empatheias_ooc | TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY

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*test drive

TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY

— TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY—

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 Wednesday, January 25 and Applications (Canon | OC) open Wednesday, January 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: Over two years ago, the ill fated Red String of Fate toy made its debut. At the time it seemed like a solid idea, but as it turned out… it didn’t exactly work as advertised. People found themselves tied together with entirely incompatible people instead of the proclaimed “emotionally compatible” and to top it off, personal, influential and private telepathic communication came out drenched in sap and overly lovey-dovey overtones. It was, without a doubt, one of the company’s least successful product launches ever. And you would think that they would have learned. However, they decided to try again, and… well. It wasn’t exactly all that well thought out the second time around. But third time’s the charm, right? Wrong. Even if this time, it’s in the form of rings that will draw two people together in a “matched pair” rather than a string.

There’s not really anything wrong with believing in true love, but trying to formulate a product that can detect someone’s ideal mate is innately flawed. Which only means that no matter how many times the product is adjusted, it’s just not going to work. Those who wind up with the product shoved onto their fingers (by a sales rep or through actually purchasing the product) will find themselves, once again, pulled by an unseen force to the nearest person they are “compatible with”. Same height, same hair color, whatever. It’s not exactly discriminatory. …Unfortunately as poor a match as they may be, the two cannot be separated until they share a meaningful embrace. So settle in, you might be together for a while.

In certain pairs, normal conversation is often unintentionally made amorous, simply from inflection in voice, or perhaps a heightened affectionate emotion. Or, on the flip side, anger and aggression is increased ten fold, but it’s kind of 50-50 as to what effect will take place, all dependant on which hand they wear the ring. Left, romance, Right? Anger.

• Prompt E: The inexplicably cavernous sewers of Verens are no place for a sane individual, but here you are anyway—dropped there by some horrible emotional shift that made an entire section of street vanish and then reappear above your heads as if nothing had happened. You and the poor fool you’ve been dumped down here with need to find your way to the access tunnels and climb out, or perhaps go the other way and swim out through the Lake Niras outflow. Or just smash your way out, if you’re feeling destructive. But your own emotions will work against you, as you struggle against the terrible scent, the darkness, and the entirely-justified questioning of why your life has taken this horrible turn.

There’s something odd about the way the water and sewage is sloshing around your ankles, almost as if it’s rising. But wait, that can’t possibly be a pair of eyes you see under the oil slick surface… could it? You’ve heard rumors about all sorts of beasties down here but surely your mind is just playing tricks on you.

Remember that part about emotions turning against you? Maybe you’ve been trapped down here way too long with someone who’s just not living up to your expectations, or you’ve got something else on your minds—but the smell around you certainly seems to be growing thicker, the scent growing harder and harder to ignore. The water and grossness at your feet also seems to be growing thicker almost as though it’s curing like cement. The cause? Negative emotions. But are they yours or the person you’re stuck here with? Perhaps you should work through those post haste…

Escape! You’ve made it out, but not without a great amount of effort on both you and your partner’s parts. Did you manage to find a way out through the access tunnels? Or perhaps you really did travel through all that much to the Lake Niras outflow… whatever it is, You’re certainly stinky, and possibly tired and cranky too.

• Prompt F: Some bandits went and stole another airship, only this time the Enforcers are prepared with a few of their own. Join in for some intense air battles. Just don't make the ship explode—they'd like it back in one piece please. Unless you're actually on the bandit team, in which case you probably want to blow up the Enforcer ship.

What's an airship fight without some on deck action? Either the bandits are swinging over to the ship you're on, or maybe you're swinging over there. Whatever the case, it's a full on brawl. Just watch out—those bandits are well-armed with some interesting firearms and weapons. If hit, one of the following emotions will start to take over your senses: unquestionable rage, debilitating fear and panic, and sleepiness. Needless to say, these effects will hinder one's ability to fight.

