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FEBRUARY 2021 TEST DRIVE MEME
FEBRUARY 2021 TEST DRIVE MEME
Welcome to February's Test Drive Meme!
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: Prompt 1; Grimp Reaper image, feelings of being stalked, repeated death, Groundhog Day/Russian Doll themes, talks of car accidents and suicide/murder. Prompt 2; Image of a heart, organs on the outside of the body (heart), very mild body horror.
Don't forget to tag content whenever necessary. Have fun!
BEREFT OF HOPE

Until you die.
Maybe you were hit by a car, or you choked on your morning bagel, or a piano fell on you, or a townsperson who was going off the deep end decided to drag you off and murder you in Deerington Park; however it happens, you absolutely remember dying. The details are a little fuzzy around the edges, but you do remember seeing someone standing near by when it all happened, a shadowy figure you can't quite recall the face of. Maybe that's who had been watching you.
Dying isn't necessary the weird part, though. People die in Deerington all the time and come back remembering the details, usually with a fancy new scar to show off to everyone (or more likely keep desperately hidden because of your trauma ridden guilt). This time, though— this time sticks out. Because you don't go through the normal death process. There's no calming valley with a strange deer, there's no fruit, nothing about it is the way that it's supposed to be. You just were dead one second and now... you're not. Maybe it was a bad dream? You're in your bed, that's usual, but you're in the same clothes (or lack thereof) that you went to bed in the night before. The sun is shining through the window and...
Everything is exactly the same as it was yesterday.
If you've ever been a fan of Bill Murray at home, you can probably guess what's going on here. Or at least have your suspicions. You go about your routine again, you greet some of the same people, you eat the same breakfast (or maybe you switch things up just to try and break the cycle), and you still have that strange feeling of being watched. Every person you meet doesn't remember seeing you before your death and certainly none of them remembering you dying, no matter how public it was. You can try to convince them, but they're probably not going to listen, or they'll think that it's Deerington just fucking with your head again.
So you go outside. Same time, same place. And you die. Again.
Things start to repeat. Some people might start to snap from it and start to try and die in different ways. Some people might try the age old rule of learning from your mistakes, of being a better person, and try to spend the whole day being kind or trying to find some significant moment they're supposed to focus on to make this all better. Some people might just break down after a while and think there is no way out. Because nothing seems to be working. It's happening over, and over, and you're meeting the same people over and over, and you're doing the same things over and over, and you're dying over and over, so what's the point of even getting up out of bed now?
But there is a way to end it; find someone who is going through the same thing. All the other people you've seen, Sleepers or not, have had no recollection of you dying or of this all being a repeat day. Eventually, though, you might start to notice another person who is having the same discussion with another, desperately trying to tell them that this is all happening repeatedly and you can't figure out how to make it stop. When you realize there's another person having the same issue as you, you can start talking to them. Maybe you won't realize what you need to do at first, you might even end up dying together a few times before you finally realize— you have to save the other.
Every day you've died at the exact same time in roughly the exact same place, whether you took your own life or it was done outside of your own control. Prevent your comrade from dying all together until the sun goes down and the cycle will finally be broken for both of you. It just might be hard to do when the forces of the town are pretty hellbent on making sure you both die.
THE BEATING OF HIS HIDEOUS HEART

One morning, you'll wake up to a gift wrapped in pink paper with a red bow on a table in your home. It's clearly marked for you and it's from a secret admirer. Did you even know you had a secret admirer? If you choose to not open the gift (this is Deerington, this could obviously be bad news), it will do exactly what one would expect it to in a town like this; the package will follow you. It will show up on your desk at work. It will show up on the counter at the store you frequent. It will show up on a bench. In your car. Next to your bike. On your porch. On your best friend's porch. Anywhere you go, the present will be there. Waiting. You can't ignore it forever.
When you finally cave and open the gift, you'll find a truly fitting present for such a romantic holiday: a heart. It might be human, it might not, but it's still beating. You can watch it pulse, but it's surprisingly neat, no blood to be found anywhere in the box or in the heart itself. It just sits there, thudding away, waiting for you to pick it up. No one really wants to touch a heart, but if you know Deerington, you know this heart probably actually belongs to someone, and if you're new? Well, you're gonna figure out how this all works pretty quickly.
