TEST DRIVE MEME #7

[expiationmods]

TEST DRIVE MEME #7

Welcome to Expiation, a pan-fandom adventure game with elements of fantasy, science fiction, and some subtle horror. As of December 2023, we’re making a couple of structural changes to the way our bimonthly test drive works.

TDM top-levels are now open to all, whether you are already in-game or not. New characters, please put TDM in your subject header so we’ll know you’re trying things out! There will be a directory of newbie top-levels at the bottom of the post. New folks are welcome and encouraged to use TDM threads as samples in their application. Current players may use TDM threads as part of their AC proofs.

The February TDM is going to be forward-dated to February 19.

Our CALENDAR is here to help to remember dates. That means RESERVES will be opening on February 19 and APPLICATIONS will open on February 22. After this, applications will next open in April 2024.

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You awaken in a room of blinding white light–so bright that you can’t make out any details. You hear voices around you, speaking in muffled tones. It sounds an awful lot like they’re talking about you. You’re on the verge of figuring out what they’re saying, you’re so close...but then the floor drops out from under you. You fall into blackness.

Sure is cold out here. For new arrivals, even moreso: they find themselves waking in this strange new place in the middle of Aldrip, most of them harmlessly sprawled on the ground. Some may have landed in a snowdrift. A few unlucky folks may have appeared in one of the fountains or on a rooftop. Either way, their unfortunate state is on display for all to see. It may be embarrassing, but hey, at least it makes getting help a bit easier.

Locals and Chosen alike will be happy to brief newcomers on where they are and what's going on. Welcome to Aldrip, many will say, though they're clearly very busy. Newcomers will quickly learn that they're preparing for a delegation from a neighboring city, a diplomatic visit that should hopefully ease tensions between Aldrip and neighboring Ketsora, after one of the Chosen attacked the latter city. Apparently Aldrip agreed to host a lavish party for the Ketsorans, but they're a long, long way away from finishing it. Attitudes are tense, but cautiously excited; who doesn't like a party, right?

Oh, and don't mind the toads. They're fine. Everything is fine.

FESTIVE PREPARATIONS

As a show of good faith to the Ketsoran delegation, Aldrip's locals hastily turn the events center into an elegant reception hall. Apparently it's Ketsoran tradition: visitors to your city should be welcomed with a lavish party--the more days and expenses paid, the better. Aldrip is determined to make this party generous and opulent enough to appease their neighbors to the south. There's a long, long list of things to do in preparation–not just setting up for this party, but rebuilding and cleaning up damages left behind from January's events.

i. REBUILDING

     

Aldrip’s run-down state was of little concern right after January’s tense situation, but now that they have guests to impress, the locals are working themselves into a frenzy trying to get the town back to normal. Any Chosen seen with idle hands will be asked, cajoled, guilted, or outright volunteered into helping the clean-up process. This isn’t limited to rebuilding or clearing rubble: some may be put to work cleaning up public spaces, like the inn or the many businesses in town that could use some love. Some will even be asked to tend to green spaces or clear out monsters lurking too close to the town borders. Chosen-run establishments that are necessary to the community, such as the clinic, will also receive extra attention, getting their supplies and maintenance requests handled quickly.

ii. WORK HARD, PLAY HARD

     

Naturally, the other focus is on preparing for the party itself. The entire town is getting decked out for this: fresh paint on buildings, colorful flags, banners, and lanterns strung in public places and gathering spots. Local businesses will be putting their best foot forward, and some may need extra help to make that happen. The Chosen will find themselves pulled into this prep work as well, not just in the events center but around the rest of the town as well. They may be asked to run errands for businesses, work on decorating, prepare a delicious menu of food, or even to practice an act they can perform at the party. Better brush up on those juggling skills.

As always, we leave the type, scope, and placement of any of this work up to players!

---

A MASKED AFFAIR (19-23)

iii. ALL DRESSED UP

     

Aldrip’s tailors and seamstresses have their work cut out for them. All the way up to the first night of the party, and even in the evenings between party days, they’ll be doing their level best to make sure everyone in town, locals and Chosen alike, look their absolute best for the ball. They may even grab some reluctant characters off the street to deck them out in the latest fashions. They do take requests, of course, but those Chosen with no opinion may find themselves at the whim of the tailors’ creativity. There’s no telling what they’ll come up with.

