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expiationmeme2023-05-29 10:59 am
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.
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?
no subject
Exactly, it's a new life. We don't have to worry about Topside or the Lanes here.
[she's still kind of following her, even if the expression on Jinx's face almost makes Vi hesitate. she's still so unused to her little sister... being like this.
it kind of breaks her heart.]
We can work things out without all that weighing on us and distracting us. Please, Powder... we can start over for real, here.
[Vi looks like a kicked puppy right now, even though she probably doesn't realize it.]
no subject
instead, her nose crinkle as if she just smelled something awful, and then quickly averts her pinks away. she remembers that look (even it's unintentional), it's a look vi gave back in their younger years of hoping she would accept her apology whenever she lost her temper. letting out a very long groan, she swallows whatever is in her mouth before grumbling: )
You and those puppy dog eyes. Y'know I'm a sucker for 'em when you do that.
( the teen huffs out a somewhat of a surrender then attempts to focus on the next food on her plate to munch on. )
... Can you call me "Jinx" for once?
no subject
she's fine with that.]
Well... at least something made you stop.
[it's a weak joke here, and a weak laugh.]
You're not a jinx. You're Powder. My little sister.
no subject
still without a word, she rips apart her meal with her bare hands. )
no subject
At least... think about it, okay? We don't have all the shit at home to deal with here, so is there really a point in all of this--
[she waves her hand around]
Arguing? Fighting? Misunderstandings? Hell, I don't even know what we've become lately.
no subject
the fact she is even allowing her sister to be in her presence right now is proof enough. sucking the juices from each of her digits, the teen lifts her head up in search of something to drink. the only thing near by is an abandon cup which... rule number one of the last drop, never drink out of a cup with no owner.
... and yet, she reaches for it anyway -- inspecting it closely by sniffing it out for any poison. )
And you keep gettin' your points deducted, Sis. 'Cuz if you're here, that means lil' Miss Fancy Top Hat is close by.
( disappointed in this cup (she didn't smell poison, but doesn't want to risk it), she sets it down and goes back to chewing. )
Where there's Vi, there's Cait who soon will have a deadly fate ♪. With bloody frosting and cute sprinkles, that'll rot your teeth and brain with soda pop and acid rain ♪.
no subject
but then she changes the subject, and she blinks back the tears in surprise.]
Fancy-- you mean Caitlyn?
[her eyebrows knit closer together.]
She's not here. Not unless she showed up with you -- and will you stop with the death threats with her??
[it hasn't even been that long and she's extremely drained from this.]
no subject
If she said death threats to me, would you tell her to stop? — Since when you stick up for Enforcers anyway?
no subject
[the audacity of Jinx to even ask something like this???]
It's not all Enforcers. Just her. She's my... [waves hand around in the air in front of her for a sec] friend. She was trying to help all of us out.
no subject
Yeah, sure. Well, if your girlfriend shooting at me is helpin' us out, then I guess I gotta do more of that around here.
no subject
[Vi drags her hands down her face, and exhales slowly. anger isn't going to get anywhere with Jinx, she knows this already. there's so much she could argue about here, but she's not going to let herself get distracted by. y'know.
all this.]
Look, if I see her I'm going to work on her too. I don't need you guys fighting like feral cats whenever you're around each other.
no subject
Vi, Vi, Vi. I'm disappointed. — Don't tell me you forgot that fighting a lotta times help with aggression! ( she says gleefully, but also being a smartass about it. )
Maybe I just need to shoot her in the leg and I'll feel better. C'mon, what can one lil' bullet do?
( a lot of damage, of course. jinx knows this, but she is trying to bring light in this situation for her own sake, not really vi's. )
no subject
[it's really not that hard to rile Vi up, especially when she's already lowkey stressed out over that stuff.]
Neither one of you are going to shoot each other. Or hit each other. Or strangle each other. Or do whatever you guys can think of together that'll end up in someone getting hurt. Okay? That's just not going to happen.
cw: voices
'did you hear that?' 'i did.' 'yep, me too!' 'someone she really cares about, oh ho ho~.'
with her nose crinkling, jinx shoots up from her seat and takes a step closer with her eyes piercing dead at her sister's. just a friend, my ass, she thinks. why can't vi be honest once in her damn life? a light breath leaves out of her ribcage, her body relaxes as she takes the left of her braid -- twirling it like it's her own personal cane. )
It's cute the way you think sometimes, Sis. Eh heh heh, like you can just waltz right back in and think you can control me.
( jinx uses her braid like a lasso, swinging the hair over vi's shoulders then tugs it down so her sister will be in a better eye level with her. )
But you're forgettin' something. — There is no controlling me. I do whatever the hell I want. Silco might be gone, but I still got a mission to complete.
( a beat. )
... 'Sides, hunting is a pretty fun sport once you get the hang of it.
no subject
she frowns at the words that come out of Jinx's mouth, not letting herself flinch when her sister gets so close to her.
well. until she gets tugged down. she flinches by default, throwing her hands out to either side to make sure she doesn't completely fall.]
I'm not trying to control you. I'm just saying... it doesn't have to be like this.
[she's. not going to let herself get trapped with the hunting comment, because she can definitely tell Jinx is trying to get a reaction out of here there.]
