APRIL 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

[sodder]

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!

Prompt One
Prompt Two
Character Arrival
Master Navigation

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.

Comments

Elijah Mikaelson | The Originals

[fautor]

arrival;

( Whatever comes next, Elijah knows that he and Niklaus will face it together. Whether they face onslaughts of torment or find a settled peace, or whatever in between, they won't be alone. Together, always and forever. Before life started to slip from him, he'd surmised that they both may end up settling in a state of eternal sleep; the sensations of death may even be akin to being daggered.

What does come next sweeps all breath from him, holding him in a space that's like a tale of fantastical horror. It is, perhaps, the punishment they deserve.

Attempts at grasping how the throes of dying have played out flood over him when his eyes snap open. He's in a cottage, alone, interior dilapidated and foreign. He happens to have died in a suit, though, so he's able to leave that place with haste. Forest around him, his face remains hardened and unyielding as he examines what could have been an idyllic scene, if not for the must and decay tainting the air.

He walks, at human speed, stance guarded wholly because that's how he usually finds himself, especially over the course of the past few days. He gets several paces away from the house when he stops, glancing slightly up at absolutely nothing, listening out to try to pick up on anything noteworthy. About half a minute passes before he speaks, question thick in his tone, the single word purposeful. ) Niklaus?

( He hasn't heard a sound indicative of his brother being nearby. Are they in separate hells? Only one way to find out...

Elijah continues to walk, spotting a town just past the treeline. It gives him pause, but he makes no show of that. He comes out into the open and finally makes a dash at heightened speed, pointedly at what could be the main street of any small town in America. When he stops, he lets one hand slide into a pocket of his pants, eyes narrowing as he gives a full, pressing gaze around. ) Who knew the afterlife would be rife with quiet. I'd expected the torturing of souls. Brimstone. Imps. Not a space without anything glaringly...sinister. ( Talking to himself, naturally, and he just continues to stand there as he looks around.

All in all, he looks like he always would. Suit well-tailored, clean, ironed. His hair is neat, face shaven. He doesn't appear to be lacking in confidence, though he's undeniably stoic. He lets a quiet, resigned sigh slip from his lips as he swallows just so. Wherever the fates have taken him, he only hopes that Niklaus has found any semblance of peace. For all the darkness either of them have wrought, it's his younger brother's final deeds that really should matter most: Elijah isn't wholly surprised to be in what appears to be a bizarre purgatory, not after all he's done. He'd rather the outcome be different, but at least he'd had control over choosing to be there in those final moments of two far too long lives. Now, well, who knew what would transpire, truly. )

good endures;

spinning wheels

( Elijah explores his surroundings, likely a bit more informed about the whole of the situation he's in. He does absorb information quite well. One of the spinning wheels is the first jarring item he comes across. Or, he spots someone else pricking themselves upon its needle. The smell of blood fills his nostrils as he conjures up an expression of muted concern after making steps over to the person. ) Can I be of some assistance? It doesn't appear that this device remained gentle with you.

( He even offers a little smile, donning his suit and perfectly willing to sincerely provide aid. He's not familiar with what kind of consequences enchanted items may have, whoops. )

( ooc: please do feel free to pm me with any questions; also feel free to throw a wild card prompt at him! )

[funnyname]

Shouldn't I have?

[He still keeps it gentle, a little cautious, like he would approach an elderly patient that seemed upset.]

You could tell me your name if you prefer that.

[demonicbeauty]

Ariadne wasn't one to resign herself to hopelessness. But she would need to learn more. It was hard to predict a perfect, possible future when you didn't know all of the facts.

For the moment, though, the rude girl seemed to have developed some manners. It seemed only fair to reciprocate in kind.

She curtsied. Although the curtsy was more of a bounce, really. Everything Ariadne did gave the impression that gravity was just barely holding her down. Like, at any second, she would sprout wings and fly.

...if only...

"Ariadne," she said. "But you can call me 'Airy' if you like. Everyone does. And you, mistress?"

[demonicbeauty]

"Oh, yes Lady Molly. I think that's a good idea." She curtsied. Although the curtsy was more of a bounce, really. Everything Ariadne did gave the impression that gravity was just barely holding her down. Like, at any second, she would sprout wings and fly.

Once upon a time, that would have been true.

But that was another lifetime.

