riverview: test drive meme

[riverviewmod]

riverview test drive meme

Welcome to Riverview's first test drive meme! Feel free to dip your toes in on the test drive meme to try out your character in the setting, play out a mission, and get samples for your application at the same time!

● Reserves are currently OPEN.
● Applications open on March 1st.
● All threads on the test drive meme can count as game canon once the game is up and running.
● TDM threads do not count for Activity Check, but they do count for Activity Bonus Points.

Feel free to use the prompts below or create your own scenario. The setting is built to be flexible, so feel free to make things up as you go.

information resources
premise ● arrival ● setting ● ask a question ● navigation

prompt i: batten down the hatches

If the sky has seemed a little more yellow-green than usual for the past couple of days, there's a reason for that. Meteorologists have been warning of a particularly nasty storm blowing in from the direction of the Delta in the Southwestern part of the Abandoned City.

The Quarantine is about to be hit by a nasty typhoon, and there's a lot to be done. Whether you're helping sandbag the banks of the river, which is bound to be swollen by the storm and flooding, weatherproofing your building, or just huddling indoors for warmth and helping reassure your friends, family, or partner that everything will be okay, it's time to take action!

prompt ii: monster madness

There's been a lot of talk around the Quarantine about the various predators and monsters outside the fence, and how they've been getting steadily more active, crowding the fences, trying to leap over them, seemingly driven by some kind of mania. There have even been increasing instances of predators that normally mind their own business attacking the fences wholesale, slamming into it over and over as if they're trying to find a weakness.

The good news? The fences have been holding. So far.

The bad news? They won't be holding for much longer.

The Perimeter Guard is in a bad way, and it's all hands on deck. They've also sent out a few of the Perimeter Guard Cadets to post up flyers around the city asking for temporary help in fighting off the beasts. So pick up whatever weapon you're best with, hop onto a truck transport, and head on over to the fences to help drive off the monsters and keep the Quarantine safe.

prompt iii: hold your lover close

With a storm rolling in that's going to keep everyone indoors, that might cause power outages, and is just frankly pretty scary, a lot of the clubs, restaurants, and hotels are doing special events to keep everyone's brains occupied and flooded with endorphins.

There are flyers around the city advertising various couples activities: speed dating, dance classes, overnight pool parties, and all-expenses-paid lovers' nights in.

The catch? The great deals only count if you're a twosome. So if you don't have someone to love, hit up speed dating in the indoor courtyard of Riverview's largest mall, or grab the first person you see and take the opportunity.

prompt iv: solution

After a day or two of storm activity, things are definitely not getting better: the rain is torrential, the monsters are attacking with increased energy and decreased rest times, and the distractions are starting to wear thin. Power outages happen off and on, a very rare situation in Riverview Quarantine.

The government has put out an all-points-bulletin imploring anyone with an exploratory spirit to help.

From what government science techs can tell, the storm isn't natural - after all, even the meteorologists were saying that the pressure systems seemed extremely strange. They've managed to narrow the cause to an area in the delta where the storm seems to be originating from, and are broadcasting the general location so anyone with the guts can head out into the storm and try to find the source of it.

Any characters who decide to penetrate the jungle in search of the source will find a device in the shape of a pyramid, with glowing blue edges about a day's walk into the Abandoned City. The pyramid is a malfunctioning weather control device that is causing wild pressure fluctuations and causing the storm as well as making the animals in the jungle aggressive and erratic. Characters can destroy or deactivate the device to end the storm.

This mission can be threaded out however you would like, in groups however large you would like, and more than one team can accomplish the goal.

prompt v: wildcard/network

Whether you're looking for help with a mission or just want to get to know your fellow new arrivals, your character can make a post to the network.

Or you can choose your own adventure and do something else in the setting!

navigation

Comments

loki laufeyson, marvel-616

[ikols]

i. batten down the hatches.

[ 'You're supposed to be good with words, right? They're scared, help out a little.' So, here he is as some official or another walks away, leaving Loki with a small group of children to entertain. This isn't exactly my forte, he bites back, hoping the bolshy fella falls into the swollen river, but all the same ...

