TEST DRIVE MEME #1

[inthenightmods]

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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Comments

Benjamin Winters | @albatross | NPC

[scrapcap]

log - and they were roommates

[Winters has lived in the Invincible for some time now, but he doesn't have much to his name. Not more that can fit in a backpack, anyway, which he has slung over his shoulder when you enter the apartment. He doesn't look surprised to see you; the door was open, after all.]

There's too many of you to fuss over privacy. It'll be tight quarters 'til y'all manage to open up the town some.

[His voice is gruff, with a vaguely-American-maybe-Australian-slightly-South-African accent that's nigh impossible to place. And he's talking to you like you haven't just walked in and are now talking to him for the first time.]

You got your heart set on this one?

[He tips his head at the room at large. It's not the best of accomodations, but it's certainly not the worst, either. Maybe he'll be down with sharing?]

[ooc: Yes, PCs can totally room with Winters for realsies. If you're planning to app and would like to call dibs, shoot me a PP/PM after you've tagged in! First come, first serve on this, though of course feel free to tag in regardless.]


two - network

[It's late, and you're cozy in your room in The Invincible, and maybe you're asleep and maybe you're not, but your tablet buzzes. You've got a text from Winters, who happens to occupy the room next to yours.]

Did you hear that?

[This is not frightening at all!]


three - wildcard

[Winters can be found pretty much anywhere in town, though he'll tend to lurk at the harbor near the docks and in the Invincible's tavern, nursing some sort of incredibly strong-smelling grain alcohol. That, or he'll be literally wherever you want him to be. Feel free to come at him with whatever! He's here to answering burning questions and such. You can also shoot him a message over the network if that's more your style.

Winters is played by mippins.]

Will Ingram | @dr | NPC

[donttalktome]

And They Were(n't) Roommates

[Looking for somewhere to bunk? Here's a nice convenient open door! Unfortunately, stepping through it gets you a dresser shoved into your side for the trouble. How rude.]

Out of the way!

[There's a well-dressed man in glasses behind that dresser, and he doesn't seem like he's going to give you much of a head start before he starts pushing again.]

And don't even think about trying to sleep in here.

[He punctuates this with a very emphatic point in your direction. The room seems otherwise empty aside from him, so what gives? Looks like he's planning to barricade the door and keep this whole space for himself. Maybe you'd like to argue, though maybe you're better off letting it go. Who'd want to room with this guy anyway?]

Hacker Voice: I'm In

So I'm assuming you're all posting anonymously not because you've figured out how the network functions, but because you've somehow managed to break it on your first day here.
Fucking incredible.
Guess I have to do everything around here.

Wildcard!

[Will is usually found somewhere in the Invincible, probably taking up an entire table in the bar. He can also be found near the bonfire, futzing with his tablet. Or he can be somewhere else if you want! Come at me!

Will is played by leucrotta!]

Rastus | @rastus | NPC

[cawdad]

one - log

[You need something. A specialty item, maybe. Cigarettes, your favorite food, a musical instrument, your weapon of choice... Or maybe you're just looking to nab some torches from the bonfire for some project you're working on. Ultimately, whatever you're looking for, you have to talk to Rastus.

Rastus, the hunched birdman that presides over the bonfire at seemingly all hours... Except this hour, apparently. Hm.

You find him instead in his, uh... Hut? Let's call it a hut, even though it looks like a large pile of kindling tucked between two trees on the outskirts of Bonfire Square. When you get his attention, his head pops out of the curtain that serves as a door.]

Hm? Yes?

[He sounds a bit like a parrot that got ahold of Jigsaw's voice modulator.]


two - turn on your location

[You get a voice message in your inbox! It's from Rastus.]

Help.

[That's... that's it. At least he doesn't sound particularly distressed?]


three - wildcard

[Rastus can be found at the bonfire, always, unless he's in his little hut nearby or he's been kidnapped into the woods I guess. He takes his job very seriously. But! Feel free to hit him with whatever prompt your heart desires. He'll do his best to answer any questions you might have.

Rastus is played by mippins.]

