dagung | TDM: April

Entry tags:

* tdm

TDM: April

Test Drive: April

All threads can be considered game canon,

the prompts and test drive itself will be

• Reserves Open Today! If you're interested in securing a spot, put one in! We accept applications without reserves too, of course. Reserves will expire three days before the end of the application period, on the 28th.
• Applications Open The 24th! These will last until the end of the month, the 30th, with the game formally beginning on May 1st. The application page can be found here.
• If you have any questions about the game or the world, please refer to the FAQ page; if you still have questions, feel free to ask them! For questions specific to the test drive, please ask them on the appropriate thread.
• For the purposes of the test drive, your character will have access to all magics taught by the Coven if they're a Witch, and as much of their shifted form as you'd like if they're a Monster. Feel free to play around and experiment with each!
• Test drive threads can be used as samples for your applications!

You feel like you're floating. Around you, colors and sounds and smells swirl as if trapped in a whirlpool, vibrancy and hue ever shifting. The more you watch them, the less solid they are; they only become clear out of the corner of your eye. The area around you begins to feel more solid as well, until your feet are on the ground, the wind brushes playfully against your face -

and you know one thing, and one thing alone: this is a dream, and an incredibly realistic one at that.

The Tea Party

The air turns a sweeter smell, almost like a bakery; the gentle laughter and chatter of living creatures filters in through leaves that brush against you, hanging from winding vines that hang from above. Flowers in shades of orange and red glow faintly among the greenery, their petals curling in shyly once they're paid attention to. As the area comes more into focus, the shadows of insect-winged forms become clearer, flitting about - talking about some kind of party, about a Queen, about the Courts meeting on neutral ground for the first time in a thousand years.

You're not entirely sure what's going on, and it doesn't seem as if anyone's noticed you've arrived - but three different paths unfurl in your mind's eye, vague in shape and meaning.

A Taste of Faeryland...
Following the voices, you find them: smaller-than-average humanoids with thin limbs, a variety of wings (prismatic butterfly, fuzzy moth, delicate bee - all of it), large, glittering compound eyes, antennas fitting their winged insect-type... Those familiar with the tales of the fae might recognize these Monsters as something similar. They greet you as if you were an old friend regardless of your appearance, inviting you to sit down at the table - which seems to go on forever in the large dining hall-esque canopy of nature they have set up, lined with elegant porcelain tableware and shimmering orbs of magic.

The food is similarly endless, ranging from the familiar to the unusual, and careful observation (or just plain digging in) shows the following effects: breakfast foods make you glow and emit colorful sparks, brunch foods get you floating as if filled with bubbles, lunch foods will make you feel as if you've taken part in happy hour, dinner foods will make you insatiably hungry, and dessert will make you feel as if you should simply stay in Faeryland forever... It's possible to mix and match these with effects, but do be careful.

The creatures present speak in high, lilting voices about nothing in particular at all - if asked anything serious, they merely give the character a curious if disproving look and say it's impolite to speak of politics over a meal. Ask something a little more lighthearted though, and they laugh and still... don't quite answer, patting your hand and asking if you'd like an extra slice of buttered bread and jam. The tables aren't exactly the best place for eavesdropping and learning what's going on, it seems - but there are plenty of exits out of the dining hall. Large, beetle-like Fae stand guard at the entrances of various hallways outside of the hall in the castle though, preventing anyone from entering them. When asked, they simply reply these are to private quarters that ordinary guests aren't allowed into and refuse to budge on the matter.

A Coalition of Interests...
The Seelie and the Unseelie Courts of the Fae - whether you know them or not, evidently it's a big deal that they're meeting tonight. Or over several days and nights; the Fae themselves seem to be in a bit of an argument over how long they actually want to stay in the same company as their counterparts, neutral ground of the Dewaint Forest. Regardless, there are no marked differences between the two physically, and they all speak of a singular Queen heading them; behaviorally, though, that's another thing entirely.