Tailors are available to alter, clean, or completely change characters’ costumes between party nights, but they may come up with something less elaborate after more than one go-around. They may even be less altruistic about giving things for free.

Not everyone is lucky enough to get these ornate getups free of charge, unfortunately; some of the clothing shops in town got hit pretty hard by recent events! Chosen who pick certain shops may find that they’re asked to work to earn it in a variety of different ways. Some characters may be asked to model new fashions outside of shops, or to run errands for the shopkeepers. They could find themselves distributing flyers to advertise for the store, cleaning up, cooking meals, or any number of different tasks. We leave the options in your capable hands.

Please note that this event is a masquerade, meaning that masks aren’t just encouraged, they’re required. Tailors will often offer to provide a mask, but if there’s another way a character would like to obtain a mask, please feel free to utilize it.

iv. FOR LUCK

     

Aldrip’s locals certainly are a superstitious bunch, which might explain why they decorate the elaborate formalwear with certain motifs, designs, or colors. Some of the Chosen wearing embellished clothing may find that it enhances certain aspects of their personality or appearance. For example, Yellow can encourage a sunny disposition, or a heart could make them seem more desirable. Perhaps a flower brooch makes them smell like roses, or a peacock design has them preening and strutting. Maybe matching patterns could even inspire feelings of friendliness or affection. On the other hand, raindrops or dark colors may make them feel a little gloomy. Please note that this is optional, and that the range of effects is entirely up to you.

---

NIGHTS AT THE BALL (19-23)

Thanks in no small part to the help of the Chosen, the events center has been transformed into a lavish dance hall. Thick velvety curtains drape from ceiling to floor, adding an air of luxury to the whole event. Servers carry trays of delicious, exotic foods and drinks, offering them to attendees. Various performers and acts will rotate through the space as the week progresses, featuring different types of music, dramatic numbers, joke telling, acrobatics, and any number of other things.

Some may see familiar faces working in various capacities throughout the week. That’s right! Some Chosen may choose to–or be volunteered to–work during the event as bartenders, servers, cooks, entertainers, game runners, etc. Maybe they need the cash? Or…maybe they’re just bored.

Partygoers may find, oddly, that their masks make it suspiciously difficult to recognize their friends–they may even have trouble recognizing their voices. Some may even mistake a total stranger for someone they know, or vice versa. Either way, it’s strange, isn’t it? Almost as if the masks are obscuring peoples’ identities.

v. SAVE ME A DANCE

     

A local at the door is offering dance cards to those who will. Those who choose to participate in this fun game will find that they’re missing something–or several somethings, around 4-8. These could be any number of things, including but not limited to: physical items, appearance traits, memories, powers, attributes, or anything else you can think of. How do characters get them back? By dancing with other Chosen, and writing their names in the dance card. Who knows? Maybe you’ll make a new friend!

vi. ALL FUN AND GAMES

     

Some of the gaming tables from the casino make a return, as well: there are small rooms in the back for blackjack, darts, pool, and other games. There are other games, too, for people who will. A flower vendor encourages people to buy single roses in different colors, each with their own meaning in the language of flowers. Various scavenger hunts ask people to find people wearing certain colors, patterns, or shapes in their elaborate clothing. Some even play games like charades.

At the stroke of midnight on each night of the party, the band stops playing their music, just for a moment. They count down to the last chime of the clock, and then everyone removes their masks. Surprise!

---

WILDCARD

You know the drill–this is the wildcard one. Just because it’s not listed in the prompts above does not mean it’s unavailable as an option. We encourage you to do whatever you’d like to utilize the setting to its full potential. To help with this, the SOTG for February is here. If you have any questions about what is and is not possible, please don’t hesitate to ask!

TOP LEVEL DIRECTORY

Click to view:

CANON	CHARACTER/TOP LEVEL
The Case Study of Vanitas	Vanitas
Circle of Magic	Sandrilene fa Toren
The Dresden Files	The Archive
Dungeon Meshi	Mithrun
Final Fantasy VII R	Aerith Gainsborough
Final Fantasy VII R	Cloud Strife
Gnosia	Sha-ming
House M.D.	Dr. Gregory House
The Locked Tomb	Gideon Nav
Metro Exodus	Colonel Miller
Naruto	Kakashi Hatake
Onmyoji (Netflix)	Abe no Seimei
Original	Astralin Turnont
Persona 3	Aigis
Persona 3	Minato Arisato
Persona 4	Naoto Shirogane
The Tarot Sequence	Addam St. Nicholas

Comments

mithrun | dungeon meshi | tdm

[vegetablescraps]

i. arrival

[ Sure is cold out here. Sure is wet out here too. Mithrun blinks as his vision slowly returns, though he doesn't need his eyesight to realize he's sprawled in waist-deep water. He frowns, gathering his bearings as he sits up straight.

