sodder: (Default)
Sodder ([personal profile] sodder) wrote in [community profile] soddersays2020-03-25 05:21 pm
Entry tags:

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.
lightthedarkness: (Usagi) (I'm alright really)

[personal profile] lightthedarkness 2020-03-28 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
[Usagi followed dutifully, trying to take everything in but it was... a lot. She took a seat and a deep breath as she drew her knees up to her chin, watching Rei. Rei had been here for a year, all by herself. She knew Rei could handle it, because Rei could handle anything, she was Rei! But that didn't mean Rei SHOULD have had to handle it. No wonder she looked older.

And she somehow... hadn't noticed? She bit her lip. Rei could tell her not to apologize but guilt washed over Usagi at knowing Rei had been here without the girls, in this terrible place for so long. She gave a small idle nod. When she heard Minako was here, her head snapped up.

Minako was here too?! How had she not noticed? How could she not-

Well... no, Rei mentioned time was funky here. But that only felt like an excuse for letting the girls down. She was about to apologize again but stopped herself, Rei wouldn't want to hear it mostly because Rei had already said it wasn't her fault and that would have been the end of it for Rei.

When Rei said that she wanted to have some time with Usagi to herself, she smiled.
]

So, time is odd here... Minako is here, you've been here a year or so... How can I tell a dreamer from the people who live here?
finalrequest: (☁ the storming of poor june)

[personal profile] finalrequest 2020-03-28 01:15 am (UTC)(link)
[After a moment's consideration, he takes the cloth.]

Thank you kindly.

[No sense in being impolite. It's hard to judge his expression with the mask on, but he does tip his head curiously.]

I probably just need a band-aid or two. I've had much worse.
trancheuse: (10)

[personal profile] trancheuse 2020-03-28 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
Hmmmm... memories... "Read the letter, had a laugh. Burned it. Sniffed the jar, ate what was inside. Took the keys and went out looking for so... huh. Not sure what I was looking for actually." Because she didn't remember Marluxia and Xemnas right now. She only remembered Roxas... and it made some thoughts fuzzy.

"But yep. Anyone with one of those fancy wrist phones woke up in a strange room. You're going to want to eat what was in the jar."
lightthedarkness: (Usagi) (You can't mean that)

[personal profile] lightthedarkness 2020-03-28 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
[Usagi has seen weirder than an eye in the middle of someone's head, so... ]

A year and a- seriously? [She pressed her lips together.] I mean, I don't doubt you. I just... what is it these people want, the... townspeople, I mean?
lightthedarkness: (Usagi) (Cute but ditzy)

[personal profile] lightthedarkness 2020-03-28 01:35 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh Sana, you have no idea.]

You can call me Usagi, Sana-chan! We're friends, right?
lightthedarkness: (Usagi) (Oh gosh)

[personal profile] lightthedarkness 2020-03-28 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh wow, what a cute girl... Wait no, focus! Wait- comics?! REALLY!? Usagi brightened up and then took several steps back.]

Oh my gosh! I love comics! I mean, even outdated ones. Um, sorry though for just... popping up on you like that. It's not... okay so full honesty my feet kinda moved before I even realized what I was doing. [She gave a nervous laugh.] I'm sure that sounds super weird, I'm sorry.
yourule: (fear)

[personal profile] yourule 2020-03-28 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
[ robin only dimly registers clarisse’s fear — she’s too busy being horrified herself. there’s a crunch of bone as robin’s limbs start shortening, and she slides forward, leaning against the counter, unable to support herself sitting up anymore. robin tries to speak, tries to scream, try to do something

but all she can do is squeal.

a tail pops through the back of her pants. robin’s transformation is complete — she’s a medium-sized pig in the remains of a chintzy sailor suit. ]
lightthedarkness: (Usagi) (Oh gosh)

UN: Feedthebunny

[personal profile] lightthedarkness 2020-03-28 01:41 am (UTC)(link)
[Usagi jumped a bit and then looked down... only to blush.]

Oh my gosh! I didn't know... um, thank you! [She fumbles with the phone a bit, the camera suddenly shaking as Usagi struggles to get a hold on it but thankfully doesn't drop it. She let out a deep breath.] Whew, caught it! Um, anyways, hi, thank you! I... I mean I'm okay with technology but I've never seen anything like this before. [Well, her communicator bracelet didn't count, Luna made that very straightforward.]
onerthes: (06)

[personal profile] onerthes 2020-03-28 01:43 am (UTC)(link)
What, them?

