TEST DRIVE MEME - APRIL

[thewatchers]

TESTDRIVE MEME
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Spring is right around the corner with the passing of the Equinox, and with the season comes the changing of quarters. Vacation is on everyone’s minds, but so are lovely flowers, unfortunately timed april showers, and the prospect of getting brand new digs. Watch out - mortals aren’t the only ones finding themselves more active this season.

A. Mushroom, Mushroom, Oooooh it’s a…. badger????
With the advent of spring comes new and interesting growth. Circles of mushrooms, more commonly known in folklore around the world as fairy rings, are beginning to sprout anywhere green on campus.

You’d be wise to heed the warnings of old stories, though; anyone who steps into a fairy ring will find themselves changed once they emerge from it, entirely at the mercy of the fae magic that created the ring. It might be nothing more than a simple change of hair colour or facial features, or it could be as alarming and startling as an entire change of species.

To restore yourself back to normal, you’ll have to find another fairy ring and step through it. Considering they’re all around campus, it’s probably not a hard task...but you’d better watch your step, or you might find yourself going through several involuntary shifts before you regain your form again!


B. Poisson, not Poison

April Fools! Or April’s Fish as it is known in France. For reasons even the locals don’t know, the prankster holiday has a long association with fish, and it’s not difference on campus. It’s a yearly tradition to play a game of ‘tag the fish’, where students and faculty alike race to see who can stick the most fish - Paper, though it hasn’t stopped people from using literal fish - onto victims by noon. Winners of this little contest are treated to a special dinner.

There is absolutely no fishy business about the dinner, the staff assures you.

C. Clean Room, Clean Room, Move Down!

With Winter Quarter coming to an end and Spring Quarter starting up, students are given the option to move dorms. As students make (or lose) friends, it is not uncommon for them to want to room together or very, very far apart and the Academy is happy to facilitate this. And so, in the weeks leading up to Spring break students are able to submit room change requests, which, once approved, will give them a few weeks to clear out of their old dorm entirely and move into their new one. This can be quite the process and while the school does make moving equipment available in the form of boxes, dollies, and golf carts, students are typically on their own. With so many moving dorms at the same time, it can be a haphazard time, especially with all the golf carts whizzing about.

D. How I will Spend My Spring Vacation (text)

Hey everyone, Spring break’s coming, aren’t you excited?! I know not everyone’s going to be going on the school sponsored trip, so let’s hear where you’re doing for vacation! And if you can’t go anywhere neat, let’s hear about your dream destination!

[ The answers are, naturally, public. ]

Comments

Bendy the Dancing Demon | Bendy and the Ink Machine

[littledevildarling]

B.

Needless to say, Bendy is all over this game. He doesn't get why it's fish of all things, but that isn't important. He's been rampaging around the school all day, leaving paper fish stuck to people's backs wherever he goes, and there's probably a door or two rigged with the old bucket of water trick except its fish that gets dumped on your head if you open the door instead of just water (don't worry, somehow having fish fall on your head like that isn't going to hurt).

Bendy is snickering to himself as he makes his way down the hallway, looking for more victims. "Heheheh, I haven't had this much fun in a while!"

D.

Eh, I guess I could go visit Henry and Linda and see how they're doing, but there's no way I'm missing that trip. So I'm probably staying.

[border_of_phantasm]

B.

[The Youkai of Boundaries has been known to have a bit of a playful disposition. She has also been known to cheat wildly. Which is why all over campus, portals filled with purple, eldritch eyes have been opening all over, and ejecting live salmon at people. What fun! At least the fish are free and fresh. It is not entirely clear if she understands the full purpose of this game.]

