souljammed | Test Drive Meme

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Test Drive Meme

Prompts

Arrival: So you've just arrived in Nyoi-Cho. Congratulations! You must be so excited about having your wish granted. Or maybe you're upset that the result wasn't quite what you expected? If that's the case, then that's too bad! There are no take backs and no redoes, so you're stuck with what you have! Maybe you should have been more careful about how you worded that wish...

Oh well. There's no use in dwelling on it. You're a magi now, and that means adjusting to a whole new lifestyle! Maybe one of the townspeople can help you out.

Only... they're acting a bit strangely, aren't they? They're all too happy to show you around, but there's something unsettling about the way they're behaving. Almost cheerfully dissonant. Any questions about the history of the town are met with blank stares and brief silence, before they plaster a smile onto their faces and change the subject. Any attempts to tell them about your duties as a magi or anything else that relates to the magical will get similar reactions.

Isn't there anyone normal here that you can talk to at all?

Home Improvement: The houses that the magi are given access to really are something, aren't they? There's almost no limit to what they can do! Why don't you create the house of your dreams, or maybe recreate and relive your favorite childhood scenes? Invite some spectators over to marvel!

A Corrupted Soul Gem: You neglected to take care of your soul gem, and now you don't feel quite yourself anymore. You feel like you're losing your sense of self - all you seem to be able to focus on is your old regrets and past failures. What's happening to you?

A Successful Mission: Congratulations! You met up with your first Witch, and you fought valiantly. For your efforts, you've been awarded a grief seed - and with it, access to a brand new power! What sort of power did you get? Is it a useful one, or is it not so useful? Maybe you've mastered it beautifully, and now you're showing off to all of your friends. Maybe you're having a hard time keeping it under wraps, and now you're wreaking havoc across the town without meaning to!

A Dreadful Nightmare: You had an absolutely horrid day. As you drift off to sleep, your mind dwells on all the injustices you've had to endure. In response, your bed swallows you up, and your room shifts into a horrific Nightmarescape. What sort of Nightmare are you? What kind of Nightmarescape do you create? Hopefully your fellow magi can stop you before you cause too much damage!

Wildcard: Feel free to use any information from the FAQ or the World Info page to make your own prompt!

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[If Diarmuid was his usual self, he would be proud of her bravery and growth. However, whatever he is...becoming doesn't feel those things. It doesn't know how to feel those things. Instead, it feels annoyance and anger. He begins to open his mouth to yell at her to see if he can scare her away before something worse happens, but then her words seem to strike something in him.

Or maybe it is just momentary surprise.]

What is ice cream?

[No, it's curiosity. Something that has always been a big part of him. and for now, something that holds the darkness taking him over back.

For a little while, anyway.]

It's... Uh...

[Well shoot, she's never had to explain ice cream before. Her nose scrunches as she thinks.]

It's a dessert, and um, cold. I think it's made from milk and it comes in all sorts of flavors. Like, like chocolate 'nd vanilla 'nd rocky road 'nd tutti fruity! Plus you can put whatever you want on top of it. My friend back home always put gummi worms on hers.

[A+ explanation Naomi.]

You've never had it before?

[Rocky Road? Tutti Fruity? Gummi worms? Diarmuid thinks he is following her explanation until those three terms stack up on top of each other and he ends up totally lost.]

What are you talking about?

[There is a sharpness in his tone that would usually not be there were it not for the mindset he is in, but because of that the frustration he feels at not understanding her becomes something he cannot easily hide.]

It sounds like you are making things up. What kind of flavor is Tutti Fruity anyway?

[The sharpness makes her flinch, left foot slipping back but she stops herself from taking a proper step back. He didn't mean it, she's sure. Something was bothering him.]

But I wouldn't make something up! [And her cheeks puff out a little, minorly offended by the implication.] Besides, lying is bad.

[Naomi had always been raised to value honesty.]

But, uh, I actually donno. [She smiles, sheepish.] I just know my Mama really liked tutti fruity and whenever she'd take me and Kou to get ice cream that's what she would get. I've never had it though.

[Besides, lying is bad.

Yes, it is and Diarmuid agrees with her. His feelings on the topic whether his soul gem is tainted or not will not change. That is how strong they are. He can feel the same strong feelings in her as well. That is why he doesn't continue to insist she is lying no matter how weird her description sounds.]

I have never had any kind before. What kind do you usually get?

[The sharpness is completely gone from his voice. Instead, it is taken over by curiosity again.]

I like a lot of flavors but I get mint chocolate chip a lot. Oh! That's like, chocolate ice cream but it's minty 'nd has chunks of chocolate chips in it 'nd is light green color. I like to try different flavors though like birthday cake 'nd vanilla especially if we have chocolate syrup.

[Honestly she could keep listing flavors and her personal opinions on them. She may have her fav

Naomi tends to try any kind of ice cream she sees at the ice cream parlor at least once. She smiles at him again, clasping her hands behind her back.]

If you've never had any before we've gotta change that. Let's go get some!

[It is easy for Diarmuid to get lost in her description again, but instead of getting frustrated this time, he lets her excitement push that negative emotion away. Would it really be so bad to go enjoy something fun with her? It would be better than being sad here, wouldn't it?

