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

[Peter had ran into Matt randomly in the tea room — and while he didn't recognize this particular face, he had immediately recognized the name from a particular business card a lawyer handed to him on the street. As Spider-Man, anyway. Now he's just plain ol' civilian Peter Parker, who helped the guy out with the whole riddle thing — kind of super rude, to drag a blind dude into a place that requires so much visual aid, right?

He ends up in the many endless rooms, and his hackles immediately rise at the newspaper on the table that details what a danger Spider-Man is to the public. He couldn't help but wince at the random little things here and there, reminders of his own past and... identity. Thank god the guy's blind, actually. Wait, no, that's rude. Just. You know what he means.

... Wait—

That mask...?

He carefully picks it up, expecting Murdock to not note his motion as he stares it down.

Daredevil...? Is it possible...

Absently:]

Uuhh... Nothing, no.

[He will just. Um. Put it down as quietly as possible.]

We should get out of here before something tries to — eat us or something.

[ Too bad for Peter that Matt absolutely clocks it. He hears it being lifted, and he can hear the detached tone in Peter's voice. It leaves Matt wondering what this guy might know about Daredevil and if he's smart enough to put the pieces together. ]

I don't think anything in here is going to try and eat us.

[ At least, Matt can't hear anything. No breathing save for their own, no extra heartbeats. Still ... ]

That's probably a good idea, though.

[He's still trying to decide just how involved Matt is with Daredevil, honestly; it's possible he just knows him — especially if he gave Spider-Man a business card. That implies he might just help heroes in need of a good lawyer? So... Well... uh.]

... You say that, but the last weird house I walked into had a backyard chock full of zombies.

[He watches him get around with some interest, too.

Guy is pretty damn good at that. But Peter's never known a blind guy, so what does he know?]

Since we're stuck trying to find a way out, though — wanna throw proper introductions at each other? Learn more about each other, while we're trapped in some Alice in Wonderland Reject World? All I know is you're Matt Murdock, and that's thanks to a handy dandy little placard on a lunch table.

Seeing as you know my name, the proper introduction really falls on you, doesn't it?

[ As far as Matt is concerned, Peter already knows more about Matt than Matt would like him to. He doesn't meant to be stand-offish, but - Yeah, okay, he means it, but usually he's more polite about it. ]

I'm a lawyer from Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan.

[ See? He can play nice. ]

... True enough. I'm Peter Parker. [What is the standard for offering a blind man a handshake? Not to do it? He's not gonna do it.] From Queens originally, but I've been living in Manhattan for a while. Been doing a lot of, uh... research work. I mean I was. I'm kind of unemployed now, I guess.

[Pete on the other hand is not standoffish at all, because his secrets totally aren't out on any walls that Matt Murdock can see. So that's... you know. Clearly not something that'll blow up in his face later. Besides, he... admittedly really is too interested in the correlation between Daredevil and Matt Murdock.]

How did law school treat you? Maybe I'll try that next, if my back alley culinary education fails and Gordon Ramsey kicks me out of his establishment.

[Don't listen to him, he's a shitty chef and would never.

Also he's trying to lighten the mood; how's he doing?]

I said I'm a lawyer, didn't I?

[ Which means that law school treated him pretty nicely. Right. Matt checks himself again. It's nothing personal against Peter, it's just that this place isn't doing much for his aggressive tendancies. ]

I went to Columbia and graduated Summa Cum Laude. My friend and I started our own firm together.

[ Matt understands that some people like to talk as a means to distraction, and that some people find it helps them think better. Matt, of course, doesn't fall into either category. He'll keep moving through the rooms. ]

Were you a scientist?

... Right, yeah. Lawyer, big bucks, all that.

[But boy, he was so close to sassing back with a 'well, I said I did research work, didn't I?', but to be fair to Matt — this place is all tension right now, and he can't blame him for being in a bad mood. To put it lightly. Peter clears his throat, a hand moving to the nape of his neck.]

Bachelor of Science degree in Biophysics from ESU. I was a research lab assistant, but, uh... low on funds, didn't really pan out. [He shrugs and tries not to think about how absolutely simplified that is; it still hurts like a bitch.] I'm sure something else'll come up. Eventually.

After I escape from dreamworld, preferably.

[Matt can probably hear the record player a little before Peter and his honed hearing, what with it being his forte: in a few rooms over, the sounds of explosions, of fighting. Peter's mouth dries at it, eyes widening slightly.

Peter, soft, confused, says — "You knew?"

Dr. Octavius growls, "I tried to warn you, Peter. But you didn't listen."

Anger, outrage, misery, all echoing over the crackle of fire and electricity gone rogue: "You knew!"

"I won't let you win. This means too much to me!"

Peter stops, looks to another direction that pointedly isn't where the sounds are coming from. He doesn't expect Matt would be able to hear it clearly, because you know. He's supposed to be the one with inhuman hearing, not you. Clearly. This place really is some kind of twisted dream thing, isn't it? Rehearing all this again on grainy vinyl is a nightmare and a half. It's still raw. And it's... personal and confidential and not anything he wants Murdock hearing, for clear reasons.]

We should — go this way.

[There's multiple doors, so you know. This other, quieter way it better. Because. It just is.]

I work for bananas. Literally.

[ So he understands the lack of money. Matt's made the choice, though. He's a good enough lawyer and his latest cases had massive settlements. He could be rich if he wanted to be, but that's not why he wanted to be a lawyer.

The sounds filter to Matt's ears. At first, he honestly thinks Peter might be whispering, until the conversation continues.

Huh.

This place is full of surprises, isn't it? ]

Which way is this way?

[ Though he's worried, now. Will his own past be played out like that, too? Or will it stay confined to cryptic items. Either way, he's all for choosing quieter options. ]

Good question. I'm honestly not sure, but it's all unlocked.

... This place could use a Disneyland-styled map.

["And over here is Island of Sad Memories, right next to the truck that serve's Peter's Regrets!" Doesn't matter. They're lead into a dimmed and unused room with white sheets covering everything, and as long as it isn't playing miserable snippets of his life he's content. Keep moving forward, as they say — and hey, there's something Matt says that Peter relates to. A lot. He glances back, hesitant now that he's hyper-aware the house has dirt on him and Doctor Octavius.]

Bananas, huh?

... Sometimes I worked for take-out.