JANUARY 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

[sodder]

JANUARY 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

Welcome to January's Test Drive Meme! This month's Test Drive's theme is: OCEAN 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.

PLEASE NOTE FOR CHARACTER ARRIVALS: This month, all players can choose to have their characters wake up in the town of Deerington or on the Titanic.

CW: Ghost of a child, rotting corpses, drowning, hallucinations, paranoia
Don't forget to tag content whenever necessary. Have fun!

Prompt One
Prompt Two
Character Arrival
Master Navigation

WHERE FEET MAY FAIL

For those who were left behind in Deerington while everyone else was whisked away in the flood during the New Years Eve party, they will find that the town is a little more wet than usual. The streets are still flooded, houses are damp, and the chill of winter isn't making it easy to deal with. Your hands can feel like ice any day of the week and it's hard to focus with how badly you may find yourself trembling from the cold.

But it's almost preferable to the visions. They start off while you're sleeping; large sea monsters roaming the ocean, waiting to pull you down into the darkened depths; or maybe it's a strange, ghost looking girl with glowing eyes and tattered clothing, her skin blue and rotting the way a body does when it's been submerged in water for too long. She's calling out to you, beckoning you down, and all around her are the strung up, floating corpses of the people who were foolish enough to listen.

It's just a dream though, right? Slowly you start to see the girl around town. She's still calling to you, watching you, waiting for you. If you get too close, she'll even be able to grab onto you, pulling you down into the waterlogged streets, and into what you thought was only a puddle of water. It's as deep as an ocean, and just as dark and cold too. Someone near by can grab onto you before she can drag you under and the vision will disappear. If no one does, maybe if you're a strong swimmer, you'll be able to struggle free, but when you resurface, there will be a bruise forming on your arm in the shape of a hand – something to remind you that maybe these visions are a little more real than you gave them credit for.

The only way to stay safe is to travel in pairs. The girl seems to keep her distance when there's more than one person around, but it doesn't mean she won't try to find the means to separate you. Whether it's increasing the flooding in certain areas of the street or trying to distract one of you long enough to put some distance between you and your comrade, she'll do whatever it takes to try and grab onto whoever she can.

GHOST SHIP

Those who are on the boat might find that life is a little easier, depending on what class you've found yourself in. The struggles between first, second, and third are certainly rough on everyone, but many seem to find themselves thinking this is just the way of things. Maybe your mind has been altered to just accept the class differences or your memories completely rewritten and you think you've led a completely different life so far; either way, only a handful of passengers seem to fully understand that this isn't the way things are supposed to be.

There's nothing anyone can do to change things, though, and so many find themselves getting lost in day to day activities. Whether it's working on the ship, enjoying the finer foods in the first class dining halls, or enjoying the rowdy parties in third class storage after hours, everyone seems to be finding something to keep themselves occupied. As the days pass, even those who know full well what's coming seem to forget the looming doom, and you might even find yourself feeling lost in the monotony of day to day life.

But those who stare into the water too long, who look at the strange, large shapes swimming just under the surface might find a sense of dread filling them. The paranoia will shake you to your very core, leaving you with a sense that all is not right with this journey. You can try to tell people, but most will look at you as though you're insane. Eventually, your fear will become so heavy that you start to see destruction all around you. Whole sections of the ship will look flooded, rotting wood and rusted steel taking over every inch of the once proud ship, and every section is covered in algae. You might start to realize it looks uncannily like an old shipwreck.

The ship is still floating, though, and the coarse steady. So it's all in your head, right? Staying away from the water will make the visions and paranoia eventually ebb, but any glance at the floating shapes will cause it to come back tenfold. Maybe just stay inside and away from the ship's edge. It seems a lot safer that way.

Character Arrival

You can read how all characters arrive in Deerington here.

NOTE: Character's this month can wake up in Deerington or on the Titanic.

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.

Comments

Lindsey McDonald | Angel

[lookattheglass]

A.

[Lindsey's used to the finer things.

It hasn't always been this way. Sometimes he feels like he's never felt anything different, but he's fought so hard to live this kind of lifestyle that he can almost forget where he's from.

He likes to think it makes him more appreciative of things like this, as he runs his hand along one of the ornamental railings, trailing down the stairs into tonight's dinner. He's wearing a fine suit, hair slicked back, the whole nine yards.

It'd be nice if it wasn't all a dream. Or a spell. Or a dream-like spell.

