TDM: Winter

[ateratmods]

Test Drive Meme: Winter。

WELCOME TO ATERAT All prompts are optional but can also be used as game canon if you and the other agrees. In addition, current players are welcome to use any of the prompts provided here for interactions within the game setting. The prompts below act as little mini events for current or new players to interact with for the duration of the Test Drive (a new Test Drive will go up in March). You’re not required to use any of the prompts provided here, of course, and are more than welcome to go your own way (we even encourage it)! The setting itself centers around character exploration and is designed to allow you to do whatever you’d like with it. As such, you can refer to the links below for more ideas! Arrival & General Information | Setting | Locations & Employment | Residences & Housing Info | Rules & FAQ

I. A Cup of Warm and Cozy。

The world certainly is a snowy, slushy mess for most of the Winter. Snow doesn't accumulate in any sort of devastating way, but it does leave walkways, streets, and sidewalks in need of regular clearing and what's left behind has a habit of freezing in places, making walking treacherous for people and mounts alike. The weather is bitter and wet with overcast days and leaving everyone in a generally meh mood. As a means of lightening the mood, the Market District Tavern has begun serving steaming cups of warm apple cider, adult and child-friendly alike, via a partnership with Fanci over at Grave Concoctions. The staff assure you there's nothing harmful in the drinks, just a means of lifting your spirit on these dreary days and nights, and that is exactly what the cider does. Anyone who helps themselves to a cup, whether it's alcoholic or not, will feel just a little more optimistic about, well, just about everything! They'll find themselves feeling as though whatever problem they might have been facing, either at home or in the city, really isn't that big a deal and hopeful that, no matter what, things are going to turn out alright. What's more, they'll find themselves a lot more sociable than they already are. Do they tend toward solitude or at least tend to keep their feelings close to the chest, only letting a select few, or none at all, in? Well, they'll feel a lot more open about whatever they tend to keep to themselves and inclined to share with whoever may be around. Not the person the feelings are directed toward or about a situation in which they're involved? That really doesn't seem to factor into the equation. Hopefully things won't get too awkward before the cider runs its course. Fanci never said there couldn't be side effects, after all.

II. Give a Little Bit。

The spirit of Yule inspires the natives of Aterat to kindness and many charities crop up that last throughout the winter months. Soup kitchens seem to be the most common, with fare available for any who find themselves less fortunate through the winter, offering a hot meal and a warm place to eat it in the form of reinforced tents that have sprung up in various places throughout the Market district, and the natives welcome to lend a hand (or take advantage, whatever suits them, though that may be more frowned upon if they aren't wanting). There are also various bake sales, rummage sales, and other fundraisers to build funds in order to support the Orphanage for the coming year, as well as food drives to refill the orphanage's larders to support the children who've come to call the place home. Residents and newcomers to Aterat are welcome to donate their time or money to the cause in whatever way they may want, and those who do so may find themselves rewarded with a charming keepsake to remind them of the world's they've left behind. Namely, those who help in whatever way they'd prefer will receive an anonymous delivery of a charming little snowglobe containing a miniature depiction of a place in their own world that brings them peace.

III. The Dead of Winter。

While the City of Aterat spends the winter months coming together and supporting their community, the farther outskirts become a cold, uninviting place. Strange, then, when the terrain is so dark and chilled, that one may find themselves overcome with the urge to wander. It may be through the southern plains or the outskirts of the forest. It could even be through the foothills surrounding the Academy to the north or the hills beyond the chocobo ranches to the west, but you won't come to yourself until you realize how truly lost you are. Direction means nothing to you in the overcast sky and your only hope is finding another wandering soul to orient yourself, root you in the here and now. Neither of you planned to be out in this weather, so warmth could be an issue, and it's possible the journey back to the safety of the city will be a long one indeed, depending on how far you've wandered. Strangely, the more you talk, sharing whatever experiences come to mind or just discussing the strange situation you've found yourselves in, the less the biting cold seems to bother you, and the less lost you feel. In fact, the conversation seems to help you understand, getting back to civilization is as simple as putting one foot in front of the other.

