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quaranmeme2017-08-20 08:59 pm
riverview: august test drive meme
riverview test drive memeWelcome to Riverview's test drive meme! Feel free to dip your toes in on the test drive meme to try out your character in the setting, play out a mission, and get samples for your application at the same time!
● There are currently 17 Character Slots available.
● Applications are open and will remain open until such time as there are 30 or more character slots available at one time. Applications will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis. Any applications in excess of available spots will be placed in a queue and processed as drops or activity sweeps happen.
● Providing all parties are amenable, threads on the test drive meme can count as game canon, as the plot in the prompts presented is game canon, and may continue while applicants are waiting on the queue (including spanning multiple TDMs).
● TDM threads do not count for Activity Check, but they do count for Activity Bonus Points, so long as all characters involved are accepted into the game.
● Threading on the TDM is intended for prospective new characters, so top-levels should only be posted by players of these characters. Since the events in the TDM are considered game canon, characters currently in the game are free to use the TDM prompts for logs and posts on the regular communities.
Feel free to use the prompts below or create your own scenario. The setting is built to be flexible, so feel free to make things up as you go.
information resources
premise ● arrival ● setting ● ask a question ● calendar ● navigation
After a significant chunk of intense research, both magical and scientific, hindered pretty badly by the fact that scientific and magical researchers are not, in fact, immune to bouts of amnesia themselves, the verdict is in. A cure for the pollen-induced epidemic of amnesia effects has been found in a very unlikely place. Rather than something high-tech or a complex magical spell, the cure is simple herbology - a red leaf on a particular species of tree, ground up with a mortar and pestle, and brewed into tea will completely reverse the effects of the amnesia within 4 hours of ingestion. Of course, the side effects of the tea are a little uncomfortable, and depending on the person they can span a wide range from nausea to fever and chills to a serious 24-hour flu. Some people are lucky enough to get off completely without side effects.
Still, someone's gotta go out into the jungle and gather those leaves, and those people will need a protection detail. The teams of foraging explorers and their protectors are assembled quickly and sent out with the instructions - follow the birds. There are several species of a parrot-like bird that are native to the moon that make their homes in the trees the leaves come from and feed there, and these birds will quickly lead the teams to where they can find the supplies for the necessary cure.
While the intrepid teams head out into the jungle to gather up the cure, there's plenty of work to be done inside the city. After identifying the particular flower that's been sprouting up around the city and spreading its amnesia-inducing pollen, volunteers from the Perimeter Guard, Fire Department, and Police Department are handing out pictures of the flowers and equipment to destroy them to anyone who's willing to lend a hand.
That equipment? Small, portable flamethrowers capable of incinerating the plants with a single pull of the trigger.
Volunteers are welcome to wander around the city with the flamethrowers and destroy every plant they set their sights on, and while there will be ample supervision and regular patrols by various types of authorities, there might be room for a little foul play if the wrong person gets hold of the gear.
As the day wears on, the first batches of antidote tea will start being handed out, with volunteers carrying around containers of it on their backs and handing out cups to anyone willing to take them. The tea tastes...pretty good, actually! A little sweet with a distinct citrus aftertaste. Nice!
Characters are welcome to volunteer for either of these efforts. For any affected character who did not or could not take the antidote tea, the effects of the pollen will wear off within 12 hours of the flowers being destroyed, which will be in the late evening of August 21st.
A day or two after the amnesia ordeal is over, some members of the Perimeter Guard Orientation Support team start putting up flyers and sending out ads over the network and screens around the city for a Stuff Swap at the Perimeter Guard headquarters on August 22nd. Anyone in the city is welcome to bring books, clothes, household goods, jewelry, or any other items that they don't want and to trade them for other items that other characters are willing to give up.
One man's scrap is another man's treasure, after all, and the Orientation team thinks that maybe the act of sharing, give and take, will help new arrivals to integrate more easily with the people who are already in the city. And maybe it will give them a chance to stock up on useful items they didn't arrive with!
Throughout the last half of August and the first half of September, advertisements are also being spread for an event called Plays by the Plage, featuring both professional and amateur performances of famous plays from all over the multiverse. The performances are free, and anyone who wishes to attend can just bring a blanket and picnic basket and watch the plays. The quality of the performances ranges from intense, beautiful, and moving to horrific and so-bad-it's-good.
Anyone who wants to put on a performance of their own is also more than welcome to set that up, cast it, and act their little hearts out on the big or small stage!
Whether your character is posting up a silly word game to distract people from the dangerous mission going on, trying to get hold of a friend, or putting out feelers for people to go out into the fray with, the network is going strong.
Alternately, an offer for a free app is popping up on new arrivals' devices - Friendr is a friend-finder and/or dating app. If characters choose to install it, they will fill out a short bio and parameters for what they're looking for, upload a snap of themselves, and then proceed to browse for matches. This is a typical swipe-left-or-right type app.
Friendr base code is by photosynthesis.
The code in the textbox is for the default color scheme, but the Friendr app has a wide variety of themes, so feel free to customize with colors and patterns as you see fit, but do not remove the credit line out of respect for the creator of the code.