Ariadne frowned down at the blood on the handkerchief. Although she'd only been in this place a little while, she wasn't foolish enough to believe that anything was an accident. She just didn't know what had happened.

good endures

[vatical]

There's a really angry fairy godmother somewhere, [ comes a soft-spoken, decidedly southern american drawl from nearby. it belongs to a tall, skinny figure perched on a low garden wall, dressed in flannel and jeans and boots and with a small, makeshift sketch pad on his lap.

there's also a bandaid on the index finger of one hand, which he lifts with a sheepish grin to wiggle at the other man. ]

One of those things got me earlier. I didn't even know I could be, um.. enchanted, I guess? [ a beat. ] You just gonna' break all of 'em?

[etincelledefierte]

I'll do whatever I can to help with that.

[Claudine's being vague, but it's because she needs the time to think of how best to explain the situation. She'll take the time to write it out before trying again.]

Of course. If there's anything I can do, just say the word.

[Her expression also softens, and she nods.]

That would be lovely. Thank you, Tomoe-san.

[holybeasts]

[At first Maria looks a touch confused herself once Neo kneels and gestures for her to look.

Out comes the plug and Maria's attention immediately shifts to the light. Flicking the switch seems to do little good after that.

Thankfully it doesn't seem too difficult for Maria to put things together. So makes an appreciative 'oh' sound. She more or less knew the thing wasn't alive or any such but now she definitely understands more.]

So the power comes from the spot in the wall then? How interesting! It's like some sort of machine then?

[Not that she knew a great deal about machines but she can confidently prattle on, possibly either much to Neo's amusement or chagrin:]

I've seen machines at home that run off of gears like clockworks or steam. Not particularly closely or in-depth of course. This isn't like those at all, hm?

[That much is clear though if whatever manages to power this little light comes from the wall.]

Text: UN - IceCream (I'm not sorry for this at all...)

[threelayers]

[A text message came back on the network. There was a 'gling' sound to identify that the message. And thankfully? These things had either a braille or a text to talk function of some sort, because that was the only way this message was getting through under the circumstances.]

I seem to have free time.
But don't expect me to talk much.
Not my strong suit.

[Man, she had no idea what she was suggesting here.]

She is elegance, she is taste!

[threelayers]

Oh, so she was attempting a comeback? Well, why not? Neo smiled and tipped the bowler cap, causing it to roll down her arm with a bit of legerdemain before popping it back on her head as her umbrella opened and rested on her shoulder. More than just a little bit of a show off in her bow, she was always a bit of a showman.

Huh, this one was actually shorter than her, but she looked young so she probably had inches to grow yet. Such a rare moment that people weren't towering over her. Neo smiled over at her, waiting for the young ladybug to take the lead in the conversation, since she wasn't going to be able to do it herself.

[threelayers]

[Making sure it was plugged in again, she tapped her chin, trying to decide if that was an accurate way to put it. There weren't any clockwork or gears in these to her knowledge, not that she'd opened up any. She didn't need to do that and she was about as mechanically inclined outside of breaking and entering as the woman in front of her.

A few taps and she finally shrugged before taking one hand and making a 'so-so' gesture. That was about as good of an answer as she had. It was a machine, but the description? Not necessarily accurate of how it worked. Yet, still it worked, which was the point.

Either way, the woman was amusing for her naivete. She wondered if she came from somewhere backwater with no power... or some other time. People had been saying that was a thing, not that she fully believed it yet.]

[trancheuse]

Hah, he closest to polite this girl ever got was introductions. 'Rude Girl' was a pretty good descriptor of her on her better days. She snickered and made a mental note of the name. "Airy works well enough," she said, grinning away as if at some private joke.

... it probably involved calling Ariadne an Airhead if she ever did something Larxene thought was stupid. Yeah, she really was a rude creature.

"Like I said, you can call me Larxene. No point really shortening it. Well Airy, I think that brings us full circle. What're you in a hurry to find? You're obviously pretty new off the boat." She had that green smell after all.

[choking]

It....it does seem as if you're bleeding a lot.

( enough to catch his attention. when the question arose, james simply shook his head in 'no' and still continued to hold out the cloth towards the man before him.

or at least he appeared to be one. )

I work at the hospital, maybe I can take you there if you start getting light headed.

( he certainly deserved whatever came of this- at least he would think so. it would be his fault for engaging after all. )

[zunesareawesome]

[Is he treating him all gentle and nice like if he was a real old person? This sucks.]

It's just I'm not really the sir type? But my name's Peter Quill. People call me Star-Lord.

