empatheias_ooc | TEST DRIVE: January

Entry tags:

*test drive

TEST DRIVE: January

— TEST DRIVE: JANUARY —

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 Monday, December 25 and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on January 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: As the holiday festivities end, the expectation of charity and giving back will be rearing its ambivalent head. Namely, Verens' very own Community and Otherworlder Assistance Centre will be recruiting for its many charitable projects and drives! Like all non-profit organisations of that nature, the expectation is for people to contribute and give without expecting anything in return - so roll up those sleeves and pull out that wallet, because this is going to cost in both time, money, and dignity!

Mr. Top Hat J. Roomba: Looks like you're one-half of the lucky pair who got recruited to go door to door, selling chocolate bars and magazine subscriptions. The money earned doesn't go to you, of course. At the end of the salesmanship, it all goes right back to the charity foundation! Sounds easy, right? Well, not so much. You see, the foundation has had an undue number of thefts lately from its volunteers - and while they're no accusing you, of course! - they are no longer financially comfortable leaving the volunteers unsupervised. Each pair will be followed by a watchful roomba-like device that will belt out situation-sensitive commands deduced by careful monitoring of the situation. It also wears a snazzy top hat.
100% Organic: The Community and Otherworlder Assistance Centre also spearheads an innovation of its very own making: the emotion-sharing program! There are two ways to participate. The first is assisting in imbuing donated cosmetic products with the very essence of happiness and cheer. Having trouble summoning that up on the spot? Not to worry, because you'll be doing it inside The Puppy Room! (Puppies 100% organic. Please, try to keep animal hair out of the bottles.) The second way involves randomly assigning two individuals together for a more traditional approach to emotion-sharing. In this, there's only one rule: don't make the other person cry. And yes, you may also have unrestricted access to The Puppy Room.
It’s The Furry Hour: Lastly, there is the culmination of giving back to the community by putting a smile on each and every child’s face. The best way to do that? Put on a costume, say, this one or this one or even this one, and wander through the streets! Be careful, though -- the costumes are sensitive to Dunamis and any symptoms of emotional distress, regardless of whether or not they’re highs or lows. There are strict fines levied to anyone who dares damage a costume, or you might just end up mopping floors for a month to pay it off.

• Prompt E: Dunamis magic, emotional effects, crystals... one can live in Empatheias without ever really understanding the basics of it. However, it's encouraged to take at least a few courses as it will make adjusting to this new world a lot easier. At the Welcome Center, an eccentric new instructor is offering advanced classes (with a twist!) to new and old attendants. Interested natives can also join the classes as well, and the ones that are available are:

Think Positive! One of the most common types of emotional effects comes in the form of flowers. The most simple example being if one feels overwhelmingly happy, then flowers will start to bloom around them. In this class, Otherworlders will be learning exactly that! To be precise, the class takes place inside a botanical garden, and the exercise is to think positively so that more flowers can bloom. Think negatively, and the flowers will die, or they'll entangle you, or grow poisonous. Easy, right? No! This is an advanced class and controlling one's own feelings is KEY. Because there's also a tiger on the loose. Wait, what? Don’t worry - it only preys on fear and anger, so remember your lessons!
Think Negative! It's also important to know how to harness one's negative emotions, because such feelings are just as valid and useful as the opposite. In this exercise, two students are locked in a meat freezer, and the way to pass the test is to make each other seethe with rage until their fiery emotions bring the place down to room temperature. Make sure to insult each other a lot, and don't hold back! Maybe talking about a painful past can help? Alternatively, what the instructor did not account for, is that passion can be fiery, too. Maybe a kiss will do the trick? Otherwise, somebody will get the students out of there in 40 minutes and give them a nice cup of hot chocolate along with an F.
Think… Neither! Lastly, apathy! It's just as important to know how to harness. This class is a little more traditional, in the sense that everyone is sitting at their desk and watching a slide show. Students can talk amongst themselves in class, but they must not show any emotion! It's a little difficult, however, as the slide show gets more and more outrageous the longer the class goes on. At first it's a series of tasty food, then it's cute animals, and then some scary monsters. After that it moves on to more provocative imagery, such as poverty, graveyards, and... male and female models posing naked. Close your eyes! Or leave the class with the person sitting next to you? Otherwise, just try not to react to anything that comes up on the screen. Knowing when to be apathetic can save your life in Empatheias, too!

• Prompt F: It's out with the old and in with the new! Winter— no— it's not winter that is coming, but rather, the Notus season. Which is winter, technically, but the lovely citizens of Verens and natives of Empatheias call it differently. The season brings about snowfall and occasional storms, which means activities outdoors are limited due to the weather. The various sports teams in Verens have become even more serious with their training. The coaches refuse to let their team members gain weight due to the cold, which is why they're opening their training sessions to the public. Challenge them and win a prize! Make sure these players are given hell, because they won't shape up otherwise.

