TEST DRIVE MEME: JULY

[simpathis]

— 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.

1. You have to collect X number of materials. Find a partner to make it easier!
   
2. There's a hostile creature attacking some of the neighboring farms. If you got a weapon, they could definitely use your help!
   
3. 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.
   
4. 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!

Comments

[grana]

"Do I look like the type of person who'd respect their elders?"

Ryudo meant to tell that to those other men. He just scoffs at them and sighs. The next thing Ryudo does is face-palm and wonder why he doesn't have the tolerance to put up with stuff like this. He's clearly producing more oil to the fire because this is not helping anyone at all.

"Hey, you over there."

He calls out to Shizuo this time. Shizuo's fairly quite for someone who's creating smoke out of his rage.

[hatesviolence]

It actually took a moment to realize that he had been addressed to because he was that focused on trying to keep his anger inside. But how long can he hold it?

"What?"

Now turning to actually look at the guy...

...What is this, some kind of cosplay?

While the place itself had its own unique sense of fashion, most of the people Shizuo had encountered had dressed rather normally. Not of modern day Earth like he was accustomed, but at least something that could pass off as normal clothes. This guy? Definitely not. So for a very brief moment, the surprise from seeing the outlandish styled teenager abated a little of his anger.

By maybe a fraction.

Because despite the surprise, the guys words and how the guy seemed still gave Shizuo a sense that this guy was some kind of delinquent. That and teenager was being rude to him. That did not settle with him well, either, but given the situation, he would hold back a little.

For now.

[grana]

"We ought to do something about this crack. Mind thinking more happy thoughts? Think of wee little fairies and it'll make everything go away. "

This crack is obviously trouble. Ryudo's trying to be kind of funny by making a bad joke. Maybe it'll get Shizuo to lighten up? He's failing horribly at trying to make things better. Ryudo is the worst guy for the job.

No one's really questioned his fashion before. Everyone wore silly clothing back then, but he just stands out more in a modern day and age.

[hatesviolence]

...Huh? Think happy thoughts? And what's this about a crack...?

Now, there were two ways this could have gone. If this were back in his world, those who knew him would have thought that the kid just dug his grave deeper. Telling this guy to think of fairies as well as telling him what to do? Inconceivable! The other way—that is, Shizuo actually following along with the kid—just would have seemed so far out of reach.

However, all Shizuo did was stare at Ryudo for a moment.

"Fairies?" There was no malice in his voice. In fact, it sounded very questioning and confused. "Why fairies?"

Instead of allowing his wrath to increase further or even release it, Shizuo just asked that simple question. There were two reasons for this. One was he just really had no idea why fairies would fix a crack let alone how he would even think of one.

They were those weird, little winged people used in fairy tales, right?

While back home he really probably would have exploded because fairies really are a ridiculous notion to bring up, he had come to accept the more fantastical elements of his world so the whole "fairy" and "pixie" thing was less far-fetched. And given how he is naturally, this acceptance had come about pretty quick. Still, he really didn't have much exposure to that sort of thing. Kadota's friends would probably be better able to do it. Maybe even Akane—kids her age like that sort of thing, right?

The second reason was that Ryudo had pointed out the damage. While he may have been subconsciously aware of the changes occurring due to the increased anger, having an actual focal point and being made aware of it also pulled him back a bit. This is particularly important as he didn't want to cause any actual physical damage to the world.

So unbelievably, Ryudo's words actually helped further diffuse Shizuo's anger, and the man trying to think of what a fairy was, including thinking about Akane, actually does help thin that ominous air quite a bit.

[grana]

"It doesn't have to be a fairy. Just think of things other than what's making you mad. See? It's working. "

Ryudo thinks he's on the right track so far: Shizuo isn't getting any madder.

"You feel any better yet?"

He's at a loss of what to say to this guy because they just met. Ryudo might actually be coming off as more awkward if anything. Calming people down isn't in his job description he isn't quite sure why he's doing this. One thing he does know is that the crack needs to go. His efforts haven't gone in vain and that's a good sign.

[hatesviolence]

There was definitely some progress being made, and it looked as if Shizuo was starting to cool off. In fact, a cool breeze actually came through, blowing away the smoke that had started to form.

"Ah..." Shizuo started to say, his voice quieter and a bit more apologetic than one might expect. "Yeah, sorry—"

However, another spark fell when the men from before started talking again. That is to say, they started placing the blame on Shizuo, saying it was, "that guy in the bartender suit's fault for starting this in the first place." Immediately Shizuo twitched and the once cool air turned into flaming hot. One might have expected fire to actually erupt from the area.

"What was that?" he said, his voice still low yet it was of a different kind. A kind filled with the rising anger he felt. Placing the blame on him when all he did was just walk by!?

The men only continued to worsen things by saying if "their kind" weren't here to begin with then things would remain peaceful. It almost seemed as if they were trying to deliberately provoke him to prove their point. And they were doing a top notch job because Shizuo's fists were definitely clenched and the crack that had slowly started to repair itself was widening again. Fast.

Fifteen seconds. If this wasn't resolved in fifteen seconds, things—or people—were bound to go flying. Literally.

[grana]

Ryudo walked up to the other men and raised his voice slightly. He wasn't trying to make anymore trouble, but someone has to step up.

"Leave the man be. He apologized."

What else does Shizuo need to do before those men leave him alone? Ryudo doesn't think it's fair that Shizuo's getting this kind of treatment. Instead of getting mad, he's trying to sort things out properly.

He's trying to resolve this in fifteen seconds. Too bad that isn't nearly enough time to get everything fixed.

[hatesviolence]

This was bad. Really bad. The clock was ticking. It was like that police interrogation room all over again.

Don't get mad, don't get mad, don't get mad—

But it was too late.

A low, deep rumbling came right beneath his feet as he spoke in a dangerously low voice.

"Going on and on...blaming us for things we didn't do..." It really, really pissed him off. "Is that really how you treat people, aaaaah!?"

As those words left his mouth, it was like the ground and air erupted around him. It was as if a large surge of air pressure slammed into the ground, causing it to crack and actually rise up. Again that heat whipped around them, sparks actually flying through the air, some threatening to actually ignite into flames.