memesinthenight | TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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!tdm

TEST DRIVE MEME #1

Hello and welcome to the In the Night test drive meme for June! Thanks for your interest in our game! Reserves open on June 20, and applications open on June 22.

While you're here...
Take a look at our rules and faq pages to familiarize yourself with the game.
Note that we have a reserve/application cap of ~~20 apps per month~~ (this has been waived for the first month!).
TDM threads can become game canon if both players wish. If the situation isn't something that could happen in-game, you're free to chalk it up to some strange hallucination, a shared dream, or other mysterious circumstance.
Note that this is not limited to new characters threading with characters already in-game. If current players wish to thread out the TDM prompts as canon events, they are welcome to do so.
Though threads can become canon, they cannot count toward AC.
If you plan to apply, please keep in mind that we do require at least one sample thread on the application to be from our TDM (though it doesn't need to be the current TDM).
You're welcome to use the provided prompts or come up with something on your own, but we do ask that all threads take place in our game's setting.

Thank you again, and we hope you'll choose to join us!

log prompts

YOU'RE DEAD, JIM

You haven't been in Beacon long when you find yourself in Bonfire Square, staring into the flames and thinking about how you ended up here. Maybe it was an accident, a sudden freak thing that you never saw coming until you woke up on the ferry, or maybe it's a miracle you made it as long as you did. Maybe death was a relief. Maybe it was just your time. Whatever the case, you can't help but reflect on your final moments as you linger in the firelight.

But however you died, it's behind you now, and you're here, stuck in this little town with just a few buildings and a smattering of other people. You're going to be here a while, so you may as well get to know your neighbors, but... Would it be cathartic to commiserate about your deaths? Or is your time better spent stocking up at the general store? Then again, you've got plenty of time, so why not catch a drink or two (or three) at the Invincible? Pretend you're unaffected by your death, and, well. Fake it 'til you make it, perhaps.

Point is, you have options. You're dead, you died, and this is your "life" now. Better get used to it.

AND THEY WERE ROOMMATES

Currently, there's only one place to live (technically speaking) in Beacon: the Invincible, a tavern and inn located in Bonfire Square. Luckily, the place has working amenities (minus light), and the forest spirits don't charge anything for your stay. Unfortunately, it seems there may not be enough rooms for everyone. Guess you'll have to get cozy!

Maybe you'll try to pick a roommate from around town or in the bar downstairs, or maybe you'll just walk into the first room you see and choose that way. Want a room all to yourself? Get ready to fend off any potential intruders. And the fun doesn't end there.

The Invincible's rooms aren't all created equal. Some may have had their furniture stolen or become a dumping ground for unwanted pieces, resulting in a single bed, five dressers, and other equally distressing situations. Will someone sleep on the floor? Will you nail two beds together to form bunk beds? Maybe you just want to make this room into something more like home— potentially to your roommate's chagrin. Whatever you decide, this is where you're staying for now, so you might as well get comfortable.

network prompts

HACKER VOICE: I'M IN

In order to use the network, you have to register a username. Er, at least, that's how it's supposed to work. For some reason, new users have recently been able to bypass that requirement, allowing them to post anonymously. Time to troll strangers on the magical internet!

Eventually though, you'll need a username in order to use the tablet's other functions, like the direct messaging system. So hey, why not take advantage of the ability to source opinions, and workshop your potential usernames on the network? Share ideas, get feedback, steal ideas, critique others, and figure out what you want everyone to call you.

TURN ON YOUR LOCATION

When you wake up, you're in the woods. An iron shackle complete with a chain leashes you to a tree, and the only light you have is your lantern. You've never seen this area of the woods before. You certainly didn't go to sleep here.

Hm.

But, all is not lost. You find your phone in your pocket, as well as a scrap of paper covered back to front in cryptic scribbles. Are these clues to your location? They must be. You also spot a key dangling from a branch, though it's hanging from a tree you'll never be able to reach from here. Perhaps someone on the network will be able to lend you a hand...

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"That's the only sort of beast I can think of that might look like that," he says with a nod. "Some of them can come up on land too, I think. I've never heard of one that only lived on land. Dragons are just stories."

Well, probably. The seas are full of their mysteries, and it's naive to think he knows everything that's out there. So maybe there are dragons, or land monsters. In fact, clearly there are somewhere. He shrugs, looking a little apologetic for the assumption. "Guess I was wrong."

While Zihuan doesn't know much about the different worlds, at least he was recently cavorting in a known alternate dimension, so... "Not necessarily. I doubt any incarnation of Orochi would be seen on land or in the sea in the living world."

Which, clearly, only invites more questions than it answers.

"A sailor, then," he guesses for his comrade's sake.

If not the living world and if not the world of the dead, where they are now, then where? Definitely going to have to ask about that in a moment. Perhaps this person knows more than he's fully letting on.

"A sailor, yes. I'm sure I've spent more time at sea than on dry land," he admits. Of course, it's easy to do when the world he knows is mostly ocean. So much of what's important happened on land, but in between there is nothing but miles and miles of open water.

"This Orochi, this monster of yours. Where did you encounter it, if not in the living world?"

