Test Drive Meme #15

[seasonshelpers]

Test Drive Meme #15
LOGS | NETWORK | OOC | MEMES | NAVIGATION

Arrival

Part 1

You arrive in an unknown space, dressed in white clothes (player choice what kind of clothes, as long as they cover everything). Whatever was happening to you before no longer happens. It's like everything was put on a pause and you were transferred away from the situation without you realizing it happened.

The space that you find yourself in is one of these four options:

An empty landscape filled with snow and ice, almost like a blank canvas.
A field with cherry blossom trees and spring flowers.
A sunny beach near an ocean that seems never ending.
A quiet forest with falling autumn leaves.

All of the spaces seem to continue endlessly. No matter where or how far you walk it almost seems like you're not moving at all. There are no animals here - just those who happened to wake up there at the same time, in the same place. Everyone is wearing the same kind of plain, white clothes.

Despite the possible rollercoaster of emotions you might be feeling, the place somehow feels familiar. Like somehow you belong there.

And it looks like you're not alone.


Part 2

After half an hour has passed the surroundings change as everyone is teleported into a room with all the other new arrivals, no matter what space they woke up in. It's a large place with plenty of seats to sit in and beverages to enjoy. Medical attention is offered to those who need it and the doctors here are very prepared for any challenging situations.

Here, in this room, everyone gets an answer to where they are and why. A hologram of a man appears at the center of the room, waiting to be heard. He brings a message on behalf of the leaders of Ellipsa. The staff nearby tells them that the message has finally been properly updated from the original one that can still be found from the records.

The Message [ Click to Expand ]

Hello, my name is Olwen. I'm one of the leaders of Ellipsa as it currently is. I'm also one of the four who summoned you here.

Our world is in trouble and we need your help. I apologize for tearing you away from your world and forcing you to come here but I hope you understand. The magic we used doesn't let us ask in advance, nor does it let us choose who we bring here. We wouldn't have resorted to it if we weren't desperate. Our world has lost the majority of power holders who kept the balance in our world and dealt with the dangers of the Segments. Just having one power holder for each Season isn't enough. That's why we have summoned you to become the new Seasonal Power Holders.

This world is composed of four Seasonal Segments. All of them represent one of the seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. They were the places we used to get our resources from, but now they're dangerous places no one should go into unless they have the power to fight back. All of them have their own sets of powerful monsters and natural catastrophes. We have recently managed to regain some footing in the segments and made them safer, but there is still a lot of work to be done. The Darkness still plagues our world, but we are constantly finding ways to fight back.

Otherworlders like you have already made great differences to the world. They have managed to find and free the dragons who in turn helped us expand the area we live in. They also managed to find the Fairy Queen and even the Mermaids and Sirens of the Great Ocean Lake are at peace due to the efforts of a few otherworlders. All of these things we couldn't have accomplished with just four power holders.

My sincere wish is that you would join us in working towards saving this world. We promise to send you home afterwards, or enable a way to travel to your world and back, as a compensation for your efforts here. You're even free to stay here, if that suits you better. This world can also be yours.

I know we're asking you a lot and that it might be hard to trust someone who just talks as a hologram, but you are always free to approach us at our guilds to talk in person.

The hologram can be viewed in private in a separate room later, should someone wish to look at it again. For now, the staff of the Research Center hands everyone their new smartphones with their small flower lucky charms (the flower is anything the player decides). They're also told that the building next door is where everyone can find a room assigned to them with some of their belongings there and possibly even any animal companions. Those concerned about their mount-sized companions are welcomed to the stables downstairs to see if their friends are there. The mounts are allowed to stay there until you find a place more suitable for them.

In the arrival's hall there are also several stands with information pamphlets.

First type of stand is for the local Guilds and about the benefits of joining one.

Second type of stand is for the Welcome Center that aim to show otherworlders what the world is like and help guide people in the beginning of the journey and helps in getting settled into the new world. They even have people to help if you're unfamiliar with the new phones.

Third type of a stand has various pamphlets about businesses opened by otherworlders.

Once you get your smartphone and necessary information, you're urged to go out and find your apartment. After that whatever you want to do is up to you.

