TEST DRIVE MEME #1

[inthenightmods]

TEST DRIVE MEME #1

Hello and welcome to the In the Night test drive meme for June! Thanks for your interest in our game! Reserves open on June 20, and applications open on June 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/application cap of 20 apps per month (this has been waived for the first month!).
  
• 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.
  
• Though threads can become canon, they cannot count toward AC.
  
• 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

YOU'RE DEAD, JIM

You haven't been in Beacon long when you find yourself in Bonfire Square, staring into the flames and thinking about how you ended up here. Maybe it was an accident, a sudden freak thing that you never saw coming until you woke up on the ferry, or maybe it's a miracle you made it as long as you did. Maybe death was a relief. Maybe it was just your time. Whatever the case, you can't help but reflect on your final moments as you linger in the firelight.

But however you died, it's behind you now, and you're here, stuck in this little town with just a few buildings and a smattering of other people. You're going to be here a while, so you may as well get to know your neighbors, but... Would it be cathartic to commiserate about your deaths? Or is your time better spent stocking up at the general store? Then again, you've got plenty of time, so why not catch a drink or two (or three) at the Invincible? Pretend you're unaffected by your death, and, well. Fake it 'til you make it, perhaps.

Point is, you have options. You're dead, you died, and this is your "life" now. Better get used to it.

AND THEY WERE ROOMMATES

Currently, there's only one place to live (technically speaking) in Beacon: the Invincible, a tavern and inn located in Bonfire Square. Luckily, the place has working amenities (minus light), and the forest spirits don't charge anything for your stay. Unfortunately, it seems there may not be enough rooms for everyone. Guess you'll have to get cozy!

Maybe you'll try to pick a roommate from around town or in the bar downstairs, or maybe you'll just walk into the first room you see and choose that way. Want a room all to yourself? Get ready to fend off any potential intruders. And the fun doesn't end there.

The Invincible's rooms aren't all created equal. Some may have had their furniture stolen or become a dumping ground for unwanted pieces, resulting in a single bed, five dressers, and other equally distressing situations. Will someone sleep on the floor? Will you nail two beds together to form bunk beds? Maybe you just want to make this room into something more like home— potentially to your roommate's chagrin. Whatever you decide, this is where you're staying for now, so you might as well get comfortable.

network prompts

HACKER VOICE: I'M IN

In order to use the network, you have to register a username. Er, at least, that's how it's supposed to work. For some reason, new users have recently been able to bypass that requirement, allowing them to post anonymously. Time to troll strangers on the magical internet!

Eventually though, you'll need a username in order to use the tablet's other functions, like the direct messaging system. So hey, why not take advantage of the ability to source opinions, and workshop your potential usernames on the network? Share ideas, get feedback, steal ideas, critique others, and figure out what you want everyone to call you.

TURN ON YOUR LOCATION

When you wake up, you're in the woods. An iron shackle complete with a chain leashes you to a tree, and the only light you have is your lantern. You've never seen this area of the woods before. You certainly didn't go to sleep here.

Hm.

But, all is not lost. You find your phone in your pocket, as well as a scrap of paper covered back to front in cryptic scribbles. Are these clues to your location? They must be. You also spot a key dangling from a branch, though it's hanging from a tree you'll never be able to reach from here. Perhaps someone on the network will be able to lend you a hand...

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Comments

Very much not=roommates

[hellspawnrevenant]

To say that Hanzo Hasashi is displeased is an understatement. He has a scowl that can send just about anyone running, and it's as deep as his brow can possibly furrow right now. The lantern is tied to his belt opposite his katanas, casting a faint light around the area, but almost none on his face.

With one hand on his katana he'd kicked open the door, clearly expecting a fight or an enemy inside. What he gets is just someone lounging on the bed, playing with the same sort of tablet that Hanzo had tossed aside and abandoned upon discovering it.

"I highly doubt you could." His voice drips with disdain, more for the situation than the man he's speaking to, but his abrasive demeanor makes it hard to tell.

HA best reaction

[pure_havoc]

Brusque demeanors is how they roll in Wei, but the sheer audacity of the interruption keeps Cao Pi from being even slightly nostalgic for Xiahou Dun's presence. Nope, instead, his frown deepens. "Of course not," he retorts, "that would require stooping to a lower level of intelligence."

He sets the tablet aside next to the lantern on the table. "Let me be more plain, then. What do you want?"

BFFs in no time

[hellspawnrevenant]

He ignores the insult with the confidence of someone who doesn't care what anyone else thinks nor their opinions. The lantern catches his attention though. Everyone has a lantern, everyone has a tablet. Curious.

