TEST DRIVE MEME #9

[expiationmods]

Test Drive Meme #9

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.

June's's TDM is forward-dated to June 20th.

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

Full Navigation

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.

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?

Summer Solstice (June 20th)

The summer solstice, also known as the longest day of the year. Aldrip may have received a big upgrade in size recently, but this special day still calls for celebration amongst the locals, who have a long tradition of celebrating various celestial phenomena. For this occasion, the entire city will be throwing a Midsummer celebration! The festival itself takes place from June 20-24, with the solstice happening the evening of June 20. There will be celebrations before, during, and after the festival as well!

On the shortest day of the year in December, the Chosen were told to stay indoors until sunrise. The opposite holds true for the summer solstice: all are encouraged to remain outside from dusk until dawn, and locals throw a festival to keep everyone entertained through the wee hours of the morning!

The streets of the commercial district are lined with sun-painted lanterns, lit as dusk starts to fall and kept glowing until sunrise the next day. Those lanterns illuminate a lively street bazaar featuring exotic food and drink, curious wares, and lawn/party games of all kinds. The Chosen are encouraged to either participate, or occasionally wager bets on other people who may be competing against one another. May the odds be ever in your favor?

As the sun begins to set, locals light large bonfires. There will be music and dancing—Chosen are encouraged to participate in whatever way they’d like, whether they want to perform or lead a line dance. If they’re not inclined to join in, the fires and music still provide a perfect backdrop for a little relaxing conversation and meeting new friends.

After dark, a large fireworks show begins. All in attendance are encouraged to bring (or find!) blankets to lay out so they can watch the show. Clinking glasses with good friends at the height of the show is considered good luck, so it’s not uncommon to see some folks having a drink during this time. As Aldrip is so close to the ocean, some locals even offer discounted boat rides to get a different view of these fireworks.

At dawn, the locals finally tuck in for a few hours of rest. But don’t worry—the Midsummer festival continues even after the solstice is done!

Midsummer Festival (june 20-june 24)

Locals begin prepping for the festival days in advance, and while they won’t drag others in to help the same way they have in the past, they still won’t turn down an extra set of hands. You’ll even get paid for your troubles, either in money or in favors (free meal vouchers, rent at the inn, etc). There’s no shortage of work to be done, from dragging tables around to stringing lanterns or even collecting sticks for bonfires. Just be careful, locals tell of strange whispers coming from Pessiria Forest at odd times of day and night…

The festival itself has different activities and happenings depending on what area you visit. Most of these activities can be done on any day of the festival. Most of the games and contests outlined here are examples—you’re free to make up others if you feel so inclined!

BEACH EPISODE!!
The beach is a prime location in the month of June, and locals really go all out for this particular occasion, setting up a large beach party with food, drink, and brightly-colored umbrellas to provide some shade.

There are various sporting activities such as beach volleyball, windboarding, surfing, and a large, built-up dune for sand surfing. Most of these are just for fun, but if locals see some really good contenders, they might urge a competition between them.

For those less sporting, there are all sorts of activities and challenges. Kite flying, sandcastle building, and scavenger hunts are particularly popular with the locals. Maybe they’ll ask you to bring back a certain number of round seashells, or to make friends with someone sitting under a pink umbrella…the possibilities are endless, really. There will also be official competitions for kite flying and sandcastle building, so put your best foot (or shovel) forward!

Some enterprising locals have also set up boat tours to take locals and Chosen through the nearby waves. In some places, the light makes it seem almost like you can see something in the distance…but it’s not on the map, right? Maybe it’s just your imagination. Hmm.

HAVE A FIELD DAY
The rolling hills outside of the city make a perfect place for various races and games. Bring your competitive spirit, because there will be medals awarded for winning races! Some common games include: bag races, “wife” carrying (gender, spousehood, and pre-existing relationship not required, of course!), three-legged races, relays, baton passes, and foot races.

It’s not all sporty competitions, though! Some older locals will lead more relaxing activities, such as stretching, meditation, and recreational group dances. These are volunteer-led groups, of course, so if those volunteers have to sit down or step away for a bit…well, they’ll have to ask someone to take over for them.

Those with good animal handling stats are not forgotten either, of course! There will be animal races, as well, on horses or even chocobos. There may or may not even be a petting zoo, pony rides, or other fun, relaxing activities with animals. Sometimes you just need to sit in a pen full of bunnies, okay.

