Opening Test Drive Meme

[trpmods]

TEST DRIVE
Application FAQ | Taken Characters | Reserves | Application

Welcome to the first Test Drive for The Revival Project!

For those who do not know, this game is a spin-off from The Drift Fleet game, which is shortly closing. For more information about what this game is about, please check out the FAQ here or the premise here.

The TDM for the first round of applications is NOT required but is highly recommended. Really this is to see the interest level in the game as well as to have everyone interact on the new planet and with the new experiences offered here. There will be a post in the TDM where questions can be asked regarding the prompts/settings. We're keeping this loose though so go ahead and have fun with it. Any questions about the game please direct to the comment section of the FAQ. 

If you are a Drift Fleet alumni, please label your character as 'DFAU' on your top level so we know. Also, keep in mind you have complete flexibility on how your character comes here. They could be taken before endgame, after endgame, two years after, one year before, etc. It's up to you! The only option not allowed is to completely restart your character (because then it's not DFAU, is it?) 

So go! Explore Agra 10! And, as always, HAVE FUN! 

*ATTENTION! RESERVES ARE NOW OPEN!*
*ATTENTION! APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!*
*GAME OPENS AUGUST 19th!*

WHALE COMB PARTY


In the square near your arrival point, one building seems to be in fairly good repair. It’s large and stark white on every wall. Unlike the other buildings, all the lights are on and the windows looking out are intact. That alone would make it remarkable but it’s hardly the most noticeable thing once you step inside the open doorway.

Hanging against one wall is a piece of fabric that has ‘WHALE COMB!’ painted on it in drippy, fluorescent pink letters. A smiley is painted underneath it right on the wall with three eyes and long fangs. The fangs drip down all the way to the floor and the eyes are just a blob of paint, but whoever left it seems to have been trying, here. ‘US THANK THEY!’ is written beside it, barely legible. On every other wall is ‘EAT’ in various sizes and colors. They thankfully don’t drip as much as the smiley since, beneath them, are tables upon tables of food.

There are meats, fruits, root vegetables, and even what might be a sweet dessert of some sort as well. Bowls are full of them, apparently a welcome dinner for the Agrii’s new heroes. At the very least it will give everyone a quick crash course on what is edible around here. But some of it might have … adverse effects:

- People chomping down on the striped meat all seem to get very drowsy a few minutes later.
- The red fruit that looks like a giant cherry is the equivalent of a few shots - the more consumed, the more drunken this party is getting.
- There is a bowl of weeds that have small, daisy-like flowers all along the stalks. This tastes like chicken and gives the eater a sudden burst of energy that will have them running around the room like they’re being chased.
-There are a collection of drinks, some made from the red fruit, some that are clearly water, some that taste like a less-sweet lemonade with no effects, and then there's a blue one that tastes like an especially dark beer. People drinking this will find themselves incapable of lying for a half hour.

Of course, no way to know any of this before you chow down. So dig in and enjoy the show!

 

LOST AND ALONE


They said don’t go into the forest. If the noises there weren’t deterrent enough then the thick trees and lack of paths should have been. Yes, you’ll need food. Yes, both meat and many fruits are in the forest. But maybe you should have gotten some more information before heading in.

Congratulations: you went into the forest and are now lost. You can’t hear the murmurings from town, nor can you see any of the lights that might be flickering on and off in the city. How are you going to get back into town? How do you make sure that the creatures here don’t attack you? You probably don’t have any weapons, so you’d better figure something out quick.

Or, maybe you’ll get lucky and run into another foolish person wandering around out here. Try not to attack them - unless they attack first.

 

MILES TO GO


The first thing every survivor needs to find is shelter. Not long after your arrival at the fountain, it’s getting darker now and, even if the night is short (you’re about to find out it’s not!), you don’t want to spend your first one out on an unfamiliar street. Distantly you can hear a sound like a wolf howling through an elephant’s trunk. It’s loud and alien. Maybe you want to find somewhere to sleep a little more quickly.

