TDM: April

[moustre]

Test Drive: April

Welcome to aefenglom's test drive! All threads can be considered game canon, should you choose to do so; regardless of if you pick specific threads to remain canon to the game, the prompts and test drive itself will be. This will be touched on later in-game, so it's fairly important to note! Aside from that, here are some quick reminders:



• 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!



With that taken care of...

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.

Comments

ritsu sakuma ☆ ensemble stars! ☆ monster

[nemuru]

「a. just a nibble」

[ he isn't used to lucid dreaming, but this feels too real to be a dream, but it has to be given the weirdo creatures that flit around and chatter so annoyingly. ritsu, ever the social butterfly (/sarcasm), has taken up a seat at the furthest end of the table he can find from everyone else; his black lop ears are slightly perked, just enough to keep a good ear out for anyone... anything. he's knights' strategist for a reason - he's aware and collecting what information he can, his sense of hearing much better as a rabbit.

well, apparently as a rabbit... person... thing. he isn't thinking too hard on it, given the. dream thing? ritsu's got one gold eye and one red - the latter is his usual, normal by human standards despite its color, the other more like a rabbit's in having little to no white showing, pupil dilated slightly despite his otherwise relaxed, sleepy demeanor. he has a few plates of each mealtime food, though dessert seems to be the only one he's really interested in, having pulled over a whole-ass cake for himself. ]

...Mmm, these look nice, but I bet they don't taste as good as mine... [ even if his look much more grotesque... that's part of their charm, right? ritsu's ears twitch as he realizes that if this is a dream, and he's aware of it, maybe...

the tiered cake in front of him shifts and turns from being beautifully decorated with flowers and swirls, to something way closer to this. ritsu grins slowly, cutting a piece and setting it on a plate

and then, ears perking up a little more, cuts another slice and cheerfully waves down regardless of how far away they are. ] He~y, you wanna share some cake...? Fufun, this is way too much for just me to eat, you know...♪

「b. a little wandering」

[ when he gets tired of food and watching people, ritsu sleepily makes his way down hallways; he makes a face the first time he bumps into one of those guards and, deeming it too much work, turns away, but when it keeps happening... and all he really wants to do is find somewhere to nap and stay for like, ever, because those desserts did a number on him... well.

he shifts quietly into looking like one of those weird creatures around, delighting in how easy it is to mimic them; he doesn't think about how he's much shorter now than usual, both as himself and as one of those little monsters. the guards at least don't tell him he's not supposed to be there - they don't pay him much mind at all, and he manages to hold his fae form long enough to get down a hall and open some doors.

some doors to absolutely nowhere, and he scowls quietly; nothing even changes when he tries to imagine it differently, and he wonders if like, that was just a one time thing, or if there's something different - like when you recognize a dream, and the dream recognizes that and tries to twist its stupid dream logic around on you. ]

...Don't they have any nap rooms? Even the school's got that much... [ complain complain complain,

he bounces (not quite literally) around, before he just goes back the way he came and - seeing someone who might be interested in investigating, given they've been blocked by one of the guards like he'd been - hops over (actually literally) to immediately drape himself around them. ] Hey, you... Lemme take a nap on your lap or somethin', I'm super tired... I'll even let you pet my ears if you want.

「c. all in the golden afternoon」

[ at least it isn't too bright out. ritsu's nose twitches when he finds his way outside, much more alert despite the ever-present sun - maybe this too is an affect of the dream thing? ah, it really is a dream, if he can go outside and not get sick... he generally pays attention to where he's going, skillfully avoiding pitfalls with his overly cautious nature, but one hop too far to the left sends him screaming down a hole.

it's a weird sensation, floating in nothing, and he watches glimpses of the dining hall and the endlessly empty hallways flicker past up until he lands with a hard thump back on the ground. the flowers are immediately too much for his nose; he covers it quickly, ears shifting back, but the sudden motion startles the flowers and they scream loud enough for him to take off running.

which, naturally, only awakens more of them.

follow the screaming long enough and ritsu's easy to find tucked against a tree, too panicked (eyes wide, nose twitching even worse, trembling from exhaustion and heavy breathing) to notice the roots of black, sick-looking flowers beginning to curl around his legs and arms, or the corrupted monster that goes with them slowly rising not too far away. ]

「d. wildcard」

[ hit me with anything yo. ]

c :3c

[wolfcorgi]

The hell?!

[ there's a loud scream into the distance, and it sets off koga's senses, because for some reason, somehow, it's almost as though he recognizes the voice. couldn't be true, right? -- but he follows after it, jumps over dry leaves and branches, and he's no hero of justice like those weird guys from ryuuseitai, no, but who in their right mind would just ignored such a panicked scream?!

what's worse -- his suspicions proved themselves true, when a familiar figure comes into view. a terrified boy koga is too familiar with, but he... what? are those seriously rabbit ears-- no, nevermind. this is one hell of a weird dream, but there's more important things to be done here. ]

Get the fuck away from him! Shit-- Ricchi, don't just stay there and do somethin' yourself too, dammit!

