//TESTDRIVE14.EXE

[reparator]

//testdrive14.EXE

The desert. It's hot. It's sandy. It's filled with creepy monsters and things. But mostly it's hot and sandy and there's a whole lot of nothing. You appear and wonder "why am I here? What is there to do here? Is that a cow skull? Do cows live out here in this desert? How can cows live in the desert? Maybe it's a horse?" These are all very complicated questions with equally complicated answers but there's no one to provide them no matter where you look. Instead, you're given the option of walking. Forwards, backwards, to your right, to your left, any direction is yours to take. Try not to die from dehydration or something, that would be a sad ViViD death and the cow-horse skull might start laughing at you. I mean, you'll just start over from the beginning anyway but still. Welcome to ViViD's new line of Vacation Spotlights: Desert Edition. Moo-Neigh. One wish, that's all you get. Make it snappy, I don't have all day. Actually, I have eternity but I just don't want to spend it with you.

//SCENARIOS.EXE

PHASE I [ 600 ] So. There's sand. In fact, there's so much sand that there's probably already sand in your shoes and your shorts and all sorts of other places that aren't fun to have sand in. It stretches for miles and miles, in large dunes and deep dips, and above it all there are three suns that beat down upon everyone's backs. Why three? Because why not, that's why. Enjoy the sunshine and try not to get sunburnt. You've got a long ways to travel before you find anything but sand, but thankfully you're not alone -- there are a bunch of unfortunate stragglers who are out with you, so it's time to make some friends as you travel. You've got pleeeeenty of time. No water though. Or food. Or... anything but human interaction. Thankfully, it's only a matter of time before you stumble across your hot new ride. Thankfully, it seats two, so you and your new friend can enjoy a cramped road trip. You, this relative stranger, and the great... sandy... unknown! Good luck! PHASE II [ 645 ] If you prefer to not take your ride, you're going to wish that you did soon enough. Every desert level has to have desert monsters, after all. You're walking through the sand, trying to make it to somewhere that isn't sand, and then suddenly, the sand worms appear. Or. Well. They try. Unfortunately, they're little more than 5 or 6 inches tall apiece, and they'll mostly try to eat your shoes and socks. How scary. Alternatively, if you have actually taken that sweet ride of yours on an adventure through the desert, you're going to hit something at one point. It makes a rather pitiful scream and there's a small bump underneath your tire before your car comes to a stop. You just ran over a sand worm. Anyone who is intrepid enough to kill a sand worm though will find one interesting thing about them. They're filled with water, and you are very, very thirsty. Ew. PHASE III [ 1000 ] It sure is hot. And unless you've devoured one of those poor, sad, screaming sand worms, there's no water to be found. It feels as though you've been wandering in circles for ages, so perhaps it's really no surprise that the heat starts to get to you. First come the headaches, and the thirst. Then the dizziness and vertigo. And finally, the mirages. What you see is a waterfall cascading into a crystal pool, beautiful and pristine and painfully cool. It's just begging for you to come enjoy it, and -- wait, there's one more thing. Standing in front of that pool is either someone you care about immensely or someone you hate immensely. And either way, the things they say or do will be the same. First they reach for you, beckoning, and they they start to detail all of the things they'd like to do to you. NSFW, SFW, loving or cruel or so many things in between, all that's honestly consistent is that it's pretty shocking. Oh, and awkwardly, it seems as though anyone with you can see and hear that hallucination too. That's embarrassing. PHASE IV [ 1215 ] Eventually, though, you'll find your destination. Or... at least, it seems like it should be the destination. The tiny temple is at least a change from the endless sand, and in the middle of it, there's a lamp. That sure looks familiar. If you rub the lamp, of course, you'll release the genie, and he'll glance at you, and inspect his fingernails as though you're hardly worth his time, and offer you one, single wish. As soon as you make it, well... You'll get the opposite of what you wish for with a sudden apology note in your hand. The card will read "Sorry, this level isn't entirely finished yet - Mosley" before immediately disappearing. Your wish will only apply in ViViD, of course, but hopefully you didn't wish for anything too crazy, or you might have made the level Much Harder for everyone around you. BONUS [ why o'clock ] One second you're walking along the desert sand, enjoying the eternally same view, and the next there's a sudden pinch on your ankle, and a scorpion monster scuttles away quickly. Whoops, looks like you've been stung. But it's not poison, it would seem. Aside from feeling a little odd and having a mild fever, you're fine. More importantly, you've now found yourself in possession of some... new powers (a la Spider-man), and they're... Well, they're useless. Maybe you can summon water now, but... only sulfur water. Perhaps you can now make pretty light shows and that's about all. You can see the future but only the next three seconds. The possibilities are endless, but what's for certain is that they're all completely and utterly useless to you. What the fuck, ViViD. [ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with sensitive or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ]

