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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
cuddlery: (totally gets it)

On the Boardwalk

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-04-29 12:53 am (UTC)(link)
[There's a scorpion woman nearby checking out the festivities. But her wanderings come to a stop when a hand grips her bumpy shoulder. She looks at the guy with a confused smile. She's used to being quick to befriend others, but even so, this feels... strange.]

Iiii try my best to excel in the whole 'niceness' department! [She says with a little laugh. And she gently pats his shoulder with a pincer, hoping that will complete this cycle of gestures and get him to remove his hand.]

But, um, yeah, always down for a friendly talk! My name's Scorpia?
erasureye: (1)

[personal profile] erasureye 2022-04-29 08:25 am (UTC)(link)
Aizawa Shouta. Good to meet you.

[ A beat... and Shouta does, eventually, remove his hand. He seems almost surprised at himself as he does, like he doesn't know why he made the contact to begin with, but he doesn't react in any particular way after that. ...Little does he know that things are just going to get worse... ]

Are you new here, too? [ Making small talk is- difficult, and to be honest, Shouta didn't come into this conversation with much of a plan. Which is unlike him, come to think of it... Though he supposes that gathering information about the people here can't hurt, right? ]

I'm not really used to parties like this. There hasn't been much to celebrate where I'm from, lately.
cuddlery: (understanding with tea)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-04-29 11:44 am (UTC)(link)
Nice to meet you too, Aizawa!

[She smiles at him! It takes a moment, but... There. The hand is gone. That's that, it seems! Maybe it's just a traditional greeting where this guy's from.]

Oh no, I'm not new here at all. I'm old here! [She chuckles as she waves her claw.] Yeah, I've been here a good number of months, so I can answer most of your questions.

...Sorry to hear that about your home. But we can find things to celebrate here! Like, great new friendships!
erasureye: (2)

[personal profile] erasureye 2022-04-29 01:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The sound of Scorpia mentioning "great new friendships" gives him a strange feeling - a kind of warmth, or maybe even an eagerness, as his stomach does an excited little flip. ...Which is so out of character for him it's laughable, but... even though he realizes on some level that something's wrong, that realization feels distant, overpowered by the need to keep on talking with his new friend.

Because they're friends now. Yep. ]


Sounds great! [ He exclaims, with uncharacteristic cheer. Then, coughing, his voice settles to a more normal tone for the moment. ] I just got here myself, so I'm still in the dark about all this.

[ And then, suddenly, he finds himself confessing something he normally wouldn't. ]

It's overwhelming. Honestly, I have no idea what to do. I don't even know what I'm supposed to be doing here, and I almost wish someone could just tell me...

[ ...Then he blinks. He hadn't meant to say that at all? ]
cuddlery: (raised arm)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-04-29 01:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[Good old fashioned friendship! Scorpia can respect his eagerness. It's not often she sees someone else so excited for friendship!

And then she gives a sympathetic nod at his problem.]


Well, good news! I'm someone, and what you're supposed to do is... Whatever you want! We're kinda stuck here in this world for the time being, but there's plenty to do while we're here. There's plenty of roles to possibly fill in the city, and mysteries to solve and monsters people need to be protected from... Aizawa? This world is your oyster, buddy!
erasureye: (9)

[personal profile] erasureye 2022-04-29 05:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Monsters?

[ Now that catches his attention. There's always people who need saving, wherever you go, but as a hero... the thought of not having to throw that part of his life away gives him some kind of hope. To protect people... maybe things won't be so different here from back home, after all. If he's lucky, he might even be able to teach somewhere, though that's thinking pretty far ahead. ]

That doesn't sound too bad. [ He smiles again, feeling oddly lighter, though there's still a feeling in him like something's missing. He needs something... but can't figure out what it is. ]

What do you do? You've been here a while, right?
cuddlery: (totally gets it)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-04-30 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
Yep, monsters! They are out there, they are not pleasant, and they are hungry for blood! Generally, generally not pleasant at all.

[She tries to force more of a smile as she goes on.]

It- it might not sound bad, but it can get pretty bad sometimes! There's plenty of strange creatures and weird stuff that can happen that can mess with your head? But right now things are calm!

Oh, and me! [She gestures towards herself.] Me, I'm a Night Walker. We provide comfort to others through emotional support and physical affection. My specialty is hugs!
erasureye: (1)

[personal profile] erasureye 2022-04-30 11:21 am (UTC)(link)
Oh? Mind giving me an example?

[ Speaking of things messing with your head.

Shouta blinks, once, as if he's completely caught off-guard by his own words. That's the last thing he ever expected to leave his mouth. But he doesn't take it back - instead, shocking himself as he realizes that the thought of a hug right now actually sounds... really nice. And that he... kind of really wants one?? ]


I mean... [ What the hell. ] I'm not normally a very huggy person, but. I'd really like one right now.

[ ..Aaaand that's the second time he's said something completely without meaning too. Part of him is mortified, but somehow, the urge for affection feels stronger than all of that, and it's... difficult to think about why he shouldn't indulge it. Like it doesn't really matter at all... ]
cuddlery: (happy claws)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-04-30 01:20 pm (UTC)(link)
I like to think everyone's a huggy person sometimes. [She grins widely.]

I've got just three words for you. [She spreads her arms out.] Bring. It. In.

[Although regardless of whether or not he actually does bring it in, she quickly wraps her arms around him in a bone-crushing hug!]
erasureye: (9)

i don't have a smiley aizawa icon yet BUT HE'S SMILING FOR SURE RIGHT NOW...