Can you fly or are you okay with climbing up the full height of your airship? Then grab a few sleep and apathy grenades and throw them at the bandits. Just be careful not to accidentally hit your allies. Otherwise they will be the ones feeling sleepy and want to give up. Also watch out for flying nets and bullets. Those bandits will definitely try to bring you down.

While the enforcers are trying to maintain the integrity of the stolen ship, the bandits feel no such need to hold back and are freely unloading their weapons onto the Enforcer's ships, forcing them to defend themselves. Other than decapacitating the bandit behind the weapon, it's also possible to overload it with intense emotions. Explode it with rage or clog it with happy, loving flowers.

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include bubblegum and/or toadstools.

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!

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[Prompt B]

[ It's not the first time today that Cor is wondering just what he's managed to get himself into, or how he even managed it to begin with. In fact, reading the Task Board the marshal is having an absolute voyage of emotions, though mostly it's exasperation and amazement that the island hasn't managed to blow itself up yet. Cor doesn't consider himself to be an employment snob. Even back in Eos he'd taken on hunts that were required, it didn't matter that he had been Crownsguard for the King, work that benefited the world and the people within it would always be considered helpful. But then Cor never really expected to be reading such requests as carpentry project, spider collecting and the ever elusive panty thief.]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding this. [ Cor speaks to himself, loud enough for anyone nearby to hear as he folds his arms and frowns slightly. Maybe there's a trick he's missing, or perhaps it simply is just what it says on the tin.] Pineapple gel may just be pushing it....

[Prompt D (1 or 2)]

You're going to love this!

[ Before Cor can even move or retaliate at the sudden sound of sales in his ear, he finds himself completely at the mercy of one very enthusiastic staff member. What had seemed to be a polite enough store assistant had suddenly turned into whirlwind of excitement, obviously taking Cor's quiet, stoic nature as someone who needed this ring immediately. Obviously Cor would change his mind once the ring was on his finger, right?? Either way before the ex-Crownsguard member can even say Regalia the offending piece of jewelry has been shoved onto the middle finger of his left hand and Cor just stares at the assistant with an almost baleful blue gaze. Really? Was this really happening? All the events in his life shaping who he is just to be berated into a sale by some random shop assistant?

It doesn't really explain why Cor finds himself headed out the shop door, feet on a mission to find something or someone. It's hard to decipher when his body doesn't seem to want to communicate with his brain all too much right now and it's only when he literally bumps into someone that Cor manages to gain some kind of control again and he puts his hands up apologetically.] My apologies, I wasn't watching where I was going.

[Prompt E (3; escape!)]

[ Cor Leonis, known to some as "the Immortal" due to the amount of suicide missions he went on and came back from, the one who curbstomped his enemies through being one of the best fighters in Eos, skilled with his blade kotetsu, has officially had it up to his neck with sewers. One time he'd gone through Crestholm Channels for a challenge at the age of eighteen and that had been more than enough sewers for one lifetime. Apparently fate had decided otherwise in this new world, opting to put him in sewers once again for no reason other than because.

By the time the marshal and company had even found the exit through the Lake Niras outflow, Cor knows they must look a sight, himself most of all. Just about every inch of his black uniform is covered in dirt, muck and other assorted maladies that Cor simply doesn't want to identify. There's even smears of dirt down one side of his face and his lips thin as he resists the urge to completely lose his temper. He has no issue with adventures or fighting the good fight. But when it's pointless with no rhyme or reason it's enough irk him some, rattling the normally cool composure he carries.

Cor takes a deep breath, instantly regretting it as the smells assault his senses enough to knock his bad mood out and away. He's seen people chewed up and spat out by marlboros and they smelled nicer than this!]

I think it's wise we just don't talk about this.

[Prompt G]
[ooc: wildcard, up for anything.]

[ Glancing back into the maw of the disgusting hell they've just trekked through, Noctis can only cringe and try very hard not to breathe in their putrid fragrance. Trading that for a morbol would be a no hesitation deal. ]

Agreed.

