TEST DRIVE: October

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: OCTOBER —

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 Sunday, September 24 and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on October 1st. Apps will only be open for four days!
  
  
• 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!
  
  
• Transfer to in-game. If accepted, you can assume threads made on the Test Drive happen in-game if the scenario can reasonably fit. These threads do not count toward AC.

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: With the crystal having been mysteriously stolen, the weather has been nothing but uncooperative, lately. Actually, uncooperative is an understatement. Just yesterday, it was raining frogs! Now, well…

1. In the Sky with Diamonds. You might be walking in the streets or in the safe confines of a building when it begins to hail. It's not just any ordinary hail. Instead of ice falling from the sky, it's little beads and pieces of… you guessed it: diamonds! Some are actually fake, but there are some that are genuine. Only the experienced eye will be able to tell. The catch is, it only rains diamonds for ten seconds. And in this short span of time, people have gone berserk over the stone. Looks like some are eager to sell what they've collected, while some are fighting over what "should be theirs". Are you one of those people opportunistic enough to make money out of this, or are you doing something else of your own?
   
2. One in a Melon. The crazy weather has not only been affecting the people living in Empatheias, but also the flora and fauna. The fruit stands everywhere have been selling all kinds of hybrid fruit, ranging from melons the size of a building to blue grapes that taste like chocolate! The latter sounds oddly delicious, truth be told. The vendors are all for giving free samples to anybody who passes by, too. In fact, there's one fruit stand that seems to be selling really well. Investigate, and you'll be given a slice of pineapple! Take a bite, and it tastes like Hawaiian pizza. Is this heaven or hell?

• Prompt E: It's safer to stay indoors given the strange weather, but you can't help but go out in the streets and explore! You're in a new world, after all. There is so much to see! Of course, when it begins to rain cats and dogs (either literally or figuratively), you look for a place to hide. Somehow, you've managed to enter a building that's dark, only lit by a flame in the middle of the room. There are a lot of hooded men and women surrounding the flame.

1. Welcome! When they notice someone else enter, they all look at the door's direction. "Ah! It seems we have a new arrival. Welcome to the Ortheias. You are now in a world where your magic can change the emotions of people. What is your name?"
   
   It looks like you've entered the headquarters of some roleplaying cult. Try and leave, and they will explain to you that nobody can leave. Nobody even knows why they're here. And then someone will casually whisper to you these exact words: "As an OOC Note, we will all leave in an hour and half from now." Do you create a character, or do you play as yourself?
   
2. Getting Acclimated. With everyone in the room doing their own thing and "gathering relationships", as they so put it, you've been left to your own devices. Do you talk to other people who might be stuck here for an hour and half, or do you practice your "Emanis"? It seems that this fictional world they've created lets each person manipulate the other person's emotions by casting spells. A short display of fire can make someone angry, or making flowers appear out of nowhere might make the other person happy. Of course, these are all fake and the cult just narrates their usage of magic without actually displaying it.
   
3. An Event! Towards the end of the roleplaying session, the "roleplay moderator" announces an event! One of the guardians of Ortheias, the Durathei of fire and ice, Seesonne, has attacked the city of Snerev! A part of the city is now burning, while the other half is encased in ice! What would you do in this situation? People are panicking, so you must stop them from worrying too much!

• Prompt F: While Halloween does not exist in this world, Otherworlders have been present long enough for the natives to slightly change their calendar. For the month of Empta (October), they wish to make sure the Otherworlders are feeling at home by celebrating Halloween! They know nothing about it, but they are going to try and replicate the feeling!

1. Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo. For the rest of Exi (September), farmers are asking Otherworlders to help them harvest pumpkins. Thanks to the strange weather recently, these pumpkins have grown to be the size of a car. They're rather big! What's more, they've also grown legs and can run! It appears they don't want to be caught, but anyone who gives chase will be able to get them to stop easily. Just chop off its legs! And to make it inanimate, one has to carve a face on it.
   
2. What's Your Favourite Scary Story? To prepare for what's to come next month, the natives are asking Otherworlders to go to the Welcome Centre every weekend for a meeting of sorts. One will be able to find refreshments and snacks there, and there are a lot of people listening to speakers who rotate every so often. It seems these speakers are talking about their favourite scary stories. Perhaps you're one of the listeners, or you're speaking and sharing yours! Things are beginning to be spooky, though, that's for sure.
   
