soddersays | SEPTEMBER 2019 TEST DRIVE MEME

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SEPTEMBER 2019 TEST DRIVE MEME

Welcome to September's Test Drive Meme! This month's Test Drive's theme is: CHAOS.

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: Torture (emotional and possibly physical), claustrophobia, potential weapon violence (guns, knives, spears, flamethrowers, etc.), possible body horror, emotional manipulation, emojis
Don't forget to tag content whenever necessary. Have fun!

Prompt One
Prompt Two
Prompt Three
Character Arrival
Master Navigation

DICE BLOCK

In case everyone hasn't had enough fun and games to last a life time in the good old town of Deerington, apparently this month brings you one more. Maybe you were just walking through the door to get into your own house, or maybe you were leaving from work — the moment you walk through any door, you'll find that it doesn't open up to the place you were looking for. Instead, you find yourself standing on a giant game board and you seem to be right on the start space. The doors already disappeared behind you, don't bother trying to run back. The only exit is at the end and you'll have to hope you make it there.

But you aren't alone! With you are other unfortunate souls who hopefully weren't just looking for a quick bathroom break. Some of them might look a little worse for wear. What happened? Well, looks like you may have to ask later, because you'll only really have time to exchange names if you don't already know one another before a large screen you didn't notice was hanging from the ceiling will light up. There's a giant image of a typical six-sided game die that's completely stationary. For the moment. Shortly after, a voice will come on over the speakers, echoing in the otherwise fairly empty room. It's overly cheerful, grating, and giggles at the end of every sentence.

Welcome, players! Is this your first time? Yes? Great!
Would you like to hear the rules?
Okay!
Each player will take a turn rolling their die.
You can then move the number of spaces shown — but only those spaces!
You can move forward, backward, right, and left, but not diagonally!
Each space will have a symbol.
The spaces with a clover are lucky spaces! Congratulations! You'll gain some fortune, whether it's an extra turn, moving ahead more spaces, or gaining an important item you can take with you on your journey!
The spaces with the skull are unlucky spaces! Boooooo, that's too bad! You'll befall some grave misfortune here. Hopefully it won't set you back too badly! Make sure to avoid these at all costs!
The spaces with a chest are item spaces! Here you'll be able to win prizes, like medical supplies or weapons! Maybe even a small something from home! Wouldn't that be nice?
Your goal is to make it to the end alive! Good luck! And remember to have lots of fun!

The first player's name will pop up on the screen, before the die will begin to randomly blink between numbers. Eventually it will land on a number. Once the player moves forward and lands on their space, it will repeat for the second player. This will go on until one (or both players) reach the end!

When they said to make sure to not land on an unlucky space, they certainly weren't kidding. Each one seems to come with some sort of random punishment or horror; it can be as light as having to move back a few spaces or go back to the start, or as heavy as breaking a random bone or feeling a blade slice open your skin. Maybe you'll start to slowly turn into a monster or become filled with the desire to kill your opponent. Anything can happen, but it's always going to be bad.

Players who reach the end will be able to go through the door and end up back wherever it was they were intending to go in the first place. Players who lose? Well... It's back to the beginning for you. Time to wait for the next player. Better luck next time.

DANCE DANCE

But what's behind door number two! People are going to start to get tired of walking around in their own houses at this rate. Even if you managed to escape the board game horrors, this new room you've found yourself in doesn't seem much better. In the center is a large TV screen and on the floor in front of it are two pads with arrows pointing in four directions; up, down, left, and right. Anyone who is familiar with Dance Dance Revolution might feel right at home! But fear not, there are instructions on the screen for you to follow if you need them.

Two players only, and you'll have to work together! It's a team dance and you'll want to encourage each other to stay perfectly in sync. The doors won't open until you finish, and should you mess up? Well, look up, friend!

The ceiling is covered in sharp, painful looking spikes and every time someone misses a beat or steps on the wrong arrow, the ceiling will drop down a foot. It's pretty high up there, but miss more than three arrows and you're gonna start to really feel the pressure. The spikes are looking a lot bigger and more ominous than they did when they were all the way at the top. Hopefully you've got some good rhythm.

But this is a good lesson in teamwork! Even the worst dancers might be able to get out of here okay if they've got someone who they can work together with. Maybe their perfect scores will make up for your two left feet. You can only hope you're both so lucky.

THAT'S NOT A "MEH" FACE!

Everyone loves to get a text, don't they? Of course they do! Which is why someone has been kind enough to send out a little special something to everyone's Fluid's this month! There's no name you recognize — in fact, it doesn't even look like a name is attached at all. The sender's identification only looks like this: 🥳

The message you've gotten is pretty simple though! Each person has received a text message with one emoji inside. No rhyme or reason applied! That's... random, isn't it? You can try to text back, but no one will answer, and so you might as well just close your device and forget about it.