Wouldn't it?]

Are you sure you want to share something so important to you with someone like me? With someone who is just a copy?

[The corruption isn't going to let him go that easily, but maybe for a little while her sunlight can keep it at bay. Maybe long enough for him to finally get around to cleansing his soul gem.]

Copy...? What d'you mean?

[She looks at him, curious and confused all at once. Naomi's never encountered such a statement before, which she feels is saying something given everything else that she's encountered in her life.

After a moment of debate she reaches out, poking Diarmuid's arm humming to herself.]

Well, you feel normal enough 'nd you think 'nd make your own decisions based off what you think, right? You bleed 'nd feel 'nd laugh, right? So that makes you your own person no matter what anybody says.

[Naomi's not actually sure if any of that helped, given that this seems like a very serious thing.]

Plus! You're my friend 'nd I want to spend time 'nd share things that are important with my friends.

I am not re--

[Diarmuid cuts himself off as she reaches out to touch him. There is a whole explanation he could tell her, but even if she does understand it, will it matter? Maybe she is right? Could he be getting caught up on something that doesn't actually matter? He's here. He hurts; he feels joy; he makes his own decisions...

He needs to think on this some more, but not in a way that is inherently negative. She's made him realize that.]

Thank you, Naomi. I am glad to have you as a friend. You are always there for me. Now, what direction is that ice cream shop in?

[Diarmuid doesn't need to finish his sentence for Naomi to figure out what he was going to say.

She offers him a gentle smile in response to it, one different from her earlier ones. It's a more mature smile, or rather one that's more her age. The smile only lasts for a flash, then it's back to her childish smile that makes the seventeen year old look far younger.]

It's no problem. We're friends, and friends watch out for one another! [And with that she reaches out to take his hand with both of hers, taking one step back.] It's this way! We're gonna have to try lotsa flavors to find your favorite!

[No matter how brief, Diarmuid doesn't miss the shift in her smile and it brings a grateful look to his face. It comforts him to know she understands, the important part anyway. When she takes his hand and pulls him forward, he doesn't resist and actually gives her hand a squeeze in return.]

If there are that many flavors, I don't think we will be able to try them all at once. It's not going to be any fun if we both end up sick from all the sweetness.

[That is something he actually has to worry about now considering he is in a human body again instead of a servant one.]

Nah, I have a stomach of steel when it comes to sweets! Buuut if you're worried about a belly ache I've got a solution.

[She holds up one fingers, turning to walk backwards a few steps.]

At least once a week we go get ice cream together, that way we can try each flavor one at a time until we find out which one you like the most. It'll be like a fun experiment.

Experiments are fun.

[To tell the truth, Diarmuid rather likes the idea. If he has a meeting with her each week to look forward to, it will be something to help keep him from slipping back into his previous dark thoughts.]

Deal, though we don't have to stick to just one every week. I can handle two at least I am sure. I'm just not used to sweet things, so I will probably not be able to handle them as well as you can.

[That may or may not be the reason behind her suggestion. While Naomi's not sure exactly what's going on in his mind, she can't help but think of her older brother. Her suggestion for an ice cream meet-up is very much inspired by the fact that Kou's friends instituted movie nights to help him through his rough patches.

It seemed to help him. Hopefully it would help Diarmuid.]

We can do two days then! Or however many we want. [She beams.] I'll teach you about all sorts of sweets and how to handle them. By this time next year you'll be a regular old sweet con-connoshe... sure? Connosure... [Her nose wrinkles as she thinks about the word. Connoisseur, Naomi, you can do it.] Expert!

[Close enough.]

[It will actually help her more than she knows. Diarmuid thrives being around others. He needs them there, but after what happened to him right before he came here, it has been harder for him to trust and to make himself be around others. Add the new empathy on top of that and it has made him almost become a hermit. He needs visits. He needs someone to make him come back out in public.

He needs someone to help him heal.]

Two days a week would be nice.

[Never too much time alone to start descending into dark thoughts again.]

I don't know if I will ever be a connoisseur, but I am definitely looking forward to knowing more about sweets. Maybe you can introduce me to other foods as well? There is so much I haven't tried.

Yeah that's the word! [She laughs, raising one hand to cover her mouth.] Connoisseur!

[She nods at his question, thinking for a moment as they walk.]

Let's see then, have you tried pizza yet? Oh what about burgers 'nd fries? Or a fried oreo? Those are great but really only good if you're at a carnival. Oh, oh, oh what about cheesecake!?

Pizza and burgers I have heard of, but what is an o-re-o?

[And why do you fry it?]

Even if I know what they are, I haven't tried any of it. Like I said, there is so much I need to try yet. Most of it, I don't even know exists. It makes me sad to think I might end up missing out on something really good just because I don't know about it.

Oreos are a type of cookie. They're vanilla icing sandwiched between two chocolate cookies. I can see if I can find some in the store!

[She doesn't actually know, but it's delicious.]

Well then! If that's the case 'm gonna show you all sorts of foods then.

What a strange sounding cookie.

[Diarmuid laughs and for the first time in a long time, it actually sounds happy.]

I look forward to that more than you know. I really do.

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