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serendipitymemes2021-12-03 07:37 pm
serendipitymod) wrote in serendipitymemes2021-12-03 07:37 pm
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test drive meme #1
TEST DRIVE MEME #1
Welcome to Serendipity's first test drive meme!
☆ TDM threads can be considered game canon if everyone agrees to it.
☆ Any questions about the TDM can be asked in the mod questions thread.
☆ Questions about the general game mechanics, setting or locations, or magic can be asked on their respective pages.
It was a beautiful dream, complete with a sobering and tantalizing choice.
The awakening is just as beautiful, and you wake slowly, comfortably and completely on your own time, eyes blinking open to take in the surroundings. You are floating in the center of a pool of pink-tinted liquid, just a little thicker than water, just thick enough that the floating takes no effort. Dressed in a soft white cotton robe, you find yourself staring at the high domed ceiling of a round room lined with huge windows that let in the afternoon sunlight, a little pale and washed out with the cool midwinter temperature and the reflection of light snowfall outside.
Inside, it is warm, the liquid you float in close enough to your body temperature that you can barely feel it as it moves over your skin. Thick vines climb the walls, weaving in and out between the windows and occasionally over them, throwing thick organically-shaped stripes here and there across the room. Once you fully awaken and stand up and exit the water, you will find towels to dry yourself beside a neatly stacked bundle of your clothing (all very precisely mended) and any other items you might have had on your person when you made the decision to stay. You are left alone, given time to sort yourself out and get changed, and it is only when you decide to leave the antechamber with the pool through a single open arch and make your way into the courtyard of the castle that you will be approached.
The people who greet you are warm and welcoming, wearing robes of different colors depending on the House they're affiliated with - green for Life, blue for River, brown for Stone, and yellow for Sun. These representatives explain to you where you are and what you've agreed to and answer any questions you might have. After this conversation, you are given your tablet and walked through how to use it, then taken on a tour through the various House accommodations so you can choose which suits you best, and offered to be taken to the stables should you have a mount, large pet, or vehicle that's come through with you.
In honor of the first new arrivals to this empty little valley, the heads of the Houses have decided to set up a little party in the largest ballroom in the Castle. It's a simple gathering, primarily a feast with live music, dancing, and games. The ballroom is lit up with candles and strings of magical fairy lights, there is a large table lined with chairs and loaded with simple farm-to-table type foods - roast chicken and beef, baked and mashed potatoes, buttered and roasted vegetables, bread rolls and loaves of bread intricately braided into various shapes, several types of stews and curries made with goat, mutton, beef, and chicken served with flat fried breads, and an assortment of pastries, tarts, and cakes. To drink, there will be mulled wine and mead, beer and a few spirits, and a wide variety of juices and other non-alcoholic beverages. The crowning achievement is a small ice cream bar with various flavors of ice cream and chocolate and caramel sauces.
☆ a. CELEBRATIONS The rest of the room has been mostly cleared aside from some couches and armchairs set up around the edges of the room for people to rest in. Throughout the evening, several small bands play a variety of music meant for dancing and an entire large section of the room is dedicated to games - darts, tabletop sports games, cards, chess, and a game something like Pictionary or charades. Characters are welcome to mingle, dance, and play games with each other and with NPCs that will be more than willing to ask characters to dance or join them in a game.
☆ b. HOUSE PRESENTATIONS In a smaller room adjoining the ballroom, each of the Houses has set up a booth of sorts, meant to describe the interests and focus of each House as well as to demonstrate the types of magic that each house specializes in. Here, characters can observe mages from each House performing complicated spells or brewing potions and offering samples.
The spells performed will generally be complex, high-level spells intended to be impressive displays of what each House's magic can do. Characters can be temporarily changed into animals, have their worries erased for a few hours, become intangible, or be allowed to breathe underwater for a time, among many other types of fantastical spells. The samples of potions are good for an hour or so of effect and can cover a wide range of effects - intoxication and euphoria, enhanced luck, temporary infatuation, forced truth, the ability to speak to animals, and a host of other magical effects.