Two things appear certain: firstly, he doesn't recognize his surroundings. Secondly, he's regained consciousness in some sort of... pool?

The "pool" suddenly stirs to life, cheerfully spouting water from its highest level, cascading down its four different tiers. It sends a curtain of water over each edge, dousing Mithrun from head to toe.

Ah, he realizes. Not a pool, but a water fountain.

For a person who's landed in such circumstances, he seems unusually unperturbed. ]

ii. work hard, play hard

[ Mithrun didn't get the chance to object to the task. Someone simply told him to make himself useful, handed him a giant bag of inflated balloons with some tape, and pointed at a ladder leaning against a wall before walking away.

It's not a difficult job. All he needs to do is climb said ladder and start taping the balloons to the walls. The reasonable thing to do is precisely that.

Instead, he spies an unsuspecting passerby and thrusts a balloon with some tape into their hands. ]

You. Hold these.

[ Then he grabs their sleeve, causing his new "helper" to disappear and reappear at the top of the ladder.

Mithrun points at a spot on the wall near the top of the ladder. ]

I think the balloons go there.

iii. save me a dance

[ If asked, Mithrun doesn't particularly like or dislike dances. What he's most concerned about, instead, is the way his vision blurs when someone slips a dance card into his hand. He's used to the darkness in his right eye, but to have something interfere with his left eye's vision is a little irritating.

He tucks the dance card into his pocket. Fortunately, he does recall how to dance, thanks to all those balls he'd been forced to attend in his youth.

Mithrun steps forward, dressed in a modest forest green suit. He's able to just barely make out the silhouette of a person. He reaches out, gently grasping at what he hopes is someone's arm. He doesn't look directly at them. Instead, he looks in their general direction. ]

It seems I'm in need of your assistance.

[ After all, one requires a partner to dance, and he's not very keen on spending the rest of the night without his eyesight. ]

iv. wild card

[ hmu if you want to write together but none of my prompts fit what you have in mind! If you want to plan something, feel free to send me a message and we can hash something out o7 ]

Save me a dance Eve | OC | (considering how poor your eyesight is now, I’m not describing him yet)

[can_i_punt_it]

Pardon? Oh… I believe I see the problem. There is just one small catch, I have no idea what the band is attempting to play, nor do I know how to dance any dance besides a waltz, or a tango… and I sincerely doubt that is either of those.

[vegetablescraps]

It's fine if you know how to keep a beat.

[ It doesn't have to be a particularly good dance. Hopefully, anything will suffice. Maybe just stepping together in time will get the job done.

Mithrun's fingertips move down the other's arm, guiding the person's hand to his side. He hold his other hand out, waiting for his company to take it. ]

Just follow my lead.

[can_i_punt_it]

[takes his hand]
Do you know how to waltz, or any other dances? I would rather not tango.

[vegetablescraps]

[ Fortunately, Mithrun isn't in the mood for tango either. In truth, he's rarely in the mood for anything other than demon slaying. ]

A waltz is simple enough. Luckily, it seems the current music isn't appropriate for tango.

i.

[mechanicaiheart]

[Once she came to her senses, she got up and begin wandering to get her bearings. From what she can tell, she's not the only person who was dumped here. Case in point, the stranger in the fountain.

She moves, assuming he might want some help getting out. But he doesn't even... try. She blinks.]

It's not a good idea to stay there very long. In this cold, you're far more likely to develop hypothermia.

[She offers her hand. It's not much warmer.]

[vegetablescraps]

[ In truth, he doesn't really care to move.

Or, perhaps it's more accurate to note that Mithrun's not capable of caring to avoid developing hypothermia. But at the girl's gentle encouragement, he grasps her hand and rises from the fountain, carefully stepping over its stone edge.

He stands there, waterlogged clothes dripping all over the floor and damp hair in his face. Now that his company's directed his attention to his physical state, yes, he supposes it is somewhat cold. Oh well. ]

It's fine.

