test drive meme

[vellamods]

TDM

Hello, and welcome to Vella's TDM! As a reminder, this game is invite-only and open to anyone on the mods' timelines: Coco amplitude , Avery daintily , and/or Amber twistingkage ! Friends of friends are welcome to participate, in case we do end up having slots available (please see the Reserves page for more information) -- however, the mods' Plurk lists will be given priority.

A Mysterious Gift

Good morning! Today’s shaping up to be a bright, sunny day on the island. The weather is balmy but not too hot, and there’s a gentle, cool breeze. It’s as idyllic and perfect as you could want… but there seems to be something being carried by the wind. It won’t take you long to notice because it’s so out of place - it’s bright and colorful and definitely not something normal. It’s a balloon floating towards the island at a leisurely pace, and hanging from the balloon is what looks to be a… wrapped present? It’s a white box with a red ribbon, and it doesn’t seem to be weighing down the balloon at all. How odd...

If you happen to be armed with a slingshot, you can use it to pop the balloon. When the balloon is popped, the present will fall to the ground - but be careful where you’re shooting! There’s a river running through the island, and your gift could easily end up swept away if it falls just above the water… And if you don’t have a slingshot, feel free to get creative! Or you can make one and be ready for the next mysterious package - because there will be one just a few minutes later, drifting along.

Should you choose to unwrap the present, one of two things will happen: Maybe you'll get something small in size but no less valuable: a shiny, pristine crown that looks like it might cost a fortune. Whether or not you take care of it is up to you, but hey, you run this island now! (Not really.) Alternatively, you might get a very large red double sofa; when you unwrap the present, it suddenly springs out and lands with a loud thunk onto the ground. Pray that it doesn't smash your toes! How something so big squeezed inside a box so small is a mystery, but hey...congrats?


Gotta Catch 'em All (cw: Scorpions)

The island has tons of natural resources. There are the apple fruit trees dotted around the island and plenty of flowers that you can see up on the cliffs, but beyond that are the rivers threading through the island and the beaches themselves. They seem to be filled to bursting with fish - you can see their dark shadows in the water clear as day, and the fish seem to come in a variety of sizes. Make yourself a fishing pole and go for it! The fish are not only good for cooking and eating, but you can also sell them off for bells. Or keep them as pets, that’s fine too.

But if you’re not a fan of fishing, there’s still plenty to catch. The island is also completely filled with… Well. Bugs. The island is filled with bugs. Butterflies flutter around, and you can get some bells for selling them off...and don't count out the dragonflies, grasshoppers, and mantises, either! You'll need a bug net to nab these critters, but once they're yours, you're free to do what you'd like with them.

When it gets dark, though, be careful! That’s when scorpions come out, and they’re known for their sting. They're far and few between, but when you find them, try not to panic. If you don't have your net out, they'll leave you alone and stay at the edges of your general vicinity. If you bring your net out, though, they'll raise their legs and shake their tails defensively at you. Get too close too fast, and they'll chase after you. They're fast.


Henry's Quest

Henry the frog has been living on the island with you, and today he has a request! He wants to make some hedges to put around his house (or maybe he just wants to tidy up the island), and for that he needs weeds. Twenty of them, in fact. More is fine, but less is just unacceptable. If you choose to accept the task, he’ll give you a reward for helping him: ten iron nuggets! It’s all he has though, so whether you choose to do this solo or with some friends, you’re only getting ten iron nuggets total. Still, while it’s not exactly a rare resource, it’s certainly a limited one, so you may find the reward enticing. Or perhaps you just want to help him out of sheer kindness. Whatever the reason may be, it’s time to get to work.

The island has plenty of weeds, so it shouldn’t be too hard to pick the ones you need. If someone happens to be plucking in the same spot as you, maybe you can work together! After all, more hands means more weeding, which means you can all make Henry happy even faster.