//RUN.EXE

Welcome to Cerealia's fourteenth Test Drive Meme. For your convenience, we have compiled a post detailing everyone's arrival experience and a FAQ that should explain everything in more detail. Please read them thoroughly before playing. Thank you!

Comments

nero claudius | fate/

[rosaichthys]

1. curtain rise.

( sand. how nice! it's not like that's a problem for nero at all, what does pose as one in this situation is the heat. it's not quite right for a roman emperor to sweat and what she deserves is a nice long and hot bath but sadly, now is not the time! what the time does call for as she looks at the group of people around her — suffering from the heat above — and at that moment is when a great idea comes to mind. during her first life, she has dealt with all sorts of arts and that even going as far as architecture.

it doesn't take nero long before she goes as far as to build a rather big and large sand castle, one big enough that a king could call their castle and it's amazing how it stays up without falling down. the servant even going as far as to make holes that replicate windows and even a few limbs of people who might have gotten caught up in her hardwork's arms stick out in distress but that is not what matters! goodbye.. npcs.. you shall build the castle that houses her people.

anyway. )

Umu! ( standing in front of the entrance of the castle she has built. ) I would like to invite you all into my castle! The dreaded heat above us must be horrible upon the health of those around me, burdened with the heat on their shoulders! I offer homage inside of my castle, come and bask in the shade so that you don't pass out from exhaustion! For now, this is all I may give to you, my people, but as you enter please give me the much required praise that I deserve! I've done well!

4. opening act.

( well, when it comes to wishes, she's not going to admit her own towards some faux holy grail so far a small test she does wish for a hot bath. it's something she's been craving during her time here but unfortunately, the note is enough to tell nero that nothing here will go her way. what she is given is small white flakes that start to fall from the sky, and once one lands on her hand — she's able to identify it as snow. )

Huh!? You fool! This is not what I asked for! ( of course, the lamp is then throne down onto the sand as she glances up at the clouds that form above the surrounding area and snow continues to fall. now, since she's a heroic spirit, it doesn't bother her that much but she can feel the cold touch that it gives once it falls down onto her skin. standing in place with a frown upon her features, she casually walks around until she finds someone who seems to be suffering as much as her. though for who she has found, there is inspiration given to her as the idea changes the moment she looks at the snow and then at the person. )

You! Stay in place, I feel that this will do me nicely and pass the time! Allow me to make a sculpture out of you from this snow!

( maybe that's not a good idea, what if you freeze to death? well, nero isn't thinking about that at all. )

bonus. closing act.

( new powers? ah yes, how much she enjoys having rose petals fall upon her person but to be honest, she's not complaining. the female puffs out her chest happily as it's something that exerts her "aura" around her. but who is she just to keep the beauty of falling rose petals on her body to herself? obviously, she has to show someone, so what she does is search for the next person that she can find before calling out to them. ) Yes, you will do. Allow your eyes to gaze upon my visage, tell me how these petals flatter my appearance. I'm sure that you would know true beauty if it came up to you and asked. ( she's the beauty that's asking but the moment she clears her throat and a signature 'umu' leaves from her lips, the person before her is suddenly covered in rose petals. just covered in it and probably has to dig themselves out if they want to be freed. )

What are you doing, you shouldn't deny me of my attention! I asked you once, don't make me have to ask a second time. ( now with a small pause as she clears her throat, she closes her eyes as she speaks again. )

Umu! ( again, petals will rain down on the person, covering them once more from this false reality. ) Now bestow your eyes upon elegance! ( seconds pass and without hearing anything, she opens her eyes to take sight of the person covered in petals again. ) You are truly testing my patience!

wildcard.