3. It Leaves a Good Taste in Your Mouth. Children are selling cookies door-to-door, and the only type of cookies they're selling are maple leaf cookies. It's only 10 sylvs a box, and taking just one bite will send one to heaven! It's so delicious that it might make anyone who eats it react in a strange way (the video is just an example, not the exact reaction). Spectate at how people react to these maple leaf cookies, or be the one that gathers a lot of attention!

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include cat ears and/or nail polish.

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

[deicidii]

[He flies off when the pumpkin suddenly comes to a stop, but he's hopping up and dusting himself off soon enough.]

Peachy. [Never mind the bobbing orbs of darkness floating around that almost seem to match the irritated scowl on his face. ... Both of which only seem to intensify with the 'admirable attempt' comment.

He stretches with a sigh.] I didn't think I'd need a sword to deal with some fruit. I just figured I'd be fine with a knife...

[As if to emphasize his point, he unsheathes what appears to be a dagger... which, yeah, probably wouldn't have cut through the legs without some sawing involved. Nanashi hiiiiiightly doubts these things would've stayed still for that.]

[baymaxing]

[He blinks, almost distracted with the sudden plants and all, but then, this place and emotions...Hiro's slowly thinking he's getting used to it. At least with other people's emotions showing up like that.]

Yeah? That sounds about right. I bet he's already told you lots of stories about me. And Honey Lemon -- I only met her and his other friends more recently, but. They're pretty cool too.

[It almost makes him both a little more comfortable and less so, in her obviously having the upper hand in having heard of him from Tadashi and Honey. But he is just meeting her himself yet.]

And I bet Honey Lemon's loving having a baking buddy. It's kind of her thing. Aside from the chemistry, I mean.

[arraignments]

[ He's finally at a position to see the person's face, and--

That's- ...Naoto Shirogane. She looks so much younger than what he'd expect. So, then, she's also from an earlier time than the one he's from?

Well, he... can't say he's especially surprised at this point, simply at the idea of people from various time periods, various worlds... all arriving here. Still, a small series of sparks surround his hands before he curls the fingers of each. Aside from the momentary blink and obvious staring, he doesn't do anything beyond give a thoughtful look.

After those several seconds, he's nodding. ] That should work out just fine, I think. I know a few who might be more than happy to help put an end to this. I'll reach out to them first before asking for help from the rest of the otherworlders.

[carian]

[ What was that about, he wants to ask but Hiro seems so shaken that he opts not to say anything about it anymore. Instead, Tadashi taps Hiro's shoulder playfully and gets a move on to look for a bucket. Truthfully, given how small it is, they can just look for dirt and step on it, but Hiro doesn't even want Tadashi near a fire. Stepping on it might not be the best way to get rid of the fire.

(Though by the time they get back, somebody else has extinguished it...) ]

When I got here, [ he begins, adjusting the cap on his head so bill is facing forward. ] I created a fire, too. I didn't mean to. Guess we really are brothers, huh?

[roseeclair]

[Yup, Makoto's emotions are definitely floral for the most part (save for thunder and lightning). At least it's less dangerous than fire... unless you have a plant allergy.]

Yeah, they've both been really good friends to me; hopefully I'm returning the favor for them.

[She hands him the menu she'd already finished perusing before the fire started.]

Anyway, are you hungry? You seem calmer now, but we can still get you that water and something to eat if you want. My treat~

SMTIII Nocturne Featuring Nanashi from SMTIV:A

[worldrestored]

[Flames. He's about to see flames (on the side of his face?) as the Naoki raises his hands into the sky, the fire spreading from his arms to hands and shooting towards the pumpkin.

The thing gets burned from the front, as it gets knocked to the side, it's legs dangling into the air. Rather pathetic really.

The demi-fiend looks over to him right afterwards, as if he has a feeling the other might do something as well. There was something about him, after all...]

[baymaxing]

[Hiro seems to calm a little more as they find a bucket, as Tadashi taps at his shoulder in that familiar movement. He just gives a shrug once they return and find the fire already put out. If anything, he's just relieved if it didn't spread and cause trouble, didn't seem to hurt anyone.]

You did?

[But he thankfully seems to swallow down that initial panic, since Tadashi seems just fine now so obviously the fire..the one here, that was fine and dealt with, like his was. It's just not a combination Hiro is comfortable with. Before, he might think this more like a joke, but. Not so much after the expo.]

I'm still not sure if I'll ever get the hang of the whole....emotion thing here. But that Dunamis seems kind of cool, if we did learn how to control it?

D.1

[ninjainviolet]

Iago! Don't make me pluck you!

[ And she reaches up to grab a feather. ]

If you want some, all you have to do is ask!

