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expiationlogs2024-02-11 08:51 pm
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.Full Navigation
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!
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!
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 |
B!
After a few dances she's feeling a little parched so heading for the bar seems like a good idea... or rather it did, until she sees who happens to be standing behind it. Mitsuru hadn't exactly failed to notice that Chosen are being randomly targeted and roped into help out with the running of the party - apparently someone picked Vash...
She sighs, knowing full well that one is not supposed to remove their mask in any way during a masquerade but regardless she temporarily pushes it upwards to reveal her face as she addresses him. ]
What exactly are you doing behind there?
no subject
in any case, not knowing a thing about it doesn't seem to have stopped vash from trying, as he is pouring out some indistinguishable concoction into a glass for some unlucky attendant. at least the bright smile makes up for it??? ]
Hello- Oh! [ strange how he totally didn't recognise her until she pushed off the mask, but vash isn't too concerned about weird details like that, instead happily waving her over to the stool in front of him. ]
Welcome! Are you enjoying the party? Did you want something to drink?
no subject
It’s certainly more enjoyable than some of the other parties I’ve been to.
[ Stuffy CEOs are seldom much fun and really not much of a comparison after all. ]
Yes… please…
[ She’s eyeing the concoction he’s handing over to another party goer as she responds, wondering just what she’s going to end up with. She takes the seat in front of him, debating just how thirsty she actually is at this point. ]
Although you do realise you don’t have to work here? You’re supposed to be a guest.
how did i miss this in my inbox gomen
Have you been to many? [ she certainly seems at ease in her fancy clothes, whereas vash was more than happy to exchange it for a bartender's outfit and a lopsided bowtie that he has tugged loose at some point, hanging untidily and swinging with every movement.
he eyes the lined up drinks with concentration, clearly trying to think up what he can use to make a drink for her ... unless mitsuru has preferences. or water. ]
I know ... But I'm not really used to things like this. It's enough that I can watch people having fun.
that's okay!
There is a small, slightly wry smile at his question. ]
Quite a number of them. If we're ever sent back to where we all came from then I suspect I will have to attend even more.
[ She sees the look of concentration on his face as he contemplates the line up and makes the decision to offer him a convenient out. ]
You know you can just pour me a glass of wine or even just water if you have it... [ Maybe leave the fancy attempts at mixing for now...
While she might be used to fancy parties, what he's saying does strike something of a chord with her. The idea of watching others having fun while remaining on the sidelines... there is something distinctly familiar about that. She pauses. ]
Then afterwards we may go for a dance, if you wish to?
[ It's phrased like a question but there's a note of finality to it, as though it's already been agreed that this is exactly what they're going to be doing. ]
no subject
at least some of the consternation seems to fade at her helpful suggestion, and vash will quickly pour out a glass of sparkling. look, he'll even pop a raspberry in it! fancy enough for a party, right? ] Why? I mean... What are the point of throwing so many of them?
[ quickly, he fumbles for explanation, realising how it might have sounded. ] Sorry, I'm not trying to be critical, I'm just curious!
[ sure, he knew the reason for this one, and a foreign delegation sounded imposing enough ... but surely there can't be that many foreign delegations coming to visit that mitsuru has to keep attending back in her world, right?
it doesn't seem like she will give him any time to recover, because he nearly drops the glass he's about to pass over to her before righting himself. ] Uh... A dance? I don't know how!
no subject
I did not take it as critical. I certainly don't enjoy them all that much though I am expected to attend them.
They're considered important for fostering business relationships where I come from. I suppose in the same sort of way they're attempting to foster positive relations here.
[ And yep, she's gonna take that glass from him pretty sharpish in order to avoid any other almost accidents. ]
No matter, I can show you.
no subject
I see, so you are an important person, then!
[ wasn't it obvious?? vash seems quite proud of figuring it out at least. ]
It's odd to me, to see such an abundance of resources that are available to people. [ his expression is just a little bit wistful, but with a slight smile on his face as vash looks out at the crowd of people behind mitsuru - dancing, talking, laughing.
to think that this is what is considered 'normal', this is what could have been if the ships hadn't been set to crash. if he hadn't helped nai to do what he had set out to do. if everything had been fine. ]
It is really nice, to see people happy ... [ oops, that seems a bit of a downer for the general mood ... he will quickly fumble, busying himself by taking a glass and a cloth to begin cleaning it, only to avoid the topic he was straying to. ]
Are you... really sure about that? I won't be very good at it ...
no subject
[ She will neither confirm nor deny, although technically it is true she supposes. Not that it matters here. ]
...Do you not have much where you come from?
[ There isn't really another way of asking that question, not without sounding like she's prying regardless. But she can't exactly ignore it when he says something like that, as though seeing abundance and people being happy and enjoying themselves is a rare thing where he comes from. ]
I'm quite sure. How else will you get good at it unless you give it a try?
no subject
Not much. It's ... a desert planet. People have a hard time growing things.
[ the big settlement cities were at least provided for, considering the plants they have accumulated from the wreckages ... but that is another topic that vash would rather not discuss. sorry! ]
But, um, sorry - enough about that. Uh, I'd love to learn, if you really don't mind ... But if you want to give up at any time, it's totally fine!
no subject
[ Mitsuru knows not to pry or press further, merely takes a mental note of what he says. So he’s from somewhere that sounds more than a little bit inhospitable…
No wonder all of this is unfamiliar to him…
She’s been taking sips of her drink periodically while they’ve been talking and now that her glass is almost empty - save for the raspberry - she rises from her seat. ]
Don’t worry, I don’t give up easily. Even if it turns out you have two left feet…
[ She looks faintly amused as she makes to head away from the bar back towards the dance floor. ]
Come on, you’re excused from making drinks for a little while.