Every person who received a text will find that their personality starts to shift. They begin to take on some aspect that's tied to the emoji they received. Did you get a simple smiley face? You're happy and relaxed for the time being! Or maybe a silly face will lead you to become more of a prankster. An eggplant could have someone feeling like sexting a Special Someone. An angry face might get you really riled up, even towards people you love. Did you get a knife? Time to start stabbing. A gun? Those people around you look like really good target practice...

The options are endless. Each emojis effects will last for twenty-four hours or until another emoji is sent from the same user.

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.

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[Wishful thinking it was to think that Theseus wouldn't pick up on such a tremendous misstep.

And he means to reply. To retort with something back. To say something. But all he does is open his mouth a few times before closing it again. How can he really? How could he say to Theseus, his own brother, that he had died before. That he knows how it feels.

That someone else he loves had experienced such a thing.

So he just stands there silently looking down at his feet; nails digging into the palm of his hand uselessly. How he wants to fuss and fidget, but one arm is broken and tucked against his chest. A rather pitiful sight.]

[Newt's silence speaks more than any affirmation that he could've given.

For a few solid seconds, Theseus just sits there, staring at Newt's downtrodden form. At first, it seems surreal, impossible to believe that his brother died. After all, he's standing in front of him right now, not exactly healthy but alive, not a ghost or some illusion that's being used to trick him. He's not lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood, he's not disintegrated into ash--

Suddenly, the Auror's throat begins to clench, and he finds it difficult to even breathe. Leta's death still hangs like a cloud and to imagine Newt facing a similar fate... his hands curl tightly on the table as he feels his vision become blurry, for once thankful that Newt's staring at the ground instead of him. Because to consider the possibility that Newt died without Theseus being able to do anything about it-- without even knowing is something he's always feared.

And now it's happened.

Was Newt alone? Did he suffer? Was he crying out for help when it happened, with no one coming to his aid?

Almost abruptly, Theseus makes his way over to Newt, bending down slightly to pull him into a tight hug, hopefully avoiding his injury. Maybe this way, Newt won't notice the tears rolling down from his clenched eyes, because his brother doesn't need Theseus breaking down and crying in front of him.]

[It feels like an eternity. The silence between them. It probably isn't as long as it feels, but he isn't sure how the other will react. It isn't quite like Leta he feels. It's different when you can talk to the person who died because they're, well, not dead anymore.

And then Theseus is hugging him. He startles a bit. Stiffens up. Not exactly out of discomfort (although there's a half second of panic or anxiety), but just out of surprise. He finds he had been rather limiting in his physical contact with anyone. Been rather avoidant of people to some degree.

He already had cried on the other. He knows the other is upset. He can feel it with how Theseus held himself. And he wants to comfort the other somehow, but he realizes he's shaking. A quiet sob turns into more and Newt finds himself crying again. He had tried so hard to keep himself busy and not to really think about dying and the scars it left that it all was coming back like a flood against the weak dam he had tried to build to hold it all in. He digs his hand into the back of Theseus' shirt; the other arm tucked between their bodies.

It really wasn't alright, was it? Dying. It was awful. Everything about it was awful.

Newt sobs some more as he buries his face against the other's shoulder. He doesn't mean to breakdown a second time so quickly. It's okay. They can just cry together, right?]

[As soon as Newt begins to cry once more, Theseus tightens his hold, partially to comfort him and partially to reassure himself that Newt is actually here, alive and breathing. Of course he certainly knows that, but the extra assurance is nice, and wholly necessary right now. They both need it.

For once, he continues to stay silent, not quite sure what to really say. It feels like he should say something, but he's unable to. Maybe because Theseus isn't quite sure if he'll be able to keep the waver from appearing in his voice if he spoke. Although, given the fact that his form is shaking slightly against Newt, it's not like he has much to hide either. Because nothing is fine, dying isn't some trivial matter that can be brushed over. Newt not only felt all of that, but he has to relive it as long as he remains here.

...

He'll stay here as long as Newt needs him. Least he has the time for that-- and honestly, he should always make time to support his brother. Theseus knows it's not wholly his fault for not being here sooner, but he's still going to do his damn hardest to make up for it.]

[Newt feels exhausted already and he doesn't feel like he really has done much today. Just all he seems to have done was cry and his emotions were a turbulent mess reuniting with the other.

His sobs eventually subside and his shaking lessens until he finally pulls away from the other. He stands there awkwardly as he fidgets a bit; not looking at the other. He wasn't sure what to say to the other still. Where to go from here.

He glances up at the other.] Welcome to Deerington, I suppose. [Yes. Perfect. Nailed it.]

[Theseus lets Newt pull away, but it's obvious by his expression that he's still deeply worried about him. But for once, he doesn't dig deeper into the details, maybe it's just something that he doesn't want to hear about either, not right now at least. They'll be time for that another day, when he's more prepared, when Newt's more prepared. Today is enough.]

Quite possibly one of the worst welcomings I've had, and we both know how wholly dreadful Ministry functions can be. [He tries to ease Newt a little, a smile that feels a bit thin managing to cross Theseus' face.]

