TEST DRIVE

[calloperators]

> Hello, you have reached the 1-800-HOTLINE Test Drive. We are currently unable to take your call. Whilst we put you on hold, feel free to play around for a while...

***

Waking up
Where the hell were you last night? Maybe waking up in an unfamiliar bed with a blacked-out memory isn't so unusual for you, but that buzzing in your head is. The phone beside you rings with a 7:00 AM wake-up call, and a message left behind:

Go downstairs, to the lobby. Meet the others. Don't get attached, and don't mention this call.

The AC is busted and in this hot summer, you probably won't want to stay in your room forever.

What's new, Pussycat?
Of course, there's much more around here than just the motel. Stepping out and hitting the town will give you plenty to do. There's stores aplenty, but that's nothing to say of the good residents of the stores; your friendly neighborhood bodega cats. They're content to laze around the aisles, though the more playful sorts may swat at your wayward accessories as you pass by.

Don't mind that they seem to disappear - and reappear - with a blink. That's just something cats can do.

Hungry?
Of course you are! There's plenty of places to eat here, but why go to some no-name joint when you can go to McDonalds? They've got burgers, they've got fries, they've got McPizza, and they even have a playplace! ...Though you're probably too old for the ball pit.

Regardless of what you order, if you even order, the cashier presses a small toy into the palm of your hand. Don't you feel a pair of tiny eyes on you?

McMurder
For fuck's sake, someone only went and killed a guy in the McDonald's parking lot. Maybe his head is smashed in under that chicken mask, or maybe you'll want to check? You could do the right thing and work out who did this, or you could make off with his baseball bat. The choice is yours.


Night life
What good's a city that goes to sleep? When the sun goes down, the lights go up. The city becomes aglow with every colour of the neon rainbow, with bowling alleys, nightclubs, karaoke bars, arcades and soon-to-be-extinct roller discos competing for your attention until the sun comes up. You're here, there's no curfew, it's time to make the most of it.

Wildcard
Have something else in mind? Go wild, and party like it's 1989.

Comments

[ghoststanning]

[Ray grabs the marshmallows and waves to the cashier as they head out.]

We'll pay you back, I promise!

[Ray is just already eating the marshmallows like some complete weirdo save this poor cashier.]

[rainblower]

[Success! Pyro glances back at Ray before immediately placing all of the marshmallows down on the sidewalk and gesturing for Ray to stop.

They walk over to one of those free tabloid dispensers and take out a stack of them--not like anyone's going to read it, anyways. They messily tear out a few pages before carefully crumpling them up into balls and placing them on the asphalt. They then weigh the papers down with the other tabloid and crouch down, flicking their new lighter and--

...Oh. Okay. They're just starting a fire right out side of this convenience store. They sit down, cross-legged with their head resting in their hands as they watch the fire start to spread.

...Might wanna do something about that, Ray.]

[ghoststanning]

[Uh....]

Maybe we should make sure that the fire is controlled? Setting this town on fire is one of the last things I want right now.

[rainblower]

[Pyro looks up at Ray, excited for a fleeting moment about the prospect of lighting the whole town on fire. Oh, but...Medic said it's bad to do that when people are still living in places, which confused them, because they ████ people with ████████████ all the time. But the people living in towns aren't mercenaries, usually.

They glance down at the fire, head drooping a bit. But, hey! He didn't say no to burning things, which means he's still an okay guy. What did Engie use to build campfires, again...?]

Rhhcks?

[ghoststanning]

[Ray breathes a sigh of relief, glad that he doesn't have to worry about the town burning down.]

I can build the campfire for you! I didn't go to Boy Scouts for nothing!

[Ray goes to grab some loose bricks so they can start setting up the fire.

Like.

In the middle of the parking lot.

It's fine.]

[rainblower]

[They clap with enthusiasm, watching with interest as Ray does his thing. How curious! They've never built a fire in a parking lot. Well, at least not with someone else helping.

Pyro starts unwrapping a bag of marshmallows when they realize that they don't have anything on them for a stick. Hmm. It's fine--they can just hold it in their glove above the fire. It's asbestos for a reason!]

[ghoststanning]

[That may be fine and dandy for you, Pyro, but Ray isn't wearing his gloves right now so he can't do that.]

Ah right, we need sticks for the marshmallows, huh?

... Maybe I can find some sticks to whittle down for them?

[He's grabbing sticks right now anyway]

[rainblower]

[They look towards Ray and watch him start gathering sticks, hand still hovering over the flames. The marshmallow is now on fire, but they don't seem to mind. Wordlessly, they turn to Ray and hold out the flaming marshmallow towards him, as if expecting him to take it.

Take the marshmallow, Ray.]

[ghoststanning]

[Oh

Uh

Yeah he can't... take that.]

I'm sorry, I'm pretty sure my hand would burn off if I take that.

[rainblower]

[They stay absolutely still. After a moment, they tilt their head to the side ever so slightly, and the light from the flaming marshmallow reflects off of their mask eyeholes.

There's a few seconds of silence as they stare unblinkingly at Ray. They then turn back to the flames and place the marshmallow on the burning tabloid.

Ray might get the uncanny feeling that he's been judged.]

[ghoststanning]

[Uh?

Well he's not sure what he did wrong, but this person seems nice and he didn't want to upset his new friends.]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings!

[Ray frowns, looking genuinely apologetic (for whatever he did).]

[rainblower]

[Pyro doesn't respond for a moment. They pick up the bag of marshmallows and start...digging through it, for some reason? They then take out a single untoasted marshmallow and hold it out to Ray.

...Well. It seems like they understood what he said? Maybe? Is this a peace offering? It's hard to tell exactly what they're thinking behind that mask.]