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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.

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[Doug frowns as Wolverine takes down the rook. He should be glad that's possible, but he's now questioning his own ability to do the same thing. He doesn't have adamantium claws or, well, any sort of weapon at all.]

...Should've let you be the queen.

[Having more ability to move only meant something if he could attack properly, and he's limited Logan to the movements of a knight. Not the brightest of choices, but there's no time for excuses. He has to work with what he's done.]

That other knight - its sword isn't made of the same material. We might be able to separate it. I'm not gonna be able to do much with my fists. When you get close enough do you think you can slice that off first?

[He can only assume that's part of the puzzle. They wouldn't stand a fighting chance otherwise. Or he wouldn't, at least.]

[ Logan considers the knight, about two L-shaped moves away from him, and then nods his head. ] Yeah, I can get its sword. [ In fact, he's wondering if he doesn't have to eat it before he takes it. ]

We just have to get it before it gets me, huh? [ Glancing back at Doug, he offers a half-smirk, then looks back to his opponent. As if reading his mind, however, it moves back-- changing the game so it takes three moves for Logan to catch up to it. ] I got this.

[ So he moves towards it, and a bishop from the other side swiftly slides to take his place where he'd been. Conveniently enough, this leaves it in the perfect position to eat Doug in its next move.

This means Logan back tracks and destroys it, of course. But then the knight he'd been pursuing moves forward towards him.

...hopefully Doug will notice that if Logan hopped back to where he was earlier, then in the next move the other knight can very well slice through him. ]

[Doug does notice. It's the sort of thing his powers are good for. He could direct Logan the whole time if he wasn't concerned about wounding his pride. He might still do that.]

Don't move back. You're the only one of us with weapons and I'd hate to lose you. I'm very fragile on my own.

[It's been a lot easier to admit that sort of thing ever since his powers got an upgrade. Though he's also a lot more capable in combat than he likes to show. Bad memories.]

Go to your left and up instead.

Edited 2018-11-09 06:22 (UTC)

[ Left and up... Logan raises a brow, but does as told; "I'd hate to lose you" sounds an awful lot like it's in the same general area of "there's a difference between heroism and suicide". ]

What, was that thing gonna get me?

Yeah, it was trying to set you up. Could've been gory.

[He's trying to be flippant, but watching Logan get torn up by a giant chess piece would have been very disturbing. He has enough disturbing memories as it is.

The knight that would have posed a threat is soon approached by one of his bishops, who shatters it and sends its weapon clattering to the floor.]

You should be able to pick that up on your next move.

Edited 2018-11-12 01:15 (UTC)

Yeah, I got it. [ A fact he proves when, as he moves, he nabs the discarded sword and pulls it up with one hand.

It's ridiculously heavy, though. Testing the weight in his grip, Logan has to exert some effort to hold it up, and he's not exactly sure how strong Doug is, physically.

He'll probably need two hands for this. ]

Uh, how do I get this to you? [ Doug isn't exactly near. ] Am I supposed to throw--?

[ Of course, Logan hasn't considered the possibility of just... walking over to give it, but part of him is concerned stepping out of bounds in a very ruled game might bring consequences of its own. ]

Edited 2018-11-13 04:37 (UTC)

Stay where you are. I'll come to you.

[Now he has to do this without putting himself in jeopardy. His mind is already several steps ahead, calculating all potential moves by their opponents. It's a lot like facing off against a computer, which he's exceptional at, except that the stakes are far too real.

Doug has all the physical strength of a young male dancer who was never allowed in the Danger Room. And he hasn't done much of the dancing lately either. He doesn't know how he's going to manage that sword if Wolverine can't, but he'll have to figure something out. Maybe it's a sword-in-the-stone type deal and it'll be much lighter in his hands.

Doubtful.]

Actually, no. Don't stay where you are. Move down and left. I'll see you in a move.

Got it.

