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Sodder ([personal profile] sodder) wrote in [community profile] soddersays2019-04-30 03:06 pm
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MAY 2019 TEST DRIVE MEME




MAY 2019 TEST DRIVE MEME









Welcome to May's Test Drive Meme! This is our first Test Drive ever so let's make it a good one. This month's Test Drive's theme is: SUPERNATURAL HORROR.

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.

CW: Sin related things? There's not much this month, actually.
Don't forget to tag content whenever necessary. Have fun!











VISION OF A WORLD


Everyone knows that people with special powers who show up in Deerington always seem to end up having them altered. Healers can't quite fix people the way they used to, teleportation can't ever seem to get you out beyond the town lines, resurrection ends up a little... messy. Whatever the case may be, people should be pretty used to the idea of their powers never being quite right.

That seems to have gone to an extreme. While some powers seemed to work just fine before, anyone with any kind of special ability will find that there's some sort of glitch occurring whenever they try to use them these days. Even those with technology-based powers that are usually left alone will find that their tech just isn't functioning the way it's supposed to. Some will find their powers have gone into complete overdrive, unable to control them in any manner - maybe you just meant to use your fire abilities to light a cigarette and instead you burnt down an entire tree, or if you're usually a strong telepath, you're suddenly unable to filter out anyone's thoughts.

On the opposite end, powers may cease to function at all. Maybe your super strength disappears and you're suddenly as weak as a child, or your self-healing no longer heals, leaving you vulnerable and capable of extreme injuries you've never felt before. Ever wondered what it was like to be "normal"? Now's your chance - hopefully you don't end up in any tricky situations where your powers may have come in handy after all.

Stranger still, people who have never had powers may find they're suddenly able to do incredible things. Those scrawny arms can suddenly lift cars over your head, or your usually slow and clumsy feet can now move faster than the speed of sound. Anything can happen - but now you're stuck trying to learn how to control powers you've never tried to use before. Maybe you'll be lucky and won't hurt yourself (or someone else) too badly...


NO SINNER LIKE A YOUNG SAINT


What's a better way to welcome the coming end of the school year than with a music festival? The record store has set up a nice party for everyone to attend outside their store, closing off the whole street so that everyone can have plenty of space to attend! Vendors are set up along the sidewalks with food of all kind (no negative side effects, honest!), clothes ranging over a vast number of styles, and merchandise for bands that people have probably never heard of. Maybe you can find their record inside and give it a listen!

Most importantly, they're trying to focus on the tunes. Record players are set up with headphones if you want to try out an album you've never heard before. Otherwise there's a nice mix of different genres that play throughout the day, cycling through in a random loop. If you don't like what you're listening to one minute, just come back in a few and you'll probably hear your favorite song coming through the speakers instead!

Each genre of music seems to cause a unique effect to those who are listening. Whether it's the records in private or the music flowing out into the streets, characters will find themselves acting a little differently throughout the course of each song.

Classic Rock will entice people to act a bit more prideful. Boasting about your greatest experiences, telling everyone about your greatest success stories from home, showing off your awesome skillset that you think is entirely unique to you. You're feeling good about your own abilities and accomplishments and you want everyone to know about it.

Metal will have people acting more wrathful. Anger will sky rocket and the desire to get into a fight will be high. Maybe you just verbally attack someone else, or your anger gets great enough that you start to physically lash out. Hopefully someone is around to calm your rage before someone else gets hurt.

Country will bring people a feeling of envy. Suddenly everyone around you has something you want but don't have. Anything from a haircut you wish you could rock to a significant other you wish was yours or a personality trait you want to possess. You'll find yourself wishing you had what everyone else did. It might sink you into a deep depression or it might even make you try and take what they have - at any cost.

Pop music will fill you with a sense of greed. You want anything and everything, whether it's something you would normal try and possess or not. A person, a food, a piece of jewelry, one of the records that's in the store, clothing -- you want all of it. It doesn't matter if you have the funds or if the person you've got your eye on wants to be near you, you're going to get what you want and no one is going to stop you.*

Jazz music will bring about a suddenly make you feel a little bit lazy and sloth-like. Everything has slowed down for you and you're not wanting to really try and speed them up. You're ready to lounge and forget about responsibilities. Just chill in the corner with your records - who cares about fun or work or eating when you can just listen to the smooth notes from Coltrane?

Punk suddenly makes you feel gluttonous. Your stomach won't stop growling, your throat feels parched, and you're trying to buy everything those vendors and local restaurants and cafes are trying to sell in order to satisfy your belly. It doesn't matter if your stomach keeps feeling uncomfortably stuffed or you're slowly getting to a point well beyond wasted, you're going to keep eating and drinking everything in sight until you feel better.

Blues will make people feel a great amount of lust. Is there someone you've been wanting for a long time but never had the guts to make a move on? Or maybe you're desire for a complete stranger hits you out of nowhere. Regardless, you want to feel close to them in any way you can, your body aching and your mind only able to focus on feeling your body against theirs.*

All effects of the music will last as long as the tracks are playing, changing the moment a new genre is playing. If you are pulled out of earshot of the music or take the headphones off your ears, there will be a lingering effect for five to ten minutes before it will finally start to fade off. Let's hope you're strong enough to fight it - or that you at least don't make too many mistakes you might regret by the time the track changes.

