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

[ Despite himself he laughs, the sound of it a little unsteady. ]

At least now I know this is a dream. Or perhaps a nightmare?

[ He smiles at his ... "friend," though it couldn't be called a normal smile by any means. ]

I'm hardly much of a knight, am I? Yet here we are.

I'd be okay with calling it a nightmare. [Look at where they are. But also, he'll play along with the joke of this whole... thing.

He's not quite sure, but there's something about the tone that makes him... not feel so great about any strategies that might be planned. Which means he should probably just figure out how to survive this on his own and... hope Akechi can do the same. Not much love lost, but there are some regrets, and he'd rather not see what happens if the Knight is defeated - that also gives him a bad feeling.]

There's no prince in chess, after all. [Point to him, there's not even any bite to the word 'prince'.]

But if you're so confident you can win this match, I'll be counting on you. [Keep playing dumb, keep playing dumb, keep watching his back for daggers coming for it.] Please take good care of your Queen~ [He's going to die, and maybe this time he'll deserve it a little.]

[ The urge to start laughing and just not stop is extremely powerful. He feels a little light headed, if he's honest. His ears are ringing with the sound of a gunshot. Like someone took him apart and put him back together all wrong.

Though... that someone... he's right here, isn't he?

Bite or no, Akechi's jaw clenches when he hears the word "prince." He doesn't otherwise react, doesn't look at the other boy. However... unlike Akira, he does not feel a need to act like everything is just fine. ]

Well aren't you trusting? [ There's an edge, a dangerous false cheer to his voice that Akira might find familiar. ] Let this knight guide you to safety, then. My queen.

[ There is all at once too much pressure, too much energy, under his skin. Why does Kurusu always make him feel this way? Too much and not enough all at once. He isn't even sure why he's so angry.

Regardless of his obvious instability, the moves he barks out are -- for now -- seemingly sound. ]

[Can he just live his life for five minutes without this happening? It's always when Akechi gets that sort of... look, that tone to his voice that makes Akira's skin crawl. He doesn't want this to end poorly for either of them. He doesn't want it to be this way in general.

... Seems he's not getting a choice. All he can do is utilize his position as a Queen - a very important piece that doesn't often get sacrificed - to... try to survive this.

Then again, it seems like his... companion's strategies are going quite well. Even though the first time one of the pawns is 'captured'... messily beheaded... it makes him flinch, and take a step back. Okay, so... avoiding that at all costs.]

... So... That's three pieces we need to win this game and keep stable. You think we have a shot, detective? [He'll leave the spitting titles for Akechi. He's going to keep his cool. He's not trying to goad the other young man by remaining perfectly calm (even though he's on edge, even though he's always alert, he has to stay collected because one of them does), but it'll probably happen anyway.]

[ Nope. They're in this now. Akira's presence alone seems enough to completely unravel him, though perhaps there's some small comfort in the fact that it's at least not happening all at once?

Or maybe not, depending on your perspective. Is there really any benefit to coming apart slowly, instead?

Akechi laughs again, this time with a hysterical note tinging his voice, when the other boy calls him detective. He presses his palms into his eyes and doesn't flinch when a piece is decapitated awfully close to him. Close, but still. It wasn't him. Wasn't Akira. They remain safe. The pieces dwindle. ]

A shot? If I thought you were a crueler person, I'd wonder if that was a pun! But no, of course it's not. I...

[ God. His arms are at his sides again, but now his hands are shaking. ]

Did I...

[ He just ... isn't sure-- ]

No. Never mind. What I want to know is why you're not running.

[It could be a pun. But honestly, that had been unintentional, and of course Akira has made things worse just by existing apparently. Oh well, just another bullet he has to dodge at this point.

Even he flinches when the piece goes to bits around Akechi, like he's expecting splinters and shards or a heavy chunk to strike, but it doesn't seem to, and they're both left untouched.]

Should I be running? Seems better to stay and win the game. [Like he had before.]

Are you just going to turn on me, here, when we're both in danger? [Right in front of his salad???]

No.

[ Which question is he answering...? Well, regardless, it seems like the answer must be no.

Another move, and another still. They both remain safe. ]

... regardless of your casual attitude, this changes nothing. Once we're done here, we have no reason to speak.

[Honestly, he shouldn't believe that 'no' so easily... and he doesn't. He's more expecting Akechi to send him into a trap, though, than to just outright turn against him. Sacrifice the queen, and then win the match himself and walk off. Wouldn't be too difficult, he doesn't think.

Which means Akira himself needs to stay on his toes, but try to also stay chill. The relaxed air isn't helping Akechi who tends to flip out, but Akira himself flipping out would probably just expedite things that much faster. Some games just can't be won.]

Says who?