MARCH/APR TEST DRIVE

[heckinmods]

MARCH TEST DRIVE

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A.SPRING FLOWERS INTRO - GARDEN

[Things are starting to warm up in the garden! Slowly and gently, things have begun to defrost. The saturated pink flowers from February have given way to gentle speckles of clover and bright flushes of green, knocking away the winter frost. Daffodils in bright yellow and white greet garden visitors.

Your local cherubs and imps have noticed that getting people to meet each other can be hard. Perhaps people just aren't as social in the worlds they come from! Surely, everyone's just too frozen stiff from the winter weather to break the ice!

Not to worry. They've got a solution! Visitors to the Garden this month will find a nametag affixed to their clothing again, but this time the nametag is here to do the work for you. When another person approaches or even just passes by, the nametag happily speaks up and describes a fun, short fact about its wearer!

Most of these facts are correct… but there's no telling whether or not they're anything you actually want to share. After all, it's not like the cherubs— or the nametags— asked.

B. IN LIKE A LION - PRIDE RING

It's Game Day in the Pride Ring— which is every day, of course. If you've taken the elevator down to floor one today you're inevitably swept up in the crowds, each eager to participate in and cheer for the public Obstacle Course Race.

You're slapped together with a partner and made to wait in line with them as pairs catapult themselves over platforms, jump through rings of fire, climb rocky crags, and swing over pools of steaming water to try and ring a buzzer. Pairs that make it to their destination get a sinful prize— two bottles of a prized hell drink that gives its drinker an ego trip the same way an energy drink would give you a buzz, and a shiny gold-colored badge with their name on it.

The only catch? Both competitors have to make it through to the end for either to receive a prize.

Maybe you're waiting in line, or perhaps you're going through with your partner— or maybe you've just gotta try and book it before anyone catches you. If you won, why not try enjoying that drink together?

C. OUT LIKE A LAMB - HUMILITY RING

[Those who found their way to the peaceful Humility ring are subject to a much less stressful experience. A cherub has organized a small scavenger hunt in hopes of getting folks to explore more of the ring— you know, if they don't mind. It isn't much, but they just hope you'll take advantage of all they have to offer, after all.

The tasks include:

• taking a selfie with someone in a bookshop


• sharing a coffee with a new friend at a coffee shop with an animal on the sign


• trading a handmade gift with a denizen from heaven or hell


• wearing a pair of lion ears

…and other such cozy things. Really, it's a relaxing place to be.

Oddly enough, the place seems a bit more fortunate during the month, too. You might end up getting doubles of anything you obtain in the Humility ring— all the more reason to share with a friend!]


Wildcard

You can come up with whatever posts you like, too, including posts to the network!

OOC NOTES:
-This TDM is open to all! You do NOT need to join the comm to play in it!
-This will be the TDM for March/April, but you're free to use old ones if you prefer, or make your own prompts!
-Already in game? Get accepted during March? Jump into our Feb/March Plotting meme to jumpstart.
-As a reminder, THIRD CHARACTER APPS are now street legal!
-Post questions for the mods here
-Remember, playing in the TDM does NOT guarantee your entry or app being accepted into the game proper later down the line!
-Apps open!! Be sure to read the rules linked there and check the current taken list!
-For current or new potential players: TDMs count as game canon AND threads may be used for AC if you wish! It's optional! You can do a whole thread and then decide it's not canon if you want!
-Remember regardless of your alignment, you are free to travel to whatever level you wish!

Comments

[iwasinvisible]

[Lydia purses her lips a moment, only mildly surprised he agreed so easily. Looking around in thought she spots the flier he managed to nail up before he noticed her. She hitches a thumb over her shoulder at it.]

How about that place?

[Is she much for bars? Probably not. He's advertising for it though and she's curious, enough to stick her nose in places she typically wouldn't go to.

Then again looking at her? She might fit in, right. Somewhere in the span of all of this her spaded tail has stayed the same but those crimson horns of hers have grown from little nubs to angle back along her head.]

