TEST DRIVE MEME #13

[expiationmods]

Test Drive Meme #13

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. Current players may use TDM threads as part of their AC proofs. Applications for February are closed to current players only, as we're at player cap. But we are still allowing for new players to hop on the TDM!

You can view our CALENDAR to keep important dates in mind. RESERVES open for current players on February 18th and APPLICATIONS will open on February 21st.. After this, applications will next open in April.

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THERE’S SOMETHING IN THE AIR TONIGHT

Aldrip's Day of Devotion celebration has become tradition among the locals. This year, to celebrate the occasion, the events center will open its doors to both locals and chosen for a special party. Strangely, not a lot of the locals seem to be attending...well, at least it's not crowded. The party takes place in-game on February 17.

The party is a little lackluster, if we're being honest. Corny cut-paper decorations, low-budget food, sappy music. The staff seem to be dedicated to making this event a roaring success, though! They'll be obsessively pairing up any single folks they see, even if that just means grabbing the closest random stranger. Altogether, the event coordinators are doing their very best to make sure every Chosen in attendance gets in on the fun, even going so far as to pull people off the street if they look like they might be trying not to attend! They’ll try to insist on characters playing their games, but they’re only human, after all–they might miss a few people.

Within the events center, Chosen will find a bar with some specialty themed cocktails, as well as a dance floor and a lounge area. They’ll also find some games and activities. Some of these are normal: cards, dice, even charades. Some…well, some seem to be taking the theme of devotion rather seriously.

A (SPEED) DATE WITH DESTINY

You find yourself seated at a table. On the table is a five-minute timer and a list of increasingly personal questions. Seated across from you: another Chosen. Maybe you signed up willingly. Maybe the event coordinator shoved you over here. Maybe some well-meaning friend has bullied you into it. Whatever the case, here you are, on a series of speed dates that the event coordinators are hoping will end in amour!

(But we all know it’s not that easy.)

The idea is simple: you each read a question for the other to answer until the five-minute timer is up. Then, either you and your new beloved leave the table together, or you change tables for a different match. Simple! Thing is, sometimes the timers don’t really work the way they should; you may find yourself feeling like this five minutes is a very long five minutes. And the questions are sometimes romantic in nature (what quality do you look for in a partner?), but sometimes they get a little…conceptual. (is humankind inherently good or evil? as an example.) Some of these questions may also assume a level of familiarity that some Chosen don’t have. Better just to roll with it.

We’ve included some sample questions here, but please do feel free to come up with your own!

CLICK HERE FOR QUESTIONS

Romantic:
-What do you admire most about me?
-What’s the hardest thing about being in love?
-Would you ever be the first to confess your feelings?
-What's really working for you in this relationship?
-What's the best kiss you've ever had?
-What makes a kiss enjoyable?
-What color underwear do you want me to wear?
-Do you prefer sexy or smart?
-When did you know you were in love with me?
-Which part of my body do you find attractive?
-If your body was a plant, how many times a day would I have to water it?

Less…romantic:
-How do we know we're doing the right thing?
-Why do you think we're here?
-Do you have a right to be happy or should you earn it?
-What is a person? Is it the mind or body?
-Is it more important to love or be loved?
-If you died today, would you be satisfied with the life you've lived?
-How do you know you're not dreaming right now?
-Do you feel happier in summer or winter?
-What color do you feel like best describes yourself?
-If you could be an animal, what would you be?
-What is your most secret wish?
-Describe your perfect day.
-What is a “soul?”

SECRET DELIVERY

It’s not an errand, it’s a scavenger hunt! …or so it’s billed by the event staff. They promise they’re not pawning their work off on you. Each Chosen is given a small box–about the size of their tablets, actually–at the door, and they’re tasked with finding the person this small box belongs to. There’s one for every event attendee, but none of them have names on them. That would be too easy! Instead, the tags have simple directions: Give this box to someone with brown hair or give this box to someone who looks sad. The descriptions vary from box to box, and can even include activities (for example, give this box to someone who was dancing!). As per the rules, if someone already has a box, they’re not allowed to accept another.

