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November 2018 Test Drive Meme

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

Scan through what now?

[ Here was the thing: while Majima had by now met more demons, constructs, aliens, and so forth than you could shake a stick at, a bizarrely large proportion of them looked pretty close to human. How did you even tell I mean really. ]

An exit. Could be as simple as a door that's different from the rest. D'you remember anything unusual about the way ya got here? Pass by any puzzles?

[ He opened the door to the next room, only to have a cascade of stuffed dolls pour out and onto the floor, soft and plush. ]

[MOMO shakes her head.]

I haven't seen anything. [She frowns but she doesn't say anything about her in-human status. She doesn't mind people knowing but she really doesn't like being called a Realian.] Maybe the puzzle is in here? If we can find a ship I can fly it out. [Which is a perfectly normal response.

MOMO follows him towards the door and stops as a series of dolls fill the hallway.]

They're so cute!

[She smiles as she picks up one of the stuffed chics.]

They are, ain't they? Spent a bunch of turns tryin' to get one once.

[ Majima reached down and picked up a stuffed sparrow with a snappy red top hat. ]

They're too round, so it makes 'em hard to pick up with a claw arm unless ya get it exactly right.

Really?

[MOMO pokes the round fat bird and laughs. The sound is bright and happy and that of a child.] It's so fluffy! [She is a stark contrast to this haunted wonderland like house.]

Majima. Do you think that all of these rooms are filled with stuffed animals?

[She runs to the next door and opens it but finds something else. It's a clay figure of a girl about MOMO's age. They look nearly identical except that this is Sakura and she's human. Her hair is brown and her eyes bright as she hugs a large bunny rabbit stuffed animal. Behind her is a man who MOMO's memory tells her is Joachem Mizarhi.] Daddy?

[She steps forward and then stops. The picture is froze somehow and MOMO isn't sure what's going on but it makes her feel sad, like this is a goodbye.]

Really. Best thing to do is aim for the hat so they can't wriggle away.

[ It was strangely nice, hearing normal laughter like this -- though it did make him wonder what she'd been through that she could bounce back so quickly. Majima stepped through the door and took in the likenesses.

'Daddy', huh? ]

Is that... your sister?

[ They certainly had something of a family resemblance. ]

You okay, MOMO?

[MOMO stares at the unmoving scene before snapping herself out of whatever trance it had inspired. She doesn't turn towards Majima but she looks away and tries to pull herself back together.]

No. That's Sakura. She is-

[Her eyes widen and something shakes MOMO from the inside out. She suddenly feels weak and collapses to the floor.]

I'm sorry. [She breathes, her fingers curled to her chest.] I'm fine.

[MOMO doesn't understand why this room is showing her father...]

MOMO?

[ Aw, jeez. Oh no. Majima bent down over her, trying to assess what was wrong. An attack of some kind? He wasn't feeling any aftereffects from the food he'd eaten, so he assumed it had to be from seeing the image of her father and Sakura. ]

Ya sure? Want me to lift ya out of here?

[She shakes her head and forces herself to her feet.]

No. I can walk.

[MOMO turns away from the room and takes a step towards the door. She's moving slowly but with purpose.] It'll be fine. We should go.

[She tries to be strong, she needs to be strong.]

I'm tougher than I look.

Okay.

[ The scene got one more look over his shoulder before he headed toward the door. Beyond it -- ah.

The room was a small one, filled with a few figures. Two young men, one of them built like a bear, with his long hair worn loose around his face. And a girl who looked to be in her late teens, dressed in house clothes.

"Hey, Yasuko," the heavyset man was saying. "How 'bout you go to the corner store real quick and pick up a few beers? Ain't everyday we get Majima here."

He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting through this door. Bleeding flowers, maybe. Something dramatic and symbolic, something difficult to explain but easy to brush off. Instead, the present Majima looked suddenly stricken -- inexplicably so, considering how mild the scene seemed to be.

Truth was, he hadn't thought of Yasuko Saejima much the past few years. Not as a real face, not as the ponytailed girl she was here. He stopped in his tracks, and for a moment said nothing. ]

[She follows behind him, her fingers slipping into his as she took his hand. MOMO hopes its okay but she doesn't want to be alone here. This house is... strange.]

Majima?

Are you okay?

[She won't ask what this is. MOMO can tell that he's upset via her scanners.]

Yeah, I...

[ He held her hand reflexively, as if reminding himself where he was. ]

Wasn't expectin' to see them again, I guess. Don't know why.

[ "Should I pick up some snacks, too?" the ponytailed was asking. They were in an apartment, the window left open to help disperse some of the summer heat. It wasn't a particularly modern or well-to-do place, but the kitchen area was kept clean, shoes lined up neatly by the entrance.

"Yeah, if ya wouldn't mind." The big man's words were gentle, but it seemed like he was trying to get some time for a private conversation with Majima -- who looked startlingly different, with shorter hair and casual clothing. And both eyes, actually. ]

C'mon, we shouldn't hang around.

