memesinthenight | TEST DRIVE MEME #1

Entry tags:

!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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[There's a good reason for it to feel like a dreaded question. Mary shifts, sliding her hands underneath her legs, her feet shifting nervously against one another. They're all dead, though, so there's no particular reason not to say. It's not like they're here. It's not like they'll get in trouble.]

Because they killed me. They wanted me dead.

[He takes a slow breath as anger bubbles up from within. Kids are capable of a lot at this age, it's true. It doesn't mean they deserve death. They're still children, still growing and changing and learning. Still redeemable, with only one exception he knows of and he mentally crosses his fingers that she's not a second. A lot of people wanted him dead back then too. Still would, if they knew what he was.

With a slow shake of his head, he frowns. Those friends of hers were not her friends, no matter what the reasoning was.]

I'm sorry. I know nobody has good stories about how they got here. But it seems like a lot of the people I've talked to here so far are pretty nice. Maybe you'll make new friends.

It's okay...

[At the mention of new friends, she cheers right back up, smiling from ear to ear.]

When I make new friends, I like to draw them pictures! Would you like me to draw you a picture, Rosinante?

[Don't get attached, Sengoku had told him. The old man knew how easily he gets drawn in by kids in need. Good news: he's dead now, the mission's failed, and maybe this is a chance to make up for some of the damage he did along the way. He sighs and looks over at her smiling face, and smiles back.]

Yeah, I'd like that.

[That icon is hideously perfect. Mary's so happy, she jumps to her feet and tries to throw her arms around his shoulders.]

Yay! That makes me so happy! I'll draw you a very happy picture that you can put up in your room here, so even though it's dark, there'll always be something sunny to brighten it up!

[It's a good thing he's used to being jumped on by children. Baby 5 had really put him through it all and now that he doesn't have to act like a callous monster he's free to laugh and accept the little hug. There's still plenty of restraint in his expression, of course. The reminders of the kids back at Spider Miles and Law in particular come with bitter sorrow. But he's trying and she's helping.]

That sounds great. What kinds of things do you like to draw?

Oh, I like to draw all kinds of things. Especially flowers and sunshine and the beach and all the things I always wanted to see for myself!

[He's just officially a dad now, apparently. This is fine. She's very excited to talk about drawing.]

And sweets and family and friends!

[He's gotten a taste for being a dad and it comes easily to him. He was not looking to adopt another kid so soon, as his heart is still in another world with the child he left behind, but there's nothing he can do for him now. Maybe it will be good for him to take care of this one - she's here, and has nobody.]

You've... never seen the sunshine? The beach? You've never been to the ocean?

[That is more heartbreaking than it has any right to be, and he's quiet for a moment, before nodding with his warm smile.]

Draw whatever you like. I love all of those things too.

Nope...I had to stay inside all the time, I couldn't leave. Isn't that so sad?

[But she seems happy, at least right now. For now.]

I'll draw the ocean, then! That settles it!

I can't wait to see it. Uh, if you don't mind, though, I'm gonna step into the bathroom for a few minutes and get cleaned up.

[Because, yeah, still wearing the clothes he died in, still covered in blood practically from head to toe. He grabs his new finds from the general store which hopefully fit well enough, and stands. She can surely entertain herself for a few minutes, right?]

[As soon as he leaves she steals the mattresses! Haha, sucker!

No, she'll be fine. When he comes back she's hopped back on the bed, but sitting, not jumping, and she's humming as she examines a yellow rose that she's turning between her fingers.]

Welcome back!

Thanks.

[The sweater is tight. The pants are a little short. The t-shirt underneath has a tag that really wants to just jab him in the back of the neck repeatedly and he's going to have to cut the thing off once he finds a knife or scissors, but at least he's dressed and clean. If he weren't so tired after all this, he'd dig out his makeup kit and at least do his eyeliner but it is just not going to happen right now.

So he sits back down on his makeshift bed with a huff and looks at the flower.]

Where'd you find that?

It was in my pocket! I found it at home. Isn't it so pretty?

[Mary beams up at him.]

Almost as pretty as you!

Uh - kid, I'm not....

[He gives up mid-protest and just waves it off. It's not even embarrassment, he just genuinely doesn't think he's much to look at, and so she's just wrong. But kids say weird stuff all the time. He leans forward, propping his chin in his hand, as he looks at the flower.]

I'm glad you got to bring something like that. I had a couple things from home too but no flowers. Mostly just work stuff. You're lucky.

Work stuff? What kinda?

[But she offers him the flower.]

Would you like to hold it?

[Would he like to hold a flower? Not really. But she's offering it to him, so he takes it and twirls it idly in his fingers. The thing looks so fragile and so much smaller in his hand than it did in hers.]

Uh, just, nothing interesting. My snail phone, but the poor guy's dead now.

["Work stuff" also includes a grenade and a fair amount of ammunition, but she doesn't really need to worry about all that.]

[when he takes the flower, he'll notice immediately that it doesn't actually feel like a real flower. It's fake! A very well-made imitation, but nothing but paint and paper nonetheless.]

Oh no! Poor Mister Snail Phone!

[And that explains well how it's here at all, he thinks, as he inspects the flower a little closer. His snail is dead, but the flower was never really alive. Why did he get revived from death while the snail, which should have been unharmed, decayed and shriveled here? Mysterious - and unfortunate.]

Yeah. Wouldn't have worked here anyway though, since I don't think there are others of its kind to talk to. Did you make this? The flower?

[She shakes her head.]

Father made it!

[Mary does, of course, wonder how a snail is also a phone...but she's also seen some nonsensical things herself so...she's sure it makes sense in one way or another.]

I play pretend that it's my heart, so I have to keep it very safe.

[Oof. This poor girl. Suddenly he feels really nervous about even just holding it - why did she give it to him, if it's that precious? There's a moment where he opens his mouth to say something but hesitates, then holds the flower out for her to take back.]

It's very pretty. I'm sure he'd be honored to know you're taking good care of it.

...maybe.

[She doesn't sound particularly convinced as she takes it back, but doesn't seem particularly bothered, either.]

I hope he's thinking of me, but I haven't seen him in so long, sometimes I wonder if he forgot I was ever there at all. Has that ever happened to you?

[THIS CHILD has just hit on one of his DEEPEST INSECURITIES and he does not know how to handle this aside from just. Blinking for a second as he looks at his hands and anywhere other than her face and absolutely he's not really going to answer that question. When he does lift his eyes to meet hers, he's smiling gently; his voice is calm and reassuring.]

No, your father can't possibly have forgotten you. You're his daughter, right? There's no way he can just forget. Maybe something has kept him from being able to talk to you, but he must miss you.

That's what I like to think, too! So...I'll keep waiting for him, forever and ever.

[He has to come back someday, right? Even though she's dead now. Can't he still find her, somehow? Mary falls back on the bed.]

Families are supposed to stay together. It's important.

[Child. Please. He just got murdered by his own brother, who also is responsible for the death of their father. For fuck's sake. It's been a nightmare twenty years in the making and he needs a cigarette right now. Out of habit he reaches for his pack and lighter, but as he puts a stick in his mouth and flicks the lighter on he remembers - right. The thing does fuckall here. With a sigh, he unscrews the lid of his lantern and reaches into it with the cigarette to light it that way instead, because he knows that works.]

Yeah. Yeah, it is. I hope you see him again some day. If this is where people go when they die, then eventually he'll come to join you here too.

[Except his own father, his mother, they're not here so clearly all that's wrong.]

[Mary watches warily as he lights his cigarette. She's quiet for a moment, thoughtful, her fingers lacing together over her stomach.]

Did I make you sad?

TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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