archishellago | Test Drive Meme #006

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test drive meme

Test Drive Meme #006

KHU IODUAN; TEST DRIVE MEME #006

I. AROUND AIFARAN - Getting The Perfect Shot!

This month in Aifaran, there's a contest being held on the popular social site Xa Xa, which Earth-based Dreamfolk may recognize as vaguely Instagram-like -- it's all about the pretty pictures! With a top (and substantial) prize of 500 hhinn per category, lots of people are getting into the game. Prizes will be handed out for awards like Best Composition, Most Creative Angle, Best Use of Lighting, etc, and this means that it won't be uncommon to see people in unusual places (even some risky ones) trying to score the perfect shot. Maybe they're bumping accidentally into you on the street, or slipping off the edge of a rooftop, or not paying attention to that train heading their way??

II. TALENT IS A MISNOMER - You Didn't Need That Wall Right?

There are a lot of Dreamfolk in the city, and all of them are dealing with their own newly gifted Talents in their own ways. Some, especially those who are used to extraordinary abilities from their own worlds, have some idea of how to train on them safely, learning the ins and outs of their new gift. And then you have some whose only exposure to "magic" is through stories, fairy tales, or really entertaining TV, and pointing a finger-gun at a target and saying "boom!" has never actually worked... until now.

"Uh," the other Dreamfolk says, staring dumbly at the car-sized hole in the wall, and then glances at you who just happened to be the closest person. "That's... new. Yikes. Should we run? Wait, I've got a better idea--" Cue loud voice and frantic pointing in your direction. "IT WAS THIS ONE! THEY DID IT!"

III. WE HAVE REGULATIONS ABOUT THIS - Munga on the Loose!

Munga are ill-tempered, rat-sized spiky lizards with a gift for camouflage, and whose venom in their spines and teeth is also highly hallucinogenic. And... they're on the loose. Fortunately, keeping them is highly regulated, and pretty much everyone in Aifaran knows about them, but loose Munga are uncommon enough that the reaction is more likely to be startled flailing at a hint of spines and skittering. Today someone's exotic pet has slipped out of their hands, and it's trailing a harness and lead as it zigzags away, prickling and hissing and going for the ankles. It's given a wide berth, except by those who don't notice until it's too late or those too preoccupied by something else. Hopefully the proper authorities have been notified to catch and return the creature, but maybe someone helpful can keep it from getting too far away?

IV. A SURPRISE WINDFALL - Officer, This Isn't Mine...

There was a loud thud as someone tosses a heavy bag from the window of a dilapidated building. Five seconds later there’s smoke pouring out the windows and your holding what seems to be someone else’s luggage. Opening it, you find carefully wrapped bricks of some very illegal drugs, and someone down the side alley is pointing at you and yelling. A mounted Sentry officer is giving you a rather peculiar look as well while he calls in the fire brigade. And among the people fleeing the building, there are five Kin’nal looking at you, wide-eyed, as it suddenly dawns on them that they messed up. Take your new prize and split before reinforcements arrive? Try to explain the mistake? Take note that the building is still on fire?

V. KNOWLEDGE IS PRECIOUS - Accosted By Monks

The Tariken monks are out in full force today, their orange and green robes making them easy to spot in a crowd, and there's a high chance you might be approached by one. Their sect values knowledge above everything else, so recording information from Dreamfolk, who are transient to Konryu, is something they see as imperative. Some of the questions are standard ("what's the name of your world? is it anything like Konryu? do have have any special position there?") but sometimes they move into stranger territory, like what's your favourite bath soap scent and how many times you wear your socks before washing them -- all of which are asked with the most studious attentiveness, just in case your answer holds the secret to the multiverse.

VI. WILDCARD - Because You're Not The Boss Of Me

Anything else that doesn't fit the above prompts is welcome, just keep it within the game setting please!

Applications • Reservations • Taken List • Game Navigation

Threaded | Flat

[Diamond has yet to really understand the concept of a "selfie" or what that entails, exactly -- and they also aren't quite sure what is "normal" behavior for these other creatures they've discovered to be quite unlike them in many ways.

But still, they can't help but try and dash to the rescue when they see someone starting to fall off the balcony of a building above, rushing below them to catch them just before they fall on the ground.

... unfortunately, although the catch was perfect, they bump into the wall from behind them and their arm cracks, dropping to the ground with a clatter. ]

... Oh, dear.

III

[ Fortunately for Diamond, they don't exactly have skin or veins with which to inject venom or cause pain by biting. They do notice something taking a nibble at their ankle, though, and they move to pick the munga up gently. ]

What a cute fellow you are!