"I don't need to explain myself to you." Though even he has to admit he did just barge into someone else's room with the intention of cutting anyone in there to pieces. So maybe he can unbend a tiny bit.

"I was looking for a room, an unoccupied one."

Hanzo Hasashi doesn't know the concept of knocking politely.

[pure_havoc]

"I rather think you do," Cao Pi notes, sliding off the bed and standing up at his full height. Oh, but his Pure Havoc blades are over on the other side, damn. He does his best to downplay it. "Slamming your way in here like that. Clearly the room is not unoccupied, so if you would like it to be, well. We're going to have a problem."

He does his best not to telegraph a glance over to where his swords are, and how quickly he can get to them if attacked.

[hellspawnrevenant]

His eyes flick over Cao Pi, noting that he seems to be unarmed. But looks can be deceiving and Hanzo isn't going to assume anything.

"Precautionary measure." As if he breaks down doors all the time in case of enemy attack. By his way of thinking whoever this is should be glad it's not on fire as well. At this point he should leave, what he wanted to accomplish is obviously not in this room, and he's not much for conversation. But something about the attitude of the other man rankles, and so he remains, on the edge of drawing his sword.

"I am not here to fight you. Unless that's what you wish."

[pure_havoc]

Zihuan's lips twist briefly. "Well. Something we have in common, at last."

Strangely, the armor puts him sort of at ease, or at least in mind of familiar things, making it easy to resort to snark and not be too confused. Yet, now that they're standing there and mutually agreeing to stand down, something does make him wonder. "...are there even any unoccupied rooms left in this place?"

[hellspawnrevenant]

"I have only checked a few." Meaning he has definitely been kicking down doors all over this place only to find people in there who were less than pleased to see him. "But there are not many rooms, not enough for the amount of people I saw at the bonfire."

He drops his hand from where it's been hovering by his katana, deciding against starting a fight right now, "I am Grandmaster Hasashi."

[pure_havoc]

Well that doesn't bode well. Marshalling his features into something more serene and less snide, Zihuan lifts his head importantly. "Cao Pi, Lord of Wei. Grandmaster...not a title I'm familiar with but it implies. Skill." A shame this isn't a time to get into fights, he'd be interested to see the level of swordsmanship a grandmaster can claim. "You're welcome to continue beating down doors in search of the perfect quarters, but I'm not sure you wouldn't be attacked in the process."

[hellspawnrevenant]

"It does." Stated simply, with no real smug overtones. He's confident in his skill and were this a better time he would be happy to show him. But there's unfortunately more pressing matters to attend to. It would seem that being dead in this place still had the same obligations as life: food, shelter, and sleep. And two of those problems could be solved immediately right where he is.

"Are you concerned about the bloodshed?" Because he doesn't find that likely. There is another option and he does not sound happy about it at all, "Or are you offering to share quarters?"

[pure_havoc]

Offering to share? Cao Pi snorts openly - perish the thought. "I would just as soon stand at the door and watch you annoy and frighten the other residents of this inn. I'm sure I could get roughly an hour of entertainment out of it."

Folding his arms over his armored chest, he takes a few slow paces forward, clearly sizing up this fellow head to toe, weapon to stance. "However, I do seem to be without any of my usual retainers. A skilled swordsman would make a fine bodyguard." Some part of him is sure it's an audacious offer, likely to be turned down, but negotiations should have a solid opening. There are other means of securing an agreement, alliance, temporary truce, whatever. But if Zihuan is going to share his room with anyone, he's going to make sure he approves of them, first.

[hellspawnrevenant]

"I'm not here for your amusement." Though he's fully prepared to keep busting doors down until he finds an adequate place to rest.

Unphased, he meets Cao Pi's gaze as he's inspected, eyes narrowed. He's not intimidated by the other, and if it's a fight he wants, that's what he'll get. But what he proposes is so demeaning that he actually snorts in disgust, his scowl giving way to crunching up his face in disbelief.

"Are you daring to suggest that I should be your mere bodyguard?"

In an instant he has his sword out, his temper barely in check to keep him from actually attacking. Instead he aims the point at Cao Pi's neck, "I am the Grandmaster of the Shirai Ryu and I am no ones servant."

