aurorastation | TEST DRIVE MEME (4)

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ugh. why.]

I certainly did hang myself. But it's fine. Obviously, I survived--one way or another.

[obviously.]

I mean yeah. You're clearly standing right here in front of me, but also I definitely heard something that suggested some neck breakage.

I'm not asking you to explain though. I get it. Just ah. Wanted to be sure you were okay, and you are so.

Thanks for the boost? Kinda a win/lose sort of situation though! That was a bummer.

Not really. I found it very informative.

Whoever did that to you deserves a very unfortunate death, for the record.

[just saying]

I...

[Let him search his memories for a moment. The ones he's got by now, anyway.]

...I don't really believe in killing people. [HE SAYS, HAVING TO EAT THEM TO SURVIVE BUT SHHH.] Maybe they can just. Go to jail?

[MAN SAME HAT THO?]

I mean, sure. But maybe after being roughed up. Just a little.

Though I might be biased.

I really hate the sight of children bloodied up and shoved into cages.

[no offense to being called a kid but like... look. he's almost a decade older?]

Ch-Childr-...

[Excuse him while he gets a little flustered at being called A CHILDREN. Like man, he gets that adults just kind of lump them all together, but that's still a little harsh for a 17yr old young man.

He is going to drop the incredulous look, to be flustered about the ordeal.]

Well, yeah that's. I mean it was. I wasn't... I don't blame you, I just would really rather not answer violence with more violence if it can be avoided.

And yet, punishments can't be pleasant either.

Well, I can't say I have such a kind heart. It's admirable that you still do, though.

[... little bit jelly. just a little.]

[SHRUGS!!!! He never thought of himself as having a kind heart, but he supposed he never really thought about it before.]

Really? Maybe I'm just a wimp.

Haha, no way. It's a lot harder to stay kind in a terrible situation like that. That's not wimpy.

I guess.

[How dare you insist upon him being kindhearted. So rude. And just after calling him a child, too.]

I mean I get angry about it too, sometimes. I'm no angel.

[... head tilts.]

No, I actually met someone who called himself that once. You and he aren't anything alike.

Eugh. I dunno if I'd trust anyone who would actually call themselves an angel. Like, no offense if you guys were close, but.

You know what I mean? Seems shady.

Well.

He is literally kind of a worker for the entity that created my world? That's what he said an angel was...

Kaleb's a good boy.

[like he's talking about a dog.]

Edited 2019-02-03 06:29 (UTC)

...Oh, I see. I mean that makes more sense than just calling yourself one, I guess.

[That's a weird way to talk about an actual, literal angel though.]

I guess I'm just used to demons being nothing more than a species, so I figured angels would be like. The same kind of thing? Or a way to disguise someone who was less than pure.

And demons are related to angels?

Uh like. In mythology, right? I've never met an actual angel so I don't... know...

Could just be that humans don't like monsters, so they call them something universally reviled when they're... like... that.

Know what I mean? [He hopes he knows, because he's doing a terrible job explaining it.]

Kind of.

I don't think I've ever really heard of demons or angels before. We've got actual monsters in the dark to worry about.

Oh... well where I'm from a lot of purple believe there's like... another dimension? Where all evil lives. And the creatures that are born there or call the place home are called demons.

And one the opposite end, there is a realm of all that's good, inhabited by angels who are meant to be saviors.

So when monsters start showing up that look human, but they have the tendency to tear people apart like wild animals, they get labeled "demons", like beings of pure evil from another world.

Hmm... if they didn't come from the same place, I'd say that Worldbuilder Diederik could be a demon, then.

[GRIMACES.]

That sounds not great, I'm going to be honest with you.

Well... end of the world scenarios tend to be not great, that's true.

end of the world scenarios are less great when someone who's called "worldbuilder" can be considered demon-like...

And here we are in another 'save the universe' kind of scenario. Can't escape 'em, huh?

Might just be my lot in life.

[lolol shrugs a bit half-heartedly.]

But I also might be biased against that Worldbuilder since he is the one who put a noose around my neck.

Edited 2019-02-03 23:10 (UTC)

Yeah, I can't imagine that'd endear anyone. [Seriously... u ok bro???]

It's a really shitty lot. Especially when they think you're going to be some hero...

--who thinks that?

(no subject)

crimeboy - 2019-02-05 01:24 (UTC) - Expand

wellhanged - 2019-02-05 01:27 (UTC) - Expand

crimeboy - 2019-02-05 01:33 (UTC) - Expand

wellhanged - 2019-02-05 01:34 (UTC) - Expand

crimeboy - 2019-02-05 01:38 (UTC) - Expand