TEST DRIVE: DECEMBER

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: DECEMBER—

Welcome to empatheias' test drive meme. This test drive is to help interested players test their characters in the game's environment. We've included a few prompts that incorporate specific elements of the game, though you'll find all of them have a lot of leeway for players to get as creative as necessary. Before diving in, here are a few things we'd like to remind everyone about the game in general:

• Date reminders. Reserves open Thursday, November 24 and Applications (Canon | OC) open Thursday, December 1st.
  
  
• OC Reminder! Just a quick reminder that original characters are allowed. Those interested can also use the test drive. OCs do not need to be reserved.
  
  
• Emotions are key! Empatheias' premise focuses on how anyone's emotions can affect their environment, be it big or small. While not every emotion will cause a reaction, significant ones definitely will. How much effect a character will have will ultimately be up to you, the player. Also, while we're giving a lot of leeway for the test drive, keep in mind that there will be some limits in the actual game.
  
  
• Everyone has an amulet. All characters have a unique amulet that is specialized for them. It will contain all of their emotion drops and it serves as the network device. Remember, communication is telepathic. Otherwise, it works basically the same.
  
  
• Assume the character is already in the game. Because "OMG WHERE AM I IS THIS REAL LIFE" threads aren't going to be very helpful in this test drive! Plus those are going to happen in-game, anyway. So to make things easier, just assume that they've been around at least a week or so. Still learning the ropes, but not a complete "first day" experience.
  
  
• First or third person allowed. Your threads can be in either first or third, but we'd advise being flexible about it. Remember, these threads can also be used in your application for samples! Reminder: We only require one sample and it can be done in either format. We have also made a change to our sample requirements, so look over the Applications page!

Now with that out of the way, here are some prompts you guys can work from!


PROMPTS

• Prompt A: How about giving the emotions a try?

• Prompt B: Refer to the Task Board and choose a task your character may be interested in taking up. For this prompt, you could have your character ask for help, already be in the middle of the job, or react to it in some way. Perhaps they were an unfortunate victim or want to create a job countering an existing one. You could even have a prompt making a job request. Creating jobs for the purpose of the test drive is absolutely doable.

• Prompt C: How about giving the amulets a go? Start a telepathic conversation and see how it works. Remember, the amulets are sending out the owner's thoughts so might want to be careful about how the stream of consciousness goes...

• Prompt D: The Boreas Harvest Festival is in full swing, but like its previous iterations, things aren’t exactly going as smoothly as they should.

1. Bouncing bounties. It seems the locals’ anticipation is affecting their products and grange displays—watch out for any excitable fruits and vegetables that might be jumping around! Or maybe you could help catch them and return them to their displays.
   
   
2. Giant pumpkin vines. Some children wanted a really big pumpkin and hoped and danced with all their might, but that led to not only making a huge pumpkin that's now rolling all over the field, but huge vines as well. But they're mischievous things, aiming not to hurt but just pull pranks, like drag people down or hold them up upside-down.
   
   
3. Smells like feet. It seems some people are rushing to ripen their products to their peak—which seems to be pushing them into overripe and even plain-out rotten territory. Not to mention the fact that if the larger vegetables are moved even slightly, they’ll explode and get slimy, gross veggie guts on everyone who’s around…

• Prompt E: A few intrepid jewelers are interested in the jaded water that can be found in the jungle below, so take a trip to the surface with your fellow Otherworlders while the excursion still has funds and check it out! Just be careful; the area’s rife with negativity and bad mojo, among other things…

1. Plants vs. Everything Else. The vines hanging around are ready to catch on people’s arms and legs, stopping them from continuing ahead… or from going home. This land seems to be mighty possessive after so long of being abandoned and doesn’t want anyone to leave, not again. There’s flowers and giant pitcher plants that’ll do the same thing too, with the latter definitely being more dangerous, seeing as they’re big enough to catch a whole human.
   
   
2. Pools of jade. After a few right turns, there’ll be a wide area of pools waterfalling into each other… or they would be, if they were moving. There’s shards from them scattered near the banks; picking them up will trigger a thought of something you’re jealous of, and if you turn around, chances are the jaded pools are going to be showing glimpses of that, too. If you’re pulled into them, the jade’ll start creeping up on you, so watch out and find something (or someone) to appreciate!

