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

[tranchant]

I'm sure you'll get an opportunity next time, but that's extremely suspicious.

[ Quatre doesn't instantly think that maybe it's because Yuel is a pretty fox girl. It must be some force that took a hold on him? There's no other way? Especially based on the look of fear and shame as they darted off. Though he's somewhat curious, he isn't too interested to look into it.

The flowers keep chanting, however. Spring is in the air (no, it isn't). Nearby, they can hear shrill screaming, something similar to the calls for help sounding off before Nigel confessed to Yuel. ]

This place is so rowdy. [ He sighs... ] Should we go check it out?

[goldenwords]

Oh, come now, Nico. A girl's got to have some secrets.

[That's a yes, though - and she nods. Using too much magic is a surefire way to wind up exhausted. It's not something she wants just anyone to know, but a friend of Percy's is probably fine to tell.]

There are ways of making it easier. Magical artifacts, tools, and so on and so forth. Is it the same for you with your gifts from your father?

[umbraportation]

That was nice of her.

[ It may take him a minute to place the name but he knows who the goddess is, at least. Nico also figures there's a great story behind it but they can save that for later.

When she clearly hesitates, he watches her carefully. And then she calls it home and that's something Nico can understand. ]

Looks like you've found a place to be in this new world. [ For him it's only been seventy years but for Calypso, the world's changed a lot. Finding a place to call home is a good thing. So no, he doesn't hold it against her at all. ]

When things settle down, we'll have to come visit. Get a tour of the Waystation.

[umbraportation]

If it's necessary.

[ He's definitely in agreement with that statement. Not sure the world wants to unleash that side of Nico with those spoilers. ]

I'm no gardener or child of Demeter but I should be able to keep a few flowers alive. We can build a planter and stick them in my window, this way others don't come across them by accident. [ Nico nods when she offers to help him water them. ]

[toughchoices]

It should be easy, in theory. Give it some sunlight and water and it should be fine, right?

[It's lucky they're here and not in their own world, or else Demeter might take this as an excuse to smite them with cereal and other assorted grains.]

[umbraportation]

Just curious if we'll have to drag your unconscious body away from danger if you use too much magic.

[ With knowing nothing about Egyptian magic or magician, it seems important to find out now rather than when she passes out in front of a monster. He nods, not sure what sort of magical artifacts or tools she might have with her. ]

Some are more draining than others, traveling by shadows is usually the worst. That has its limits before it starts taking a serious toll.

[ As he's sworn not to turn anyone else into ghosts and banish them to the Underworld, Nico doesn't mention that particular ability. ]

[goldenwords]

[Sadie raises a brow at that.]

Traveling through shadows? [Sounds like traveling through the duat to her - or maybe just one of the surface layers of it.] How does that work, exactly? You just pop into the shadow of a tree in a park somewhere and nip on over to the shadow of a tree somewhere else?

[umbraportation]

From what I hear, people don't tend to stay dead around here so it hardly seems to matter either way.

[ Probably not a good thing to mention to a potential murderer but he's used to living dangerously. Nico would have been pissed whether Lawless succeeded or not and come after the guy responsible with all the vengenace a child of Hades could. ]

I'm not like most humans.

[ He doesn't demand it. If he really wanted to know, Nico would just... push the guy into the sunlight and see for himself what he's talking about. When they reach the benches, he doesn't sit. ]

Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? [ It's the first thing that pops into his mind as it's the only connection he can make to the two films that were released when he was young. He remembers the title on movie theater signs. ] Nico.

[umbraportation]

Should be fine. The strawberry fields at camp seem to take a little more care but that's also a large outdoor field.

[ Or turn them into plants... again in Nico's case. That's something he'd like to avoid. So long as he doesn't get too upset, he won't kill them with his aura like he has other plants. ]

I'm sure someone around here knows how to take care of flowers. If we ask over the computers, we might learn more.

[umbraportation]

Pretty much. I usually make my destination unless something pulls me off-course or I end up overshooting.

[ Those volcano gods are nasty bastards sometimes. Maybe someday he'll take Sadie along so she can experience shadow-travel for herself and compare it to traveling through the duat. ]

The more people I take along, the less distance I can travel.

[fistofthejoestar]

[he really shouldn't be getting any closer to the thing still hanging tight to his shirt collar, but that's exactly what Jonathan does when he takes hold of the bottom of the wallet to inspect the photograph more closely.]

I've never seen either of these people in my life.

[but there was something familiar about the man, even though he'd never encountered even his likeness before now. something about the curve of his cheekbones and the way his eyes sparkled with liveliness, even when trapped within a photograph...for some reason it reminded him of his father.

looking away from the picture, his gaze catches Jotaro's once more.]

Who are they?

[parodeity]

I've been here a while. [ nearly half a year, he thinks - knows, really, because dave knows time like the back of his hand. he manages to get the lace untangled and then pulls rose to her feet by her hands. her eyes don't look white, but then neither do his. ] What's the last thing you remember?

[wearys]

[ sadie, no one can pull of that look. the ability to pull off a look correlates to the physical squareness of the skirt. ]

Tell that to pre-revolution France. I think you'd fit right in. Is it bad I hope your name is something like Madeleine-Charlotte Chantel-Elise or something?

