empatheias_ooc | TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY

Entry tags:

*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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[It seems, for the ring, the compatibility it's going off of is "same universe." As Bodhi approaches, Leia turns toward him, a guarded expression on her face. It's not that she's being or intends to be rude, but being approached by someone whose face she can't quite place--albeit someone with a voice she could almost swear she's heard before--on the street doesn't happen often here.

Her gaze drifts from his hand, with the clearly noticeable ring right there for all to see, to his face.]

Those salespeople caught you, I'm guessing.

[Because they've been very obvious harking their wares, not caring whether the product actually worked or who they shoved the rings on.]

Yeah. [ Bodhi doesn't recognize the woman - it may be that he plain doesn't know her, or that his memory is at fault in this case. But this is where the ring dragged him, so here he is.

Maybe there was a reason for that? Hopefully. So far, he hadn't found any answers to anything he'd wanted to know, but first he was going to deal with this.

He shoves his other hand in the pocket of his flight suit with a very stiff shrug, trying not to seem as nervous and uncomfortable as he felt. Probably failing. ]

He was very... persistent. I tried to tell him no, but - he wouldn't hear it.

[Definitely failing, but it's not like Leia judges him for that. Having some magical ring shoved on your finger and having it guide you through a crowd to a stranger is bound to be an uncomfortable situation, even for the most outgoing person.

She purses her lips, her attention back on the ring on his hand. She's no expert on things like this, but he needed help, and she isn't the sort to turn someone in need of help away.]

It's not the first time. Whenever they have a new product to test, they seem to like pushing it on us.

[Us, meaning anyone not in charge of shoving rings on people. But she needs to see the ring more clearly to see if there's any hint of, well, anything on here that might help her. So, Leia holds her hand out, palm up--since she doesn't want to just grab at his hand, not with how jittery he seems to be.]

Let me see your hand. You've tried pulling at it already, I assume.

I did. Try taking it off. Repeatedly. [ There are worse things than having small objects shoved on your hands with out your permission, he's well aware - but given that Bodhi doesn't know what it's purpose is, and that even after pulling at it as long as he has been, it hasn't budged. Or that he seemed to have lost the ability to go where he wanted once it was on.

If he could find the person who'd given it to him, he'd want a word. That's not really an option, though.

He demonstrates it, giving the ring another tug (and, ouch - but there's not even a slight slip), before holding his hand out for her to examine. ]

Is this kind of thing normal, then?

[Leia takes his hand, lifting it so that she can examine the ring up close. There's nothing she can make out on the ring itself telling what to do to take it off, unfortunately. And with a gentle, hesitant sort of tug, she confirms that the ring is just as stuck on there when she tries as it was for him.]

I wouldn't say normal, but it's not uncommon. They've done similar things, handing out items without a care as to whether we actually want them or not. But this is the first time I've seen something like this.

[ He doesn't realize how tensely he's holding his shoulders, tries to relax an inch as Leia gives it a try. He can't say he's all that surprised when it doesn't budge. Disappointed, sure. But surprised? No.

He frowns. ]

Did I mention that it dragged me over here? Because it did.

[ He gestures behind him with his other hand. ]

Maybe I'm supposed to try something else? Cutting it off? I mean, the ring. Not my finger.

[ a beat. A sickening realization has Bodhi looking disturbed, cursing the force in a way that'd probably have Chirrut telling him off for disrespect, probably. ]

They don't want me to cut off my finger, do they?

[Leia's eyebrows shoot up at the suggestion, looking horrified at the idea. Because that's a bit extreme and she both doesn't think and hopes that's not how they remove the ring.]

No, I don't think so.

[HOPEFULLY!!!]

I don't think that's the sort of business these salespeople represent.

[But back to the salespeople, maybe their pitch can help, so--]

Do you remember what was said to you as he shoved the ring on your finger?

[ Oh. That's better, isn't it?

Bodhi frowns, twisting his hands together as he tries to recall just what the man had been saying before being pulled in against his wishes.

