NOVEMBER 2018 TEST DRIVE MEME

Welcome to November's Test Drive Meme! This month's Test Drive's theme is: WONDERLAND.

All Test Drive Memes contain at least one clue to the Deerington's upcoming in-game events for the month! Keep your eyes peeled! But...not literally.

Characters may die during TDMs, but you do not need to count it towards a game-canonical death unless you want to. Consider it a freebie. All TDMs can be considered game canon as TDMs introduce minor aspects about the world of Deerington that can be revisited by characters later on in the game. You may also use TDMs for your application writing sample as well as AC.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the nature of November's plot, character arrival prompts are unavailable in this month's Test Drive. Throughout each prompt, all characters will very clearly feel as though they are still stuck in a dream, and are working on a way to get out.

CW: Body horror (growth/shrinking), implied drugging, violence via swords and bludgeoning

Don't forget to tag content whenever necessary. Have fun!

Prompt One
Prompt Two
Prompt Three
Prompt Four
Master Navigation

BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING

The hallway you've ended up in is long and narrow, almost seeming to twirl in on itself as it spirals a long way out of sight. There's no means to go back the way you came - it's walled off now, somehow, though you're not sure when or how it happened - and so you realize if you want to leave, the best thing to do is just move forward. You walk along the checkered marble floor, the click and the clack of your shoes echoing off the twisted walls, the only sound in the whole place as you move.

You're almost convinced you're never going to find the end of this hallway, until you start to see a pinprick of light in the distance. Maybe you even pick up your pace when you start to see it. Regardless of whether you keep at an even walk or you sprint towards the light, you eventually get to the end of the hall. The ceiling has stretched up way out of sight at some point, but there's still a light shining down from somewhere, casting a large spotlight on the only two objects in the room: a fairly large dollhouse on the floor and a table with a cup filled with what looks like punch and a plate with a piece of cake on it. There's a sign, neatly handwritten in black ink: EAT ME! DRINK ME! At least it's to the point.

You can choose to ignore that sign, but as you observe the dollhouse, or the hall you're trapped in, there are two things that might persuade you into realizing it's your only option: 1) There's no door at the end of this hall in order to let you out of it, which means you're still as trapped as you were at the start. And 2) There is a door on the front of the dollhouse and if you squint, you can see a tiiiiiiny key stuck in the lock.

This all might be looking familiar to a fortunate few.

Eventually, you'll have to cave, or end up sitting there forever. Whether you choose the cake or the cup, the moment you swallow, you'll start to feel an uncomfortable ache through your whole body. Soon you can start to feel your bones caving in on themselves, your muscles tightening and shrinking, and your whole body might even start to feel like it's about to implode. It's agonizing - worthy of a scream or two as the magic works through your body, and you see the world starting to become bigger and bigger...

And all at once, it stops. The dollhouse now looks as big as a real house and that key? Is just the right size for your hand. You turn the key, push open the door, and enter into a grand foyer, brightly lit and covered in flowers and ribbons. On top of that? You're no longer alone - someone is in the room with you and they seem to have been stuck waiting for someone to help them explore the house.

TAKE SOME MORE TEA

Sometimes dreams just don't make sense. And this room seems to be the one that sticks out the most. You can see the ceiling, decorated with whimsical paintings and colorful chandeliers, and you can see the four walls, but the ground is definitely grass and dirt, and somehow there seems to be a fresh breeze blowing through, bringing in the crisp air of fall and the scent of burning leaves. Strange, since the grass is so green, strikingly so when compared to the white linen of the table cloth covering the expansive table in the center of the room, and there's not a fallen leaf to be seen anywhere.

There is, however, several place settings, several tea cups, and several tea pots. Your favorite treats are stacked high on the plates in front of you, smelling so fresh your mouth is watering already. It seems like a feast just for the two of you and your stomachs are starting to growl. Maybe sitting for a little while to rest and eat wouldn't be so bad, right? You notice name cards in front of each place setting and eventually, you find your own names, neatly printed in bold lettering. It's best to take a seat if you're going to dig in.

As you start to pile food onto your plate, you notice there's a card between the two of you, with a fun riddle printed out for you to solve:

I'm as small as an ant,
as big as a whale.
I'll approach like a breeze,
but can come like a gale.
By some I get hit,
but all have shown fear.
I'll dance to the music,
though I can't hear.
Of names I have many,
Of names I have one.
I'm as slow as a snail,
but from me you can't run.
What am I?

It might seem like fun and games, but you'll find that as you eat, your mind is getting a little foggier, and the words are blurry and harder to understand. You think it's time to go and you get up from your seat to do just that, but the door you came through - the only door in the room - is locked.

Chances are that riddle is your only means to get that door open. When you finally do solve it, a bright light will appear, and you'll need to stand in front of it, lining your shadow up with the handle, and miming turning it in order to get the door to open itself.

OFF WITH THEIR HEADS

The strategists might enjoy this next room when they open it; in front of you is a giant chessboard, one half of the board all set up and ready to go, and the other half of the board just missing a few pieces in order to get started. The Knight seems to have gone off to do his own thing and, much to the dismay of those around them, the Queen seems to have made herself scarce as well. But luckily for you both, there's two of you! And you seem to be just in time to take the place of these missing players.

Once you each settle into your chosen square, the game begins. It seems pretty tame at first - pawns moving to various pawns, and maybe one of you is taking charge and shouting for where each piece should go next. Best left to the Knight, likely, considering the strategy needed for that particular piece. And all is well and good and fun - until the first piece gets taken. Or, rather, not so much taken, as suddenly smashed to pieces by their opposition.

