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Deer Country Mod ([personal profile] reddosmod) wrote in [community profile] countryclub2022-04-27 07:28 pm
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APRIL 2022 TEST DRIVE MEME

APRIL 2022 TEST DRIVE MEME
Another month, another test drive meme! Our test drive memes are open to anyone interested - regardless of whether or not you join our game!

All Test Drive Memes are game canon. Players can choose to keep their TDM threads canon or not. TDM threads can be used for AC and can be used as your writing sample for your application.

Our TDMs serve as a way to build into the actual lore and worldbuilding of Deer Country and we strongly encourage everyone to enjoy and participate! Current players are always welcome to pull prompts from the TDM to reference on the Network or bring into logs as well as tag out to new characters top-leveling on the TDM itself.

Characters will always be able to actively die during TDMs as this is an extremely dangerous world. You can still have this be game canon! Check out how character death in Deer Country works here.

If you have any questions about the TDM, please ask down below!

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Prompt One
[Image One: Delicious, Gelatinous Fruit Treats]
[Image Two: Women in white dancing around a May Pole (Animated)]

Prompt Two
[Image One: A woman turning away from a mirror. ]
[Image Two: A woman trapped inside a mirror with disembodied hands grabbing at her. ]

Prompt Three
[Image One: A Forked Trail on a Wooded Path]
[Image Two: The Grim Reaper at the end of a sewer tunnel]

A MOSTLY PLEASANT ARRIVAL
WHEN: May
WHERE: The Farther Shores/The Boardwalk
CONTENT WARNINGS: Forced honesty, personality changes, physical changes.


Congratulations, sleeper! You're one of the lucky ones to arrive in a month that is not awful to come ashore. The transformational process is almost alarmingly quick and painless. In fact, it is so quick that it is deceptively easy to change back into a squid and do it all over again! Partial transformations are not uncommon during this month for the first twenty-four hours after arriving, and even brief transformations of minor facial features like hair color, eye color, height, weight and a few more extreme possibilities have been known to happen. Don't worry, because the transformations are all temporary and none are inherently monstrous (Unless you already are a monster, in which case good luck with that!). Greeters are present in force to help accommodate you as you make your way, your welcome backpack and items all freshly and neatly cleaned and ready for you as they put the robe on. Everything is so welcoming and inviting that it almost seems like they're having a party.

This is, in fact, because they are. The Wild Moon is about and festivities are in full swing throughout the month of Bauphomette. May poles are set up and it is possible to dance around one if you should wish. Doing so can help to ground oneself in their current form, which may help new arrivals settle in a bit better. Even ignoring that, it feels good to sing and dance, and everyone is very friendly. Even the usually grim Hunters who guard the roads and entries to the shores seem to have less stern smiles on their faces, though their eyes are ever watchful to keep the peace of the festivities.

SEASONAL DETAILS ON THE BOARDWALK

Decorations this month are decidedly floral in nature. Everyone is dressed in white, regardless of their usual preferences. Flowers adorn many of the people of Trench and the weather throughout the first week of May is pleasant. Even if it rains, it is a refreshing, light and pleasant rain, and there are many awnings and umbrellas to take shelter underneath.

And of course, there's refreshments. What festival in Trench would be without them? The foods this month have a very floral theme to them. Edible flowers have been grown and prepared especially for this time of year. They've been used to help create infused and gelatinous sweets, Floral spring rolls and edible flower cookies and the like, along with floral teas that are meant to calm the mind. Additionally, the people of Trench will note that any of the foods present can have a beneficial, albeit transformative effect on the mind and body. They promise it won't last long, but if you're really concerned there is hard tack and water available that's quite filling.

Changes from Food will last a few hours at most. There are several options available among the drinks and foods. These may be combined as the player sees fit. Drinks have mental effects, while Treats have physical ones, the Trenchies will inform:

Pomegranate Juice: Sweet and tart, anyone who drinks it or has some of the fresh pomegranate and seeds will feel compelled to speak nothing but the truth. Pomegranates are found littering makeshift shrines to Bauphomette throughout the party, and Trenchies insist they are free to take.
Petal Infused Hot Tea: Pungent and aromatic, it is relaxing. The heat gives a warmth and vibrancy that fills a person with confidence, to the point of arrogance and fearlessness, leading the emboldened to try something that they might not otherwise do, even if it's very risky!
Floral Iced Tea: While refreshing, it feels like there's something just a little lacking, and anyone who drinks some will feel that they need more but not what they need more of at first, making them clingy and affectionate towards other people, especially strangers.
Iced Water: It's not the tastiest, but has a way of washing things away. Water can cleanse and remove the effects of other drinks, though it leaves the person feeling emotionally drained if it is used this way.

