TEST DRIVE: JANUARY

[empevents]

— 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 Friday, December 25th and Applications (Canon | OC) open Friday, January 1st.
  
  
• OC Reminder! Just a quick reminder that original characters are currently 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!

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: A new card game is sweeping through the streets of Verens: "Magica Ex Arehtei." Players take on the role of an Otherworlder and form battle decks out of minions, monsters, dunamis, and even the Arehtei themselves. It’s insanely complicated in its details, but this hasn’t stopped a seller from handing you a starter deck and all but pushing you into a chair to face an opponent… who may have just been conscripted themselves.

• Prompt E: After a long period of quiet (something about ‘emotional and physical harm to Empatheias’ and ‘manufacturing plush weapons without a Class E(X) license’), toy manufacturers have flooded merchant stalls and storefronts with a new offering, the hyper-cute stuffed Thras. No negative emotions, they promise! Plush Thras is so full of bravery, he’ll inspire anyone who holds him to new heights of courage and valor!

Naturally, magiscience has gone too far, and picking up the doll instills you with vigor, energy, and fearlessness past the point of recklessness.

• Prompt F: Thundersnow! A phenomenon in which a snowstorm is accompanied by lightning and thunder, and not a terribly uncommon one in Empatheias. But today’s thundersnow is more like an apocablizzard -- lighting lashes through the sky and lances down to catch buildings and trees with its fury, all hidden behind whirling sheets of billowing snowflakes that have blanketed the city in a foot of snow with no sign of stopping.

The outside is cold, windy, miserable, and potentially dangerous. Are you trapped in a building you didn’t expect to be in? Or perhaps you’ve joined up with an emergency emotion squad, trying to impose calm or cheer on the raging storm?

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include lumps of coal or moose.

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

[explodewiththerage]

[With her arrival imminent, Natsu had nothing to do but let himself simmer in the emotions bearing down on top of him. Which in turn made most people give him as wide a berth as possible. As luck would have it though, Lucy would walk up to him from an angle that concealed the way his hand was doing its best to cover the wound on his cheek. He jolts at the sound of Lucy's voice and slowly looks out of one eye at his partner.]

You're quick. You didn't have to run you know. I promised I'd be here.

[Just like he'd promised to be back after a year. But even that isn't something he can be proud about. Especially now that his trump card against Zeref has been squandered.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Let's not bring up the fact that she didn't want to give him a chance to leave her behind again. Her approach was slow, taking in the sight of him carefully. ]

I know. I... [ She hesitated. ] I know.

[ That isn't what she wanted to say. Actually she wasn't sure what she wanted to say now. It was one thing over the talisman - that telepathic connection it gave them, but now that she was in front of him, there was so much she wanted to say. Each one rushed for the chance to be spoken and ended up getting lodged in her throat.

It was always so easy to talk to him. Why was now so different? What was he hiding from her?

...actually...

what WAS he hiding from her? She narrowed her eyes, studying his face, padding forward to crouch in front of him and get a better look. ]

[explodewiththerage]

[She would feel the difference in temperature around him. Probably more keenly than ever since Natsu always has a sort of natural warmth. But with his grim feelings right now even that warmth was smothered and absorbed.

He doesn't let her see right away, instead turning his head away while one hand continued to cover or try to cover, the bleeding gash on his cheek. Though doing so does make him hiss faintly. Another detail Lucy might notice is that hte bandage around his arm is now gone.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Oh it was definitely colder. And it was weird to think of there being cold anywhere near Natsu - strange. Her gaze first zeroed in on his face, the way he hissed slightly. He's bleeding and... and the bandage on his arm is gone? Was that and the gash on his cheek connected somehow?

He was right, in a way. She didn't like what she saw. This wasn't the Natsu she knew and ... it wasn't like him. Straightening, she moved to sit next to him, neverminding the cold. If she could will the warmth into him, she would. First off, Natsu might hear a slight tearing sound - as she ripped a bit of fabric from her sash (it's just cloth, I can get a new one, she tells herself) and reached up to tug his hand away from his injury.

Maybe it was just the wind, the temperature here, but he felt so cold. She'd taken his natural warmth for granted. ]

Does it hurt a lot...?

