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Sodder ([personal profile] sodder) wrote in [community profile] soddersays2020-03-25 05:21 pm
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APRIL 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME




APRIL 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME









Welcome to April's Test Drive Meme! This month's Test Drive's theme is: ENCHANTMENT 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: Enchanted food, possible body horror, mild finger injuries, magic based mind control, rapid aging, possible death
Don't forget to tag content whenever necessary. Have fun!











YOU UNCULTURED SWINE


Pork is on sale!! Time to buy it up for all your family meals. It also means anything with pork in it in all of the restaurants is on special and super affordable for just about anyone. New arrivals can even get a free meal of bacon, sausage and eggs at the diner! Seeing all the low prices, you find yourself craving pork more than ever. But who doesn't love bacon, right? Maybe you had ham and pineapple pizza at Peter's or those delicious and mouthwatering pork dumplings at the Hot Pot. You could have cooked a nice pork loin with your friends and family for a large get together. Candied bacon is a real treat to munch on in the park!

You're cooking it yourself or getting it from the local restaurants, so nothing bad could happen with a little self-indulgence, right? Just about everyone has learned not to trust the food at a giant feast in Deerington, but short of the lunch and dinner menus at the diner, the restaurants and the grocery store have never done a Sleeper harm! At least, that's the way it's always been before. Two years is long enough to start taking things for granted.

Anyone who has any of the specials from the restaurants or who cooks any kind of pork related product at home will find that once they have finished their meal, they will slowly turn into... pigs. It seems to vary on how fast a single person turns, some moving slowly over the course of days while they eat more and more food, and others will turn into a full blown pig in a manner of minutes. At first you can still talk to others and display your usual personality in pig form, but the longer you stay a pig, the more boarish you'll become.

So how do you break the curse? Locals say there's a magic stream up on the mountain that will stop these kinds of enchantments, but you can't go alone. Someone will have to carry you up and sing to you while you drink. It might be a friend or a lover or a complete stranger, but whoever you can nudge into it will have to physically carry you in their arms up the side of the mountain looking for this stream. It can take a while— the walk is fairly long, a few hours at best, but you'll know it when you find it. The stream sparkles unnaturally in the sunlight and it seems like none of the animals are willing to drink from it's unnaturally cold waters. The moment you take a long sip while your companion sings whatever song pops into their head, you'll turn back into a human. Hopefully your clothes turn back with you.

If your character does not eat meat/pork, then they'll be safe from this event!


GOOD ENDURES


Mirror mirror on the wall...

The pork doesn't seem to be the only enchanted object around Deerington this month. There are several of them cropping up all over the place and each one has a different outcome for those unfortunate enough to run into them.

Spinning wheels seem to be in the most random of places. Some of them will even just appear in your house. Sometimes multiple spinning wheels show up. Anyone who gets to close will have the strong urge to prick their finger on the spindle, the needle very easily cutting the tip and making you bleed more than you might have expected. Hopefully you have a first aid kit around.

Anyone who pricks their finger will find that they are forced to follow the next person they see around everywhere. They'll follow them to work, to school, to the bathroom, to the kitchen, even to bed. It doesn't matter if it's someone you've never spoken to in your life, you will follow them like a lost duckling every hour of every day. It's enough to drive anyone bonkers.

Mirrors will also suddenly be being displayed in every home and every shop, even if you never had them before. It doesn't matter whether or not you have a reflection, any person who looks into the mirror will find that they are forced to imitate the next person they make eye contact with. This can be their personality, their posture, the way they speak, their basic movements— you'll start to become a total mirror image. If it goes on too long, you might even start to find the two of you start to look more and more alike...

Apples start to pop up in all the stores as well as in your fridges. They're bright red and look so delicious, you can't resist taking a bite. Even if you don't like apples or are normally allergic to them, you'll want to eat these, and you'll find they taste delicious and don't bring harm to anyone. At least... not at first.

A few hours after eating the apple, you'll start to notice differences in your appearance. Your hair has start to thin and become gray and limp, your skin is wrinkled and covered in spots, your hands become frail and shaky. You're aging, and rapidly at that. Before you know it, you've turned into a hideous hag, one that would frighten children in any fairy tale book. But how do you reverse it?