Use the wildcard prompt to choose your own adventure and do whatever else you like in the setting!
no subject
If your dog's back home you're going to have wait until you return there. If you have a dog here, I'm sure it can skip a meal.
[He's not buying this story, and even though his answer is straight forward it's very clear that he's not buying this story. This is the most obvious cover up in the history of the world and Ed can tell stories about stupid cover ups and fake smiles.]
I usually walk, the communal building isn't that far.
[He's not going to point out that it's none of her business since she already has, but his expression relays his growing skepticism. Sorry AJ, Ed's a nosy person and the more out of place you act, the more interested he is in the why of it. It's been five seconds and he's already got his eye on her as someone to look out for.]
There should be directions in your phone, but seriously if you need an escort or something... There are plenty of us here you could ask for help. Probably not Orientations, they're a little short staffed this whole swap thing going on.
no subject
No no, it's fine, I was lying about the dog. I mean- lying's not the right word, I have a dog? But she's back home and- not the point! Seriously, nevermind. Just, like... maybe keep an eye out for cars... on your way home...?
[This is beyond salvaging. He definitely thinks she's crazy now. But it's not going to help anything if she explains she can see how long people have to live because of her immortal father... Maybe she should just accept anyone with a clock under six months thinking she's a nutcase.]
I am making an ass of myself. And I'm gonna stop talking. And I can leave, if you're weirded out. I totally get it.
no subject
[Mostly he just sounds amused, but the car comment earns another weird look.]
First you ask if I'm feeling okay, like I might be sick. Then you tell me to watch for cars.
[Ed's used to Nico or he probably wouldn't jump to this conclusion, but being told he's died before by a perfect stranger certainly brings up some suspicions here.]
Let me guess, you can sense death or something. Honestly, it's obvious you haven't been here very long, that sort of thing's normal here. Sort of. Anyway, it's not the weirdest conversation I've had, trust me.
[He's giving her a serious look, calculating. Like, maybe now's the time to be honest.]
So, let me ask again. Are you sure you're okay?
[Because he's totally fine, she's acting weird and he has a feeling it ties into something like Nico's ability. Maybe not the same thing, but similar enough that he can tell she's basically expecting him to be dead... Or dead soon.]
no subject
I can uh... see how long people have to live. It's this sort of- my dad had it? And I got it from him. It's a really long story, and yooouuu have... twelve hours.
[Although, the collar obscures the minutes just enough that she has yet to catch on that the clock isn't moving. It's not like she's been trying to look at it - quite the opposite.]
Sorry, I am. Totally making this a mess. But I'm fine, just- oh boy. I don't. I don't have to deal with- short clocks? Very often? It's um... iiiit's something.
no subject
So, it's genetic-
[Not a big deal, not even remotely surprising to him at this point but then... Oh boy, then she goes and drops the bomb on him and his eyes widen, exhaling slowly before seeming to compose himself. His expression is still serious, somber, but not completely full of shock as it had been for a brief moment there. As if that wasn't even close to the most surprising news he'd ever received.]
The medical technology here is pretty advanced, I don't think anyone's just going to die out of the blue. You can probably worry less about car accidents.
[He knew, Al had told him in Purg so he was prepared for that inevitability. He also knew that he didn't stay dead, but hearing it - being told just how much time he had left - certainly solidified some things. It was no longer a vague concept of dying in an attempt to save Al sometime in his future. Whatever happened after killing Sloth was going to kill him and that detail was news. He wasn't dying eventually, he was dying today. Pretty much as soon as he got back, and if he never wanted to return home before, this only increased his desire to stay right where he was. After a moment he actually smiles, but there's no humor behind it.]
I guess I have less time than I thought when I get home.
[After a moment he seems to realize how bad that sounds and raises a hand as if to dismiss the whole conversation.]
Listen, don't worry about it. I- have kind of heard this before... Not- so specific, but- time is a little funny here, so I already got the update. I also... don't actually stay dead. It's complicated- but really, don't worry about me... It's fine.
no subject
Well that- um. Yep. That makes it... a little better? But... Sorry, I really shouldn't have told you, I just didn't want you thinking I'm some kind of- I don't know, that I was threatening you or something? It's just that I'm not really... good at this. This whole... seeing things that other people can't see... thing? I suck at it.
[But this really isn't about her, it's about... him. And how she totally screwed up his afternoon.]
I... can go, seriously, if this is weird for you. It's still weird for me, and I'm... 32. So.
no subject
Ah, it's fine... Like I said, it's- not really a big surprise? People are from all different times in places like these, someone from my future was nice enough to let me know years ago. Just... Not exactly when. How do you know, anyway? The amount of time someone has left.
[Ed will probably get over this quicker than she will, which is the saddest thing about their whole interaction. Sorry, AJ.]
Really, I'm friends with a demigod of death. It's fine.
