riverview: march test drive meme

[riverviewmod]

riverview test drive meme

Welcome 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 19 Character Slots available.
● Reserves will open on April 15 at 10:00 pm EST. Applications will be open from May 1-7.
● 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.
● 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

prompt i: a river rising

Things have been pretty calm around the Quarantine for a month or two, since the behemoth herd was shut down - aside from a bit of emotional trauma brought on by the holograms that swarmed the city last month, everything's been pretty smooth sailing through Sampremi season. And of course, as anyone who's been in the Quarantine for more than a few months knows, nothing is ever that easy.

With spring rolling in and winter rolling out, there's been a lot of rain on the moon. Usually, that's not a really big problem, since the Quarantine historically doesn't have a lot of problems with flooding. This year, though, the water is rising exponentially, much faster than it has in almost the entire known history of the city. It starts to get noticeable around the 20th, with the water levels rising over a foot, and it keeps going faster and faster as the days move on. By the first of the month, the water has risen to flood out the two city blocks on either side of the river, forcing hundreds of people from their homes. The problem is even worse near the point that the river exits the city walls and starts winding its way into the Abandoned City, with the flood washing away many of the ramshackle buildings in the area and shorting out the laser fences in the area, leaving the city vulnerable to attack by water.

This month's mission? Form teams of explorers to head either up or down the river, braving the dangers from flooding and whatever monsters might be attracted to all the noise and panic, to try to find the source of the highly unusual flooding.

MOD NOTE: I will be playing around with the cause and fallout of the flooding throughout this and the next TDM. Feel free to have characters explore and find various options for what might be causing it, and if you have a good idea in a thread, send a link via PM to the mod account, and I'll see how many ideas I can weave into the solution!

prompt ii: you're a lizard, scary

Remember that bit in the last prompt about the monsters attracted by the noise and panic in the city, and also about the fences being compromised around where the river exits the city? Well, that turns out to be a really big problem throughout the end of March and until the flooding is resolved. Some new 'residents' will start showing up, crawling out of the river with scaly grins - giant crocodiles and carnivorous toads, and nasty giant bugs, oh my! Almost any amphibious, reptilian, bug, or water monster you can think of will be clambering up the banks of the river, scooting through the mud, and hunting anyone who ventures too close to their overflowing homes.

The city will be making a general call out to any fight-capable people who are willing to form temporary reserve units of the Perimeter Guard to help patrol the edges of the rising water and keep the monsters at bay. Join up with these, fight them on your own, or just keep away from the water. The choice is up to you.

prompt iii: disaster relief

It's not just fighters that can help with the disaster - there's also a citywide call out for volunteers to help out with disaster relief for the hundreds of people who have been displaced from their riverside homes. Whether you're commanding magic or science or just a hand to help out, your help will be more than welcome.

Volunteers can help gather and distribute clothing, non-perishable food, and other supplies to displaced residents; they can help cook for the large soup kitchens and buffet breakfasts; they can help knock together and furnish temporary shelter for victims. There is also a call for any residents who may have extra space in their homes to house victims of the disaster, so whether your character is displaced or offering a helping hand, there's plenty to do around the Quarantine.

prompt iv: sampremi street market

While the disaster isn't exactly conducive to celebration, most of the merchants participating in the Sampremi street market (some nsfw content at the link) are doing a philanthropic spin on their usual booths. Most of the booths are offering free food and household items or clothing to residents who have been displaced by the flooding, offering free games, and accepting donations to help support the victims. They've also cleared out space in the market for victims and volunteers to rest and recuperate.

prompt v: friendr/network

Whether your character is posting up a silly word game, 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.

Code to post your character's bio is in the textbox below. An example of how it looks can be found here.