[ She speaks as though she has the authority to do that… because who’s actually going to try and argue with her? ]
no subject
[ the level of self confidence she had ... if vash cared for something like that, he would very well envy her for it - but even if he has never looked for the same sort of assurance in himself, he can't help but to admire it, even if in comparison he seems more like an idiot. that's the sort of person he comes across as, after all! it is much easier that way.
also, it means that nobody really questions her decision to end vash's shift early. it's not that he's really needed there, anyway, with more people deciding to dance rather than sit around to people watch. ]
Ah- okay! Give me a second!
[ he hastily slips his way out from behind the bar counter, almost tripping over the stools to follow her. oh boy, this will really be a trial for mitsuru ... ]
no subject
Honestly.
Once he reaches her, hopefully without damaging any furniture, Mitsuru sighs. ]
I need to do something first.
[ That "something" is fix his bowtie. Finally. Because it's bothering the absolute ever living crap out of her. Honestly, how could someone make such a mess out of a clip-on?
Either way, before he has any time to object to this, deft fingers are going to make swift work of refastening and straightening the thing for him. ]
There.
no subject
Oh, if you need to do anything, I'm happy to wait! It's -
[ no trouble, is what he means to say, and considering it's vash that might not really be a very honest promise - but thankfully mitsuru cuts him off before he could ramble on any further by reaching up to fix the dangling bowtie which is in danger of slipping right out of the fold of his shirt collars.
vash snaps his mouth shut so hard that his teeth would have nearly cracked with the force of it, and he tips his head back a little uncertainly, still smiling but the motion is a little more unsure and hesitant than before. even then, he stays quite still (a rare thing, really) as mitsuru fusses briefly with the bowtie. ]
There ....?
[ he reaches his hand up but doesn't quite touch it - hovering a little over the bow almost as though he is afraid of messing it up again - but it isn't because he cares about the bowtie itself, and more that he doesn't want to undo all her hard work. ]
no subject
…
Apologies, it was bothering me from when I sat down before.
[ Yes, since then. And she curbed the urge to point it out or fix it until now which is probably some kind of record for her in return.
Fixing his tie makes her more aware of their not insignificant height difference, something that will make this just a little more challenging although she remains undaunted by the prospect. Perhaps if he treads on her toes she might change her mind but for now she has faith in him. Of course this is much less formal than some of the other dancing she’s been taught but certain elements remain the same. ]
Do you know where to place your hands? On my waist would be the usual place.
no subject
[ for that long, huh? and nobody told him it was like that? he supposes it's kind of like noticing when someone else has something on their face - you wouldn't really want to go out of your way to point it out and risk any awkward feelings. as said before, it doesn't seem like mitsuru is the type to let such things stop her.
well, with that out of the way though, it now makes room for something even more awkward ...
vash has never danced before; at least not like this, the people around them circling in some incomprehensible set of steps, and vash sneaks glances at them as he chews on the inside of his cheek a little nervously, before turning his attentions back to the other. ] Um... alright.
[ some people might find it incredibly comical, how gingerly vash settles his hands on mitsuru's waist, almost as though he is afraid - not of her, really, or of the prospect of dancing, but in a way that suggests any wrong move could shatter her apart like spun glass. ]
Is that.. okay?
no subject
[ A pause, while she thinks over what automatic reaction that's probably going to get from him now that she's pointed that out. ]
And don't even think of apologising for that either.
[ As Vash places his hands on her waist in possibly the most tentative manner possible, there might actually be a smile on Mitsuru's face. She promptly places her hands on his admittedly rather high up shoulders in return. It's a bit of stretch, although the heels she's wearing add to her height. ]
It's fine. Although let me reassure you that I am not made out of glass.
[ In her view at least, they can relax a little. This is hardly the kind of ultra stiff ballroom dancing she's had to learn in the past. Add to that the fact that much of those on the dance floor are their fellow Chosen, many of whom seem totally clueless about this sort of thing as well. ]
Ordinarily you would be leading but I can do so on this occasion. It's quite simple, to start with when I step forward with one foot, you step back with the corresponding one.
...Don't worry, there are usually a few trodden on toes at first. We'll take it extremely slowly.
Ready?
no subject
Um, yes, sor- [ that doesn't count!
vash bats his lashes innocently - pretending that he totally!!!! wasn't about to apologise. without the usual bright orange glasses in the way, his eyes seem even rounder and bluer as he settles his hands on her waist a little better - though he still seems super nervous about it. for mitsuru it might hot be ultra stiff in comparison, but vash is definitely going to step on her foot?
there's a vaguely panicky, worried edge ticking at his mouth as vash screws shut his expression, looking down at his hands, and then at their feet, then back at mitsuru again. ]
Okay, I'm ready! [ it's just a dance, vash .... ]
no subject
It is just a dance, yes, but she's also bracing her toes for potential carnage. ]
Good. Just follow my lead.
[ Easier said than done, probably, but she'll keep things slow just like she said, as she takes that first step forwards that she described earlier. It doesn't really matter too much if he doesn't follow straight away, she's not exactly planning on foxtrotting the length of the dance floor or anything like that. Most people just seem content shuffling from foot to foot in the same spot. That's probably safer all things considered.
She'd noted how worried he looks and she finds herself wracking her brain a moment for something to try and ease the tension. ]
You know, I might know how to dance but... when I first arrived here I didn't know how to hand wash laundry, or really cook anything that isn't honeycomb toffee. Those would probably be more useful skills.