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

[Oh, thank God.]

Alright, I remember that building. I will be with you shortly.

[He immediately grabs the meager gear that he managed to scrape together in this hellhole.]

Now here's what I need you to do, Mr. McDonald. Sit down, try to relax and breathe evenly. Do not touch the affected area. Can you do that for me?

[Good, that's...that's the first small bit of luck he's had in awhile.]

I can--I can do that. No problem. I ain't goin' nowhere.

[Easier said than done, of course. He sits down near the dilapidated bar, back against it, trying to do exactly as he was told.]

Good.

[Luka hurries towards the location, checking his wrist from time to time.]

Can you tell me what happened?

Man, I don't even know. I was tryin' to catch a little sleep and suddenly...

[Bug in your neck. This place sucks.]

I wasn't payin' attention, let my guard down.

It's not your fault, Mr. McDonald. We all need sleep, especially in such a frightening place.

Are you in any pain or discomfort?

So much for me gettin' any sleep now.

[And probably for awhile, after this.]

Not that much, but I can kinda feel it...where it went. [There's a shudder.]

It won't be there for long, you have my word. I'm close to the restaurant, I should be right with you.

[Still, he keeps the line open to stay in contact and keep the guy calm. Who knows what might happen if he freaked and tried to tear the parasite off by himself. From time to time he gives him an update on his location, trying to be reassuring, letting him know he's still there.

Eventually he comes up to the sign Lindsey described to him and starts searching the area, trying to locate his patient.]

Mr. McDonald? Are you there? It's Dr. Kovač.

O-okay. Yeah...just hurry.

[It...it helps. The reassurances...but by the time he comes around, Lindsey's curled up against the dilapidated bar. His head shoots up in alarm when he hears someone approaching. He holds his sword out, his blue eyes wide in the dim light.

When Luka announces himself, he still doesn't relax, still holding out the sword.]

Yeah? Yeah, it's me.

[Alright, that's... new.

Luka has been threatened with many things during his medical career. Guns, knives, metal bars, syringes, any household object that can be used to be plunged into you or hit you over the head with... it's been pointed at him before, swung at him, stabbed at him.

A medieval sword, though, that's new.

He stops and holds his hands up, keeping his voice calm, level.]

How are you doing, sir. Glad I finally found you. Is it alright if I come closer?

Edited 2020-02-08 22:36 (UTC)

[Get used to it, Luka.

Lindsey nods, it's slow, tentative. He finally lowers the sword, letting the end rest on the ground, but he doesn't let go of the hilt.]

How does it look like I'm doin'? [It's more of a grumble than an actual barb.]

[He shouldn't. Luka doesn't know who he is, there's no telling what this guy is capable of, especially once he starts examining him. Who even has a sword?

At the very least he should insist on him putting down that weapon. But they have wasted so much time already and he can tell that would only bring another daunting discussion. Why is this place so crazy?]

Well, you seem lucid and responsive which is always a good sign.

[He moves into Lindsey's personal space, putting his bag down.]

You are out here by yourself?

Thanks, doc, I feel cured already.

[He flinches a little when Luka gets into his personal space, but it's more a delayed reaction than anything. He doesn't do anything else, other than still keep a grip on his sword.]

Yeah...I know it ain't such a good idea, but I do pretty good on my own.

In my experience, sarcasm is usually a good sign, too. We're on a good way.

[He leans back to check on his neck and lo and behold, there it is. Luka takes a moment to inspect it.]

I need to touch your back and your head to take a closer look. Don't startle.

[Don't stab.]

Edited 2020-02-09 00:00 (UTC)

[It's so strange. Suddenly he just goes very still, almost as if his body is doing it on his own. He couldn't startle--or stab--if he wanted to.

It's happening.]

You're...don't tell me what to do.

[Please.]

[There, that's a lot better. Luka gently inspects the area around his neck for infection, trying to see how deep the parasite has burrowed into the skin. He's concerned; the risk of nerve damage is incredibly high as he's more or less cutting blind.

He pauses at McDonald's reaction, the terse sound in his voice.]

What's wrong?

You--you're tellin' me to do stuff and I can't--I can't stop it--

[His breath hitches, this guy could make him do anything and he wouldn't be able to stop it.]

It's the bug. The bug...

[That's odd. Luka frowns, he didn't really notice the forced obedience with his other patience so it's hard for him to place it.

Maybe some kind of side-effect of the parasite, maybe some hallucinogenic drug? Whatever it is, it's upsetting McDonald and he really can't have that.

He briefly shuffles around back into his field of vision, putting a hand on his shoulder.]

Okay. I know you're scared, I would be, too. But I'm here to help you and I promise you, I will.

Now, I'm not gonna let anything happen to you, alright? Can you trust me to do that?

[He has no reason to trust him, not really, but somehow he knows he can.

It's just a stupid gut feeling. He shouldn't, he really shouldn't, but this is a dangerous situation. If--if this guy can get that thing out without taking advantage of being able to control him...then yeah. He's trustworthy.]

Yeah...not like I have any other choice here, do I?

Why don't we put it this way – I found you and now you have a good chance of getting rid of that thing.

[Luka moves back, taking out his gear and carefully dabbing some rubbing alcohol around the afflicted area.]

I'm sorry that I can't give you a sedative, my resources are limited. I will try to numb down the area as much as I can but it might still hurt.