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Sodder ([personal profile] sodder) wrote2018-12-30 12:30 pm
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JANUARY 2019 TEST DRIVE




JANUARY 2019 TEST DRIVE MEME









Welcome to January’s Test Drive Meme! This month's Test Drive's theme is: NEW YEAR'S.

All Test Drive Memes contain at least one clue to the Deerington's upcoming in-game events for the month! Keep your eyes peeled! But...not literally.

Characters may die during TDMs, but you do not need to count it towards a game-canonical death unless you want to. Consider it a freebie. All TDMs can be considered game canon as TDMs introduce minor aspects about the world of Deerington that can be revisited by characters later on in the game. You may also use TDMs for your application writing sample as well as AC.

CW: Mind alteration, alcohol, options for self-harm, knife violence.

Don't forget to tag content whenever necessary. Have fun!











YOU BETTER GET THIS PARTY STARTED


It's party night at the Grady Hotel and the hosts are pulling out all the stops. Champagne, funny hats, pictures, great music, and a wonderful countdown clock that let's everyone know just how much closer they're getting to the end of what has probably been a pretty crazy year for everyone. The glasses never seem to empty themselves and the citizens serving them out to people seem to be making extra sure that everyone has one for themselves. Regardless of whether or not you usually like champagne, anyone with a glass in their hands will eventually be tempted to take a sip, especially the closer it gets to midnight - the bubbles make you giggly, friendly, talkative in a way that you may never have been before. It lifts up just about anyone's spirits, no matter how rough of a time they've had before (or during their time in) Deerington. It doesn't seem to get you drunk, no matter how much you drink, but it definitely makes you more euphoric. Enough so that you might start to think you can do anything; tell someone how you really feel about them, compliment whoever you've had your eye on all night and see if they want to spend more time together, make up with someone you've been fighting with lately, do a magic trick you never were able to master, or even something as drastic as fly when you know you can't. Hopefully you start off trying to jump from a chair, but there is definitely roof access for those who are a little more daring - maybe someone a little more sober will have the wherewithal to stop you before it's too late.

There is also plenty of entertainment happening in various parts of the room. A table with beer pong for the adults who never outgrew their college days, a dart board, card games in the back, and a game called Guess the Candy for those who want to test their sweet tooth. Anyone who wins a round of any game will get rewarded with a small gift from home (no bigger than a toaster). Unfortunately will disappear once you leave the party, so make sure to enjoy it while you can.

The dance floor is also lively, the music upbeat and easy to move to no matter what your personal tastes might be. If you want a random dancing partner, take a dance card! Each one has a random, glowing number on it and it's your goal to find the person who matches. Once you do, no matter who it is, you'll find yourself literally stuck together (hopefully just by your hands, but it can be any body part) and will have to go through an entire dance (or maybe even two) with them before you come unstuck.



HAPPY NEW YEAR!


Everyone starts to gather around the countdown clock as it nears midnight, and when it's down to ten seconds, obviously you've got to start counting too! Everyone seems to be having such a good time as they shout out each number (10! 9! 8!) and you might not even notice the way some of the people around you have started to get a little... twitchy? (7! 6! 5!) Or the way some are starting to get more handsy, pushing themselves up close to whomever is beside them. (4! 3! 2!) And it isn't until they all shout 1! in unison that the room seems to shift in two very different moods.

If you're lucky, the person next to you will just have the urge to kiss you - and you might even have the urge to kiss them back! After all, sharing a kiss at midnight is supposed to bring you good luck for the rest of the year. And with the way everyone else is starting to act, you might need it. For some, the urge to kiss might be stronger than just a chaste peck. For those who find themselves wanting to get a little more intense, it might be best to try to sneak out the back and head back to your place. The moment you step outside into the cold air, though, the urges seem to disappear - unless, of course, you were in the mood all on your own.

If you're unlucky, there's a murderous rage that runs through you, and there seems to be a table of weapons near by to help encourage a messy time. Various knives, swords, machetes, and other blades are laid out, enough for almost everyone. You might find yourself driven to plunge your weapon into the closest person, or maybe someone you've hated for a long time, and even more - maybe someone you've loved. Whoever it is, the image of their face will be burned into your mind and you'll do everything you can to try and make them bleed. Hopefully they can fight for their life - or at least evade your attacks until they can trick you into going outside. Like the desire for love, the desire for murder will also disappear the moment that someone steps outside, regardless of whether or not they did so on purpose or just to try and hurt whoever they're after.