( bring me your own prompt! i'll be down for anything! )

nice rosekink worth 10k

[soukoku]

[ he's currently in a rather big predicament.

while he fully expected to get buried in the sand, somewhere along the way (mostly because even walking on it made him sink knee-deep into various drifts) rose petals... are certainly a sight to behold, in the middle of a wasteland.

or, they would be, if chuya wasn't currently drowning in them. ]

H - hey, are you kidding me?! Get this off -- ! [ whatever nero says goes right over his head, of course; he doesn't have time to pay attention to her with petals slipping in his outfit and mouth. but, hey, he doesn't control gravity for nothing; in a single, decisive motion, the petals burst away from him not unlike an explosion, now floating around nero, himself, and... probably some other people.

not that chuya has anything to say to them, trying to get the rest off of his shoulders. ] What the hell is this? Some kind of an illusion? I'm hallucinating, aren't I?

[ but here's your petal paradise, nero.............. ]

NICE ROSEKINK WORTH 10K... ROSE-ING... ROSE-ING...

[rosaichthys]

( nice shoujo moment, even nero can't be against the copious amounts of petals that waft around them. the smell is delightful than the thick, hot air that comes from the suns and sand. if another person was to look at this scene, it would be perfect for a tapestry, even better, a play could be scripted after this. )

This scene, it reminds me of a play that was worth more than a thousand words, filled with tears that stained the grounds before the crowds of people. To see that elegance can be shown by others, how the petals sway their dance around you is very magnificent. ( so she believes that rome will forgive him for not placing his attention on her but making these petals flutter around them in their own song, their rhythm that will not stop until the wind ceases to blow. )

Hallucination? To dream of my appearance would only be fleeting, you should take this as reality. Do not become blindsided! ( she has a serious look on her face when it comes to herself and the fact that the male would find this a hallucination. she at first believes this place to be the moon cell, whatever else could it be? though in the end, she doesn't hear a voice permitting to her that she needs to contract with anyone. not only that, how did she get here from america so fast? )

Do you hold any idea how we could have turned up in such a dreaded place, this death seeking heat isn't good for my skin.

1

[princeshuzo]

☆ He's staring at the castle with a reserved smile, tail flicking back and forth as he appraises the structure that Nero built. Not like Shu's ever really spent time building sand buildings before--- time spent on the beach was for photo shoots, PR moments, and enjoying the fan service. ☆

Mm? Required praise... ☆ His eyes spot a twitching limb, and he blinks, then stares at the ground. His amused smile remains frozen on his face. ☆

... perhaps an "at least no one's died yet" will work for you?

[rosaichthys]

Of course.. ( with her chest still puffed up. ) Not!

( she wishes for him to give that mannerism of speaking of good compliments to herself. ) Do not give attention to those who help build this castle, cast an eye to me who thought of this idea to cool off those who suffer.

( now, she is ready for her praise. )

4! WELCOME TO HELL again

[adornmental]

[Okay but WHO WOULD TURN DOWN THE CHANCE TO STAND IN SNOW after wandering around for what feels like ten thousand years in the desert?! Not Kashuu, that's for damned sure. Especially since he's a moron and he's refused to remove anything but his jacket... Good work, Kashuu.

So here he stands, stretching his arms out to the side as if that might somehow help him to cool down faster.]

Whatever, I don't care! Just let me cool off for like, five seconds.

[Or, you know. Minutes. Just let him bask in this little sliver of winter until he realizes that the snowflakes are melting very quickly and just leaving him soggy instead.]

