expiationmeme | TEST DRIVE MEME #2

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TEST DRIVE MEME #2

TEST DRIVE MEME #2

Welcome to the TDM for Expiation, a pan-fandom adventure game with fantasy, science fiction, and sometimes subtle 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

BE OUR GUEST

You may possess any number of questioning thoughts as you traverse the blindingly white room and are dropped into a darkness beneath your feet, but perhaps those same thoughts will be replaced with an awe and curiosity as you come to. Expiation has you now and you have joined the ranks of the Chosen, a seemingly select number of individuals who have arrived with parchment either in-hand or near them, detailing physical and mental statistics in addition to a particular crime to which you have been accused.

How you choose to spend your time here is largely up to you...

IT'S A WINDMILL, NOT A GIANT

As you begin to acquaint yourself with the lay of the land about you, you'll find that not too far from where you've woken there's a rather grandiose tower windmill. Its blades rotate at a casual pace as it faces the ocean and its accompanying shoreline. It appears to be in relatively pristine condition, implying that it is cared for well and often, likely by the locals of the town of Aldrip, which can be easily spied from the elevated level of land upon which the windmill sits.

Outside of the main structure is a collection of wooden crates in various display. Some of these are closed. Some are open. If you observe for long enough, you'll eventually find that a few relatively muscular sorts arrive on the scene to retrieve some of these crates and take them back the distance toward the town that lingers at the base of the mountains. If you choose to inspect the crates, you'll find some of them filled with heavy canvas sacks that contain flour. If you choose to ask the town locals retrieving them about this, they will explain that the windmill companion you have woken near is just one of the many implements that the locals use to provide sustenance to dining tables, festivities, and more.

You have the option to help the locals carry crates back, potentially to curry some favour with them, or simply take some sacks of flour yourself. Crates require more than one person to carry due to the weight, but two able-bodied adults should be able to handle the job quite well. A sack of flour can generally be carried by one, but perhaps you'll find yourself needing some assistance anyway. Maybe ask one of the others who've woken up near you. It certainly seems you're not alone in this new endeavour.

WHERE ONLY THE BRAVE MAY GO

If windmills and manual labour aren't your thing, you may find yourself drawn to the seemingly mysterious cave at the foot of the mountains, not far from the windmill in question.

The locals refer to this cave as Lorentia. Jagged rocks poke out around the entrance and have been sculpted and shaped to resemble what appears to be the massive sharp-toothed mouth of a dragon. It is possible you may be momentarily stopped by one of said locals who will explain that the Lorentia Cave is a passage system that leads through the interior of the mountains, though due to some collapse of the inside, the passageway does not go in far and is currently blocked off for the safety of local citizenry. In other words, proceed with caution.

If you're still feeling brave and care to take a peek inside, by all means. No one's going to stop you.

The interior of Lorentia Cave consists of both narrow passageways and some larger, more cavernous like rooms. There are assorted mining implements scattered along the ground, propped up against the walls, and carts that are filled with various ores, rocks, crystals, and more. The locals of Aldrip use Lorentia Cave for largely mining purposes and many of the things that are retrieved can be used for the smithing forges, the crafting of weaponry, or fashioning into jewellery and other accessories that are sold locally and taken to other towns on the continent.

There are some crudely designed signs that note to take care and depict simple skull drawings, indicating that certain paths may be a little more dangerous to traverse than others. If you are especially lucky (or unlucky, as the case may be), you may even spot some skeletal remains from some less-than-fortunate souls who got caught in a dead-end path and simply never made it out again.

If you listen closely, sometimes you hear the flutter of wings and a distant roar. Maybe it's best not to linger...

NO SOMETHING FOR NOTHING

MAXWELL'S SILVER ROCK-HAMMER

The townsfolk are welcoming to newly-arrived, something that has largely been met with a fair amount of scepticism and wariness from prior arrivals. That said, they continue to be hospitable, eager to share stories and songs about their land, their people, and their traditions.

A jewelcrafter is displaying their work today, putting their various wares out for locals and members of the Chosen to admire, or perhaps to purchase. Part of their demonstration is opening geodes with rock-hammers and showing off the impressive inside of colour and masterful natural works of art gifted to them by the land's bounty. They may choose to speak a little on how they revere the land, the resources they've been given, and how all of this has been bestowed upon them by the very gracious Those Who Were There, a mysterious and seemingly celestial higher power.