E. Wildcard, Teacher Edition

[Professor Yakumo's specialty was Outland Cosmology and Outland Species, but as a teacher she was decidedly... less than reliable. It is not uncommon for her to fail to show up to class. Normally, students feel it is their right to leave class if the professor has not arrived within 15 minutes, but Professor Yakumo has circumvented this with a simple rule - attendance is mandatory for your grade and if she doesn't arrive within 5 minutes, someone needs to check her office and wake her up. Unfair? Absolutely, but Professor Yakumo does not even pretend to care. Today, you are the lucky student to come find her, and, as usual, she's asleep in her office - in an ornate bed that she somehow managed to make fit in the space. Better get this over with so we can get to class.]

E

[heromedal]

[ Rex doesn't follow rules unless he wants to. It's kind of a problem, actually.

In this case, though he's breaking it to be more efficient, which is a significantly less horrifying greater good than he usually breaks rules for. Which is why he checked her office 5 minutes before class is meant to start. He's not missing 5 minutes of educations thanks, he needs to cram as much as possible into a day.

So he makes a little spherical barrier, fills it with air, compresses it and- bang! Just like a balloon. ]

[aboveheaven]

B.

[While Professor Aizen isn't an active participant, in the festivities, he's an incredible good sport about it. And that is why by the end of the event, his haori can be seen absolutely covered in colorful fish stickers]

Ah, got me! That was a good one.

[He hasn't made any attempt to dodge or block any fish to date.]

C.

[For Faculty, Daybreak has always emphasized service to the student body in any possible way. And it is for this reason that Professor Aizen is a staple of the move-in day, driving golf carts and helping students with their relocation, always with a friendly smile and disarming demeanor.]

My my, a large load today. Where are you headed?

[thewhite_symphony]

C. Clean Room, Clean Room, Move Down!

[ Lacus had been been tutored at home most of her life due to her father's work and nomadic lifestyle. However, due to certain circumstances, she found herself here.

She was still a bit uncertain where to go and what to do, however she was able to explore to her heart's content. ]

Professor! Good morning. I am, in fact, on my way to my room --- that is I am trying to.

I am afraid I am unable to locate my room. This is all still quite overwhelming for me.

B

[morelikeisabeast]

It's no fun if you don't even try to avoid it.

[Isabel looks disappointed.]

[thewhite_symphony]

A. Mushroom, Mushroom, Oooooh it’s a…. badger????

[ Being the new person in school is never easy. Normally, these problems would be adjusting to the new environment and the anxiety of meeting new people. Lacus was prepared for this.

However, nothing could have ever prepared her for this moment where she had suddenly been transformed into a ... cat.

She did not understand how this could have happened or what she must do in order to reverse the effects.

Unable to speak, she approached the nearest student hoping they would be able to help her. Those who she approached would only see a white cat with unusual purple eyes. ]

[ C. Clean Room, Clean Room, Move Down! ]

[ Lacus was not a stranger to busy locations due to her experience singing on stage. Despite the calming music onstage during her concerts, the backstage was riddled with activity. However, she was not used to doing most of the things she needed alone. She usually had one or two assistants.

People will probably see her carrying a box of her things to her room and struggling to navigate through the maze of activity and people. At the same time, her little haro will be rolling and jumping around her legs. ]

A

[yokeye]

[The nearest student may not be able to help her much, but he can't ignore the approaching cat. Toki looks down at Lacus and is immediately struck by the odd purple eyes.]

Hello~! You're such an adorable little cat~!

[He crouches and reaches out to pet her.]

Are you lost!?

Ienzo | Kingdom Hearts

[testpost]

Fishes

[Ienzo really, really does not like this prank. The only fish he likes is a cooked one.

This does not, however, stop him from taking the paper fish off his back when he feels someone come up behind him and grabbing their wrist in the same motion.]

You know, I read once that April Fools began as a joke at the expense of people who celebrated the near years in late March and early April. Other people think it may have something to do with Chaucer or even the Bible, but--

[You prank him, you get a lecture. Try and break free if you want?]

Cleaning

[He may not be moving, but it feels like everyone else in the building is. He doesn't even have all that much cleaning to do!

