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expiationmeme2023-08-06 09:08 am
TEST DRIVE MEME #4
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.
You may find the below link helpful in getting to know themes of the world, locations, the people, and so on.
AS OF AUGUST 2023: We have decided to reduce the waiting period for new updates / canons to two months. So if your canon is two months old, your character is appable as of now.
The last thing you recall is waking in a room of blinding white light. You hear voices around you, speaking in muffled tones; you get the distinct impression that they’re talking about you. And you’re on the verge of figuring out what they’re saying, you’re so close...but then the floor drops out from under you. You’re falling into blackness.
You come to after falling through this dark void, and when your vision clears, you find yourself on a…beach? Many wake up covered in sand, but some wake in the shallows of the ocean, too. Surf’s up!
IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN...
SAND AND SALT (ARRIVALS)
After dusting off the sand (or drying off with a towel, if they had a really rude awakening), newcomers to the area find themselves greeted by the locals and directed to the city of Aldrip, where they can find food, shelter, and dry clothing, should they need it. There's mention of an inn, though some mutter that it's getting a little crowded, so maybe characters should find a roommate or make nice with the locals so they can crash on their floor—at least temporarily. Once they're in town, they'll notice that there is plenty of construction going on: building materials everywhere, half-finished structures waiting to be finished. Maybe you won't be sleeping on the floor for too long, after all.
Those who choose to remain on the beach will find the locals setting up for something that looks like a festival. Colorful tents are anchored in the sand, filling with strange-looking goods, delicious-smelling food, games, and other activities. Locals call this the "Festival of the Sun," a celebration of the hottest days of the summer, where crops begin to swell bountifully and the seas become warm and refreshing. The festival has not yet begun, of course, and there is plenty of opportunity to help out. Chosen who wish to lend a hand will find themselves enlisted to help set up or decorate tents—or even to run some of them, if they're so inclined. Grab the balloons and streamers! (Or…colored scarves and flowers, maybe.)
FESTIVAL OF THE SUN
The festival kicks into gear in the afternoon, and there are plenty of activities to draw attention. There are boat racing competitions and a sandcastle contest, as well as a grand seashell hunt taking place on the beach. All of these are free to enter, and the contests offer prizes both for participation and for winning. Participation prizes are small tokens of memorabilia: seashells, shark teeth, dried flowers, things like that. Contest winners will find themselves gifted a refreshing treat or a free meal.
Other tents boast all sorts of different games, food, and trinkets for purchase. Merchants will accept coins or other goods in exchange, but if you find your pockets empty, they may also have to help work the booths if they need a well-earned break. Better get to work, and don't forget to give your most winning smile!
Later in the evening, the locals light a bonfire and host traditional songs and dances as the sun begins to set. All clean-up work will be left until the morning; according to Those Who Were There—the locals' patron deities, apparently, though they offer little information about them—it's bad luck to work this evening after the sun sets.
THIS IS ECOLOGY
MAKE A FRIEND
It seems there have been new additions to Aldrip and the surrounding areas. Even the locals are surprised to see large, flightless warking birds now charging around the meadowlands in packs, not to mention the cute piglets with bunny ears and other strange animals that seem to have appeared. There’s even something that looks like it’s made of rock roaming around–its bark is worse than its bite, though. You may even find that if you befriend them, you can ride on them.
Most are harmless, but Chosen may find a few more monsters than usual roaming the area, too. It seems best to be careful—especially after dark and in the forest, when some of these creatures feel emboldened to roam a little closer to civilization.
[[WILDCARD: Players can use anything from this post to interact with! It doesn’t even have to be the ones we mentioned in the prompts.]]
STOP AND SMELL THE FLOWERS
It's not just animals that have begun to appear in the area, either. Strange new flowers and plants seem to be cropping up everywhere, as if this is a normal habitat for them. Most of them don't seem harmful, although some of the vines can be a little…aggressive. However, getting too close to some of the flowers and mushrooms could give someone a nasty surprise. This is particularly unfortunate because the locals seem quite interested in the new additions to their town, encouraging the Chosen to investigate and acquire samples.
The pollen from these new flowers isn't normal, so Chosen won't find themselves sneezing too much. Unfortunately, they may find it has some other effect on them, such as sleeping, confusion, temporary loss of sense (sight, touch, taste, etc), powerlessness, forgetfulness, or inability to speak. While these are all examples of effects the pollen might have, this is certainly not a limitation. Just about anything you can come up with—within reason—is fair game.
STRANGE MACHINATIONS
A PILE OF JUNK
Ask the locals, and they'll tell you all about the recent trip to the desert, including how several of them were rescued and owe the Chosen a debt of gratitude. While they're repaying this debt mostly by way of helping with building projects, they've also brought back piles and piles of…broken technology. Mostly tablets: dirty, sandy, scratched up, and missing critical components like batteries and chargers. They've very kindly piled all of these things in the eating hall at the inn, and anyone who wants to check them out is welcome to do so. It's possible that cleaning them up and matching them up with their missing components will activate them, but you may have to sift through a whole pile to do so.