( network prompt! )

[sunborne]

[ doubt.png

daylight can't help but jolt in shock at the realisation that, no, he hasn't heard whatever is being asked. so deep he was in his mindless sketching of the buildings and the people he's met today, he hadn't noticed anything.

he kind of wishes he has now, because he feels silly for sending this reply: ] No. I didn't hear anything. I was kind of distracted by stuff.

Was it super obvious? [ does he need to feel even more shamed? ]

And They Were(n't) Roommates

[tribridfreakshow]

Ow!

[Hope looks over at the man who so rudely just shoved a dresser into her side, and when it becomes clear that he's going to continue to be difficult, her temper flares.

Nothing ever good happens when Hope gets angry, and trying to commandeer an entire room when there's not enough to begin with? Not cool.

She says a few Latin words, followed by a twist of her hand, and the dresser seems to very forcefully turn itself over, landing drawer side down on the ground with a crash, leaving the doorway still partially blocked, but it's easy enough to step over it.]

I'm sorry. What was that? I didn't quite catch it.

[scrapcap]

No. Sounded like someone throwing stones at the wall. But I don't see anyone.
What stuff had you distracted?

daylight vis lornlit. | @daylit | original character.

[sunborne]

i;; at the invincible, but not feeling invincible.

[ so. this is new.

daylight isn't sure how to react when he walks into the invincible, his processors still reeling from the turn of events that brought him here. and it looks like the people in the tavern aren't sure how to react in return, with some looking at him, disturbed. the others, thankfully, are more focused on their drinks and chatter. it gives day the courage to venture forward, trying to find a sturdy looking chair that'll hold his weight so he can get his bearings together.

but so engrossed he is in trying to find a place to sit, he doesn't realise he's walking right into someone until it's too late. ]

Wha- Oh! I'm so sorry- [ daylight tries to help the person, feeling embarrassed and his fluttering winglets making it known. ] Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?

ii;; a helping hand.

[ daylight is about to call it a night when he gets a message from someone on his tablet. given how late the hours feel to him, this is something that makes him pause in getting-ready-for-bed-ing actions.

he scoops up his tablet to read the message that's been sent to him and sees he doesn't recognise the username. with how new he is to this place, that isn't too much of a surprise, but it wouldn't hurt to get some clarifying info. it is pretty late and sleepiness is getting the better of him. ]

Hello? Who's this? [ maybe this person got the wrong contact. somehow. ]

iii;; call him, maybe.

[ you, lucky person, have just gotten one (1) new message from daylight! short and sweet, daylight simply asks: ]

Hey! Can I ask you a question real quick? It won't take too long, I swear.

iii ;;; wildcard!!

[ want to do something else? feel free to do it here! also, you’re welcome to hit me up/plot with me via my plurk prognostic if there’s something specific you want. ]

[sunborne]

[ there's a long pause on daylight's end. partly to see if he can hear someone throwing stones still. mostly to figure out how to be honest with his reply without it sounding, um, bad. ]

I was sketching out some stuff I discovered today when I was poking around the town. Wanted to keep track of what I've seen so far.

[ let's go with that. and let's have day ask the question that's he's wanted to ask the moment he read the message: ] Should we investigate it? The sounds and where they're coming from?

Cao Pi | @kingofwei | Warriors Orochi

[pure_havoc]

log - bonfire square

Reflecting on his final moments is exactly what Cao Pi is doing at the edge of the fire, ice blue eyes fixed on the flames. He really should not be surprised to have been killed by the eight-headed serpent beast that plunged through Hulao Pass, but he is, a bit. He's survived so much, that's what finally did it? But if that's true, this sure as hell isn't the afterlife promised by the Taoists.

He almost invites interruption, standing there in gold-trimmed armor, his clothing shades of indigo and purple (slightly charred in places), a pair of swords sheathed at his hip. Compared to the, ah, locals, he looks completely out of place, straight out of Romance of the Three Kingdoms. But stewing in his private thoughts is too much, too weighty, too painful, so after a while he'll turn to whoever is nearby and murmur, "Is this your first time being dead, too?"

