memesinthenight | TEST DRIVE MEME #05

Entry tags:

!tdm

TEST DRIVE MEME #05

Hello and welcome to the The Next Night's test drive meme for December-January! Thanks for your interest in this GPSL! We operate on a rolling application system. Applications are always open and will be judged on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Next Night is currently set to end in spring of 2021, so this will be the last TDM posted - but don't let that dissuade you! There are plenty of opportunities for new characters to get involved in current game events as the community of Beacon unites to deal with a world-ending foe.

While you're here...

Take a look at our rules and faq pages to familiarize yourself with The Next Night.

Note that we will have an application cap of 10 apps for new players, and that the game has a player cap of 60. An accurate count of current players will always be available on the taken page.

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 top-leveling is not limited to new characters! If current players wish to post a starter, they are welcome and encouraged to do treat the TDM like any other game-wide event. Current players are welcome to post logs or network posts using TDM prompts as desired.

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.

As we no longer plan to have a bimonthly game-wide HMD meme, we will require all new applications going forward to have a HMD post somewhere on the journal and we will ask for this as part of the application process.

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

log prompts

the walls, the walls are coming down

After Dr. Solis' disappearance, the people operating the portal have occasionally struggled with bringing in new people. So they widen the parameters. Select all target sectors of the multiverse. Surely, this has to be better, right?

For some of you, the last thing you remember is dying. Maybe it feels like a moment ago, maybe a lifetime. But now you awake in darkness, with a lantern your only source of light, and a tablet that prompts you to sign on to a network at your side. The locals must be these strange thing surrounding you - some humanoid, some animal-like, others something else entirely, but they encircle you, masked faces pressing closer, until one shrieks and squeaks and takes you by the hand, or shoves you, or simply tries to herd you to the large bonfire in the center of an open square.

For others, you're quite sure you were just recently alive, and possibly in the middle of something important. And when the forest spirits try to haul you off, their hands pass right through you. Your lantern flickers. The network prompt blinks, but entering a username doesn't seem to get it to go anywhere until it finally lets you on as an anonymous guest user. Strange. But while you're here, you might as well enjoy the sights, right? Hopefully this is just some strange mistake and you'll wake up shortly with nothing more than a headache to show for it.

Note: for characters who are not dead, they will function as "ghosts" for this TDM - however you want to interpret that! If you decide to app them to the game, they will have to end up dead as part of their arrival in Beacon, but are allowed to remember the events of this TDM once they have died and wound up here.

As this is a fourth wall-style prompt, feel free to play any character you like for a brief visit to Beacon, but keep in mind that if you later decide to app them they will need to fit within the rules for appable characters. For situations involving characters previously in Beacon returning for this mini-event, any memory of previously being in Beacon is allowed but will automatically render the threads non-canon (or some strange hallucination).

Questions? Feel free to ask on the December Gameplan.

rat nicholas

Did you all forget the Rat King? Because the Rat King hasn't forgotten you. Just as you're picking up the monthly supplies and greeting the strangest round of newcomers yet, there's a thundering of paws, shrill little squeaks, and the glint of torchlight on sharp teeth. A wall of rats overtakes the town, threatening to trample anyone and anything in their path.

But if you manage to stay out of their way, you'll see a strange sight - the Rat King, body composed of hundreds of fleshy, furry rat bodies writhing and swaying, is being pulled on a large piece of scrap metal across the snow. And as they swarm, the King tosses gifts to and fro! Try not to get bonked in the head by a shrunken apple doll, or trip over a very pungent cheese rind. Among the strange rat-favored junk you might even find a few treasures in the form of actual sweets, or some lovely spirit-made garlands, though you might have to beat the rats to the good ones!

network prompts

Q&A

WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE
TO SEE THEM AGAIN

WHAT WILL YOU GIVE
TO KEEP THEM SAFE

KNOWING YOU GET NOTHING IN RETURN?

[The words appear on the network - sometimes when you go to make a post, sometimes interrupting what you were trying to type.

Maybe this place is just like that, or maybe there's someone looking for an answer?]

shivers

The brutal cold drags its teeth across your flesh with every biting gust of wind. You just want to get indoors, to safety - but the snow spirals thickly around you, blocking all vision, reflecting light from your lantern onto shards of ice that seek to dig in to any part of your exposed skin. You close your eyes, cover them with a hand, while branches crack and snap in the forest around you.

