soddersays | SEPTEMBER 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

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SEPTEMBER 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

Welcome to September's Test Drive Meme! This month's Test Drive's theme is: CHILDREN/YOUNG ADULT 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: Evil dollhouses, potential body horror (turning into a doll), heights, pranks with the potential to cause harm, some stalking vibes
Don't forget to tag content whenever necessary. Have fun!

Prompt One
Prompt Two
Character Arrival
Master Navigation

THE EVIL DOLLHOUSE

When you wake up, you find you're not in your own bed, your own room, or even your own house. The room is well decorated, almost Victorian in fashion. The bed is pretty uncomfortable and you're not even sure the mattress is a real mattress. The chairs look like they might be made of plastic and the doors are flimsy. But it might not be what catches your eye, especially if you look out the window.

Through the clear panes (which also seem to be plastic), you will notice you do not see the town of Deerington, or even the outdoors at all. You see a living room that feels larger than life. There aren't any people in it, but as you look around at the fake looking furnishings and the strange view, you might be hit with a realization: you're inside a dollhouse.

The dollhouse has three floors for those who explore; the second floor you woke up on has two bedrooms and a fake little bathroom, all decorated in the same Victorian dollhouse style as the room you originally found yourself in. The bottom floor has a cute little kitchen with small porcelain dolls sitting around the table, a living room with all the basic furniture one would expect to find (in fact, it looks a great deal like the living room outside the windows), and an office filled with books that can't actually be pulled out of the shelves. On the very top floor is an attic. It's dusty and filled with broken toy beds and chairs, a few shattered doll pieces, and on the far wall you'll see another bookshelf. All seems... fairly standard, really, if you're used to seeing dollhouses.

But what there doesn't appear to be is an exit.

While searching, you may run into another Sleeper. A friend or a stranger, it's clear you're both stuck here together. And the longer the time ticks by, the more concerning things get. You might not notice at first, but anyone inside the dollhouse starts slowly... changing. It seems to go at a different pace for everyone, but the results are always the same. Your skin will start to become porcelain, your cheeks more rosy, your clothes made of cheaper cloth material, your joints become stiffer, and your eyes will start to become more and more glass like. If you don't get out of the dollhouse soon, it's clear that you may become the next doll at the kitchen table.

Searching the house again may feel fruitless, but keen observers may find light scratches on the floor in front of the bookshelf in the attic. Maybe they were like that because of someone moving things around or maybe there's a reason. If you decide to eventually pull the bookshelf aside, there will be a large door in the wall. It may seem strange, given that the wall only leads to the outside, but it's the only door to the outside that actually opens. You expect it to open up into the living room, but instead you'll see the grass of the park below. Far below. It's likely you could get hurt jumping, especially if you've started to turn to porcelain, but what other choice do you have?

Once characters take the plunge, they will find that they land rather softly in the grass, despite how high the jump may have seemed. As soon as you are out of the dollhouse, your body will have returned to complete normal.

And the house with the dollhouse in the living room will be nowhere in sight.

THOSE PESKY KIDS

You start off thinking maybe you're just forgetful and moved minor pieces around in your house without paying attention. You might think you're just seeing strange things out of the corner of your eye, because why wouldn't you? It's Deerington. Things are always strange. But each day, there's something weirder going on. Small objects might turn into entire rooms being rearranged, strange sightings out of the corner of your eye might turn into you swearing you saw a lake monster running through the street, and you swear you can hear the rattling of chains or the sounds of someone telling you to leave echoing in your house at night or following you down the street.

A haunting seems plausible. It wouldn't be the first time in Deerington. But no amount of herbs burned, or exorcisms performed, or chants and spell cast will make these things go away. In fact, they seem to just becoming more and more frequent, and more and more intense. Eventually, the strange creatures you see running around may start to try and attack you. They may start to try and kill you. But they always run off before you can attack back or show yourself to be stronger than them. It's probably the first time the monsters have ever been so easily scared.

Anyone who looks into it further may start to find weird clues lying around after a monster has been chased off. Footprints that don't look quite monster-like, tapes or records that when played will make strange rattling sounds like the chains you've been hearing, a piece of rubber that looks a lot like the monsters skin... Huh. The more you follow the clues, the more they'll lead you towards the answer to your dilemmas; these aren't hauntings.

They're pranks.

People can work together to catch a monster or ghost (or killing it, if you decide to); catching them will lead to them getting quite flustered and angry, struggling to get away. Pull off the mask or the sheet and underneath you'll find... a very disgruntled townsperson. Maybe your business was taking too much money away from theirs and they were hoping you'd close down with enough scares, maybe you talked back to them one time and they were looking for revenge, maybe you ruined their house or garden when you were fighting the things in Deerington that actually try to kill you, or maybe they were just having some "harmless" fun; they all have a different excuse, but they're clearly angry about getting caught.