[ He's sturdier than he looks, but it doesn't take much to be tougher than a drowned rat. ]

...who are you?

[mechanicaiheart]

[Well. She watches him, almost worried. Can he not feel the cold? Is he... not affected, somehow? It doesn't seem healthy, otherwise.]

I have nothing that can help dry you off. Maybe we can see if someone nearby can help...

[She glances around, towards where there's more buildings. Yes, there has to be someone there, right?]

My name is Aigis. I'm new, like you are. Or I assume you are.

[vegetablescraps]

[ Mithrun follows the girl's gaze at the buildings. Indeed, maybe others are nearby, but surely there's no need to bother them? A small shudder passes through him as he grasps at his mantle, wringing some water out of it. ]

I suppose I can if you insist.

[ He doesn't feel the need to attend to his soaked clothes, but... it seems to be distressing to the other.

The elf nods, accepting Aigis' introduction. ]

I'm Mithrun. ...I guess that makes two of us.

[ He glances at Aigis from head to toe. Something about her seems... off, in a way, but he can't quite place his finger on what it is. It doesn't bother him though. After all, there's something a little off about himself too. ]

If you're still here after arriving, it must be safe to assume there's no way back.

ii

[everblooms]

[ The unsuspecting helper he finds is a woman with a pink ribbon in her hair and a stare the color of fresh Spring grass. Maybe it's that way she looks at him sweetly and smiles politely, loose and easy, that makes her seem easy to pick on. That easy expression melts away like ice cream in the sun when he grabs her, though, replaced swiftly with a furrow, confused brow and a pout that only deepens when Aerith finds herself on top of the ladder— again. ]

Wait! I did not agree to this. [ She even taps her boot, as if to punctuate her assertion. She really doesn't care about the part when he effortlessly lifted her, as though she, too, were a balloon.

Anyway.

Aerith drops the tape to the floor and looks at him with a slightly soured expression. ]

[vegetablescraps]

[ It's true. Mithrun hadn't for the woman's permission before roping her into things. He's not entirely surprised she's not feeling cooperative. Not everyone is used to teleportation. ]

It's just a few balloons.

[ But the woman's already giving him a piece of her mind, dropping the tape from the top of the ladder. It tumbles through the air, somersaulting, before bouncing along the floor and rolling off. Mithrun follows after it wordlessly, collecting the tape into his hands.

He returns to the foot of the ladder and gazes up at ribbon-wearing woman, holding the tape up to show it off to her. ]

You dropped this.

[ The roll of tape disappears from his hand, reappearing to perch itself on the ladder's highest rung. ]

[everblooms]

[ it's hard to explain, but there's something about this person that sits heavy on her shoulders. she wishes he had asked, but it's just a taste of her own medicine at this point. perhaps that's what gets her— do they share any other similarities, she wonders? aerith blinks at the roll of tape before giving in to dip down and take it in her grasp, unspooling a strip with a plastic shriek. ]

How did you get on balloon duty?

ii. i just finished this manga it real good

[solitarysoul]

Uh.

[Levi had frozen when Mithrun addressed him, and while he grabs the balloons offered he doesn't manage to say anything until after he's suddenly not on the ground.]

D-don't do that!

yes!! a definite fave for me... might i even say. a goat

[vegetablescraps]

[ Mithrun gazes up at his unsuspecting victim now perched at the top of the ladder. He narrows his good eye, inspecting the boy's demeanor. ]

Oh. Hm. Are you afraid of heights?

[ Surely that must be the reason why he seems so startled about being suddenly teleported to a spot several feet off the ground. ]

[solitarysoul]

No, but I didn't expect to suddenly be up here. What if I was moving? I would have fallen off!

[vegetablescraps]

[ He doesn't actually see anything wrong with that. ]

You haven't fallen off though. And if you did, I would catch you.

[ Simple solutions to simple questions. ]

ii

[constants]

[ The Archive is trying to make herself useful in the ways a 13 year old girl can. Holding a balloon is absolutely in her skill set. Being teleported to the top of a ladder is not.

In her surprise she lets go of the balloon momentarily and with a panicked squeak manages to both grab it and hold on to the ladder so she doesn't fall off. It takes her a few breaths to calm down but when she is she looks down from her position on the ladder at her... aggressor? ]

That was both impolite and dangerous. Spatially displacing an individual is a disorienting experience and should not be without requisite permission from all parties. Ladders have a high risk of injury when used improperly, and this is irresponsible behavior surrounding the use of a ladder.

