expiationlogs | TEST DRIVE MEME #9

TEST DRIVE MEME #9

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)!

♡

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

We're among the best of the best. Well, with the occasional failure who ought to be left to rot in the gutter, of course.

[ Who needs teambuilding, they clearly get along great!! ]

If you doubt our services, of course, I can always offer you my own? You look a little young for that sort of thing, though.

[The doubt button is being pressed!! What's this about failures in gutters? But Kurt can't even respond to that, because he's taken aback by the rest of her response.]

Too young? [His eyes widen, and he flusters.] W-wait, are you saying - you're not that kind of escort service, are you?? [He's not here to judge but he feels scandalized!!]

[ That is not an insult, that is an indisputably stated fact, and the only sad thing about Zapp not being here is that he can't prove it for himself. ]

Oh?

[ It's almost like smelling blood in the water, with the way her expression smooths out into something a little more sultry. She is cackling on the inside, I'm sorry. ]

As opposed to what other kind of escort service? I'm a little offended that you sound like it's such a bad thing.

[He's doomed. Kurt backs up slightly and raises his hands in a placating gesture.]

S-sorry! I don't mean to judge or anything. I- I mean, if you get judged for any sins, that's the man upstairs's job!

[A very nervous chuckle.]

But - you know what I mean! Th-the types of escorts that provide... services? [He says that last word with the shakiness of a deer.]

[ sweet summer child............

:)))))))))) ]

Of course. I don't think you'll be able to afford me, but I'd be happy to... educate you.

[...Kurt's really tempted to demonstrate his teleportation ability right now.

Instead, he backs up a little more while waving his hands around and shaking his head. And definitely blushing.]

N-no thanks! I, I don't need any lessons. I'm good! Trust me, I've learned all about the birds and the bees, a-and that's all the curriculum I need for now!

For now, hm? Well, if it's more of a "to be continued"...

[ She'll let that trail off ~~ominously~~ seductively... and then rolls her shoulders back with a sigh. ]

That aside, is this meant to be a prison? Pretty expansive for one, though I guess maybe they're going for a change of pace.

[To be continued NEVER maybe! Kurt feels relieved as the subject shifts and he calms down. But now he knows to be careful around these 'escorts'.]

Honestly, I've only been here for a month and I'm not sure what it's supposed to be. I hear that people get punishments for their crimes pretty regularly, but aside from that, it just feels like another place to live. A place where time and space is all bananas!

Oh? So it's not just spacial displacement, it's also temporal?

[ Well, that's.

... Hm. Also not the weirdest thing that's happened to her or the residents of Hellsalem's Lot. ]

Also, what kind of punishments?

Yeah, something like that. A friend of mine is here, but he's from 20 years earlier than he should be! Stuff like that.

[He gives a little shrug.]

What I hear about the punishments are that they're made to fit the crime. Which sounds super unfair to me, because some of these crimes are totally bogus!

[ "Totally bogus"... ]

So you're saying some of these apparent crimes are actually falsified? Sounds like corruption to me.

It could be! It- it could go all the way to the top! [Now he's just saying whatever he thinks someone would say in a conspiracy thriller.]

I know for sure mine's wrong. And I'm sure there's more.

You don't have any obligation to tell me, of course, but if you don't mind--what was it?

[ If it's wrong, then maybe it's fine to talk about? ]

[He rubs at the side of his head uncertainly. He's not sure if he wants to get into it.]

Well, uh, it's a murder. Not a very pleasant one! [Quick to shift the subject-] Um, can I ask the same to you?

I think the nature of it being a crime means there isn't anything good about it.

[ dryly.

But she offers a shrug three seconds later. ]

Existence denial.

What about partying too hard? That sounds like it would be a good crime to me!

[He offers his own unsure shrug. But her answer has him just giving a confused blink.]

Wait, what was that?

Partying too hard usually leads to property destruction, sexual harassment and murder attempts.

[ Blithely. And she continues to speak blithely as she answers him-- ]

I couldn't tell you. [ Well, she could, but why ever would she! ]

That's simply what it said.

Okay maybe not that hard. [He quickly and meekly responds.

And he rubs at his head uncertainly at her elaboration, or lack thereof.]

It sounds like nonsense. What are you even denying the existence of? Yourself? Santa Claus? Are they picking some of these at random?

It's a mystery.

[ With a sigh. ]

Since I'm not the judge, jury or the executioner here, I have no idea what their methods are. But I do find it interesting that it looks like the majority have just pretty much accepted this whole thing.

[ Not the first time she's seen people acting normal when the situation doesn't call for it, but it does feel like the circumstances are at least a little different here. ]

[A truly mysterious mystery! One he doesn't think he's getting any clues about. He doubts it actually means anything anyway!]

It's more like there's not much else we can do? It doesn't seem like there's a way to break out. So, you know, it's like a mission! Lay low and gather intel and then... figure out how to bust this popsicle stand!

[His smile is a bit strained, as if he's trying to convince himself it'll be as easy as he's trying to make it sound.]

... I hate to break it to you, but the look on your face is screaming "I'm coping as hard as I can" right now.

[His posture droops.]

Well it's a lot harder to do that when you point it out like that!

Which means maybe you shouldn't do it at all?

Then what am I supposed to do, not cope at all? Sorry fraulein, but that doesn't really sound very cope-acetic to me!

[ Oh, boy. ]

Well, if you can find a more logical approach to it, I'd work on that. How long have you been here?

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