TEST DRIVE MEME #8

[expiationmods]

Test Drive Meme #8

Welcome to Expiation, a pan-fandom adventure game with elements of fantasy, science fiction, and some subtle horror.

TDM top-levels are 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! You can also put your top-level in the TDM DIRECTORY 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.

April's TDM is forward-dated to the end of Gogol, Dara, and Seimei's player plot on April 20th.

You can view our CALENDAR to keep important dates in mind. RESERVES open on April 20 and APPLICATIONS will open on April 23 After this, applications will next open in June 2024.

NEW FOR APRIL 2024: there is now a top level for everyone to post their TDM top levels into! This is for new characters only. Thank you!

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Arrival

You remember a room of blinding white light—so bright that you couldn't make out any details. You heard voices, speaking in muffled tones. It sounded an awful lot like they were talking about you. You were just on the verge of figuring out what they’re saying, you were so close...but what happened after that?

Ah–that's right. You fell into blackness.

New characters are most likely to wake in one of the following locations:

THE DOCKS
You wake to the gentle sound of waves, your body rocking with the movement of the water. Wait—water? Since when was there water beneath you?

Since now, apparently. You appear to be in the lower rooms of a boat…and you might not be alone. There are several of these crafts in the harbor, ranging from larger cruising vessels to small sailboats. The one thing they all have in common is this: they are all half-built, as if someone realized very recently that there is a whole ocean to explore. Wonder where they might be going? Either way, you’d better get out of here, before the construction crew finds you and brands you as a stowaway.

ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT
When you come to, the first thing you hear is the commotion of distant voices and running feet. You feel a warm light on your face…it’s too bright to look at directly, so when you open your eyes, you have to look away. It’s probably for the best. Those stage lights can’t be good for your eyes.

… Stage lights?

That’s right, you seem to be just offstage in an entertainment venue. Someone is fussing with you, powdering your face with some last-minute touch-up makeup, vaguely coaching you on. “You’ll be great! Just get out there and have fun!”

With little room to argue or ask questions, you are immediately shoved out on stage, and find yourself in front of a sold-out crowd. What you find on the stage to help you perform is up to you: a microphone, musical instruments, magician’s tools, a full-blown play, the sky’s the limit.

Break a leg…?

CITY CENTER
“These new statues are so lifelike!” Click.
“I wonder which artist installed all of this? It’s almost eerie, isn’t it?”
“I feel like they could move at any second!” Click click.

You wake in a garden. Not just in a garden—amongst the flowers, almost as if you’re an installed piece of artwork. Are you alone, or posed with someone else? Up to you. You may even find yourself entwined with vines, half-buried in the ground, or subtly hidden beneath a large bush. A few hapless locals stand in front of you, taking pictures. Do they really believe you’re a statue? They’re in for a rude awakening whenever you finally move…

Well. Better dig yourself out of here and figure out what’s going on.

However you awaken, the next time you’re able to stand still and take in your surroundings, you’re approached by a small mechanical creature, which reveals a handheld tablet with a rolled-up parchment within it. Booting up the tablet for the first time brings you the following message:

WELCOME, CHOSEN.
WE ARE SO GLAD YOU ARE HERE.

So…now what?

These new familiar streets

The unexpected expansion of Aldrip means that there's suddenly a vast uptick in things to do. The locals don't seem to find any of this unusual or surprising at all, but the Chosen seem to remember that Aldrip wasn't always like this...how unusual! Well, whatever the case, the city is abuzz with activity…and wildlife, apparently. Thanks to some recent events, there seems to be a surplus of poisonous snakes slithering haplessly through the city, as well as, perhaps, a few lingering pockets of miasma. Best to watch your step…

i. This smells like a sidequest
Businesses and individuals all over town will be giving out quests ranging in size, scope, and request. Any of these will net you a prize from the right requestor. These prizes are mostly just silly little knick knacks, and they don’t seem to have any value, but the locals are adamant that they are quite important! At the same time, some locals may offer more useful rewards, such as money, clothing, food, or even a month’s rent at the local inn, especially for newcomers. Either way, you might have to team up to complete some of these challenges. Grab a partner!