It's not better. Actually, he feels quite awkward now, wishing he hadn't bothered her. ]

Ah. I think it was something about "helping me find my better half"... [ suddenly, the air feels distorted, not a result of panic (like the first few times something like this happened, when he thought it was all in his head). She's going to think him weird now, or a creep and he can't even run away until they've figured this out! The surroundings seem to blur and take on a slight tinge of red as embarrassment floods him. He adds quickly, trying to abate the effects: ] but I could be wrong!

[ And honestly, he'd need to find a better three-fourths, otherwise there'd still be a difference to make up. ]

[The effects don't particularly faze her at this point, not on their own, anyway, but they do help her figure out how Bodhi must be feeling. She gives him a reassuring smile, hoping it'll help him in the same way it helps to cause the color of their surroundings to return more to normal.]

Well, it gives me an idea of what they're likely looking for.

[Or at least, a few ideas that may or may not work, but it's a better start than before.]

I can't be your "better half," but I don't mind helping you get out of this.

[And even if they have to go back to the salesperson to demand an answer as to how to get the ring off, so be it. But for now, since they're stuck for the foreseeable future, she may as well introduce herself. That might also help clear up the blur and lingering red tint.]

My name is Leia.

[ The effects are so unnecessary, for someone who has in never been good when it comes to masking his own emotions all that well. It only makes them all the more obvious to any onlookers. But Leia isn't angry, or telling him off.

So that's something.

Bodhi sighs, giving her a slight, apologetic and relieved quirk of his lips (that's not quite a smile, but close). ]

Thank you. For helping me, I mean. Hopefully it's not too much of a bother for you.

[ The red haze slowly begins to dissipate. ]

Bodhi Rook.

I think going back to the seller would be a good place to start.

Edited (what are words?) 2017-02-05 21:23 (UTC)

You're--

[Leia's eyes go wide with recognition as she hears his name. They may never have met, but his name is one she's heard before. Of course it is. This place and its propensity for bringing people here who were long since gone in her own time is well known to Leia, but Bodhi somehow is someone she never thought she'd meet.

Her expression relaxes into a soft, friendly sort of smile, before gently starting to lead him back in the direction he seemed to come from. Hopefully he'd be able to point out just which stall gave him the ring.]

I think you and I have a bit of catching up to do, actually, Bodhi. We can talk on our way there.

Right, okay. [ There's recognition in her eyes which throws Bodhi off balance slightly, head cocked to the side. It doesn't surprise him that the feeling isn't returned, he knows his memory is a fragile thing - a lot in there that he still can't place or piece in the correct order, not after what Saw had done to him.

It should worry him, but somehow he knows he's never seen her before - not in his time in the Empire (and he thinks she doesn't seem like anyone from there) or his brief time in the Rebellion (he'd only seen the room where they'd asked for his story, and the council room - which had been very full of people).

While he'd been somewhat in a rush on his way over, he at least thinks he'll be able to find the guy again. A few paces away and Bodhi finally looks at her. ]

You know me. I'm sorry, but I don't think we've met.

[she shakes her head in confirmation, because no, she hadn't met him. She would have liked to have met him, to know more about the people who helped save the rebellion, but that wasn't possible back home for obvious reasons. Here, though. Here she could do something about that.]

You're right, we haven't met. But, I know that I owe you a deep debt of gratitude.

[she's not sure what time Bodhi might be from, and indeed there are only a few points she would even recognize if he mentioned them. But that won't stop her from being thankful for what he did for them all.]

I should have given my full name earlier. I'm Leia Organa.

[she'll gladly explain further if needed, but generally the Organa name was one easily recognizable to most from their galaxy.]

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TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY

D

!!!

!!! back at you, because bodhi is adorable

i'm having so much fun with this nerd idek

he's one of my favs from rogue one, so I'm happy to play off of him

him and k2, for me. anyways i hope i can do him justice for you!

k2 was also the best ;o; and I love him so far!

thank you!!

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