meatdimension | TEST DRIVE MEME

Entry tags:

meme

TEST DRIVE MEME

This game is revving to go, so we're going to start things off with a pre-opening TEST DRIVE MEME. This meme will be open up until the game opens properly, so please keep checking back with it and tag anyone who posts a little later. :)

TO START US OFF....

A. The mundane!

1) > You have discovered a portal to the meat dimension. Congratulations, you're at Chinese Diner Aiya! The rainy day challenge sure is difficult... But maybe this time you can make it.

2) > Every day's great at your Junes! You've run into each other at Junes! Maybe you're buying a Jack Frost Doll, or a magic set. Or maybe you're just getting groceries.

3) > Off to school you go. Class, quizzes, creepy teachers, clubs, and Social Linking ahoy!

4) > So you need some money to buy that Rise doll you saw at Junes, why not get a job? Frustrating co-workers, meeting people you may or may not recognize as customers. Get ready for the usual "I didn't know you worked here!" talk, because it's coming your way.

B. The extraordinary!

1) > You wake up on a mysterious train, and so has the person right next to you. You have no idea what train this is, where it's headed, or how you came to be there, and it seems like neither does your new friend. Why not chat about it?

2) > Your first venture inside the TV World. How does it go? How do you get there? And most importantly, who are you going with?

3) > There are three enemies! But holy shit this is your first fight, how are you going to handle this? Good thing you've got party members to help you out!

THERE ARE UNLIMITED SCENARIO POSSIBILITIES... If you have any other in mind that you want to play out, please go ahead and do so.

Please keep in mind that since this meme is set in the world of Caligo, you may use your threads here as the Caligo-specific samples needed in the app. And most importantly, have fun!!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Hibiki is arguing with the owner of the restaurant. A hamster is on her table, squeaking at him as well, and there's the rainy day challenge right there on the table.]

H-huh? What do you mean Hamuzou can't help? We're a team!

[ It was the first rainy day that Equius had seen since he wound up here, so it was only natural that he'd wind up at Aiya, deadset on figuring out just what this rainy day challenge was. Luck would even have it that he was walking in just as Hibiki began to argue with the owner. He noticed the depravity of the situation: an insolent girl likely no greater than a mustardblood, getting into a heated exchange with the owner of the establishment.

He took the towel from around his neck and used it to wipe the beading sweat from his brow as he sat down next to the girl, completely oblivious to the fact that her bowl was anything more than the average for the place. Equius learned through exceedingly demeaning experience that most people greatly disliked seeing him sweat. At least the rain helped to mask it a bit. He leveled a cross little gaze at her, his mouth forming into a little scowl before he actually gave her the privilege of a conversation. ]

And what, exactly, has made you and your lusus so irate, little peasant?

[Hamuzou, her hamster, is the first person to respond to Equius. He turns to him from his spot next to the rainy day bowl. Being a hamster, all he does is chatter and squeak, but he stomps his foot and crosses his tiny little forearms.

This prompts Hibiki to turn around, temporarily forgetting that she's in an argument with the owner! Maybe this newcomer is on her side, or maybe he isn't, but...]

He won't let Hamuzou have any of the food! He's still growing, and he needs the vegetables, but he says I can't take the challenge with a partner!

[ Of course, Hamuzou gets Equius's attention with little difficulty. Such a small little creature making such sentient gestures was really quite impressive, and it didn't take much for him to believe it was more intelligent than the majestic musclebeasts of his home.

And when the girl begins to plead her case, he can't help but crack a smile before giving the owner quite the stern gaze. ]

Sir, please get me... a bowl of something noble, without any meat.

[ And the proprietor heads off, Equius rolling his eyes as the man's back is turned. ]

He may partake of my meal if you would like, assuming it comes with vegetables. You want Hamuzou to become strong [ He tenses up a bit at the word, but continues like nothing happened. ] and that is very respectable of you.