The cure for all three enchantments is to tell three facts about yourself. Even just introducing yourself will show improvement if it's to someone who never knew your name before. Those who ate the apples will have to seek someone out, but anyone who pricked their finger or looked in a mirror will specifically have to confess these three facts to the person they're enchanted to follow/imitate. Once three facts have been shared, you'll be able to leave, return to normal, and age back to your regular self.



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.
threelayers: (14)

[personal profile] threelayers 2020-03-26 09:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[Hmmm, yes. She nodded. There was hardly any harm in saying or pantomiming that. After all, it would have been hard to deny otherwise. Why else would she have been inspecting the lamps? She gestured back to them and shrugged afterwards. Needed a little light.

The unique comment, though? That caused her to look back at the woman and cock her head. What did she mean by that? The quizzical look was definitely expressive enough to show her confusion. After all, nothing here was that unusual, if a little pedestrian in comparison to what you might find, say, in the upper terraces of Mistral, Beacon or the floating city of Atlas.]
pineneedles: (rneg (9))

[personal profile] pineneedles 2020-03-26 09:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Good luck with the selling of the drugs, mister!

(Johanna was already shoving a piece of toast into her mouth, watching this white boy sulk over to the bar.)
pineneedles: (Default)

[personal profile] pineneedles 2020-03-26 09:35 pm (UTC)(link)
You don't talk, do you? I'm getting that. Okay, I think it's good now. Go ahead and walk away, try to get away, I'll concentrate on just standing here.

(Johanna closed her eyes and clutched the scarf around her finger.)

Go on, dummy, go!
dickthree: (drew_van_acker_in_tower_prep_season_1_22)

[personal profile] dickthree 2020-03-26 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She was molded between Blue Sargent and Adam Parrish, that was it. Coincidence? Nothing was every just coincidental. ] Actually [ He said, holding a finger into the air. He gets up and instead of moving further away from the woman, Gansey sits down across from her, slapping the meal ticket on the table. ]

I'd like to use my voucher. [ He says to an uneasy waitress, cautiously taking the meal ticket. ]

Is he bothering you? [ The waitress said casually, tossing Gansey sidelong glance. Gansey, sitting across from Johanna, makes a silent look, pleading. ]
threelayers: (Disguised)

[personal profile] threelayers 2020-03-26 09:42 pm (UTC)(link)
[Another glance out of the corner of her eye, followed by a shake of the head. Caught on? Good. She did so hate to go into long winded speeches about her muteness. It was so very tedious.

...also a touch futile.

The comment, however, made her blink. Dummy? Wait, what was she getting at? Oh, right. She'd been claiming that she hadn't been following her on purpose, and her finger was bleeding unnaturally. The odds of it being some weird curse were high. It would explain a few things. Her eyes narrowed and then she nodded once again, giving Johanna finger guns. She'd be keeping an eye out for her.

But for the moment, she did just what the girl requested. In fact, the next time she opened her eyes, regardless of if it had only been seconds, she wouldn't see anyone that looked like this girl. Somehow, she just seemed to have blended into the crowd. She was, apparently, very good at that.]
namelessgod: ʙʏ ʀᴀᴄʜ (pic#12919930)

[personal profile] namelessgod 2020-03-26 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[He will... take that as a no.

But the pig did understand him; his speech, he means. It reminds him of Toki with that look of hers when her husband says something particularly silly (and he hopes Toki never does find out he'd compared her to a little pig, other world or not). Ashitaka isn't sure quite he feels about being on the receiving end of it, but he's not without experience either.]
Are you a Sleeper, like me? Were you put under a spell?

[He'd heard whispers, here and there. A warrior should never be so engrossed in their own doings that they shut out the rest of the world. In fact, that's kind of the opposite of his entire mission. So he relaxes his stance, holds himself more openly.] You can tap your hoofs if I'm right.
finaletea: (thinking)

[personal profile] finaletea 2020-03-26 10:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Mami nods and drops her hand. She glad this girl understands even though it's a lot to take in. ]

I'll be truthful: we don't have all the answers yet. But this town is called Deerington, and we were brought here by a powerful girl named Sodder. She seems to be in dange, but we don't know how to find her.

This town is very dangerous. There are monsters, and things are constantly changing here. But- [ She gestures to the sword. ] You can fight?
threelayers: (Default)

[personal profile] threelayers 2020-03-26 10:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ah, good. He was at least capable of understanding how to communicate with an animal, which meant that he could get through to her and they could figure this out. it was going to be just a little bit arduous, but she'd get there.

...if he planned on her tamping her feet to say yes and no when she was back to normal, he had another thing coming.

