empatheias_ooc | TEST DRIVE MEME: JULY

Entry tags:

!mod,
*test drive

TEST DRIVE MEME: JULY

— TEST DRIVE: JULY —

Welcome to

empatheias' first ever 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 Friday, July 18th and Applications open Friday, July 25th. Game will begin Friday, August 1st.
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!

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

PROMPTS

• Prompt A: Create any scenario that could cause your character to display some kind of emotion, be it big or small, and write out how it changes the immediate area. Are there literal sparkles everywhere because they're so happy? Or is the ground starting to twist and warp due to their anger or frustration? Things exploding? Rain clouds? Since this is a test drive, don't worry about any limitations on effects—just write whatever comes to mind!

• Prompt B: The following are generic task board prompts that characters could have taken up as a job.

You have to collect X number of materials. Find a partner to make it easier!
There's a hostile creature attacking some of the neighboring farms. If you got a weapon, they could definitely use your help!
How about helping around the town? Delivering something, helping patch up a sign, cleaning out some of those rusted gears—the locals would definitely warm up to everyone.
Make up your own task/quest!

• 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 influx of people suddenly appearing, the locals are a bit on edge. So rather than having your character’s emotions affecting the environment, someone else's is affecting them! Maybe they were just passing by and someone had an emotional outbreak of sorts. Now they have to figure out how to deal with the aftermath—or will their own emotions make it worse? Needless to say, NPC godmodding granted 100%.

• Prompt E: Make your own! It can even involve booze and/or cats.

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's not wise, hence why he does it.

Though he's too busy trying and failing to turn what was just said into some kind of innuendo when he notices how the guy looks at Dogmeat, who by now is staring right back with his monochromatic eyes. The dog still seems anxious, but he's no longer whining. It was weird, in this place Dogmeat seemed ten times more sensitive to other people's bad moods than back home.

Then again, said bad moods make the ground crack here sometimes, so.]

[Roy shrugs, blowing a string of smoke off to the side.]

Don't bother me none. [There's some blatant sizing up happening on Roy's part. After a moment a small smirk creeps to his face.] Just offerin' a little helpful advice.

[ Seeing the way the man sizes him up has IV torn between tensing and taking advantage of the situation. Neither is probably the best idea and just letting it roll off his back, and yet...

IV takes a few slow, deliberate steps forward, keeping that hand on his hip as he approaches. This has 'bad idea' written all over it, but, well, IV seems to attract bad ideas. At the very least, his previous irritation has toned down, distracted by this guy. ]

Helpful advice? I wasn't aware being helpful meant telling someone to stop doing something that's not under their control. That's great.

[ He sighs and shakes his head a bit, attempting to shrug it off. Not that it helps much. ]

What's its name?

[Being approached would normally have Roy tensing a little, but he wasn't in the wasteland. And even though he knew that didn't mean he shouldn't still be cautious, he allowed himself to remain casual in his stance anyway. He had his rifle -- holstered comfortably at his back -- should he be attacked. And Dogmeat wouldn't let anyone get close to him if they were hostile, so Roy was more inclined to let his wasteland paranoia slip just a little bit.]

Hey, sometimes a simple "calm the fuck down" is enough.

[Not that he thought it would be particularly helpful in this case. He just wanted to bother him.]

His name is Dogmeat. [As the cigarette draws near to its end, Roy pulls it out of his mouth with one final blow of smoke and tosses it to the ground, putting it out with his boot.] You a dog lover, huh?

[Because he totally caught that look earlier.]

[ IV honestly has to roll his eyes at that. ]

And sometimes, a simple "calm the fuck down" just pisses people off more. People like me.

[ Though, he's caught off guard by the question, and his immediate need to be defensive about something that could be perceived as a weakness flares up. Folding his arms over his chest, IV glances away and chews on the inside of his cheek a little, avoiding making eye contact with either of them. ]

They're alright. But what the hell kind of name is that?

[ Not that he can talk - he named his dog something that was less a dog name and more a person name. ]

I see that.

[That's what drew Roy to even speaking up, in all honesty. If this guy didn't have a metaphorical dark cloud hanging over his head with a glare that kills, he likely wouldn't have even bothered with him. Maybe.]

Dogmeat? [Roy gives a light shrug of his shoulders.] You'd have to ask his original owner that one. I don't see nothin' wrong with it, though. He's a dog. Made up of dog meat. [He huffs out a laugh.] It's direct.

[And Roy likes when things are direct.]

[ ... Okay, when it's put like that, he supposes it's an alright name. It gives other implications but, whatever, it gets an amused half-smirk out of IV even for a little while. ]

Alright, I suppose that's okay. At least it isn't some bullshit like 'Fluffy'.

[ Finally looking at Roy, the smirk fades as he steps closer and crouches down in front of Roy, holding out his hand to the dog with his other pressed against the wall behind him. His patience doesn't normally last long, but honestly, he's missed his dog for years, and just for this chance, it's worth taking a deep breath and attempting to calm down his whirlwind of thoughts and subsequently emotions if it means getting the chance to pet a dog.

