moustre: (Default)
moustre ([personal profile] moustre) wrote in [community profile] dagung2019-04-17 02:58 pm
Entry tags:

TDM: April

Test Drive: April

    Welcome to [community profile] 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.
defendure: (Spider-Man)

[personal profile] defendure 2019-04-23 02:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I- I, yes, okay, but -

[ Aaaand Izuku is dragged because he won't dig his heels in, although he's hoping they don't piss the Fae off worse...

The Fae who look absolutely not pleased about being interrupted already. Ouch. ]
tryhard: (whooosh)

[personal profile] tryhard 2019-04-24 12:41 am (UTC)(link)
[ ...uh-oh. Sorry, buddy. This guy's just a grumpy idiot who apparently thinks that he's not nearly as annoying as he actually is and the faeries will agree.

Hmm.

Or not. ]


More rude boys! Can't you see we're busy?

[ Waver opens his mouth again to protest, lifting their hands up to show the problem, but the fae who'd spoken draws a finger to her lips in a brisk shushing motion. ]

Be. Quiet.

[ Waver's mouth snaps shut. Judging by the way his eyes widen in response, it's clear he hadn't meant to politely back off on his own. ]
defendure: (Medusa)

[personal profile] defendure 2019-04-24 06:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh noooooooooo. Izuku tugs their (still hilariously tangled) hands and just. Let's...edge back a bit. And not make it double-worse. When they're far enough away, he whispers: ]

Are you okay??

[ Is it permanent shut uppery or...? ]
tryhard: (what kinda monster doesn't tag spoilers?)

[personal profile] tryhard 2019-04-24 11:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Waver doesn't tug this time, going along with him as they back up and let the faeries return to whatever they were doing. Which now includes watching them both with mean amusement.

Looks like they're still stuck. And when Waver tries to open his mouth--

Well. The operative word here is tries, isn't it? ]


Mmh--?!

Nnmng!!

[ The good news is he can still make noise. The bad news is his lips are literally sealed. And his alarmed grunts are only getting more high-pitched and frantic. ]
defendure: (Spider-Man)

[personal profile] defendure 2019-04-25 02:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Well. That's...not great since you definitely need to open your mouth to like, drink or eat. Izuku's eyes widen for a split second before he forces himself to remain calm: at this point, freaking out would only freak Waver out more. ]

Okay, hey, calm down! Look, I think we just have to, uh, try to apologize - but words don't seem to work. Maybe...maybe we can find them a gift?
tryhard: (his favorite star wars is phantom menace)

[personal profile] tryhard 2019-04-25 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[ At least he can breathe?

...not that Waver is looking on the bright side right now. He stops trying to force his mouth to open and eventually stops grumbling wordlessly too, affecting a lengthy, loud sigh through his nose.

A gift? They don't deserve gifts! They deserve a good swat. ]


Mm-hmm.

[ He nods, grudgingly. Fine. ]
defendure: (Taskmaster)

[personal profile] defendure 2019-04-26 02:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[ This is...the worst!

Okay, so what do you get some dick fairies who don't like to be talked to at all? ]


- Well, there isn't really a shopping mall around, so...how about an arrangement of flowers? We could hand that over without speaking, and it should be easy to assemble.
tryhard: (boo hoo no fair)

[personal profile] tryhard 2019-04-29 09:43 am (UTC)(link)
[ Waver affects a loud sigh through his nose, offers an exaggerated shrug, and gestures with his free hand in a go on, then sort of wave. There's been a number of colorful flowers in the courtyard. Maybe it's not such a bad idea.

At least he has the sense to wait for his unexpected new companion to start walking too so they're not pulling at each other on top of everything else. Luckily, their heights are similar enough it isn't uncomfortable. Just embarrassing. ]
defendure: (Exodus)

[personal profile] defendure 2019-04-29 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Izuku isn't embarrassed! ...like, he's still really sorry but he's mostly okay with being forced to hold hands aside from the "someone is stuck to me, and it is my fault, my feelings are guilt" since he doesn't...you know, mind holding hands?

Granted, it'd be cool if it were, uh, voluntary? And with someone he knows? And...wanted to hold hands with?

Look, the main point is it could be worse. ]


Their eyes were blue, so - blue flowers, do you think?

[ He's just going to keep up a one-sided conversation, it's fine. ]
tryhard: (vagueblush dumb face)

[personal profile] tryhard 2019-04-29 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Holding hands seems so... intimate...

Waver tries not to squeeze his hand. They're stuck for a joke, not dating. He's blushing faintly, trying valiantly to ignore the heat he can feel in his cheeks, and instead sighs again and shrugs at the suggestion.

Sure? Waver has no better ideas. He tries to sum this up in a soft grunt and a grudging nod, looking around the area for any flowers that fit that description. There are all sorts of colors and they don't seem to be arranged in specific patches from what he can see.

Spotting some dark blue (maybe purple?) blossoms, Waver points questioningly. Blue enough? ]
defendure: (Gang Orca)

[personal profile] defendure 2019-04-29 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[ They're both red. It's fine. It's probably fine? But when Waver points Izuku lights up, nodding immediately and tugging Waver gently over to the flowers. ]

Okay, now to just make the bouquet - can you lend me your free hand? It's hard to do this one-handed...
tryhard: (how do I begin to explain Regina George?)

[personal profile] tryhard 2019-04-29 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh... right. Uh.

Waver lifts his hand awkwardly, offering. Nods again.

Actually he has no idea how to make a bouquet. Pick the flowers and shove them all together?? Good enough, right???

He moves to grab one of the bluish ones by the stem and break it off about halfway down. ]
defendure: (Default)

[personal profile] defendure 2019-04-30 07:13 am (UTC)(link)
[ Honestly, that's good enough. Izuku is going to take his own free hand to help gather the flowers, and they can sort of...uh, hold the ones they gather in the curve of their held hands?

This is so fucking awkward... ]