For those who are interested, they have the opportunity to offer some assistance to the jewelcrafter by opening some geodes as well. There's plenty of rock-hammers to go around and the most recent retrieval from Lorentia Cave's mining appears to have been very successful. The jewelcrafter is so moved by the offer of help that he's more than happy to let those who aid him keep one opened geode for themselves at no cost.

Congratulations on your new piece of decor!

FORGING BONDS IN THE FIRES OF PASSION

If you were a brave soul who made visit to the Lorentia Cave and came back with some weapon or armour crafting materials (including skeletal remains), you'll find that the smithies of Aldrip are eager to do business and many of them enjoy their craft for the sake of being passionate about what they do.

They'll waste no time in starting the forge and should you have a specific piece in mind you are requesting, as long as they have the materials on hand, they'll even be willing to show you the general process from start to finish on a rough draft of the piece in question. If you're feeling especially keen to help, they may offer to let you work directly on your project, though they will express apprehension and a wary eye for those who fail to have prior experience with such gruelling tasks.

Once your piece is finished, you can either wear it immediately, learn the best way to maintain and keep your equipment, or put it out on public display to show the rest of Aldrip and its residents, new and old alike. If you choose to let the smithies keep your piece, they'll pay you the cost of the materials you've brought them, plus a small percentage markup depending on how much personal effort you put into the craftsmanship personally.

Better yet, you may have just come out of the situation with a permanent bond. The smithies have an appreciation for those who share similar interests and may be willing to provide future discounts to those who purchase their wares.

FEEDING THE MASSES

YOU'RE A REEL CATCH

Aldrip locals always have a need for food and with many Chosen having recently arrived, that need has increased exponentially, for now they have a larger number of mouths to keep fed and stomachs to keep happy. To help inspire this retrieval of food, Aldrip is hosting a fishing competition and anyone who's interested in participating may do so, provided that they follow the guidelines set in place.

All participants must use local fishing equipment and this will be provided by the various merchants in town free of charge, save for those who wish to keep their fishing tackle. All fish caught within the local rivers, ponds, and the nearby ocean are acceptable for submission. Citizens (local or Chosen) are forbidden from using magic or technology as a means to catch their quarry. Anyone found breaking these rules will be disqualified and will be fish'd (that is, they will have raw flopping fish thrown at them).

The winner of the competition is chosen by having caught the largest fish (determined by size and weight) and will be announced at the end of the competition. The applicable winner may keep their fishing tackle free of charge and have their winning fish cooked in the style of their choice by the locals, which can then be shared amongst the people if they so choose (a fantastic way to make friends). The winner will also have a mediocre fish sculpture awarded to them with their name chiselled into the details in honour of their glorious victory.

OOC Notes:
Both TDM participants and characters already in the game may participate in the fishing competition. Please use the designated comment if you wish to partake. On the 13th of March (after applications have closed for the cycle), the winner will be announced and drawn by RNG. We will announce who the winner is on this TDM post (in these notes), the moderator plurk, and the OOC community.

I'M A [X], NOT A FISHER

If you're not a fishing kind of individual yourself, there's still plenty for you to get involved with.

Aldrip has need of people who are capable of preparing meals, especially seafood. It is probable that many participants of the fishing competition will end up fishing up things that are not fish or eligible for submission, but still edible. These include crabs, lobsters, jellyfish, octopuses, clams, and other related sea life. If you have experience with cooking or simply want to help out, the Aldrip locals will welcome you with open arms and may even pay you for your assistance.

If cooking isn't your forte, you'll find that some of the Aldrip citizens enjoy a betting pool from time to time. If you have some coins or something else you don't mind putting up for gamble, you might just come out with the whole pot if you put your currency on the winning fisher. Anyone found to be attempting to rig the betting pool and competition, however, will be returned their bet. We don't take kindly to cheaters here.

At least not openly.

