TEST DRIVE MEME

[behind_the_box]

Starting now, we'll put up a new one of these very month! Feel free to use the current setting of Pandora (Christmas in July) or make up your own! You can also use the following scenarios if you'd prefer:

1. Mushroom Kingdom

Have you ever wanted to be a fairy? Well now you are, even if the answer was no! The City is a big, big place, all of a sudden. Houses are roomy affairs inside giant mushrooms, there are colorful flowers everywhere you look, and the animals are always friendly! Unfortunately, the only food items being sold in the market this month are fruit, fruit, and.... more fruit.

2. School Town

You may be too old to attend the academy, but that doesn't seem to matter; your attendance is mandatory anyway. Or perhaps you're there to teach, because you're the only resident of Pandora that possesses a certain skill. It doesn't matter if it can't be learned; you have to come up with a lesson plan anyway. At least the uniforms aren't some god awful color, right?

3. Zombie Apocalypse.

There's no coming back from death in Pandora, so you'd better do all you can to survive. Three quarters of the city are already infected, and this is the last stand. Are you going to pool your resources and try to make it together, or is it time to stop trusting others and go it alone until the month is over?

Comments

Lancer (Diarmuid Ua Duibhne) | Fate/Zero (Spoiler Warning: Canon Point is Epi 16)

[oathshackledbird]

Prompt: Arriving in the City during the Christmas in July Event!

[The war was not suppose to end like this. His life was not suppose to end like this. Not with another betrayal. Even though Diarmuid had suspected things might have started to twist toward that familiar ending again, he had hoped he would be able to stop it. To keep things from getting that far.

Then the war had ended. His spear in his chest. His blood on the ground. Black and red, hatred and rage filling his vision--his self--until there had been nothing left.

There should have been nothing left. However, instead of nothing there had been the box. And the curiosity.

Did it matter now if he opened it or not?

So he had and here he was, wherever here was. Oh, he had listened to what he had been told during his little introduction, but now that he is standing on his own in the middle of this strangely...festive city, he really has no idea where to start trying to decide what to do.

Or why the residents seem so worried about needing protection from evil spirits that they have mistletoe hung up everywhere...]

Saber (Diarmuid Ua Duibhne) | Post-Fate/Zero AU (Canon Point: Post 6th Grail War/Corruption's War)

[shatteredservice]

(OOC: I am indecisive. Leave me alone. *hides*)


Prompt: Arriving in the City during the Christmas in July Event!

[Was it not enough that the Throne of Heroes had shattered? Was it not enough that order and common sense had scattered to the four winds the moment that countless heroes had been returned to the world they had once ruled, fought, and died upon? Had not that insanity been enough to deal with?

Is Diarmuid really standing in the middle of a city made out of gingerbread houses and covered in an impossible amount of snow?

Unconsciously, his left hand lifts to rub at his right shoulder, at the place where his right arm would be if it had not been severed by his master so that the magus could cheat the system and sacrifice his servant to the Corruption for a wish instead of bothering to win the war and earn his wish as it should have been.

Diarmuid sighs, looking around the city again before seeming to come to some kind of conclusion and calling out to those passing nearby.]

Pardon me. I would have a moment of your time...

[shortafewcircuits]

[Waver is really not in the habit of watching where she's going. There aren't usually enough people out this time of day to bother, and the reindeer-drawn sleds don't venture this close to the side of the street. And so she is rushing down the lane, rummaging through a bag for something, when she crashes right into his back and falls flat on hers in the snow.]

...Bugger.

[allthetime]

(ooc: NO NEVER /slams into <3)

[The troll girl stops to look at him and giggle as though he made a joke, wings fluttering just slightly as she grins at him in the friendliest way possible.]

You look lost. Would you like some help?

[proteusmoon]

[ Cecil finds the appearance of the city strange as well, but doesn't recognize it as a festive theme. Having grown up in a coastal kingdom on a fairly warm continent, snow isn't something she's used to seeing. In fact, she's only been exposed to it a few times in her life — the majority of said instances having taken place in the last year, in fact. As such, she's not finding the cold all that enjoyable. It reminds her of the moon, actually— the cold of space and the days' tendency to be short and dark compared to the long, warm days of summer.

