test drive.

[vivariummods]

TEST DRIVE

Want to test out the setting? Not sure if your character is a good fit? Need to start gathering some samples? You know how it goes: → Comment with the character's name and series in the subject. → Pick an option or make your own. → Tag around. → Enjoy yourself!! The Test Drive will be open up until Vivarium opens on July 5th. Check out these helpful links to get a sense of the game: G A M E  L I N K S ✖ FAQ ✖ Bracelets ✖ Locations R E S O U R C E S ✖ Virtue's Last Reward Wiki ✖ Virtue's Last Reward Trailer ✖ Virtue's Last Reward OVA option one. You're awake. You're lying on a cold floor, and your head is pounding. It feels like you've been hit with a sledgehammer. You can barely move, but you push yourself up anyway, and look around. You're in an unfamiliar warehouse, and on your left wrist is a bracelet. It feels heavy, and no matter how hard you tug at it, it refuses to come off. You can't remember how you arrived here, nor do you recognize anyone else. Try not to panic too much. ( For the purposes of the Test Drive, characters will be arriving in the warehouse instead of the Elevator/AB Room) option two. An Ambidex Game has just concluded. You have entered in your vote and there's no turning back. Did you trust your opponent and vote ally? Or did you double-cross them and vote betray? What did your opponent do? Did they vote betray while you voted ally, or did they vote ally while you voted betray? Why did you choose one or the other? Just what did you do? option three. Rules are meant to be broken. You've just reached a certain amount of BP, and you can finally have access to food (low or high quality) or to the dorms. It's great, things are getting a bit more bearable now, but seeing the others without the same "luxuries" as you, you feel like you should do something. It's against the rules to bring food or blankets out of their respective rooms, but Zero can't have eyes everywhere... can he? option four. Exploration and Escape. All the windows are bolted shut, and all the doors are locked. The exit is through the number 9 door, but no one can reach it until they have 63 BP. It'll take too long to wait for help to arrive, and to accumulate that many points. There must be some way out. Maybe if you search enough, you can find a tool to help you break down a door. option five. Wild Card. Want to try something else? Go for it! Have your own AB Game round, have characters argue against each other, try to keep the mood cheery, whatever! Make full use of the environment and mechanics, just remember to keep it within the game's structure.

Comments

[netting_nettles]

[Yeah, with that falter in Apollo's voice, he doesn't even need to try to sneak a glance at his bracelet to guess the results. No way the guy wouldn't look relieved if he'd gotten a boost in points. The stakes were way too high not to be.]

I guess we're both suckers this time, huh?

[Just a depressed, little scoff, as he leans back against the nearest wall and folds arms across his chest.]

[apolling]

[...Yyyyeaaah he wasn't fooling anyone, was he... Might as well not bother to look away, then. Apollo folded his arms, before letting out a small sigh.]

W-well, there's no point crying over it. We're still fine, right?

(For now...but for how long?)

['Long enough to at least get out of here', he was hoping. Meanwhile, his openly expressed statement didn't stop him from shooting a frown at his opponent exiting the AB Rooms...]

[netting_nettles]

Not any worse off.

[Kariya mutters the correction this time. It's a rule now; every time Apollo says "fine," he's going to get stared at for a half-second like he's an idiot.

When the half-second's over, he tilts away from the wall to follow the man's gaze.]

Are those two the ones that were on your team? I can keep an eye on them if you want.

[Because, hey, even if he's harmless and innocent, that doesn't mean he's blind. He ekes out a smile over towards Apollo like the guy's the only trustworthy adult he's met in this place and trying to team up with him is only normal.

Hell, he probably is, too.]

I'll point mine out to you, too, alright?

[apolling]

[You could make all the critical expressions you wanted, Kariya, but Apollo was not about to let go of that word. Despite it being so small, he found himself saying it without realizing it. It made him feel a tiny bit better somehow, the more he said it.

But there were more important things for him to worry about right now than the reasons why he said certain words.]

(I don't know if that's necessary...) [...But knowing who would constantly pick 'Betray' was potentially a good idea. Logically speaking, it wasn't smart to pick 'Ally' with people who he knew with little to no doubt would select the other option, right? And besides, he wouldn't have to worry about accidentally screwing them over if that was the case.

So after a bit of thought, Apollo answered:]

...Okay, sure.

[netting_nettles]

Mn, alright then!

[Apollo's acquiescence - and the prospect of already getting a small start on his payback - is enough for Kariya to brighten right up. Is there a devious edge to the smile he's tending towards and to the light in his eyes?

Just maybe, but he manages to keep them in check.]

See that shady guy and the lady about your age coming out of the room over there? [Kariya gestures towards them conspiratorially as they emerge.]

Those were my Pair. I thought we got along okay in the game, but...I guess you just can't trust them.

[apolling]

I see... (Why do I feel like he's involving me in crime?)

[Seriously, the way the kid turns his mood around and talks about his Pair is putting Apollo off a bit. Like he's a little too happy about labeling those people as untrustworthy...or is he reading too much into it? But...again, it would be good to at least know who they are, just in case...

As Apollo studies their faces to ensure he won't forget them, the thought occurs to him that there's one important detail he's missing here.]

Oh uh, by the way, what's your name? I'm Apollo Justice.

[netting_nettles]

[The teal-haired boy nods, small and quick, and then promptly looks away from the two he'd pointed out. He leans back and turns his head idly towards Apollo. Nothing to see here, just two abduction victims having a chat.]

Kariya Masaki.

I'd say it's nice meeting you, but like this...

[A little, neutral shrug.]

[apolling]

[What else can Apollo add to that but the obvious? He finds himself shrugging a little in turn.]

...Well, there's not much we can do around here now. Want to get moving?

[Not like they have anywhere they can really go, admittedly, but walking sounds better than just standing around in front of these doors all day. Besides, it looks like everyone else is starting to move on, too.]

[netting_nettles]

Sure.

[There's a shrug, but Kariya smiles in agreement all the same, slight but friendly.

Internally, he's wincing a little at how futile it all feels, but he'll keep that bottled up for now. Boy, isn't he lucky to have met a grown-up who's safe and friendly? And way too squeaky clean-seeming to trust, the guy's name is even "Justice," come on.]

It's not like we have anywhere to be after this.

[apolling]

Yeah... [For now, at least, until their next 'game'...whenever and whatever it's going to be.

Apollo starts walking slowly, not wanting to just power walk away and leave Kariya behind. As he walks, his mind starts to wander...putting aside the AB Rooms and Kariya's intentions for now and contemplating the situation they've all been thrown into instead. The logic of it all. The purpose of this so-called 'game'. How everyone else feels about this.]

...Why do you think we're really here? [He wonders aloud.]