The building next door is where everyone can find their new apartments. As you enter, you're told by a friendly native that for the first two months you can live anywhere rent-free and five meals a day are paid for you. After that they get a monthly payment that helps with some of their living expenses, but otherwise they have to have a job to support themselves.

All of the apartments are comfortable, two bedroom apartments with all necessary utilities. They are also completely soundproof. Sometimes the magic system, however, does glitch and you might find yourself rooming with a stranger. This is not the intention and the staff will immediately prepare you a room of your own. But maybe having a roommate isn't all that bad?

Part 3

The locals have taken upon themselves to advertise the Welcome Center that is run mostly by otherworlders. Newcomers are encouraged to visit it, but sometimes the people might think someone who has been a while is new.

Inside one finds a modern Japanese style lobby with plenty of sofas, soft seats and cushions to sit on. Anyone is welcome to just sit around and eat some home-made snacks. There are also computers for searching information and practicing technology skills. There's usually someone behind the front desk, but if no one seems to be there they might be in the kitchen behind the front desk area.

Upstairs there are many rooms that can be into familiar places for characters (not exactly the same, but similar) with futuristic technology. It's set up to help fight any homesickness and provide a quiet place to relax.

One bonus the Welcome Center provides is a gift basket with some treats, basic ingredients for making meals and some gift cards for the Underground Mall, to possibly shop for new clothes or other necessary items. All of these have been donated by volunteers to help newcomers settle in.

Of course the people working here are always looking for new volunteers to help around! There are plenty of things to do, all in the name of making otherwolders' arrival to a new world more comfortable.

Fix-It Crew

Part 1

The City of Nightwake has seen better days. Windows and fixtures are broken, plants are damaged, roads are charred, rubble and garbage litter the streets with some bloodstains in the alleys and sometimes even in the open. Anyone asked will explain that in late May, a number of crises all happened at once, and while things are calm again, parts of the city are still rebuilding.

Magical and mundane repair help of all kinds is requested by various civilian homes and businesses. Anyone who answers the calls for help can be put to work repairing and restoring any items and buildings, replacing windows, repairing doors, building things, and/or cleaning up messes. Any help is appreciated... especially since people are reporting random garbage falling on them from nowhere, thanks to an ongoing quest!

Anyone who volunteers will also be able to learn a new spell that allows them to repair their clothing or armour on the go. Handy when you're out in the Segments and can't just go to the blacksmith!

Part 2
City council has coordinated the cleanup effort, and snack stations have cropped up near big repair sites so volunteers can get water and food. The snacks vary from place to place, but are always something popular in the district they're in; for example, a stand in Sunwaning might provide curry pan or taiyaki, Dayrise might have fried fish or cream-filled buns, or Coldreach might let you come in for chips or deep-fried pickles.

June and July is also the time of the Solstice, a traditional Ellipsan holiday, and just because everything is in shambles doesn't mean people aren't celebrating. While volunteers take breaks at the snack stations, they're encouraged to weave flower crowns with provided cut flowers that are already enchanted to last longer. Plenty of civilians are already out on the street wearing theirs!

While it's common to make your own flower crown, people are also encouraged to exchange flower crowns with others. Some natives might urge anyone who tries to pay attention to flower language when doing so. After all, while not everyone knows flower language, a crown that says "nice to meet you, can we be friends" is very different from one that says "I hope you lose your fortune" or, for that matter, "elope with me"!

OBLIGATORY BEACH EPISODE

Part 1

With summer just around the corner, word gets around that there's going to be a giant beach party in Solarpeak. The natives see this as another way to thank the otherworlders for their continual efforts to help across Ellipsa. So, just a couple days before it starts, everyone will receive a message inviting them to come to Solarpeak and join in on the festivities and enjoy the decor and events that they'll be hosting.

Upon entering Solarpeak, visitors will see everything looks ike it's part of the party. There's stalls with a variety of savory foods, drinks, desserts, and frozen treats. Otherworlders can totally find their favorite summer treats in the assortment - the natives did their research!

There's also several events scattered in the sandy landscape and in the pool itself. In the pool - there's floaties, pool noodles, and a variety of fun pool games. On land there's an inflated obstacle course, slip-n-slides, a water gun fight arena, and beach volleyball set up. Party goers are also encouraged to start up their own activities Don't worry - there's plenty of shady spots to relax, too!

