Mod Account for Diatu Magicademy ([personal profile] magicademymods) wrote in [community profile] diatuooc2021-07-23 03:56 pm
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Test Drive Reloaded! #1


Test Drive #1




Welcome to Diatu (I Like Swords)

The Arrival Hall is all aflurry with activity! No one had expected so many Sundered to suddenly pop up, the staff find themselves desperately scrambling to keep up with the influx, and a bunch of new arrivals find themselves hanging out in the Hall lobby, waiting to be seen, sent home if possible, or counseled and prepared for student life if not. Rumors run like wildfire: some people believe they've been kidnapped by aliens, a worryingly persistent suggestion that this is a setup for a murder-tournament keeps circulating, and one or two nutcases insist that a dragon tinkered with the rules of magic and now they have to study at a magic school to survive. Pie stocks are grievously low, and thought Headmaster Birony herself appeared and began violating the rules of space and time to summon pies from the future, a second Headmaster Birony with an eyepatch, several war scars, and a wild hairdo appeared and promptly yelled at the first Headmaster for stealing her pies. A pie fight erupted. Pie stocks are even more grievously low now.

Still, here's your chance to talk to your fellow arrivals. Or aggressively attack the nearest target in an outrage (they set up a target dummy and labeled it VENT AGGRESSION HERE, and are trusting you guys on the honor system). Staff don't have time to talk, but they promise they'll get to you soon!

A Day In The Life

The sun is bright, the air is warm, a cool breeze blows across Anastara, clouds keep drifting directly through the island and engulfing people... it's summer on Ascelion, and the day is ripe for learning. Or as ripe as Diatu Magicademy ever can be -- though no one would trade the character and charm of the lively campus for some stodgy, regimented school more interested in forcing students into the mold than encouraging them to be their best, sometimes conditions in the Magicademy are a little inconvenient.

A toilet in Kedrigan Hall keeps clamping onto the butts of those who attempt to use it. Thus far, half a dozen students have been freed from its clutches by their friends, while reports of singed buttocks have increased twofold. (Yes, only twofold. Think about that for a minute.) Staff are on the lookout for a prankster rather than a commode, so as of yet the treacherous toilet has gone unpunished...

Not far away, a group of cleaning golems has occupied the promenade as part of an ongoing strike. As they possess only rudimentary intelligence, they believe this involves seizing objects from anyone who passes nearby and hurling them at a set of bowling pins. Meliandre Tomekin, Head of Groundskeeping, has set up shop across the Promenade; any student who wanders too close gets a big block of ice shoved into their hands, along with instructions to hold it still while she shows those reprobates what-for...

In the Great Hall proper, school clubs and activities have, as was inevitable, escalated competition for new students to yet another level which only isn't a war crime because it isn't part of a treaty yet: they've conscripted geese. Horrible geese, to be precise, who dispense flyers for various clubs with less subtlety than a nuclear holocaust. Some of them fight for dominance, others have teamed up to pin down innocent students and stuff leaflets down their throat, and one has a wand and is somehow casting Discovery spells?!

A Forgery!

"I tried a mass-Forging technique," the older student says, showing off the briefcase full of identical wands and a sign that says 'FOR $ALE CHEAP'. "Some of them are exactly what I intended, they self-correct runes, but the rest, well.. . I don't know, I can't tell, and I'm not really interested in finding out one by one, so... you buying?"

All sales final. No refunds. Caveat emptor. As for what the wands do, well... there's a reason he answered with an ellipsis when asked. On the other hand, maybe the effect isn't too terrible? Maybe it's even beneficial! Maybe the wand shoots out rainbows and muffins! Or maybe it just animates and strikes you vigorously about the head and shoulders...