But activation does not necessarily mean they're in perfect working order. They may randomly beep, as if pinging off of certain locations, or make strange static sounds if they're turned on for too long. Some of them seem to ping off of each other, too, beeping more quickly as they're brought nearer to the other tablet they seem to be paired with. When connected to the pair, they seem to stabilize a bit more. Not enough to find anything of value in the system itself, but characters might find that they can now text each other, play one of the games, or send pictures on a local network.. After about ten feet of distance, they fail again and aren’t able to be used on the local network.
GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT
Whatever happened to the locals at the beginning of the month seems to have passed—mostly. Every so often, Chosen might notice the locals acting a little strangely, stopping what they're doing for a second as if they've forgotten something, repeating something they've already said, or even flickering in and out of existence.
These experiences are minor, but Chosen might notice some other oddities popping up occasionally. Some animals seem very…odd, at a glance, like a fox that has two tails or a deer with three eyes. Look again, and you might think your eyes were playing tricks on you, because they appear normal. Fish with transparent scales, plants that change color—these are examples of the occasional oddities Chosen might encounter.
They might also sometimes hear strange noises, particularly at night. Beeping or static like the sounds coming from the tablets could easily wake a person in the night—as can the sound of a voice, perhaps even a familiar one, luring Chosen out of their beds and away from the town. The source of these voices is a mystery, and they always seem to stop before characters get too far, but you'd do well to be careful after dark.
You know the drill–this is the wildcard one. Just because it’s not listed in the prompts above does not mean it’s unavailable as an option. We encourage you to do whatever you’d like to utilize the setting to its full potential. If you have any questions about what is and is not possible, please don’t hesitate to ask!
Click to view:
| CANON | CHARACTER/TOP LEVEL |
| Arcane | Ekko |
| Arcane | Silco |
| Critical Role | Mollymauk Tealeaf |
| Digimon | Mimi Tachikawa |
| Final Fantasy X-2 | Paine |
| Fullmetal Alchemist: Broherhood | Pride |
| Honkai: Star Rail | Dan Heng |
| Land of the Lustrous | Phosphophyllite |
| Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story | Mitama Yakumo |
| Marvel 616 | Quentin Quire |
| Omnicient Reader's Viewpoint | Han Sooyoung |
| Persona 1 | Naoya Toudou |
| Persona 2: Eternal Punishment | Kei Nanjo |
| Persona 4 | Yu Narukami |
| Persona 4 | Yosuke Hanamura |
last updated: 8/16/23, 10:55PM
no subject
It's not actually a book, you know.
[Oh boy, it's Chaos Jinx again, zipping over and damn, that's so cool. At least she's asking this time?
Look. Okay. He's not dumb. He knows it's a bad idea to give her this. But here's the thing: Quentin is and always has been a simp. It's a problem. Oh, sure, he hates being blatantly manipulated, but if it's not overt... He should probably do something about it, but that would require self-awareness and the willingness to consciously improve himself, and that's not happening any time soon. Soooooo...]
It's just information. I can download it into your brain, but, uh, it's not fun.
no subject
Is it like havin' a buncha needles jammed into your veins? 'Cuz I know how that feels like. Wouldn't recommend it if ever ya wanna give it a go.
no subject
Quentin watches her warily as she explores the room. The shelves feel real enough — as real as anything here — and if she were to browse those shelves, she may see a few other titles that interest her: "Weapon X," "Vampires," "Apocalypse," or perhaps "Supervillain Stuff (Outdated)".]
It's like having a bunch of information forcibly shoved into your head all at once. Mental pain is different than physical pain.
no subject
"Supervillain Stuff..."
( jinx reads out gradually before taking that one out of its slot too. spinning to face quentin, she holds up the reading material and rocking it from side to side in a tease with a smirk. )
— You're that big of a bad boy, huh? Should I keep my guns lock and loaded around ya?
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Also it doesn't help when you start feeling bad for your intended victims.So it's next to impossible to truly be good at being a supervillain, since being good at something would imply that you're successful. And supervillains generally are not, or at least are not for too terribly long. So... Quentin gave up that goal. And he'd rather not go back, no matter how tempting it sometimes sounds to go on a destructive rampage to tear down the Establishment or whatever.That said, Quentin can still play supervillain with the best of them. He doesn't these days because it tends to unnerve people, and that hasn't been quite so appealing the last couple of years. But whipping out a good ole Clockwork Orange Kubrick Stare? That's easy. And he has a funny feeling it won't unnerve Jinx like it does other people.]
Bold of you to assume guns could stop me.