• Prompt F: Stuffed animals have always been popular around the island, especially since they usually respond and move to emotions. The dunamis users of Shaarnath and the perfomancy artists of Theastai would like to combine all three elements to put on a special "puppet" show. But they need volunteers and those willing to learn.

1. Make those furry butts wiggle! One of the greatest challenges is making the stuffed animals dance in a way that doesn't make them look like creepy possessed dolls. Perfomancy artists will suggest channeling fun, positive emotions and perhaps even try dancing yourself. It's more likely the stuff animal will mimic the movement.
   
   
2. Test of flight. There are a few bird plushies that are to fly around the stage. This can be more difficult to achieve and requires great concentration and a free spirit type personality to succeed. The loftier the hopes and dreamy thoughts one has, the higher they will go. But heavy thoughts will just keep the birds grounded.
   
   
3. Not the stuffing! On a less emotionally driven side, these little plushies will get worn from use. They may even limp and seem as if in pain. A bit of new stuffing, needlework, and perhaps a little kiss on the nose will make it feel better! ...And maybe make you look a little weird, but tender loving care, right?

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include thumbtacks and/or bowling balls.

For your threads, put the Character Name and the Canon in the subject line to help readily identify them. You're also welcome to use more than one prompt for respondents to choose from. If you have any questions or want to brush up on the game information, refer to the Game Information entry. Otherwise, tag around and have fun!

Comments

THIS IS WHO HE IS!!!

[yancat]

Hm.

[ He opens a can of red paint and picks up his brush. ]

I bought the materials myself, hired the aide myself, undressed myself, and I intend to paint the sign myself. If you have a problem with the way I've done things up to this point, I'd appreciate it if you told me clearly.

However, that would be hypocritical of you.

smh

[schmisse]

Well, that changes everything. If you're going to paint the sign yourself-- [ she dips her head as a sign of an apology. she's used to apologising, especially to her father. this is fine!! ] Then you'll have to excuse the rudeness on my part.

[ it's not everyday she apologises for being rude, too. chalk it up to team rwby for making her nicer! ]

What should she text be? "WATCH OUT, VINES AHEAD", or "BEWARE OF VINES"?

[yancat]

[

i was going to crack another joke but let's also not go there

Jumin appreciates the apology, even if it doesn't seem like he... cares.... As long as they've finally moved on from that issue, it's fine! Now, onto their next problem. ]

Both warn of the vines, but neither warn of what the vines can do. What about "BEWARE OF MOVING VINES"? Or is that too vague?

[schmisse]

[ now i want to know the joke... ]

I think that's a bit too vague. How about... "BEWARE, GRABBING VINES"?

[ then she shakes her head. ]

That makes little sense, huh?

[yancat]

[ no the comedic timing is gone ]

The syntax can be misconstrued.

[ People might end up grabbing the vines themselves. It's interesting, though, how the vines restrain their victims... Should he get some for himself? Every topic Jumin touches turns into trash, I guess. Anyway, please ignore the moment of silence he had there, Weiss. ]

What about "DON'T TOUCH, GRABBING VINES"? No one would think of getting any closer. ... Hmm, but it might lack urgency.

[schmisse]

[ I HATE YOU

but jumin has a point. except for the part where he thinks about getting one for himself. hopefully he talks himself out of it, because weiss doesn't want to be part of that whole shindig. ]

What if we just make it simple? "WARNING: DANGEROUS VINES": that at least lets people know not to go anywhere near them.

[ and they can make the sign glittery and everything. it'll definitely attract attention! ]

[yancat]

[ DON'T LEAVE ME PLS

To the surprise of anyone who knows him, he wears a small smile of approval. ]

I like how you think. Alright, let's go with that. I'll paint it.

[ Like he said he would! Dipping his brush in the paint can, he begins carefully painting the words in bold letters. Everyone should know that these vines are dangerous, yes, but the sign must also be absolutely perfect.

His aide fidgets awkwardly with Jumin's jacket. ]

[schmisse]

[ bye.

but ah, sorry, jumin's aide. weiss doesn't think you're worth her time so she doesn't talk to you and instead watches jumin paint the sign. there's some tweaking that needs to be done because weiss personally thinks his penmanship could do better, but it's a good sign so far! ]

Alright. Now to wait for it to dry, and we can start decorating.