[ She's going to try to press the fabric against his cheek, over that gash, and keep his hand in hers in case he tries to stop her. As an added bonus, she'll be able to try to rub some warmth into his hand afterwards. She'll yell at him later, she had to look after him first. ]

[explodewiththerage]

[He did warn her. But he also know she wouldn't be deterred by that. The cold around him didn't even register completely with Natsu though. which is even more worrying about his state of mind. He tried to keep his hand over his cheek at first but Lucy succeeded in pulling it away before she made use of her sash. He hisses again feeling the cloth over the open gash but other than that manages to endure it to the best of his ability.]

Yeah it stings pretty good.

[But that's not the depth of what's stolen the warmth from his body.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ It was an open wound - a physical one that almost represented what other wounds he might harbor inside. THat might make him act like this. She didn't like..seeing him this way. ]

This... it'll have to do until we can find a healer or... or someone that can stitch this up. And you're probably going to have a scar and...

[ And you stupid fool, why did you go off on your own again... ]

What happened...?

[explodewiththerage]

Yeah I know.

[It would beat out Gray's wimpy brow scar that's for sure. Shame he doesn't have any of that spark left that would make him get excited about that. But then comes the question he secretly dreads the most.]

I...I didn't....win.

[That is only one half of the truth and by far the safest of all.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ He was a guy, he probably approved of the scar. But this went beyond cosmetic - she knew better than to joke now. What was more important was getting to the bottom of things. She didn't really want to push him, but he didn't have Happy here. They only had each other, and she wasn't going to let him shoulder a burden alone. How many times had he helped her when she was down on herself? More than she could count.

His response was a shock. He didn't win? In his fight againt Zeref? He ... that he could have lost was... it was impossible for her to even consider. He was the strongest person she knew. ]

You... didn't win? But...your arm - you said... how?

[ There was a lot he wasn't telling her. What happened to Zeref - what happened to him - she at least understood why he might be down on himself, at least a little. Failing to take Zeref out and 'letting people down'... but she wasn't going to let him give up on himself. ]

Natsu...talk to me.

[explodewiththerage]

[Maybe once the wound inside his spirit and mind healed he would approve the scar. Right now he was battling some demons he rarely went up against. Demons called fear, guilt, doubt, disbelief and anger.

His shoulders seem to grow even heavier as Lucy asks him how this could happen. After all he was so confident he could deal with Zeref. But now...now that he knew the things he knew...he was such a fool.]

Happy...stopped me. Before I could get a chance to finish him off. I....I even burned his paws but he didn't let go and dragged me away from from Zeref.

[celestial_wizard]

[ In as long as she's known him, she'd never seen him like this. Not even when he lost to Gildarts. He always bounced back so quickly. She shifted to sit beside him, touching against his side. She was here, she wasn't going to leave him, like this. ]

Wait.. Happy stopped you...? [ But Happy knew how important it was that Zeref be taken down. ] I... I don't understand. Why would he stop you?

[ Even at the risk of burning his little paws? ]

[explodewiththerage]

[The breeze around him turned a little more tempestuous. He knows what he has to say is going to shock her. It's also going to make her angry with him. Well that's fine. He's plenty angry with himself too. After all...he almost did to happy what Igneel did to him. disappear for some greater purpose...Only difference is he'd be gone for good...]

It's because....if Zeref dies...I'll....apparently die too.

Now Boarding Feels Express -- next stop: Celestial Rage Station

[celestial_wizard]

[ She stiffened at that statement. At first thinking she misheard him. That it was some sick joke. There's no way he'd do that to Happy - to ... ]

What... what are you saying? You...

[ He's serious. He would actually have... he would have let himself die just to take Zeref down? ]

This...this is a sick joke... you.. you wouldn't do something like that.

Whatever he...Zeref...whatever he said to you he had to have been lying.

[ What anger he felt before from her? It didn't hold a candle to the anger that was bubbling up now - a few more lights popped and fizzled. He left her for a -year- without saying anything, and she eventually forgave him for that, because he came back. And now he was telling her he was going to do it again, and he wouldn't even come back to them? To her? He'd just go and DIE? She pulled her arm back, still stunned. Her hands curled into fists, pressing against her knees, her gaze suddenly fixed on the ground. ]

N... Natsu, I... ... don't ...believe you...

[explodewiththerage]

[There it is. But compared to just enduring her reactions now he feels tangible pressure from Lucy's rage which makes him shrink almost instinctively as things around them start to flicker and rumble.]

I didn't believe it either! I didn't want to! But he shot that stupid book! And I felt it as if he had shot me!

