polymods: (Default)
polymods ([personal profile] polymods) wrote in [community profile] polymeme2021-06-18 03:22 pm
Entry tags:

Summer TDM

POLYMYTHOS: SUMMER 2021

Test Drive Meme


Ⅰ. ARRIVAL
You can read all about your character's arrival in the game lore.
You land on an island, no surprise there. It’s not particularly large, this island, but what’s really more of note is that the entire thing is a beach. White sand stretches out in every direction, the only greenery being palm trees and impossibly fragrant bushes of flowers that resemble hibiscuses.

Allergic to the sun? Don’t worry, there’s plenty of canopies set up so that you can get some shade. There’s also changerooms with toilets and showers, and also free swimsuits that fit you perfectly! There’s plenty of food stalls - try a corndog, or the fish and chips at “America’s Scrod Basket!” Groovy! Once night falls, you can relax in one of the many hammocks strung up between the palm trees, or catch some Zs on the surprisingly comfortable beach chairs all over the place. All of your basic needs are met, Traveler!

Notes:
1. Please remember to mark threads appropriately with Content Warnings when necessary.

2. These prompts are a jumping off point - how they affect your character and their development is up to you.

3. Have fun!



Ⅱ. BEACH BLANKET BINGO!
All of the residents of this island look like they’ve stepped off the set of a 1960s beach party movie. Catalina Caper, maybe. They’re all extremely friendly, and BOY do they love to dance! Which they do. Frequently.

In fact, did you notice the live band? Because there’s a live band! A few, actually - they rotate through the day and into the evening, although you never actually see them switch. That’s pretty weird.

The island residents will drag you into one of their many, many dance parties whenever they can. Sometimes they’ll just form around you like a horrible flash mob, twisting and shaking like they’ve downed a gallon of redbull.

Maybe you want to get as far away from the water and the parties as possible. Venture further inland and you’ll find yourself still surrounded by sand and a few tropical plants. There’s bound to be a few other Travelers about, but at least it’s quiet.

Wait. What the hell is that, a lawnmower?

Surprise! As you stand there, a dune buggy comes plowing over the hill, spraying sand everywhere. Inside of the buggy is a group of young people, all smiling broadly at you and any other Travelers nearby.

“Hello, friends!” they cry. “Want to take a ride? Charlie’s got a ton of these, you can borrow one!” So if you really feel like careening all over the island, this is a great way to do it!

Notes:
1. These residents of the island are normal humans. Killing them is possible and will affect the colour grading of your Scrywatch depending on the situation.

2. The food is safe to eat, and is consumable by non-human entities.

3. The short creepy guy who has the keys to the dune buggies might be a little pissed if you trash them, but he can be mollified if you listen to his shitty music and tell him it's good.



Ⅲ. SURF'S UP!
CW: drowning, possible death.
As with all of the islands you will visit, you will either see the island as floating either in a horizonless sky, or in the middle of a wine-dark sea. Regardless of which you see, you soon discover that you can go surfing in it.

That’s right - there’s a bunch of boards set up down at one end of the beach. Wander down and you’ll find yourself suddenly embroiled in a surfing contest! That’s right, it’s you versus another Traveler - first one off of their board is the loser! Win and you’ll be the most popular person on the island for the duration of your stay! People will lavish attention and gifts upon you. Lose and you’ll be ridiculed! They’ll probably even make fun of your mom!

Whether or not you care about winning, once you’re in the middle of the contest you and your fellow Traveler will see someone swimming not far away from you. Or they were swimming - now they seem to be going down and popping up, looking terrified. The realisation comes to you suddenly: they’re drowning.

You have a choice here - you can forfeit the win to save this stranger, or you can leave them to their own devices. Your opponent will have the same choice. Be a hero, or be a winner?

Notes:
1. Obviously, the decision to save the swimmer or not will affect the colour of your Scrywatch. Both parties may decide to save the swimmer, or both may decide to continue on with the contest. Your reason for saving them can also make an impact - are you saving them only to be considered a hero by the island residents?



Ⅳ. TERROR AT ROCK-OUT BEACH!
CW: unwanted romantic attention from a monster, optional sexual themes.
You’re just sitting there minding your own business when you suddenly realise that you’re very nearly alone. In fact, it’s just you and another Traveler, maybe a few. Where did everyone go?

Suddenly a shadow falls over you. You turn and are greeted by what looks like a man in a vaguely fish-like costume; it has flat webbed feet, a body covered in what appears to be rubber seaweed, and a triangular head with huge rubber gills sticking out to either side. Its immobile mouth has pointy teeth, and its bug-eyes appear to have pupils merely painted on.

This monster waves its arms threateningly. “Gaaaaah!” it says. Its voice is muffled. “Gaahhhhhhhhh!”

Somehow it is a lot faster than it looks, and the next thing you know it has enfolded you in its embrace.

“You will be Flupper’s bride!” the monster shouts, regardless of your gender identification. It looks at whoever happens to be in your general vicinity. “Who this?”