There's a touch of sarcasm to it. Maybe he doesn't believe the story after all.

log - room...mates?

Cao Zihuan, King of Wei, Heir of the Hero of Chaos, is used to having his way, or at the very least, his own private quarters. He's already staked out a room with just one bed and is patiently lounging on it, inspecting the tablet, when strangers barge into his room. Anyone who comes in with the expectation - nay, the knowledge - that they'll have to share will be met with an arched eyebrow and a cool, slightly nasty, "Can I help you?"

He doesn't yet realize that he's going to be stuck with someone, please disabuse him of the notion that his status owes him anything, least of all privacy.

wildcard

[idk the tavern, the general store, random/failed text, come at me. I can match format it doesn't matter everything is cool cool cool.]

[donttalktome]

[Some alien-sounding gibberish and then the dresser falls over. Ah, one of those.]

What, you think I've never seen magic before?

[This ain't his first rodeo. This also ain't exactly good for him, because he's not endowed with mystical powers himself. But nevertheless, he holds his ground with a very unimpressed expression. This is perhaps a bad idea.]

Now you've just made it harder to move.

[scrapcap]

Smart. Not much to see yet but a map will come in handy down the road.
Do you have any other skills sides sketching? Any good in a fight?

Jo Harvelle

[knifecollecting]

You're dead, Jim
[This was not what Jo expected to find the next time she opened her eyes. She figures death via blood loss is a peaceful Hunter death, but she also figures this isn't Heaven.

Her side aches. She doesn't want to investigate further in public, but from a quick feel, there's a hell of a scar left from the Hellhound. She can only hope the Hellhound got it just as bad.

The bonfire seems to be the biggest source of light available and so near the bonfire she stays. It draws a crowd.

She keeps her eyes open for someone who looks friendly. Talking is always a good way to gather information.]

Hey.


And they were roommates
[There's not a lot of town to explore by lantern light. Jo still has little idea of what's going on, but she does know one thing. Until she figures out what is going on, she needs somewhere to sleep.

She's reluctant to try finding somewhere else in the dark so she climbs the Invincible's stairs to explore. The room at the head of the stairs has one bed without sheets and two desks, plus at least two mismatched dressers. It doesn't bother her, she's never had a good furniture set in her life. Or afterlife, whatever this ends up being.]

Guess this'll work. [It's more to herself than anyone else, but feel free to interrupt.]

[ryanreynoldsvoice]

Jeez that does not look good.

[He shuffles around her legs, blatantly staring at the blood on her clothes]

You must have gotten the bad end of that stick, huh?

Very much not=roommates

[hellspawnrevenant]

To say that Hanzo Hasashi is displeased is an understatement. He has a scowl that can send just about anyone running, and it's as deep as his brow can possibly furrow right now. The lantern is tied to his belt opposite his katanas, casting a faint light around the area, but almost none on his face.

With one hand on his katana he'd kicked open the door, clearly expecting a fight or an enemy inside. What he gets is just someone lounging on the bed, playing with the same sort of tablet that Hanzo had tossed aside and abandoned upon discovering it.

"I highly doubt you could." His voice drips with disdain, more for the situation than the man he's speaking to, but his abrasive demeanor makes it hard to tell.

[sunborne]

[ haha... yeah. let's go with that.

and that? that sounds like a chance for an adventure. ]

I can hold my own in a fight! And I'm a scout for the crew I'm part of. So looking for stuff is something I'm really good at.

one

[withsadness]

Birdie? Mister Birdie? May I please take a moment of your time?

[Oh, won't you hear a poor girl's troubles? Mary curtsies politely and everything!]

I'll be very nice!

Mary | Ib | ota

[withsadness]

one

[Mary can be found in a room in the Invincible, jumping merrily on one of the beds and laughing. She stops abruptly, though, hiding her face behind a pillow, as a stranger enters. Clearly, she realizes that she shouldn't have been jumping on the bed...but she doesn't make a move to stop standing on top of it.]