[He really didn't want to believe those words that he'd blocked them out. He'd screamed so what at Zeref but deep down he was still denying it. Still thinking it was a lie meant to stay his hand. But now...after it was all over...after a chance to actually think about things slowly...The conclusion stared at him like a hungry monster inside of an abyss.]

[celestial_wizard]

So you decided you'd just throw your life away to take him down?

[ Wait, what did the book have to do with anything? No, were she able to think more rationally she'd be able to ask the proper questions, but it hurt too much. Her hands were shaking with the effort of holding back her anger, but it had plenty of effect on everything else around them. The wind almost tore her words from her throat ]

Did you forget so easily? You always, ALWAYS told us... every one of us, that we shouldn't just throw our lives away like that, and you turned around and you were going to do THE SAME THING. Didn't you tell me before this all started that you had things you wanted to do? What happened to that! Were they so unimportant to you that you could just cast them aside, Natsu, you _IDIOT_!

[ And on that word, she hauled back to slap him -- the opposite side of his face of course, she's not insensitive and she wouldn't hit an already injured cheek. Though it might hit a bit harder since it had the full force of her anger, plus that tempestuous gale of a breeze behind it. But she's not done. Not by a long shot. ]

[explodewiththerage]

[Her voice is like thunder. Rumbling in the distance as the rage builds only to then boom into him with the force behind her hand. A force that is amplified several times over as Natsu is blasted from the bench and onto the pavement. Even without the violent burst of wind it still felt as if her hand alone would have achieved the same effect.]

I need kitty therapy ;.;

[celestial_wizard]

[ Whoah. She... actually hadn't expected -- or meant -- to hit him that hard. It'd probably be better to have the conversation inside if the weather continued in this pattern, but there was no stopping this feels train now. She stared down at him, a storm of emotions brewing inside of her, all culminated into that one strike, her hand still stinging. The wind started to calm some as her rage bled out of her little by little. She was still angry, of course, but what she felt more was the hurt and betrayal, the fear of losing him for good. ]

You ...stupid... stupid... idiot...

[ She repeated, unable to keep the tremble from her voice. ]

Were you lying?

[ The pain in her voice - her heart felt like it was going to break in two, and she lifted a hand to rub at her eyes. No, he wasn't lying, she knew. He meant everything he said. He didn't go to fight Zeref thinking he would... she choked back a sudden sob, unable to even handle thinking of him that way. ]

There's always... always another way. You were going to leave everyone - Happy, Makarov, all of Fairy Tail- again and... [ She sniffed, bringing a hand over her mouth to muffle the sound. The almost oppressive tension in the air remained, the faint rumble in the sky telling that her mood was still liable to break into rage or something else. ]

Did you even once, think about the rest of us? Did you think about how we'd feel if you decided to kill yourself along with Zeref, just to win a fight? And DON'T tell me you were thinking about us, and that's why you wanted to take him down so much because you -WEREN'T-.

[ No violent gusts came with that snapped addendum, but another bulb did pop nearby, leaving the area almost totally dark. Dark enough that she couldn't barely see him anyway. When did it get so dark and cloudy out? ]

You weren't thinking about Happy, and how he'd feel if he lost you. You weren't thinking about any of our friends - our family - or how THEY'd feel, and you sure as HELL weren't thinking about ME.

[ This time her voice broke, a dam of emotion collapsing under the weight of the revelation, and it took several seconds for her to get herself under control enough to even try to speak. ]

I ... I don't care if I'm being selfish. Did you even ... think...about how I'd feel? Even a little? You left once before, but you came back to me. I could forgive that. But... but... you... you were going to..

Lucky you! I only have the parrot! T_T

[explodewiththerage]

[The crash was spectacular but in terms of physical injury, Natsu was no worse than before. However her words, her shaky questions dig into him something fierce robbing him of any possible retort. So he just sits there, eyes averted from her while she just lets it all out. He doesn't dare open his mouth. Because...he knows she's right. He slowly sits up straight but doesn't try to meet her gaze.]

That's...No I wasn't. Because...I don't want to lose anyone again. Especially not you.

[Ever since they survived the Grand Magic Games incident, Natsu had lost so many precious things. The Lucy from the future and then Igneel. Natsu just couldn't help that fear. He hit it well enough but it was the main motivator.]

I'm someone who shouldn't even be in this time... Just like that asshole...my brother.

