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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Bortz | Houseki no Kuni
[It's reasonable to suppose that there used to be lots of flowers in this garden. There aren't many left, now--not even the chatty and colourful ones that had been paying Bortz an inordinate and entirely superfluous number of compliments at their arrival on this nondescript stretch of street.
The remaining handful are now shrieking in terror while Bortz, impassive but for the slight furl of annoyance between their eyebrows, absently wipes stray bits of leaf and petal off the sharp edge of their obsidian blade.
Did Bortz just obliterate your garden, or are you a witness to this senseless massacre?]
IV.
[Frankly, any tree limbs yanking at Bortz's hair deserve what they get in response, which probably isn't pretty. Their shoes, on the other hand, are scuffed up to such an extent that Red Beryl would doubtless be apoplectic if they were here to see what Bortz had subjected their hard work to.
The field of flowers that they ultimately confront is met with initial disdain, until it becomes clear that none of them are going to attempt to strike up conversation this time. The silence itself is enough to draw out their curiosity, however, and with one hand resting on the hilt of their sword, Bortz approaches the flowers, pensive.]
I
You absolute buffoon! You've just ruined several weeks of work for the sake of your temper!
[ They level an accusatory finger at Bortz, and then at their blade, strikingly unafraid of the much harder and taller gem. ]
Are you blind, or just a fool? Such violence is appropriate only in imminent danger; what have you to fear from flowers?
no subject
I would be in danger of going deaf if I had to listen to their pointless chattering for a minute longer, [they snap back sourly, already slipping their sword back into its sheath. They flick a few errant bits of grass and dirt off of their uniform, glowering.] Besides, [they add with a dismissive gesture towards the remaining flowers that are now whimpering and crying in the remnants of the flower bed,] you still have some left for whatever it is that you're doing.
no subject
[ Logic never was Bortz's strong point. Rutile pinches the bridge of their nose, shaking their head. ]
I don't have enough to continue my study. I needed a untouched wildflower bed so I could observe them in an undisturbed state; that is critical. Now that you've destroyed the rest, their lives will never be the same again.
[ They shove the trowel in their pocket. It does not do wonders for keeping the lab coat clean. ]
You will just have to help me find new ones.
no subject
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?
no subject
Because you have demonstrated blatant disregard for others, their time, and their work, which is extremely unbecoming of a gem of your caliber! I might expect this behavior from someone more junior, but from a ranking combatant?
[ They level Bortz with another glare. ]
A hardness of ten is not license to run amok. Have some self discipline and recompense your actions.
no subject
Then, stiffly,] very well.
no subject
[ Of course Bortz relents. They forgot the most important thing of all: you cannot argue with the doctor.
Rutile turns on their heel and walks off into the garden, not checking to see if Bortz is following - they will be, if they know what's good for them. ]
We'll need a bed of at least two hundred flowers. The louder and more obnoxious, the better. Explore around and find the one that dislikes you the most, and we should be good to go.
IV; WHY HELLO THERE ...
But Diamond perseveres, making it all the way to the clearing before their luck runs out. The clearing of flowers is impressive -- more than Diamond is used to seeing all in one place like this -- and it distracts them just long enough for them to trip over one last little root with a soft -- ]
-- Oh!
[ -- just a little ways away from Bortz, falling onto their hands and knees into the flowers. ]
hi hello!!
They drop their hands to their sides and step through the flowers towards the other gem.] You never do watch where you're going, [they state, delivery blunt but for the subtle shift in their expression.]
no subject
They rise back up to their feet with a bit of a wry look. ]
Yes ... I should have paid closer attention.
no subject
At their words, Bortz's frown deepens for only a moment as they mull over some private thought, before they promptly look back towards the flowers.] I suppose the danger isn't as imminent here, [they muse aloud grudgingly. It's the closest they're likely to come to acknowledging that they're being overly harsh.]
no subject
Diamond looks back to the flowers as well. ]
Unless you suppose these little ones plan to gang up on us.
[ It's a joke, but actually though ... after the talking flowers earlier, who knows what the hell is going on around here. ]
no subject
Everything in this strange town is foreign and unfamiliar, [they add almost defensively, maybe a bit out of embarrassment that they'll never admit to.] You shouldn't let your guard down.