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

[empireofrats]

But being dead is kind of scary. [They'll be all right. She turns to look at Alfie.] Do you think my mother is like a little ghost, too? [A glance back. They'll be all right. Because her mom is probably all right, and if she is all right, little ghosts will be all right.

But just in case, she pulls the red, white-ribboned band from her head and puts it on the floor. Just in case. Kind of like a peace offering.

Satisfied, she heads after Alfie and out the door.] We'll come back and check on them, won't we?

[devoutish]

It's one of the only places to get food.

[So... probably.

Alfie lets out an internal sigh of relief when they're out safely, and starts heading northeast - towards the convenience store. He keeps a steady pace, but makes sure not to go too fast for Emily's shorter legs.]

Has your mother died?

[empireofrats]

Okay. [Admittedly, she's pretty cold, but she doesn't complain. Holding her elbows with her hands, she keeps her arms tucked close and trudges through as fast as she can. Mostly, she steps in Alfie's footprints since it's easier--except for how far apart they are.] Yes.

A man who could disappear killed her, then took me away. He said he was sorry, he was doing a job for someone else. He gave me to the nasty Pendletons, and they kept me in the Golden Cat, and I hated it.

Everyone tried to say Corvo killed her, so they arrested him.

But he didn't. I was there when it happened.

WHOOPS sorry apparently I misread that earlier comment

[devoutish]

Yeah, you said.

[He glances back at her - then, seeing her struggling a little, adjusts by making shorter strides.]

HAHA it's fine!!!

[empireofrats]

[It's a bit easier now to keep up. She doesn't get quite as tired. Thnx, Alfie, you pal.] I miss her. [It's honest, at least.]

I thought Corvo talked to her sometimes. But he's talking to the man with the black eyes.

[devoutish]

[This all reminds Alfie of the effects of a particularly bad gang war - though obviously, when royals are involved, the situation surrounding the kidnappings and contract killings is likely to be a bit different.]

Well. Whether she's a ghost or not I couldn't say, but you could always talk to her yourself, couldn't you.

Corvo takes care of you at home, yeah? Who takes care of you here?

[She's a smart and level-headed kid, but she doesn't strike him as one that would do well wandering around completely on her own.]

[empireofrats]

I do. [Talking to her mom, she means. Sometimes. But only in private because she thinks people will make fun of her if she does it in front of them.] He... Sort of. He does now.

Before, he was trying to figure out who had my mother killed, so he left me with the people at the Hound Pits. They said they wanted to help Corvo and protect me because I'm Empress.

But it was a lie. [She sounds less disappointed about it and more just tired. Expected.] They would talk in private together a lot, and I thought that was weird. The maid who took care of me said she didn't feel good about them, too.

They gave Corvo something to make him sleep, then took me away. Being Empress isn't any fun. I don't know why they wanted the throne so badly.

[After a quiet moment of just watching where she puts her feet in Alfie's prints, she answers:] I take care of myself here.

[devoutish]

[Yup. Political machinations.]

And how are you doing with that, then?

[He's assuming she'll put on a brave front and say she's doing better than she maybe actually is, so he looks over his shoulder at her again, watching her face.]

[empireofrats]

[Alfie isn't wrong.] I'm fine with that. I can take care of myself. [But her face tells a different story. She's a bit scared. Worried maybe. She always wanted to learn to fight, to climb, to sail, to adventure.

Everyone else, even Corvo, saw her as simply a small child heir. A small child Empress. Empresses don't learn to fight, they think.

She also looks tired and a little lonely. This place isn't Dunwall, not even the worst of Dunwall, and Alfie isn't Corvo. Royce and Geralt aren't Corvo. She knows no one, and after having everyone out to get her, she isn't exactly sure who to trust.]

I've managed okay so far.

[devoutish]

I know a woman who would like to meet you.

[Not that he's actually asked her, but come on Tifa, don't let him down here.]

She'd be a good knight herself, if she chose to be. I would bet that she could teach you how to throw a punch, and knock out anyone who bothered you.

[empireofrats]

[This gets an smile on her face between the gritted chatter of teeth, and she jerks her head up.] Really? [Training with a man is okay. She did a few small thigs with Corvo.

