Test-Drive Meme - January Pre-Game

[thewatchers]

TESTDRIVE MEME
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Gently falling snow and a biting chill welcome students and faculty alike as they return to campus for the beginning of the Winter term. The constant buzz of helicopters delivering students back from their holiday fills the air, and charter busses can be seen coming in and out for hours. Slowly but surely, Daybreak Academy is coming alive once again with the sound of conversation and laughter.

It’ll be a few days before classes resume, but there are a number of fun events on campus to help students re-adjust to campus life, or learn the ins and outs if they are recent arrivals. Faculty, of course, will need to get to work immediately. Lesson plans and mission assignments wait for no-one, after all.

[All threads in this meme may be treated as canon should all involved characters be accepted into the game. Normally, the Faculty meeting will be held at the end of every month ICly, as this is the start of the game we’re incorporating it into the Test Drive. Faculty who accept missions will retain those mission assignments for the month, should they be accepted into the game. If not, we will distribute the remaining missions as needed to the Faculty who are accepted in.]


A. FACULTY IN-SERVICE
As is customary, the school faculty meet before the start of the next month to review the mission portfolios and determine who will be leading what, as well as discuss plans and concerns they might have regarding students. As it’s not uncommon for some students to attempt to listen in and get more details on the upcoming missions, the meeting place changes every month and some faculty serve as wardens to make sure students are kept away.

This month, the meeting is in Robespierre 401. The table is laid out with a number of pastries, snacks, and coffee for the assembled teachers and the projector is revved up and ready to go, with readily available laser pointers for any faculty giving presentations. The day’s Agenda will be discussing incoming students, discussing the start of the term and any expected issues, discussing the mission dossier and assigning faculty, and a few presentations from faculty on ongoing projects and educational advances they feel are worth sharing.

[The following missions are on the docket, they will all require a Faculty volunteer to lead a group of 4-6 students. Running these logs will fulfill the Faculty member’s log requirement for the month of January. Full details will be provided to the Faculty member via Private Message after their application has been processed]

I Wonder What This Button Does
January 14th

At the start of the year, the vaults of the academy is opened and volunteers are allowed inside to help organize the growing collection of artifacts and treasures that is kept securely inside. Due to how old the collection is, many labels have faded and many items have undergone changes, so it has become imperative to keep an accurate record. For students, cataloguing the collection is considered extra credit, though any attempts to smuggle any artifacts out will be met with severe disciplinary action.

28 Bleach Vats Later
January 18th

Cassandra indicates a horde of zombies will materialize from the outland in North Dakota within the United States. As is customary, the horde has been auctioned on the Runic Markets. The winner this time is the American Defense Contractor Coldsteel. As part of the auction package, Daybreak Academy will provide Coldsteel with support and recovery.

This mission requires 2 Faculty members, each leading a group of 4-6 students for two portions of the mission.

Ocean’s Six
January 21st

Cassandra has provided a readout of all roulette results within the Casino strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, within the United States. As is customary, a group of students and an instructor is to be dispatched to garner as much winnings as possible without arousing suspicion. Participants who successfully earn money without their sources being discovered will be entitled to a commission based on their earnings. Students will be provided with $10,000 in seed money and false identifications if necessary.

With the power of foresight, enter Casinos with the winning numbers, make as much money as you can, and try not to get thrown out

Hunt - Several Bones to Pick
January 23rd

Cassandra has noted thick mists inside the Parisian catacombs have given birth to an undead monstrosity. Dubbed the Bone Horror, this monster is collecting parts from corpses to grow in size and strength. Prognostication indicates it will emerge from the Catacombs within a month’s time. It is to be destroyed.

Hunt - Dullahan Texas Ranger
January 28th

Cassandra has been tracking a Dullahan’s emergence in the US state of Texas for some time, and we predict he will begin to move soon. Prognostication indicates that the Dullahan has been absorbing the culture of the local area and styles itself to be something of a cowboy, with aims to slay any local humans that tread upon the area it deems its ranch. It is to be destroyed.


B. WINTER BANQUET
It is customary for Daybreak Academy to hold a grand banquet at the start of every term, and today is no exception. Part celebration, part ice-breaker, the Grand Banquet is a chance for students and faculty to mingle, meet new people, and share a delicious meal.

Today, the tables are arrayed with thick roasts, massive turkeys, and whole pigs as the main course, as well as giant tofu and mushroom platters for the vegetarian and vegan students. Massive dishes heaped with breads and pastries line the tables, as well as broad bowls filled with any number of salad and side ingredients. The table centerpieces elevated ice sculptures of (allegedly) mythological creatures such as pegasi, griffins and dragons standing atop a giant pillar of ice that is surrounded with cold desserts on tiered platters.

While there is an abundance of food, with as many ravenous students as there are it is depleting quickly. Fortunately, an array of servants, both living and golem, are on hand to replace empty platters and assist as needed.

