// TEST DRIVE MEME_

[eluviomods]

// TEST DRIVE_ Welcome to Eluvio's Test Drive Meme! Whether you'd like to try out a character in the setting, get some samples for your application, or just mess around and have fun, this is the place to do it. If you're getting samples together, remember that you need at least four comments made by you in the thread for it to count. Pick any of the scenarios below or make up any of your own. This is space! There are infinite worlds and possibilities. If you'd like to thread out hijacking a ship, do it! If you'd like to get stuck on a remote planet with only one other person for company, do it! Take the wheel and guide your own adventure! The most important thing is to have fun! ➣ SCENARIO 001. Welcome to Oros! It's no vacation destination and you're in for an interesting ride. While the planet is big, there's not much to explore beyond the vast, stretching reaches of a boiling hot, red desert. Which means it's fun for the whole family! There are hostile aliens on the planet who aren't taking kindly to you, an alien on their planet. They're stronger than you and you're out numbered. Likely out gunned, too. But, really, good luck! You'll be coming back alive. For more information on the planet and things that may be found there, please go here and give it a read! There you can also find the missions completed in game should you need any additional prompt. Whatever you can imagine that fits with the setting itself works! [ PLEASE NOTE: Threads taking place on Oros cannot be used as game canon, as they required prior signups to participate, but the setting is provided so that you can get an idea of just one of the kinds of events that will be in game! ] ➣ SCENARIO 002. Congratulations! You've been selected to be part of the team being sent down to the planet around which the fleet is currently orbiting. Initial scans of the surface show that oxygen is in abundance, temperatures support carbon-based life-forms, and there aren't any large quantities of poisonous gases that might pose problems. Your mission is to secure a landing site, set up a camp, and locate edible flora and fauna. Stores aboard ship are running a bit low on food and it's projected to be another three weeks before the fleet reaches a station large enough to replenish supplies. Once identified, larger parties will be sent to the surface to help hunt and gather. The good news is, scans show fruits, vegetables, and animals are plentiful. The bad news is that once your ship lands on the planet, everything goes sideways. An unexpected ion storm sweeps through the solar system, shorting out communications between the fleet and the team. It wreaks havoc with the electronics planet-side too, temporarily shorting out the smaller craft's navigational array. Until it passes, about six standard days, you're stuck down there. And the bountiful harvest isn't without its dangers. Even the most docile looking animal will attack. Sampling the fruits and vegetables will cause temporary paralysis, hallucinations, and psychosis. Inhaling pollen will bring out a person's baser instincts. The planet itself is predatory, you see. Everything on it has evolved to entice visitors from nearby systems and kill them. And the fleet's unwittingly taken the bait. ➣ SCENARIO 003. It's been a rough day. Everything's going wrong. Machines are breaking down everywhere. The owner of your favorite business wasn't there today and the store was closed when you stopped by to pick something up. A coworker didn't show up for work, leaving you with an interested workload. And now it feels like you're being watched. It started about ten minutes ago, but whenever you turn to look, there's no one there. The feeling doesn't go away, though. No matter where you are, it feels like eyes are watching. Did you hear something? A quiet, scuffling scratching sound just for a second? Maybe you did. Maybe you didn't. But it came from the misshapen monstrosity that just punched a hole through the bulkhead right beside you. The creature makes a low, wet gargling noises and darts toward you: six to seven feet tall, vaguely humanoid, and covered in strange growths over which is stretched bubbling grayish-brown skin. Maybe you notice tatters of familiar clothing hanging off of it. Or there's enough left of its eyes to recognize the shape and color. Or maybe something about the noises it's making sound familiar. It's your missing coworker and it looks like the unfortunate soul ran afoul of that weird slimy creature the science team brought back from that jungle planet a month ago. The good news: you can kill it. The bad news: it can kill you. It's fast, it's hungry, and it reproduces at an alarming rate. A single bite can transfer the parasites in its bloodstream to you. Then you'll be just like your buddy. And that shop owner you like so much. And all of the people on Level 12. And... ➣ SCENARIO 004. You're welcomed and encouraged to make up your own scenarios. As you can see, there will be a wide variety of the types of things your character will encounter in this game. So feel free to make your starters as horrific, sexy, lighthearted, action-packed, or slice of life as you'd like. Make up a planet, make up a location on the Eluvio, make up a ship in the fleet, fight off a zombie alien invasion, there's no limit to what you can do on the TDM.