Right away there are two pretty solid options that will do nicely for the night: an abandoned hotel-like structure and some empty stores.

The hotel structure seems to be the most popular option for others. Its large, overgrown lobby leads you to the staircase and over a dozen floors of rooms in varying conditions. Despite it looking as though no one has set foot in here for decades, the stairs and floors all are secure. The rooms that have doors on them open up to dusty rooms that all have a bathroom (of sorts) attached and long, narrow bed frames. Figuring out a mattress will be a challenge but at least this is a safe place to sleep. As long as no animals laid claim to this room before you got in...

But let’s say the room in the hotel doesn’t work for you. Maybe the room is too small for you. Maybe you don’t like the stairs. Maybe you want someplace private to separate yourself from the rest of these strangers and to think quietly about what to do next. Either way, the other option is any number of abandoned stores lining the block where you arrived. The glass doors and windows of many are broken but there are just as many intact as well. The rooms are all large and empty, as whatever wares inside were either taken or dissolved over the years. There may be a counter or two that will get you off the ground, though. With all this space, you’re bound to find something to sleep on.

Unless someone else got there, first...


code bases by tricklet

Comments

[passingthrough]

[She can't help but think Reid might have had a bit of an identity crisis at meeting an AI who looked just like him.] Zeus was a planet that reminded you of this place?

[She tries to place the United Nations Space Command. She's not sure if she's heard that one before or not. So many people from so many places. Things are blurring around the edges.]

[alaspooryork]

[He nods, and unceremoniously lifts the sleeping kitten out of his lap. He's a little grey tabby, fast asleep thanks to eating the striped meat.]

Yes. It was where I was previously located, and is where I acquired both this body and this cat. One is infinitely more pleasant to deal with than the other. It was a dying world; the corporation Bifrons had brought in strangers they thought might have an immunity to the dysthrophy virus which had spread to all but the domed city of Proles. In my case, they provided me with a human body as well; I have been unable to parse their logic as such. [He would have been perfectly immune as an AI! Geez.]

[doubled_speed]

[Woah, the guy knows about mutants. Wait, does that mean he doesn't have mutants? Well, that would explain his lack of recognition of Tommy. Maybe. If there aren't mutants, there isn't Wanda, and there isn't Tommy. Which means Vision is off the hook.]

Never heard of the Tesseract, and the idea that the Avengers are new is just weird. But yeah, one with the mutants. Hell, I'm practically mutant royalty. My grandfather is about the most famous mutant there is.

[Sadly, he's not aware of the instance of reality where they had that happened. Where he was a Prince of Magneto's house. Probably for the best.]

I go by Speed, and in my world, I'm a Young Avenger. You sorta died there. Made a failsafe program, in case things went to shit for the Avengers. Guess I made the cut.

[seeingscarlet]

[She hates this. She hates it. A year of domestic bliss wasn't long enough. She had a home, a proper one, and there was no one else calling the shots for once. It's probably the freest Wanda's ever felt. And now...

At least Vision's here. And their pets. And at least their hosts left her with her wedding ring.

The dragonling is currently asleep draped over her shoulder - someone had some of the striped meat - and Wanda had absently picked at a few of the offerings. It's good that she had little appetite, or else she might have finished that entire fruit.

As it is, she feels a little unsteady but it's fine. Probably. She's just going to walk up to Vision and rest her head on him for a while.]

I feel like you will disappear if I let you out of my sight.

[brooklyn_boy]

Anyone might say such a thing. Steve takes The Vision's hand, still unsure. But there's the ring. Rings. This is the same Vision. And, thank God, the sign of the rings likely means the fight with Atroma went well. It's a relief to know, honestly, but there are still more questions he needs to ask.

"I'm glad to see you but I wouldn't call being kidnapped again a pleasure." He smiles though. "Glad to not be alone, though. I take it we won the fight?"

[unbearablynaive]

[He raises a brow; Tommy doesn't look much like Charles Xavier. But maybe there are other famous mutants. That Wolverine guy?