[bugbeverage]

The Devil's Nest? Hmm...

[ Beetlejuice tilts his head and leans toward her until he is in her personal bubble. He looks her over with scrunched brows and reaches out to poke the tip of one of her horns. ]

Aren't you like...twelve?

[ Will Greed even care? Proooobably not. Nanami will. And when Nanami does his big stinky frowny face at him, it's super annoying and it really hurts his chances of finally stealing a kiss off him. BUT. This is Lydia they're talking about! His pal(?) He can vouch for her! ]

EHHHH, who cares? The law? Hahahahaha, sure, I'll take ya to The Devil's Nest! Keep up!

[ Beetlejuice kicks off with one boot and takes wing, making a b-line for the elevator. ]

[iwasinvisible]

Fifteen.

[Almost sixteen if he wanted to get technical but she's not about to start in on that argument. As she follows after him just a tiny bit jealous she doesn't have wings for that easy gliding she waves a hand dismissively.]

This is the afterlife! They can't card you in the afterlife. How stupid would that be?

[She makes it only a handful of steps behind him, jumping into the elevator before he can even think of jamming on the door close button. She sags back against the nearest wall or whatever with a big sigh.]

Is there anything like the law here?

[bugbeverage]

[ Beetlejuice waits in the elevator and laughs a little when Lydia comes crashing in after him. She's keeping up! She'll be fiiiiine. He presses the down button and leans against the wall himself. He tips his halo up with a finger. ]

Ehhhh, sort of. There's an expectation that people pay for shit and murder is generally frowned on, but if you're fast enough, who cares? And I dunno if you'd call it law, but there's a scarcity factor.

[ He holds up two hands, one higher than the other to represent the realms.]

I can find all the cocaine I could ever want in Hell, but not in Heaven. And it goes the other way. Heaven's the only place you can find Coffee.

[iwasinvisible]

[Lydia quirks a brow as he demonstrates the whole realms thing. Then she snorts with just a bit of a smirk on her lips.]

Guess if you get one form of energy they don't think you need the other.

[Cocaine and coffee isn't a great side by side comparison though but she gets it. Which she demonstrates by mimicking him.]

So are we saying most drugs are in Hell and most caffeinated products are in Heaven? Where do I go if I want an energy drink?

[bugbeverage]

[ Beetlejuice's brows furrow as he thinks about that. He tips his head to one side and tries to remember if he's seen any energy drinks lately. He doesn't really know anyone who drinks them. He strokes his beard thoughtfully and he speaks as the thoughts come to him: ]

Other rings of Heaven and Hell have been opening up to us lately--us being the schmucks with the messed up paperwork. If Sloth is going to be in Hell, then whatever is the opposite of that would be in Heaven and that could be where you find your Five Hour Energy fix.

[iwasinvisible]

[That seems to really really make sense to Lydia judging by the way her expression turns more thoughtful than amused. She crosses one arm around her and ticks off each sin on the fingers of her other hand with her thumb.]

Sloth, pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust and gluttony.

[She nods a little there, lips pursing as she looks back his way.]

So I'm guessing you have access to Sloth then? How about the others?

[bugbeverage]

[ He shakes his head. ]

Not yet. Greed and Pride have opened up downstairs. And then Charity and Humility. Apparently Humble Pie is a real food.

[ He pulls his phone out again and shuffles over to where Lydia is slouching against the wall and snaps a selfie with her--flash on of course.]

Smile!

[iwasinvisible]

[Lydia starts to say something about how that had got to taste horrible but that's before he shuffles over.

She gets exactly zero seconds to think about the smile command before she's blinded by the flash.]

Beetlejuice!

[Then she reaches out half-blind to snatch his phone from him. If successful she squints at it as she begins to try to tinker with his settings.]

Look, if you're going to take selfies you've got to think about the lighting of the place you're taking them first!