Please do be careful, though: increased activity could make some of the monsters roaming outside the city a little bit curious about what’s going on this close to town…

WHEN YOU’RE DOWNTOWN
The green spaces of Aldrip have been decked out in their very finest, and floral season is in full bloom. Some enterprising gardeners will be unveiling new garden designs in honor of the festival: hedge mazes, giant sculpted topiaries, and elaborate fountains.

While it doesn’t hold a candle to the Ketsoran diplomatic masquerade, the event center will also be hosting several nights of dining and dancing during the festival. It may be a little less lavish, but it’ll nonetheless be quite glamorous—and the food will probably be good, too.

The bazaar from the day of the solstice continues throughout the festival. Additionally, various shops and businesses may choose to provide specials, discounts, and other offers to entice new and current Chosen alike.

THE SPIRE
One of the taller buildings in town has installed a large spire near one of the garden squares. They claim that, as the sun rises to its midday point, light passing through the spire will create an incredible light show. They’re right, as a matter of fact: the light reflects and refracts, scattering rainbows across the square. It’s a dazzling display. When the sun passes its midday point, however, the beautiful color show suddenly turns into white light. Anyone looking at this light will find that they are no longer able to keep track of how long they’re watching it. Your mind may begin to go blank, almost as if it refuses to accept something, some deep truth that the world is trying to tell you…

…

No, that must be your imagination. The light vanishes shortly thereafter—or was it ever there to begin with? The unsettling feeling may remain, but it’ll be harder and harder to be certain of what caused it.

This is fine and also normal.

Wildcard

Make your own fun! Just because it’s not in the prompts doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Have at it! Go crazy! Try not to break anything (too much)!

♡

Comments

[coolerjunpei]

[like ten minutes later,]

hey you would have told me if there were more than 1 e or m right?

[cartridgerefill]

Of course, Junpei. I like a challenge, but I wouldn't lead you on like that.

[coolerjunpei]

okay. got it.

i'll think about it... until it resets.

[cartridgerefill]

When the reset happens and if you haven't solved the word by then I'll tell you what it was supposed to be.

I HAVE PLENTY

[nullificates]

i have!
absolutely!
no idea!
who inherited!
the bar!

[endcaller]

[Fandaniel tilts his hooded head, considering the stranger's words.]

Hm. If their makers wished to dissuade vandalism then they could have built their robots to dispense electric shocks. It would have been simple and far more effective. Why go through the effort of emulating emotion?

[He waves a dismissive hand.]

Bah, no matter.

You have aroused my curiosity. Do tell me about this "living" machine you witnessed.

[nullificates]

(he seems to be going through it, the microexpressions, the hesitance, the pain that is oozing - what was dazai doing all these months that this is the reaction to seeing him?

so much longing... it's strange, confusing, yet here he is, a little skip in his step, until they're out of earshot and dazai can lean against a tree, a smile on his lips.

he can trust this one a little bit. with a little bit.)

Heard about you. Scott Summers, right? I was very gently asked not to lie to you that I remember you, so I decided... Not to lie to you! I'm Dazai, but you know that, right?! I heard we were close.

[howyouseit]

[Ekko is the first to notice the close proximity between them, color flushing his cheeks upon realization as he takes a few steps back to give her some space. A further bit of shock rattled through him when she mentions not only is she from Runeterra but a fellow Zaunite herself but then moved top side? How was something like that even possible? Never in his lifetime had he heard of one of their own being widely accepted by Piltover besides a select few who were still looked down upon by their superiors. A slack jawed expression strikes over his features as he takes in everything she saying in strife, a long pause as he finds the right words before finally speaking up again.]

So let me get this straight...Your parents were Zaunites that somehow moved top side?

[Gritting his teeth he shakes his head at the thought of ever wanting to become one of them after everything they had done to Zaun, all the pain and suffering endured by not only the corrupt Enforcers but the fat-cat politicians who did nothing to rectify the stranglehold of the vile scum Silco who oppressed their people at every turn.]

Why would they ever want to become a damn Piltie though?! They've done nothing but screw us over...And they willingly became one of them?!

[Her answers would gauge whether or not he truly wanted to go anywhere with her after all for now Ekko did not know if he could trust wholly trust this girl.]

[nullificates]

Oh, I wasn't sure, so small in the horizon?! So it was straining my eyes a little bit, but I had to stare to be sure! So hard to see...

(his slender fingers tap his cheeks, palms cupping his cheeks as he smiles, proudly - it was a great jab, look at him, just got here and already full of zingers!

but, well. that's a little less important in the face of everything else.)

