Summer Test Drive! (Calibrations edition!)

[thespaceopera]

THE SUMMER TEST DRIVE MEME
(Or Winter Test Drive for you Southern Hemisphere folks!)

Got someone you want to try out before you app? Well this is the post for it! Feel free to use anything that fits in the setting of Drift Fleet! Want to play bumper shuttles? Want to go wild in a med bay? Play around with the current plot? Have at it!

Threads from the Test-Drive may be made game "canon" but DO NOT count toward AC!

FOR NEW PLAYERS: You DO NOT NEED an invite to participate in the TEST DRIVE! If you decide to APP into the game, ONLY THEN will you need an invite from a current player!

SPECIAL NOTE!
Since June is a special month in which we'll be breaking from the usual plot to bring back the calibrations plot, the Test Drive prompts will come in two flavors!

OPTION A: Standard Test Drive
Go ahead and treat the test drive as you normally would, using past plots or fleet locations as your setting! Here's some helpful info for some ideas.

April/May's Star System

March's Star System

Game Details

SS Iskaulit

OPTION B: Build-a-Calibration
If you'd like, you can use the info given about the Calibrations plot to design your own calibration room for any characters you want! Got a character you want to explore their inner psyche but isn't in the game yet? Go ahead and try it out! It can be a fully fleshed out room, or simply just a small part of it you'd like to play with.

Alternatively for any characters that are in the game, you can use this as a chance to either iron out, brainstorm, or test run any components of your calibration before the actual plot starts! We don't recommend posting the entirety of your calibration in this meme (as you'll have nothing new to post come plot time), but this can be a good chance to test out any parts to make sure they work how you desire.

Test drives are posted SEASONALLY, so the next one will be in September!

Comments

[asphodels]

Then you should just come and see me! It's a waste, standing back there waiting for me to come to you.

[ Trying to be all sneaky, as if she doesn't know him. Shaking her head, she moves closer, tilting herself so she can peer at his face.

Same old Cloud. It makes her feel warm inside, even as the smile spreads over her face. ]

Did you miss me?

[moseyin]

Of course! Aerith, I-

[If he apologizes she's totally gonna laugh at him. Or laugh it off or tell him there's nothing to forgive him for, WHICH SORRY GIRLFRIEND UR INCORRECT but he appreciates her kindness all the same]

I'm always thinking about you. Do you- At the Northern Crater, were ypu really...?

[asphodels]

[ She would absolutely laugh at him, and she leans back, her arms crossing behind her back even as she smiles. ]

Was I there?

[ Softening, she closes her eyes, bowing her head. ]

I'm always there when you call my name, Cloud.

[moseyin]

[...okay yeah, he can't hold back anymore.

Cloud leans forward and wraps his arms around her shoulders, pulling her against his chest and bowing his head to hide his face in her hair.]

I'm so sorry.

[asphodels]

[ She's surprised at first but, really, she thinks she shouldn't be. Cloud's arms are around her and he's holding onto her - and all she can do is reach up to wrap her arms around him in return, drawing him close. ]

Silly. [ She squeezes him gently. ] You don't have to say that.

[moseyin]

[SIGH, there she goes...] I knew you'd say that. You're the only person in the world who would brush something like this off.

[Holds her a little tighter, just a smidge.]

[asphodels]

[ All she can do is laugh - what else can she do? Cloud is here and he's holding her and, suddenly, things feel a little bit more okay. She doesn't have to let go of him this time, does she? ]

If you knew I'd say that why did you say it, hm? Oh, Cloud...

[moseyin]

I'm just talking to myself. [He rests his chin on her head. There had been that fear that if he touched her he'd hurt her somehow; like just brushing his fingers over her skin would leave bruises. And he's had dreams like that before but here she is, solid and warm and sweet-smelling as ever, right in his arms like she's never wanted to be anywhere else.]