Comments

[eyeforaneye]

That's not the answer I'm looking for so I'll ignore it for now. [ Because that's his way of handling his problems. One thing at a time, lady. ]

What's your name? [ The fact that she isn't speaking Japanese is as jarring as the fact that he can understand her anyway; this technology is a goddamn trip and a half. ]

[doxing]

I'm Sombra.

(the whole translator dealio doesn't faze her anymore. too many languages, too little time to learn them. or maybe it's just that she already knows three — not including l337speak and the many coding languages for your general safety and comfort — and isn't too keen on expanding her repertoire.

wiggling her fingers.)

What's your name?

(asked like he's 8.)

[eyeforaneye]

[ Uh yeah please be gentle, what's coding.

His expression doesn't change in response to the mocking tone, instead very slowly sizing her up... before then looking back to the bottle, sliding it off the table to hold it between his thighs. The bottle's too slick for her method, sure, but the application of chakra makes everything a little cheap. ]

Uchiha Sasuke.

[doxing]

(she couldn't just do it for him, that'd be coddling and there's no room for that here. she doesn't have the heart, or the pity. it's obvious sasuke is having some trouble, though, looking as tired as he does. deducing that this is a fresh arm loss is easy for a sharp mind to piece together. and she's far beyond sharp.

still, there's no point in bringing it up. it's not her problem.

something doesn't translate in what he said, so "uchiha sasuke" happens to be his name. filing it away for later, as she does all things.)

Sasuke. Don't squeeze it too hard, or you'll make a mess of your pants. (a glance to the side, before tugging open the bag of pretzels, examining the salt content.) Newcomer, right? You really got here at the wrong time. The scientists are friendly, though, aren't they...

[eyeforaneye]

[ The patronizing word choice and inflection don't let up but neither do his own efforts, barely seeming to use any pressure at all in order to keep that bottle perfectly immobile. It'd be better to learn a one-handed lifestyle that doesn't rely chiefly on jutsu or even on chakra but he can practice less graceful methods when he's sans an audience. He has his pride to think about. ]

No time would've been the right time. Everything's slowed down considerably for me here. [ Which is maddening and a relief simultaneously. He pauses long enough to sip from the newly opened bottle. ]

... You smell. [ heartbreaker ]

[doxing]

(a crooked smirk; she knows.)

Ay, that's what a few drinks will do to you... (and doesn't seem to mind being called out on that, apparently, since she's having a great time of it.) It's boring when there's downtime, but I should be thankful for the rest.

(a decision's made and she takes the opposite seat with an unplanned tilt, before righting herself, elbows on the table. leaning in.)

Sasuke. Where are you from? Japan?

1/2

[eyeforaneye]

[ too close ]

2/2

[eyeforaneye]

[ Again he eyes her with his usual unnerving intensity, sharingan blessedly inactive but any displeasure he can communicate without even needing to speak is the kind of message he's interested in sending. ]

Haven't ever heard of it. [ ... ] Were you somehow attached to the machine, is that what this is about?

[doxing]

Attached— (oh my god, reaching up to touch the body mods affixed directly to her skull,) no, but these let me interface with machines. That's why you ask instead of smashing vending machines that can just be... Talked to, right?

(she is comfortable at this distance and thinks she might stay here. handsome guy; far too young.)

You're speaking Japanese right now, at least that's what the communicator's detecting. Must be some inter-dimensional bullshit, I wouldn't worry about it. (points a manicured nail at him.) At least y'know now, if strangers ask.

[eyeforaneye]

[ Now his stare's dropping to her finger and he does actually casually lean away from it, as if one of them is coated in some kind of forcefield. Wonder who. ]

I'm not obligated to answer any strangers. I'm not worried about it. [ At... all... what's of more interest is her ability to apparently connect to machines, one that's entirely beyond him. ]

I took care of it in my own way.

[doxing]

Your way is gonna fuck up our way. (said amusedly, the nail tapping into the centre of the table.

I'LL BE MAD THO, you can't keep me from my snacks man...)

You wanna learn how to use it, so I can get getting pretzels without having to answer to a vending machine bouncer?

[eyeforaneye]

[ ... he opens his mouth, then, and out comes-- ]

What are pretzels? [ The first comment is wholly glossed over; if Uchiha Sasuke was particularly concerned about not inconveniencing others he would've quietly died a long time ago. ]

[doxing]

...