[She didn't hide the look of derision that formed on her face. Over a year of learned behavior, and she had little kind to say about the townspeople.]

They aren't why you were taken here, Miss Tsukino. Did you read the letter? We believe it was a person named Sodder who brought you here, to their nightmares and dreams. I don't think it was done intentionally, and I don't think they know how to send us home.

The people you see? Are her dreams and nightmare of what the people that once lived here were like. The real townspeople are poor, hunkering things in the alleyways with gas masks. Those nightmare people aren't to be trusted. Sometimes? They're safe and insulting. Sometimes they're plotting against us. Sometimes they die in hordes... and we see them again afterwards.

I don't know if they're real at all. Not everyone will agree, but I'm pretty sure they aren't.
lightthedarkness: (Usagi)(Rei) (Now now Rei)

[personal profile] lightthedarkness 2020-03-28 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
[Usagi takes a step back as well. Aww, what a cute looking kid! She rubs the back of her neck, blushing in embarrassment.]

Sorry about that! Um, oh! But my name is Usagi Tsukino. Honestly, my feet moved before I really knew what was going on. Sorry about invading your personal space, though. [She tried to take another step back but found she really couldn't.] Um... so... uh, are you a dreamer or visitor too or whatever we're apparently called?
demonicbeauty: (Brave)

[personal profile] demonicbeauty 2020-03-28 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
She looked down at the device on her wrist, her face twisting into a scowl that was unnatural on her face. She was one to smile, one to laugh. This whole situation was just so far outside of her experience that she didn't know how to look or feel. "I'm not very hungry right now," she admitted.

Actually, she sort of felt like she was going to be sick.

But she looked up again, a flicker of brightness coming into her eyes. "But you were looking for something too? I guess we have that in common." She smiled. "Even if we don't know what it is."
lightthedarkness: (Usagi) (Tee hee)

[personal profile] lightthedarkness 2020-03-28 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
[They can compare notes on planetary powers later, pig thing first.]

Well, we'll ask when we get there! But, um, I'll be honest I just got here and have no idea where anything is, so, lead the way! I'm Usagi Tsukino, by the way.
tagartist: (45)

[personal profile] tagartist 2020-03-28 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
It's a good chance to really dig into the classics.

[ It's said more off-handed as she finishes lifting the gate from the doors, letting the rest of her ramble sink in as she does so. My feet kinda moved before I even realized.

She hums in thought, shaking her head. ]


Nah. That sounds... pretty normal for Deerington. You eat something the locals were offering? That's sometimes the case.
lightthedarkness: (Usagi)(Luna) (Ugh too early)

[personal profile] lightthedarkness 2020-03-28 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
Actually, I pricked my finger on a spinning wheel! Can you believe that? I just turned the corner and BAM, ran right into it and the next thing I know I can't resist touching it. [Good thing she was already asleep considering her true love was back... in the waking world? God this was so confusing.]

Who just leaves an entire SPINNING WHEEL in the center of the sidewalk? The only thing I've had to eat were some strawberries in the basket. Which, actually are really super-duper good. [Her brows knitted together.] Um... but wait, should I worry about the food the locals give me?
lightthedarkness: (Usagi) (We're alone?)

[personal profile] lightthedarkness 2020-03-28 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
Well, yeah, but it didn't say SODDER brought us here? [Or maybe it did and she misunderstood. Shit, great going, Usagi.]

Wait, we're in her dream? [This is... so confusing.] So then, if this is her nightmare, we just have to wake her up, right?
onerthes: (12)

[personal profile] onerthes 2020-03-28 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
It... might not be intentional. [Siiiigh.] She might not even control us being brought here. I don't think she controls her magic, and she's incredibly powerful. If you see smokey cats wandering the town, she created them.

...as for waking her up or freeing ourselves? It's proving very difficult.
lightthedarkness: (Usagi) (What a great idea!)

[personal profile] lightthedarkness 2020-03-28 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
Well, I'm sure we can figure something out if we all work together! No matter how difficult it is, we can do it! You said there have been people who haven't been here as long, yeah? So that means people got out? I bet we can get everyone out and Sodder out of her nightmare!
tagartist: (286)

[personal profile] tagartist 2020-03-28 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
[ Her forehead creases because she definitely would have expected this to go a fairy tale route instead, but she's not exactly looking at someone in a never ending sleep here. ]

The stuff in your basket's fine, but if it's free food offered at a party or a fair or whatever, the stuff is either gonna make you hella drunk, or make you do all sorts of weird shit. You should be able to cook your own food and be safe though.