Congratulations, Roy. This may have been the longest IV's ever been quiet in his life. ]

Either way, he's a good boy.

[Understatement of the century, in Roy's opinion. But he has the habit of downplaying the amount of love he has for this dog when talking to other people. Truth is Dogmeat is his best and only friend, and he's not sure what the hell he would be doing if he didn't find him at that scrapyard.

Roy watches carefully as IV kneels before him (oh yeah) to pet the dog. If it's one thing he was used to, it was Dogmeat getting a hell of a lot more attention paid to him than Roy ever had. And the dog responds well to attention, skipping the hand sniffing routine and going right for a lick to IV's face.]

Hey -- he likes ya. [Then again, he liked anyone who wasn't shooting/stabbing/or attempting to hurt either of them.] So, now that you're touchin' my dog, does that mean I get a name?

[ The moment Dogmeat goes in for the face, IV settles properly on both of his knees and curls his arms around the dog, more than content to let him lick his face. He closes an eye and turns his head slightly, and maybe there's actually a genuine smile on his face - it's been so long since he's been able to be near a dog. When everything went to shit, they'd had to get rid of it, and things still aren't quite fixed back home so it's not likely he's going to end up getting another one any time soon.

So this? This is really nice. Animal therapy is probably exactly what he's needed all this time. Hearing the request for his name, IV looks up (and it's then when he notices his proximity, gaze lingering for a little longer, but he's behaving himself... for now) with a cocky smirk on his face. He imagines the man notices too, and that's about the only reason for it.

It takes everything he has to keep from saying something more inappropriate in response than just giving his name. ]

It's IV. I guess I should ask for yours in return, huh?

[So that's how it is. Roy takes note of the smile on his face as he plays with Dogmeat -- yeah, he totally had a soft spot for dogs. That doesn't mean Roy's going to be showing his any time soon, but it definitely gives him points in Roy's eyes.

Also giving him points, that cocky smirk that he gives when he stares a little too long. Roy looks down to meet IV's gaze, features neutral as he shoves his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket. He makes no move to shift this (what most people would deem "awkward") position.]

IV, huh? [He's heard some strange names in the wasteland, most from people who named themselves, so he doesn't have anything to say on it.] Some people call me the Lone Wanderer, but since I think you're an alright cat I'll give you my name. It's Roy.

[He actually gives his name all the time, he's just trying to sound cool, really.]

[ "Cat"? IV quirks a brow at that, but he lets it slide simply on the basis that he's the first one here not to actually question his pseudonym. It already makes Roy a bit better than the rest - feels a little like home because of it. Just a little though, because talk about fucking outdated.

Scratching a bit behind Dogmeat's ears with both hands, IV keeps his smirk in place, eyes not leaving Roy's at all. ]

So what about you makes you a 'lone wanderer', hm? No one around where you're from?

[ Boundaries? What boundaries? IV leans in a bit closer, gaze moving straight in front of him before he leans down to invite Dogmeat to lick at his face some more - it's attention, he'll take it. ]

[Dogmeat is for sure enjoying the attention, wagging his tail happily as he's scratched behind the ears. He's completely unaware of the cocky-stare-down going on between his owner and this stranger.

When he leans in, Roy only shifts enough to stand with his feet side by side instead of one behind the other. Meanwhile Dogmeat accepts the invitation to lick IV's face, bringing up a paw to rest on his shoulder.]

I wouldn't say 'no one'. Most of them are just-[He brings one hand out of his pocket to make a vague hand gesture]-violent, insane, and so on. Safer to travel alone.

Well, almost alone. [He gestures to the dog.]

[ IV easily notices the shift of Roy's stance, gaze flicking straight ahead, and it just makes that cocky grin widen. That's an invitation if he ever saw one. Not one that he'll take up so quickly (he's not desperate he reminds himself, even if maybe he is), but maybe sooner rather than later.

He moves a hand down to scratch at Dogmeat's side when he puts his paw on IV's shoulder like that, looking down at him to give him acknowledgement that yes, he's paying attention to him. Though his gaze easily flicks back up to Roy's as he listens to him, and maybe he pays attention to Roy's hand as well, like he's expecting something. (You're not desperate, IV.) ]

Violent and insane. Sounds like my family. [ And himself, but he'd rather not go there. ] But hey, whatever keeps you alive. It almost sounds kind of nice, traveling almost alone.

[Roy's finally letting his neutral, "cool" look let up a little, a smirk slowly creeping to his face.]

If your family was this brand of "violent and insane" I'd wonder how you're alive.

[At that last comment, Roy forces a chuckle. If he weren't trying to uphold a certain appearance, he'd probably point out that it's nowhere near as nice as it sounds. That it was lonely, and given that he spent 19 years of his life living underground, completely unfamiliar and terrifying most of the time.

But instead he keeps the smirk.]

Ya know, aside from gettin' attacked by mutants and crazy people, it's kinda awesome. Dogmeat here's all the company I need.

[And sometimes when the loneliness is too much, the giant yellow super mutant he occasionally brings with him when he decides to swallow his pride. Or Charon; even though the guy doesn't say more than a word at a time, it's better than nothing.]

