TEST DRIVE MEME (4)

[trainmasters]

test drive meme

Your character wakes up in a neat bedroom in their team carriage, in nondescript underwear. They might be missing their memories, or their special abilities, or they may just feel a little queasy. Next to them is what seems to be a smartphone, which they know how to use even if they never had before, even if they don't know if they have before. On the screen is a simple message:

Welcome aboard the Aurora!

You have been selected by the Star Prince as a potential hero, tasked with saving the universe from Malice. As a passenger I, your Construct and Conductor, will attempt to provide you with quality lodgings and safety. In return, we ask that you join your fellows in making bonds and doing your utmost to bring joy back to the Stars.

Due to the process of restoring your body, you may find some things are missing. We apologise for the inconvenience and hope to return them to you as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation.

★ One
Upon investigation, you'll find some basic clothes matching your team's theme in the storage provided in your room. Or, perhaps, you're wandering out of the room still undressed. Either way, downstairs you'll find someone has left a tray of cups of hot tea on the living room table. Drinking it may be simply pleasant, or it may cause you to feel a sudden need to warm up to the others in your carriage -- emotionally or physically. Welcome to the team, newbie!

☆ Two
Shortly after your arrival, you find yourself wrapped up in some monster NPC's Game. You're inside what appears to be a stone temple, with a massive golden scale on one wall. Suddenly, on one side, a heavy metal weight is dropped. As the scales tip out of balance, the floor begins to slowly disappear, brick by brick, ready to drop you -- and whoever is with you -- into an abyss. Your only hope comes in the form of an inscription on the altar:

How much do your secrets weigh?

Every secret you tell causes a weight to fall onto the other side of the scale. The bigger the secret, the bigger the weight. If you can collectively tip the scales, the floor will quit dropping bricks and a door will appear to allow you back to the train. If you can't, you'll fall, seemingly forever, til you pass out. When you wake up you'll find yourself unable to lie.

★ Three
You've been in aurora for awhile -- long enough to have recovered a memory/power or two, if you lost any. And it's lucky for you: today, the area around the train has been surrounded in a strange mist that makes you feel dizzy and overly warm. Left alone, your condition will slowly degrade, with increasing lethargy and shortness of breath until you lose consciousness. The cure is easy enough, though -- touch another person and they'll see one of your memories, experiencing it as if it's their own. The effect is mutual -- you now have a piece of eachother, and you're safe from the illness... at least until you take another big breath. Good thing there's no mist inside the train!

☆ Four
Wildcard. Make up your own prompt! Check out the setting and team pages for info on the train. If you have any questions, ask on the q&a page. Otherwise, apps open on February 8! In the meantime you're free to join us on Discord.

Comments

[bombedcolortheory]

[What a good horned weirdo.]

That is what makes it a secret?

[crimeboy]

Well.

Yeah, I guess. Something you don't like people to know. Something you'd like to keep to yourself, if possible. It doesn't have to be anything crazy like "I'm a double agent" or "I'm a spy or assassin", or "I stole a painting from a museum".

[Aaaaaand another weight drops, causing Akira to turn. And stare at it.]

...Shit. Which one?

[bombedcolortheory]

I don't think you are an assassin. You don't have the skill to kill me.

[Helpful process of elimination.]

[crimeboy]

...You don't know that! I could be really skilled at killing!

[He doesn't feel like an assassin, though. He feels like he'd probably cry if he killed someone. Maybe even if he killed a particularly big spider. Maybe.]

[bombedcolortheory]

[..................

It's true. Maybe he just doesn't remember those skills. She nods.]

Mato defeated me. She isn't skilled either.

[crimeboy]

[Hmmmm! Interesting!]

Well, I guess luck has to account for some things.

...Does that mean you've... died?

[bombedcolortheory]

[Another nod. Perhaps a bit stiff.]

Her emotions remained, so I did as well.

[crimeboy]

[.......Oh.]

Sorry to hear that.

...Not!!! Not the uh!!! The remaining, but the dying!

I don't think anyone has the right to take the life of another. So I guess you're right. I can't be an assassin.

[bombedcolortheory]

[Why are you sorry, horned weirdo? Shooter is the one who instigated Mato in the first place. Did she not explain that part? Oh well. It's not important.]

It's fine. I was able to teach her. I was... useful. That is what I want.

[Another small weight falls, and her gaze follows it curiously.]

[crimeboy]

[He's a horned weirdo who likes people to be alive and happy, alright?]

...You want to be useful...? I can understand that. You don't seem that inhuman, you know? Maybe a little, but not... not THAT much.

I feel like I've learned a lot about you, and I don't even know your name yet.

[bombedcolortheory]

[Yes, well. She doesn't usually talk this much. Not since... that one time. It only happened one time. Hm.]

Black★Rock Shooter.

[Her name. That's her name. Don't question it.]

[crimeboy]

Black Star Rock Shooter...?

[He's not able to pronounce the symbols right yet.]

Uuuhh. You can call me Kiryuu.

[bombedcolortheory]

No. Kiryuu.

[For the first time since they arrived, she appears mildly irritated. Apparently the ★ is silent. Roll with it.]

Just Black Rock Shooter.

[Except not. The star is important. DON'T FORGET IT.]

[crimeboy]

Oh.

Okay, Black Rock Shooter. [That's a mouthful, but you know what? That's okay. Some people are particular about their names! He will try to be respectful????]

Well, it's nice to meet you!

[bombedcolortheory]

[She eases up immediately. Kiryuu is not at all like Mato, but also he is, just a little. It's interesting.

She nods, then she bows. Just for good measure.]

[crimeboy]

[Oh, are they bowing now? Okay. He bows back, even if he thinks that's a little formal. Black Rock Shooter seems the formal type, and there's no reason not to have some manners anyway.]

Looks like we'll probably live, at least. We dropped a couple big secrets there to do so, but I can't say I regret it.

[bombedcolortheory]

I don't mind if you know my secrets.

[She wouldn't have regretted falling into whatever lays below either, but there's no need to say that. If Kiryuu is content with this outcome, then she is too.]

You can keep them as if they're yours. Next time, you'll have some answers.

[crimeboy]

[Excuse him while he blushes a little at the idea of "keeping her secrets like his own". It's... really sweet?]

Yeah, and I learned some of my own too. You can do the same with mine.

[bombedcolortheory]

[She's terrible at being sweet, but that doesn't mean she doesn't try on occasion!

Kiryuu gets a warm nod before Shooter heads for the exit. If there isn't one, she'll make one. She's much better at that.]