How...how do you do?

two

[Mary hates it here. Not because it's a particularly bad place. In fact, there are a lot of good things about it: like new friends, and new places to see. But there isn't really much that can be seen truly, not with the way that Beacon currently is. That's the problem. It's just so...so dark. It reminds her of emptiness.

What's worse is the only thing that keeps out the darkness is the only thing that could possibly be worse: fire.

For once, however, Mary has emerged to confront the, er, the day with renewed vigor! Because she has...a pile of sticks! These sticks are her grand plan to, to, well, to make improvements on the issue at hand. She starts straightaway, setting about a wide circle around the fire pit. They'll probably slide against the cobblestones but you know what one thing at a time.]

three

missprincessmary; voice

I would like to draw a very pretty picture, but I can't decide what to draw. Would anybody like a nice picture? I'll give it to you as a present!

Kuai Liang || @Grandmaster || Mortal Kombat

[paletteswap]

Log - Bonfire

This was not the Netherrealm, that much was immediately obvious. But it wasn't entirely unpleasant either. Nothing had attacked him, he wasn't in pain, he didn't feel like a revenant nor was he possessed. The darkness so black that light couldn't penetrate was disconcerting, but not an immediate worry.

He'd parked himself near the fire, watching how the flames crackled and leapt in the air, yet none of the wood seemed to be breaking. There was no ash and the fire never diminished in size. It definitely reminded him of something. Or perhaps someone.

Nodding politely to anyone who came near him, his gruff monotone voice not sounding too troubled about the surroundings, "Do you know the source of the magic keeping the fire lit?"

Network - Turn on your Location

Is anyone reading this?

[knifecollecting]

Claws, actually. [Jo instinctively turns and looks up to find who the voice is.

It takes her a moment to catch sight of Pikachu at her feet and she jumps back with a startled shout. Ghosts might not scare her much, but this is new.]

Did you say that?

[scrapcap]

That so? Good. Could come in handy.
See anything out your window?

Pikachu

[ryanreynoldsvoice]

You're Dead, Jim

[Pikachu's ears hang low as he loses himself in thought, staring into the fire. It's...strange. Part of him keeps thinking 'It's ok.' It is ok. His last memory before waking up here had been one of acceptance. Of resolve to do the right thing knowing what likely would happen so long as Ryme City and so long as Tim would have a chance.

But that's the thing. How can he know? Had it worked? Were they saved?

He sinks in on himself a little, tilts his head back, and stares upwards into the blackness at the edge of the bonfire's light.]

You can do it, Kid.

[It's whispered under his breath, tired but certain. Tim could do this. He's sure of it. He feels it in his jellies.]

And They Were Roommates

[Pikachu's not really in need of a bed or a bedroom in the way a human is. Something soft and cushy is all he asks, and maybe something with a little privacy.

So he's gone into one of the rooms, stolen a couple many of the pillows and has begun hoarding them under one of the beds, creating a nest of sorts.

That is until someone tries to take one of the pillows or sit on the bed over him.]

Hey! Watch it!

[ryanreynoldsvoice]

[Pikachu likewise jumps, ears perked up high, startled by her startled reaction. He stares at her for a long beat before shuffling forward with a look of amazement]

I did! I...I did

[And now he's too close again, no sense of personal bubble, practically bouncing to get a better look at her]

You understood me? I mean, you understand me??

[cawdad]

[Rastus tilts his head this way and that, examining her.]

I am Rastus. I am not a bird.

[He leans forward to peer down at her. His eyesight isn't so hot these days.]

You are Mary, hm? Unless your customs suggest I call you Miss Primate.

[withsadness]

Why would anyone call me that?

[Clearly, she's not understanding the point he's trying to make.]

Whatcha doin?

We're all dead, Jim

[paletteswap]

[Coming up to inspect the bonfire is someone that honestly looks entirely out of place. He's dressed like a fighter from several centuries ago. (And a looks a little like a ninja. Don't call him a ninja.) The dozens of blades on him and the deep scar through his eye don't mark him as someone who might be friendly, but he's not openly hostile either.

He inclines his head in greeting, folding his arms and staring at the fire.]

I suppose you are dead as well?