APRIL TEST DRIVE

[soulmods]

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... There's no use in dwelling on it. You're a magi now, and that means adjusting to a whole new lifestyle. Get ready to hit the ground running. 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. Practice makes Perfect: This magi stuff sure looked easier on TV. You don't understand your power and it's frustrating trying to use it in combat when you don't get it. Maybe it's time to just take some time to figure this out. Good thing none of the citizens can see you when you transform! Test out those new skills, cause a little mischief, or be the helping hand someone might need! Fighting Evil by Moonlight: Things aren't as easy as they looked on TV. Nightmares are tough and there's real danger in there. There are victories... but, some are not as clear cut as others. Is today a successful attempt, or are you on your last legs standing up against an enemy far stronger than yourself? Do you forge on ahead, or do you retreat? 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 Dreadful Nightmare: You're wearing yourself down with all this fighting. Your mind is rife with insecurity and fear. 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 hurt someone. Birth of a Witch: You've just learned the terrible truth behind Witches, and it's staring you in the face - someone very close to you has succumbed to despair. In a burst of flame, their corrupted soul gem rearranges itself into a grief seed, completing their transformation. Can you continue to fight on, knowing that this is the ultimate fate of all magi? Moreover, can you bring yourself to raise your weapon against a dear comrade whom you have been fighting alongside for so long? Unending Night: Carrying out a magi's duties has never been easy. Although up until now you've successfully navigated your way through countless nightmarescapes and defeated countless foes, this time you might finally be outmatched. Foe after foe stands before you. There's no end in sight. And with each attack you throw their way, your soul gem seems to grow ever dimmer... A Cruel Choice: The Witch has fallen, and you've been awarded a grief seed for your valiant efforts. Just in time, too! Your soul gem is in desperate need of cleansing. But as you look around you, you realize that you're not the only one whose soul gem is in bad shape. There's absolutely no way you can take care of more than one soul gem with just one grief seed. What will you do? In Fugue: Someone very dear to you has been acting off lately. They spend just a little too much time with the natives of Nyoi-cho, and they seem to resemble themselves less with each passing day. They even seem to be forgetting bits and pieces of their own past, and simple questions on your part lead to them spitting out the same eerie pre-programmed responses that you've grown so accustomed to hearing from the locals. It's clear that they're being assimilated into the town. You wonder how long it'll be before they cease to recognize you completely and the person you once knew them as simply no longer exists. Isn't there a way to slow down or reverse the process at all? Wildcard: Feel free to use any information from the FAQ or the World Info page to make your own prompt!

Comments

Felicia // Darkstalkers

[nyanyanyanyanyanyanyanyan]

[Arrival ]

Well, this sure wasn't Las Vegas. And it definitely wasn't broadway!

"Um, excuse me? I believe I wished to be a world famous actress, singer and pop idol? Hello?"

The yowling of an angry cat woman is sure to bring some Magi out of their homes as Felicia sighs and starts to prowl down the street exploring. There's a puzzled look on her face as she sniffs and realizes that her senses are duller then usual suddenly.

"I'm starting to think I was tricked."

Hopefully modesty is not your greatest concern because it sure isn't hers. On first glance it appears she's simply glued some fur to her body in strategic locations as an elaborate cosplay. However upon closer examination it's clear it's actually her fur! Non-humans are hardly the strangest thing to appear in this town but mostly naked non-humans not covering themselves up with shells and rainbow mohawks are a little unusual.

___________________________

[Practice makes perfect.]

"Well it wouldn't be my first choice for an outfit but I like the leg room!"

Having finally figured out how to transform, Felicia gives herself a once over admiring the fishnet pattern that has traced its way up the fur on her legs. Spats have formed over her powerful lower paws giving her a feel of class.

Traveling upwards she's wearing what looks to be blue spandex under a black suit jacket and bowtie. The jacket itself sparkles as it's covered in sequins. It cuts off at the shoulders showing off her fur which has become so silky smooth it looks like she's wearing elbow length gloves. Her blue soul gem is attached to her jacket like a boutonniere.

The outfit is completed by a top hat which perches jauntily on her head and a microphone appears which she snags from the air.

"This is my weapon huh? Well...when in Rome."

She takes a deep breath and starts singing into the mic which causes powerful shockwaves radiating in all directions. It's not that her tone is off really (It could use some work) but waves of power are emanating from her causing concussive damage. Someone might wanna stop her!

___________________________________________

[Fighting Evil.]

"Get away get away get AWAY!"

