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

[puzzlinglad]

[The fact Hershel of all fucking people is the bigger, braver friend is something even he consciously finds weird. He turns, putting a finger to his lips in the most passive shuushing gesture he can and whispers:] It's alright, Simon, just... act natural?

[...] Actually just um... keep doing what you're doing. [That was kind of Simon's natural state, telling him to act natural would probably make them more suspicious.

He reaches the food, wrapping it up in a napkin and heading over to the door. It was a big chunk, as big as he could manage, probably over half a plate of questionable cafeteria food. He sort of stops as he strolls back to the door, looking around a bit nervously. Well. How did he even do this.

Yes, got it, foolproof plan. He just. pretends to trip, awkwardly letting the food fly through the door haphazardly.] ... Oops!

[Yes perfect no one would know the difference no they were going to be executed for this all hope was lost.]

[eeeek]

[Right, right. The shush gesture. Lots of people have given Simon the shush gesture since he woke up in this stupid place, so he gets it. Simon nods and pretends to drag a zipper across his lips, then half-crouches down with his hands on his head like he's either preparing to sprint away or he's about to hide from an earthquake. It's embarrassing to look at, but. At least he's quiet.]

Gah! [Well, he was quiet.

Simon jumps back from the food that Hershel tosses over to him, limbs flailing everywhere as the napkin hits the ground with a dull thud. Half of the food spills on the floor because Simon was too much of a scaredy cat to catch it, but he doesn't even seem to notice, too busy bouncing on his feet again.]

Oh, man! Hershel!! [He's panicking, clutching at his hair and chewing his bottom lip like he has no idea what to do.] Are you okay?! Ahh! I-I told you this was a bad idea, this was such a bad idea!!

[Yeah, Simon thinks Hershel actually tripped. Like, for real. If Hershel got hurt because of him, Simon's fucked, all of Hershel's friends will totally kill him.]

[puzzlinglad]

Simon, no, it's fine! [Hershel tries to say quietly but yeah if Calhoun was by some miracle drunk and fooled by his performance then now he was probably sure it was bullshit. Hershel couldn't say he was surprised but you know, things happened. If he died at least it was over mystery meatloaf and something that resembled stewed potatos.

He has to sit back a bit and laugh nervously- yeah, they were fucked. He runs a hand through his hair as he mutters.] Another fine mess, Hershel, let's hope Calhoun's at least amused by it.

[When he's done talking to himself like an idiot he waves to Simon.] Hurry, eat up. [Before Calhoun came and confiscated it.

Thank god this operation went so smoothly and nothing about it was pathetic and pointless.]

[eeeek]

[Simon exhales, trying to force the stress out of his body and the tension out of his shoulders. It... doesn't work. He just looks miserable. Hershel's going to get into trouble and it's all his dumb, stupid fault. This is a disaster.

Still, he eats, bending down to pick up the food and squirreling it away in his mouth while Hershel stands guard. He alternates between looking incredibly grateful, incredibly satisfied and incredibly god damn upset because this food is horrible and dirty from the floor and also they're both seriously going to die, but. For the most part, he lets himself enjoy this moment, seeing as it's probably the last meal he'll ever eat.]

I'm sorry. [He sighs when he's done, his posture all miserable and pathetic. He's the dumbest loser in this place and it's clear on his face that he thinks Hershel has to hate him now.] You broke the rules because of me. You didn't have to do that.

[He scratches the back of his neck, calmer now that he has food in his stomach, and he stows the napkin somewhere in his pocket to dispose of later. Simon wants to do something for Hershel, but he's pretty sure nothing can be done to make up for this.]

You're a really good guy, Hershel. [He's maybe sniffling a little.] I-I owe you one, okay?

[puzzlinglad]

[Hershel stood, dusting himself off and glancing around as Simon ate. Nothing yet? Well, Calhoun either didn't know or was biding his time, the latter made him pretty damn nervous. Calhoun playing around with them was really not the best, it meant all number of unpleasant thing.

Well, what's done was done and Hershel walked over to Simon, offering a smile and a shake of the head. Yeah, this was pretty stupid of him but hey, Simon's life was worth just as much as his and this at least bought him a few more days if they were lucky.] Don't worry about it, Simon, anyone would do the same. Come on, let's get out of here before someone comes along and raises a fuss.

[Aka someone calls them fucking idiots. He walks down the hall, trying not to seem too nervous, no use worrying Simon about it.] How do you feel now?

[eeeek]

[Simon has to jog to keep up with Hershel, which is kind of embarrassing because he's nearly, like, ten years older than him. Plus, his work required him to stay athletic, so he should be faster than he is, but - hey, it's not like he remembers that. He shoves his hands in his pockets and lets his heartbeat lower back down to a normal rate, and he playfully nudges Hershel's shoulder with his own once they're walking side by side.]

Good. I mean - I feel good. I feel better. You really helped me out. I-If you hadn't have come along, I would have gone into the cafeteria myself, and then... [He hangs his head, either apologetic or guilty. He owes Hershel his life now, basically.]

But, hey, that was really smart, you know? [His eyes light up and he sways as he walks, apparently confident that Calhoun has no idea about the heist they just pulled and couldn't overhear him despite the volume of his voice.] You're really clever. I never would have thought of that.

[puzzlinglad]

I'm glad you didn't, I don't think Calhoun jokes around about his rules... [You would have been blown the fuck up, but in this fun test drive AU maybe someone hadn't been splattered over the cafeteria walls yet, so they can remain blissfully ignorant.] Simon, promise me you won't do something like that, we can find a way.

