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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[a nod. and then he tilts his head a bit.]

So...are you one of the officers here...?

[a genuine question since that's what he had assumed this whole time.]

[...Aaaah. That explains a lot as to the reactions of just about everyone. If they think he's an officer here, of course they're not going to cross him. How ironic.

But he simply shakes his head.]

No. I am not from here. I serve a different force. [One that...isn't here...

....still.]

I could not let an altercation like this one pass without stepping in.

Ah...sorry again, then.

[well he got the military aspect of it right. ish. he thinks for a moment.]

I wonder if they take in people from other worlds like us...ah, maybe not, since we don't really know all the rules and laws yet.

[because the guy seems like he would be a good fit, at least.]

[He's still not sure what Shizuo is apologizing for, reflected in the way that one of his eyebrows arches slightly. Of course, he has no interest in serving someone who isn't a part of the Yamainu--as their captain, his loyalty will always be to them, even if they ultimately report to someone higher up on the ladder. Still, it's an interesting suggestion.]

... Perhaps. I have no intentions of joining such a force.

[Honestly, if he had to pick between joining the police force of a world that dragged them here, no matter the reason, or standing on his own, he'll always pick the latter, even if it might not be healthy.]

I will do what I can on my own, and that will be enough. [...of course, he was assuming Shizuo was referring to him instead of himself, huh...] ...Do you have an interest in that?

[a shake of his head.]

Ah—no. I was just curious. Closest thing I did was being something like a bodyguard, though I should probably find a job, soon... [ah.] Sorry, I'm rambling.

[jeez man, that's like the, what, fourth apology in a row? he really is a polite one.]

Anyway, I'm sure you were in the middle of something.

[he's just walking around so he doesn't have any pressing matters, but this guy might. and he might have interrupted him so he feels kind of bad if so.]

[It's true that he's rambling, and it's not particularly of interest, but Sousei's not so terrible at human interaction that he'll begrudge him that. After all, they're in an awfully bizarre situation. He thinks he can probably handle some rambling.

And admittedly, he's not one to stick around when he has other places to be, but there are a few things to be accomplished first.]

I am Abe no Sousei. What is your name?

[Like that.]

[...ah. introductions would be good to do, yes. he's just not that used to it. he gives a polite nod of his head.]

Heiwajima Shizuo.

[there's a slight tilt of his head as he considers the guy's name.

Abe no Sousei... That's really old fashioned... Does anyone really go like that anymore?

by Shizuo's time, that particular naming convention had fallen into disuse, so the last time he had ever seen it had been through history and old literature books. however, it's not really his business to ask about it. for all he knows, it could be a weird family tradition. or he might not even be Japanese at all. that's not the usual military uniform at least.]

Are you from Japan?

[well, might as well ask. if he is, cool. if he isn't, eh whatever. wouldn't be the first time.]

[Old-fashioned is the name of the game, that's for sure. Still, nothing about Shizuo's name strikes him as strange--it's a properly Japanese name, and so he's nodding even as that question comes.]

I am. [He can kind of guess where the question is coming from; his uniform isn't the typical police uniform, nor properly military with the coloring of it. That said, he doesn't really feel the need to volunteer the information until it's asked. He'll share if need-be, but... the Yamainu have never been meant to be a particularly publicized group. They just happened to gain a Reputation anyway.

(The fact that his name is strange, on the other hand, hasn't crossed his mind at all.)]

Should I assume you are as well, then?

[It seems like it, anyway, but might as well cover his bases.]

[a nod.]

Yeah, Ikebukuro.

[it's a short answer, but that's really all that he felt needed to say. of course it doesn't occur to him that Ikebukuro might not even exist for the other man, or at least not as it is now.]

[That's like 60 years after his time so

Yeah, that gets a blank look.

Ike...bukuro....???? It's not like he goes everywhere in Japan all the time but he's at least pretty sure he's got a good grasp on the geography of the country he's pledged to protect.

...uh.]

Is that a small prefecture?

[blinks.

...Small...prefecture?

that gets Sousei a puzzled look.]

...It's part of Tokyo—a district in the Toshima ward. It might not be as large as some of the other places, but it's pretty big, I think. Toshima's overall population is... [he frowns a bit as he tries to recall. he doesn't pay particular attention to these kinds of details, but he hears about it every now and then either through the news or other places.] Ah...what was it...something over 260,000? Can't remember.

[... Okay, his generally stoic disposition is shifting into something a lot more puzzled as well.

??? 260,000 people? That's not something he would just...forget...]

I'm...unfamiliar with a place called Ikebukuro. [Especially as a part of the capital...

But he's not looking too amused by this.]

And I should not be. [How does he...not know this??] There is something strange about this.

[Hm?

granted, it's just a district so not everyone might have heard of it, like Akihabara or Shibuya, but it seems as if this guy should know it, maybe for his job? considering that Ikebukuro's where of Toshima's ward offices are and is like the business district for the ward. so if this guy really is part of some government force or something like that...he should probably know it.

and since Sousei is the first guy he's met that's from a non-modern Japan, he can't base ideas off precedent.]

Hm. Well it is just a district. [if...a...sort of important one?? sort of. well according to Wiki it's the second busiest station in Japan, so. what's something...] But it has the ward offices... [hence most of his confusion. but maybe some other landmarks?] The Sunshine 60 is there, too, and other big stores.

[and of course his Ikebukuro has the headless rider and such but he's not one to talk about things like that.]

