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empatheias_ooc2015-09-17 11:58 am
simpathis) wrote in empatheias_ooc2015-09-17 11:58 am
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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 Thursday, September 24th and Applications open Thursday, October 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! 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!
Now with that out of the way, here are some prompts you guys can work from!
• Prompt A: How about giving the emotions a try? The following emotions will have more effect than usual: fear, bravery, grief, joy, anger, and calm.
• 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.
• 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: The weather is beginning to turn, which means the trees of Verens are beginning to shed their leaves much to the displeasure of one of the more "upper class" residential areas of the island. They certainly don't want to do it themselves so they're hiring out otherworlders and locals alike to do it for them -- but at a pittance of what the work is actually worth. This has lead to some pretty sour attitudes by most of the hired workers -- possibly including yourself.
Might as well get it done with as little grumbling as possible since it seems that the negative emotions of the poorly paid workers just cause the leaves to turn colors and fall faster, undoing any work they've done. At this rate, everyone will be here for hours.
• Prompt E: With fall comes the desire for all things reminiscent of fall. Including anything and everything pumpkin. One coffee shop is so popular for their special Spiced Pumpkin coffee and tea, that they're having a hard time keeping the ingredients in stock despite the long lines that are weaving out the door and into the sidewalk. Grumpy customers waiting in the fresh cooling temperatures outside are less than pleased, and some even grumble about the wait openly.
It all gets completely out of hand when one poor, lone employee walks out of the door and clears their throat -- explaining that they would be out of the in demand drinks until the day after next. An explosion of irate emotions cause the formerly crisp winds to pick up and wrap into miniature tornadoes! Mostly inconvenient, but perhaps a little destructive to things that are light enough to get tossed around. Looks like right now, finding somewhere else to get an afternoon pick-me-up is a good idea.
• Prompt F: Some shops are beginning to switch out their summer wares for things that are more friendly for the upcoming fall weather. This means quite a few of them are looking for extra hands. Perhaps you wouldn't mind lending a hand for some extra pocket money? One shop in particular is trying to give away their least popular products -- sunglasses that give the wearer a more sunny and welcoming personality.
Why were they unpopular you ask? Probably because of the slight and barely noticeable malfunction that seemed to make the enchantment on them work completely incorrectly. Instead of making the wearer much happier and receptive they only magnify the current emotion the wearer seems to have! Or worse, completely turn it upside down. Of course, this is all explained (very quickly, and barely understandably) as a representative swiftly places a pair in your hands!
• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include something like raging bull and/or cart full of loose buckets.
• 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.
• 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: The weather is beginning to turn, which means the trees of Verens are beginning to shed their leaves much to the displeasure of one of the more "upper class" residential areas of the island. They certainly don't want to do it themselves so they're hiring out otherworlders and locals alike to do it for them -- but at a pittance of what the work is actually worth. This has lead to some pretty sour attitudes by most of the hired workers -- possibly including yourself.
Might as well get it done with as little grumbling as possible since it seems that the negative emotions of the poorly paid workers just cause the leaves to turn colors and fall faster, undoing any work they've done. At this rate, everyone will be here for hours.
• Prompt E: With fall comes the desire for all things reminiscent of fall. Including anything and everything pumpkin. One coffee shop is so popular for their special Spiced Pumpkin coffee and tea, that they're having a hard time keeping the ingredients in stock despite the long lines that are weaving out the door and into the sidewalk. Grumpy customers waiting in the fresh cooling temperatures outside are less than pleased, and some even grumble about the wait openly.
It all gets completely out of hand when one poor, lone employee walks out of the door and clears their throat -- explaining that they would be out of the in demand drinks until the day after next. An explosion of irate emotions cause the formerly crisp winds to pick up and wrap into miniature tornadoes! Mostly inconvenient, but perhaps a little destructive to things that are light enough to get tossed around. Looks like right now, finding somewhere else to get an afternoon pick-me-up is a good idea.
• Prompt F: Some shops are beginning to switch out their summer wares for things that are more friendly for the upcoming fall weather. This means quite a few of them are looking for extra hands. Perhaps you wouldn't mind lending a hand for some extra pocket money? One shop in particular is trying to give away their least popular products -- sunglasses that give the wearer a more sunny and welcoming personality.
Why were they unpopular you ask? Probably because of the slight and barely noticeable malfunction that seemed to make the enchantment on them work completely incorrectly. Instead of making the wearer much happier and receptive they only magnify the current emotion the wearer seems to have! Or worse, completely turn it upside down. Of course, this is all explained (very quickly, and barely understandably) as a representative swiftly places a pair in your hands!
• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include something like raging bull and/or cart full of loose buckets.
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!
no subject
[ Matt laughs again, god even if his voice is different, seeing Foggy again is such a breath of fresh air. Maybe it helps that Matt can't see his features, but he'd recognize that heartbeat anywhere. Oops, I hope he didn't hear that. ]
Yeah, sure. You just came from a cafe, right? You smell like coffee. But you didn't finish it. We can go back there, if you want. You can tell me all about your Matt. Who has... what, blond hair? Dark? He's at least blind too, right?
no subject
[He did, and for both their sakes he's going to ignore that and try not to comment on it. This is. This is weird enough in itself already, the emotions and the alternate universe thing and that creeping feeling of worry, without bringing Matt's senses into this.]
As a bat. Darker hair, though, and a little bit shorter. [He's not used to having to look up while talking to Matt, seriously. He is, however, used to absently offering his elbow for his friend to take and chattering about their surroundings, and so he offers his elbow without thinking about it before he realizes--oh, yeah. Not-so-secret ninja. Great job, Nelson.
In his defense, he only found out recently, and he's still readjusting his worldview in light of it all.]
So, since you're Daredevil [loads better than Devil of Hell's Kitchen accompanied by a mental image of a newspaper with a headline about the Devil of Hell's Kitchen and a blurry picture] I'm guessing you don't actually need that? What with the--what was that, world on fire? How can you say that with a straight face, oh my god.
no subject
[ And do you know what, Foggy Nelson? Matt appreciates the gesture more than anything-- getting help from you has never been a burden, he supplies, taking the offered arm whether you're shorter than him or not. ]
Are they really calling him the Devil of Hell's Kitchen? Newspapers. I haven't seen one those in-- [ Well, he can feel ink, visualize letters but it's always been dark. Just letters on nothing. Words, never images. Never color. Enjoy that mental image, Foggy. ] This isn't going to stop being weird to me any time soon. Your thoughts. The images. I'm... damn.
[ He's trying not to focus on it because it's messing with his head a little. A little guidance goes a long way, Foggy. ]
World on fire? Is that what he calls my radar sense? That is pretty melodramatic. Cool, fits the theme, yeah, but wow.
[ To be fair, a few years ago, Matt might have gone with that too. ]
no subject
Yeah, well, they used to. Long story short, for a while everyone thought he was a nutjob. I thought he was, but then I didn't know who was under the mask at the time. [And--wow, that mental image is something, all right. It's a disorienting experience, seeing letters on nothing juxtaposed with Foggy's mental image of words on paper, and also slightly distracting, because it takes Foggy a moment to realize they're approaching a turn and swerve just in time.] Yeah, I know, it's weird for me too. And kind of invasive okay a lot oh my god stop thinking about that think about something else hey look!
There's a couple across from us, they're looking lovingly into each other's eyes. It's kind of adorable. [Thank you, sappy couple.] And, yeah, that was sort of how he explained it. I think. I was really angry at the time. [What with the whole keeping secrets thing.] Radar sense? That's--maybe a bit less melodramatic.
no subject
[ More 'vigilante' than anything. Matt is at least aware enough to keep them walking, since he can at least follow his nose to that cafe. A couple, though? Really? You're reaching, counselor. ] You probably saw a whole lot of nothing. I'll try to stick to here and now, too. Smells and shapes aren't much use to you, but that's all I've got.
My Foggy hasn't described stuff like this to me for years. You must've just found out, huh? Explains why it still hurts. I'm sorry. [ And he is. He always feels bad keeping secrets from Foggy. Even if he still does it. ] Yeah, it's kind of like... I can pick up on things around me, using the rest of my senses together. Like a radar, whatever those can bounce off of, I can "see."
no subject
[Yeah, it does, in fact, still hurt. Foggy's mostly gotten over it by now, he meant it when he said he wanted to move forward, but there's still a part of him that wonders. And it's not like he enjoys lying to Karen about it, either.]
Yeah, it was--pretty bad. Serious injury, bleeding on the floor bad. [It's weird, knowing that there's a world where he's used to Matt's senses and world-on-fire/radar sense thing, where he doesn't feel the need to describe their surroundings, where he's used to Matt being Daredevil. Where he's sick and he needs chemo, and wow that thought makes his stomach churn with worry.