Dashing on all fours such as her catlike nature insists, Felicia just barely avoids getting smashed into paste by a familiar's fist knocking her off her feet and rolling head over heels away. She'd been doing really well against some of the weaker bird shaped familiars but this new one had surprised her in both size and strength.

The familiar is some kind of mechanical monster which so far has reflected all her musical attacks right back at her which becomes instantly apparent the way her outfit is rumpled and torn (Yet still sparkling). The gears inside whirl and click as what appears to be a clockwork knight pulls its fist from the ground and continues stomping towards her.

Felicia scrambles back to her feet and hisses arching as best she can and looking around desperately for somewhere to run but she's quickly getting backed into a corner here and could really use some help!!!

_____________________________________________

[Wildcard.]

A flickering Neon sign over the bar was inviting to world weary Magi in need to relax.

Inside the bar music was always playing, sometimes low and soothing other times energizing and loud depending on the night. At the moment there's a piano number giving a mystical feel to the room as you enter and admire the polished wood surfaces and flickering candle lit lounge. A long old fashioned bar appears almost carved from the ground itself to the right of the main entrance, and to the left is a beautiful but small stage with a Microphone and various TV screens showing at the moment fireplaces. When someone opts to sing the TVs change over to music videos, or just the lyrics if needed.

In between those two main points are tables and chairs, sofas and some various tacky decor which clashes with the theme of the room. Toys and statues purchased from shops around town, souvenirs from previous battles. The walls display some portraits of various Magi signed like autographs.

Felicia loves this place and so today you can find her lounging lazily at the bar with a tall glass of milk and some dumplings on a plate.

"HEEEEY Pull up a chair! I've got more dumplings!"

Isamu Nitta | SMT: Nocturne | OTA

[isolatedreason]

Arrival

[Isamu walked the streets of Nyoi-cho with a look of confusion on his face. This was nothing like the world he imagined - literally, this place wasn't created by him at all. Admittedly, he hadn't thought about what it meant to be a Magi, and how that would interfere with his Reason. In fact, agreeing to trade one forsaken world for another with the caveat of having to defend it seems like a stupid idea altogether. However, the promise of power and a wish come true drew him in. What else could he do? He had given up and in one moment of weakness after he had told his friend to leave and do what he wanted, as he was dying, he desperately wished for his circumstances to change. To, "live in my ideal world", he had put it. With the chance for that to come true...for one last shot at making his Reason come to fruition, how could he say no?

And here he was.

Beings that feast on negative emotions...was it like a demon draining Magatsuhi? Isamu passes a window in a shop and spares a glance at his own reflection...faces decorated his body, twisting into various strong emotions. He wonders if he's anymore susceptible to these things because of this, and admittedly he's a little worried about the wondering emotions that decided to attach themselves to his body, for the first time since they appeared.

He'd need more information. But that's it...not help, just information. Isamu steps into the store, having noticed a mirror towards the back, and touches his fingernail to it. Right, that's how this works...he learned that much at least. There were maybe one or two people in the store but they seemed to busy to notice him.

There is now a teenager covered in faces addressing the network. Okay, play it cool.]

Yo. My name's Isamu. I just got here. So, these things we're supposed to be fighting...maybe someone can tell me more about them. Color me curious.

[firstofthefallen]

[You're kidding him.

Of course. Of all the those who wished to create their own world, who wished to burn their Reason into the conscious of the next people, it would have to be the one who deserved it least that arrived here.]

Why don't you go and face them yourself, if you wish to learn.

[isolatedreason]

[What the hell was that about?]

I'd rather enter a fight knowing something about my enemy.

[Yes, that's it. It would be stupid to just go charging at things without gathering information first. Why would he do that?]

[firstofthefallen]

And what would you give in return for such information?

[isolatedreason]

I don't have a whole lot to offer ever right now. What is it you want?

[This is shaping up to be more of a pain than he thought it would be...]

[firstofthefallen]

[Hahaha really Isamu? Fucking really?

This is almost kind of funny.]

If you don't have anything to offer now, why should I think you would later?

What are you skilled at?

Jughead Jones | Archie

[needlenosed]

practice makes perfect

[ Jughead has never been one to put too much effort into learning. Most of his classes wound up the same way, either him staring off into space, learning new and exciting ways to sleep without any teacher noticing, or learning the wonders of the universe through focusing on literally anything else on his phone.

But from his research materials, any superhero starts with a completely irresponsible and arbitrary training sequence to learn his powers. He had a little bit through trying to dodge whatever popped up in his head in his house, but now he was ready. Taking his first steps out into the new world for the first time.