Pick up the heart and you'll get a flash of memory. Someone else's most precious moment. It will be burned in your mind and the heart will start to faintly glow as you hold it. Walk with the beating heart in your hands and it will start to change. The closer you get to who the heart belongs to, the stronger the glow will get, and the faster the heart will beat. Eventually, you'll find them— someone who looks empty, soulless, like a walking ghost more than a person. You can save them by putting the heart back where it belongs— you'll have to use some strong force, but slam the organ against their chest, and it will sink right back into place. Your hand will even go a few inches into their chest before you let go and yank yourself free. There's no scar, no hole, no blood. But the life will come back into the person in one fell swoop, like breathing again after almost drowning.
If you choose not to put their heart back in their chest, they will be forced to do whatever you say so long as you are in possession of their heart; however they will get steadily weaker and by the end of a full day, they will die.
Enjoy your Valentine.
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.
Dorian Pavus ✹ Dragon Age ✹ OTA
✹ the beating of his hideous heart
bereft of hope
He's never been overly fond of pain either, and while so far they'd all be relatively quick, it was starting to steadily wear him down to have to experience that over and over and over again.
In all honesty, Chung Myung had also not been discussing his multiple deaths with anyone else around him, but as his nerves began to fray it finally came out, somewhat short and snappish at an innocent person who made a relatively innocuous comment. An innocent person who also seems more than happy to try and slide away when Dorian approaches, glad to be done with the ramblings of an apparent lunatic.
When Chung Myung turns to face Dorian he looks exhausted. Physically he seems fine, but there's a weariness in his expression that gives away just how many times he's been reliving this miserable loop. ]
If you can put up with it even a few times, then you're already a more tolerant man than I am.
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[Dorian almost sounded jovial, and that made it difficult to determine what his true emotional state was. The reality was that he too was exhausted with this little exercise as well, but he couldn't lie down and allow himself to be beaten by his situation either.]
As it seems that we are the only ones who know what this feels perhaps we can assist one another in coming up with a solution to our unfortunate little problem.
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Though he isn't exactly sure what solution he'll be able to come up with. He's old hat at being dead, but this process of continually dying is new.
For what little help I can offer. It's probably too much to hope you've dealt with this kind of thing before, right?
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[How very helpful of you Dorian, but he's not going to leave Chung Myung hanging, he will, of course, explain.]
Where I am from I helped create time magic, so I've been stuck in temporary time loops, alternate timelines, and I've experienced a slowing down and speeding up of time.
[So Dorian can understand this sense of deja vu, it just didn't come with the added inconvenience of dying.]
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Still, he'll cross his arms as he gives Dorian a contemplative look. It definitely sounds like he might be the best person Chung Myung could hope to find in order to escape this cyclical hell he's stuck in. ]
Loops... And however you broke out of them before isn't working here?
[ The guy would have done it otherwise, right? ]
beating heart a;
Movement from the window and the boy stands on the bed, on tiptoe to reach the bars, pulling himself up a little as a young girl's face appears in the window. They smile as they see each other.
"My prince locked in the tower. How are you? Is he treating you horribly?"
"I'm not a--" He shakes his head and looks towards the door uneasily, both children freezing at a distant noise. After a moment they relax and the boy shakes his head. "He frightens me. But he's so lonely..."
"Don't worry. Today is the day I rescue you. Are you ready? We'll run away together."
The two stare at each other, gazes lingering and soft with love and adoration before the boy nods and drops back down to the bed. "I'll wait for you. Please, be careful. He's getting more and more agitated lately..."
The memorys shifts. Minutes later, the door creaks open. The boy shoots up from the bed when he sees the girl and runs to her, the two embracing. They run hand-in-hand through the house and out, not stopping until the girl pulls the boy off the side of the path to some bushes, rummaging around.
"Here! I brought you an old dress of mine to wear. It's probably been a while, right?"
The boy (?) looks near tears of happiness as they reach for the dress, the feelings of exhilaration of their escape, adoration for the girl, fear... It all overwhelms for a moment, and then the memory is done. It's probably one of the only happy memories she has
If Dorian chooses to actually follow the heart, it'll lead him to a young woman, her dress long and high-necked, hair pulled up into a severe bun. She's sitting outside, mindlessly doing some sewing, but she pauses when Dorian approaches, looking up with an expression like she's just--waiting Expecting.]