Not...terribly surprising (though disappointing for sure) that he's dead there; he is in his own timeline, apparently, and would he really be an original flavor if the others hadn't been replacements? He looks thoughtful.]

Then I am glad to meet someone another version of myself found to be worthy of inclusion. I think there are a few other current or former Avengers around, from various timelines.

[Or, wait, if he's "Speed", maybe he's Pietro's grandson? Kitty and Kurt had made a point that Wanda was usually a mutant, to them. There, that explanation makes much more sense.]

Ah, and if you're familiar with its other name, the Tesseract is an Infinity Stone.

[doubled_speed]

[Dude, Magneto is SO much more famous. In Tommy's opinion. But he doesn't feel like he has to correct Vision given he doesn't know that Vision tagged him as related to Xavier]

I mean, we haven't interacted since you got repaired and all that, so I don't know if you found me worthy or were just thinking 'speed punching is good'. Because it is, you know? Kinetic force for the win. Still, might be fun trolling some Avengers who won't see me coming.

[The grin on his face is pure Pietro's mischief. Surely you didn't see that coming. But that smile fades immediately over the mention of the Infinity Stone.]

Which one?

[unbearablynaive]

[He squeezes Wanda's hand apologetically and drapes an arm around her. They'd had their own slice of paradise, and it had been utterly satisfying, but...somehow, he'd known it couldn't last forever. Nothing does. If he has to face a bunch of kidnappers again, at least they saw fit to leave him with the most important part of his life.

Anywhere could be home, as long as they were together.]

I will not disappear on you, Wanda. Though I hardly know what to make of all this.

[He gestures around. The Atroma had seemed weirdly incompetent at times, but at least they had...what, given them food and lodgings right off the bat? Known English? Somewhere along those lines.]

[unbearablynaive]

He looks taken aback. "Er, which one would that be?"

Surely he doesn't mean the Atroma fight. That was over a year ago. Had they met up again since then? Does Steve mean a fight back on Earth?

[unbearablynaive]

[Definitely related to Pietro. It's good to know at least one timeline of him survived and had kids. nobody correct him]

The Space Stone; Loki also had the Mind Stone but lost it during the battle. [Because at this point he's pretty sure the one set in his forehead is just a replica acquired by the Atroma, but it doesn't seem to impede him at all, so he doesn't mention it.]

Although I would certainly say speed punching could be useful. [Which makes him narrow his eyes.] Although, on that note, unless they continue to feed us, we may have difficulty keeping up with your metabolism; I assume you take in rather more calories than the average human?

[brooklyn_boy]

"The Atroma," he confirms. Already he's getting on edge from The Vision's tone. How many fights had there been? What happened after he left?

When was The Vision from?

"When I got grabbed, we were still attacking. I take it you got grabbed sometime else."

[unbearablynaive]

He relaxes a bit, though there's still concern in his expression.

"Ah, yes. The Interceptors worked with us to determine the workings of the Marsiva, and we all had several options. Wanda and I chose to stay; it's been a year since then." He gestures over to where Wanda is testing out some of the food. She has a little fairy-dragon creature sleeping on her shoulder. "We have been...happy together. This was something of a surprise."

[doubled_speed]

[So, this Vision clearly has some interactions with Pietro. Interesting. But yeah, that's... sorta Tommy's concern too. His eyes cast around to the table and he frowns. Wonders how much of it he can squirrel away. Just what he wanted, going back to those awkward teenaged years.]

You're definitely not wrong. All of me is accelerated. Brain, body, metabolism. Not that I haven't gotten by on less before. Just means I'm not as useful while I do. Hard to maintain speed when my body has less to burn.

[brooklyn_boy]

"A year?"

Steve thinks about Bucky who hadn't made his call to stay or go. He thinks about Loki and everyone else he'd known and realizes now that anyone who remembered him probably thought he'd just gone back home. A whole year.

"I'd...I was going to stay. I had decided to. But the decision seems to have been made for me regardless...

"Do you know who else stayed?"