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Oh ho ♪ — I know it can. ( she says with confidence as she steps over the books to make her way back to him -- her smile playful yet dangerous. )
I bet if you put your little magic away in a jar, you'd be running away before I could even give ya a five second head start.
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Quentin does flinch reflexively at the books slamming down on the floor, but he covers it with an excessive amount of confidence and arrogance, crossing his legs and slouching back in his chair with his fingers steepled. See how unconcerned and unthreatened he is? You should!]
Probably. But last time I checked, my genetic mutation isn't in any jar. You know what that means, yeah?
[He spreads his arms grandly before folding them behind his head. It feels weird talking like this to someone he actually likes, but she seems to be having fun. That said, there's almost certainly a line where it's no longer fun for her. That's how it always works with powers like his. With any luck
of which he has nonehe'll manage to stay on this side of that line.]It means it's my world, baby. You all are just living in it.
no subject
when jinx is close enough, she slouches forward -- both of her hands on each of the chair's armrest to enter more in his personal space. her pinks scanning over his expression then tilting her head steadily. )
Mm, for now. ( she says smoothly, the smirk still dancing on her face. ) — Let me let you in on a lil' secret.
( a short pause, her eyes glimmering. )
Something is gonna happen soon. A storm that not even you will be able to stop. So be a sweet cookie and keep that chair you're sitting on nice and warm for me 'till I get everything straighten out, hm?
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Quentin's never had much of a poker face, especially not around girls and with anyone in his personal space. So Jinx would get a great opportunity to see his expression shift from toothlessly grandiose to growing alarm and realization to serious, though he tries to disguise the latter by adjusting his glasses.
Alright, Quire, big boy decision time. He's sorta decided to be on the good guy's side now, and this sounds pretty solidly like villain stuff. But nobody could possibly say Quentin Quire any good at being, well, good. If one of the Hawkeyes or America or even Wolverine were here, they could tell him how a good guy's supposed to handle something like this. But they're not. So he's gotta go with what he knows. Which is to be a bastard.]
A storm, huh? [He leans forward a smidge with a smirk, holds up one hand, and waggles his fingers only a few inches from her face, channeling a bit of his psychic energy into visible pinkish glimmers that dance around his fingers.]
And you're not even gonna include your ole pal Quentin? Someone like me offering to help, you can't pass that up, right?
no subject
zaun would get so much more than just independence. cities all over runeterra would see her, her father, and all zaunites as superiors. jinx wonders if that's something silco would want somewhere down the line. his focus had always been having their city and their people more powerful than the piltover and their people, but... what of the other places? jinx breathes out a small giggle -- the smile warming just a touch but still wicked all around. )
Oooooh, you'd be amazing!
( she lifts up her index then lightly taps his left cheek. )
... But we both know you're a threat too. — 'Sides, I don't make the final call. You understand, don't you?
no subject
[He does mean that sincerely, even if he's going about this in a not-quite-so-honest way. He likes Jinx, and he really doesn't want her to get hurt. Later he'll be more upfront about all this, but for right now he needs information, and this is still preferable over taking it from her. At least this way her choices are still hers.
Quentin smiles his most charming smile, which is... honestly about "used car salesman" level of charm, but hey, Jinx has yet to be bothered by his worst traits. He spreads his hands in an overly casual shrug, palms up. Look what a fun and cool and moderately chaotic guy he is! So rebellious! Don't you want to be cool and rebellious, Jinx?]
Come on, just think of how impressed dear old dad would be. [Based on the way she talked about her "Pops," he's guessing that's who makes the final call. Does that mean her dad is here? Or her grasp of reality is just that screwed up.]
You show up with me and my powers — untold control over the mind, able to bring a city to its knees with a snap of my fingers, absorb whatever information I want — you'll totally be getting the most expensive gift at Christmas. Top of the favorite kids list, for sure. [Of course, in his current weakened state, he'd be lucky to control a city block, but it's not like he intends to actually prove it.]
Sure, you could wait and ask permission. If you wanna keep being a pawn with no independent thought of your own. [He sighs, hanging his head in exaggerated disappointment. Couldn't be him. But wait! He glances back up with a mischievous smirk.] Or you can start showing your old man some real ambition.
1/2
'how will we not know he won't betray us?'
loyalty keeps people together, helps us survive during harsh times. if the trust is broken, so does everything else. she chews on her lower lip with so much uncertainty and finally she pulls back from him -- returning his personal space. )
He lets me do whatever I want. ( she corrects him firmly. ) — I chose to work for him and I'm gonna keep choosing to.
( ... )
'Cuz love and loyalty runs deeper than blood.
2/2
'Course, this is aaaaalll just fun and games!! Pranking and yanking people's chains is a past-time of mine...!