[And likewise, Sousei hasn't even considered the possibility of Shizuo being from the future, even if his clothing is strange and this entire situation is baffling. He just gives him a flat, blank look at that, though.

What the hell is a "Sunshine 60"..............

... ... .......]

I don't know it.

[While his tone is as level as always, there's definitely some lurking frustration in there. What's going on...?]

But if you are also from Japan... [...how is this even possible. Different...Japans?] It is not the same Japan that I remember.

[if it were possible, question marks would be forming about them. perhaps...perhaps they even are!? not that he would notice. not knowing Ikebukuro he could somewhat understand, but not even Sunshine 60?

and there's his old name...]

If my cellphone worked I'd give you more information... [but well. those don't work so he's just kept his off. no use in wasting battery.] So, where are you from? Or...how do you remember it?

[maybe if the guy tells more about his...Japan?? there is so much uncertainty and confusion going on right now.]

[Floating question marks...incredible. But the reference to his cellphone only makes it worse. Because Sousei just blinks at that. What's a...cellphone....

... ... ...sigh. Alright. Alright. It's obviously they're not getting anywhere with this dancing around the subject. Something is weird, and if it's information they need, well, Sousei can deliver.

So his posture straightens further and his expression shifts into something slightly more long-suffering. Why must everything always be so impossible...]

It is Meiji 11, and I am captain of the Yamainu. Though I am not currently stationed in Tokyo, it is a common trip for me to make. [...so???] However, I have never heard of the things you have referred to.

[it might be hard to tell, but Shizuo's eyes widen a bit.

Meiji...11? That was...

he quickly does the math. 1878, right? although Shizuo wasn't the most studious or smartest, he did study. though that was years ago since he had to learn history, so he's really pulling from the dregs of his memory. and "Yamainu"...nope, never heard of it. except for what some people call wolves, but he doubts that's what he means.]

...It's 2004 for me. The Meiji era ended in 1912, and now we're in Heisei. So...you're from...ah screw it over a hundred years in the past?

[he really doesn't want to try and figure out the exact years when he's not sure himself. and this is just. so. very. confusing. is that even possible??? different worlds...okay that had been hard enough to grasp. but now different times?

What is this...some shoujo manga...?

he would have doubted this guy and thought he was pulling some kind of joke. well, he still has that suspicion. the guy doesn't look like he'd be joking, but one never knows. so don't mind the slight suspicious look and air about him now.]

Are you really from the Meiji era?

[Okay, so that wasn't the sort of response he was expecting. Both the look of disbelief and the claims of being from the future. What's with that? Somehow, the disbelief is harder to swallow than the claims of being from the future. He has seen some weird things, and while he doesn't necessarily completely believe it so easily, it's... definitely explains everything (skeptically).

...Also, he's Seen Some Things himself.

But honestly, doubting his word? Come on.]

I wouldn't have said so if it wasn't true. [His tone is terse at that, even if his expression has hardly shifted.]

I could ask the same of you. From my point of view, that is just as unbelievable.

[there's a slight tick of his brow, but it's understandable. turning it around, hearing someone say they were from their future is probably just as weird as him hearing about someone from their past.

either way, it's pretty hard to swallow.]

Sorry, just this is all pretty hard to believe...but it's probably the same for you. And you don't seem like the kind of guy to make this shit up, so I think I can believe you.

[he pulls out his cellphone and looks at it. he has no idea how well it would work, but...well. while he can't pull from the internet, it has a calendar at least.]

As for me...here.

[he flips it open, turns it on, and when it loads he goes to the calendar and holds up the screen. a block of the calendar is highlighted.]

This is a cellphone...and that's the last date I was in Ikebukuro.

[September 15, 2004.]

I don't really have much more proof than that, though.

[What the hell is that.

... ... ... He stares at the cellphone with a great deal of skepticism; even if it doesn't show up on his face, the environment around him is certainly making it very clear that he has no idea what he's looking at. That said... it's a calendar. A Western style calendar, sure, but it's one he can read nonetheless. He may be Japanese through and through, but there has been enough cultural exchange for him to be able to know that much.

...2004, though. Hm.]

...I see. I don't have any proof other than my word. [Of course, with his uniform and the sword at his side, he does look pretty antiquated.] But...that is the only explanation that makes sense, difficult as it is to believe. Of course I am unfamiliar with your Japan, if that is true.

Hm...

[he pulls back his cellphone after Sousei finishes looking at it, turning it off and returning it to his pocket.]

Well...if it's possible to have other worlds, maybe it's possible for there to be different...versions of Japan?

[he frowns, though.

...This really sounds like some manga or movie.

it makes very little sense, yet at the same time, it's the best explanation for all of it.]

[Different versions of Japan... if anything, the question marks are intensifying.

But honestly, that, or time travel, or something... that's all the only way these discrepancies can be explained. Though in the end, he just shakes his head.]

Perhaps. It is not that important, however. [Not in the grand scheme of things, anyway.] There are more important concerns to be addressed.

Yeah, guess you're right.

[on some level he finds this interesting. but for the most part, it's not something he really dwells on it. once it's pretty much fact, he just accepts it.]

Then I'll just be on my way.

[since he doesn't think there's much else to talk about. least not from his side.]

[He doesn't really have anything else to say either--and he has a lot to mull over. So that gets a brief, measured nod, and then Sousei turns on his heel to go as well.]

Very well.

[Goodbye, Shizuo, nice chat we had here.]

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TEST DRIVE MEME: JULY

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