Test Drive

[snowblindmods]

TEST DRIVE MEME

If you'd like to apply to Snowblind and would like to test the waters first or get a sample set up for your application, this meme is for you! We've even provided some prompts for you to use if you want (but feel free to make up your own). Here's how it works. ✭ Reply to this entry with a character you're considering apping into the game. You can include the name of your character and the fandom in your subject line. ✭ Comment around to others on the meme, whether you're in the game already or not. ✭ Now you have a sample ready for your application! ✭ So go reserve and apply when reservations and applications are open. ✭ Seriously, do it. Network Prompts ONE: YOUR COOPERATION IS APPRECIATED When you wake up, you find that a new application has been downloaded to your tablet. It's titled "SURVEY" and is exactly what it claims to be--although there's no explanation to why it's appeared or what it is for other than the note that claims the survey is not opt-out and that your cooperation is appreciated. And more troubling, the questions become more sinister the farther in you answer. Such questions as, "on a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your stay?" and "have your needs been met in a timely manner?" become more akin to, "if you had to chose between the two, would you eat your hands or your feet to stave off the hunger?" and "are you sure you are not the last one still alive?" Perhaps someone on the Network would like to discuss what this could mean--and if there are any consequences behind finishing or refusing to take the survey. TWO: NOT SO HELPFUL AVATARS Every tablet has the option for a customizable avatar that will talk to you and keep your tablet in order. Maybe you set it up, maybe you never checked it. Either way, it keeps popping up unrequested and being sort of... Odd. Flickering, talking in strange, mechanical voices, offering advice that's unhelpful at best and actively harmful at worst... Maybe it's even telling the entire network some things you've been doing you'd rather everyone didn't know. Time to call tech support. Unfortunately, the best option is other people on the network. Good luck. Action Prompts THREE: SPIDERS IN THE WALLS Somehow you or your travel companion injured themselves. A quick call to the admin fixed this, but now you can't help but be gripped with the burning curiosity of where the helpful spiders she deployed have gone. You saw them scramble toward the vents, but by the time paralysis wore off they'd completely disappeared. Only now you can't stop thinking about them. Where do they go to? How can they be trapped or followed? You swear you hear little mechanical pattering inside the walls. Maybe you can find some sort of tool to help you break into a vent around the house. Or maybe your companion can convince you to rest before you hurt yourself. FOUR: SCHOOL DAYS You've ended up in the elementary school. Maybe you're grabbing more food, maybe you're exploring. Either way, this place is creepy; the atmosphere is the sort that gets the hair on the back of your neck rising (potentially metaphorically, if you don't have hair or a neck). It's not long before strange things start happening. The sound of running and screaming children, doors slamming in far off or nearby hallways, pianos playing... What's going on? It's hard to tell what's really happening from what isn't happening. Maybe someone who's also exploring has some idea.

Comments

[devoutish]

I haven't.

[That's definitely something that he would have remembered.]

More than likely, he's safe at home, like everyone else we know.

[empireofrats]

[Despite the reassurance, Emily frowns. Perhaps there is a lingering thought of, even in the company of others, being truly alone here.] That's okay. [Even if it isn't.] It's better...

[Her dark eyes lower to Alfie's feet, in a space just behind. Confusion, then shock. She takes half a step back into one of the remaining desks, reaching up to point.] Something--

Something is leaking! [About the peculiar black puddle oozing along the floor around the crevices of the cabinet and desks.] Watch out!

[devoutish]

Right - up on the desk.

[He gestures to one that's not currently being used as part of the barricade, and hops up on another himself. Then he digs into his pack, pulls out a couple sheets of paper towel, and crumples them into a ball - which he tosses at the puddle, to see if it affects the paper in any way. So many things here are just illusions. Maybe this is, too.]

[empireofrats]

[Obediently, Emily turns and climbs onto the desk as the pitch spreads. She doesn't say a word. It swallows up the paper towels hungrily, devours it, then continues on without slowing. Wraps around the feet of the desks, but thankfully doesn't climb it. Liquifies the floor below them until they are floating in a sea of darkness.

It bubbles out of the edge of the ceiling and down the walls.

Emily gives Alfie a look, but before she can speak, the blackness splits near the jumble of desks at the door, widens into a little footprint; in front of it, another; in front of that one, another; and so on. Walking footsteps, strolling, appearing before being consumed against. At the board on the opposite side of the room, they pause, then are displaced by the dark liquid.

As the mess dissipates, leaving behind gruesome stains, something is left on the board: l e a v e

Crumpled on the floor is Alfie's paper towels.]

[devoutish]

[Well, then.

As soon as the sludge looked like it was going to reach the desks, Alfie had turned towards Emily, ready to grab her up if her desk had started to be engulfed. Luckily, that doesn't happen, but he stays tense and alert, prepared to move.