To himself, privately, Cao Pi is pleased to have guessed correctly. It's all in reading between the lines. Outwardly, there is nary a flicker in his expression. "In his own world, of his own creation. It is...quite a tale, though I'm not sure what bearing it would have here except to entertain. Suffice it to say, I don't think it was meant to be my time, and yet...it seems I have failed to protect the gate and my people, after all."

His placid tone guards any hint of emotion that other people might feel, saying those words. Guilt? Fear? Regret? It's impossible to say he even knows what they are, and yet he says it anyway.

"I'm sorry."

It strikes him briefly that some might consider him lucky. For all his failures, Rosinante did save the one life that mattered most. Or, hopefully he did. There's no guarantee of that and no way to know now, but he can't let it consume him because there's nothing to be done about it. He tried. And he has faith that Law, that clever, determined boy, can find a way out - that hopefully, he already has. Dressrosa might be lost but if Law escapes and grows strong and healthy, he'll be satisfied with that alone. This man may not be so fortunate as to have even that. But it's hard to know. He recognizes a guarded sentence when he hears one, but that doesn't mean he can interpret the emotions buried behind it.

"The only relevance, the reason I asked, is I've never heard of a creature so powerful that it can create its own worlds." Or that worlds beyond the one he knows can exist. It sure doesn't sound like the guy is using "world" as a metaphor for "island", but something more metaphysical. Like this place, maybe.

Ah, so this big, quiet fellow is a quick study as well. Cao Pi glances up at him, and then shakes his head again. "No need. The displeasure is mine to deal with." Besides, the phenomenon of his previously-known whereabouts is, admittedly, far more interesting than his personal angst.

"...until I found myself there, I would have thought the same. Regardless of what anyone says about who or what created the world, I don't know anyone who wouldn't be thrown by finding themselves in another world." He looks up, then, at the light reflecting on the underside of the leaves of the trees around the square. "But that's not what this is, the rumors say. This is no heavenly garden, nor is it the depths of any of the ten hells."

He nods and lets it be. Pressing only invites questions about his own personal struggles up until this point and that's the last thing he wants right now. Or ever.

Unsure of what to make of the idea of a monster that can create new worlds, he nods along with it. It's hard to take such a concept seriously. Enough people are superstitious or undereducated; they will take ideas like world creation at face value when other explanations probably exist. It isn't their fault, either. Lies become religious scripture and myths become fact all the time, with enough power behind them. So the monster Orochi that creates worlds will be taken with a grain of salt for now, just like myths of heaven and hell for the dead.

"No, it's not much of anything, really. A big fire and a whole lot of darkness. But I've seen people coming and going, so there must be more to it. Maybe when morning comes we'll know more."

Cao Pi hums softly under his breath, both an acknowledgment and a suggestion of an opening for a new discussion. It's true, there's not much here but there are other people, drifting to and from the bonfire. "It does seem prudent to wait until daylight to explore," he notes. "Convenient, though, that we've been given lanterns." He nods to the one sitting at his feet. But lanterns aren't enough to truly part the darkness and get a good look around.

They've had enough of a decent conversation that he feels like it's high time for introductions. Gotta memorize the names of those who don't annoy him. He turns slightly and bows his head and shoulders, but doesn't go full kowtow. "Cao Pi, Lord of Wei. And you?"

A lord? Explains the fancy armor. It's not every day one meets nobility, especially in his particular station. He was always told to just smile and nod, offer a handshake, and then stay out of it when visiting leaders were at headquarters for meetings and dinners. Here, though, they're all dead. On equal footing, hopefully. He mimics the short bow, happy enough to adopt that custom instead.

For a brief moment he hesitates, unsure of how he should introduce himself. Does his rank matter anymore? Maybe to a noble, it would. And his surname? Not well-known to most who don't have regular dealings in Mary Geoise, and wherever Wei is, he doesn't recall ever hearing of them or of a Cao Pi before. And he's too tired to be paranoid right now. Too tired, too struck by the shock of all this. What the hell.

"Commander Rosinante Donquixote. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."

Zihuan's lips curl in an appreciative smile for the briefest moment. Commander, is it? Such good manners. How useful. He doesn't turn down the show of respect, either. "Given the circumstances, I suppose," he says smoothly, a bit wryly. "An unusual name, you must be from further away than I would expect." He already sort of assumed this wasn't just a post-death stopover for his own culture, if the man's unusual height and clothing didn't suggest it.

"I'm not sure distance translates well in a place like this. The seas are vast. Apologies, though. I don't know Wei. Which ocean is that in?"

At least he feels like less of an idiot for admitting it now, since Cao Pi has already indicated his own unfamiliarity with his name, not that he ever expects or wants anyone to be able to place it.

"Ocean?" Cao Pi is equally confused. "The only ocean which abuts our territory is on the eastern edge of the continent, near Beihai. Wei is the northern kingdom of that which was, until my father's day, the Han Dynasty."

It's better to stick to that rather than get back into the Orochi stuff, really. There is so much to tell if he really wanted to, but a lot of it doesn't seem relevant right now. At least, if the commander doesn't recognize any of these names, it would make it clear that their worlds differ.

