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: SEE THAT WE CAN SEE It's late and you're settling down for the night when you notice a strange light coming from... outside? Through the heavy snowfall, you can just make out the haze of glowing eyes in the distance. Dozens of them. It's difficult to tell through the window, but they seem to be staring directly at you. Since it's after lockdown, you can't get outside to investigate, but maybe others in town are seeing the eyes too. You'd better take to the Network to see what's going on. TWO: BEHIND THESE HAZEL EYES You can't sleep. You've been trying, trying, trying. But every time you close your eyes, you see the eyes of the prophet etched into the insides of your eyelids. The symbol only seems to get brighter and clearer the longer you keep your eyes shut, the closer you get to drifting off. It chills you awake. Nothing seems to help. Maybe there are others on the Network who are having the same problem. Or, at least, someone who doesn't mind keeping you company through the long hours. Action Prompts THREE: THREE'S A CROWD You and your traveling companion are exploring what looks to be a perfectly normal building when you notice something strange carved into the wall. Is that an eye? Strange indeed, but what's stranger is that new carvings keep appearing, always where you're not looking. Soon, the whole room is full of eye carvings. Is your companion doing this? If not them, then who? FOUR: THE KNIFE'S EDGE Most everyone in town still has eyes that are either glowing or shaped like the prophet's symbol, and your eyes are no different. These are the same eyes that made everyone attack each other a few nights ago. Every time you catch a glimpse of yourself, maybe in the reflection of a window or the video feed on your tablet, you feel a little sick. Unfortunately, your traveling companion's eyes look strange too, and they're the opposite of yours. Both of you are in danger if those murderous urges come back, which makes it difficult to trust each other after what you've been through. It's late at night when a dark thought crosses your mind--you do have a knife. Not that there's any reason to use it, of course... Right?

Comments

[eclecticbassist]

you have to block them, too!
otherwise anomalies can still get in

[ Okaaaaay, so she's worried! She's not very good at hiding her intentions. ]

[ Gotta get back on track—! ]

or are you admitting you could use my help......?? :o

[mrcreamsicles]

[It's a space removed from the reaction he expected, and his eyebrows scrunch down behind his shades as it sinks and settles. His wings fold up slowly; his feathers lie back flat. He ignores the question, because fuck that.]

Dude, I was calling you an idiot for pulling on the thing so hard, not saying you literally want to murder me. If you think that's what I think of you—

[He cuts off, shakes his head.]

Nah, forget it. I'm out. I'll chill downstairs and let the eyes keep me company.

[He turns away to float toward the door, if Karkat doesn't stop him.]

[quadrangle]

OH RIGHT, THAT. OK THANKS.
I GOT THIS, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

[He so doesn't got this and you should definitely worry.]

[quadrangle]

[SEE ABOVE RE: FUCKING EVERYTHING UP.]

Hey, no, that's not—fuck.

[He starts after Davesprite, arm raised to catch his hand or shoulder or something, but the last thing the other probably wants is to be touched by him, right? Because—]

Look, I know you don't like me, and I can't fucking blame you. And you probably resent me even talking to you? Which again, completely justified, whatever, but that isn't the fucking point.

[Which sort of begs the question of what the point is, but he'll get to that once he's sure he has Davesprite's attention or, failing that, once he's sure Davesprite isn't about to leave the room.]

[mrcreamsicles]

[Davesprite turns, his own arm raising as though to fend off the touch that (thankfully) doesn't come. He puts it back down, but his face is an impassive mask. Feelings don't belong on the outside if he can manage to keep them in.]

Why would I resent talking to you, Vantas? What is the point?

[If Karkat's anger is a bear trap, this is a pitfall.]

[quadrangle]

[Does he have to make this so difficult? Except it's Dave even though it's Davesprite, so of fucking course he does, and if Karkat wasn't shouting before he certainly is now.]

The point is that I'm not your friend and it's stupid of me to think of you as mine! It isn't fair to you?! Why the fuck should you have to deal with some needy troll asshole who can't keep his fucking feelings to himself?!

[... ALL OF WHICH IS OVERSHARING, but goddammit, it's Dave and he's still the easiest person to talk to even if he's not—even when this isn't—

Karkat drops his arm and smears a hand over his face, hating everything about his immediate reality and especially himself. As always. That never changes.]

