Test Drive #13.

[powersthatbe]

Welcome to the Synodiporia Test Drive Meme! Below the cuts there are two new prompts, and here are the prompts from previous test-drives, which you’re still welcome to use in this post. When you comment, be sure you specify what prompt you want to play with, and please put up your own threadstarter - it makes for a much more friendly environment that a forest of bare toplevels! OCs are especially welcome! Please take a quick look at our Directory & familiarize yourself with the concept and setting of the game before you jump in.

Our upcoming app round runs December 18th-31st. Our next Jaunt, Escape from Junkworld, is a space opera romp where humans, aliens, and androids work together on mysterious scavenged, malfunctioning ships to outrun an interstellar disaster. Our next Walkabout (a more casual alternative event, for those not interested in the Jaunt) will revisit Heartbreak Academy, a shoujo anime setting where high-schoolers use Social Technology to bring shoujo special effects to life, from glitter to roses, transformation sequences to sad rainclouds, these cartoony powers are at the height of education for those who want a career in media or diplomacy, or some other means of big-stage self-expression. Both Jaunt & Walkabout will begin January 7th & run for approximately six weeks.

Prompt #37 is set in the Escape from Junkworld jaunt, as an advance taste of the fun available there.

Prompt #38 is set in a created landscape within the Telepathic Network all Travelers can access, and features characters facing their inner demons and traumatic memories together.


Prompt #37

The Coronation's coolant system has sprung a leak somewhere in its kilometers of pressurized tubing - near enough to the diagnostic centers to short out the readouts, meaning half the crew is up to their elbows in the decking, ceramic floor plates scattered along the corridors like loose shingles, making traveling between workstations like a game of holy grail hopscotch between the tiles and the potholes they left.

Besides that, the leak leaves the entirety of the ship smelling like a cross between pond scum and burned espresso, and set the radiation alarms to a distracting buzz - not enough for klaxons, just a constant, low-level warning that set the teeth on edge.

In the ship’s simulator chambers, anyone visored and gloved to work in virtual space can ignore it - but the computer environment may experience glitches in its programs, whether functional or recreational. On the bridge, other systems are experiencing occasional failures - from sensor shadows hinting at unreal pursuit and activating automated combat routines, to the translators in the comm system shorting out and creating a momentary babel.

Meanwhile, between evacuating irradiated areas, crawling through the conduits looking for the problem to fix, or quietly shooing smuggler-snails full of contraband out of the way of the search parties, there’s something for everyone to be doing...


Prompt #38


Sometimes someone’s issues lead to them being swallowed by a dungeon in Liminal Space and forced to confront their darker side, their repressed issues - but you can’t always wait for an arbitrary interdimensional force to kidnap you. Here in the Mind Palace, the world is simply a vast, blank white space, and glittering glass cubes float in the air, each holding within it a freeze-framed memory of a traumatic moment, something you’ve chosen to face here together with your companions. Maybe only one of you is going through this gauntlet, or maybe you’ve opted to face your fears together, but whatever this captive image is, you’ll have to explain it or let it play out, and come to grips with what it means to you - whether a happy memory you’ve lost, something that makes you sad or afraid or angry, or even a piece of your past that had been buried or forgotten until now - there it is, in front of you, waiting.

What happens next?

Comments

[virioncomplex]

"Lifting things and smashing shit isn't going to help either but that's not stopping you." Faed is actually moving rather swiftly as he puts the parts together, rolling tools through his fingers with practiced ease. When he's done with one he hands it off to the robotic rat skeleton sitting near by and takes another it had waiting. "Lets just say if these people actually knew how the fuck to build a ship it's systems wouldn't be collapsing around them."

[chalicejoker]

"It'd help if something was attacking or part of the ship had collapsed," Hajime grumps. "You don't know until you try."

He looks down at those pieces and that robotic rat skeleton. "You can't rebuild the whole thing."

[aimedhigh]

His heart fairly leaps in his chest when he sees her -- it always has, regardless of whatever else is going on, she is his little charmer, best of wives and women. All of that quickly turns into something more along the lines of shock, because logically, if he's here after dying, that would mean the same thing for Eliza. Granted, she is younger than the one he's just left, but he's not really thinking about that at this precise moment.

"Eliza! What -- how did you get here? You're alright? We must move quickly; I'm not certain what's going on except I've heard it is not wise to linger." The words fairly trip over themselves on their way out of his mouth, but he can be excused for that. Eliza is likely used to it, though it may take her some time to get used to an older and grayer husband who is moving suspiciously carefully as they walk, just as though he's been shot or hurt in some way he hasn't bothered to speak of yet.

