soddersays | JULY 2019 TEST DRIVE MEME

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JULY 2019 TEST DRIVE MEME

Welcome to July's Test Drive Meme! This month's Test Drive's theme is: DREAM 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: Violence, Freddie Kreuger references, fire, forced sleep with some drug-like references, stabbing, nightmares, monsters, possibility for extreme alcohol consumption, and lobster festivals
Don't forget to tag content whenever necessary. Have fun!

Prompt One
Prompt Two
Prompt Three
Character Arrival
Master Navigation

WHEN THE BOAT COMES IN

It’s July and July in Maine means lobster! The Lobster Festival springs up seemingly overnight down near Koji Pond. In the morning, there’s a large parade that makes its way through town, starting from the top of East Main Street and all the way down through West Main St until they hit the festival. There are tents, a few rides, games, arts and crafts, and most importantly, food pretty much everywhere behind the hotel and you can help yourself to free ice cream at the ice cream shop! Lobster ice cream and Blueberry ice cream are pushed to the forefront, but you can get just about any flavor you could possibly dream of in the long run.

You can hear live music playing and a stage has been set up on the roof of the arcade. Live bands play everything from folk music to jazz to classic rock that you may or may not have heard in your lifetime. There’s a tent where local artists (including sleepers) are selling art, a craft tent where people are selling goods they’ve made such as pottery and homemade fudge, and a Do It Yourself tent where people are teaching you how to make your own buoy decoration for your front yard or how to weave your own baskets!

A seafood cooking contest is held for anyone who may want to show off their culinary skills. Any kind of seafood dishes are allowed, but they highly encourage showing your abilities to cook with lobster! Think you can beat the longstanding champions from Deerington? It’s pretty unlikely, especially since it looks like the townspeople keep trying to sabotage your meal as you’re making it. Did you mean to put in an entire half cup of salt to your stew? Oops. Guess you better figure out how to work with it anyway.

Across Koji Pond, there are floating crates set up for the great crate race! See if you can make it across the lake fastest – challenge a friend! These lobster crates wobble pretty heavily, but each runner is given a life vest for when they might inevitably fall in. Be careful if you do! Some of those strange looking fish in there definitely bite.

Each morning at the festival there will be an all you can eat blueberry pancake breakfast. Surprisingly, nothing drastic seems to happen, so have as many pancakes as your body can hold! They’re delicious, after all. Through the rest of the day, it’s easy to get your hands on lobster rolls of varying sizes, full steamed lobster meals (with corn on the cob and a buttered dinner roll), lobster salad, steamed mussels, scallops, haddock (baked or fried), fried clams, lobster stuffed risotto balls, blueberry cobbler, and strawberry shortcake are all available at any of the food stands. All the food seems perfectly safe. But you’re gonna need something to wash it down with…

The drink stand has a great deal to offer, but every drink seems to come with a particularly strange side effect to it. People who enjoy the hand crafted beers will find that it gets them drunk twice as fast and can even make people who would normally never drink completely wasted after just a glass or two. Every glass you have makes you thirstier than the last and it can be easy to want to reach for another beer to try and get yourself together. In fact, it’s particularly hard to reach for anything else. Urges to drink the beer will last for at least one full hour or can be cut short by being responsible and going to drink some water instead.

So maybe beer isn’t your thing; that’s okay! There’s also blueberry lemonade which will turn you the color of blueberries from head to toe! Fresh iced tea will make you feel particularly sarcastic, prone to mocking even your closest friends and gossiping with complete strangers about the things you may or may not have heard about the town. Got a juicy secret you were trying to keep for someone? Well, it’s out in the open now. Cream sodas will make you extremely cuddly, wanting to cozy up next to the closest person to you for a little while. The more you drink, the more touchy-feely you may get, so maybe try and stick to just one or two unless you’re looking for some afternoon delight. Hot tea will make you feel calm and relaxed to an extent you never have before. To the point where you might even want to just go lay down on one of the docks and take a quick catnap in the middle of the afternoon sun. Hopefully you wore sunscreen.

Effects from any drink will last for one to three hours or until you have some strawberry shortcake from one of the food vendors.