This holiday they call "Christmas" doesn't exist on her world. They have their own winter traditions, true, but it's different from this and in Baron it's different from the rest of the world. Cecil pulls her cloak tighter around herself and walks up the ice-covered steps leading to the entranceway of the library carefully, mindful not to slip. There's mistletoe hung in the arched doorway just inside, where Cecil pauses for a moment to shake the snow from her silvery hair and clothes, but she doesn't notice since she's still not accustomed to looking for the little green sprigs at every turn. The warmth of the library is inviting and she shivers slightly from the shock of it sinking into her body. She's going to have to search for more suitable clothing to wear in this weather if it's going to stay this way for a while. ]

I'm sorry; I don't have anyone else to tag with right now. ;;

[proteusmoon]

No, it's fine.

[ The knight in her black gambeson, boots, and breeches turns to look up at the man to her right. Although the expression on his face is telling enough itself, she's guessing he's new because she saw the management representative speaking to him while she was crossing the street. She gives him a friendly smile and inclines her head to one side. ]

Is... everything all right? I saw them talking to you a moment ago. Are you in trouble or...?

Javik | Mass Effect 3 | canon point is post-game!

[vengefulancient]

Prompt: Zombie Apocalypse.

*War. War never changes. It always involves reanimated corpses, for instance, though there's a pleasing lack of giant squid-shaped death machines backing the corpses this time around. Indeed, compared to the level of war being Hell Javik is used to, this seems almost like a vacation.*

*So Javik is out in the streets, fighting his way towards a tall building. He's unarmed, but he's got mind powers, which he's using to slam zombies to the pavement at lethal speed and also to ignite them with strange green flames.*

*There's a lot about this situation that's baffling to him. He's not sure why or how he's here, for instance. But that doesn't really matter at this particular moment--survival is all that counts in a situation like this.*

*So, anyone else out there trying to escape the hordes? Wanna join up with the grimly determined four-eyed alien?*

[fionnuisce]

[He'd thought the box left upon his desk was at best some kind of gift from one of many admirers or at worst, a harmless prank from Eskardos. Of course he'd opened it, Waver had thought nothing of it to begin with.]

[But this was where 'curiosity' got him? This...this was cruel. Some illusion of a city decorated in mistletoe, with him standing in it? Waver's right hand curled into a fist, still bearing the faded scars that had once been bright scarlet Command Spells.]

What is this? [He barely managed to keep an audible snarl out of his voice--instead his words were forced and even pained.] Some kind of joke? You're not really here--you can't be here.

[wealthreliant]

[Fending off the snow in an ivory cap and a snow leopard-printed jacket does not seem to be helping Gilgamesh's mood much. A few days of cold, fine. A few inches of snow, fine. But this was unacceptable, and the only reason he wasn't lashing out more was because of the current state of his treasury.

He hears the voice but doesn't acknowledge it as recognizable, turning his head to look back the way he had just walked.

Though his lips somehow manage to remain flat, there is a very obvious snort of amusement as he looks at the decidedly worse-for-wear Lancer.]

Look what the cat dragged in.

[Someone has probably been watching more TV than really necessary.]

[shatteredservice]

(OOC: But... But... *flails uselessly*)


[There had once been a time when Diarmuid would have taken her laughter and her grin in the friendly way they are probably intended, but that time had ended when his soul had been ripped apart by the Corruption. While his death at his fellow Saber's hands and the bright hope-filled light of Excalibur's blade had driven most of that taint from him, a small bit still sleeps--still waits--in his soul. While it doesn't do much in its sleeping state, it does darken his emotions. Makes him doubt where he once would not. Makes him suspect when he once would not have.

Like he suspects right now.

And it doesn't help she's....a fairy? What is going on here?]

Yes, I could use some help. What madness has taken a hold of this place? This...is not normal.

*pats* It's fine! :-D

[shatteredservice]

Trouble? No, no trouble yet that I know of, though I expect the Association will not approve of a servant in a situation like this...

[Diarmuid trails off, left hand lifting to again rub at his shoulder. He might not have been back from the Throne for very long, but already it is becoming a nervous habit.]

What is going on in this place? Are the buildings always so...edible?

[shatteredservice]

[Lancer no longer, but Saber--a class change Diarmuid will all to gladly show Archer given the chance. In fact, his hand tenses when his eyes fall on the other servant and he confirms that yes, the haughty voice does belong to who he remembers it belonging to. He almost calls Moralltach to hand, but stops himself. He is too new here. He doesn't know all the rules and it would be unwise to start a conflict now even if the darkness in his soul stirs happily at even the thought of cutting down the cocky servant a peg or two.