It's not going to happen to him. Right?]
Hm. [Holding up three fingers.] Hey, radar sense me, how many fingers am I holding up?
[It's a lot more joking than the last time he asked that question, that's for sure.]
no subject
That bad, huh. [ He doesn't sound surprised. ] Were the Avengers too busy, or what? [ When in doubt, Tony Stark has the best medical equipment in New York, by far. Too bad he can't cure cancer. That's... probably something Matt should address. Much as he really, really doesn't want to. It's so much nicer to smile and answer Foggy's words. ]
Three. You could have 'em behind your back and I'd still know. [ He smirks. ] Gonna have to try harder than that to stump me.
no subject
Wait, you're friends with the Avengers? [No, seriously, how did that happen?] We've never met them. I've seen them on TV, sure, and I think I still have that Captain America shirt from college oh shit but you haven't met. I'm pretty sure. [Also, because best friends tell each other if they've met the actual Avengers. That is totally a part of a completely real best friends code that Foggy hasn't just made up on the spot.]
I'm never gonna get away with flipping somebody off with you around now. [It's a dry observation, if a little morose.] I'll take that as a challenge. And--hey, we're here! Best cafe on the street. Think Starbucks knockoff.
[The manager is glaring him down now, little stormclouds forming nearby. Foggy gives her a conciliatory smile, and tells her that he is so sorry for leaving without paying, he'd just found out a friend was here and he'll pay for his own coffee and whatever his friend orders. Please don't order the really expensive lattes, he thinks.]
no subject
Yep. I have Hank Pym on speed dial. Tony Stark, Spider-Man... Every superhero in New York knows who I am. [ He shrugs like it's no big deal, but it feels so good to show off, and for Foggy to be impressed about these things. Comes with the territory of being a superhero's best friend, I guess. ] You'll meet them someday, I'm sure. You can't really throw a stick without hitting someone superpowered in New York. And if he's anything like me, you'll be the first to know when your Matt meets them.
[ They make it to the café and sit down, which is kind of hilarious given that Foggy apparently ran off when he heard Matt's message. Now he feels kinda bad. Not enough to turn everything muted, but enough to try and blot it out with more smiling. And positive thinking! Denial is totally the answer. ]
You make a habit of flipping off everyone you meet? Because as far as I've heard, you wouldn't do it where they could see anyway.
[ Don't worry, Matt's just ordering a small latte, he's here for Foggy, not the drinks. Aw. Oops that's gonna get him started. ]
Wow, it's just good to see you. You know, not that my-- I mean, Foggy, the one back home... he's been through everything with me, so it's different. You're still you, but you're Foggy.
no subject
[Ran off without paying, and the manager keeps sending him looks that he's pretty sure are designed to make him feel terrible about that.]
Nah, just when someone's a real asshole. [He's fairly flippant about it, and that flippancy disappears when that thought comes right through, makes him think of that cold night so long ago, before the practice and the mask and the secrets, el grande--how do you say lawyer in Spanish? El grande avocados!]
It's good to see you too. Even if you're tall and a carrot-top. [Which is going to take a bit to get used to, along with this telepathy thing which is still kind of weird, so instead Foggy says out loud:] I've gone through a lot with you too. Not you-you, just--my Matt-you. Probably not as much as you and your Foggy, though, we only just got an actual sign installed. With raised letters and everything! And our very own secretary.
no subject
[ Matt nods along to Foggy's words remembering the days when he first got started, and all the times after that where they reinstated their practice again and again. (The memories are specific, but to Matt that just means voices and sounds and smells. Probably a weird thing to project.) It's nice to see their friendship survives even across universes, though. The words images he's 'seeing' are new and different, but the love he feels for his best friend stays the same. Then Foggy mentions a secretary and Matt goes still. ]
Is it Karen?
[ Matt's voice grows distant, but Karen is an old wound. He really has made strides to get over her. Even if her death was still his fault. Even if he'll never forgive himself. Even if... Foggy wouldn't want him to beat himself up over it. ]
Foggy's always telling me I dwell on things too much. He's right, as usual.
[ Foggy's the only one with sense sometimes. Matt may be the man without fear, but Foggy is a friend without equal. Foggy Nelson, Matt Murdock is honestly your biggest fan. ]
Matt's lucky to have you. Seriously, your support is really important to me. I don't tell you that often enough, and I bet your Matt doesn't either. And it took you getting cancer for me to really learn that, so I hope it doesn't take nearly as long for yours.