expiationmeme | TEST DRIVE MEME #3

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TEST DRIVE MEME #3

TEST DRIVE MEME #3

Welcome to the TDM for Expiation, a pan-fandom adventure game with fantasy, science fiction, and some horror elements. We ask that top-level comments are reserved for new characters and players looking to experience a taste of the world and overarching storyline. Characters already in the game, however, are free to use TDM prompts in their own catch-alls and logs. Feel free to submit any TDM / prompt-related questions to the corresponding comment below.

New players / characters looking to app are free to use TDM threads as samples in their application. Preexisting players / characters may use TDM threads as part of their AC proofs (with the stated limitations).

You may find the below links helpful in getting to know themes of the world, locations, the people, and so on.

info | world

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN...

BRAVE NEW WORLD (ARRIVALS)

After receiving the paper with your sentence, the whole world quickly becomes dark and you find yourself falling through what seems to be an infinite void. You lose track of time after a while, but as soon as your focus seems to waver, your vision clears and you find yourself resting rather unceremoniously in a pile of seeds used for chicken feed.

Once you make your way out of the grain silo (and we of the moderator team wish you good luck in finding a fun way out of it), you may find that several other people have been dropped into the world just like you have. Some are disoriented, others are panicked, and others yet are simply angry about being brought somewhere against their will. Amidst the chaos of new arrivals to the world of Expiation, the newcomers will find that there are some people in the crowd who seem a little more familiar with what’s going on.

These people will tell you that you find yourself in a strange new world, and that it’s best to make your way to a nearby town called Aldrip to get settled down there. It’s a few hours by foot away from this area, but it’s the only place in the nearby area that can accommodate newcomers like you.

WE LIKE TO PARTY (WE LIKE, WE LIKE TO PARTY)

Recently, many Chosen have emerged victorious from a hard-fought battle, taking out a gargantuan creature that threatened to suck the energy from the whole area surrounding Aldrip if it had not been stopped. Such efforts do not go unrecognised, and in the aftermath, the locals all decided to band together to celebrate their saviours’ heroics. Nothing less than a village-wide party and parade would be fitting for such an occasion.

This is an undertaking that will likely take a significant amount of effort. While the locals wanted to make this into a surprise, many of them lack skills to put the thing together properly. Chosen who want to get involved in the preparation process can put their organisation and culinary skills to the test to create fixtures and food for the event. Better yet, your efforts over the past months have improved supply routes into Aldrip, meaning that the food shortage has passed, and you’ll have just about anything your heart desires for the occasion.

Alternatively, you can choose to enjoy the spoils of your efforts! Once the day of the party arrives, Aldrip will erupt into a full-scale celebration, and all Chosen are encouraged to party as hard as possible. Good food, good drinks and good times will be in no short supply for the occasion. Additionally, those who took to the front lines in the previous event will be revered as heroes and likely spoiled rotten.

THIS IS HOW YOU GET ANTS

PLEASE PARTY RESPONSIBLY

It’s no understatement to say that some of the Chosen like to party hard- and that’s quite alright! A few days ago, the people of Aldrip had already set aside a few rooms in the inn to act as an infirmary for those who had been injured during the battle with the Branded. It took little effort for them to expand this project into a full medical wing for those who would undoubtedly be acting irresponsibly during the festivities.

It’s up to you to decide what circumstances brought you here. Perhaps you were injured in the previous battle, and have been stuck in bed as you recover from your wounds. Maybe you had just a little too much to drink, and you decided to come by while you collect yourself. Regardless of what your reason for being there may be, the people of Aldrip have guaranteed that you will receive the best of care.

With that said, the place is terminally understaffed. Aldrip’s locals will certainly appreciate any assistance they can get- even if your character might not have the best training or bedside manner. Medicine can’t be that hard- what’s the worst that can happen?

MR. MAGNIFI'S MAGNIFICENT MIXTURES

Once word of the upcoming celebration spread, several individuals from outside town came in to offer their services or goods in Aldrip. One such individual came into town riding on a rickety cart with the words “Miraculous Magnifi’s Medicine! Guaranteed to heal what ails ye!” emblazoned in gold on its side. The thing smells a bit off, with a strong chemical scent coming from the back, but the moustachioed man who emerges from the back assures you that all of his “mixes are made with meticulous ministrations!”

Those who buy and consume the potion might find themselves feeling strange over the next few days as symptoms emerge. Some people wake up to find that their hair has taken on a rainbow of colours during the night, that rats cuddle up to them for no reason, or that their irises have been replaced with strange spiral shapes. Feel free to come up with inventive but harmless side effects for the miracle elixir- it’s meant for some good fun.