[ After all, her hairstyle's caught quite a bit. ]

[baymaxing]

Returning the favor by rescuing me? I guess you could say that.

[Though he is pretty sure if either of them heard about this, neither his brother or Honey Lemon would be surprised. Honey especially, if she heard on Hiro's little freak out over the fire. Which was not just because he might have got in trouble somehow.

He takes the menu though, reading over it after taking a moment to sniff and take in the scent of the place.]

Sure. I could eat. [He may have been distracted lately in trying to read up on things here as best he could since his initial arrival, so meals might not have been as much a priority as they should have been.]

D1 also sorry Sae

[deathboss]

"Well diamonds are usually a lot higher than my paygrade, but the fates have smiled upon the great Michel!"

Eikichi has a bunch of them in his hands as well (all fake, he would later find out due to his luck) but right now he stood next to Sae looking over to her 'bouty'. Perhaps memories of a bygone era in Japan's past would be clearly showcased in this youth's ancient school outfit and makeup. This guy was certainly something else...

"Don't let the others try to take them from you...granted I'm not sure how much they'll be worth if everyone has them..."

[sentaifanboy]

[The fact telepathic words were now an everyday basis was still strange (but amazing!) to him. Gai replied back with an almost childish enthusiasm.]

Excellent! I haven't even started to show my true strength yet! [But still, Gai was who he was, and curiosity and the willingness to work as a team took over.]

What do you have in mind?

[roseeclair]

[Well, she meant more like being as good a friend to them as they were to her, but she didn't want to get TOO sappy about it.

Sheesh, they even EAT the same, don't they?]

Great! This place brews a nice cup of tea, and their sandwiches are really good too, but they have a pretty good pastry section if you're in the mood for something lighter and sweeter.

[Not as good as Sweetie Pies' pastries, of course, but Makoto's developed a hard and fast bias since working there.]

[necromomicon]

Yeah, but...

[The wind turns cold for just a moment.]

It's kind of hard to talk about. It probably won't happen again, anyway.

never apologize

[gambledfates]

This young man certainly is a character, that's for sure. It's almost like he walked straight out of a 90s show... Though she supposes it's entirely possible that he did, in fact, walk straight out of the 90s.

That's not really the main point to focus on, however; her eyes go to the stones in his hands. Apparently he's just as into this collecting cloud-diamond business as all the others, but far too many people want to get in on whatever get-rich-quick schemes they can find, so it's not a huge surprise.

"I no expert on the prices of diamonds in Verens, but I can't imagine a short shower like this would drive down prices that much."

Ugh, what is she saying. Sae's shoulders slump a bit as she sighs; she's almost annoyed by the fact that she's reacting like this is an everyday occurrence, but this is what this place has driven her to.

[baymaxing]

Yeah? I could go for a sandwich. I think I have enough money if I wanted to get something else with it too.

[Of course whatever cash he might have had on him at the time he was pulled here is useless, since it isn't sylvs. But he's trying to figure the local currency, more out of necessity obviously, than any actual interest in this place's economics.]

[deathboss]

Reddish eyes look back at her and her words of wisdom before resisting the urge to just tossing his behind him.

"Bah! I don't know if its worth the effort. Diamonds may be a girl's boyfriend (he means best friend) but they aren't really my style, after all. Maybe if it rained silver bracelets...now we'd be talking!"

There's something about this woman, however...normally he's not one to strike a conversation of perfect strangers, but she stood out - clearly not from this world like him.

"So anyway, name's Eikichi Mishina, mam, at your service! I win the Dragon Bathouse and Spa...and a lot more things at this point!" Look what a polite boy (mostly cause you're older than him). Also hadn't he called himself Michel before? What a bizarre boy.

[roseeclair]

[She shakes her head.] Don't worry about it. Like I said, my treat this time!

[Once a waiter steps outside, Makoto lightly beckons them over.]

I'll have a rose tea and a turkey and Brie sandwich on whole wheat, please. How about you, Hiro?

[gambledfates]

I see.

[Sae hasn't been here very long, but she's been here long enough to match the unnatural change in temperature with the pained look on Futaba's face. It's a sensitive issue, whatever it is, and she won't make the girl relive it for now. She can ask the others instead, whenever she sees them.]

... I have other questions, but they're better asked under a roof. [She doesn't want to get rained on again, even if the next shower is just water.] You seem to have been here for longer than I have, so why don't you show me somewhere we can sit and talk?