—Ew, ew, okay - that's enough cooling down.

stop im here to steal u and make u my son. im red. ur red. im beautiful ur beatiful,

[rosaichthys]

( just hurry this up! nero doesn't have all day but during kashuu's attempt to well, cool off. the servant had already created her masterpiece within seconds. what she even did was catch the bad side of kashuu — his realization on the snow making him wet and that discontent face has been made from snow; right next to nero. )

No need. I've already finished my artistic creation. What do you think?

( though for someone who takes so much pride in their work, bad things would happen if a really good looking sculpture is talked badly about. but it does look nice aside from the expression the snow sculpture has. )

Umu! A picture is worth a thousand words, is it not?

4

[painbreaker]

[W-W-What...!? Her of all people? What an honour, for a sculpture to be made in her likeness. Less than a day into this hell and she has already found someone nice to her. Not to mention a fellow heroic spirit!]

I, I suppose it's okay, thank you...! How would you like me to pose?

ooooh!! medea lily *points at u* a beauty has found me! an artist!

[rosaichthys]

( normally it's nero who would be the one that would have the sculpture made after her but for now, it'll do to pass the time. )

With this horrible winter upon us, we shouldn't let it shake our compsure — we must make light of it! ( turning towards medea lily, nero takes a few steps back before lifting her thumb as an artist signature to get proportions right. )

Hm? How'd I want you to pose, don't ask such a silly question. A beautiful pose is all I ask for, surely you can create that for me! Your body seems almost translucent, I'm sure you could mimic that of a God. Perhaps.. Atalanta? ( or you can look angry like you were when we were about to beat up whatshisface in okeanos. that works too. )

Prompt 1. She's not the only red wearing beauty here...

[faithfulflame]

[There were a lot of very, very interesting things going on in this scene.

First, of course, was the castle, and the NPCs sticking out. Rei had been here long enough to have become completely jaded and disinterested in NPC rights, since they were simple digital constructions programmed to perform irritating functions...so the waving arms were more a source of morbid amusement than anything.

The second interesting thing was the architect herself. She was, in a word, lovely. Enough so that Rei found her eyes lingering a bit, particularly on her face. A face that she knew, that of the departed Saber, though this woman was slightly less reserved looking than the knightly lady she'd come to know upon her arrival. The difference in attitude was light night and day, and Rei immediately decided that the red woman was worth speaking to. The heat hardly bothered her, but she just had to know. Was this woman related to her friend?

And lastly, the sense of...something odd. A lingering hint of spiritual echos from her time as a Master? Maybe. Or perhaps something more related to the woman's own obviously enormous personality. Whoever this person was, this was going to be an experience, Rei figured.

Approaching, she inclined her head in a polite nod, smiling gently.]

You have done a splendid job with this, miss. I've never seen such a feat of sand engineering before.

[It's true, she hasn't.]

we can both be.. but you should become part of her roman people bc they both wear red!!

[rosaichthys]

Umu! I'm glad that someone can indulge in my greatness, my hard work has been rewarded the way that I like! ( she's bursting with happiness at the female's words and that is an easy feat if one knows how to go about it. she believes that this female is educated, not a dolt like many of the other's she's seen during her time in the moon cell and when she lived within chaldea. there's no way to spot the history that the female may have with one of nero's "faces" so she only believes the other did waltz over to speak praise towards her hard work.

the servant is enthused by her words, chest puffing up proudly and nostrils flaring from her happiness. it is true that beautiful women would understand the patience and love put into things that another person has done. this means that rei would probably turn out to be someone nero would like all down the line, it's always like this when someone speaks kindly of her. )

Architecture! Sculpting! Many things can be done by my talented fingers, it's like weaving a river made of the stars above. That's how easy it can be done, when you're me, of course!