They’re strange symptoms for sure, and certainly not the advertised cure-all. However, Magnifi is already gone by the next dawn, meaning that no one can get a refund. Thankfully, the symptoms will go away after a few days, but the chaos that ensues in the meanwhile will certainly make for some fun stories.

IT'S NOT OVER

♪♫ LET IT GROW ♫♪ ► (FUTURE EVENT TIE-IN)

The party celebrating the dread beast’s defeat can be heard from miles outside of Aldrip, but the situation is not quite yet resolved. Much of the once-lush forest outside of Aldrip had its life force absorbed from it, leaving little more than profaned ground and an overwhelming scent of rot. Worse yet, there are reports that some of the beast’s severed golden tendrils have taken on a life of their own, creating snake-monsters that threaten the local wildlife.

However, the monsters are not the only new arrivals in Pessiria Forest. Those who go to investigate the area will find that fairy-like creatures have gathered in the profaned land and are trying their best to help bring the area back to its former glory. At first, they seem to keep their distance or ignore you entirely, but after determining that you mean well, they inform you that they can temporarily bless the Chosen with the power to make full-sized plants burst forth from the seeds they plant into the ground.

It’s still going to be hard work. Even with the power to bring plants to life, planting seeds in the miles of dead forest will likely take a very long time. Still, these strange fairies could use the help, and tough jobs can be better if you bring a little help from your own friends. (Or enemies. No one’s going to judge you for who you bring.)

WHAT'S THAT MYSTERIOUS LAUGHING SOUND?

The process of regrowing the devastated part of Pessiria forest is well underway, but the process does not go entirely smoothly. Partway through the process, locals start to report that they can hear a strange girl laughing in the forest in the middle of the night, but no one seems able to track down its source. Curious Chosen can patrol around the forest at night to try and figure out the mystery.

Those who are particularly sharp-eyed might see a faint spectre of a little girl wearing a straw hat dancing about, but she never seems to stay in sight for more than a few seconds. One blink is all it takes for her to vanish.

You probably won’t be able to catch this strange spectre, but it’s become something of a game among the villagers to go looking for her anyways. Some say that seeing her is a sign of good luck, and wave to her before she disappears. Others say that if you see her while holding hands, it will bless you with a lifetime of good love. Almost all of these assertions are probably nonsense- but what will you do about it?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[Does Yosano want even more reasons to drink? Because the guy she just grabbed a drink from is a tipsy Chuuya.

Frankly, he'll take any opportunity to indulge in his vices right now. But he's starting to wonder if he's had more than he thought, when he looks up to see a familiar face. Yosano had made quite the impression on Chuuya, okay.]

You're... the agency's doc? When'd you get here?

Hm? [ Yosano glanced at who dared speak to her in this crabby state and paused. ]

...The gravity user?

[ Was all this the mafia's doing? Rage reared its ugly head and Yosano had half the mind to throttle him right here and now; but, no, wait, he looked just as surprised as her... and considerably more drunk.

Yosano tempered her irritability behind an innocent smile—honestly, it still looked threatening, but she did try.]

Oh. Just a moment ago. Are you sharing? [ She wiggled the drink in her hand. If she woke up tomorrow still here, then perhaps this wasn't a mass hallucination... but who is she to ever pass up on drinking? ]

[ why?

why would they even make a deal and trust him to uphold it? because it is logical? sure, but that has never stopped people from acting in illogical ways despite knowing better. right now he considers chuuya's decision not to go against fyodor to be simply a product of dazai and dazai's manipulations. that's hardly something that needs to be acknowledged.

his hand over his injured shoulder tightens reflexively, the flash of discomfort helping to quell the anger of before. ]

If you're not those things, then what are you?

Erichthonios has taken to helping out in the infirmary quite a bit, spending most of his first days in this curious plane between that and re-establishing the forest tree by tree. Typically, however, he is the one going up to other people. For once it is his turn to be on the receiving end of it.

"Of help?" He echoes, brows lifted in surprise. He is not by any means an authority here. "Oh. Yes. There are injuries to examine, sheets to change and wash, and... 'tis not yet time for their meal, but I am sure those here would not mind help in distributing it to all the patients."

[ It's been a long, productive night for Sigma. The locals loved his game, kids and adults were delighted with their prizes, and he was sent off with some of the leftover candy in a little paper bag to keep for a rainy day. It was hardly the best he could do, but it was still something more than wandering around like a useless duckling in a strange new place, so his spirits are pretty high when he's made it to the outskirts of the party grounds.

Then something catches his eye.

Hard not to, considering it's sparkling as if it's just been dipped in fairy dust and could fly away at any second. Even harder not to when it's a someone he'd been hoping not to not have to deal with here for quite some time.

...A someone who's. Still sparkling, mind. They don't normally do that. Even after Sigma furiously rubs at his eyes to try and make sure the night or atmosphere hasn't gotten to him.

