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

( arrival )

[ it's interesting, because it's not really his dream, and that's always been impossible before. adam is as ineffable in some ways as god, and though he made himself human, chooses to be human, in the end he's not actually.. human. adam will grow and age and change just like one, feel like one, quite often think like one, but he is the antichrist. he's just remade what that means.

and what that means is that ultimately, his dreams are very much his own, and even if they had the strength to influence them, no heavenly or hellish influence would dare. so that his dream is another's dream is intriguing enough that he doesn't even try to fight it.

when his eyes snap open, he's in-- somewhere. not tadfield, at least, and dog is with him, curled up with his head across adam's stomach.

it doesn't take long for him to pull himself together and try to leave. no such luck, which ends with a suspicious glance skyward. does his grandfather have something to do with this, then..? regardless, it's a kind of adventure, isn't it? as long as he gets to go home in the end, this could be fun.

in town, he's almost eerily conspicuous, golden-haired and blue-eyed, with the kind of unconscious charisma that says he's going to be a force to be reckoned with in a couple of years. studying the signs and storefronts, he's frowning thoughtfully when he suddenly whips around to catch the attention of the first person he sees. ] Hey! [ adam, be polite. he can practically hear his dad's disapproving tone. ] 'Scuse me, [ that's better. ] but is this America?

( festival )
a.

Ew, lobster?

[ could adam's face screw up into a more dramatic expression of disgust? probably not. ] I knew America had lots of ice cream flavors, but I didn't figure lobster for one of 'em.

[ he accepts a cone of it anyway, apparently planning to double-fist, since his other hand is preoccupied with a blueberry cone. but then he reaches down with the lobster cone, and a little spotted white mutt with a flipped ear trots up to lick the offered treat.

what a waste of good lobster. probably. ]

[ adam is laughing like a small maniac, totally delighted, and blue from head to toe. he's not the only one, either. dog has also gone blue, and there's a small scattering of people in the area that have also apparently made the "mistake" of drinking the blueberry lemonade.

adam has also gathered up several cups of it, holding them carefully in his arms. they splash a little as he trots down the street, staining his already-stained clothing, but he doesn't seem to mind. what eleven-year-old does?

he pauses at last to offer one out with a sunny smile. ] How d'you suppose they do it?

( wildcard )

[ does your character need an assist with something big and nasty? let a tiny antichrist help, or his yappy hellhound. ]

( there's something about this child, a feeling that's a little familiar even if lilith isn't entirely certain she can pinpoint it. perhaps it's the curiosity, the refusal to be taken aback by this situation, his determination in just asking a simple question.

or, perhaps, it's that little bit of hell, something she's used to knowing in demons. but he's no demon and whilst she's aware of something she's not yet willing to hazard any guesses )

That's what they say. ( if you believed them. but this wasn't america, it was just made to look it ) Though we're not really here.

( yes and no. one answer was simpler than the other )

[ .. oh. hm. on one hand, Not All Demons. on the other hand, he's never met her before. at least, not.. like this? being adam young and being the adversary, etc, means that sometimes he's not sure how to reconcile one thing with the other.

he very carefully chooses not to know, and offers her a genuinely curious, questioning look. ]

It sure feels like we're here. Right, Dog? [ suddenly there seated at adam's side, the little hellhound-mutt whuffs in apparent agreement, and promptly turns to scratch his ear with a hind leg. adam grins, reaching down to ruffle the floppy ears, then glances back up again. ] It's to do with that dream, I'll bet.

( now that gets even more interesting. a hellhound. unusual form but no doubt blending in as a familiar would )

Do you believe that? ( he was quick but he was also a child. lilith wasn't certain if she expected him to have a different answer but she could still ask ) Did someone tell you?

[ adam scoffs in the way only a kid can, full of boyish offense. ] No one had to tell me. I went to bed in Tadfield, had the dream, then woke up here.

[ seems pretty obvious to him that it's involved somehow, at least. but then, maybe a regular kid his age would have just forgotten the dream with the shock of everything else..? hm. ]

Besides, Anathema lends me her New Aquarians when she's done with 'em, and they taught me all about astral projection and dreamwalkin' and that kind of stuff. [ a beat, and proudly: ] She's a witch, you know. She doesn't even have one broomstick, though.

( she shouldn't be surprised that a child who had a hellhound and a little of hell in him would believe in witches. ir know one, if that was true )

Whilst those magazines may not be accurate what they wrote about is true. Dreamwalking is possible though it's not how we were brought here.

( she pauses briefly )

What else did this witch tell you?

[ if they weren’t brought here that way, then.. he’s tempted to let himself wonder that way, but he shuffles the thought aside. it’s fine learning about it the long way— it’s no fun if he cheats.

the question makes him puff out his chest, lighting up excitedly. ] Oh! All kinds of stuff, about whales and leylines an’ about how magic’s nothin’ like what’s on the telly!

[ a beat, and he sticks out his hand. ] I’m Adam, by the way.