D: I'll lend you one of my kitties

[celestial_wizard]

IDIOT! If you died you'd lose EVERYONE, and we'd all lose YOU. Don't you get it!? NO. One. Wins. [ Thunder rumbled again, closer this time, threatening to open up with an entirely different kind of downpour. ]

I don't... I don't want to lose you, Natsu. Not ever...!

[ They both lost so much. It was selfish of her to want to cling to what had been a constant in her life for so long - no, it wasn't just because he had been a constant from the beginning. It went further, deeper than that. But she couldn't bring herself to address that. ]

Why can't you see that...?

[ She stopped short at that word. Brother. Zeref...? ]

Wh..what are you talking about?


[ Who cares if he wasn't supposed to be in this time, he was now, and she -wasn't- going to give him up. Not without a fight. ]

*accepts*

[explodewiththerage]

[He flinches hearing the thunder rolling in from the distance once again. But just like last time he won't run from it. Because he knows Lucy is right.]

Happy was saying the same thing.

[He really is stupid. But the truth is not something that can be made any prettier by being smart and the truth is.]

Zeref is my brother....and also the one who brought me back to life...as E.N.D.

[celestial_wizard]

[ There's another shock. There were a lot of them today. Zeref was his brother? He was....E.N.D.? Why -- it was so unfair. But... wait, E.N.D. ...as in the Book of E.N.D..? Shit. That just made things even more complicated. ]

W-well... so what...?

[ It sucks that he'd thought he'd have to kill his own brother, and she ...wanted to believe there was another way to deal with him. One that wouldn't end with his death. She didn't really understand what it meant when he said he didn't belong in this time, but... the hell with that! She took two steps forward and then dropped to her knees, in front of him, rather suddenly wrapping her arms around him. ]

I don't care that Zeref is your brother. . .and I don't care if ...if you're E.N.D. You're... that doesn't change who I know you are. You're Natsu. Natsu of Fairy Tail, Fire Dragonslayer. ... my .... stupid idiot partner. You're not supposed to be in this time...? So what...?

I want you here. Does that not matter for anything at all? [ ... er, she means we. Like. All of Fairy Tail. Honest. ]

[explodewiththerage]

If she only knew that she's only scratched the surface of the secrets Natsu has learned.

But just seeing her so choked up. So emotional. He can feel it. The hurt, the loneliness. The fear and anger. All things he never wanted to put her through. All things he wanted to prevent.]

Lucy...

[He wants to lift his arms, return that trembling embrace. The words finally reach him and for a moment the wind around him seems to grow still.]

No....no that's not it at all.

[celestial_wizard]

She had a feeling there was a lot more to it. It was something she couldn't just fix as easily as she patched his cheek, and even that was temporary. But the emotions she felt had completely overwhelmed her, and as much as she wanted to feel him put his arms around her too, she didn't push him. She just wanted to hold him at least, to feel he was still there with her. ]

Then -why-?

[ Why would he just throw his life away - without even considering another option? Without even considering how they would feel. How miserable she'd be without him? ]

[explodewiththerage]

Because....I didn't see any other way. As long as Zeref is alive everyone is in danger. My power. No the power I had left over from Igneel. The power I gathered for almost a year, it wasn't enough to destroy Zeref in one hit. The second one would have finished him...maybe....no there's no guarantee of that either. But now that power is gone. You can't even see the mark on my arm anymore.

[That would answer her forgotten question about the bandage he'd worn since his return.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ She falls silent a moment, because he -was- right on that point. If Zeref continued to be a d-ck to everyone and....and his own brother... who knows what would happen. She'd wondered about the bandage he didn't have anymore, but she didn't let go of him. She was holding him like she was afraid he'd do something stupid, or he'd leave her again. Well. If he did, she wouldn't really be able to stop him. ]

Idiot... [ Funny how she could say that word so many different ways. She tightened her arms around him anyway. ]

Of course you didn't see any other way ... you were on your own. You have all of Fairy Tail, and Master Mavis. We could have thought of something. None of us want to see you die. We don't want to win that way. We'll find another way.

[ Hope. It's selfish of her, but she hopes that most of all, because she doesn't want to lose another person she loves. ]

[explodewiththerage]

[This time his body shakes as a defeated chuckle follows Lucy's words.]

Happy said that too. Doing the same thing you're doing. I know I was stupid. I know.

[But that was just him trying to save everyone. Even if it was stupid.]