[ They don't seem to notice the people looking on in horror, nor do they seem to be too terribly bothered -- a little surprised, maybe, but nothing more -- by how grumpy and squirmy it is. ]

I. Around Aifaran

This is the first time that they have ever seen the lush green grasses of a tropical summer, or felt the warmth of the sun at its seasonal zenith. Antarcticite still doesn't truly understand how it is that they are able to withstand this heat without melting--this can't be possible!--but the assistants at the Dreaming Bridge had been quick to assure them that no, this is perfectly normal, the Dreaming is capable of performing wonderful feats for the Dreamfolk who are drawn here. And, very gradually, Antarcticite had allowed themselves to believe them... once they were convinced that this was not some elaborate ploy cooked up by the Lunarians.

But why would the Lunarians reconstruct a shattered gem in the first place? And surely the Lunarians did not look nearly so complex and varied as the flesh creatures that wandered Aifaran.

It is the latter of these thoughts that they are mulling over as they await the arrival of the skytrain on the platform... and notice someone on the tracks, posing with one of those silly talking media devices on the end of a long stick. Antarcticite scowls at their frivolity--then turns their head sharply when they catch a glimpse of the train's oncoming headlights.

Quickly, they rush to the end of the platform. "Get out of there, you idiot!" A split second for deliberations, and then they leap down onto the tracks to yank the moron in question out of the way.

(Are you the moron, or are you a spectator?)

II. Talent Is A Misnomer

There's a giant hole in the side of a building that now has smoke pouring out its windows, and all it takes is one false accusation from a particularly belligerent criminal for Antarcticite to find themselves the centre of the Sentry's attention.

"Explain yourself!" an angry Bresilykian is demanding of them, advancing forward with several of her fellows at her side.

Startled and outraged, but keenly aware of the solid-looking batons that the officers wield, Antarcticite takes several swift steps backward.

"What explanation do you want from me!" they demand in response, gesticulating backwards at the massive hole in the wall in disbelief. "This was not my doing, you have the wrong person!"

V. Knowledge Is Precious

Antarcticite was not expecting to lapse into a spell of melancholy after their time answering the questions of the Tariken monks, but they suppose such a thing would be inevitable after passing an hour or two discussing nothing but their memories of home; the land, covered first in a soft fine down of snow that would only grow thicker, more dense, as the cold of winter encroached upon it. The halls of the school, quiet and orderly as the rest of their companions hibernated through the coldest season. Of the good and sensible work found in cleaving the ice floes, of making Sensei proud--and of Phos.

It leaves them bemused, how often their thoughts turn towards that good-for-nothing little pebble. ...No, that isn't right anymore, is it?

They remain seated on one of the park benches long after the monks have gone off to pester one of the other newly arrived Dreamfolk for details of their homeland. Antarcticite sits still with their hands resting still on their knees, frowning determinedly at nothing. No, this won't do at all.

VI. Wildcard!

(hit me with anything else you have in mind!)

II ▸ TALENT IS A MISNOMER | open

"IT WAS THIS ONE! THEY DID IT!"

Chade immediately adopts an affronted look - which is not even a lie, truthfully, as he has not witnessed such dishonesty since the time he convinced a minor lord that accepting a small contingent of servants from Buckkeep would in no way compromise the integrity of any clandestine operations he was involved with.

He knocks aside the pointed finger and scolds, as though to a child, "Get that thing away from me! You'll be far less satisfied when it's my guts spilling out all over the floor instead of bricks and mortar, I daresay."

Then he turns to the few civilians around that bore witness to the event - far too many for the shifty Dreamfolk's plan to do much good (or evil, as it were) - and looks each one in the eyes, his words diplomatic and somewhat heavy on his aged and frail nature.

"And anyway," he continues, "but I would never participate in the wanton destruction of such fine property without good reason. I hardly know how! I mean, look at me. My body could hardly handle lifting one of these bricks, much less destroy an entire wall."

IV ▸ SURPRISE WINDFALL | open

Sloppy, sloppy work, Chade notes with disgust dripping from his internal monologue. He's not sure what's in the bag, but it's clearly very important if it was worth setting a fire for and tossing out the window to save; what should have been a clandestine operation had turned into a spectacle quite worthy of his idiot apprentice. Such clumsiness was beyond redemption.

Moments after hanging up on the fire brigade, but still before sirens can be heard in the distance, the Sentry approaches Chade with an expression too curious for Chade's health. "Excuse me," the Sentry says, "is that your bag?"