For those who are less teamwork-oriented, you’re free to do this solo, but where’s the fun in that? … Ah, you’re thinking of hogging all of the nuggets for yourself, aren’t you? Well in that case, maybe you should consider sabotaging the competition...though do you really want to draw the ire of the people you’ll be spending at least the next few weeks with?

(OOC Note: We will not be NPCing Henry on this TDM.)


Winding Down

Another day at the island has come and gone. The night sky is clear and the stars are out -- the perfect way to wind down after a day’s worth of hard work. Someone - maybe you! - has built a campfire on the beach, and it’s as good a time as any to get to know the people you’re living with. You’re stuck here, after all.

Sit around, chat, maybe tell some spooky (or not so spooky) stories. Enjoy yourself! You’ve got many more days ahead of you, but for tonight you can just rest and enjoy the peace of the island you now get to call home.




Taken / FAQ / Locations / Full Nav

Comments

Mira Delacroix | original

[philoxenia]

a mysterious gift.

[ Listen... she's an actual animal now. This is the least weird thing that's happened. What she isn't used to is the slingshot, so it takes her a few tries to actually get it... but when she does, hell yes she's going to open that present.

What she isn't expecting is to get... a sofa. What. For a moment, she looks vaguely distressed, as if she's trying and failing to figure out how this is even possible, but you know what. This is fine. It's fine. She just can't think too hard about it. At least she has something to sit on, but... ]

... How do I get this to my house?

gotta catch 'em all.

[ During the day? Hell yeah she's loving this. The butterflies are a little tricky sometimes, especially the more vibrant ones, but she's getting better and better as she catches more and more. It's nice to feel like she's improving, since she's not sure she has many other talents here-- ah, an agrias butterfly. There's no time to dwell when there's a pretty butterfly to catch!

... At night, though, she isn't like. Expecting to have to catch bugs. It's one of those nights when she can't sleep, so she takes a walk, and when movement catches her eye--

Oh my god. It's a scorpion. She freezes, absolutely paralyzed with terror, and it doesn't even occur to her to pull out her net. Please help. ]

wild card.

[ hit me with a starter or let me know if there's something you want to do! ]

[transfusionem]

Well...

[Adelaide is here to help!]

Did you try to couch it?

[She is not helping!]

[philoxenia]

[ Oh my god.

No, this is absolutely helping. ]

I did, but... sofa-r, I haven't had much luck with that.

[transfusionem]

[!!!]

Maybe you should chaise down whoever sent these gifts?

a mysterious gift

[redbellion]

Good question.

[ how the fuck did that come out of a balloon-box...whatever, keith's stopped questioning how things around here work. he walks over to the sofa and grabs onto one side of it, bending down to grab the bottom of the sofa. ]

Can you lift the other side?

[philoxenia]

[ Mood, Keith. ]

Oh-- sure. I appreciate it a lot.

[ She grabs the other side! And when he's ready, she lifts it up--making sure to use her legs. She might be a dog now (somehow, it's still absolutely wild to her) but she's fairly sure bad lifting practices would hurt just as much. ]

It isn't too far from here, at least.

[redbellion]

[ this thing is pretty heavy, but keith is pretty strong so lifting isn't much of an issue. for now. he's sure it will be in a few moments. ]

You lead the way.

[ he doesn't know where your house is!! ]

gotta catch 'em all (day)

[diadora]

[Mira's not the only one having fun catching different kinds of insects; Deirdre's been having a blast doing so too, though she's a little encumbered by her choice of attire. Most of them are getting away, but there's an Agrias Butterly zipping on by and Deirdre's trying to catch up to it--

And well, it's likely going to zoom by Mira as well. Deirdre will stop short of nearly tumbling into the other girl, though Deirdre smiles.]

Oh! You have my apologies--those butterflies are quite swift, aren't they?

[philoxenia]

[ Honestly, it'd partly be Mira's fault, too... butterfly catching, who knew it'd be so intense? She gives a startled little laugh, though. ]

They really are. I had no idea they could be so fast. Oh-- it's getting away!

