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

[senpaidol]

"Well, I mean, my problems are pretty tame compared to..."

The memory re-opens at Tatsuhime Shrine, Rise sitting next to Souji on the steps.

Rise sighs. "Oh boy. That's right. This was one of those conversations. Um...can we go back to my Shadow? It's less embarrassing."

The past Rise explains that the fan was worried about her, and had been really looking forward to a movie part she'd been in discussions for. She thanks Souji, saying she'd been scared to read it alone.

"Having second thoughts?" the past Souji asks.

Past Rise shakes her head while present Rise nods sadly. "I have no regrets," the past one says, "Anyway, Risette doesn't exist anymore. It's not just this girl. I disappointed a lot of other people..."

The memory talks about the company for another few seconds before trailing off. "And here you'll see my patented 'derail my own train of thought' technique," Rise comments, a little bitterly. She's having secondhand embarrassment for herself.

"Maybe I'll just inherit the tofu shop!" her past self chirps with forced brightness. "I'm the shop's main attraction now. I bet I could make it thrive!"

Present Rise brings a hand up to her face. "Konishi-kun, if you'd like to continue having any respect for me, feel free to cover your ears."

Her past self, in spite of her present wishes, stands up and turns around to face Souji directly. "...Senpai. Maybe we should really just do it...y'know, what I was saying a while back. You could marry me, and the two of us could work at the tofu shop together. Doesn't that sound fun? H-how about it? Haha...ha..."

"If you're serious," the past Souji delivers with impressive deliberation.

Rise - the present one, has buried her face in her hands out of raw mortification as the conversation winds down with past-Rise stating her appreciation for Souji's calmness and being there for her before getting walked home.

She's still double-facepalming at herself as the memory winds down and they're back in the Mind Palace, a new glass cube floating in the same place.

[senpaidol]

"Personally, I think you're a lot cooler for being honest and not caring what other people think, Keiji-kun," she says with a heartfelt smile. She places her hands behind her back and looks up to him in a deliberately admiring fashion. Come on, heartfelt friendship scene...

[leftbehindagain]

"...Well, I can't see you asking that of Kanji, that's for sure." And he's still somewhat baffled by what Naoto and Rise are seeing in Souji-san, but that's a matter for another time. Souji obviously cares deeply about them both - about everyone he makes a connection with. That's enough to give him the benefit of the doubt where others here aren't.

"And it's not really a surprise that you were waffling on the comeback so hard. I mean, when's the last time you got to be a normal teenager? Did you ever? That stupid diet soda commercial's been around for a while."

Yes, just what every middle-aged woman needs, a teenager pitching their diet drink.

"The idol stuff's part of who you are - a bigger one than you wanted to admit to right after your dungeon. So it took you a while to get your head around that. I'm no one to talk about doing things fast."

[senpaidol]

Rise sighs. "Yeah uh, I'm assuming that went differently in your world," she says, "unless Kanji stopped being my giant little brother at some point."

She could have mentioned the Naoto fixation, but that would just compound the awkwardness of her intense thirst for Souji on display here. Also apparently he's dating Yukiko-senpai, and hey, good going Kanji.

"But you're right that that's what I wanted. I had like, elaborate fantasy scenarios about Normal Girl Next Door Rise Kujikawa," she admits. "I was kinda forcing them on Souji-senpai just then, if you didn't notice."

"I was confused for a long time about what I meant when I realized there wasn't a 'real me'. That's what happened when I tried to make one up."

She turns to the new glass cube. It still has the same severe glasses-wearing face featured prominently, but the light is different. She recognizes it immediately.

"Let's uh...let's do one of yours now, okay?" she says.

[leftbehindagain]

"Kanji's everyone's giant little brother, are you kidding?" Well, all right, except for his girlfriend. And the people here he's older than, but mostly he's their giant big brother.

Naoki nods at her explanation, and sighs when Rise suggests moving on to one of his - but fair's fair, and they'll have to sometime. "Well, in that case, let's get the more painful one out of the way first."

Perhaps surprisingly, he doesn't move to the cube with the dungeon, instead activating the one with the fridge. It's a normal fridge in a decently-appointed kitchen; the light from the window suggests it's late afternoon. In the memory, Naoki walks in (in his summer uniform), opens the fridge, and takes out a box of cream puffs...

...And looks absolutely crestfallen when he sees that they've gone bad. He tosses the entire box in the trash, and the memory stops. Naoki just looks at the cube for a long few moments, taking the kind of deep, measured breaths that suggest he's doing his damnedest not to cry.

"You probably don't have context for any of that, do you. I'd be surprised if anyone other than Souji-san or maybe Yua did."

