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]

[At some point during his sleep his features relax into a small soft smile that stays in place until he finally wakes again. Only to see Lucy has fallen asleep as well. So much for trying not to take a nap just now.]

...

[Wow is it just him or is the room a little warmer than when he went to sleep?]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Was it him? He did generate his own heat after all. No? She remains asleep for a little bit longer than him, a slight smile on her face. Though sitting up in a couch is not actually as comfortable as it sounds, and after a minute more she gives a tiny yawn, raising a hand to rub her eyes, the other arm stretching upwards.s ]

Mmhf...

[explodewiththerage]

[No because if it was him, he wouldn't have noticed it what with how naturally warm his body is at all times. This is different. But rather than dwell on that for too long he looks at Lucy as she slowly stirs awake and proceeds to stretch with him still resting in her lap. How long would it take to realize he was watching her he wonders.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Ah, well, good point. Her sleepy brain was still a little groggy, so it didn't process the weight in her lap quite yet. Though it was only a matter of time - he could probably count down on it, when she glanced down at him sleepily, though a slow smile started to cross her face when she saw him. ]

Natsu....

[ .. ... ....wait. Natsu. Lap. Natsu + Lap =.........? Her eyes suddenly widened, sleepy state gone and replaced by a moment of panick. ]

HYAAH!!

[ She yelped, and if he hadn't been already comfortably lying in her lap she would have leapt clean off the couch, a lamp nearby rocking slightly. ]

[explodewiththerage]

[That reaction is just what the doctor ordered as Natsu finds himself unable to help himself as he bursts with a peal of genuine laughter.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ For a second, Lucy is caught off guard, staring at him as he laughed so genuinely. For..a while there she was worried he wouldn't be able to make that face. To laugh like that. Then the second passes, replaced by embarrassment. ]

Wh.. WHat's so funny!?

[explodewiththerage]

Hahaha ow-wowow my cheek- ahahaha

[He needs a moment to be able to talk and his cheek stings a bit now since laughing stretched his slashed up cheek.]

You. Your reaction. I mean you're the one who let me use your lap as a pillow you know~

[celestial_wizard]

[ Erk. She didn't mean for him to laugh and hurt his cheek! ]

Ah-- sorry, sorry.

Well that's... um... true... I guess I overreacted a little...

[explodewiththerage]

[He'd argue it's totally worth it. He needs this laugh more than she'll ever know.]

Just a little. But I don't mind. You looked comfy though.

[That's just stating the obvious but then since when has Lucy been able to handle the obvious.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ She's just a teeny bit flustered. But she was glad to hear that laughter from him, and see that smile. It was such a relief. ]

M-me? I-I guess at the time...although I have kind of a cramp in my neck, but I'll deal. [He's still in her lap He's still in her lap he's still in her lap. The lights flicker a little, briefly. ]

Y.. you should probably get up...

[explodewiththerage]

[It's all because she's here. Without her he wouldn't recover this quickly even if there are still things he's keeping to himself for now.]

I guess I should. You wanted to check the bathroom for a first aid kit too.

[And yet he says this without moving an inch.]

[celestial_wizard]

Um... r-right, I did. For your cheek. [ She waited patiently, because surely he was going to get up right? ]

... ...

[ No? ]

... ... Natsu... I need to get up.

[explodewiththerage]

[Darn she noticed. Well he doesn't have an excuse anymore so finally Natsu sits up and waits for Lucy to get up from the sofa.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Of course she noticed! How could she not? She got to her feet, stretching again, and padded into the bathroom, hunting about. ]

Hrm... there's not much in here, but some gauze and bandages... it'll have to do until we can get you to a healer or a doctor or something. At least we can clean it though. [ She wandered out of the bathroom with the kit, pausing to eye him. Yeah she's... going to have to clean it. Uh...while facing him... oh jeez. ]

[explodewiththerage]

[He just watches the door Lucy disappeared through before she finally came back.]

A healer or I get to eat a lot of fire to heal it up a bit.

[For now though he will endure having the wound cleaned.]

[celestial_wizard]

Yeah... actually that probably won't be too difficult either.

[ Might be easier to get a fire started than find a healer at this hour. But cleaning it comes first - it'll occur to her that eating fire probably did the same thing as disinfectant though. It wasn't that she wanted to spend a few minutes staring at his face or anything! ]

This ..might sting a bit. Sorry but you'll have to bear with it a little.

[ She settled next to him on the couch, reaching up to tilt his face towards her (which it probably already was) to dab the cotton swab against her cheek carefully. ]

[explodewiththerage]

[Well to be honest that's more than okay. As long as she doesn't show too much griev about the state of his cheek. In all honesty it isn't life-threatening or anything. Even though the gash is rather vicious looking.]

Don't worry. Just do what you feel works.

[He trusts her that much after all. Though luckily for Lucy he does close his eyes before the wad starts dabbing at his wound.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ THaaaaaaaaaaaaank the stars he didn't watch her while she was doing this. She didn't grieve too much about his cheek wound - it could have been a LOT worse, though..she does brush her fingers near it, grimacing slightly. Then she shook her head a little. ]

Okay, here goes. [ She carefully, gently dabbed the medicated swab along the gash of his cheek, watching his face carefully. Once that was done, she reached down for one of the large bandages and placed it over his wound, smoothing her hand against it carefully. ]

All done.

[explodewiththerage]

[He does occasionally his and flinch since she is touching far deeper than just his skin while cleaning him up. Even so he doesn't once pull away or tell Lucy to stop, enduring the treatment like a champ until she puts the finishing touches with the bandages.]

Aaaah feel a lot better already.

[He sighs in relief before stretching his arms up a bit.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Each time he flinched or hissed in pain, she murmured a soft apology, wincing right along with him. So when she was finally done she breathed a sigh of relief, putting the supplies back in the kit. Absently she leaned back against the couch- coincidentally when he was stretching his arms up. What a nice cozy spot against his side she found and totally didn't realize. ]

That wasn't so bad. And at least your wound won't get infected now.

[explodewiththerage]

[Nice and cozy huh. This whole room is feeling that way right now. The fact that even he can notice this is rather telling to say the least. But right now his mod while not completely clear, is feeling much lighter.]

Yeah I'd rather this ends up a cool scar instead of some ugly thing just cause it wasn't taken care of.

[celestial_wizard]

[ She could help but be so relaxed with the room so cozy. Just yawning again a little, snuggling against the couch. And..well.. him, but shh. Though his comment about hoping the scar turns out cool made her pause - and then it was her turn to burst out laughing. ]

Th.. That is such a 'Natsu' thing to say..!

[explodewiththerage]

[Being so close to him has its perks. Which could possibly be seen as its negatives given Lucy ends up facing his lethal techniques up close and personal. Such as the legendary grin.]

Well that's who I am after all. You said that too you know.

[celestial_wizard]

[ Definitely had its perks. He was warm- it might be her imagination but the room felt even warmer- for one thing. And she got to see so many sides of him that others never did. Lucy's giggles subsided, as she nodded. ]

Yeah, I did at-- [ Oh. ] that. [ That grin. Turn off the grin, turn it off! Or well, don't, but don't point that lethal weapon at HER like that especially when you're so close. ]

[explodewiththerage]

[Nope not an option just yet. Still need to let Lucy soak in it a little longer.]

So think we should go take a look around this place for a bit before it gets dark?