[ what kind of sign is this even... ]

Oh, and make sure you put in smaller text that the sign is from Weiss Schnee and-- [ a short pause. ] Come to think of it, I didn't even ask for your name.

[yancat]

[ Excuse me, his handwriting is impeccable (his opinion). He doesn't ever look at Weiss as he speaks and switches to a smaller brush. ]

Jumin Han. [ And he doesn't even comment on the decorating bit because he has no right to talk. Their sign is cat-shaped!?

He starts on Weiss' name first, but not before casting a glance at her. He hums in thought—her theme isn't lost on him. Snow White has black hair, though... but he's not going to complain about something so trivial. ]

Weiss Schnee. [ It's (butchered) German, so not too difficult for him to pronounce. ] Like the fairy tale. I quite like that one.

[ why is he like this ]

[schmisse]

[ this is going to be the worst sign ever, and weiss has a lot of opinions about the cat-shaped sign when it could look like a corgi instead but... she's really trying hard to be nice to the person who saved her. ]

You mentioned that before, but I don't really know what you're talking about.

[ sadly in the world of remnant, their fairy tales are very different. ]

[yancat]

[ He's not complaining about the glitter and bright lights, so they're even.

And Jumin's been fond of reading ever since he was a child, so fairy tales are kind of his thing. It's a little disappointing she doesn't know about this one, but he's always happy to enlighten others with his knowledge. Ah, he's so kind!! ]

Snow White. It's a story from my world. One about... true beauty. Snow White was the fairest in the land, but she also had a kind heart.

[schmisse]

[ she crosses her arms as she listens, which probably seems dismissive to jumin, but it's just how weiss usually stands. arms crossed, her hip pointing to one side and her legs spread apart and one foot pointing sideways. much like a supermodel, actually. for her prim and proper and finesse-filled exterior, she sure doesn't seem like it once her mouth is open because of how bitchy she can be. ]

Do you think I was named after her? Such a story's never existed in Remnant.

[ a pause. ]

Even though I am quite fair.

[ weiss schnee: never humble. she doesn't make a comment about having a kind heart, though. oops :') ]

[yancat]

[ The Zen vibes are so strong with this one that it's almost annoying... But she's smart and doesn't openly antagonize Jumin, which he can appreciate. ]

I just find the coincidence interesting. Anyone can be beautiful on the surface, [ says the man with impossibly good looks ] but few possess the same beauty within.

[ He finishes painting their names before finally making eye contact, as if to imply something. It's just a glance, though, since now he's reaching for the glitter. Examining it. ]

How should we use this?

[schmisse]

[ oh my god don't even compare her to zen, she's more beautiful--wait ]

So, what else can you tell me about Snow White? Did she grow up in a nice home?

[ now that jumin's started with the storytelling, she can't help but be curious. she's even more into the story now than making the sign. but when she sees jumin is done, she straightens up and walks closer to him. ]

Well, we'll just need to put glue on the sign and shower the glitter on it. I think it would be best if we put the glitter around the sign, like a border.

[yancat]

[ He narrows her eyes at the glitter as if it's the bane of his existence... Telling the story isn't as much of a bother to him, though. It makes this effort to make the sign as gaudy as possible a little more tolerable. ]

She did. Snow White was the child of the king's first wife, so she lived the life of a princess. [ He sets the glitter down.

And holds his hand out. ]

Glue.

[schmisse]

[ no, he's done enough for the sign so she takes over with the glue, putting a thin line of it around the sign. she says nothing about it, though, but asks more about snow white. ]

Was she lonely, growing up like that?

[yancat]

[ Well, that makes things easier. He leaves Weiss to her own devices, arms crossed as he watches on.

But at her question, his eyes flicker with curiosity. Then, downward. ]

Some say she was. But she didn't stay a princess for long.

The queen died and king married again, but Snow White's stepmother was wicked and vain. She had a magic mirror, you see, and everyday she would ask it who was the fairest of them all. When the mirror answered 'Snow White', she grew to hate her and made her a servant of the castle. I suppose that made her lonelier.