[Newt clicks his tongue and makes a face at the other.] If they're so dreadful, then why do you always make me attend them? They're bloody awful, but that never stopped you from making me wear my best suit and go to them.

[How dare you, Theseus.]

Because it's the responsible thing to do and I won't have my brother shrink on his responsibilities. It's bad enough that you're off traveling the world, disappearing for months!

[Avoiding desk work so much... honestly, Theseus hates it too, but he's not going to admit that part out loud.]

I was paid to travel and write that book. I don't see what the issue is. I couldn't say no to the opportunity.

Besides, it's not as though I was allowed to travel after, which I continue to believe was an unfair ban to begin with. [He wasn't the one to destroy half of New York! Just maybe the zoo and the jewelry store and that one department store.]

[Granted, most of New York wasn't Newt's fault, but Theseus is here to give him a hard time. It's something comfortable, at least to him, after the past hour being emotional for the both of them. Some light teasing is in order... along with lecturing.]

The majority of the damage lies solely on Grindelwald, but that doesn't leave you wholly innocent. Or are you telling me that your beasts getting loose in New York is someone else's fault? [He gives Newt a knowing sort of look, although, there's some fond exasperation in it as well. Newt will always be Newt...]

Can't believe you let that happen in America of all places! We both know how strict their laws are.

[Not that they could allow beasts to run around in London either, but.]

Edited 2019-09-30 04:34 (UTC)

It wasn't on purpose! As though I would purposely put my creatures in harm's way. Please. The only way for me to get to Arizona was traveling through a Muggle port and the cheapest way to do so was to go through New York. [Newt huffs a little bit and looks to be sulking just a tad.]

Yes, I am quite aware about their kill on sight laws and their strict laws about Muggles in general. Look, I couldn't not return the Thunderbird back home. I- [He sighs.] Dumbledore had tipped me off about the smugglers in Egypt. Icouldn't leave him, Theseus.

[It was an obvious manipulation on Dumbledore's part. Newt knew that after the events of New York.] Also, technically yes. The fiasco at the bank was surely my fault, but my creatures would have been fine had Jacob and I hadn't accidentally swapped briefcases.

I know, Newt. I know. It's just... you have to be more careful, okay?

[Although, Theseus is starting to get the slow understanding that Dumbledore has tied Newt up with everything in... creative ways. And while he certainly respects the professor, that's also a tad bit manipulative. Of course, without his interference, Newt may have never been in Paris when he needed him, but.]

Jacob... that's your muggle friend. [He didn't get the chance to speak with him, but he definitely remembers the man during Paris and at Hogwarts. Theseus frowns for a moment, wondering if Newt knows that he has to be obliviated someday. A topic that doesn't need discussion right now, but...]

Why was he at the Paris rally? He shouldn't be anywhere near these sort of matters, Newt. [Okay, he can't help slip into his more Auror self.]

I am careful, but there's really nothing I can do about Harry sometimes. No matter how much I fix the briefcase, he manages to get through. Really, you know I would never want to risk my creatures.

[The nature of nifflers, he guesses. He is very adamant that it wasn't because he wasn't careful.]

Yes. [He opens his mouth to reply, but his voice seems to get lost in his throat. Jacob wasn't supposed to remember him. Wasn't supposed to remember magic. Had ended up there because of Queenie's enchantment on him and-

And Theseus may see the way that's Newt's shoulders seem to drop just a bit. The slight downcast of his eyes and the way that they seem to become somewhat sadder. Queenie's betrayal and the scars it would leave on Jacob and Tina both.] It's a long story, really.

Maybe you should leave Harry back home, I seem to recall an assistant that's paid to watch over your beasts while you're out.

[Although, that would leave that poor lady dealing with Harry on her own... but it's safer still, most likely at least. Honestly, Theseus can argue about this sort of topic with Newt for a long time-- along with the issue that a muggle was there to witness Grindelwald's rally. There's really a lot to ask him.

But as he watches Newt slump, he doesn't press him for more details. There's definitely a reason why the muggle was there, something personal, and that's enough for now. They're both still raw from earlier.]

...A story for another time then. [He relents, his voice softening, showing that he's backing off on the topic for now.] Come now, let's have some tea. I think we can both benefit from a warm cup right about now.

Harry is very helpful in tracking things down. We can't really not take him. He was the one that retrieved the item off Grindelwald during the rally.

[Which really makes him worth more than the troubles he brings.]

Oh, yes. Right. I was getting to that. Sorry. [He immediately shuffles off to make tea.] Settle down and I'll try to explain what I know about this place, which is quite a bit. So best to settle down because it might take some time.

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SEPTEMBER 2019 TEST DRIVE MEME

SEPTEMBER 2019 TEST DRIVE MEME

DICE BLOCK

DANCE DANCE

THAT'S NOT A "MEH" FACE!

Character Arrival

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