*Please remember that there is no non-consensual sex in this game. Do not use these prompts to try and maneuver around this rule.



Character Arrival

You can read how all characters arrive in Deerington here.

There is not a collective "all these characters showed up at the exact same moment" occurrence in Deerington. Since characters fall asleep, die, or pass out at various times throughout all their worlds, it wouldn't make too much sense if they arrived in game all at the exact same time. There should be some discrepancy between character arrival, whether by a couple minutes, hours, or even days up to a week.

The players are entirely in control of how/when they want to play their characters arriving in Deerington. For TDMs, you can play it like your character has just arrived and that can be maintained as your game canon, or you can wait until game events for that moment. Or you don't need to acknowledge it at all. The flexibility for character allows a bit more of an organic feel to the character arrival situation, so please play it to whatever feels right for you.

If you are interested in having an "arrival" introduction for one of your TDM prompts, you are more than welcome to explore that option.
therapissed: (of them)

[personal profile] therapissed 2019-05-12 06:40 pm (UTC)(link)
She'd probably just get sunburned. She likes the outdoors too much to stay in just because she's been shaved.

[Smiling a bit and shrugging to himself.]

I'll just have to deal with her always trying to climb in the fridge.
pursuitofcappiness: (while you were sleeping)

[personal profile] pursuitofcappiness 2019-05-13 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
You're gonna need a bigger fridge.

How've you been, anyway? I haven't seen you since Sokovia.
therapissed: (I'll paint it on the walls)

[personal profile] therapissed 2019-05-17 08:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[Bruce's lips twitch to one side, ducking his head as he looks away.]

I've been here for almost a year. It's been peachy, full of sunshine and rainbows. How've you been, Captain?
pursuitofcappiness: (to move on)

[personal profile] pursuitofcappiness 2019-05-18 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, I'm a wanted criminal and I had a falling out with Tony over it, but it turns out my best friend from childhood's still alive. Pretty miraculous considering we're 90.

So a mixed bag, really.
therapissed: (I'm safe here in my room)

[personal profile] therapissed 2019-05-19 07:02 am (UTC)(link)
... I think Bucky glossed over some of those details but otherwise that sounds pretty... standard.

[Especially falling out with Tony. Steve and Tony are pretty much oil and water.]

Here we are.

[Back at Dorian, but not at Bucky's doorstep, Rubi crowding Bruce on the porch as she tries to get into the house before the door's even open.]

I'm glad you haven't developed opposable thumbs, yet. [Nudging the dog aside with a hip while he gets the door unlocked.]
pursuitofcappiness: (uncertainty)

[personal profile] pursuitofcappiness 2019-05-19 05:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Steve tries to hold Rubi back as they go inside, but she ends up just dragging him along. ]

You're so strong, Rubi.

[ Then he ruffles her fur some more. ]

If it's gonna take us longer than another year to figure this out, then I'm probably gonna become your neighbor.
therapissed: (He says son)

[personal profile] therapissed 2019-05-22 05:39 am (UTC)(link)
[Bruce huffs something of a humorless laugh, countering:]

You were here before, and I think you were my neighbor back then, too. But you and Natasha both vanished only a short while after I arrived.
pursuitofcappiness: (still taking this seriously)

[personal profile] pursuitofcappiness 2019-05-22 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah? That's what Buck said, but he didn't mention Natasha.

Does that happen a lot? He told me there was a version of me that didn't remember him, and a skinny one.

[ Hard to keep track of, extremely annoying to be judged by, even subconsciously. What does Bruce currently think? ]
therapissed: (boy there's hell to pay)

[personal profile] therapissed 2019-05-23 04:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[Bruce is a mindless bumbling old man, clearly.

... Who is more concerned motioning his dog to settle on her pad in the kitchen so he can get settled back in at home.]


I wouldn't say it happens a lot, but... it's not unheard of, here.
pursuitofcappiness: (new york traffic got worse?!)

[personal profile] pursuitofcappiness 2019-05-24 01:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Great.

I'm going to need to copy all my notes, then.

Could you keep a stack for me?

[ He motions towards a snack jar, as if silently requesting permission to give one to Rubi. ]
therapissed: (of them)

[personal profile] therapissed 2019-05-31 03:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[He'll even open it for you (because he's worried you might break a wrist in your current state, Steve).]

Try not to give her too much.

[Even before Bruce has opened the jar, Rubi's immediately sat down in front of Steve, staring up at him with bright anticipation in her eyes.]
pursuitofcappiness: (um let's not)

[personal profile] pursuitofcappiness 2019-06-01 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, good girl.

[ Listen, even if Bruce couldn't keep control of the Hulk right now, Steve would still stand his ground and take care of it.

Jars are not remotely threatening.

Okay, maybe remotely.
]

Wanna roll over for me?