[ Cor is going to get exactly no argument from Noctis on that front. Normally one talks about having Seen Things that can't be unseen, but that? That's Smelling Things that will surely haunt their nightmares for years to come.

So clearly they should put it behind them and instead gaze out upon the lake before them! ]

Normally I'd say it's too cold to go swimming, but...

[ The smell is pretty rancid for sure, though the option to just stop breathing is never going to be taken. Things could also be much worse; the pair of them could have been caught in the sewers and taken down. Eos needed the young king more than anything and it would be difficult to take Noctis home if he was in pieces.

The sewers would definitely never be forgotten; Cor suspects the pair of them will be wondering what that smell is for quite some time.]

...It's possible. [ Cor is already glancing towards the water, trying to see if there's anything lurking in the depths of it. Last thing anyone needed was to survive the sewers and their stink just to be eaten by a giant fish.]

After you, Highness.

[ Noct's been fishing in this lake before and not been dragged in by anything, so he'll just have to trust that that's the typical experience. If it were almost anyone else with him, Noct would totally try to get them to experience the joy of jumping into frigid water first, but this is Cor so he doesn't. ]

And then a really long shower when we make it back to the city.

[ He's not sure that will help though. It feels like they'll never be clean again --!

But in any case, he trudges down the spillway, sidesteps a stand of cattails and wades in up to his knees. He's already second guessing this idea because he can feel how cold the water is even through pants and boots, but too late to turn back, so he just dives in and yep. Sure is instantaneous regret there, and he breaks the surface again, spluttering and letting out a few choice curses.]

Shiva's tits, that's cold.

[ Cor would sell his left arm right now for a hot shower. He would even settle for a cool one if it just got rid of the crap they're covered in. At least this way they'll be able to clean off most of it.

When Noct jumps in the marshal takes a moment, casting a critical eye over the water just to be sure. It's difficult to move quick in water which is the sole reason for letting the prince go first. This way Cor can intervene if anything looks out of place. It just so happens the only shocker that happens here is Noct's language. He's heard worse, just not from Noctis.]

Maybe even colder from your reaction. [ Cor pulls his boots off (not quite fancying squelching back to town) before putting his sword to one side. Unlike the other he just runs and jumps in, gasping when he surfaces and shivering.] Definitely colder.

[ He normally doesn't curse, but there are certain things that drive him to it. Things like a certain bastard in a fedora, fighting giant bitchy sea serpents that made whole buildings fly at him, that one stupid level in this one video game he used to play that had a really finicky platforming section to get a rare piece of equipment and the player character would sometimes run a few steps after jumping and run himself right off the platform or into spikes or something making them have to start all over again, and below freezing temperature water all over everywhere.

Noct's been in all of thirty seconds, and he already feels like he's going numb as he quickly tries to scrape and scrub the muck off into the water around him. ]

Definitely c-c-c-older [ he agrees through chattering teeth. What a shame Shiva isn't around for them to properly test though -- ]

[ The water is clear from what Cor can still see, keeping a wary eye on the depths as he starts to brush at his arms. It takes a few attempts before the gunge begins to sift away into the water. Thank the Six for small mercies; Cor isn't sure he'd want to trail any of that back into his place of residence, he'll already be smelling it for centuries to come.]

It could be much worse, we could still be stuck in those sewers. [ Cor is feeling the cold seeping into his bones, but not enough to be chattering just yet. He does, however, startle hard when something brushes against his foot though it just turns out to be a plant.] I don't think I'll be getting used to the floor disappearing any time soon. By the way you've got...stuff on you.

[ The marshal just motions at his own cheekbone with one finger.]

[Ugh, she can't believe she's had to go through this at all. Better yet, it was "Mr. Fun" over here. It's very doubtful they had a "good" time, and it's very likely the atmosphere down there matched their soured moods. But at least, freedom.]

