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

Shuichi.

[She's so young, by all appearances, and those dolls have clearly shaken her. It's a strange one, no doubt, but there will be time for questions later. Getting her somewhere better is the better idea. If there's an end, anyway.]

You're a very brave girl. [He stands up, looking around.] Let's continue. We'll find the exit together.

It's very nice to meet you Shuichi. I'm MOMO.

[She forces her mouth into a small happy smile.] Okay! [Her voice is bright and cheerful but a tear escapes and slides down her cheek. She might not be human but she can't help but feel a lose at the sight of her sisters like that.]

Do you know which way we should go?

And you as well, MOMO.

[Kurama almost stoops to wipe away her tear, standing silent for a moment, but he's not sure such a gesture would be appreciated, since she's taken the stance that she's all right.

Instead, he offers his hand for her to take hold with a patient smile on his face.]

I'm afraid I do not, but it can't be far. Maybe if I lead, you won't have to see anymore. Is that okay?

[MOMO hesitates before taking Kurama's hand. She doesn't know him but he seems nice and he's willing to help her. Ziggy would probably be angry with her for trusting a stranger but that's okay. MOMO's sure that it's oaky.]

Yes. Thank you Shuichi.

[She'll walk at his side though it doesn't stop her eyes from roaming around the halls and nervously eyeing the doorways.]

[It's an offer of comfort in what clearly looks like it's meant to wear on the girl's mind. The facts don't matter, not after the tear shed for it.

He gives her hand a brief squeeze, and then leads her down the halls, hoping something might stand out without having to enter the rooms.

There's no such solution, of course. Everything carries the same scent, no trails left behind, no signatures to follow. Everything that makes someone unique is erased, or his nose isn't functioning well, either's a possibility.

Kurama stops in front of a door, placing his hand on the door knob pauses.]

This one has a good feeling. [He's making this up, he'd be sorry, but he's not.]

Shall we try it? [He turns it to peek inside and slowly opens it wider for MOMO to decide if she's comfortable with a more thorough search.]

[She losses track of time as they make their way down the hallway. It doesn't feel like it has an end and MOMO wonders if this really is a dream that they've somehow gotten stuck in.

She doesn't think she dreams... but she isn't sure.]

Okay but can you go first?

[MOMO looks up at Kurama with large pleading amber eyes.]

Yes, of course.

[He understands her reticence, and has no problems. Even if it turns around on him, he can handle whatever lies within a lot better than she can. Hopefully it's... nothing disturbing.

He is cautious as he looks in, looking around for anything that might stand out and be harmful to the little one. Nothing moves, from this vantage point and it looks more like a toy room than anything.

A large white fox takes up a lot of the floor, its fur bright and fluffy, four tails curled around it. Though the eyes are red, it doesn't move or seem at all threatening.

There are some botany books on the floor, a few small toys, a dragon, a cat, a small blue penguin-like plush. Others are more common. Tops and wooden snakes, storybooks, and a general warmth to the room.]

My instincts aren't wrong.

[He smiles, offering the orange grumpy looking cat to her.]

[MOMO blinks at the room and then smiles.]

They're all so cute!

[She takes the offered cat and smiles.]

They're so weird.

[She's never seen plushies like these before.]

[She's happy, and that's enough. They all seem pointless and weird, but they do have a significance he won't bother to explain. It's nice, after all that's happened as of late.]

Do they not have these animals where you're from?

[He's thoughtful as he looks deeper at the things in the room. Interesting, honestly. It never ceases to surprise him the things Deerington pries from their minds.]

I suppose a lot of them are from legends. I'm fond of tales and mythology, so maybe that's why?

No. These are extinct.

[She pets the cat and smiles.]

There are pets you can purchase that are robotic but many of the species we know about didn't survive the travel through space.

[Some had but not all that many.]

ooc: want to wrap this up soon and have them find the mirror?

I see. That's unfortunate, but technology must be very advanced where you are from.

[For space travel and creation of robots. Such a trade-off, though.]

You can keep that one. It may not be real, but I think it'd appreciate a good home, nonetheless. [Can they even take things out with them? Who knows.]

Shall we keep looking for a way out?

[ooc: sounds good!]

[MOMO nods her head and once again takes Kurama's hand. She waits for him and then follows through the house. The next room has no other adjacent doors but a mirror.

She steps up the mirror and lightly brushes it. The hard surface ripples and MOMO takes a step back.]

This isn't a way out.

[It doesn't look like it but the mirror is the door.]

Edited 2018-11-12 16:16 (UTC)

[Kurama gladly guides her. When they come across the mirror, it's easy to tell it's not a normal one. The ripples raise caution, but as this is Deerington...]

Unfortunately, I think this fits well with the sense of humor of Deerington's dreamer.

[He smiles down at her, trying to be reassuring.]

Don't worry, MOMO-chan. I'd trust a door far less than I would a mirror. [A door seems easy, like there's a catch to it. Not many would trust a magic mirror.

He sticks his fingers into the mirror, following it with his entire arm. A moment of silence from Kurama until...]

Seems safe enough. My arm is still intact. Ready to go?

[Her eyes follow his arm as it sinks into the mirror. Something about it is unsettling but if he says so...

MOMO nods her head and makes her she has a firm grip on his hand.]

Let's go.

[She doesn't plan to let go of him.]

[He nods in return, holding tight to her hand. Whatever this is, he'll guide and protect her through it. It's the least he can do.]

Do not be afraid.

[Kurama's gaze remains on the mirror for a moment before he takes the first step through, letting her follow at her own pace. If all goes well, he supposes they'll end up in Deerington somewhere. He's not sure, but it won't matter if they stayed there.]