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memecount2016-01-31 10:37 pm
attribution) wrote in memecount2016-01-31 10:37 pm
Entry tags:
| test drive |
Welcome to The Lottery’s test drive meme! Before we get to the prompts, here are a few things to note:
Though you may only have ONE active character per round, you are free to play as many characters you wish on the TDM. Later, you will have the opportunity to bench characters if you want to try another, but only after you’ve been accepted.
Please be sure to thoroughly look through our FAQ so that you have a good understanding of the game’s mechanics. Also be sure to browse the information provided on both The Attribution Study and Shiroiwa for a better idea of the setting.
The date for the next round of Reserves is: February 29th
The number of currently available character slots is: 25
Important Note: A thread of 9 comments in the TDM (with at least 5 comments from your character) will count towards both sample requirements in the application. Consider this a special bonus for getting your feet wet in our community!
If your thread does not reach the required amount of comments, it may still be used as the In-World Sample in your application.
Flashback/Background threads in the TDM may be reposted to Shiroiwa Academy’s Community if both players were accepted into the game.
Provided below are some sample scenarios, but please feel free to plot and play whatever you’d like!
Sample Scenarios:
Sample 1:
You’ve just transferred to one of the three grade levels in Shiroiwa Academy and have yet to make any friends. Sure, people showed you around, but nothing has quite stuck yet. So as the lunch bell goes off, you pull out your bento and prepare to eat alone when another student saddles up beside you. Perhaps they’re being friendly or perhaps they simply want to mooch off of your food. Whatever the reasoning, you’re now stuck in some form of communication whether you like it or not.
Sample 2:
Everyone just loves partner projects, don’t they? Your teacher has randomly assigned you a partner, and now you both must come up with a presentation to show the class. Are you the type who does all the work? Do you push for fair exchange? Or perhaps you have no plans to do any work at all. Whichever it is, your partner is now moving their stuff to sit at the desk next to you. Better gather your might and prepare to weather the oncoming storm…
Sample 3:
It’s March 14, 20XX. You have been kidnapped and taken to the island, given your randomized duffle bag, and are now either desperately seeking shelter or methodically preparing to hunt down your weaker classmates. Whatever it is, you stumble upon another student - whether you know them well or not doesn’t matter. The rules have already been made clear to both of you - only one person gets to win. You need to either escape, kill, or attempt to make a truce with this classmate. What will you do?
Sample 4:
Your weapon broke. Perhaps it snapped as you embedded it into the skull of one of your classmates, or perhaps it was simply a stroke of bad luck. You return to the hideout you created for yourself, seeking a weapon you’d taken from a fallen student. But as you near the space, you realize something is off. There is some telltale sign that another has been here… Are they still around? Will you investigate? What if your stockpile has been pilfered by another student?
England | Axis Powers: Hetalia
[Generally, Arthur Kirkland is not in the business of making friends. Not always for lack of trying, but he has the sort of personality that most people are not eager to deal with. He's been through a few different phases of expression, but they've all been insufferable one way or another.
So he doesn't really bother with reaching out to people often any more. He's fine on his own! Even in a new country where the only people he really knows are his family. He doesn't need anyone to coddle him.
That being the case, he sits confidently on his own during lunch, dividing his attention between his food and a book. He hears someone nearby, but he doesn't give them his attention until he realises that they aren't moving on from his seat. Suspicious, Arthur gives them a sidelong glance, but he doesn't lift his head to properly look at them. His British Isles accent is sharp in his words.] Did you need something?
three ❧
[If there's one thing Arthur has, it's that he's clever. This has its pros and cons. He has a good strategic advantage over some of his simpler classmates, that's for certain. He knows how to plan and how to strategise, and he's tricky. He won't be caught easily. Unfortunately, cleverness also means he knows his own limitations, and so he realises how screwed he might be if he gets into an altercation. Not that he's never been in a fight! He grew up with five siblings, for heaven's sake.
But he's not the most physically imposing. Most of his muscle is in his legs, but on the whole he really rather fits the profile of someone who spends more time in libraries than in the gym. He's more suited to running than to fighting — or, god forbid, killing someone with his bare hands.