C. DORM ROOM ICEBREAKERS
With the chill of winter setting in, what better way to warm hearts and spirits than dorm icebreakers? Whether you agree with this or not, chances are - especially if you’re new - your RA has dragged you to the common area to participate in a number of (arguably) fun Icebreaker activities that were likely found by checking the first Google result.

Fortunately for those with lower tolerances to people and/or cheesiness, with the whole dorm turned out for these activities, escape may be possible! Unfortunately, many among the student body have heightened senses and supernatural combat abilities. Either way, it’s gonna be a rough evening.

D. IRIS NETWORK
It’s that time again. With the start of Winter Term, returning students and faculty need to update their Iris Network profiles with their current dorm residence and any new credits, class statuses, or accolades they may have earned. New students and faculties will have their profiles pushed to the top in an effort to help them integrate into the broader network, and it’s customary to post responses to people’s updated profiles “Liking” their content and making plans to meet up.

The code below will allow you to update your Iris Network Profile for the new term. Better get it up and see who all responds.

[The below code will ultimately be used for the profile for your character upon acceptance to Daybreak Academy. Please replace or fill in all text in the areas that are capitalized and do not delete any code lines]

<lj-raw><center><div style="max-width:250px;margin:0 auto;font-family:helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;color:#777;-webkit-column-count:auto;-moz-column-count:auto;column-count:auto;-webkit-column-gap:15px;-moz-column-gap:15px;column-gap:15px;-webkit-column-width:250px;-moz-column-width:250px;column-width:250px;"> <div style="margin-bottom:15px;-webkit-column-break-inside:avoid;page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid;"> <div style="max-width:250px;background:#222 url(TOPBANNERIMAGEHERE)center;background-size:cover;text-align:center;padding:20px 0;"> <img src="USERICON" style="width:70px;padding:5px;border:5px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.4);border-radius:110px;box-shadow:1px 1px 2px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.1);"> </div> <div style="max-width:226px;background:rgba(0,0,0,0.1);padding:12px;line-height:115%;"> <div style="background:#fff;box-shadow:1px 1px 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.08);"> <div style="font-family:helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;color:#777;padding:7px 8px;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.1);font-size:10px;text-transform:uppercase;"> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/rzEAtpc.png" style="float:left;margin:1px 0px 0 0;padding-right:8px;"> <b style="color:#222;letter-spacing:1px;">CHARACTERNAME</b><br> UN: USERNAMEHERE </div> <div style="font-family:helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;color:#777;padding:7px 8px;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.1);text-align:justify;line-height:1.4;"> <b>STATUS:</b> (Faculty or student w/ either subject/occupation for faculty or grade for student) <p> <b>ACCOLADES:</b> (Noteworthy academic or professional achievements) <p> <b>BIO:</b> (IC character bio) </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><a href="http://tessisamess.insanejournal.com/" style="display:block;max-width:250px;margin:10px auto 0 auto;font-family:helvetica,arial,sans-serif;color:#aaa;text-decoration:none;letter-spacing:2px;font-size:7px;text-align:center;">© TESSISAMESS</a></center></lj-raw>

code bases by tricklet

Comments

Michael | The Good Place

[eudaimonikos]

(( AU plotting post here! ))

A. Faculty Meeting

[Michael's in good spirits this meeting, mingling and chatting and even partaking in coffee without his usual comments about how it isn't as good as traditional daemonic beverages. As somebody who lives on campus throughout the year, it has been so boring without everyone else around. He's excited for the new term to start!

The typical workplace presentations are a little less exciting. But he pays attention, and pipes up once the topic turns to the mission dossier:]

I can do the casino thing. [He flips his folder shut and spreads his hands, grinning.] Lying, cheating, and stealing is basically half my curriculum to begin with. I'll bring my class along! Some of them, not the ones who would get arrested.

B. Winter Banquet

[Does he need to eat? Technically, no. But Michael is entitled to his fair share of this food! Currently, he's hanging out with one of the golems, taking macarons off its platter before it can put them down on the table for everybody to share.]

What would happen if these things achieved sapience? [He peers at it.] You haven't, have you?

B

[onegenerationfromgood]

[Jack walks over to snap himself a macaroon and sees Michael examining them. He grins as he heads over to the teacher.]

Why would you want to do that to a pastry? Unless you just wanna hear it when you go to eat it.

[eudaimonikos]

I was referring to the golem, but that's a horrifying idea.

[He seems intrigued.]

[onegenerationfromgood]

Ah. That makes more sense.

[He looks at the golem and gives it a poke.]

I bet if you did it, they'd be kinda mad. And then we'd lose all the free waiter staff.

[He pauses for a second.] Could you do it? Make them...sepient or whatever?

[eudaimonikos]

Well, can't create a soul from nothing. [He munches a macaron thoughtfully.] I could take some other soul and anchor it to one of these, forming some kind of ceramic homunculus, but that's not really the same thing. And it might be frowned upon.

