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

[nuraridouman]

You don't think that a housing a colony of kodama in the local greenery is a neat way to keep your building clean?

[The actual problem is the school nurse.]

[nowerewolf]

[ There's no such thing as a normal person in healthcare. She knows this very well. ]

I don't see a problem with it, it's just not something that's come up before. Seems like you're a pretty open-minded principal.

[ This is a guess. Or he's some kind of school board director or something, but if teachers are working beneath him, that does narrow it down quite a bit. ]

[nuraridouman]

[For real. Dr. Takahashi is handsome, gentle, always ready to tend to any injury within three minutes, no matter where you are, ....and is also an absolute psychopath who gets a little too excited at his desire to learn everything about everybody in the most literal ways. His excellent skills and the relative ease of handling him if you know how he ticks makes it worth to keep him around, though.

Douman figures that Chain feels the same way about some of her colleagues with the way she described them. (Though he pities the one she wants to castrate. What the hell did the poor lad do to deserves something like that?)]

I try to be. I used to try and tackle problems in the "proper" ways, but then I got annoyed and just used brute force and pragmatism instead. It's not quite as 'nice', but it usually works.

But to come back to the people you were looking for... I haven't seen any of them, but I can keep my eyes open and contact you if I do, if you'd like. What are their names and species? [He's assuming that they are talking about youkai or other supernatural beings since she mentioned one having fangs.]

[nowerewolf]

[ He is not a poor lad, he is an absolute horndog who gets into more trouble with his dick than anything and he's not worthy of anyone's attention, trust her on this-- ]

The woman is K.K., she's human. The guy with the fangs is Klaus von Reinhertz, he's mostly human, pretty sure. The absolute waste of space is Zapp Renfro and if you see him, you can tell him to go fall off the top of the highest building he can find.

[ Also human, but more importantly, waste of space. ]

[nuraridouman]

[Oh ho? Sounds like somebody is being jealous of the attention he is undeservedly getting- ]


K.k., human, Klaus, mixed-breed, and Zapp... Afro? What an unusual name.

[Her pettiness is staring to amuse him, tho. Should he ask if she is a human too, or would that be too weird?]

[nowerewolf]

[ He can ask if he wants! Who knows if she'll tell him! ]

Renfro. But thanks for keeping an eye out for them.

[ There's plenty more, but she can look for them herself. ]

[nuraridouman]

Anytime. If you could do the same for a couple of mine, I'd be the most grateful. I doubt that any of them are around, but...

[he spreads his arms and shrugs his shoulders in a 'who knows' manner. It'd be just like them to get stuck in a situation like this and drag everybody else along with them.]

[nowerewolf]

Fair's fair. [ With a shrug of her own. ]

I'll take names and descriptions. [ Because if nothing else, Chain excels in info-gathering. ]

[nuraridouman]

[Douman takes a deep breath - and then pauses because he needs to think before describing his stooges.]


...the first is a mouse wearing a suit.

[That's the easy one out of the way.]

The others are.... A shutendoji, very pretty, male, has a sleazy attitude and is more effeminate than most women you'll ever meet. He has silver hair and a single horn. The second is either a tall man with glasses or a cute critter since he's a kamaitachi. Just look out for a long red scarf since he never takes that thing off. The third-

[HOW THE HELL DO YOU DESCRIBE SEIMEI?]

....is our pet human. A long piece of cowardly misery with a sailor uniform fetish. Seimei has an absolute talent to get into the worst kind of trouble, so just leave him there to deal with it on his own or he'll drag you right along with him.

[nowerewolf]

...

[ That is a Lot, but all she really does is blink placidly as she processes this information. A mouse, a guy with silver hair and a single horn? Unicorn-esque? Rhino? Some guy in a red scarf, and... ]

Pet human?

[ This is said rather mildly. ]

[nuraridouman]

Trust me, that's the best way of calling him. He's sort of our [what's his name] Zapp. Just less pervert and more of a walking catastrophe.