And he didn't even get a good weapon to compensate for his stature. He opened his duffel bag immediately to discover a megaphone. A megaphone! Useful only for clubbing someone in the head, at this rate, and even then it's rather unwieldy to consider using it for that purpose. Still, he holds it at the ready, hoping to adjust to its weight better so he can properly swing it if necessary...
And it's looking like he might have to. He was just running, trying to give himself as much distance to work with as possible, but there, he spots them, clearly between the sparse trees of the forest. It's one of his classmates.
He freezes, at first, his survival instincts unused to being put to such a test. Eventually he darts behind a nearby tree, but not quickly enough to ensure that he wasn't spotted in turn. In the meantime, he just tries not to make too much noise while he breathes.]
four ❧
[So he's adjusted to this whole horrible situation. Mostly. He can barely sleep a wink, and he's plagued with nightmares, and he still feels sick when he thinks of what he's done to his fellow students, but...he's surviving. And that's the goal.
He's found a cave close to the jungle, and though he doesn't like to spend too much time in it for fear of being cornered, it's a nice hiding spot for his stockpile. He keeps his weapons on his person, but carrying too much canned food makes it very difficult to run, so he keeps it in the cave. And he's starting to feel the pain of hunger gnawing at his stomach, so he ventures down into the cave system to replenish his energy.
He follows the path that he knows to lead to his hiding spot, and everything is the same until he finally reaches it and discovers that there are fewer cans here than when he left them. Considerably fewer. Someone has been here.
He brandishes his knife, examining the surrounding area with alarm. Arthur can't know when they found his food; they might still be here. And if that's the case, he's blocked in. Just as he feared! Imagine that.]
. one
And he was content, no, pleased with that.
As if to make extra super sure he stood out, Alfred dragged the metal chair at the desk neighboring the new kid's across the floor with a definitive 'screee!' to announced his presence.
Don't fear, new guy, Alfred F. Jones was here to make sure your first day was
insufferablesmooth sailin'!And maybe also to make sure you were gonna eat all of that.
The boy eyed the new kid's (Crickland? Kirkwood? whatever-) food with an eager gleam, but he'd control himself for now. Instead he'd just shift his ass in his chair, one final brief 'ee-' confirming his choice in seating.]
Huh? Me? [He laughed, loudly of course, before tearing into his plastic bag of food. There were some real meals in there, a few wrapped sandwiches and one thermos of soup, but more noticeably there was about too many bags of chips and an equal absurdity of candy bars.] I was sort of thinking you might be the one who needed something-
It's your first day, right? [He flashed the new guy his most charming smile, as if he deserved congratulations for knowing that information. And, without waiting for a response-] So, you can go ahead and ask me anything! [All this confidence and bravado, but really Alfred had only been a student for a few months. But that was okay! If he didn't know, he'd bullshit!]
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Thank you, but I don't need any help. I was given a very comprehensive introduction. [Though, of course, he was confident that he would have been able to figure everything out even without guidance. It was a tad embarrassing to be helped at all, really, but it would have seemed rude and presumptuous to turn down the offer.]
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Speaking of, another one of his talents was food sniping, so be careful. He hasn't forgotten, even if he's letting it slide for now.
The American shoved a fistful of chips into his mouth, chewing them only partially before replying.] Oh, really? You were? That's cool! [He swallowed.] Have you picked your club already, then?
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Though Arthur wasn't paying much attention to that, not knowing he needed to be aware of it. At least he finally looked up from his book, just in time to catch the absolutely boorish way Alfred spoke with his mouth full. The corner of Arthur's mouth pulled down in obvious disgust, and he pointedly averted his eyes before replying.] Indeed. I've signed up for the English and culinary clubs. I'm considering the Disciplinary Committee, as well.
[Of course he was. He'd never admit to it, but deep in his heart, Arthur really just liked bossing people around.]