Lindsey's pretty sure that this is the Titanic though, and as much as he's enjoying the quality of it, this can't be real.

But that didn't necessarily mean that everyone else wasn't real.

He leans a foot out, ever-so-slightly, to trip the next person who walks down the stairs next to him.]

B.

[There's something wrong with the water.

It was the little things at first, taking a second to pause and look down, thinking he might have seen a strange, moving shape or two. Could be really big sharks, not his problem.

But he finds himself coming back again and again, because something is definitely wrong.

He's worked at Wolfram and Hart long enough to know what wrong feels like, the kind of wrong that stayed on your clothes and in your hair after a long day, that no amount of showering would ever wash off.

It was like the whole ocean was wrong and that whatever spell/dream/enchantment this was, it was either breaking apart or getting worse.

Or it was the reason why he was here.

The ship is starting to rot.

He grabs the shoulder of the nearest person to walk by him, shaking it as he points to the railing and back over to the cabins.]

You see it too, right?

A. twospidermen.jpg

[especiallyparanoid]

Maybe it's his upbringing. Maybe there is something about the etiquette of it all that just makes him fall back into old patterns; which in turn makes him sink deeper into the shifting of this place. Whatever it is, Wesley slips into this world all too easily, walking around the deck with a manner so uppity and stiff it's surprising he doesn't snap in half.

That is, until someone trips him and he goes down with a yelp, arms windmilling. He comes up a moment later, staring at Lindsey with sputtering indignation, looking around quickly to see if anyone saw.

"You!"

It comes out accusing, then confused because he doesn't know this man – how would he, unimportant as he looks. Newly-rich, surely, from the looks of it, from the way he carries himself.

From the audacity of what he just did.

"How dare you."

There is only one thing he can do, really. Wesley takes off a glove and sniffs in utter disdain. Before he slaps Lindsey across the face with it.

(☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞

[lookattheglass]

He goes down hard and Lindsey can't help it, he snorts and devolves into a fit of sensible chuckles, at least until he's slapped with a glove.

A glove.

...

Of all the things that could happen, he wasn't expecting to be slapped.

By a glove.

Did this man really just slap him with a glove?!

Lindsey's too shocked to do anything at first (even if he was the one that tripped him) at first except sputter in similar indignation.

"How dare you!"

[especiallyparanoid]

He sure did, you scoundrel! Wesley bristles, sticking out his chin like a blade as he glares at him.

"While your lack of manners and this utterly childish behaviour tell me you are hardly worth the time, this insolence shall not stand!"

The words are clipped, the vowels drawn out in a sneer.

"I challenge you to a duel!"

[lookattheglass]

There's a very long, long pause.

Lindsey looks behind him and back towards Wesley, pointing at himself.

Is he...is he serious?

"Me. A duel."

A beat.

"For tripping you."

Another beat.

"No."

No thanks, he's hungry. He reaches over to pat Wesley on the shoulder as he moves a couple steps down towards the dining room.

[especiallyparanoid]

"What?"

That... He did not expect that. At all. Wesley is stunned, so stunned his mouth just opens and closes a few times while Lindsey pushes past him.

Honestly, he has no idea what to do now. The idea that someone would just decline a duel is so laughable and outlandish that it throws him for a loop.

"W-wait!"

He hurries after the man, eyes wide. Did someone overhear their exchange? Dear God, he hopes not. How utterly embarrassing!

"Whatever do you mean, no? You cannot be serious?"

[lookattheglass]

Lindsey stops at least, this guy is amusing. He pauses at the bottom of the stairs, crossing his arms and shrugging.

"No. That's what I mean."

He grins.

"What, are the dueling police gonna come after me now? Is the Captain of the ship gonna toss me overboard? I really don't think you can make me do anything I don't wanna do."

But hey.

"Now if I did 'duel' you? I'd win and you'd be dead. So I just saved your life. You're welcome."

lindsey p l s his blood pressure

[especiallyparanoid]

Wesley just sputters at this impossibility, looking very much like he's about to have a conniption.

"Maybe I shall indeed tell everyone what a fraud you are," he shoots back in a snippish voice.

"It's obvious you don't belong here. With that mouth of yours, clearly you made your way up here from below to deceive the good people on this journey. Did you steal these clothes? We had better conduct an investigation. Maybe they shall toss you overboard indeed!"

good luck wes

[lookattheglass]

Lindsey laughs, turning to leave again when--

--when he goes and says that.