This is a lie. Anyone passing by Ienzo's open door will notice the piles of books, overflowing trash bin, and remains of three six packs of assorted caffeinated drinks scattered about his room. They will also notice that Ienzo is bent over one of his assorted spellbooks with the remains of a laptop scattered about in front of him.

No, he hasn't slept. Maybe someone should help him.]

Vacation

I have papers to write and spells to copy. I'd like to visit the States, but I don't think I have time for that.

Fishes

[aduration]

[He stifles a quiet laugh as the poor undergrad is getting lectured]

Oh ease up, least it isn't a real fish.

Alma Karma | D.Gray-man

[sinkinglotus]

A
[Alma has the worst luck with fairy rings every year. He tries to avoid them at first and somehow manages to wander right into them despite his best efforts. And now he's stuck with cat ears and a tail and they keep twitching like they are itching but trying to scratch them himself does not seem to be doing the job. It's really annoying. First day back on campus and he falls victim to the fairy rings again. If a certain person saw him right now, he would no doubt be mocked for it, but it is what it is.

Now he has to find another one and how he gets set back to normal and not something even stranger. So he goes up to the first person he sees and asks.]

Have you seen any mushroom rings around here? I need to find one quick.


B
[You can get that Alma gets into this game despite being on mediocre at it. He's not the sneakiest person by far, but he is fast and knows how to do a hit and run. He might get the fish on you, but he won't get away without getting a more than few on himself.

And here he is, coming right up behind you, with an innocent smile on his face when he is far from it. Suddenly he gasps.]

Wait, what is that? Another daemon?!

[Yeah he totally thinks that will work.]


D : UN : KARMAKARMAKARMALEON
I travel a lot, but I've always wanted to go up far north during the right time of year to see the Aurora Borealis. It's supposed to be super pretty and quiet like you have the whole world to yourself.

I wouldn't want to go by myself though.

{OOC: Alma is an AU in which he's a golem with a transplanted human brain and knows it. He became an Exorcist as he didn't regain all memories of his past life but also really hates the Black Order despite working for them. More on the AU on the planning post.}

b

[partiallysquirrelblood]

{That's right about when the squirrels jump him. They very nearly cocoon him in paper fish before scurrying off just as suddenly as they appeared. Only one one in the pink bow remains, climbing up onto Doreen's shoulder.]

I don't see any. You sure there was one?

Ziggurat 8 | Xenosaga

[sauerfacedcyborg]

[Finny Fun?]

[There's a new face on campus, though it might be familiar to some who have been around for a while. Ziggurat 8 has worked with the school on and off in the past, but only as an independent contractor helping out with individual missions. He's not entirely unfamiliar with this tradition, but sees little point in participating since the prize is meaningless since he doesn't need to eat.

This doesn't stop him from being a valid target, though. People might catch him around campus with a paper fish taped to his back, evidently unknowing or uncaring about his tag along. Or maybe you've spotted him reaching to grab the wrist of someone trying to tag either him or someone else with a real fish.]

I believe the tradition involves the use of paper stand-ins. Please refrain from using actual fish, it poses a health hazard to students and faculty.

[...Or maybe you're the one getting lectured, instead?]

[Settling In]

[Ziggy unpacking is something of a sight to behold. Since he's arriving just as many students are moving, he's decided to forego the rolling carts...in favor of simply carrying heavy looking boxes and suitcases over one shoulder. Aside from the feat of strength, the spectacle includes the specifics of what he's carrying: various weapons, equipment for maintaining and repairing runic prostheses, and some of the pinkest, girliest luggage you're likely to have ever seen.

When he's not doing that, he might also approach anyone who looks to be having trouble carrying something or loading a cart.]

Do you need some help?

Finny fun

[wherenoonegoes]

[A drake walks by, the image nonchalance, and tugs the fish out of the students. Toothless swallows it with a gulp. He's quickly followed by a tall, wiry, beard man.]