They woulda gotten away with it if it weren't for you pesky Sleepers, after all.

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

Seems like you were pretty thorough.

[ He says it with a lack of surprise, trusting Anna to have fully covered her bases when she was trying to find a way out of a dangerous situation. He knew she had a good head on her shoulders, even if her imagination and anxieties could sometimes get away with her.

He glances around the room just to be sure there wasn't anything left unturned, before he goes to take her hand and head towards the hall. ]

The bathroom is useless and there's nothing in the bedroom I woke up in either. I checked up and down the hall and all I found was some stairs leading to another floor.

[ Which means they'll have to go up. He looked down at her, offering a small smile. ]

You ready?

[ She had been thorough, and she's just as happy to leave the room. Between the two of them, they'd been covering a lot of ground within the house and that meant that they were more likely to find a way out together. ]

That's great! We can definitely go up to the next floor then.

[ When he reaches for her hand, she hesitates a little. She's embarrassed by what's happening to her skin and she's afraid that he'll worry about her, or pick up on the anxiety she has over it. So far she's doing a good job of ignoring the similarities between turning to ice and turning to a doll, but she wasn't sure whether he'd see through it.

Finally she moves to take his and just the warmth of his skin leaves her feeling more settled. ]

I'm ready.

[ The hesitation got him more concerned than the feeling of her hand did. Given the way that some of his own joints had stiffened, there was a part of him that had expected to feel that her hand was getting a little harder, a little more... doll like than he was comfortable with. And it was probably worse for her.

So he gave her hand a gentle squeeze, his eyes showing the concern that he didn't voice, before he started to lead the way towards the staircase he'd found before. ]

Did you notice none of the furniture is made of wood? It's weird. I thought all dollhouse toys were.

[ The way her skin was hardening was creating a lot of turmoil inside of her. However, just like when her heart was freezing, she stayed focused on a plan to prevent whatever this was from happening. At least she wasn't as cold as she could be.

The squeeze of his hand have her the bit of encouragement she was needing though and she thought about what he said as they headed towards the stairs. ]

They aren't? I hadn't noticed. [ She'd been more focused on the dolls. ] I've been more focused on the...dolls.

Yeah, I uh... I guess I've been trying to ignore those.

[ They made him feel unnerved. A lot more than most dolls did, though he couldn't pin point why. Some of them just looked... afraid.

He walks up the stairs, being sure to keep an eye on her as they go. He can feel her hand becoming more like porcelain under his own skin and it makes his stomach churn slightly. The faster they could find a way out of here, the better.

Not that it looks like it'll be easy, given the mess that seems to be waiting them in the attic. ]

You think it's buried in some of this junk?

Me too. [ Her voice was soft, and she chews on her lip nervously.

When they arrive in the attic she feels a sense of dread take over her and her heart picks up speed. The attic was an absolute disaster. She had always thought the castle attic was overwhelming but this stuff doesn't have any organization to it. It's clutter on top of clutter. Her hand feel stiffer and she lets go of Kristoff's as if she can somehow hide what's happening to her body.

It's happening to his as well, and she's terrified of that fact too. At this rate, with this mess, they'll end up being dolls just like the rest of the seemingly soulless patrons in the house. Her tone doesn't manage to hide how hopeless she feels staring at the mess. ]

Where do we even start?

[ It'd be impossible for him to miss the fear in her voice, no matter how she tried to cover it up. Kristoff didn't go straight for searching because of it, instead taking the time to place a hand gently on her arm after she pulls away from holding his hand. ]

I'll start moving the heavier furniture. You look at the walls and windows, see if there's any sign that they can open for us.

[ He squeezed her arm firmly, trying to ground her on top of the comfort. ]

We'll get out of here, Anna. We always find a way.

[ She wants to believe him and she's not usually the one who is held back by fear, but the image of being once again locked inside of a shell as she loses control of her body has her distracted.

The comfort did help and she offered him a reassuring smile as she reached to place her hand over his. ]

I know. I believe that.

[ But they needed to get to work to get out of here, which meant she needed to hold it back and breathe through the fear. At least she wasn't sick and weak from cold this time. Stiff, but still moving. ]

Alright. You go lift that furniture you show off and I'll start looking through the boxes over there.