Floral Spring Rolls: Trying one of these surprisingly edible treats will have the added effect of giving a person plant traits temporarily. Hair may convert into tresses of ivy or carefully manicured moss, or perhaps a mushroom cap! Skin might become bark-like or chlorophyl green. The more that one eats, the more that they change.
Gelatinous Sweets: These curiosities come with a note. “Have you ever wondered what it is like to walk in someone's shoes?” Eating one has a profound physical effect, causing a person's appearance to transform into that of another person in Trench! It may not even be someone they've met, or seen yet! It would be awkward to meet someone, not looking the way you're supposed to, or worse? Looking like them!
Edible Flower Cookies: They come with lovely notes saying “Eat Me!” What could be sweeter? Well, like something out of Alice and Wonderland, eating one can cause a person to grow or shrink by a foot. More cookies can cause the height difference to become worse and worse, though if you're only a foot tall, it's a good way to end up an inch tall! So, maybe eating more to fix the problem is risky.
Hard Tack: Like the water, it can fill the stomach and remove prematurely any physical effects, though if it does so, removing a physical change physically drains the character.

A DIM REFLECTION
WHEN: May
WHERE: Throughout Trench
CONTENT WARNINGS: Paranoia, existential dread, hallucinations, possession-related horror.


They warned you about mirrors. Every once in a while, one of the locals in Trench might have whispered it, made a sign of warding when they passed by mirrors, but nothing seemed out of place. They told you that you might see yourself in it, and you would never be the same. However, every time you've looked it's been fine. So, maybe they were being superstitious about something? It certainly wouldn't have been the first time someone had gotten paranoid about nothing in Trench, would it?

How wrong you were. Maybe it was when you were looking down at a puddle rippling in a light breeze. It might have been a formerly polished piece of bronze covered in tarnish that adorned a building. Perhaps it was that lovely bit of obsidian in the shop where you caught your reflection garbled by the shape. It happens only when a reflection is seen in a distorted surface, especially those that are naturally occurring, though occasionally damaged and weathered surfaces that were polished will work. When you were looking at the image, it seemed to look back at you and something was wrong, distorted, imperfect. By then it was too late.

The natives were right. You saw some part of yourself there in the mirror. It might be something that you've hidden from others for a long time, or it might be an exaggeration of a single part of yourself that you aren't proud about. What it is, is a distorted and incomplete part of yourself, something that you try to keep controlled and in check, and it was there, smiling at you and winking. The moment it winked, it was like you were riding in your own skin, watching and unable to act as you changed into a self that reflected that distorted, unnatural and incomplete side of yourself. What shadows do you hide from yourself?

This effect lasts for, at most, one solar cycle. From the rising of the sun to its setting, or the moon to its setting, the effect can last no longer than that. Especially strong-willed people, particularly palebloods, can end this effect sooner through force of will, though it usually lasts at minimum an hour. The character is, for the duration of this effect, changed in personality to behave in accordance with some singular aspect (of the player's choice) of their personality that they do not usually focus on in their day to day behavior. This change can be subtle, or it can be drastic and even dangerous. Its goal is to make sure that everyone sees and witnesses this change, and goes out of its way to impact others in a memorable fact, making sure that they see there is more to the character than what they are revealing. This could be relatively innocuous or extremely dangerous, depending on the person, and the whole while the dominant personality is riding inside their skin, forced to watch what is happening.

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN
WHEN: May
WHERE: Dream worlds
CONTENT WARNINGS: Existential dread, disturbing visions


It happens when you are asleep one night. There is no warning for this effect, and it comes without apparent cause. One night, you go to sleep, and then suddenly you find yourself in a dreamscape, on a path. You can sense eyes on you the whole time that you are present in this field, and though they have a sense of benevolence to them, there is a deeply alien element to the experiment, almost like you are being observed by a scientist through a microscope. You are not alone on the path, either. One, or possibly more than one, other people that you may know or not know, they seem to have entered the same dreamscape. Behind you is nothing but shadow, and before you is a path. Might as well get going if you want to wake up, right? That's how these things work.