[aimedhigh]

"Much bigger than a family, yes, but --surprisingly like one, in its own way." One could certainly describe himself and Jefferson as warring siblings, in any case, and Lord knows Washington had tried in his way to be a surrogate father.

"It would, at least, be nice to know if my efforts lasted." He has a feeling they didn't, with Jefferson in power and Burr in the vice-presidency -- though he can't imagine what went on after his death. "Well. Perhaps I'll find out in this place," he continues, following along with Cassandra.

[volving]

"What... nation?" Cass asks, curiously. She doesn't know all the countries, but if she's heard of his, she can let him know if it still exists.

She can understand wanting to know that what you did made a difference.

[aimedhigh]

"The United States of America," he replies, with some pride. "I cannot think it no longer exists --perhaps it may not, in this place; but in my world..." He makes a brief face at his phrasing. It's a little odd to speak of things so, but Cass had mentioned it earlier.

"In my world, at least; I think it would be highly improbable for us to be conquered. No one would have it, we fought hard enough the first time."

[volving]

Well, in that case, Cass has some good news for him, and she is very pleased to be able to tell him.

"That is where... I'm from," she says proudly. "I... don't think it's... here. But I'm... from America."

[aimedhigh]

"Are you?" He's grinning, a slightly welcome respite from the earlier confusion--though it's still rather apparent.

"Where are you from? I lived in New York City. Tell me everything, as much as you wish, I would dearly love to hear it." And, perhaps, to get more details about his fledgling nation that he worked so hard to help build.

"But I am getting ahead of myself," he amends, with a sheepish grin. "How long has it been since the Revolution, for you? I am only supposing that if we might come from different worlds we may come from different times, as well; and I have met very few women that are as formidable as you, my dear."

[volving]

She is more than willing to provide a welcome respite or distraction from the confusion - it can certainly be overwhelming, she knows all too well.

"I live... in Gotham? It's in New... Jersey." That she can answer. Unfortunately, that's about the only question she can answer with any certainty.

She makes a face. "Um... it has been... a long time," she settles on. "I'm sorry, I... don't know... much of history."

[aimedhigh]

It is, and he'll probably take a moment to freak out about it in private: the knowledge that he's likely never going to see his family again is setting in, and their current whereabouts are not helping.

"Ah, New Jersey. I was .....very recently there, before I arrived here." He doesn't have the best memories of Jersey in general, really, considering all the time spent there during the revolution. "It's alright," he says again, hoping to reassure her. "I am content, for now, in the fact that our republic will survive for a long time yet, at least from where I am standing."

[volving]

It's a kind gesture, his attempt to reassure her, and she appreciates it. They finally clear the edge of the evacuation zone, and Cass steers them to a recreation area (that is, for obvious reasons, deserted) so that Alexander can sit.

"I want to... learn," she admits as they reach the seats. "But... it's slow. Hard. Words are..." she trails off and gestures helplessly. Words, man. They certainly don't come to her as easily as they do to him.

[aimedhigh]

He does sit, though he is very careful as he settles himself down. It's a relief, though it was quite the surprise when he got here and found that he could move again.

"Well, if we remain in contact I might at least help you learn a little of the revolution," he offers, slightly tentative. It's rare that he has the patience to teach anyone; but he's at least a little older and wiser now, prone to at least thinking over things a little before he jumps headlong into them. "I was there, it would be a first person perspective."

[howluckyweare]

Eliza reaches for his hand, grasps it like his presence is the only thing convincing her any of this is real. She may not have all the reasons he does to question her presence here, but she has yet to receive a satisfactory answer to how or why she's here, and it is hard not to look at it all as some strange dream.

"I'm alright," she reassures him with a sharp nod and a quick smile. "I'm... confused, but I'm not hurt. Are you...?"

She searches his face for a moment, taking in the unfamiliar lines etched there, his faded hair, an unaccountable sadness in his eyes she's never seen before. Her smile slips into a concerned frown... but as he said, there's no time to linger. She'll have to ask her questions later.

"Let's go. Where is safe, here?"

[volving]

Judging by the brilliant smile she graces him with, the offer is greatly appreciated. Cass loves to learn, and there's so much out there she hasn't had a chance to learn yet. Unfortunately a lot of learning seems to be very focused on reading things, and... well, that's right out, of course.

"I would... like that," she says, a little shyly.

[failgoyle]

Jules is also used to danger, albeit in a way that has made sure that he never wants to come across it again ever as long as he lives. "Okay, how can I put this...radiation is really dangerous and makes people grow extra limbs or glow in the dark or flat out die, and you're just a kid and I'm just incompetent, and there has got to be a better choice of people to go in there and fix the thing. Whatever the thing is."

