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

[southernchere]

Does it, Sugah?

[ she asks with her smile still in place as she looks over at the other. rogue have heard from kurt that scott have been fluttering around aldrip somewhere, and while she noticed the shades, she didn't want to accuse the boy as him immediately. but his words are more than enough evidence to her that he could be mister scott summers. and fortunately for the woman, she is well-prepared about his teenage state. ]

And why's that?

[laserguy]

[...Does she know about him? Uncertainty grasps onto him once more, even as she continues to smile with that ever patient look. Guess it's now or never, right? He doesn't want to appear too nervous or unsure about himself to a mutant, to an X-Man, to someone that he may have to lead in the future?? He never thought he'd care so much about something like this, but... he really does.

He doesn't want to let others down.]

...Because I'm like you.

[Well, that's sort of a vague answer, isn't it? But guess if she knows, she knows. Scott can't imagine there are many other people like him, not even mutants.]

[southernchere]

Really now? Well, I'll be a possum on a gum bush. I had no idea we both could shoot beams outta our eyes.

[ playfully, she puckers her lips and taps her foot as she pretends to be in deep thought. ] I wonder why mine ain't workin'. Guess you're better at it than I am, huh?

[ if that doesn't indicate that she kinda had a feeling she knew who he was from the start, nothing will. and is it mean of her for stringing him along that she was oblivious? maybe. but at least this shows the adults of the x-men aren't always strict and serious. ]

[laserguy]

[Huh?? The hell is she talking about? Why wouldn't she able to shoot her optic blasts here??

.....

She's teasing him. While also confirming that she knows him-- knows what he can do. But instead of outright asking if he's Scott Summers or Cyclops, she's... joking with him. The realization makes a lot of that anxiety disappear from his chest, any hint of seriousness changing into a cocky little grin as he stares up at Rogue. Okay, so she wants to be like that, huh? He's on board.]

Something's definitely wrong with your eyes if you can't destroy a building just by looking at it.

[southernchere]

[ rogue sucks on her teeth as she snaps her fingers, making-believing to be upset over the whole faulty ability. ]

Dang! Now, how am I supposed to burn fellas' hides when I catch 'em misbehaving? I was really looking forward to it.

[ although scott is a teenager, and she had some time to adjust to the idea of him being so (thanks to kurt's heads up), she is still extremely glad to see him, and the loving smile shows on her face. no matter the age, he is still part of the x-men and family to her. and like kurt, she won't shun him for it. ]

[laserguy]

Guess you'll have to stick to just throwing them across the entire city.

[He adds with that same cocky smile, now fully at ease with her. Y-yeah, guess things will be okay. He probably doesn't have to worry, huh? He was probably being silly anyway... but it's just always a little stressful wondering how people may react to him. Everyone has been nice so far, Kurt, her, Morph, and even Quentin... so maybe he shouldn't be stressed at all in the future.

It's a weight off his chest.

Scott just looks a little apologetic, because he still doesn't know anything about her. He's just not upset or anxious anymore.]

Sorry, I... I don't know who you are, when you obviously know me.

[southernchere]

Ain't nothing to fret over, Sugah. You and I didn't meet in our teens.

[ just because scott is from another timeline, it didn't necessarily mean he wouldn't encounter her further on into his future. after all, she didn't become part of the x-men up until a few years ago.

with him being a teenager, there's still plenty of time for him to catch to her scott's age and meeting the rest. she rests a gentle hand on his shoulder with a light squeeze, then a playful ruffle of his hair. ]

But I'm happy to see ya. I've heard from Kurt that you've been here the longest. And...I'm sure it was rough.

[ to imagine being the only person of your kind in a strange new world and not knowing whether to hide who you are or to be yourself. ]

[laserguy]

[Wow, not the hair!! But... guess he'll allow it just this time, because it really is nice just to be easily accepted by someone that was probably expecting someone entirely different when she saw him. He knows he's not a great leader (even though he wants to try being one) and he isn't a X-Man, but he doesn't see any actual disappointment in her eyes.

She isn't bullshitting him, huh? That she's happy to see him.]

...I've been okay. [Scott admits, thinking back when he first got here. How angry and alone he felt, being the only mutant and everything. Okay, maybe he still doesn't want to tell everything to her, like those initial upset feelings. It's not her fault. Besides... he's okay now. He has friends, a girlfriend... he's honestly happier here than he's been at home.

So, he simply looks at Rogue with a more steady gaze, nodding as if reassuring her.]

Everyone's been accepting of me.

[southernchere]

[ her face relaxes and her smile become even more real and genuine over the news. in some way, it's a bit surreal to hear the people in this world (or simulation) hold no discrimination because they weren't born normal. and although the locals hooted and stared at her in awe just a few moments prior, it all still feels like an act and some foulness will be at play in the future. ]

I... — That's wonderful.

[ the woman's voice might have wavered a touch, but she strengthens it to mask over the slight slip-up. ]

Guess I oughta straighten up if I'm gonna catch up with ya.

[laserguy]

[...Wow, she really is relieved. Does she care that much? It's kind of embarrassing!! Or guess she's just happy that people-- at least the Chosen don't care that they're mutants and stuff. Either way, being under the direct force of her smile, Scott can't help but rub the back of his head before he sends her one of his more familiar cocky grins. Enough mushy stuff.]

Yeah, there's a whole lot that you'll have to catch up with.

[And he's basically the expert!! No one can take that away from him at least, even if another Scott shows up.]

...But I got your back.