Fishing can be a sometimes dangerous pastime. You may find a fisher who has gotten themselves accidentally hooked on their line or perhaps when they were freeing a fish, the hook got lodged into their thumb. Aldrip welcomes those who have healing abilities to help assist those more unfortunate situations, so fishers can go back to casting out their lines to make the most of the competition. That said, there's nothing in it for potential healers, just the notion that you've done a good deed.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Stede flushes to the roots of his hair, both at the touch and the compliment. He knows Ed doesn't mean it, at least not as deeply as Stede feels it, but the fact that he can even say it, that Stede is...reliable. It makes him feel more than adequate.]

Well wait until you see the room... [which is... well not great to put it mildly.]

Shall we? [he's not had enough to drink for this, but then suspects there's not enough booze in the world. Still, he knocks back the proffered drink while he waits for Ed to settle up and then as they go, keeps bumping into him almost on accident]

God, though, makes me miss the ship. My ship. Our ship. [is that too far to say? Probably. He'll just pretend he didn't say it. When he reaches the door he fumbles a few times for his keys before swinging it open]

Tadaa...

[said a bit sarcastically because it's...an absolute mess. Completely overrun with dishes and stains and ratty clothes and other such rubbish] I um.. haven't managed to find a maid or anything...

[ Despite Stede's insistance that the room is a mess or whatever, Ed doesn't believe it. Then again, Ed's slept in alleyways, on balmy beaches, and tavern floors, so like, whatever Stede's got, it'll be more than enough by Ed's standards. For the company, if nothing else, though Ed doesn't say as much. Maybe he does without meaning to though, in the joking smiles and laughs and the casual bumping into one another along the way. In that sort of friendly pace, warmed with rum and familiar company in a strange land, it's impossible not to read too much into that little correction. "Our ship." Just... Stede being generous, is all. Polite. But it's nice to hear, isn't it? That he could trust somebody enough to call a thing that's his, or their's, ours instead. Like that bed on the horizon, maybe...

Although Ed's startled out of those warm thoughts by the room that's... Well, fuck him, it's an actual mess. Not even by a gentlemen's standards, but like by human standards. Ed just kind of stares at the sorry state of it, a mix of surprised disappointment that's gone quick enough that he hopes Stede doesn't see before he snaps back to attention, clapping Stede on the back and dragging him in with as Ed enters before letting Stede go and stepping around tossed clothing and dishes. ]

Nah, no need for all that. I'll lend you a hand cleaning her up in the morning. Happy enough just to have some place to kick back and have a rest.

[ To that point— there's the bed, obviously, though presumptuous, so Ed looks around for a couch, or... an extra blanket on a chair or whatever to throw himself into— ]

[no he caught it, sorry to say, and feels even worse.]

I'm just... not...used to this sort of thing and it got a bit out of hand. But I insist on taking care of it myself. [somehow] I'll just ...throw everything out and start again. [that's it]

You won't have to lift a finger.

[but there is something chair shaped under a mass of blankets that might have been a part of a sorry for self nest at some point]

[ Welp, not quickly hidden enough, and Ed feels like a heel for his face. His steps gain confidence as he looks around, mindfully stepping over and between this bit of trash and the other thing as he looks at all the strange contraptions and unusual bits and pieces here and there, mixed in with all the rest.

There's definitely something chair-shaped under that suspiciously cocoon-shaped pile of blankets, so Ed heads in that direction and helps himself to lifting up one throw and then the next, examining them critically. ]

Mm... Seems a bit of a waste to chuck it all. You've got some nice stuff in here. Pretty fine collection for a day. All I managed was a meal and a rock, and the drinks we shared.

[ That's not all he managed, but you know. A man needs his secrets. ]

Oh yes, you'd be surprised what people throw out... or leave in shrines or... donate.[he's sort of been...scavenging. Then in a moment of desperation] Would you like to see the hot box?

[ That's what Stede's been up to? Not exactly pirating, though he is resourceful, hm? Reminds Ed of his childhood in some ways. ]

Lot of people don't know the worth of what they've got.

[ His thumbs run over the blanket in his hands. Simple. Wool, maybe, or something like it. Nothing soft and expensive, but warm, and the pattern to it is nice. He throws it over the back of the chair and is examining the next, a thinner but smoother fabric he can't identify, when his mind's taken over entirely by whatever the fuck Stede just said. He looks up, owlish. ]

The what?

