expiationmods: (Default)
Expiation Mods ([personal profile] expiationmods) wrote in [community profile] expiationlogs2024-06-10 07:58 am

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)!
dragonfullbottle: (what the)

Banjo Ryuga | Kamen Rider Build | TDM

[personal profile] dragonfullbottle 2024-06-11 10:54 am (UTC)(link)
[ooc: his family name is Banjo, personal name is Ryuga, but he mostly gets called Banjo in the show and answers to either. Will also answer to 'hey, dumbass', and 'here's your protein powder you meathead'.]

[will match your format!]


1. SUMMER SOLSTICE

Banjo is very not coping. Yes, he's used to weird crap happening daily, including fighting to protect others, being accused of murder, sleeping on the floor (or if he's lucky he'll get an hour or two on the single mattress in the basement), wearing a clown suit, and dealing with Kasumi's potato obsession. This, though? This is some weird bullshit and he doesn't know where any of his friends are.

...he's lonely. Yeah, fine, he can admit it.

Maybe he can even manage a reluctant smile at a couple of the kids playing together. And maybe he can even manage to laugh in amongst the horrified squawks when he trips into one of the bonfires and briefly sets his ass on fire.

2. MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL

He helps out with the festival prep, especially since he needs money. There aren't any handy dandy cafes run by people he likes (and one person who's trying to kill him) but he's easygoing and friendly enough, and he manages to get by. Can make enough for food each day.

He also gets himself embedded into the place well enough to recognize the voice of the kid calling helplessly from the forest. He charges in.

3. FIELD DAY

A couple of his new friends urge him to take part in the races, though a couple have fire extinguishers standing by just in case he has ass trouble again. He snorts, and lines up with everyone else.

"You ready for this?" he murmurs to the person standing next to him.

4. wildcard!

[Bring your own adventure! Throw anything at him or pm me first.]
constructure: (08.)

HELLO i mean 1!!!!

[personal profile] constructure 2024-06-11 04:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[Sento is stupefied.

It's a different universe, maybe a different timeline, but the person in front of him is unmistakably Banjou - with the silly shrimp braids and everything, even. There's no way that idiot would have been able to get here on his own when that muscle brain can't even grasp the concept of parallel universes. And yet.

And yet.]


Good job, Banjou. Now your pants smell like charcoal.

[By the time he's within Banjou's earshot, there's a look of utter disbelief on Sento's face. There's no way he's letting that idiot see the fond smile he had moments ago, nuh-uh.]
dragonfullbottle: (family)

HIIII lol

[personal profile] dragonfullbottle 2024-06-12 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
[In some universes, Banjou wouldn't have to smack his own ass. He's vaguely grumpy about that even though he really doesn't get the whole space time continuum parallel universe doohickey thingummy. He doesn't bother looking up at the voice, concentrating instead on getting the last smoulders.]

Just because you'd science your way into new pants instead - and I don't mean that as dirty as it sounds...

[He trails off, head jerking around so quickly he nearly gives himself whiplash.]

Sento?
Edited (I can totally spel ) 2024-06-12 01:55 (UTC)
constructure: (01.)

[personal profile] constructure 2024-06-14 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
About time you caught up.

[He's as smug as Banjou remembered him, although the acknowledgement gives a sparkle to his eye.]

You should thank me, actually. If I didn't point it out in time, there would have been a burnt hole in your pants. Aren't I a great friend?

[There's a lot of burning questions between the two of them - starting from 'where is this place?' to 'how are you here?' but let him have his fun. This is just their usual way of greeting each other, that's all.]
dragonfullbottle: (smile)

[personal profile] dragonfullbottle 2024-06-17 12:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[Banjou jogs over to Sento now his ass is safe. He makes a face about the insults, but otherwise ignores them, with the ease of long practice. Hard to keep the grin off his face.]

I figure you're figuring out how to get us home. That'd make you an AWESOME friend.

[Will Sento flip him if he goes for a hug? Sento'd probably give him the statistics on that one, but all Banjou can think about is how he thought he'd have to start over again and now it's nowhere near as bad.]

[Hell with it. Sento hasn't even insulted his weight, so maybe it'll work. He'll try for a quick hug.]
entreats: (she's not good enough)

1

[personal profile] entreats 2024-06-16 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ .. Well, this guy is clearly having a day over here, huh. Or a night, in this case, considering that's when the bonfires are out. Ange was just calmly sitting by one, trying to enjoy a little bit of peace and quiet..