Which basically meant he had went to the park and tried to find some kind of table. Once he has one, he's transformed standing a little far away from it, arms folded. His outfit looks as similar to a chef's outfit as it possibly can, magical and awesome. On the table, he has a can of soda and a still-wrapped hamburger. This was the true test. Finding out how far this rabbit hole of powers goes.

Jughead keeps his eyes closed, as if he's focusing before opening them and swiftly opening his palm, the can of soda swiftly leaving the table and finding itself in Jughead's hand. He opens the other, and the burger leaves next, and smashes into his hand. He tries to keep himself from completely squashing it in his hand, but holy hell, it actually worked. ]

Huh! [ He places the soda on the ground to unwrap the burger, which... looks to be a bit of a mess, but. ] Okay, work in progress. Gotta fall off the building a few times learning how to fly.

[ Doesn't stop him from taking a bite. ]

--

fighting evil by moonlight

[ So okay, Nightmares. Specifically, Nightmarescapes. They're a lot... more obtuse in person now that he's actually seeing one for himself. Jughead decided that if he was going to actually stay alive, he's probably going to have to try the magi thing at least once or twice.

The problem of course, was that he wasn't actually really good at the whole fighting thing. Sure, he had a gigantic spatula and he didn't really need a manual to learn how to work it. Well, at least he didn't think there was anything he was missing, like being able to spawn mini spatula beams by swinging it or something like that. But otherwise all he's really doing is trying to smack any familiar out of the way, and it's barely cutting it.

Out of the corner of the eye, Jughead sees a brand new face pop up alongside him, and he holds up a hand. ]

Hey, pal! Wanna give me a hand over here? Turns out swinging large utensils tires me out! Who knew!

[ Ha ha ha, seriously though, help. ]

Fighting Evil

[soulflash]

[ The clockwork knight is just about to reach Felicia when there's the shing of a sharp blade cleaving through the air. It takes one last step, but it's quickly evident that something had happened; the top half of the knight separates from the bottom, and both halves clatter to the ground uselessly, revealing the form of the one who dealt such a deadly attack.

A certain succubus pulling her wing back into its normal shape, scarcely having broken into a sweat from the assault. She tilts her head to the side, staring wide eyed at Felicia. ]

Are you alright? You must not be very strong.

[nyanyanyanyanyanyanyanyan]

[Felicia pouts and but relaxes herself now that she's safe...or at least more safe then she was.]

I actually am usually! But this place is all weird! It's like it drained some of my strength and turned it into these magic powers that I'm not used to using yet.

[She picks up a cord from the ground and starts tugging it towards herself till a microphone appears. Apparently she threw it at the beast in desperation and it bounced away somewhere.]

Thank you for the help! I woulda been toast in another minute.

Rue | Princess Tutu

[fouettes]

A. Arrival

[For a girl that has just gotten a wish granted, Rue certainly doesn't look particularly happy about her circumstances.

She's no hero or defender of the weak, but that creature anointed her as such in exchange for ridding Mytho of his corruption. It can think whatever it wants of her, so long as he keeps up his end of the bargain.

Passerbys might come and see a girl simply sitting on the sidewalk, slumped against the side of a building and dark, unruly hair covering her face. One wouldn't be blamed in mistaking her for hurt, but Rue's sadness simply runs too deep for her to get up and face her new life just yet.

Eventually, though, she will find it in her to drag herself to her feet and make her way to the house she's been assigned. A mirror set upon a lovely vanity isn't far from the entrance - she remembers the information about the mirror, and grazes her runic fingernail across it. Of course, now that the ability to communicate is open, she isn't quite sure what to say. Tired and sad, Rue simply asks the first thing that comes to mind.]

...What do I do?

B. Fighting Evil By the Moonlight

[There it was. The end of her first battle.

Raised to assist an evil Raven, Rue isn't a stranger to violence or fighting. Any battle in Gold Crown Town, though...well, even in it's violence, there was always an element of beauty and poetry to it, as befits characters acting out the roles in their story. She crossed blades and feathers with Fakir by way of dance, and Tutu always defeated her with her beautiful footwork.

There was nothing beautiful or poetic about this. Rue wanders among her comrades as if in a fugue state, knives clutched in her white-knuckled hands and her beautiful outfit tattered and torn. She looks noticeably exhausted, but whether it's a large wound you're sporting or a small one, she immediately stops in front of you when she sees it.]

You're hurt, aren't you. [Less a question, more a statement. Her voice comes out small and frail.]