Lindsey stops cold, turning back around, all mirth gone and a cold sort of rage burning in his eyes.

"I think...you're mistaken."

He takes an aggressive step closer.

"I have a ticket, I belong here. These are my clothes, I bought 'em. But maybe I oughta toss you overboard."

rip this is a disaster (cw: classism)

[especiallyparanoid]

Aha! A reaction!

There is a grim and nasty sense of satisfaction when Wesley finally gets a rouse out of the man who so dastardly tripped him over and then refused his attempt of saving face. It's childish, yes, but he doesn't care, he sees that opening and latches on to it.

"Am I."

He sticks his chin out, circling Lindsey, one hand coming up to flatten his tie.

"I'm not so sure about that. You may have the looks but you surely don't have the attitude. It's in your voice, your movements, your... everything. What now, are you going to swing at me like the fairground boxer you are? I beseech you, good sir, do control yourself. If you can."

rip them, rip the titanic (cw: classism)

[lookattheglass]

"You--"

Lindsey sputters, every word hitting at a long-buried insecurity. He looks down at his clothes for a moment, frantically trying to figure out what's giving him away. Was it his walk? The fact he tripped someone surely couldn't be it...

"Who do you think you are!?"

Because yes. Yes, he is going to swing at him like a fairground boxer, his hands already balled into fists.

"If that's what I am to you, what's the point in hiding?"

He reaches out to attempt to grab him by that stupidly flattened tie.

cw: violence, blood

[especiallyparanoid]

He didn't expect that.

Not in here, not with so many people around. Wesley's eyes widen in sudden alarm but there's hardly enough time to react before the fist connects. His head snaps back and he stumbles to the side with a startled, muffled sound as he clutches at his nose. What!?

There is a burning sensation and he can feel blood trickling out soon after. This cannot be happening? He rounds his back as he doubles over, trying to keep it from soiling his suit but again the man comes for him.

"Fftop!" he demands, flailing his other hand at Lindsey in a fit of panic to fend him off and defend his tie.

cw: violence, blood, classism

[lookattheglass]

And now people are gonna be watching and he's just proved his point.

He can imagine them even if he can't see them right now.

The looks. The stares. The I'm better than you smile he's seen so many times.

Lindsey freezes when he realizes his anger has gotten the better of him, letting go when the other man flails his hand at him.

"I..."

Dammit, they might kick him out or something--

"Come on--outside, now--" he tugs at his arm, trying to get him to follow him back out to the deck.

B

[67_impala]

[Dean hasn't been much in the loop amongst the higher classes, but he's sure been getting this "feeling" lately. This feeling that things are just a bit askew. He's been hunting long enough to recognise when things seem either too shiny for reality. Spontaneous reunion with his long-lost brother? Somehow getting his hands on a ticket to board the acclaimed vessel without actually swindling his way aboard? Things were 'too shiny'.

So, when he's grabbed by a stranger and promptly shook as the man starts rambling nonsense, Dean thinks maybe he's starting to see something beyond the weirdly perfect luck.]

Whoa, hey! Paws off, buddy.

[But he does look over at the railings the man indicated and he does seem to squint before it becomes apparent.]

The hell? When did you start seeing that? How long?

[lookattheglass]

It wasn't really anythin' at first, I'm not sure...

[That's a good point. When did he start seeing this stuff?

He lets go of his shoulder before leaning his hands on the railing.]

It was just little things, like I thought I saw somethin'? But not as bad as this...

[67_impala]

[He thought he was just tracking a vampire on the ship. But if the ship itself was starting to decay around them and no one noticed, or worse, something was making them see things that weren't real meant there might be more than just vampires on the ship.]

Look, I know you probably don't believe what you think you saw or you don't think I'll believe you, but you gotta gimme specifics. What all have you been seeing? I can help, but I need to know what we're dealing with first.

[Dean cast a glance over the edge, looking down at the water. Something he'd taken to avoiding since the last time he started seeing shapes in the water.]

[lookattheglass]

The problem is I very much do believe what I just saw.

[But he's right, to figure any of this out, they needed facts.]

It was just little things at first. The water...like there were moving shapes. Thought they might be sharks. But the rot...

...the rot's new.

[A pause.]

Are you in law enforcement? Or a detective?

[67_impala]

They're not sharks. Whales either. They're too close and they don't seem to show up unless you start looking into the water, right? Like really looking. I didn't notice the rot before, either.

