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

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]

[ Well, that's not a question Ed was expecting. And so all kinds of positions go through his mind and he maybe goes red in the cheeks and blinks for a moment, looking at the room to avoid Stede's eyes and give himself away until he's sure he understands what Stede means. Back to back. Pft, of course it's back to back, wouldn't be any other way, obviously. Stede's awkwardness is just... Stede being Stede. Nothing to get excited himself over. ]

Facing the room, if it's all the same to you.

[ Probably doesn't need an explanation but Ed feels compelled. ]

Less likely to be caught off-guard if someone's walking in. Not that anyone would, especially if the door's locked, but... y'know.

Oh...that hadn't even occurred to me. Sometimes I even forget to lock the door. [though now he wonders if he should]

Well, then- I suppose I'll get in first so I won't have to climb over you. So let me slip into something a little more comfortable.

[this at least is familiar. Just a simple changing of clothes. He takes off his coat and shoes and the now worn waistcoat and the tea shirt, as they call it, under it.]

Really makes me miss Lucius. But look. I found this! [he presents Ed with a night shirt with a bit of frill about the collar. It's a little short on him but does the job]

Er... [then he realizes that co-captains though they are, Ed is technically still a guest on the first night] Would...you like to wear it?

[ Forgets to lock the door. Of course he does. Ed looks a little mystified by the idea. Enchanted? Always a mix between the two, where Stede is concerned. But the idea of changing to sleeping clothes snaps him back to reality, and he nods and agrees, turns his back and begins to disrobe himself of weapons and boots and gloves, all dropped in a messy pile on the floor beside himself.

He's shrugging out of the jacket and trying not to picture Stede's current level of undress when Stede invites him to 'look.' As he turns to do just that, Ed's eyes just happen to be looking in a general downward direction but they lift up quick. Not like he gets a view of anything but nightshirt anyway. He lifts his eyebrows at the very reluctant offer. ]

It's all yours, mate.

[ Only then does he realize, though, that he didn't exactly bring nightclothes for himself. Hm. He drops the jacket aside, unlaces his trousers and kicks those into the pile, too, until he's left in a black shirt and underdrawers. He holds out his arms in an unabashed gesture to the whole look. ]

Sleeping in your bed in this okay?

Oh...um... [gosh had he always had so much leg and bare thigh? And tattoos. This is a bad idea for many reasons]

Yes. Yes it's fine. And it's not just my bed is it? I mean...if you don't want it to be. [but he doesn't say 'our bed' either. Instead he drops his own trousers and pulls on the night shirt which is...rather shorter than he thought for polite company but-- well, can't be helped]

Right. Me first. [he tugs the back of it down self consciously, peels back the covers and shifts into bed, scooting over to the wall as much as he can which...leaves a narrow enough gap for Ed but maybe if they both lay on their sides?]

[ Awkward by the state of undress, probably, but then Stede's still offering his bed as a kind of co-captain sharing things thing, and that's— Ed's left blinking stupidly by the idea. It's one kind of thing to share a bed for a night out of necessity, but, like... Then Stede's dropping trou and that kicks Ed right in the head and he looks off basically anywhere else in an effort to think real thinky thoughts instead of just blurting out things he's likely to regret. ]

Yeah. I mean, maybe. If this works out, right? Why not?

[ Totally casual indifference while out of breath for no reason in particular. As he hears the bed covers rustling, he lets himself glance, and then stare as Stede in that very skimpy little nightshirt shimmies into bed, while purposefully leaving an Ed-shaped hole behind himself and god, Ed can just imagine how nice it would feel to press up right against that back, wrap arms around him and inhale those loose blond curls.

Ed drops like a boneless sack into sitting on the edge of the bed, contemplates what the fuck he's doing with himself, and then carefully wriggles snakelike under the blanket. There's not even fully enough room for him to lie completely sprawled on his back without laying an arm on Stede. Even turned on his side towards the room, any little movement of either of them brings some point of contact. Ed wonders how the fuck he's supposed to fall asleep like this, keyed-up by the almost-contact and lewd fantasies as he is, but of course he feigns being cool and relaxed so as to not make things weird. His voice is a throaty whisper. ]

This okay? Have enough space still on that side?

[this is a very bad idea. A very bad idea. The shift of the bed with Ed's weight is both unexpected and not- and he could just tell himself that it was Mary, except for the scent of lingering leather and sea and something very unMary-like. He also runs hotter than her or maybe it's just him because he feels like his face on fire when Ed's leg accidentally grazes his. Which is funny that there's any blood left up there for that. Thank God he's already facing the wall though. Thank God he's thought that far ahead.

He faintly realizes Ed had asked a question and it takes him a moment to recall what it was. On doing so he clears his throat and then again so he won't sound like a duck that's been trod upon and says]

Just fine. Couldn't be more comfortable.

[and since there's no resounding bolt of lightning for that egregious lie, he adds]

You?