<br><center><table style="width:300px;"><tr style="border-bottom:1px dashed #528887;"><td></td> <td style="padding:20px; padding-bottom:0; width:300px; font:38px Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; text-transform:uppercase; color:#c4c4c4; text-align:center; letter-spacing:2px; background-color:#2a2a2a; border-top-right-radius:50px; border-top-left-radius:50px;"><b>Friendr</b></td> <td></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-size:70px; vertical-align:middle; text-align:right; padding:0; color:#528887;">«</td> <td style="background-color:#2a2a2a; padding:20px; padding-top:10px; padding-bottom:0; width:308px;"><img src="IMAGE URL - 300px WIDE OR LESS" style="border-radius:20px;"><br> </td> <td style="font-size:70px; vertical-align:middle; padding:0; color:#528887;">»</td></tr> <tr><td></td> <td style="background-color:#2a2a2a; font:12px arial; text-align:left; padding:10px;"><span style="color:#c4c4c4;"><b>» Age:</b> your character's age</span> <span style="color:#c4c4c4;"><b>» Seeking:</b> friendship/romantic/anything</span> <span style="color:#c4c4c4;"><b>» Preferences:</b> sexual preference or n/a</span> <span style="color:#c4c4c4;"><b>» Interests:</b> three interests</span> <span style="color:#c4c4c4;"><b>» Bio:</b> 30 words or less</span> </td></tr> <tr><td></td> <td style="text-align:right; font-size:10px; background-color:#2a2a2a;"><font color="#528887">base code by</font> <a href="http://photosynthesis.dreamwidth.org/" style="color:#528887;">photosynthesis</td></tr> <raw-code><tr style="border-bottom:1px dashed #528887;"><td></td> <td style="background-color:#2a2a2a;font:20px Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; color:#c4c4c4; text-align:center;">Character Name</td> <td><td></tr><tr><td></td> <td style="border-bottom-right-radius:50px; border-bottom-left-radius:50px; background-color:#2a2a2a; text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%; font:30px Verdana;"><tr><td style="text-align:left;"> <span style="text-decoration:none; color:#528887;">« ✘</span></td> <td style="text-align:right;"><span style="text-decoration:none; color:#528887;">✔ »</span></td></tr> </table></td> <td></td></table></raw-code></center>
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.

prompt vi: wildcard

Use the wildcard prompt to choose your own adventure and do whatever else you like in the setting!

navigation
[Aftermath by Thomas Ho; bonus reference art Flooded Out by Jeff Jumper]

Comments

Gambit | Marvel 616

[athiefalways]

You're a Lizard, Scary

There's nothing like coming to a new home, even if it's temporary, only to find out it's a lot like your actual home. At least it didn't require much acclimation, aside from the idea that he couldn't just leave and get back to his own form of hermitting in peace. That wasn't even all that new, the grand scheme of things. Not one to charge in to a fight without knowing all the stakes, Remy is actually keeping to lower balconies and overhangs as he nears the water's swiftly rising edges. The water itself concerns the cajun. Having grown up in the flood-prone city of New Orleans, he was aware of how quickly waters could rise, but there was something almost otherworldly about this particular flood.

That image might have been aided by the giant river beasts that seemed to be prowling the flood waters. Nasty toads with teeth, giant water bugs, what had to be the biggest croc he'd ever seen, and several snakes he'd rather stay the hell away from, thank you very much. He hadn't officially joined a scouting party, even though the city had put out a call for one, but he would join anyone who seemed to be looking to beat back the jungle, as it were, and not in such a way as to startle them. He was a pretty damned good scout, after all.

A warning about the flooded streets around the corner, for instance, and what he could see from above the waters. "mes amies, hold up a second. You got company waitin' for ya 'round that corner, and I seen some big alligators, but these got the blue ribbon."

friendr;

	Friendr
«		»
	» Age: 34 » Seeking: It's about the journey. » Preferences: I love surprises, but I draw the line at tentacles. » Interests: Sight-seeing, friendly challenges, getting my teammates to lighten the hell up » Bio: Play the hand you're dealt. You'll lose track of the game if you keep trying to peek at everybody else's cards.
	base code by photosynthesis
	Remy leBeau
	« ✘ ✔ »

[likeacoupon]

Are you any good at gambling or just a fan of word play?

[athiefalways]

They don't call me Gambit for nothing, but word play's fun, too.

[likeacoupon]

That doesn't mean you're any good.

[athiefalways]

Nope.
It doesn't stop me from claiming it, either.
Funny thing about the internet. You can be anyone you want.

[likeacoupon]

Funny how you didn't mention the name Gambit in your profile.

You bet your britches ah'm here for this!

[backwaterbelle]

Being herself, Rogue’s already thrown herself into the role of avenging, which means rescuing the idiots that don’t see the water as much of a threat. Hurricanes and nasty thunderstorms hit Mississippi too, and the mutant wasn’t about to let people learn the hard way. Well, not entirely. The best way to learn not to touch hot things was to touch something hot and get burned.

She had taken to the skies much for the same reasons he had taken to high ground, and it’s during a high level sweep that she noticed the familiar silhouette. Her heart skipped a beat and then slammed into her chest. Could it really be him? A mix of emotions jostled around inside her as she flew towards him, recognition hitting as she eventually lowering until that she’s floating with her arms crossed, just maybe at the periphery of his vision.

Part of her was uncertain how to feel about Remy being here, what with not knowing where and when he’s from or if he even knew her—the most terrifying of all those thoughts—and then the rest of her already knew how to feel. Even with the uncertainty, she could burst from it.

Exhaling audibly, she crossed her arms over her chest and was already shaking her head when she scolded. “Ah see you’re doin’ the lion’s share of the work here swamp rat.” Rogue felt that pet name the most fitting at the moment, and despite her words her lips are curled into a natural smile, though her eyes give away that uncertainty. Please let her very complicated best friend know her.