The rain is smattering hard at the tarpaulin under which the children have taken shelter while there is no one spare to return them to their homes. He ignites a green flame on his palm, which prompts a few squeals and coos, then laughter as he shines the resulting rainbows into the tent from the doorway. ]

Now that the Terminator is gone, who can tell me anything about the deadly yet fabulous Light Elves of Alfheim who harness rainbows into swords to fight off their enemies?

iii. hold your lover close.

Why, of course this is my [ BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND, you decide, ] and I appreciate your dedication in sticking to the rules, my good bouncer. The shadiness of some is not to be taken lightly, eh?

[ Having flung an arm around your character, they can expect to be reeled in as Loki tries to lie his way into a couples' pool party. ]

Me and my darling heart, here, have been together so long I can barely recall our first date! What about you, lover?

[ His smile may be charming but his eyes say DON'T HECK THIS UP. ]

o n e

[amelioraate]

[ Maybe it's curiosity that makes Tony double back to see where the official was leading Loki, or maybe it was masochism, but something makes him stop hauling the sandbags to more strategic locations (seriously, they were wasting their time putting them near the river, but nobody wants to listen to him) and check in.

He is not making sure that the godling isn't in trouble (or making trouble) no matter what that stupid little voice in the back of his head might be chirping at him. Nope, just good old curiosity.

Curiosity that leads him to... story time?

Tony stands in the doorway, one eyebrow raised, as he watches green flames and rainbows entertain the children and--- seriously, who put Loki in the same place as children? How did that--]

Please tell me you are not telling them stories about Middle Earth because that would just be cruel. Though it might be enough to put them to sleep despite this storm.

[ Hope you don't mind company, Loki.]

[ikols]

I've never been to the Tolkien reality, sadly.

[ Shouldn't Stark be beating his metal chest over some hapless victims of the worsening conditions, heroically in the spotlight? On the other hand, it's not like Loki is surprised to see him slacking off when he glances over a shoulder. ]

No, we're learning about Alfheim, where rainbows are turned into shrouds that bar the rain for as long as both last. As so ... !

[ The rainbow in his palm is angled at the downpour dripping down behind Stark and upon touching it, the shimmer of colours intensifies; raindrops hit a translucent arc and the muddy entrance is provided with relief. Loki lowers his hand, self-satisfied, and the magical shield-wall remains. ]

[amelioraate]

If you ever go there, you should raze it. I hate that guy.

[ Yes, he hates on a dead guy, what of it.

Also, excuse me? You are reading to kids and performing magic tricks while the place is about to flood. He is (was) carting sandbags to at least lessen the impact of the flooding. Beating his metal chest wouldn't do anyone any good right now, he wants to build a legion of

The engineer has his mouth open, something adequately annoyed and perhaps snarky about rainbow umbrellas when Loki angles the light and--

Well then. That's -- interesting.

Tony pokes it, curiosity on his face. ]

Shielding capabilities? Does it only work with rainbows or is it just light oriented influence?

[ He says light oriented influence because he refuses to say magic. Because S C I E N C E. ]

[ikols]

It's magic, stupid.

[ Might have some science behind it but it's Light Elf sorcery, who knows how those guys work their shit? He isn't going to debate it for Stark's benefit. Tony's hand will go straight through the rainbow shield with a shimmer, as if it isn't solid, and some of the bolder kids (forgetting about the incoming storm along with their fear) scoot around them to do the same, making a game of it when their fingers come back wet.

Loki stands with a hand on a hip, attention mostly on the other man sidelong save for when a small child starts painting a smiley face on his coat with rainwater. He pretends not to see them, continuing with his explanation to the others. ]

The Elves use the sugar-water storms to their advantage, blinding their opponents with iridescent beams from their shields and skewering them on sharpened gumdrop spears. If you get stabbed and try to pull away, the honeyed blade sticks to your guts and pulls them out for the sugar-ants to start swarming when you fall to the ground, eating you alive while you're inside-out.

[ A few kids pull faces, others laugh. It's the best storytime! ]

But nothing can get through the shields while they're up. We're just like that old saying, As safe as Light Elves.

[amelioraate]

[ You say 'magic' like that actually explains things.

It doesn't. In fact, it just makes Tony want to call it something completely ridiculous even more. But won't right now because-- well, that is a rather interesting version of events you are telling these children Mr. Silvertongue. Not that Tony is going to stop you from telling them about it, but he is going to have to actively try to hide a twitch of a smirk.]