BLUEBERRIES FOR SAL

So maybe the lobster festival isn’t your thing or you got tired of all the crowds and wanted to go and do something else fun. Strangely enough, some of the fields out near the farmhouses apparently have a bunch of blueberry bushes that no one’s ever noticed before! They’re in full bloom and the berries look ripe for the picking. Perfectly round, juicy, warm from the sun – you could eat a whole handful of these and maybe never feel more satisfied. They’re deliciously sweet, perfect for pies and cobblers. And a whole basket seems to be reasonably priced, so why not go out and pick as many as you can!

The longer you’re out in the fields, the more you’ll start to feel a little groggy. It’s easy to shake off as just being from the sun at first and you might think about heading back, but something in you wants to keep picking. So you trudge in deeper into the fields, and that sleepy feeling becomes more and more difficult to ignore. Eventually, you might find that you’re ready to just lay down and take a nap in the shade of a particularly large blueberry bush. It seems like a good a spot as any – the ground is nice and soft. Just curl up for a little while and close your eyes. Even people who are normally not prone to sleeping will find that they are compelled and even capable of taking a quick nap in these fields.

Any dreams you may have while sleeping will feel more vivid than normal – to the point where it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s not. Did you actually manage to find your way out of Deerington and back home? You can pinch yourself, but you won’t wake up, and it’ll hurt like a bitch, so it’s hard to be sure. Dreams seem to mostly be pleasant ones, but the occasional nightmare might find its way in to your otherwise restful sleep. Anyone who stumbles on you asleep in the fields might even hear you talking in your sleep, rambling out conversations and feelings you might normally have kept quiet. Got feelings for someone you were trying to bury? They might just hear you mutter them out loud if they’ve found you there in the dirt. Wanted to make sure no one in Deerington found out you had no home to go back to? That sucks, it sounds like you might have just spilled the beans without even knowing.

The real question is if the person who finds you will wake you up or just keep listening to find out more of your secrets without having to pry for them.

NINE, TEN, NEVER SLEEP AGAIN

It’s not just in the blueberry fields that sleepiness seems to be catching. Throughout Deerington, people seem to be having a harder and harder time staying awake for long stretches. The desire for a quick nap or even a long snooze becomes harder to fight as each day passes and you might find yourself nodding off in places you normally wouldn’t – behind the wheel of a car, in the middle of a store, at work… Hopefully no one gets too hurt or loses a job during these strange episodes.

Only unlike in the fields, when you do give in to sleep, the dreams you have are now far from pleasant. Nightmares are running amok in your mind, but that vivid realism? That inability to tell when you’re awake or asleep? That has definitely not changed. You might not have even realized you’ve fallen asleep at all – most of the scenery around you seems to be Deerington itself, but something just seems off. You don’t have time to think about it though because it’s then that things start to get scary. Whether it’s reliving your most traumatic experiences, running in to your worst enemies, or seeing monster of your own creation popping up and chasing you, danger and fear are permeating every corner of these dreams. Horror movie fans might find they’re being chased by Freddie Kreuger, hunted down by Jason, cornered by the aliens from Alien. Or maybe there are terrifying monsters from your own world that have started to come for you and are trying to tear you limb from limb. It feels impossible to outrun, and maybe in the end, you don’t. But if you die in your dreams, you don’t really die in real life, right? So you might just snap awake with a particularly frightening jolt.

You think when you wake up that everything is fine. That sense of fear is gone and you’re able to just breathe. But as you go about your day, you start to see images from your nightmares out of the corner of your eyes. Was that Freddie’s claws scratching against the blackboard? Did you just hear the strange clicking of alien feet against the tiles? You hope it’s in your imagination, but this is Deerington. When does anything ever stay normal?

The danger from your nightmares is definitely invading your personal space and it will try to kill you. Anyone else can see these images just as plain as day as you can and they are welcome to either sit and watch or help you fight. Whatever is trying to kill you will go down in the same manner it would have back home – that means that it could be as easy as a bullet between the eyes or it could be as complex as an intense ritual. Guess you’ll have to figure it out for yourself before it really does kill you.

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ huh. she hadn't expected that. ]

Not bad. It's kind of our word for demons, in a way.

[ at his question, she chews on her lower lip. ]

The Court of the Sky? They handle demi-god affairs. I'm . . . 90% sure they would have told me about demon blood. 10% is because they are very cryptic about stuff sometimes.