( she isn't lying about that. she definitely jokes setting up booby traps and causing all sorts of confusion and mayhem towards her victims. anything to get a rise or a laugh out of them. )
no subject
Well, well, well, guess Jinx's dad isn't a fan of free thinkers. Suppose that means Quentin will have pay the geezer a visit himself.
But for now, he'll give Jinx her diversion and smile like nothing's weird.]
You're a fun one, Jinx. I'm glad I met you. Hey, are you hungry? I'm famished. Is there sushi here? I could go for some sushi.
no subject
( she exclaims, grabbing on his wrist to yank him out of the chair in all smiles. jinx shrugs a shoulder then quickly adds: )
But that's 'cuz of my Shimmer thing. I gotta eat a lot since I'm burnin' so much energy. Anyway, I dunno what "sushi" is but it sounds fishy. So I'm gonna guess it's fish, right?
( and if only she could warp him back to zaun and take him to jericho's. he has the best slimey and sluggy sea creature food in all of runeterra in her opinion. but then, the subject of food does jog her memory about something. )
How do you feel about dine and dashing? — I'm a lil' low on the coin thing.
no subject
aka his girlfriend broke up with him over text messagebut the chaotic enthusiasm? Love for weapons? Unhinged rambling?... Man, if Gwen ever showed up here and met Jinx? This whole place would be doomed.
He lets her pull him out of the chair, chuckling under his breath. She does remember this isn't the real world, right? There's no point in him standing or not.]
Hey, I control minds. I've never paid. [
Except his powers won't work on the locals but he doesn't know that yet.]Ready to go back out? Might be a little disorienting at first, you've been in here a while.
no subject
( so she believes as she lets go of his wrist to place her hands on her hips -- standing oh so proudly. )
Hit me with your best shot, Chuck! Better hit a bullseye or I'll have to tie you up to the ceiling for your shame.
( how drastic and over the top. but that is her in a nutshell, of course. she isn't sure what to expect when she goes back, but hopefully it won't be anything too rough. )
no subject
[Normally this would be a piece of cake, but it seems Quentin's stamina for using his powers has suffered more than he thought. He has to close his eyes and put his index and middle fingers against his temple to focus enough to pull Jinx and himself back to their bodies as gently as possible, which is equal parts humiliating and frustrating. He's just glad Jinx doesn't know enough about his powers to tell.
Quentin was aware enough of the outside world during their little trip to take a comfortable seat next to her on the beach, but Jinx had the misfortune of not being prepared and pretty much just... passed out when he shot her with his psychic revolver. Yeah, he didn't really think that one through.]
There, back safe and sound. Thank you for flying Quire Airlines.
[She's much more likely to notice how unsteady he is getting to his feet, but maybe she'll be too distracted by a headache or vertigo or something. It's hard to say how she'll recover from being mentally transported three times when she's not used to it. Hey, maybe she'll be totally fine and rip out his throat like he's one of those idiots who get mauled by their "pet" tiger when they smell weakness. That would suck.]
no subject
although with how pale she is and how foreign she is to the sun, she'll turn firey red within an hour or so. not that she'll feel the pain when it happens -- one of the side effects of being one with shimmer is the lack of experiencing pain (unless it's gruesome). so jinx will say nothing more but lie here on her side in a fetal position. this stinks! )
no subject
Quentin doesn't entirely trust himself to bend down without making a fool of himself, so he just kinda... nudges her with his foot. Look, it's not like she wouldn't do the same thing if he was on the floor!]
Hey. Can't string me up by my thumbs for shame or whatever from down there, you know.
no subject
( oh, a nicer nickname that isn't just chuck this time. maybe that's just due to her being in a whiny state right now. she shifts again, except this go round, jinx is able to make some eye contact with him. )
I dunno if I can sit up. I feel I might blow chunks if I do.
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Past Quentin would've been furious. Ranted about people taking him seriously or mocking him with cutesy nicknames. Quentin Quire doesn't do cutesy or nicknames. Present Quentin... jury's still out, weirdly. At least for this specific situation. Huh. That's unexpected. He'll unpack that later. By which he means never.]
Oh, uh, right. Yeah. Sorry? [Look what you did, you threw him all off his game.]
So I guess sushi is out?
no subject
( and then she extends her arm out to him, palm up. maybe once she is on her feet, her brain will feel less heavy and she can get her body moving around like it should. it shouldn't be too difficult with shimmer being fuel and all that. )
no subject
[There's juuust enough of a smirk on his face to imply that he's joking. And he does grab her hand to try and help pull her to her feet. Hopefully she's not expecting too much help, because a) his head is still spinning a little and b) uh, well, Quentin is not exactly known for his muscles. (Just look at this mildly beefy superhero guy borrowing one of Quentin's t-shirts.) He'd really rather not use his powers for this, but if it's possible nosebleed or guaranteed looking like a pathetic weakling, he won't have much choice.]
no subject
Get use to it! I love being bossy, it's pretty fun...!
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