself in the morning. He shouldn't get an award."

... Sort of said like he's the roommate, and has to help.

Slowly picking his way closer. "... That hardly looks any better."

i'm sure the gems are used to a little friction

[overlayed]

[ They blink.

Well, that's fine. There was something else Ghost wanted to ask, anyway. ]

Are you upset because you're missing your powder? [ It's the main reason Ghost had been staring, admittedly. ]

[fistofthejoestar]

You can hardly blame them for that. It isn't as if they can pop around the block and take suggestions.

[is that a little too close to teasing? he thinks it might be, or at least close enough to cause his shoulders to shake briefly in silent amusement at his own stupid joke. you know, because flowers were rooted in place?


yeah, it's time for another subject of conversation.]

I'm afraid I couldn't really say for sure why they're acting this way, but some of it seems to be native to this place as a whole.

[the plants were hardly the only ones lacking color, after all.]

[usedlick]

[That was quite efficient. Connor is a bit impressed, but he doesn't have much time to think about it.

>Check for damage to clothing.

He does so, looking down at himself, and then the cape in turn. His eyelids flicker a bit as he does so, his visual sensors running a quick scan on the fabric.

After a moment, he looks back up and nods.]

It's undamaged. Thank you.

[spiria]

She doesn't know anymore than you do, bro.

"He doesn't dress himself? How does he get dressed, then?" In a moment of absolute derp, she forgot that there existed people of exquisite wealth who had servants who did everything for them, including wiping their bum.

As he brings attention to her own wardrobe, she looks back down at herself with a sigh.

"It's not, but ... It's not like I can do anything about it right now."

[athorn]

[Oh, dear. She's got him latched onto the wrong thing.]

Ah, it's fine if you haven't heard of it. The truth is, I don't know much about it myself. That's why I asked.

[Rosetta shrugs her shoulders, her attention still fixed on the flowers. They linger in her mind even as she turns around to give Ryan the once-over.]

But ghosts, you say! What sort of work have you done with them?

[trepidate]

Watch your step next time.

[ They feel sort of bad about not.. helping him off the ground but, gems don't touch other gems and all that. It's not really their first instinct. Phos will pat some dust off of your clothes though, maybe? ]

Uh, if you know how to make these pajamas [ GESTURES TO DRESS? ] less heavy, that would be helpful. I can hardly move in them, but it's impossible to take them off, too.

it'll help polish their future relationship, at any rate

[oceanthief]

[she tilts her head to the side, about as baffled by the statement as Ghost apparently was over her missing...whatever.]

I'm not missing anything. [aside from a purpose to continue existing, but HAHAHAHA] But I guess I'm kind of upset about being pulled around again.

[it was the cosmic whims of the universe instead of Homeworld's dictations this time, sure, but it had still been done without any consultation as to what Lapis herself wanted. just because she was used to it didn't mean she had to be any happier about being in this world than on earth.]

[satanslash]

[Half right. It's what they're wearing for the moment because they have no other choice.

Rin is a tiny bit jealous that this guy got a cool cape and way less layers, but everything seems to be an inconvenience for the residents right now regardless of weight and fabric mass.

He shuffles closer to get a look at the caught cape, reaching out to give it a light tug.]

Huh, it ain't even closed. That's weird.

[There's a sigh, scratching at his hair with a scowl.]

What is the point of all this anyway... So, uh, I think the only way you're gonna get it out is to pull hard.

Not All Moon People

[fineprinted]

Well, gems are usually smaller? At least back in my world. And they don't talk at all.

[ natsume would have been the more appropriate person to talk to about jewelry since he uses them for his fortunetelling work, yet ghost is stuck with yet another bibliophile who hasn't touched upon the subject in great detail.

what luck. ]

I'm just a mere human being, so... [ vague hand gestures ] What kind of gem are you, then?

[satanslash]

[Such nerd.

He gets it, though. He wasn't the best off either when he first arrived, having just come from a very upsetting moment with his twin brother. It's been months since and he's recovered... mostly.

The whole siren island thing did set him back a bit.]

Yeah, no, this is not what I'd normally be wearin' at all. This is like... historical shit from where I'm from.

[He lifts up his arms, the loose sleeves hanging from his arms.]