So. What’s inside?

Opening the box, Chosen will find a small trinket nestled delicately within layers of tissue paper. It’s a pin, or a hair clip, or a pendant on a chain–something Chosen will be inclined to wear. Strangely, even though the box wasn’t addressed to them by name, each Chosen will notice that the subject of the trinket somehow speaks to their experience or their past. Perhaps a butterfly means something personal to them, or a dagger, or a dog. All are asked to put on these trinkets in the spirit of the event; the event coordinators won’t punish anyone who refuses, but they will offer to help put them on, and they’ll gush over how beautiful they look.

These trinkets have a strange effect, though: they compel the wearer to speak their true feelings. These feelings can be romantic in nature, but need not be; they simply feel compelled to tell the truth about how they feel on any particular subject.

SECRET TUNNEL! SECRET TUNNEL!

The banner over this tunnel, inexplicably located on what you really thought was an exterior wall of the building, reads “Tunnel of Love and Treasure.” Doesn’t that sound nice! But entering this tunnel isn’t without complication: as the attendant will tell you, everyone who enters must be paired with another person–and it’s that attendant’s job to do the pairing! You might get paired with someone you know, with a partner or a friend…or you may be paired with a total stranger. It’s subject to the whims of this attendant, who is enthusiastic but seemingly a little clueless about whatever bonds might currently exist between people.

The second rule: explorers must hold hands the entire time they’re in the tunnel! There’s no better way to grow the feelings between you than touch, as everyone knows. Once Chosen enter the tunnel, they’ll find they actually can’t let go–their hands are stuck fast. Welp. This is fine. Right?

The tunnel is strangely…realistic inside, looking like a cave rather than the inside of an event hall. How odd. There are all sorts of nooks and crannies in which a treasure might be hidden, but examining them leaves no trace of anything that might be considered a treasure. But not to worry! There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, eventually–in quite a literal sense. It opens into a large cavern, where another event attendant sits, strumming a small guitar. Go ahead, ask him where the treasure is. He’ll tell you, “the treasure was the bond you made along the way!” Or maybe he’ll sing it to you, if you’re lucky. (Unlucky?) And…well, that may sound like a crock, but you’ll find your hands unstuck and your way back out of the tunnel clear and easy.

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

[entreats]

[ Out loud, Chuuya? It's a good thing that Ange doesn't look all that fazed by his comment, despite the fact that she could clearly hear him say it. She's really heard a whole lot worse from the girls at her school, so this girl again isn't even close to something that would break the poker face expression that's on her face even now. ]

I don't know. [ A pause - just a beat. ] Have you tried tossing it just to see what might happen?

[gravity_flares]

[Yes. Out loud. And hardly meant how it's probably taken. He just doesn't expect her to get wrapped up with him again. That, and she's one of the few asking about his capabilities.]

I bet it won't do anything... [But sure, why not? He'll fuck around and they'll find out. What's he got to lose?]

Let's see how far I can toss your present, then~. ♪

[It's a chance to show off. He can't help but grin at her. All fangs and excitement as he pulls his arm back, makes sure she's watching and throws it headlong into the party. He's pretty strong without his powers, so it's no surprise to watch it clear a good distance before he turns to her, practically beaming with pride.]

How's that-- ack!! [No sooner does the question leave his lips when it happens. The very present he's sent off comes flying back. Unfortunately for Chuuya, he's just tall enough to have it crash into the back of his head. Or that's how it looks as the damn thing knocks him forward into a stumble toward her. Yet the present doesn't crumple upon contact with the hand that tries to stop it. In fact, it's almost as if something stops the force of upon contact. Even if fingers now securely hold it. Huh.]

[entreats]

[ ...

Wait-- ]

What?

[ Ange is pretty sure she missed something there. She was about to call out and warn the other about the present's trajectory, but she doesn't manage to force the words out in time. Especially when she's totally caught off guard by something entirely different happening than what she imagined.. ]

Did that thing just stop in the air?