Except said peace and quiet is immediately ruined by someone who, apparently, has managed to set their butt on fire. The girl looks so entirely unimpressed by the display as she watches Banjo hop around. ]


You walk into the water. [ She offers as a solution.

Except the girl is saying it so calmly and with such a dry, emotionless tone that it's hard to tell whether or not Banjo can even hear her above the sound of his own squawks.. ]
dragonfullbottle: (what the)

lmao

[personal profile] dragonfullbottle 2024-06-17 12:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Ow, ow, ow -

[He smacks and he pats and he wishes he had a fire extinguisher. How is his ass this flammable? It's not even as big as he'd like it to be! Then he freezes. Water? His eyes go wide, he tosses a quick-]

Thanks!

[at her, then he runs in. Because it's been one of those days, he immediately trips over a sandbar and lands facefirst in the water, but it's deep enough that he doesn't concuss himself and his ass is covered. He stands up, water streaming off him, ass no longer flamy, beaming his head off at the girl who helped him.]
entreats: (solitude still holds you)

[personal profile] entreats 2024-06-22 09:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[ At least he's no longer on fire.

That's just about the more positive thing Ange could say about this entire situation. Because if getting his butt lit on fire wasn't bad enough, it seems like the guy is going through an entire involuntary clown act right after that. Ange is honestly a little surprised he can still even smile like that after nearly getting a burn and a concussion in quick succession.

It leaves her lost for words for a moment as she stares at that smile, but then she can't help but ask: ]


Do you usually do this?

[ One may assume no one would be used to getting their butt lit on fire, but.. you know. He sure seems to be handling it like this is just some normal frequent occurrence, so who knows! ]
elevatoravatar: (Thanatos)

1. Sadly, you get my Persowner, not Kyuranger

[personal profile] elevatoravatar 2024-06-18 10:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Elizabeth looks at the odd man who just fell into the fire and sighs, as her Persona Thanatos appears from her and charges, looking to shove the person out of the blaze quickly before vanishing.

Still she sighs and walks over afterwards, wasting half of a cup of perfectly good lemonaid, dumping it on his head, "You appear to be far less resistant to fire than your actions would dictate. Or is this some odd form of summer ritual?"
dragonfullbottle: (Default)

<3! Beautiful. (And yay re a fellow Kyuranger fan - I loved that show, Balance/Naga forever)

[personal profile] dragonfullbottle 2024-06-19 12:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Banjou enjoys a lazy, warm summer evening just like the next idiot, dammit. It's nice! It's relaxing! It's not nice OR relaxing when your posterior's flaming! He smacks at it, smacks some more, singes his hands, smacks again, dancing around like he's just had a jalapeno enema, then he's flying through the air-

Eh?

Oh. Someone shoved him. He rolls automatically as he hits the ground, ending up on one knee. Banjou manages to make it up to his feet before anyone can think he's proposing. A girl helpfully decides to water him like he's a plant, but it helps put out the last little trickles of fire.

"Oi- thank you." Grumble grumble. "I hope it's not a ritual. I'd really prefer not to do this every year!"
elevatoravatar: (what the hell?)

I have a Raptor journal, but then again I also have a journal of Kougami from OOOs

[personal profile] elevatoravatar 2024-06-19 12:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"If not ritual, then why were you roasting yourself? A test of manhood? A feat of strength? A gross misunderstanding of combustion?"

Elizabeth tilts her head an offers a hand up, "This place is odd, but the last thing I expected was to find someone.... Wait...."

She stops and looks at him seriously, "Were you about to tell a lie? Yet to alert others to the fact you were setting your pants on fire?!"
dragonfullbottle: (what the)

Omg. I love Raptor. I've played Eiji before and I love Cakeboss. [CHINHANDS AT YOU] (also lmao)

[personal profile] dragonfullbottle 2024-06-21 08:34 am (UTC)(link)
Banjou blinks at her, but given Sento isn't around to translate that, he just says cautiously, "....no-oo? I mean, I guess I could. The strength part. I don't wanna test my manhood. Sounds painful."

She's strong enough to help him up. He dusts himself off, sticky and grateful.

"No! I wasn't-!"

The defensive outrage then leads to a huge grin because he's not completely incapable of understanding jokes, and he laughs. "No. I wasn't doing that. And how about you? Do you often walk past fires in case people need to be put out?"