But training with a lady? Awesome.] What's her name?

[devoutish]

Tifa. She's a tough lady. She'll like you.

And it's easier being with people than being alone here, eh?

[empireofrats]

Tifa. [So she won't forget. If she happens to run into Tifa before then. (She does kinda!)] Yeah.

Do you know why she didn't want to be a knight if she's tough? Is she a soldier?

[devoutish]

She might be something like it. I know she fights. But I don't know very many details about what she does at home.

[empireofrats]

Okay. [Wow, yeah! Tifa FIGHTS! Emily is so amped. Maybe Tifa will teach her how to fight, too, and she'll show silly old Corvo how cool she is when she learns.

Maybe this place isn't quite so bad. It's like a story, she thinks. She has to go on a quest, an adventure. She'll learn how to do all kinds of things, then she'll simply go back home, and she'll show everyone she knows what she's doing.]

What do you do, Mister Alfie? Are you rich? You have a cane. A lot of men where I'm from have canes because they're rich.

[devoutish]

I have a cane because I've got a bad back.

[There's a house up ahead that Alfie knows about, and since it's getting close to lockdown, he turns his course slightly, heading for it.

And as for her question, he decides to just be matter-of-fact about it. He won't get into the nitty-gritty of what he does, but he won't hide it either.]

I work out of a building called the Aerated Bread Company of Camden Town. We bake bread sometimes, but mostly we've got other business - we make and distribute rum, and do bookmaking, and offer protection to businesses that hire us. None of it's strictly legal.

[empireofrats]

Like the Bottle Street Gang. [Pausing, she jumps to detour along with Alfie, still following his footprints. Later, it may look strange to any passers-by. A man's feet plastered in the center by a little girl's.]

Corvo told me about them. They make another version of Sokolov's elixir. Sokolov was our Royal Physician. He made it to help people who were sick with the rat plague. Some people say it doesn't work.

But the gang makes the elixir so they can sell it. It's not legal either.

[devoutish]

Yeah, a gang. So that's what I do - I'm the head of it, and it's been in the hands of my family for a few generations. We own our part of London, do our business, have wars with the other gangs. That sort of thing.

[He gives another glance back.]

Tired yet?

[empireofrats]

It's like that in Dunwall, too. The Bottle Street Gang fights with the Hatters and the Dead Eels. [She looks up from her concentration on getting into his footsteps.

She nods.] A little. Are we stopping at that house? Is it yours?

[devoutish]

I don't have a home here. Most people wander. But we need to stop before the doors lock up for the night, and this one's a good choice.

[It seals up well, has working water (cold water, but still), and has a few rooms with mattresses.]

[empireofrats]

Oh. [Sleeping in random houses. OKAY. Beats sleeping in a place like the Golden Cat, honestly, where there is hardly any sleep because of the smell of flesh and sweat and the sounds of pleasure.] The doors lock at night?

Are you sure we're not in a prison?

[devoutish]

A prison the size of a town, yeah. It might as well be.

But we're not just sitting tight. There's work being done to get out.

[empireofrats]

You're all planning an escape? [Like Corvo! Nice. She can get in on this. Something adventurous, something dangerous. Her jam.] Like following the strange metal spiders.

Do you know who built them? I bet they go back to whoever built them.

[devoutish]

I dunno. I think there's some guesses. But we've been picking up clues to follow - where to do, where to go. There's a tunnel coming along that might lead to something interesting.

[They're almost at the house now; he points.]

This one.

[empireofrats]

I would like to help with the tunnel. [Cause--yeah. Why would she miss out on helping with a tunnel for escape when they could find something interesting? Maybe they'll find a powerful sword. Or maybe they will find a bunch of treasure.]

Have you stayed here before? I'll race you! [She thinks he must have been here considering he knows where it is, he knows it's a good one. She breaks off from his footprints and pile-drives through the snow ahead of him with the galloping gusto of an energetic child. (Nevermind he had specifically told her he had a bad back!)

At the front, she leaps up onto the first few steps and out of the cold snow.]