ateratooc | Test Drive

TEST DRIVE 004

Welcome to Aterat!

Here is our forth Test Drive Meme! There are a lot of areas of the city to explore, so please have a look around! In case you need a little help getting started, I've included a few prompts below, or feel free to start your own! Exploration and player initiative are the names of the game here!

Helpful Links to Get Started

Arrival & General Information | Locations & Bestiary | Residences & Housing Info | Businesses | Rules & FAQ (ask questions here!)

A. Crash into Me

Not exactly, but close enough. You have just arrived and received a strange satchel from a tiny, strange little man and are left more or less to your own devices (more information on what to expect upon arrival can be found here)! Follow directions to the north and check out the housing, or maybe have a look around the Historium and try to get some information from that giant glowing ball, see what you can waste your meager starter coin on in the Market District, or maybe just meet the neighbors.

B. A Winter's Ball

What brand new ballroom would be complete without a fancy new winter's ball to break it in? Things are a little strange at the ballroom (check the prompts) with mistletoe that traps you for a kiss with a random passerby, strange gray meringue that makes you willing to overshare, not to mention the fact that one of your strange possible overlords funded the whole thing. What's the worst that could happen?

C. We're all hanging out at the park, right?

The park near the Complex has become a glittering expanse of show! Children ~~and adults alike~~ build snowmen and even sled down some of the higher hills in the area. There are stands around the park selling hot chocolate, coffee, tea, and cider, as well as sweets and wrapped snacks for the day in the park. Speckling the park at regular intervals are standing fire pits designed to ward away the cold and allow for gatherings and conversation.

The pond in the park has frozen over as well, affording the abilities to ice skate as the ever-industrious Raimon is renting skates, and maybe even challenge people to a hockey game. How hard could it be to find some makeshift pucks and other accoutrements in order to play a game?

Tell Phone

The Tell Phones everyone are provided when they arrive are capable of voice transmission and texting as well and photo texts!

NAVIGATION

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Moms, as nice as they are, can't stop time," Nida counters, shrugging. "It comes for all of us."

SOmething he knew well, given his world was nearly destroyed by a time witch.

"..." That earns a doubtful look, given that well, his Mom can, but that's hard to explain, so he just nods, feeling guilty that if he doesn't age he can't pay Nida back.

"Can I help out with chores or something at least?"

Help out with chores. Well, Ignis will hate it, so Nida likes the idea. He grins.

"Yes. If you come over for dinner you can help me convince Ignis not to do everything by himself by framing it like that. About wanting to help as thanks for the meal. Setting the table, helping clean the dishes, those sorts of things," he answers. Some days it was hard enough to get his love to let him do those things himself.

"Between you and me, Ignis used to work for a Prince, and so he's very used to taking care of other people. He's really not good at letting other people help take care of him."

"An actual Prince?" Oh Billy definitely wants to hear more about that, eyes practically begging, an eager look on his face.

To him that seems like something out of a fairytale, even though he's distantly aware that there are still modern royals.

"Yep, an actual Prince," Nida agreed, grinning widely. Kid seems like he might be able to use a story right now. "They knew each other since they were younger than you I think. They grew up together too. The Prince was his best friend and like a brother to him, but he was also not the best at chores, so Ignis had to learn to do it all himself."

There's so much he can't say, because it's not his to tell, but maybe he can still make the kid smile while he tries to figure out an answer for him.

"That doesn't seem fair," Billy mused with a pointed frown.

Being a twin fairness was very important to him, and poor Ignis haven't to do all the chores didn't seem fair at all. Even if his friend was a Prince.

Doesn't seem fair, Nida absolutely understood that. And agreed. See, Nida liked this kid.

"You're not wrong. But sometimes you love the people you take care of so much that to you it doesn't feel wrong. From what I understand it made him happy. WHich is why I talk him into letting me help."

"Mm, like a Mom?" It was the best analogy Billy had for that sort of behavior, thinking he understood and giving a small nod.

"I guess that makes sense."

Like a mom. On Nida has to laugh at that. Yes. LIke a mother. Oh god, Ignis needs to hear that.

"Yeah, like that. He can definitely be motherly. He takes care of me. So sometimes I have to take care of him.

Billy nodded sagely, thinking he understood that part a little. Mom's needed taking care of sometimes too. And Mom type people. That made sense.

"You sound like my parents."

Nida... paused. He had never known his own family. Not enough to remember him. His heart was aching just a bit to think of that.

"WEll, sounds like your parents are really smart.

"Mm," Billy nodded easily, "Dad's a synthezoid, he's like the smartest person I know."

"What's a synthezoid?" Nida asks as he gets them moving again. Smartest person Nida can accept without hesitation. Either the kid doesn't know a lot of smart people, or his dad really was. No reason to argue with either.

"Kind of like a robot but with flesh and stuff?" Not the most scientific explanation, but probably the best once you'll get out of a ten year old who's actually a week old.

Um, that's... weird. And familiar. Which he brushes off. It makes no sense. But he'll just move on for now.

"Well, that's different from how my world works. But it's really cool."

Test Drive - 004

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