Those of the Seelie Court are quicker to engage in conversation and prefer it one-on-one, hardly allowing a word in edgewise and getting irritated when interrupted; their pranks are usually mildly malicious, with spells causing uncontrollable laughter, color changes, and charms to make the charmee fall in love at first sight with whomever they see first peppering their repertoire. Returning to their good graces is fairly easy - the gift of something pretty as an apology tends to work, but each Fae has their own very particular gift they like. If it's messed up even a little bit, they won't accept it, and will merely play another trick upon the giftee.

Those of the Unseelie Court, meanwhile, are a little harder to talk to; they prefer to prank and trick first to test those they might be interested in as a group, not unlike children trying to get the attention of someone they like by pulling their hair. Their pranks usually range from genuine hurt (such as pulling hair, stinging nettles, or simply beating them with bound vines) to curses (losing one's voice, the head of an ass, or full-scale animal transformations). Withstanding these, or standing up to these Fae, earns as much of their ire as it does their respect - the truly respectful human will be subjected to headpats and collars, like a pet.

A Treacherous Adventure...
As beautiful as it is outside of the main dining hall and newly-grown castle (just for the momentous occasion itself, going by the rumors!), Faeryland as a whole is mired in danger. The wrong step sends one tumbling down a rabbit hole full of interesting sights, landing in a wide field of drooping flowers that snore softly and scream bloodcurdling loud when awoken. No matter how long one walks, discovering both familiar and unfamiliar sights, never ends in finding the castle again. In fact, it's much easier to find yourself accidentally going deeper into the woods. The exceptionally tall trees of the Dewaint Forest show hints of decay and rot, the smell of the dead barely covered by the flowers desperately growing across the blackened bodies of Fae and other animals that wandered too close to the growing infection in the area.

What look like corpses will tremble and rise when they sense someone is close by - their eyes and mouth are pure white, contrasting with the darkness around them, and throughout the shell are cracks of a similarly pulsing whiteness; it smells magical, it feels incredibly heavy and overpowering, and it might just be too powerful for those most sensitive to the corruption and to magic. The shadowy creatures' wings are larger than normal and monstrous, with their bodies held up by the dew-crying flowers that simultaneously hold them back yet sneak their roots closer to grab those who awakened them and drag them closer. Where the monster begins and ends with the corrupted nature it's made its bed in isn't completely clear, but one thing is: it's very, very hungry.

Thankfully, it's a good thing some of you have new abilities at hand, and some of you have a few neat changes to help. Teaming up makes things go quicker, and once defeated, these creatures bleed white magic and disappear in ashy smoke, shell breaking off in bits to reveal a dried-up corpse of a Fae. Nothing else remains, not even a hint to their identity, and the more of these monstrously-turned Monsters characters meet, the bigger and more terrifying they get.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It's a mistake, she shouldn't get in the middle of it but she can't leave the cat to be tortured. It isn't fair. She also doesn't think she can fight off the fea who are currently tormenting the poor creature.

So Justine does what she can do; a tactical retreat.

She jogs forward, sweeps up the cat in time to get stabbed in the side with the branch and clawed across the forearm by the cat. She doesn't stop moving, she continues to run until the fea are far enough away that she can sit with the cat safely curled in her lap.

Her breaths exhale in short uneven huffs as she glances down at her hissing companion.]

Hush little one. You're save now. I promise.

[She keeps him on her lap, her knees curled as he takes up the small space of her skirt.]

I wonder, are you lost too?

[ Oh. He hadn't actually meant to do that, hadn't meant to swipe and hit this human-smelling stranger. The cat nosed toward the wound, but seemed to have settled slightly from its earlier upset; its whiskers tickled and it meowed in response.

Yes. So lost. How the hell was it going to turn human again? And was Justine going to let it off her lap?

Well

if she wasn't, maybe he could see it as penance. ]

[Her fingers lightly pet along his back as she whispers softly to the cat in her lap. Her arm is prickling with dots of scarlet but they're light cuts and Justine doesn't appear to be worried about them.]

It's okay. You're safe.

[She leans forward and lightly places a kiss on the top of the cats head.]

I'll keep you safe.

