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

[solveforn]

[They scurry for a bit, but are in the immediate area. N looks up at the "intruder", mostly with an evaluating look. The animals don't seem upset or frightened, just eager to play.]

They seem excited.

[inhearts]

[ She stops, a respectful distance away. Despite some of them being on her list, Minako makes no move to catch them. ]

They look like they take to you.

[solveforn]

It pays to listen, after all.

[N stands up, watching the animals running circles around him.]

They have voices, like any living thing.

[inhearts]

[ She's curious. Unjudging. ] Can you understand them?

[solveforn]

Their voices aren't that different from what normal people speak. Even you should be able to understand them.

[inhearts]

[ She thinks about it. ] Oh! Through their feelings?

[solveforn]

[You're quick to catch on! You remind him of someone he knows.]

Knowing their words is something special, but it's not needed to understand them. Rather... just like with people, even knowing what they're saying doesn't mean you understand them.

[inhearts]

[ Like Koro-chan. Fondness is visible in her face and her tone as she thinks of a puppy friend she had bonded with back home. ] Yeah, I know what you mean!

[ Stepping closer. ] I'm Arisato Minako.

[solveforn]

You may call me N.

[inhearts]

It's nice to meet you, N-kun!

[ She looks back at the animals. ] It's too bad Koro-chan isn't here. I think he would like this place. [ ...chasing the animals too. Maybe. ]

[solveforn]

Is Koro-chan a friend of yours?

[inhearts]

Yes! He's a puppy that's living with us. [ Fighting with us, but she doesn't say that. ]

[solveforn]

[It wouldn't surprise N!]

A lillipup? Or a growlithe, maybe.

[inhearts]

Hmm? What's a lillipup? [ /clueless ]

[solveforn]

A Pokemon. Are you not from the Unova region?

[inhearts]

Unova? No, I'm from Japan.

[ Wait. ] When you say Pokemon, do you mean actual Pokemon?

[ quick ooc note: I looked at your permissions; Minako is aware of the franchise but hasn't played any of the games! ]

[solveforn]

I do... do you mean that you don't live with Pokemon?

((OOC: Perfectly fine by me!))

[inhearts]

Just ... normal animals. Not like the ones here at all, either. [ ...oh! ] Ah, Koro-chan's a Shiba-Inu! He's pure white with red eyes and very sweet.

[solveforn]

[N takes a moment to think about that.]

...A world where Pokemon and humans are entirely separate from each other... but that's not the case with you, is it? Pokemon simply don't exist as Pokemon. Or, you don't recognize them as Pokemon.

The implications and the possibilities are fascinating and troubling.

[inhearts]

I'm pretty sure Koro-chan isn't a Pokemon. But, a world with Pokemon... It sounds like a lively place!

[solveforn]

They're wonderful. Wonderful beings... so loving, and honest, and truthful. Though they have their flaws, and though I don't understand them as well as I thought, they are perfect, to me.

[inhearts]

Are they here?

[solveforn]

...No. I can't find them.

[inhearts]

[ ...oh. ]

I could help, if you want me to. Two sets of eyes are better than one, right?

[solveforn]

...Thank you.

[He seems to shrink, a bit, in humble gratitude. It's mild, as her gesture is the typical polite one, but it's still comforting.]