Some people don't deserve ...[it's the drink talking but he stops himself before it goes too far, before he steps on something or steps in something.]

Yes. It's pretty nifty. Come on. [and he leads Ed to the kitchen which is just as much of a mess along with several disastrous attempts at cooking]

This is a re-fridge-ator. I call it the cold box. [he opens it.] See? Cold! And that little light in there? I swear it goes out, but I've never seen it do so.

[he pulls out an egg.] Observe. It is cold. [he will let Ed observe and even touch, before putting it in the hot box, closing the door and pressing 2, then start]

Now...er...over here. [he leads Ed behind the counter, watching the whirring and the light of the egg slowly spinning inside the hot box and then there's an almighty pop which makes him jolt and then laugh as the light goes off inside the hot box and smoke seeps through the doors]

Last time it flew open! Scalding egg is not great against skin.

[ Better not to go down that route, yeah, or one if not both of them well end maudlin. Might still as it is, but for the moment, Ed's all too happy to see whatever this hot box thing is Stede wants to show him.

And instead, he gets a cold box, which Ed is immediately enthralled by. He peers in as Stede opens the door. There must be ice in there to keep it cold, but it's not clearly visible. In the walls? And why the fuck you would you put a light on it? Doesn't it melt??

But before he can even get to that, Stede's putting an egg in another much smaller box, the hot one, presumably. It makes a strange, almost bell-like sound and then... well, it fucking explodes. It's a wonder the door didn't fly off. Must not be much gunpowder, though how that might've changed between the last time and this one, Ed has no idea. He didn't see Stede load it, only tap the front and it began to whir.

He looks at Stede, wide-eyed, incredulous, probably not drunk enough for this shit. ]

Is that what's supposed to happen?

[Stede shrugs]
Your guess is as good as mine. It gets food hot anyway if not particularly appetizing. I'm half considering it for drying small laundry.

[then he grabs a shockingly clean spoon and waves it]

Care for some egg?

[ Ed looks skeptical as fuck, at war with himself between wanting to do right by Stede. ]

I don't know, mate. Don't need you losing any fingers to that powder box on my account.

[he hesitates]

You really think that'll happen?

Gosh, that never occurred to me...

[now he's wondering if he should mess with it all]

Well...er...maybe we'll just leave it...for now.

[ Ed nods sagely, drops a hand on Stede's shoulder and guides him back out of the kitchen, away from danger. ]

Save blowing up the rest of the eggies for the morning. Now, what's next on the tour?

[ So far, he hasn't seen any couches, unless one was buried under a pile of mess. So like, sleeping arrangements: still up in the air. ]

Good idea.

I've saved the best for last. [he guides Ed to the other room, hand absently hovering just above the small of Ed's back as he ushers him to enter the small room first, before following him up]

Behold the en suite. [he spreads out his hand.] Watch this! [and he turns the knob above the sink so water gushes out.] Hot and cold! Fresh too! You could drink from it!

Same for this. [the knobs above the bathtub so water gushes out there too] Haven't quite figured out the top bit, but I'm sure it does something.

But oh! the pièce de résistance!. [and to the commode.] You can do anything you want here! That water's not for drinking but for...washing whatever away. And it can take quite a beating.

[ Better than the hot and cold boxes? Ed's mind whirs on the possibilities, but no doubt he'll still come up short, given all he's seen up to now.

And sure enough, water at Stede's command. Could just be a tub of it behind the wall stored, Ed thinks, but then Stede says it's hot and cold? And no fire or ice in sight, just like the boxes. ]

Fascinating...

[ Ed barely has time to take that in before Stede's showing off the bathtub. A hot bath on command, without having to pour buckets of hot water in? ]

Oh, that's it, yep. You'll never get rid of me now.

[ And then the... what the fuck is that weird looking thing? He listens, baffled, and takes a moment to translate Stede's explanation, along with the idea of the bath and the en suite. Ed looks way more fucking skeptical of that contraption than the tub. ]

You shit in that? Fuck off.

[ Why would you put water in the shitter?? That's just asking for a messy pot and a wet ass. No wonder they put it so close to the bath. ]

Yes, actually. Among other things. But see this little knob right here? You press it and- [he does, watching the water swirl away and be quickly replaced]

voila! No muss, no fuss, just a nice clean loo. I wonder if I could get one of these installed on the Revenge. There's got to be a way.