Yeahp! Chuuya, what do you remember? Last thing you do, come on! Tell me everything.

[orphne]

[That's so like him, isn't it? There's a subtle quirk to her lips, a resigned expression of knowing in her eyes as she gives him a smile.]

Sorry, I have a boyfriend.

[The idea that Dazai might be interested in her is laughable, honestly; they'd never had that kind of relationship. For as much time as they'd spent together, drinking, laughing, doing each other's nails and braiding each other's hair, it had never crossed her mind that Dazai would be interested in her like that. It would be weird with everything they knew about each other.

Anyway,]

If you wanna figure everything out all your own, Dazai-san, you can! But it's way easier to check someone else's work than do it all from scratch, right?

[orphne]

Aaaw...

[Don't take it personally that she looks mildly disappointed by them shapeshifting to a fairly-person-shaped thing. It's just that it would be super cool to meet a bird who could turn into a human! At least it means she doesn't blink at their less-than-conventionally-human form as she moves past them to offer the chocobo her veggies, clucking her tongue lightly at the (actual) bird to get its attention.]

I guess that's cool, though! [she adds after a moment, tossing a smile back over her shoulder.] Can you turn into other stuff, too?

[jaganshi]

"There's more." Hiei once again pushes the skewer her way, now much more concerned for Yukina's well-being than stuffing his own face. He had done so much for her benefit, what was something like giving up his freely obtained skewer that he could always get another of in this instance? In fact, he reaches for another already as if to prove a point, lifting it slightly to show her.

"Take it." See, Yukina? he isn't asking anymore now. "There is plenty more that I can get."

omg

[ogd]

[ adam frowns. deeply so. well, if he's going to whine to someone, it may as well be to someone cute. then he laughs. ]

Uh huh. Yeah, right. Forget a bad trip, this is a suuuuper lame, suuuuper bad, fuckin' joke. Like they're gonna be able to imprison me and expect me not to have a good time.

Don't worry. A jailbreak's half the fun!

[mightymorphin]

The Kurt where I'm from just joined the team, so I don't know him all that well yet. But he's a nice guy - though not any taller. Hope you weren't expecting a late growth spurt.

[They couldn't resist ribbing him, just a little. Morph's expression gets a little more serious at the mention of... a hologram? It's tech they're not familiar with, though there's no denying that it's incredibly useful. If something like that existed in Morph's world, Hank wouldn't have to bundle up every time he wanted to go out in public.]

Is it that bad here? This place isn't much like home, so I was kind of hoping things might be different.

b

[arachnerina]

[It's infinitely easier to swing around Aldrip over New York. The size of the two cities is nothing alike, and while Gwen definitely missed the much taller skyscrapers to climb and jump from, it is kind of nice to be able to swing from one side of the city to the other with such ease.

While Peter has definitely been dragging her out to the beach and around town for the festivities, they've both still been spending a good amount of time at STEM club, working on their variety of projects. That's where she's coming from now, but taking the long way, just in case there was any trouble she needed to help with. Y'know, just friendly neighborhood spider things. She was just about to turn and head home, but her spider-sense went off, warning her of nearby danger. She was just about to intervene, only to be beaten by-- another spider-person?? His suit is certainly...a choice, but that's absolutely webbing that he used, so color her surprised.

She's not going to just hang there and look stupid, so she drops down, approaching the stranger with curiosity as he yells about the racing bird.]

Pretty sure yelling is only going to make it more scared.

[Hi, Miguel! Guess who's not going to remember you!]

[howyouseit]

[There it was again that familiar look stricken across her features causing Ekko's rational emotions to falter, just like that fateful night upon the bridge where he'd beaten her within an inch of her death. Remnants of the girl he once knew were still in there somewhere, trying to break free of the stranglehold Silco had instilled over her fragile mind that has been plunged into chaos. He notes the light tinge of blush over her cheeks a familiar color staining his own if only just as the boy savior holds her gaze unwaveringly.

However; Within an instant the innocent look over her features turns to a more serious expression, an open threat ushered forth causing him to blink as a small gasp escapes his parted lips. Just when he thought Jinx had finally shattered the grip of her corrupt father figure, a solemn look crosses him followed in short by a long sigh. Doing as she asks the fellow teen puts his hands in front of himself to try and ease the tension in the air between them.]

Alright...I believe you take it easy.