[schmisse]

[ jumin did his job!! now it's time for her to do hers. she stops and drops the bottle of glue at jumin's answer, though. she's reminded of her life back at home. not with team rwby of course, but back in atlas, in the schnee mansion. it was always so lonely there, and sometimes, she'd sing and talk to mirrors.

mirror, tell me something. who's the loneliest of them all? it's her. it's always been her. and when the glue drops and her sadness and loneliness come out of her heart again, thunder rolls. the clouds aren't dark yet, but you know it might rain soon.

she hasn't even noticed that she dropped the glue. ]

A servant of the castle, huh...? To her stepmother...

[ weiss can't relate, of course, but she knows what it's like to be a "servant of her father", that's for sure. ]

[yancat]

[ The glue, thunder and dim sky are too great a coincidence to ignore. Just how much can she relate to the story of her namesake? What's her? This is none of his business, so he doesn't want to pry, but perhaps he should have seen this coming. Perhaps he should stop? ]

A huntsman helps her escape, seven dwarves befriend her in the mountains, and a charming prince falls in love with her... [ He picks the bottle of glue up, takes her hand and carefully places the bottle there. ] So not all hope is lost.

[ And he lets go. He's not being nice, he thinks. He's just stating facts. There's no use worrying about the past or future, especially when they are things beyond your control. Besides, ]

It'd be a shame if the rain washed away our hard work. You wanted to do this, didn't you? We should focus on the task at hand.

[schmisse]

[ the words enter her brain which means she's still listening, but it seems that's where her story and snow white's branches and differs. it's probably for the better considering she'd hate to be similar to somebody, especially someone from a fairy tale.

when the bottle is placed in her hand, it wakes her up from the spell she put herself in. she's still sad, of course, but she's conscious about it now. how could she be so foolish and let herself be vulnerable in front of someone? how embarrassing! ]

I'm sorry you had to see that. [ she heaves out a heavy sigh and holds out her other hand. ] The glitter.

[yancat]

[ The bottle of glitter is all hers. After he hands it over, he watches her work. He doesn't really know or like to use glitter. ]

No need to apologize.

[ Emotions are just a small bump in the road. You soon learn to control them. Though... it scares him to know what might happen if he were to feel the same. He's not the most empathic of people, but given his own experiences, he can guess why she feels the way she does. ]

... When I was a child, I was already aware of what people wanted from me. I suppose that's why I didn't have many friends.

[schmisse]

[ she sprinkles the glitter all over the sign. most of it sticks to the glue but some bits of it stick to her dress and to jumin's clothes as well, because of the wind. :) YOU CAN'T ESCAPE THE GLITTER, JUMIN HAN.

this place is truly unfair, though. she's fine with showing anger and bits of joy, but it's very embarrassing when her loneliness and sadness come out into the open. just like now! she doesn't wish to talk about it, but given jumin's sudden speech... well, what else can you do? she doesn't want to be dismissive and rude towards him. ]

It was the same for me. Everything was already decided since I was born. [ she doesn't say anything about the friends thing, though. it's a touchy subject for her, and she can imagine it's just as touchy for him. ] If I wanted to do something on my own, it would be considered going against my father's wishes.

1/2

[yancat]

[ There is glitter on his shirt. He tries to dust it off. Now there's glitter on his hands.

why ]

[yancat]

I can't say I relate, since I only want to fulfill my filial duties the best I can. [ And he's somewhat glad she doesn't even try to talk about friends. That's another matter altogether. ] I do dislike it when my father makes it difficult for me to refuse, though.

[ Photo shoots, dates he doesn't want to go on, women he doesn't want to call his mother. He picks up the lights, wondering if there's a socket nearby. Probably not... ]

What's wrong with doing what you want?

[schmisse]

[ weiss actually doesn't mind the glitter. it makes her feel prettier. in fact, most of her dresses at home used to be sparkly, anyway. there's nothing wrong with this. ]

I just... wasn't allowed to. [ with the sign now bordered in glitter, she looks back at jumin. her expression is soft, something that jumin will rarely see. ] "Don't be foolish, Weiss. Give up your wish. You're staying here," I heard those words almost every day.

I was always criticised for trying to be who I was.