House booths are not recruiting, characters are not asked to join any of the Houses or ally with them, but they are showing off to try to tempt characters to sign up with their House to learn magic.
☆ c. SHARING IS CARING In another smaller room adjoining the ballroom, characters are invited to talk about their homes, show off their own abilities, or share something cultural from their own worlds. There will be a near-constant stream of interested NPCs as well as other characters who may watch or listen. Tell a folklore story from your country, perform a folk song, show off your superhuman abilities, or share anything else that reminds you of home in an enthusiastic sharing of culture.
Towards the middle of the evening, a 'game' is announced - the Secret Signs. A magic spell will be cast on the room at large, and characters will find a glowing inscription above their heads that reveals a minor but relatable secret of theirs, or functions as a sort of 'shaming sign' betraying a minor relatable misbehavior that the character indulges in. These inscriptions will remain for a few hours, and characters are encouraged to mingle, observe other people's inscriptions, and try to find common ground in these inconsequential secrets or guilty pleasures.
However, the spell isn't perfect, so some characters may have no inscriptions, or false accusations or untrue secrets displayed and have to deal with the fallout of that. Alternately, if players wish it, deeper secrets or wrongdoings may be exposed completely by accident.
On the day after the party, a call goes out on the tablets for the assistance of anyone who's able - the Greenhouses, which provide most of the food for the current population, are being invaded by pests! These pests are rodents about the size of very large rats that like to eat the ripened fruit and vegetables that have taken months of careful cultivation to grow. They are exceptionally good at climbing and the females of the species are capable of short flights using little 'wings' similar to those of a flying squirrel. When they're cornered, they have a nasty bite that can cause people trying to catch them to experience extremely strange surreal hallucinations.
It's very important that these pests be cleared out of the Greenhouses, because they are the source of most of the foods that characters will be eating, especially considering it's mid to late winter and growing things outdoors won't be happening for a while. It's your first opportunity to really contribute to your new community!
Each character's tablet will light up at some point during the first few days and open a new entry with a blinking prompt: Tell everyone something about yourself. Where are you from? How old are you? What was your family like? What is your favorite food or color?
Or characters are welcome to post up their own network-based prompts.
NAVIGATION
☆ TDM threads can be considered game canon if everyone agrees to it.
☆ Any questions about the TDM can be asked in the mod questions thread.
☆ Questions about the general game mechanics, setting or locations, or magic can be asked on their respective pages.
i. ARRIVAL
It was a beautiful dream, complete with a sobering and tantalizing choice.
The awakening is just as beautiful, and you wake slowly, comfortably and completely on your own time, eyes blinking open to take in the surroundings. You are floating in the center of a pool of pink-tinted liquid, just a little thicker than water, just thick enough that the floating takes no effort. Dressed in a soft white cotton robe, you find yourself staring at the high domed ceiling of a round room lined with huge windows that let in the afternoon sunlight, a little pale and washed out with the cool midwinter temperature and the reflection of light snowfall outside.
Inside, it is warm, the liquid you float in close enough to your body temperature that you can barely feel it as it moves over your skin. Thick vines climb the walls, weaving in and out between the windows and occasionally over them, throwing thick organically-shaped stripes here and there across the room. Once you fully awaken and stand up and exit the water, you will find towels to dry yourself beside a neatly stacked bundle of your clothing (all very precisely mended) and any other items you might have had on your person when you made the decision to stay. You are left alone, given time to sort yourself out and get changed, and it is only when you decide to leave the antechamber with the pool through a single open arch and make your way into the courtyard of the castle that you will be approached.
