TEST DRIVE MEME #12

[expiationmods]

Test Drive Meme #12

Welcome to Expiation, a pan-fandom adventure game with elements of fantasy, science fiction, and some subtle horror.

THE STORY SO FAR (click to expand!)

-Characters have arrived in Expiation, a seemingly idyllic fantasy world where they have been told they will be judged and sentenced for crimes they were charged with upon arrival.

-Every two months, several characters are chosen for sentencing, where they’re brought to the Courthouse (formerly City Hall) and told to perform a task related to their assigned crime. Their only contact at the Courthouse is a mysterious and long-suffering man called Jerry.

-Over time, characters have begun to realize that not all is as it seems in Expiation: as it turns out, the entire world is a simulation that seems to be run by an artificial intelligence. This AI claims that its purpose, and thus the purpose of Expiation, is rehabilitating the Chosen after their crimes.

-In September 2024, that AI needed to be reset as a consequence of some catastrophic systems failures. So far, there has been no downside to this reset–but the AI has also been strangely absent since then.

-In November 2024, a strange event overtook Aldrip and turned it into a week-long eternal night where technology ceased to work. During this time, the simulation that generates Expiation seemed to malfunction, causing a strange crack to appear in the surroundings. Through this crack, characters were able to see some sort of metal enclosure. They could reach a hand in, but little more than that. This crack has disappeared, for now, but what it means for Aldrip's future remains to be seen.

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.

The missile toads can be found throughout the rest of the month of December, and there will be one prompt that is during the Solstice.

You can view our CALENDAR to keep important dates in mind. RESERVES open on December 21 and APPLICATIONS will open on December 24. After this, applications will next open in February 2024.

**REMINDER ON NEW CANONS AND CANON UPDATING**

A note about spoilers. There are a lot of canons coming out right now that players are inevitably interested. This is good! However, we’d like to remind you that we have an app wait time of two months for new canons and one month for new material, ie canon updates.

In addition to the wait times, we request that any players (and potential players!) be sensitive about spoilers. Warning for spoilers is encouraged; you can even put spoiler content behind a details tag or block it out in text. Additionally, please do not use spoiler icons in top-levels or top comments, and ask before including spoiler content (including icons) when tagging out. Thank you!

For those who may not know how to do a details tag, we'll give you a handy-dandy code!

<details><summary><b>TITLE HERE</b> (click to expand!)</summary> this is where the text for the drop-down goes! spoilery tl prompts can go here so players who aren't interested in getting spoiled can keep scrolling OR interact with a non-spoiler prompt if there is one!</details>


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Arrival

You wake.

Or…you think you do.

The first thing you notice is…well, darkness, even when your eyes are open. Reaching out, you realize that you’re in a very narrowly enclosed space. You feel as if you’re probably standing up. Beyond that…well, it’s impossible to tell…

It’s a strange awakening that greets new Chosen this month: they arrived encased in coffins. Most of these, they’ll be able to open themselves. It’s possible that some of them may get a little stuck, though, meaning they’ll need some help from the outside. These coffins begin to appear in the sidewalks and open spaces of Aldrip overnight, appearing at random, and they’re all standing upright. Huh, it’s almost like they’re a specific reference or something. For an added festive touch, they’re adorned with seasonal bows and may even have wrapping paper prints on them.

Welcome to Aldrip?

JUST HEAR THOSE DRY BONES JINGLING [missile toads]

The holiday season has come to Aldrip, bringing with it all manner of festive cheer! Buildings are adorned with decorations and festive depictions. Skeletal Santa and his eight zombie reindeer, Frosty the Lavaman, Rudolph with menacing red eyes, glowing with a strangely haunting light… What, isn’t that just the normal holiday fare? Don’t your yuletide decorations spontaneously burst into flames, or grow terrifyingly sharp teeth?

Doesn’t your mistletoe come with amphibians?

That’s right: they’re back. Mistletoe has appeared throughout the city, and with it comes a seasonal infestation of missile toads. These nefarious creatures will do anything they can to get Chosen stuck under their namesake foliage, even shooting sticky substances at their feet to trap them! This substance only seems to disappear when the missile toads’ demands are met. They’ll pelt you with a little scrap of paper to tell you what those demands are, one of the following three:

”Now kiss!” Need we say more? The type of kiss required is up to you. Pucker up!
”Now fight!” Feisty little fellas, aren’t they? These toads want a show, and they won’t be satisfied until someone walks away sporting bruises.
”Now talk!” Maybe the physical stuff is too easy. This toady audience wants to hear secrets–the juicier the better! Whether one participant or both needs to confess something is up to you, as is the severity of the secret.