And when it dries up, he does. He jumps down, holding out a hand to Emily to help her do the same, if she needs it.]

There is a convenience store with food, a little more than a day's walk from here. Try there instead, yeah?

[He gives the chalkboard another glance.]

I suggest we hurry.

[empireofrats]

[Her mary janed feet touch the floor after accepting Alfie's generous hand. It takes her a second or two to realize she's not going to be suddenly swallowed whole.] You said you never heard any complaints.

[Likewise, a glance at the board. A nod of agreement, however. About hurrying.]

Do you think we made them angry?

[devoutish]

[He heads for the door fast, tugging Emily along, and carrying the cane instead of walking with it.]

There's strange things that happen sometimes. Blood coming out of the pianos. I've never heard of anything like that before.

[He's still not completely convinced it wasn't an illusion, but he doesn't want to risk it by sticking around to test the situation. Not today, and not with a kid in tow.]

If we made 'em angry, we're leaving now, aren't we?

[He raises his voice to address anything that might still be hanging around.]

Many apologies for the intrusion. Yeah.

[empireofrats]

Blood? [As she's dragged after, feet doing double just to keep up with Alfie's adult strides. Blood coming out of pianos. She's never heard of anything like that either.]

Maybe they're not angry. [She's trying to be helpful. Reassuring.] Aren't they little ghosts? Maybe they're just scared.

Maybe something else is here, and they're scared of it, too.

[devoutish]

Yeah. House has been looking into it.

[He looks both ways down the hall before turning to head for the entrance.]

If there's something else, I think we just saw it. Unless you think they're trying to help us by scaring us off, eh? Helpful little ghosts.

[empireofrats]

House? [More of a confused curiosity than a question in need of an answer. Alfie at least gets a half of a lopsided smile out of her as she scurries after him.] Yes.

If they can't talk, maybe scaring us is the only way. They did a good job.

I was only a little bit scared.

[devoutish]

You've got a good head on you.

[He gives the top of her head a very light tap.]

Kept calm, yeah; I was impressed.

[empireofrats]

[It's the greatest gift he could give her. She did good. It isn't a geography, or an arithmetic, or an etiquette, or a politics well done. She was a whole lot scared, but didn't panic (sort of) like she had been taught.] That wasn't so bad. Corvo showed me how to not be scared because being scared causes mistakes.

After--well, one time, I was held hostage at the Golden Cat. I tried a bunch of times to escape. I wasn't scared. [She was a little.] And then I was held hostage again, and a man Corvo thought was a friend tried to jump off the Tower with me, but Corvo saved me.

[So basically she is saying she has seen some shit.]

[devoutish]

[This girl and Kesara are either going to be an incredible team-up or horrifying enemies, Alfie thinks.]

So you are protected and saved by this Royal Protector. Are you royalty yourself?

[empireofrats]

[Best. Team. Ever.]

I'm an empress.

[devoutish]

Are you? Your Highness.

[He does a little bow. It's not mocking or disrespectful, but it's not exactly reverent, either. This really changes nothing for him.]

[empireofrats]

[It's not mocking or disrespectful; she raises a hand to cover a giggle.] It's Your Majesty. [Damn it all that she's had to learn this stuff!]

But that's okay. I don't like being Empress. I want to be a sailor instead. Or a spy. Or a knight.

[devoutish]

You'll have competition for the spying, here. You meet Kesara yet?

[empireofrats]

No. [But she's curious!] Are they a spy? Can they teach me to be a spy, too?

[devoutish]

I dunno. I do get the feeling she has a very busy schedule.

[empireofrats]

That sounds exciting. [AND SHE'S A GIRL. YES.] You'll introduce me, right, Mister Alfie? I think I am going to become a spy.

[devoutish]

Yeah? Not a knight, to have something all to yourself?

[empireofrats]

[Okay, he has a point...] A knight, but not a boring knight. An interesting knight. [A Dark Knight.

Batman. She'll be Batman.] But I need armor.

[devoutish]

There's sheets of metal outside some of the houses.

[And now there's the front door ahead of them. He speeds up, eager to leave the school behind.]

[empireofrats]

I could make some armor then. [As if little Emily really could have the tools and wherewithal to actually make legitimate knightly armor with sheets of discarded metal. Truly.] Wait!

[At the door, she cautiously turns to glance back inside the school. It's nowhere near as terrifying as it had been with the doors slamming and the black goop rolling over the floor. (Or that strange apparition.) She seems almost sad to leave it in a way.]

Do you think the little ghosts will be okay?

[devoutish]

They're dead, yeah?

[He opens the door to the outside, holding it open for her.]

They can't die again. They'll be all right.