When you open them, you aren't where you were, and you are very alone. But the tablet in your pocket still has a signal. Maybe you can ask for help? Maybe someone knows how to guide you back?

(This is a mini-version of our upcoming event, Shivers (I've Got 'Em)!)

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[Rosinante is bundled up against the cold in layers, his old feather coat now converted into a thick scarf, and with his fleece rabbit hat instead of the heart-tailed red one - nothing wrong with it, thankfully, it's just an especially cold day. It's the weather that has him in a hurry, too, with a sack of oats in his arms and something else causing his bag to bulge as he heads for The Invincible to help restock.

But he slows down a few paces off. It's been a while since he's seen anyone new - the lantern is unfamiliar, and so is the height - but new, he very quickly realizes, isn't the right word. His eyes go from casual surprise to wide shock.]

Daylight...?

[Daylight died. Cao Pi found a piece of his armor. It's rare that people come back and it usually means they're from some other universe, as it's been explained to him. So is this real, or is that seven-eyed creature lurking just past the edge of the trees? He risks a glance in that direction before snapping his attention back to Day.

He'd ask if it's really him, but if it's a hallucination, it would say yes anyway, wouldn't it?]

[ daylight manages a noise to acknowledge rosinante but, beyond that, he... he's pretty unsure of what to say next. it's been decades since he's the others in beacon. it's been so long and so strange that, sometimes, it got to the point that he found himself wondering if he had dreamed up the experience. a weird coping mechanism as he was recovering from the shot that nearly tore him apart.

but it doesn't seem to be the case now. maybe. it feels surreal enough that it has daylight questioning it.

then he decides fuck it- this is happening. this is now. beacon and those he met through the darkly dim place still holds a special place in his core. he might as well enojy it while he can, no matter how it ends.

so he grins, giving his friend. a quick and easy wave to show that he heard him. ] It's me!

Digging your new outfit, Rosinante. It’s pretty cool. [ daylight gestures to the outfit, noting the attire is better suited for colder months. is it the winter then? approaching winter? it was summer back during his wedding. ] I guess a lot has happened while I was away, huh?

It's... been a while. Not a full year.

[He's going to remain cautious until he's sure this is real, but unfortunately that means if this is real then the celebration will be delayed. He wants to be happy to see Daylight again, but even if this really is him, being in Beacon means being dead, doesn't it? And that's not something he wishes for anyone who isn't ready to go.

But maybe he should say some of this rather than keeping it in his head, especially if this really is his missing (and presumed dead) friend. He relaxes his stance a little, though he hasn't come any closer.]

Lots of green-eyes messing with our heads. I should probably fill you in on everything. Come with me, I need to drop all this off at The Invincible.

[ not even a full year when he had...? wow— time definitely makes fools of them all and continues to do so. it's already the year 2246 (earth time) on daylight's end.

that’s something they can focus on later, he thinks to himself as he follows rosinante towards the invincible. he tries to keep an eye out for the buildings and the landmarks they pass by, wanting to note what has changed, what has changed the same, and what the spirits got involved in.

spekaing of the spirits- ]

They're still acting up, huh? [ he doesn't sound mad when addressing the green-eyed spirits, only disappointed.

(he remembers the conversation he had with vantas, back when they were kidnapped, when they were experimented on.) ] I guess they did something pretty recent. Have you guys been able to communicate with them more easily with the notes I left behind?

[ he thinks the notes should have been intact in his rooms, flood or no flood. ]

Well... I wish I could say yes. I kept your notes, made sure everything made it to the network. And Diode has been trying to teach anyone who will learn. But the trouble is that it's still so risky to even try and meet with them, and there are so few of us here now, we've had to be more selective with what risks are worth taking.

[Oh, but he skipped over some important stuff just now, whoops. Back up a step.]

You'd like Diode. He's a former lighthouse keeper. Remember the lantern that the green-eyes brought Robin? That was his. I think they wanted him back since he can talk with them.

