TEST DRIVE MEME #4

[inthenightmods]

TEST DRIVE MEME #4

Hello and welcome to the In the Night test drive meme for September! Thanks for your interest in our game! Reserves open on September 20, and applications open on September 22.

While you're here...

• Take a look at our rules and faq pages to familiarize yourself with the game.
  
• Note that we have a reserve cap of 20, and a (current) application cap of 13 apps this month for new players, as the game has a player cap of 60. An accurate count of current players will always be available on the taken page.
  
• TDM threads can become game canon if both players wish. If the situation isn't something that could happen in-game, you're free to chalk it up to some strange hallucination, a shared dream, or other mysterious circumstance.
  
• Note that this is not limited to new characters threading with characters already in-game. If current players wish to thread out the TDM prompts as canon events, they are welcome to do so. They are welcome to make posts in the main comms for TDM events as well. Please note, however, that actual plot clues or happenings will not occur in TDM prompts.
  
• If you plan to apply, please keep in mind that we do require at least one sample thread on the application to be from our TDM (though it doesn't need to be the current TDM).
  
• You're welcome to use the provided prompts or come up with something on your own, but we do ask that all threads take place in our game's setting.

Thank you again, and we hope you'll choose to join us!

log prompts

GATHER YE ROSEBUDS WHILE YE MAY

With a cloud of mourning having weighed heavy on Beacon over the last month, the Lighthouse Keeper has decided to try and rally the community with a game: a selfie scavenger hunt! With the promise of (secret) prizes for those who play along, she's provided a list of 25 different items to track down and take a picture with. And, of course, all submissions will be public for others to view and comment upon. A town forum, Instagram-style. How fun! Feel like teaming up? Finding a companion to go searching with could make the task go by faster, as there's nothing saying that you can't both submit the same pictures so long as you take them together. And what's a proper game without company?

This prompt is a mini version of this month's Gather Up event.

IT'S RAININ' SIDEWAYS

Overall, the weather has been mild lately. Since Autumn hit, the standard has been overcast darkness blotting the stars and little wind. The rumble of thunder sounds just before the downpour begins, as if a switch has been flipped up in the clouds. If you're in the Invincible, the houses in the village, or any of the other solid establishments, it isn't anything to worry about, really. Mostly, it just means hunkering down until the storm passes. However...it seems that someone opted to build themselves a structure in the square that's proven not to be able to withstand these harsher elements. Whether you're the unfortunate sap in the tent or you're merely a bystander, one way or another, you notice its roof cave in, the beams placed to support it buckling inward and trapping the inhabitant inside. It's not enough to crush someone, but it'll surely be difficult to gather oneself as the wind and the rain bears down without mercy. Call for help and maybe someone will hear you, or be the good Samaritan that runs to their aid.

network prompts

I CAN'T *PBBT* UNDERSTAND *PBBT* YOUR ACCENT

Something's wrong. The things that you type and the things that you speak are transforming themselves upon being posted to the network. Or maybe that's not quite accurate, because everything in your posts are certainly your own words...it's just that indiscernible static has descended upon the page and crept into your audio, blocking out pieces of your statements--just enough to change the overall meaning of what you were originally saying. Efforts to clarify don't seem to be improving the situation, and it's hard to say if there's any way of fixing this. Maybe it's a comfort that the problem isn't isolated on your end; after all, that effectively takes the issue out of your hands to solve. Or maybe it's just the opposite. Maybe knowing that the network is experiencing widespread failures, however mild, fills you with a sense of dread and unease. One thing's clear, at least: you'll need a bit of luck to get your point across for the time being.

THE TITLE EQUIVALENT FOR WHEN YOUR GRANDMA COMMENTS ON YOUR UNRELATED FB STATUS AS IF SHE'S WRITING YOU A PERSONAL LETTER

Sometime in the recent past you had a problem. Maybe it was a dire emergency advertised to the community at large, maybe you became overwhelmed with stress and needed the ear of a close friend, or maybe it was just something embarrassing you were sharing in confidence. Unfortunately, regardless of what the message was, it looks like it disappeared the moment you hit send, as if it had been eaten by the network itself. It's been long enough now that you've brushed it off; you've been able to solve your problem one way or another and moved on. That's when it appears, unprompted, on the network for all to see, regardless of how private it was meant to be. Well, now you might have a bit of explaining to do.

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Comments

masaomi kida | durarara!!

[bakabakyura]

i. gather ye rosebuds

[Someone is really getting into this. It may be darker than an abandoned subway tunnel in this rundown town, but that gold head of hair and wide smile almost seem to have a warm glow all their own. Masaomi Kida is bright with energy as he waves any unsuspecting passers by to come toward him, then promptly snatches an article of clothing. Be it a hat, jewelry, glasses, tie, whatever, he's now donning it so he can take that silly selfie.

Never fear though. He's not about to leave his victim hanging. He wraps an arm around their shoulder and pulls them into the picture just before the tell-tale click.]

Thanks, man. You just saved my life!