The people who greet you are warm and welcoming, wearing robes of different colors depending on the House they're affiliated with - green for Life, blue for River, brown for Stone, and yellow for Sun. These representatives explain to you where you are and what you've agreed to and answer any questions you might have. After this conversation, you are given your tablet and walked through how to use it, then taken on a tour through the various House accommodations so you can choose which suits you best, and offered to be taken to the stables should you have a mount, large pet, or vehicle that's come through with you.
ii. WELCOME HOME
In honor of the first new arrivals to this empty little valley, the heads of the Houses have decided to set up a little party in the largest ballroom in the Castle. It's a simple gathering, primarily a feast with live music, dancing, and games. The ballroom is lit up with candles and strings of magical fairy lights, there is a large table lined with chairs and loaded with simple farm-to-table type foods - roast chicken and beef, baked and mashed potatoes, buttered and roasted vegetables, bread rolls and loaves of bread intricately braided into various shapes, several types of stews and curries made with goat, mutton, beef, and chicken served with flat fried breads, and an assortment of pastries, tarts, and cakes. To drink, there will be mulled wine and mead, beer and a few spirits, and a wide variety of juices and other non-alcoholic beverages. The crowning achievement is a small ice cream bar with various flavors of ice cream and chocolate and caramel sauces.
☆ a. CELEBRATIONS The rest of the room has been mostly cleared aside from some couches and armchairs set up around the edges of the room for people to rest in. Throughout the evening, several small bands play a variety of music meant for dancing and an entire large section of the room is dedicated to games - darts, tabletop sports games, cards, chess, and a game something like Pictionary or charades. Characters are welcome to mingle, dance, and play games with each other and with NPCs that will be more than willing to ask characters to dance or join them in a game.
☆ b. HOUSE PRESENTATIONS In a smaller room adjoining the ballroom, each of the Houses has set up a booth of sorts, meant to describe the interests and focus of each House as well as to demonstrate the types of magic that each house specializes in. Here, characters can observe mages from each House performing complicated spells or brewing potions and offering samples.
The spells performed will generally be complex, high-level spells intended to be impressive displays of what each House's magic can do. Characters can be temporarily changed into animals, have their worries erased for a few hours, become intangible, or be allowed to breathe underwater for a time, among many other types of fantastical spells. The samples of potions are good for an hour or so of effect and can cover a wide range of effects - intoxication and euphoria, enhanced luck, temporary infatuation, forced truth, the ability to speak to animals, and a host of other magical effects.
House booths are not recruiting, characters are not asked to join any of the Houses or ally with them, but they are showing off to try to tempt characters to sign up with their House to learn magic.
☆ c. SHARING IS CARING In another smaller room adjoining the ballroom, characters are invited to talk about their homes, show off their own abilities, or share something cultural from their own worlds. There will be a near-constant stream of interested NPCs as well as other characters who may watch or listen. Tell a folklore story from your country, perform a folk song, show off your superhuman abilities, or share anything else that reminds you of home in an enthusiastic sharing of culture.
iii. SECRET SIGNS
Towards the middle of the evening, a 'game' is announced - the Secret Signs. A magic spell will be cast on the room at large, and characters will find a glowing inscription above their heads that reveals a minor but relatable secret of theirs, or functions as a sort of 'shaming sign' betraying a minor relatable misbehavior that the character indulges in. These inscriptions will remain for a few hours, and characters are encouraged to mingle, observe other people's inscriptions, and try to find common ground in these inconsequential secrets or guilty pleasures.
However, the spell isn't perfect, so some characters may have no inscriptions, or false accusations or untrue secrets displayed and have to deal with the fallout of that. Alternately, if players wish it, deeper secrets or wrongdoings may be exposed completely by accident.
iv. GREENHOUSE INVASION
On the day after the party, a call goes out on the tablets for the assistance of anyone who's able - the Greenhouses, which provide most of the food for the current population, are being invaded by pests! These pests are rodents about the size of very large rats that like to eat the ripened fruit and vegetables that have taken months of careful cultivation to grow. They are exceptionally good at climbing and the females of the species are capable of short flights using little 'wings' similar to those of a flying squirrel. When they're cornered, they have a nasty bite that can cause people trying to catch them to experience extremely strange surreal hallucinations.