It's quiet here. [besides the monster that mindfucked her, but she's not going to mention that right now--] The living space is a little cramped, but there's enough food and fresh air for everyone. Just. Think about it, okay?
[. . .
okay maybe she does know what she's doing, here. her voice drops low, almost a little emotional.]
We're still family. That'll never change.
no subject
'don't be naive!', 'didn't she just said she cares about the enforcer?'
she heard it. trust her, she heard it. but when vi is this close (that's her own fault) and when she has her sister to herself like this, it's like the fog has cleared for her and she can finally see. like she can breathe again and there's... a little bit of color in her world.
'you need to get away from her', 'need to walk away from her', 'get away', 'walk away, walk away.'
jinx shrinks as she loosens her grip on her braid, evading her gaze from her sister. and although her voices are warning for her to retreat, she doesn't. her boots are glued to the earth and vi's aura is bright and warm that she might get a migraine from it. she's been deceived so many times and she's still licking her wounds of what transpire before she was brought here. and like hell she will ever get caught up in a web of lies again. no, not again. not ever again. )
( but the hurt that flows in her sister's voice, it bruises her heart severely. she hates to see her sibling hurting and she wants to make whatever is harming her pay. especially if vi shed just one tear. but the thing that's hurting vi... is her. and she doesn't know how... make her stop hurting when she is too. her sibling told her to think about it. she can... at least do that, right? just thinking about it doesn't mean she is giving in or...chasing after something she shouldn't be chasing. )
( her breath catches finally as her shoulders slump and when the little sister speaks, it's barely above a whisper -- her demeanor so different and jarring. )
I...I can't... do quiet. ( the teen admits meekily, head down further to shield her face. ) It... bothers me.
no subject
besides, there's nothing she could change about it now.
when Jinx's shoulders slump, Vi cautiously and gently puts one hand on her sister's shoulder and the other hand on Jinx's cheek. her vision blurs, and for a long moment, she's at a loss for words. she would do literally anything to make things right, but... she can't. she can't, she can't, she can't.
she just feels like she's going to keep screwing up over and over until something fractures permanently.
but she has to try.]
Yeah... it's kind of weird, isn't it? [her voice is still shaky, but she's getting control of her emotions again.] We're so used to the chaos in the Lanes.
[or prison in her case, but whatever.]
I've been so bad at keeping my promises, so I won't right now, but I want to do my best for you. I really, really do.
no subject
'you're faltering.'
silco's stern voice rings on the other side of her, and yet she sighs quietly to nuzzle into her touch more. 'i know', she answers back in her mind. 'but i want my sister.' jinx shuts her eyes as she bathes into this moment, the sensation tossing her back when they were younger. and how vi would always caressed her cheek so lovely and warmly... just like this. her sibling's voice is trembling, but that's okay. because the words are still coated with honey and all she wants is for the two of them to stay like this forever. for her ticking bombs to stall its counting and just... wait a while. )
Mm...
( it's... not much of a response, but jinx is a little too in tune by this nostalgic feeling. she's slipping... sinking... and forgetting that vi wants powder and not jinx. but... what harm will it do to pretend just for a little while? to pretend that these words, this touch is for her and not for... that girl. after all, she deserves this little pleasurable moment, right? )
no subject
I love you.
[she doesn't say these words enough, and she almost says Powder's name, but she didn't want to ruin the moment. she was finally starting to learn that calling Jinx Powder wasn't going to help things... but she doesn't know if she can call her Jinx yet. calling her that makes her remember what she'd done -- and maybe, in a way, that's what her sister wants from it. for Vi to remember that she'd gotten punched and left the day that their family fell apart.
it was something that she might have to work on later.]
I always will.
cw: possessive mentioned whoopsie.
'she loves me. vi loves me, vi loves me, vi loves me.' if she could sing that to the heavens, she would. to tell all of those nasty whispers of the dead just how wrong they've been all this time. her big sister is here, she loves her, jinx belongs to vi and vice versa. just like how it was meant to be. it's the two of them and no one else. who needs other people anyway? especially when it seems all they've ever wanted to do was to tear them apart. maybe... maybe this time really can be different. it's not like caitlyn is here to come between them anyhow (lawl). ah... jinx's been so drowned in this moment, she is just realizing she should say something too. )
I love you too, big sis.
no subject
this moment is the one she needed. there is good in her sister, still. she knows it now. she's just... changed in a way she's going to have to come to grips with at some point.]
I can... take you around, if you want. Show you everything.
no subject
when she peeks up to look at her sister, she notices the faint strain of tears -- the light puffiness of her eyes. she's a little taken back at seeing vi cry because she hadn't seen her this way since they were younger. sure, jinx witnessed her sibling on the verge of tears but never shed them. at least not in front of her. the little sister shifts briefly, a delicate hand reaches over to vi's cheek to dry off her wet face. the smile jinx gives is small but there still -- feeling guilty again that she is the reason for those tears to fall in the first place. with her one hand still on her cheek, the other crawls up to match with it. and just like they use to seven years ago, jinx gently brings vi's head lower so the two of them can press their foreheads together with such tenderness, love, and care. )
Yeah... I'm fine with that.