Opening Test Drive Meme

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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

[unbearablynaive]

As we are lacking in mutants, we do not have a Brotherhood. [But he at least knows what it is. The Windrose and Twin Roses had managed to pick up quite a few X-Men, back in the Fleet.

And then he gets a bit of a smile. Finally, something his world has that Tommy's apparently doesn't.]

Three of them, actually. A daughter and two sons. Though they were rather off the grid - most of the other Avengers had no idea until they used his home as a safe haven.

[doubled_speed]

But... Clint? Hawkass? Who even settled down to...?

[Mind? Blown. Tommy seems to consider this, because his Clint? A fucking mess. It was amazing he could even be trusted with the Avengers. Could he even take care of a dog? Spoiler alert: No. But that's fine, Kate had his back. Tommy shakes his head and tries to process this.]

Anyone else have kids? Geez. Who even is on your team?

[unbearablynaive]

I won't claim to know his wife outside of some very minor introductions, but his family photos are very endearing.

[Oh, good, he gets to do a little mind-blowing for once. The Vision can't help a bit of a grin.]

No, no other children I'm aware of. It's myself, Iron Man, and War Machine - that is to say, Tony Stark and James Rhodes - with a part-time addition of Peter Parker recently. Then Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson, Natasha Romanoff, Wanda, and a one-time addition of Scott Lang, who does have a daughter, come to think of it. I wouldn't consider him a regular member, however. Oh, and for a time we fought alongside T'Challa of Wakanda as well. Thor and Dr. Bruce Banner are still listed on the roster, but they've been incommunicado for some time.

[doubled_speed]

Cassie.

[Tommy's voice actually breaks over Scott Lang having a daughter. His hands shake at his sides, like he doesn't know what to do with them. He still remembers her death. And damn if it doesn't hurt to think of hurt. She was his best friend before the Young Avengers fell apart the first time.]

She's a good kid. Gonna impress everyone some day. She's going to follow in her father's steps. I hope she doesn't get hurt in your world.

[unbearablynaive]

Cassie. [He confirms the name, noting that Tommy sure does recognize her. Huh. Would they be about the same age, then? Cassie's only about ten, from what he remembers.]

I have not met her myself, but I do hope the same. I gather that Mr. Lang only became involved with Hank Pym so he could support her.

[And then, pausing a little first:] Are there other children you would expect?

[doubled_speed]

[Pym. Tommy snorts at the name. Of course Scott turns to Pym. He sighs and frowns at Vision. If he answers that question he has to do so honestly. And that's going to spoil some stuff, isn't it? Dammit.]

Pym will cause problems. I promise you that. Only time I've actively gotten involved in Greatgrampa's mess I got a serious concussion. Granted Loki was involved too, and he's always a headache, but whatever.

[He fusses with his fingers for a bit as he tries to think of a way to answer the other question.]

All of us original Young Avengers but one were associated with the original ones in some way or another. Eli is the grandson of one of the men the Supersoldier serum was originally tested on. Jonas, he was created from 30th century tech interfacing with your programming and a young Kang the Conquerer's brain patterns. Cassie was there. Kate picked up association by hanging with Hawkass after Cap gave her his title and bow. Teddy's Captain Marvel's son. Billy and Me... well, it's obvious, right?

You... The Vision from our world picked us for a reason.

[It's the closest to avoiding the truth that he can get.]

[unbearablynaive]

Dr. Pym was problematic before he retired; I don't suppose that would stop him, would he? A brilliant man, but he does not work well with others.

[Full agreement about Loki, though. And, wow, that's a lot more kids than he'd been expecting, even if his "child" was only created by interfacing. Explains about the original flavor comment from earlier, though. In fact, he's so focused on the part about Jonas he doesn't quite make the connection Tommy is hoping for.]

I wonder if our Captain Marvel knows she has a son.

[And he nods, still somewhat distracted.] You're family to Wanda and Pietro. That would be more than enough.

[doubled_speed]

She?

[Wait, he clearly means Carol. Tommy shakes his head.]

You're talking about Carol. No, I meant Captain Mar-Vell. The Kree hero. He's the one who has a half-Kree, half-Skrull kid. Future emperor.

[But the real reaction comes with Tommy being a bit visibly angry at the way that Vision says 'family to Wanda and Pietro.' He even glares at Vision for that.]

Yeah, I get it, you don't want associated with your sons and all that. The ones Wanda gave you aren't good enough, gotta put preference on the ones your made for yourself. You'd think being yours would be enough, but I guess not.

[Yes, he knows he's taking anger with the other Vision out on this one, but he can't begin to believe that Vision hadn't done the math properly, right?]

[unbearablynaive]

[He's about to explain how Carol Danvers is Captain Marvel, but there's clearly something more important going on here, and his resignation that Wanda might have had children with someone else is replaced by what can only be described as a look of dawning horror on his face.]