Quests and requests can include, but are not limited to, ideas such as:

A local art collector looking for striking photographs of local flora and fauna
The neighborhood food cart owner on the hunt for new and interesting ingredients and recipes
Your neighbor’s search for their missing cat
Requests to clear monsters out of certain areas
Scavenger hunts to find local landmarks, such as murals on the side of buildings, a specific statue, or a hole-in-the-wall business

You're free to use your imagination, the setting, and local NPCs to come up with whatever ideas your heart desires.

ii. Should’ve waited for the patch
This sudden change is going fairly well, but it could be better. Some areas of town will be subject to something that seems like glitches. These effects could range from things going missing or suddenly changing (your favorite lipstick just changed from red to blue?? how odd!) to streets and doorways going into places they logically shouldn’t go to. Your front door isn’t supposed to be at the end of the dock, is it? Better watch your step, because strange things seem to be afoot.

Day and night life

While it’s not an official festival by any means, the beginning of spring is the cherished start of the planting season for the farmers outside of Aldrip, and the entire city comes together to promote it! Chosen are encouraged to take part in the planting process if they desire, but there’s plenty more to do, for those who don’t have a green thumb. Flyers can be found all over town for various competitions, shows, businesses, and events. Just be careful—the city has grown rapidly in a short period of time, and that means crime rates have grown as well. It’s unwise to linger alone after dark. Who knows what someone may find down a dark alleyway…or who knows, maybe they should be more afraid of you.

iii. Iron Chef: Aldrip
Fire up those pots and pans! The highlight of the town center is a huge cooking competition, where locals and Chosen alike are encouraged to bring their finest culinary skills to the table and create a spectacular dish. Those who would rather cheer from the sidelines, or even act as judges for the competition, are encouraged to do so as well. Anyone may enter—and we do mean anyone, so judge at your own risk.

iv. This is not Aldrip’s Best Friends Race
Many local businesses in the Commercial and Entertainment Districts are putting on all sorts of shows and competitions: talent contests, arm-wrestling competitions, fashion shows, dance exhibitions, the sky's the limit. Local business owners will tempt the Chosen into participating by offering rewards: free items, the option to keep costumes they put you in, trophies, all manner of comforts that could entice wary newcomers into volunteering.

Chosen who own or work at local businesses are also encouraged to participate by starting their own shows or contests. They’ll be rewarded with an uptick in business and free advertisement.

The Events Center will be hosting a lavish and well-advertised drag show and competition, and some locals will encourage participation from Chosen of all genders. Most of them will lay off if the Chosen are really not interested (they’re not putting their lives at risk for this!) but some of the more determined and charismatic ones might not take “no” for an answer.

Wildcard

Just because it’s not in the prompts doesn’t mean it can’t happen. We encourage you to look at our new setting page for Aldrip, as well as the world map. Anything that looks interesting there is fair game, so have fun with it!

♡

Comments

[spidermenaces]

(swing, swing, swing, a newbie like him is in. he's just doing surveillance, full in his suit, trying to get a better view of the city, the blind spots, the areas of interest, and the docks? definitely an area of interest. he's seen quite a few hooligans here, after all, so he's doing another round when he sees this poor man barely awoke on the ground.

he lands carefully, as to not disturb much of the wood, although it does get a woah-- from him when there's some swaying.)

Hey, hey, I got you!

[devilsavocado]

[ If you think seasickness is bad when you San see, try it when you're blind and have super senses. It would probably be less disorienting if Matt had any experience with boats, but he's a Manhattan boy through and through, and only goes as far as Queens if he can help it.

The point is, he's really trying to gain his bearings but between new sounds and smells (he can't be in New York, it smells too clean) he's practically dizzy with overstimulation.

It might be why he doesn't immediately clock "metal sounds and a teenager" until Peter drops in. Wait, how does somebody drop in from— It sounded like— ]

Uh, what?

[ The dark glasses might be a dead giveaway, but just in case, Matt makes sure to turn his head slightly off—to Peter's right. He grips his cane as if to telegraph:Hello, I am blind. He doesn't love playing this card for sympathy, but when you can't see, you can't see. ]

Who's there?

