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

jion haru | oc

[organfarm]

[ Jion's very friendly, so please feel free to assume previous CR with anyone! Or shoot me a ping me through PMs or at databomb if you'd like to work something out, I'd love to chat! ]

i.

Oh, come on! [ It's not far from the well that Jion can be found crouched down low, arguing with a particularly prickly petunia. ] I mean, you're not wrong in calling me a meatbag, technically speaking, but that's still mean -- and like, you're a flower, aren't you supposed to be nice?

[ He's still damp from the well water, too. In fact, there's a faint path of half-dried drips and drops marking the path where he's stumbled here from the well and then gotten distracted by a mean, monochrome cluster of flowers. Which says something about his present mindset. The flower's busily calling him a nasty, smelly, worthless waste of oxygen, and Jion buries his head in his hands, giving a loud sigh. He mostly mumbles the next bit to himself, but it's still pretty audible. ]

I can't believe I gotta get yelled at even in my dreams ... and by flowers, flowers are always nice in movies, I feel so betrayed ...

ii. ( this prompt might delve into some gross medical talk! )

-- hey! [ Thump thump thump go panicked footsteps, followed by the arrhythmic stumble of booted feet against the uneven pavement, and a low scuffle as Jion quickly recovers, then runs up to the closest person. It's followed by a grab at an arm or a shoulder, anything he can grab and give a small panicked shake. ] Hey -- sorry to grab you, but -- d'you know how to get this stuff off?

[ He's dressed in what looks to be extremely fancy military ceremonial garb, complete with a feathered cap and a long, velvet mantle adorned with golden medallions and emblems. He looks ridiculous, in other words.

But Jion looks like he's worried about more than just the clothes as he clutches at the front of his ceremonial jacket, brow furrowed uneasily and breaths coming a little rough. ] These buttons won't come undone no matter what I do, and I really gotta get it off ...

iii.

[ It's not often that he spaces out this hard, but Jion's thoughts are millions of miles away as he picks petals off a flower, one at a time. Loves me, loves me not, loves me, loves me not ...

And the instant that last petal falls off, he strides over to the nearest person and stands right before them. ] S-sorry! [ It comes out a little loud from nerves, and his face is red. He takes a deep breath, like he's about to give a speech, then drops to one knee. It's very television, very right-from-a-Lifetime-movie when he places one hand to his chest, the other reaching out dramatically (still holding that petal-less flower) towards his poor victim (?) as he declares: ]

-- but -- I need to say it! I love you!

[ At least he's incredibly straightforward about this. ]

i!

[averagemedium]

I mean, I'm pretty sure flowers are used for all sorts of purposes in stories like that? So it sort of follows that they wouldn't all necessarily have good personalities...

[Speaking of their personalities, one of the flowers is now demanding to know who made it the beanpole's business anyway, and he huffs out a little sigh.]

Maybe, ah- maybe they're better off left alone?

[organfarm]

You think so? [ He's still absently rubbing his hands over his face, and his words come out a little muffled. ] I guess sometimes flowers are bad omens, but you only ever see talking flowers in kids' stuff and fairytales, and they're almost always nice and helpful because they've been blessed by the fairy queen or something, you know? So this feels a bit like the first time you learn Santa isn't real ...

[ It's only after that rather embarrassing schpiel that Jion realizes he's saying it out loud. And to a stranger, no less. Those talking flowers were so weird that they really threw him off his rhythm, and he quickly pops to his feet, face a little red as he turns properly towards Ryan. ] -- I mean! Uh, you're right. You're probably right. I guess it's kinda silly arguing with flowers, huh.

[ Unfortunately, his incredibly awkward laugh is kinda drowned out by the sound of a flower shrieking obscenities at his back. ]

[averagemedium]

The flowers kind of started it? So I don't know, it seems reasonable enough to me.

[That gets a little grin from him; talking flowers are probably not the weirdest thing there is, he's rolling with this whole situation pretty well, actually.]

And it sounds a lot like the fairytales I know, actually. Some of those get surprisingly dark, if you're not already used to them...

[That's dangerously close to the start of a tangent, one only stopped by the background insults of the flowers. Ryan glances back to them briefly, there.]

-anyway! I don't think there are any over there?

[organfarm]

Yeah, I guess it'd be best not to waste too much time here, huh. [ Jion glances at the flowers again, but grimaces and looks away when they keep calling him a worm and a useless lout. ] I mean, I kinda knew that sitting here wasn't gonna accomplish anything, but everything here's so weird, and I kinda ... needed to distract myself for a bit to calm down, you know?

[ That long, rambly schpiel peters off into an awkward laugh as he rubs at the scar across his nose. ]

So uh, thanks for distracting me from that, I guess.