[What he does with these pictures later... Well. Nobody is going to care about that. They're all dead anyway.]


ii. it's rainin' sideways

[That wooden beam that just soared past your ear like a damn javelin? It definitely wasn't thrown by the wind. The storm is raging tonight, certainly, but this isn't a freaking hurricane. This impression is immediately proven true when a hoarse cry follows.]

The hell are you doin' spacing out over there?! You're already getting wet, so just help me out, dammit!


iii. when your grandma comments on your fb status

If I find Mikado or Anri here, I'll kill you myself.

i

[pure_havoc]

[this photo madness has gotten out of hand. Masaomi's pic is going to have the most sour emperor face in it, there you go glad to help]

I highly doubt that. I think you'll live without it.

["live"]

[bakabakyura]

[Always a pleasure, sourpuss! Masaomi is already fiddling with his tablet, bringing up the picture so he can take a good look at the poor guy's displeased face in two places at once.]

Never underestimate the life-giving energy of a silly selfie!

[He says as he labels this pic: lumber accident, stick up ass.]

[pure_havoc]

[why you gotta label the truth like that Masaomi]

I can't imagine whatever reward the Keeper is handing out is worth all of this. But, whatever keeps the rabble entertained, I suppose.

[bakabakyura]

The "rabble"? [He can't help but chuckle under his breath, looking up from his tablet to give this guy a wry smile.] Seriously? What are you, a super villain?

[pure_havoc]

Hardly. [in the eye of the beholder anyway] Merely an emperor.

[with that exact smirk, like he's so damn proud of himself]

[bakabakyura]

[Masaomi's brow flies higher than the clouds while his jaw gradually sinks. It takes him a moment to process that word: emperor. He did not just say... He totally did.

Sucks for him though. If this really is the afterlife, then he's pretty much lost his title, huh?]

Woah. So is this how you were fired?

[pure_havoc]

[that takes him entirely off-stride, congratulations Masaomi. For a moment Zihuan sort of tries to form an answer, fails, closes his mouth, tries again.]

...no. I. I'm not sure I want to explain but let's leave it as no. My death had nothing to do with my political ambitions.

[bakabakyura]

[It's okay, man. Masaomi would be just as irreverent with the pope.

He decides to take pity on the dead emperor and raises a hand to wave the hesitant, far-too-serious reply aside. Time to shake off that curiosity, Masaomi. It's never done any good anyway. He has too many secrets he wants kept to go snooping around someone else's.]

Hey, it's cool. This isn't A Christmas Carol. I'm not the afterlife police, here to judge your reign of terror, yanno?

[His scrutinizing gaze rises and falls over the guy's well-built body. Then he once again cracks a smile.]

Bet your death was bad ass though.

[pure_havoc]

[EXCUSE there's no reign of terror here, that was his father thanks. But the counter-attack is well executed. Nothing like stroking the ego a little to mollify him.]

That's what people from the future call a compliment, isn't it? I wish I could say so for certain. I faced down an eight-headed serpent monster, is that 'bad ass' enough?

[bakabakyura]

[Masaomi is catching onto this fast.]

Oh, that's definitely a compliment.

[He whistles appreciatively before slapping his new best friend on the back.]

Facing off against giant, venomous monsters? That's the stuff legends are made of! Tell me you got bit! Please tell me you were chomped in half by crazy fangs!

[pure_havoc]

[the slowest of slow head-turns to stare at him holy shit this breaks all his rules and yet what is he going to do, complain?

Well he does give Masaomi a touch of the stinkeye but...]

...if you must know, it shot a fireball at me. Given the burns on my clothing when I arrive here, that's my best guess. [although...] It did have very large fangs. Good guess.

[bakabakyura]

It spat fire. An eight-headed snake monster. That spat fire.

[Just. Gonna keep repeating this information because WOW.]

Screw steel. You have balls of titanium.

ii

[callada]

["Spacing out" is hardly fair, but in retrospect, appropriate. Rosinante had been standing there eyeing the channel he'd dug around the Invincible last time it rained, assessing whether it would stand up to the latest downpour or if he'd have to hunt down that shovel again before the rain gets even worse.

The shout, and the clatter of wood all too close to his head, causes him to snap to attention and - oh hell, is that building collapsing? He turns to sprint for whoever is trapped inside.]

Hold on, I'll-

[Well, first he'll slip and faceplant into the mud with his arms outstretched, but then he gets right back up and keeps onward despite looking like he's just crawled out of a bog. He catches a plank just as it's about to fall and stands there in the doorway, holding it up to try and provide an exit, straining against the fact that he's had to leave his lantern several paces away to get there in time.]

Hurry!

[bakabakyura]

[In Rosinante's defense, Masaomi isn't actually paying attention to what the guy is doing. He sees movement, catches a spot of color, and aims accordingly. When his eager rescuer falls flat on his face with a dirty splash... He kind of wants to cry.

That's not much of an option though. His makeshift shelter had been crafted in a single day by a single person who had no clue what he was doing. He only has himself to blame for the fact that his back is now the sole foundation holding up half of his wall. Himself and the damn, shitty, fucking terrible weather.

Crap.

