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

[todds]

[ That's one way to make himself feel like an asshole. Karkat's sudden shift from Mouthy Teenage Asshole to Actual Background Shrub doesn't go unnoticed, with Jason glancing over a shoulder to make sure the kid is still in tow. After a minute or so of silence he tries to casually ask, ]

What's a lucius?

[ That's what it sounded like Karkat said, anyway. ]

[quadrangle]

[It doesn't take long for Karkat to start berating himself about it, at least, his shoulders creeping ever closer to his auricular sponge clots as he plods along. Stupid—ugh, so what if Jason is an adult, who even fucking cares, humans are weird and raise their own young and don't leave their planet the second they reach full maturity. That's probably because they're technologically incompetent, come to think of it, but still.]

Lusus. My custodian. He's—I mean, it's a troll thing, don't fucking worry about it.

[He kicks a little at the snow in his path, then freezes, already anticipating another lecture.]

[todds]

He take good care of you, before you came here?

[ He will not mind his own business, no. He kind of likes Karkat as chatty-but-pissy instead of intimidated-and-sulking. ]

[quadrangle]

[... huh. Maybe he hadn't noticed? But consider Karkat chastised anyway as he proceeds after him, making a point not to kick up any more white shit because wow does he not want anything on their trail. Assuming that's even a thing. Whatever.]

When he was alive, yeah, and he did okay as a sprite if you ignore all the cryptic bullshit. I mean, I figure he always did the best he could? I could have had it a lot worse.

[todds]

[ When he was alive. Look at that good no-snow-kicking behaviour when the Lucy guy is mentioned, too. He wonders if Karkat is aware or whether that's subconscious, but it's worth noting either way. ]

What do you think he'd do about all those eyes?

[quadrangle]

Uh, skree at them and try to take the wall down? And then I guess get us both out of there once he realized they weren't fighting back. Or moving.

[Presumably, anyway. Maybe they would have if something had actually touched them? Fuck if he knows.]

Then again, the sun's out and I'm not sure he'd realize this one's safe? So that would kind of fucking suck.

[todds]

[ 'Skree'. Of course, as you do. What the fuck. ]

Your world doesn't have a safe sun? [ Again, fuckwhat. That's kind of sad, not even getting to enjoy your own natural light-source, jeez. ] So you were both nocturnal back home, huh. That's got to come in useful here, you could be the night guard of the open channels, keep tabs on any sketchy characters operating at unsocial hours.

[quadrangle]

Are there a lot of those?

[It's a valid question even if he is sort of tempted to go for the role anyway; he needs to do something to fill the time that sleep won't. And if it's something important like what Jason's proposing, then maybe it'll be worthwhile anyway.]

[todds]

[ Any satisfaction Jason gets from mildly inspiring Karkat to productivity is soured as he considers his answer; he could lie, although the kid is inquisitive and runs his mouth before he thinks. Not even in the clever, measured way Damian does either, it's all heart and no steel scaffolding around a plan.

His jaw tightens and he stops in the snow, turning to meet yellow-ochre eyes which remind him of Kori's (albeit extremely selective) innocence. ]

There's this guy, he goes by the Joker. You don't talk to him or about him, you don't show him your face and if you ever meet him, you run fast ...

[ Snappy as he was before, this time Jason simply lays down some serious rules that he expects Karkat will respect the value in, considering the weight they carry in Jason's shoulders and tone. ]

But if you want to remotely track his online movements just from watching, go ahead.

[ He can hardly stop a teenager from doing what they might do anyway. ]

[quadrangle]

... The Joker?

[He thought humans didn't do adult titles? But unless Jason is leaving part of it out, this one's too short, which definitely means something's wrong if he's that vehement about Karkat not making contact with this person.

So... not a title in the way a troll might understand it, but still dangerous. Great. Just... fucking perfect, especially with a name like that. Also, wow, on that note—]

He doesn't—uh, this isn't asking for any particular reason, just something I thought of off the top of my head, but he doesn't, like... wear makeup or anything, does he?

[Please say no.]

[todds]

Yeah. Karkat?

[ An explanation for that Totally Random question, please. ]

[quadrangle]

[You know what, fuck not leaving a trail; he's kicking at the snow again, cursing all the while. Fucking juggalos, does this one subsist on Faygo and nightmares, too? He fucking can't.]

What?!

[Use your words, Jason, he's a little distraught right now.]

[todds]

[ Everyone here is doing Just Fine today, evidently. ]

Have you spoken to him? Seen him? [ To Hell with it, he reaches out to hold firm to Karkat's shoulder. Not to hurt him, simply to plant the kid in one place and get a straight answer. ] Take a breath and tell me why you're turning into a one-troll snowplough.

[quadrangle]

[He swipes half-heartedly at Jason for the presumption, but with how wide the swing is and how quickly he settles down afterward, he either doesn't mind or doesn't want to risk the wrath of an adult by actually landing a blow. One of these is more likely than the other.]

No, I haven't seen him. I just, fuck, what is it with fucking clowns?! They never die and they, all they ever do is hurt people, like it's fucking funny to string them along and then betray them, like—

[He breaks off, clutching unconsciously at the front of his coat, just above where his sign lies hidden. His expression is pained, but he's visibly fighting to regain control of it because wow does Jason not need to hear all this. Or see it. Ever.]

[todds]

[ What are the odds Jason would run into a(nother) little boy terrified of clowns? Sounds like Karkat actually gave a shit about whoever managed to make him feel betrayed, though. Jason's immensely glad he never felt anything for the Joker but disgust and loathing. ]

Hey, hey —

[ He's too tall, looms too much so that Karkat's angry thump barely gets higher than Jason's middle, but he's really not sure Karkat would appreciate having him on eye-level again where Jason can (better) see the anguish in his expression ... so he steps in and wraps an arm around the kid to give Karkat some privacy against Jason's street armor, rubbing the teen's arm in a semi-awkward but determined attempt to offer consolation. ]

Joker's not going anywhere near you. That psychotic death-worshipping garbage hasn't got a real sense of purpose, okay? I'd cut off that trash's head before I let him hurt you.

I don't like clowns either.

[quadrangle]

[He's too stunned by the move at first to do much more than put up with it, but his torso pillar has gone ramrod straight and he's leaning away from Jason's body even before the first word has left his mouth. Look, he knows you're a human, but seriously, can you not.

He ducks under the arm once Jason's done talking and puts a few feet between them, raking a hand over his face before pressing it to the spot on his own arm where, okay, seriously, fucking humans, why did he create this species? Just. Why.]

Right, yeah, not letting him touch me, whatever, I get it. [He doesn't even know you, why are you like this.] Fuck clowns and fuck that guy in particular, are we done here? Because I'd like to be done here. Now.

[... He's not flustered, shut up.]

[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. ]

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]

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. ]