[They all had to make it out of here together, Hershel was determined! Sure it as basically a bullshit fantasy but he could dream, fuck you.

And when Simon compliments he tries, he really does, to keep his tone from being too dry. Honestly sometimes he wondered if Simon was pulling his leg or he really believed things like this. The man was. something. Maybe he was just passionately optimistic.] I uh- thank you. [He did not feel smart they were screwed but Being Polite Is Important take the compliment.] If something does happen, please don't blame yourself, alright?

[eeeek]

[whoops the cafeteria sure is a murderer! Simon makes a long, whiny eeeeee noise under his breath when Hershel mentions Calhoun being serious about his rules, and he makes the noise again a second later when Hershel implies that they might not be totally in the clear just yet. He's getting heartburn, man. Maybe it's just because that food looked like a mass of grey rather than anything real, but he's gonna start stressing out again if he doesn't make himself chill.

He doesn't seem to pick up on any dryness in Hershel's tone, though, or if he does, he opts not to comment on it. He focuses on steadying his own breathing again, and when he feels calm, he stops walking down the hall. He looks back at the cafeteria, frowning, and when he speaks, he sounds kind of fucking crazy. Or at least - he says something pretty stupid.]

Maybe...

Maybe we could try to get some more food? Calhoun hasn't done anything, and if you really did find a loophole in his rules, wouldn't it be better to take advantage of it than to just pretend it doesn't exist? I-If you were right, then... all of us could stay fed, even when things get bad...

[puzzlinglad]

Hm... [Hershel stops at that, glancing around before facing Simon. He wasn't wrong exactly, and boy were they treading on thin ice.]

In a way you're right. If we're doing this and got away so far it might be better to get as much food out as we can before we get caught. On the other hand, if we weren't caught or Calhoun's playing dumb it may be better to save it for when things are getting really dire.

... I hate to say it but I can't imagine we won't be found out, not with how Calhoun runs this place. He's either too busy to notice right now or biding his time, whatever the case I have a feeling we'll be hearing from him soon. [Right, Simon. He offers a small smile.] I don't think he'll kill us for this, it'd be a waste, that's for certain. Just- if he gets mad, let me say it was my idea, alright? It was after all, and you really can't afford losing BP or getting in trouble right now.

[eeeek]

I don't think I could say it's your idea... [He swallows, his throat suddenly dry and scratchy. Simon couldn't hurt a fly, let alone give up a friend to Calhoun to save his own skin. He shakes his head, telling Hershel that there's no way he'll let him take the fall, but... still. It's obvious in his expression that he knows he could die if this goes south. If Hershel wants to take the blame and leave Simon out of all of this, maybe he should just... go with that?

Either way, he avoids the topic, still staring back at the cafeteria. The two of them could be on a pretty thin tightrope here, but maybe they're on to something. He's finally found enough self-awareness to close the distance between them and keep his voice as quiet as possible, and when he speaks, it's a lot more measured and careful than it had been until now. Despite all the risk, he's not sure he's ready to give this plan up.]

Th-then...

It's your choice, okay? If you think it's worth the risk, and that we could help a lot of people by doing this, then maybe we should go back. But if you'd be in too much danger... maybe we should just let it go? I don't want you to get hurt, and you would be the one taking all the food...

[puzzlinglad]

There's no point in both of us getting in trouble. [He points out, then goes quiet to think.

As stupid as Hershel is he's not that stupid, he knows going back and doing more may be playing right into Calhoun's hand at this point. If it were anyone else taking the risk he'd say no, don't do it, it's not worth being killed for, and he knows it, consciously knows it applies to himself too. He can imagine several people in the game chewing him out for even going this far, but trying more? Ridiculous. Pointless. Stupid.

Yet.

Yet Simon has a point. As much as a gamble as it was it was a lot safer than stabbing someone to wring some food from Calhoun, or betraying someone to win the prize of a few food cans. If they were just lucky Calhoun didn't see it yet then they had some time to do a little more, and maybe that'd be worth it. When leveled against the people who were starving it was hard for Hershel to say no. He was lucky, he had almost more BP than anyone and people still trusted him despite the betrayal. He wasn't sure he deserved that kind of luck.

After a long beat his inner guilty doormat rears it's head and he glances to Simon, nodding.] It's... it's worth a try.

[eeeek]

[Simon watches Hershel think, occasionally tearing his eyes away from him to make absolute sure that nobody - including Calhoun - had decided to go for a walk anywhere nearby. It's suddenly hard to speak, all the adrenaline and anxiety boiling in him, so when he tries to say something, he has to get through the awkward voicecrack before he remembers how to talk.]

A-are you sure? This is all on you, Hershel. We'll only go back there if you're absolutely, completely certain that you want to do this.

[He looks worried, putting a hand on Hershel's shoulder, but - he doesn't really wait for a response before he straightens up and nervously starts shifting his weight from foot to foot. Despite whatever Simon's personal feelings may be, this group needs a steady supply of food, and Hershel might have found a way to get it. Whatever happens next has to be worth it.

So Simon grabs Hershel's arm and starts walking, ducking his head and looking for anyone who might jump out of the shadows and scream at them for being thieves. He keeps shooting reassuring glances to the guy next to him, occasionally whispering comments like we can go back if you want to, but before too long, he's death marched Hershel right back to the cafeteria.]

S-So...

I can't go in there. But - I'll be right outside, okay?