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]

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.]

[devoutish]

[Hey, if it gets them in out of the snow quicker. He strides along at a faster, longer, more natural pace now, but doesn't break out of a walk.]

Forget knight, yeah - you could be an Olympic sprinter with a run like that.

[empireofrats]

[On the steps, she bellows out a laugh of fog.

She wins, but understands it's only because Alfie is going to be springing away. Royce could probably give her a run (literally) for her money.]

What's an Olympic sprinter?

[devoutish]

Men who can run faster than you can imagine.

[Reaching the steps to the house, he opens the door, this time going in first himself.]

[empireofrats]

Wow. [She makes no complaint about him going in first, but she does zip in after him.

Huffing, she shakes off the chill by rubbing her arms and twisting. It isn't warm and toasty, but it is ten times better than outside.] Why do the doors lock at night?

Because of the monsters?

[devoutish]

Might be part of it.

[He shrugs out of his coat the way he always does when he gets inside, but he holds it out to her, offering.]

Stay away from the doors and windows when you can, yeah? They don't often show up, but I've seen it happen.

[And he'd died. He leaves that out.]

[empireofrats]

[Good. She would probably be a bit scared.

Reluctantly, she takes the offered coat and tugs it over her shoulders. It swallows her, of course, but it's nice. The gesture reminds her of Corvo, and that is a comforting thought.] Okay.

Do... you know if any food is here? I'm kind of hungry.

[devoutish]

There's never real food in houses. I've found gum, mints - candy.

[But he has a few days' rations left in his bag, and he's going to be able to stock up tomorrow, so--]

Here.

[He hands her an apple and a bag of plain, salted potato chips.]

It's not much. The better food's in the school.

[empireofrats]

I like candy. [Says every ten year old ever.

She is thankful for the snacks, and she accepts them with a polite smile.] Thank you.

What's this? [About the bag of potato chips. Potato crisps she knows, but the packaging throws her off.]

[devoutish]

Potato crisps, American-style. They've got bags with different flavors, but I'm not fond of 'em. They taste unnatural. Those are all right.

[Not like the ones at home, but what here is?]

[empireofrats]

[She grins and opens the bag, inhaling the scent of terribly processed potato chips. Strange, but... delicious.] The bag is funny. It's very bright and...

[Feeling the material--it's weird. Anyway! She tries one, makes a bit of a face. Not bad... Different.]

I hope I find some with other flavors.

[devoutish]

I tried-- what was it. Onion with sour cream. Awful stuff.

[He pulls out a bag for himself.]

[empireofrats]

[The face she makes is exaggeratedly hilarious.] Onions?

But sour cream goes on onion bread sometimes, not crisps. [Ah well.

Americans.]

[devoutish]

Yeah, but they don't taste like either, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[he heads towards the door to the hallway, talking over his shoulder.]

I'm gonna look through the house. Make sure it's all safe.

[empireofrats]

Okay. [To be honest, she wants to go with him, but she also would like to eat the potato chips and apple in a short time of peace and quiet.]

Um, Mister Alfie--

[devoutish]

Mm?

[He stops, turning around fully to face her.]

Yeah.

[empireofrats]

[For a moment, she fiddles with the top of the bag of chips, then looks up like she should.] Thank you for helping me.

You're a nice man even if you do some things that aren't legal.

[devoutish]

[He can be very, very, very not nice, and he knows it. But a little girl doesn't need to know about that.]

Thank you, Emily.

Come in the other room while I search, yeah?

[Away from the front door; away from where anomalies try to break in.]

[empireofrats]

[That's all right. So can Corvo.

So can she.] Okay. [The door doesn't bother her (not yet), but only because it doesn't cross her mind that unsightly things could try to bust through it on a whim.

She'll gladly go with Alfie, however, since she enjoys the company, chips and apple in tow.] If we find Corvo, he could help us escape.

He got out of prison.

[devoutish]

[It's not a large house, but Alfie is pretty tired; he decides to do a quick look-through tonight to make sure there aren't any nasty surprises waiting for them, and save the actual supply search for the morning.

In every new room they enter, he takes point, making sure the kid is at least partially behind him.]

The man sounds like he's got some skills. If he shows up here, you'll let us know, yeah?

[empireofrats]

[Of course, Emily is less concerned about looking when Alfie is doing it and more concerned about trying to eat what she had been given. When Alfie looks back, she'll be there, paying most attention to the chips or apple, though occasionally, she'll be peeping around into the rooms they visit.] Yes.

He is very strong. [She glances at Alfie, then away.] The Outsider said he gave Corvo a gift, too, but he won't tell me what kind of gift it was.

So I guess Corvo is strong and has a special gift.