Oh - and don't miss the giant bonfire everyday at dark! The bonfire will also include sparklers and smores.


Part 2
As part of the summer event, Sage Blaze is hosting a cooking competition. Sage is the most recent winner of one of Ellipsa's televised cooking competition shows – Culinary Quest. This competition isn't just about being the best chef, either, it's about learning how to cook with love. Sage will be showing anyone who wants to participate how to make sure that the chefs are cooking with feeling – literally!

People who are tasting the food of the participants will be able to taste the feelings of that participants in the food. That means a dish made with love have a boost in flavor, and if the same dish is made with hate it'll be noticeably less tasty.

While there's no real winner in the competition, participants will walk away with a handy new trick. Sage may also call out when they feel a dish is especially tasty or creative – as long as they can taste the love!

OOC TIPS

Summary of the prompts [ Click to Expand ]

Arrival
• Characters appear in one of the four seasonal spaces, depending on what season they are
• After half an hour they are teleported to the Research Center lobby and given information
• Hologram of Olwen (Winter Guild Leader) plays, explaining the situation
• They're given their smartphone-like device and told about the Starter Apartments next door
• Possibility of finding a roommate!
• Welcome Center welcomes newcomers and those who have been here for a while alike

Fix-It Crew
• The city is recovering from a disaster, so buildings and fixtures all over need repairs and cleanup
• Garbage and debris may randomly fall on characters due to someone else using a defective magic item for cleanup
• Characters who take part in repair efforts are taught a spell to repair clothing and armour
• Snack stands offer food and a place to rest to volunteers
• During rest breaks, they can also make enchanted flower crowns for the Solstice holiday

OBLIGATORY BEACH EPISODE
• Solarpeak is hosting a beach/pool party!
• Stalls with food, drink, desserts, and frozen treats.
• There's several pool games, floaties, etc.
• Options to play beach volleyball, water gun fight, slip-n-slide, etc.
• When it gets dark, there's a big bonfire with smores and sparklers.
• Cooking competition where participants learn to "cook with love".

- Ask your questions related to the TDM here.

- The TDM is available only to friends of the mods and their friends. If you want to play in the TDM, please leave a note here to inform us who invited you over. We will get to you as soon as possible.

- Test Drive is open for current characters to make a toplevel as well. New characters can add TDM on their subject line to indicate they're new!

- Current characters cannot access the starting area again to meet new arrivals. They can, however, be at the Research Center when the newbies are teleported in.

- The TDM is game canon so anything in the TDM can happen for your character(s) in the game as well.

- Smut is not allowed on the TDM. You can play situations leading to it, but if the thread is turning into smut, please move it to a private space such a post in your character's journal, or a locked post in the game's log community if you decide to app!

- Check Locations: City to find more areas to explore inside the city. Every place in the districts is open.

- Similarly, Locations: Segments is useful for outdoors adventures.

- You can find monsters to encounter in the Bestiary.

- The FAQ has information on characters' smartphones as well as general things about the world that might be handy.

code bases by tricklet

Comments

agent carolina | red vs blue | summer

[brisance]

( cleanup crew )

It'd be clear from looking at her that Carolina is strong; her muscles are defined (and easily seen since she's just in a tank top and fatigues), her shoulders broad, and on top of all of that she's fairly tall for a human. Still, it seems like she's carrying a bit more than she should for her size without breaking much of a sweat, hauling pieces of sheet metal, wood, and buckets of dry concrete around to where they're needed and helping clean away trash.

She's also fast.

"Hey, look out!" she calls out to your character, grabbing them by the shoulder and yanking them bodily from where they're standing. A moment later, a few heavy bags of garbage materialize and fall to the ground where they'd been standing.

She lets out a small huff, still with a hand on their shoulder and looking them over.

"You good?"


( beach episode - relaxation )

Amidst all the activities Carolina has found herself a beach chair, and planted it underneath an umbrella. She has a pair of large sunglasses on, and she's gone full beachgoer: wearing an aqua bikini top with matching boyshort swimwear bottoms. She has a cold drink already dripping condensation, and she's relaxed onto the chair, feet crossed at the ankles, her legs in the sun and her upper half in the shade. Her Charmander seems to have the same idea, in a matching pair of glasses and face down at the foot of the chair, soaking up the rays.

