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

I'm sure it would appreciate the offer.

[Sweet Shuichi. How could one possibly be annoyed by this face?]

Though I think it'd appreciate meat more than tobacco.

[He watches the cigarette land on the plant and there's a subtle twitch to his lips. Really. He's almost disappointed the plant doesn't move.]

It's a marvelous replica. But we're not here to look at my hobbies. Shall we continue looking for a way out? Something unconventional is likely our target.

[Hickey's annoyed as well. There's no point in looking at plastic replicas of predators when you've seen the real thing yourself. He quickly turns on his heel and steps out of the room, hands stuffed back into his pockets, not even bothering to reply. He exits towards the hallway and open a wooden door, more or less choosing at random. A sudden coldness come on him the second he opens the door - no ordinary chill, but the sort of thing that makes his bones freeze even under his thick coat.

Regardless, Hickey steps into the room. There's no obvious source for the cold, but the room does seem like a museum exhibition on the arctic: various ivory carvings, taxidermied polar bears and arctic foxes, Inuit clothing hung on display. The walls have various posters stuck on them, all with COME TRY YOUR HAND AS A MEMBER OF THE DISCOVERY SERVICE written on them in different fonts and coloring.

In one corner of the room there's a cluster of dolls dressed in furs laying on the ground near a sled, bullet holes in their clothes and a pile of blood on the floor. They seem like a family, and in an instant Hickey's standing near them, poking at one doll with his boot.]

[Without a doubt, they are to walk through this together. Suffer through on the whims of this ridiculous house. Even if he doesn't care for present company, he can't leave him behind, even if it were possible to escape of his own.

He follows after the man, keeping silent as he steps into the room. The walls tell the beginning of the story of this room. Unlike the one previous, it carries a chilling sensation that doesn't solely come from the strange decrease in temperature. The animals get a curious glance, the clothing a quirked brow, but he's most curious about the 'Discovery Service' that's written on the posters than he is about the rest of it.

But there is a heaviness that stays his tongue. There's no point in antagonizing someone, he's more mature than that.]

Your employer? [He refers to the posters, while inspecting the Inuit clothing closely.] Quite impressive.

[Hickey turns back to Kurama, watching him inspect the clothing.] Of a sort. [He rolls his shoulders back, cracking his neck side to side.] We went our own ways, eventually.

[He smiles to himself, that same cold smile that always seems to imply he knows something nobody else does. Then he starts cautiously walking towards the other man, boots clicking against the hard floor.] It was supposed to be a short journey to the other side of the world... Leave your troubles behind and start anew. [He touches one of the posters with the tips of fingers, tracing over the letters gently.] We got stuck instead.

[Then, perhaps feeling like he's said too much, Hickey steps back, shrugging his shoulders again.] Everything's a learning experience, or so it goes.

[Kurama watches from the corner of his eye. There's more to what he says, something he clearly wants to keep to himself. He steps away, looking at the poster the man touches.]

It looks more like propaganda to recruit soldiers.

[His tone is light, meant to put some levity in a company who advertises in such a ridiculous way, but to really gauge reactions.]

So things didn't go as planned. It's a shame. It sounds interesting.

[He turns, looking over towards the corner where Hickey was standing, looking down at what laid there. What really happened, then? He can't help but be curious, but he believes prying won't get him anywhere and is likely not worth the aggravation if he winds the man up.]

Were you able to learn anything there?

Not quite soldiers. Explorers. [He spits it out like it's an insult, all while retaining his usual smug tone.]

For one, it was my first time on foreign soil.

[He closes his eyes, seemingly concentrating on his own thoughts for a few seconds before snapping back to reality.]

And my first time meeting all sorts of foreign creatures.

[He walks over to one of the coats and starts stroking the fur collar - he'd gone to all sorts of shows back in London, the American Prairie and the Arctic and all the like, but nothing could have prepared him for the real experience of standing on those desolate rocks and feeling like the whole world was his.]