It's very important that these pests be cleared out of the Greenhouses, because they are the source of most of the foods that characters will be eating, especially considering it's mid to late winter and growing things outdoors won't be happening for a while. It's your first opportunity to really contribute to your new community!
v. NETWORK
Each character's tablet will light up at some point during the first few days and open a new entry with a blinking prompt: Tell everyone something about yourself. Where are you from? How old are you? What was your family like? What is your favorite food or color?
Or characters are welcome to post up their own network-based prompts.
II(B). Potions
Having watched a tall, handsome man take a potion, he's switching his attention to someone else who's just sort of starting to float off the floor looking delighted and surprised, and maybe he's rethinking not trying any of the potions, when someone speaks right close by him.
Blinking, Dusty turns his attention to the person talking and realizes it's that tall, handsome man from before. It's not that someone talking to him is surprising, not even that it was someone he'd just been watching and thinking about, it's more what he says.]
No, you're not the only one, believe me. I'm like, almost regretting having taken the deal. I know it'll be good in the end but, man...
no subject
And I am scared they made a mistake bringing me here, that everyone else is qualified to help build this new world, but I'm just- me. Even my magic won't be any use, all I was ever trained to do was boss people around, or scare them, or hurt them-
[ Devo claps his hands over his mouth, then, a flush rising up in his cheeks, heart hammering as it begins to sink in how little control he has of himself right now. It's not like he's never experienced something like this before. There had been a Benefactor who specialized in magic that forced truth-telling; Devo hadn't yet progressed to the point where he learned that spell, but he recognizes it nonetheless.
He moves his hands, hoping he'll manage to apologize. After all he does truthfully feel sorry. ]
Oh, no. I did not mean to say that. I think that potion must have been a truth potion... And now, probably, you will think "oh he is some sort of creep" and avoid me. Which is a shame, because you are very cute.
[ Annnnnnd Devo is covering his mouth again, eyebrows twisted up in horror. He sort of wishes the floor would open up and just swallow him whole, now, thanks. ]
no subject
Nah. Everyone has skills that they can bring to the table that no one else has, specialties, you know? And if those are the only kinds of magic you were taught, that's okay because you can probably learn more here, and faster probably than people who don't know magic.
[But it's when the other man puts his hands over his mouth as if he hadn't meant to say what he said that Dusty starts to clue into what might have happened too, and realizes that he's probably heard some stuff this poor guy never meant to say.]
Oh no. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to...to hear it. I mean, for what it's worth, I don't think you're some sort of creep? Just that you uh, maybe had some crappy magic teachers? And oh no, I'll just pretend that I didn't hear that last bit, sorry.
[Dusty's cheeks are flushed now, and he feels somehow both embarrassed and pleased and secondhand-embarrassed all at once. Biting his lower lip, he lets out a nervous laugh, and shakes his head.]
It's okay. We'll...maybe they have an antidote, where did you get it?
no subject
He shoots Dusty a small, shy, grateful smile, tucking a stray bit of hair behind his ear. This guy seems very good-natured; he's not making fun of Devo in spite of what a mess he is, didn't jump to asking rude intrusive questions or scoff at him and walk away.
Devo does his best not to speak, to avoid spilling any other truths, but he can't help himself when Dusty mentions shitty teachers; he opens his mouth and it all just comes tumbling out. ]
Oh, believe me, 'crappy' doesn't even begin to cover it. The Parish are super fucked up and terrible. And they raised me, which means maybe some part of me will always be fucked up and terrible, too, no matter what I do. Maybe I can't ever escape it, even somewhere as far away as this.
[ That thought - which isn't one Devo even entirely realized he had - makes his shoulders slump in resigned worry. ]
I am not going to lie to you, because I cannot lie to you right now, I really hope they have an antidote. If I embarrass myself any more, I might actually start to cry, and I'll ruin my chances of even making one single friend in this world.