[spidermenaces]

Uh, Spiderman. It's fine if you don't know me, I come in peace, alright? Here, oh, let me help you.

(the fastest way to get them out is by swinging them out, but if he's already seasick, peter definitely wouldn't want any accidents onto his nice armor. so, instead, cold metal touches him, the shapes of fingers wrap around his forearm.)

Okay, okay, okay. Can I take your cane? You can hold on me until we get to the shore.

[devilsavocado]

Spider-Man?

[ Matt's eyebrows climb I to his hairline. Spider-Man?? But he's like. A child. Even if he didn't have super senses, anyone could hear that that's a child, right?

Is Spider-Man a child? What is he doing fighting crime, he should be in school. And the way he says 'it's fine if you don't know me' feels pretty specific. There's something there, something odd.

Odder than metal? Spider-Man has a metal suit? The "image" Matt is getting on his radar sense is so bizarre. It's a good thing his poker face is legendary, because he has so many questions. ]

What's your plan? I'd rather, um. [ He adjusts his cane so the loop falls around his wrist. ] I'd rather keep it with me. But what are you...? I've never really met a superhero before.

[ He's such a comedian. Such. A comedian. ]

[spidermenaces]

(the weirdest part is that there is no 'who the fuck is spider-man', or any comments about the suit - which, well, he's just!! happy about!!)

... Do you know me?!

(but, hey, okay, he can keep the cane, it's fine. one step after the other, they'll make it out. good thing that peter has impeccable balance, so he can support both until they make it to the sand.)

Okay, okay, mhm. First, I just wanna check something, okay?

(because it's all-- so confusing, everyone is all from different places, and if he is from the same interaction as peter, he has gotta know:)

Did aliens invade New York in 2012?

[devilsavocado]

[ That is a lot of relief and joy coming from this kid. Does Matt know him outside the suit? Matt doesn't exactly know a lot of kids. Maybe from church? No, he's sure he'd remember him...

Oh, well. Matt lets the kid hold him and help him up, even leans a little bit on him as he guides him out of this boat. It's extremely bizarre, but a "normal" blind man wouldn't need extra time to get used to the sounds and smells, so he's just gonna deal with it. ]

I mean, I've heard of you. New York is kind of a small town.

[ It most definitely isn't, but then that's a joke if you've ever heard one. He is clearly joking... though his tone goes serious at the mention of the Chitauri attack. ]

Yeah. [ He nods. ] They did. Hell's Kitchen, where I'm from, got hit especially bad.

[spidermenaces]

--

(he could argue many things here, because it takes him a while to cross all of new york, and he's not even stuck in traffic, like, ever. but instead, he's just relieved. finally, someone who might actually know what he means for once.

all these different peter parkers, different worlds, people who are and aren't of what he knows, it's very disorienting. in fact, this blind man might as well be the nicest sight in days.)

Oh my god! Finally!

(PETER HE JUST SAID HELL'S KITCHEN GOT HIT HARD. NOT THE TIME TO CELEBRATE.)

Okay, so, you're from the same place as I am. The multiverse is real, we got brought to this little weird town called Aldrip with a bunch of people from a bunch of universes, and there's someone saying we committed a bunch of crimes and we're here to repent or something. That's what's going on.

[devilsavocado]

[ Matt definitely crooks another eyebrow at Peter's weird joy, but the spitfire explanation that follows makes much more sense. Well, it doesn't make a ton of sense, really, but this kid's heart rings steady with truth, so there's no denying his words. ]

Slow down, slow down. You kind of lost me at the multiverse.

[ The multiverse shit is. A lot. But he's just not going to ask because any explanation won't make sense, he's sure. But there is something there he knows about— ]

Did you say we've been accused of a crime? And we're supposed to repent?

[spidermenaces]

... I'll explain the multiverse part later, then, yeah.

(peter, slow down. when he first arrived, he was sweating cold enough to freeze his skin, and if someone had just hit him with all of this so fast, he'd also scream internally. okay, he knows what should come next.)