38

[purseownerisme]

"It's ok," the familiar and yet not her own young woman answers quietly. Yua's gotten used to seeing others from not her timeline showing up and honestly hasn't looked since. "These kinds of places have a bad habit of making sure everyone sees all the matters you rather not want to share." she tries to smile but it simply looks awkward.

Yua's simply grateful that none of the cubes decided to play anything for Rise...she didn't need to see how ugly some things could be.

[senpaidol]

"Hey, that's our life lately, right Yua-senpai?"

Rise is weirdly okay with this very different girl who resembled her rescuer and leader. First of all, Souji made a pretty rad girl even as a guy, in her opinion, and second of all Yua's got the same...feeling of level support. Not as underreactive as her Senpai, but still good at being a Senpai. Rise gives the grey-haired girl a smile of encouragement.

"So...," she says, looking at the various cubes. "I guess you saw my Shadow, right? And fought Izanami? Unless she and Izanagi swapped because you're a girl, or something..."

[senpaidol]

"Yeah, I...have no idea what that's supposed to mean," she admits. She still wants to give Naoki a hug on instinct, but that would be out of line at this point.

Instead she looks at him, carefully and openly, trying to mimic the 'I am listening very hard' expression that's the real reason she's so fond of Souji. "But I'd like to, if you want to tell me."

[leftbehindagain]

Even if he doesn't want to, he's pretty sure doing so is a prerequisite to moving on with this crap. (It was so much easier with Kanji; all he had to do was say he'd had to throw the damn things out.

But then, Kanji grew up across the street and saw countless fights over who ate whose snacks in action.)

"I would've bought those... a good three weeks before that," he finally says. "And usually, when I bought cream puffs, they were gone inside of a week, and not because I got to eat any of them. 'Oh, they were about to go bad, little brother, I was just making sure they didn't get wasted, I have to go to work now, bye!'" In voice, at least, he does a terrible impression of his sister, not that Rise's likely to know that.

"That's when it really sank in that Sis wasn't coming home. Up to that point it just... I don't know, it felt like she'd just moved to Kyoto again, like she was giving things with her boyfriend another try and she'd be back any day."

[senpaidol]

Sometimes - especially seeing Kanji and Naoki as they are here - Rise regrets missing so much growing up in Inaba's Shopping District. It's only an occasional what-if thought, but it's there.

She resists the urge for a hug, but she does quietly offer a hand. She's physically affectionate, sorry.

"I can't imagine what that's like. I wasn't even around when it happened in my world. Probably not in yours either. But...it's what I meant when I said my problems are kind of silly. Losing someone like that...it shouldn't happen to anyone, and I'm sorry."

[leftbehindagain]

Kanji's really the only one who can get away with hugging Naoki on a regular basis. He does take Rise's hand for a moment, though; not like he can't appreciate what she's trying to do.

"It's not your fault. Like you said, you weren't even there. And just because no one died to set off the stuff you were dealing with doesn't mean it wasn't just as hard to deal with. I remember how burnt out you were when you first got to town - really, that had to be half of why everyone else assumed your grandmother was the only one there."

Frankly, it was a miracle Rise managed to get up and walk them through dealing with Ted's poorly-timed existential crisis.

[senpaidol]

She quirks a smile as she lets go of his hand. "You really did notice in your world, huh? Thanks."

"You know, I never met your sister. I didn't know she had a boyfriend in Kyoto," she says. She's pretty sure Yosuke didn't either, but if it was an on-and-off thing, there's no reason to mention it to him. Ever.

37

[bluejade]

Jade had wished to be an Infiltrator this Jaunt. Raksura are not particularly technologically advanced, though Jade had seen advanced technology on some of her travels. The closest point of reference was the flying ship they had taken back with their mountain-tree's seed.

So she was watching the veterans and anyone who seemed to know what they were doing. And this one seemed to be clearing people out. The tunnels were narrow enough that she was in her wingless form, and she could still shout loud enough to be heard, even if she didn't have the effect she'd have on Indigo Cloud.

Jade turned a corner and hissed, the spines on her head flaring with displeasure, and the claws on her feet dug into the floor as best they could. "The way is rough up ahead. I might be able to climb over the obstruction and then we can boost people over."

This will go over well

[bluejade]

Jade didn't know what this person was screaming about as he ran into her, but she tried to stop him to check. "Wait. Hold on. Are you injured?" Because anyone making that sound should be hurt; and either way, she would like him to stop. At least it wouldn't draw down more trouble.

[leftbehindagain]

"It's not that I don't pay attention, it's that no one was really meeting me halfway. It was bad enough with the case, I can only imagine what a pain in the ass I was for everyone else." Well, except Adachi-san, but his timeline's just all kinds of messed up.