[ oh! that's interesting to learn about. daylight definitely would like to meet this diode character, if he has the chance/time to do so. he's sure his younger self would have been ecstatic by the turn of events, no doubt breathlessly pestering the poor guy talk to him all things spirits and languages and other things.

for now, he opts to smile, genuinely happy for the turn of good luck for the group. ] I guess that's what Dr. Solis was trying to do when she made that post, huh? Try to bring him back? Always wondered what she was planning with how much effort and planning was being put into that mystery project of hers.

I'm glad someone else can fluently speak with them. Hope it's made things a bit easier for you guys during the past yearish.

... and I'm sorry I left, by the way. [ he rubs the back of his neck, huffing under his breath. ] Guess I should get that out of the way now.

[If only it had made things easier. Green-eyes just aren't something he wants to get involved with if he can help it, given how their numbers keep dwindling. But he nods, appreciating the sentiment at least. Maybe some day it will amount to something concrete.

Daylight apologizes, though, and Rosinante shakes his head slowly.]

I know you didn't exactly set out to try and leave. If any of us knew how to do that there'd be a lot fewer of us here. What happened, though? We took you for, well, dead. More dead than we already are, I mean.

[ daylight gives an apologetic look, making a shaking gesture with his free servo in response to the question. ]

Wish I had a satisfying answer for you but it's pretty lame, all things considered. I got swept up by the waters. Saw some spirits in trouble - stuck, couldn't get out - and I went to help them.

I ended up falling into the waters when settling them somewhere safe and... [ yeah. he's not surprised how quick and sudden it had been, looking back at the rapid turn of events. given how he ended up in beacon in the first place, daylight understood how quick and easy it is to lose a life or save a life. ]

[And the rest is obvious enough. The grim frown on Rosinante's face and the slight nod of his head says there's no further need for detail, if there even is any. He'll keep to himself that Cao Pi found... part of him after, when they were scouring the place for survivors. Too gruesome.

His expression softens into something that's not quite a smile, but there's a release of concerned tension from his forehead and the corners of his mouth.]

I guess I can't really welcome you back here, given what this place is, but I'm glad you got to go home. I know you had people there you cared about a lot. They must have missed you.

[ his expression softens at the mention of his loved ones, nodding in reply because... yeah. there was no use denying the shock and, later, relief of finding himself back on the lornful light.

he rubs the back of his neck, huffing a bit as he tried to hold back a smile. daylight feels bad that the others don't have the chance to see their loved ones but- ] It's nice. Yeah. It's nice being with them again.

They, like, flipped when I woke up from the medical stasis they had to put me in. Apparently, Emer did something pretty wild to rescue him and was by my side the entire time I was under. [ the mention of emer has him smiling a lot now, though there's a tinge of sadness and bashfulness to it. ] I, um, think you saw a memory involving him so you know how close we are to each other.

Yeah. Yeah, he's a big part of who I was referring to.

[There's that smile of his, finally. Rosinante just loves seeing people happy, especially when it's deserved, when it's love. Daylight was pulled away from him again now, it's true, but they got more time than they had before. That's worth cherishing.]

Glad he was there for you the whole time. How long was it for you, between then and now?

I think it's been... Five Earth years, give or take. A lot happened after I woke up in the medbay, hooked up in ways I had no idea I could be hooked up to-

It's been so long and the events were so- [ he pauses here, his expression screwing up in thought.

in the end, the most he can do is he gestures to their surroundings as if that would help make sense of what he's trying to imply. ] -that, sometimes, I thought it was all a dream. The others thought so, whenever I mentioned stuff to them.

Guess I don't blame them, or you. That any of this can happen sometimes feels like a dream to me even now that I've been here for as long as I have. It would be hard to convince anyone who didn't see it firsthand.

[And actually... that's a huge problem he's going to need to take seriously, given his hopes of eventually sending word, somehow, to other worlds to inform them of the threats that still lurk between the stars, consuming them one by one.

He adjusts the balance of the bag of oats over his shoulder, then gestures for Daylight to follow. Gotta get these to the kitchens before the spirits get into them looking for treats buried inside like kids with a box of cereal. There's no toy in here, seriously, why do they do this sometimes.]

When you were back there, did you still have trouble seeing certain colors? Or did that clear up?

[ daylight follows after rosinante, waving the spirits who scuttle by the pair. he notes they seem to be giving him a lot of space. outright swerving to prevent being touched by him.