[ He makes the gesture and dangles the treat. ]

Have you had her long?
therapissed: (like a beggar)

[personal profile] therapissed 2019-06-03 07:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[The dog does immediately roll over, nearly crashing into the island counter in the process, but then she's right back on her feet, clearly expecting her treat.]

Coming up to six months, soon. I didn't train her, though, she came like this. We had a bunch of sled dogs appear in town, and we have no idea where from or who trained them. Might've been the Dog Keeper... but anyway, some of them stuck around, Rubi included.
pursuitofcappiness: (alright it's go time)

[personal profile] pursuitofcappiness 2019-06-03 07:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Who's the dog keeper?

[ Seems like kind of an ominous title.

Steve does obligingly give her a treat, showers her with 'good girl's, gives her more pats. Of course, he'd be much better at this if he were big. As it were, he might need a break in a second.
]
therapissed: (like opening the wound)

[personal profile] therapissed 2019-06-08 11:37 am (UTC)(link)
Kind of like an informant... and postman... and weatherman. He's in charge of the mail dogs in Deerington- it sounds weird, I know, but we don't have postmen, here. Just dogs. And he gives us updates and hints on what's happening in town and how to stay alive.

[A pause, and then, drily:]

'Spiderman' decided to call him Doug the Dogkeeper. Since apparently he doesn't remember his own name. Figured it might be because he used to be a Sleeper, like Sodder, and just turned into this... being.

[Rubi - perhaps sensing Steve is tiring - gives the currently slight man a lick to his hands and then insistently nudges him towards the barstools at the island counter.]
pursuitofcappiness: (yeah this isn't working out so well)

[personal profile] pursuitofcappiness 2019-06-09 02:22 am (UTC)(link)
[ Rubi is so smart and so cute. Steve will climb onto the barstool and offer her another treat because she's just the most adorable thing. ]

Does anyone know how that happened? Because I've been told I lost my memory a couple times.

Maybe something like that happened to me.

[ He's definitely been thinking that something about one of his previous times here was important. ]

Anyway to talk to Doug?
therapissed: (I'm safe here in my room)

[personal profile] therapissed 2019-06-17 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Send a message through one of the delivery dogs. They're pretty friendly.

[Not as friendly as Rubi, but Rubi's Rubi.]

But I'm not sure the same's happened to you... Far as anyone knows, no one's been here as long as Sodder or the Dog Keeper, but...

[He has to frown, then, looking distinctly uncomfortable.]

There are a couple of other more prominent characters here, namely the Mayor and the Mother Superior. No one seems to know anything about the Mayor, other than where he lives, and as for the Mother Superior... She's been working damn hard to get rid of Sodder, and she nearly succeeded around Halloween last year. Sodder was almost completely destroyed and things went from bad to... I mean, 'nightmare' doesn't quite cover it.
pursuitofcappiness: (alright it's go time)

[personal profile] pursuitofcappiness 2019-06-18 04:14 am (UTC)(link)
Okay, so for now we protect Sodder, I guess... I'll find some dogs to talk to the guy.

But what can you tell me about Mother Superior?

[ Steve might've already tried to go by the Mayor's house and determined that was a terrible way to spend an afternoon. ]
therapissed: (my plea)

[personal profile] therapissed 2019-06-19 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Other than the fact that she's a sadistic maniac who probably has more mental issues than yours truly?

[He'll just... shrug.]

She keeps up appearances, portrays herself as a protector of the town who's going to do bad things for the greater good. We haven't heard from her since she broadcasted her last attempt to get rid of Sodder. Not even sure how she got her hands on any part of Sodder's 'essence', and that's... not good. Too many unknowns, but she's definitely got some abilities of her own.
pursuitofcappiness: (that son of a bitch)

[personal profile] pursuitofcappiness 2019-06-20 10:18 pm (UTC)(link)
She's got abilities we don't even know about?

[ Well, okay, that at least gives him someone to look into. ]

Did anyone see that in person?
therapissed: ('cause I'm the one at fault)

[personal profile] therapissed 2019-06-25 11:50 am (UTC)(link)
No, just what was broadcasted to our TV sets. As far as I know? No one's been able to track down where she's operating, either.
pursuitofcappiness: (wow that's some hot pizza)

[personal profile] pursuitofcappiness 2019-06-25 12:54 pm (UTC)(link)
That doesn't make sense. Did anyone record it?
therapissed: (I'm safe here in my room)

[personal profile] therapissed 2019-06-26 12:47 pm (UTC)(link)
We're in a dream world made of nightmares with rainbow vintage townspeople. Nothing's supposed to make sense.

I don't think anyone did, but you could always ask around? Things were a bit crazy, then. Like whatever had been holding some of the danger back just vanished.

[Which might mean Sodder's got more sway in this town than she let on, or shit was just going downhill already.]
pursuitofcappiness: (yeah that sounds like a plan)

[personal profile] pursuitofcappiness 2019-06-27 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
Okay. Guess we don't really have another choice.

Anyway... thanks for the help, Bruce.

I'm glad you're here. I mean. Not like that.