test drive meme

[chims]

the test drive meme

It's a new day in The World, and a special quest is abound. But wait, the players cry! The game isn't open yet! Shush you, the GMs warned. This is only a test drive meme. The game is simple. You've woken up in a lush field of grass, soft to the touch and a little damp with dew. Spring has reached The World, and there's a randomized checklist in your hand. Your goal is to catch five of the Lucky Animals bounding about, and it's perfectly fine to work together. In fact, we encourage it! Collect them all and deposit them in a pen where the GMs await. There's plenty for everyone, but they will be watching closely for cheaters. Any items won in this pre-game minigame will carry over once holyrelic opens, so get your limited edition item set today! Magnificent prizes await you, so go forth! Just beware; some of the Lucky Animals aren't really so lucky and have their own side effects. (All participants who apply will receive a mochi hat of the player's choosing. They can be either small (think mini tophats) or large (like a harvest cleric's hat) and any of the three colors, with any variety of accessories. All participants who finish the quest will earn a spring-themed beginner item set! It will include one weapon and a bonus item set with five restoratives, five randomized buff spells, and five randomized food items.)

Comments

[iseedollpeople]

[And, though Mei does start forward a step when the Goat knocks into him, in the end she ends up just watching the debacle. Right down to Joshua's (graceful) attempts not to fall on his face.

They make a bit of a comically frozen tableau for a moment, since she isn't moving and Joshua is on the verge of going either up or down.

This is clearly the best moment for an actual Lucky Animal to come dashing through like a rocket, leaving nothing but a trail of dust behind.]

[leggierissimo]

[... and, surprisingly, Joshua manages to keep his footing. Hooray for small victories! He lets out a small sigh of relief, readjusting his hat a little.

And speaking of hats, had that goat creature ran off? And just what was that that had zoomed by?]

... well, then.

[iseedollpeople]

[Since her companion hasn't, in fact, fallen on his face, Mei's interest has moved elsewhere. She's looking after the Dark Goat with a mildly perturbed expression.]

... My hat.

[leggierissimo]

Hm. It ran off with it.

>[He peers off in the direction the thing had ran off in... no sign of the hat.]

Maybe you can find another one.

[iseedollpeople]

[She gives a small sigh, but otherwise doesn't comment. Instead, she turns her head the other way.]

There was another Animal. You probably didn't see it.

[leggierissimo]

I saw something. Maybe that's what we're supposed to catch?

[He brings one hand to his mouth, contemplative.]

Awfully fast little things, aren't they?

[iseedollpeople]

They stop sometimes.

[Without further comment, she starts moving in the direction the new Animal was going.]

[leggierissimo]

[... hm. Well. If she's going... he might as well follow along. It wouldn't hurt to try to win whatever this is, after all. So, don't mind as he follows behind you.]

I don't think I caught your name.

[iseedollpeople]

[She pauses and looks over her shoulder when he speaks up; doesn't reply until after she's gotten going again. Got to keep her eye peeled, after all.]

Misaki Mei.

[leggierissimo]

[Oh, don't worry. He's keeping his eye out, too. Two sets of eyes are better than one!]

Joshua. Nice to meet you, Mei-chan.

[iseedollpeople]

[One and a half sets bro check your sight privilege.

There's a pause where a pleasantry would normally be before she answers.]

How many have you found?

[leggierissimo]

[Figure of speech, dear. Figure of speech~

But, hm. This one isn't too talkative. Fairly serious, too.]

Oh, I haven't found any yet.

[iseedollpeople]

[So you think.

She still isn't moving terribly fast -- turning her head this way and that to peer into tufts of grass, but not exactly rummaging around. Those Animals are awfully small...]

I think the other one was scaring them off.

[Meaning she hasn't found any either.]

[leggierissimo]

[Well. She seems to be doing such a great job at this. He'll just leave her to do anything more than just scanning the area~]

The goat one? It wouldn't surprise me.

[iseedollpeople]

A goat isn't a predator, so why...

[It's half to herself and all rhetorical; it's not like any of the animals here are entirely recognizable. In fact, they look more like caricatures than anything--

She slows down even more, now that they've made an entire circuit of the meadow.]

You don't know these animals, Joshua-kun?

[leggierissimo]

Maybe some of them are just more aggressive than others.

[A little shrug, and Joshua flips one of the tassels of his hat back over his shoulder. At least the meadow isn't too large... otherwise they might be here all day.]

They look familiar, but different at the same time. I can't say I've seen these specifically.

[iseedollpeople]

Hmm.

[It's a dissatisfied-sounding murmur, but she doesn't bother to argue. Instead, she stops and crouches, as though being closer to the ground will reveal the tiny Animals.]

They're fake versions of real animals. Like cartoons. Have you touched one?

[leggierissimo]

[... well. He's just going to stand here and watch.]

I haven't, no.