... huh.

well— he has bigger things to focus on at the moment. like answering rosinante’s questions as they head to the kitchens.

daylight explains that, upon waking up, he immediately noticed he could see the colour yellow again. he could tell since one of the medics who was overseeing his medical stasis was painted primarily in yellows and greens. he knew the galateion well so the immediate shock of seeing the hue got his attention.

he had tried to explain his situation to the others but, again, they found it hard to believe. all physical proof of his time on beacon didn't exist on daylight when he was expected. (after all, he couldn't exactly be forced to eat spirit flesh if he had no stomach to contain it in the first place.) ] ... But I remembered everything. It was all clear as crystal to me. Your names, your faces... The information I learned while I was here.

[ his lips twist at that point, a cross between a rueful smile and a grimace. ] Guess I should count my blessings for that bit. Made it easier to confront certain things when the time came.

[He nods along, listening, wondering how it all fits together. So strange, what happened. He can make his guesses, but realizes he'll probably never fully understand the real meaning behind Daylight's life and death experiences. Will might have insight into the science, though; Law might understand how it could relate to the functions of the brain and consciousness.]

Easier, maybe, but isolating too with nobody able to understand what you went through. And now you're back here. Can I... is it all right if I ask what happened?

[Five extra years makes Daylight fortunate among them, but five years isn't nearly enough. Daylight is still so young, if his people's ages match human ones at all.]

[ with another apologetic look on his face, daylight shrugged in helpless confusion. ]

Sorry but, um, I don’t know for certain this time around. [ which is weird. he remembers in great detail what happened to him the first time he had died and arrived in beacon. he's been wondering about that since he stumbled through... something. did someone jump him? was there an accident?

his armour loosens up and expands to dispel static electricity that's been building up beneath him, allowing his systems to relax. if he really had to dig up... ] Last thing I remember is heading out of the reception hall. I think I did it in order to catch up with my kindred, Nightbreak, or get some fresh air. Didn't feel bad. Nervous, yeah, but a giddy type of nervous.

After that, I found myself back here. [ he lifts up his lantern, the fire in it now a pale red and gold instead of its purple colour. ] Guess the new lantern is meant to be an apology gift?

[Were it someone he knew less well, Rosinante would assume that to be a deflection. Doesn't know? More like doesn't want to say. But even with five years to change and become more cautious, Rosinante would like to think Daylight wouldn't lie to him about something like that.

The lantern is certainly different too, but although it looks nice, he can't guess at what it means, if anything.]

Well, if what some people think about the lanterns somehow being our actual soul is right, then maybe they change as you grow. So, that reflects you now, somehow. I like it.

[Might as well find some good in what happened, he decides - but the moment he's able, he's going straight to the lab and he's taking Will with him because he'd love to pore through portal data but needs someone to actually make sense of it and explain it to him. What the hell did the portal crew do?]

[ he smiles at the comment, nodding in agreement. reflects him now... yeah. daylight can get behind that. five years is enough time for him to change and grow up, his tastes and his views changing a lot over half a decade. it would make sense he wouldn't have the same lantern and he's glad for it. he likes its style!

especially since he realises the design reminds him a lot of his friends, in a way. something about the design of the lantern reminds him emer, nightbreak, and especially dial up. (colours, maybe.)

focus, daylight: ] Sooo— Speaking of changing, how have you been doing so far? Like... what's been happening on your end? Personally?

It might have been under a year since I wasn't here but some big stuff must have happened, right? Things got shaken up? Things got revealed?? How is Soldat? Dr. Ingram?

[Classic Daylight, hitting him with a barrage of enthusiastic questions. So much has happened in his absence, with new discoveries every other week and big decisions still to be made.

He's gearing up to tell Daylight all about how Law is here now, how much that means to him, but then as Day wraps up his questions he mentions the other person who always makes Rosinante's eyes light up. His smile softens, turns maybe a little self-conscious at the same time. Yeah, all right, he'll tell Daylight about people he actually knows first, especially since he asked directly.]

Dr. Ingram... [He chuckles a little. He spent so long calling the man by his title like that, but now it feels a little foreign on his tongue. He's just Will now, though not to anyone else here.]

He's good. He's doing well. Started dedicating himself to lantern research a while back, actually, though now he's all swept up in working on that portal at the Helix Station.

