expiationmeme | TEST DRIVE MEME #5

TEST DRIVE MEME #5

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.

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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 in a... forest?

NOW PLAYING IN THEATERS

ARRIVALS

New Chosen will find themselves in Pessiria Forest. There's a chill in the air and a strange rustling in the leaves. There's some sort of wailing noises that seem to echo through the trees, and occasionally, Chosen—new and old alike—can hear the sound of familiar voices. Maybe even impossible voices.
Was that a sound? The wind? Something else, maybe watching and waiting in the shadows?…

… Nah. That's probably all in their head.

Probably.

Making their way out of the forest, newcomers will find that Aldrip's local residents are a little wary of them. Maybe even a little cagey about welcoming them, especially since some locals are still missing. Luckily, there are plenty of others like them, other Chosen, who have been here long enough to know the ropes.

ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES

Aldrip has had a bountiful harvest this year. As a result of the surplus, lumpy and misshapen vegetables are being tossed out, thrown into compost, or given to animals as food.

They don't seem to like this.

Over the past few days and weeks, these poor things have been left to rot, watching their brethren become animal food as they waste away, their potential being ground into the dirt. But no more! Through sheer determination and the power of a good old-fashioned grudge, they begin to mutate, sprouting arms and legs and—uh oh, are those teeth? This could be bad.

Late into the night on October 9, the mutated vegetables begin to rise from their graves. Scorned squashes, contemptuous carrots, abused apples, and other cantankerous crops decide that enough is enough! The tables have turned, and now they would like to eat you! Be warned that their bite is definitely worse than their bark, and they have a taste for human blood. Take cover, or you might just find yourself becoming dinner. But they're not immortal! They can be burned, bludgeoned, or sliced to stop their assault.

Upon investigation, there may be a link to the water source and the mutated plants. Shut off that water source and find a new one, and maybe there will be less of the cranky creatures.

A few days after this onslaught of veggies, the locals decide to prepare a big vegetable feast. Are those still good to eat, do you think…?

(Note: while the bulk of these creatures won't last long, you will still be able to find occasional stragglers throughout the rest of the month.)

THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU

CW: ANIMAL MISTREATMENT

Given tablets equipped with a camera feature, Chosen new and old are asked by some scientifically-minded locals to catalog creatures and animals of Aldrip and the surrounding areas. It seems new creatures are appearing almost daily, and as these local requestors say, it's important to know your neighbors! They'll offer a variety of rewards: money, goods, services. Doing favors for them might boost their opinion of the Chosen, as well.

Those who accept this task will find any manner of animals, new and old. They'll also find some…………weird things. Animals that seem to have been spliced together: Chocobos with elephant trunks, wolves with feathers, snakes with crab legs…the possibilities for these chimeras seem to have no limit.

Brave adventurers will find that following some of these animals for a while will lead them to a camouflaged bunker deep in the woods. Surrounded by an electric fence and automatic turrets, it seems that someone doesn't want you getting in there.

This may be as close as you can get, for now, but if you keep a low profile, you might be able to observe for a while.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Some strange new plants seem to be gaining sentience, to the point where they are taking requests. Some of them may be benign or even silly: water lilies asking Chosen to take a swim with them, thirsty ferns asking for water, venus fly traps who need help catching flies. Some ask for items, human food, or just a chance to chat. Still others would like to be entertained with song, dance, or jokes…weird.

Entertaining most of these requests just results in the plants not annoying you about them anymore. But some plants are asking for blood, too, either human or animal. When fed, these particular plants go wild wanting more, more, more! Eventually, they will only be satiated by eating people. More killer creatures?! Uh oh.

Maybe finding the source of where all this started will help…

WILDCARD

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!

TOP LEVEL DIRECTORY

Click to view:

CANON	CHARACTER/TOP LEVEL
Bungo Stray Dogs	Jouno Saigiku
Bungo Stray Dogs	Tetchou Suehiro
Dissidia NT	Lightnig Farron
Fear & Hunger 2: Termina	Levi
Final Fantasy XIV	Noise Deathmouse
Horizon Forbidden West	Beta
League of Legends	Xayah
One Piece	Tony Tony Chopper
Persona 3	Tohru Adachi
Persona 4	Shinjiro Aragaki
Persona 5	Yusuke Kitagawa
Reiwa no Dara	Dara
Tokyo Revengers	Mikey
Tokyo Revengers	Takemichi Hanagaki
Urusei Yatsura	Benten

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( this could be a really good opportunity for jinx to fulfill the task that was assigned to her over the weekend. a sentence that states she needs to rebuild the city and make the citizens feel more secure about her and their living space.

but instead, jinx is practically wiping her ass with it and tossing the whole ordeal like it never happened. well. sorta. the man, jerry, who broke in her room, ruined her hand, slammed her against a table, and made her inhale the sleeping gas has something coming to him in due time. for now though, she will watch this newcomer stumble her way with this plant. it's entertaining to watch, but that plant is right about one thing -- her comedy does stink. )

Booooooo!! — Get off the stage...!