[ He nods, glad to see she's at least focused on something now, even if he's sure the fear isn't gone. He watches her move back towards the boxes, going back to shifting furniture around. The broken beds and tables don't seem to hold much secrets as he makes his way through them, and he can't help the slight bits of frustration growing inside of him.

It's then he sees the scratches on the ground near the large bookshelf he'd been glancing over. Bending down, he runs his fingers over the wood of the floor, forehead wrinkling. ]

Hey, Anna— come look at this. I think they're fresh.

[ Anna is having no luck on her part either. The longer she looks the more worried she gets about the situation. Typically she's pretty good about holding her calm...well mostly, but it's starting to build a rising panic in her.

She's draws on a bit of hope when she hears him call her over like he's found something that's different. Quickly she sets aside one of the toys from the pile she was searching and makes her way over to him.

She kneels down to look at the scratch marks, but as she pulls out her hands she looks down at them as they feel even stiffer. It's too much like it had been before and she shakes her head as she recalls another time when ice and cold had made them stiff. For the moment the scratch marks are forgotten as she shakes her head. ]

No. No. No no...no. Not again. [ Her voice is quiet and it's clear she's not fully present to the moment. ]

[ The panic pulls his attention away from the scratch marks as well, worry on his face as he looks over to her. His gaze moves from her face to follow her eyes, seeing the way her hands had already turned to porcelain. ]

Anna...

[ His hands are still flesh, even if the joints are aching, and so he goes to wrap them around hers, blocking the vision of the ceramic that's taking over her skin. ]

Anna, look at me. We've still got time. It'll all go back to normal once we get out of here. [ He thinks. He realizes he really doesn't know, but he refuses to believe otherwise. ] Stay with me, okay?

[ She looks up at him, a familiar look of fear in her eyes that wasn't so different then she had worn back then when she'd looked back at him after he'd dropped her off at the palace.

Her lip trembles and she swallows a knot in her throat trying to steady the urge to cry. They didn't even have answers this time. She gives a momentary nod and then she reaches out to grip his arm with as much movement as she can, still panicked. ]

Kristoff, what if all those other dolls we've seen were human like us!? What if we freeze up and become like that? [ She sucks in a deep breath and goes to stand up. ] They might still be in there! We have to go back and help them!

Edited 2020-09-12 04:24 (UTC)

[ The look was one he'd probably never forget and seeing it on her face again makes him feel like someone just shoved him into a freezing lake. He swallows roughly, before he goes to tug her close to him, wrapping his arms tightly around her.

A grip that tightens further as she tries to get up, shaking his head. ]

No. [ It's probably the most forceful his voice has been with her in a while, but it's an important thing to make clear. ] This place probably put them there as a distraction. I'm not letting you spend any longer in here than we have to.

[ Even if they were people, he wouldn't want to risk it. While it may be the right thing, this isn't Arendelle, and the lack of connection doesn't make him willing to even think of chancing losing Anna. ]

We're leaving. I'm pretty sure these scratches lead to our way out.

[ The tone he uses is one that she rarely hears, and it breaks through her panic enough to make her at least hear what he's saying. She knows that he's right about the need to get out of there, but Anna remembers what it's like to be trapped inside of a shell while waiting for who knew what to come next.

She can still recall the way the cold felt as it froze up against her body at the sight of the blade coming down towards her. She heard Elsa crying and she couldn't do anything in those moments between freezing and when her heart started to thaw. It's painful to think about. She's sure no one deserves that fate.

But he's holding to her so tightly and she knows that maybe he's right. If this is a nightmare than this is about them, and everything strewn around has some kind of meaning to it. ]

But Kristoff...no one should have to live... [ like that, but she doesn't finish, not even knowing how to say it. It's a dream. It's all a bad dream, and they just need to get out. She pulls back and takes a shaky breath. He's at risk too, and he's her priority. ] Okay. How can I help?

You're the only one who matters to me right now.

[ He finally goes to let go of her now that she's agreed, running a hand through his hair (which is starting to feel less like hair now) and looks back at the bookshelf where the scratches end. ]

We need to move this. I can probably do it myself, but I'll need you to watch the wall to see if what shows up looks helpful or dangerous.

[ He knows it could very well be a trap, after all. Most things that looked helpful turned out to be in his experience. ]

[ His words meant so much to her, and likewise they remind her of whats important. They can't help anyone if they freeze into dolls. He's right...again, and she knows they do need to get the bookshelf moving. ]

Alright, but first.

[ She takes his arm and turns him towards her, then the best she can she leans up on her tiptoes and loops a stiff arm around his neck. If she's going to freeze again, she's not going to do so without a kiss. It's not unlike the one he'd given her in their pursuit of the Nattmara, a promise.

