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.

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[ well, look who we have here.

honestly, he has reached a middle ground with the diner pig. it can stare at him all it wants as long as it maintains a certain distance from him. he isn't about to befriend it. instead, he has resorted to reading one of the local papers while he works on finishing his toast.

it has been a relatively peaceful day for him. no one has bothered to approach or speak to him, aside from the waitress who occasionally stops by his booth to refill his coffee. the pig, to its credit, isn't a particularly noisy creature, so easy to ignore after a while.

of course, that peace has now been interrupted by sudden company.

lowering the newspaper in his hand, a bit of surprise flickers over his face as he registers who it is. he... really hadn't considered the possibility that anyone from back home would be here as well — a familiar face, a x-man. ]

Peter, you're here too. [ this is slightly awkward, isn't it? he hasn't seen him since the whole apocalypse debacle. ] Are any of the others...?

[ Yeah this is so not the guy he was wanting to run into here. Not because of what he's done and how that all went down when they last saw each other. Read: nothing went down. But because this is a whole lot of stuff and thangs he doesn't want to really have to try and deal with?? But hey, not like Erik's got any clue sooooo he's in the clear? Yeah. Helluva saving grace that he can't read minds. ]

Nnnnope.

[ He winces some as he draws that reply out, coming to sit upright and just SIGHS as he carefully stretches his legs out under the table. ]

Not that I've seen anyways. Lot of pigs though. Would you believe I was followed here by one? [ But hold that thought because ] Did you know this is supposed to a dream or something? So then, it got me thinking... maybe this pig is following me because of eating bacon. Except instead of ME eating the bacon, the bacon is going to eat me.

[ And he throws a fingergun at Erik. ]

The bacon being the pig. You know? That would suck. What a way to go.

[ he continues to live his life blissfully unaware then. what illegitimate son? what daughter we never get to see onscreen?

it can all be swept aside for the time being, at least until peter is ready to spill his guts. speaking of peter spilling his guts though, he certainly has a way of rambling through a conversation all on his own, doesn't he? erik folds his newspaper in half, setting it down on top of the table. he can wait. ]

I read the letter. [ the one in the basket. ] Do you believe that we are in a dream?

[ he can't quite follow that last part, but he does offer semi-helpfully— ] I was informed that the pigs used to be townspeople. [ note: he says that he was informed; not that he believes it. ] Unless they were cannibalistic in nature, I think you're safe.

[ He opens his mouth to say something but then, here comes the nice, homey waitress who kinda reminds him of his mom?? Yeah, weird. But when she asks if he'd like anything, honey, Peter just goes with ]

Eggs and bac- toast! Eggs and toast. Breakfast of champions right there. Thanks.

[ An awkward smile and nod of his head later, he's looking back to ~~Magneto~~ Erik here and purses his lips together as he tries to remember what he was asked before the pig talk and he had to order something quick. ]

Uh... maybe? I mean, probably mutants that can do that sorta thing, right? The Professor's pretty good at that? You know. Getting in your head and all.

[ charles initially came into mind as a possibility. he even toyed with the thought of jean being involved. but what purpose would it serve for either of them to entrap him in his own mind? to his recollection, he parted with them on good terms.

it seems more likely that this is the doing of a mutant who he has yet to meet, especially now that peter seems to have fallen victim to the same fate as him.

—or who knows? maybe this peter is just a manifestation of his own mind. ]

I don't believe it's Charles. [ he won't eliminate him completely, but it just doesn't seem likely. ] Have you learned anything about who Sodder is?

That a band? Weird, I know a lot of music but can't say I've ever heard that one before.

[ He fidgets a little nervously as he sits there, trying to resist the urge to bounce a leg because ow, that'll probably hurt a bit. Needing to keep busy, however, he reaches for a napkin and starts rolling it up Twisting it. Tying it. Undoing it only to do it all over again. ]

I woke up in a bed here? You know... after shit happened. And it's weird because... I thought I was like in my mom's basement again? But then I was like, nah, this isn't the roof there and I don't see Ms. Pac-Man anywhere. So, you know, that ruled that out pretty quick.