[pure_havoc]

Ah, that level of pride, it seems to be a hallmark of every mighty swordsman. Cao Pi faces Hasashi's temper with cool patience, raising one arm to casually deflect the sword away from his throat. He's still wearing his bracers, it's fairly easy to do so without hurting himself, and it buys him a moment to step to the side and inch closer to where his swords are sitting. "And what sect is that?" he idly wonders as a distraction, able to pick up the words in the same way as he's been able to understand the men of Wa in Orochi's realm. "That is a Wa name, isn't it?"

[hellspawnrevenant]

The sword is flicked to the side but he doesn't lower it, still prepared to skewer him for presumption alone.

"I do not know what you're talking about. The Shirai Ryu hail from the Fire Gardens in Japan." He's slightly more confused than he is angry at this point. Some of what the other is saying sounds vaguely familiar, but he doesn't know what it has to do with the current situation.

[pure_havoc]

Funny thing about alternate worlds and immediately being able to understand each other - Cao Pi nods slightly, feeling likewise that it's familiar and yet not. "Sorry, is it Hi-no-Moto? Ishida usually gets annoyed with me if I use the wrong name for his country."

Another slight roll of his shoulders allows him to side-step the bed and whisk around to snatch up one of the pair of swords, and in the same movement whirl back around to brandish it. Two can play at this game, and if they're going to continue to get annoyed at each other, Zihuan is going to do it from the other end of a blade. "Is this how you would rather have a discussion?"

[hellspawnrevenant]

He's still not sure who or what the other man is talking about, but the sword is a language he speaks fluently.

"I would prefer this, yes." He gives a slight dip of his head as if in acknowledgement of a challenge before he strikes. This is more a test of skill and honor than a deathmatch, and while he doesn't care if he kills the other, it's not his intention.

In one swift motion he slides forward aiming to stab, rather than slice, his shoulder lowering so he can twist in anticipation of a return attack.

[pure_havoc]

The language of battle is how things get done, Cao Pi is not even slightly surprised that it's come to this. He dodges the jab as best he can in close quarters, though the tip of the sword pings against his chestplate, and slashes from the side, focusing on his opponent and ignoring his second sword for now. He'd be much better if he had both but there's not a lot of room to swing Pure Havoc at full size in here.

[hellspawnrevenant]

Dodging back he narrowly avoids it, raising one hand off his sword in order to clench his fist, a ball of fire appearing there before he launches it to the side of where Cao Pi is standing. It's a threat more than anything, he could have shot it directly at him, rather than the wall where the fire is now... not catching anything.

His eyes dart over for a brief split second in confusion as to why it's already sizzled out instead of burning with the intensity of hellfire.

But that's a mystery for after this fight, and he doesn't need fire in order to win a swordfight.

[pure_havoc]

The fireball takes Zihuan entirely by surprise, but when he dodges the other way to make sure he's clear, he sees the same thing and likewise looks briefly confused. That...was fire, right? Why isn't the wall even scorched?

But, hey, if it's going to be fire, he's got ice somewhere in his arsenal. Twirling the sword in his grip, he raises his arm to point the blade toward his opponent. "Idiot, do you want to burn down this entire inn? If that's your tactic, let's take this outside."

...never mind that someone may likely claim the room if they go out to fight.

[hellspawnrevenant]

He straightens up, holding his sword defensively. This seems like a trick to get him to leave the room again, but he's also loathe to back down from a fight, "Very well."

Though something was very wrong if the wooden wall isn't even singed. Something about this place was dampening his powers maybe. He'd have to investigate later. For now there remained the dilemma of who was going to leave the room first, especially since he's not about to turn his back on an opponent. So now he either has to back out of the room and hope Cao Pi follows, or maybe move forward and force the other out ahead of him.

"After you."

[pure_havoc]

Clever man. Cao Pi has considered the same, and for a fleeting second he does hope that Hanzo here is just dumb enough to let him spring that trap and close the door but it's a no-go. It's probably better that he's smarter than he looks. Zihuan grabs his second sword and edges into the doorway on the side of the door itself, so that the other man likewise can't just shut it on him. "Join me," he suggests as he places one foot into the hallway, gesturing with a sword and angling himself to allow another to pass. There, now they both have to go out and settle this like fighting game characters.

[hellspawnrevenant]

He almost lowers his sword at the ludicrousness of this. In order for them to both get out of here at the same time they're going to have to sidestep through the doorway together in a tight space and then spring apart once in the hallway. He wars with his pride for a few moments, he won't back down from the fight, but this situation is ridiculous.

Decision made, he steps forward, turning his body so that they're facing each other his sword tilted horizontal so that he can still hold it in front of himself with the little room between them.

Hopefully no one else is witnessing this as they inch out into the hallway and then immediately back away from each other.