[ He can tell, for instance - is almost positive that he's making Dusty deeply uncomfortable. He's just spilling all this crap about his insecurities, and he'd actually said that comment about Dusty being cute out loud, and it's a bonafide nightmare. Devo isn't normally all that suave in social situations, but he's usually better than this. ]
My name is Devo, by the way. Devo la Main. I am making a very bad first impression, yes?
no subject
[Dusty offers Devo a little smile when he says it, and hesitates for just a moment before continuing on.]
I had really terrible parents who raised me for my most formative years, when I was really little and all the like, neurons were forming and stuff. They were just really bad people, bad opinions they tried to teach me, bad behaviour, bad everything. But now I'm grown up, I'm 27 years old and I have my own thoughts and feelings and morality and all of that. I think there's a part of you deep inside that's just you regardless of what you've been taught, and that part stays intact no matter what.
[That bit about crying makes Dusty laugh, sudden and impulsive. It isn't a teasing or mocking laugh at all, though, just a sort of surprised one.]
Oh, don't worry. I know it sucks to be embarrassed, especially if it makes you cry, but I'll still want to make friends with you even if that happens, okay? I'm not gonna judge you based on the truth serum version of you!
[It's interesting, though, meeting someone like this for the first time. Unable to lie or hide things or act suave - somehow it feels nice, like he's meeting the real person instead of the well-mannered fake that usually shows up first. And it's also funny, because he's realizing that he's being pretty honest and straight-forward in return, just by osmosis. It doesn't seem fair to put on that front when Devo can't.]
It's good to meet you, Devo. I'm Dusty Fields. And you're not making a bad first impression. If it helps any, I'm trying to be honest and spill my guts in return so you're not alone. Oh, hey, here's the booth, one sec-
[And, stepping forward, one hand rested on Devo's forearm so he doesn't lose him in the crowd, Dusty asks if there's an antidote for the truth serum.]
no subject
He nods his head, slow and thoughtful. ]
I have to admit I have never thought about it like this before. I really hope you are right, and that, given time, I can - dig down through what I was taught and find who I was meant to be, under that mountain of crap.
[ He thinks of Brother Seldom, then, his patience and encouragement, how he'd urged Devo to try new things and be curious and work to discover himself, now that he's no longer under the Hand of Guidance's shadow. ]
Thank you. I think you must be a very kind person, huh, not to make fun of me!
[ Devo's face has been expression his confusion and distress (and then relief) fairly openly, without the help of any kind of truthfulness potion. And he doesn't even blink at Dusty's perhaps unusual name, accepting it easily and saying back: ]
It is nice to meet you, Dusty.
[ He doesn't really know what to say, when Dusty admits he's trying to be as honest as he can to level the playing field. It seems like such a kind gesture that, for just a moment, a twinge of suspicion nestles itself in Devo's chest. He knows all too well that, sometimes, when people seem unusually nice and genial, it is a manipulation tactic. Perhaps when he lets his guard down, Dusty will start trying to recruit him to some group or agenda. Hopefully, not. But the possibility is there in his mind.
And, unfortunately, since the woman working at the booth shrugs and says, regretfully, that they have no antidotes but the effects are likely to wear off in about an hour, things in his mind aren't staying there like they ought to be.
He looks down at Dusty's hand on his arm, both liking the contact and feeling his stomach twist a little with increased uncertainty. Quietly, with more sadness in his voice than he'd like, Devo asks: ]
Hold on, are you... being so nice to me, even though I am making an ass of myself, because you are trying to recruit me for something? Do I- do I seem like an easy target, huh?
no subject
The expression on Devo's face is hard to parse, but Dusty just offers him a little smile as he says he hadn't thought of it that way before, says that he hopes he can dig down and find his true self under all the crap. Reaching out, Dusty gives Devo's shoulder a little squeeze, his smile still in place.]
I'm sure you can. Honestly.
[And when Devo says he must be a kind person not to make fun of him, Dusty actually laughs.]