These creatures plague Aldrip through the end of December, but given the questions we’ve gotten about how to use them (you know who you are), this might not be the last we’ve seen of them…

[img courtesy of titsay @ twitter]

The Winter Solstice

Aldrip’s traditional Solstice feast is set to happen just after the longest night of the year, and what a feast it’s shaping up to be! Even before the Solstice itself, the town is decked out with twinkling lights and snowy decorations. In the daytime, there will be snowy fun and games: snowball fights, ice sculpting, snow fortress building, and wintery sports like ice skating. Even the locals seem to be put in a better mood!

However, Aldrip’s tradition comes with an attached superstition. The locals say that all must be indoors the night of the Solstice itself, beginning at sundown on December 21st. Tricks and misfortune await anyone outside when the dark and the cold sets in, so they say!

But then again, nothing really happened last year, so it should be fine. Right?

Well…

Any Chosen who wish to test their luck will find misfortune awaiting them in the form of snowmen patrolling the streets. These snowmen are on the lookout for any creatures out of bed, and beware–if they see you, you’ll be pelted with snowballs until you’re out of sight. Can they be snuck past? Sure, probably. They’re just snowmen, after all. You’d be right to try sneaking, too: anyone hit by one of their snowballs will find their body slowly turning to ice. Brr! Oh, and, because we’re sure someone is going to ask: the snowmen can be melted, destroyed, fought, or otherwise messed with. They melt down just to ordinary water.

Anyway, the icy affliction can only be melted by a show of affection (platonic, friendly, romantic, etc), either by the affected Chosen or toward them. It can be as simple as a funny joke or sweet story, or as complicated as you wish, but it must be genuine. The longer the afflicted Chosen goes without, the more their body turns to ice–eventually, they may become one of the ice sculptures on display around town! They can still be turned back if it comes to this point, but obviously they’ll be at the mercy of someone else’s gesture of affection, as they will be unable to move. Oh, and they’ll probably need some time to warm up.

The snowmen disappear at first light after the Solstice, and the feast begins as soon as people are able to leave their homes once more. All will be able to enjoy the festivities in peace at this point…well, except for the missile toads. They’ll still be around for the rest of the month.

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

[individualized]

I see.

[Echo still seems to be treating this skeptically after his explanation.

Her demeanor doesn't change once she finally has the parchment out and unrolls it. She reads it and after a second or two, even though she's not exactly the most emotive person, there's a noticeable shift in her demeanor. Her eyes are pretty wide as she keeps staring at it silently.]

Missile Toads

[nuraridouman]

[There is something sad to be said about the state of his life with how desensitized Douman has become to all the nonsense that is once again going down around him. Between Missile Toads, Coffins and Santa Halloweenmas it's easy to even overlook the big golden guy until he's addressed directly.]

Mongrel..? [The carved face of the golden Noh mask remains as gently smiling as always as it turns toward him, but the sound of the voice coming from behind it makes it obvious that its wearer isn't used to being addressed like that. Mismatched eyes give Gilgamesh a once-over before he is promptly dismissed with a sigh. Great. Another weirdo. Just what Douman needed.]

Which one?

[Reaching into his pockets, the youkai and former Onmyoji pulls another five toad notes out and holds them up like playing cards. Kiss Fight Tell Kiss Kiss. Apparently somebody is being loved by the Missile Toads and not enjoying a second of it.]

[chimericalclaw]

[Ah. Even in his periphery, he can see the change. After a brief moment, he lets his gaze slide to her, a serious but knowing look on his face. His voice is low:]

They have no right to accuse us of anything.

[It's meant as a reassurance. He doesn't know how if she'll accept it or how she may take it, but he's going to try anyway.]

You don't have to give them that power over you.

[meforsaken]

I realize that the format's changed, but doesn't this seem the sort of place to have even more flexible rules when it comes to mortality?

[They manifest their scepter in their hand, ready to strike, and then...
plop down crisscross applesauce next to Gwen.]