You have your own shit to deal with and I'm not fucking helping. So, yeah, why wouldn't you resent me? I can't keep my sniffnode in my own fucking business, and Dave didn't—neither of you should have any patience for that and I'm so fucking sorry. You're not him and you don't have to be and especially not because of my fucking issues.

[mrcreamsicles]

[This is why feelings are stupid and annoying to deal with: they spill everywhere, they make a mess, and they just complicate everything. He can't actually pretend he has none, and trying tends to lead to them leaking out the sides at the most inopportune moments, but it doesn't make being on the opposite side of the spill any more fun or comfortable. Not even if Karkat calls himself out on it.]

Okay?

[It's like being shown something private, soft, and vulnerable.]

I don't even know your issues.

[Just opening up, praying the world won't stab you for it.]

Don't really care to, either.

[It is every single thing he was told not to do, growing up.]

You want to do us both a favor, maybe stop projecting your expectations on me. I have my own feelings about this that got nothing to do with whatever kind of rad broship you had going down with regular Dave. And you just said you know it, so—stop being a dick about it? Not that hard, man.

[He says it like he's any better at not taking out his problems on other people.]

[quadrangle]

[Don't really care to, either.

Another silence, then Karkat swallows and rubs his hand over his eyes again.]

I'm trying.

[It's more choked up than he wants it to be, and furiously, he rubs his eyes again before just giving up and walking back to the goddamned wardrobe. Look, see? Here he is, minding his own business and not bothering anyone with that troll disease called "being fucking desolate in an uncaring universe." Oh, wait.]

Maybe there's something we missed downstairs, I don't know. Do whatever.

[It's not like it makes a difference either way.]

[mrcreamsicles]

Try harder.

[Simple, sharp, and immediate. He can see Karkat struggling, but that's the thing: he's not his friend. He has no reason to slow down and hold his hand about it, to give him that gentle handling and pity as he tramples all over his own issues with little more than a look or a silence held too long. He's not the real Dave, he's never going to be the real Dave, and the better thing is to draw the knife down the dividing line here at the start. They don't have another three years here, but he doesn't want even three months of John round 2 with some alien he barely even knows.]

[So he turns for the stairs again. He doesn't know what he'll find if anything, and can't really focus to think about it, but he just doesn't want to be in the same room.]

[spyientist]

Oh, aren't we modest. Clearly that's what this is. A nefarious effort to scope out the magnificent physiques we have on display here.

What do you think their next move is?

[spyientist]

[She considers, leaning against a wall and eyeing them, the eerie feeling that the sight of them brings. They appear and she hasn't been able to figure out how, and that's the thing that gets under her skin. She's accustomed, more or less, to powers and magic and the impossible, but there's always some inkling. And so, she's looking around, trying to see if there's a change that she's missing.]

Maybe. Honestly, if they only do what's on the tin, I'll consider us lucky.

[peacemongering]

I'm not certain I can make the distance at this rate. My feet are fairly numb at present.

[The cold always did a number on his joints, but he was gamely for most endeavoring without a hint of complaint. However, he was also first to understand his own limitations and another run to another building might mean death from exposure if he couldn't make it. That was almost unacceptable as it would mean losing track of Rogers for a time and leaving that door open for the Soldier was not one he currently had interest in.]

Staying here presents almost as much risk. If you want to make the run, son, I'll follow.

[todds]

Aside from ponying up to take me on a nice date like I deserve, probably surveillance. Intimidation/mind games/social experiment, maybe.

[tidalflame]

[Zidane stretches his arms and lets his gaze ferret around the room. If the things can see them, who is actually watching?

He should...he should do something.

Something cool because there's a girl with him.

Mind made up, he backs away a few paces then lunges forward and body slams the wall. The wall remains standing but he rebounds violently and hisses, resisting the need to reach up and rub his shoulder.]

HEY! If anyone's watchin' why don't you come out and show yourself? Shy?

[todds]

[ Wow, rude, look at the squirt move. ]

Hey, buddy, don't look so pitiful next time and we'll apply the No Hugging rule. All you gotta do.

[ Stupid kids looking stupidly scared, he just won't try to be a good person next time. Sighing in exasperation, because Karkat isn't Jason and Jason certainly doesn't have anywhere near Bruce's level of patience, he waves them on up the street. ]

[definingfuture]

We're okay for now. I mean, generally when something is bad, we're stuck outside with it. I think being locked in is a good sign.