Introductions and questions aside, there's nothing but the path and dense, impenetrable woods on both sides, so eventually you and your companion start walking. As you do, shortly you see a branch in the path ahead of you. The fork has two paths, one of which shows the traffic of many feet, footprints grooved well into the worn cobblestones and mud. One of you will somehow recognize that the footprints are their own, and will notice that the other path has no footprints or very few. That is when the compulsion hits. It is inexorable and impossible to deny, the curiosity to see what is down the path that those footprints do not travel.

Travel, walk and taking that path, you will be treated to a vision. It is a moment in the dreamer's life, where they see something that happened in their life, which involved a choice. Did they go left or right? Did they say yes, or no? A choice they made, even one that seemed immaterial at the time, had some profound effect, and now you and they watch as the other choice was taken. And, within the hour, you will see the results, to your horror. Something terrible will happen to them. It could be anything, but it will be life-shattering, perspective altering and ghastly. They might even die from the experience or see a loved one die. The horror of it will still be in your hearts as you stand there for a moment, trapped in the sight of the aftermath, trying to come to terms with what you have just seen, and just at this moment, after a few parting words are said, both will wake up in a cold sweat.

The event that plays out can be from either character. Close CR is not required. Bauphomette has summoned the characters into the dream directly, and is sharing a distorted mirror of an opposite choice that could have been made. Actual “What if” canon events such as alternate timelines in Supernatural could be used for this, or the entire event can be concocted for this scene. The characters themselves are witnesses, and cannot be personally harmed in any physical way, but the horrific ending for the 'vision' version of the one whose dream this can be as awful as desired and take any form wished so long as it is unpleasant. Please be aware and mindful of each other's Content Warning Preferences in setting these scenes up.

CODING
checkmater: (Just be calm and)

[personal profile] checkmater 2022-05-11 02:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ange says she's not sure where to start, and Battler can hardly blame her. She's probably got a lot on her mind. She's got a big house - he gives her a little thumbs up. That sounds like a plan. He doesn't have anywhere else to stay, after all, and--he perks up a bit hearing Jessica is here as well. Well, that's good.

And all is well and good until that last bit.]


....

I'm....I'm sorry?

Your what?

[...He misheard her. That's probably it. He definitely misheard her. Certainly hji precious little sister isn't getting married already when he's--...]

Know that whatever I heard there I'm obviously not going to take it poorly. You know me better than that. But if I heard you correctly he or she is going to get a talking-to at the least and...they better make you happy every single day or I'll be getting revenge and also I'm involved in preparing for this now.

[His head is kind of reeling. Give him a second.]
entreats: (she says i need not to need)

[personal profile] entreats 2022-05-13 05:40 am (UTC)(link)
[ Yeah, this is about the reaction she expected. A Battler shutdown due to information and thought overload.

It's why she's being merciful here. She could point out, after all, that she knows him well enough that she wouldn't be surprised if he did freak out. Which wouldn't be the most unfair of assessments, and would definitely fit in with her usual bluntness, but she gets that this is a lot for Battler.

So instead she's quiet for just a moment more, as if to give his brain some time to try to wrap itself around this before she adds to it further. ]


She. It's a girl. [ Which probably makes it.. better..?

Between himself and mostly their dad, Battler probably doesn't have the best impression of guys. Heck, it's why Ange doesn't have the best impression of guys. Sorry, dad. ]


And we've been together for a few years already. It's just..

[ .. that he missed a lot.

But she doesn't want to focus on that here, not when it might just make both of them feel bad. ]


She's always been here for me. And she's really sweet, and brave, and.. well, a little dumb at times, but in a way that's really cute. Kind of like you, onii-chan.

[ No, she's not going to unpack her tastes and what that might say about her! Ever! Thanks! ]

So you don't have to worry about anything. Ruby doesn't have even the slightest shred of anything bad in her. I just wanted you to know before she'd tell you first and you'd be even more shocked.
checkmater: (Why doesn't this pain ever go away?)