[ ... If only... she knew... ]

Spinning wheels are new, though. Definitely sounds like you got yourself cursed.

[ The conversational tone she's using for this is probably very ill-fitted for the information she's presenting, but this is like talking about the weather after two years. She pushes the door to the comic shop open and goes to head in, hesitating before she keeps holding the door open for her. ]

Just don't touch anything until I say we're open, okay?
onerthes: (09)

[personal profile] onerthes 2020-03-28 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
That's the idea, yes. And yes, people have disappeared and we believe they woke up. One returned briefly... but we don't know how they left, or how to make everyone.

Yet.

But, I like your optimism. It's heartwarming. Most of us get a little pessimistic at times. So, would you like to tell me a little of yourself, Usagi?
lightthedarkness: (Usagi) (I can handle anything)

[personal profile] lightthedarkness 2020-03-28 02:13 am (UTC)(link)
Well, you can trust me for a sunny outlook! [Pretty much... always.]

And there's not too much interesting to say! I'm from Tokyo, Japan, um... oh, I just graduated high school and I'm going to be going to college... or... was... WILL soon! No idea what I'm gonna major in though.

Um... my favorite hobbies are sleeping and eating, followed by shopping and video games! I love strawberries, birthday is June 30th whiiich oh! Um, is there like... a calendar here? Does it follow the regular year? Cause every time I asked somoene how long they've been here they kept saying they weren't sure.
lightthedarkness: (Usagi) (Usagi Tsukino can do!)

[personal profile] lightthedarkness 2020-03-28 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, ma'am! [Usagi doesn't have much of a choice as she's compelled to follow Chloe inside. She nods though, and salutes, and then snaps her arms to her side and even accidentally holds her breath before realizing she was and letting it go.]

Sooo grocery store is fine or like... am I going to have to learn to hunt and fish and garden? [Makoto would be thrilled about that last one.] I'm not sure I could bring myself to kill my own food...

tagartist: (261)

[personal profile] tagartist 2020-03-28 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
[ She lets the door shut behind them, going to the front counter and hopping up and over. ]

Groceries fine. Food's free, too, so long as you've got a job or go to school. Sometimes when this place gets particularly bad we end up with a food shortage, but the other Sleepers are real good about sharing in times like those. Makes it a little easier to get by.
onerthes: (09)

[personal profile] onerthes 2020-03-28 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
[Thankfully, after a year? She'd picked up on what most of these wordss meant. Enough that she wasn't too dizzied by that display. Quite the exuberant one wasn't she?]

Tokyo is a city in this world, though you won't be able to escape to it for now. We're in a place called Maine in ... America? Yes, America. It's April right now.

And yes, time usually flows normally here, though... it is a dream? So, we aren't sure much or any time passes in our own lives or worlds. It's... confusing.
laruetheday: i'm gonna have to be a robber. (i'm never gonna be a cop.)

[personal profile] laruetheday 2020-03-28 02:31 am (UTC)(link)
[ The transformation finishes, and Clarisse gets her shit together enough to peel herself off the wall and take a closer look. It's... oh, it's a pig. Her immediate first thought is of her father—it's one of his sacred animals, after all.

And it's not like she's never thought about it before—having her own war boar, something huge and mean, with tusks that could rip through armor. She'd always thought that would be pretty badass. She might have asked for it once or twice after throwing a part of her meal into the fire, when she was younger and thought her dad might actually answer.

This, though? This thing with the stupid outfit (and who used to be a perfectly nice looking girl, by the way)? If it's a gift from Ares, it's only because he's messing with her, expecting her to get mad about it. She grits her teeth and looks up at the ceiling and mutters, ]
Thank you. [ Because that'll show him. ]

[ Then, she crouches, looking at Robin with mingled curiosity and apprehension. Like... is it hers? Does she have to feed it? Take it for walks? Do pigs go on walks? Can she get rid of the sailor outfit and get it a biker jacket? Can pigs be house trained? Shit, she has a lot of questions. ]

Can you talk? Remember who you are? [ First things first, though. ]
tagartist: (13)

[personal profile] tagartist 2020-03-28 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
sounds kinda like harrington
tho i feel like his hair routine has to involve so much more than hairspray. you could prob make a whole documentary about it