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If Alfred noticed Arthur's display of disgust, he made no indication. In fact, the way in which he almost immediately shoved more chips into his mouth almost seemed like he had absolutely noticed, and was absolutely trying to be contrary. But instead of saying anything, there was just the loud crunching of fried mess in his mouth.]
Oh! Culinary club - I'm in that one!! [A few crumbs of chips came spitting from his mouth with the exclamation. He was excited!]
You're gonna love it- [He finally swallowed the food in his mouth.] Way more than the English club or the Disciplinary Committee. [His turn to skew his face into an overstated frown. Disciplinary Committees were always the lame bumbling bad-guys in movies about plucky teenage heroes, you know? You couldn't seriously want to get in with them-
He's looking at you with a bit of pity now, seems he's decided you're about to ruin your life with such a decision.]
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[He'd have to re-evaluate his decision about joining that club if this idiot was in it. He really liked cooking, but he didn't want to deal with someone so insufferable while taking part in a fun hobby.]
. four
Was he starving? Not at all - but food was food and finding it was rare at this point. He'd polished off his stock the day before. So finding this cache was a 'woo-hoo' moment that he couldn't resist. Victories came in ways other than killing your classmates, after all...
As for that whole directive-
He was doing his best not to think about it. Not to dwell on any splatters of red on his shirt or any muddy rust colored substance matted in his hair. His glasses sat askew on his face from a fight he'd barely escaped, but the boy wore them as if the busted wires were normal.
Even as tremors continued to run through his hands, Alfred focused on smiling.
Especially now that someone had stumbled on his location. M-maybe they wouldn't want to fight. Maybe he could talk his way to safety! Alfred always had been good at chatting his way out of trouble. So he'd pop his head around the corner with a tense smile, teeth gritting together.] Yo! [He didn't open his mouth to say it. His jaw ached, but managing even a portion of his usual chipper tone in his greeting had taken all of his effort.
So hopefully this person would be friendly-
If not, he had his fingers wrapped firmly around the handle of his splintered baseball bat for insurance.]
no subject
But after a moment, staring into the barest hint of light in the cave and lingering on the quality of the voice, Arthur realised who it was. Naturally, anyone would sound familiar, as all of his fellow combatants were also his classmates, but this particular person tended to stand out, voice and all.
His tone was venturing, wary and tentative as he squinted into the cave to try and better make out his unwitting companion.] Alfred?
no subject
He stretched his neck out around the corner, the voice that echoed inside the cave's walls hardly hostile.] Arthur...?
[And for once Alfred's voice was soft, clearly unsure and laced with exhaustion. Adrenaline drained from him as his company was more 'friend' than 'foe'.]
You alright...? [Not because he thought Arthur sounded like shit, but he didn't want to come out there to a bloody mess because, honestly, he'd probably scream.]
no subject
Of course, it could be a ruse. But Arthur didn't want to believe that about— his friend? His whatever they are. His...friendly acquaintance.
Arthur wasn't a picture of cleanliness, himself. He'd taken the opportunity to rinse the blood from his skin and hair in the lake, but his clothes were still stained with it in faded brown splotches where he'd tried to scrub the garments clean. But he was hardly the terror that some of the other students were at this point. He hadn't killed anyone today.]
I'm all right. [In a very loose sense. He's alive and uninjured; that was about all he could ask for.] ...What about you?
[He did his best not to sound too worried as he asked, but he was never as good at hiding his feelings as he thought.]
no subject
With that delusion firmly in place, Alfred finally stepped out of his hiding place.
Seeing Arthur brought more relief to him than panic, though that was in part due to how he refused to look directly at him. Hey, that rock over there was pretty interesting!]
I'm great! Well, you know, as great as anyone can be in a place like this...it's been too long since I've had a good soda! [He's trying his best to keep this normal, to keep everything casual. Especially with how concerned Arthur sounded; it didn't fit him.
Killing people, having your life at risk - Alfred didn't want to talk about any of that. It was heavy enough in the back of his mind without weighing on the front, too.