There's a kind of thud from right behind him; he's standing a little too close to a wall and his tail, which should be perfectly invisible right now, is lashing in agitation. He's just going to roll with the noise. "Okay, see, and whatever that was, that probably wasn't any good either. So we should go. And not die. Not dying's my favorite."

[aimedhigh]

"I'm as alright as I may be," he replies, holding onto her hand like its a lifeline. It's not exactly an answer, but he will explain it all later when they're somewhere safer. "Just--" A beat, and he grips her hand harder for a moment. "Tell me you were alright, at home. The children, too?" He couldn't bear it if their children were left without both parents, he knows better than most what that is like.

There is concern written all across his face, for both her and the children; but it is tempered with disbelief and joy. He never thought he would see her again; at least not for a very long time. "It's not far, I know a place." He is intent on taking her to the place Cassandra showed him, with seats for them both to sit and try and make sense of all this. "Come, this way." He takes her arm and turns, perhaps resting a bit more of his weight on her than he properly should.

[aimedhigh]

Luckily, she's run into a walking encyclopedia and polymath. His patience may be limited, but learning new things is one of his favorite hobbies. "Oh, excellent," he replies, gracing her with a smile. "I'll be sure to keep it in mind, once all this has settled."

[volving]

His patience may be short, but he seems like the sort of person to attack a problem from as many angles as possible, even when that "problem" is "trying to teach Cass", which is something Barbara - for all her intelligence and skill - always failed at.

He has a kind smile, and that makes Cass more confident in her initial opinion of him, that he's a good (if confused and new) person. That's always a relief, though she very rarely pegs people incorrectly.

She tilts her head a little, taking in his tone, expression, body language as he responds. "You... like learning."

[aimedhigh]

He certainly is, though sometimes it takes a while for him to be willing to compromise on certain subjects. That likely won't happen should he teach Cass, she somewhat reminds him of his children. Granted, she's likely near the same age as some of them, and that brings out a bit more of his fatherly side. He does have one, though he doesn't often show it in public. (He has gotten better at it in recent years, staying closer to home and all.)

"I do," he nods, still smiling. "Perhaps that's an understatement; learning as much as I could got me ...a way out of a less than pleasant childhood. It got me everything I wanted and more." A wonderful wife, a good position in the government, not to mention his law practice; and most importantly, a ticket to America in the first place.

[willyousee]

"I would rather assist you than remain behind, my lady," Alcuin says, remaining a respectful half step behind her. "You shall not have to face this alone, whatever it may be."

[galvanizer]

She can't help but pull a face at the title, sighing in a long-suffering way to bring some light to the situation.

"You make me sound like some powdered noblewoman when you call me that," she comments in a deadpan voice, fingers dancing along the memory cube and making it twirl mid-air.

[willyousee]

He hides a smile, giving her an innocent look. "I could omit it should you like. But then what should I call you?"

[galvanizer]

"Anything but 'oxman'. Or 'buckles'," she answers with a roll of the eyes, though there's a smile playing over her lips. "Or, I don't know, you could try using my name, strange as the thought might seem. I'll even settle for 'Adaar' if mine's too long for you."

[willyousee]

"Forgive me, I simply wished to give no offense." He bows gracefully, contrite but unafraid. "I fear I am unfamiliar with your customs... Asaraanda, correct?"

[galvanizer]

"More or less. You can even just point and say 'you' if that's easier."

She's not even joking on that part.

Returning her fiery eyes to the cube, she mutters, "Let's get started," and activates it, gritting her teeth when it lets out a burst of light to envelop them in the memory it contains.

When the light fades, they're standing at the rocky shoreline of the Free Marches on a cloudy afternoon. The seagulls are flying overhead and the weather is almost stifling in its heat. On seeing the two horned figures under the shade of trees a short distance away, Asaraanda's face darkens and she crosses her arms.

The larger of the two is a full-grown male Qunari, heavily scarred around his lips and eyes, the bindings of a Saarebas long gone but still leaving their mark all over his powerful body. The smaller is Asa herself, barely a teen yet easily taller than Alcuin is presently, hot, sweaty and scowling up at her teacher.

"Concentrate," the man rumbles, while his disheveled pupil grunts and holds up her hands, face screwing up as she tries to do as he orders. In the distance, there's the rumble of an approaching storm, and violet-tinted light dances along her fingers almost in answer... before going out in a pathetic 'bzzt'.

"It's too hot," she complains, shaking her hands to rid them of the lingering static and swiping one over her face to wipe away the sweat. "Can't we-"

"No, you must concentrate and do it now."

The adult Asa shifts on her feet and she glances at Alcuin. "Look away, Alcuin. You don't want to see this."