FEBRUARY 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

Welcome to February's Test Drive Meme! This month's Test Drive's theme is: DYSTOPIAN/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 in Rapture. More information can be found in February's Prelude post.

CW: Centipede-like insect picture (linked), potential for bugs burrowing into skin, mind control, violence, potential for murder, potential for suicide, death by explosive device, genetic modification (Splicers by default)
Don't forget to tag content whenever necessary. Have fun!

Prompt One
Prompt Two
Character Arrival
Master Navigation

A SLAVE OBEYS

Adjusting to Rapture may already be a challenge for most; the lack of sunlight, the constant worry about whether the glass and metal surrounding you is really going to hold, the lack of powers you might be used to... Especially when there seems to be something or someone looking for a fight around every corner. Maybe you were lucky and found an abandoned apartment to crash in or maybe you were unfortunate enough to have to find some gap between rubble piles to curl up in out of sight; no matter what, it's doubtful you're getting a restful nights sleep very easily.

Those few moments where you're left unaware still leave you vulnerable and there's one creature that will take advantage of your moment of rest: a strange bug that is looking for a host. If you're fortunate, it will latch on to the base of your neck without you being fully aware; once discovered, these bugs can be pulled off with the help of a friend with a strong grip. They may take a chunk of skin with them, but at least they'll be gone, right? The less fortunate are in for more of an ordeal. The bugs will bite the skin to numb it before burrowing itself inside, latching on directly to the muscle surrounding your spine. These bugs will have to be surgically removed — whether that's from an actual skilled doctor (of which there are few) or someone willing to cut into you with a (hopefully) clean knife all depends on how desperate you are.

Whether it's latched or burrowed, the effect is the same: anyone with this bug attached to them will be unable to refuse the commands of the people around them. It can be something as simple as standing still or something as significant as killing another person... or even yourself. If you're someone with a particularly strong will, you may be able to fight off these commands with an extreme amount of effort, but it will leave you with blurry vision, dizziness, a severe migraine, and muscle weakness when you try for too long. Let's hope you run into someone altruistic rather than someone vengeful. For your sake.

NOTE: Characters can be controlled by other characters or players are welcome to utilize NPCs who might make their character attack other characters.

AN INVITE TO THE FISHERIES

If you're the investigative type or if you really just want to look for answers to what the fuck is going on, you might get a few helpful Splicers who are going to direct you to one place: Fontaine Fisheries. They won't tell you anything about the place or who you might be looking for, but they will tell you knock twice and make sure you do what you're told if you're not looking for trouble.

If you follow this advice, you'll end up in front of a large steel door with a sliding door peephole built in. Knock twice and the sliding door will open, a pair of eyes glaring at you from the other side with suspicion. If you're alone, you'll be ordered to come back with someone who's willing to vouch for you, promising you aren't working for the enemy and who you're willing to vouch for in return. If you already brought a friend, you'll go through the process of these paranoid promises, before being told to deposit all of your weapons into the bin beside you. The door won't open until you've shown you're empty handed.

Once inside, you'll find yourself in an old fisherman's warehouse, covered in ice and fog. Going inside, you won't be able to see the man who opened the door for you, almost like he's run for cover. If you decide not to turn around and leave, venturing further inside will make you hear the paranoid shout of the man:

I CAN SMELL 'IM ON YA! YOU'RE FONTAINE'S DOG!
A second later and you'll hear the sound of something heavy skittering across the ice. If you're quick, you'll notice it's an explosive, and hopefully duck for cover. Once you know what he's tossing, you have just enough time to pick these explosives up and throw them back at their owner if you're hoping to kill him. For the more peaceful types, you can team up and use the fog and ice to your advantage to sneak up on your attacker and knock him out.

If one or both of you manages to neutralize the threat and survive the attack, you can move further into the warehouse to find a medium sized box filled with a small supply of small weapons (pistols, ammo, a wrench), EVE hypos, some canned food, some medical supplies, and a map of Rapture.

No answers, though. Seems like you were sent on a wild good chase by someone hoping you might not come back from it.