Fine. What shall we talk about? I'm still vetoing rap battles, for what it's worth.

oh yayyyy ♥ np at all

[boundarykey]

Oh no!! OH NO!! [ She panics, and when she starts reading the energy levels that are high enough to match that of a Noble Phantasm - Abigail Panics more. ] IT'S OK I JUST GOTTA STAY CALM!

[ When the large magical reading fizzles out into the air, taking away loud sounds with it, she crouches in the coffin. Holding her two cats tightly together. It gets quiet, and all she finally hears is a loud thunk of his body slamming against the back of the coffin. Then, the sound of someone else's voice talking low. ]

I-I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE, MISTER SERVANT, BUT Y-YOU BETTER W-WATCH Y-YOUR SELF!! I-I'M SUPER POWERFUL!!! [ Still panicked and not sure what to do if a servant is there - Abigail decides to make a threat! ] IN FACT, I'LL USE MY POWERS TO GET OUT IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL!!!

[nightwild]

... Hah? The hell is that?

[Fauna growls.]

Even if you're not wrong... What is this, schoolkid bullying again? Even kids know to apologize when you're wrong. No wonder his ego is so huge. Bastard thinks because he's strong, no one can talk back to him?

[... she may be a little. It might have gotten her in her own issues.]

[digthefuzz]

Yeah, well neither of us is getting to any point right now!

[He says with a defeated sigh.]

Maybe we should at least look at that toad's demand. [Maybe it won't be too mortifying, but Kurt feels like that might be too much to ask for.]

[digthefuzz]

[Kurt's glad he got her attention! He just assumed she's not the most emotive.]

Yeah, for total realsies!

[He watches patiently as she gets to work. He's ready to give her pointers if she needs any, but she seems to have the shaping of the snow down pat. He then offers her a reasuring smile after her first throw.]

There you go! You're practically a natural. Just don't be afraid to put some more force into it!

[digthefuzz]

I can't speak for everyone here, but I know there's plenty of good people here who will want to help out. We'll all do our part!

And I'll do my best as a guide. Anything specific you're wondering about?

[ashesofkatarr]

That was her nature--but it was a nature that she chose for herself, not one inherent.

She pinned her hopes on our leader, and our leader defied her. Yet I do not believe it made her angry, for some reason.

[Traya was a difficult person to fathom at the best of times... Visas rarely tried. She had feared her, and with reason, as had most of the crew.]

[ashesofkatarr]

[Ah, so it is that kind of thing. Visas wonders sometimes about the children that the crew of the Ebon Hawk would sometimes see in their travels--their parents scarred by the wars, themselves born afterwards. They will grow up in a galaxy of things that are broken and some that will slowly mend, never having seen what once was.

...and Visas thinks she can see the problem with the invention of Aloy's forebears.]

And did the machines begin to consume those who had created them in order to obtain this "infinite" supply of fuel?

[ashesofkatarr]

[That answer makes Visas look at the girl more searchingly. She doesn't understand the purpose of a snowball fight?

That makes her akin to Visas.]

I also have difficulty understanding such things... normal as they may seem to others.

I am Visas Marr.

[solitarysoul]

I'd be okay with a quiet one.

[But he'd usually prefer quiet and calm anyway.]

Last year there was a big party around the solstice, though. That wasn't bad.

[solitarysoul]

[He blinks.]

Oh, because I forgot to introduce myself. I do that all the time.

2

[solitarysoul]

[Levi stops when Yuusei speaks up.]

The frogs? No. Try to avoid them if you can.

[Hopefully it wasn't too late with these ones.]

Talk

[solitarysoul]

[Oh. Well Levi likes Miller well enough, hopefully they don't end up needing to kiss if Levi tries to help him out of this.]

T-they're all over the place. But they let you go if you do whatever's on the paper.

Solstice

[solitarysoul]

Levi looks down to his small pile of snowballs then to Vex. "Well, not really an attack. Its for, um, a game? Or something. They're just snow, so its fun to try and hit each other with them."