Nah, nothing special. I know tons of people who wouldn't make fun of you in this situation, or maybe like, gentle teasing at worst.
[His face falls a little, right along with Devo's, when the woman at the booth says that they don't have any antidotes.]
Oh man, I'm sorry. I can hang out with you til it wears off, if you want? Maybe we could go check out the food or something?
[He's about to go on when suddenly Devo is asking him if he's trying to recruit him for something, if he's an easy target. Dusty blinks, and there's a moment of emotional whiplash - going from an honest and easygoing conversation to suddenly being accused of something like that is a little startling. Dusty drops his hands and blinks again, then shakes his head.]
What? No! What would I even recruit you for? I don't...you don't seem like any kind of target.
no subject
Well, gentle teasing I do not mind so much, as long as it is not... uh, you know, the way some people will say something pretending it is joking, but really everybody can tell it is because they do not respect you and they want to make you feel small and that is the thing that makes them laugh?
[ Devo looks studiously anywhere that's not Dusty's face, as if avoiding his gaze will do any good. It's so obvious, from the way he'd said it, that Devo has been on the receiving end of that kind of 'joking' more than a few times. He blows out an annoyed puff of hair, wondering if he should just hide away somewhere he can't embarrass himself until this is over.
But then Dusty offers to stay with him, to "hang out", and the truth is much too eager to leap from Devo's lips. ]
Yes, I would like to stay with you, if I am not annoying you to death, and I would like some food. There are many things over there that I did not try simply because I had no idea what they might be and I wasn't feeling brave enough to just take the leap.
[ Well he wouldn't have chosen to phrase it that way without the potion but it's not THE most humiliating thing he's said...
...because that honor belongs to his accusation, and Dusty's immediate, hurt confusion over it. Devo can see the surprise on his face, and the pain, and his own shoulders sag, the suspicion draining out of him. Either Dusty is an incredible liar, or the idea that such generosity and patience would seem like a trap would never have occurred to him.
Quietly, Devo murmurs. ]
Ah, shit. I've really fucked it up now, haven't I, huh?
[ Devo's mouth curls down, a small lopsided frown as he rubs at his own arm awkwardly. At least the potion will help make it clear his apology is sincere- but that doesn't change the patterns of thinking behind all of it. ]
I am sorry, Dusty. I did not mean to offend. We can blame that one on the crappy magic teachers, too. It is still hard for me to believe that... someone would be so good, with no agenda and- no secret strings attached. This is something that I should uh, work on learning.
no subject
[It's obvious from the expression on Dusty's face that he's been the target of that kind of teasing a lot, himself. It happens, being the 'baby' of the pack, or at least the softest one in it. A lot of people, especially new recruits to the pack, tend to underestimate him...at least til they get to know him.
When Devo eagerly accepts his offer to hang out and check out the food, admitting that he didn't try things because he didn't know what they were and wasn't feeling brave, Dusty smiles.]
Well, I know pretty much all of that food, and besides that, I'm feeling brave enough to try anything I don't know, so why don't we go do that?
[Of course, there's still the matter of the whole...accusation. It still makes Dusty a little sad that Devo would think that of him, but it's not so much that he can't handle someone's suspicion or fear. Obviously, no one should be trusting a person right out of the gate, he knows that, even though he's inclined to trust easily himself. But what's more sad, in his mind, is that it's obvious that Devo's been taken advantage of before, that when he experiences kindness his instinct is to think it's about to happen again, that someone is just trying to use him or recruit him to do some sort of dirty work. It's not surprising when Devo says that they can blame it on the crappy magic teachers.
Shaking his head a little, Dusty's smile softens into something a little sad and a lot empathetic.]
It's okay. Misunderstandings happen, and anyway, it's not safe to just trust the intentions of someone right off the bat like that, right? We'll say that one is on the crappy magic teachers, and...and I promise I'm not intending to do anything to hurt you. Why don't we go try out some of the food then? You really didn't know what some of it was?