Especially since it's a good way to attract drakes. Toothless is nice. Not all of them are.

Finny Fun

[littledevildarling]

Or maybe he had a bucket of them dumped on him when he came through a door. Either way, it's Bendy he's currently got by the wrist. The toon sticks his tongue out at him.

"Aw, yer no fun." Though he's probably right about that. Maybe. Cartoon physics tend to apply to Bendy's pranks a lot of the time, but there is a limit to that.

Settling in

[grantmeamiracle]

[Of course, the owner of that pink, girly luggage is following behind him much like a duckling. Determined to be useful, she's got a couple of boxes herself, carrying them with a surprising ease for her small size.]

These are lighter than I thought they'd be!

[... Those were not especially light boxes.]

Kofuku | Noragami

[poorfortune]

o1. HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW.

[ You would think that body-altering fairy rings would be seen as universally bad, right? There's some big chaotic energy going around campus, and while some people have taken it upon themselves to either avoid or eradicate them in any way possible (fire is apparently popular), they only seem to be growing stronger and more prevalent. Hmm. What could be causing this to happen..? ]

Lalala, oh! Look at you, you look thirsty. Here you go~

[ The tiny, pink haired woman dancing around with a watering can miiiiiight have something to do with it. Just a hunch. ]

o2. SOMETHING'S FISHY.

[ Who even invented this holiday? Some kind of fish freak? Anyway. The campus is looking a little scalier than usual, with all these fake (and maybe a few real?!) fish getting tacked to places and people with seemingly reckless abandon. It's hard to get away from it! But thankfully, you've found a halibut-less haven, to either hide from this weird holiday, or to watch other people suffer. No judgment here.

But you're not alone. Something makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, as your danger sense (or lack thereof, you poor fool) kicks into overdrive. What's that smell? And is that hushed cackling coming from behind you? ]

☆ o3. I DON'T WANNA DO THE WORK TODAY.

[ Spring cleaning sucks, am I right? Which is why Kofuku is more than happy to help with an instant moral booster: Tea! She's set up shop wherever she can. The hallway, a classroom........ Your dorm room. How did she get in here?! Also where did that table come from?! Hello??? How are you supposed to get work done when she's in the middle of everything?!

When someone walks by, she'll give them a cheerful wave before crunching on a potato crisp or taking a drink of her tea. Kofuku get out of the way, you're in the middle of everything. ]

☆ oX. WILDCARD.

[ If you've got an idea for a prompt, feel free to hit me up at impearls or Pearl#1577 on Discord. Kofuku's AU planning comment can be found here! ]

02

[partiallysquirrelblood]

[Doreen sidesteps any attempt to actually get a fish on her. She's quick, and while she doesn't have a danger sense? She has something just as good.]

Nice try dude, but I smelled you coming a mile away.

03

[border_of_phantasm]

[Yukari is extremely unsurprised. Her office is open to anyone or something]

I see you found the chai, excellent choice.

01

[littledevildarling]

[ Bendy honestly doesn't have a problem with the fairy rings. It was always fun seeing what happened when some poor schmuck stepped into one. Of course he'd fallen victim to them a time or two himself, but that was his luck sometimes.

Still he was curious when he noticed there seemed to be more of them than usual. And catching someone actually watering the things gets an amused snort.]

Dunno if yer supposed ta be doin' that teach.

03

[ohgoodgrief]

[Yang is trudging along. He has a box of stuff in his arms; it's all manuals and papers from the Navy that he should have thrown out three moves ago but didn't, and he's kept bringing the same box of garbage with him. He paid fifty-six dollars to ship this to France because the idea of sorting through this was unbearable.

Now, it is resigned to the garbage.

So he stops in the hallway when he finds... Kofuku. Sipping tea, and munching on a snack. He looks at the box in his hands, and then up at her.]

...I feel like your presence today, with tea, might be fate's commentary on my life decisions.