With some regret - he really would have liked to know what exactly is in the bag - Chade sighs and offers it to the Sentry. "Not anymore, I'm afraid," he says. "It is unfortunate that what fate bequeaths to us it snatches again so easily. This parcel befell me at the moment smoke poured from the window and darkened the sky. It is those gentlemen, I believe," and here Chade gestures directly to the Kin'nal who have not the good sense to make themselves scarce, "that you are looking for."

The Sentry spaces out a little during Chade's monologue, but comes to as soon as Chade refers to the Kin'nal. Some people take forever to get to the point.

VI ▸ WILDCARD | open

[ whatever you can come up with, Chade will find some way to squirrel his way out of it! ]

Edited 2018-08-25 02:25 (UTC)

V

In her opinion this city by the sea is charming in many ways, from the unique architecture to the many races roaming the streets, Aifaran could be so lovely. The place even seemed mostly unified at a glance, though Clarissa was certain there was dissent somewhere. There was an underlying clash to everything, perhaps some sort of collision between powers that she couldn't quite put her finger on and she lacked the knowledge to ask properly. The Monks who approached her, however, had no such qualms.

"My favorite flower?" she asked pleasantly, a sweet smile on her face, "I have always liked lilies."

Fascinating how all these worlds had their own different religions, it was easy enough to glean information from these monks about their faith. They valued knowledge above all else, how useful. Perhaps she should 'join'.

VI

The beach was pleasant enough this evening, and Clarissa took full advantage, walking barefoot through the sand, her sandals hanging from a finger as she took in the sunset. The place reminded her of Greece at times, the fiery sky reflecting on the blue waters. How strange to think that beyond the borders was a world torn apart by death, perhaps this was what her own world had to look forward to should she fail in her destiny. The elegant woman sighed, dropping her sandals and wading into the water.

VI: WILDCARD: or, the indignities of interdimensional travel

The ship, Ace understood. The incinerator room, the bracelets, the trap he walked right into without a second thought: all of it, no matter how infuriating, he understood. All of it made sense.

The stable, the straw, and the pile of horse dung under his shoulder are somewhat less understandable.

Ace stirs, groans, forces himself to sit up. Where the hell is he? How did Zero manage this? The last thing he remembers is trying to verify at the RED, and the ERROR message on the display, which was impossible,, but -- he has to admit, not as impossible as blinking and finding yourself in a bed of straw and horse dung instead.

When he finally leaves the stable, utterly and visibly confused, he freezes when he sees the pair of horses outside -- or, not horses, but... monsters. Deer-lizard-eagle-horse monsters. Dear god, has he been drugged? Is he in a delusional or psychotropic haze?

"Zero!" he calls out, his voice angry, his face afraid. Flecks of animal dung still stain his cheek and his coat. "Where are you!?"

III: WE HAVE REGULATIONS ABOUT THIS: or, stupid tourists who don't know anything about munga

The strange lizard creature running towards Ace is really just the icing on the completely nonsensical cake. He's had a hard enough time getting used to this tropical city and the muggy heat without anything crazy happening. It's hard to register the danger in time, even after he hears shouts and the crowd around him makes way for the giant lizard... thing to skitter right up to his ankles.

"Argh!"

The little bastard bit him. Anger, pain, and frustration momentarily override Ace's better sense, and his foot lashes out, kicking the creature up into the air. It lands several feet away, where it moves sluggishly while making a wide variety of angry noises.

Ace doesn't seem to care. He kneels down to inspect the damage on his ankle, and makes an irritated noise of his own when he sees the angry red welts.

II. Talentish

Korg doesn't need to be experimenting with talents to accidentally break a wall. He just leaned on a wall that he didn't check for stability first.

"Oh, sorry about that. Used to leaning on things made of alien metal. Not any particular kind of metal, just your generically strong metal, fit to lambshade most improbably scenarios, you know the type."

V. Knowledge is Precious

Korg is happy to answer questions to the best of his ability, although the monks soon find his irreverence slightly offputting.

"Most recently I was on a planet named Sakkar, but mostly I spent a lot of time sitting in a circle that didn't go anywhere. Both the circle and me. It mostly stayed in place, as structures do, and also did a good job of imprisoning me inside it. As a prison went, I get it a solid B+. The lines for the bathroom were very long, you see."

"Polishing my rocks? Usually only in private."

Wildcard!

Edited 2018-09-14 06:26 (UTC)

Threaded | Flat

diamond / land of the lustrous

Antarcticite | Land of the Lustrous

chade fallstar | realm of the elderlings

Clarissa | Swallowing the Sun (OC)

Ace | 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors

Korg the Kronan | MCU