[ It's not really what she saw, but Ange isn't sure what she did see just now, actually. All she knows is that it's definitely not natural that the present didn't hit him. ]

[gravity_flares]

[Well, having the damn thing fly back at him wasn't what he was expecting. He simply reacts, an instinctive calculation he can just do at this point when it comes to manipulating gravity.

He can move out of the way, sure, but the chances of it hitting her instead makes the choice easier. What's worse is she notices and all he can do is drag out a sigh. Present in one hand, scratching fingers through the hair by his ear with the other. Frustration evident in gesture and tone and in the way he doesn't look right at her.]

Yeah. Somethin' like that.

[She's just going to ask more questions, isn't she? He doesn't blame her, even looks at her now.]

You ever seen someone who could manipulate gravity before?

[entreats]

I've seen magic.

[ It's not really a direct answer to his question, but it's because she's having trouble qualifying his question in that sense. She doesn't know if he considers what he just did magic - especially when Ange has met people here, like Toph, who refuse to call their obviously magical powers magic. ]

Does that count?

[ It should, honestly. The witches she knows back home could probably easily pull off something like this, Ange thinks. ]

[gravity_flares]

Magic...?

[A pause, then a shrug of his shoulders. If she's looking for someone to rigorously follow the terms others gave ability users then she's talking to the wrong guy. Doc glasses is better suited for this shit, he thinks. But he's not here. So, what does he do?]

Sure, if that makes things easier, why not. You don't seem too surprised, though. I take it that means it's pretty common for you, huh.

[entreats]

[ Sorry, Chuuya. Apparently now you're stuck as the one having to answer all of the questions..

At least the girl doesn't seem all that bothered by his assumption - or the fact that he's right. She just casually shrugs as she answers: ]

I come from a world that's full of witches. It'd be more weird if I hadn't seen any magic at this point, right? It's just been different kinds of magic than what you apparently can do.

he says it's his turn to ask questions now sorry ange!

[gravity_flares]

Y'know, at the time when we first met I'd say it was weird, but now...

[He drags out a sigh, studies the box in his hand that is nothing short of the magic she speaks of, if you ask him! Or don't. Whatever. He needs to figure out what to do with it. Great.]

So, that make you a witch too? What's that mean anyway beside having magical capabilitiesー you brew potions or cast hexes or what?

[He isn't being really seriously asking this. Tones are all laced with amusement and it shifts into less of a sour spectacle the moment he looks up from the box and at her.]

how dare!! (no, of course it's totally okay...)

[entreats]

Oh, yeah.

[ Ange's own tone sounds so.. flat. Dry. There's no emotion in there at all, but given her response to his tone, the exact words she's saying here, it's likely not all that difficult to figure out that she's being deadpan about this, rather than genuinely answering his question. ]

Of course. I also go out to fly on a broomstick underneath the moonlight all the time. [ Honestly, people have assumed that about her before.. Maybe it's why she can say it so dryly now. She's kind of used to this.

After a moment she even adds, making it more clear that she wasn't all that serious: ]

What kind of witches have you been meeting in your life that you've got that assumption?

[gravity_flares]

Do you have a little familiar that follows you around, too?

[The jests end there. He's had enough fun at the expense of her defining things and linking the likes of it to witchcraft. Thank you. A wave of his hand signals she doesn't have to clarify further. He knows. And he's glad it sounds just as ridiculous to her as it does him.]

Just the ones spun from fictionー you know, the kind of stuff they like to put in movies? At least that's how some of the guys back at home used to put it.

But that doesn't tell me anything about the kind of witch I'm talkin' to right now, does it?

[entreats]

Well, generally movies tell you very little about the real world.

[ Not that Ange has seen that many movies in her life. Just enough to be able to see that - especially when movie advertisements are about Godzilla and all that.. Everyone knows that's just not realistic! ]

But I don't know how I'd describe what kind of witch I am either, really. [ The girl makes a vaguely dismissive gesture with one hand. ] It's just that I can use magic. That's the sort of thing that makes you a witch where I come from. I don't know if I could put it any other way.

[ To some people the idea of magic might sound very exciting, but Ange talks about it as casually as she'd talk about the weather, her tone so calm.. ]