[ When he gets the chance to, he does as told. Typically Logan's good at chess-- he'd played enough with both Charles and Erik that not being good at this point would be disgraceful-- but he realises just how useless he is when he's actually living the game.

Hard to make battle strategies in the middle of the battle. Logan could never be a good general, not in his life.

He makes his way to Doug when he can, and he transfers the sword from his left (dominant) hand to his right, holding it by the blade with the sharp end up so he can cradle the blunt side. The hilt is offered Doug's way. ]

Two hands. [ Logan probably doesn't have to indicate this, but he does so anyway. ] It's a heavy piece of shit.

[The younger mutant reaches out to accept the offered weapon, fully expecting embarrassment. If this is heavy for Logan then it'll be doubly heavy for him. He doesn't have the best track record when it comes to fighting with, or even hefting, large swords.

So he's quite surprised when the weight of it doesn't immediately send him pitching forward. When it's passed on to him it's not difficult to lift at all. It's a nice solid weight but he can see himself swinging it for quite a while before getting tired. How curious.

He knows his strength hasn't increased, and with the way Logan shredded that other piece there's no way his has lessened. That means the weight of the sword has adjusted to him. He can appreciate this dream showing mercy for once.]

Huh. [He lifts it up, examining the length of the blade.] Not bad for a linguist, right?

Yeah, well, [ Logan snorts ] I'm glad you ain't falling the fuck ov--

[ He's interrupted by the twitch of his ears and the subsequent, swift raise of both his arms, blocking a rook that had been well on its way to smashing him. ] --rragh!

[ One bad thing is that it'd had a solid reason for smashing him.

Another is that now Logan is staring at his claws, at the residue of the piece left stuck in his adamantium.

The worst thing, however, is that-- as the rook lands on the square directly in front of him-- Logan realises the other pieces are vibrating in their place. The board is shaking. ]

...oh, fuck me.

[ The rook charges and Logan stabs it through the centre, but rather than turn to dust all that happens is that his blade sinks in like it's gone into foam. The rook bounces up, nearly curving his claws, and Logan's mouth opens in a gasp of pain before he throws it off.

The other pieces are moving across the board towards them. ]

--run!

What did-- But I---

[Doug doesn't have time to be aghast. He'd been tracking every move carefully. The language of chess is more like a dance than anything, pieces taking their turn in a set number of moves. He'd known every possible outcome.

So he refuses to take the blame for this. Whatever, it hardly matters now.

The sword is suddenly as heavy in his hands as it should have been from the start, and he drops it before the weight can bowl him over. It clatters to the ground where it shatters as if it had been made of glass.]

...Running it is.

[He can't read these pieces as well as he could a human. Potential movement is left to physics, and he slides under a piece right before it can fall on top of him.]

[ The kid's got pretty good manoeuvring-- the sort of grace that tells Logan he has experience. Not in running, not in moving, but in this particular brand of escape; it makes him feel a little better about focusing his senses on the pieces around them rather than whether the kid can run without tripping on his own feet.

There is the surreal sound of ripping, popping plastic. The weaponless pieces begin, inexplicably, to grow weapons of their own from their bodies.

Logan slices straight through a queen before what looks to be an axe can materialise at her side. Its blade smashes into the chessboard, sending tremors beneath their feet and cracks all along. ]

Do you see a door?! [ Swiftly moving to Doug's side and dashing from it, Logan cuts through a pawn that'd been making its way towards him. The pieces are coming faster, the ground shaking beneath them, and Logan roars and brings his claws forward and around mercilessly. ]

No!

[And he doesn't. Because of course there isn't a door. They have to win the game first for that - solve the puzzle. That's the way it's been with every area here so far. There's no guarantee that even destroying all these pieces will let them proceed.

He hopes that isn't the case. There has to be a way out.]

Logan! [He just barely misses losing his head to the swing of an enemy piece's sword.] Kill the king!

Edited 2018-12-06 05:05 (UTC)

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