...okay. I'm gonna make a resolution, for both our sakes; I'm not gonna dwell on the past. From here on out, it's only facing forward. [hahahaaaaa good luck with that]

[asphodels]

That's okay, then. I can forgive you. [ She says it so easily because she means it, because nothing else matters - they're standing here in the middle of a crowd of people in some strange, new world and all she can think about is holding on to him. All she can think about is wrapping herself around him and not letting go, pressing herself against the warmth of his body and basking in the fact that it's real - that he's real, and solid, and completely and utterly alive.

She had worried, for a while. When he had fallen into the Lifestream, when she had watched him recover, when she had seen and been unable to do anything but call for him and whisper. She can touch him now, and it's the most wonderful feeling in the world. ]

Facing forward! I like that. [ Leaning back, Aerith grins. ] We can look at the future together, now. We're together again, Cloud. Just like that. [ And, just like that, she takes his hand in her own. ]

[moseyin]

[Coughs and goes a little red, but absolutely threads their fingers together.] We kinda sound like those life coach PSAs that would air in Midgar, huh? Yknow, the ones they always tacked on at the end of the news segments? "For just fifty gil an hour...!"

[asphodels]

[ She brightens instantly, her smile wide and stunning. ]

'You can be happy', right? [ Aerith laughs, shaking her head. ] It's so expensive! There are easier ways to be happy. [ And, then, because she can - ] I'm happy now.

[moseyin]

For pete's sake, Aerith. [COVERS FACE WITH FREE HAND, ears red] How can you just say that like that?

[asphodels]

Why not? [ She reaches up and takes his other hand in hers, hah, now she has them both. ] It's the truth!

[moseyin]

You just don't have any shame. I see through this innocent flower girl act. [IS HE ALLOWED TO BE THIS HAPPY??? His stupid heart feels like it's going to burst and all he's doing is looking down at their joined hands. ...he kinda wants to swing them a little so YOU KNOW WHAT??? He's on a natural high right now! He's gonna swing their hands even if it's silly and dumb!]

[asphodels]

It's honesty! I'm telling you how I really feel, Cloud. [ But she's laughing because she can't help herself, swinging her arms with his. It feels natural and comfortable, and she leans close, tilting herself up, letting herself bask in his smile and his happiness. Seeing Cloud like this... It's like she's seeing the real him, the one she had been searching for all this time. ] You're happy too, aren't you?

[moseyin]

That's...complicated. [Hey you awkward idiot how about you consider Aerith's feelings.] -but I am now! And going forward, I'm going to try to be. [oh shiva she's so cute ffncfdcbmopoewdgjb] ...buuut I might need some help. Who could help me...?

[asphodels]

That's good. [ Tilting her head, she watches, fighting the urge to laugh. It's overwhelming, especially when he's right here - and they're avoiding the dangerous topics. ] I think I know someone. Do you think you could trust her to make you smile?

[moseyin]

I'll need to see her resume. Reference letters and...whatever else white collar people look at. [Hahaha her lips are twitching! She's trying not to smile, heh heh, he's so funny]

[asphodels]

Mm, I think she left those at home. [ But she is doing her best to try and be serious! The most serious. ] You'll just have to believe me when I tell you she's good.

[moseyin]

If it's a green light from you, then I guess I do. [so like, if he kissed her, would she hate him forever or]

[asphodels]

Good! I think you might know her. [ Her hands squeeze his gently. ] But I think we'll work well together.

[moseyin]

[If we work well together, then why did you run off?

Cloud's definitely not gonna ask that, mostly because he's very afraid the answer will be something along the lines of, to protect you. Aerith's like that, always throwing herself down onto the altar to save everyone but herself...literally.

Cloud squeezes her hands again, the smile slipping off his face.]

Aerith...are you sure you're okay?

[asphodels]

Me? Hm...

[ She tilts her head, touching her jaw with her finger before she turns her attention back to Cloud. is she okay? She knows she's happy, that's a definite, and the warmth that burns inside her is real and thick, heavy with her joy and the intensity of all the sudden emotions, but... She thinks she might be sad, too.

This might be all they'll ever have, whatever this strange world is. She doesn't want to go back to being without Cloud, even if she's always with him. ]

I'm okay!