I'unno how samurai were expected to do anythin' in this shit, let alone fight.

[fistofthejoestar]

Ah, I'm glad. You'd think I'd have grown out of my clumsiness, but it seems to pop up at the worst times.

[like...trying to enter a door too small for him, or when handling other people's expensive wardrobes. but the universe has decided to be kind to him this time, and Jonathan is happy that he was able to help without unintentionally making things worse.

tilting his head to the side slightly, he can't help but indulge his curiosity a little. it's a rude thing to ask about so directly, but it comes from a kind place and so he feels that it's acceptable to bend the rules of courtesy just a bit.]

Is this your first time wearing an outfit like this?

[foxslittlehelper]

"Not with any speed, no." Its hard to tell, under all that cloth, but Kogitsunemaru is slowly shuffling forward.

.... Although. "Once we are able to be free of these." An annoyed flap of sleeves, "do you think they might stay?" ... He is eyeing your armor a little, whoever you are.

4

[umbraportation]

[ Sasuke will find himself staring down a kid who can't be more than fifteen years old who'd seen the scene play out, his dark eyes watching the man's reaction. That's all it takes to verify his suspicions of these particular flowers. Nico knows what they are. There's a whole field named after them in his father's realm and some grow in his stepmother's garden.

He doesn't even seem all that surprised to know that these particular flowers show images. Images of the dead. Part of him wants to touch them - to see his sister and mother again. For all of his abilities over the deceased, they are two people Nico can't see anymore. ]

Some people could go mad here. Trying to see the people they've lost. [ As tempting as it is, Nico pulls his coat tight around him as if warding off an invisible chill. ] We should probably try to burn it.

[spiria]

Tell me about it ... I don't even know how anyone lives in this thing. I would have no chance of defending myself if I had to.

[ She tries to lift her arms above her head to mirror him, but .... well. Starchy outfit with broad shoulders and a corset. She doesn't make it very far. ]

... Really? I can't even do that?

[ She drops her arms back to her sides and pouts. ]

It's pretty, at least.

[fineprinted]

[ his knight in shining armor may be a to--cute girl with a pair of scissors, but tsumugi will take what he can get. still, he's a little worried, and that snapped him out of his verge of tears for even a fleeting moment. ]

Ah, please don't harm them! They're still beautiful flowers despite being like that!

[ the flowers are ruthless despite himari's threat as they now turn to her, jeering "Who would ever use 'Hey, hey, ho!' as a cheer anyway?". oh. ]

[regrede]

Hah! That won’t do at all.

[ sierra may not seem especially passionate, but there’s still an implanted love burning in her chest that she doesn’t feel like questioning. she smiles, her fangs flashing. ]

I can’t make you listen, but I can strongly recommend it, little boy.

[darkearth]

[Mildly startled, he glances at Jonathan as if he expects the same sort of cruelty. The flowers were so nice... well, the colored ones. This is too much emotional whiplash.]

Maybe they aren't wrong. [His eyes return to the flowers as the offenders receive the proverbial and literal boot.] I never meant to hurt anyone, especially my friends.

I wanted to help them, but I listened to someone I shouldn't have.

[satanslash]

"Man, your guess is as good as mine. This place likes changin' the rules whenever it fuckin' sees fit."

He's been here long enough to know how things work, in that they don't ever work the same from month to month. Pain in the ass town...

He finally catches on, though, that the question has nothing to do with the layered mess.

"... what're you lookin' at me like that for?"

Should he be afraid?

sign my 'save the endangered moon people' petition

[overlayed]

A....human? [ For once, Ghost is kind of scrambling. So far they'd only met Phos and the little o- Cairngorm in this new world, and hadn't really assumed anyone else was here. They...didn't really get to talk about the circumstances all that much, after all. It's a lot.

They decide to focus on what they can answer. ] ...Ghost Quartz. I'm Ghost Quartz. [ Okay, now they can focus on all the things they don't get. ]

Could I ask you the same? [ As in, what are you? ]

[foxslittlehelper]

...... Well, Mikazuki has other things to wear, but-

"Complain." It's time to drag him. Look, Kogitsunemaru is a bit annoyed at him still??

"Tugging at hems does little more than pull from where its snagged for you as well, then." So much for asking if she can figure out if there's anything tying him in...