Sounds like Candyland meets a gory version of Risk. Do they ride into battle on unicorns with horns made of candy canes, or perhaps semi-sentient clouds of cotton candy?

[ Tony is still poking at the rainbow though, he might even squat down a bit and pull out his phone (honestly, more like really tiny computer whatever) to take pictures and tries to get readings on the thing.]

[ikols]

[ Witness: Tony Stark unable to purely enjoy a pretty light-show. ]

The unicorns are extinct, their parts were last sold on the Midgardian black market, as far as I know.

[ BOOM, HAVE SOME FACTS SINCE YOU LOVE THEM SO MUCH. ]

[amelioraate]

[ ...is this a surprise? Because it shouldn't be.]

I thought there were still some in the Forbidden Forest. Man, Thanos is going to be so angry there is no more unicorn blood.

[ Wait, wait a second...]

...wait, did they actually have candy cane horns then? Because I feel like that would clash with the rainbow shield thing.

[ikols]

Thanos can suck my booty. And no, they didn't have candy horns, that's just stupid.

Three

[suckstobestrange]

[ Stephen had been minding his own damn business for a change. Things were quiet, and he’d actually been considering just making his way down to the library to see what he could find when there was a sudden clamp of an arm around him, tugging him across the sidewalk a few steps. He blinked a bit in surprise, but the continued conversation had enough cues for him to guess what was happening here. One brow lifting as he caught the subtext in the gaze that Loki threw his way, considered disentangling and leaving the man to his argument. But at the same time what was the harm in playing along? So he offered a faint smile, inwardly glad he’d decided to wear something a bit more casual-friendly for his outing. It made selling the whole thing a bit easier as he let a hand settle on his ‘lover’s’ shoulder with an indulgent chuckle. ]

You mean when we went to that little pizza parlor down on Fifth, right my dear? [ Turning his attention to the bouncer, indulgence slipping to something a bit more confused, as if he couldn’t imagine why they were still standing there with the man in their way. ]

There’s nothing wrong is there? [ You owe him Loki. ]

[ikols]

[ This is why he prefers Strange over Sinister; the sense of goodwill humour that doesn't try to murder him. No other reason. ]

Ah, the Sweetheart Sanctum, that was it! You clever thing. Isn't he clever? [ Before the bouncer can answer, Loki weaves his arms around Stephen's waist and chins his shoulder, doe-eyed with batting lashes. He may sway a little, such is the force of their Truest Love. ] After all these years, you still remember the day we first smooched.

[ Dreamily, he informs the now uncomfortable doorman, ]

He bought the largest pizza they had and spelled out, 'BE MY BAE' in pepperoni. What a catch, right? I'm the luckiest boy in the world!

[suckstobestrange]

[By all the Hoary Hosts what had he just inserted himself into?

If he wasn’t sure that it would just guarantee later mischief from Loki, Stephen would have been right on his way at that. Anyone that knew him could certainly see it, even if to any stranger he still just looked more indulgently amused than anything.]

Oh you flatterer. [Praying the damn doorman would move aside finally because he was so ready for this line of conversation to be done.

You fucking owe him Loki.]

[ikols]

[ Racking up debt has never been so much fun. When the exasperated doorman waves them in, Loki's grip briefly tightens on Stephen until they're out of sight down the corridor. It's a spa! Look at all the romantic arrows pointing them toward the pool party, how appropriate for two such twittering lovebirds!

Leaning over, he mutters through a smile, ] Doctor Wotsit, I didn't know you had it in you.

[suckstobestrange]

[At least the over-the-top sap seemed to work, the doorman wanted even less to do with the situation than Stephen did. Annoying as hell but effective, he had to give Loki that.

And at least he seemed willing to settle some with the ridiculousness once they were away from the doorman's attention.]

You say like it's any surprise. [Yep don't mind them, just a couple muttering sweet nothings to each other right?] At least half of my job at any given time is lying as outrageously as I can.

[ikols]

But for me? I'm touched! Do you also gift bouquets to florists?

[ Signing them in at the front desk as Couple 23: STRANGE MAGIC, don't mind him. ]

If you're actually coming along, you'll need to find some shorts.