[ it's thanks to a strength that both belongs to him and not, that koga is able to yank at the roots and tear them with his mere hands. maybe if they could run before this weird corpse fully rises from the ground-- ]

:3c !!

[nemuru]

[ rabbits have a freeze or flee instinct when it comes to danger, and ritsu's instinct shifts violently to the second the second koga starts yelling at him; he hasn't quite registered it's like, koga yet, but he starts bunny kicking to do something himself-

(but sorry if he kicks you, koga; he isn't actually paying that much attention to what he's doing with his struggle).

the roots start to advance on koga as well, once they've realized there's another body in their midst, dew coagulating on them like blood; the corpse stretches its wings to their full length when it finally manages to get all the way up, the white pulsing magic following the veins of its deformed dragonfly wings.

this has the somewhat predictable effect of ritsu freezing up again, staring at the corpse, but his forehead creases thoughtfully rather than diving straight back into base fear. ]

S'caught like me, [ he finally manages, a little hurriedly, ] so all we gotta do is get out before it does, right? So hurry it up-

[ uh, who is he even, oh- ]

Corgi~. [ Just A Little Happier, still mostly, like, quicker than he usually speaks. ] Use your teeth or whatever. Aen't you the one always goin' on about bein' a wolf? Hurry it up, puppy.

hewwo owo; just a nibble

[complementing]

[The sight of so much food seems like a godsend in a strange new world. Who cares that there are insect people sitting with them, who cares that this feels like an Alice in Wonderland disaster waiting to happen. Heck, the Alice she used to be connected to would've told her to go for it, and damn the consequences!

That, and Minako is feeling a little lost and alone and tired. Food is food. Maybe it will give her some temporary comfort. She'd even be fine if it tasted terrible, because it'd still be a distraction. So when she sees the brain cake oozing 'blood', along with an invitation to boot, she slides into the seat next to him and gives him a little grin.]

Sure, I'm starving. Got a knife I can use?

!!!! grips hands tightly.

[nemuru]

[ Oh, someone not turned off by his decorating sense - she's a keeper for sure. Ritsu passes her the knife he'd cut his slices with, dropping a fork by her shortly after. He's never been that quick at finding things, but hey; he isn't going to complain. ]

Glad to meet a real connoisseur. ♪ It's vanilla, I think... Or strawberry... I don't know what it was before it looked like this. [ A gentle wave of his own fork. ] It'll be tasty either way though, right? Especially with looks like this~.

<3

[complementing]

[She delicately sniffs the air, nodding along with his guesses.]

A little bit of raspberry too, I think.

[She smiles serenely as she expertly slices into the cake, glancing at him from the corner of her eye and winking.]

Since it looks like this, I guess that makes us zombies ready for our next meal.

<3 !!

[nemuru]

Fufun, guess so. I'm a zombie rabbit then... [ ...Oh, hm- ] That's not too far outta the park. A unit at my school's doing that for our Halloween event.

[ To match with the heroes playing jiangshi, naturally. ]

Haakun's real cute as one. [ They all are, but he has a special affection for Hajime ♪ ] Wish I could show you, but I didn't take any pictures... I've kinda been sick all week. S'nothin' contagious though, don't worry.

[ ...Not that that would apply in a dream, probably? But just in case. ]

i'm gomen about how late this is...

[complementing]

[She shoots him a sympathetic look as she sticks a forkful of cake into her mouth. Yup yup, strawberry and raspberry and vanilla cake under that. Suspiciously delicious.]

It sounds like you miss your friends. I really miss mine too.

[If this is a dream then she'll see them when she wakes up, but even then it's not really the same...]

I last remember it being February though. [She waves her fork around in the air in a heart shape.] So everything was Valentine's Day themed instead!

i've been in app writing and reading hell, you're fine

[nemuru]

[ ...He isn't sure if he'd say he misses them, or if they're friends, but he's not going to debate it right now; it isn't as important to denounce as certain bloodties are, anyway. ]

I wish it was February... [ Mostly because there's sweets, and people smell good after they have a lot of them. ] Mmm, but then there'd be even more work for me to do... Never mind, paaaaasss, I wanna sleep until...