( taking a step forward, her hands rest upon her hips as she smiles enthusiastically towards her new ally. )

It seems this place must be lacking an artist such as myself! Maybe it is a good thing I have appeared here. Perhaps I can teach you very own way of sand engineering, it's not as tedious as you think! ( though not many people can make a large castle for other humans to go inside of to hide from the sun, nero. )

bonus for the emperor

[emotive]

[It's not hard to get a compliment out of Ai Thao. She nods in agreement at Nero.]

You look wonderful actually! It seems to be very natural ―... AHHH!!

[CUE THE ROSEPETALGATE2k16. Ai struggles to dig herself out, waving weakly at Nero.]

I-I don't mean to test your patience, but t-this is kind of an issue at the moment! A-ACHOO!

[Also, the overwhelming rose scent is making her nose feel itchy, gross]

ah yes! you should become one of my roman people? call me emperor all the time

[rosaichthys]

( the moment that she sneezes, the emperor looks towards the female with a brow raised in confusion. )

I will excuse you since your previous words have salvaged you from my anger.

( that's her way of saying "bless you" towards the other's itchy nose. but nero is surprised and wonders where all the petals have rained down from, did they just fall from the sky? well, they are still falling from the sky but not at a quick and alarming rate. )

Now, has the issue passed? If you're willing to praise my looks like so, you should continue doing so and maybe your sneezes will go away, what do you think?

bonus

[ordaining]

[ Really, Nero, you could have chosen someone much better to ask this of. At first he presumes the "you will do" means that she wishes to have aid here, knowing that there are probably greater risks within the sand that he has yet to uncover.

What he doesn't expect is the rest of what she says. There's a long pause where he shifts his weight, frowning at her as he replays her words again. Was she seriously asking...? ]

I really don't think now is the time. That is... [ Andraste... please save him. He was about to tell her that they're stuck in the middle of a desert without water except for some gross little sandworms and then she's making petals blast in the air and all over him. Some stick to the feathers over his shoulders. Some stick to his hair.

She's getting angry?????

Women tbh... ] R-really. [ No really, he has no idea what to say in a situation like this. ] Shouldn't you be concerning yourself with getting out of here?

im sorry that he has to deal with her shes doing her best

[rosaichthys]

( but you are just as good of a choice as any! listen cullen, there has to be some good taste within you! just tell nero the goods and she'll be happy. now with every time that she requests praise and she isn't given it, she can only grow more ill tempered. blinking a few times at the mass amount of petals that the other has been placed in, she wonders where did they come from. holding out a hand to catch one of the falling petals above her, did they come down quicker when she wasn't looking? )

If you feel like being here is such a burden for both of us, why don't you carry me! For me, this glaring heat doesn't bother me in the slightest! ( from the clothing she's wearing that's mostly see through and clipped in various areas to see some of her skin, it doesn't seem like she's having a hard time at all. ) And yet, though it takes only a few words to speak about someone's appearance, you've yet to give me what I wanted. It'll be fine, I'm sure those words I'm searching for will come soon.

( surely, she would have deemed him a mirage for not answering her, but maybe humans have it hard when placed in scorching heat. ) In the end, you do have a point, a nice bath would be nice. Hm. Do you believe you can take me to a place such as that, I shall reward you.

1

[yaayaa]

[That's a really impressive sand castle...Naki's never seen a sand castle before! Has he even seen a non-sand castle before?

.....Anyway.

She's asking for praise...what kind of praise? How does he praise her? Oh people on TV get applause when they did something cool, right? Clap clap, clap clap.

He's trying.]

MY CLAPS

[rosaichthys]

( that's wonderful! her claps! how nice! this is what she wants. a smile upon her features as she looks towards the masked man. )

Ah, thank you! Thank you! Your applauds keep me going, this is something that I deserve! Would you want to come in?

( looking at the other, she offers her castle to him. ) I'm sure inside, you'll remain cool!

6:!

[caraminya]

[ Caramia's pretty much ready to pass out from the heat any minute now, theres nothing he can do anymore. That is till he stops before the marvelous sand castle in front of him. It's so large in scale, he cant help but widen his eyes a little. ]

"Woow! Grazie, Signorina! This castle is amazing, to think things like this can be made out of dry sand, impressive."