[osteotome]

...

[ Waiting, waiting... ]

Please let me help, I have sharp eyesight.

[ Get it? Without any fear of the pointy bit of metal, he gently sets his hands over Tsumugi's ]

[abrasivegrit]

[This is an awful lot of discussion about a subject that has next to nothing to do with combat, and thus Bortz sees no reason to keep their focus from wandering instead towards the floral carnage littered around their shoes. They kick a bit of it away--then look up sharply at that request.]

What? [they snap,] Why should I? [Lifting their chin, they scowl down their nose at Rutile and fold their arms across their chest.] Waste your time with your irritating screaming flowers all you want, but why should I let you drag me into it?

[windeity]

Don't antagonize the flowers, Rose. [But he grins and he shakes his head.] You're a brand new explorer by yourself. We've been here for a while. Like. Months, actually. You're kind of late.

[stripedown]

[ Ah. Stepping out into the woods into actual sunlight without the thickness of the trees suffusing it makes her blink rapidly, before the sense of relief returns with a rush.

They made it out okay-- and maybe Damian was just being paranoid, but it feels more like they made it out precisely because he'd been looking out for her.

With a careful squeeze, as though to let him know she's okay now, Kisa additionally lowers her head and bows slightly. She can even muster a smile.

Thank you, Damian! ]

[stripedown]

[ ?!

Kisa jerks back a little, more surprised than scared, her eyes wide as she stares at the syllables just... hanging there in the air. It's not the kanji of her name, but it's familiar enough and...

How had that happened? Did that have to do with her tongue?

A little belatedly, she nods. ]

[promissum]

It depends on the person.

Still, I can't fault you for that optimism, lad. It's quite refreshing.

[thisucks]

Exactly like that! [Lawless falls into a genuine bout of laughter before he quietens down, a fond smile still on his face.] But also like Jekylland and Hyde~ Half of my current owner's last name is Jekylland and he ever so kindly decided that we should match. At first I thought it's a bit silly but by now I've really grown into it. I like being Hyde!

[So he wants to be it as long as he can. Not to mention that even Lawless himself can admit that it fits him, with his constant state of straddling the thin line between being remarkably sane and insanity and the way he and Licht seem to be complimenting opposite ends of each other with so many things.]

Nico then. It's nice to meet you, young man~! Won't you sit with an old haunt like me? I keep feeling like I'm going to go crazy if I've got nothing to do, so I'm trying to restore this place to the inn it once was. You'd do me a favor telling me if my woodscraftmanship has been enough to make these desks and benches good to use!

[He's also bored and chatty and a sullen boy like Nico is an ideal victim by his standards.]

[thisucks]

[What can he say? He's greedy for attention among other things all the time!]

It'd have made pulling me free so much easier though! On the other hand- [He stretches and then makes himself comfortable on top of his big bro like the little pest he is] -I'd be drenches in lion spit if you had, and so were you now~ so it's a good thing you didn't!

[Humming happily to himself Lawless plays with some of Kuro's hair and the fur of his hood he can reach.]

How have you been doing, anyway? holding up okay without your Eve chasing you down to do stuff?

[He's teasing, alright? It's not like he's worried about his big bro or anything!]

[byang]

[ Well work faster, geeze.

Which is what Shinya thinks up until he sees the purple house and then he just... decides to say nothing. That's... something, alright. ]

No one I recognized. There was a girl who wanted me to get back in the well. [ Tone still casual, he adds: ] And there was a man who can't talk that told me a few things.

[thisucks]

Prince Durian! Pleased to meet you!

[He laughs and implies a bow from where he is still sitting.]

Usually I don't do the cape and hat fashion anymore. Did I break your brain?

[neetvampire]

Stop that.

[One of Kuro's coat tails comes up to thwack lightly at Lawless when he starts playing with his hair, the ragged black tips twitching in annoyance like a real tail. You don't get to pet him while you squish him, that's not fair. He's feline enough to enjoy pets but not like this. The indignity.

.....But in all honesty, mention of Mahiru was a sore spot right now.]

I managed hundreds of years without anyone. It's a pain, but I've just gone back to old routines. People fall all over themselves to feed an adorable stray cat... though I do miss his meals.

[His cooking, but mostly his company. Lawless can probably read between the lines: He misses his eve, but the sky will fall before Kuro admits how much.

There's an irony that the one Servamp who resisted taking an eve for so long was so firmly attached, now. But he wasn't the only one who got attached.]

What about you?

[trepidate]

One of those "woof woof" thi -- a dog. Yeah!

[ Phos nods, glad for the mutual understanding. So dogs are another ancient animal, if this human knows about them.. Good to know, even if completely irrelevant to what they're doing right now. ]

Generate it..? No I can't, it's just attached to me. I didn't always have it. They're replacements for my old arms, actually. [ As flattering as it is, Phos gives an awkward laugh as they move the dog-puddle forward; the alloy should be cold to the touch, but with a weird amount of give for a metal. ]

I'm a liiittle out of the ordinary for gems, with how flashy I've become..! [ ha ha, moving on. ] But- can humans not replace their arms with anything? Do they grow back...?!