After all that hauling stuff around, she intends to relax.


( beach episode - bonfire )

When the sun goes low, Carolina recalls her Pokemon and puts on a white skirt wrap and a white blouse against the fairly mild chill. She's sitting near the bonfire on a piece of driftwood, though she's far enough away that she could feasibly be missed by beachgoers.

Carolina has her hands cupped in front of her, frowning intently into the center of them. The reason becomes clear if observed: flame sparks between her hands for a moment before it gutters out. She shifts a little bit, focusing again, and finally a decent sized flame splutters to life between her hands.

Not realizing she's being observed, she gives a wide grin of triumph.

beach episode - relaxation

[slaughterous]

In the water near Carolina's chair, a seven-foot-tall man stands knee deep. He's carrying a rifle—a water rifle, that is—and is watching the surrounding area. Dark eyes scan the beach, resting on Carolina for a half second too long (admiring the view) before moving onward. Searching, searching…

Suddenly, he rushes forward. The person who had been trying to sneak up shouts and takes aim. Maine fires first; his Squirtle fires second, both of them targeting the would-be "assassin."

Soaked to the bone, the assassin retreats. Maine smirks in triumph and stops beside Carolina's chair, careful not to block her sun.

"Sore loser," he reports. Likely yet another of the players Carolina decimated before taking a well-deserved break.

[brisance]

She's aware of someone trying to sneak up on her, and knows her water gun - or rather water pistol - is tucked safely under her chair. She never even has to draw it, though; water flies over her head and sends the 'assassin' retreating back.

Carolina only moves to look up at Maine once he arrives, dragging her eyes over black, wet swim trunks and a white shirt that leaves little to the imagination.

"My hero," she tells him, amusement clear in her voice. She lifts up the drink, offering it to him if he wants a sip. It's some fruity concoction that is, sadly, not alcoholic. While she doesn't feel threatened by this place, that doesn't mean she's about to let her guard down by getting intoxicated.

(Her poor Charmander tucked his tail under the chair when the water went flying, and finally pulls it back out, giving a thumbs up to Blue-chan).

[slaughterous]

Now that he's closer and the coast is clear, it's hard for Maine to avoid openly admiring Carolina. She's downright gorgeous, her hard-won physique on display. Only the time they spent in the Project keeps Maine disciplined. Unlike some people (York), Maine doesn't have to ogle at every opportunity.

But he does sneak an appreciate peak. He's only human.

And he does notice her noticing him, which makes him stand up a little straighter, proud.

He leans down to accept the sip with a gruff, "Thanks." Tastes the fruitiness but not the kick of alcohol, which he appreciates. He can hold his liquor, sure, but dulling their reflexes so early into this mission (can he call it that?) would be a bad idea.

Especially when there are so many people around who seem determined to spar with him.

(Meanwhile, Blue-chan returns the thumbs-up, toddling over to sit down with Creamsicle. He'll make sure no water hits that tail!)

[brisance]

She's used to people looking - she was a part of the UNSC, for all it was just Basic to clear her for Project Freelancer. There's a difference between that and someone she trusts looking at her.

And, of course, someone she wants to look at her. It's a thing she'd been aware of but kept quietly out of the way during the Project, especially as competition ramped up. Now, it's a quiet fire in her stomach, about the fact that he catches her. Carolina pulls the drink back to take another sip.

"I'm surprised you haven't had more arm wrestling offers yet," she notes. A few people had been eager to try their mettle - or been willing to lose, at least - against Maine when they'd arrived to the beach. He'd earned a few free drinks for it already.

[slaughterous]

There's a casual kind of intimacy to sharing that drink. An inherent trust to the act. A level of closeness. Maine acknowledges it with the same sort of pride he feels when he's watching Carolina's six.

He didn't claw his way to number three just to be near Carolina. But being on the same team as her is an undeniable perk. And he knows in his heart that Project Freelancer wouldn't be the same without her as number one.

He shrugs at the question. She's right: there had been plenty of people eager to take him down a peg. He'd flattened them all. "When you need a refill," he says with a twitch of a smirk. Then he'll go kick someone else's ass and get another drink for her.

