TEST DRIVE #2

[collectedmods]

TEST DRIVE #2

Hi shoppers! Welcome to the second Test Drive Meme for COLLECTED. A few things before we get started:

» This TDM is open to any players who are interested in applying. Collected is an invite-only game, meaning that invites come from being on the mod plurklists, but for this round, our TDM is open to anyone who has an interest. If you are interested in applying but do not have an invite, please PM our mod account (collectedmods) with a link to your toplevel on this TDM and we will extend an invitation to you! Please note that you can only reserve and apply if you have an invite.

» As was the case in the first TDM, TDM threads are not canon. Because of this, feel free to assume CR for the ease of threads.

» While we’ve listed out some prompts here, feel free to make up your own prompts using the setting, or use any of the prompts from our last TDM as well!

» If you have any questions about what you can and can’t do (or about anything else) reply to the QUESTIONS comment below, and we’ll get back to you soon.

Most importantly, have fun! And thank you so much for your interest in Collected! 🧡

PROMPTS

Have you ever been to a parking lot circus? Well, they exist, and you’re in luck - the circus has come to town! Or rather, it’s come to the mall. For a limited time, a big top has appeared in the dusty, desolate parking lot of the mall. You’ll find a big tunnel vacuum sealed to the front doors of the mall that allows access to and from the tent, so how much could it hurt to go inside?

The tunnel and tent seem to have been crafted with the same skill as the mall was - it somehow keeps the toxic air from outside out. The only difference between the mall and the tent is that the big top doesn’t do as good of a job of keeping the blistering heat out - it’ll protect you from burns, but it’s going to be pretty hot in there underneath the summer sun! Be sure to bring a cold drink on your way in.

Inside the tent, you won’t find any staff or performers, unfortunately. Everything inside the tent seems to be in mint condition, though, strangely enough, as though restored to its former glory - not unlike how some of the stores in the abandoned mall revert back to their pristine states sometimes. While there’s no performance to catch, there is plenty to look at and experience:

I.

Right after coming in through the fun tunnel, the first thing to your right is a collection of popcorn machines, the same kind you’d see at an amusement park where kernels must be poured in. You’ll find several unmarked bags of popcorn right near the machines, and they look decidedly not rotten, unlike most of the food in the mall.

Things are never that easy and simple here, though! Pop a bag of these bad boys and consume some of it and you’ll find yourself with one of the following afflictions:

A. Caramel corn flavor: Loss of sight. Hopefully you trust your companion enough not to attack or steal from you, because you’ll need to navigate to somewhere safe until this one wears off!
B. Extra butter flavor: Loss of hearing. No matter how hard you try, it seems you can’t hear anything around you anymore! Learn to communicate non-verbally with your companion, and quick!
C. Cheddar flavor: Literally just food poisoning. You won’t be feeling so hot!

The only saving grace of these cursed popcorn bags is that there’s an antidote to be found if you have a careful eye: an inscription on the popcorn machines appears once they’ve been warmed from use, and it says, in the case of illness, have a taste of each flavor to get back to square one! You’ll have to suffer a bit more to get back to normal quickly, but.. it’s better than waiting out the effects, right?

II.

While there are no performers to be seen, their costumes can be found in the wardrobes in the back of the circus. They are typical of what you’d expect of a circus: colorful, frilly, and easy to put on, given their stretch. There are even props and accessories lying around like clown noses, jewelry, hula hoops, juggling balls, the whole nine yards. Given the horrible state of all the clothes and other fun items inside the mall, it might be tempting to take some of these outfits and items to repurpose them for your own wardrobe and use.

But be careful: donning these clothes or taking these items will give you the abilities of that circus performer. Wear or pick up anything belonging to a:

A. Clown, and you’ll feel like you need to make your companion laugh. Whether that’s through corny jokes, physical comedy, or other means, you won’t be able to resist.
B. Trapeze artist, and you’ll be blessed with great flexibility, and feel utterly fearless. Maybe that translates into being unafraid to speak your mind, or maybe you’re feeling brave enough to walk the tightrope - either way, nothing’s scaring you anymore.
C. Animal tamer, and you’ll want to train your companion to do tricks and follow your will (and not in the fun way, unless you’re into that).

Costumes of all kinds are here, though, so feel free to find anything that might belong to a circus performer and have the costumes possess you!

III.

All good things must come to an end, sadly. Whatever material the tent and tunnel is made of is not completely as sturdy as what the mall is built of - and after a fun day of activities, the tent and tunnel will begin to deteriorate and be destroyed.

Due to the radioactive sun outside, the top of the tent and tunnel will start to burn and get holes in it eventually, which will let in toxic air and harmful rays - not only that, but fires will start catching inside the tent as well. You’ll need to high tail it out of the circus and head back to the safety of the mall unless you want to fry in the horrible conditions outside. Exposure to the sunlight from outside will give you painful burns and welts, and it’s near impossible to inhale the thick, poisonous air from outside without keeling over.