[suckstobestrange]

It was either play along, or deal with you being upset that I spoiled your fun.

[You little shit, he sees that.]

Well unless you wanted someone to notice you were there all on your lonesome, it seems I'll be following along.

[ikols]

You could make an excuse about an emergency and get lost, I'd complain for a bit to be convincing.

[ When they pass a couple Loki squishes in, only giving back Stephen his space once footsteps behind them die down. Changing rooms, that's their destination. ]

Why did you help me?

iii because why not

[deathkid]

[ having an arm slung around him by a stranger is never what nico would like to experience. he's not fond of being touched in general and the stranger is not only encroaching on his personal space bubble, but he's rudely popping it by declaring them lovers. understandably, nico's face turns a brilliant shade of red as he looks up at the stranger's features.

vibrant green hair and dark eyes. the flicker of mischief. well, styx, if that doesn't remind him of someone, making this entire thing all the more awkward. it's not like he wants to go to a pool party. parties are most certainly not his thing. but it seems like he has no chance now that he's being dragged along. the look he gives the guy is dark and dangerous on its own, but what would normally be a frightening affect is somewhat dampened (heh) by the way his ears begin to heat up.

he should steal into the shadows and slip away, but not wanting to draw attention to himself, he hunches his shoulders and slides his hands into the pockets of his aviator jacket. ]

Gee, it's funny. I can't seem to remember it either.

[ in the flattest tone of voice possible. ]

[ikols]

[ Did he catch a black forest gateau? Because the young man is dark, red as a cherry, and sweet to see shuffle through a response. ]

We were too enamoured of each other, [ he reassures him with a warm, suggestive purr, ] which we'll have to keep under wraps at the party, of course, hm?

[ Making sure the doorman can see those waggling eyebrows. ]

[deathkid]

[ this is hideous. terrible. and he's gone through some pretty crazy quests in his young life. still tempted to shadow away, he unintentionally lets the air around them drop a few degrees. a sure sign of his discomfort. there's a reason he's usually not the one to go on the quests that require a bit of acting... ]

Oh my gods... How ever will I be capable of that?

[ and then, in an undertone so only the stranger can hear. ]

What the Styx are you doing? Who even are you?

[ikols]

I'll have to keep you close, oh no! [ Pretending to nuzzle him affectionately, he mutters back, ] Loki, God of Mischief, Norse flavour. Hi. Get me into this pool party and we'll break even sometime.

[deathkid]

[ double takes, then reaches out with his senses because there is no way this is loki... right? except his senses are rarely if ever wrong and he can tell this guy his immortal. ]

Di immortales, you're serious. Okay, hold on. [ glancing around to make sure the bouncer is focused on another couple and that no one is looking at them, he discretely pulls the shadows around them and then takes them both into the party, just out of the shade of a tree overhanging the pool. ]

Now you can pay me back by explaining to me why in Tartarus are we even here.

[ikols]

[ ooooOOOOHH DANCE MAGIC DANCE!! Delighted by the weird shadow-travel, his glancing around finally lands on his kidnapped new pal. How did he do that? Is it an Italian accent cropping up that Loki can hear? Suddenly there are far more interesting things afoot than the party but, all the same now they're here, he spreads his arms and a shimmer of light rakes over his body to change his normal clothes into a pair of green board-shorts. Only board-shorts. ]

To get wrecked! What's your name?

[deathkid]

[ meanwhile, this is nico di angelo, son of hades, covering his face with his hand as his ears turn red again. don'tlookdon'tlookdon'tlook. which is kind of hard considering loki is right there. but, okay, he can handle this. releasing a slow breath, he lowers his hand and looks up at loki again. ]

Nico di Angelo. So you just wanted to crash someone's pool party. Ugh, gods.

[ikols]

It's a couples-only thing at this spa, don't worry. Lots of other people are lying about being together too, I just happened to stroll by and decide to join on a whim. That's where you came in, Nico.

[ That sure is 6'1" of smoothly muscled godling for Nico's viewing pleasure, hands on hips as Loki peers out over the pretty little garden and pool. Beach-balls and dolphins seem to be very popular. ]

We could have some fun, now we're here ... What do you say?

[ Offering a hand and a smile. At the very least, he wants to speak with Nico more and find out what all that shadowy business was about. ]