[ (thinking)......... ]

...Ugh, there's no break months for someone like me, huh...? Even vacation's busy. [ being an idol is Hard... Enjoyable, if he's really honest, but Hard. ] Did you give chocolates to anyone? Ahh, or get some, if you're doing it the Western way.

b

[unlightmusic]

[Now, Suzu was just about to fly into an uncontrollable rage as the guards were unresponsive to her demands to step aside, their "welcome to corneria"-esque song and dance quickly getting on her nerves. However, her chance to lay the smackdown is interrupted by a sudden amount of weight from behind, and she can only do what she's able to do at this moment.

That is, flail pathetically as she tries to stay standing. Crap, this guy, whoever it is... he's freaking heavy...!]

Wh---Oi, what the fuck!? [That's some colorful English.] Don't just drape on me like that, bastard! The hell kinda deal is that, anyway!? No one said I wanted to touch your ears, dammit!

SUZU IM SO SORRY

[nemuru]

[ Oh, English, just like Suuchan...♪ Way more coarse than him though, and from a girl no less. Ritsu childishly rests even more of his weight on her, siiighing loudly. ]

But they're all soft and whatever... Girls like that kind of thing, don't they? Mm... If you don't wanna let me sleep on you, then let me have a little bit of your blood instead.

[ ...Sniff sniff, burrowing his nose against her neck- ]

You... Nah, your blood doesn't smell half bad either. Actually, forget the lap pillow thing. [ ♪ ] Lemme taste you instead..~ Promise it won't hurt but a little bit..~

no youre not

[unlightmusic]

[Mnnngh, thanks to having to deal with Seira, it's not like she isn't familiar with someone immaturely dumping all their weight on her when she asks them to stop. Though its a struggle, Suzu's bracing her legs and pushing her shoulders against Ritsu and the very essence of gravity itself with sizable success---

But nearly falters as she feels this guy's face nuzzling against her bare neck, letting out a high pitched "Hiih!?" from reflex, a cold chill running down her spine thanks to how freaking weird this is. A-And now he's suddenly asking for blood? Like, is he some kind of vampire or something?

......Vampires are kinda cool despite being mainstream.......

W-Wait, no, she shouldn't just agree to a request that was sketchy af, no matter how rock or enchantingly grotesque the idea of being fed on by a fellow creature of darkness was. Don't get out of hand, chuunibyou instincts...!]

H-Hell no, dude! I don't even know you!? 'sides, I'm a Fallen Angel, you dunno what curses'll befall you when bitin' down on a broken-winged "Lucifer" like me!

i AM... Mostly

[nemuru]

[ Uwah, a strong girl... Ritsu laughs, delighting in the fact there's no one around to stop him. (This is why a Ritsu without a Mao is too dangerous.) ]

If that's the only issue, then I guess I can introduce myself... [ As if the, like, asking for her blood thing isn't the actual issue here. ] Mm... Ritsu Sakuma of Knights... Guess it's nice to meetcha.

[ Guess So. ]

Anyway, I don't really care about curses... Mm, Lucifer-chan, and this is just a dream or whatever, right..~? So let me have some blood...♪

[unlightmusic]

[Ah, she thought that voice sounded kind of familiar. If Suzu remembers correctly, she's seen him on the CD covers and things with Ruka's brother, whenever Ruka brought them in to show... What the hell, another celebrity? What's with all these famous dudes from that other school back home? Mika aside, is it really okay to be meeting them all so easily?

But, that's an issue for later. This guy is quite literally out of blood, and Suzu's running out of arguments fast (somehow). So, she'll promptly plant a hand on Ritsu's face and start pushing. Struggling.]

Are you some kinda dumbass!? I don't care if you're famous or some shit; just 'cause I know your name and face doesn't mean I know you! Shouldn't there be, I dunno, a kinda courtin' phase or somethin' like that before you try takin' a bite outta me!?

[Suzu Kuromori, despite all her edge, is quite the Romantic.]

[nemuru]

[ A courting phase...? Girls sure are weird, why aren't more of them like Anzu, who just lets him take a little-

He scowls though, letting her go when she starts struggling; he rubs his face as he hops back a few steps, newly heterochromatic eyes narrowing at her. ]

...Secchan might be right about girls bein' more trouble than they're worth... [ grumble mumble- a little louder, next ] You want me to go get you some flowers...? Or, oh...

[ ...Ritsu steps closer and drops to one knee, holding out one of his hands palm-side up with a gentle smile. Work mode: On. ]

Want me to escort you somewhere more private, Princess? ♪

i ♥ no

[kaowont]

[ Lucky him to be stuck inside someone else's dream, or to at least have their dreamscapes tangled together in some weird mash-up of washed out pastel and floral space. He's got a hand up across his face like he's hiding something, but it's really just a poor attempt to save himself from all the overwhelming sensations teeming about their eerie little tea party. Something about this and everyone else isn't normal, but if it's all just a dream then it's probably going to pass... ]

Uh, no. Think I'm gonna have to pass. You might be Sakuma-san's little brother, but... not only is there something totally vile about these treats, I'm not really looking to share cake with another guy or anything like that...