Three Dragon War

Someone, we're not naming names, canons, or the color of eyes and the dragon to which they belong that forms said person's obsession, may or may not be indirectly responsible for the latest game craze sweeping Anastara: Three Dragon War, a collectible card game that features players as dragons, deploying spells, creatures, and Sundered against each other to destroy each and avoid the machinations of the Third Dragon. The awesome thing about the game is that the Third Dragon comes in all different forms: classic bundled-with-the-starter-pack Ire, super-rare Anastara Diatu, suspiciously-rare Cam Birony, ultra-common Large Eagull, and more. The concept of an outside force adding randomness to the battle and being manipulated in turn by cards means Three Dragon War is the hottest card game that's come along since the last card game that was the hottest that had come along came along.

Face-to-face, you find yourself in a duel over these cards and the magical images they summon. Can this untested deck come through if you believe in it? Or are statistics and probability actual things that actually happen? Dragon Battle! Jiao Long Fu!

There's One in Every Test Drive

Not every magical disaster is caused by some wayward student you don't know. Many of them are caused by you instead. To wit: you're on the spot in one of the magical labs, being called on to demonstrate a technique more advanced than others you've mastered so far. Failure is expected, and the wards should prevent any injury to others from a miscast spell. But will the sparks of your magic just sputter out and die? Or will you inadvertently mispronounce, misform, misshape, or miscalculate in a way that brings chaos to you and your lab partner?

(You could also manage to succeed in casting the spell, but that isn't very fun.)
serpentinthegarden: (Not so bad)

[personal profile] serpentinthegarden 2021-07-29 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
His confusion had colored his expression but at that a wickedly devilish grin took over.

"You're more evil than I am? HA!"

He hissed a laugh as he sauntered past her, never holding in his mind a single doubt that his own evil nature far surpassed hers. He was a literal demon and she was a kid! He had seniority here.

"You? You're just a... a little school bully. You haven't done anything to make me think you are even half as evil as I am! What's your grand accomplishment? Have you stolen some one's lunch money today?"

He stepped past her and tossed a little wave over his shoulder on the way by.

"Eating spoiled pie doesn't make you evil! It's gross... but not evil! Chow, kid."

Crowley was still laughing as he walked on down the hall.
letteropener: (why is fluttershy stoned)

Princess Celestia | MLP:FIM

[personal profile] letteropener 2021-07-30 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
I Like Swords

"Well, this is certainly unexpected."

There may be a cheap laugh to be found in the magic pony with the iridescent, waving mane and tail saying this. But Princess Celestia, while ever composed and graceful, was certainly not at home here. Though smiling and serene in appearance, her eyes flicked about far too quickly as she tried to keep track of everything going on. Multiple very strange beings, obvious temporal shenanigans, and her being brought here without warning? Oh, this was not comfortable at all.

A Day in the Life

Celestia craned her neck over her shoulder, glaring at, to all appearances, her tail.

"Now you get out of there," she said, to the gently-drifting hair. In response, a goose head poked out, let out a defiant honk, and then stuck a pamphlet into her mane so it was half-visible and totally disinclined to fall. Celestia half-turned as if to grab it herself, but the goose immediately ducked back into the mass of her tail.

A moment later, another pamphlet poked out. She was rapidly on the way to becoming a billboard for the Dueling Club.

There's One

Princess Celestia was intelligent, learned, and very skilled in magic -- by Equestrian standards. The rigid rules of Magicademy magic were quite another thing altogether, with their circles and their verbalizations and their mathematics. The latter proved her downfall this time, as the math she quickly muttered got out of sync with the numbers her hoof scribed in midair...

Sorry about that suddenly big limb of yours.
serpentinthegarden: (Another good profile)

[personal profile] serpentinthegarden 2021-07-30 12:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ Is that better or worse than having Prince Albert in a can?
Anyway he could sit back, pleased, that he had inspired a very funny prank on those poor unsuspecting people living in the dorms. ]


Some would. I'd rather a bottle or five, some obnoxiously loud music, and...