Lost and Alone

[doubled_speed]

The buffet was nice and all, but there was definitely a massive pressing problem here. People with accelerated metabolisms. Like speedsters who are totally not Quicksilver and who are from New Jersey actually. Who have literally no experience unguided in the wild. He's used to having cellphones for navigation, and plenty of opportunities for refueling if he got lost. Instead here was Tommy, hanging out in the forest, rustling through the bushes to try and find more of those cherry-like fruits. They don't get him tipsy nearly fast enough to be a concern, and every last calorie matters.

He doesn't hear anyone else until they're literally right there. Probably because, eerie as this place is, Tommy's started humming to himself as he tries to keep this place from freaking him out. Which means he doesn't notice the stranger with the branch until the last moment. Which, frankly, is enough. Tommy sees a strange form, sees a potential weapon, and takes three steps back.

At about forty miles per hour.

"Holy fuck!"

[unbearablynaive]

[Little enough, but Pietro had been to the Fleet once. It had been enough to get to know his habits a little better. A heavy metabolism to account for abilities isn't unique to speedsters, though. So he nods.]

If any of these foods seem to be particularly nourishing to you, I would be glad to assist you in finding or recreating them. This may be meant as a teaching exercise, and it would benefit us all to know which are more calorically or nutritionally dense.

[unbearablynaive]

"That would be spoilers, would it not?"

But he's teasing, and there's a fondness in his eyes. "Many stayed, and many returned." He lists a few, but come on, it's not canon yet so who knows for sure?

"Wanda and I ended up settling on Naviadna, the last singing planet. Her powers have always felt a boost on singing worlds, and she feels more comfortable there than anywhere else. We have a home, and a pet, and I'll be glad to return to it once this is all over."

But he doesn't seem to be too concerned or upset that they're here, oddly enough.

[doubled_speed]

[Wait, Vision, helping? Talk about something Tommy never expected in life. Sure, Vizh 2.0 totally would have been a bro and helped Tommy figure it out. But he's not exactly used to his not-dad being supportive. Oh well, maybe Vision is just helpful when he isn't spiteful and angry? Who knows.]

The root vegetables have felt good so far. Typically I need more protein and a ton more carbs. Sugar can probably be accounted for with the fruits. Really love the cherry ones. Of course those are probably seasonal, right?

[He reaches over for another drink. Water should be easy to get here, so instead he goes for the next interesting drink, the blue one. A nice swig and his eyes go wide.]

Okay, our hosts better provide a ton of this because this is amazing. I haven't had something this good since, well, the party two nights ago, but you know, Germany's full of great lagers. But not blue ones. Maybe it's a holiday thing.

[unbearablynaive]

[Or maybe the Vision that Tommy knows is just a dick inconsistently written a dick.]

As of yet, we do not know what is seasonal, or even if there are seasons; I would need better access to the information about this world and its orbit to be certain. Much of that can be inferred from observational data, but That will require at minimum several of the local days.

[But he's at least listening carefully and nodding at Tommy's information.]

Ah, is it alcoholic? One of the first businesses set up in my previous kidnapping experiment was a bar. I'd not be surprised if the same happens here.

[doubled_speed]

[Previous kidnapping experiment? That sounds interesting. Looks like kidnapping runs in the family. Him, Vision, Wanda. Yeah, that's interesting.]

Sounds better than what I just got out of. I mean, when I was kidnapped all there was to be had was an unknowable void where there was nothing but darkness and silence and utter emptiness for all time, until time itself meant nothing and I spoke into the void just to hear something.

[Wait, what? Tommy's hand comes up to cover his mouth. What did he just say? He didn't... He had meant to say that when he was grabbed it was a breeze because he didn't remember anything. Which was a lie.]

[unbearablynaive]

[Wait, what? That's...not at all like the Drift Fleet, and the Vision looks very concerned.]

That sounds terrible; I am sorry to hear it. But surely it could not have been for all time, as you are among us now? Or did it merely feel that way, as you no doubt experience the passage of time differently?

[He shakes his head and mutters.] We, at least, had spaceships.