[runeing]

[ he makes an approving hum as mercy sits down; it might be a good idea, actually, given that he's not entirely sure how long he can stand here and lean on his crutch... but it would also require some maneuvering out of him, what with one foot stuck securely on the paper that he stepped on, so. well. standing it is, at least for now.

his eyebrows do something complicated when he hears the name; he's never had a particularly good poker face, really, and he goes through surprise and incredulity and puzzlement in the span of less than a second, before he lands on something that attempts politeness. ]

Viktor, [ he says in return, shaking his hand rather quickly. ]

That's an interesting name. [ oh hello and goodbye politeness — ]

[mightymorphin]

[Morph has no intention of giving the snowman enough time to make another snowball, no matter how strangely skilled it was with those (literally) twiggy arms. With the girl behind some sort of cover, Morph launches off of the edge of the roof, metallic wings flapping once and then spreading wide to hover over the snowman.

Then they shift again, rapidly growing muscle and losing the wings, their skin now literally covered in metal. It has the effect of dropping them like stone - or a cannonball - and they land squarely on the snowman, sending some snow flying as their weight slams it back down into nothing more than a frosty pile.]

Hah! It's not often I get to use moves like that!

[hopticulture]

[Haru's gotten pretty used to the strange looks fellow Chosen give her. from what she's gathered during her (short) time here, there seem to be humans all over, but rabbits like her are few and far between.

even with Jinx giving Haru that all-too-familiar loving look (it seems pretty consistent that humans are like most large animals...seeing her as cute and sweet right off the bat), she appreciates the casual way this stranger addresses her.]

I wouldn't want to take advantage, but...I can't turn down the offer of a free treat! So yes, one strawberry latte, and-- [she leans over to once again look at the baked goods on offer. some of them are far from picture perfect, but she's so used to pastries being made with Beastbook photos in mind at the expense of taste that she kind of appreciates the slapdash way they're all put together.

it feels realer to see the mess that goes into baking.]

You don't happen to have anything with papaya in it, do you? I could always go for carrot cake, or anything similar, if you don't.

[stereotypical but...she likes what she likes!!]

But seriously, don't trouble yourself! I'm just happy for the latte.

[mysophobic]

I. I'll be okay. It's...healing. [ The wound he means. ] I'm f-fine...not cold or anything. [ He feels numb but that's for an entirely different reason altogether. ] I-I don't know your name...

[ He at least wants to know the person's name who decided to stay with him in such a state. ]

[hopticulture]

[Haru is honestly wondering how this person is managing with the cold. that outfit she's wearing looks far from cozy, and without any fur or hair besides what's on her head...

she knows animals like hippos and naked mole rats have to really bundle up when it gets chilly out.]

So you're in the primate order? I can see that! [she nods in affirmation. that settles that!! not going to dwell on it too much, and the whole evolved/descended from makes complete sense given the existence of animals like dogs who are related to wolves.]

Good to meet you, Miu the Human. I'm Haru, a Dwarf Rabbit [just in case Miu doesn't know what she is!!] and I...don't really know if this is a dream.

And an isekai feels too fantastical for something like this. You usually have to die to wind up in a world like this, right?

Though I guess...it's not too weird if I did die and didn't know it. You seem pretty alive to me, though!

[foculus]

[All Taash can do is shrug. They sure as crap don't get it. Why doesn't Neve remember? Yeah, okay, sure she was blighted, and all that shit happened, but... still. It's so weird.]

Dunno. What's the last thing you do remember?

[Taash is used to Neve being the smarty-pants-figure-things-out-person so!! They're not liking this switch up.]

I mean, it was still kinda bloody? The whole battle at Minrathous was a lot. But Solas? Who knew all it'd take was the Inquisitor batting her eyes at him for him to cave. But--- yeah. I'm fine.

[You know. As fine as anyone could be, after losing their mother and their tiny dwarf girlfriend.]

[foculus]

-- Hey, who threw that??

[Look, Taash is basically a giant kid. When the other kids started to challenge them to a snowball fight, they weren't about to refuse!! After getting ganged up on, they thought they had the right target, but---

Oops.

Taash is going to hover over the tiny person, wincing as they offer a hand to help them out of the snow.]

Shit. Sorry. Thought you were one of those grubby kids.

[anormalman]

Alright. Let's get you inside.

[Normally it's easier to fly everywhere as Superman, but Clark doesn't want to just ditch Gwen when she's clearly cold, and luckily there's a cafe within walking distance. Once they're both inside and they get to the counter, he turns to her.]

How do you like your coffee? Don't worry, it's on me. [It's the least he can do now that they're in here.]