Hit 'Em High. One of the less formidable teams who play Verens Hoop Ball (patent pending) are the Champsters. Nobody truly knows how the Champsters are in the league when their plays are so awful. The sport itself, the Empatheias equivalent of what Earthlings would call basketball, had only been founded close to ten years ago. There aren't any "legends" yet, but the Champsters are players who will likely never be found in the hall of fame. In any case, they've opened their gym to any contenders who wish to take them on; 1-on-1, 2-on-2, 3-on-3, or even a full-on game. The sad excuse of Hoop Ball players are a sad excuse, needless to say. They play and cry like newborn fawn, and their coach will give anybody who makes them cry a heavy slap on the back and a 500 sylvs gift cheque at Steambucks. Thanks for showing the Champsters how much they suck - maybe they'll get motivated to do better because of this!
There's No Crying in... The managers of the Verens Football (soccer) team are inviting everyone to enter their gym and join their training for the day. All participants receive a 500 sylvs gift cheque to be used at Steambucks! And as soon as one enters the indoor pitch, they will hear the coach of the team screaming his lungs out. "THERE'S NO CRYING IN FOOTBALL!" - and the phrase might strike you as odd. Isn't it supposed to be baseball? And then you hear the muffled sobs of some people at the end of the goal line. . . wait, what? Anybody nearby is going to get yelled at, as well. "Fall in line and add some emotion to each kick!" the coach shouts. And with the intensity of each kick and the added emotions to it, it's no wonder the goalkeepers are getting beaten up. The coach doesn't seem to care, though…
You're on Ice. Apart from the indoor sports being promoted even though it's winter, some Verens officials have frozen the lake just by the outskirts of town for ice hockey and ice skating purposes. There are even cones and other obstacles lined on the ice for people to pass, and the officials are giving out a 500 sylvs gift cheque at Steambucks (AGAIN?!) to anybody who can clear the obstacles. Just watch out for the pucks that are flying every so often. If it hits your head, don't worry! Be comforted by the knowledge that the ice hockey team is doing their best and are making sure they're strong enough for the next tournament.

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include crayons and/or pompoms.

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 E-2

[Harnessing negative emotions as a source of power? That sounds easy enough for Ravus, so even as the temperature plummets in the freezer, Ravus glares at the other person and snaps--]

Well? Are you going to stare at me like an empty-headed imbecile, or do you have anything worthwhile to say? Preferably as insulting as possible, if you're even capable of it.

[Nothing like a good round of verbal sparring to heat things up. Even without a response he can work himself into a bad mood, the air becoming charged and crackling with dangerous sparks of purple electricity. Yet it's no help in generating much heat; the freezer remains as cold as when they'd started.]

PROMPT C

If there is any way to block all thoughts shared and received through these amulets, I would like to know the method.

Immediately.

PROMPT D-2

[Ravus isn't an animal person in general, but if he had to pick any he could consider himself fond of, dogs wouldn't be an unlikely option, when Lunafreya's two pets -- if celestial messengers could be called such -- had been part of the Fleuret household since they were children. They had proven loyal, steadfast companions to his sister, even when she had no other. It's with those memories in mind that, when he thinks no one is looking, he reaches out with his clawed prosthetic to scratch one of the puppies on the head, a small smile forming on his face when it rolls over on its back. He rubs its belly, and it begins to wiggle in delight.

If anyone else enters the room, he'll shoot them a defensive and suspicious glare, as if daring them to ask about the puppies scampering around him and clambering on him. Go on, try it.]

WILDCARD

[Choose your own scenario! If you want to talk specifics, PM or contact me at

moonsilver. A side note: Ravus won't have any memory of his previous stay at Emp for convenience's sake. If you want to avoid any Episode Ignis spoilers, please let me know!]

My rage is a bit... worn out these days, shall we say.

[He is not entirely sure why he even let the instructor stick him in here. But, learning magic was always his strong suit, he rather enjoyed learning new ways to harness it. Besides, keeping himself warm in a meat locker was an easy enough feet with the materia on him.

Instead, he smirked at his partner and crossed his arm, leaning back against the chilled walls with an eyebrow raised. Besides, what he said wasn't a lie. Dying of an affliction that literally makes unable to reign in your anger and rage for several years will do that.]

Seems the only one with anything worthwhile to say is also brimming with... what was it called... dunamis? Please, continue, I'm all ears for the next forty minutes.

Edited 2017-12-22 05:23 (UTC)

[Ravus is new to using dunamis, but helpfully, his Oracle bloodline makes him more attuned to such arts than most, and his magitek arm -- itself powered by emotional energy here -- has its own amplifying effect, not unlike the way it increased his strength back on Eos.

