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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[where roche relaxes vincent tenses, muscle already wound tight coiling further. the glimmer of mako in this stranger's eyes isn't lost on him, his own, an unnatural amber-red, narrowing almost imperceptibly. SOLDIER. a member of shinra's elite infantry is the last person he expects to see here, in these woods, on this planet, of all places

he lets cerberus dangle at his side, finger pressing tight along its trigger. no move of a threat, not yet, but cautious. no need to pick a fight with both of them so, so far from the upheaval in the wake of midgar's ruin. vincent tilts his head, assessing him with a calculating drag of his eyes from feet to crown

wild hair. cocksure set to his jaw. just who were they letting into SOLDIER these days?]

You're with Shinra, [he says, slowly, not bothering to point out that he isn't exactly unarmed himself. it isn't like he's trying to hide it] SOLDIER. Are there more?

_{[ Maybe he ought to feel anxious under a stare like that — red eyes and all — but instead there's a small worm of curiosity wiggling to the surface. While he sees himself being looked over like a piece of meat, Roche in turn takes the opportunity to size up Mr. Tall-Dour-And-Strangely-Handsome while he can. The cloak? Very nice. The jury was still out on all the gold though.

Once he's had his fill Roche shrugs a shoulder and settles one hand at the hip, his brow arching with a tilt of his head. How many does this make that recognize him for what he is now? Stormcloud, Red... Three? Yeah. It doesn't surprise him given all of the Shinra propaganda, really. ]}

Excluding yourself I'm technically not out with anyone at the moment. Unless you count the horse a quarter-mile to the west.

_{[ His chin tilts up towards the gun, brow arching. ]}

Am I going to wind up getting acquainted with that little doll in your hand if I'm honest?

[a barely-there lift of a dark eyebrow meets the mention of a horse. vincent clearly does not count it as another potential threat. if anything, it's one more thing to consider in the possibility of a fight; he's grateful that he gave vague directions to aid in finding the beast. were he to come out on top in such an exchange of violence, he wouldn't want to leave the poor thing tethered to a tree to suffer

his thoughts are drawn back to the here and now, his eyes following the jut of roche's chin to the hand cannon gleaming at his side. frowning faintly behind the shield of his cowl, vincent considers]

Depends, [he says, attention once again latched firmly on the SOLDIER before him] on what you have to say.

Heavens you are scary, aren't you?

_{[ It's mostly said to himself but he makes no real effort to conceal it. Rather he shifts his weight and folds his arms across his chest, fingers drumming a pointless rhythm against his bicep. This man was enough to rouse plenty of suspicion were either of them back home in Midgar, but at the same time he can't help but think of that strangely-dressed girl he'd encountered down in the slums too.

Strange dress, almost hostile... Could they be friends? Nah. Just because a couple people dress the same doesn't mean anything by it — the bulk of SOLDIER and Roche himself being a prime example of such. ]}

...Alright, then.

_{[ Stormcloud, please don't beat him with that big sword of yours. Or do. Roche isn't going to mind either way. ]}

There's... one more here like me, but we don't exactly ride on the same road if you catch my meaning. Even so, they're a dear friend of mine and I'd very much appreciate it if he were left unharmed, Mister...?

[it isn't being called 'scary' that gives vincent pause. that, he's used to. welcomes it, even, because fear is useful. it keeps people at arm's length, keeps them safe and out of harm's way. something in the way this man says it, though...like half a compliment. strange

an uneasy silence descends in the wake of that dangling question. slowly, his finger stirs from its vigil alongside the trigger. the click of the safety engaging echoes in the quiet like a gunshot]

Valentine, [he says, voice dragging like he'd really rather not. but a name is harmless, so he'll give it in the hope of gleaning more intel] This friend of yours. He has a name?

_{[ Valentine. He repeats the name to himself in his head and decides that whether its the man's true name or a false one, it suits him. Very mysterious and a little ominous, but in a good sort of way. ]}

I'm sure he does but I've taken to calling him Stormcloud while we're here. If you're familiar with SOLDIER then perhaps you've met him before? Blond hair like-

_{[ He reaches up and makes a vague motion above his own head- ]}

This, a very large sword... Quite skilled on a bike, too. He has a rather stern demeanor too, but I know there's more to him than scowls and a furrowed brow.

Cloud.

[who else could it be, with that description? there are no other SOLDIERs like him, carrying a sword as big as a man that definitely isn't regulation

vincent finds himself on the back foot, a flicker of dark lashes marking his surprise before he stalks forward, right into this man's space with narrowed eyes and a growl threatening to break in the back of his throat. he'd said they were friends, but after everything shinra threw at them, everything leading up to meteorfall and the death of the old world, is it any wonder he can't trust the word of a stranger?

it's the golden gauntlet that finds its way around the man's throat. no squeeze, no lift, just a subtle upwards pressure and a prick of metal claws]

Where is he.