Instead, Diarmuid forces the emotions seeing Archer have stirred in him away, letting an indifferent mask fall over his face. Yes, he remembers the servant far too well, but at the moment and considering how little said servant probably bothers to remember about him...

The indifferent mask doesn't last long as a smirk curls the corner of Diarmuid's mouth.]

I'm sorry. Have we met, King of...Dead Animal Pelts?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid turns quickly when he feels the smaller form run into him. Without really focusing on who it is, he moves to the person's side, crouching down so that he can make sure they are okay.]

Hey, you didn't hurt...

[His voice trails off when he catches sight of the person's face for the first time.]

Waver Velvet? Is that you?

[oathshackledbird]

[As a servant, Diarmuid is fortunate that he doesn't have to worry about the cold. If not, he would probably be pretty miserable by now. However, while he can't become uncomfortable from the cold, the dampness from all the snow is starting to bother him and that is why he had stopped in the doorway of the library as he has been making his way through town trying to figure out just what all of this is and what he is suppose to do.

He steps off to the side slightly as the silver-haired woman enters the doorway and nods to her in a friendly manner despite the fact he is still very confused about everything.

If he notices the nearby mistletoe, he says nothing. After all, to him it is hung as nothing more than a protective talisman. Why should he worry about it?]

It is not exactly the nicest day to be out, is it? It seems my bad luck has dropped me here at a difficult time.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid starts when he hears the words snarled at him with such an odd, pained tone. The city itself has confused him enough, but now to have someone he doesn't even know telling him he shouldn't be here...

Doesn't he realize Diarmuid already knows that?]

Tell me something I don't know. Have we...

[He pauses, giving the man a closer look.]

Wait... We have met, haven't we?

[fionnuisce]

...You don't...recognize me. [Waver shook his head as though that would clear out the confusion he felt. Speaking more to himself than Diarmuid, he continued:] No, of course you wouldn't. Even if you could remember me, don't I look completely different now?

[Adjusting the sunglasses he'd worn on top of his head for what felt like forever, Waver sighed with a bitter smile.] Very well...since this is obviously some mad little dream I brought on myself from working three days straight, I'll play along.

My name is Waver Velvet. There was a time some years ago when I called myself your Master--no, your friend.

[shortafewcircuits]

[It is a very unimpressed face. The mouth is even in sort of a ﹏ shape.]

I'm-- ...awkward.

[How very awkward indeed. Should she scream?]

[allthetime]

(OOC: SHHH. ONLY FUN NOW.)

Normalcy is relative.

[The girl shrugs, smile never fading. It's difficult to say if she doesn't notice his more reserved body language, or if she just doesn't care.]

But then so is madness I suppose! It's a human festival of some sort I think.

[allthetime]

[Alien team ups are the best team ups. Aradia doesn't seem to mind the zombies as much as one really should; she flutters out of their way when they decide they want an Aradia-flavored snack, but other than that, she only seems to step in when it's for the benefit of someone else.]

Oh hey I've never seen you before!

[vengefulancient]

*Alien team-ups are totally the best team-ups. Also, this is a bit of a surprise: a species Javik doesn't recognize!*

. . . Nor I you. I did not think there were any undiscovered species left in the galaxy. At least, none actually capable of speech.

[allthetime]

I suppose it depends on the galaxy you're looking in.

[She gets this a lot from humans, so it's not surprising from other aliens either.]

[holyswordwielder]

( ooc ; Fate/Zero AU! Because why not. )

[ Arthur is standing at the display window of one of the toy shops, peering inside at the dolls and plush animals on the shelves, when he hears a strangely familiar voice. He looks over his shoulder and feels his stomach drop out from under him. He can't help staring, though he knows it's uncivil to do so. If he looks like he just saw a ghost, it's because he has. ]

...Lancer.

[vengefulancient]

To my people, it was simply our empire, our home. Some species in the current cycle call it the "Milky Way."

*He says the name with a touch of contempt. What a stupid name. Primitives.*

[allthetime]

[Aradia's expression is thoughtful for a moment, and she hovers a little higher in the air to avoid an oncoming zombie.]

That's where Earth is right? I'm not from that galaxy.

[vengefulancient]

*Sets that zombie on fire 8|*

Correct.

. . . A species from another galaxy? You are the first such being I have ever met. Come down from there. I would touch you.