[averagemedium]

It's a lot easier to just focus on one thing instead of getting overwhelmed, huh... maybe I should've tried that.

[Instead he's been checking out everything he could and practically dizzying himself with how much there is to take in, ignoring more practical things... priorities!]

But if you still need some kind of distraction, it sounds like we're both pretty new, right? I-- probably can't make things any less weird, but maybe it'd help to not go alone.

[organfarm]

Yeah, I'd appreciate that a lot!

[ He responds before the last word even leaves Ryan's lips. At least he looks a little embarrassed by how eager he must have sounded, and Jion clears his throat before continuing, trying to sound calmer. ]

I mean ... yeah, I just ended up here not long ago, and I gotta admit I really don't know what's going on here. I wanted to think it was just some dream, but I'm starting to get the feeling that's not the case, so. It'd be great having some company for ... whatever this is.

In any case, you seem more put together than me, so.

iii.

[messianic]

[Minato has been spared the flower curse as of yet, though it's not going to take him long to experience it, probably--for now, though, he's taken very, very off-guard as he's strolling along in his usual ridiculous town schedule, and...

Well.

It's pretty much the most picture perfect dramatic love confession, and what can Minato really do but tilt his head, expression contemplative, and offer up:]

I... think you're pretty great too...? [Probably.]

Did you trip? [And fall into a perfect proposal pose? Minato, please.]

[organfarm]

[ It's precisely after the last word left his mouth that Jion finds himself snapping to his senses, and his face rapidly flushes red. But he can't just take it back. That'd be like the world's worst prank, it'd be so rude. So here he is, still frozen in that proposal pose, flower stem held out like a bouquet of roses, and when he thinks Minato's giving him an easy out, he takes it without hesitation. ]

Yes. [ Pause. ] I ... tripped.

[ Wow. That's somehow even worse, but now that he's said it, he has to commit. ]

I, uh. Hit my knee on the way down. That's why I'm still like this. Don't mind me.

[messianic]

... Right.

[This is getting worse and worse, but they are both committed now, so there is no going back. They have to ride this out to the very end.]

And you were using the flower for... balance. [CLEARLY.] I think I can see now what happened.

[can you really]

[organfarm]

[ Oh no no no don't actually keep this goin -- nope too late, they're doing this. Jion grimaces slightly when Minato mentions the flower, only now realizing how mortifying this would have been if it had been even the slightest bit real. ]

Uh, yeah. Sorta. Just threw it out there to try and catch myself, you know? [ At least now he has an excuse to toss it aside, as if to say 'fat lot of good.' ] Guess it didn't work that great though. So, uh, lesson learned.

[ He takes the chance to try and stand up, but it turns out he did plunk down on his knee a little too hard in his moment or ardor -- it suddenly hurts a little when he tries to straighten his leg, and he ends up toppling over with a muffle 'oof.'

He's having a great day. ]

[messianic]

[Oh. Oh no. The rolling with it and joking is a bit less important as soon as Jion flops over just like that. Oh!! No!!

Minato hurries over to his side properly, then, crouching next to him with a frown.]

Hey--are you okay? Did you really hurt your knee? ["Really"... yeah, he was definitely just bullshitting that whole time.]

iii

[tropism]

[ giorno looks at the kneeling man, raising an eyebrow at him. ]

I'm flattered. But I want to see an offering. A check for a few thousand would be nice - I'll also accept a well-stocked pantry in a large mansion - and you can skip the ring.

[organfarm]

[ Oh. This is bad. This is so bad. He's not sure what the hell compelled him to make that grand confession when he's never even confessed to liking anyone before, and Jion has no idea how to handle this situation.

So thanks Giorno for saying something ridiculous enough to snap him out of his mortified shock. His voice comes out a little squeaky from embarrassment. ]

-- an offering, what are you, a king?! [ Jion takes the chance to scramble to his feet, tossing that flower stalk aside to pretend he wasn't just holding it out like the world's saddest bouquet. ] And what kind of psycho doesn't want a ring for a -- a relationship! I thought that was one of the most important things! [ At least that's what he knows from movies. ]

[tropism]

Well, a ring doesn't impress me! But someone being a good provider .... that's what everybody goes crazy for.

[ at least all the girls who like him are like that. whatever. giorno just folds his arms over his chest. he sounds absolutely serious, but he's teasing. ] In return I promise to love you. Isn't that how it goes? And then I'll have a tantrum if you can't, because I'll feel betrayed and abandoned, etcetera, etcetera.

iii

[ditherer]

[well. that sure is something.

...

sorry, jion, but have a kid reaching up to pat you on the head now.]

