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! |
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[Idly, she wonders if she'd get the same urge if she used magic to pluck the flowers instead, but given that the only person around is Nico, she'd probably wind up confessing her feelings about the other two corners of the weirdest love triangle in existence to him, and frankly, she doesn't really want to do that.
Mainly because if he climbed out of the well hours before she did, that means someone else might have, too. Or. Two someones. And she doesn't think she'll live it down if they happened to wander by just as it happened.
Better to avoid it entirely.
Still--]
Really? But if you know why they're doing it, you can deal with the problem at its source and get them to stop doing it for good if you give them a more compelling reason not to.
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[ While it would be awkward having someone confess their love to him, the fact that Sadie is a girl is one reason Nico would brush it off. Not to mention he has experienced it for himself so he knows she wouldn't mean it.
Missing someone by a few hours is probably the least of her problems because as far as Nico knows, some have been here for months already. Not to mention he's heard others have disappeared too.
Whoever she's looking for may have already come and gone.
A sigh. ]
Somehow I doubt any compelling reason I could give a god would end well for me. [ Nico knows better than to mess with gods. ] If it's a flower problem then they'll die eventually and the problem will solve itself. There are more important things to worry about than some insulting and cursed plants.
hilariously, gmail gave me the notif for the edit before the notif for the tag itself
[That's sarcasm, probably.
Anyway, if picking the flowers is out and burning the flowers is out, and tracking down whoever's responsible for them is also out, that means ... well, Sadie isn't really sure what that means. They should ignore the flowers, but... then what?]
So then, Nico... you've been out of the well a few hours longer than me, so you must have some idea as to what those more important things are, yeah?
haha, weird but it happens
[ Sarcasm or not, he'll remember it.
They could try chopping them down. Nico may not have a sickle to cut down those pesky plants but he does have his sword. If those flowers are actually living beasts, he should be able to kill them down the root with a single swing. Or he could just radiate death and make them wither. ]
Other than the fact that we're stuck in some crazy alternate world? I hear the forest is pretty dangerous to wander through. Full of monsters and the trees are more vicious than their flower companions here. I've heard that not even staying in the town is safe as monsters can kidnap people. Or the fact that any food that lacks color taste like ash.
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Oh, you won't have to. If he shows up here, I'll find him and say hello myself.
[It'll be bad, so let's hope there are no Leos on the horizon. She leans back on her heels and considers what he's saying, then shrugs.]
Monsters of the kidnappy variety, an environment that apparently wants to kill us or drive us mad, and weird, color-coded nonsense. Sadly, that sounds par for the course for what I'm used to dealing with. [She sighs, her breath coming out in a puff.] The only truly odd thing is the whole alternate world situation, and even that isn't as bizarre as it could be, all things considered. But there are bound to be plenty of mor- others for whom this is all incredibly strange, so I guess I should be trying to figure things out here so I can help them out. [She's thinking aloud, mainly; after a moment she looks back to Nico and cants her head to the side.] What are you going to do?
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Try not to burn down the town if he does show up. I'm not sure most people want to try their hand at camping.
[ Hey, Nico only said he wouldn't be the one responsible for introducing them - not that the two would never meet. For the most part, this is all just another day as a demigod. Except for the fact that he's never had food that tasted like ash but he knows it's possible. ]
Guess you'll feel right at home here then. You aren't alone in this being a pretty regular day either. [ Talking about himself, of course. He shifts and leans back against the wall of the nearest house. If he notices the odd almost-slip of words, there's no real indication on his face. ] I figured I'd explore. Get my bearings and check out the town before trying to find some way of helping.
I hear they have a garden here and I have some experience taking care of strawberry plants so maybe I'll work there. [ Save the shadow-travel exploration for the evening when he could talk someone into going with him or borrow Mrs. O'Leary from Percy. ]
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[...hm. Taking care of plants is kind of a mundane suggestion for someone who's implying that all this weirdness is something he's more or less used to, but maybe he means he has experience growing demon strawberries or some such thing.]
So you've got a green thumb, have you? I wouldn't have guessed that. [...that sounds kind of rude, but she doesn't mean for it to. Oh well.] Me, I'm right good at blowing things up, but I haven't got the patience for things like that. My brother, though - if you meet a drab, kind of boring bloke named Carter, he's read books on just about everything. He could probably help you out there.