If they get closer I might change my opinion, though. Just. You know. Keeping that in mind. The Prophet is what people keep seeing references to in town. Especially when weird things happen. We've seen and heard what seem to be echoes of people saying to kill the prophet or praise the prophet, so it might be some kind of supernatural being causing the town to do crazy things. Uh. That's just a theory. Don't be scared.

warning for references to ephebophilia?? except it's mostly just Weird Troll Shit THANKS EM

[quadrangle]

You're like five sweeps older than me, what the fuck?!

[HE THOUGHT HE WAS IMAGINING IT AND YET?? HOLY SHIT WHY DID HE GET STUCK WITH THIS HUMAN?

He backs even further away and shoots Jason a haha yeah fuck no look at the wave, his eyes now deeply suspicious. If he'd been an an adult to, this wouldn't be so weird, but seriously, "don't look so pitiful?!" Who even says shit like that?!]

i exist to make you laugh lina it true

[todds]

[ Literally everything he says or does to Karkat somehow turns into a scandalous overstepping of bounds and Jason is So Done with this inexplicable Jane Austen rigmarole bullshit, it's all he can do to raise his hands in lieu of rooting a white flag out of the wrecked rubble of the town. ]

What the fuck are you going on about? Where the hell did that come from? Of course I'm too old for you, you're about twelve! You know what, I don't even want to know how you arrived at that, just walk behind me and scream if a monster eats you.

i am laughcrying yes and it's ALL YOUR FAULT

[quadrangle]

I'm seven.

[Or. Wait, what's the conversion? Fuck. Jason's reaction to the outburst had seemed genuine enough, though, and after a moment's pause, Karkat starts trailing after him again. He's definitely staying out of arm's reach, though. Just. Ugh.]

Sixteen? I think they said it was sixteen. Either way, fuck you, you're the one acting like you're in a bad porno.

[And, because Jason had said he doesn't want to know, Karkat is definitely going to explain that particular bit of Troll Logic™. Good luck with that.]

[todds]

I'm not — ! Shut up, you little jerk.

[ GOD, WHY. Arms flail as he gestures, ploughing on ahead and refusing to look back. ]

Sixteen is still too young! That's seven years younger than me, shit on a stick to that.

[quadrangle]

OK. HUH. GOOD TO KNOW.
SO EITHER WE'RE FINE, WE'RE TOTALLY SCREWED, OR THIS IS A PRECURSOR TO SOMETHING BIGGER, MAYBE? I'LL KEEP WATCH, I GUESS.

WHY WOULD THAT SCARE ME. THIS PROPHET PERSON JUST SOUNDS LIKE A PSIONIC, IF ONE WHO'S GONE COMPLETELY SHITHIVE.
SO I GUESS PRETTY MUCH LIKE YOUR AVERAGE PSIONIC, REALLY.

[quadrangle]

Good. The last thing I need is another moirail. Or a matesprit, like fuck were you even being clear about that. Humans.

[Seriously, what even. At least it obviously hadn't been anything black, which, huh, actually makes him wonder if humans from other universe do blackrom? Maybe the humans he knows were the exception. That's oddly comforting even if, again, not his fucking priority here.]

[todds]

I'm not into kids.

[ Snapping that with a bit of heat, he lengthens his stride. Maybe if Jason was Tim, then sure, he might inquire what a mate-whatever is, or a monorail for trolls in their weirdly over-sexualised world, but the line of tension in his shoulders rucks up as he stomps through the snow and he doesn't ask more than he wants to know, which is approximately nothing. ]

[quadrangle]

[Again, good, but for once Karkat follows Jason's conversational lead and shuts the fuck up, his eyes on their surroundings. He doesn't especially care about the other's comfort levels and is so far from apologizing that he'd gladly elucidate on any and all aspects of troll romance Jason is unfamiliar with just because he can, but the topic is rapidly becoming one he wishes he hadn't brought up regardless.

Quadrants aren't a safe topic anymore, not with how they'd ripped his friends and teammates apart again. He's not sure he can do this anymore.]

[todds]

[ Karkat, weird and unnerving as he is, would fit right in with some of the teens of Gotham. Then again, those street rats would very likely eat him alive and not just for the sake of him being an alien. ]

We're taking you back first.

[ Because Jason has had enough of the snow, shivering with his arms folded as the silence of the town grates on his thoughts. ]