At Genesis's response, the energy around him flashes in irritation as he narrows his eyes at the other man. Still, he's otherwise keeping it carefully harnessed and under control.]

I'm not here to provide a lecture, nor entertainment. If rage is no good to you, find some other negative energy to utilise.

Ravus.

[ Oh, so carefully. But Regis can certainly imagine how bad it may be if Ravus is getting all the messages. ]

You can choose to not 'pick up,' so to say.

I'm aware.

[...Which might as well be an admittance that he just responded to Regis without ignoring him. Hi.]

What concerns me more is sharing or receiving... unwanted thoughts. I have heard such accidents happen frequently.

[There is one who is going to dare, and seems unaffected by the defensive glares he's getting from Ravus. I mean, look all these cute puppies!]

Awww, they really like you! Ah, no, wait--! [Now a few of them are coming over to Naruhodou.]

They most certainly do not.

[So he says, as one scrambles over him high enough to stand on its back paws and lick his face. He looks up at Naruhodo, scowl still firmly in place.]

Are you prepared to take over? Good, this place was beginning to test my patience. [...But he's not making any effort to move out of his puppy-covered prison just yet.]

[He frowns, looking to the man, to the puppies and then back.]

I don't think these puppies are ready for you to leave though.

I thought this was a charity drive, not an animal daycare. As it is, I'm woefully unable to produce the required emotion in useful quantities, so I'm sure you'll be more than adequate as a replacement for me.

[Which is all nonsense, but he's looking for the fastest possible way out of this situation with his pride intact. Carefully, he picks up the puppy in his mismatched hands and sets it down on the ground, then gets to his feet, trying to shoo away the remaining dogs pawing at his legs.]

[He laughs softly, watching the puppies still trying to keep Ravus here. Some are tugging on his coat.]

Are you actually trying? I feel like you're holding yourself back... [That smile he saw before he came in, that was pretty genuine, he's sure.]

[stop laughing oh my gods!! His scowl deepens as he tries to extract one puppy latched onto his coattails. For all his experience with dogs, Pryna and Umbra were never pushy like this.]

Why would I hold myself back? That would be a waste of everyone's time, including mine.

[He's not trying to be mean! Honest!]

I could have sworn I saw you smiling a few moments ago...

Not at all. This experience has taught me puppies are noisy, pushy, messy, and they have teeth like needles that chew everything. There's nothing enjoyable about their company--

[He's cut off mid rant as he finally yanks a puppy free, only for it to topple over with a yelp. Worried, he crouches down again to check he hadn't hurt it.

n-not that he's worried or anything, baka!!]

. . . [You're doing a really good job convincing you don't care there. He kneels down beside him, joining in inspecting the puppy was all right.]

I won't tell anyone, if that's what you're worried about.

[The pup is back on its feet and licking both their hands soon enough, tail wagging and distress instantly forgotten. At least it's easily distracted.]

Don't be ridiculous. I am not ashamed of how I spend my time. As blood of the Oracle, it is-- merely my duty to pledge my services to others, even despite personal inconvenience.

[Because he looks so inconvenienced by being surrounded by cute baby animals. Yup.]

Right... [He doesn't sound very convinced.]

In that case, wouldn't it go against your duty, if you abandon the company of these puppies?

You could always just take it off.

Edited 2017-12-23 00:09 (UTC)

That would be the straightforward solution, yes. But there are certain people I would still wish to communicate with using these, and only them.

Is there no way to customise the amulets to make such a thing possible?

Unfortunately, not that I'm aware of. Things can be sent to specific people, but I don't think it works the other way around.

Short of anything else, you'll just have to learn to ignore it.

[He likes to straight-up keep his off anyway.]

[sigh]

An inconvenience, but I'll keep it in mind.

[ The glare doesn't deter her. If anything, it drives her further into the room with a light smirk playing on her lips. It's good to see her brother again, especially now that she's in a far better place than she was when he first arrived. She understands how much their relationship has changed and the beauty in that growth.

Besides, his being present also means she can share a moment with him she otherwise wouldn't be able to -- her wedding. She's never been one to avoid volunteering, though this is a far greater surprise than expected. ]

Perhaps you should look into taking that one with you.

[Glaring aside, his sister is perhaps the one person he doesn't mind lightening up a little around and showing that he's, you know, actually capable of emotions besides "angry" and "even more angry". He gives the puppy one last scruff on the head as it squirms back onto its feet, then looks back at Lunafreya.]

Me, with a pet? I could not imagine it.

[He's spent far too long in the military to even consider anything like that before now. Would he even be any good at taking care of an animal?]

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TEST DRIVE: January

Ravus Nox Fleuret | Final Fantasy XV

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C

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/shows up 8000 years late with Starbucks, D-2

but what kind of starbucks