Suddenly, there's a chest in front of his face. Masaomi blinks through his sopping wet bangs before delayed understanding has him reeling backward, sending more planks into the chaotic jumble of collapse. He curses, shoving free from the debris before rushing for Rosinante's exit. His lantern is clipped to his belt, rattling dangerously with every frantic stride. He's going to be in real trouble if he stays out here for long. But once he makes it outside, he turns back anyway. He's not running for shelter alone, not after this.]

[callada]

[He strains with the delay, but finally, the guy darts past him and he allows the makeshift shelter to collapse on itself as he lets go of the frame. That accomplished, he hurries back to his lantern and the staff of sorts that it's usually attached to, and hoists it back up. He's never favored the belt-lantern approach, though it's a popular one.

The rain is still pouring down, and the wind whips at his soggy clothing. They should probably get inside.]

C'mon, this way.

[Just a guess, but since he hasn't seen the guy around before, he's probably new, so Rosinante waves for him to follow as he strides toward the front door of the Invincible. The ground floor of the tavern and inn should be a warm, dry place to direct him to until he has somewhere else to go. Once inside, he asks:]

You must have just gotten here. Do you have a room yet? Or a cabin or something?

[mellowyellow]

[Masaomi will tease him about that lantern staff eventually. Right now is not the time.

He follows Rosinante through the gale, jogging two steps for each of his savior's lengthy strides. The moment the door slams behind them, he's shaking his head like a wet dog, sending droplets flying from his hair. It doesn't make him any less wet, but it does make everything around him more wet, and that makes him feel better.

Progress.]

Nah, no cabins. I'm not a picturesque cabin-in-the-woods kinda guy. Besides, I wanted to stick close to the fire.

[The fire that isn't going out, even in this storm. He misses it already, but he's not going back out there now.]

[callada]

[Rosinante would complain, but honestly, he's already wet too, so he does nothing more than set his mouth in a line of disapproval at the shaking. At least the guy had done that here, just inside, and not over at the bar or something. He can only imagine how pleased Will would be to be splattered with water while trying to work. Or trying to do anything, but if Will does anything other than work and drink coffee, he hasn't seen it yet.]

Don't know that I'd call them picturesque, but point taken. This location's more convenient. Sturdier than that shack you were trying to hide in, too.

[mellowyellow]

[That disapproving expression is nothing new to Masaomi, but he's never seen it coupled with quite so much mud and running costume makeup. In the dim light of their lanterns, the sight is a little discomforting. It takes a good amount of willpower for Masaomi to ignore it in the defiantly contrary way that should have come natural to him.]

Not a hard contest to win. You know, seeing as that shack's roof just tried to make love to my skull.

[He points to his head with both hands to emphasize this argument, but his shoulders slouch almost immediately after his sarcastic display. He doesn't have it in him to leave, so he can't really complain. No matter how much he wants to. A sigh signals his acceptance of defeat.]

...People really live here? What about you?

[callada]

[Yikes, that's... one way to put what happened just now.]

Yeah. There are rooms here upstairs. It was the only place we knew about when we first got here. Some have spread out, but I've stayed. Easier to help in a catastrophe if I'm near the center.

[Yeah, sorry guy, catastrophes apparently happen. Often enough where considering them is practical.]

Speaking of which, I need to head up and get cleaned up. I think there are a few empty rooms though, if you want to claim one and dry off.

[mellowyellow]

[The guy says "catastrophe" like it means "street fair." Masaomi is too tired, wet, and dead to unpack that one just yet. He just drips onto the entrance dispassionately.]

What do I do? Just start knocking on doors and asking where the nearest water heater is?

[callada]

If that's your style. But I think one of the ones at the end of the upper hall is still completely empty, unless someone else grabbed it before you in the last hour or so. Even if you're not staying there, you could use the shower.

[He shrugs, then waves a hand for the guy to follow toward the stairs.]

I'm Rosinante, by the way. And you?

[mellowyellow]

[Despite a million more important things to be surprised about, Masaomi can't help but focus on the unexpected fact that Rosinante can fit in the stairwell. Dude's a magician.

With that thought, Masaomi swallows, tightens his fists at his sides, and stomps after him.]

Masaomi. Just Masaomi's cool. No point in getting formal when we're already chatting over communal showers.

[callada]

Right. Well, there's enough to go around without doing too much sharing, I bet.

[It really is something of a wonder. He has to duck his head and skip steps, but he doesn't seem overly uncomfortable doing it - mostly because he's been at this for a few months now.

But his mastery of the staircase hasn't improved much since the first time he used it and before he makes it to the second floor he misses a step, his foot doesn't quite land, and he goes down with a muffled yelp and a sprawl of limbs as he rides his coat like an upside-down toboggan back down the stairs, then flops limply in a heap. A moment later he sits up and combs fingers through his hair, then hoists himself back onto his feet with the banister for assistance.]

[mellowyellow]

[This ridiculous stunt would have earned Rosinante a barking laugh if Masaomi hadn't been following him up the stairwell. Instead, the clumsy pirate gets a startled curse as Masaomi grabs the railing and leaps it, landing much softer than Rosinante on the other side. He blinks down at his savior, watching the dude pull himself back up like nothing happened.]

...Careful. Floor's wet.

[He comments with a helpful monotone.]