soddersays | APRIL 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

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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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Usagi jumping a foot off her seat means no, no she did not know it was on.] GAH!

[She clutched her heart and then looked down at the phone.] OH um, hey-hi, ya scared me there! Um no, I didn't, actually. But uh, I do now. So, um, right, doctor you said? I wouldn't say, like, BAD bad, just really sore and tender.

[She giggled a little when the girl jumped. It was cute when she saw new people like this. Probably one of the few wholesome things left in this awful little nightmare. Resting her chin on her hand, she listened until she got that out and nodded.]

No need for the hospital then. I think I know a few people who might be able to help, though... tell me. Did you look in the mirror? The pain wouldn't happen to match a couple tattoos would it?

[Someone had some experience with those on the back.]

Oh, no, I never thought I needed to go to a hospital or anything. [She's never been to one for herself.] And um, I mean, considering where it is, I'd need at least, one giant mirror and a smaller one to see things. Or... well, I guess I could try and take a picture with my phone later. Ah well, something to think about. But ya know, later. I mean, I don't know if it's a tattoo. I've not looked for it.

Right. I ask because all of us have a tattoo. They look like deer antlers. If you're on the network you should have one. Mine are at the small of my back, and... uh, every once in a while? They suddenly flare up with pain. It usually means something bad is coming, but not always.

A little hard to predict. Though, if you want me to check, I don't mind, or I could give you Moira's number. She's a good doctor. Not the most sociable, but a good doctor.

Oh... um, I'll be on the lookout for them then. [Alone, in her own bathroom but not here and not now in front of others.]

Um, oh uh, no no you don't have to check! [She doesn't know what it might be.] But um, are you sure Dr. Moira is actually okay just giving out her number like that if she's unsociable?

Hahaha, oh my dear...

[She was laughing lightly, shaking her head.]

She's not exactly sociable with her closest friends from her own world. It's nothing personal. She's just very ... erm, scientific and professional? Yes, that's how I'd put it.

All the same, I don't want to be rude, especially when she's a doctor. I'll just... check it out when I have time and if it looks bad I'll go to the hospital. [This was a dream, right? Even in a dream her crystal was probably already taking care of it!]

But thank you! I really appreciate the help.

Oh, as long as you're fine, that's what's important.

[This one was amusing enough. Easy to talk to, though she definitely looked really green as far as the town was concerned.]

I'm Vira-Lorr by the way. It's a pleasure to meet you. I you have any questions, I've been here for a while now.

[She's never been here before, you don't get much greener than that. But it wasn't like she couldn't handle herself or things if pressed.]

Oh um, nice to meet you, Vira-Lorr-san. My name is Usagi Tsukino. Nice to meet you too! And yeah, lots of questions. Oh! How long have you been here?

[Ooooh, they started off with the obvious one, did they? Yeah, as soon as you said 'been here a while,' most folks wanted to ask 'Oh? How long?' That, or "What's with the extra eye?" That was popular too. She sighed and smiled as reassuringly as she could.]

About a year and a half, now, Usagi. A few have been here longer, though none of the sleepers I know have been here longer than two years at this point.

[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?

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.

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?

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.

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!

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?

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.

[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.

[Most exuberant, this one.]

But... I can understand everything. My English isn't that great... [It's downright terrible if you ask Ami... please don't ask Ami.] And there's no way everyone here is speaking Japanese.

Ah.. yeah, my friend, Rei-chan mentioned something like that.

I am not from this world at all, so... something I think translates our tongues magically. We have to try to remember to speak our native languages. I know a few people who speak Japanese though, like Minako.

[She nodded briefly.] Yes, there's a lot we really don't understand, and what little information we can get isn't always agreeing with itself, so we do our best. Still, it's spring, so I hope you enjoy springtime among the pines.

Well I mean, neither am I, technically. It's way past 1950 where I'm from... so... decades are like whole other worlds. We have to remember to speak our native language? I'm not sure what you mean? [Usagi blinked at the name and wondered... no, no. Plenty of Japanese people were named Minako. It probably... she was sure it wasn't.]

Oh, I adore every season! But I definitely love spring! Um, so uh, question! I know we can't trust the citizens, but what about the animals? Or should I worry about like... killer rabbits?

It's magic... possibly. A thing that causes us all to hear the same language, unless we concentrate on speaking our own natural tongue.

[Definitely Venus. She was around here somewhere being very Venus-y.]

Deer, dogs and cats are usually safe. The deer protect us, even if they look wrong somehow. The dogs do it too to an extent, but they usually deliver things. The shadowy, smokey cats keep the peace. As long as you're not breaking the law, they're just cats. If you do, they attack and there's no way to stop them until they punish you, assuming that they see the crime, and nobody's been cursed.

Other animals? That can depend.

[Minako hasn't come by just yet, so Usagi will firmly believe that it's not her Minako until proven, happily, wrong.]

Oh, well, I love cats! I have one back home, her name is Luna. She's the smartest kitty in the world. [Like, seriously. Probably the smartest.]

But um, what about the other animals? Like, what do you mean it depends?

Is she now? Well, I think you'll like the ones in town. They're very nice unless you're doing something bad.

[And if you tried to kill someone? Well... they were a lot less nice.]

As for what I mean? Some of the creatures aren't entirely safe. Sometimes they're cursed. Sometimes they turn into monsters. It's best to just be a tiny bit wary. You don't need to protect yourself usually, but it's good to be cautious.

I love cats, don't suppose one would like being a cat?

[Usagi only kills if she has to.]

Right, cursed... [Geez, when it rains it pours.] Well, I'm pretty good at protecting myself. [Haaa.] So I'll try my best!

APRIL 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

APRIL 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

YOU UNCULTURED SWINE

GOOD ENDURES

Character Arrival

Video; UN: Feedthebunny

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