Character Arrival

You can read how all characters arrive in Deerington here.

There is not a collective "all these characters showed up at the exact same moment" occurrence in Deerington. Since characters fall asleep, die, or pass out at various times throughout all their worlds, it wouldn't make too much sense if they arrived in game all at the exact same time. There should be some discrepancy between character arrival, whether by a couple minutes, hours, or even days up to a week.

The players are entirely in control of how/when they want to play their characters arriving in Deerington. For TDMs, you can play it like your character has just arrived and that can be maintained as your game canon, or you can wait until game events for that moment. Or you don't need to acknowledge it at all. The flexibility for character allows a bit more of an organic feel to the character arrival situation, so please play it to whatever feels right for you.

If you are interested in having an "arrival" introduction for one of your TDM prompts, you are more than welcome to explore that option.
oversight: by: <user name="singergraphics"> ([±] ((( :- |)

[personal profile] oversight 2019-01-02 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
[ That probably explains a little about Sam's expectations. John nods, impressed enough. ]

That's gotta be tough work. You're takin' all this pretty well. You think that kinda work helps consume a place like this a little better?
wingmans: (Altai Falcon)

[personal profile] wingmans 2019-01-02 07:16 am (UTC)(link)
[ sam doesn't really have a secret identity but he's also wanted by the government and was thrown into a ultra-secret facility with no trial, so. he's a little wary about broadcasting his super-heroing, if it can be called that. ]

Hard to say. My world's pretty high on the weird scale these days and I'm not prone to freakouts.
oversight: ([±] it's a picnic)

[personal profile] oversight 2019-01-03 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
[ Hard to say what that really means, right? Weird is subjective and depends a lot on where you come from. Without knowing exactly where Sam's home happens to be, John's forced to take his word for it. Still, these answers inspire a curious look. ]

Do you feel like I came here to question you? Promise I'm didn't. [ He laughs, holds up his hands (and champagne) in surrender. ] Small talk only. Used to be a cop, so I sometimes give off that vibe.
wingmans: (Grey Falcon)

[personal profile] wingmans 2019-01-03 03:15 am (UTC)(link)
[ sam's lips curve, despite himself. ]

No worries. I'm the new guy, some stuff's bound to be asked. I was a soldier, so you know how it is.
oversight: ([±] be right over there)

[personal profile] oversight 2019-01-03 03:47 am (UTC)(link)
I could try to guess, sure.

[ He's definitely not a soldier, but he's had to take orders and organize and go to war here and there, particularly in the last couple of years. ]

You like games? There's darts. I'm pretty good, prob'ly. [ Lies. ] Or poker, which I always think I'll enjoy for some reason. Or dancin' instead, if you don't like games.
wingmans: (Indigo Bunting)

[personal profile] wingmans 2019-01-03 04:42 am (UTC)(link)
I'm game for whatever you're up for.

[ he's casual that way, ready to go with the flow. ]
oversight: ([±] actin' real casual)

[personal profile] oversight 2019-01-07 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
Let's do darts. But if I win, you gotta dance.
wingmans: (Canvasback)

[personal profile] wingmans 2019-01-07 05:10 am (UTC)(link)
[ sam grins, big and toothy. ]

You got yourself a deal.
oversight: ([±] what's up?)

[personal profile] oversight 2019-01-07 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
[ John crooks a finger to urge Sam along and makes his way over to the dart board, gathering the sets from the board and meeting Wilson back at the throw line.

He offers each set one in a hand, having set his champagne aside, and lets the other man choose between red and blue.
]

Are you much of a gamblin' man?
wingmans: (Aplomado Falcon)

[personal profile] wingmans 2019-01-08 08:11 am (UTC)(link)
Sometimes. Hard not to be.

[ he's living life on the wild side, even if his actions make sense. running around with captain america tends to make things bigger and stranger, but nothing's really changed for sam, except the magnitude. ]

Life's usually a gamblin' road.
oversight: ([±] wassat?)

[personal profile] oversight 2019-01-09 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah? Sayin' it like that makes you sound wise and mysterious. Or like you're quoting a song.