While you’ll be able to survive limited exposure, it’s not wise to get stuck out here. Besides, you’ll find that upon returning to the mall, your wounds will mysteriously begin to heal, slowly and painfully. So, run quickly, and make sure not to leave anyone behind!

NAVIGATION

Comments

Oscar Pine | RWBY | Vol. 4-7 Spoilers inside, read ooc first!

[longmemories]

[OOC - DISCLAIMER/EXPLANATION: !!RWBY Volume 4-7 Spoilers ahead!! Oscar is unique in that he's not just one person; he also lives with the spirit of a man named Ozma/Ozpin inhabiting his body. They're inseperable and share a consciousness, though at present in canon Ozpin has retreated from the forefront of Oscar's mind and has left him largely alone. He only presents himself in times of crisis when Oscar is in danger and cannot protect or save himself. In these moments, Ozpin can assume control of Oscar's body and speak as if he were himself again (just with Oscar's voice, it's got an ethereal sound to it like Ozpin's old voice is overlayed atop Oscar's). Ozpin won't be present for threads unless specified within the prompt. If you'd like to plot anything specific, DM me!]

1) Exploration

[It was hard enough to find himself trapped with someone else due to the spirit occupying his mind and body on a permanent basis, but now that Ozpin is absent more likely than not most of the time...Oscar finds himself missing the company. Mainly in a place like this, where signs of life are scarce and inhabitable areas are even scarcer. The tent, though, seems stable and fine enough...and it's better to investigate than to just sit around waiting for something terrible to happen.]

Okay, Oscar. It's fine. Just...a spooky, abandoned tent. Honestly no worse than the rest of the mall, really...

[He regrets entering about as soon as he gets to the tunnel though, it's far too hot for the clothing he usually wears. By the time he gets inside proper, he has to unfasten the belt across his abdomen so he can slip his coat off for the time being. After that, he'll start to investigate.]

2) Popcorn

[Normally Oscar wouldn't just eat random shit he's found unlike some people, but he hasn't eaten anything at all in some time. The popcorn bags seem more well preserved and not gross than a lot of the food the mall has to offer, and how could unpopped kernels go bad, really? Once he discovers the machine for popping it works, he'll choose one of the bags to try.

Unfortunately, it's the caramel flavor. Of all the days to be craving something sweet...

He's at least sitting somewhere eating when the effect kicks in, and it's startling enough to cause him to drop the bag, scattering its contents. He lifts his hands reflexively, waving them in front of his face while he can still make out vague shapes and shadows before everything finally just...blips into blackness. Nothing.]

Wh- Ozpin? Hey-!

[Usually, he can still see when Ozpin takes over, but what if he's figured out some way to assume more full control over his senses? He can't claim to understand how it works fully, just that whatever is happening he'd appreciate an explanation right now...yet of course, the man says nothing. He's still alone.]

3) Costumes

[He's not going to be putting on any costumes, thanks...but you know what they say about curiosity and cats. It's enough to cause him to wander over to a box of supplies among the wardrobe proper, what looks to be a bunch of equipment for a clown act. He ends up picking up one of the juggling pins to heft in one hand, smiling a little at it.]

You know, I bet these could be used as a weapon in a pinch.

[He muses to himself, tossing it up into the air only to catch it as it comes back down. Then he'll grab a second, third, and toss those up in the air too, throwing each in sequence so he can catch them as they come back down. It's...weirdly fluid and flawless juggling he's doing until he snaps out of it and they all fall back down into his arms just in time for him to barely manage to catch them together.]

...okay, hooow did I do that.

4) Fire | Ozpin

[Oscar doesn't realize the tent is starting to fall apart until it's already too late. Whatever he was doing is quickly interrupted by the awful sound of the top of the tent beginning to tear as it catches fire above, searing rays of the deadly sun beaming in with enough force to start setting even more fires beyond that.

He makes a break for the exit, only to find that is starting to collapse as well. It doesn't help that he's starting to get cut off from any actual path by the sun and fires continuing to spread. He's been through worse before, he just has to keep looking to find an escape-

Only for something to ominously creak to his left, just in time for him to look to see a big wooden trapeze ladder (that's also on fire) break free of its bearings and start to collapse towards him.

In that moment, Oscar's grasp on himself is totally wrenched away as his consciousness flees to make room for someone else, the color of his eyes flickering briefly as he reaches for the cane at his side. He pulls it free and presses down on the handle's release, extending it just in time to swing hard to his left and block one of the falling chunks of wood to take him out. The rest he has to dodge wholesale, rolling as the ladder hits the ground in a spray of embers and toxic dust forced up into the air. It's rapidly getting harder to breathe, so there's no time to waste.

If you're nearby, Ozpin will reach for and grab your arm, helping you to your feet or using his cane to prop up something you're stuck under so you can get out.]

There's no time, we have to hurry.