[Majima can jump out of her lap any time but she really hope he doesn't. He's warm and she can feel the steady beat of his heart against her skin as she holds him close.]

[ He hesitated... and then stayed put. She'd saved him, she was whispering -- maybe she was as uneasy as she was about the place, and her skin felt warm.

A strange noise started emanating from nearby, and Majima's ears pricked in alarm; most of his fur had returned to normal, but his tail turned back into that same soft bottlebrush...

And then he realized that sound was coming from him: a purr, whether of reassurance or comfort.

Uh, how did he turn it off, though? ]

[Her head bows forward as exhaustion weights against her limbs. She hasn't eaten and she's been trying her best to blend in with the thick throng of people who had appeared at the party. She doesn't want to be on the fea's radar but it's tiring.

Majima's alarm makes her tense again and she glances around to find that they are still alone, tucked between a stone wall and a tree.

She relaxes again and lightly begins to scratch beneath Majima's chin.] It's alright. [Her eyes close and she focuses on the warmth, touch and comfort of the cat in her lap.] I'm alone here too. It's hard...

[She swallows but continues to talk.]

I don't want to be alone but it'll be okay.

[She has to believe it.]

[ It was so hard to resist the cat's instincts, so hard to even muster up the will to want to break free. The cat's eyes slid slowly half closed, and the purring intensified. Its fur was soft, and it bumped its head against her fingers. ]

Meow.

[ It'll be okay, he wanted to say. She wasn't alone. ]

[She smiles and for the first time since her arrival, its an earnest expression. A tired, strained, beautiful smile.

Her fingers graze across his fur and then continues to scratch beneath his chin. She finds the spots he really likes and focuses on those.] Thank you. I feel better with you here. [It's strange but nice.] Maybe you can help me be strong.

[There is strength hidden within her dark gaze but it doesn't sound like she's noticed that it's there.]

[ He wanted to help her. Even under normal circumstances, Majima was a sucker for the proverbial dame with a dark past, but Justine had saved him from a possible career as a fae pincushion.

But all he could do at the moment was lend her a fuzzy ear. The cat tipped its head back to let Justine rub under his chin, then bunted her again -- this time, under her own chin.

What a nice person. She knew her way around a furry companion, too... ]

Ah. [A light pink blush spreads across her cheeks as the cat's head lightly bumped against her chin. It's so... cute. She feels her heart flutter in her chest and for the first time since her arrival to this strange world she feels a warmth budding beneath her breast bone.]

Thank you.

[There is no reason to be blushing and stammering because of a cat.]

You're very sweet. [She leans forward and places another kiss against the cat's head. Her fingers next stop petting the creature. He deserves all the affection.] Where did you come from? You're too sweet for this place.

[ It was getting hard to form human thoughts now, like trying to concentrate in a room full of shouting. Because that's what the cat's instincts were doing to him right now, overpowering and wordless and insistent. Comfort, warmth, soft touches on his fur.

That mint green eye slowly blinked shut and reopened in a kind of contentment he'd never felt before, and now a new noise was coming out of him. A purring, rolling chirrup. It placed a small paw on Justine's fingers; the pink paw pads underneath were like soft little jelly beans. He felt as though he could spend forever listening to those sweet words, to whatever she wanted to tell him.

"What's a guest doing out here?" came the querulous questioning of an older-looking fae, with wings like a fuzzy silver moth. ]

[Her shoulder blades stiffened as the voice echoed behind her. They weren't too far off from the party but Justine had been hoping that they were hidden. Her shoulders turn and her eyes met the fairies as her arms protectively hold Majima close to her chest.

She says nothing. She doesn't know what she can say but she doesn't stop shielding Majima's kitty form with her body either.

It isn't smart but she wants to keep the cat safe.]

[ "Aha, there you are," drawled the fae, flitting along the path. "My dear, you're a lovely flower -- but hardly suited for being a wallflower, I think. Why not follow me back to the party?"

Majima seemed to realize that now was not a good time to act up, but the fur on his body puffed up once more in a display of threat. ]

[It takes her a moment to find her voice.]