[necromomicon]

I guess... I could show you the apartment, but it's kind of a long walk. It might be easier to fly there.

[that should probably be worrying, especially with how casually she dropped that.]

[baymaxing]

You're sure? Okay. Then I'll get the chicken sandwich, a hot chocolate and the caramel slice, thanks.

[He thanks the waiter and passes his menu along so the waiter can take it so it doesn't potentially get ruined while they were eating by any spilled drinks or something. He's used more to handing out people's food and taking the orders himself, not sitting here and being served. But at least it doesn't take long for their food, though the drinks take a little more time in heating up.]

Not sure if I miss helping Aunt Cass at the cafe or not. But I guess I can do some of the odd jobs on that task board for now until I figure something more permanent to help out.

[roseeclair]

Ah, right, Tadashi talks about her a lot too, especially when one of us is cooking! [And, let's be honest, a good 75% of Mako's interactions involve her making food, so Aunt Cass has come up a lot.] Did she teach you how to cook too? I know some other eateries around the city that wouldn't say no to an extra hand or two.

[baymaxing]

I guess that isn't surprising either. That he mentioned her. She did take us in and she puts up with a lot from us. Well, me especially. But I know some basics? Though I guess that might depend how much food prep they might want. I'm used to taking orders and giving those out, at least.

[The 'customer service' side of things. Which works, because the regulars knew him from forever ago and adored him, more likely to laugh at stories of his latest shenanigans than tell him off for it, most of them.]

But it's worth considering. I might ask around. I've mostly just been reading up on this place and learning what I can so far.

you're the best (I'M GLAD since. i mean... /vague gesture at the everything)

[arraignments]

...Well, there's definitely something that has her feeling so strongly surprised. She hadn't reacted strongly at being bumped into, save for those sharp words. Well, he's sure things will come to light soon enough. In some ways, possibly sooner than he'd like for them to. It's probably outright stupid, however, to want to pretend for even a second that everything could be "normal." There's no point dwelling, right? It won't fix anything, and why in the hell should at part of him want to go back to that time... heh...

Incidentally, there are a lot of things he could be saying or doing to "make the most" of his time here, as Kurusu had insisted. He could be talking more to the members of the Phantom Thieves. He could be reaching out more. Some part of him knows all of this, and yet... Heh. No scenario that plays through his head ends favorably for either party. While a firm punch to the face had been one hell of a way to get him to finally, really listen to someone and maybe take some words to heart, it doesn't have him running around and begging for forgiveness.

Even without the warning from Mishina -- the mention that this will be hard, that forgiveness is only for the other person -- he wouldn't be doing that. Besides, making amends here won't fix anything back home; they would return to their time, in their world, and remember none of this. While he will only be going back for the sake of no longer existing.

So, while he's dropping the empty smile and the possibly far-too-forced, calm tone, he isn't dropping everything. No, there's still some level of force behind his voice and his expression. Especially at her words. Especially at the mention of-... ah...

He's holding a blink for just a second longer than necessary, eyes opening to rest on her, and then rest off to the side. Unfortunately for him, his eyes give it away. That first conversation he had with her, with Oracle, back in the jungle, replays in his head, even now. And even without his eyes to give it away, there are the clouds darkening in color, thickening as one corner of his lips lifts in the faintest of wry smiles.

Either Sae's already learned everything during her time back home by now, so nothing will be a surprise to her... or she'll be learning everything from him for the first time. Whichever the case, he might as well go ahead and confirm what she does or doesn't know. A quiet breath escapes and he turns more towards her, his fingers curling and uncurling as he tries to will away the small sparks that occasionally dance along them. One hand moves to rest on his hip, the other hand just barely gesturing to the side.

"All things considered, it's only fair she doesn't want to bring me up, wouldn't you agree? "

[roseeclair]

[That's... definitely something new for Makoto to hear. Tadashi's only mentioned the boys' mother once in passing, and certainly not about why they lived with their aunt instead of her. Still, there's a sad, knowing glint in her eyes as she nods at the story.]

I won't pry, but... I'm glad you two had someone to take you in and teach you. Your aunt sounds like a good woman.

[Because it's a luxury she didn't have herself...

But then she tries to shake the thoughts (and increasing humidity) away and focus on the job hunting side of the conversation.]

Anyway, that all sounds good. It's a lot of information to take in, I know, but at least you have people from home who've been here a while who can help you get the hang of things. And me too; let me know if you need a partner for a task or some help with job networking!

B

[fantasized]

[ Guess what. It worked. ]

YOU!!

You need to come with me right now!