[athiefalways]

Surprised? Hardly. What would have been surprising was finding out Anna wasn't here. She'd been a facet of his life since first saddling up with the X-Men, and they'd been through so many complicated transitions it was difficult to imagine living in a place with no contact with her. They'd broken up, she'd made it known which side she was on after the divide, and it wasn't his, but he couldn't help caring about her.

He almost kicked himself when some of the wary tension that had been creeping up his spine eased at the sound of her voice. Maybe she didn't love him, not the way he apparently couldn't shake loving her, but that didn't stop what she did to him. Still. Even after everything.

He couldn't stop the smirk from curling his lips, either, and so, to hide it, he just kept his eyes on the prize, so to speak.

"Keepin' an eye on th' big nasties so the troops don't get eaten, ya mean? Oui, thought it might be a good idea." He chanced a glance over his shoulder toward her, the ever-present soft red glow of his eyes shining faintly on the leather padding of his jump suit. "Don't see you down there punchin' crocs, neither, chere. Too busy huntin' cajuns?"

[backwaterbelle]

They were complicated, but the issue had never been her lack of love for him. When they first met she had been young and inexperienced, never thinking she'd ever have a chance for that experience, and then there was Antarctica. Regardless, she still cared for him. But, it's all too much to try and think about in the moment with everything going on, so per usual, she shelved that bit. Though it's evident she's glad to see him despite all their baggage.

Once noticed, she flew and sat casually on the railing to the balcony so she could observe both the situation of the flood waters as well as him. Her eyebrow raised at his explanation. "You're a ranged fighter Remy," she pointed out, her experience as a team leader showing itself. He could easily pluck off the beasties with some kinetic energy.

"Oh ah've been fightin' my fair share." She scoffed at his next comment, her eyes flashing with mischief and challenge. "Ah could always bring the fight up to you. Give you a chance to stretch your legs." She's not above flinging one of those blue ribbon sized gators up his way for a little training fun, and he damn well knew that.

[athiefalways]

"Oui," years of combat experience both with her and on his own directed his response as he stood up from his vantage point, crossing his arms as he turned toward her. Baggage be damned, they'd always been able to put it aside in the face of a crisis, and while this was a new home for him, it was the only one he had at the moment. Besides, there were innocent people being threatened in the Quarantine. He wasn't just going to sit idly by and let that continue. "I'm also an infiltration specialist, an' a scout."

He nodded his head in the direction of the river that was threatening to swallow the low-lying businesses and residences of the Quarantine. "Water's muddy, chere. Got a few teams on de ground who could use some eyes in th' sky used t' spottin' trouble in th' mud, non?"

The more the flood waters pushed in, the more the area around the river was starting to smell, and sound, like a swamp, actually. The croaks, cacophonous in the narrowed alleyways on the opposing side of this particular building, drew his attention. "And our little croc jus' got some friends, by th' sound of it."

[backwaterbelle]

Well now she's just grinning, enjoying bantering with him again, at little more at ease now that she knew he had her back. They'd never let any innocent bystanders get hurt, and given other situations they've managed in the past, this was a relative cakewalk. "An' you make a mean etouffee. Ah know." And among other things such as thieving.

Pushing off of the railing, she stood floating in mid air as he spoke, her gaze following the direction where he nodded, eyes automatically scanning the water with additional focus. The added sounds of those damned frogs caught her attention too.

"Need a lift or you want a little target practice?" No harm in having a little fun while they're protecting their new home, right? Invulnerability allowed her a bit of a 'flying brick' in regards to fighting monsters and bad guys, and she took advantage of it whenever she could. It's not like she had to do the paperwork here.

You're a lizard

[luckyescape]

Freya didn't look like she should be wandering around the flood zone looking for mutant crocodiles. She was five foot tall, bare foot and wearing a purple tank top that read 'if I lick it, it's mine' across the front. In a rare turn, her long blond hair was tied back and a pair of googles were positioned on her head. She had nothing against water but she hated the rain; too many unpleasant memories.

She didn't like fighting but she also didn't like the idea of animals being hurt because they didn't know that they were intruding on someone else's home. Yes, the crocodiles are large but they'er still animals and this moon was their home. Or they came through the portal, either way, she was determined to clear them from the city instead of exterminating all of them.

That was where her new toy came into play. She hoped it would work...

Freya spotted Remy but was planning to ignore him and move pass him. That changed when he warned her about the creature hiding around the corner of the building. She turned towards him, light stormy gray eyes curious and inquisitive. "You have a good sense of hearing but I know. I have a toy that I need to test out."