You know, we do have doctors and healers around here. If you've been feeling unwell lately...

[organfarm]

[ His mind snaps to clarity pretty much the instant that last word left his mouth, which leaves Jion with a few long moments to bask in the humiliation of what the hell did I just do. His face has flushed bright red by the time Ghandarva's done staring at him, and he's visibly struggling to find his voice -- looking all the mortified at that patronizing pat to the head.

At least that airy comment gives him something to respond to, and he immediately blurts out without thinking, ]

-- it's okay, I'm a medic, too!

[ ... on second thought, that really doesn't help his case, does it. ]

[ditherer]

[... no. no, it does not. nice try, though.]

Oh? Then what's your verdict, doctor?

[organfarm]

I mean, I mostly do trauma care, not ... whatever that was.

[ Jion takes the chance to make an attempt at subtly getting to his feet, awkwardly clearing his throat. ]

But that was the flower talking, I'm pretty sure. I ended up picking one, and my thoughts just went fuzzy, and I ended up blurting that out. And uh, no offense, I'm sure you're great, but -- I didn't mean what I said, okay?

[ditherer]

No offence taken. It's rather difficult to deal with random love confessions from people.

i.

[finalize]

[ ... yikes. it doesn't sound like anyone's spared from flowery abuse, aigis included... not that she needs the confirmation of that fact to help someone suffering under a constant barrage of insults.

they're all in this together, after all. all victims to flowery bullies.

so she approaches quietly! trying her best to look somewhat reassuring. as reassuring as a weirdo robot-looking girl can, anyway. ]

Perhaps they wanted to act differently than the stereotypes presented in the media... In order to prove themselves as individuals. [ this is only half bs. now onto the main point of that bs, which is: ] ... That is why you shouldn't take those words to heart.

[ maybe she's really considering that a legitimate explanation. it's hard to tell. ]

[organfarm]

[ Jion's still dragging his hands over his face and giving a long, low groan in distress, and he's only half paying attention to Aegis' words at first. ]

Yeah, I guess I'd be kinda annoyed too if I was constantly being stereotyped one way or another. But you know, being annoyed is one thing, but deciding you're just gonna spend your whole day being a jerk towards strangers is kinda another th -- woah!

[ His mumbles cut off with a shocked yelp the moment he turns to properly look at Aegis though, his balance crumbling in his shock and dumping him onto his ass on the ground. Because -- what on earth is she? Whatever it is, she looks so cool!

Jion stares unsubtly for a moment, but at least he seems to realize afterwards that that was pretty rude. ]

-- sorry! Sorry, I guess I was staring. You, uh, caught me off-guard.

[finalize]

[ if the staring and the ass-planting made her uncomfortable, she doesn't really show it.

she's used to it. and really, after the heaps of insults thrown in her direction, a little bit of awkward staring isn't the worst thing in the world. her smile stays as is, changing only the slightest into... something somewhat bittersweet?

even with the somewhat exaggerated reaction.... well, she understands-- ]

That's okay. I should be the one apologizing for surprising you... I know the flowers are easy to get lost in, so I should have been louder--

[ yeah! not going to mention weird robot stuff unless he does!

she outstretches a hand to him to take, so he can stop being a puddle on the ground. ]

Are you hurt?

[ like, physically. not emotionally. ]

[organfarm]

Yeah, yeah I'm fine. You don't have anything to apologize for! [ He sheepishly accepts the hand and hauls himself to his feet, slapping the dirt off his clothes. ] My commanders always told me I gotta stop overacting so much when I'm surprised, that I'm gonna get in trouble some day because of it, but it's so hard to fix, you know?

[ Jion hesitates the next moment, looking like he's trying really hard to do the polite thing and not point out Aigis' robot-ness ... but he lasts for all of ten seconds before blurting out, ]

-- hey, can I ask what you are? [ It's not meant rudely, his expression purely curious. And he hurries to add, ] I mean, you don't need to tell me if you don't want to, or if you're not supposed to. But I've never seen anyone like you before.

[finalize]

[ well! at least he's friendly... though the "commander" bit gets her to pause, as it's... rather unique information, that. so, he was military? though he didn't really seem the type...

though she should be familiar with people not really being what they seem. especially considering what she is.

she hesitates on the question for only a moment. and then-- ]

I am a transfer student.

[ said very simply, like it's an inside joke... which it is. that lighthearted smile of hers turns into something more pensive almost immediately, however, as she really considers whether or not that info is really... something she should disclose.

(not that she doesn't already make it obvious??) ]

... And other things. [ obviously! ] I do not mind explaining... but may I ask my own questions, as well? It would not hurt to get to know each other.