He sobers a little after that, though, reminded of other challenges. "People keep wanting to spar," he says. "Magically."

Which he knows he's not ready to do. And oh, how that pricks his pride.

[brisance]

It's on the tip of her tongue to tease that she can wrestle her own drinks out of people - not a dismissal of his offer, but a matter of fact. Then he sobers, though, and though her expression doesn't outwardly change, there's that look in her eyes that speaks to her thinking things over.

"We could spar," she offers after she ruminates. "We're on even footing on this, after all." And their Pokemon - well, Blue-chan at least - could be on standby to handle any out of control elements they may generate.

"There's other things to get, too. Tattoos, items; the guilds offer specialized training modules," she adds thoughtfully.

[slaughterous]

Maine's eyes light up a little at the thought of sparring with Carolina. Not because he's eager to get his ass kicked, but because she's right: they're on even footing. They can help each other out.

(And because he'll never turn down a chance to spar with Carolina, in any form.)

In Maine's experience, the best way to improve isn't by throwing himself at an impossibly high wall. It's by adding more weight to his reps as he can handle it—literally or metaphorically. And frustrating as it may be, he can't leap straight into the deep end without first learning how to swim.

"Heard about magic weapons," he says. "Soul thing."

Yes, that's about the extent of what he gleaned from it. Something about trust and souls, vessels and wielders.

cleanup

[roundandaround]

Whoa!

[Rinku blinks. Stares. Then stares at the garbage. Then back up at Carolina and claps excitedly.]

Thanks! I dunno why this stuff just shows up. We have enough garbage.

[brisance]

Think they said something about a magic experiment.

[ Gone wrong, clearly, because Carolina has no idea who wants to make garbage randomly appear. It's only about three bags, but they're stuffed full. Since they'll end up cleaning it anyway, she grabs two and nods to Rinku. ]

Wanna grab the third? We can toss it in the collection bin.

[roundandaround]

Okay! Sure!

[Rinku lifts the garbage bag with telekinesis and just chucks it into the nearest dumpster. She claps and bounces on her heels a little.]

That makes sense. Magic's hard to do sometimes. I tried breaking a curse once last year and just activated it instead. At least it ended up okay.

[brisance]

[ Carolina moves the bags the old-fashioned way using her arms, but she doesn't seem put out by it. Once it's in, she turns back to Rinky, wiping her hands on her pants. ]

I'm still getting used to all this magic stuff. I pretty much just got here.

Wait, did you say you got yourself cursed?

[roundandaround]

It was only a little one! Or I guess a big one, but it was supposed to be worse than it was 'cause they were aiming for people with way worse lives than me. But it's all done now!

[brisance]

[ carolina blinks a little. ]

All right, so what was the curse actually about?

[roundandaround]

Hm... how do I explain it? It was this thing my sister was studying, and I guess the whole thing was about putting the people you love through something hard about your life. It hit Neechan really hard, but for me it couldn't find very much and made people perform on stage... and pull gacha for clothes for some reason? Which looked kinda fun.

Bonfire

[schrodingerscockroach]

Listen.

He may or may not have gotten Donnie to track her through the city cameras, but he really needed to talk to her before too long. With the whole elephant in the room situation. (Maine. Maine is the elephant.)

Also he just wanted to talk to her.

He's missed her.

He approaches with a t-shirt (it took so long to just be able to wear one) and board shorts and flipflops because hey, dress for the terrain.

"Man, already making fire and you haven't even said hi? Didn't know I was chopped liver," he said, voice light and teasing.

[brisance]

The fire snaps away with a guilty look. It hasn't been ages since she's heard that voice - in fact, she doesn't tense because there's no reason to be afraid. But she has been focused on Maine, even knowing that Washington is here.

Still, Carolina offers him an embarrassed look, a little half smile on her face.

"You're not," she protests, settling her hands on her knees and sitting up a little. "It's just been - a lot."

The last fight with Locus and Felix. Arriving here, all the magical influence -- Maine. Their elephant in the room.

Her gaze slides over him, assessing old (and new) scars, the manner of dress, the light voice.

"You look good."

[schrodingerscockroach]

He certainly has new scars. More along his arms, and there is the scars on his neck.

There's the bullet.