Naoki nods. "Moved in with him over winter break of her second year. She was back two weeks later. Not because he was a jerk - she said every job she found that sounded halfway interesting wanted someone who'd at least finished high school, and she didn't want to just be a lump in his apartment. So she came back, and... well, Junes could pay her more than Dad could. She always said it'd be for the good of our store eventually, but she never explained."

Hanamura probably knows about the boyfriend, at least on some level. The one here does, anyway, since Naoki mentioned it in one of their (admittedly few) conversations, and in general it was the talk of the town for a while. As much as Hanamura prides himself for knowing what the housewife network is on about at any given moment, he can't have missed it.

Jade | Book of the Raksura

[bluejade]

[37 -- investigator]
Jade didn't know what was going on, or what anything meant, which meant she was wandering around until someone would point her towards a task, or steer her away from this radiation leak.

A new alarm started up as she turned a corner. "What now?" Jade asked, giving the nearest panel an experimental tap. She probably shouldn't be touching whatever she was touching, but she was hoping someone would give her a hint.

[38]
Jade had taken one of the cubes in her hands, her attention fixed on it. The contents were a bit obscured by her body, and her attention was on it. Hearing someone approach, she looked up, and hissed. "What do you want?"

I COULD HAVE SWORN I REPLIED TO THIS ALREADY GAH

[virioncomplex]

"Neither of those things are happening so you're fuck out of usefulness at the moment." Faed grumps right back.

"I'm not trying to, just what's important. If I didn't build it, I don't trust it."

[virioncomplex]

Faed rolls his eyes at the girl's continued perseverance. He's fairly certain that the moment any of these people catch wind of what sort of species he'd the honor of being hatched into they'll either toss him in the brig or kick him out an airlock. Not that he's done all that well to be personable to begin with.

"Affirmative. He made me out of salvage. And death."

[shiroganeheir]

And there goes Naoto's blush again, a tiny smile crossing her face. "I am full of surprises, I have been told. However, I would like that, Rise-san. And, if you ever find yourself in need of a detective's skills, you can always call on me for that."

It's strange, in a way, meeting Rise again, especially in what feels like a much more positive environment. Without realizing it, Naoto projects a memory, sitting in a club, drinking a soda, while Rise and the rest of the girls walk over to her.

And in all of this, the detective's meter ticks up to about 3/4 full.

[bypartisan]

"Indeed. If he bothers with telling us and doesn't just make one of those mental music vids he did last time."

Not exactly his kind of music was speed metal.

[senpaidol]

That's...certainly an interesting image. Really specific and low-key, but she's happy she's figuring into Shirogane's thoughts already. That sight is enough to max out her meter, blushing at the thought of hanging out with such a cool professional.

"Ah, Naoto-kun, I'm sure something dramatic enough to need that will happen at some point."

She knows it's technically cheating, or at least discouraged, but she reaches out a hand to let Naoto take it.

"I'll rely on you, okay?"

[senpaidol]

"Well...I'm glad for the chance to talk to you now," she says. "I'll have to thank Kanji for it."

She nods at the story. "From the sound of it, your sister was really dedicated. I spent middle school and high school working, but I got a really lucky break. She was going from the ground up to help people she cared about."

[leftbehindagain]

"When she managed to stop running from her own problems, she was, yeah. She did that a lot, but she also dodged the usual family problem of not dealing - my grandfather's still on the cash register and he's been dead half my life."

And every year, his parents argue about it because his mom punches the wrong number by mistake and his dad has a minor heart attack when the sales totals show a sale from beyond the grave. It's his own fault in the first place.

"...Anyway. I think you're up again."

[pseudologist]

Though his body's no more than a psychic construct here, just as the cold itself is, Varric shivers and hunches his shoulders against the wind that tugs at his collar. His expression tightens a little as he watches the memory-Asa limping towards the long-dead fire; though he knows already how this particular excursion ended, it's all too easy to recall the concern that turned slowly towards despair as the hours of the storm raged on with no sign of her.

"Curly and the Seeker kept everyone moving," he replies. "We lost a few people to the storms, but they kept the red templar stragglers off our backs. I might have to change that part in the book - flight through a winter storm in the Frostbacks might be harrowing, but it's not an exciting read."

[forcechanic]

Jaina looks at the creature, thinking about how Jacen would be fascinated. He'd probably be able to work out a lot more than she could. But she can still feel there's something more to him than he would seem.

But she didn't have time to miss Jacen. They needed her in a situation like this. "I'm Jaina Solo. My dad started showing me how to work on systems like this before I can even really remember."