Edited (words) 2023-05-30 22:17 (UTC)

_{[ He's fast. Maybe not blink-and-you'll-miss fast, but fast enough to catch Roche off guard. One minute he's there and the next Roche finds himself with a strong hand against the column of his throat. His own reflexes kick in before he can even think to stop them too, one of his own shooting up to encircle around smooth metal and squeezing down just enough to secure a decent grip for himself in the event he finds himself ungrounded.

It doesn't come yet, but he can never be certain. Clearing his throat a little, Roche tilts his head back and grimaces at the sound of one clawtip snagging on his undershirt and the barely-there pressure. Great, he thinks to himself, He would catch that loose thread. ]}

I'm not saying I'm not into this, but—

_{[ Not the time, dumbass. ]}

Our dear Stormcloud— _{[ Cloud, he realizes and Roche can't help the crooked grin. He'd been damn close when picking that nickname out, huh? Good job. ]} —is just fine. He's a big boy who can handle himself. Believe me, I've had the privilege of sharing a dance or two with him in the past.

[oh, roche just had to make it weird

concealed lips pulling into a grimace, vincent's gauntleted fingers flex like he's considering the wisdom in squeezing, after all. the snagged thread gives up the ghost with a muted snap]

You've... shared a dance or two... [so, the man isn't just acquainted with cloud. they've fought. more than once, apparently, but that isn't important. what's important is that, if roche is to be believed, cloud is well. and if he isn't, if he's lying... well

grip loosening, vincent rolls his wrist in the SOLDIER's grip, intending to free himself with a short, sharp jerk in the direction of the man's thumb] Say I believe you. Where can I find him?

_{[ He doesn't put up a fight - Vincent can have his wrist back free of charge, and in exchange Roche presses his fingers to his own throat as if he expects to feel bruises under his touch. SOLDIERs were made of sterner stuff than that so it's really all just for show and theatrics, especially if that half-cocked grin is anything to go by.

Where was the world keeping this one, huh? ]}

I may be a bit infatuated with the man but I don't keep tabs on his whereabouts twenty-four hours a day, my gloomy friend.

_{[ What is he, a stalker? Just... don't @ him about finding out where he lived in the slums. ]}

Though I'd wager the inn over in Aldrip would be a fair place to start. Assuming the locals haven't drowned themselves in what they consider alcohol, that is. They've been at it for the past two days give or take and if he's anything like me, I'd also guess that he decided to try and get away from all the noise too.

[his theatrics earn him a lifted eyebrow and nothing else—vincent knows exactly how much it takes to injure a SOLDIER. he also knows, without a doubt, that he didn't even come close

in other time, if he were a different man, that gesture would've gotten the eye roll it's just begging for]

Hm. [infatuated, is he? good luck with that. even tifa has been struggling to work herself under cloud's armor; if a childhood friend can't manage, he very much doubts this dusty blond will have an easier time of it. but that's not any of vincent's business, so he holds his own counsel and simply shoots the man a mildly venomous glance when he calls him 'friend'

absolutely not]

If he has, he isn't in this forest. [he sounds more certain of that fact than he feels] I would have noticed.

You sound like his keeper.

_{[ Clearly he means it as a joke, and one Roche can't help but snort a little at. Out of everyone he's had the pleasure (and otherwise) of knowing throughout his life in Midgar, Cloud was one of the few who didn't seem like he needed anything of the sort. Was it always nice to have someone watching one's back? Oh, absolutely. But could it get suffocating at times? Also yes.

Not that he was speaking from experience. Shh. ]}

Or perhaps just a very concerned friend. You... are a friend of his, yes? You aren't plotting anything nefarious?

No, [he says, answering the second question with a flat denial. the first makes him hesitate, gaze drifting away into the trees. how to explain in a way that this man who throws friend around like it means nothing will understand. a partnership of convenience for the purpose of seeking revenge that became, over time, a camaraderie maintained in infrequent chance encounters—is that friendship? not quite, he thinks. the title implies a connection that can be called upon; someone you miss when they're gone. not someone who goes to ground for years at a time, that can't be reached because he doesn't have a phone

nor someone that keeps you always at arm's length because he fears what he may become

eventually, he settles on an explanation he thinks a SOLDIER will resonate with]

We fought together. Many times.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TEST DRIVE MEME #3

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