Then...please allow me. [The knife slips from her fingers and falls to the ground, and Rue reaches out to touch you.]

C. A Cruel Choice

[Honestly, it was likely a fluke that Rue ended up holding onto the grief seed in the first place. Her abilities as a magical girl were not combat-based, and her chances of striking a significant blow were limited. Even as exhausted as she is, it's not a surprise that she feels guilty for holding onto it. She's not as useful as the other magi, barely able to heal effectively as she was. She wouldn't be able to live with herself, knowing she caused yet another person to suffer because of her own selfishness.

So, with dull and tired eyes, she holds the grief seed out to you.]

Take it.

fighting evil

[vulgore]

Nah. I figure if I stand here long enough, I'll get to see you die in some hilariously inept way.

[ What the hell is with these magi. Dito, for once, is utterly content to leave the fighting to someone else. If only because he figures this kid is going to get himself killed and its a spectacle he can't possibly hope to pass up watching. ]

[soulflash]

Oh, alright. When I first got here, I couldn't fly. Be more careful.

[ It's stated as if that's the only thing she couldn't do, and to demonstrate Lilith hovers off the ground a few feet. ]

If it killed you, it would have been a hassle... I'd have to drag you out of here.

c.

[inquietam]

[ It's fine.

Sayaka is accustomed to fighting past the pain, pushing herself to her limits - she knows better than to, but she can't stop. Someone needs her protection. Someone else needs that grief seed. ]

No, Rue - c'mon, we'd all be dead out there if it wasn't for you! You deserve it.

Re: c.

[fouettes]

[She frowns at Sayaka's answer.]

Because of me? You must be joking.

[She thrusts the grief seed out to Sayaka insistently, almost angrily. Like she was mad to have salvation taunted in front of her.]

There are plenty far better than I here. You among them.

Just take it.

[inquietam]

[ It's like looking into an equally stubborn mirror. And so she detransforms, effectively hiding the state of her soulgem, pushing it back at the other girl with gentle hands. ]

I can't. I'm fine, really! It's yours.

[fouettes]

[It's almost irritating, to see someone as equally devoted to self-sacrifice when Rue is trying to right her past wrongs.]

I don't want it! [Rue shakes off Sayaka's gentle hands and pushes it back out at her with equally ungentle force.]

Take it, destroy it, give it to someone else - I don't care. I'll not stand here and be responsible for what happens to you.

[inquietam]

Don't be so stubborn!

[ IS THIS WHAT DEALING WITH HER IS LIKE

NO WONDER KYOUKO IS ALWAYS SO SNAPPY AND RUDE. ]

Ugh - okay, how about -- what if we both use it?

jade harley | homestuck

[clamberlass]

arrival

[ well, this isn't kansas by a long shot, and the wicked witch isn't actually a witch at the moment; jade harley arrives not necessarily with a bang but more like a bark in the night. it's a pretty awful reference to the wizard of oz, actually - there's a girl with a grimace on her face, half between excitement and half between oh no i need to chase that but i don't wanna as a black cat hisses up above in a tree. jade's pawing at the trunk, a glittering red shoe hooked on a chunk of bark, the other foot dangling just an inch off the grass, and he's barking. ] Woof! Woof woof woof woof! Pleeeeeease come down, I don't want to chase you, and I am sorry but you just smell really... Well! Chaseable...!

[ who else would chase a cat in the middle of the night, yapping loudly right after contracting? really. ]

home improvement

[ space shifting isn't a new concept to jade, and the house she settles into is, unsurprisingly, bright. fun. exciting - there are little floating terrariums by every window, flowers slotted everywhere like the house is it's own garden, but there's posters, too; little cartoony squids and a few plushes of them.

jade claps her hands once, and then gets on her knees. she gestures closer, as the image of a giant, white dog comes into view - there's a green glow to it, an otherworldly sense of being. jade's spent the afternoon fussing with her house, making it perfect, and now her living room has been converted into a mini "get to know me" film, the image of her tower projected on the largest wall. the sound of waves can be heard, recreated from her memory. ]

And this is Bec! He's my dog! He was such a good boy, weren't you, Bec? Yes, you were!!! Hey, hey, say it with me, okay? [ that's to you, and jade reaches out to touch the fake becquerel. ] Good dog, best friend!!! Hehehe.