[ An angel to spend the time with. ]

...somebody flying off the roof to land in the pool just before the cops arrive.
protectiveink: (uh oh)

[personal profile] protectiveink 2021-07-30 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
"A li'l bit," Rosh admitted, though she chuckled a little, then. "Freaked out? Nae, I mean, I always knew I might run in tae people like ye--sensitives an' such, who could figure things out 'bout ole Haage. I hoped I wouldn't, mostly, 'cause it cannae be pleasant, aye?"

Though she shrugged at Ronstadt's next question. "Much as I can be, with him takin' up me mental real estate. There's a certain amount he can an' can't do, an' I got a load of protections regardin' him, besides. Ain't perfect, but until I c'n evict him, what can't be cured has gotta be endured, am I right?"

Rosh would never say she enjoyed having a demon possessing her, but she could consider a few things that might be worse. Not that she'd want to voice them for fear of invoking them, however.
hyperdrivemonalisa: (unhappy)

[personal profile] hyperdrivemonalisa 2021-07-30 12:25 am (UTC)(link)
"My grandpa does that too, builds his constructs to engage and work with him. Do things for him, too, but they get to do things like wander all over his lab. Though they're a wee bit more intelligent than these seem to be..."

But Isabel lifts her hands, eyes going wide as one of the construct's brows sloooowly furrows. Well, she can comprehend that, she'd be mad if someone called her dumb, too. She didn't try, no, but she's also lived with them for the better part of a year or so, and sharpest tools in the shed, they are not.

"Hey, you guys can be taught!" she exclaimed. "And yeah, Lavender's right! You don't need food or sleep! If you guys had regular breaks that weren't just maintenance, just think of all the things you could do and learn!"

Under her breath, she muttered, directing her voice at Entrapta. "Sorry, I am sure that's not your name, but your hair's absolutely amazing. Can I make it up to you later?"
gunbladegrrl: (gunblade grip)

Maria Cyphert | Final Fantasy VIII (OC, CRAU, It's Complicated)

[personal profile] gunbladegrrl 2021-07-30 12:41 am (UTC)(link)
A Day In The Life

A large assault rifle bangs into a set of pins, followed almost immediately thereafter by a cleaning golem.

A second golem found itself unceremoniously trapped in a headlock. "You DON'T! TOUCH!" She punctuated each word by slamming a fist into the golem's face. Her hand ought to be bruised and scraped from that, but oddly, the golem seemed to be getting the worst of it. "THE GUNBLADES!"

Normally Maria's far calmer and more rational than this... but her weapons were a particular berserk button of hers.

"Any of the rest of you wanna play? There's enough of me to go around, you rock-things!" She sneered at the other golems for a second, then rolled her eyes. "A-plus dialogue there, Maria," she muttered, her golem-punching a little more listless now. "Rock things. Terrific trash talk."

Triple Triad Dragons?

Maria technically did understand the concept of "turn down a challenge". Of course, she technically understood the concept of spaceflight, but she wasn't doing any of THAT any time soon either. The only problem was, this was nothing like the games she understood...

"Okay, so I play the Large Eagull, which... as I understand it, doesn't do a damn thing because of that, it just sits there till I make it do something. And I play 'Magic Wand' on it, which gives it a +2 to Discovery..."

Looking up at her opponent, Maria shrugged rather helplessly. How a bird using a wand made the slightest bit of sense was totally beyond her.

whose_son_am_i: (Avengers-manic smile)

A Day in the Life

[personal profile] whose_son_am_i 2021-07-30 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
Winged white horses were legend, even in Asgard. Mounts for the Valkyrie. So Loki isn't quite sure what to make of one here. A white winged horse with a horn no less, and mane and tail as bright as the Bifrost. The Goose turning her into a billboard was simply the icing on the cake. He couldn't help it, so he laughed. It was funny. It probably wouldn't be funny when the valkyrie showed up. Until then...
letteropener: (contented smile)

Re: A Day in the Life

[personal profile] letteropener 2021-07-30 01:24 am (UTC)(link)
While this was certainly an absurd position, and vexing at best... well, it was a little funny. Celestia had to pause to cover her mouth with a hoof, smothering the giggle.