( she yells out from a little bit away, a hand up to her the side of her cheek to make sure her displeasure is loud and clear. )

[ She starts, going tense before looking around to see where the booing is coming from-- Once she spots Jinx, she's just...staring uncomprehendingly. ]

I'm not...on a stage...?

[ Jinx might not be able to catch that, she barely speaks above a whisper. ]

It doesn't like your act!

( she calls out to the woman when they finally make eye contact. jinx will even give her a friendly wave "hello" because why wouldn't she? )

— Try a different joke or somethin'.

[ Beta drops the eye contact immediately, looking at the ground by Jinx's feet habitually.

Still, she does wave back. Even that manages to look uncertain. ]

I don't know any jokes. I was trying to tell it that.

Seriously? Not one?

( she asks, pushing herself off from where she is sitting to make her way over. )

Sheesh, what kinda place were you stranded in that no one knew a funny or two?

( jinx sways on over with her hands tuck behind her back, but being mindful of her right bandaged one to not put any pressure or an accidental bump to it. )

Guess I gotta bail ya out or else this lil' guy might do something nasty. ... That I wouldn't mind seeing really!

My creators didn't permit access to entertainment media.

[ Though she rises from where she was kneeling down at the fern's level, Beta's still partially curled in on herself, fidgeting uncomfortably. ]

I'd - appreciate the help.

( "creators"? is she another 'weapon' like her? this chick is the second one she came across if so. and boy, there are some massive differences between herself and the other two girls so far. this stranger isn't meant to be entertaining and the other girl's function is strict to do orders and nothing else. how crummy. sure, vi created her to be a monster, a terror, and cause destruction, but at least she has a personality? although... when she was on her own for two months without silco, jinx did feel a little lost and without a purpose. so does she have any room to judge other creations, weapons, monsters, or whatever? anyway.)

Your creators sound like a wet blanket. ( she says flatly with a hand on her hip. ) — They oughta have more of an imagination like mine.

( her focus is on the fern at their feet, a light smirk dances over her lips. )

Didya know that a bomb and a stopwatch are the same? They're practically tickin' twins.

Edited 2023-10-11 14:21 (UTC)

They were bad people.

[ she mutters, stepping aside. still, she watches Jinx and the fern with interest, picking idly at her shirt.

the fern, for its part, seems about as unimpressed as a plant can manage. can a plant stare judgingly? ]

Maybe...something about water? Or sunlight?

They usually are. ( well, her sister is proving herself worthy and up to change, so maybe it's a little rude to say that about vi. but at the time, she was pretty rotten. anyway, jinx frowns over at the plant as she listens to beta's suggestion. maybe they do prefer jokes about them than anything else. )

Ugh, I don't know that many plant jokes. Probably the Firelight's thing.

( crossing her arms over her chest, the teen puckers her lips in deep thought as she rattles through her brain to think of something clever. )

How about, "What did rose write to their best bud? I'm all dressed up but nowhere to grow"?

[ that one seems to work, and surprisingly, Beta is laughing right along with the fern. ]

This is the weirdest dream I've ever had.

( oh well, good! she is glad that did something for this plant, not that jinx had any doubts of course. she is always a barrel of laughs and the only reason why some people don't laugh is because they lack a sense of humor. jinx flickers at gaze over at the stranger, smirking over her words and resisting the urge snicker out of pity. oh...oh no, she thinks this is all dream. how adorable. )

Well, I love to be a bearer of bad news, but this isn't a dream. Not by a long shot. You've COMPLETELY missed the target on this one.

[ it steals the mirth right back out of her, brow furrowing. ]

Then it's a virtual reality simulation. Although the - most advanced one I've ever seen.

Bzzzt, wrong again! Yikes, you're really bad at this game. If anyone asked to have you on a team with me, I'd say noooooooo thanks!

( what a strange girl she is, huh? with a sigh, jinx shakes her head over how pathetic this stranger isn't getting the situation. )

This is really happening, Doodle-head. And if ya still don't believe me, I'll happily offer my services of socking you in the face.

TEST DRIVE MEME #5

little shop of horrors

Re: little shop of horrors

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sneaks back in while i don't have a migraine

girl, same. sorta. i got heartburn rn i die.

we're dyiiiing

always dying.