Don't have to pay me for that. [She just lets out a small "t'ch" as she examines herself.] And it looks like this fun little "trip" is far from over. Town is that way.

[She's just going to point a grimy gloved finger at the docks far away down the shoreline, almost exact opposite of where they were. Damn they really walked far.]

[ Cor is pretty sure that going through the sewers with one Aranea Highwind was an experience to not remember. Aranea is a proficient fighter, there's no doubt about it, it's just that Cor can never truly tell whose side she's on. He's not paid her any money, therefore the whole experience was a giant question mark of survivability.]

I wasn't intending to. [ The marshal takes a second to qipe at one sleeve, nose wrinkling slightly in distaste as an actual string of gunk gloops it's way to the ground. No, he doesn't want to know what that is.] And of course it's over there. Are you coming?

Don't really have much of a choice. Not like there's really anything out here.

[For better or worse. She will start taking off her gloves so that when they hit cleaner waters she can at least soak them off there.]

Let's just get further out so we can at least wash some of this shit off. [And unfortunately, that's both figuratively and literally.

She really misses her bath tub. Like. A lot. But she definitely wouldn't want to have all this crap in it.]

[ Aranea isn't wrong. There really is only one direction they should be headed right now and he merely raises his eyebrows at the mention of washing the crap off and sighs inwardly. How does this happen? How does someone go from walking down the street to wading through the sewers?

It's a tad frustrating not to be able to pre-empt such things, and now he's here with Highwind, someone Cor isn't exactly sold on. Mercenaries were a necessity during war, but Aranea still has a question mark over her head.]

So what is it a mercenary for hire does in a place like this?

[Cor is wise to be wary. Even without being what she is, Aranea can be quite unpredictable when she wants to be. But she just laughs at his question.]

What a mercenary does best. Take on the jobs with the best pay. [There's a light smirk as she continues to walk forward, having no qualms whatsoever about the topic.

Although she may not be completely truthful or "friendly" about it. For one, she doesn't need to be told how Cor feels about her presence. Not only because of past allegiances, it's practically written on his face. But for another, because it's Cor, the famed "immortal marshal" and a giant stick in the mud (her opinion), that she doesn't go out of her way to be particularly polite. Not that she really is for just anyone anyway, but in this case there may be some deliberate sass.]

Could ask the same for you. Big military man dumped here in a place where your skills aren't really needed. Must be like early retirement for you.

[Yep, definitely poking him.]

[Being Crownsguard makes them compatible somehow, right? Totally.

Prompto doesn't even flinch when he's bumped into, actually turns to offer an apology in kind. It's probably his fault somehow anyway, at least in part. However, we he's greeted by the sight of Cor he just grins instead. He can't help it, it's always an honour to chat with 'The Immortal'. Definitely one of the coolest people on this floating rock.]

Hey, Marshal! [But it seems a little unusual for Cor to be distracted enough to bump into people on the streets.] You good? No emotional whiplash? Cursed objects? Angry locals?

[All three are things he's encountered here so far, and all three have given him serious trust issues. The locals are generally pretty nice though, so that last one... also his fault.]

[ Crownsguard bros totally counts, even if Cor is probably Too Old™

He's surprised when he spots the blond, still somewhat trying to wrap his head around the fact that almost everyone is in this weird place. That and the whole ring thing is enough to have him more on edge than normal. Still, doesn't mean he's not pleased to see one of the kids around and he manages to untense his shoulders some.]

Nothing yet. Just a very over-enthusiastic sales assistant determined to get their own way. [ Though thinking on it, he has just walked out of there with said ring still on his hand, and Cor sure can't remember paying. He's completely unaware he'll be spouting romantic lines in time.] How often do the angry locals happen?

You've gotta stay clear of those guys. They're bad news.

[Prompto laughs. He avoids over-enthusiastic sales associates like the plague here, ever since the emotional candle incident that had him spewing out his love for Cindy and his adoration for Aranea. That earned him a slap and loads of self-loathing and embarrassment.