Struggling, you realise that Flupper is stronger than any creature you’ve ever encountered before. You can’t seem to get it to let go of you, and it's rocking against you in such a way that it makes a sound like the soles of sneakers on a gym floor. On the plus side, it doesn’t have any genitals so at least it’s not as bad as it could be. Still, desperate times call for desperate measures! “That’s my partner!” you claim before you can think about how stupid an idea that is.

“You bride? LIES! Flupper can tell!”

“We can prove it!”

“Oh yeah? Tell something only bride would know!”

Oh shit. Now you’re stuck - you and your fellow Traveler have to admit to something true about love or intimacy, under the guise of it being about the other. Flupper’s lie detecting abilities are good enough to call you out on untruths, but not good enough to know who you’re talking about.

He’s not letting you out of his squeaky embrace until you’ve convinced him that you’re a couple.

Notes:
1. It’s up to you how much of this back and forth it takes to convince Flupper that you are ‘brides.’

2. You can choose to abandon someone in Flupper’s grip - this would be reflected in your Scrywatch colour. Probably negatively, unless you feel strongly about the morality of fishman marriage via kidnapping. The ‘bride’ would then be forced to attend an extremely dull ceremony lasting three days and three nights. For the duration of your stay on the island, you would now be married and expected to bring Flupper its slippers and pipe every evening.

3. You can try to kill Flupper. Unlike the other residents of the island, it is extremely resilient and strong. It is possible, however.

4. You can keep this completely G rated - maybe all you know of love is that time in first grade when you got a Valentine card from the cutest kid in class - but if you DO get saucy, please mark your thread with a Content Warning.



Greetings, prospective Travelers! Welcome to the Summer 2021 POLYMYTHOS test drive meme and thank you for your interest in our game! Our next application round will run from June 25 - July 2, 2021. For the months of June, July, and August, we invite you to use this TDM to explore but one of many, many islands within the Endless Isles; use it as an opportunity to introduce and familiarize yourself with the game, form connections with other characters, and just have some fun. (Perhaps while also getting some solid samples together for your application!)

Use the prompts provided below as-is or feel free to write your own set within the environment detailed in each. You're even welcome to access the network via your character's ScryWatch. While there will be some inevitable changes, TDMs may count as game canon and some islands may be revisited in the future. Be mindful of your surroundings -- you never know how you and your fellow Travelers might affect this place in the long run.

Hang ten, Moon doggy! Seeking those killer jams?


Network · Logs · OOC · Memes · Plurk

extrasensory_problems: (cute curious)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-06-28 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
A ghost of a smile surfaces on Carter's face when David gently touches his shoulder. He is grateful for the statement, not to mention the general empathy he is showing towards his situation. "Thanks man."

"So you mentioned that reading was another hobby of yours, do you have a specific genre you enjoy?"
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-06-28 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
"Typically, if I'm not trying to keep what I know sharp, fantasy. It doesn't apply the same rules of science, and doesn't frustrate me nearly as much as bad sci-fi does. Alt-history is also good."

Though being in alternate histories is annoying too.
extrasensory_problems: (Default)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-06-28 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"By fantasy do you mean like Lord of the Rings and the Shannara series? Stuff like that?"
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-06-29 02:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"Stuff like that," David answered. "They're worlds with their own rules that don't begin to follow ours, so they are easier to interact with for me."
extrasensory_problems: (thinking)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-06-29 03:07 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's cool, I'm not like a die hard fan but I like some fantasy stuff. I tend to gravitate towards like...urm I guess you would call it urban fantasy? Like when you mix normal city type settings with mythological creatures, like 'American Gods', 'Neverwhere' or 'Valiant'."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-06-29 03:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"Sounds a bit too much like my life for me to really dig my teeth into those," David answered with a smile. "But I won't get down on someone for enjoying them. I hear American Gods is amazing."
extrasensory_problems: (baseball_smile)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-06-29 03:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Carter returns the smile, "American Gods is really cool but I've always been a sucker for mythology and learning about gods from other cultures. I blame my Grandfather, he used to tell me all about Armenian myths like the Aralez when I was really little so then I just wanted to know about more."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-06-29 04:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"I know what you mean. Did you ever meet Dani Moonstar? She was my advisor, and she was willing to share some stuff. It was nice, learning from her. Learning about things her people know to be true."

Because he won't say their beliefs are wrong. He won't say anyone's beliefs are wrong. Thor exists. And Ares. And other beings thought to be myths. Easier to assume they're all true.
extrasensory_problems: (Default)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-06-29 04:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Carter shakes his head, "No I never met Dani but she sounds cool. It's nice that she was willing to share things with you."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-06-29 11:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, he's really considering what period of time Carter could have been at the school during. Either way, it was before David's time.

"We're one people, Carter. We share the best we can.
extrasensory_problems: (baseball_smile)

pov: did you want to leave this here with the boys going for a swim or continue?