[personal profile] erasureye 2022-04-30 02:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Just as he's about to abort mission... Scorpia swoops in for a hug - and Shouta immediately relaxes into her hold, hugging her back, though it's obvious he doesn't quite know what he's doing. ]

That's nice.

[ ...And now he doesn't want to let go. Stubbornly, he keeps clinging to her, enjoying the moment while it lasts. If any of his co-workers or friends saw him now, he'd be horrified, but... ]

You're pretty good at this. [ And he rests his head on her shoulder, making himself comfortable. ]
cuddlery: (catra)

I FEEL THE SMILE

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-05-01 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
[She's a bit cold to the touch, but she's wearing warm clothing to try to compensate for it as she keeps him in a tight hug.]

Thanks! What can I say? I'm a hugger! And I guess if it's possible to be a pro at hugging, that's what I am!

[She doesn't mind him clinging to her! It feels like he isn't used to this, but that's fine. She'll just keep it going!]

See? This is fun!
erasureye: (1)

[personal profile] erasureye 2022-05-01 07:44 am (UTC)(link)
Mmm.

[ Part of Shouta wonders what the fuck he's doing. But the other part, the part that's enjoying the feeling of warmth in his chest, wins out. He pats Scorpia on the back a few times, still smiling, and stays in the hug for a while longer, before eventually (and reluctantly) drawing back.

But even when he does, he keeps his hands on her shoulders. ]


You really are good at it. I haven't had a hug like that in a long time. You must be pretty good at your job, too. [ As a Night Walker, he means. ] Do you find a lot of people need that support at Trench?
cuddlery: (pose)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-05-01 10:49 am (UTC)(link)
[Nothing like a nice, successfully comfy hug! Scorpia smiles proudly as the hug completes, although she's a little confused by the hands lingering on her shoulders.]

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I don't mean to brag, but yeah, I think I'm pretty darn good at my job! [She nods.] Oh yeah. A whole lot of people need it! Some are too proud or shy or grumpy to admit it... but this place takes a toll on everyone. Any person could use a little support sometimes! And it feels great to provide that.
erasureye: (7)

[personal profile] erasureye 2022-05-01 12:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Speaking of proud, shy and grumpy...

Reluctantly, Shouta takes his hands off Scorpia's shoulders, before a thoughtful expression crosses his face. ]


It takes a toll, huh? You did say that weird stuff happens around here. [ He's not particularly worried, though maybe he should be, but it catches his attention nonetheless. Better to be prepared, especially when he has no idea what to expect from a place like Trench. Right now, Shouta's completely out of his depth. ]

I don't suppose you could tell me a little more about that?
cuddlery: (thought)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-05-01 12:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ah, her shoulders feel kinda liberated now! Her smile fades a bit as she answers him.]

Sure! Sure, I'll tell you about it. Part of it just has to do with the monsters. They're bad news, and they usually can't be reasoned with. They're drawn to blood... which is kind of a big thing here. And of people don't take care of themselves, they can be at risk of turning into beasts too.

But the actual weird things! There's a lot of magical forces in this world, and I guess they kinda like to mess with us... like a lot. Sometimes we can transported to strange and dangerous places. Or sometimes our own memories and fears can be used to mess with us. It's bad.
erasureye: (3)

[personal profile] erasureye 2022-05-01 08:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Magic... yeah. Shouta's still trying to wrap his head around that one. ]

Turning into beasts? [ He questions, sounding somewhat concerned. It reminds him uncomfortably of the Nomus from back home, and the thought of being turned into anything like that just from not looking after oneself is - disturbing. Especially considering that Shouta himself isn't exactly well known for looking after himself, as one can probably tell from just looking at him. ]

It sounds pretty dangerous. [ He has to suppress a shiver at the last part, too. As a Pro, he's always been prepared for the possibility of someone using those things- memories and fears- against him, but... that doesn't make it any less worrying to think about. And no-one can be completely prepared for everything...

So he'll just have to get as damn close to it as he can. ]


And this sort of thing happens a lot? ...I can see why your job is so important.
cuddlery: (speaking)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-05-02 04:24 am (UTC)(link)
It - it is dangerous. Very, very dangerous! [She confirms with a concerned frown.]

It doesn't happen all the time, but... definitely enough to be worried. We all have to look out for each other here and help each other to keep our heads on straight!

[She gives a reassuring smile. At least this Aizawa guy has the right idea with how gung-ho he is about hugs!]

Thanks, by the way. Not everyone understands the importance of us Night Walkers, so I'm very glad that you got it so quickly!
erasureye: (9)

[personal profile] erasureye 2022-05-02 07:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah.

[ Once again, Shouta is painfully reminded of how little he knows about this world. As soon as possible, he needs to look into all of it - beasthood, and all the other dangers of Trench.

...But alongside a sense of grim foreboding... he also feels something else he can't quite place. The itch is back - and suddenly, he before he knows it, Shouta's swinging an arm over Scorpia's shoulder and leaning in as if they're old friends. Then he blinks. ]


...Sorry. I don't know why I did that. [ Though he doesn't actually feel sorry at all. By now, he's acutely aware that something's seriously wrong with him, but the urge for contact is so strong that he can't help but indulge it anyway. And it feels like the part of him that would usually care has been... stripped away, as if something's got rid of his inhibitions entirely. ]

I've been feeling off for a while. I'm not normally this clingy.
cuddlery: (totally gets it)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-05-02 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh! [She's surprised as the arm is slung over her shoulder! But not necessarily bothered. She gives a little laugh as she pats his shoulder.]

Hey, it's okay. Sometimes, you just feel like holding onto someone. And as long as the other person is a-okay with it, like I am, you can just go for it! Whatever's happening, it's gonna be okay.