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[ It was either helping out with the garden or in whatever these people might consider an infirmary and since Will isn't here, garden it is. Not to mention that he doesn't know if there is a full-time infirmary or just some slapped-together thing when bad things occur. ]
I wouldn't say I have a green thumb. [ He tends to kill plants if he's in a bad mood of some kind. ] My stepmother has a garden at my dad's place and her mom is a plant fanatic too. The camp I attend has strawberry fields we help take care of when we're there. [ A shrug. Nico can't exactly say that he's going to try and leave via shadow-travel or try to contact someone outside via dreams. One of his eyebrows raise curiously. ] Do I dare ask what you're blowing up? I know some people like your brother, though none of them seem to be here.
There was mention of a defense force that patrols the town's boundary if you're any good at fighting but I don't think they take new arrivals right away.
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[Sadie gestures vaguely in the direction of the rest of the town. Being here for any length of time likely builds a certain amount of character in and of itself, but they're just two of the gods only know how many new arrivals. There are bound to be plenty of people who could use some toughening up.
She's distracted by that train of thought by what he says, though. Strawberry fields at... Camp? She gives Nico a long look, as if she might be able to spot an orange shirt or a beased necklace under all his dark and brooding clothing if she looks hard enough, then narrows her eyes.
It could be a coincidence. In fact it probably is, and if she isn't it would most likely be more prudent not to ask, but Carter was always the prudent one, not her.
So.]
Hang on. This is going to sound absolutely mad, but I have to ask - does a bloke named Percy attend your camp?
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[ If she hadn't noticed, Nico is not exactly a ball of sunshine out to befriend any and everyone around. Left alone he may just turn into the brooding, emo loner wolf of the group despite his efforts to try and make a few friends. He might be trying to not push people away but it's harder without Will there to encourage him or drag him into situations Nico normally wouldn't go for.
Sorry but this is one camper who wears neither the blazing orange shirt or the beads veteran individuals collect from Camp Half-Blood. Orange is not his color and Nico has yet to actually stay a whole summer at Camp. Most of his clothing is black from head-to-toe except for the small splashes of white.
While Sadie is giving him the critical once-over, he stares back at her with an near unblinking stare and a expression that says "what are you looking at?" in the rude sort of way. Though the words don't get voiced aloud. ]
Percy Jackson? Teen guy with dark hair who lives in New York? [ And wields a Celestial Bronze sword that both magical returns to him and turns into a pen - more words he doesn't say because it'll be weird if they aren't talking about the same person. ]
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That's the one. [So they have a friend in common, and if he's a camper, then... that would make Nico a demigod, wouldn't it? Or something to that effect. Logically she knows she shouldn't ask too many questions because she's already experienced firsthand how dangerous mixing Greek and Egyptian magic can be.
Not-so-logically, though, she's curious.]
So, your godly parent - is it your mum or your dad?
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If she knows that much than perhaps she's a camper too. Whether that's at Camp Half-Blood or Camp Jupiter is the question but he can't place her despite having spent time at both. Mortals don't drop questions like that, after all. ]
Dad. Also known as Hades. [ God of the Underworld. ] Or Pluto if you're more familiar with the Roman gods. [ Though there's a difference between the distinction. ]
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It's probably just a death thing.]
I'm not exactly familiar with either, but props to you for the explanation anyway. [aaaand she launches right into more questions.] What's the Greek Underworld like? And don't say "just like the myths," because I haven't read them.
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So she doesn't know either which is weird. Nico knows that other gods and what-not exist but he's never crossed paths with any yet. ]
Most dead are ferried across the River Styx by Charon, they're judged by old Kings and Emperors at the pavilion. A large three-headed dog guards the entrance - Cerberus. After judgment souls can go one of three places. Elysium is for those who have proven worthy, the Fields of Asphodel for those who refuse to be judged or are neither good or bad and then the Fields of Punishment is where the sinners go. Elysium is kind of like... quiet, peaceful suburbs - sort of like paradise. Asphodel is just empty fields with souls drifting after having their memories erased in River Lethe. And Punishment is sort of like how you'd picture hell to be - fire, brimstone and Furies as a replacement for demons.
[ It's a busy place and there's still more. ]
There's also the Isles of the Blest which is a place for people who have been reborn and achieved Elysium in three lives. Dad's palace is kind of like a dead version of Mount Olympus - done in darker colors and all that except for Persephone's garden. He has his own forges to make weapons at.
[ A long pause and Nico shudders. ]
Then there's the deepest, darkest part of the Underworld - Tartarus. It's where monsters are sent when they're slain and going there isn't an experience I'd recommend.