[He didn't want to alarm any nearby people breaking into a fight that could drag innocents into this nor did he have the means to fight back at the moment. Enough bloodshed had been spilled the last time they squared off and didn't want to make a repeat performance of that either. A brief pause as he tilts his head with intriguing curiosity at the last bit though, cautiously taking a step back as he puts forth his next question.]

You mean to tell me the Firelights are here too? But...How is that possible.

[southernchere]

[ she truly doubts he can go up against sentinel when push comes to shove, but rogue isn't the type to squash a kid's confidence. and who knows, with him not being a mutant, maybe he would come in handy with dismantling them.

still, the woman chuckles and a smile tickles on her face, a real one at that too. ]

Heh, and I reckon you swattin' away potential love interests get ya slam tired.

[ feeling the edge rolling off her back now, the white-redheaded relaxes her shoulders, then extends her hand out for a shake. ]

The name's Rogue, Sugah. One of the X-Men if that means anythin' around these parts.

[idollizing]

Eh!?

[Okay, hold up- that's a full name and surname! This guy knows senapi?! Moreover- he's HERE!? There's an obvious shock on her face when she looks at him, not actually expecting to hear confirmation.]

Yes- well, yes, I am! My family is, my grandmother. But- Yu-senpai is here!?

[She starts to frantically turn around as if he'll walk out of a wall or something.]

Are the others here too?! I don't... think I know you. [He's not from their group, as far as she remembers. Maybe it's a friend of Yu's? He has a lot of them.]

[southernchere]

idontunderstandwhatyouaresaying.

[mightymorphin]

You guess it's cool?

[They put their hands on their hips, regarding her bemusedly. It was great that she didn't go running away screaming, but such a blah reaction wasn't what Morph had been expecting. Teenagers were a tough crowd, huh?]

Anything I've seen before. Animals, people, you name it. I do a great Dazzler impression, in fact.

[idollizing]

[Yu always looked lost in thought when he's in public, and she thinks she had broken whatever train of thought he had before. She can't tell if that's a good thing or not because he looked happy to see her- but also not? Her grip on him lessens a little.

She doesn't get to make a comment on a silly name of this place (DRIP), when the last part of the explanation hits.]

Crimes!? I didn't do any crime! And you- WE didn't do any crime! [NOW she looks panicked and lets go of him, trying to process the thought. Was it really a crime to chase after a murderer in the TV's? But if they didn't- oh.]

Y- Yes, yes I did. Uh, [she digs through her pockets, and pulls out what she got, and hands it to him.] I didn't read it through in detail. I mean- I thought it was a joke when that robot gave me the paper with 'chosen one'.

[idollizing]

A different planet, it doesn't matter! Holding someone against their will should be a crime everywhere!

I don't care that there are people around, I need to go back home!

Bonfire

[idollizing]

[The day had been exhausting. She had been running around trying to find out more about this place, but everything she'd heard made her progressively more upset. The trip to the beach was an attempt to keep her mind off of things, to calm down a little, and it has been working for now.

She still looked a bit down, really wanting to go back to Inaba. But with others here-- her thoughts get interrupted and she tears her gaze from the fire to look at the person.]

Oh! Sure! I'm new here too, so I don't know if I'll be of much help to you if that's what you're looking for...

[Yeah, the helplessness. This place really drills that feeling in.]

[idollizing]

I am
I was hoping this thing would help, give directions or something
I suppose it's useless to ask you if you know how we ended up here

[opheliac]

[ now that she is free from his grip, and gives the two of them space, jinx feels she can breath normally again. note to self: bash the boy savior the next time he gets that close again. because something about it felt as if her heart was ready to flutter into a heart attack. trauma, maybe? ... definitely trauma, and she'll simply chalk it up as that.

her expression twist into irritation again over his yet another question. why does she have to be the one to fill him in? jinx would rather prefer he fend for himself, and get into big trouble all on his own. but of course, not TOO big of a trouble, because it's her job to cause real damage to the bug. after all, she saw him first. anyone can have beef with him, but he is definitely off-limits when it comes to snatches off his wings. the girl scoffs again, and waves her hand up in the air. ]

Beats me. Santa, I guess? Apparently, he's some kind of fat guy that brings stuff from home if you wish hard enough or...I dunno, be good or something. There's a lot of Runeterra crap stranded here.

Your bugs, blast cones, some honey fruits, I've shot some Raptors, those funny Razorfins, and I've found some Topsider fancy schmancy jewelry at the docks once. That's about all I've seen in this joint. But I haven't explored all of this world, so who knows!!