[ He shrugs and chooses blue, aiming and tossing his darts one-at-a-time. It's a couple mediocre shots, just as John had predicted. He gathers his darts and steps aside. ]

You like music, Sam?
wingmans: (Reunion Kestrel)

[personal profile] wingmans 2019-01-09 08:21 am (UTC)(link)
[ sam flashes a bright smile. ]

I like to build myself up.

Sure. Jazz, hip-hop. Rap.
oversight: ([±] readin')

[personal profile] oversight 2019-01-12 07:21 am (UTC)(link)
That's a nice range. [ He nods. ] I like it.

They're not doin' too bad with the music tonight, at least. Pretty enjoyable. Champagne's good too, not that I'm usually all that interested.
wingmans: (Laughing Gull)

[personal profile] wingmans 2019-01-12 08:44 am (UTC)(link)
[ sam cocks his head to the crowd. ]

Is it like this often?

[ the impression he got was that this was rare. and maybe a little suspicious. ]
oversight: ([±] wassat?)

[personal profile] oversight 2019-01-13 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
Like this? No. But in some state of disarray or chaos pretty regularly. And you gotta watch pretty much everything 'cause you never know what it's gonna do to you.

[ He gestures to the champagne. ]

Might be just the alcohol, but it kinda feels like this stuff's a little more... punchy than usual. And we've seen where hot chocolate makes you silly, or cider makes you a little frisky.

A real gamble. [ Full circle. ] Theme of the night, I guess.
wingmans: (Aplomado Falcon)

[personal profile] wingmans 2019-01-14 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
[ disarray and chaos. nothing sam is against, but it definitely makes him wary. not overtly so. sam's used to a little chaos now. he twirls the dart. ]

Like I said. I'm good on gambling, even if I'm a bit player.
oversight: ([±] consolin' or consultin')

[personal profile] oversight 2019-01-15 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
[ John raises an eyebrow at that, interested by the wording. ]

"A bit player," eh? What's that mean?
wingmans: (Reunion Kestrel)

[personal profile] wingmans 2019-01-15 05:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ sam flicks his dart, throwing it smoothly onto the board. ]

Just that good looks aside, I'm nothing to write home about.
oversight: ([+] kinda fond of you)

[personal profile] oversight 2019-01-15 05:44 am (UTC)(link)
[ That makes him laugh and he shakes his head at the smooth shot. ]

Somehow humble and confident and accurate? Lethal combination, sir. Somethin' tells me a poll of your close friends might yield diff'rent results than what you're sellin' me, but what do I know?

[ John works alone so no one can dish on him when he goes saying things like Sam here's on about. It is, in fact, very easy to take yourself for granted when there are a lot of extra qualified individuals around to compare to. ]
wingmans: (Canvasback)

[personal profile] wingmans 2019-01-15 05:52 am (UTC)(link)
[ sam laughs, a low rich sound that rumbles. that's fair. ]

What do you think I'm selling you then?
oversight: ([+] pretty pleased)

[personal profile] oversight 2019-01-15 06:10 am (UTC)(link)
[ It feels nice to joke around. John shrugs, though, not quite ready to give away all of his secrets. ]

Maybe the same thing I'm sellin' you. Guess we'll have to get to know each other better to find out, eh?
wingmans: (Cormorant)

[personal profile] wingmans 2019-01-15 06:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ he's still chuckling, softer now. ]

Looks like it. The game is afoot, as they say.
oversight: by: heretics (dw) ([±] natural state)

[personal profile] oversight 2019-01-15 06:16 am (UTC)(link)
But is that wise? I'm known to be pretty competitive.

[ This time when he tosses the darts, it's a slightly more respectable outcome. Still, it looks like Sam will win regardless, not that John's giving up. ]

You ever back down? Well, I guess we'll see~
wingmans: (Crow)

[personal profile] wingmans 2019-01-15 08:57 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah? That suits me fine.

[ clearly a winning combo. sam gives him a toothy smile. ]

I'm just stubborn.
oversight: ([+] loling)

[personal profile] oversight 2019-01-16 06:20 am (UTC)(link)
You sure that's somethin' to brag about? [ And then, with a toothy grin of his own: ] You'll catch me usin' "tenacious" instead. Usually plays out a bit better.

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