"I'm not used to geese being so aggressively promoting."
whose_son_am_i: (Avengers-side-amused)

Re: A Day in the Life

[personal profile] whose_son_am_i 2021-07-30 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
And he was not used to horses talking. Blue-green eyes widen just slightly in surprise, before he's grinning. "I am not used to horses talking either, much less them having rainbow colored hair. The goose is really just the final treat."
letteropener: (what confidence she can offer)

[personal profile] letteropener 2021-07-30 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
"And I am certainly not used to -- humans, or anything quite like them, but it seems adjusting to new circumstances is the way of the day." Which also came with a mild look back at the goose, whose head was again poking out of her tail.
hyperdrivemonalisa: (eh maybe not)

A Day in the Life

[personal profile] hyperdrivemonalisa 2021-07-30 01:33 am (UTC)(link)
Isabel had seen a lot of things in her time here at Diatu Academy.

One thing she'd never expected to see was a girl, about her age, punching Professor Tomekin's golems in the face and howling about gunblades of all things. (Hey, her dad was a video game nerd, okay? It might be classic in Isabel's time, but...she knew what gunblades were.)

"Uh. Excuse me, miss? They're golems. And uh, probably, they don't know any better. They're not too bright. The Professor usually uses them for cleaning and fixing things. But she's kind of hard on them. So that's why they're out here. Um. Striking."

Yeah, they're not close enough to the Groundskeeper for Isabel's voice to carry, or else she might be in trouble.
whose_son_am_i: (Smile)

[personal profile] whose_son_am_i 2021-07-30 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
"Well met then." Once Loki felt most of his laughter gone, he moved closer. Moving over to address the goose, he was still amused. "And you, Sir Gander, are quite the absurdity. I think it's time you leave the nice..." Oh now how should he refer to this new being? "Lady alone."
letteropener: (turn in a wave of hair)

[personal profile] letteropener 2021-07-30 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
The goose honked.

"I think it might not be satisfied until I join the Debate Club."

The goose honked again. Celestia quirked an eyebrow.

"Oh, my apologies. Until I join and make everyone else join as well."
gunbladegrrl: (looking up)

[personal profile] gunbladegrrl 2021-07-30 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
Maria looked up, nodding her agreement. "That's why I'm going easy on it."

Considering what she looked like she could do, let alone the gunblade grips visible above her back... yeah, she wasn't lying.

"It won't make the mistake again, I'm sure."
whose_son_am_i: (Smile)

[personal profile] whose_son_am_i 2021-07-30 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
"Be that as it may, Sir Gander. This is hardly the way to behave if you want agreement." Loki's eyes were scanning around, before he grinned. "Besides, I see a nice group of students over there who don't seem to have any of your papers. You'd have a fresh audience." Pointing over to the group of school children milling about.
hyperdrivemonalisa: (hmmm...no)

[personal profile] hyperdrivemonalisa 2021-07-30 01:43 am (UTC)(link)
Isabel winced a little, there. "Well...I do think they have the capability to learn. Uh. I think. I don't really want to ask Professor Tomekin about it. And I don't want to know what might happen if she sees you punching her golems, either..."

The shorter girl made a face. She didn't really want to know if the Groundskeeper would consider this new girl a challenge, either. Gulp.

"I don't think she's noticed yet. She's probably too busy trying to get someone to help her make the golems quit striking. You could let it go. Like you said...I'm pretty sure it won't make that mistake again." Isabel hoped, at least.
knightofbooks: (Who's there!?)

[personal profile] knightofbooks 2021-07-30 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
After a few moments, Vio lowered his arms to see the wand on the ground. Oh, thank the goddesses, that's over. Carefully, he picked up the wand. Not unlike how one might pick up a feral cat. He really didn't want to accidentally cast it again.

"They are." Even more so here, because it wasn't like the academy wasn't chaotic enough already. "Thank yo-"

Oh... Now that he could finally process things, Vio squinted his eyes at the other in a mixture of emotions. Recognition. Confusion. Curiosity. Perhaps a hint of worry? If there was some, it was quickly lost among the other emotions.