[Equius is getting Hibiki's respect pretty quickly, too! Usually, people who like like him are jerks, but he's being really helpful. He even managed to intimidate the owner! She was struggling with that herself.]

What a relief, finally someone who understands! Hamuzou and I always eat together, and he told me that after I ordered. Thanks so much.

[She sits down at her table, but turns her chair so she can keep talking to him. Hamuzou's already leaping over to him, looking up at him...thinking he's kind of scary looking, but Hibiki is oblivious to that.]

Mm, yeah! I make Hamuzou's food all by myself, every morning, but because of those exams we decided to eat out! What about you? Did you come for the challenge?

[ He gives her a quick little smile before a bowl of ramen with vegetables and tofu amongst the noodles is placed before him. And a pair of... chopsticks. Equius sighs as he remembers that he's still terribly boorish with the things. Stall for time, go go go! ]

You mean to say that Hamuzou doesn't hun- [ Equius catches himself mid-word. The fauna of the Inaba area seems to be mostly domestic, similar to Aurthour, though they're hardly parental enough to be like a lusus. The majority of these domesticated creatures, called "pets", were fed and cared for by their owners. It was still quite a lot to get used to. ] -doesn't eat normal food for his kind? Or does he simply eat at the same time as you?

[ He puts his gaze onto Hamuzou, and then back onto his owner. back and forth and back and forth while he tries to hide his disgraceful fiddling with those chopsticks and while he tries to talk to keep their attention away from his grievous failure. ]

What sort of meals do you make for him? That sort of compassion for wildlife is hardly common, where I'm from.

[ Equius finally decides to answer the question about himself, and realizes that he simply cannot continue to hide his incompetence. So, he simply sighs. It was a rather long, strong sigh, as well, not something he was trying to hide. ]

I had come here for the challenge. I'm a man who enjoys games with high stakes, and I had assumed that this "Rainy Day Challenge" was quite notorious, based on the words of the commoners. When I learned that it was filled to the brim with animal meat, I simply couldn't follow through with it. Beasts are meant to be looked upon with adoration, not eaten. You were here with a predicament of your own, and I couldn't help but... meddle.

But now that I've gotten something to sate my own hunger, I find myself reduced to the level of the foulest of cretins, completely incapable of holding myself with the dignity required of me, all because of these blasted sticks!

[ The long-winded story-turned-tirade left him breathing rather heavily, with a look of growing rage on his face. Better do something quick before he breaks something! ]

[Ah, his bowl looks good, too! Hibiki's definitely taking on the challenge, though, pork and all. She'd rather have Okinawan style soba, too...maybe she could convince people to try it. Anyways, she's going to let her bowl cool for a moment...]

Hunt? Mm, nope. Hamsters don't hunt...they scavenge. Most of 'em are vegetarians, but if you want the best ingredients, you have to buy them anyways. [Hamuzou crosses his arms and nods. Unfortunately, wild food isn't very common in Inaba!] I make him a breakfast, lunch, and dinner every morning using berries, carrots, seeds...I make sure to include what he likes best, too.

[It actually requires her to get up at six in the morning to make lunches for herself and Hamuzou and still have time to get everything else done. It's not an easy process at all, and she has to make sure he gets all the nutrients he needs.]

I've heard it's really hard! I guess it's even harder if you're a vegetarian, though. [She can't help but feel she's being lectured, though...but she doesn't feel bad when she eats meat. It's an important part of her culture.

Hibiki notices him struggling with the chopsticks, though. She...doesn't really know how she can offer to help, except...]

Do you want to borrow my fork? I keep one with my lunch utensils, just in case. [She just carries a lot of small things in her backpack.]

That... you... thank you.

[ Equius was honestly unsure of how to react. His gut told him to watch out for any treachery, but this seemed like a fair enough exchange. Still, he would keep an eye out for anything suspicious, and react accordingly. He didn't want to wear his heart on his sleeve, after all. ]

What does Hamuzou do in return for the food? Do you... gain anything from the relationship?