I needed some time to myself. I'll return shortly.

[She looks up at the fea but she's careful not to meet his gaze.] I'll meet you back there soon. [The fairy hasn't noticed the cat in her arms and she wants to give the little creature time to escape.]

[ The fae sighed. "Very well; I suppose a bit of fresh air isn't such a bad thing. But I wouldn't venture out past the grounds, if I were you!" And with a slightly malicious cackle, the creature flitted off.

The cat, meanwhile, didn't seem interested in leaving Justine's side. Instead, it put its paws up on her shoulder, warm fur brushing against her cheek, and meowed almost plaintively, as if to ask if she was all right. ]

I won't.

[Justine whispers after the fairy before turning back to the cat in her arms.]

It's alright. [She runs her fingers down the cat's back as a light smile touches her lips.] But he'll be back, if he knows I'm here. You should hide but don't go to far. It might not be safe.

I can try and come back.

[ The cat seemed to listen to her, then pad off, though he looked back at her once or twice before disappearing around a corner. What a curious cat....

Should she come back by, however, she'd find instead an extremely confused-looking Majima, looking almost the same as always. The difference, of course, being the barest trace of cat hair on his previously immaculate suit jacket. He looked like he was trying to figure out what the hell had happened. ]

[She watches him disappear before rising to her feet and returning to the garden. The fea that had caught her in the garden stalks her for a half hour and plays a trick or two on her before she could once again slip away to see that cat again.

At first she can't find him but then she finds Majima, sitting on the stones with cat fur on his lovely suit.

Justine runs over, her heels clicking on the stones as she kneels at his side. Thin pale fingers brush over his forehead and then down his suit to gather a bit of the cat fur in her palm.] Majima? The cat, did you see it?

The cat?

[ Part of him was suddenly glad to see Justine, a familiar face in all of this, only -- ]

I... don't remember. Last thing, I was gettin' into it with one of those fairies, and then...

[ The world had suddenly changed, and it was a lot harder to remember. Maybe cat brain memories just didn't translate to human brains very well. He'd been fighting the urge to run from a crowd of looming monsters, he was pretty sure, and then one of the giants had scooped him up. ]

I remember someone talking to me.

[ A giant with a soft, reassuring voice, who made kind noises and rubbed his fur...

wait

his fur??? ]

...No way.

[She gently holds a small piece of fur between her thumb and forefinger, eyeing Majima worriedly.]

And then?

[She isn't sure what's wrong with him but he couldn't have been the cat. She'd held the cat and had whispered worried secrets in its furry ears. She'd protected it.

Her cheeks tinted a light rosy pink.]

Majima?

I think I was some kinda animal.

[ Black and white and furry, right? And he'd only had one eye at the time, perhaps Justine could connect the one-eyed tuxedo cat with the one-eyed tuxedoed man. ]

It's not really... a cat, ya said?

[It isn't difficult to put together but it's... awkward.]

Yes. I believe that you were turned into a cat.

The cat I was looking for.

Oh, uh... that was you, huh? Listen, I don't really remember too much, but I apologize if I misbehaved.

[ God what was this situation. "Misbehaved"? ]

I do remember someone bein' kind to me, so... thank you.

You didn't.

[Her voice is soft and kind as she gently shakes her head back and forth. She'll miss that cat but she's happy that Majima is okay... and doesn't remember very much.]

I'm glad that you're okay now. Are you... okay?

I think so.

[ Justine seemed a little disappointed somehow, or maybe that was just his imagination? Maybe she really liked animals. ]

But I'm not all that eager to get back to the party. I think I might stay out here for a little while, and...

[ He smiled wryly. ]

Try to get some of this cat fur off.

[Justine's mouth tilts into a soft smile.] Would you like some company? I came here to get away too. [And to see the one-eyed cat.] I can find somewhere else if you'd rather be alone.

[She's trying not to be disappointed but the cat had been warm, comforting and honest. People are rarely like that.]

It's frightening... having someone take away your control, isn't it?

b. soft kitty warm kitty little ball of fur

aaa

XD

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