[onegenerationfromgood]

Things are only frowned upon if you get caught.

[Jake adds with a smile.] You could just put in a dog's soul or maybe a squirrel? That would be funny either way.

[eudaimonikos]

[......snnnnrk]

Can you imagine one of these trying to scurry up a tree?

B.

[missleading]

[ Oh hey, it's Kano's... weird uncle? Honestly, Minako isn't really sure how they're related, but she's seen Michael with him any number of times. Still, it's a pleasant surprise to see him here! It's good to see he hasn't changed—although it seems like she has, her brown eyes much more reddish in color.

A grin spreads across Minako's lips as she looks up at him. ]

Hmm, good question. Let me ask.

[ Turning toward the golem, she starts gesturing with wide, jerky and (what she thinks are) robotic movements. ]

Bleep boop beep bleep bop?

[ The golem responds with some odd gyrating and weird noises of its own, which Minako nods to. ]

I see, I see. Very interesting.

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael snags a few more pastries, watching this. Looks like things are maybe picking up in that daemon contract? He's never seen Minako's daemon around, but that's actually...way more common than the way his own arrangement with Kano ended up going, so whatever.]

What was that? [He leans in, seriously.] Was it offensive?

[missleading]

[ Picking up is certainly a word one might use, but that's a conversation for another time. There's a glint in her eye as he leans in close, the same mischievous smirk she's always worn at times like this spreading across her lips. ]

I think I'll get in trouble if I repeat it.

[ He is a teacher (apparently!), and this technically is her first day. She's a good girl, Michael! Kind of! He should know that. ]

[eudaimonikos]

[Know it? Sure. But that's no fun.]

That's the only thing learning other languages is for! But fine, keep your secrets. [He leans up against the wall.] How's it been so far?

[missleading]

[ Minako turns toward the golem, smiling politely and giving it a friendly pat on the shoulder. ]

It's okay, I'll keep your plans for world domination to myself.

[ The golem makes a few more indeterminate noises before toddling off. Minako turns her attention back to Michael. ]

I don't know yet, I just got here a couple days ago. [ She looks out toward the banquet hall. ] It's a lot to take in.

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael nods thoughtfully.]

I guess. I'm pretty used to it by now. [Hm, what else do friendly adults usually ask the new kids? Normally he'd inquire after what brings her here, but it's obviously that Contract.] Settled into your dorm and everything?

B

[capital_asset]

That... would raise questions, wouldn't it? About servitude?

[Which might be an odd thing for him to ask, considering that he's been Contracted to a daemon as per family tradition as a child, but still.]

[eudaimonikos]

I think the right thing to do would be to free them. Or pay them.

[He considers this for a moment.]

The school would have a lot of incentive to cover that up. Maybe they've been sapient the whole time.

[capital_asset]

Or free them and pay them?

[Then they'd be proper employees.]

Do they have a history of that sort of thing?

[eudaimonikos]

They're humans, aren't they?

[Dark, but okay]

[capital_asset]

My education in that regard has been somewhat... limited.

[Read: He was basically homeschooled, well away from the normals.]

[eudaimonikos]

Oh. Well, then - institutionally, I don't know their track record regarding cover-ups. But it seems like something that would happen in general.

B

[tiredcharmer]

Suddenly, the pastry screams in terror. "OH GOD, PLEASE DON'T KILL ME, I HAVE A FAMILY OH MY GOD" The voice, while high-pitched, sounds... familiar to Michael. As if somebody had put a very familiar voice through a series of artificial alterations.

Behind Michael stands Tyzias, a shit-eating grin on her face as she continues screaming into the projection rune circle in front of her mouth.

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael, without bothering to look around, just fucking consumes the pastry.]

You know that's not really the first time I've - [Michael abruptly remembers his surroundings.] - done something very regrettable?

[tiredcharmer]

"Wow. And I thought we'd made real progress on the whole morality front. For shame, Michael, for shame." Tyzias says, dry as a desert, but her smile's full of warmth. It was nice to see another familiar face around here. Sure, there was Sarona and Gehring, but... Michael was different, somehow. As twisted as it was, he was as close to a positive role model that Tyzias had ever had. Which was probably bad, considering that he's a literal demon.

[eudaimonikos]

I said it was regrettable!

[Michael grins. He'd probably have more to say about that if it weren't all a big joke, but like. No need to dissect his past and all the shit he's done!]

How's it been, Tyzias?

[tiredcharmer]

Likewise, Tyzias already knew more than enough about Michael's sordid history--at least in broad strokes. And have given him more than enough lectures on things like "morality" and "what the fuck are you doing that's bad you idiot" in the past.

"Not dead, which is probably the best I can ask for," she says, shrugging. "How 'bout you?"

[eudaimonikos]

Not dead.

[He grins a little. It's a joke because he's immortal!]

Question, are you morally opposed to gambling? Or cheating at gambling?