[ He winces a bit. As far as he can tell, this little creature may as well be her lusus. But a lusus always does something. Equius sighs again. Humans had to be so complicated. ]

I... am having trouble putting my thoughts into words, I apologize. Do you believe you can defeat this "Rainy Day Challenge"?

[ The most abrupt of subject changes ever. He knows it too, but tries not to show it. ]

It's no problem! I hardly use that one, but I keep it clean, too. Just in case!

[She fishes it out. The fork was just part of a cute animal-themed lunch set, anyways! Not that she'll say that. The handle has a pawprint on it, though, and it's...definitely more of a children's fork. Still, it's tons easier to use than chopsticks are.]

Hmhmhm. Hamuzou is good for all sorts of things! He tells me if I'm forgetting something and gives the best advice when I'm working. We're also never alone! He's pretty great, huh? He's like family.

[Hamuzou, though, is standing at the edge of Equius's bowl, sniffing a little. It smells delicious. He can eat people food once in a while, it's no big deal...but he won't pull anything out without the troll's say-so.

She turns back to her own bowl and grabs the chopsticks.]

I am. I've never tried a challenge like this before, and it sounded kinda like fun. It looks pretty big, though. I've eaten more, though, I think!

[Which may be surprising given how short she is. At 5'2", she's hardly intimidating. She just knows how to feast.]

Thank you.

[ Equius smiles and delicately takes the fork from the girl's hand. He looks at it for a moment, confused by the size and the way it looked, but he knew beggars couldn't be choosers in a situation like this. As he thinks about the relationship between the girl and Hamuzou, Equius can't help but honestly think that the creature may very well be her Lusus, and she just cares for other creatures on the side. ]

It is great that you have such a bond. Most pairs probably do not get along quite like you two.

[ The boy notices Hamuzou next to the bowl, and decides that those sticks may as well get used for something. So, with all the elegance of a musclebeast, he spears a piece of tofu and some cabbage with a chopstick before handing it to the hamster.

And then he looks at Hibiki, and back to her bowl, and back to her. ]

You are rather... small. Are you sure you can fit that much food inside you?

[ Sure, Equius hasn't the foggiest clue how human anatomy works, but... well, it can't be that absurd, right? ]

It's no problem, really!

[She smiles, still not even thinking about her rainy day challenge. When in a weird town with weird powers and weird things going on, it's always nice to actually sit down and have a conversation, even if she feels like she's too busy for it sometimes...gotta keep moving!]

That's right, though. Hamuzou and I are a one-of-a-kind team! No one's quite like us, right Hamuzou?

[Hamuzou, who is about to nibble the living hell out the cabbage, sets it back down and salutes Hibiki, squeaking again in affirmation. This is why she'll be the top idol someday.

...But. The bowl.]

A-ah! I completely forgot about my bowl! It's probably cool enough to eat now...I hope it's not too cold...

[Swivel! Eat! Go! Well not eating quickly as a glutton would, Hibiki still knows her way around a bowl of ramen well enough. She effortlessly starts on the challenge...but she can still talk in between mouthfuls. Conversation makes a meal more meaningful, anyways.]

I guess I won't know until I try! Probably not, but it'll still be fun to attempt.

[ Equius simply thinks on the relationship between Hamuzou and his owner. There were very few pairs of troll and lusus who interacted on a level like these two. Honestly, he may not even know of any! The way they got along, it was so... interesting. He would have to try to make some observations at some point.

...and while he was lost in thought, the girl had realized that her meal was still sitting there, and started going at it. Equius slowly began to start on his own bowl, but his attention was still on her because jeez she was actually doing pretty well so far. ]

[It's true that Hamuzou and Hibiki have a unique relationship. When at a photoshoot, her hamster will let her know if the lighting's wrong, or he'll point out something she's missed. He's the greatest friend to have in a time of need, even though Hibiki thinks she's on the verge of making a new one in Equius. It's so nice to meet a guy who isn't wei--well, okay, he's a bit strange, but he doesn't seem so bad!