I--cannot have children.

[He's not fertile. He knows this - has had experts from two different worlds tell him as much, and if his Wanda is disappointed by it she loves him enough not to let it ruin their relationship. Just because he's partially made of synthetic flesh doesn't mean he has the same kind of genetic material as a human, not close enough for anything like that.

But--and here's the important part--enough of what Tommy's saying pierces through the whirling thoughts that he reaches out a hand to grasp his slim shoulder, well aware that a speedster could jerk away in time.]

But I have counted people as family with far less of an obvious bond. I would be honored and proud to be a father. Your father.

[Is this even happening????]

[doubled_speed]

[Maybe he cannot, but here's the oldest of Vision's four children, glaring at him. Unfairly, but whatever. Tommy's never been fair where The Vision figures in. He's made Wanda cry, back home, he knew about Tommy and his powers either just before or while Tommy was in the greatest hell of his life and let him stay there. Didn't matter if The Vision knew who he was or not, the guy let him be actively tortured.

So Tommy? Not a fan. And yeah, he's ready to move. Good thing for Vision that Tommy has had the unpleasant experience of being stuck in a Vision before. He'll pass on trying to phase out of his grip. Instead he reaches up and tries to remove the hand from his shoulder. The kid is strong after all.

Even gets his hand to the wrist of the synthezoid before staring up at him in a quick rush of emotions. Rage. Confusion. Disbelief. And right back to confusion.]

What the actual fuck did you just say?

[unbearablynaive]

[He gives a quick thanks in his mind to Wrath, for helping him learn to be aware of what other people will and won't hear. There's a whole mess of complicated emotions here on his side, and damned if Tommy isn't going through something similar.

Because if he'd really wanted to avoid him, Tommy wouldn't have come over here to talk. And he wouldn't have stayed with the blue juice affecting him, either.

As it is, his voice only has a light tremble in it.]

That if you claim that relationship of me, I will accept it.

[Try having Tony Stark as your only available father figure, and then additionally having him be afraid of you. It sure gives you a complex about that sort of relationship, and what it means to accept responsibility for a child you hadn't exactly planned for. Add that on to a year of married bliss with the only regret being that you couldn't have children together, and stir with a healthy dose of fascination about this other timeline and a budding fondness for the little punk, and the offer is genuine.]

[doubled_speed]

[Truth is, Vision's completely right. He came over here in part wanting to assure himself that Vision wasn't worth the time. That he didn't need to care about his not-father being here. And instead he's getting something very, very different.

Still, the tremble is so... human. In a way that Tommy wasn't expecting. What does Tommy do with that? He stuffs his fists into his pockets to hide how his hands are shaking. Which is stupid, because his body is very lightly vibrating as well.

Though where the fondness is coming from, that's a mystery.]

I'm not claiming it. I'm saying that in my world, The Vision was Thomas and Billy Maximoff's father. And it's complicated, beyond complicated. He's my soul-dad, which is hard to explain. But you're not him, and I'm not Thomas Maximoff, I'm Tommy Shepherd, so you really don't have to deal with it.

[unbearablynaive]

[Funny, because that wasn't what Tommy had said. He'd said you and your sons and being yours would be enough.

Emotions don't care for distinctions like being a slightly different version of the same android. Hell, the Vision hadn't been able to resolve his own emotions around the various versions of James Buchanan Barnes without months of work, and that was without family being involved.

He doesn't let go of Tommy's shoulder, although the grip is light enough that Tommy could squirm out of it if he wanted to.]

I will not claim to have any experience of what it means to be a parent. It's likely I would make some wrong choices; I've hurt people I cared about, and there is nothing I regret more than that.

But if Tommy Shepherd would like to try having another father, I wouldn't say no to that.

[doubled_speed]

[Well maybe the distinction between Visions is a bit sharper in his head with one of them wanting anything to do with him. Mostly, though, he wants to know how to deal with this. How to deal with acceptance, which isn't something he's ever had much of in his life.

But at least Vision isn't asking for the hows of everything. Because that's more of a headache than Tommy can really take right now. And damn, he could use a whole bottle of vodka.]

Never really had one worth commenting on before. The one I did have was pretty adamant that I wasn't much of a son, so you're definitely going to regret this decision.

[unbearablynaive]

[He squeezes Tommy's shoulder and lets go, trying to bite back a smile and not being entirely successful.]

Yes, well, my fathers were an absentee, dead, Ultron, and Tony Stark. I can't claim any of them as a good role model.

But I have had a stint as a spaceship captain, as it happens, so I have some experience in a position of cooperative authority. [Maybe he's not qualified to be a Real Dad, but he was a Space Dad for a while.]

[doubled_speed]

[Tony... Tony Stark?! Tommy stares at Vision with wide eyes, opens his mouth to say something, and then is just about bowled over by 'spaceship captain'. Okay, it's official, this Vision is a hundred times cooler than the one back home.]