Maybe not obvious from the front, but the old scratches from his implantation are...quite a number of more scratches scarring there.

This is what happens when you have to RE-remember your mindfuck of a memory.

But on the other hand, his eyebags are far less. He's been getting more sleep than normal.

"Yeah, it can be a lot," he said. "I've had a while to get used to it all. Its slower than a lot of places, so its been nice to catch up on sleep."

[brisance]

The bullet scar is what catches her eye. Maine had given her a rough lowdown on Wash - that he's been to other worlds, that he's older. Is that scar from another world, one he was at without her?

Or did she fail him back home in the final stretch of things?

Carolina deliberately pulls her gaze away, acting like she hadn't lingered on it. She pats the driftwood, indicating he should come sit down next to her.

"Slow's not bad, after everything," Carolina allows. "Maine said it had been a while for you... I'm from after Chorus. After the fight with Hargrove."

After losing Epsilon.

[schrodingerscockroach]

After Hargrove. Lingering on his neck.

Hm. To bring that up or not? He's not...entirely sure if its best. The whole time line thing was already messy and complicated and...

And there is always a chance that ONLY happened because he did have people from outside their world and timeline come in. It may never be relevant for Carolina

Well, either it gets fixed, or it doesn't. He's not sure how wise it is to try and alter THAT little tidbit, all things considered.

He does move to sit down beside her. "I'm some months later in our timeline. Most of its been downtime. Stuff's happened, but nothing we couldn't really handle." And then he gets shot and then Tucker and her break time for him.

Which is still SUCH a heavy thought.

He leans back, resting his hands on the log. "And its been years on top of that. I hope he mentioned the whole this is the fifth interdimensional kidnapping I've been to?"

[brisance]

He doesn't bring up anything specific, so neither does she. Instead she keeps an eye on him as he moves, the only visual clue that she's worried about him.

"Yeah, he mentioned it'd been quite a few trips for you," She confirms, brushing her hair over her shoulder. "And that you have a boyfriend and a little sister now."

That gets a curl of warm teasing in her tone, for the magical monkey boyfriend.

[schrodingerscockroach]

"I do."

Also a son, but the son isn't HERE, so we're just going to shelf that for now. There is a lot to cover and frankly more pressing bombshells, that Wylan can wait for now.

"His name is Macaque, and yes, he is a monkey...person. Demon or other, I never did get that clarified," he said with a shrug. "He's also got a daughter. Choco Korone. That's my little sister."

Please know its as dumb as it sound. Out of sync adoptions are funny sometimes.

He forces his face to keep straight before the grin happens because he absolutely does the introduction that way on purpose.

cleanup crew

[bornlucky]

As Carolina carries buckets of dry concrete to their destination, a man approaches from the opposite direction. A very tall man, clad in authentic Mjolnir armor the green of a true Marine. His helmet is on, and as he glances at her, she may see herself reflected in his visor.

He's also carrying half a tree. The broken trunk of one that was irreparably damaged during the fighting.

He says nothing. Just a glance as they move in opposite directions. Recognizing a fellow military type.

[brisance]

She knows where she's going by now, so her gaze had been on the ground; when she feels eyes on her, she draws her gaze up, meeting his briefly as she passes. The majority of her UNSC time was with Project Freelancer; still, something flags in the back of her brain as they pass.

It's Mjolnir armor, first of all. Old Mjolnir armor, definitely a GEN1 unless the person inside is running one of the compatible-friendly GEN2 models. Not a lot of people run around in that anymore, even less in active marine green.

The armor makes you taller, too, but it doesn't make you that much taller.

When she's coming back with nothing in her hands, and she crosses paths again, she pauses as they draw near.

"You a Spartan?" She asks plainly; there's no fear in her voice, only curiosity.

[bornlucky]

He, too, has nothing in his hands as they pass. He's on his way to gather more. Clean-up is something he rarely gets the time to do, always being hustled to the next engagement, the next enemy. It's strange being on this side of things—late to the party.

But he helps, because of course he does.

The question takes him off guard. Who but a Spartan could handle armor like his?

"That's right. Sierra One-One-Seven," he rattles off, just in case she knows his designation. (Many do.) But if she doesn't, he adds, "Call me Master Chief."