... Yeah. A little robot is going to bring you a parchment, that will say that you committed a crime.

[devilsavocado]

[ Matt's pretty good at rolling with the punches (haha) but he's still working on getting used to all the new sounds and smells that are bombarding him here, never mind wrapping his head around the concept of the multiverse. ]

Thanks.

[ A... a little robot? Is that what that approaching noise is? Because there is indeed a little robot approaching, but Matt doesn't react to it. That would be weird. ]

Who's doing the sentencing? Do people here not go to court when they're accused of a crime?

[spidermenaces]

Nope, you just get sentenced - but that's all I know. I'm new, like you. Just got here-- oh, look, there it is.

(the sound that might truly confirm that he is spiderman is the web that shoots from his armor, and the pull he does on the little robot to catch the parchment.

no harm done to buddy robot. it's put on the sand as if it were a puppy, go, off you go.)

Here-- wait, actually, does it have braille...

(also, sorry, he's curious. the moment matt opens it, he'll give it a quick scan of a read-- VIGILANTISM--)

Wait-- the other masked one-- are you... NO WAY. Dude, that's-- that's insane.

[devilsavocado]

[ Matt has never heard a web but he can perceive that weird ass thing hay just shot out of Spider-Man's wrist so. He is jotting that down as web. What the hell.

But evidently that web has pulled the little robot closer, if Matt's senses are anything to go by. He tilts his head, wondering what it could possibly say... ]

Is that it?

[ Hearing Peter's pulse race doesn't inspire much confidence. It better have braille—Matt holds out his hand for the paper. ]

What does it say?

[spidermenaces]

Uh, your crime. Vigilantism. Name... Matthew Murdock-- age, height, weight... But if you are from New York, Hell's Kitchen, and a vigilante... Dude, are you Daredevil?

(outed so hard, but peter is gonna start pacing now. he's so excited that being still feels like an impossibility, he's just so happy? even if he definitely shouldn't be. he'll ask about the blip in a second, just give him a hot moment here...)

[devilsavocado]

[ Oh.

Oh shit. ]

I'm what?

[ Damn, okay, no one's ever... the deal with Foggy definitely didn't go like this. And this kid sounds excited? (Well, he is Spider-Man, is that so hard to believe?

Okay, Matt just needs a second to sort out his thoughts. Vigilantism is pretty hard to deny. And this thing has his name on it? What. What does he even say? ]

How could I be Daredevil? [ Matt gestures at his face -- and the fact that he very much cannot see. Ugh, this kid sounds so excited though. But Matt is Matt. And he isn't going down without a fight. ] That paper can't be right.

[spidermenaces]

Dude. Come on. I can be upside down a room barefoot, you can be blind and Daredevil. Holy s--... Fine, fine, okay, fine.

(don't tell him then! part of him just wants to get it out of him super quick, like a surprise sweep kick, but hey. he is blind. that card wins.)

[devilsavocado]

You know, that's...

[ Matt has to laugh. Okay, kid. Okay. He can tell Peter doesn't have a malicious bone in his body from the way he's reacted so far, and what business does Spider-Man have being an actual teenager? ]

That's not the worst counter-argument I've gotten.

[ He isn't saying yes or no, in other words. But he holds out his hand again. ]

Can I see that paper?

[ Matt could still feel the ink on the paper even if it wasn't written in braille. ]

[spidermenaces]

(however he is daredevil, that matters very little, because peter is jumping, and doing the fist clench of VICTORY, because fuck YES a hero from his world who goes through the same shit he kinda went through who knows the new york he does AND IS FUCKING DAREDEV-

oh, right. he does as he says, at least, handing the paper.)

Oh, yeah, my bad.

[devilsavocado]

[ Matt shoots him a smile, pretending he can't perceive Peter's little victory dance. Okay, it might be worth it to tell at least this kid -- if only because he's clearly harmless. Except for the fact that he's Spider-Man. That can't have been easy... ]

Thanks.

[ He takes the paper and runs his hand over it. Whether there's braille or not, Matt can probably read the writing with his super senses. It... does in fact say he's guilty of vigilantism. Fuck.