(measured inhale, measured exhale. before the bag is turned with a single finger and bumped to the opposite side of the table.)

Go on and try one.

1/4

[eyeforaneye]

[ The offer's unexpected and if he hadn't endured experimentation at Orochimaru's hands in order to increase his body's resistances to viruses and poisons, he might refuse outright.

As it is, he slowly reaches into the bag to procure a single pretzel for himself, taking even longer to bite into it. ]

2/4

[eyeforaneye]

[ Porous, yet dense. Dry. Crunchy. Salty. ]

3/4

[eyeforaneye]

[ . . . ]

4/4

[eyeforaneye]

Very well. I understand now.

I'll learn.

[doxing]

Yeah, they're pretty okay... (she's playing this off for both of them.) I wouldn't buy 'em like... Every day, but once in a while is acceptable...

(the translator has a surprisingly easy time conveying tone, impressive and expected from future tech. she's motioning to the vending machine with a broad wave of her hand, now, still sporting a hard buzz, eyebrow quirking as she rises from the seat.)

C'mon, if you apply your new talent at opening water bottles on this thing, you'll be a natural.

[eyeforaneye]

[ "Once in a while is acceptable"? Hm... maybe once in a while is acceptable. Something to keep in mind. Ah, but one moment, he's being patronized again. ]

I think I've proven that I can also open that machine. [ All the same he did agree, so he does stand in order to move nearer to it. Somehow it feels like it's smoking more than before. ]

... is it really possible to learn anything from this still?

[doxing]

That's not how you open it. That's how you destroy it. Stop destroying the snack machines.

(three statements, all simply put. for the young and the restless and kind of dumb.)

I can at least show you the buttons. Then, if you're feeling brave, we can try a healthy vending machine.

(standing next to the corpse of the first one, hand on its side... there, there...)

[eyeforaneye]

It won't be a matter of me feeling brave. I'm a fast learner.

[ Unimpressive bragging about the ability to work or not work a vending machine aside, he has yet to access any feeling of guilt. He's not feeling overly generous when it comes to those in charge of this vessel. ]

Go ahead.

[doxing]

First, you pick what you like. In this case, a water... (reaches in through the hole in the glass to tap the tag beneath the water.) There's a letter and a number. A5. Notice there's a pad on the right side, with letters and numbers corresponding to the appropriate item...?

(slowly nods at him before continuing.)

You tap one of your dog-tags here on this sensor, your dog-tags are holding all of your money wirelessly so you're gonna wanna keep it with you. Like they said, unfortunately. (tapping her dog-tag, but the thing's too busted to read it... oh well.) It'll take the cost of the water outta your account like that, you type in the selection number, then you watch the machine drop it for ya.

(points to the rungs that hold the items, then down to the drop-box below, pushing the twisted metal flap with a creak.)

Finally, you grab your shit and go. Easy, no pain strategy to buy from vending machines, just like that. No need to pillage the poor things.

[eyeforaneye]

[ Sasuke again watches without a change of expression despite how slow the process is, fingers catching on his own dog tags when he raises his hand and inspects them for what must be the hundredth time. It's still disorienting to see his world referred to as a single part of a much greater whole when he'd never known anything else. This place itself is hard to wrap his head around. ]

I've got it. [ Breaking into it was still more satisfying, but he's holding onto a lot of bad habits from his... rebellious years. Yeah. ]

I can operate one of the undamaged ones later. More importantly... how long is it that you've been here?

[doxing]

Oh man, I've been here since December 11th, so just over two months now?

(sounds amused by it, smiley, but the dark makeup just makes her look that much more tired.)

Hard to believe and it doesn't feel like it's gonna end anytime soon. (a flip of her hand, poised to examine her fingernails with a little look over him.) You're gonna be careful no matter what I say, kid, but there's something wrong with the crew and the higher-ups on this ship. Keep your trust to yourself, or you'll end up getting bent over.

[eyeforaneye]

"Bent over"? [ The wording's paired with a quirk of his brow but her meaning quickly settles in. ]

Ah. Got it. I'll bear it in mind, but I didn't have any plans to drop my guard. [ There's something in the way she says it, though, meant to be flippant but sounding far more serious than her earlier comments have all the same. ]

I take it there's a reason you feel compelled to say something. Did something specific happen?