[ Majima, the present-day version, started forward, skirting past the talking figures as Yasuko started to the door. ]

Alright.

[MOMO's gaze lingers on the setting, her scans picking up every detail and note in the scene before turning and following Majima towards the next door. She keeps her hand in his, her fingers curling around his palm as she stayed close at his side.

The next room MOMO reaches for the door and inside is...

A fluffy mess. There are large pink bunnies and bright pink bubbles floating through the air. It looks a little like a soap but if they were to eat the bubbles it'd taste like cotton candy.]

It's so pretty!

The heck?

[ And hey, at least this was something to take his mind off all the could-haves and should-haves. He put out a finger to touch one of the bubbles, but instead of popping, it stuck to his index finger, shimmering a soft pink. ]

Kinda smells like the sugar crystals we'd stick in the cotton candy machine back in Reims. This's gotta be for you, right? Ain't anything like this in Kamurocho.

[ Actually... more of the bubbles were starting to stick to him....send help. ]

[MOMO blinks and looks around the room.]

It's Bunnie. [She releases Majima's hand and steps forward. The pink bubbles float around her but they don't stick to her skin. MOMO smiles and a sweet little giggle escapes her lips.] I like those room.

[Amber eyes turn towards Majima to see him turning into a sticky mess.]

Oh... Maybe we should keep going.

[She returns to Majima's side and takes his hand, guiding him forward once again.]

Uh... y-yeah, maybe.

[ He wasn't about to complain, but he did try to discreetly pull the bubbles one-by-one off of himself. Whew. ]

Who's Bunnie? A character from a TV show?

[ The next room was... strange. There were paintings everwhere, some hung upside-down, and chandeliers of all kinds. Some were made to look like they were made of cake, or like a collection of fairies. And there was grass growing instead of a wood floor?

What really caught his attention, however, was the long table stretching out over much of the grass, set up with afternoon tea. ]

A stuffed animal. [That MOMO loves with all of her heart.

She steps into the next room and stops. A sweet pleasant smell reaches her nose and she feels her stomach grumble. That... is a strange feeling. One that she's not really used too.]

What is this place?

[She looks around but she doesn't see anything besides the table, cakes and teas.]

It looks like someone left a tea party out here.

[ A tea party... that for some reason seemed to include dango and green tea? God, when was the last time he'd had either of those. ]

I... don't know if it's a good idea to be here.

[ Especially since he couldn't tell if it was nostalgia or the dream that was making the treats look so tempting. ]

Then let's go.

[MOMO doesn't want to go but if Majima is worried... she'll do it for him.

She turns towards the door but when she tries to open it, she can't. She jiggles the handle hard and frowns.]

It won't open.

In other words, there's somethin' we're supposed to do here?

[ He frowned at the place settings, then walked up to the table. The sweet smell of sugar cubes and sweets was more intense up close. ]

Hey, MOMO. This place card's got your name on it. Looks like someone was expectin' us.

It does?

[She steps over to the table and inspects the card. 'MOMO Mizarhi' is written in neat curling letters on the card.] How did they know? [She reaches forward and gently inspects the card before looking down the table.]

Nothing seems out of the ordinary except, this...

[MOMO grabs the riddle that's at the center of the table and reads it a loud.]

Edited 2018-11-05 01:13 (UTC)

Another riddle? I thought Dixon's place had enough of those.

[ He frowned as he listened, but didn't interrupt. Only when MOMO finished did he speak up. ]

So solvin' this is going to get us out? Let's see... so it can change in size, and it can move fast or slow.

[ His hand moved almost unbidden towards the handle of a teapot before he realized what he was doing and pulled it back. ]

Dixon?

[She asks, her head canting to the side like a confused puppies.]

As slow as a snail but from me you can't run. [MOMO repeats thoughtfully. She thinks she has an idea but she isn't sure if she's right. She's an observational unit but maybe if she searches her database.]

One second.

Uh, he's this other fella I know -- from a town called Ebbing in Missouri. It's kinda a long story.

[ He tilted his head curiously at her request, but waited all the same. It was probably either something elemental, or one of those abstract concepts.

Guilt? Air? ]

[MOMO continues to search before finding the answer.]

The answer is Shadow.

[She takes a seat at her place setting and frowns. Why had she sat down? She doesn't have to eat but those cakes look so good. Without fully understanding the reason why, MOMO reaches forward and takes a bite of chocolate cake. Her mouth curves in a smile.]

Wow! This is good.

Just like that, huh?

[ This was... a little concerning, though. No matter how good it tasted (well, maybe because of how good it might taste), was it really okay to just eat the treats on the table?

Majima looked at the door, but nothing seemed to have changed in response to MOMO's answer.

Shadow...?

The shadow of the door? The shadow of the table?

He tried his level best to keep his gaze away from the tea settings, and caught sight of his own shadow instead. Could it be...? ]

It does? Ya don't feel any different?