So why is he laughing? Traumatic memories purged from his head. He also doesn't see a candle, doesn't even think to look for voodoo jewelry.]

About as often as you... do something to anger them.

[A sheepish head rub. He isn't trying to cause trouble for anyone, trouble just finds him at every corner.]

It would seem I stood still long enough for one of them to take it as compliance.

[ Next time he'll just be making sure to give any sales assistant type a wide berth. It seems like Prompto has something interesting to tell if Cor is reading the kid's body language right, and for some reason the marshal actually wants to hear it. Technically he's the highest ranking Crownsguard around which means the others are somewhat his responsibility even in this strange place. It feels like forever ago that he was taking Prompto to meet Clarus to get his uniform...]

Sounds like you're talking from experience. How did you manage that?

You didn't take anything from them, did you?

[Even if nothing evidently cursed jumps out at him on the other, it's best to check anyway. He'd had an exchange, and those people don't usually take no for an answer. Something could very well be waiting to rear its ugly head.

He doesn't want to bother the Marshal with his problems, but at the same time he feels he should answer because despite being besties with the prince, Cor is still technically speaking his superior.]

Well, Aranea and I kinda picked a fight with a merchant a few weeks ago. [Yes, the Niff, though the merchant 100% deserved it. Still, he holds his hands up to absolve blame.] Got ugly, but it was all words! Hands to myself.

[All words on his end anyway, not on hers. Regardless, those people were mad. He's not welcome there anymore, but whatever. He wouldn't have gone back anyway.

There are other instances where he'd angered folks by asking too many questions and not listening properly to the answers, and the times he'd taken unsolicited pictures of people that didn't appreciate it. Poor Prompto: too cute, too easy to yell at.]

[ Luna had been working on focusing her energies to a seemingly calm aura that she could project as needed. It's slow going, but in time it should be immensely helpful with new arrivals. A similar experience to the calming one she'd had when first arriving. Along this same vein of self-development projects, she'd started looking into small tasks she could complete. She'd seen the task, having been contemplating bringing the orange back for Ignis as a possible addition to the cake he'd taught her how to make if it tasted alright.

Luna slips in next to him, a soft smile resting on her lips. She'd recognized him from studying records available to her, striving to defy her captor's attempts to shelter her and control what she learned outside of the untrustworthy information they'd willingly shared. ] How so, Marshal?

[ She's so good at saying hello. So good. ]

[ Of all the people Cor had been expecting to see in this place, Lunafreya is probably the most surprising one. He knows who the young lady is, has seen pictures and heard reports and the likes, but in all honesty he's spoken to her mother more than Luna herself. Once things had gone down in Tenebrae, Crownsguard excursions were kind of cancelled.

Luna hasn't quite gotten the jump on Cor, but he still blinks and glances over when she speaks up, expression and tone nothing but respectful. Luna was technically Nifflheim on paper, but even Niff-hating Cor Leonis knows a prisoner when he sees one and Luna deserves none of the ire he saves for the others.]

Pineapple is too sweet, I'm not certain I could manage it.

[ If she's managed anything in her brief time here, it's re-learning how to breathe and slowly separating her identity from that of her office. Also, any hatred of Niflheim that comes to her is never taken personally. She views herself as holding no affiliation to them in terms of a beneficial relationship, her time with them unkind and cold.

There's something of a reassurance that he seems to be aware of her, never truly expecting to surprise most that she does that to. ] Perhaps one of the other flavors might hold more appeal? There might also be a way to dull some of the sweetness as well. [ She lets her fingers interlace, hanging in front of her in a relaxed manner. Or as relaxed as she can manage. ] If I have learned anything in my brief time here, it is to expect the unexpected. The flavors may surprise you.

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TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY

cor leonis | ffxv

E3

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really i just wanted an excuse to use this phrase...

das shock! noct plz

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E3

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D1

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/shows up 8000 years late, B!

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