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(The fact that she's forcing herself not to interrupt is noticeable, though; she literally bites her tongue to keep quiet. In fact, she even has to put a hand over her mouth for good measure when he mentions Cerberus - something's clicked for her, there.)
It's only once he finishes his explanation that she speaks up again. Now she's sort of mumbling to herself.]
Layers... Well, that would make sense. I wonder how far down in the duat Tartarus would be... Oh, but - you've been there yourself, have you? [She noticed his shudder before; it'd be sort of hard to miss.] I won't make you go into it, though I am curious-- bah! Now I sound like Carter. [She makes a face.] That won't do.
...how much do you know about the other pantheons, Nico?
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For the most part Nico doesn't mind answering questions about the Underworld but no. Not that. ]
I'd rather not talk about Tartarus. [ He still has nightmares about it and Nico suspects he's not the only one. ] You could try asking Percy but I doubt he'd want to talk about it either. [ Yeah, it's that bad. Plus it's only been a few months since they managed to get out and are recovering from the experience.
Then she asks him a question not about the Underworld at all. ] I know some about the Romans. Met a few of the gods and goddesses too. And I know others exist but not much more than that.
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They're in a whole different world. What are the gods going to do, crawl out of the well and smite her? ...if Percy is somewhere around here he might caution her against sharing this, but, eh... Now that she thinks about it, probably not. Annabeth was always the more careful one.]
What about the Egyptian gods? Have you heard anything about them?
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So when she brings up the Egyptian gods well, Nico wracks his brain for anything he might have heard from anywhere. Maybe some of the dead have spoken about it (after all, it's all pretty close in terms of geograpy and history) especially since he's hung around with some prominent Greek figures of old days. Though nothing really specific comes to mind which has him shrugging. ]
Maybe in passing but nothing about recent events. Mostly stuff I pick up from the dead or a god will mention they aren't the only one doing a specific job. [ But huh... ] Guess it makes sense considering Apollo's not taking the sun across the sky these days.
I can't imagine the different pantheons get along. The Greeks can sometimes barely stand each other and get a little crazy when they're in conflict with their Roman sides.
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Oh, it's quite explosive when the Greeks and Egyptians meet. Just ask Percy about it. [ha ha.] Or you can ask me, I guess, so long as you solemnly swear to keep everything I tell you secret, especially from my brother if he ever turns up. I really don't need a lecture from him about the sanctity of the House's mysteries and all that nonsense. Not that he has much of a leg to stand on, really, since this certainly isn't New York, but I'm sure he'd try because that's what annoying big brothers do.
[somewhere back in Brooklyn Carter has a sneezing fit, probably]
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So what happened that you guys ended up meeting Percy?
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[Sadie waves a hand, perhaps a little dismissively, but that's her opinion of the mage they'd fought, apparently. Barely worth thinking about.]
We don't, of course. Annabeth and I sorted things quite handily. [She smirks.] Percy and Carter helped.
[That's not quite it but, eh.]
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Sounds about right. [ Okay, Percy probably pulled his fair share of the weight and he doesn't know Sadie's brother so can't assume he did nothing. He just has one question. ]
Greek monsters, Egyptian monsters or a combination of both? [ Make that two. ] What sort of Egyptian monsters do you have exactly?
[ Because all he can picture is mummies. ]
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[Or, close enough, anyway. Does it count as a mix of both if one of the things they fought was a staff that had, apparently, been Cerberus once upon a time? That's his dog, so maybe not.]
Oh, all sorts of nasty buggers. Chaos demons, flying snakes, and yes, mummies. Roman mummies are quite unpleasant, I'll have you know. Egyptian mummies aren't so bad. There's no ba to animate their corpses when the rites have been completed properly, after all.
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I've found most Roman undead anything are quite unpleasant - especially if you don't have a Roman praetor to give them orders. Even I have trouble with them. [ And don't get him started on the people who'd been in Pompeii when the volcano erupted. ] Can't say I have experience trying to raise Egyptian dead so I'll take your word for it.
[ Oh whoops... did he just accidentally let it slip that he can raise the dead? ]
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Well, we seem to be fresh out of praetors... [Whatever that is, she thinks but doesn't say, making a mental note to look it up herself later so this kid doesn't think she's a complete idiot.] But hang on, how many other types of dead have you raised, exactly? Is that some kind of Greek god thing?
[Like... seriously? Children of the Greek Lord of the Underworld can raise the dead, and the person who becomes the Egyptian Lord of the Underworld can't? That seems a little unfair to her, but she'll give him a chance to explain before she starts whining about it.]
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