You interested in travelin' alone?

[ Pressing a hand against the wall again, IV takes in what Roy tells him and offers a bit of a shrug in return, his smirk fading as he thinks on it. ]

The thought's crossed my mind a few times. [ Though, he laughs unexpectedly, just a quiet chuckle, and he shakes his head. ] Even when I was a kid, I would try to run away from home with no one but my dog with me. What an idiot, right?

[ He sighs and gives Dogmeat a final scratch behind his ears, and he pushes himself to a stand, not bothering to step away from Roy in the least, and sliding his hand up the wall with him as he goes. ]

Either way, there are crazy people no matter where you go, no matter what family you come from. Some would say I'm crazy, but I think they're full of shit. I've just got a lot going on in my head, you know? [ He taps his temple with his free hand. ] A lot of shit to sort out up here. Plus getting away from my family... well, it's no different than how I was treated back then or even now. I'd just be doing them the favor of taking that first step.

[ Despite the lighter mood he'd tried to keep, it's clear it's darkened and he's dealing with too many emotions at once - the loneliness, the anger and hate and jealousy and sadness and it's stupid, there's no reason to let them even affect him when they aren't even fucking here, and IV squeezes his eyes shut to try to ignore it, to ignore the way he's affecting the environment with his negativity.

He can't go scaring Dogmeat, now can he? ]

Whatever. They aren't even here.

[Roy would be a little more excited (okay maybe he still kinda is) at IV's close proximity as he stands up if it weren't for what he's saying. Roy's eyes are narrowed as if he's looking on in suspicion, though in truth he's listening carefully to every word, taking it in. Wanting to leave home was a familiar sentiment. A very familiar sentiment. Of course now he'd give anything to go back, but he remembered what it was like to want to run away.

Once he realizes he's giving IV an intense stare, and that the younger man is diving head first into a shitty mood again, he shakes himself from his little strange reverie. The dog doesn't seem to be picking up on it quite yet, as he's sniffing around the area as he often does when he has nothing else to do.]

Ya know-[He almost says leaving sometimes is worse than staying behind, traveling alone isn't what's cracked up to be, or some bullshit words of comfort like that. But then he catches himself and silently wonders what the fuck he was thinking. He doesn't even know the guy.]--you should smirk more. Suits ya better.

[ Honestly, IV actually expects Roy to start spouting bullshit, and he's completely ready to snap and argue - it's what he does best, his father could surely attest to that and insult him in the worst way, all in the same breath. But instead, Roy says that and IV looks up, looking him straight in the eye (he realizes they're the exact same height and it puts all sorts of... interesting ideas in his head, but they're better ignored for now).

And as if complying to some kind of order, IV smirks. He's thrown off enough that it's easy to forget what he'd been pissed off about, and he idly wonders just how long he'll be here with this Roy, because unlike his fans back home, he's pretty sure he could stand being in this guy's general vicinity on a regular basis. ]

So what is it, you're saying I'm pretty then?

[ IV huffs out a laugh and leans in closer, keeping that cocky grin right on his face. It's a total 180 of his mood, but he figures that's what Roy was aiming for anyway and... well. IV's pretty glad about it too. No one's been able to really 'handle' him before, not without pissing him off even more. Appealing to his ego, though... Feed the lion what it wants, and it can purr like a housecat. ]

Just don't ask me for an autograph or you're just asking to be ignored.

[Normally Roy's all for egging people on, pissing them off. But it was the familiarity of what IV was saying that had Roy wanting to turn that mood around. That, and he really did like it when others smirked deviously at him. It's a sickness.

Roy cants his head to the side, completely okay with IV leaning closer.]

Pretty don't really do ya justice, babe. ["Pretty" was all well and good, but he'd say IV has something a step above.] Don't worry, an autograph ain't exactly on my mind right now.

[Unless that's code for something. Then maybe.]

[ If it were possible for IV's smirk to grow wider, it would have. See, there were a few key things about Roy that made IV actually consider his options, aside from what just happened not even a minute prior. The easiest one was that he didn't throw himself at IV right away - there were a few signals, but they didn't include Roy stripping himself down at the sight of him. (IV may have been a little desperate, but he sure didn't want to bother with someone moreso than he was.) ]

Then what is on your mind? Anything else, I can probably do for you.

[ Though, IV pauses and glances around, then lets out a heavy sigh as he pushes himself away from the wall and holds out his hand to gesture for Roy to follow him. ]

Well. I guess we should discuss this more in private. I don't feel like pissing off any of the locals just yet, do you? Follow me.

[ If this were any other time? He'd be all for doing it in public. And maybe he shouldn't have let the loneliness get to him so soon, but he isn't home. He isn't anywhere he knows, he's fucking alone and confused, and needy for the attention - company, no matter the form, is familar. He's a big boy, he can handle himself. ]

[ FADE TO BLACK I GUESS THIS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED DAMN. ]

Edited 2014-07-12 04:26 (UTC)

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TEST DRIVE MEME: JULY

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