She pulled out what looked like a disk from one of her many pockets. "Just as a heads up, if this doesn't work, it's going to be pissed." Freya was ready to pull a skidaddle.

no you

[athiefalways]

If Remy were honest, that little disc looked like something Tony Stark would cook up. He had no idea the instrument's intended purpose, or any idea who this woman was, but he knew an experiment when he heard one and nodded.

"Fair enough, chere, but you really think th' ground's th' best place ta test that from?"

Remy was all for bad ideas and half-cocked, possibly pointless actions, but they should always be performed intelligently...or at least an intelligently as possible.

You're face is a lazard

[luckyescape]

"It's the only place. If this can penetrate their tick ass skin then it can put them to sleep and we can move them out of the city without having to kill them." Freya wouldn't be sad if they died but she'd like to do what she could to avoid that.

She took a step forward and paused. "Wait a second..."

Freya turned towards Remy, her eyes taking in the sight of his face with a critical gaze. "Are you Gambit? Like the Gambit?"

[athiefalways]

He's not unaccustomed to being recognized, of course. Once upon a time, the X-Men were covert, but that was years ago. Everyone knew their faces, or at least their reputations, by now. He smiled, but kept his attention over the wall, and on their target.

"Maybe we save introductions 'til after we deal with th' giant croc, non?" He made a motion around the corner with one hand, reaching into his overcoat with the other and producing a short rod of some sort of metal. It's his telescoping staff, of course, but he doesn't extend it, not yet.

"Throw yo' Frizee, chere. We see if it works. I'll deal with the beastie if it jus' makes him mad."

[luckyescape]

"Fair enough. My plan was to run the fuck away if it didn't work anyway." He'll find out how fast Freya can be when everything goes to hell in 45 seconds.

She slipped away from where Remy was hiding and silently rounded the corner. The rushing water threatened to carry her away though Freya managed to somehow stand her ground without making too much noise that might alarm the beast. She flicked on the device and then tossed it like a Frisbee. It landed perfectly on the creatures skin, embedded and then went off. The light on the device went from red to green and the beast was already starting to look pissed off.

"Damn it. I was sure that was going to work."

[backwaterbelle]

✘

Ew gross. Cajun cooties.

[Hey there Remy.]

[athiefalways]

Is that why you have such a hard time leaving me alone?

[Right back atcha, chere]

[backwaterbelle]

Well it ain't that awful mug of yours that's for sure.

I'm glad you're here Remy.

[athiefalways]

Careful, Rogue. I won't tolerate you bad-mouthing your tastes like that.

I'm not complaining, either.

[backwaterbelle]

Or your jawline?

Ain't too many X-Men here. Might just be us.

[shoplifter]

There appears to be another someone around the balconies and leaping from railing to railing; some young kid, ten or eleven, looks particularly passive and unafraid as she maneuvers around the bad waters. Yes, there are strange lizard-like beasts lingering near the waters for her, but she's pretty confident she can kill them if they try to lunge for her.

She stands on a fire escape and sniffs the air, and then starts a concerning balancing act as she walks the lip of a short ledge along the building.

Hey, how's it going? Just sight-seeing.

And... maybe looking for anyone in need of help.

[athiefalways]

He catches sight of her as she makes her way to the fire escape and follows her to the other side of the building from atop the roof on which he's perched. She looks familiar, and it doesn't take him long to realize who he's looking at, though she's a lot younger than Remy remembers her ever being to his knowledge.

Merde. He clears his throat, fairly confident she'll hear even over the deluge and the rising river's current.

"Ain't a great day t' be out practicin' your gymnastics, petite. Maybe you get back inside, eh?"

[shoplifter]

When she turns to the 'new' face, she recognizes him right back — though Gambit isn't exactly the most subtle X-Men, all things considered. But her recognition is the same sort she'd felt when facing Rogue — a sort of hidden awe, a keen interest in the mutants that had painted the grim sliver of heroism within her, through those 'comics for bed wetters'. She will play it as carefully as she did rogue, though, and not offer an ounce of familiarity.

She does stop and give him her attention, at least.

"I will be fine. It's others that should worry."

Funny, this one's got a clear accent. The eyes are a little off. A little dark. Threre's no Sarah Kinney in this story — just a faceless mother used and discarded, never to be met. It's sad, really.

[athiefalways]

He recognized the tone in her voice, the chill, though he hadn't heard it for years. He remembered the girl who'd first come to the x-mansion, or what was left of her. He remembered the brilliant young woman she'd grown into also, and his heart broke at the thought of whatever pain may lace this Laura's mind.

Even still, he offered her a gentle smile, one of a friend and maybe something like an older brother.

"Ain't no doubtin' that, petite. Not one bit." He debated asking further, but decided he'd rather know than not.

"What's yo' name? You seem familiar."