Okay, how does Stark figure into it? Don't tell me he created Ultron. Of course he created Ultron, what am I saying. Only person stupid enough, beyond Hank Pym to do it. You're Pym's, back home. Which means things get even more complicated at family reunions because now you have the Pym mess. Granted I think Janet Van Dyne started dating him so...

[Yeah, headaches. Moving on.]

Don't talk about cooperative authority. Tell me about space ships. What were you even doing on one?

[unbearablynaive]

Mr. Stark and Dr. Banner created Ultron together, yes. Dr. Banner has been missing since the day after I awakened, however. [And they already talked about JARVIS being the missing one out of four there.

At this part he grins and gets a fond, if faraway, look.]

Would you believe, this is not the first time I've been kidnapped by interdimensional beings? The first one was for what they called the Drift Fleet. We were taken from our worlds and divided into groups of five to ten per ship, given an augment to explain various jobs on the ships, and dumped in space for the viewing pleasure of our unseen fans. It was a reality show set in space, or so we were told.

[He's clearly enjoying the wtfery of this.]

I was assigned to the Windrose. Natasha Romanoff was our captain, and she chose me as first mate. She vanished from the Fleet and I was promoted. I served as captain of the Windrose. It later crashed into another ship called the Three Twins and became the amalgamated Twin Roses, with Kitty Pryde of the X-Men acting as captain.

[doubled_speed]

[Oh, Tommy wants to groan at the idea that Banner is now in his family tree in some instances of reality. Number One Playboy and Number One Anger Case. At least Jarvis probably has some GREAT fathering subroutines that Vision would have picked up on.

Still, apparently getting kidnapped by interdimensional beings is a family thing. One even tried to get Billy. Go figure. He almost wants to laugh, so he chuckles through the explanation. Can't help himself. Still, good to know Black Widow chose a smart first mate. And the presence of an X-Man gets a raised eyebrow.]

Damn. That's interesting. I was only kidnapped by a single interdimensional being, possibly at the order of another, all because of a ploy Loki was trying to use to get Billy's future god-powers.

[unbearablynaive]

[There is something innately ridiculous about being on a space reality show, he can't deny it.]

It was rather fascinating, in fact. I believe some of the others here were also from the Fleet - Wanda certainly was. I'd believe a plot of Loki's if we hadn't found the true culprit in the end and managed to escape its grasp.

[doubled_speed]

[Well, at least Vision and them got out of their own power. Tommy had to have his best friend kiss said interdimensional being. But hey, he got free in the end.]

Sounds like a serious mess. Sorry you had to do that. Glad mom had you around though.

[unbearablynaive]

We couldn't have done it without her.

[He sounds proud and fond, and his eyes flicker over to her elsewhere in the room.]

Or, rather, perhaps we could have figured something out, but her actions eased the process along greatly. And when we'd undone the damage and allowed those who wished to return home the ability to do so, she asked me to marry her. We've been happy together.

[This just in: the Vision is a giant dork.]

I suppose that entire experience is why I'm not particularly panicked about this one. I've made it through a difficult situation where I was ripped from everything I knew once. As long as we all work together, we can do it again.

[doubled_speed]

[Yes, he's a horrible dork, and Tommy can't help the way he cringes at the damn softness. Adults in love? Cringey. Even when it's your alternate universe parents who deserve happiness.]

Dude, this place needs help. That's a hero task. I got no problem being here provided they put me back.

[unbearablynaive]

[Subconsciously, he smirks at that cringe. It definitely comes across as an "ew I don't want to think about them kissing" kind of cringe to him. But don't worry, the 'rents will definitely have their own room. Once they decide where to set up shop, anyway.]

Well said. I do think we'll need to work together to both provide for ourselves and bring the people native to this place back on the track to self-sufficiency, but I believe it can be done.

And if their technology is as advanced as it seems? They should be able to return us as well. Helping them out will only assist in that process.

[doubled_speed]

[Like Tommy would even live with the parents. Wanda might be... awkward.]

If they brought us here, they should be able to send us back. Just follows, right?

[He refuses to believe in anything else.]

[unbearablynaive]

[Oh, Tommy will have a room set aside from him, whether or not he uses it. If nothing else, sometimes it's good to have more than one place to crash.]

I've seen it done before.

[He might even still have a copy of Dr. Mrs. The Monarch's program (which is to say, he definitely does); all it requires is a power source strong enough and the right kind of technology. Both of which if exist here, they're going to have to either find or build from scratch. All the more reason to cooperate.

But the, there had also been the case of Naviadna: the planet had expended all its energy bringing people there, and hadn't had any left to send them home. They have to believe this one is different, though, if only because the mechanism is totally different. And because it makes for more hope, admittedly.]