[ His hands move a little faster with his napkin origami but not as fast as he usually can be. ]

Then I thought, oh. Gotta be the hospital probably. But like, what hospital is creepy as hell like this place, right? So, scratched that out, too. Also not the Professor's school because that place is huuuge and doesn't look like my room at all either. So. Therefore. Guess it's a dream.

[ Giving up on the napkin origami, he looks up to Erik then. ]

So who's Sodder?

[ he takes it peter hasn't read the letter — or if he had, he didn't pay attention to who signed it.

he listens to his rambles quietly, observing his discomfort with mild interest. when did he become so nervous around him? what reason would he have to be? it isn't like he intends to hurt him. he has no interest in bringing harm to anyone. ]

That's what I'm trying to find out. I found a letter they placed inside of a welcome basket.

[ He's got a pretty big reason why he feels nervous around the guy. Just, you know, that would involve talking about it and he's not quite sure he's ready for that yet. He wants to say it. He really does. But the rejection might... suck. A lot. Didn't he tell his mom he wasn't afraid of him? Totally different being face to face with him. So, back to this Sodder fella. ]

A letter? [ He drags a hand over his chin, head tilting. ] Oh yeah. Got that on me actually.

[ Shifting a bit on his side with a silent ow being mouthed to the window, he pulls out said crumpled letter from his back pocket and drops it on the table. ]

I glanced it over. Was going to give it a proper read when I wasn't running away from a pig, so. [ Or something, but he shrugs. ] Beats me who Sodder is, though. Not a mutant I've ever heard of before. You know, assuming that's what this is. A mutant behind this.

[ Straightening up, he opens his mouth but nothing comes out and he deflates almost before he drops an elbow to the table and hangs his head, fingers carding through gray hair. ]

Can I ask you- I mean, just, you know, a general sort of thing? [ Chewing on a fingernail, he clears his throat and plays with the salt shaker a bit as he stares to it. ] Do you think it's important to tell the truth to someone when they don't really know that you have some sort of truth to tell them?

Edited 2020-04-01 06:57 (UTC)

If this isn't caused by a mutant, then who could be capable of something to this caliber? [ a beat and then: ] Unless you suspect this could be manmade and we're all hooked up to machines right now.

[ it... wouldn't be that far-fetched of an idea, to be honest.

picking up his cup of coffee, he takes a slow sip of it as he mulls over peter's next question. he suspects whatever this truth is must be meant for him. the boy's anxiousness and uncertainty gives him away. but what could he possibly be hiding from him?

is it related to charles? the x-men? ]

It depends. If this truth is of a personal nature, then they have the right to know.

[ That is some late night sci-fi shit right there that he doesn't really wanna think about?? Yeah.

But Erik answers and he's... not really sure what he was expecting in terms of an answer there. So. He twirls the salt shaker around in his hand a little more quickly without managing to spill a single bead (grain??) of salt on the table before he drops the thing down and bounces his leg a little more under the table. It's his other leg so it's fine. ]

Kinda yeah? I mean... not a big deal or anything. [ Right. ] I was just sorta warned not to really do it? Y'know, that it would be better to leave it alone and I guess I should since I don't even know how to tell them this not important thing that sorta is important but I guess it really isn't.

[ Except it might be to him. ]

Anyways. Cool. Something to think about it, yeah? Sodder. What a guy. Deer. Whatever.

[ a lot of contradicting phrases there, peter.

if he was warned not to say it, then erik certainly wants to hear it, especially if his assumptions are correct and it concerns him. it would do little good to press too hard for an answer though, which means he is going to have to ease him into it. ]

Why were you warned against it? [ he sets his mug down. ] Would it have a negative impact on them?

[ he isn't ready to let this topic go, but good effort on trying to switch it back to sodder. ]

[ Oh god. This was SUCH a bad idea. Why doesn't he ever listen to his mom about these things?? I'm not scared of him, he said. You should be, she said. It's fine. It's cool. He's a mutant just like him so, hey. Not like he's going to reject him for that at least?? Cool cool. Maybe he should have done a practice run on the professor first. But nope. Just runs right into it like he does with everything, right? Yeah.