But, for the moment, she got up and tapped her hoofs sullenly on the cobblestones. Yes, she'd definitely had something happen to her, and she supposed she was what they called a sleeper.]
yourule: (smile)

cw: drug reference

[personal profile] yourule 2020-03-26 10:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[ this is good! this is great! as far as robin is concerned, syd's reaction is pretty reasonable, and robin is taking that as a good sign. ]

Yeah, it was insane! My friends and I cracked this code they broadcasted all over town, but they caught us once we got inside and gave us this weird drug, which I'm assuming explains all of [ robin waves her hand around, gesturing at the entire town. ] -- this.

[ but does that mean the other girl is a hallucination? probably -- it'd be just like robin to dream up some scenario where she's aiding and abetting a mysterious, hot girl who's running from what are most likely harrowing circumstances. robin could do without the blood, though. ]

C'mon, let's get cleaned up. [ she cocks her head towards the roller rink. ] I bet there's a bathroom in there, and no one's gonna bother us if we look like we know what we're doing.
inwhite: (pic#)

[personal profile] inwhite 2020-03-26 10:16 pm (UTC)(link)
It's going to be okay, Maiden. I was in the same position only a few weeks ago. Why don't we find a place to sit down? There's a place that serves food nearby. Are you hungry? Thirsty?

[xingchen offers his sleeve to her, his voice soft with the next words.]

Steady. No harm's going to come for you as long as I'm here.
yourule: (smile)

[personal profile] yourule 2020-03-26 10:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[ yes, excellent, this is everything piglet-robin has ever wanted and more! she flops down on her belly and rolls around a bit, leaning into the pet.

once she's had enough of that, though, piglet robin perks up and starts nudging bella's shoe with her snout. c'mon, nice human friend! let's go on an adventure! ]
thighzits: (chug-a-lug)

[personal profile] thighzits 2020-03-26 10:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh Jesus Christ.]

What is your problem?!

[The doors to the movie theatre slam open as Syd whirls around, pushed by an unseen wind from inside. Her voice is filled with anger, but there's clear, defensive paranoia in her eyes. She can't stop thinking about the man in black, standing in the train yard, lurking in the library. Does this girl have something to do with him?]
pineneedles: (Default)

[personal profile] pineneedles 2020-03-26 10:20 pm (UTC)(link)
("Dummy" was just Johanna's own version of a term of endearment. Nothing is meant relating to the muteness.

As Neo leaves, Johanna feels compelled to walk forward. She feels like she's on a track, like one of those weirdo coocoo clocks her grandma had. She slides all the way until she sees Neo again. Oh shit. Hide.)
pineneedles: (vlcsnap-2018-01-28-12h43m14s170)

sorry... so sorry

[personal profile] pineneedles 2020-03-26 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, but I'll deal with it, Pam. (The woman's nametag read, very clearly, FRAN.)

What's the deal? Look, I know I'm a hot piece but I'm not interested in you. You got a stupid face.
threelayers: (Disguised)

[personal profile] threelayers 2020-03-26 10:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[...

Ok, this was getting weird. So, when she kept moving, almost as if being inexorably drawn towards Neo, she'd find herself following first one local, and then a completely different one. She was on the fourth when a red headed girl with green eyes practically stormed up to her, hands on hips.

She was staring at her silently, judgingly. She thought this was supposed to be over. Funny, she didn't look like the girl from before?]
shinkunochou: (012)

[personal profile] shinkunochou 2020-03-26 10:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[She bears the rustling of his sleeves and hesitates a moment before reaching out tentatively to take his arm, her grip a little tight in her fear. No harm to her, sure, but what about her hurting everyone else? She doesn’t feel that stirring often the Darkness inside her, not right now, but that doesn’t mean it’s gone.]

I’m... a little of both? [She sounds more baffled by this fact than uncertain, as if bewildered at the idea of feeling hunger or thirst.]

My... my throat hurts, a little...
holybeasts: (057)

[personal profile] holybeasts 2020-03-26 10:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[The curious, confused look is definitely enough to spur Maria into demonstration. She makes her way right on back to that lamp Neo had near dropped and plucks it up with hands on either side of it's base.]

Well, like this thing.

[She contemplates it a moment just holding it like a normal person and then stretches out her arms, holding it at arm's length with a furrowed brow.]

I confess I don't really have a taste for art.