I suppose there are worse words to be associated with.

[At her mention of a court in the sky, he crinkles his nose a bit. That sounded far too much like an unsavoury angelic sort. Then again, this was an entirely different culture and Crowley was no expert.]

Yes, those sky sorts tend to be cryptic. Ineffable.

[He seems to mull something over in his head a few times before deciding it wouldn't hurt to give her a truthful answer to her earlier question.]

I'm a demon. That's why. But that bit about liking the world, that was true.

[ aru grins, a smirk around the edges. ]

No, really? You went a little too hard on the "demons!! bad!! evil!!" angle there. Normal people don't really talk about demons that much, you know.

[ she wonders if this is internalized hatred. or frustration with being part of a bad crowd. not that aru fully grasps that. rakshakas aren't evil by nature. like anyone, they simply hold that potential in them though some of their actions paint the whole community with a wide brush. ]

But I believe you. You can be both, you know. Being a demon and loving the world. It's not impossible.

[ her smirk widens. ]

I bet dating an annnngel is possible too.

Alright, alright. I get it. I haven't had to play human in a while. And you could have been in danger. Thought I could scare you back to your parents.

[Oh, he is just the most despicable demon. But, perhaps, a little bit of column A and a little but of column B. Not that he would tell a thirteen year old girl about his immortal issues of the damned. He hasn't even told the angel, who she just so happens to bring up again.]

Oh, for Heaven's sake. We aren't dating! We're just good friends.

[But, he might just be smiling a bit at her now.]

You're very clever for your age.

[ she beams. aru's always been susceptible to praise. and it feels nice, not having to make things up or lie to gain that attention. her tongue is sharp but she's not unkind by nature. ]

Sorry, but ducks and very good friends? Total code for romance. I've watched movies, I know how it is.

And anyway, pretending to be human isn't hard? You just need to pick an interest that seems normal. Like k-pop. Or gaming.

What films have you been watching?

[He's fairly certain he could argue until the end of time and he wouldn't make any headway with her on this one. So he just concedes defeat. Besides, her bright smile was very defusing. Even for a grumpy old snake.]

I have lots of interests. Films are one of them. My car. Good music. Plants. What, pray tell, is k-pop exactly?

[ aru shrugs. ]

Whatever's on TV at the time.

[ to pass the time when her mom's not around. television was practically her best friend. ]

But yeah, that stuff should work. K-Pop is korean pop music. It's pretty big with the kids in school. But it probably won't work for you, being way older.

Oi. I'm only 6000 years your elder. Give or take. Time passes differently when you're not on Earth. Used to be able to control time before I woke up here. Used to do be able to do a lot of things before I woke up here.

[He doesn't actually sound offended because he did just call himself old in the process. Besides, she wasn't wrong.]

So, that's a 'no' on the K-Pop. Got it.

[Something else occurred to him, and he was surprised it took him this long to actually reflect on it.]

Is anyone here from your home? Surely you're not alone.

[Please tell him you are not alone. He is a terrible caretaker. Scary Poppins, if you will.]

Soo you're old but also awkward about being old? Which is it?

[ but aru shakes her head. ]

It's just me. I tried reaching for the Otherworld, but it didn't work. Anyway it's fine. I can cook my own meals.

. . . Even though I don't have any money for meals, but I can cook stuff.

I'm awkward about everything. Haven't you got that yet?

[He smirked lightly. If you couldn't laugh at your own expense, how could you expect to make others laugh? Or, perhaps he didn't.]

Essential food here is free. [Crowley offered gently.] And, I suppose, I wouldn't be opposed to helping foot your living expenses. Least I can do for being a frightening demon, you see.

[ she raises an eyebrow at that. ]

I think it's becoming clearer each minute.

[ crowley's offer does allow for a flicker of vulnerability. aru talks good game and thinks well on her feet, but she's never been alone alone before. not like this. it's not the same as late nights waiting for her mom to come home. ]

You don't need to. Kids are expensive. Besides, it can't be too hard, right?

Perks of being a Fallen angel. Embodiment of awkward.

[And now it was very apparent that she was, though strong willed, still just a thirteen year old girl. He sighed a somewhat suffering sound.]