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-06-30 12:09 am (UTC)(link)
"Well some people do, and I'm grateful for that."

He gives David a grin, meaning him. "So I was thinking of going for a swim, wanna join me before it gets dark?"
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

If we leave this here where will I tag youuuuu??????

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-06-30 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
A swim, huh? David nods at the suggestion. Yes, he thought he could do that.

"Sounds like a plan. You any good?"
extrasensory_problems: (mischief)

Pov? Wtf phone I meant ooc

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-06-30 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
{{ooc: We can either keep this thread going or start a new one when the July prompts go up on the 2nd. Your choice :) }}

"I'm pretty good, no Olympic swimmer or anything but I can dive and do more than doggy paddle."

He glances at David, "What about you?"
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

I understood enough anyway.

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-06-30 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
"Most general strokes, but I don't know that I'm any fast given, well, I don't practice at it a lot."

He isn't about to die, but he can have some fun.
extrasensory_problems: (bw_shirtless)

Aw thanks for understanding my dumb phone type mistakes :)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-06-30 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
"Well we don't have to race one another or anything." Carter says with a smile and pulls off his shirt, balling it up and then tossing towards the shore.

"But I am a little curious about what's down under the water, maybe they have some kind of like magic fish or something."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-06-30 03:28 am (UTC)(link)
"I think I'd rather not go out too deep anyway. From here, in this light, you can't even see if there's a rip tide. Better we stay somewhere safe. Especially since I don't know if there are magic fish."

What would magic fish even do? Do they eat people, grant wishes, whisper secrets?
extrasensory_problems: (mischief)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-06-30 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
Magic fish probably do all three, they are magic after all.

"Oh sure, be all smart and logical." Carter says with a girl and starts to walk further out.

"How about we go out till our feet barley touch the bottom?"
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-06-30 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
Right, how dare he limit the idea of magic fish and what they must do. That's marginalizing them. Terrible!

"Smart and logical is sort of what I do, Carter. What else would you expect me to be?"

Out until their feet barely touch? Seems like a fair depth.

"Okay, but be careful. things can slip off quite quickly."
extrasensory_problems: (wet)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-06-30 04:32 am (UTC)(link)
So terrible! What would Aquaman or Namor think?

"I thought maybe you would be curious as well as smart and logical."

Carter nods and takes a few more steps so that the water is up a bit over his waist, he ducks under the water and pops up a few feet further.

"That feels really nice, no magic fish so far though."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-01 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Well David had no clue who Aquaman was, but Namor would think horrible things of him for it. Even if they had worked together he knew he'd sudder for messing with a fish.

"Well I guess I'm curious too. But that tends to get me in trouble. I guess I'm sort of a 'fuck around and find out' sort of person."

The motion into the water had David stripping off his shirt and tossing it back toward the shore. Then he ducked into the water and made his way forward as well. ONce he caught up to Carter he popped his head above the water.

"Indeed. We seem safe for now."
Edited 2021-07-01 22:59 (UTC)
extrasensory_problems: (wet)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-02 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
Carter tests to see where his feet are in relation to the bottom and it seems that he can stand and have the water go up to his neck, which is fine, he'd rather not have to try and tread water while having a conversation with David.

"So you mentioned that you're used to this kind of 'being taken by some weird ancient being' situation. Do you mind if I ask about that? Like...what was the situation you were in before?"
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-02 02:40 am (UTC)(link)
"Well, it was another version of Earth. The Cold War sort of never ended. The major cities were all wrong. And the world just kidnapped people and brought them there, but in the process gave them powers? There was a sort of spacial rift causing it."

And he still had those very, very weird powers.

"Because of the spacial distortions weird things would happen, as if other words were bleeding into that one. You met people from so many worlds. I met..."

He met so many people who became important to him.

"So I guess sort of like here from what little I've heard so far."
extrasensory_problems: (Default)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-02 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah that seems kind of similar, although so far the only city we've been in was like a weird 1920's New York kind of place."

He raises an eyebrow at the mention of powers, "Did that world give you any powers or since you're already a mutant did it go 'nah bro, you get nothing'?"
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-02 06:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"God I'm glad I wasn't here for that. Being me then would have been bad," David groaned. Can he have a time after the civil rights movement? Sure it's not flawless, but it's better.

"I got new powers there. Psychometry, technopathy, and..."

HE smiled and a band of golden light formed in front of his eyes, not unlike a pair of glasses.

"Something like Psylocke can do, if ou knew her."
extrasensory_problems: (baseball_smile)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-02 07:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeaaaaah I'm glad you missed that one too. There were a bunch of gangsters rolling around the city, I got mistaken for someone they knew and they pistol whipped me. It sucked."

Carter grins when David suddenly makes the golden band of light go across his eyes, "Heeey that's cool. I don't know Psylocke but that looks like urm... what's it called, a Psionic projection." He flicks a strand of wet hair out of his face.

"What's technopathy? It sounds like a cyber-goth band or something."

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