Character Arrival

You can read how all characters arrive in Deerington here.

NOTE: Characters can arrive in Deerington or in Rapture this month. More information can be found in February's Prelude post.

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

[Ah, but where is the beginning? Hers? Mamis? Irohas? Her crying and breathing settles as she tries to decide.]

... I'll try.

... The Wings of the Magius... they're Magical Girls who learned the truth about witches. They want to free Magical Girls from that fate, but the ways to do so are really awful. Kidnapping... brainwashing... and Rumors.

They can create Rumors... they're creatures like Witches, only more powerful. If you hear about a Rumor, and do what it says... you can get taken away, and die. I was trapped in one Rumor... but Iroha, Yachiyo... Madoka, Homura... they came to save me.

[ Mami listens quietly while she speaks. She realizes if these Magius girls are looking to free magical girls, then the Law of Cycles truly can't reach them. But also... maybe the Law of Cycles doesn't exist at all where Sana is. Because Madoka is the Law of Cycles. ]

How awful. And... you said I got involved with them?

[ That might be the worst part of it all... ]

Mmm... you came to Kamihama City to investigate what was going on... and... from what I understand... you were brainwashed... I think.

[She immediately looks away, fingers tightly holding her cup.]

... You tried to kill us, because we were getting in the way.

[ Mami is visibly uncomfortable when she hears this. Brainwashed or not... how could she do something so awful to fellow magical girls? It feels so wrong. ]

It's... hard to apologize for something I don't remember. But I'm so sorry I put you all through that. That's upsetting to hear.

... But... but maybe you somehow broke free... or someone helped you... So I'm grateful for that. I don't want to fight you... never again...

... You... do you know where we are?

I don't want to fight either, so I will do my absolute best to prevent that happening ever again.

[ She almost wishes she could remember to comfort her better... but more so she's glad she cannot. The thought of it scares her. ]

Ah right. I've been here for a few months now. This is Deerington; we're in America if you can believe it. But... we can't leave here and it's too dangerous to try. So unfortunately we're trapped for now.

A-America?!

[She's never left the city, left alone Japan, so... buh???]

Is this... some kind of Labyrinth?

[Rumor and Witch Labyrinths do trap people, but... trapping them in another country is unheard of!]

I... suppose in a way yes. But not by a witch. Apparently we're sleeping? Dreaming? [ Mami shakes her head. ] I'm sorry; I'm still blurry on a lot of details. It's all very confusing. But I can help you where I can.

[ She slips off her ring, and it changes into her soul gem. ]

It's important to know your powers won't work correctly while you're here. Everything is... messed up. They might even hurt you if you aren't careful.

[After a moment of hesitation, Sana pulls up her own soul gem, and puts it on the table.]

They? Who is... they? Witches?

[ She's quick to shake her head. ]

No... your powers. They can be really dangerous here. I... can summon ribbons with my powers. But if I'm not careful, they start to choke me here.

[Her eyes widen in horror... and then she pales, realizing the aspects of her own powers. She has a fairly good idea what could happen.]

Oh... oh no... What if I wind up... hurting the wrong people?

You're going to have to learn to be careful... and know where your powers may go wrong.

[ Though she's hardly one to talk... but it does give her an idea. ]

How about this: you can test them out on me. That way you can figure out in what ways they've been changed here safely.

[Horror instantly consumes her-]

No! I couldn't do that! I could hurt you really badly!

[Even if her memories of Mami are full of fear, she just can't hurt someone who's trying to help her.]

I'd rather get hurt myself than have it happen to you...

[ Mami tries to smile to reassure her. ]

Trust me, I think this would be a better way. I have strong healing abilities so I'll be alright.

[ She helps herself to some more tea and then also refills Sana's cup. ]

It doesn't have to be today. Take some time to get yourself settled in. But I feel strongly you should learn your power limitations and changes soon. This town can be very dangerous.

[She's eager for the slight subject change... well, as eager as someone like Sana gets.]

What's here that's dangerous?

((Continuing here!))