It doesn't take long to realize the same will happen to you if either of you are captured by your enemies. You have to rethink now, figure out the best strategy to not only win the game, but to make sure that neither of you ends up dead on the way there. You see the other Knight has a giant sword, one that seems to slice through the marble pieces around you like they're made of butter.

If you fail, you can try and dodge the blast, and you could also choose to run from the start; but there's a high chance the pieces will begin to revolt and come after you. You can either play the game or try and fight your way to the door. An interesting dilemma, considering that you're unarmed.

I AM NOT MYSELF, YOU SEE

This dollhouse is filled with tons of rooms, all of which seem to have their own unique flair, and sometimes they seem to be very much filled with the uniqueness of you. As you and your companion explore each door, you eventually start to open ones that seem to contain pieces of them or pieces of you put onto display. How is that possible? Well, you're not quite sure, but it certainly seems like they've managed.

Some of these rooms may hold memories playing out like strangely made stop-animation films; clay versions of yourself and anyone who was in the memory with you, mocked up to put your deepest secrets or your happiest moments into a visual reality. Other rooms may hold objects that relate to your very being - either physical items from home that were exceptionally important to you or metaphorical symbols of who you are as a person. A heart for loving, a stuffed lion (or a real lion, though you'd better hope it's friendly) for courage... All those stereotypical links people have created to show who they are over time.

There's no choice but to keep searching these rooms, though, learning more about yourself and your companion than either of you probably ever wanted to know - because eventually, one of those rooms? Is your ticket out. You'll know when you see it. A giant mirror will be leaning against the wall, the image fuzzy and rippled and not at all the reflection of the room around it. If you put your hand to it, it will sink right through. So long as you don't shy away in fear, you've finally found the end to this dream - or nightmare, as the case may be for some.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sure.

[ Majima stepped into the only other open position -- the queen's square, which seemed to come complete with a goofy flower crown waiting for him on the polished little square. He was not going to put it on.

This seemed like the world's worst idea, so why not. They could call him when it was a shogi match. ]

Let's get this show on the road.

No hesitation, hm? Well, I appreciate your confidence.

[ true to his word, akechi will direct the game fairly deftly, though he is given pause when the first pawn is felled. ]

... I see. I suppose the stakes are meant to be our very lives...

[ There was a new, sudden sharpness to Majima's expression, barely there before it was replaced by a faint smile. ]

Excitin'. How good are you at not getting things lopped off?

[ He was sure Akechi was great at chess, but you know. If the worst should happen, maybe they ought to consider whether running or fighting was the better option. ]

[ Something about that seems to startle a laugh out of him. ]

You're awfully calm. Well, I'm confident I can keep both of us with our heads intact.

[ smug shit. A few more moves, and two more pawns fall, one on each side. ]

Am I to assume you've faced danger before?

You could say that. Kinda hard to avoid it in a place like this.

[ It wasn't just facing danger, of course -- it was the feel of confronting it, of being a hair away from certain ruin. There was a thrill in that sliver between skill and chance that was worth it, all of it.

They weren't at that point yet, however. Majima watched as the opposing rook took a nearby pawn. A little lean forward, and he was able to snag the broken piece's sword. ]

Never hurts to be prepared. Where to now?

A place like this?

[ He echoes, politely, in the middle of all of this marble carnage.

Akechi watches Majima snag a sword, and.... well, seems to think it's a good idea. He ends up doing the same, moving himself across the board and lightly snatching up a weapon along the way. He holds it a bit like a fencer might. ]

... perhaps that conversation is best saved for later. In the meantime, it's a cold comfort to know we'll both be able to defend ourselves should the need arise.

[ He'll call out the next move, placing his free hand on his chin as he considers the board with a furrowed brow. ]

I should ask. Just how confident are you in your ability to stave off our attackers? [ He asks like it's idle conversation. ] Not that I'm worried; but it would be good to know what we have up our sleeves, if we need it.

Deerington. At least, if we're still where I think we are.

[ Majima moved over a few squares. ]

Judgin' from what we've seen so far, these pieces aren't going to be able to hit me. That said, no telling if this chessboard's hiding something.

So I'd prefer if we didn't have to find out.

[ Well, that was

mostly true, it was certainly the logical thing to wish for. He wouldn't be too broken up if it turned into a free-for-all, though. ]

Won't be able to hit you? What an intriguing thing to say. Could it be there's more to you than meets the eye?

[ like it's not meant as an insult yet somehow it totally feels like one. what a dick.

anyway man did someone say free-for-all? it would be super unfortunate if that happened, huh.

well. it doesn't happen yet. but now that the two of them are armed, the pieces seem to be getting restless. or is it just that the board grows ever emptier...? ]

I guess we'll see.

[ .......ANYWAY. This game was going eerily in their favor, which meant that Majima didn't trust it at all... a suspicion that turned out to be not entirely unfounded as a passing piece rushed by, lance held carelessly at its side.

If he hadn't been paying attention, it would have bit deep, probably into a kidney. Instead, he skated aside, remaining in his square only by the grace of a centimeter or two. ]

No one likes a sore loser, asshole.

Haha. Could it be our teammates don't take losing very well...?

[ The other side of the board does seem to be contemplating mutiny as their defeat grows ever closer. Their king and queen rouse themselves, and Akechi shifts unthinkingly into a fencer's stance. ]

... I'd guess we only have a handful of moves left before they attack. Are you ready to run?

Yeah. Crowd's gettin' thinned out, anyway.

[ Less stone pieces to worry about, though if he had a chance, Majima would take a swing at the opposing king, anyway. What if the door didn't open unless the piece was destroyed? Wouldn't want to take that chance, would he?

Majima drove his sword into an opposing bishop, and stood aside as its tall hat toppled heavily onto the board. ]

Let's hope no one tries to flip the table over.