He suddenly can't really bring himself to look to Erik and just stares to the salt shaker in front of him. Salt's cool. ]

Beeecause [ Shit. He can't do this. He grumbles, face falling into a hand before he straightens up and rests his elbows on the table, staring off and away from Erik. ] my mom thinks I'll get hurt chasing after someone I can never catch even as the fastest guy ever.

[ He'd been gung-ho about this so many times before standing before him with all that Apocalypse stuff but now that he's right here, face-to-face with the man himself, once again he just... freezes up. Can't find the words and loses so much confidence in being able to do this.

Countless fears (what) and worries get the best of him and he starts sliding his way down the booth as he goes on. ]

You know what? It's stupid. I'm sorry. I'm just gonna go not get followed by a pig.

[ But he stops at the end of the booth and feels his jaw grow tight as he stares ahead, fingers curling under the edge of the table. ]

...I'm your son.

[ And just like that, he feels his heart drop in his chest and no, he sure as hell can't look to the guy. Frozen in place. ]

[ whatever he was expecting peter to say, it certainly wasn't that.

the words i'm your son rings through his mind, unexpected and almost foreign. he can't seem to wrap his thoughts around it because his thoughts have quite frankly gone blank. what's left is just utter confusion and shock that reflects in the way his brows furrow together and his jaws tighten.

what is he talking about? how can he have a son?

but wait, his surname is maximoff, isn't it? he knew a woman by that last name once an— ]

You're... [ his eyes narrow slightly as he speaks. ] my son. [ he pronounces each word carefully, mild disbelief in his tone. ] What is your mother's name?

[ Where's the ABORT button for this entire conversation??

He feels his heart drumming within his chest like a caged hummingbird and he feels so sick. Just for a second. Sickly feeling gone. Everything's so fast for him after all. But when Erik asks for his mother's name, he shoot him a look out of the corner of his eye and mutters her name to him, knuckles turning white at how fiercely he holds to the table.

He hates how much his mom was right about this. He's scared. Like legit terrified and not because he fears for his life being threatened. But more afraid of what Erik's thinking and god, why isn't he a telepath? Clearly that would make this easier on him. But then he blurts out ]

Raven knows. [ knew? jesus ] That's why I was with her when we... came to... get you...

[ Although that plan didn't exactly go as he thought it would. Just like neither is this. ]

[ so, it is her. he hasn't heard her name in over thirty years, but he can still remember her image fresh in his memories. he never knew that she— but then again, how could he have? he was so focused on his vendetta against shaw and the men who had wronged him and his people that a relationship just wasn't in the picture for him. they had lost contact with each other and, if any truth was to be said, he can imagine why she chose not to tell him.

his fingers curl into a fist on the surface of the table as he gazes across at peter. he still isn't entirely sure he is convinced, but he is also equally unsure that he isn't convinced. at the mention of raven's name, his frown only deepens. the events of apocalypse weren't so long ago that he has forgotten the details. (how could he when he'd played such a prevalent part in them, wrought on by pain that continues to linger to this day?)

he draws in a steady breath, using what little time it gives him to piece together what he wants to say, what he wants to ask. but only one question comes forward in his mind as he releases that same breath, his expression softening just a tinge. ]

Why didn't you tell me until now? [ he can guess it, but he wants to hear it from him. ]

[ The silence between them is so brutal that Peter contemplates just forgoing the pain in his leg and bolting from the diner. Deal with that later and all but then if he messes his leg up to the point of not being able to run anymore that would majorly suck and not anything he wants to deal with. Thankfully, he doesn't have to do that because Erik speaks. Totally fair question and something he'd been asking and kicking himself over for awhile now.

He still can't look to him (will he ever be able to??) and just smiles to himself a bit as he stares off ahead, gaze dropping. ]

Never seemed like the right time? Also not really sure you needed to deal with all that.

[ The whole surprise of having a random kid(s). ]

But [ fingers still grip tight at the table before they finally come to relax some ] stuff's pretty bad right now and it's like, I don't know, might miss my chance. Again.

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APRIL 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

APRIL 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

YOU UNCULTURED SWINE

GOOD ENDURES

Character Arrival

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