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

[memori3s]

[ Somehow, Minato gets the sense that this woman isn't genuinely lamenting the fact that she's arrived without her companions. ]

...maybe they'll be here in the future.

[ He's not actually trying to cheer her up, merely stating a fact. ]

I think new people arrive in Aldrip every two months or so.

[ So if they're not in the current wave, maybe they'll be in the next one? In the meantime, surely she'll make some new friends. ]

Most people here are nice.

[ Heavy emphasis on "most" as opposed to "all" because... yeah. Well. She'll find out in due time. ]

[nowerewolf]

So there's a set pattern of arrivals and also people are people.

[ With a wry twist of the mouth, because that's certainly a nice way to phrase it from this kid. ]

It's fine. I assumed that if people were apparently coming in with a crime assigned to them, we weren't going to be finding saints and saviors all over the place here.

[memori3s]

Why wouldn't they be people?

[ People sure are people. Androids are people. The manifestation of Death itself is also a people. Koromaru, however, is definitely a dog.

In any event, the woman's made a good point. ]

...are you a nice person?

[ He doesn't actually care, but it'd be useful to know for personal reference. Koromaru seems to like her fine though. Minato trusts his judgment of character. ]

[nowerewolf]

...

[ She props a hand on her hip. ]

I could tell you anything and it could be either the truth or a lie; you wouldn't know which it was. Why don't you decide as much for yourself?

[memori3s]

[ Someone who's definitely not a nice person would immediately answer in the affirmative. Vipers hiding in flowers and whatnot. ]

Okay.

[ She's proposing a perfectly reasonable method. ]

...but I need time to decide that.

[ They literally just met, ok... ]

[nowerewolf]

That's my point. Take all the time you need, but maybe also don't consider taking people you only just met at their word if they tell you what kind of person they are, right then and there.

[ That's just asking to be mugged one day. ]

[memori3s]

[ Minato is definitely prime mugging target. Doesn't say a damn thing. Walks around alone with headphones on. Immediately takes people at their word even if they've done nothing to persuade him to do so. ]

...okay.

[ Whoever this lady is, she clearly means well. Still, he can't help but ask: ]

You're giving me advice even though you don't know who I am...?

[ He's not offended. He's genuinely baffled. What's in it for her? People do things for their own reasons, their own motivations. ]

[nowerewolf]

[ Well, thank goodness she's the one doing this and not Klaus, who does things simply because he is a very good person. Chain can't really have anyone go around thinking she's all that altruistic. ]

As an escort who prides herself on pleasing the client [ no ] I do also need future clients and walking testimonials in one piece. A girl's got to make a living.

[memori3s]

...why are your testimonials not in one piece?

[ What kind of wild escort service was this woman participating in? On the other hand, maybe it's just a figure of speech.

Minato glances down at Koromaru. The dog looks up to make eye contact with his human companion. ]

Do you escort dogs?

[ What a great way to ask if she's willing to dogsit sometime. ]

[nowerewolf]

...

[ Hello? ]

That entirely depends on the specifics.

[memori3s]

[ He does know what an escort business entails, but surely an escort's duties can be modified for minding a puppy?

Koromaru tilts his head to the side. ]

If I can't walk Koromaru for some reason, or if I know I won't be back in time to give him dinner... Things like that.

[ Perfectly innocuous, see? ]

[nowerewolf]

In other words, a dog-sitter.

[ A glorified dog-sitter but a dog-sitter. ]

[memori3s]

[ Minato nods, shameless. ]

Is that something you can do?

[ Escorts were supposed to meet their clients needs. If that need happened to be dog-sitting, that still counts, right? Right??? ]

[nowerewolf]

Of course. For a price.

[ If you pay her!! ]

[memori3s]

[ Good thing he has something like five different part-time jobs -- ]

Okay. Deal.

[ He can't help but wonder why his earlier question was left unanswered. ]

...why did you say your clients don't always stay in one piece?

[ He's not concerned. He just wants to know! ]

[nowerewolf]

I didn't. [ Well, she didn't. ]

I gave you advice not to simply take people at their word because it's the gullible and nice ones that usually end up getting taken advantage of and killed. [ A shrug. ]

And I can't get paid if that happens to you, now can I?

[memori3s]

[ Oh... So that's what she meant... ]

That's true.

[ He can agree on that. Can't pay her if he's not alive to do so, although -- ]

But when people die here, they come back after a few days.

[ Hold up though, is this stranger worried about him? Minato eyes the woman curiously. ]

...it's all right. I think I'll be okay.

[ Never mind that he looks like an ordinary kid. ]

[nowerewolf]

[ Wait, hold on-- ]

Sorry, what? What do you mean, they "come back"?

[memori3s]

[ Oh. Yeah, that's probably weird to most people, isn't it? Minato had forgotten that. ]

They come back in one piece, waking up somewhere like their room. ...I think their memories are scrambled for a bit though, so it's not a good idea to die.

[ Said as if dying is ever a good idea -- ]

[nowerewolf]

I don't think it's ever highly recommended to die.

[ She's just going to point that out. ]

Even if it's temporary, there's no guarantee that'll be permanent. And it's not like having your memories tampered with bodes well, either.

[memori3s]

That's true.

[ Okay. He'll agree with her there, never mind the fact he's already done precisely that. At least he hadn't died here, which, given the memory tampering, might be worse? ]

...having my memories swapped again wouldn't be fun.

[ Hopefully no one would have to go through that again. It was strange, having memories of living in Aldrip his entire life getting implanted in his head. A lot less weird than Aldrip suddenly going from old timey medieval land to a more modern environment overnight. ]

[nowerewolf]

"Again"? So you've already died here once.

[ What are you doing, Teenaged Boy... ]

[memori3s]

[ Whoa now... don't go getting the wrong idea, even though his phrasing left things up to interpretation!

Minato shakes his head. ]

No, a few months ago -- all of us had our memories changed, as if we'd lived in Aldrip our entire lives. When we got them back, Aldrip went from... a more old-fashioned place to the city we're in now.

[nowerewolf]

[ Chain and Minato just ????-ing at each other for this whole conversation-- ]

So it didn't always look like this? [ Oh, this is uncomfortably familiar. ]

[memori3s]

[ He's shaking his head again. ]

No, it changed about two months ago. Everyone had to find where they lived again because the houses got moved around.

[ Maybe Minato would have been lost for a good two days if Koromaru hadn't come to lead him back to the inn. ]

Maybe it'll change again someday.

[ A change every two months, perhaps? That'd be wild and incredibly inconvenient... ]