[ Gross. But then— WHOOSH it's gone, the water replaces???? itself????? and Ed's mind is (mostly) changed. ]

How's it do that?

[ The fucking magic in this place. Ed's not so sure any of this would work back in the real world. But— ]

Sure we could figure something out, near enough.

[ If they weren't, you know, here. Caught. If the Revenge hadn't been left to Izzy, though Stede doesn't remember that bit, does he? Ed quiets a bit. ]

Hey, Stede... You know, about Jack... That was my bad. Shouldn't've fallen into old habits like I did. Should've listened to you. You were right about him. About all of it.

No idea... This place is full of wonders...

[and the most wonderful thing is...well... Ed being here...

And bringing up Jack... and saying Stede is right which... is probably not the sort of conversation that's great for the w.c. Regardless of if Mr. Rackham belongs in it. And it feels lovely being told he's right but also a little sad too because, they are friends even though Jack is a terrible person with very nice hair]

Well, the important thing is... [he's back where he belongs? Well Stede can't say that, even if it feels true- if awfully presumptuous] ...that you're here now. [there that feels better]

I imagine friends like that are hard to let go of if they make you laugh. [a rather cheap laugh but he won't kick a dog when its down. Or step on the worm] To the boudoir?

[ Look if there's a better place than in the bath to be real with yourself, Ed hasn't found it. And Stede, as always, is graceful despite all of Ed's lack of it.

The whole tiff with Stede had felt awful at the time, and knowing Stede never knew that Ed had sorted out just what really mattered to him in the end— It needed to be said. Ed huffs a chuckle, less for the memory of Jack's rough-around-every-edge sense of humor, and more from sheer relief to have things properly sorted between him and Stede over how Stede remembers things being left off. ]

God, thought you'd never invite me to bed. I'm dead on my feet, man. It's been a fucking day.

[ He agrees and follows along with Stede, only to realize, maybe that didn't come out quite right and corrects himself haltingly. ]

Or wherever I'm sleeping. The floor or whatever. I don't care.

[well, he hadn't been thinking of things-in quite that way, though now that the thought is there it's difficult to dislodge. But he knows Ed doesn't mean anything untoward and quickly he proves that- though what could be untoward about co-captains, very platonically, sharing a bed?

Perhaps not right away]

I'd never make you sleep on the floor. [that would be horrible] Especially not with your knee and all. [but because he doesn't want to lose his bed] Maybe we can take turns?

[ Ed's blackened little heart gets fuller and fuller by Stede's consideration for him and then— Then his stupid little heart falls on its own sword. Well okay, he fucked that right up, but nothing Ed can't smooth over. ]

Yeah, no. Turns. Great idea. Love it. Let's do that.

[ #nicesave ]

Yes. Well, of course. Naturally. [he also feels well, somewhat deflated. Even though it was his idea. But it's of course the best solution because...]

After all, sharing a bed... even as co-captains... I mean... Pirates don't do that... [and then a glance at Ed] Do they?

[ Naturally, yep. And Ed's already planning his escape, the chair in the main room, or maybe the tub, when Stede's... hedging, a bit. Ed keeps his hope bottled up this time and shrugs, the coolest of cool. ]

We can do whatever we want. Kind of the whole point of being a pirate captain. And since we're the world's first co-captains? Even more reason to make up our rules.

True! Though...gosh that is... a bit of a small bed for two... [he chews his lower lip in thought]

We can give it a go? [though suddenly he's not very tired at all. In fact he feels alive. Too alive maybe]

[ Ed hums in consideration with Stede as if he's debating the size of the bed himself, like he hasn't been considering all the ways they could share that too-small space already. When Stede seems willing, Ed's heart wriggles in his chest like an eel. ]

Could do. Doesn't work then we do that tradey thing you said, easy as that.

Right. [he rolls his shoulders. Clears his throat. Clearly he shouldn't be taking this in strange directions.] Do you prefer to be tucked up against the wall or facing the room?

[Stede has come to prefer the wall himself. It's a great resource to feel safe and the wood is probably a bit damp from someone sobbing on it]

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