[doubled_speed]

[Yeah, Vision deserves to look concerned. Tommy, meanwhile, is looking distrustfully at the table. Then he sighs and shakes his head. Just his mouth getting ahead of his brain. That happens sometimes.]

It was a bit of both. I mean, I was there for months apparently. My friends rescued me just a few days ago. Well, my twin too, and his fiance. The Young Avengers are just sorta an interconnected mess like that.

[Okay, he's not enjoying this. Tommy frowns as he looks at Vision. Okay, new experiment.]

You're not my least favorite Avenger.

[Nope, there is a sour look on Tommy's face. Because he was going to say 'favorite' which of course was a lie.]

Carol Danvers | MCU | [Mid-Endgame]

[bossofspace]

Whale Comb
A party's a party.

A party's also an opportunity to hang back and observe not just the food on offer, but the people that Carol's stuck here with for the time being. Theoretically she should know better than to eat anything too weird, but she's been places that have had much stranger fare than this -- this at least looks relatively familiar.

And this blue stuff doesn't taste half bad.

Besides, if she gets poisoned, she'll walk it off. No big deal.

If anyone else gets poisoned, though, well... then someone's gonna have to have a conversation. With her fist.


Lost and Alone
Being told not to go into the forest is about the same thing as hanging a big, flashing neon 'ENTER' sign over the whole collection of trees and plants. In other words, when you tell Carol not to do something, she's more than likely gonna do it anyway -- especially if it's actually going to help someone in the end.

It's not like nightfall is going to be a problem for her, or anything. She's totally got this.

Except when night comes, her hands aren't glowing nearly as bright as they should. Smacking them together elicits a couple errant sparks, and the resulting glow is no better than the kind of shine you get off a plastic flashlight carrying a couple D-batteries. Maybe a kid wrapped in a string of Christmas lights. "Shit," she mutters, and the frustrated cursing only gets louder when several attempts to start up the lightshow are met with the same road blocks.

Because no lights means no flight, and wouldn't it just figure - she also didn't bother mapping her way out here, since she didn't think she'd have to walk back.

Miles to go

[250mhzwabl]

[There is no way this is Proles.

Jack had opened his eyes, and the first thing that his brain had latched onto had been sky. Yawning, endless sky, impossible to escape from, so empty and formless that he'd clutched the rim of the fountain and closed his eyes tight and fought for a long, long time the panicky, sick certainty that he was about to fly off the surface of the planet and be swallowed into nothingness. By the time he'd managed to stop hyperventilating and wrestle his eyes open to look at the ground, the sweat was dripping from the ends of his hair, around the rims of the round metal ports set into his spine at even intervals, stinging his eyes and blurring the earthbound parts of the world. But he'd run anyway, and stumbled, and found a doorway where he thinks he must have managed to stumble inside and under a rotted table and pass out.

It's not exactly a great way to meet a new city.

When he comes to, he's not even certain why, at first - all he's aware of to start off is that there's dust and grit on his face, and he has a headache, and for a dizzy moment he thinks he must have been at one utter spectacle of a party before he remembers the spin of ruined buildings above and the depthless sky cradling them.

And then something shuffles, and clatters, not too far away from him. And then, even with the domeless heavens looming just outside the ruined door, he's still casting around for the first heavy piece of scrap he can swing into this new horror, still creeping out from under his table and ready for the screeching howl, the reaching hands, the-]

-Delta?!

[seeingscarlet]

I will keep you safe, Vizh.

[Wanda wraps her arms around him and squeezes. She doesn't realize it, but she's leaning into him more heavily than she normally would, and when she tilts her head up at him her eyes are a little glassy, the way they normally are when she has a high fever...or the way they were that time she was hit with a tranquilizer dart.

Of course she's feeling off - being abruptly ripped away from the song of Naviadna after living there for a year had been deeply disorienting. It feels like she's lost someone, and her powers seem somehow muffled now even though she knows this is how they used to feel.

But that's not an explanation for why her eyes seem off.]

Whale comb. Whale. Comb. It is like they heard the words once and tried to guess.