And her bowl! She makes decent work of it, but there's definitely no way she's going to be able to finish.]

H-how'd they fit so much food into one bowl?! There's no way this kinda thing is real!

[ As Equius makes some progress on his own meal, he makes sure that he doesn't forget about Hamuzou, spearing a vegetable every once in a while. However, once the girl mentions the sheer volume of food in that bowl, Equius can't help but be curious. So, he leans over a bit, eying her bowl before letting out a small "Whoa" as he shakes his head. ]

That is... quite a lot. They actually let children a challenge that difficult?

[ At least, he's making the assumption that she's a child because she's pretty short. ]

[She stops and takes another moment to look into her bowl. It just looks like she hasn't even made any progress to her, since there's still so much meat and noodles...]

Huh? Do I really look at that young? I'm seventeen...but I think I can't finish this...

[She, nonetheless, decides to keep trying while Hamuzou continues to gobble up some vegetables. Luckily, being a hamster, it's not long before he's full and standing next to Hibiki's bowl and cheering her on.]

[ Goddammit humans measured time differently from trolls. He had no idea how old seventeen was, since it wasn't a sweep. So, he'll try to ignore that fact and move on. ]

You simply aren't as tall as most of the adults I see around here.

[ And he calls her short instead. Brilliant. ]

They do call it a challenge for a reason, I suppose.

That's because I'm not, I guess. I've never really thought about it until now, though.

[She eats some more of her bowl, her personal cheer squad continuing.]

It's pretty tough! And kinda expensive, too. Next time, I'll just get something Hamuzou and I can eat together.

[She pauses...thinking.]

You should come, too! Hamuzou really likes you!

[ Equius only gives a slight smile and nod as the girl was talking. He couldn't really relate to not noticing something about your body, since his STRENGTH was kind of hard to ignore.

When she mentioned money. Equius had to think for a moment, but he was pretty sure that he brought some of the odd human currency with him today. He didn't have much but it was definitely enough for the food.

And then she invited him for another meal together! It caught Equius somewhat off-guard, since he was actually expected to respond now, plus... most of the other trolls thought he was too creepy to spend time with. ]

Th-that... I-I would like that.

[ He's definitely smiling (in a somewhat doofy way) since holy crap someone actually doesn't think he's terrifyingly creepy and they want to be friends with him and they aren't Nepeta which makes it even more astonishing and he's just trying to hold in the happy. ]

[Even she can tell Equius is a little surprised by the invitation, but she's not paying any attention to that. As long as he doesn't start lecturing her like her older brother...anyways, she ignores her food and starts going through her bag again.

Part of her invitation is because she can tell Equius isn't a native like herself, even if Hibiki seems very much like she is.]

You already know Hamuzou, but I'm Hibiki! What's your phone number?

[Cell phone is out! Clearly, she is not ashamed to ask for a guy's phone number.]

[ Equius looks a little confused when she asks for his number, until he realizes that oh right humans used these cell phone things. He fumbles around in his pocket, but in the meantime... ]

My name is Equius Zahhak, and my number is...

[ He finally pulls out his phone and stumbles through a few menus before finally finding it and holding the screen towards Hibiki. Of course, the potential oddity that was asking for a guy's number was completely lost on him, but still. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TEST DRIVE MEME

A1

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

omg sorry it's so huge i just kinda kept going for a while

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

ffff its late and it sucks but it's something. was derping on this tag for some reason

stop apologizing or I'll kick you in ear

o-okay. also i swear i tagged this already...

at least you didn't apologize this time

no subject

no subject

I don't think these two know each other's names yet. This always happens. also ugh this is so wordy

it doesn't matter

no subject