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!

Prompt One
Prompt Two
Character Arrival
Master Navigation

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I suppose he may have been wary of whatever might happen here. [They've both been here long enough to be slightly suspicious of things like that, after all.] And it seems like avoiding this place was a wise decision. [Or at least leaving before midnight...]

[ That affirmation is met with a weirdly skeptical gaze from Jyushimatsu. ]

Would he really think that far ahead?

[ It's worded with a hint of "IS HE SMART ENOUGH TO DO THAT?". Osomatsu and himself aren't called Bakamatsu for no reason. ]

After I already had to save him from Stacy's? I think he might. [Though he is feeling a little more worried now. It is true that Osomatsu enjoys parties...and it was a large enough party that he might just have missed him.]

If he's really not in a festive mood, I'm gonna probably find him in one piece later!

[ The air is really getting chill enough that he's starting to get irritated for serious. He sighs and looks back at the building they just left. ]

New year's here so I might as well go home and see if nii-san is there! We both live next door after all!

Ah? That's good to know. It must be nice to live close to your sibling. [And probably also nice that they're not in the actual same room and thus can get some distance when needed?]

We used to live together since we were born, so it's weird to have separate apartments, buuut that doesn't mean I wouldn't camp by him everyday all the same! [ He chuckles, then gives Franciscus a once-over to check for injuries. ]

You're not too hurt, right? I could carry you to the nearest doctor! But if you're fine, I'll leave!

[Franciscus shakes his head as he pats himself down.] I'm alright. I think it's my suit that's taken most of the damage. [Really, he's not at fault for wearing something fancy to a fancy party, is he?] Will you be alright walking back alone? [Well, the axe is still there if Jyushimatsu decides he needs a weapon for self-defense...]

[ The axe is noted, but with his head much clearer he's just going to ignore it and beam friendly at Franciscus. ]

I'll be fine! Murderous anger is gone and I can run all the way there no problem! It'll heat me up fine enough!

[ He waves cheerily with both his big sleeves. ]

Bye bye, buddy! Don't get caught up in another murder plot!

[Ha, well he is pretty athletic...and that comment about "another" murder plot makes him flinch internally. It's just a coincidence of prhasing, but still...]

I'll see you around town, then. Hopefully under safer circumstances.

Hai hai! Have a safe trip and stuff!

[ And then he's gone, raising snow and dust behind him as he disappears into the night. ]