[ Seeing how proud Nero looks he can't help but pat her head out of habit, he quickly notices his action and pulls away, however. ] "Oh, sorry sorry, that's a bad habit of mine I shouldn't pat a lady on the head."

:9 MY NADE NADES

[rosaichthys]

( now that's what nero wants to have, these pats that makes her feel special. she isn't denying them but she sure as hell isn't letting them go. )

Pat me! Continue what you were doing, it's something well deserved!

( leaning towards the other and looking towards him expectantly. ) Would it be more convenient for you to come inside and continue doing so, I've done good, you know? ( he's giving really good pats? they were the best and he even called her castle: impressive. she really can't let him go. )

4

[gravesite]

[ but who would tsurumaru be, if he simply took orders without trying to throw a wrench in them himself? so instead of staying still as she'd asked, he gets up to his feet, from where he'd been making tiny snowballs, and points back at her. ]

Then, I'll sculpt you too. Let's make it a contest!

[ and he won't freeze to death, listen... he's a spirit! ]

Your Gloves

[rosaichthys]

Umu! You wish to challenge your hand at an art like this? Hm, then I shall allow it. Take a look and make sure to acquire the much needed details.

( she puffs up her chest so that she can let the man whose colors match the snow quite well have a good look at her. but with her own eyes, she takes in his appearance down to the cute gloves that he adorns. )

Those gloves of yours truly call to your appearance, I will make sure to have those sculpted as well. ( she hums happily as she scoops up a bit of snow from the ground. )

bonus

[alchemisc]

[ Paracelsus is as serene as always, even as he's getting rained on by petals and being umu'd to give this Saber his uninterrupted gaze. Too bad for her though, as the flower shower continues, he's more interested by that than Miss Nero. At least until she gets impatient and he turns his head towards her. ]

My apologies for not providing the proper amount of attention, Nero. I was simply wondering if these are from true flowers or, if they're another sort of construct by magecraft.

[ He was interested in botany during his lifetime, after all.

...Perhaps he's too busy gathering up the rose petals to take notice, but the red against his white coat and smooth dark hair... it looks quite pretty. Maybe even more so than Nero here... uh, whoops, we can't have that. ]

why are you like this

[rosaichthys]

Paracelsus, I wouldn't have taken you for a fool to not give me the attention that I deserve. Haven't we been over this already. ( can we recall the times within chaldea? she wasn't speaking for her health, she's speaking for praise and it's something she demands to have. be it magecraft or something from an odd virtual world, she could hardly care. did he not listen to her request? )

That should be the least of your worries, but you've always been interested by uncommon things. Though there is no art in nothing that you don't know, are you aware of that?

( wow!! he can't be the cuter one here now! he can't be the beautiful one but you know, in nero's lore, cute men were to be castrated and wedded to her!! wanna play these games!!!!!!!!!!!!! )

Alas. ( taking a few steps forward so the point she steps on one of the petals that the caster could have been trying to pick up from the ground. ) Hold up your head. I requested some sort of praise.

bonus because this is the only time i'll ever be able to use this icon and have it be relevant???

[codere]

[ As usual, Rin is here to steal the role of heroine. ] I believe the system has chosen who they flatter best.

[ She doesn't know this Servant but the way she looks resembles another she met long ago, so naturally she addresses her like so: ] It isn't all that surprising, now is it, Saber?

[ It'll be awkward if she mistook her personality for someone a little more knightly, wouldn't it........... ]

1 :-)

[wallofthorns]

[ a thief clad in green does not fair well in the desert! there's no place to hide, and there's sand in his boots! could this get any worse? yes, it can actually. ]

Hahaha... This castle seems more fit to be a doghouse than anything.

[ please, it's... literally made of sand, Nero. ] Don't tell me you don't have anything better to do than bark, Princess?

[ ugh, no praise from this man! none! he doesn't have time to give Nero a pat on the head! ]