Nope. Still there. ]

Oh. Good.

[ Not good, actually. Not anywhere near good--a door burst wide open for yet more pain and suffering down the line when he's only had a few days of relative peace to enjoy. And yet he can't find it in himself to be as furious as he thought he'd be, as quick to act when Gogol had asked about it, he's just...stuck. Stuck in his spot, arms heavy at his sides, staring dumbfoundedly at a brightly glittering Fyodor fucking Dostoevsky. ]

[ fyodor finds the young man to be strange, certainly but who in this world isn't and that softens his stance a little. just a little. besides, he cannot afford to make enemies for absolutely no reason here, without his network, without his rats, and even without fukuchi to assist him— he's going to have to behave. unwillingly. ] Russia, and yourself?

[ he extends his hand towards shinichi, clearly in offering, palm up. ] May I see your right hand?

[ ...because, of course he wants to see that hand again. ]

[ whenever gogol is involved, trouble follows just as swift-footed as his dear friend—and fyodor has begun referring to the other as that in his head, given his declaration at their reunion before his intentions to murder said friend were also shared. loudly. he does not hate sigma—that is also not to say he's not pissed as fucking hell with him. what are you asked without hesitation and newfound confidence; his words hadn't been wrong, fyodor innately understands what sigma wants, what dazai has done to win this battle of wits, and the bitterness that breaks open something inside of him long dormant is unbearable.

that said, he makes no move when he hears the familiar voice that last time had been demanding answers fyodor had no intention to give. his ability, what he is, what the plans are—ah—

but that's not what's calling for sigma's attention now is it? no, it's the fact that, again where gogol goes trouble follows and that is how fyodor ended up in the predicament of sparkling like a fae creature from a children's cartoon. even without his ushanka and coat, he must look— well. sparkly. at least his voice was normal and not a high pitch, helium-induced-nightmare.

fyodor straightens himself, and offers his most deadpan expression before tilting his head as if to say: yes, and? ]

You're here.

( she rolls her eyes at the other taking a seat on the bench anyway, despite her efforts. but maybe the girl just needs some working into before she can break some rules. because after all, they are meant to be broken like buildings... or people.

with a smile still, she snorts at her question before waving a dissmive-like lazy hand. )

It'll only taste like piss if ya don't know what you're drinking. The cheap kind will always taste like oil. Now if you get a kick butt bartender who knows the ropes? It's hits the target.

So are you.

[ Either mysteriously vanished as had been suggested, or biding his time somewhere for a no doubt layers-upon-layers scheme Sigma wouldn't even be able to begin to put together with his limited knowledge of what's valuable or capable here. Asking him about it up front might not be the best course of action, fond of runarounds as Dostoevsky is, but Sigma does need some idea of where the other man is at in order to feel any kind of comfortable continuing. ]

Listen, before we can do anything, do I get to know what all [ Gesturing at Fyodor's entire...self, ] this, is?

So you're Mister Tough and Stuff. I guess a girl like me better be careful around a guy like you.

( she says, giggling as she rerolls the paper. but instead of handing it to him, she flips it around between her fingers. )

— All the more reason for you and I to be allies. Me, The Loose Cannon, you, world destructor, we would make a good team. Don'tcha think?

Yes, but I have been here a while. [ allegedly. even if he can't remember it. ]

This?

[ oh is he pretending he's not sparkling like rainbow brite? he absolutely is.

the gears have already begun turning, either sigma is from a different point in time or—is fyodor's appearance really that odd? he thought the sparkles could be quite quietly dignified if he tried hard enough. ] What do you mean by 'this', Sigma?

Is that right? You made quite a few people worry, then.

[ He has no reason to believe otherwise aside from how easily Fyodor bends the truth, but he has no evidence to the contrary to try and push further either. So it's just what he's going to have to work with for now. ]

"No" is much faster to say, Dostoevsky.

[ Crossing his arms with a huff. Alright, maybe a little of that anger is still there, waiting. ]

[ faster yes, half as satisfying? no.

fyodor tilts his head again, a particularly shiny sparkle visible in that gesture. it truly does seem that the glowing sparkles depend on the angle one looks at him or the way he moves, as if to highlight him like one of those disney princes. except there is nothing prince-like about this man except maybe his good manners. the rest? no. ]

Do you think so? That is terrible of me then. [ deadpan, deadpan, deadpan. but he is clearly giving sigma wide berth right now. ] I'd ask about your arrival but it seems you are adapting well already. More pleasant than-where were you before here?-Meursault? The Casino still?

[ Are manners still polite when performed with condescension? That's how Sigma reads it, at least, and god he wants to be angrier than this for it but this one thing being off on an otherwise perfectly understandable night is too surreal.

Mentioning the casino is a good way to help it along, though.