[He shrugged and almost had to forcibly drag his eyes away from the water.]

Little bit of both and neither. So, if you believe what you're seeing, I take it you've also seen strange things before.

[lookattheglass]

So this...it's perception based. Could be an illusion, could be an effect or directly caused by those things.

The rot, too.

[They might be seeing what the ship actually looks like which is definitely worrying. He takes a slight step back from the rail, just in case.

Hm. Considering his run-ins with a certain little investigative group run by a certain vampire, he can't be too careful.]

You could say that. Whoever or whatever might be causing this must be incredibly powerful.

[67_impala]

[This guy seemed more in the know than the usual victim.]

That's what I'm thinking. I'm what you call a Hunter. I look for these things and I put them down, but I haven't gotten any closer to whatever's making us see this crap. Can you think of anything else weird that's been going on? Even if it sounds unrelated?

[lookattheglass]

A Hunter, huh?

[He's run across various hunters before, not to mention a Slayer. Still, not all hunters were good, not all Slayers were, either...jury was still out on this one. For now.]

Well, I'm a lawyer. But I saw a lot of what you'd call unusual things at the firm I worked at.

[A lawyer who ended up defending these things or working for them.]

Nothin' like this, though. I'm not even...really sure how I got here. [He rubs his face.] Memories and perception's been altered. I thought I belonged here...

[67_impala]

[Lawyer. That's an interesting one. Usually, the people most likely to deal with the unusual stuff were some type of law enforcement or medical professionals. The guy is still very calm about it all, so he'll just take it for what it is: one less person in hysterics over monsters.]

Well, nice to meet you, Mr. Lawyer. The name's Winchester.

[But that... that piece of information actually shook Dean. The bit about memories. He'd been having dreams... Dreams of a life his but not his. Friends he didn't know, people he'd never met claiming to be family, and worst of all, he'd barely known his mother in these dreams.]

Memories altered how? What do you mean you thought you belonged here?


[OOC: I'm dumb and didn't realise you'd already apped into the game. If you'd rather not continue this, I completely understand. But I'm good to continue if you are.]

[lookattheglass]

Lindsey McDonald.

[He shakes his head, looking just as baffled.]

I don't know, it's like...I remember a life here but I know it can't be right, but it feels so real...it's like I've lived somewhere else, or both places at the same time. All I know is someone's messed with my head. Or...maybe I'm going crazy.

[Or maybe everyone was.]

[OOC: Haha it's no worries at all, I'm absolutely loving this thread! I was so excited to have him be tagged by Dean! I'm definitely good to continue.]

[67_impala]

Good to meet you, Lindsey. Guess it was rude not to give my first name. I'm Dean.

[He didn't like that this man was just about exactly describing how he felt. Usually two is a coincidence and three is a pattern, but something so freaking specific? No, this was a pattern. Especially when dealing with supernatural elements.]

Well, can't say you're crazy or not, but I can say I agree. Something's messing with our heads. Had a whole different life. You recognise faces and you don't know why? Some flashes of things that don't fit. Like, at all. And worse, I keep getting the feeling something happens to this boat. I should know what it is, but I just get a feeling about it. A bad one.

There's this thing called Djinn. It poisons you, messes with your head, slowly feeding on you. But you dream the whole time. Thing is, usually they give you what you want. I can tell you right now, if this is a Djinn, it missed the mark. And they don't let real life bleed through. That's the only guess I had and I know it's not right.


[OOC: I'm glad! I was really excited to see Lindsey and a Wesley on the TDM! Lindsey's a character you don't see around very often.]

[lookattheglass]

Dean. Good to meet you, too.

[Well, he'd wished they were in better circumstances, but what could you do?

But he nods, what Dean's describing isn't too far off from his own exact experiences, too.]

I think somethin' really bad happens to the boat, if this is the same exact boat I'm thinkin' about. And I mean, catastrophically. So if you and me are on the same page, and there's something definiely messing with our heads?

Yeah, we should be worried.

[There's a frown. He didn't know every single demon and/or monster and/or being to ever exist, but he knows quite a lot.] Sounds somethin' like a demon where I'm from. I heard of Djinn before, but I ain't never seen one, don't really know their powers. Could be the same thing, could be something similar.

[OOC: Yay, I'm glad too! It's such a great setting for this genre, we're both super excited to be here. I just watched a recent episode of Supernatural with Lindsey's actor interacting with Dean too, what perfect timing!]