[There's a weird...sensation when he gives the information, and some of his more prominent wrinkles disappear, and his hands stop shaking and look a little less gnarled.]

[onerthes]

A little... [She almost used his name for a second, and paused. Better to be sure they were introduced first.] You may call me Vira-Lorr, if you wish. I'd be pleased to have more help one way or another. You certainly look like you can handle yourself in a fight.

[funnyname]

[Yes. Yes, he is.

He even reaches out to gently take his arm and lead him over to one of the benches.]

Well, it's nice to meet you, Mr. Quill. Why don't you sit down for a moment?

Star-Lord, that's a funny name. Were you an actor?

[You know, in the past, when you were still working and not old and stuff.]

spinning wheels

[redheat]

[ The chance that he just so happens to be going the same way as her is exactly what Jean thinks. At first. But when it's obvious that, no matter the turn she makes, or the pause in step she gives to look at something within a shop window, she is most definitely being followed and she stands there, staring to him then. For what it's worth, she doesn't feel as though she's in any danger but, still getting used to this place, one never can be too sure.

So, it's with a curious note in her tone, that she decides to just ask. Or at the very least, make it known that she's aware he's following her. ]

Can I help you with something?

[zunesareawesome]

[HE IS SO NOT.]

O..okay.

[He lets him lead him over to sit down, being old is exhausting.]

...what? No--I mean, I'm kind of flattered that you think that I was--I mean am? It's just my outlaw name. I'm a legendary outlaw.

[Even as he gives that piece of information, he feels...better, somehow. Something in his back snaps back into place and he doesn't have to stoop so much. Weird?]

[funnyname]

[Weird. He seems... livelier somehow than just seconds ago. Maybe the sitting down helps?]

An outlaw, huh?

[Well, he's met John Morris so he knows there's people here from the Wild West and all kinds of time periods...]

When are you from? What's the year back in your world?

[stauncherhearted]

That's a lot of blood. [Way more than there should be for such a small pin-prick.] And this place is weird. [Not the sort of place you wanted to take chances.]

Are you anemic? 'cause I've got something for that. If you'd like?

[Blood replenishers. Never leave home without them.]

[demonicbeauty]

Ariadne frowned, glancing from side to side, taking in the panorama. "Well, I don't recall being on a boat," she muttered. "Just something about being in the woods. There was a deer and..."

She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. It didn't make any sense. Not even by her very lenient policy on sense-making.

Dreams were just that. Dreams.

So why did her back still feel so raw?

"I don't know what I'm looking for," she admitted. "I guess I figured I'd know it when I saw it."

[laruetheday]

[ She's not sure what she was expecting, but a simple "that sucks" wasn't it. But it's better than crying, so... she should probably just be thankful. ]

It's not great. They give you a house and you can get a job, go to school, whatever. It's like they want you to just replace your life with a new one here.

un: wiccan

[billiam]

[ billy has a whole line of text typed out before he realizes what he's doing. he deletes all of it, then trades the text function for voice, trying not to sound as nervous as he feels. matt murdock? he's talking to matt murdock. cool. it's fine! ]

Hi, Mmmatt. [ "mister murdock" is maybe a little too formal, and though matt's username is listed as 'murdock', he probably shouldn't do the creepy fanboy thing and just run with it being his last name... even though he knows it is. smooth catch. ] Hey. Hi. I'm, uh. I'm Billy. I haven't been here for very long, either, but I think I've been around long enough to maybe give you a halfway decent tour, if you haven't already found someone to... show you around.

ii

[heraldingangel]

[ It's not the first time he's been followed by the devil. He ignores it at first, but after some time, he's finally had enough and opens his invisible wings and disappears from sight. The sound of wings heralds his arrival and he appears in a rush of wind in front of him. ]

Why are you following me?

[pineneedles]

(Johanna grabs the girl by the shoulders and steadies her so she doesn't fall the fuck over.)

I'm Johanna Mason, and if you're in love with the prince who just rescued you, you're going to have to get in line.

(She winks and then lets Bella go, not asking for her name, and just walks a little faster. Because with a line like that, you gotta jet.)

spinning wheels

[noblebeast]

What'd you expect?

[ Bakugou is a few meters behind her. He'd seen her approach the spinning wheel and meant to intervene before she touched it, but she went for it before he could say shit. So, here he is, late and now stuck with the consequences. He's seen what those shitty Rumpelstiltskin spinners could do and wants nothing to do with the after-effects. ]

Didn't anyone ever teach you not to play with sharp things?