[Another quick disarming smile with a wave of his hand as if that was No Big Deal.]
no subject
I see... clocks? On everyone's necks, right around here. [She gestures to her own neck. And... it's here she finally takes a good look at his clock and realizes even the seconds are staying in place. Weird... very weird.] My dad and my brother can see it, and... a couple hundred other people in my world? It's really complicated. But, uhh... the point is that I can see everyone's lifespans on their necks, like a.. tattoo, kind of. A constantly changing tattoo. Can't see mine, though, aaand... my brother and dad were nice enough not to tell me, so I guess I might die whenever.
[Hahaaaa... that's a weird way to put that. Everything is terrible and she's just shrugging awkwardly.]
no subject
Clocks.
[That was said deadpan like maybe now he thought she was crazy. Although it did explain the fact that she was staring at his neck when she got weirded out, reaching up to the check the clasp on his jacket seemed like forever ago with how this conversation has gone down.]
So, you know how much time someone has left but nothing else about it. Which is why you didn't know if I was dying or about to get into an accident.
[He nods at that as if it makes a whole lot of sense, he's taking all of this really well, considering.]
Do you know why people can see them... or- why you wouldn't have one?
[That sounded stressful, his tone is actually sympathetic there. It must be hard to realize there's no way to know for her when she grew up in a world where this is just common knowledge for everyone else around her. She can tell when everyone's going to die except her.]
I mean, that doesn't really make you any different than anyone else, does it? Most people don't know when they're going to die, so whenever kind of sums it up. I could die tomorrow or in another 80 years, and without someone to tell me otherwise, I'd never know, right?
no subject
All of my dad's descendants have Deathsight. Aaaand, he's sort of a few thousand years old, so he's had a lot of time to accumulate descendants. But we can't see our own lifespans, because that would be cheating, I guess?
[She's pretty sure she's supposed to just silently see and accept everyone's clocks, but... yeah, she's not good at that. She's even fully aware that trying to help them isn't going to stop them from dying, but - she never really goes in with a plan.]
Um, I have a question - do you think there's any chance my dad is here? He can probably explain this better, it's... his deal. I don't think he's using the same name anymore, but he's... about that tall, brown hair, blue eyes, aaaand looks like a college student? [A pause.] And he can't get hurt. Ever. It just... doesn't stick.
no subject
[He has no idea if that makes sense. At the question he has to quirk a brow, because it is a very ... generic description.]
It's possible, this place is notorious for bringing in family members. What do you mean it doesn't stick?
[There's all sorts of ways to be immortal, so he doesn't jump on the theory that it's Cain right away.]
If he can't get hurt does he just... never get injured? Or does the injury heal right away? There are... lots of ways that could go down, and honestly there are a few people in this place that description could apply to.
Hell, I have a room mate that comes back after a wound that should kill a human.
[A pause.]
His name's Jacob, but I guess that's not helpful if you don't even know what your dad goes by anymore.
no subject
[How exactly can she describe this... she's sort of trying to pull up memories from when she was a preteen, here.]
Uhh... the last time I remember seeing him get hurt, I was twelve or so, and... I was practicing hitting a baseball and hit it full force into his face. And it just... I don't know, it didn't exactly heal, it- reversed? Like, all the blood went back in and his nose went back to the right shape right away. It was... actually kind of freakier than if I had broken it.
[But you know. That is the only non-generic thing about her dad, so.]
Does that... sound like your roommate?
no subject
My room mate was shot not too long ago. I can... fix things real easy, so when I figured out he wasn't hurt offered to mend his shirt for him. No problem. I do it all the time for some of the more adventurous people around here... Fill the holes, remove the blood-
Only, there wasn't any blood. He said it just goes back as he heals. Sounds kind of like what you're describing...
no subject
[She's... less worried about him specifically, because she's never worried about her dad getting hurt, but... she really doesn't want to worry about anyone dying.]
And... yeah, that's... probably my dad. I haven't really talked to him much since... eighteeeeen years ago? So I wouldn't know if he would have mentioned me, or how much he talks about how weird he is, or uh...
[Uh.]
...I'm AJ, by the way. Short for Ariel Jacobs.
[AWKWARDLY OFFERING A HANDSHAKE because she totally should have gotten introductions out of the way before she started telling him when he was going to die.]
no subject
[That was ... mostly a joke. Ed shrugs.]
There's a wall protecting the inner city, but outside of that wall there are monsters. A lot of us have jobs that take us outside of that wall... Honestly, I still don't see many people getting shot.
[He squints at the whole concept of Cain talking about family, but he's not sure what answer she wanted to hear more, that he did or didn't talk about it.]
Look, if your dad is my roommate he doesn't talk about much. He kind of keeps to himself. We're not close but- it's a very I keep to my own business he keeps to his sort of relationship. The only reason I know he got shot in the first place is because it happened on the network and I thought he was dead.
[Why does everyone in this damn Quarantine want to shake hands? His gaze lowers to her hand momentarily as if not inclined to shake before seeming to settle on a decision and offering his own. If he knew all of this about her there was no sense hiding his automail at this point. What was she going to do, freak out again?]
Edward Elric, Ed works.