Count D | Petshop of Horrors

[vengeancedivine]

[A]

There is at least one person on the campus that knows the myth and understands the important of not disturbing a fairy ring... And he is currently settled just on the edge of one such ring, legs tucked underneath him as he leans forward towards the mushrooms. From a distance, you couldn't be blamed for thinking that he's attempting to hold a rather riveting but personal conversation with said mushrooms.

But if someone should come close enough to be in ear shot, he'll take notice of them then. With a wide smile, D greets them by gesturing at the mushrooms he was just engrossed in. "Have you ever seen a more perfect cluster of mushrooms? Look here, the caps are so vibrant, and the stems--so slender and yet so sturdy. It's a marvel that they can hold such weight..."

Who is this guy, and why is he so excited about mushrooms? Hopefully you're just here to look at them and not do any harm...


[B]

The sign hanging overhead reads "Count D's" in elegant script with no other indication of the type of business that lies within. Those who have heard talk around town would know it's a pet shop that ocassionally sells exotic animals. There's whispers that he sells other, stranger things as well. But on this fine afternoon of April the First, a young Chinese man in a very elaborate attire seems to be out in front of his shop, sweeping away the tree pollen that's collected on the sidewalk.

On a stand nearby, a stack of colorful paper fish has been set out with a sign that reads in both English and French:

Paper Fish
1 for 0,50 €
3 for 1,00 €

Those who buy the fish might walk away with more than they bargained for...


[E, unprompted!!!]

It is approximately 10:05 AM.

There's a little pâtisserie in town that sells macarons--the fancy kind with real fruit fillings and decorative flares. The bakers that run the family shop only make about thirty boxes a day, and sell out by mid-morning; so it's not uncommon for shoppers to line up at an early hour to buy these fancy treats.

It is 10:05 AM, and there is a bright pink "Sold Out" sign perched on top of the macaron display case. Nearby, a man leans against the side of the pâtisserie, looking like his world has just ended. Someone save this poor soul from his misery.

E

[acegunman]

Another man leaned against the side of the pâtisserie, looking pleased with himself as he popped a macaron into his mouth. How he had gotten the box without waiting in line was not...entirely clear, but he sure had one.

"Something seems troubling you, friend."

A

[unpocoloco]

He'd been meaning to ask the man if he was alright. Upon seeing the fairy ring, he definitely had to ask if the guy was okay. But then as he gets close enough to hear him, he finds the man is simply excited about mushrooms and natural wonder. That of all things reassures Héctor.

"Oh. Yeah, I... guess it is..."

Christo | Disgaea 5

[evangelclairvoyance]

((Note: he doesn't look exactly like his icons! Please note that his eyes are blue, ears are human, and he's not wearing the 10 HL horns))

A

[It's to be expected that a place with such a high concentration of magically inclined individuals would attract the attention of other magically inclined creatures, and yet...]

This seems... a little excessive.

[Is that a hopscotch pattern of fairy rings?]


C

[He's lucky that he didn't have too much to bring along with him to the school from home, but it appears that quite a few other people living in the dorms haven't been so lucky.]

Excuse me, would you like some help? I hope I'm not being presumptuous, but you appear to be struggling a little.


D

Haha, I'm afraid my vacation mostly consisted of getting ready to come to school. Normally I would have started work on my garden by now.

I wonder if I would be allowed to put some planters in my room...


Wildcard

[Are you onto him? Is he onto YOU? Do you have a general prompt that you think could be interesting with an angel? hmu!]

A

[arcadianvampire]

[And look who was happening by at the moment... one of those magically inclined individuals, overhearing Christo's statement. The vampire turned his eye to the young man, and then to the fairy rings dotting the ground.]

Ah, yes. The season of those damnable fairies coming back out to play. I respect that fae like to play tricks, but the amount of students I've had miss class because of them...

At least they're not the unseelie sort, I suppose.