So here we have two idiots trying to mask their feelings with dubious success.]
no subject
Ultimately, though, there was a part of Arthur that didn't want to deal with this, either. He was too young. He had a whole future ahead of him! And it wasn't fair to ask him to kill people, especially not when, somehow, he'd gotten very attached to one of those people. He almost wished Alfred had been in a different class. They probably wouldn't have gotten to spend as much time together, but at least he wouldn't be stuck here.
So, chasing his own selfish moment of peace, Arthur forced out a miserable laugh. It was one of the rare times he laughed around Alfred at all, which in and of itself was an obvious sign that not all was right in the world of Arthur Kirkland. And despite his efforts at humour, there was a sad edge to his words.] Honestly! What I wouldn't give for a decent cup of tea, myself.
Four
Now, though, she has reason to look at him for more than five seconds. He's more of a fighter than she would've thought. She saw him kill another student a couple days ago, and she's been tailing him ever since. He has a nice stockpile of weapons (on his person, which is annoying), and food, though it's in a disgusting, damp cave.
Ah, well. She'll take what she can get.
She doesn't expect him to be back so soon, though. From behind a stalagmite, she sees him looking around. He's not dumb; he has to know someone's taken his food. She could make her way deeper into the caves to try and stay out of his line of sight, or...
One of the cans in her arms crashes to the ground with a loud, echoing slam.
She's on her knees in a second, reaching for it as it rolls away, a move she knows is stupid. Another can falls out of her grasp, then another, and she cringes with each heavy sound.]
O-oh... Wait... [She looks up at Arthur, summoning tears to her eyes and biting down on her lip. One long, slender leg shifts in such a way that it hikes her skirt up. Kirkland's a gentleman, right? She's pretty confident he won't kill such a helpless-looking woman.]
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Still, yes, his upbringing prevents him from killing her immediately. Squinting into the sparse light of the cave, he conjures a name for the sad face staring up at him: Mitsuko Souma. Not that he ever talks to her, but Arthur is a very attentive sort, so he generally knows the names of all of his classmates. A frown pulls at his face and he tightens his grip on his knife, still holding it at the ready as he addresses her.] I do hope you have a good explanation for your flagrant theft of my supplies.
[The explanation, of course, is survival, but he wants to see what she'll do. He doesn't want to be the one to kill her if he doesn't have to be.]
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I... I'm so sorry! M-my bag fell in the water, I was just-- Please don't kill me!
[She shifts position, drawing herself up on her knees. When she hugs the remaining few cans to her chest, they press against her in a way that raises her breasts, making their size more apparent. Meanwhile, with a blink, the tears gathering in her eyes fall down the rosy apples of her cheeks.]
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Glaring down at her, he tries to sound as stern and commanding as possible with his response.] If you put the food down and leave the cave without any tricks, I won't kill you.
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Right... Kirkland! You're Kirkland-san, right?
[Slowly, she lowers the cans of food to the cave floor. The movement strains her blouse. She's smiling now, but her eyes are locked on Arthur's weapon. When she has a free hand, she wipes away her tears.]
You always seemed nice... I'm Mitsuko. [She makes no move to get up. With one hand, she toys with the collar of her uniform sweatervest, and with the other, she pulls her skirt down into a more modest position.] I'm-- I'm glad it was you in here, and not one of the others. You're not like them, though, are you? You're not... p-playing to win?
[Stall, she tells herself. Look as scared as you can. Don't lay it on too thick... Now that Arthur knows his hideout has been breached, there's no way he'll leave it so unguarded in the future. Not if he has any smarts in him at all, and Mitsuko knows he does. She wants those weapons of his, at least one, and he's got quite a nice stockpile of food. If she can buy herself enough time in here with him, she can take what she wants.]
no subject
But that's why he's trying so hard. Spite is a powerful motivator.
He's quickly letting his emotions take the reins, allowing his resentment to flow through him. It's easy in everyday life, and it's even easier now, when his nerves are so strained by their circumstances.] If I seem so nice, how come you've never spoken to me before? [In his self-loathing and defensiveness, at least, he's forgotten his baser desires. There's only room for bitterness.] Now isn't exactly the time to be making friends.
If you think I'm not playing to win, you need to look a bit more carefully.