[Lydia likes photography, okay. She knows about proper lighting.]

[bugbeverage]

That's my name, don't wear it out!

[ He's too busy cackling at his own antics to stop her from snatching his phone. She'll find that his lock screen is just a picture of himself. ]

Oh ho, excuse me! I didn't know I was in the presence of an ar-teest!

[iwasinvisible]

[She gives a long sigh at the lock screen and then just casually pockets his phone for now.]

I just can't stand bad selfies, alright. If you're going to take them at least set them up so people don't look all washed out and hideous.

[Now she pulls her own phone and begins fiddling with it. When the elevator finally dings she starts out on her own, absentmindedly gesturing for him to follow. Then she pauses a moment before outright taking hold of his wrist and tugging him along.]

Here.

[There's bound to be some darkness and garish neon to give her just the right tinge she's looking for. Maybe outside the Devil's Nest itself? Because once she finds what she deems as good lighting for something moody and cyberpunk-esque with those lights she literally guides him just where she needs him, checking through the phone's camera before she rushes up next to him.]

Okay now you smile!

[No flash here but Lydia does throw her free arm around his neck, dragging him somewhat down to her level before she snaps a picture. Without flash, thanks.]

[bugbeverage]

[ Lydia's intuition is right! Hell is every bit as seedy as one would expect with flickering signs, puddles, smoke billowing from random pipes. There's a Denny's. ]

[ Beetlejuice trails along behind her with his hands in his pockets, content to let her explore at her leisure. It's not like anybody would mess with her with him around anyway. While his reputation does precede him, let's be real, it's mostly because he belongs to Greed and Greed hates having his things broken.]

[ He's pulled from his thoughts when Lydia hooks him around the neck and tugs him into frame. He doesn't have time to fix his surprised expression.]

Hey, I wasn't ready!

[iwasinvisible]

[At that she simply smirks before she turns the camera around to show him the picture. His surprised expression is gloriously captured with very moody lighting as is her very pleased grin. They look like friends at least.]

It's a good picture though. Here, I'll send it to you.

[She turns him loose before she tosses his phone back to him.]

[bugbeverage]

[ He beholds the photo and makes a face. It's so un-cool looking! When he's released, he has to juggle his phone for a second to catch it. He quickly tucks it away in a sleeve before she takes any more unflattering pictures of him. Own medicine and all. ]

Thanks, I'll treasure it. C'mon, the Nest is this way.

[ Through with being the follower, Beetlejuice strides out in front and takes his own turn pulling her along by the wrist. ]

So, I've been gainfully employed for a year now, and I'm a huge hit with the regulars!

[iwasinvisible]

[Okay, color her impressed for a moment here.]

A whole year?

[Beej, have you given into The Man? What happened to being rebels together?]

[bugbeverage]

[ Don't be too impressed, Lydia, he's just a hired goon. ]

Yup! I'm due for a raise any day now!

[ He pauses to make a threatening face at a car that drives a little too slowly past them. He recognizes it, but doesn't say anything. Soon, it turns a corner, and he continues like nothing happened. ]

I won't lie, I miss being a bioexorcist, but there's no fleshbags down here so...

[iwasinvisible]

[Lydia meanwhile tracks the car as it drives past to the point of looking over her shoulder while he drags her along. What was that about?

She brushes it off as they turn the corner.]

We're all equally dead down here I guess. ... Or up here.

[In between? No, this isn't exactly purgatory, right?]

[bugbeverage]

Oh, honey, we are doooown stairs right now. Don't worry, you'll get used to it! But don't ask me where Earth fits in because I don't know and also don't care. I am never going back!

[ He slices his free hand through the air to demonstrate. ]

[ A few streets, many unsavory businesses, and one pushy mime later, The Devil's Nest looms before them. The sign washes them both in red light and Beetlejuice all but parades Lydia through the door. ]

OUTTA THE WAY, LOSERS! I got a VIP right here!