Cars are expensive. Top of the line computers and classy modern flats are expensive. Kids are affordable at your age. Babies are expensive. And messy. Very messy. Who thought it was a good idea to make them be all messy? They leave residue on everything and frankly, they smell something foul.

[Crowley glanced at her, hoping his little rant had dome something to lighten the mood.]

[ aru grins, bemused. not sure if it works, but A+ for effort. ]

Well, when you put it that way, I guess I rate pretty low.

Low on the expense list. Never sell yourself short. Kids are humanity's future, after all! That in mind, you're one of the most important people on this sodding planet. Learning, growing, shaping the world.

[He was quite fond of humanity as a whole. They were clever and fascinating. Free will, knowledge, technology, development. All the things he loved about the world.]

[ aru's not sure she buys this speech. ]

Uh, sure. We're doing it through climate change. Also that speech is very Disney. You sure you're a demon?

It's true. I didn't defy the most terrifying force in the universe for you lot without believing in you. Look--

[Crowley reached up and lifted his black shades from the bridge of his nose, lowering them down his face a bit, staring at her with the yellow eyes of a serpent.]

Very demon. No Disney princess here, unless you count.

What's the most terrifying force? Is it businessmen?

[ oddly enough it reminds her more of the nagas than demons. the demons aru has met are very different. more red-eyed and fanged. either way she doesn't really blink. ]

I mean, special eyes is kind of disney princess-ey. Also they just look like snake eyes. Is that a demon thing?

Believe me, if it were businessmen, I'd have them quaking not the other way around. No, it's my boss. The big boss, Satan himself. The angel and I mucked about his whole doomsday plan. We've grown quite fond of the world and weren't ready for it to end.

[Crowley tipped his glasses back into place, somewhat relieved she'd taken them so well.]

That's because they are snake eyes. I'm a demon, but I'm also a serpent. All us Fallen angels are different. Like humans have different eyes, demons do too. But I appreciate the romanticising comparison to a Disney princess. I feel quite more like Beast than Bell.

[Did that make Aziraphale Bell? He was not entertaining that thought further. Child, what have you done to his normal thought processes?]

Why does everyone has a doomsday plan? I wish we could have less future doom. We already have to deal with climate change.

[ seriously, less death, less doom in prophecies and plans would be great. aru wants to make it to her twenties. at least. ]

Anyway I don't know a lot about angels or demons. We have millions of Gods and most of the time, they can't be bothered with us.

I don't know. [Truly, completely and utterly honest, Crowley didn't know. This was the problem with him, he reflected. He agreed with humans. They were right, he'd gone native.] Trust me, even if I knew, I wouldn't understand it. Testing a creation to destruction is ludicrous. Why build up something just to destroy it?

[Crowley roughly ran a hand through his hair, then watched her again as she spoke.]

Just as well. We're not that interesting. Demons, angels, there are millions of us where I'm from. Not a one of them is worth their weight in salt. No, that's not true. One is. The rest are all a bloody daft lot that can't see how beautiful the world and you humans are.

Maybe they don't need to be bothered with you, as long as they leave you alone, yeah?

Yeah but —

[ she hesitates, uncharacteristic of her ]

— But I wish I could talk to my dad. Well, not my real dad. My soul dad. It's probably better if gods and demons don't mess with our lives, but he's already part of it, you know?

[That little hesitation was all he needed to read the situation for what it was.]

I suppose that's true. Seems only fair he should talk to you, in that case. Is there a reason he doesn't?

[ she shrugs loosely. ]

Gods aren't supposed to meddle in human affairs. Or they just don't want to. I don't know, it's unclear, but that's the deal.

[ it leaves them all with a slight complex. even mini, who has two parents of her own, finds herself concerned about how her "soul dad" sees her. ]

I don't really have parents of my own, but I've been on earth long enough to know that that's just bollox. He already meddles in human affairs. Least he can do is drop you a call now and then.

[She's not his charge. He has no reason to be worked up. But she's clever and too young to be so troubled.]

[ aru huffs. ]

Not our gods. I don't think I've ever heard them say a word. The big ones, anyway, not the minor ones.

JULY 2019 TEST DRIVE MEME

JULY 2019 TEST DRIVE MEME

WHEN THE BOAT COMES IN

BLUEBERRIES FOR SAL

NINE, TEN, NEVER SLEEP AGAIN

Character Arrival

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