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So, assuming that glowing was a signal that he was getting closer to his target he quickened his own strides. He did want to be rid of the beating organ as quickly as he possibly could, it wasn't exactly a pleasant thing to hold onto nor was it a very good sensory feel either. As many organs as he's seen outside of the body the mage has never carried one around like a pet nug.
He's also aware that there were other alternatives to the mild inconvenience he was experiencing presently and that was to dispose of the heart, but he wasn't that kind of monster. So he took the time out of his day to find the owner and when he finally did he looked down at her apologetically.]
My apologies dear, I really take no pleasure in doing this. [really, he was as careful as he could be considering he had to use a little bit of force to get the heart back where it belonged. And no, he had no interest at all in lingering, some might enjoy the novelty of having their hands in someone else's chest, but this mage was not the one.] Good as new!
no subject
What on... [She pressed her hands against her chest, but there's nothing to indicate a wound or that Dorian had just shoved a beating heart back into it. Baffled she looks from her clothes to him, eyes wide.]
Um, I... Thank you? Was that-- Was that a heart?
b; needing the heart
Soubi wonders if that pride, in the end, really had anything to do with him.
It isn't hard to figure out that the heart might belong to the person in the memories. Though walking around with a heart seems somewhat gory, the heart in question isn't bleeding, just... beating. He realizes that it beats faster and glows more when he moves in a specific direction. It's a strange game of hot-and-cold, but he eventually finds himself in a park.
The man leaning against the tree looks empty, and it's hard to reconcile him with the child in the memories. He'd grown handsome.
He approaches the tree, making himself obvious, though he doubts he could surprise this man right now even if he tried.]
I think I have something of yours.
no subject
Dorian wasn't really shy about the things that disappointed him when it came to his homeland, all of the limiting factors, but the man in his memory, his father, was a very complex issue. Even he couldn't easily unravel that particular mystery.
As surmised, Dorian wasn't startled or frightened by the sudden approach, even if he wanted to show emotion he couldn't, though he could sense that the stranger had something of importance to him, though he was unable to articulate it. He held his arms open as one might if they were inviting a hug, his steely grey eyes intently focused on the man waith his heart.
Please, he would very much like to feel again.]
cw: body horror
This may hurt. But to live hurts.
[That is the most warning he gives. Soubi lowers his gaze, focusing on the left side of the man's chest. He doesn't know why he knows this is the thing to do, but it makes sense by any dream logic: he must put it back where it came from. At first, he just holds it against the man's chest. When nothing happens, he increases the pressure until something does. He's surprised he hasn't crushed the heart between them, but something gives and it sinks into the chest in front of him. Soubi's eyes widen when his hand follows it a few inches, past bone and muscle and flesh.
His shoulders tense. Soubi plants one hand against the other man's shoulder and carefully withdraws his hand again slowly, keeping tension between them to make sure he isn't pulling the heart's owner along as he does.]
no subject
And he wouldn't deny that the sensation was uncomfortable in a horrific sort of way, he's no strange to physical pain by any means, but a hand sinking into his chest adds a different layer of discomfort to the upset and pain he felt having his heart slammed back into his chest. Oh he knew of people who had the ability to reach inside another person, grab their heart, and crush it...well there was one such being anyway.
The first sound that comes out of Dorian as the other man pulls his hand out of his chest is a strangled howl followed by a gasp as if someone had just punched him in the gut or breathed life back into his body. It reads both ways. Both of Dorian's hands come to rest on the stranger's shoulders as soon as he's able to register his situation and he is just as eager not to be pulled along for this grotesque ride.
Grateful that he's careful, Dorian would rather have it done and he pulls himself back like ripping off a bandaid resulting in another strangled noise of pain.]
Fasta vass [He hissed through gritted teeth, still holding the other man's shoulder as he doubled over and when he was finally able to get his voice back it was tight.] Well...that tickled a bit.
no subject
His gaze flicks up, studying this revitalized person from behind his glasses. His response to everything that just happened prompts a faint smile to tick the corner of Soubi's mouth.]
Coming back to life often does. How do you feel now?
[Because he clearly feels again.
Soubi absently flexes the hand that pushed the heart back in and he glances down at it. No marks or blood there, either.]
no subject
[When he's able to, the mage straightens himself up leaning on the tree a bit so as not to burden the stranger.] Though I'm curious to know who my rescuer is, it's quite a gesture bringing a man his heart.
no subject
Agatsuma Soubi.
[He touches the bandages around his neck to make sure they're still secure, then drops his hand to retrieve his cigarettes out of his coat pocket.]
