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!

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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.

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

[namestrees]

[Zelos sure has a lot of complicated thoughts and feelings, doesn't he. Maybe if you just didn't live a life of deceit and lies you wouldn't have to struggle to keep track of all possible outcomes and you could just. You know. Be normal.

Like Lloyd, here, who just perks up at his best-buddies voice, and gives a laugh, before leaning down to ruffle at Noishe's fur again. Bizarrely enough for Zelos, Noishe also seems happy enough to see him- that huge, brush-like tail waving in a pleased wag as he whines happily in the Chosen's direction. Lloyd can be happy and forgive everything. But the beast being pleased to see the guy who betrayed him and got himself stabbed to death?

Hmm. Maybe there's some time shenanigans at play here.]

I didn't see any rules that a dog can't enter. And I think the horses might have him beat... but the chickens, definitely not.

[in b4 the chocobos freak Noishe out and the sad, monster-phobic dog bucks Lloyd and makes off for the hills, as per usual.]

You just get here too, Zelos?

1/2

[exchosen]

[ no, lloyd. this is not how the game is meant to be played. there should be... tears. or anger. something. he expects another fist to the face, if not a sword to the gut.

instead lloyd is... abnormally normal. reacting with such immediate warmth and delight at his arrival that it's upsetting. the shock of it plays across his face for a split second, blowing off that jovial mask and showing something colder underneath. ]

[exchosen]

[ ... before it's quickly replaced with that same over-the-top attitude he's oh so comfortable wearing. ]

Sure did! Already scoping out all the gorgeous babes just waiting to be swept off their feet.

[ he points at noishe. ]

But you're gonna get trampled to death if you try to take this coward onto a race track with anything other than horses. Ya know that, right?

[namestrees]

[Okay, that was a weird expression you made for a second there. He picks up on it, gives a concerned frown-- but Zelos plays off it so quickly that he doesn't pursue. Zelos knows he can talk to Lloyd about things, so... He'll bring it up if he needs to, right? Still. Weird moment.]

You sure scoped them quick... Did you get turned down that much already?

[But... Zelos makes a good point. They're just different barnyard animals though, right? But.. Hmm. If Noishe doesn't know...]

Hmm.. I figured if they were domesticated he wouldn't mind much... you think so?

[He'll definitely take Zelos's advice, though.] I guess we can do something else. Now that you're here: maybe the three-legged race?

[exchosen]

Turned down? Puh-lease Lloyd, no girl in their right mind would ever turn me down.

[ hahahaha hahaha ... oh we are REALLY not talking about this are we. ]

You cannot be serious.

[namestrees]

Whatever you say, Zelos....

[what is there to talk about, best friend. WHAT COULD THERE POSSIBLY BE. We're just two good pals who are here at a festival instead of actually progressing the storyline, as per usual.]

Why wouldn't I be- [Oh, wait, SOMEONE HAS THE WRONG IDEA. He sighs and shakes his head.]

No, not with-- Not with Noishe! That would be a five-legged race. I mean you and me!

[exchosen]

[ maybe lets chat about how getting dropped off a cliff as a child didn't do great things for your iq bud. ]

Yeah, I got that.

[namestrees]

[......?

Okay, he climbs down off Noishe to lets the dogbeast 'ruff' and wander off to find some water and shade.]

Zelos, are... you okay?

[exchosen]

Am I okay?

[ it's too surreal. standing here, talking with him, like he hadn't been speared through with those swords not more than a few hours before. zelos stares at him, disbelief mixed with irritation splashed across his still smiling face.

before it drops into something more bitter. ]

You seriously gonna ask me a question like that?

[namestrees]

[Oh man, that sure was the wrong dialogue choice. Unable to save-scum, he'll have to power on through. Surely Zelos is just.... taking being in some other brand new world way less in stride than Lloyd here. Or maybe he got some bad news earlier? Is he mad Lloyd signed up for a race instead of finding him?

Uhhhh there's no GameFAQs for this.]

Yeah? You seemed fine before we got here, so... Did something happen?

[exchosen]

[ fine...? he seemed fine?

did lloyd not understand that stabbing people tends to kill them and that is, generally, the very opposite of fine? he's also reasonably sure he was not putting on the most 'fine' front before that, but... well. ]

Tower of Salvation? Betrayal? That ringing any bells for you?

[namestrees]

[????]

Yeah? But that all got worked out. You saved us all from the traps after, so we could actually get to Colette and the great seed. I mean-- even your Cruxis Cystal saved me from taking an arrow to the chest.

Besides, that was weeks ago?

[buDDY?]

[exchosen]

What are you talking about?

[ well... that had been the plan. hand colette over, clear the way for everyone to save her, and then something something world's a better place.

and that had been his goal right the fuck up until lloyd opened his big dumb mouth and life didn't really seem worth pursuing after that.

it's not like he remembers dying? but also who the hell would have been there to save him. he was already so far gone. ]

There's no way I saved anybody after that fight. Are you deluded?

[ and WEEKS AGO? ]

1/2

[namestrees]

[Hmmmmmmm this seems fucked.]

[namestrees]

[Okay. So Zelos... betrayed them for real for real? And they had a fight? Which isn't true, he knows, because he was there, and this was right after they had a big meaningful talk about Zelos's trauma in the snow-- but that's clearly not what Zelos is experiencing.]

So, we had a fight, for you? If it was just you versus us....

[--Wait! He starts looking him over.]

Are you hurt anywhere? Do you need a gel?

[exchosen]

[ the immediate shift to concern is shocking. how weird is it to see lloyd looking at him like he actually... sees him. it's a different look than the confused, pitying eyes that had stared down at him as he'd died. ]

I'm fine. [ he guesses. things seemed closed up when he arrived. ]