practice makes perfect

[ let's be realistic, though. jade's kind of used to this? this whole fighting thing - she stumbles here and there, but it's in increasingly ridiculous ways. a statue gets decapitated. no biggie! jade slips the head back on it's shoulders and bolts before anyone can know. it's fine. a burst of magic she's still getting the idea of knocks a bunch of magazines off a newsstand. manageable, still. jade somehow manages to launch a giant wad off gum off the sidewalk and into some poor person's hair, which she feels really awful about, but she has some powers to learn! she can't stay here!!

everything is coming up millhouse. she's getting the hang of it, and now she just wants to reacquaint herself with her guns, so with a grin, jade pulls out her rifle, lines up a shot into a tree. the bullet, etched with the space symbol with a thud. so far so good!

jade rockets off another shot and this time it ricochets away, slamming into a donut shop sign.

the plastic donut slips off the sign and begins to roll through the streets.

jade is also used to shenanigans, so she places a hand to her head. it's only one facepalm combo. ]

a cruel choice

[ the problem with jade harley is that, perhaps because she is a teenager, she's prone to being proactive. with the soul gem floating in the palm of her hand, she considers it. it'd be a difficult fight, and there wasn't a lot she could do about that. if it were up to jade, she'd handle the heavier things, taking control so no one had to make difficult decisions...

her buckteeth worry her bottom lip, and she feels her own, soul gem,usually a vibrant green, continue to darken. she sucks in a breath, and shifts her expression back into a goofy grin. her voice is practically a proud little yip as she turns back to her partner. ]

We did it! What a difficult night, but... It was so coooooool, you looked like a superhero at the end!

[ with a cock of her head: ] Can I see your soul gem?

[needlenosed]

[ Wow, rude. This guy's pretty bad at the whole teamwork thing, huh. Jughead's barely able to smack another familiar right out of the way, wiping his brow before glaring over. ]

Okay, seriously? I get by on being hilariously inept, but given the circumstances, even a little help would be good. Wouldn't even cost you anything.

[ One familiar slashes right at him and he's just barely able to slip away. ]

Alright, I get it, I get it, they're too strong for you too, huh?

[vulgore]

I just said why I'm not getting involved. You deaf as well as dumb?

[ He leans against his spear, leaning forward a little and the frowning in disappointment when he escapes. ]

wildcard

[dokkans]

[ Generally, good children try to avoid seedy places like bars or nightclubs or anything along those lines. But this place just kind of sprouted up out of nowhere, and being a magi herself, it was only right for her to check it out, right? Of course, the actual truth was that if something suspicious were going to just pop up, she definitely wanted to see what was up.

The ambiance suggested that it didn't feel terrible in any way. It felt familiar to many of the pubs she'd head into to work out smuggling deals in the past. The decor made her giggle a bit, especially when she comes across a picture of herself. Oh, that's cute! She doesn't remember signing it, but it still makes her feel pretty damn important.

A voice calls out to her, and the red-hooded girl tilts her head. Seriously... a catwoman? Here? She'd heard of a few of them being around the world, but didn't expect another Darkstalker to just pop right up.

An instinct says to reach into her basket and take care of business, but she stops herself. Oh no. The last time she did that, things got really bad. Instead, she glances around as if there was someone else nearby, and then points to herself. ]

Oh goodness, do you mean me?

[nyanyanyanyanyanyanyanyan]

Aww flying would be so cool! It's like jumping but you get to hang around awhile!

[That's one way of putting it. She laughs as if Lilith was joking and bops herself on the head with her paw.]

Yeah, sorry for the trouble. Say! You're a super tough experienced Magi now right? Maybe we could team up and you could give me some pointers huh? I promise I won't slow you down!

[nyanyanyanyanyanyanyanyan]

[ Likewise Felicia had never seen a girl dress like that except in plays so it was a new one on her too. But it was super cute on this girl so she was more then happy to invite her over a second time.]

I sure do! There's no bartender or cook here so I just kinda helped myself. I'm sure they won't mind...and if they do maybe they'll give me a job to pay them back. I'm still kinda new around here.

b

[loveedition]

[ It felt relatively embarrassing for Ryoko to help someone new through a Nightmare. She generally tried her hardest to keep her company reserved to a certain few, though it wasn't for a truly selfish reason. If someone were meant to depend on her with her limited abilities, what would happen?

It didn't go nearly as bad as it could have. She had a slightly deep gash on her arm, and she did her best to ignore it through the rest of the battle. Ryoko was in the process of checking her gem, making sure that it was clear before she was caught off-guard by the sudden comment from Rue. ]

Huh? Oh-- [ Right, the cut. Ryoko moves her arm back just slightly, holding onto her own wrist. ]

It's... that's okay, you really don't have to use up your magic on me.