"...Link?"
gunbladegrrl: (wat)

[personal profile] gunbladegrrl 2021-07-30 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
Maria considered that.

Then she punched it one more time in the face, just to make sure it got the lesson, and THEN she let it go. As the golem staggered back, Maria glared its way long enough to make sure it wasn't going to try to go bowling with anything else on her.

"Okay, I think it got the point. Where'd my rifle go?"
hyperdrivemonalisa: (I do not want this)

[personal profile] hyperdrivemonalisa 2021-07-30 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
"You aren't going to punch me if I pick it up, are you? I know my way around guns; my dad taught me and I promise I won't disrespect it."

Okay, Morgan had not taught her about gunblades, but but conventional firearms, yes. Warily, she went over to where she'd seen it go flying, picked it up carefully, checked to see if it had a safety (thankfully on, so she didn't do anything else). Then, Isabel brought it over to the other girl, handing it to her stock first, barrel wide of her own body and aimed behind her--no walls, no windows, no people? Okay, good.

"Neat gun. Nice form, too. I'm Isabel Knight. Who're you?"
gunbladegrrl: (gunblade grip)

[personal profile] gunbladegrrl 2021-07-30 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
"Hey, hey. I THREW the one that messed with my rifle." Maria waggled a finger, playfully, before accepting the gun and slinging it over her shoulder. It clicked into place in the center of the magnetic holster, standing vertical.

"SeeD Maria Cyphert," she said, with a smart salute that wasn't necessary but she liked to do anywhere. "Maria's fine, circumstances considered."
hyperdrivemonalisa: (bemused)

[personal profile] hyperdrivemonalisa 2021-07-30 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
"You think I'd let you get close enough to me to throw me?" Isabel huffed laughter at that. She'd seen this girl fight--not a lot, true, but enough to know she'd probably get a good run for her money if they sparred. And she was an heiress.

Not here, though.

"I don't think I'm gonna let on if Professor Tomekin asks what happened to her golems. It'd be nice to have a couple people who could lay the smack down on them if they get uppity."

Yes, this does imply that Isabel could do that, too. She just has a soft spot for constructs, so leading with her fist wasn't first on her list. (Don't ask the evil toilet about what she did to it, though.)
wagerofloki: (049)

[personal profile] wagerofloki 2021-07-30 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
She was quiet as she waited for him to elaborate on what wild things he'd seen across whatever the hell the Nine Realms (what a cool name for a bar) was. When no answer came she straightened back up.

"Guess wakin' up in a strange place isn't so weird. Happened t'me a few times already." She looked to him. "So what've you seen that's fucked, then?"
gunbladegrrl: (looking up)

[personal profile] gunbladegrrl 2021-07-30 02:05 am (UTC)(link)
Maria's eyes drifted up and left, mentally checking her Junctions -- before nodding. She'd totally win, no question. Not that she was arrogant or anything!

"I hear there's some nastier things that need one around here. I'll save my best for them."
whose_son_am_i: (poker face in shadow)

[personal profile] whose_son_am_i 2021-07-30 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
Loki-slanted his eyes to look at her, without turning his head. "Half of a surviving refugee population slaughtered to satisfy a madman's idea of bringing balance to the universe." Said entirely seriously, with the same serious look on his face.

Edited 2021-07-30 02:06 (UTC)
hyperdrivemonalisa: (I beg your pardon?)

[personal profile] hyperdrivemonalisa 2021-07-30 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
Don't mind Isabel's gaze casually following yours, Maria. She just gives a Mona Lisa smile. She'll save that secret for if they actually throw down.

"Probably a good idea. Professor Ire's all right--you'll probably meet him--but there are two other dragons that we might end up having to fight. You'll definitely want to be bad enough to save the President for that."

Oh god she sounds like her dad. But somehow, Isabel thinks Maria might speak that language...

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