[diadora]

Nor did I, all be told...

[Ah, but--it is getting away!! Deirdre raises her net.]

Come then! Let us see to it that this lovely creature is caught for us, shall we?

[LET'S ZOOM.]

gotta catch 'em all (night) (not apping her to the game but i couldn't resist!!)

[twovirtues]

[Mira's not the only one out late at night. Though to Amaya's credit, nothing's ever stopped her from playing from sun up and not stopping. If anything, she's absolutely zooming about, arms wide and having a blast, when she sees--

Oh! It's one of those mean bugs! Amaya grins brightly before pulling her net out and running up, just kind of barrels to get between Mira and the scorpion.]

Hey, you, meanie! You stay away from her, got it? I wouldn't wanna have to introduce you to this little guy right here! You better go away right now!

[...I'm so sorry, we're both gonna die, Mira.]

[philoxenia]

[ Oh my god. Well. That scorpion is definitely rearing up on its back legs. Mira lets out a sound that's half-squeak, half-gasp, and she nearly reaches out to pull her back... She just stops herself, though, in case the scorpion sees that as a threat. ]

I-I think we should just... slowly walk backward....

[twovirtues]

[Listen, it's fine!! Amaya sees the little threatening gesture and brings her net up, fearless as ever.]

That's just gonna make him go terrorize someone else! Lookit him, he's just sitting there being a jerk.

[It's. It's not backing down. Amaya's smile doesn't waver, but...]

M-Maybe he'll get the point if we just stand our ground--!

[Oh god did it just jump. Oh no, oh fuck--]

Leave him to me! I'll swipe him up--!

[FUCKING RUN MIRA.]

mysterious gift

[rupturingheaven]

Very carefully, I would assume.

[A pause.]

Would you like some help?

[philoxenia]

[ ma'am your sass

She looks grateful at the offer, though. ]

That would be very much appreciated, actually....

[rupturingheaven]

[Listen, is she wrong????

Still, she nods and makes her way over to one of the ends of the couch. After taking a moment to look it over, she'll lift up one end.]

It could be worse, at least...

[Just imagine if it'd been something bigger or more awkward to carry...]

Gotta catch 'em all

[gohomeivar]

[Thankfully she has hers now. Seeing the girl paralyzed with fear, she'll just casually swoop in to catch the scorpion for her.]

Don't worry. It won't get you now. Are you okay?

[philoxenia]

[ Ah, she's so cool... Mira lets out a breath, relieved, and she gives her a smile. ]

I'm okay, yes. Thank you for that. I didn't expect to see a scorpion out here....

[gohomeivar]

It seems we can't let our guards down here so easily. [Not that she really.. ever... lowers her guard.] Now the question is what should we do with it..?

[philoxenia]

[ What a helpful boy!!

She's definitely aware of it, she just-- dozed off a little. It's fine. It's just a little warm, that's all. But she's ready to tackle the weeds, so that's when she spots him. ]

--Oh, are you helping Henry, too?

gotta catch 'em all (day)

[guideyouhome]

[ Towards sunset, Kairi will join in the bug catching with Mira. She watches at first then picks up a net to try and join in. It seems fun even if she has no idea what she's doing. ]

Ha-!!

[ Kairi foolishly yells as she tries to catch a dragonfly. It easily dodges her net and flies past one of the rivers before she can follow. The girl nearly falls in but manages to catch herself, letting out a nervous laugh. ]

I'm not good at this. [ She smiles to Mira. ] How are you doing?

[philoxenia]

Ah, that was close! They're really hard to grab, aren't they?

[ Always flitting away just before you can catch them.... Mira, herself, just barely misses one... ]

I guess that's where practice comes in... I have a long way to go myself.

[guideyouhome]

Yeah... it probably help if I stopped yelling huh?

[ At least she can laugh a little at herself. She's so used to it because of her keyblade training. ]

At least it's fun, right? But I'd like to have something to show by nightfall! Hey maybe we could team up!