[ There's a heated, charged sort of static in the room that Ed is convinced is entirely one-sided. After all, he's about to burn right through his skin despite being in his skivvies, and here's poor Stede, shoving himself against the wall to avoid contact and sounding entirely uncomfortable. Probably better it's just one night. Maybe he'll slip out after Stede's asleep to avoid an awkward morning. Say he's an early riser. Not like that's entirely untrue given the state of things down below right now.

Stede's turning the question on him feels sudden, and Ed fumbles to answer coherently. ]

Yep. Comfy cozy. Snug as a bug. Just the right amount of space.

Good. [very good. Extremely good. he couldn't be better]

Night night. [though how he'll ever get to sleep, he has no idea.]

....

[though whether he knows or not he is out like a light ten minutes later, snoring deeply and starfished across the bed in as much as he can be. It's been a long day and that and alcohol has made it so he's consumed by sleep and he won't be moving for a long time, regardless of where his limbs ended up]

[ Ten minutes for a fly on the wall maybe, but for Ed that's at least an hour of staring at nothing in the dark, trying to think of anything except the warm presence at his back and failing miserably. An hour, at least. Couldn't be a minute less, and then—

A snore so loud it's comical, followed shortly by another. Ed huffs a breath and relief washes cool over him like a morning breeze. He relaxes bodily at last, exhaustion looming, strangely comforted by the rhythmic sawing of logs beside him—

Then he's hit in the chest by an arm and startled back into tense alertness again. ]

Stede... you awake?

[ No answers to his gravely whispers, and even when Ed prods at the elbow digging into his ribs, Stede doesn't stir. Which would be fine, a good thing, even, if the arm didn't return right into place after Ed's prodding, fucking uncomfortably jammed in his side. So, there's two options, Ed figures. Keep battling the starfish all night or find himself a more comfortable place to sleep. There's the floor, that stiff-backed chair, the tub... All of those options will have Ed waking with a fucked neck and an even worse knee. And he had been invited to share the bed, hadn't he? A far more daring third option comes to mind. ]

Stede.

[ He tries one more time, and then when there's no more response than before, he puts some more oomf in his efforts, bullying an arm under Stede's and a shin under his knee and leaning them both back in the direction Stede's supposed to be, towards the wall.

Ed holds his breath, waiting for Stede to wake, to roll back over on his side and joke about minding his own space.... He waits and keeps waiting, ten minutes that feel closer to the actual thing than before as he's lulled into a comfortable sense of relief again. More than before, even. It's not just a relaxation, but peaceful. An ideal kind of way to be. And Ed gets so lost in the idea of living this kind of life with Stede that, rather than rolling back onto his colder side of the bed as he means to, he falls asleep just where he is, huddled around Stede like a second blanket, back to the probably unlocked doorway. ]

[he doesn't know how long he sleeps, but it can't be long, the light is dim when he wakes though- half awake more like- the false dawn of awareness- that much awake and warm. Warmer than he's been in ages. Maybe ever. He can't explain it. Like somehow things are just right- the flat plane of a chest against his back, the soft puff of breath tickling the hair at his ear, the gentle rise and fall of it lulling him into a sort of quiet peace like a lullaby.

There's a hand around his middle too and he touches it and is surprised to find warm skin there. It's not a dream then. It's real.
Well-not really real, because then it strikes him that this is Ed and something in him rises in something like hope, but he shoves it regretfully down. After all, Ed is sleeping so he might think he was snuggling Jack maybe or...one of his dalliances.

So Stede should gently push him away or at least wake him and tell him but then that might prove embarrassing- and if, in the false dawn of awareness, which is not really awake after all, he were to snuggle back into that embrace, fitting his hand over Ed's well, he's half asleep. Who can blame him]

[ Maybe it's the sensation of that fitting over his or some other six sense that there's another awake presence in the room that has Ed snapping awake with a sharp inhale.

The secret truth of the matter is no, pirates aren't much for cuddling up at night. No more or less than non-pirates anyway, which is to say: only on the rarest, drunkest of occasions, not to be spoken of in the bright of daylight. And though he'd hadn't even close to enough rum last night to call himself properly pissed, he groans loudly over the hangover he hasn't got as he rolls onto his back, returning to his designated side of the bed beside Stede, though elbows and knees are still knocking for the lack of space. ]

Fuuuck me. Haven't conked out like that in ages.

[ ...That's not even entirely untrue. Anyway, alibi properly set, Ed chances turning his head toward Stede to see the level of discomfort he's going to deal with. ]

What time is it, d'you figure? You have one those... phony kind of things?

[ A phone, he means. Long story. ]

[right. Of course. What was he thinking? Stede wishes the bed would swallow him up- if only he should be so lucky- Though lucky enough that Ed is polite enough not to mention it. Still maybe he doesn't know Stede is awake. Could Stede play it off by being asleep?

He lets out a little false snore in the faint hope that his luck will hold out for just a little while longer.]

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