He frowns. ]

Does, um, does anyone else have to know about these, or are these so-called crimes generally a secret?

[ How fucked is he? ]

[spidermenaces]

(if he had to guess, he'd say it's something kind of like the tingle. the brain senses, the body reacts, and peter just goes along, and that's how he manages to be daredevil lacking his sight. so far, blissfully unaware that his little jingle of victory could be 'seen', but, whatever, he's cool.

but, hey, great job at not being daredevil, that question doesn't hit the nail on the coffin at all.)

As far as I know, sir, only the people who brought you here know know. Kinda like jail, I think.

[devilsavocado]

[ It's ok, Peter, your secret flailing is safe with Matt. It just convinces him further that you're a good boy. ]

Okay. That's... that's better than I would've guessed.

[ It's not nothing. It's better than nothing! Maybe all that praying has amounted to some good luck finally. Matt rolls up the paper and folds it, stashing it into his jacket pocket.

He sighs. ]

Let's start over. [ He holds out his hand for Peter to shake. It is actually a close estimation toward Peter's direction. ] Hi, I'm Matt. I feel like this goes without saying, but you can keep a secret, right, Spider-Man?

[spidermenaces]

(he thinks so, too. not that his crime outs him in any way, it just tells him that he is too trusting, too good, and he-- hasn't had reason to be any less so, and yet, he is not at all interested in having that used against him in any way.

so, it all works out. the armor around his hand retracts, because it must be uncomfortable to shake heads with a metal hand, so it's finally a little bit of peter that matt gets to meet.)

... So I was right. You're like, admitting I was right. Yeah, I can keep it a secret. You're not the only one around here who wears a mask, and I'm not the only one, either, so it's only fair. I'm Peter Parker, Mister Murdock.

[devilsavocado]

Don't let it go to your head.

[Matt jokes. The truth is he's nervous as hell. His secret identity is very important to him. It's nearly ruined his friendships, never mind his normal life.

But this kid is Spider-Man and he's way too young to be doing this alone. Maybe that, more than anything, makes him yield just a little bit. ]

Nice to meet you, Peter.

[ He shakes his hand. God, he is so young. He can't even knock him for calling him "Mr. Murdock" because, we'll. He is. So young. Who gave this kid spider armor? ]

You were right: I'm Daredevil. And I'm blind—this isn't for show.

[ He raises his cane a bit, "this" meaning his blindness. And he is speaking so carefully, so tensely. He's only saying it because he knows they can't be heard by anyone around them. ]

[spidermenaces]

Yeah, okay, sorry, just-- big fan of your work. Obviously, I mean.

(the excitement is not lost on him, even if now he's an avenger and everything, to find a little piece of home is just... there are no words. a mix of relief, a sprinkle of dread to learn about what might be going on at home, but overall... it feels just like that. home.)

I figured, sir. Like I said, I don't really have reason to think you aren't, with the things I can do, there has got to be someone who also do these things, regardless, right? Did a radioactive bat bite you? Because, trust me, I'd totally buy that.

[devilsavocado]

Appreciate it, Peter. You can just call me Matt, if you want.

[ The "sir" thing is kind of cute, but he's not his intern or anything. He's... well, he's apparently Spider-Man. God, do people know that Queens is being protected by a kid? Matt's glad he could make the kid happy, at least. It's a far cry from the way most people react to his identity. ]

It wasn't a... [ He laughs, waving a hand vaguely. ] It wasn't a bat. It was a chemical spill, back when I was a kid.

[ He pauses. ]

Did a spider bite you? That's how you got your powers?

[spidermenaces]

Uh, alright. Matt. Sure.

(the good people of queens have no idea, or if they do, they barely care. they might be able to take it from his voice, at least.

it still feels rather strange to call daredevil by his first name, though. it'll take him a moment. what does feel good is the fact that he steals a chuckle from the other, and that's actually sweet. showing up here is rather stressful, after all.)

A chemical spill? Close enough... Is that-- is that what blinded you, si--Matt.

(WHY IS THIS HARD...)

Yeah. A radioactive spider, a while before the Sokovia Accords.

(does who gave him the suit become clearer now...)