Puzzled, he listens, frowns, then shakes his head a little, blond bangs waving slightly in front of his eyes. "The only continent I know about doesn't have any of those places," he replies, but that's incredibly confusing. He had mentioned other worlds, but only as something a monster could create, and Rosinante isn't sure how much of that to believe. Could they come from different times? That's not actually any more believable, though.

There are, of course, stories about people from the Moon. Different still, but could it be something like that? Another star in the sky with life? And they've all come to this void after death? That's... uncomfortable. Makes him feel awfully small.

"Then, perhaps, another world." Cao Pi isn't usually accustomed to such things either, but Orochi's dimension did a number on his understanding of the universe. Other worlds were pulled into this mish-mash of timelines, he's seen some shit. He says it casually enough but with a down-note of warning, that he knows it to be possible and knows how terrifyingly unsettling that concept can be. "I know it isn't wise to jump to such conclusions, but given the facts we've shared with one another, the only other natural conclusion is that you aren't nearly as well-traveled as a sailor ought to be."

He smirks; willing to admit to that, commander?

Now, that's hardly fair, and he gives a soft, exasperated little laugh. "I don't know how you'd sail to another world in a ship. Just one planet is big enough for a lifetime."

And it isn't like he'd had a lifetime. He saw plenty in his few years of travel, though. More worlds than one, in a metaphorical sense.

"But if you've been to more than one, yes, you have me beat. I wonder if anyone else here knows more about it."

"Possibly." Cao Pi tosses his head toward the vague shapes and noises of other people passing to and fro in the square, around the tavern. "Unless we are all, so to speak, in the same boat. I do plan to ask around, when I feel up to engaging potential idiots."

Which reminds him of his previous world and all the idiots, and makes him sigh. "I don't like to ascribe things to gods which could be otherwise explained, but..."

"Then don't," he says. "Someone will figure this out. No need to drag gods into it when men make enough trouble on their own."

Everything has an explanation. Some of them probably can't be fully understood; he has enough humility to accept that. But it's too early and they have too little information to jump to superstition so quickly.

He also has enough humility to understand the people around them are probably not idiots. His distaste doesn't show on his face, but he feels it. This is probably why Sengoku always told him to keep quiet, when he was younger. If he'd had the bravery to say anything about some of the leaders of the world, it wouldn't always have been nice.

Another small hum of a laugh. "True enough. It is a pleasure to see that you do understand, commander."

It is, in some way, an actual compliment. Cao Pi has the luxury of being able to speak his mind and not be gainsaid, the superiority of ego to do it when he feels like it, and the wisdom to know when not to. He really does expect there'll be idiots, but at least he won't count Rosinante as one of them.

It has been so damn long since anyone called him by the title that it's equal parts pleasant and unnerving. The respect is nice, but he doesn't feel he deserves it after his recent actions. Besides, no dead man is going to captain a ship or lead soldiers anywhere.

But he decides not to object. Not for now, at least, until he's figured out better who this man is and who the rest of them are. There really is a lot to learn and not just about how they all got here or where here is.

"I'd like to go around and ask. See what others have learned. But I suppose I should get cleaned up first." Like many here, the violence of his death left him much less presentable than he'd like to be if he's going to meet a few of these people. They might not care, but he does. "Do you know anything about our surroundings yet?"

The buildings mostly look run-down and not very promising, but in the low light it's hard to really tell what state they're in on the inside. Maybe he can at least get a quick shower at that inn and ask for directions.

He can't help it, titles are a way of life where Cao Pi comes from. He looks up again, and around, though the darkness beyond the fire is thick enough to be almost impenetrable. "I don't," he admits indifferently. "Upon landing I came this far, I haven't looked around much yet. If it is truly deserted, I can't imagine finding much besides empty buildings to camp in."

For a moment he remains in that searching position, looking over his shoulder toward the nearest buildings. Is it deserted? It's hard to tell with other arrivals traipsing around here and there. Are they locals or not?

"At least it's shelter from the rain." Assuming it rains here. And anyway, he'd take an empty building over a lot of other options. Just needs a hammock and pretty soon it's a functional enough home.

"But there's an inn, or tavern, or something along those lines not far off. I overheard someone mention it. Keep seeing lantern lights coming and going, so it's probably less empty than the rest. Might be someone there who knows what's going on, too."

"Oh?" Cao Pi looks to him briefly and then back over his shoulder, tracing the paths by those lantern lights. Aha, so there are people congregating over that way. "True. Any inn is a place for information."

He's not forming a party, though, so after a moment's thought to decide what he'd prefer right at this moment, he turns back to the fire. "Feel free to do so. I think I'd like a while to consider this whole thing."

Understandable. That's all he's been doing, himself, up until moments ago. But staring into the fire and savoring a cigarette eventually became unsatisfying. It's time to look for answers - or in their absence, at least a few ideas to work off of.

So he nods slowly, more to himself than to Cao Pi, and collects his own lantern. "Take care, sir." It's not quite a bow, but he does at least give a nod of his head as he takes his leave.

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TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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