[and yes, he's regularly asking himself how he got stuck with these guys as well]

[nowerewolf]

Oh. You have my utmost apologies.

[ ANOTHER ZAPP, THE WORST. ]

[nuraridouman]

Thank you and likewise. Imaging Haruaki-kun with a libido.... [He shivers visibly. Thank god Abe no Seimei's descendant (thus the nickname, since their names can be read the same) is too much himself to ever land himself in any form of relationship. If he did Douman would be pretty jealous, but he'd also rather die again than admit to it, so-

The only thing Haruaki's into is sailor uniforms, and that's bad enough.]

Does yours also have a weird fetish?

[nowerewolf]

Too many to name.

[ Whether this is true or not (it's probably true), she won't be listing them, a look of sheer distaste entering her eyes just at the thought. Zapp is apparently not shy about blabbing about his fetishes to his coworkers. ]

Thankfully, he's not here to terrorize the population.

[nuraridouman]

Dear God. [He shakes his head, slipping back into his old man mannerisms.]


You just jinxed both of us big time. Wanna bet that we'll find both of our nuisances together within less than two months?

[nowerewolf]

If that's the case, since you spoke it into existence... if this happens, you owe me a drink.

[ The one and only time she does not want a free drink to happen. ]

[nuraridouman]

Hey now, you started with it, saying that he's not here... ! There's no way I'll let you bet on it happening now.

[That's what HE wants to bet on!]

But a drink as the prize is fine. We can leave that part.

[nowerewolf]

Oh, don't worry. I'm happy to believe it'll just be the two of us and the random assortment of fellow kidnappees who have committed crimes of varying degrees. [ Smoothly. ]

So sure, either I live my life in relative peace [ doubtful ] or I get a free drink out of it to drown my sorrows in.

[nuraridouman]

[Urgh...!] Are you trying to trick me into letting you have your way using reverse psychology? Because-

['Error 404: please wait for brain to untangle from expectations to change tack and catch up again']

....If I bet that it'll happen and it does, I'll get a drink out of it. If you bet that it doesn't, and it does, I'll pay you a drink. [so far, it's making sense] But why do you assume that I'll still pay you if you lose your bet?

[Did he get that right? This feels like he's trying to gamble with a fox!]

[nowerewolf]

Because if they show up here, it will have been your fault for speaking it into existence and you should buy me a drink as an apology.

[ Not a fox, but canine family... he's not too far off. ]

[nuraridouman]

......

[He wants to protest that. He really, really does. She started it by jinxing them by claiming how unlikely it'd be to happen. But Douman did play along with it and raised the stakes by making it a bet, which in turn must've increased the likeliness..... -

Ugh. He wants to be fair, because making excuses wouldn't suit his exalted social standing. But he also wants to be a brat, just because he hates losing, and if it's just in an argument...!

In the end the sheer headache power Haruaki-kun along can bring wins. Douman groans and runs a hand through his hair.]

Fine! I'll buy you a drink even then, if you'll admit that you started talking about it first when the time comes.

[nowerewolf]

If the time comes. [ A mild correction. She'd still like to believe Problematic Man #1 and Problematic Man #2 can cause problems somewhere else. ]

But sure, that's fine with me.

[nuraridouman]

If. When. The only trouble mine hasn't managed to get us into yet is having a giant meteorite hit us all, so I'm really not holding out much hope on that front anymore. Sorry for being a pessimist.

[Actually they did have a giant meteor episode already, but Douman was blissfully absent due to having his free day during that one.]

Remind me, did we exchange names already?

[nowerewolf]

[ What a life he lives. ]

Not our own. [ Whoops. ]

I'm Chain Sumeragi.

[nuraridouman]

[What a life indeed. Each day he asks himself what he did to deserve having to deal with all that, and then he remembers.... Right. That thing. So maybe it's a little deserved. He could still do with only half the insanity, though.]

It's a pleasure, Chain-kun. [Or should he use '-chan'? But somehow she strikes him more as a '-kun' type of person.] I'm ....Nurarihyon. Please call me that. Most do.