[The lantern stuff is pretty telling in itself. Since when does Will do anything for other people's benefit? When does he concern himself with their survival and well-being? The answer is, he doesn't, exactly. He's just trying to make sure he knows every detail of repair so he can fix Rosinante's lantern if it continues to get in worse and worse shape. But he'll keep quiet on that detail.]

Um, he and I are... [A thing they've never really put a name to, so he starts, but then doesn't quite know how to finish the sentence. Daylight can probably figure it out, though, given how awkwardly he glances away as if searching for the right word, smiling all the while.]

[ daylight has seen that expression before. fuck- daylight has probably made that expression before when trying to describe himself and emer to someone.

it does not take a genius to realise what the implication is and, honestly, relationships are probably one of daylight's best strengths. no need for a proverbial lightbulb to go over his head when he knows what this all already means.

so his face lights up in joy for rosinante, his winglets wriggling from his excitement as he lets out a happy squeal: ] Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Congratulations, Rosinante! I'm so happy for you guys!! [ he calms down, enough for him to a bit more serious and meaningful with what he has to say next: ] I'm glad you guys were able to be each other's light here.

[Man, he'd held it together pretty well up until that squeal, but now he's blushing brightly as he waves a hand for Daylight to settle down.

Of course, the last sentence there is just so touching that he lets his hand rise back up to where it was helping balance the sack of oats. Still needs to get those to the kitchen but all in good time.]

That's... Thanks. Yeah, it's... [He sighs, happy but sort of at a loss for words.] I wouldn't have guessed when I first got here that he'd end up meaning so much to me, but I'm glad for it. Never thought about ending up with anyone here, honestly, but life finds ways to surprise you, doesn't it?

[ 'happy but sort of at a loss for words.'

oh, always a mood whenever daylight finds himself tripping over his excitement whenever he wants to gush about emer or explain what it's like to have the most supportive, funniest, and sweetest (in his own way!) boyfriend ever. he's glad rosinante gets to experience the feeling because it's great! kind of embarrassing but great. ]

Considering how we all got here - well, first time around for some, at least! - it definitely fits with the theming of catching us by surprise.

[ but, like, in a good way.

daylight's winglets continue to flutter - watch out, walls and ceilings! and daylight's own helm, which he tries to keep ducked at all times - pleased as punch for his friend. ] I am happy for you guys. I really am. If anyone deserves to find happiness here, despite it all, it's you guys.

Do you think if I tried to look for Dr. Ingram, he'd be cool with me congratulating him or nah?

[If anyone deserves happiness? Really? Rosinante gives a soft huff in surprise, but decides not to argue. Everyone here deserves happiness, in his opinion; he is certainly not more deserving than all of them. And not a lot of people would say Will deserves happiness either - even if they appreciate what he does, to them he's not kind, or generous, or any of the things people usually like to reward.

Daylight's question makes him chuckle abruptly.]

No, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't anyway, if you want to. He'll act all put off, but it's good for him to know people care.

[Now, let's see if he can manage to open The Invincible's front door and get himself and this sack of food through without losing his balance and falling in the process. He's already teetering as he reaches to push it open.]

[ daylight laughs, amused by the answer. ]

Yeah— Definitely sounds like Dr. Ingram, alright. [ he’s so going to call him and be all gushy about it.

oh... that can wait for a bit, though. upon noticing rosinante teetering a bit while trying to push open the door, daylight opts to help by holding out his servo, summoning arc energy from his core.

he sends a pulse, strong enough to make the door push itself open. ] There we go.

Sorry for the mild static shock. Thought you needed a hand. A figurative hand, at least.

Wh-

[The surprise of it throws him off, but it is at least less catastrophic than somehow colliding with the door in the process. It swings open as he falls backward in the doorway, but he keeps both arms around the bag of grain and holds it to his chest so the bag doesn't tear and spill on the hard frozen ground. Ow, bruised tailbone though, speaking of hard ground. It's a wonder he has any nerve endings left there.

With a grunt, he pushes himself back onto his feet, then makes a face at how his hair sticks to his cheeks and floats in the air with the residual static as it starts to die down - then turns and grins at Daylight, having gotten over all that easily enough.]

That was cool! Thanks! Wish I could do something like that, how cool would that be?

dat sweet noncanon

yessss.

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