[ Nope. He's waving the offer off with his free hand. ]

babe cmon just a bite ♥

[nemuru]

[ Well, he's not wrong there. Ritsu can't really tell what's... wrong with these, the weird effects he's seen on other people aside, but the desserts have been pretty harmless-looking. ...Though even if they're bad news, like, he doesn't really care.

None of this is real anyway, probably. ]

Ahh, that so...? Guess you must not have any friends. [ Ritsu keeps his cake close to himself then, sticking a fork in it. ] Me and Maakun share food a~ll the time. ♪ He even feeds me... There's nothin' weird about friends eatin' together.

[ objectively, the fact mao goes to his house to wake him up and dress him is probably weirder ]

[kaowont]

[ Uh, excuse me? ]

Hmm~, not sure I like the way you put that, but...

[ -- even if he's as right as he is wrong. He's been attempting to put a band-aid on some things, but it's not as if people will just start liking him out of nowhere, especially with how he's been up to this point... but, why's some stupid dream supposed to remind him of that? Harsh. Leave it to Sakuma-san's little brother to have a dream self that spits out a venomous truth, like it runs in the family or something.

He flips a fork idly between his fingers, like he's at least thinking about it now... ]

It's not like I can't sit around and eat with friends, but everything here is just... sweet. Too sweet. Sharing that sweetness with a guy'll just dampen the flavor, right? That and... [ and this is why he's still clamping a hand occasionally over his nose, like it's the normal thing to do ] ... can't you smell that something's off?

[nemuru]

...It's a dream, 'course something's off.

[ Even if he never really has dreams like this; even if his dreams are a lot less fantastic and rooted far more in his worries and stresses, in the past that he can't forget, can't move on from the way others might have... ]

We're bein' served by bug people in a weird castle, the food's never-ending, and there's hundreds of people here I don't recognize even a little - and since most of them are guys, I can't even say they're probably just fans of ours. [ Ritsu leans back on the table, eyes scanning the crowd again briefly before they return to Kaoru. ] And I got bunny ears. Lots of stuff's wrong, but it's just a dream, yeah? Feels like one, and I was asleep, so it checks out to me.

[kaowont]

[ Ah, the ears. See, he wasn't going to say anything about them. Like, maybe he's actually just seeing things, glancing back and forth around the room and then something just... didn't line up correctly? But they're there, and he's listening, but distracted over how unnatural they look. Well, in addition to the unnaturalness all around them, but... ]

I don't remember if I was sleeping or not...

[ Thinking back is like turning on a dial only to get white noise: there's nothing filling in the gap no matter how hard he tries to recall, and so eventually he decides that whatever should fit in that space will eventually come to him with time, probably. Hopefully.

One hand is doing its own kind of thinking though as it draws so irresistibly close towards an object of curious desire in an attempt to touch -- those soft, fluffy, ears. ]

b

[littlemperor]

[it's probably exactly because it's tori that ritsu chooses to drape on him, lbr, and the other reacts just as one'd imagine, trying to jerk away and failing because of the way the weight falls. e ears. he's not thinking about it immediately, but give him a hot second.]

Geh! Get off of me, Ritsu-senpai! The only people who can touch me so familiarly are the President and Hajime!

[and you are neither!!!!!!]

Besides, I'm the one who sleeps on people's laps, not the other way around!

[nemuru]

[ it definitely is because it's tori that he decided to drape alll over him, and he isn't moving. messing with fine's little pink kid is fun, and neither ecchan nor haakun are here to stop him.

but hm. there's nothing noticeably off with tori, and he gives him a few gentle sniffs to be sure of it. ]

You're like a spoiled little kitten... I only sleep in laps if I really need it, you know? Or if it's Anzu... Since she always lets me. [ his precious pushover ♥ ] There's no nap rooms here, Pinky.

[ a beat, and he lowers his voice. ]

Don't think there's any bedrooms either. I've been all over this place, and all those doors... Y'see 'em, right? They don't go anywhere.

[littlemperor]

[so he noticed, too... it's put tori at a state of real unease, honestly, and he'd hate to admit it, but ritsu being physically around is kind of a relief.]

Yeah... And every hall looks the same, or it is the same hall? I can't tell. It gives me the creeps, I just want to go home.

[nemuru]

You any good at waking yourself up?

[ just askin, ]

[littlemperor]

Um... No. Yuzuru's the one that wakes me up in the morning, so I'm not really used to it unless it's a nightmare.

[which he shouldn't tell a terror like ritsu, but. you know.]

Do you think that waking up from a nap would wake you up for real?