His fists clench into the fabric of his sleeves, voice firm with a simple answer. ]

Meursault.

[ meursault. then sigma is an active participant in the game and possibly a threat— but he must not remember shooting fyodor. he would've said something otherwise, of that fyodor is certain. he watches the clenched fists of the other. ] I see.

Caught up in the Prison Game must be very upsetting for you, especially after losing the Casino. [ he pauses ] I did tell you to run.

Run and throw away everything I had, everything that actually meant something--!?

[ The shift is sudden, fire erupting from his eyes and his voice. Of course. Of course, of course, of course it would be that simple to just toss something away and accept that it's gone. Just like that. No matter what it is, who it is-- ]

[ He takes a long, deep breath in, and lets a long, shaky one out. The fire's still there, still shaking his hands that he's now clasping behind his back to try and give some illusion of control, but now isn't the time or place to be having this conversation. It's back where they were, where they should be, debts to be repaid and a pistol hidden in his coat pocket.

Save that fury for when he can actually do something about it. ]

Dazai has an agreement in place with most everyone else here. I assume you've spoken to him?

Is your life not worth something then? [ fyodor begins but stops; he can read the angry shift in the other's stance. the way the rage is barely held back, it helps fyodor situate him. they're clearly deep in the prison game but no, sigma hasn't cornered him yet. or else he would be asking the important question, demanding things.

what are you? fyodor feels his expression flatten, softened by the sparkles that mask his dangerous nature. ]

I see. That's what is currently holding you back.

[ It's. A little more complicated than that, truthfully. Back home he was more than capable of honoring both deals he'd made, paying back both men who'd saved his life, but here...here he's running the very real risk of having to choose between them. Should Dazai's genius indeed prevail and send them back where they belong none of it will matter, but if Gogol's inspiration is what ends up working faster...

Technically speaking, he hadn't agreed to help Gogol along, only to ensure one of his game pieces is still there when it's needed. Dazai on the other hand he can report to if anything's found, get that going, maybe ensure he doesn't need to decide. Which is. A big, big maybe.

But he is a betting man.

Waving a hand as if to shoo the thought, ] Part of what's holding me back, yes.

He bows politely in return. 'Expiation'... That is certainly no land that he's ever heard of, even after familiarising himself with modern maps. At the mention of parchment though, he voices a soft, 'Oh!' and digs into a pocket.

"You mean this?" He pauses upon seeing the words written there again though. He'd temporarily forgotten it with his preoccupation about helping to hunt down the strange, tendril creatures.

[ Your crime is being a monster in the guise of a man. ]

Maybe that's something he shouldn't show a stranger upon first meeting.

[ were he from a different point in time dostoevsky would have dismissed sigma without second thought; what can an ordinary, mediocre man do? even if desperate in this place, however he knows well what sigma can do with a little push and pull from dazai. bets are not something fyodor puts faith in, he carves his plans out meticulously and carefully as he is tasked to do. chaos he indulges in, now and again. but betting is always full of risk; that storm in which those outside scream—

no. he's never been part of humanity in that way.

but sigma is not the first person to want him dead and he surely won't be the last (in this place at least).

fyodor thinks he can almost see this moment unfold, a thousand possibilities all coming together before falling apart. ] Two binds keeping you from acting of your own accord? My, my you must really be upset with me.

Oh, I am. But it's a celebration tonight, Dostoevsky. It would be a shame to stain these people's joy with a murder.

[ That's true enough, at least. They're guests here, and one doesn't make a mess in someone else's home. ]

...That, and letting you deal with your mysterious "this" a little longer.

You've developed quite a bite, little one. [ because, of course he will find some nickname to bestow that is almost, almost rude and yet also terribly easy to ascribe as being affectionate. those who know dostoevsky know even the sweet words hide something underneath, that the promises made have clauses and loopholes, and that the politeness is true enough but it won't keep him from stabbing you in the back.

fyodor pinches a lock of his own hair, watching the tip sparkle; ] This you mean? Do you not think it suits me?

[ because he refuses to be embarrassed by sparkling. ] In fact, are you not curious to see whether you could have this happen to you as well?

[ U g h, silent prayer that doesn't stick. He is not a toddler.

But that sure is an odd question. He resists the urge to step back, cautious if this is something that Dostoevsky could just do to him, somehow? ]

Beg your pardon?

[ oh no, sigma.

fyodor drops the strand of hair and turns his full attention on sigma; he's smiling serenely as if he's offering money or gold or something worthwhile instead of...sparkles. ]

Aren't you? [ he repeats ] I must say the effects would be rather interesting with hair like yours.

[ oh, and he has the vial that caused his sparkles in his pocket. ]

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TEST DRIVE MEME #3

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LOOL I love Chuuya

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i with a little wildcard as a treat

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lmaooooooo ty for this

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