IV. Tell Phone or Wildcard。

You were given a fancy Tell Phone upon arrival, and a solid option is always reaching out to anyone else who might also call this place a home away from home over the network. Alternately, you're welcome to play with any bit of the setting in whatever way you'd like! Feel free to use the Questions thread below if you have any before you get rolling, and remember, we're all here to have fun and be weird! (Being weird is optional, but really, live a little!)

navigation。

Comments

Joshua Rosfield || Final Fantasy XVI

[phoenixawakened]

A cup of warm and cozy

There were a great many things that Joshua still didn't understand about this place. Yes he'd spent ample time in the Wizard's Tower and the Historium. He'd been a good scholar and did more research than that even. But the people here sometimes still threw him as they did now.

What was this Winter thing that they were doing and why? Those were questions he couldn't quite seem to get answers to and he followed these brightly coloured lights to the Market District. He was still getting used to this thing he had to carry called a Tell-phone and he still couldn't quite grasp the electricity thing.

He'd gotten a coat from someone who just handed it to him as they'd said he 'looked cold'. The long red coat had helped stave off the cold a little better and was given a red scarf as well. But once he arrived, a cup of hot cider was pushed into his hand telling him to 'warm up'.

Taking a sip, Joshua sat down and watched as the people went on with their lives. Some went shopping and some sat not too far from him, talking and drinking and laughing. The cider was definitely good he decided and kept drinking it, feeling the warmth of it seeping into his bones.

As the sipping went on, Joshua found himself more relaxed and nodded. "Yes and in that case, then I shall tell you a tale about my heroic brother."

Give a Little Bit

Joshua understood helping others. So when he'd come across an older woman who unbidden told him what she was doing, Joshua offered to take the burden from her shoulders and carry it for her to her destination. Setting down the bag of food the lady had been carrying before his offer of assistance, Joshua nodded to the lady and made sure she was all set before going over to the others.

He thought of his father Elwin who had wanted to emancipate bearers and have them treated as equals. There were also other ambitious plans to build them a hospice to be cared for along with many other things that the Archduke had never lived to see come to fruition. But it gave Joshua the fuel that he needed to speak up. And hopefully even here, Elwin might see him and be proud of him. So he walked up to the nearest person, knowing that they desperately needed help to get all of this food organized and distributed.

"Please pardon my interruption. But my family has a tradition for helping others, so where might I best serve that purpose here?"

Haru | Persona 5 | OTA

[haruine]

I. A Cup of Warm and Cozy。

Despite the fact that Haru was wearing a sweater (a large oversized pink knitted one with a yellow star off to the side that looked as though it might have been handmade) she was still rather cold. Of course, being Haru she was doing her utmost best to hide it! Which, really, just consisted of her tucking her hands under her arms and lamenting the fact that she hadn't put gloves too. Luckily for her she discovered the wonders of the cider that was being offered up. Her eyes practically lit up as she was handed a cup.

"Thank you so much! You know, it's quite the coincidence but I was just hoping to fin something warm to drink!" She squeezed her hands around the little mug and grinned brightly as she took a sip. "Oh! It's absolutely wonderful, you should really try some!" She says a bit...aggressively to whomever happens to be passing by. Sorry to whomever that is, you now get to deal with an even more optimistic and cheery Haru. Who knew that was possible?

II. The Dead of Winter。

Haru wasn't quite certain why she felt the sudden urge to wander, but it was quite strong and she was quite enthusiastic about it. It seemed as though her head was fully in the overcast skies as she wandered past the chocobo ranches and then just kept going. At no point did she actually realize where she was going or why she was going there. It seemed as though she was almost entranced by something, something that only she was aware of. She kept going and going without any concern for...well, anything.

At some point though she realized she wasn't alone in her wandering, she had some company and that seemed to snap her out of it. As she came out of the odd urge to wander she found that the cold was rather bitter, her knitted pink sweater not being quite good enough for this, and that she really had no idea where she was. She looked around, blinked, and then looked over at the person with her.

"I...oh my, do you recall coming out here because I definitely don't!" Which was quite weird. Even just a tiny bit creepy when she really thought about how odd it was. "Where do you think we are?"