( there's a gentle shake of his hand, lilith not having to bend down too much considering how short she is, a small smile at his attitude, bold and confident )

Mary. Was she the only witch that you'd met?

( he'd now met another but she didn't expect him to realise that even if he could tell she was a demon )

[ 'mary'. it's a little bit funny, he reckons, the two of them with proper biblical names. at least, it'd be funny if that was adam's sense of humor. crowley might get a chuckle out of it.

the question makes him tilt his head in thought, before finally spreading his hands in a shrug. ] I think so, but witches are just like everybody else--at least that's what Anathema says--so I s'pose I might've met others and not known it. [ a beat, and: ] I think Pepper could be a witch like Anathema someday. If she wanted to be. They're lots alike. [ if anything, pepper's even more level-headed and down-to-earth than the older girl. ]

Then it seems like your definition of witch and mine are different.

( whilst he might know of witches and have that little bit of hell in him the fact that he's said nothing of hers makes her wonder if perhaps he doesnt know her power.

lilith could keep quiet, could simply talk about witches from stories but she'd told everyone else rather publicly her powers. and if she could get there first she could twist it easier )

Witches-- ( theres a very gentle wave of her fingers, stones on the ground starting to raise at her unspoken command ) --can affect the world around them.

Yeah?

[Look, no need for politeness here, Sir Antichrist. He hangs around with teenagers, the rudest of the rude. So to speak. Someone calling out to him is a surefire way to get him to pause in his step, stopping his self-enforced patrol pattern.]

How can I help? The other surefire way is to be a kid in need. Appearing to be in need, at any rate. Shiro does not immediately recognize the face, and the kid seems a bit disoriented.]

It's as close as this dream world is going to get. Did you just wake up?

[ oh. this grown-up really is helpful. and polite, which isn't something adam's used to being directed toward himself. at least, not by normal folks that don't know what he is.

it actually makes him kind of bashful for a second, scuffing his foot against the sidewalk and glancing aside to dog. ]

Yeah, not long ago. Me and Dog, that is. [ the little hellhound gives a yip and does an excited spin before plopping his butt down by adam's side again. ] You said it's a dream?

Dog, huh? [It's hard not to smile when an animal, especially a pet, gets so excited like that. He hunkers down on his heels, offering his hand for the dog to sniff.] Hey, buddy.

[He looks back up (more or less, he's a big guy, and the angle just sort of puts him more at eye level with a kid.]

As far as we know, it is. A lot of what goes on here seem to be... well. Things that only happen in a dream. [That hand is offered up to the boy, in greeting.] I'm Shiro. I've been here a little more than a year now.

[ dog, having never met a stranger, immediately gets up to shove his nose into shiro's hand, tail wagging wildly as he waits for pets. adam rolls his eyes dramatically at his antics, but there's nothing but fondness in his expression.

things that only happen in a dream, huh? that's real life as far as adam's concerned. things appearing that shouldn't exist, that sort of thing.. that's just what he is. but barring another antichrist here, he can accept the explanation at face-value.

he accepts the hand with a curious smile. ] I'm Adam! Adam Young. And a year's an awful long time to be asleep. Do you know why we're here?

[Oh, this is good. Thank you, Deerington, for providing a dog to pet. He definitely gives Dog a good ear scratch for the pup's trouble.]

[He's quick to smile back, shaking the kid's hand.] It's nice to meet you, Adam Young. [Which makes him laugh a bit, internally. Just the name and seeing someone who's so bright and, well. Not yet jaded by the town, is nice.]

Yeah, tell me about it. Like I'm making up for all the missed sleep in my life. [But the smiles fade, into something more serious.] I wish I could say I knew. Or how we're supposed to get back... but so far, no one's managed to figure that one out.

If I told you that might as well tell you the secret to the ever-lasting gobstopper.

[There's a non-sexy wink. More of a Willy Wonka tinkle in those eyes along with a big smile. Which then The Doctor proceeds to drink his own blueberry lemonade. Purely for scientific purposes of course to see if he can identify the ingredients.]

But it's good, now isn't it?

[Is the silly remark]

The what? [ he's admittedly a little bit distracted by the demonic resemblance, but it's only superficial. this person is definitely not a demon, at least.

he startles into a laugh as the stranger downs his drink, though, watching as the blue blooms across his skin. he glances back up then, a little fascinated in spite of himself. ] So you know how to do it? [ sure, adam could make it happen, but it's not the same as playing mad scientist. ]

[And definitely not human either. Not with eyes that look older than the face. The Doctor smiles widely]

Haven't you ever read Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory?

Look at us.

Looking like Crespallions.

Now, let's just hope we don't turn into blueberries.

Yup! [Rose beams and pops the p on the end of that, but there's no mistaking her own British accent:] Brilliant, innit? Are you on Holiday too, then?

[ oh. it's kind of nice to have something a little bit familiar. the question earns a shake of his head. ]

I wasn't, but I s'pose I might be now.

An unexpected holiday. [A conspiratorially grin and nod!] The best kind!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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

adam young ( good omens )

arrival ( i couldn't resist )

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