[Yes, she thinks it must be a sculpture of some sort. That's her closest guess, okay? And by the way she's viewing it, she really is trying to figure out just what it is.]
magija: (✾ ₀₃₆)

[personal profile] magija 2020-03-26 10:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[ wanda manages a wider smile at the girl's casual honesty, something almost a little refreshing as she manages a soft laugh of her own. ]

Well, then, don't mind me. Feel free to keep looking to your heart's desire.

[ but she relaxes where she stands, fingers brushing against her apron to clean off the remnant of flour on her skin. ]

Actually, I hadn't either. This, um — it wasn't here yesterday, but I guess someone did some remodeling. I hadn't stopped to look at it yet, but ... I suppose it is a little over the top.
namelessgod: ʙʏ ʀᴀᴄʜ (pic#12919923)

b;

[personal profile] namelessgod 2020-03-26 10:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah--

["Don't--" is dead on his tongue as soon as he thinks to say it, the small gasp all that escapes him. He'd been just... out, for once, feeling so increasingly out of place in Maine and searching for Deer and answers, and now it seems like his problems aren't much to dwell on, not when the poor girl is bleeding like that. Ashitaka looks on with concern, restrained and trying to not say or ask the obvious are you okay. That the girl mirrored his immediate movement doesn't register with him as dangerous; reflexes are just that, sometimes.] I think I know where to get that cleaned, if you'd like. [He forces himself to relax, offer a small and polite smile.]
demonicbeauty: (Nervous)

[personal profile] demonicbeauty 2020-03-26 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)
That...wasn't really an answer to her question. And Ariadne was starting to suspect the rude girl just wanted to scare her. But for her appearance, Ariadne didn't frighten easily. Possibly because when she thought of the word 'monster,' she mostly just thought of people. Some people would call her one.

And she didn't really feel like a monster.

Not most days, anyway.

Better to try a different approach.

"Boarblins?" she asked. "Is that a kind of monster you mean? Because it's easy to trick them."
demonicbeauty: (Mischief)

[personal profile] demonicbeauty 2020-03-26 10:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Ariadne didn't even realize she was bleeding until the stranger's unfamiliar voice and equally unfamiliar scent managed to stir her out of...what had she been thinking about? Ariadne wasn't entirely sure. Her mind was prone to wandering, exploring an endless array of possible futures. But this was different, somehow.

She shook her head, looking down at her fingertips, the blood beading and rolling along her skin.

"I guess I did," she said. Her voice was light and ethereal. Without an identifiable accent to speak of, although she was sometimes accused of sounding a little too much like an Elf. She smiled at the stranger, shaking her head like it was all just a bit of foolishness. "There's a reason why I never sew."
portraitor: (Default)

A

[personal profile] portraitor 2020-03-26 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, hi Miss! What did you want to ask us?

[Comes the reply from the small blond girl that looks up at her upon being called out to here. She had been skipping along down the street here, but has now stopped to give her attention to this newcomer.]
portraitor: (it gains the more it gives)

B

[personal profile] portraitor 2020-03-26 10:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[Mary had been skipping along down the street, but she stops when she spots a girl hugging herself in an alley. She looks around a bit to see if there's anyone else, but it seems it's just her that's noticed, so she carefully approaches with a small frown.]

Um... Miss? Are you okay?
threelayers: (05)

[personal profile] threelayers 2020-03-26 10:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[Art? Well, ok, if you wanted cheap knock off crap at the local antique boutiquery to call art, she supposed that worked. It was a few steps above a swap meat, to be sure, but she wouldn't have called it art so much as "functional."

But seeing the woman confused as to its purpose, she made a mental note that it happened to still be plugged into whatever was providing power to these contraptions and walked over to flick on the switch at its base.

She had the decency to have her other hand ready to catch it, you know, just in case the sudden spawning of 'let there be light' caused a reaction.]
fuckamerica: (2)

[personal profile] fuckamerica 2020-03-26 10:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He hates this already, even if he does manage to keep his expression in check. He might not have any of his equipment, but he has his fists and feet. Which is to say he's shifting his stance, ever-so-slightly, clearly ready for whatever bullshit this guy's planning to throw his way. Again.

Not that there isn't also a flicker of frustration in his eyes, as well as a shift in his tone to emphasize the next words. ]


Higgs... [ glancing away, and then back to him ] I don't got time for you right now.

[ Lou is infinitely more important, bad sir. ]