[personal profile] checkmater 2022-05-18 07:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, okay, so I...I don't punch them. Nice. [Why was that his first response. No, wait, he valued gender equality. He could punch a girl. Is that what older brothers do, being protective? He doesn't know. He doesn't have a handbook for this. Fucking help him. The hamster wheel in his brain is chugging along as fast as it can.] I mean, not that I'd automatically punch them if they were a guy, but the old bastard kinda gave me the impression that I should as like, a precautionary thing. Don't hurt my little sister or I'll...

[...]

...I'll do something and they won't like it. [Very intimidating, Battler.]

[But he listens, and he nods slowly.] I'm glad to hear that, then. That she's taken care of you and that you trust her. That's really all I could ask for. [We're not going to touch the tastes bit, the Ushiromiya family is fucking weird as is.] And if you've been with her for a few years, it's only reasonable. I guess.

...I wasn't even really aware marriage was an option between two women. [Is it possible with guys, too? The Ushiromiya family valued men the most, so maybe it was like, even more powerful to be married to a guy, actually. Maybe that was what it was. But he wouldn't be interested in anyone like Ronove. But it was always suspicious with how close Grandfather was with Genji, that was...

No no don't dig too deep Battler you're going down a path you don't wanna go down.]


Still! I appreciate you telling me, and I'm glad I got here in time to be part of this wedding, because I'll totally help out. Especially since I'm literally the only one qualified to give you away. ...If we're doing it traditional. How does this work?
entreats: (show me the truth i wished for)

[personal profile] entreats 2022-05-20 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
.. you're asking that as if I'm a wedding expert. [ Which Ange.. certainly isn't.

Not that she's blaming for Battler asking that. After all, Ange has felt the same way, a little uncertain about how all of this will go down, especially since social gatherings are so not her thing, especially when they center around her. She's not even worried about the fact that they're both girls, because the world has already hated her for so many things that she really doesn't think her romantic preference can make that any worse.

But.. organising a ceremony? That's much more of a concern. It's too wild.

Maybe not wanting to think about it too hard - though touched by his concern, so much like what she imagined having her big brother around would be like - Ange shakes her head. ]


It's okay though. We can figure all that out later. I mean.. you just showed up here.

[ Still not even properly dressed and all. ]

We should focus on settling you in first, right? [ ... ] You know, I am the older one now.

[ Even if it's by only two years or so. And even though you can't tell, since Battler is still a giant next to her, but.. sshh... ]

Maybe you should call me Ange onee-chan and let me be the responsible one.
Edited 2022-05-20 21:47 (UTC)
checkmater: (right?)

[personal profile] checkmater 2022-05-25 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)
...Well, you're the one getting married! I've never been married, I dunno things! [There are many things Battler doesn't know. That is the least of them. But he does beam nonetheless.]

But yeah, we'll help me settle in here first. Ihihihi. Adjust to...whatever weird stuff this place has. Like the squid stuff I'm trying to not think too hard on. That's still freaking me out. [...He does huff at that last bit, though.]

Oi, oi. Don't get ahead of yourself there. Until you get taller than me...you do not have the power you so seek. [Hjuehuehue.] But! I'm totally up for you being the responsible one. That means I can be the irresponsible one! That's great news!

[.....like that isn't how it normally is anyway]
entreats: (as you are in the illusion i grasped)

[personal profile] entreats 2022-05-26 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The irony here is thick. So thick. But of course Ange is sure not planning on telling Battler why that irony here is so thick in the first place. The longer she can just.. have her big brother, rather than a caped guy she doesn't even understand, the better.

Especially when he's going around and making dumb jokes like this. It's exactly him the way she remembers him, and it makes her heart feel a little lighter. For how awful this place can be at times, she's just glad to have him here. He's always been the kind of presence that could brighten up her days. ]


Don't get too carried away. [ She's absolutely missing any sense of a scolding tone here, because she's just too happy to really scold him over being so happy about being irresponsible.

Apparently Battler can just get away with anything today, while Ange is still relieved and happy to see him. ]


Just make sure to be responsible when it comes to your own well being. If you die again, I'm never forgiving you. Even if you'd still come back here after that sort of thing.

[ Still!!! No dying!!! She would be very upset!! ]