[ Her tone is not accusatory so much as a statement of fact. ]

[vegetablescraps]

[ It's not dangerous if he's more than capable of catching a person who might tumble off the top of the ladder. Surely, the efficiency of getting the other person up the ladder without them doing the legwork outweighed him asking permission. Nor is it irresponsible if he's able to break another's fall with his arms.

But as for whether or not it was impolite -- well. He doesn't really have to say much for himself there. ]

Okay. I suppose you're not wrong about any of that.

[ His tone is flat. He makes no indication on whether or not it bothers him to get schooled by someone who's at least fourteen times younger than him. ]

But can you reach the moulding? They want the balloons attached to it.

[constants]

[ She's not concerned about not receiving an apology and he seems to understand the issue at hand, though perhaps hasn't really internalized it. But it's not her way to berate him and it's a sufficient reply, so she turns back to the moulding in question. If she reaches a safe amount she can place two balloons. ]

Yes, I can place two balloons from this position.

[ It doesn't seem like she needs any special permission so she tapes up the one she has and turns back around, extending her hand. ]

Please pass me a second one.

[vegetablescraps]

[ Mithrun observes as the girl tapes one balloon to the moulding. Indeed, she manages to stick the balloon to its surface before extending her hand. He nods in response and turns his attention to the large bag of balloons at his feet. He crouches down, reaching into it and grabs a blue balloon. ]

All right. Leave your hand out like that.

[ The balloon in his own hand disappears, only to reappear again in the girl's palm. Surely, at this rate, it won't take too long for them to go through the entire bag of balloons. ]

Save me a dance

[driving_from_the_backseat]

[As it happens, Mithrun is walking up to someone who might be a woman. They are, at least, wearing a dress.

The hand on their arm is unsurprising, since Avalon has been watching their surroundings more carefully. When they see his lips move, they hold up their dance card, showing a note written on the back of it: I am deaf at the moment, but would not mind dancing with you.

But … no, something is wrong with this person’s gaze. They may not be the only one who lost a sense when they took the dance card.

Avalon reaches out telepathically. That part of their magic seems to be unaffected, though it has been unreliable since they arrived. They have no other way of hearing him, so it could be worth a try. In his mind, Mithrun might hear:] ::I take it you were affected as well?::

[Otherwise, he will just be holding on to a person who is willing to dance, but unable to hear him.]

[vegetablescraps]

[ Mithrun blinks as the voice echoes within his head. Based on context clues, that voice must belong to -- ]

Yes. It seems so.

[ He reaches into his pocket with his free hand and fishes the dance card out of it. Though he's not sure where the other's gaze is directed, surely they'll be able to see it if he holds it out. ]

I suspect this dance card is partially responsible.

[driving_from_the_backseat]

[The connection is … slippery, almost. They feel their magic make contact, but his thoughts rush through their mind like snatches one might hear from a staticky radio, not allowing them to focus on any particular one. They try to read his lips, able to see his Yes and something about the dance card, but not much else.] ::Do you know sign language? I can normally read minds, but this place seems to have made that unreliable, and I currently have no other way of hearing you.::

[vegetablescraps]

[ Although Mithrun's expression remains blank, he's carefully considering the other's words. He's not familiar with "sign language," but based on context clues, it must be difficult for the other person to make out what he's saying. If that's the case, then maybe gestures are more helpful.

He shakes his head. No, he's not familiar with whatever they're referencing. But... perhaps if they had some form of pen and paper...

He holds one hand out, palm upturned as he draws an index finger across it. ]

2

[swordtail]

Very well.

[You know, it's fine, he's got siblings who do this sort of thing all the time, he's teleported, the guy pointed to a spot, he just takes the balloon and puts it on the spot, there. Teamwork. It makes the dream work.

But after that, Chongyue stares down at the...Aegir? The mystery guy does have the pointed ears of one, but his gut tells him things are stranger than they seem; as someone who has horns, pointed ears of his own, a large lizard tail, and arms that at first glance look like sick tattoos or a cool pair of gloves (maybe) but aren't, Chongyue's aware that he's probably not a good yardstick to measure what is human versus not in this world.

(Look at that clumsy as hell exposition. Just look at it.)]

What next?