Now that I know it belonged to someone, I think I should not have ignored it quite so long. It seemed very... clean, for an organ that had been removed.
[It isn't exactly an apology.]
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[Dorian offers in response with a polite bow or as much of a bow as he could offer given the circumstances. He's not going to completely neglect his gentlemanly manners.
When he straightens he observes the young man in front of him, the bandages around his neck, and how unfettered he was by the events before him.]
Who could blame you, a heart acting independently of a body is enough to perturb anyone. Though I'm glad it was clean and not cheeky, I suspect if it wanted to give you more trouble then it would have.
[Fortunately Dorian can read a not apology and he can dance around it for the comfort of another.]
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I have been warned that losing one's heart is not the worst thing that can happen here.
[After he spent days dying, Soubi is inclined to believe that. At least he's broken that particular cycle. It had been getting old wearing the same clothes every day.
He thinks of Ritsuka and a small smile flickers across his face.]
I've also been told I need to take this place more seriously.
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Someone once said to me that there are worse things than dying, I couldn't imagine anything worse than death before experiencing...whatever that was. I suspect that's what being Tranquil must feel like.
[Or the subject of someone using blood magic to attempt change and control over you. Dorian felt nothing and had no will to do anything much less disagree with anyone.]
Hmmm, there's nothing wrong with erring on the side of caution, but there's a limit to how serious one can be. When you're too serious to take a piss, you've gone too far. Don't go too far.
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bereft of hope
You've noticed it? I'm not the only one -- ?!
[She steps... a little too close.]
It's happened -- it's happened six times! It doesn't... make any sense! Why would a car fall on me from a rooftop?! I've spent the whole day -- I mean, one of the whole days up there there are no cars and well, I somehow tripped and fell off and then the car dropped on me while I was falling which is just --
[Lysithea seems to realize that she's starting to sound like an insane person, and she recollect herself with a sudden, deep breath.]
Pardon.
I have been very stressed.
Bereft of hope
That's when he was approached by a man who apparently had a goth aesthetic going on to rival any Sith Lord's. He looks Dorian up and down, a little suspicious, but it's not like he's got a lot of options right now.]
Go on.
[His own voice is soft-spoken, smooth, and rich, very much at odds with his demonic looks.]
no subject
And in all fairness, the mage had to steel himself as well since Maul was equally quite jarring to him, but not in a way that halted his nerves or was too far removed from what Dorian could recognize. After all Dorian came from a world of demons, darkspawn, and beings other than human.
So it was with a warm smile that Dorian pushed on.]
Having a difficult time trying to find someone who can relate to your plight? Experiencing the frustrating sense that you've done this before? [Dorian seemed to be in very good humor in spite of it all.] I'm not certain about you, but it is getting rather tiresome and it does get in the way of more stimulating activities, other things I'd much rather be doing.
[And with a longsuffering sigh Dorian lamented his own deaths.]
And honestly, falling into holes, or off of cliffs, or some other random drop was not exactly how I pictured my end [though with his fear of heights it was appropriate] I pictured something more comfortable or glorious, I'll settle for glorious.
[Dorian gives Maul a quizzical look as if to ask without so many words "is this not what you've been experiencing?"]
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I have seen the final death I shall have someday. That is much more to my liking. Dying at the hand of my oldest foe is one of the only deaths I would have ever accepted. This is not to be my fate forever.
[But until that happened they would need to deal with what was going on around them. So time to get down to business.]
The real question is how we are to escape this.
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As a rule of thumb, I like to avoid death at all costs, it's typically a last resort for me, not a first. However, these seem like pointless deaths, I would argue the worst kind of death and on the spectrum of death, it is my least favorite.
[Not that there's a positive to death, but most beings face it as inevitable.]
Though all this talk of death is a bit melodramatic, your question is more important...how to navigate this. Since you and I seem to be aware of this goings-on, perhaps we could watch out for one another. I might be able to see a mishap coming for you where you wouldn't be able to see it and the reverse.
[It's a hypothesis, but it's also a start.]
I'm not opposed to taking care of you if it proves to be the case.
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[Maul’s tattooed brow furrows as he thinks of whether or not that sounds like a good hypothesis to him. Well, it’s not like he’s got any other suggestions to see if this will improve their situation, so he might as well try this.]
Alright. Let’s do things your way until we’re either proven right or wrong.