When she pulls back she's only a tad disappointed a kiss didn't solve this, but she hadn't really been expecting it to. ]

You're what matters to me too. [ That means they need to move this bookshelf. With renewed determination she nods her head. ] Okay. Here we go again. Ready when you are.

[ While the kiss surprises him the same way it had her that not on the ice sleigh, he tries not to let the feeling it stirs in him linger for too long. Worry and fear didn't get them anywhere any too quickly. He focuses on the determination it gives him instead, the assurance that he'll get them out of here or die trying.

Going up to the side of the bookshelf, he glances at his hands to make sure they're still mostly flesh. The tips are starting to change, but nothing that renders them useless, and so he places one flat against the side of the shelf, bracing his shoulder beside it before he starts to shove the furniture forward. He can hear the scratches against the floor as he feels it start to move, letting out a small sigh of relief that it wasn't actually stuck there. ]

[ As terrified as she is, his reassurance lights a small flame inside of her and she is quick to go and follow his instructions.

She moves to the bookshelf and keeps an eye on the opening as Kristoff uses all his strength to move it. She's mumbling reassurances under her breath again, quietly, so as to not disturb anything that might be behind the door, but still spoken in tiny little encouragements.

And then...there was another door. Anna knew all about hidden passages, the castle was full of them, but it seems to surprise her all the same. ]

[ A door?

Kristoff's forehead wrinkled as it finally came into view, stepping back to stand next to Anna and staring at it for a moment. ]

You think it'll open?

[ A door indeed. She gave a little nod as she took a step back so that she could feel him there with her. His presence had a calming effect on her as she worried about the feeling of her skin. ]

I dunno. Should we...knock?

I'm not sure I wanna see what would answer.

[ But that isn't going to get them out of here. He took a breath, going to step forward. If someone was going to take the risk, he apparently preferred it be him.

But rather than knock, he reaches out to test the handle. It actually turns, to his surprise, and he carefully and slowly pulls it open.

Only to stare down at the very far ground below. ]

Thaaaaat's not good.

[ She leans over his shoulder, one now glossy hand resting on his back.

That's a very very long way down. ]

Ohhhh no! No. No. No...no no. That's too far down, we can't jump. Do you think maybe if we go back and open the front door, it will now be open?

[ She lets go and starts to pace again, fear rising inside of her. Did they even have time to go try? ]

[ Kristoff hears her panicking and feels her start to pace, but he doesn't look back, instead continuing to study the ground beneath them. His forehead is creased as he tries to figure out how fall and the chances of surviving.

He takes a breath. ] Forty feet. Give or take. If you hit something soft, it shouldn't be... so bad.

[ There's nothing soft down there, though. He can see that Anna's hand has become completely turned and he's sure it goes farther up her arm than she wants to admit. He's sure if they try to find another exit, they'll just end up in deeper trouble.

So Kristoff does the only thing he can think to. He goes to pick Anna up in his arms, holding her close to his chest before he pushes himself out backwards from the door. He knows that landing on his back won't end up being the best outcome for him, but at least he would protect her in the fall.

That's fine, right??? ]

[ They have jumped from worse heights, but at least that cliff had a twenty foot layer of fresh snow at the bottom. The ground down there is just earth and there is no way that anyone would survive it far as she thinks.

They have to find some other way.

Except that Kristoff decides to play hero and picks her up and jumps out the window. She only has time to get out the briefest of objections before they are falling. Her "No" echoes, but there isn't a thing she can do to stop what's happening.

When they hit the ground she's on top of him, her head tucked against his chest. It takes only a moment before she comes too and she lets out a choked scream, knowing full well what happens to someone who falls from that height to the ground, especially under the weight of another person. She scrambles off of him and reaches out to take his face. She is too terrified to even notice her hands had returned to normal. ]

Kristoff! No. No. NO! Speak to me please!

[ He'd expected this to hurt a lot worse, really. Instead all he ends up with is the wind getting knocked out of him, making it hard to breathe for a second. He stays laying down even after Anna scrambles off of him, before giving a small groan as he manages to get control of his lungs again.

His back should be broken. His neck, too, come to think of it. He's pretty sure he's far more in tact that any person who just fell onto rock hard Earth from over forty feet ought to be. But as he opens his eyes, looks at Anna, feels the skin of her hands on his face, he manages a small smile.

Reaching up to put one of his hands over hers, he manages a raspy. ]

Just like a pillow.

SEPTEMBER 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

SEPTEMBER 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

THE EVIL DOLLHOUSE

THOSE PESKY KIDS

Character Arrival

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